Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe LEE IACOCCA, EAT YOUR HEART OUT The great-grandson of Ford Motor Co. founder Henry Ford could become the Dave Thomas of the auto industry. Advertisement Thomas -- who died on Jan. 8 at age 69 -- made a career as a pitchman for his Wendy's hamburger chain, which he named after his daughter. Now comes Bill Ford, who recently made four, minute-long TV spots touting Ford's heritage. The "No Boundaries" ads began airing last week. The Detroit News says he plans to make more commercials for specific vehicles like the Mustang and F-150 pickup -- apparently with the encouragement of dealers and employees, who like his family image. Last October, the 44-year-old William Clay Ford Jr. added the title CEO to his chairman's job after company President Jacques Nasser resigned, becoming the first Ford family member to take the company's driver's seat since his late uncle, Henry Ford II, resigned in 1979. Advertisement THINGS WE DON'T UNDERSTAND There are a lot of dead bodies lying around in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan. No, there's not a serial killer on the loose. Rather, Kazakh citizens protesting the abolition of state funeral benefits are refusing to bury their loved ones and instead are leaving them in morgues, the Kazakh Khabar news agency reports. Thirty-six bodies currently are in cold storage at one morgue in the southern Kazakh city of Shymkent, the agency said. Some of the corpses have been there for two months. Funeral costs in the Central Asian country are more than some Kazakhs can afford. Even the most inexpensive coffin -- priced at around $21 -- is out of many people's price range. However, pensioners receive mortuary benefits from the state. The average funeral costs $53. NEWS OF OTHER LIFE FORMS Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox have announced that "Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones" will premiere on May 12 in 11 cities across the United States and Canada, with benefit screenings to raise funds for local charities. "Throughout the years, 'Star Wars' films have entertained generations of children," said producer-director George Lucas. "I'm delighted that these premieres will provide an opportunity to benefit the children who need it the most." Advertisement Screenings are scheduled to raise funds for Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, Metropolitan Family Services of Chicago, The Family Place in Dallas, The Kempe Children's Foundation in Denver, The Fulfillment Fund in Los Angeles, Children's Aid Society in New York, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, The California Mentor Foundation in San Francisco, Childhaven in Seattle, Child Find Ontario and For Love of Children, Inc. in Washington, D.C. The charities will receive portions of the box-office receipts from the screenings and a limited number of tickets to give to disadvantaged children. (Thanks to UPI Hollywood Reporter Pat Nason) TODAY'S SIGN THE WORLD IS ENDING Telemarketers are trying to trick people into buying a Web address uses their name by claiming someone else is trying to register it first, London's Daily Telegraph reports. The phone calls concern the name extension, which is one of seven new top-level domains set up to expand the list of Internet addresses. Domain-name registration businesses can charge whatever they want to sign up people, but it is unusual for them to be sold over the phone, Lesley Cowley, deputy managing director of British domain-name registrar Nominet, told the newspaper. "Such calls are, frankly, highly suspicious. If you want a domain name shop around to find a provider that will register and look after it for you at a price you are willing to pay. The market is very competitive, with plenty of choice -- you don't need to be bounced into accepting an offer made in an unsolicited telephone call," said Cowley. Advertisement (Thanks to UPI's Joe Warminsky in Washington) AND FINALLY, TODAY'S UPLIFTING STORY The overwhelming majority of Americans -- 83 percent -- say they are satisfied with their current jobs. That's according to the first in a series of polls sponsored by Parade magazine and conducted by Harris Interactive. The survey also found that, despite today's rocky economy, 72 of the 1,011 respondents say they are not concerned about losing their jobs. Fifty-nine percent say their lifestyles are better than their parents', and the median age at which Americans plan to retire is 62. The survey results will be published in the magazine's March 3 issue.
