Got this today and I'm scared. Who will we make fun of after 2202?

The last natural blondes will die out within 200 years, scientists believe. A study by experts in Germany suggests people with blonde hair are an endangered species and will become extinct by 2202. Researchers predict the last truly natural blonde will be born in Finland - the country with the highest proportion of blondes. But they say too few people now carry the gene for blondes to last beyond the next two centuries. The problem is that blonde hair is caused by a recessive gene. In order for a child to have blonde hair, it must have the gene on both sides of the family in the grandparents' generation.

Wildman, (hoping it ain't true)

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2002

Answers

Don't worry Wildman! As long as there's companies like Clarol and L'Oreal, there will always be blondes!

Sherri, (who can't remember what her natural haircolor actually looks like)

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2002

Speaking of hair, Sherri....where's that picture you promised us :-)??? Is yours still red?

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2002

Gee, only 200 more years before "blonde jokes" are a thing of the past, like carrier pigeons and woolly mammoths ;-)!!!

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2002

Well, put this one in your pipe and smoke it: I don't think it's the natural blondes that are the butt of the jokes. I think it's the bleached blondes -- perhaps the chemicals do something to their brains? Or their brains had to be naturally "fizzy" to put those chemicals on over and over again?

Though I have auburn hair, my brother is a natural blond (and far from stupid, but don't tell him I said that). Blonds/blondes are in my (Scandinavian) mother's family, but my dad had very dark brown hair. He started out almost white blond, however -- does that count as blond, even if the hair goes dark by age 10 or so?

Anyway, will there still be any people here in two hundred years? Or will we have blown ourselves to smithereens or killed the environment that supports our life?

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2002

Ahem...as a bleached blonde (highlights thank you) I would like to think that I don't resemble that statement Joy. I don't have a bimbo- esque giggle either (like blondes are stereotyped as having). Actually just two days ago I was informed that my chuckle had an evil/maniacal quality (as if thats a BAD thing!!!) My brains aren't chemically alterred from my hair processing but from the years of partying hearty in University(when I was a brunette). I don't think I've ever fully recovered from the sleep deprivation endured at the hands of my children either. Any hoo..thats MY story and I'm stickin' to it. I'm not online hardly at all these days so if I don't see ya's anytime soon, keep well. I miss you guys but we are so busy with the store I can't seem to get time to go online.

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2002

Yep, I'm still a redhead, although I have been a platinum blonde in the past. I haven't posted the pictures yet because I keep forgetting to take the film to get developed. I'll probably be going to the store either tonight or tomorrow night so I'll try to remember then.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2002

Good news Wildman! Turns out the extinction of blondes story was just another blonde joke, it's not true. :) Blonde Joke

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2002

I heard this story on the evening television news on Monday, but didnt notice what their source was. I believed it cuz it sounds perfectly feasible. Even up here in Scandinavian country there are fewer blondes than there were when I was a kid.

When we lived in southern California, Lotus' almost white hair used to stand out like a sore thumb among all the brunettes.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2002

Blondes are rare in Southern California? How's that for a stereotype buster? :-)

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2002

Right, blonde kids are pretty rare, cuz most blondes are not natural blondes, especially down there. There are plenty of blondes though that are old enough to buy their hair color.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2002