It has been an interesting week for pools. Yes, those big holes in the ground filled with chemical-treated (well, hopefully at least) water.

First a private pool in northern Philadelphia kicks out a bunch of kids. Well, that's not a big deal, right? What if I told you they were grade-schoolers? From day camp? A day camp that paid the private pool $1900 for the summer? A day camp made up of primarily minority kids? And to top it off the reason given by the club's president was "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion... and the atmosphere of the club." And the camp's money was refunded. After a media firestorm, largely touched off by twitter - as these things tend to be lately, the pool claimed that it was a crowding issue and the reason was poorly phrased.

Really? In the 21st century? When we have a black president? In Philadelphia??? Wow. That's absurd.

But it's actually not particularly outrageous compared to what is claimed to have happened in a pool in Egypt. A Polish (cue Pollock jokes) mother claims that her 13 year-old daughter was impregnated by "stray sperm" in the swimming pool while they were there on vacation. (that's either one dirty pool or one tough sperm!)

Sure, because 13 year-old girls *never* hook up with 13 year-old (or older - ewww) boys and have sex. That just doesn't happen. Especially if you're Polish.

Absurdly yours,

-Me

7/13/09 UPDATE: The pool club has invited the camp to rejoin. Of course this came after a hail of outrage that included threats of investigations by the NAACP and Senator Arlen Specter's office for possible civil rights violations. I love it when a plan comes together.