Boston's splashy electrical boxes, and more

Boston's splashy electrical boxes

Boston is paying local artists to paint gray electrical boxes around the city with bright, eye-catching designs. Officials hope that the initiative will keep graffiti scrawlers from tagging the boxes, out of respect for their fellow artists’ work. Under the program, artists must submit a design and, if approved, they receive $300. One painter, Christos Hamawi, got the idea for his motif of green and yellow grasses and wildflowers from weeds that were growing nearby in Copley Square. “The big thing for me,” he said, “is to be able to paint in the presence of others and share that process.”

Puebla's fleet of pink taxi cabs

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In Mexico, taxi drivers are known to often rudely flirt with and leer at their female passengers. So the city of Puebla has come up with a novel solution: a fleet of 35 compact four-door cabs, painted bright pink and driven by women who don’t stop for men. The program is privately financed with about $440,000, with the Puebla government providing licensing and training. Each taxi is also equipped with a GPS system, alarm button, and beauty kit. Some feminists are protesting, but supporters say the cabs are providing a valuable service to women. “In the Pink Taxi,” said driver Aida Santos, “they won’t have that feeling of insecurity, and they feel more relaxed.”

High school sweethearts reunite after 50 years

Back in 1959, the parents of California high school sweethearts Diane Harris and Rodney Day wanted to end the couple’s romance. So while both were recuperating from injuries suffered in an auto accident, Harris’ mother lied to them and said each had broken up with the other. But after Day’s wife of 43 years died in 2007, he looked up Harris on the Internet. Harris, who was divorced, responded. On July 4 they were engaged, and this weekend, they married in Napa Valley. “I’m in seventh heaven,” said Harris. “Oh my God, yes!”