Watercooler Stories

• Tweet

1812 Napoleon letter headed for auction

FONTAINEBLEAU, France, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- French auctioneers said a coded letter written by Napoleon Bonaparte with a promise to blow up the Kremlin is headed to the auction block.

The Osenat auction house in Fontainebleau said the Oct. 20, 1812, coded letter was written by the French dictator during the time of the French invasion of Russia and features the leader vowing to "blow up the Kremlin," Radio France Internationale reported Thursday.

The letter is expected to sell for $13,000 to $20,000 at the December auction.

"Letters written by Napoleon from Russia are rare," said Alain Nicolas, expert for the Osenat auction house. "Many were lost, probably intercepted by the Russians."

Ryan takes kids trick or treating

JANESVILLE, Wis., Nov. 1 (UPI) -- Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan donned the garb of a University of Wisconsin fan to take his family trick-or-treating in Wisconsin on Halloween.

Ryan and his family took out on the streets of Janesville, Wis., after three political rallies Wednesday to collect candy on the same door to door route the politician said he followed "when I was a little guy," CNN reported Thursday.

The vice presidential hopeful was accompanied by his wife, Janna, and their three children, Liza, 10, Charlie, 9, and Sam, 7. Liza dressed as pop singer Katy Perry, Charlie donned a black mask and red cape to portray the Unknown Phantom, and Sam dressed as the grim reaper.

Ryan wore a University of Wisconsin jacket and hat to portray a Badger fan.

Dealership offers gun gift cards with cars

EASLEY, S.C., Nov. 1 (UPI) -- A South Carolina car dealership said it is offering $250 gift cards to a local gun shop to customers who purchase vehicles.

General Manager Chad Henderson of the Mitsubishi dealership in Easley said the business' sign, "Free shotgun or rifle when you buy a car," actually means customers receive $250 gift cards to Sharp Shooters Gun Club and Range in Greenville, WHNS-TV, Greenville, reported Thursday.

Henderson said the gift card scheme allows the gun shop to ensure all laws are followed when customers claim their prizes.

"We have the same requirements as any gun shop would have," Sharp Shooters co-owner Ted Landreth said. "They just can't come in off the street and say, 'OK. I'm here to get my gun.'"

Henderson said the promotion, which runs through next week, is a celebration of U.S. values and freedoms.

"We believe we live in the greatest country in the world, and sometimes, when we get a chance, we like to express that," Henderson said. "What better way (than) giving away a shotgun or rifle."