Watercooler Stories

Teenager reaches sub-zero North Pole

LONDON, April 14 (UPI) -- A 15-year-old British girl says her arctic explorer father helped her brave sub-zero temperatures to ski to the North Pole.

Camilla Hempleman-Adams said she was among 11 people who traveled 80 miles in frigid temperatures to reach the North Pole. The teenager is the youngest British female ever to accomplish the goal, The Mail on Sunday reported.

"It's been amazing going on the expedition with my dad and now my eyes have been opened as to what he has done on previous trips," she said. "This has been the hardest thing I've ever done in my life."

Among the hardships Hempleman-Adams endured was pulling a 70-pound sled and consuming questionable foods -- not to mention the snoring.

"I've been sharing a tent with four men and two women and the snoring has been unbearable -- despite my ear plugs," she said.

Music hath charms to soothe

NEW YORK, April 14 (UPI) -- A harpist from California has learned how sounds can help soothe even the largest animal and has used her skills to help scores of pet hospitals and zoos.

Harpist Susan Raimond travels the nation visiting noticeably stressed animals and using her skill-set to calm the beasts with music, the New York Post reported.

In addition to in-person visits, Raimond offers tips in the book, "Through a Dog's Ear." The book includes a chapter in which she offers dog owners hints on how to improve their canine's behaviors and health through simple sounds and tunes.

Pianist Lisa Spector, also of California, has created music aimed at soothing animals. She even recorded an album of classical compositions to elicit calm behavior. That disc accompanies the "Ear" book, the Post said.

N.Y. activists want to nix horse buggies

NEW YORK, April 14 (UPI) -- Some businesses and animal rights activists are trying to convince New York officials to replace carriage horses in Central Park with antique car replicas.

The plan's supporters argue that it is cruel to make horses pull carriages and that replacing them with "green" Ford Model T replicas is a more eco-friendly choice, the New York Post reported.

The idea, pioneered by animal rights activist Jill Weitz, is aimed at maintaining "touring" businesses that depend on the park, but giving the animals a break, the Post reported.

"The horses will be off the road, but tourists will still have an option for a romantic ride," said New York business owner Steve Nislick.

Carolyn Daly, a spokeswoman for the Horse and Carriage Association of New York, said the horses should stay.

"No one wants to replace clip-clop, clip-clop with chitty, chitty, bang bang," she said.

Made-in-China Maori dolls anger Maoris

WELLINGTON, New Zealand, April 14 (UPI) -- Maori groups in New Zealand are upset about a new tourist souvenir -- Russian-style nesting dolls made in China purporting to depict Maoris.

Aroha Meade, a lecturer in Maori business studies at Victoria University, told The Dominion Post the dolls are an insult to Maoris and to Russian dolls.

"If you compare these to authentic Russian dolls, which are well-designed and beautiful with very intricate patterns, they are cheap and simplistic," she said. "They certainly don't have anything to do with Maori culture ... I don't think any Maori would make something like this."

Jeanette Joseph, a director of Avalon Imports, which commissioned the dolls, said they were designed by a New Zealander. She said labor costs are too high in New Zealand to manufacture them in the country.

Pita Sharples, a leader in the Maori Party, said the dolls show what New Zealand's free trade agreement with China means for the Maori.

A distributor told the newspaper the dolls, which go for as much as $35, are popular with tourists.