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Court transcribers can't handle Scottish

EDINBURGH, England, May 12 (UPI) -- Some Scottish lawyers complain that court transcripts are riddled with errors because the English company hired to make them can't handle the Scottish accent.

Donald Findlay, a queen's counsel or lawyer who can represent the government in court, told The Scotsman the transcriptions are "bloody awful."

"They know nothing of the local topography, which leads to some amazing phonetic translations of places," he added. "I would have thought it's not beyond the wit of man to check place names on the Internet."

The Scottish Court Service in 2006 designated Mendip Media Service, a company based in Devon, at the other end of Britain, to make transcriptions. Mendip blames the transcription problem on poor quality recording equipment used in Scottish courts but said it has also been using Scottish transcribers as much as possible.

Poll: Everyday civility declining in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY, May 11 (UPI) -- Residents of Utah are growing increasingly concerned that everyday civility is in decline, a poll indicated.

The Deseret Morning News said Sunday a poll it conducted with KSL-TV indicated most Utah residents believe civility in their state has declined during the past decade.

The Dan Jones & Associates survey of an unspecified number of people found that 67 percent of respondents said civility had declined, while 11 percent said civility had improved in Utah.

When asked in what ways civility declined, more than 90 percent of those who saw a problem cited cell-phone use, language and driving as the most troublesome violations of civility.

The Morning News said other problem areas included table manners, dress, e-mails and customer service.

P.M. Forni of Johns Hopkins University said such problems are rarely addressed in normal society.

"People, in general, in surveys see the problem but very seldom do they see themselves as part of the problem," said Forni, who heads up the university's Civility Project.

Elderly blind man bowls perfect 300

ALTA, Iowa, May 11 (UPI) -- An elderly blind man says he wasn't nervous and felt like a pro when he bowled a perfect game in front of a crowd at Century Lanes in Alta, Iowa.

Dale Davis, 78, a legally blind man nicknamed "The Hammer," made headlines when he rolled a 300 while bowling with his league, CBS News "The Early Show" reported.

"I didn't feel nervous. My hand was a little sweaty, but other than that, I wasn't really nervous. I just thought, 'Good Lord, let me throw a couple or three more good balls' ... and I got the help, I guess," he said.

It is reported Davis has had macular degeneration for 10 years, an incurable eye disease that has caused him to lose vision entirely in one eye and partially in the other.

"It was quite a thrill. For just a few minutes there, I felt like a pro," Davis said.

Dog owners flock to Fashion Island

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., May 11 (UPI) -- A high-end outdoor mall in Newport Beach, Calif., has become an increasingly popular place for dog lovers as stores in Fashion Island welcome canines.

The dog-friendly mall in California's Orange County is a paradise for pooches of all kinds, as owners are allowed to browse freely with their pets through up-scale shops, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

"Dogs have become the new kids. You tend to spoil them," said Kathy Jones, manager of Muttropolis, a fancy pet store on Fashion Island.

Some dog lovers say all malls should be as welcoming as Fashion Island when it comes to allowing canines indoors.

"Everybody loves dogs" said Fashion Island shopper Joey Magazzu. "They need more places like this where you can bring your dog."