Watercooler Stories

'Star Trek' auction lawsuit vaporized

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- A New York court set phasers to disappointment for a "Star Trek" fan whose lawsuit against an auction house alleged the sale of "bogus" memorabilia.

The New York Appellate Division Tuesday dismissed the lawsuit brought by Ted Moustakis of New Jersey, who claimed auction house Christie's intentionally misled him about some "Star Trek: The Next Generation" related merchandise, the New York Post reported.

Moustakis claimed the auction house had billed three items he won -- a $6,600 poker visor, an $11,000 poker table and a $6,000 uniform -- as "one of a kind" finds related to Commander Data, Moustakis' favorite character on the series.

However, Moustakis said the items were never used by the series' android character.

Roadkill served in R.I. clubs

SMITHFIELD, R.I., Dec. 24 (UPI) -- A chef at a Rhode Island sportsman's club said he has earned the nickname "Roadkill" due to his signature dish -- venison from the side of the road.

Richard "Roadkill" Bourque, chef for the Smithfield Sportsman's Club, said he is on the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management's list of vendors authorized to retrieve, prepare, cook and serve deer killed on the state's roads, the Providence (R.I.) Journal reported.

Officials said the list was started 35 years ago to prevent the meat from the approximately 1,000 deer killed on the state's roads each year from going to waste. Vendors are allowed to retrieve carcasses that have been beside the road for less than five hours, depending on the season and temperature.

Bourque said he received a recent call in the early morning about a young deer reported dead on the side of Route 95. The chef said he dressed and butchered the animal before putting it in the freezer with other meat bound for the club's meals.

Man charged with smuggling 'lucky' fish

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Authorities in New York said they arrested a man who attempted to smuggle 16 rare Arowana fish into the country after a trip to Malaysia.

Court papers said a suitcase belonging to Chee Chaw, 47, was misplaced during an April flight transfer in Hong Kong and Chaw arranged to have the bag delivered to his home the following day, the New York Daily News reported.

However, the fish, which are revered for the supposed good luck they bring and can sell for several thousand dollars apiece, were discovered during an inspection of the bag.

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife agent visited Chaw's home Tuesday dressed as a UPS driver. Authorities did not say why they waited several months after discovering the fish to confront Chaw.

"Chaw stated that he is a lover of fish, brought the fish into the United States for personal use, and did not plan to sell them," the agent wrote.

The New York Post reported four Arowana fish were found in Chaw's apartment.

Chaw, who was fined $850 for smuggling the same fish in 2004, was arrested and charged with smuggling the protected fish. He could face as much as 33 months in prison if convicted.

City worker finds, returns missing wallet

NETCONG, N.J., Dec. 24 (UPI) -- A New Jersey man who had a good night at the casino and a stressful next day when he lost his wallet said it has been found and returned by a recycling collector.

A.J. Vivian, who described his winnings as a few thousand dollars, said he had his wallet when he tipped the valet outside of the Atlantic City casino but it was missing when he arrived home in Netcong, the (Morristown, N.J.) Daily Record, reported.

Vivian said the casino checked the security tape and ensured the wallet was in his hand when he left.

He said he arrived home Monday to find Orlando Diaz, a recycling collector for the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority, waiting at his door with the wallet full of cash.

Diaz said the wallet was in a parking lot near Vivian's home.

"I got out of my truck and it was by the wheel," he said. "I looked around to see if anyone was in the parking lot because I didn't want anyone to think I was going to put it in my pocket.

"It was all wet, like it had been out in the lot all night," Diaz said.