Watercooler Stories

You say 'Nevahda,' I say 'Nevaada'

CARSON CITY, Nev., Aug. 13 (UPI) -- "Nevada" should have two acceptable pronunciations so out-of-staters don't get chastised for pronouncing it like "armada," a state legislator says.

The Silver State's 2 million residents may pronounce Nevada with a flat "a" -- "a sound not unlike the bleating of a sheep," Assemblyman Harry Mortenson, D-Las Vegas, says.

But 7 billion people outside the state pronounce it with a soft "a" -- "not unlike a sigh of contentment," he says -- and they shouldn't get "raked over the coals" for using the Spanish pronunciation.

"Nevada" is a Spanish word meaning "snowfall" or "snow-capped" or "white as snow."

Gov. Jim Gibbons says the "ah" pronunciation doesn't drive him crazy, but he does inform the uninitiated that "if they want to be socially acceptable, they should" use the flat-a pronunciation.

"We have a Ramada hotel, but it is in Nevada," he tells the Las Vegas Sun, using the sheep-bleating elocution.

Mortenson calls this continual correction a "prodigious and daunting task" that his resolution would end.

But he is term-limited and won't be at the 2011 state Legislature. So he must find another lawmaker to introduce the bill -- and so far hasn't asked anyone, the Sun says.

And even if he does, "It remains to be seen how far the bill will get in 2011 with lawmakers dealing with such issues as a $3 billion budget shortfall and reapportionment," the newspaper says.

Thief on skates stopped by passersby

MIAMI, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- A Florida photographer said a roller-skating bandit who snatched his camera was stopped by a taco stand owner, an Iraq War vet, a judge and her teenage son.

Al Diaz of The Miami Herald said he was preparing to photograph the Taqueria Mexicana Orale taco truck Wednesday for a feature story when the thief wearing roller skates grabbed the camera and sped away, The Miami Herald reported.

Taco stand owner Moises Gonzales chased the thief on foot and flagged down Deborah White-Labora, a drug court judge driving a white van with her children, Christopher, 17, and Amanda, 20.

The van was the first pursuer to catch up to the man and Christopher White-Labora tackled the suspect and was soon joined by Gonzalez.

Iraq War veteran Ian Vaquero said he was unsure how to interpret the melee on his front lawn, so he pulled out his 9mm Smith & Wesson and told everyone to freeze.

Police arrived to sort out the situation and James Dewey Bretthauer was arrested on a theft charge.

"I never thought photographing food vendors would be a dangerous affair," Diaz said. "But the taco stand owner, the drug court judge, the boy and the Iraq war veteran, they are my heroes."

Suit claims Donald Duck groping

ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 13 (UPI) -- A Pennsylvania woman's lawsuit claims she was groped by an actor dressed as Donald Duck while visiting Florida's Walt Disney World.

April Magolon, 27, of Upper Darby, said the performer grabbed her chest and made lewd gestures while she was holding one of her children during a May 2008 visit to the Orlando theme park's Epcot area, WESH-TV, Orlando, Fla., reported.

Magolon, who is seeking more than $50,000 in damages, said the incident left her traumatized and suffering from flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, headaches, nausea, cold sweats, insomnia and digestive problems.

The suit accuses Disney of negligence, battery, and infliction of emotional distress.

Mom: Topless sunbather 'troubled' sons

ANZIO, Italy, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- An Italian woman said she was questioned by police because a mother said her method of applying cream while sunbathing topless was "troubling" her sons.

Italian police said the mother asked the woman, identified only as Luisa, 26, to cover her breasts while sunbathing at a public beach in Anzio because the process of applying cream "troubled her sons aged 14 and 12," The Daily Telegraph reported. The mother called police when the woman refused her request.

"The fact a file has been opened is compulsory following the complaint but I can't imagine any judge in 2010 convicting a woman for sunbathing topless," said Gianluca Arrighi, a lawyer for Luisa.

Arrighi said topless sunbathing on public beaches is legal in Italy except where banned by local laws.

Police said the incident was under investigation.

"The patrol went and took her details and she argued, still topless, that she could see no harm in what she was doing as it was a public beach," a police spokesman said. "We have opened a file on committing an obscene act as we are committed to following the complaint. From what I heard she was very attractive."