UPI NewsTrack Quirks in the News - November 21, 2007 : General

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21
Santa Claus accused of promoting obesity
NEW YORK, Nov. 21 Some U.S. critics would rather see jolly old Santa Claus on a Stairmaster rather than a sleigh, as they accuse the holiday icon of promoting obesity.

With obesity becoming an increasingly large problem in the United States, these critics have suggested creating a slimmer version of the Christmas icon that would send a message of healthy eating and holiday joy to kids nationwide, New York's WABC-TV said Monday.

But at least one official at the Child Study Center at New York University opposes such an untraditional portrayal of Santa Claus.

While Dr. Andrea Vazzana recognized the growing threat of obesity to children across the United States, she added that a thinner Santa would have little to no impact.

Instead, the NYU center official suggested that parents take on a more active role in their children's eating habits and encourage physical activity.

"I think the true culprit is probably far closer to home than the North Pole," she told WABC-TV.

Fiancee beats up beau for secret baldness
NEW DELHI, Nov. 21 A man in Dispur, India, claims he was beaten and robbed by his fiancee less than a month before his wedding for hiding the fact he is bald.

Prabir Das, 33, told police someone gave away his secret to his fiancee, Shreshta Roy, who suddenly turned on him at a family dinner, a Daily Telegraph correspondent reported. Das said the woman tore off his hairpiece and began pummeling him and insulting him and that her family joined in, the report said.

The hairpiece was torn to shreds and Das said his would-be in-laws took his wallet, mobile phone, motorbike and driving license as a "penalty" for hiding his baldness.

Police haven't filed any charges but said the Dec. 12 wedding appears to have been called off, the newspaper said.

Mom apologizes for TP incident
DILLSBURG, Pa., Nov. 21 A York County, Pa., mother says she has learned her lesson after she was caught driving her daughter and six other teenagers to toilet paper their school.

Jennifer Lane said she made a judgment error during her daughter's Nov. 10 slumber party and agreed to drive the girls to buy large amounts of toilet paper and spread it around Northern Middle School, the York (Pa.) Daily Record reported Wednesday.

"I was wrong. I admit that," Lane said. "They begged me and begged me, and I gave in.

"It was just meant as a harmless prank. I was just trying to be a friend instead of a parent. That won't happen again."

Alert store employees called police to report a group of teenage girls purchasing large amounts of toilet paper and acting suspiciously. A security camera took note of Lane's license plate and police arrived later at her home, where the mother and teenagers confessed to the toilet paper caper, police said.

Lane was given a citation for disorderly conduct and the teenagers were taken home and placed in their parents' custody.

Third-grader saves life with Heimlich
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Nov. 21 A Jacksonville, Fla., third-grader said he learned the Heimlich maneuver, which he used to save his friend's life, from a cartoon.

Carl Brown Jr., 9, said he remembered seeing the life-saving maneuver on television when his friend, Davis Soots, began choking Monday at Greenfield Elementary, WJAX-TV, Jacksonville, reported Wednesday.

"His face was all red and his eyes were red and his tears were coming down, that's when he started choking," Brown said.

"I came behind him and had my arms around him and I did the Heimlich," Brown said.

The boy said he learned the Heimlich maneuver from a cartoon movie he saw on TV.

"I saw it on a cartoon movie. It was a man -- a big man choking on an apple or something and a little boy came behind and tried to get it out," Brown said.

Copyright 2007 by UPI