Watercooler Stories

'Know-it-all' the worst Super Bowl guest

WHITING, Ind., Jan. 30 (UPI) -- A U.S. survey indicates the worst Super Bowl party guest is the "know-it-all" -- the one who knows all there is to know on football, food and commercials.

The survey, conducted for CouponCabin.com, by Harris Interactive found 52 percent of U.S. adults said the know-it-all was the worst party guest, but there were several other types of annoying party guests.

The survey also found:

-- 41 percent said the remote dominator -- a person who won't stop controlling the volume, changing the settings and flipping channels -- was the most annoying.

-- 38 percent said the worst guest was the social butterfly. Someone who doesn't watch the game and doesn't stop talking.

-- 21 percent said they disliked the super fan, who doesn't let anyone forget by being decked out in his/her favorite team's gear and team colors.

-- 18 percent said the dieter, who counts calories on one of the most celebrated days of junk food and snacks, was the most annoying.

-- 13 percent said the commercial watcher, the person who only pays attention during the commercials, was the most annoying.

Utility company leaves gnomes on poles

OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 30 (UPI) -- A California electricity company said it will not remove thousands of wooden blocks painted with the images of gnomes from utility poles.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. announced Monday the blocks, which were painted with gnomes by an anonymous artist and affixed to utility poles in the Oakland area during the past six months, would not be removed as previously announced due to their popularity with the public, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Wednesday.

"We received a great deal of public feedback, so we're declaring the poles gnome-man's land. We're not going to remove them," PG&E spokesman Jason King said. "We're committed to working with the artist, the city and the community to find a peaceful resolution."

The artist, who wishes to remain anonymous, sent an email to the utility company explaining his intentions.

"I'm a resident of Oakland who simply thought this would be a nice way to make my fellow Oaklanders happy and proud," the email read.

Man escapes jail, is busted at nearby bar

WASHINGTON, Pa., Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Police in Pennsylvania said a man who escaped from a holding cell was found having a beer at a bar near the police station.

Officers at the Smith Township police station said Timothy Bonner -- who was booked on an assault charge Saturday -- managed to knock the door of a holding cell off its hinges and escape from the building.

Police said Bonner knocked on Bill Stewart's door nearby and asked to borrow a pair of shoes.

Bonner then went to a nearby bar, where he told Robert Smith he had just escaped from jail.

"He asked me to buy him a beer, so I bought him a beer. He didn't even get to take a drink of it before they slammed him on the bar," Smith said. "He was only here a few minutes before police showed up."

Bonner faces additional charges and was taken to the Washington County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond.

Labrador retriever keeps top dog spot

NEW YORK, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- The American Kennel Club in New York said the Labrador retriever topped its list of the country's most popular dogs for the 22nd consecutive year.

The club released its statistics Wednesday on NBC's "Today" show, revealing the Labrador is the nation's top dog for the 22nd straight year, with German shepherds taking second.

The group said the top 10 breeds also include golden retrievers, Rottweilers, boxers and poodles.

"Bigger breeds are making their move," AKC spokeswoman Lisa Peterson said. "The popularity of the pint-sized, portable pooch just gave way to a litter of larger breeds in the top 10. These predictable, durable, steady breeds, like Labs and goldens, are great with kids and offer the whole family more dog to love."

Small breeds still had a presence on the list, with beagles and Yorkshire terriers putting in top 10 appearances.