Watercooler Stories

Misspelled memorial plaque to be replaced

CINCINNATI, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- A plaque dedicated to the memory of fallen U.S. soldiers from Clermont County, Ohio, will soon be replaced due to a 20-year-old misspelling, residents say.

County resident Jim Wilson said one of the four names featured on the honorary plaque was that of his younger brother, Earnest, who was killed in the Vietnam War -- but the plaque listed the name as "Earest," The Cincinnati Enquirer said.

"They left out just one letter," the 62-year-old said of the memorial unveiled in 1988. "He made the ultimate sacrifice. The least they could do was spell his name right."

After 20 years of seeing his brother's memory relegated to a simple misspelling, Wilson and his fellow family members are anxious to see a new plaque with the correct spelling, set to be unveiled Tuesday.

"This has been a big hurt for a long time," said Lucy Wilson, Jim and Earnest's mother.

The other names included on the memorial in Bethel, Ohio, are Pfc. Robert D. Waddell, Sgt. Jerry A. Eaton and Sgt. Paul J. Chandler, the Enquirer said.

School bans ice after throwing incidents

TITUSVILLE, Fla., Nov. 11 (UPI) -- The principal of a Titusville, Fla., high school said ice has been temporarily banned from the cafeteria after students were caught throwing cubes during lunch.

Lori Spinner, the principal of Titusville High, said soda machines in the cafeteria will not dispense ice for the time being after several students were caught throwing ice during their lunch period, WKMG-TV, Orlando, Fla., reported.

"There isn't a need for ice," Spinner said. "We've had a few incidents, and they result in messes in the buildings and the potential for students to slip on the floor."

Some students say the move unfairly punishes the entire school for a actions of a small few.

"I object to the entire student body being treated like children, because of a few immature kids in the cafeteria," senior Kavita Chapla, 18, said. "Why can't those kids just be dealt with rather than punishing everyone who buys lunch with lukewarm drinks?"

Study points way to human 'odorprinting'

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- A U.S. study says in addition to fingerprints and DNA every person may have a unique odor that can't be altered even by eating foods like chili or garlic.

Tests on mice conducted by the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia indicate that individual aroma may have come about as a means of choosing mates or marking out territories, The Daily Telegraph of Britain reported.

Jae Kwak, who led the mice odor study, says "odorprinting" could have a practical use.

"These findings indicated that biologically-based odor prints, like fingerprints, could be a reliable way to identify individuals." Kwak told the newspaper.

WhoCanISue.com fights bad lawsuits

TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 11 (UPI) -- A Florida lawyer says he created the Web site WhoCanISue.com to limit frivolous lawsuits not promote them.

Lawyer Curtis A. Wolfe said he decided to quit a private equity firm in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to produce a Web site that helps connect people with a reputable legal claim with a lawyer who can represent them in the country's legal system, the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times said.

The Web site, which made its debut in September, allows users to search for their grievance on the site and obtain a list of attorneys suited for such legal claims. The online service provides information on product liability, employment issues and accident claims.

The site's name may suggest Wolfe is promoting litigation but he assured the Times he believes the site will only help his profession's public image.

"There are certainly those who are fearful that because of the name it will give lawyers an even worse image," Wolfe said. "I think, in the end, it will improve people's perceptions."