Watercooler Stories

Anger, not wonder, at 'Winter Wonderland'

RINGWOOD, England, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Some parents have found the "Winter Wonderland" at an expensive English theme park so disappointing they have physically assaulted Santa and his elves.

While a spokesman for the Lapland New Forest Park said 95 percent of the visitors had a good time, Dorset officials said they had received 1,300 complaints, the Daily Mail reported. One security guard, Adrian Wood, said he quit and agreed with the disgruntled visitors.

"Santa was punched by a furious father who had been waiting in line for 4 hours," Wood said. "He had got to the front only to be told he couldn't take a picture of his children and that they weren't allowed to sit on Santa's lap."

The park, opened for Christmas on the border between Dorset and Hampshire in southern England, charged 25 pounds ($37) for adult admission. The irate dad reportedly was told pictures with Santa would be another 10 pounds ($15).

Henry Mears, the spokesman, said six staffers or security guards had been physically attacked and everyone verbally abused. At least three Facebook groups have been created to allow them to vent their anger.

Knut the polar bear to leave Berlin

BERLIN, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Knut the polar bear, possibly the most famous Berliner of recent years, is likely to eventually be moved out of the German capital.

The bear was born in the Berlin Zoo two years ago this Friday. But officials say keeping Knut as he grows older and larger would involve spending millions of euros on adequate quarters that would also include a mate, The Independent reported.

"He should go sooner rather than later," Heiner Klos, chief bear keeper, said. "Knut must finally find a new home."

Knut is expected to move to another zoo by 2010.

The zoo held a party last year for Knut's first birthday. This year, no official celebration is planned, but some of his fans are discussing holding their own party across from the zoo.

At least 21,000 people have signed petitions to keep him in Berlin.

Knut's picture has appeared on T-shirts and the cover of Vanity Fair. Experts say Knut paraphernalia has brought in more than $10 million.

"Berlin is about to lose one of its best ambassadors," said Christian Tanzler, of the tourist board. "For our visitors from abroad it will mean the loss of one of the city's true mascots."

Facebook brings gatecrashers to Sweet 16

BRIGHTON, England, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- An English teenager's 16th birthday party turned into a disaster when 400 gatecrashers who had learned of the party on Facebook showed up.

Georgina Hobday had invited 100 people to her parents' townhouse in Brighton for a party modeled on those in the TV show "My Big Sweet 16." Michael and Sylvia Hobday had drafted four adults to keep out unwanted guests Saturday night, but they were unable to cope with the crowd that appeared, the Daily Mail reported.

Eventually, 20 police officers got the gatecrashers under control. But in half an hour the uninvited guests trampled the garden, broke mirrors with their heads and scorched curtains and rugs with cigarette ends.

"It was an absolute horror show, I will never have a party for my daughter here again," Sylvia Hobday said. "She had no idea who most of the people were and they were rampaging through the house."

She said there was no alcohol in the house when the party started, but the gatecrashers arrived with plentiful supplies.

At least some of the crowd were believed to be members of a group called the Facebook Republican Army which uses social networking sites to find parties to crash.

Woman: Ex-boyfriend stole wig

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla., Dec. 3 (UPI) -- Police in Port St. Lucie, Fla., say a woman who accused her ex-boyfriend of snatching a wig from her head was unable to recall her former beau's last name.

A police report released Monday said the 20-year-old victim was walking home from a party at about 3 a.m. Friday when her ex-boyfriend rode up to her on a bicycle and pulled off the black wig that was sewn to her hair, TCPalm.com reported Tuesday.

The victim claims her attacker slapped her after she began chasing him and fled after she said she was calling authorities.

Investigators said the woman told them she and the attacker had lived together for eight months but she was only able to recall his first name and the first letter of his last name.

The alleged perpetrator called the victim's cell phone while she was speaking to an officer and the police report said the man admitted to police over the phone that he had taken the woman's wig and fled after she threatened to call police.

The report said the ex-boyfriend hung up the phone after he officer asked for his last name. Police said Monday they are still working to identify the alleged attacker.