Etc...

Hey, have I got a deal for you!

If you're flush with cash and have a taste for art, here's one way you could invest some of it. The sculptor/owner of what may be New York's most- recognized statue - other than Miss Liberty, that is - has put it up for sale. Arturo Di Modica, who lives in Sicily and took two years sculpting the work, says he must have at least $5 million for the 3-1/2-ton, 11-foot tall "Charging Bull," which once stood outside the Stock Exchange. Uh, and the buyer must agree not to move it from its current location on Lower Broadway. And it must be donated to the city. So why would anyone want to fork over that much money under all those restrictions? Well, besides pride of ownership and a tax deduction, he'll also get a plaque with his name on it.

Alain Roberts, the daring French climber, took about four hours last Saturday to scale the outside of the world's tallest skyscraper, Taipei 101, which rises 1,667 feet in Taiwan's capital city. Normally his solo ascents are made without using safety equipment, but given the rain and strong winds this time, he heeded the request of the building's management and wore a harness attached to safety ropes for the entire climb. Roberts, who began climbing rock cliffs near his home at the age of 12, hopes to return to Taipei 101 and make the climb without any ropes. Among the many skyscrapers and structures he's climbed:

Taipei 101 Taipei, Taiwan
Empire State Building
Petronas Twin Towers Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Sears Tower Chicago
National Bank of Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Eiffel Tower
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Canary Wharf Tower London
Golden Gate Bridge
- Associated Press and Wikipedia