Watercooler Stories

Russians say cops are worst robbers

MOSCOW, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A recent poll finds that more Russians think police officers are the country's biggest criminals than gangsters.

The Levada Center surveyed 1,200 people. Pollsters found 38 percent named police officers and road inspectors as the worst criminals, followed by 19 percent who said government ministers and other public officials are the worst, Mosnews reported.

Only 14 percent said gangsters, hit men and drug traffickers top the list. The same number named business executives as the worst crooks.

The law is the most prestigious occupation in the country, with 29 percent listing notaries, prosecutors, judges and lawyers. Russians, 24 percent of them anyway, believe banking is the most profitable occupation.

Forty percent of those surveyed said firefighters have the most dangerous job, followed by police officers, military troops and miners.

Seattle strippers protest lap dance ban

SEATTLE, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Scores of strippers attended a Seattle government committee meeting to protest a proposed ban on lap dances.

Suzanne Snow told the Seattle Times the tips she receives from lap dances allow her to work part time so she can spend more time with her son.

"How can we make money when someone can pay a $10 cover charge to see us for free?" she said.

Mayor Greg Nickels' plan would require dancers to stay at least 4 feet away from customers. Under current rules, dancers are not allowed to engage in simulated or actual sex and can only strip all the way when they are on stage.

Councilman Richard MacIver, who chaired the Finance and Budget Committee meeting, called the dancers "articulate" and said he has "mixed emotions" about the proposed rule change.

Bear cub breaks into house

BOULDER, Colo., Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A Colorado man was charged by a mama bear after her cub broke into his house.

The Boulder Daily Camera reports Mel Shapiro originally planned to let police deal with the problem when he heard something break glass in his house, followed by the noise of an animal eating. But he decided to investigate when officers could not find his driveway.

Shapiro later learned the animal was a bear cub. He quickly discovered the sow was waiting outside and reared up when it spotted him.

"Just like in the Field and Stream magazine," Shapiro said. "It was like the whole Earth moved."

Shapiro fell backward as the animal approached him. For some reason -- and much to his relief, no doubt -- it did not attack.

Once the sow moved off, Shapiro got back inside and locked himself into a room to wait for police. The first officers on the scene saw the mother and cub running off.

Wildlife officers found what they believe was the same sow with two cubs later Wednesday. The mother, who has a history of confronting humans, was killed and the two cubs were taken to a rehabilitation facility.

Three bullets silence California car alarm

SIMI VALLEY, Calif., Aug. 12 (UPI) -- It took three shots, but an enraged Simi Valley, Calif., man silenced the persistent blasting of a car alarm, and is now in jail for doing it.

David Rye, a 48-year-old supermarket manager was arrested without incident Tuesday night when neighbors called police to report gunshots.

An officer who was in the area on another matter also heard the discharge of the 9-millimeter semiautomatic pistol, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The honking and screeching began just after 10 p.m. outside Rye's apartment. That's when police allege Rye fired at least three shots into the car until the alarm stopped.

He was booked into the Ventura County Jail on suspicion of shooting a firearm with gross negligence, and vandalism. If convicted on both felony counts, he would face up to 44 months in state prison and fines of up to $10,000. He remained in custody Thursday in lieu of $50,000 bail.