Watercooler Stories

Police: Splasher could face charges

PLYMOUTH, England, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- British police said reckless driving charges are possible for a woman who drove through a puddle to soak children and then posted video of it on the Internet.

Devon and Cornwall Constabulary officers said videos posted to Facebook and YouTube depict Kerry Callard, 29, purposefully driving through the puddle in Plymouth, England, Oct. 8 to soak a group of children waiting for their school bus, the Daily Mail reported.

The video was taken by Callard's partner, Alec Goff, 28, who was a passenger in the vehicle.

Sgt. Gary Watson said Callard voluntarily came into the police station for questioning during the weekend and could face reckless driving charges.

"It could have potentially been that as well as splashing them, they ran them over, and then we would have had six or seven people dead at the roadside," Watson said.

Callard said the children asked to be splashed.

"The kids were actually calling to us to splash them," she said. "They were having fun in the bad weather. The fun factor is mostly gone from life these days but they were playing in puddles, like kids always have done. If the kids weren't saying 'Splash me, splash me,' I certainly wouldn't have done it. I'm not a serial splasher."

Bill would give tax breaks for pet owners

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- A bill before Congress with the backing of a veteran Hollywood actor would offer a per-person tax break of up to $3,500 for pet care expenses.

The bill, which was brought to U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Mich., by "Goonies" and "Diehard" actor Robert Davi, is aimed at promoting animal ownership during the economic recession, ABC News reported.

"What a pro-active way to be able to help the economy and change the culture in this country around animals," Davi said of the HAPPY Act, which stands for Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years.

"This money goes back into the economy, and it encourages people to understand the social responsibilities we have toward animals," Davi said.

The bill has quickly gained support from animal welfare groups.

"We think this is as much a healthcare bill as any," said Nancy Perry, vice president of government affairs at the Humane Society. "It's a human health issue to ensure that pets are provided with better care because of the role they play in our families."

Some officials object to city's ads

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Some city officials in Louisville, Ky., objected to a city ad campaign that makes reference to "butt tattoos" and parodies erectile dysfunction commercials.

Red7e, a marketing firm based in Louisville that created the ads for the city's "Possibility City" campaign, said reaction to the TV spots -- including one featuring a young man pining for a girlfriend with a "butt tattoo" -- has been mostly positive, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported.

Another controversial ad features a couple gazing at one another in a parody of erectile dysfunction drug commercials.

"You know that feeling when the mood is right, but the city is wrong. Louisville can help you enjoy a longer lasting or more satisfying recreational, occupational and personal experience. Ask you doctor if your heart is healthy enough to stand all these possibilities. Happiness lasting more than four hours is perfectly normal," the ad's narrator says.

Pip Pullen, an accounts director for Red7e, said the ads have received "an incredibly positive response."

"Except," he said, "some members of the Metro Council took umbrage."

Council member Doug Hawkins said the ads are "in poor taste and not a good reflection on Louisville. They tried to be cutting edge, and I think they crossed the line."

Council members are asking Mayor Jerry Abramson not to fund further ads.

Little people defend 'Little Cup' race

MELBOURNE, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Australian dwarfs who took part in the "Little Cup," a race in which they dressed as jockeys and rode piggy-back on big people, say it was a "bit of fun."

All three dwarfs who participated were paid actors, the Melbourne Herald Sun reported.

"We were dressed as characters, which were jockeys, to be out there and have a bit of fun, entertain and do our job as an actor," said Jeremy Hallam, who calls himself the "People's Dwarf."

The Little Cup was held Sunday as part of the running of the Cranbourne Cup at Cranbourne Racecourse near Melbourne. It has been criticized by everyone from Victorian Premier John Brumby, who described it as "hurtful to a number of people," down.

Racing Minister Rob Hulls suggested the event would hurt Melbourne's Spring Racing Carnival.

"I'm surprised that in the 21st century people still think this is the best way to promote a world-class event," he said. "We want to get people to come to regional Victoria, we want to get people to the Spring Carnival."