Watercooler Stories

Many Dutch prepare for 2012 apocalypse

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, June 24 (UPI) -- Thousands of people in the Netherlands say they expect the world to end in 2012, and many say they are taking precautions to prepare for the apocalypse.

The Dutch-language de Volkskrant newspaper said it spoke to thousands of believers in the impending end of civilization, and while theories on the supposed catastrophe varied, most tied the 2012 date to the end of the Mayan calendar, Radio Netherlands reported.

De Volkskrant said many of those interviewed are stocking up on emergency supplies, including life rafts and other equipment.

Some who spoke to the newspaper were optimistic about the end of civilization.

"You know, maybe it's really not that bad that the Netherlands will be destroyed," Petra Faile said. "I don't like it here anymore. Take immigration, for example. They keep letting people in. And then we have to build more houses, which makes the Netherlands even heavier. The country will sink even lower, which will make the flooding worse."

Bear cub in bar may lead to new law

OBETZ, Ohio, June 24 (UPI) -- Members of the village council in Obetz, Ohio, said they are planning a law to ban exotic pets after a bartender took a bear cub with her to work.

Obetz Village Council members said the law would ban anyone from taking exotic pets -- including bears, jaguars, boars and cheetahs -- into the village, The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch reported.

The move comes after Melody Pullen, who owns a menagerie outside the village, took a bear cub with her to the bar she owns in Obetz. She said she took the bear, named "Pooh," with her to the bar because it needed to be bottle-fed every three hours.

Pullen said the cub was popular with customers but the local fire marshal, an officer from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Obetz police arrived at the business to see the animal.

Obetz Police Chief Ken Hinkle said Pooh was found not to be a threat to anyone and Pullen possessed a state permit to own the bear.

Council members said the law is aimed at keeping "dangerous or undomesticated" animals out of the village.

"It's kind of like common sense," said Councilman James Triplett.

Company offers dog clone to contest winner

MILL VALLEY, Calif., June 24 (UPI) -- A California company has announced it will give away a free dog cloning to the pet owner who best pleads his or her canine's case for immortality.

BioArts International of Mill Valley said it will accept submissions for the Golden Clone Giveaway in the form of 500-word essays submitted by 3 p.m. Tuesday, the New York Daily News reported.

"Over the objections of our accountant, we have decided to give away one dog cloning slot to the family with the most 'clone-worthy' dog in the world," BioArts Chief Executive Officer Lou Hawthorne said.

He said the company decided to give away a cloning after it received multiple letters in response to its announcement of an auction that will give sell five dog clonings for minimum bids of $100,000.

Hawthorne said the letters were from "passionate dog owners who are upset that they cannot afford to participate."

"These e-mails describe some very special dogs, many of whom are nearing the end of their remarkable lives," he said.

BioArts announced in 2007 that a successful clone had been made of Hawthorne's deceased dog, Missy.

Man: Police invaded privacy

LAKEVILLE, Minn., June 24 (UPI) -- A Minnesota man says police invaded his privacy when they entered his home to remind him to keep his doors closed and locked.

Lakeville police officers said Troy Molde's door was ajar, his garage door was open, his keys were in the ignition of his truck and the TV was on when they arrived at about 3 a.m. Thursday, the St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer Press reported.

The officers were at the home as part of a campaign to leave notices reminding residents to keep doors and garage doors closed and locked at night.

They said they were justified in entering the home because their knocks went unanswered. The officers found Molde's 5- and 7-year-old sons having a sleepover with his 5-year-old twin nephews in the living room.

Sgt. Jim Puncochar said officers went upstairs to Molde's room because his children did not want to wake him.

"It really was suspicious," Puncochar said.

Molde awoke to officers knocking on his wall.

"I was just dazed," he said. "It's not a safe way of (police) protection."

The father said he felt that his family's privacy was violated.

"I was violated, but ... I wasn't physically damaged," he said.