■ United Kingdom
Internet campaign backfires
Two weeks ago Steve Williams became so fed up with his daughter's messy bedroom that he built a Web site featuring pictures of the room in an attempt to shame her into action. While it did spur his daughter, Claire, into tidying up her room, it also whetted her appetite for revenge. With the help of her father's friends, the 20-year-old has now set up a rival Web site that displays photos of her father in a variety of silly situations. Williams' site (www.shameit.com) has proved hugely popular, with nearly 40,000 hits to date.
■ United Kingdom
Car-share lane approved
The go-ahead has been given for the first car-share lane to be built on a UK motorway in a bid to ease mounting congestion, Transport Secretary Alistair Darling said yesterday. The 1.6km stretch -- which can only be used by vehicles carrying two or more people -- will open next year at the junction of the M606 and M62 motorways near Leeds in West Yorkshire. Highways Agency studies have shown that during rush hour periods, 84 percent of vehicles using the M62 and M606 motorways on this stretch had only one occupant. Darling said the police would rigorously monitor the lane to ensure the restrictions were enforced.
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