Watercooler Stories

Artist's ashes scattered across the world

CINCINNATI, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- A Cincinnati sculptor's ashes have been scattered from Minnesota to Tibet -- with each person at her memorial service taking a bit to a place of choice.

Patricia Resnick's partner, Laura Chapman, came up with the plan, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported. Chapman arranged to have envelopes of ashes distributed at the service.

Resnick, a professor emeritus at the University of Cincinnati, died in May at 75. Chapman decided the ash scattering was a "fitting way to give tribute to Pat's unbounded spirit."

Some of Resnick's friends plan to incorporate the ashes into art works. Another keeps the ashes in her studio so her friend remains in her "peripheral field of vision."

But the ashes have also been scattered on a Tibetan mountainside and the sculpture garden at the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City. Two friends, unknown to each other, scattered bits of ashes at the headwaters of the Mississippi in Minnesota and the river's mouth in Louisiana.

Russian protesters toss eggs at luxury SUV

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Protesters in Russia threw rotten eggs and tomatoes at a luxury vehicle Thursday, saying they were trying to raise awareness about a "false set of values."

The owner of the vehicle, a sport utility vehicle, agreed to allow his car to be attacked in downtown St. Petersburg, RIA Novosti reported.

"Luxury represents, in our opinion, a false set of values, clouding our eyes to modern society. Advertising posters, light entertainment programs and cunning marketing convince us that making purchases and becoming rich is the main value in our lives," a spokesman for the protesters said.

There are more than 100,000 millionaires in Russia, where the average salary is about $500 a month, the news service reported.

Forbes magazine says 14 of the world's richest people are Russian, with their wealth equal to approximately 26 percent of Russia's gross domestic product. In comparison, the wealth of the 39 richest American citizens is equal to 4.6 percent of the U.S. GDP.

7-year-old boy plans Kilimanjaro climb

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- A 7-year-old Southern California boy is preparing to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, a 19,340-foot volcano in Tanzania.

"I want to be the youngest climber to ever reach the summit," said Keats Boyd. "I can do it."

Boyd wants to raise funds for two African charities: Kids of Kilimanjaro and the Jane Goodall Institute, The Los Angeles Daily News reported.

"This has to be something bigger than yourself," said Bryan Boyd, 44, who has taken five months off work to help his son reach the summit. "If you're going to do this, you must do this to benefit others."

Keats said he and had watched a PBS television special about a man with polio who'd always wanted to climb Kilimanjaro, but couldn't.

"I can ... do that," Keats blurted out that day. "I want to do that!"

The Boyds will leave for Africa Jan. 7. They expect to make it to the top Jan. 22 and return Feb. 4.

The 75-mile round-trip climb -- with assistance from guides and porters -- will include Keats, his dad and a family friend, followed by a TV producer and two cameramen. Mom will stay in base camp.

Couple sues over kids towed with car

OMAHA, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- A Nebraska couple whose children were towed with their car have filed a lawsuit against the towing company.

In court papers, Kendra and Brenda Dorsey contend that their four children were crying loudly as a truck operator towed the car away from a meter outside the Douglas County Courthouse in Omaha, The Omaha World-Herald reports. Heartland Towing contends the children slept through the incident.

The Dorseys left their car outside the courthouse in December 2003 while they appeared in court inside. The children, who ranged up to 12 years in age, were left in the car at a meter where parking was banned during the evening rush hour.

Shortly after 4 p.m., a municipal employee put a tow tag on the vehicle.

Heartland points out the tow-truck operator had only gone a couple of blocks before he was told by radio to return the car and children.

"It wasn't like we left them in the impound lot overnight," Mark Lett, the Heartland manager, said. "It was just a goof-up. We apologized and told them we didn't know anyone was in the car."

Lett said tow-truck operators are now instructed check vehicles for children or pets before hooking them.