News In Brief

A GOOD NAP SPOILED

To Clare Norquay, Barbie is a real doll. No, not the Barbie you're probably thinking of. This one is her daughter's pet hamster. The Reading, England, resident was vacuuming the rodent's cage, assuming Barbie wasn't in it. But she was - sleeping under some shredded paper. You can see where this is going, right? One unnatural sucking sound later, the vacuum cleaner stopped, and the hamster's hind legs were dangling from the nozzle. A veterinarian confirmed the little animal was OK, but understandably angry.

BUT WHAT IF HE'D DECLINED?

Hmmm, peppers or onions, Frode Jonassen was trying to decide at the produce counter of a market in Stavanger, Norway. Then, a new choice was offered over the public address system: marriage to girlfriend Tone Soerensen. She works in the store, but had been at his side until disappearing into a back room and grabbing the microphone. Given just 10 seconds to make up his mind, Jonassen said yes just in time.

Putting Ten Commandments back in school gains support

On Monday, Indiana's House of Representatives voted 92 to 7 to allow government entities, including schools, to put the Ten Commandments in displays containing other historical documents significant to the US legal system. Earlier, the Senate OK'd a similar bill, and Gov. Frank O'Bannon (D) has said he'd sign legislation - if it is ruled constitutional. (Editorial, page 10.) In 1980, the US Supreme Court decided that putting the commandments in schools violates First Amendment protections, but new lawsuits are pending. Meanwhile, the following states are considering measures similar to Indiana's, as compiled by The Washington Post:

Colorado

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Kentucky

Mississippi

Missouri

Oklahoma

South Dakota

- Washington Post/AP

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