Watercooler Stories

Thousands turn out for Md. polar plunge

ANNAPOLIS, Md., Jan. 28 (UPI) -- An estimated 10,000 people took part in this year's Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge despite a temperature of 34 degrees.

The Baltimore Sun reported Sunday that the impressive turnout of participating "plungers" was only as shocking as the frigid temperatures of Chesapeake Bay, which came in a few degrees higher than the local air temperature.

Among the participants in Saturday's numbing event was Baltimore resident Gary Childs, who took part last year and even convinced his two daughters to join him this year.

Yet Childs admitted afterward that perhaps allowing his children to participate may have not been such a great idea.

"I did this last year, and my daughters said, 'Oh, we'll do it with you Dad!'" Childs said of his daughters, who are both in their 20s. "Now they hate me."

Whatever the outcome, the event did benefit Special Olympics Maryland as all proceeds went to help fund the group's efforts.

Online pranksters target top Chinese minds

BEIJING, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists at China's Ministry of Science and Technology have fallen prey to pranksters who asked silly questions on the department's Web site.

While the online pranksters proffered questions regarding the use of nuclear reactors in the average home, the amusing portion of the prank came when ministry scientists actually responded to the queries in a professional fashion.

China's official state-run news agency, Xinhua, said scientists attempted to offer serious answers to all the questions no matter how ridiculous the topic.

"After years of private research, I have finally succeeded in producing nuclear reactors for household use. Where can I apply for patent?" one online posting asked.

"By the way, I have been contacted several times by terrorists wanting to buy the reactors. What should I do?" the unidentified poster added.

For those wondering the same thing, the scientists' answer was to contact the China Patent Information Center for additional information.

Internet speeding video seen by police

BRIGHTON & HOVE, England, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Authorities say they are searching for a man who allegedly drove 125 miles per hour down an English highway and then posted the video on the Internet.

Police say they know how fast the driver was going on the M23 highway in Sussex, because after he filmed other cars swerving out of the way he zoomed in on the speedometer, the Mail on Sunday reported.

The stunt, which was posted on the Internet site YouTube.com, was "a stupid thing to do," a spokesman for the Sussex Police told the newspaper.

A YouTube spokesman said footage of people driving fast can be found plenty of places other than the Web site, but "if there is illegal activity taking place then we encourage the police to get in touch."

Gov't minister's invites lack heart

WESTMINSTER, England, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- A British government minister took a decidedly unromantic slant when alerting acquaintances of his impending wedding, it was reported Sunday.

The Mail on Sunday said that when 40-year-old International Development Minister Shahid Malik created his own wedding invitation, the first Muslim minister in Britain's history left out the romance entirely.

"Just to be clear, you won't be expected to stay for the full stint (although I probably will!)," the invitation to the Feb. 10 nuptials reads. "But even if you're just able to drop in for a short while to test the cuisine and say hello, you would be very welcome, indeed."

Malik is marrying 23-year-old Sundus Sheikh, but the British newspaper said the trainee lawyer's name was not even included on the couple's wedding invitations.

The labor minister said those who plan to attend the wedding would later receive a "posh invite" complete with the bride's name, a move that apparently was enough to keep his soon-to-be wife happy.

"I am very excited. I'm looking forward to being a politician's wife, but Shahid is not just a politician, he's a man I can connect with," Sheikh said of her fiance.