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Noteworthy

By TIMES WIRES
Published September 9, 2006

Self defense is acceptable defense

Being an emergency room nurse made Susan Kuhnhausen of Portland, Ore., ready to deal with a crisis. So when she came home from work about 6 p.m. on Wednesday and found an intruder armed with a hammer in her house, she reacted ... by strangling him with her bare hands. Edward Haffey, 59, was a felon. He was also 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds. Kuhnhausen goes 5-7 and 260. So while he had a hammer, she had inertia. Oregon law says people can use reasonable deadly force against an intruder, and police have called it self defense. "Everyone that I've talked to says 'Hurray for Susan,' " said neighbor Annie Warnock.

That's the spirit

Her groom cheated on her, so Kyle Paxman called the whole thing off. The band, photographer, florist and all 180 guests were canceled. But the Vergennes, Vt., reception hall was prepaid, and there were no refunds. So Paxman, 29, decided to throw a benefit for children's charities. Invitations were sent to 125 women for drinks and a gourmet dinner, with hopes they will donate to the good causes.

BAKED GOODS

What did you put in these cookies!?!?

It's always nice when cookies are available. So when students returning to the University of California at Berkeley went to a welcome dinner at an independent student-run housing co-op near campus, who could resist? When hanging at UC-Berkeley, though, it may be best to read the ingredients. The three bakers were arrested after 15 students got sick, presumably from a secret ingredient that the cops think they figured out. They plan to test to make sure, but they think it might have been marijuana. "What happened tonight was an isolated incident," said Nathan Danielsen, a house manager. "We do not officially condone any of their actions." Not officially.

GONNA FLY NOW

YO, PHILADELPHIA! The 8-foot-6, 2,000-pound bronze statue of Rocky Balboa is back in the garden at the Philadelphia Museum of Art after no small debate. Sylvester Stallone, who is 5-foot-9 (in high-heeled boots, probably), donated the statue to the city after Rocky III.

ON THE FARM

HOLY COW! Faith, a 10-year-old Charolais-mix cow in Harriet, Ark., just had triplets for the fourth time. That's rare in the bovine world, as experts say only 1 in 105,000 pregnancies result in a trio of beef. Faith's other five pregnancies resulted in twins, meaning she has produced 22 offspring. "Our vet says she belongs in the Guinness Book of World Records," owner Jenny Williams said. "She's amazing."

BETTER LITTER: Farmers in North Dakota are growing a new kind of wheat. It's not designed to be more nutritious or anything, but to better soak up the more unpleasant production of your kitty. Lower protein means better odor control. More starch means better absorption. Both very handy in kitty litter. Just don't use it for cookies.

WEEK AHEAD

MONDAY: Fifth anniversary of Sept. 11 terror attacks.

SATURDAY: El Grito, Mexican Independence Day.

[Last modified September 9, 2006, 01:33:09]