Unintentional humor, European Div.

The BBC reports that the Italian government of flakoid Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi recently granted extra powers to mayors, supposedly to fight crime and "anti-social behavior." But as is typical in the case of small minds given extra power, it hasn't gone quite according to plan. Among the activities banned in some places have been

sandcastles, kissing in cars, feeding stray cats, wooden clogs and the use of lawn mowers at weekends.

Now, the seaside city of Castellammare di Stabia wants to enforce a dress code

which would effectively outlaw everything from miniskirts to low-cut jeans....

There will also be a ban on sunbathing, playing football in public places, and blasphemy, if the proposals are approved at a council meeting on Monday.

And who is behind this inane concoction of restrictions drawn from 1950s fantasies? Mayor Luigi Bobbio - of the People of Freedom party.