Barnyard humor // Author milks idea for all it's worth

There are times in all our lives when we have those naggingdoubts about why we do what we do for a living. For Thomas Hageythat moment arrived several years ago when he was stopped by a policeofficer at 6 a.m. on a dark Canadian country road.

Sitting next to Hagey in the cab of his pickup truck was aperfumed pig, its hooves painted with red nail polish. And thenthere was the bag of lingerie - teddies, lace panties, garter belts.

Sure, it was a tad embarrassing. Still, it was a damnfine-looking pig.

Hagey began to explain he was merely taking the pig to a photosession. Sure, that's what they all say. The cop had had enough.

Not wanting to hear …

Hundreds mourn Rangers fan who fell to his death

BROWNWOOD, Texas (AP) — Relatives, friends and fellow firefighters are among the hundreds of mourners at a public visitation for the 39-year-old Texas Rangers fan who fell to his death trying to catch a ball thrown by his son's favorite player.

Shannon Stone died Thursday after dropping head-first about 20 feet from the seats at Rangers Ballpark. Josh Hamilton tossed a ball his way and Stone wanted to …

AP sources: Obama backs high-end health plan tax

President Barack Obama signaled to House Democratic leaders Wednesday that they'll have to drop their opposition to taxing high-end health insurance plans to pay for health coverage for millions of uninsured Americans.

In a meeting at the White House, Obama expressed his preference for the insurance tax contained in the Senate's health overhaul bill, but largely opposed by House Democrats and organized labor, Democratic aides said. The aides spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was private.

House Democrats want to raise income taxes on high-income individuals instead and are reluctant to abandon that approach, while recognizing that they will …

`The Blue Room'

NEW YORK Let's get down to what most people want to know about"The Blue Room," the London play that has brought Nicole Kidman toBroadway.

Yes, Kidman, in various stages of demure undress, is just aboutperfect, physically and otherwise. The play, unfortunately, is not,despite director Sam Mendes' highly kinetic production that racesthrough 10 short scenes of seduction.

Arriving Sunday at the Cort Theater on a tidal wave of burblingsfrom the British press, "The Blue Room" is a chilly, neon-litmeditation on sex that playwright David Hare has freely adapted fromArthur Schnitzler's "La Ronde."The production has a stainless-steel heart, despite Kidman'smagnetic …

AIChE part of task force to develop retirement plan

AIChE R leading the efforts of a task force of engineering and science societies that is studying the feasibility of offering retirement packages to their members.

A market survey of the retirement needs of engineers and scientists completed in early summer showed that a significant market exists for a properly designed occupational retirement plan. The survey was conducted under the auspices of the American Association of Engineering Sodeties (AAB) and overseen by a group led by AIChE president Gerhard Frohlich. Ten engineering and scientific societies paid for the survey.

Based on the …

Falling rock kills climber on Oregon's Mount Hood

A 55-year-old physician who had scaled Mount Hood was killed by falling rock that struck him on his way down, authorities said.

Dr. Gary Lee, an experienced climber, was with his son Sunday afternoon when a rock "dislodged from the ice above" and hit him at about 9,000 feet on the 11,239-foot peak, the Hood River County sheriff's office said.

He fell about 1,000 feet before coming to rest in an area of rock and ice above Eliot Glacier, the sheriff's office said.

His body was spotted Sunday evening by helicopter crews from the Oregon National Guard.

…

Devils frustrate Leafs; Red Wings win

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Pat Quinn has more to worry about thanlosing by four goals, falling behind 2-1 in the best-of-seven seriesand being outplayed for the third straight game by the New JerseyDevils. In Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal Monday night,Quinn saw his Toronto Maple Leafs quit.

"I'm not happy how we played," Quinn said after the Devils' 5-1win at the Continental Airlines Arena. "Part of it was how well theyplayed and part of it was we did not respond. In the third period wedid not compete."

In some ways, that's understandable.

Toronto played its best period of the series in the first periodand got the wide-open, free-skating contest it …