Bambi Tales: Lawrencia (Bambi) Bembenek’s defense lawyers...

Bambi Tales: Lawrencia (Bambi) Bembenek’s defense lawyers were denied evidence that could have shown that she was framed for a 1981 murder, a private investigator testified Tuesday at an immigration hearing to determine whether Bembenek may remain in Canada as a refugee. Under Canadian law, a person can avoid deportation by proving a fear of persecution based on race, religion, ethnic origin or social and political beliefs. Bembenek escaped from a Wisconsin prison, where she was serving a life sentence for murdering the ex-wife of her then-husband. She has become a folk hero in Wisconsin.

* What About English Lit?: Greg Gottesman, a senior at Stanford, and a bunch of other college kids have come up with “College Survival: A Crash Course for Students by Students.” The book discusses such pressing topics as packing for college (don’t let Mommy and Daddy do it), answering machines (a must), and washing machines (the hot water setting only means trouble). Other chapters include “Partying and Alcohol” and “Get Ready to Be Sick.” Besides hangover fixes--”Water. Water. Water. More water.”--the latter chapter covers sexually transmitted diseases.

* Plane Shopping: For about $300,000, you can buy the Convair used to woo Cary Grant to the board of directors of Faberge Cosmetics. The former 100-passenger plane was gutted for Grant and turned into a 15-seater with plush leather sofas, a wet bar (the original decanters remain) and an 8-track stereo system (and you thought 8-track was dead). The plane is on display at the Museum of Flying at Santa Monica Airport, but it goes on the auction block in October.

* Swinging Town: Add Salt Lake City to your list of partying metropoli. Regardless of whether the city is chosen Saturday to host the 1998 Winter Olympics, there’s going to be a free big bash downtown. Meanwhile, Salt Lakers are being asked to leave their lights on Friday night as a “beacon” to the selection committee in Birmingham, England--presumably to the delight of the electric company.