Sex, blood and baby names: the US now mad for free gas

NEW YORK – Some US motorists sick of getting clobbered at the pump seem willing to do just about anything for free fuel, from giving up the right to name their children to stealing from day-care centres to donating blood.

In Orlando, Florida, David Partin pledged to name his son after local radio hosts to win a US$100 petrol card as part of a contest. Partin will collect the card in December, when his son is born, if he can produce a birth certificate proving the baby is named Dixon Willoughby Partin, after the hosts.”(His wife said) this is his problem to explain when the child is older,” Greg Stevens, WHTQ-FM programme director told Reuters.At the Shady Lady Ranch brothel in Beatty, Nevada, clients who spend US$300 or more this month will receive US$50 gas vouchers as part of a promotion to beat the summer slump in business.”It’s rocking along.We’re doing quite well.June and July historically are not big months,” said James Davis, who co-owns the ranch with his wife, Bobbi.The first US$1 000 in gas cards were given out within a week, he added.In Mesquite, Texas, thieves drained US$100 worth of petrol from buses used by the Higher Ground Church day-care centre and have hit four or five other church centre fleets in the area.”It was someone who was desperate,” said James Green, the church’s pastor.”All he had to do was come and ask us and we would have bought him a tank of gas.”The American Red Cross, meanwhile, is running a summer raffle where blood donors are eligible to win a year’s supply of fuel.At St Ann’s Parish in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, the Reverend Edward McDonagh has decided to institute a drawing for a US$50 petrol card at weekly mass.The drawings are symbolic gestures and not intended to boost attendance, he said.”When Jesus was at the wedding feast of Cana, the groom ran out of wine, he produced the wine for them,” he said.”In that spirit, we feel that this might be comparable.”Nampa-ReutersPartin will collect the card in December, when his son is born, if he can produce a birth certificate proving the baby is named Dixon Willoughby Partin, after the hosts.”(His wife said) this is his problem to explain when the child is older,” Greg Stevens, WHTQ-FM programme director told Reuters.At the Shady Lady Ranch brothel in Beatty, Nevada, clients who spend US$300 or more this month will receive US$50 gas vouchers as part of a promotion to beat the summer slump in business.”It’s rocking along.We’re doing quite well.June and July historically are not big months,” said James Davis, who co-owns the ranch with his wife, Bobbi.The first US$1 000 in gas cards were given out within a week, he added.In Mesquite, Texas, thieves drained US$100 worth of petrol from buses used by the Higher Ground Church day-care centre and have hit four or five other church centre fleets in the area.”It was someone who was desperate,” said James Green, the church’s pastor.”All he had to do was come and ask us and we would have bought him a tank of gas.”The American Red Cross, meanwhile, is running a summer raffle where blood donors are eligible to win a year’s supply of fuel.At St Ann’s Parish in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, the Reverend Edward McDonagh has decided to institute a drawing for a US$50 petrol card at weekly mass.The drawings are symbolic gestures and not intended to boost attendance, he said.”When Jesus was at the wedding feast of Cana, the groom ran out of wine, he produced the wine for them,” he said.”In that spirit, we feel that this might be comparable.”Nampa-Reuters