Watercooler Stories

Hay-covered hunter shoots partner in arm

BRENTWOOD, N.Y., Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Authorities in New York say a Long Island duck hunter was charged after accidentally shooting his partner in the arm.

Ricardo Carter, 50, of Brentwood and the unidentified victim were tracking ducks Saturday from their hay-covered boat near Point Lookout when Carter's gun discharged, the New York Post reported.

The injured duck hunter was expected to recover after being treated at Nassau University Medical Center, the newspaper said.

Carter was charged with assault and reckless endangerment, police said.

School says 'school' too negative a name

SHEFFIELD, England, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- A new primary school in Britain has decided against calling itself a "school" because it considers the word too negative.

"One reason was many of the parents of the children here had very negative connotations of school," said head teacher Linda Kingdon, calling Watercliffe Meadow "a place for learning."

Watercliffe Meadow, which was scheduled to open Monday, will ban whistles, bells and locked doors, said Kingdon, noting children will be encouraged to wear soft shoes indoors to feel more comfortable, The Telegraph reported.

"We wanted to de-institutionalize the place and bring the school closer to real life," she said.

Marie Clair of the Campaign for Plain English said, "We all know that they are going to be going to a school whatever you call it."

Name-changing process costly in Alaska

PALMER, Alaska, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Alaskans who want to change their names legally should be prepared to open their wallets, says a woman who turned down a chance to do it for free.

Julie Hasquet-Woolston said she passed on a free name-change when she divorced her husband four years ago, but she didn't consider how expensive the legal process could be later, the Anchorage (Alaska) Daily News reported.

"It's a ridiculously expensive process," she said. "I'm spending between $250 and $300 to change my own name. When I got divorced, the judge asked what name I wanted. He said, 'Today it's free. From here on out, it will cost money.'"

Eric Sven Granger and his wife Kellie Rae agreed that paying hundreds of dollars and filling out various forms was a protracted way to drop their Skjalg last name.

"We thought about it afterward and wondered if it wouldn't have been cheaper to get an annulment and remarry," Granger said, referring to the state's streamlined name-changing process for married couples.

The Daily News said name-change applicants must first fill out and file a petition and a form, then seek a court date, pay fees and take out four legal advertisements.

January big month for divorce

LONDON, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- British lawyers say divorce filings rise in January because the holiday season stresses marriage -- and this year the economy has caused more stress.

Takelegaladvice.com said lawyers report about 30 percent more couples have taken the first step of seeking legal advice this year than last, The Daily Telegraph reported.

"It is a combination of Christmas and the credit crisis," said Mary Heaney, who works for the Web site. "These issues are putting pressure on relationships and are pushing couples to seek help."

Tanya Roberts, a partner in the firm of Charles Russell, said couples usually wait until their children are back in school after the holidays.

"It's ultimately speculation, of course, but the word on the street is that January 20 will be the busiest day this year for divorce applications," she said.