Watercooler Stories

In Omaha, it pays to go to church

OMAHA, April 21 (UPI) -- Leaders at an Omaha church took a novel approach to assessing the quality of their services -- paying people to attend church.

The Covenant Presbyterian Church paid eight people $25 each to attend a service Sunday and complete a survey about the experience that included questions about whether the church conveyed a meaningful message, KETV, Omaha, reported.

Senior pastor Jeremy Grant said the church is looking for ways to improve.

"We come here every week, and we're used to this congregation and the way it operates, how does someone else see this?" he said.

Joe Davis, who consulted on the creation of the survey, said the process allowed the church to obtain legitimate third-party opinions.

"What they're giving us is worth so much more than what's being paid," he said.

Teen found prom date on Craigslist

WICHITA, Kan., April 21 (UPI) -- A Kansas teenager said he used unconventional means to find a prom date -- he posted an ad on the Craigslist Web site.

James Dworak of Wichita's Derby High School said all of his friends already had dates for the big dance, so he turned to the Internet with a Craigslist posting that described him and outlined what he was looking for in a prom date, KWCH-TV, Wichita, reported.

"I didn't want someone that would look like my mom," Dworak joked.

He said the posting also included his rules for the prom date; no kissing and no crying if he decided to cancel.

"I said I wanted to do a formal dance and a dinner, go there and get pictures," Dworak said.

The posting attracted the attention of Ashlea Talley.

"It's nice to help somebody out," she said.

The pair met for the first time at a coffee shop, with their parents on hand, and decided on matching outfits for the prom, which took place Saturday.

Both teenagers said they endorse using the Internet to find dates, provided it is done safely and parents provide supervision and give their approval.

Dr Pepper picks up wedding tab

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., April 21 (UPI) -- A Virginia woman who auctioned off a bridesmaid spot on eBay said the sale also resulted in free beverages when it was won by soda company Dr Pepper.

Kelly Gray said the auction last summer was meant as a way to raise money for her wedding to Karl Gau, which took place Sunday in Virginia Beach, but the soda maker's victory meant that she received not only a $10,000 donation toward wedding costs, but also a free supply of Dr Pepper for the reception, the (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot reported.

Gray said news of Dr Pepper's donation led several other businesses to supply the wedding cake, DJ photo booth and other wedding must-haves.

The bride said she had an ice sculpture at the ceremony carved to resemble a vintage Diet Dr Pepper bottle as a tribute to the benefactor.

"I thought it would cool, kind of a good way to give back," she said. "If it wasn't for Diet Dr Pepper, it wouldn't have been this dream wedding."

'Love locks' removed from Rome church

ROME, April 21 (UPI) -- Thousands of padlocks bearing the initials of lovers were removed Monday from the rails of a church facing Rome's Trevi Fountain, workmen said.

The two workmen used bolt cutters to remove the locks and said the items were destined for the trash dump, ANSA reported.

The custom of young couples marking "love locks" with dates and their initials was inspired by the 2003 book and film, "Three Meters above the Sky," ANSA said. Emulating the protagonists of the story, young couples began attaching their marked padlocks to a lamp post on the Milvian Bridge and throwing the keys into the Tiber river.

The tradition moved to the church rails after the lamp post nearly collapsed from the weight of the locks.

The workmen said the order to remove the locks came from the parish priest of the church, which is dedicated to Saints Vincent and Anastasius.

"There were too many locks, and in any case this is a place of prayer," one of the workmen said.

However, enthusiasts have moved to keep the tradition alive with a Web site that allows couples to put their initials on a virtual lock and throw the key into a virtual Trevi, ANSA said.