Watercooler Stories

Expect more school fundraising via e-mail

KENT, N.J., Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Fall means not only back to school, it means a lot of public and private U.S. school fundraising.

"In the old days, you could get by with a candy sale," said Stanley Jaskot, principal of Meridian Elementary School in Kent, Wash. "Now schools have kids out selling wrapping paper, collecting box tops, soup labels. Parents are running book fairs, car washes, you name it."

The Association of Fund-Raising Distributors and Suppliers, a trade association in Atlanta, says school supporters bought $3.2 billion worth of products last year, but that does not take into account other efforts like auctions and bake sales, the New York Times reported Sunday.

One mother said she spent 150 hours and her team an additional 75 with billing and other paperwork connected to selling the fundraising products.

However, the Internet may make that easier. More and more door-to-door fundraising by schools is being moved to the Internet so family and friends can expect to see more and more school fundraising solicitations via e-mail.

World Series tickets went to rich first

CHICAGO, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Regular White Sox fans looking for tickets to the World Series should have thought twice on their career choice -- the rich and powerful got first dibs.

Tickets for the games in Chicago are selling for thousands of dollars, except for a few given to politicians, and people aren't hesitating to pay, the Chicago Tribune reports.

The Daleys -- longtime mayor, Richard, Cook County Commissioner John and eight others -- were in the family's season-ticket seats.

So was Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn who upgraded his season ducats for the series.

Others, like singer Tony Bennett, just placed calls to the Sox front office.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich called Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf himself.

An unknown number of politicians took advantage of the $185 a ticket special offered to them.

White Sox sponsors were able to take advantage of a special deal on corporate seats.

U.S. Cellular Corp., the sponsor of the stadium the team plays in, purchased 60, but those seats weren't for sale to the general public.

Ken wants Barbie back, undergoing makeover

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Irreconcilable differences were cited as the cause for the breakup of Barbie and Ken, but now Ken wants Barbie back, says U.S. toymaker Mattel.

Eighteen months ago, Barbie dumped the "metrosexual" blonde beach boy Ken, for Australian surfer Blaine, but now Ken is undergoing a makeover in an effort to win back Barbie, his love for the past 43 years, the Sunday Telegraph reported.

Russell Arons, Ken's personal manager and publicist, revealed that Ken has been in conversations with some of Britain's and Hollywood's top celebrity stylists.

"Ken needs to look effortless and cool without trying too hard. I'm sure Barbie would appreciate a man who spends less time in the bathroom than she does and wouldn't upstage her on a night out," said British stylist Kenny Ho, who has advised David Beckham and Pierce Brosnan.

"He should go for slim-fitting shirts, low V-neck knitwear, straight-cut, flat-front trousers, single-breasted jackets and military-inspired coats."

Some of the weirdest work outfits

MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Some U.S. workers have showed up at the office in a clown suit, a Cat in the Hat costume or a disco dress and it wasn't Halloween.

The Creative Group, a staffing service that provides marketing, advertising, creative and Web professionals on a project basis, asked 250 U.S. advertising and marketing executives to describe the weirdest outfits they've observed at the office.

The survey found some workers have been seen wearing bedroom slippers; pajamas; fur skirt, straw hat and sombrero on the job, while others appeared in Sumo wrestling gear and dressed as a full-body banana peel.

"Professionals in the creative industry often enjoy some freedom when it comes to office attire, but these examples show it's possible to go overboard," said Tracey Fuller, executive director of The Creative Group. "Employees should dress in a way that ensures their ideas -- not their fashion choices -- stand out."