Watercooler Stories

Mitterand memorabilia bring big bucks

PARIS, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- A Paris auction of the late socialist French President François Mitterrand's personal belongings proved popular in Tuesday night, it was reported.

About 300 people bid on Mitterand's trademark scarves, fedoras, slippers and other items, The Times Online reported. The auction sales totaled about $222,000, or more than twice the amount expected, the news Web site reported.

The auction raised money for France Libertes, the charity of his his wife, Danielle Mitterrand.

French Socialists panned the auction, saying Mitterrand's belongings should have been preserved in his memory. Mitterand, who died 12 years ago, served as France's president from 1981-95.

Jell-O wrestling lawsuit thrown out

NEW YORK, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- A New York judge has thrown out a lawsuit brought by a New York University student who was injured while wrestling in Jell-O.

Justice Carol Edmead said in a decision released Monday that the suit brought by Avram Wisnia, who injured his hip while Jell-O wrestling during his dorm's "Beach Bash Event," was on shaky -- even jiggly -- legal ground, the New York Post reported Tuesday.

The university had argued that the student, who helped organize the event, knew the risks of the activity when he agreed to a wrestling match in a kiddie pool filled with Jell-O provided by the school's food-service department.

Wisnia's suit said the student was "propelled through the Jell-O to the bottom of the pool," where he injured his hip during the match.

"This case broke the mold, but in the end, justice was served -- sweetly," said university spokesman John Beckman.

Freedom Tower restaurant planned high up

NEW YORK, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- The New York Port Authority has announced plans to lure a restaurant and banquet hall to floors 100 and 101 of the Freedom Tower.

The restaurant, which would include a wrap-around view of the city and surrounding areas, would take over the mantle of highest restaurant in the world, which was formerly held by the Windows on the World restaurant atop the World Trade Center, the New York Post reported Tuesday.

Officials said the restaurant, which would open after the completion of the building -- scheduled for 2012 -- would be located directly under the observation deck of the tower.

"This is another step forward in the redevelopment of the historic site. The Freedom Tower is an iconic structure that calls for a world-class dining destination," said PA spokesman Steve Coleman.

PA officials are hoping to attract restaurateurs with the expectation its location would make the eatery "one of the best and most well-known dining establishments in the world."

Police: Drunk man rides mower through snow

ADRIAN, Mich., Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Police in Adrian, Mich., arrested a man accused of driving his lawnmower through a snowstorm while under the influence of alcohol.

Frank Kozumplik, 49, allegedly drove his lawnmower 2 miles down the center of a street so he could visit the nearest liquor store, The Muskegon (Mich.) Chronicle reported Tuesday.

Police said Kozumplik, whose blood alcohol content was allegedly 2.5 times

Michigan's 0.08 percent legal limit for operating a motor vehicle, told them the John Deere tractor was his only means to transport to the store, as his wife had driven their car to work, the Chronicle said.

Kozumplik purchased four bottles of wine at the store before he was pulled over by police on his way home.

Police confiscated the mower, the newspaper report said.