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Jockstrip: The world as we know it

By United Press International
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Workers upset over new office greeting

GLASGOW, Scotland, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Workers at a new Scottish superstore are threatening to quit over a management edict that they sing a Muppets song instead of just saying hello.

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Under the plan, workers should greet colleagues with "Mahna, Mahna" and be answered with "Doo doo be-doo-doo," a musical excerpt from the TV sitcom "The Office."

The bosses said it would build morale and team spirit but the staff members had a blunt answer of their own, the Daily Record said.

The plans were devised by management of the DIY chain's new East Kilbride store, which will open in December

But, they might now be shelved because of the workers' resistance.

"The managers were all really excited about it and spent the rest of the day running about singing the song as if it was some kind of ritualistic chant or company song," one staffer said.

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Iverson's Rolls may be impounded

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Winning Olympic gold is Allen Iverson's current concern, but a larger one for the NBA star may be saving his $325,000 car from Philadelphia's police.

Philadelphia parking authority records show Iverson owes more than $1,700 in parking and motor vehicle fines on the Phantom Rolls Royce, the Philadelphia News reported Thursday.

Since March 2001, he has racked up at least 65 parking tickets totaling more than $4,500 on several of his cars, the report said. He's already paid $2,800, records show.

Last June, the multimillionaire was cited because his black 2004 Rolls was in a handicapped spot at Philadelphia airport.

He was hit with four $300 handicap violations, one $100 ticket for the Rolls being unregistered and uninspected, plus $23 each for late payment penalties.

Iverson's attorney Larry Woodward declined comment. His uncle, Greg Iverson, defended parking in handicapped spots by stating he has a handicapped placard.


Girls' lemonade stand saved by the city

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Two St. Louis girls who stood up for themselves when their lemonade stand was threatened found business sweeter than ever Thursday.

Mim Murray, 10, and Marisa Miller-Stockie, 12, had been selling lemonade from their curbside stand for three summers to buy laptop computers before starting the seventh grade.

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But, an unneighborly neighbor who didn't want them on his property blew the whistle and the city health department shut them down because they had no business license, the St. Louis Post Dispatch said.

Mim's mother, Germaine Murray, called a local television station and their Catholic pastor, Monsignor Salvador Polizzi, who complained to Mayor Francis Slay.

The next day, the girls were back in business and business was good. Health Commissioner Melba Moore stopped by to apologize, adding the vendor permit law makes exceptions for kids' lemonade stands.

"You don't have to sit there and take it," Mim said. Marisa added, "We learned to stand up for ourselves."


'Safety' prince breaks rules

OSLO, Norway, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- He may be patron of Norway's Life Saving Association, but Crown Prince Haakon has been cited again for being reckless.

In the latest incident, the prince has come under fire for souping up the engine of his power boat, Aftenposten said Thursday. In addition, he was spied a second time without a life vest while on the boat.

Aftenposten said the crown prince put a 50-horse-power motor on a 14-foot open boat that's only supposed to have a maximum 35-horsepower motor.

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"Our position is clear that no one should mount a motor more powerful than that for which the boat is designed," Jan Syvertsen of the Royal Norwegian Boating Association told newspaper VG, calling for the prince to "answer for himself."

In addition, the prince's insurance company has indicated it could cancel his policy if he does not mend his ways.

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