UNDATED (AP) - Are you happy? If the answer is no, maybe you're not a business owner. According to a recent survey, business owners are the happiest Americans. The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index finds professionals and managers/executives are the second-most satisfied group. Of course, those happy people also make the most money. Those working in manufacturing are the least satisfied. More than 100,000 people were included in the telephone poll.
REDSKINS-TWITTER APOLOGY
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) - A pro football player is pulling the plug on his Twitter
account. Washington Redskins rookie Robert Henson is also apologizing for
calling fans dim-wits. Henson fired off a number of messages at fans who booed
Sunday, during Washington's 9-7 win over the St. Louis Rams. Many in the stands
didn't like how the low-scoring Redskins played, despite the victory. People
clicking on Henson's Twitter page got an error message yesterday. A team
spokesman says the rookie took down the online messaging account on his own. One
player those fans weren't booing is Henson. He's yet to get into a game.
CARDBOARD COMPUTER
HOUSTON (AP) - Sure, your computer came in a cardboard box. But someday it could
be the cardboard box. University of Houston student Benden Macaluso has created
a cardboard computer as part of his graduate thesis. He says a cardboard PC
casing is cheaper to produce and can be recycled when it's time to put the CPU
out to pasture. Of course, cardboard and spilled coffee or soda don't play well
together. But Macaluso tells the Houston Chronicle most people are careful when
it comes to keeping liquids away from their computers. He says he's talking with
a number of companies about getting a cardboard computer into stores.
CHARGING STATIONS
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Charge it! No, it's not a way of paying for your gas. The
charge is instead of a fill-up. Virginia is partnering with its largest electric
utility for charging stations at some rest areas. Drivers of plug-in hybrid cars
will be able to get some juice while they tank-up on java. The first charging
station was installed this month at a rest area on I-64. It can charge up to
four vehicles at a time. Right now the charging stations put out 120 volts, but
officials say they'll be upgrade to provide twice the voltage.
TOILET SCAM
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (AP) - Call it the case of the urinal scammer. Police in
Fredericksburg, Va., are looking for the suspect in a plumbing con. Authorities
say a man is damaging restaurant urinals, then posing as a plumber offering to
fix them. A police spokeswoman says the phony plumber hit at least seven
restaurants in one afternoon alone. Police have now charged Timothy Banks of
Fort Washington, Md., with multiple counts, including felony vandalism. Police
say he faces similar charges in other area counties.
AUSTRALIA-VOTING AGE
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Can you imagine 16-year-olds having the right to
vote? It's being considered in Australia. The government is releasing a range of
potential options for reducing the voting age. Voting is mandatory Down Under.
Failure to cast a ballot is punishable with a fine. One idea is to make voting
voluntary between 16 and 18, the current voting age. Another proposal would
restrict voting eligibility to 16-year-olds with full-time jobs or who have
enlisted in the military.
