News of the Weird

by Chuck Shepherd

Recurring themes

News of the Weird has remarked several times on the late composer John Cage's "4'33," a 273-second "musical" number containing nothing but utter silence. In February 2004, according to a New York Times report, cuts from "White Album" by the band Sonic Youth were being listed for downloading on Apple's iTunes online store, and included was "Silence," a 63-second cut consisting of no sound at all, for which fans were nonetheless expected to pay the regular iTunes price of 99 cents. In a subsequent clarification, a Sonic Youth spokesman said "Silence" would only be sold to purchasers who bought all of the album's cuts.

Undignified deaths

A 41-year-old model airplane hobbyist was killed in Houston in November when his radio-controlled helicopter went haywire and crashed into his neck.

A 38-year-old man was killed in North Carolina in January when his pickup truck hit a ditch at 60 mph, with the cause of death later determined to be that the truck's radio had been jarred loose during the crash sequence and hit him on the head.

Stranger danger

Teach children to play it safe

Having something happen to your child is every parent's worst nightmare. As the recent kidnapping and slaying of an 11-year-old Florida girl illustrates, children need to be prepared for any situation.

But how do you warn youngsters about strangers without scaring them so much that they're afraid to talk to anyone?

The Women's Center of Tarrant County Texas presents a program that explains the "stranger rules" to thousands of youngsters, from pre-kindergarten through high school, every year. The program, Play It Safe, teaches children how to handle strangers, even the nice man who has lost his puppy or the pretty lady who says she's lost.

Play It Safe "stranger rules" are simple. If a stranger or acquaintance tries to get you to go somewhere with them: Say no. Get away if you can, and yell. Tell someone that it happened.

Post-It art

3M offers new sketch pad

The Post-It brand has come up with an idea that will spare moms and dads the trouble of finding another magnet with which to post kids' art on the refrigerator.

The Post-It for Kids Sketch & Stick Pad, which includes 25 white 8 1/2 X 11 sheets of paper with a self-stick edge, is designed for no-mess, no-damage posting of children's masterpieces.

Also in a 12 X 9 size, the pads are ideal for kids ages 5-9, and eliminates the need for magnets, tacks, pins and tape.

The Sketch & Stick Pad retails for about $3 and is available at most discount stores.

Scent in the vent

Freshness a breeze

Forget the multiple candles and air fresheners.

Scentco, the developer of a number of home scent products, has come up with a way to fill your home with fragrance with just one product.

Filter Breeze, a polymer-based pump spray, adheres to the fibers of a furnace or air conditioner filter and leaves a home smelling peachy, or whatever scent you prefer, for several days.

The product can be applied to either or both sides of the filter and is equally effective on register or room-specific filters.

-- Staff / wire reports