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'Idiot' remark brings $800,000 windfall

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- A co-worker's remark about an "idiot" who hadn't claimed an $800,000 Powerball lottery prize spurred an Iowa man to check his ticket -- then collect the prize.

Ed O'Neill, 59, told the Des Moines (Iowa) Register it was a receptionist's remark at the Clinton (Iowa) Chamber of Commerce, where he works, that turned the light on for him about the Jan. 6 drawing.

"She said, 'Read this article about the idiot that hasn't claimed his ticket'," O'Neill said. "So I read it and noticed where the ticket was bought. I thought, 'Gee, I better look at my ticket.' That's when I said, 'I think I won.'"

He said he called his wife on the phone, but she told him to stop horsing around as she was watching "Oprah" on television.

The couple plans to pay off their own home mortgage, and those of their children and invest the rest for retirement, the newspaper said.

L.A. Super Madam's client list goes public

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The client list police called a "trick book" of convicted Hollywood madam Jody Gibson's is about to become public, and lawsuits are already being threatened.

Known as "Babydol" when she was arrested eight years ago, Gibson's autobiography published by Corona Books goes on sale Thursday, and some of the celebrities she names as clients are furious, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

"Secrets of a Hollywood SuperMadam" reportedly names more than 20 celebrities she claims used the services of her "California Dreamin'" call girl service.

Among them is former Los Angeles Dodgers Manager Tom Lasorda, who issued an angry denial statement through his lawyer.

"I have never heard of this woman and don't know why she would accuse me of something like this," the statement said. "But if she prints these lies, I intend to sue."

Also named was actor Bruce Willis, whose lawyer, attorney, Marty Singer, said: "The story is a complete fabrication. (Willis) doesn't know this woman. He's never even spoken to her."

Gibson served 22 months in federal prison on three pimping convictions and was released in 2002.

Pregnant princess takes dirt to Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- A pregnant Dutch princess visiting Turkey with the Netherlands Queen Beatrix brought along some Dutch dirt in case she goes into early labor.

The queen, her son, Prince Willem and his wife, Princess Maxima, who is seven months pregnant, will spend four days in Turkey visiting President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and touring the country, the Hurriyet news agency reported Tuesday.

In keeping with Dutch tradition, should Maxima's child make an early appearance, the first soil his or her feet must touch is Dutch, so the entourage brought along an unspecified amount of homeland dirt.

Relations between Turkey and the Netherlands date back to 1612, and a large number of people of Turkish descent are either now living in the Netherlands or lived in Holland for decades before returning to Turkey, Radio Netherlands said.

Jeter joined by Bush and Mantle on card

NEW YORK, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Pranksters at the Topps baseball card company added U.S. President George Bush and Mickey Mantle in the background of New York Yankees star Derek Jeter's card.

The card bearing a digitally added Bush in the stands and Mantle in the dugout went right past the proofreaders and is selling for $2 on eBay, the New York Daily News reported Tuesday.

It could possibly fetch up to $500 if a collector gets both the president and Jeter to autograph it, an expert said.

Once the cards came back from the printer, "We couldn't do anything but laugh," Topps spokesman Clay Luraschi told the Daily News.

Jeter told the newspaper he hadn't heard anything about the card and a White House spokesman declined to comment. The White House has to give permission any time the president's likeness is used for commercial purposes, the Daily News noted.

Topps has not decided whether the interlopers will be erased and a new card inserted into boxed sets.