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Obama in diapers sign draws protesters

NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- A group of about 60 people protested outside a New Orleans home where a man mounted a sign depicting President Barack Obama in a diaper.

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The protesters, who included former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, gathered outside Timmy Riley's Calhoun Street home Wednesday to demand the removal of the sign, which they said is disrespectful to Obama and African-Americans in general, WDSU-TV, New Orleans, reported Thursday.

However, the sign remained in place through Wednesday and police said Riley has the right to express himself.

"We see it every day. It's a monstrosity, and I can't believe somebody would put it up. But (Riley has) the right to do that, unfortunately," neighbor Veronica Lyons said.


School official apologizes for bra trick

ABINGTON, Mass., Sept. 30 (UPI) -- A Massachusetts school committee chairman apologized for performing a magic trick involving a simulated bra removal at a meeting.

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Abington School Committee Chairman Russell Fitzgerald said he regrets his choice of trick at Tuesday's meeting after fellow committee members and the teachers' union sharply criticized the stunt, The Enterprise, Brockton, reported Thursday.

The trick involved Fitzgerald and high school teacher Steven Shannon pulling handkerchiefs from beneath the arms of committee member Ellen Killian to reveal a bra tied to the handkerchiefs.

"I was just as shocked as everybody else," Killian said. "I just want to make it clear I had no prior knowledge how his trick was going to end."

The Abington Education Association, the teachers' union, said Shannon also had no prior knowledge of the trick.

Union President Jessica Kinsman said it is "unfortunate that Mr. Shannon, the 2011 Abington Teacher of the Year, was made an unwitting participant in a prank that caused embarrassment to others and to the community."

"The AEA does not condone any activity that causes personal embarrassment or that diminishes the respect that should be afforded to public policy makers carrying out their official duties," Kinsman said.

Fitzgerald apologized in a statement.

"My intention was to begin a purposeful school committee business meeting in a way which was enjoyable and lighthearted," he said. "I am sorry for the embarrassment this has caused Ms. Killian, my fellow school committee members and the School Department."

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Bras strung across Pittsburgh bridge

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Organizers of the "Bras Across the Bridge" breast cancer awareness event in Pittsburgh said thousands of bras were strung together across the Hot Metal Bridge.

The bras were hung across the length of the bridge, which connects the South Side Flats and South Oakland, as part of a campaign by American Eagle's Aerie and the non-profit group Bright Pink, WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, reported Thursday.

"I think it's interesting that we're doing this project on the Hot Metal Bridge that was built in the 1800s and used to carry thousands of tons of molten steel back and forth," said Marcie Eberhart of the American Eagle Foundation.

Eberhart said the bras will remain in place for a few weeks as part of October's National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

American Eagle said $1 from each bra sale made at Aerie stores in October will be donated to Bright Pink, which promotes early detection of breast and ovarian cancer.


CEO threatens firings over milk

HACKENSACK, N.J., Sept. 30 (UPI) -- A New Jersey business executive who had to go without milk for his coffee threatened to fire workers who do not replace the dairy product in the office fridge.

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Keith Zakheim, chief executive officer of Beckerman Public Relations in Hackensack, sent an angry e-mail to employees Tuesday after he found the milk that was left in the office was "literally three drops, an amount that would maybe fill the tummy of a prematurely born mouse," the New York Post reported Thursday.

"I have repeatedly requested until I am blue in the face that the person that finishes the milk must replace the milk," Zakheim wrote. "It's not complicated and is a simple sign of respect for fellow employees.

"The person that did this is either incredibly lazy, obnoxiously selfish or woefully devoid of intelligence -- three traits that are consistent with the profile of FORMER Beckerman employees," the e-mail read.

"I am gravely serious when I write this -- if I catch someone not replacing the milk, or at least, in the case where the downstairs store has closed already, not sending an e-mail to the office so the first person that arrives … can pick one up upon arrival -- then I am going to fire you. I'm not joking," the CEO wrote.

"Have fun explaining that one to your next employer," the e-mail read. "This is not a empty threat, so PLEASE don't test me."

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