Watercooler Stories

White House rejects impeachment ornament

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- A spokeswoman for first lady Laura Bush said a Christmas tree ornament calling for the impeachment of President Bush will not hang on the White House tree.

Seattle artist Deborah Lawrence created the ornament after Laura Bush asked all members of Congress to choose local artists to design decorations for the White House Christmas tree, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

Lawrence was chosen by Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., to design the piece and she used the ornament to honor McDermott and -- in very small text -- discuss his support for a resolution to impeach President George W. Bush.

"It's inappropriate and it's not being hung," said Sally McDonough, a spokeswoman for Laura Bush. "We reviewed the ornament along with all the (other) ornaments, and Mrs. Bush deemed it inappropriate for the holiday tree."

Lawrence, who attended a reception for the artists Tuesday at the White House, said she was not surprised that the ornament was pulled.

"This doesn't really surprise me. But it's disappointing that I won't get to see it on the tree," she said.

Woman protests fine with pennies

CHISELHURST, England, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- A Chiselhurst, England, woman said she paid a $160 parking fine in pennies after her parking pass fell off her windshield.

Maggie Gebbett, 63, said she received the penalty notice in May and wrote a letter of appeal to Bromley Council, explaining that she had purchased a parking pass but the hot weather had caused it to peel from her windshield, The Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday.

Gebbett said a solicitor acting as an adjudicator for the Parking and Traffic Appeals Service recommended the fine be canceled despite ruling that there had been a technical breach. However, she said the council refused to cancel the fine and told her it would be increased if it was not paid by Wednesday.

"I just think they have been extremely shabby about everything that has gone on," Gebbett said of the council as she rolled a wheelbarrow of 1 and 2 cent coins to the council office. "I have been told I can't have my case reviewed if I pay, but I am going to try and insist on a review. I have written a letter to say I'm making the payment under protest."

Boy, home alone, copes with burglars

SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- An 11-year-old boy, home alone in Salt Lake City, calmly hid under his bed and called police when he heard burglars.

The boy, identified only as Michael, had stayed home from school Tuesday because he was feeling sick, the Deseret Morning News reported. Around 10:30 a.m., the doorbell rang, but he did not answer because he did not recognize the man outside.

When the bell rang again and he spotted several men outside, he dialed 911, completing the call when he saw them preparing to enter the house. He ran upstairs with the phone.

The dispatcher told him to get under his bed with the phone, saying that someone would be on the line with him.

His scariest moment was when a burglar kicked in the door to his bedroom, which he had locked behind him.

"I saw his feet," he said. "I don't think they knew I was in the house."

As he lay on the floor, he soon heard police officers announcing themselves outside. The burglars fled.

Both police and Michael's parents had high praise for his coolness.

"I'm just amazed at how clearly he thought and how quickly he reacted," said his father.

Obama laments loss of Richardson's beard

CHICAGO, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- A beard-free Bill Richardson was with Barack Obama when the U.S. president-elect named the New Mexico governor his nominee for commerce secretary Wednesday.

People noticed and wanted to know about the missing facial hair.

"I'm going to answer this question about the beard," Obama said. "I think it was a mistake for him to get rid of it. I thought that whole Western rugged look was really working for him."

Whatever reason, Richardson is now clean-shaven after having variations of a beard in his unsuccessful bid to be the Democratic presidential nominee.

"But we're deeply disappointed with the loss of the beard," Obama said.