A famous author offered her $1. 25 million mansion in Ocala, Florida as top prize for a pet essay writing contest. The generous donor is Clementina Marie Giovannetti, who has several bestsellers including "Clementina's Love Story: Diary of a Healer", "Caesar: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told By A Dog," "Oh Fair Maiden" and "The Best-Selling Guide To Dream Interpretation. "

Stricter absenteeism rules had little effect on British students after truancy rates rose 33 percent. The British government has spend almost $2 billion to overcome the problem, but 63,000 more British students skipped classes in the '06-'07 school year, compared to '05-'06. Family holidays and ailments topped the list of the reasons why British pupils skipped school. Schools Minister Kevin Brennan said 3. 47 percent of the absences were attributed to illness, especially among female students and poor pupils on free school meals. This was followed by family holidays which accounted for 0. 7 percent of the absences. The family holidays ate up 6. 8 million schools days, although 90 percent of the students who availed of this had the school's permission.

The Austrian Supreme Court denied a petition by a British woman to have her chimpanzee elevated to human status. Paula Stibbe, who assumed guardianship over Hiasl, a chimp who was left money by an unidentified benefactor to ensure his future after the animal house he used to call home went bankrupt, argued the ape should enjoy the same rights as any human child as Hiasl loves watching TV, playing games, on top of his being very affectionate.

A woman attended an NFL game Sunday, taking with her the ashes of her husband who was an incredibly avid fan of the home team. Kathy Desrosiers, 60, of New Hampshire flew to Pittsburgh to attend a Steelers game, the team that her husband had followed ever since a young age, despite being a New Hampsire resident. Desrosiers showed up at the game decked out in the team colors, and carrying with her the urn that held the remains of Richard Desrosiers.

Volunteer workers at the Daley Plaza bolted down a Baby Jesus in the store's Nativity Scene, with the hopes of keeping the display's main object from being stolen. The infant was secured to its spot with cable wrapped around its waist, and its body was then bolted to the floor of the manger.