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Digest

Noteworthy

By TIMES WIRES
Published August 5, 2006

NOTEWORTHY

The fun, the filth, and a nagging itch

About 5,000 people went to the Mighty Mud Mania festival in Clayton, Mo., last month. Kids got to run through a mud-filled obstacle course and generally get filthy. But it turns out that more than 300 of them also got a rash. Officials confirmed that 23 of the cases - and they think probably way more - were folliculitis, an inflammation of hair follicles caused by contact with certain bacteria. Jason Crump, whose sons Dylan, 7, and Zach, 11, were covered in the rash, said his kids won't be going back to Mighty Mud Mania. "I'll make my own mud pit in the backyard."

911 is not way to track 'cute' cops

Lorna Dudash of Aloha, Ore., was playing her music kind of loud. So someone called the cops. And Dudash opened the door and saw "the cutest cop I've seen in God knows how long." So cute that she called 911 to see if she could get him to come back after he left. "I'm 45 years old and I'd just like to meet him again, but I don't know how to go about doing that without calling 911," she told the dispatcher. The dispatcher sent the deputy back. To arrest her. She has now been informed, in the form of probation and 100 hours of community service, that that's not what 911 is for.

VACATION IDEAS

Taking the 'gamble' out of gambling

The slot machine at the Caesars Indiana casino in Bridgeport, Ind., was called Extra Money. And it wasn't kidding. If you put in $20, it gave you back $200. No "playing." Just put the money in, take the money out. The Courier-Journal of Louisville, Ky., reported that the casino lost about $487,000 before officials figure out the problem. It seems the machine was set for use in the Philippines.

A secluded beach

The Italian resort town of Riccione will create all-female beach sections for Muslim women wishing to shed their headscarves and long robes to enjoy the sun in privacy. The partitions will not reach into the sea.

RECIPES

Preheat the car to 200, and bake

You never hear the good aspects about the blistering heat overtaking the northeast. Like the ability to bake cookies on your dashboard. Sandi Fontaine of Bedford, N.H., was planning on taking treats into the office, but some errands to run before work. But why not do both? Fontaine found that if temperatures reach 95 degrees, and she parks her Rav4 in the sun, temperature inside reaches 200. "When you open the door to that car," she said, "it's like, oh my God. It's a wonderful smell." Don't look for that recipe on the back of the bag of chocolate chips anytime soon.

'QUOTE'

"Raul Castro will give no speeches until Fidel Castro decides it's time. I think even after he dies, Fidel Castro will still be in charge."

Cuban citizen Froilan Mezquia, 62.

WEEK AHEAD

TUESDAY: Primary elections in several states, including Connecticut, where Sen. Joe Lieberman faces a challenge in businessman Ned Lamont.

[Last modified August 5, 2006, 01:47:54]