Those who seek "merit-based" naturalization -- jumping ahead of the queue -- would get points for "civic involvement" if they had engaged in a significant amount of community service.

CNN: Citizenship isn't about passing a civics test

But Independent councillor Ms Davidson said the plan could create a perception of queue jumping and upset the thousands on the council's lengthy housing waiting list.

BBC: House keys

Now again, I know that queue-jumping happens everywhere, and the ice-cream girl might have just been having an off day, and that none of these incidents prove a thing, but it did get me thinking.

BBC: Getting behind Israeli 'frankness'

Many jeitinhos can be as harmless as jumping a queue, or an inventive method of overcoming the perils of bureaucracy, or using a friend to get something done.

BBC: NEWS | Americas | Bending rules, breaking laws in Brazil