Watercooler Stories

McCain insect wins cockroach race

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Aug. 22 (UPI) -- The 15th "Roach Derby" at Rutgers University in New Jersey has been won by a giant cockroach representing Republican candidate John McCain.

Thursday's running of the quadrennial race, first held in 1941 by the New Jersey Pest Management Association, pitted two giant Madagascar Hissing Roaches -- one representing McCain and the other Democrat Barack Obama -- against one another in a six-foot-long Plexiglas track.

The roach representing the Arizona senator broke from the gate first, covering the distance in less than five seconds, while the Obama insect dawdled.

"It was over so fast," Len Douglen, executive director of the pest group, said in a release.

The GOP roach also won the race for stand-ins for the as yet-unannounced vice presidential candidates.

Hissing cockroaches grow two to three times the size of American or German cockroaches.

City gives special transit pass for ferret

OTTAWA, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- A woman in Canada's capital city who suffers from agoraphobia has been granted a second exemption to take her calming pet ferret on public transit.

Frances Woodard, 54, filed a complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency last year after Ottawa's transit system told her she couldn't take her ferret named Gyno (pronounced Jeeno) on city buses.

Last autumn, she was granted an exemption based on her doctor's written statement that the animal's company was equivalent to guide animals for the blind or otherwise disabled.

But soon after, although there had been no complaints, the pass was rescinded by the OC Transpo transit agency, the Ottawa Citizen reported.

Ottawa's city council transit committee decided Wednesday night that Woodard could still commute with her ferret but ruled out anyone else with pets, even if they're caged, the report said.

The ruling had no effect on the permission of guide dogs for the blind and disabled.

Council defends birthday party decision

LUND, Sweden, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- A teacher's decision to force a child to take back invitations to his birthday party in the Swedish city of Lund was the right call, a local council says.

A city council ruled that the teacher, whose identity was not revealed, was correct in forcing the child to rescind the invitations since school policy mandates a student invite all members of a class or none at all, The Local said.

Lena Leufstedt, the council's administrative chief manager for schools, said the unidentified male student did not invite two of his classmates to his July party and therefore violated school policy.

"This is accepted practice at pre-schools and school within the district presided over by the board," Leufstedt said.

The boy's father told the Local the teacher's actions were ill-advised given the situation.

"My son took it pretty hard. No one has the right to confiscate someone's property in this way, it's just like taking someone's mail," he told the newspaper.

Scottish deer genitalia prized in China

DUNDEE, Scotland, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- The genital organs of Scottish deer are making their way to China, where athletes believe eating them contributes to endurance and strength.

The pizzles, as they are known in Scotland, come from the 100,000 or so highland deer culled every year to prevent overpopulation, The Scotsman reports.

"The meetings with the Chinese have been one of the most interesting negotiations I have ever had," said Christian Nissen, head of Highland Game, a Dundee venison dealer. "Every processor has the responsibility to attempt to sell as much of the carcass as possible."

Athletes have consumed pizzles for hundreds of years because the deer was a symbol of longevity. But there may be some scientific basis for the practice since the organs are heavy in vitamins and protein, the newspaper said.

Fans reportedly include Yao Ming, the Chinese NBA basketball player and one of the country's athletic heroes.

"I have never tried it, but if there are any Scots athletes who want to give it a go I'm sure we could arrange it," Finlay Clark, secretary of the Association of Deer Management Groups, told The Scotsman.