Watercooler Stories

Vicar accused of ruining wedding ceremony

LICHFIELD, England, July 7 (UPI) -- A British couple says a vicar ruined their wedding ceremony by stopping the nuptials to kick their child out of the church for talking.

Ashley and Vicky Thorpe allege the Rev. David Cameron interrupted their wedding to have their 2-year-old son Cameron removed for speaking during the service, The Mail on Sunday reported.

"This is a legal ceremony and I cannot proceed with that (Cameron's chattering) going on," the vicar was quoted as saying. "Will somebody please take him outside?"

After one of the child's relatives defended the noisy boy, the minister continued on with the ceremony.

The new Mrs. Thorpe, 20, has alleged to the diocese of Lichfield that the vicar's actions during last month's ceremony marred her perfect day.

"A wedding is supposed to be the best day of a girl's life but my service was ruined by the actions of a nasty vicar," she told the Mail.

"It is completely unrealistic to expect a child to remain silent in church."

Woman recovering from car nightmare

MILWAUKEE, July 7 (UPI) -- A 91-year-old woman in Greendale, Wis., was recuperating after spending nearly two days trapped underneath a car, her niece said.

Greendale Police Chief Rob Dams said Betty Borowski apparently became stuck under the vehicle June 29 after trying to reach some keys that had fallen in her garage, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported.

"She was pretty well wedged in there," Dams said. "It looks like she crawled under head-first."

After a mail-carrier noticed Tuesday that the elderly woman had not retrieved her Monday mail, he contacted the police and a responding officer heard Borowski calling for help from her garage.

Firefighters were called to the scene and freed the woman from the vehicle, the Journal-Sentinel said.

The newspaper said Borowski was dehydrated and confused, and may have suffered a heart attack during the incident. Her niece, Nancy DiMarco, said her aunt was recovering at a Milwaukee hospital.

Millennials torn over generation labels

WASHINGTON, July 7 (UPI) -- Some Americans in their 20s and early 30s say they feel torn between generalized labels, such as millennials or generation Y, applied to their age group.

Some people categorized as millennials or generation Y say they are confused by pop culture labels because they aren't drawn to a particular category, The Washington Post reported.

"I don't know where I am in this generational timeline," said Doan Nguyen, 26, a photo editor for a non-profit group, Conservation International.

Some people believe those in the post-X generation are uncertain about their identities because the Internet and increased academic pressures have caused their lives to be more fragmented than those of past generations, the Post said.

"People resist labels more among the millennials because there's more subcultures. It's a fragmented culture in a way that it's never been," said Michael Connery, 30, author of "Youth to Power."

Security camera roils remote village

ELGOL, Scotland, July 7 (UPI) -- Residents of a remote village on the Scottish island of Skye are angry about a reminder of modern life -- a closed circuit TV camera on the pier.

Most of the residents of Elgol, which has a population of about 100, have signed a petition demanding the camera's removal, The Scotsman reports. They say the Highland Council installed it without talking to the locals.

Melanie McKinnon said local children should be able to play on the beach without being under surveillance. She said tourists have concluded crime must be high in Elgol.

"On the first day the camera went up 10 people went into the shop to ask about crime levels in Elgol," she said. "It's embarrassing. People are asking whether it's safe to leave their cars. There hasn't been crime here in the 10 years I have lived here."

The council said the camera system, which cost $2,400, was put in because of complaints about unauthorized boats docking at the pier.