Watercooler Stories

Hawaii court links golf to getting beaned

HONOLULU, May 17 (UPI) -- Hawaii's state Supreme Court has ruled a golfer struck by another player's ball cannot sue that player, but can sue the golf course for poor design.

In a 43-page decision, the state high court struck down a claim against Andrew Tom, whose ball struck Ryan Yoneda, who was playing at the Mililani Golf Course in August 1999.

The ball hit Yoneda's left eye, and caused permanent vision damage, the Honolulu Advertiser reported Tuesday.

In its decision, the Hawaiian court said Yoneda assumed the risk of the injury when he played golf, and that it's "common knowledge that not every shot played by a golfer goes exactly where he intends it to go."

The court noted that Tom did not yell "fore," which is golf etiquette but not a requirement recognized by law that would lead to liability by a golfer who breaches that etiquette.

The ruling also opened the door for Yoneda to sue the owners of the golf course at the time for poor design, and suggested the trial go before a jury rather than a lone judge.

Massive German bomb found off Liverpool

LIVERPOOL, England, May 17 (UPI) -- A routine survey by the British Navy turned up a massive World War II-vintage German bomb submerged not far from a busy ferry terminal in Liverpool, England.

"It was a huge device absolutely massive," said Ministry of Defense spokesman Neil Smith Monday. "It weighed over 1,000 pounds and was capable of causing a tremendous amount of damage. It was a bomb designed to wreak havoc."

An exclusion zone was established, which closed the ferry docks as divers attached a floatation line to the bomb, and then towed it at low speed to an interim location in Liverpool Bay, the Wirral Globe reported Tuesday.

The plan Tuesday was to carefully lower the ordnance once more onto the seabed packed with plastic explosive, and then detonate it in a controlled explosion.

Royal Navy surveys locate between 150 and 200 unexploded World War II-era munitions each year, the report said.

Restaurant admits promotional 'mis-steak'

NEW YORK, May 17 (UPI) -- Frankie and Johnnie's Steakhouse in New York celebrated its 80th anniversary Monday by offering customers a $4 three-course dinner and was sold out.

The Times Square restaurant did not specifically mention in its press release that reservations would be required, Newsday reported. It did list a phone number to allow for reservations, however.

Celebrities, including gossip columnist Cindy Adams, had reservations and were given gift bags after dinner.

One customer got into the restaurant despite having been told the week before that the reservation list was filled because she knew the "secret password."

Ricky Nieves, 46, who arrived three hours early to wait in line and did not get in, thought the promotion was a scam.

Customers threatened a lawsuit against the steakhouse when they didn't get a $2 steak special.

Called by Newsday for comment Monday night, the restaurant said reservations were required.

Japan marts to sell canned oxygen

TOKYO, May 17 (UPI) -- Seven-Eleven stores in Japan will soon be offering cans of pressurized oxygen in mint and grapefruit flavors to give a boost to weary customers.

Seven-Eleven Japan officials said the idea is to allow buyers to replenish their oxygen levels any time they feel a lack of fresh air due to stress, fatigue, or other factors, the Mainichi Shimbun reported Tuesday.

Each can contains enough oxygen for 35 two-second inhalations, meaning each $5.50 can lasts for about a week if it is used five or six times a day.

Normal air contains only about 21 percent oxygen, but the oxygen concentration in the cans is 95 percent, and inhaling it can reportedly bring on a feeling of invigoration, the report said.

The cans go on sale in Tokyo stores on May 24, and will expand to all 11,000 outlets by June 14.