Watercooler Stories

Alligator taken to Ind. clinic

PORTAGE, Ind., Feb. 26 (UPI) -- A 3-foot-6-inch alligator found at the side of a highway in Portage, Ind., is in good health at a local veterinary clinic, a clinic employee said.

Portage police said the animal was found in a plastic storage tub at the side of Willowcreek Road by a female motorist who had stopped to see if the tube was salvageable, the Chesterton (Ind.) Tribune reported Tuesday.

The police said the reptile was lethargic from the cold, but otherwise seemed to be in good health. A staffer at Dr. Larry Reed's veterinary clinic said the alligator appeared to be healthy when it arrived and it is now "relaxing" at his temporary home.

Reed is known in the area for giving sanctuary to injured and out-of-place animals including ducks, geese, chickens, mice, lizards, venomous snakes and at least one other alligator.

Giraffe born, tiger expecting in SF

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Officials at the San Francisco Zoo have announced the birth of a baby giraffe and the pregnancy of a Sumatran tiger.

Barbara Palmer, chief keeper of the big cats at the zoo, said Monday that Leanne, a 230-pound Sumatran tiger, is expected to give birth to between one and four as early as this weekend, the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News reported Tuesday.

"There is no pregnancy test for cats, so we have to take our best guess," Palmer said.

Only about 400 Sumatran tigers are believed to still survive in the wild and about 60 of the big cats live in U.S. zoos.

The zoo also announced Monday that one of its female giraffes, Gezi, gave birth to a 150-pound baby.

"We are absolutely thrilled to have another giraffe born," said Bob Jenkins, director of animal care and conservation. "The herd of three females and one male giraffe has made the San Francisco Zoo's new African Savanna home since 2004."

Police: Political debate turned violent

NORRISTOWN, Pa., Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Norristown, Pa., police say a pair of brothers-in-law attacked one another over a disagreement about their choices for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Prosecutors said Hillary Clinton-backer Jose Ortiz, 28 stabbed Barack Obama supporter Sean Shurelds, 42, in the stomach after the two men had a heated argument about their chosen candidates that led to Shurelds attempting to choke Ortiz, WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, reported Tuesday.

"Their verbal argument became physical. One began choking the other, and then the victim of the choking took a kitchen knife and stabbed his brother- in-law in the stomach," Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said.

Ortiz, a registered Republican, is charged with aggravated and simple assault and reckless endangerment. Shurelds was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition. Doctors said his condition has since improved to good.

"This is the kind of argument that takes place in households across the region, across the state, across the country, but it never turns violent like this. The consequences here are very serious," said Ferman.

Italians take it slow for a day

ROME, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Italy has celebrated World Slow Day with mock citations for walking too fast and the second annual Slow Marathon in Rome.

The marathon involved participants attempting to travel 656 feet without stopping in no less than an hour and 27 minutes, ANSA reported Tuesday.

Elsewhere, in the city of Bologna, people walking through the center of the city during rush hour were handed poems and literature readings were held around the city in the evening. In Milan, pedestrians considered to be walking too fast were issued symbolic citations to allow them to consider their reasons for not taking time to enjoy their commute.

''It's an occasion to take a little time for yourself and remember that if we're always rushing, we end up taking the wrong road,'' said Bruno Contigiani, the president of the association The Art of Living Slowly who originated Slow Day in 2007.