The meaning of GOES211, and more
A Washington state motorist was required to explain the meaning of his vanity license plate, GOES211.
The meaning of GOES211
A Washington state motorist was required to explain the meaning of his vanity license plate, after a mistaken complaint it was obscene. Tony Cava’s plate, GOES211, is a reference to his favorite movie, Spinal Tap, but a complainant demanded the state’s license-plate committee revoke it, saying the plate insinuates that “his penis grows to 11 inches in length.” Cava won his case, a state official said, after proving “the complaint was, pardon my pun, a stretch.”
A no-cursing pledge, for girls only
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A New Jersey Catholic high school has asked female students, but not the boys, to take a no-cursing pledge. Teacher Lori Flynn explained that the school simply wants “ladies to act like ladies.’’ She noted that the boys have been told to refrain from bad language around girls.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
What has the Dalai Lama achieved?
The Explainer Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader has just turned 90, and he has been clarifying his reincarnation plans
-
Europe's heatwave: the new front line of climate change
In the Spotlight How will the continent adapt to 'bearing the brunt of climate change'?
-
Sudoku medium: July 13, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle