Watercooler Stories

ABC drops Miss America pageant

NEW YORK, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- ABC-TV Wednesday dropped the Miss America pageant, whose audience has decreased sharply during recent years after being on the air for five decades.

The decision to cancel it came a little more than a month after ABC broadcast the least-watched pageant, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. The pageant had been telecast on ABC since 1997.

ABC's decision not to renew the pageant on a one-year option left the annual event without a television sponsor, which is considered integral to its survival.

"We're now free to pursue other opportunities, and other parties are interested," said Art McMaster, acting chief executive officer for the Atlantic City-based organization.

McMaster said Miss America is eager to talk with a cable company, but declined to name it.

CBS also might be interested to talk to the pageant, the report said quoting an unidentified source.

Many Americans 'sexually adventurous'

NEW YORK, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- An ABC News poll of Americans' sexual attitudes and behaviors found 42 percent of respondents identified themselves as "sexual adventurous."

The ABC News Polling Unit working with the network show "Primetime Live" surveyed a random sample of 1,501 American adults aged 18 and older by telephone. Among the findings from respondents' answers:

-- Americans who had never had sex: 3 percent.

-- Americans in committed relationships who had been faithful the entire time: 84 percent.

-- Americans who have had sex on a first date: 29 percent.

-- Americans who have participated in a threesome: 14 percent.

-- Americans who have had sex outdoors or in a public place: 57 percent.

-- Men who say they always have an orgasm: 74 percent.

-- Women who say they always have an orgasm: 30 percent.

-- Women who have faked an orgasm: 48 percent.

-- Men who have faked an orgasm: 11 percent.

-- Those in a committed relationship having sex once a week or more: 74 percent.

-- Singles having sex once a week or more: 33 percent.

-- Americans who have had sex in the workplace: 12 percent.

Nickelodeon's kids pick Kerry as president

NEW YORK, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- If kids could vote, Sen. John Kerry would be the next U.S. president, Nickelodeon network's "Kids' Vote" indicates.

Children across the country exercised their votes in the network's poll held online Tuesday.

Nickelodeon said it has held the "Kids' Vote" every election year since 1988, and its voters have correctly predicted the winner in the last four presidential campaigns.

In this year's vote, Kerry received 57 percent of the vote, to President George W. Bush's 43 percent. The vote tally was almost 400,000, the announcement said.

In 2000, Bush was predicted the winner over Vice President Al Gore with 55 percent of the vote.

"The 'Kids' Vote' seems to work as a good barometer of the actual presidential vote because, developmentally, kids between the ages of 2 and 11 share the same opinions and outlooks as their parents," said Nickelodeon President Cyma Zarghami.

"What really counts, though, is the fact that kids got interested in the campaign and let their voices be heard. That's a great habit to develop and hold on to as they grow into responsible adults."

S.C. cops probe Taser shot at elderly lady

ROCK HILL, S.C., Oct. 20 (UPI) -- A South Carolina police department is investigating why an officer used a stun gun on a 75-year-old woman who wouldn't leave a nursing home waiting area.

Margaret Kimbrell, who had come to the EdenGarden retirement home to see a friend who was facing surgery, said she suffered bruises on her leg and face after she was knocked to the floor by the force of the electric weapon, called a Taser, the Rock Hill (S.C.) Herald reported Wednesday.

Soon after Kimbrell arrived at the home Friday asking about her friend, a staff member called police to have her removed for trespassing. That staffer was responding to a relative of the friend who told an EdenGardens administrator she did not want Kimbrell there.

Police say that when the officer arrived and pulled Kimbrell towards the door the elderly lady took a swing at the officer, prompting the use of the Taser.

Kimbrell, who contemplates legal action against the police, denies trying to strike the officer.

She was taken to the police station and issued a citation for resisting police and trespassing.

The Rock Hill police chief said he did not know when the investigation would be concluded.