Watercooler Stories

Man eats 19 hot dogs to win contest

BAYONNE, N.J., July 21 (UPI) -- The second annual Bayonne Hot Dog Eating Contest in New Jersey was won by a man who downed 19 hot dogs and buns.

Giovani Costa took first place at the Sunday contest outside of Petridis Hot Dogs, while second place finisher Anthony Clarkin scarfed down 17 wieners and buns, The Jersey Journal, Jersey City, N.J., reported.

Third place wet to Matt Seemeh Jr., who initially tied with Joseph Wigdor at 14 hot dogs but was able to down two more during a runoff round.

Costa received a yearlong membership to the Forum Fitness Club, while Clarkin won a six-month membership and Semmeh was awarded a three-month membership.

All participants in the contest received a free T-shirt.

Smelly pig farm yields $1.1M settlement

STOCKTON, Mo., July 21 (UPI) -- A couple who sued a nearby hog farm over the smell it creates on their Kansas property has been awarded a $1.1 million settlement.

Ed and Ruth McEowen, who live near Stockton Lake, said the lawsuit was originally filed several years ago when the hog farm put up barns less than 1,000 feet from their home, The Kansas City Star reported.

"Night was always the worst," Ed McEowen said. "It's like the monsters come out at night. The sickening stench just lays down here in the valley once the sun goes down. You could never invite anybody over because you never knew how bad the stench was going to be."

The lawsuit named the owner of the barns, Dough Mullings, as well as the Missouri Farmers Association, North View Swine Co., Twi-County Swine and insurer Missouri Farm Bureau.

The McEowens said they will not hesitate to file another complaint if the smell problem is not dealt with properly.

Fla. store offers drive-through weddings

ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla., July 21 (UPI) -- A Florida minister offering drive-through weddings said no one has taken advantage of the service yet, but it has brought many curious passersby to her store.

Rev. Sharon Burnett, 58, said she opened the Mother Earth Goddess metaphysical store in Zephyrhills in July and decided to convert the pickup window for the dry-cleaning business that previously occupied the building into a location for drive-through weddings, the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times reported.

Burnett said couples with a marriage license, a witness of legal age and $20 can drive up and exchange their vows in a quick and easy ceremony without ever leaving their cars. She said she is also offering vow renewals and commitment ceremonies for same-sex couples.

"It's no different than standing at the courthouse," Burnett said.

Key West may get nude beach

KEY WEST, Fla., July 21 (UPI) -- Key West, Fla., which contains a nude rooftop bar and nude pools, may finally get its first nude beach, city officials said.

The city -- home of the annual 10-day "Fantasy Fest," at which participants walk around in body paint instead of clothing -- outlawed nudity on public beaches in 1983. City Commissioner Bill Verge said he hopes to change that with a proposed Oct. 6 referendum that would allow residents to decide whether a slice of city-owned beach will go clothing-optional, The Miami Herald reported.

Verge said the city commission has "bigger fish to fry with all the budget problems. But if the community wants a nude beach, then the community can vote for it."

Monroe County Commissioner Sylvia Murphy voiced her support for a nude beach in Key West.

"No one visiting us (from other countries) understands why we are such prudes," she said.