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UPI NewsTrack Quirks in the News(UPI Newswraps)Santa's lap stays dry working the phonesNEW YORK, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- A new breed of Santa Claus doesn't have to worry about tears, screaming, or a wet lap at the mall, as personal telephone calls are becoming more popular. Throughout the United States, a growing number of parents are turning to commercial services found on the Internet, such as Santa Calls Kids and Santa Speaking. The small operations charge from under $10 to a $39.95 package for up to three children that includes a digital recording of the call, The New York Times reports. Parents fill out forms so that Santa knows not only what is on the child's wish list but also the names of siblings, friends and teachers, favorite vacation spots and what was under the tree last year. Santa Speaking's Clauses often ask the child to hold for a moment while they scold Rudolph for coming into the house with wet hooves. Meanwhile, annual surveys by the International Council of Shopping Centers found that the number of children visiting Santa at the average mall had dropped to 6,000 by 2003, from 10,100 two years earlier. Germany, Estonia in marzipan feudLUBECK, Germany, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- A bitter dispute has erupted between Germany and Estonia over bragging rights as to which is home to the sweet candy marzipan, a Christmas staple in Europe. Major festivities are planned next year in Lubeck on the Baltic coast of Germany, where Germans claim European production began 200 years ago at the Niederegger marzipan works. We will be throwing open our factory to all our customers around the world, said Willi Meier, a Niederegger senior executive. However, in Tallinn, Otto Kubo, the founder of Estonia's marzipan museum said his country shares the founding distinction and just might have its own celebration. The sweet manufacturer Kalev was established in 1806, so it is exactly as old as the Lubeck confectioner, Kubo told The Times of London. Those unable to attend either festivity can find a recipe on the Internet for making marzipan at marzipancakes.com. California surfers revel in monster swellsSAN DIEGO, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Countless California surfers were nursing bruises and mourning damaged surf boards Thursday, after challenging waves as high as 35 feet that swept the coast. With several days notice from meteorologists, thousands of people headed for the coast Wednesday to witness the surge, caused by a major storm in Alaska's Aleutian Islands. One of the biggest swells to hit San Diego County in a decade pounded away from dawn until dusk, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. The massive surf did little property damage and there were no reports of deaths or serious injuries. However, lifeguards along the San Diego County coast were busy, scooping up more than 100 people using jet skis and boats, the newspaper said. A lot of broken boards, a lot of broken leashes, a lot of broken egos, said Lt. Larry Giles, an Encinitas lifeguard. World responds to missing baby penguinNEWCHURCH, England, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Calls of support from around the world are pouring into a zoo in England where staff is frantically trying to locate a baby penguin stolen five days ago. Toga, a 3-month-old, 12-inch black-footed penguin chick, was stolen from the Amazon World zoo on the Isle of Wight, and isn't expected to live much longer without its parents. The reward for Toga's safe return rose to $8,500 Wednesday as donations and messages of support were sent to the zoo from Russia, the United States, Canada, Belgium and New Zealand. Zoo manager Kath Bright said the chick's parents had stopped eating and were repeatedly searching the compound and braying. Police received several reports of sightings of Toga, but none had been confirmed by Thursday. Derek Curtis, the owner of the zoo from where Toga was taken, told the Daily Mail a man called GMTV and claimed he stole the bird and then dumped it in a plastic bag at Portsmouth Dockyard. |