Watercooler Stories

Calif. Dems locked out of offices

SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 14 (UPI) -- The Democratic leader of the California Senate locked three Democratic legislators out of their offices after they attended a fundraiser against his wishes.

People close to Don Perata, California's Senate president pro tem, say the leader does not allow Democrats to take part in a caucuses aimed at independently leveraging votes as a bloc, and he was displeased when three members of his party attended a fundraiser for the state Legislature's business-friendly caucus, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

As punishment for their insubordination, state Sens. Ron Calderon of Montebello, Lou Correa of Santa Ana and Gloria Negrete McLeod of Chino found themselves locked out of their offices in the state Capitol Monday.

Perata allowed the offices to be unlocked in the afternoon.

"As far as I'm concerned what happened with me and Perata is a misunderstanding," Calderon said. "I'm back in my office; my staff is back in the office."

"There is no voting bloc" in the Senate "and there won't be," Calderon said. "I think there was some confusion about what transpired and some people were drawing conclusions."

Beef over hamburger sparks brawl

HUDSON, N.H., March 14 (UPI) -- A beef about hamburgers became a super-sized brawl that resulted in a New Hampshire man being zapped by police.

Thomas Lee Reagan, 45, raised a ruckus at a Hudson McDonald's, complaining his double cheeseburgers were greasier than he liked, WMUR-TV, Manchester, N.H., reports.

"Apparently Mr. Reagan was served a hamburger that was not up to his standards. After he complained to the manager regarding the quality of the food, (the restaurant) refunded his money and, apparently, he wasn't happy with that," said Sgt. Donna Briggs of the Hudson Police Department.

Even after Reagan got his $2.16 back, he decided he needed a few words with the cook, she said.

When police arrived, the unhappy meal took a turn for the worse and became an all-out brawl.

"He became belligerent; threw his food on the ground," Capt. Don Breault said. After punching two officers, one of them used a Taser stun gun to subdue Reagan, who was arrested for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and assault.

Camilla: 'Princess and the Pea' redux

LONDON, March 14 (UPI) -- Pardon me if the Duchess of Cornwall reportedly bringing her own mattress to a London hospital conjures up images of "The Princess and the Pea" fairy tale.

Camilla also reportedly ate meals prepared by her own chef rather than the culinary fare offered by the highly regarded staff at the exclusive King Edward VII Hospital, Sky News said Tuesday.

A royal family spokeswoman declined to confirm a Daily Mail story that the duchess used her own mattress and linen or that the hospital catering staff was miffed that she had food prepared by the kitchens at the family estate, Clarence House.

Camilla, 59, is back home after having a hysterectomy. Prince Charles accompanied her from the hospital on Saturday. She has been ordered to rest for six weeks and all official engagements have been postponed.

Drivers agog at roadside llama in sweater

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 14 (UPI) -- The sight of a llama wearing a green sweater casually standing beside a California highway near a stopped minivan slowed traffic to a crawl outside San Jose.

Drivers on Highway 17 were astonished at the sight during the Monday afternoon rush-hour, including Peter McClure, who told the San Jose Mercury News it didn't occur to him to take a picture of the animal.

"There was no accident, no other problems on the road, just this llama standing there in a fetching green sweater next to a minivan," McClure said.

He said the llama -- long-haired cousins to camels -- seemed quite calm, although the driver of the parked minivan was having an animated discussion on his cell phone.

California Highway Patrol officer Steve Perea told the News there had been no calls about the llama sighting, and suggested the minivan driver might have been letting the animal answer the call of nature.

"When you have to go you have to go," Perea said.