A pair of tongue-in-cheek (tongue-in-beak?) protesters shouted out anti-bird- watching chants along the 16th Street Mall and handed out leaflets decrying the fact that bird watchers "shamelessly, blatantly observe God's defenseless creatures mating." No pro-birding counterprotesters rose to the challenge.

A fire call during a thunderstorm probably helped to save the De Queen, Ark., fire station Saturday afternoon.

The De Queen Fire Department received a call at 2:30 p.m. Saturday about a burning telephone pole or an electrical fire on Ballard Street.

A firefighter arrived at the station and when he opened the doors, smoke came out of the building, said De Queen Fire Marshal Dennis Pruitt.

"One of the firemen (Bryan Hodges) called me and said the place was full of smoke. I thought he was joshing me. He said, 'we've got a fire at the fire station,'" said Pruit

Dan took the alternative energy vehicle for a spin out at Haines Point where he was promptly stopped by a Park Police officer after being clocked going three times the posted speed limit.

New York-based JetBlue is looking for 1,000 of its frequent flyers to show up at JFK on August 23 to check bags given to them by the airline, go through security and wait at the assigned gate for their imaginary "flight".

In return, the airline is promising unspecified "giveaways", free parking and lunch.

A second Florida man has been arrested on charges of making false 911 calls in as many days. An arrest report says 47-year-old Carlos Gutierrez was at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino early Monday and called 911 to say the slot machine stole his money. The report says Gutierrez left the casino to place a second 911 call to say the same thing.

The parents of a New Zealand girl named Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii have been ordered to change her name because it risks making her the target of abuse and ridicule.
 
A lawyer acting for the girl claimed she was so embarrassed by her name that she had kept it from her friends, insisting she should be known as "K" instead. She also feared that if it became public she would be mocked and teased.

The lawyer claimed the girl fully understood the absurdity of her name, unlike her parents who had not considered the implications when they named her.

Around 3 p.m. Saturday, Centerville police and units from South Davis Metro Fire responded to a phone call advising the Davis County Sheriff's Office that a bomb had been placed inside the grocery store at 350 E. Pages Lane.

The store was evacuated shortly after the call came in. During the evacuation, a Dick's employee reported seeing a cylindrical device wrapped in duct tape near a cooler of dry ice.

Additional units from area police departments were called in to assist with traffic control and the evacuation of Dick's and nearby businesses.

Centerville police Lt. Paul Child said the businesses remained closed for about two hours while bomb-sniffing dogs and a bomb technician checked the building and determined it was safe.

The cylindrical device the employee saw turned out to be a piece of string cheese wrapped in duct tape, made to resemble a bomb.

Two cups of McDonald's iced coffee (BUY!) sit on the Fox 5 TV news desk, a punch-you-in-the-face product placement (BUY!) to chase down your morning news.

They've been on the Las Vegas station set for about two weeks, following the lead of a few TV stations across the country, and they're still looking every bit as frosty and tantalizing (BUY!) as they were the first day you laid your eyes on them.

Some journalists may be upset with this, but I for one think it's a good idea, as do my credit card bills. McDonalds people, call me.

Do not adjust your computer monitors, what you're seeing is correct. Hundreds of Santas on parade in the middle of summer. It's all part of the 52nd annual World Santa Claus Congress held in Copenhagen, Denmark. You have to wonder if it's such a good idea to have this many Santas together, lest believing children have their hopes dashed. Furthermore, they couldn't find a more seasonal time?

I guess not. During all the other parts of the year they're probably busy working in Malls.

Hit the jump for the full Associated Press article.

The measure certified Thursday would rename the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant the George W. Bush Sewage Plant.

Supporters say the idea is to commemorate the mess they claim Bush has left behind by actions such as the war in Iraq.

The campaign, which plastered the London subway with posters advertising the charms of South Carolina and five major U.S. cities to gay European tourists, landed with a resounding thud in South Carolina, where the issue of gay rights has long been a political flashpoint.

The advertisements were timed for London's Gay Pride Week, which ended Saturday. The posters touted the attractions of the state to gay tourists, including its "gay beaches" and its Civil War-era plantations.

"Reborn babies" are disconcertingly life-like baby dolls carefully crafted in vinyl, which have become swiftly popular mainly with collectors, but also with nostalgic grandparents and grieving parents.

Made and collected by an online community of enthusiasts, they are painted several times to create the mottled colour of newborn skin, have mohair hair and eyelashes, and are weighted to make them feel as heavy as human babies.