Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe No ties or makeup for Iranian men TEHRAN, April 30 (UPI) -- Barbers in Iran risk being put out of business by police if they wait on customers wearing neckties or bow ties. Advertisement The tie is seen as a symbol of western decadence or "bad hijab," which means clothing unfit for a Muslim, the BBC reported Sunday. Rules against bad hijab had been focused on women's headscarves and Islamic covering. Now, men are being warned not to wear short-sleeve shirts and boys with spiked hairstyles forcibly have had a stripe shaved down the middle of their heads, the BBC said. The ban on neckties was detailed in a police notice sent to barber shops telling them they could be closed or even lose their licenses if they served customers with ties. In addition, the police have banned any form of makeup for men, which is sometimes used by grooms on their wedding day. Advertisement Dutch creationist replicates Noah's Ark SCHAGEN, Netherlands, April 30 (UPI) -- A Dutch creationist has built a half-sized replica of Noah's Ark as testament to his literal belief in the Bible. The ark, in the town of Schagen, is three stories tall and 225 feet long, the BBC reported. Complete with life-size model animals, the ark was opened to the public Saturday by Johan Huibers, who built most of the ark himself during the last two years. Huibers said he started the ark after he had a dream that The Netherlands was being flooded. The Bible's Book of Genesis says Noah placed seven pairs of most domestic animals and one breeding pair of all other creatures in the boat, which survived a flood delivered by God to punish man. Visitor Lois Poppema said she believes The Netherlands is the proper place for an ark. "Just a few weeks ago we saw Al Gore on television ... saying that all Holland will be flooded," Poppema said, referring to the former U.S. vice president and environmental activist. British teens to be taught manners LONDON, April 30 (UPI) -- British teenagers will be taught "emotional intelligence" in school in an attempt to counter a growing lack of civility, say school officials. Advertisement Classes to combat rudeness, violence and anti-social behavior are to be added to the national curriculum, The (London) Independent reported. The pilot program, called the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning, dramatically improved behavior in primary schools, said Jim Knight, national schools minister. The classes to teach teenagers about fair play and dealing with adversity are not without critics, said Nick Gibb, minister of the Shadow Schools. "This kind of stuff is ghastly," Gibb said. "Schools have really got to focus on the core subjects of academic education and teaching children how to learn." U.S. monument honors war dogs CINCINNATI, April 30 (UPI) -- Only one monument in the United States solely honors the 4,000 dogs that served in the Vietnam War. The Vietnam Dogs of War monument, which stands in the shadow of a retired helicopter in Cincinnati's Veteran's Memorial Park, has gained attention as a result of the Cincinnati Enquirer's effort to put together a list of all war monuments in the area in time for Memorial Day. The monument, bearing the silhouette of a German shepherd, honors dogs that went with U.S. troops to Southeast Asia. Only an estimated 200 of those dogs returned home. Advertisement Most of the dogs, the Enquirer reported, died in combat -- sniffing out booby traps, landmines and enemies. The government calculates the dogs that served in Vietnam prevented 10,000 casualties.
