Tens of thousands of people armed with 100 tonnes of plum tomatoes took part in the "Tomatina" on Wednesday, joyously splattering each other in the Spanish town of Bunol.
The town hall of Bunol, which lies just inland from Valencia on Spain's Mediterranean coast, spent 24,960 euros on the fruit and dumped it the streets for the chanting masses.
Five truckloads of vitamin C and fiber were soon pureed on El Cid Street, the ripe redness smeared over walls and people.
"I feel like I connected with a lot of people today," said Karina Evans, 21, of Australia.
Frenzy erupted around the dump trucks and competition for the edible missiles was fierce. Whole tomatoes on the ground were treasured like ruby Easter eggs.
Kate Monroe, 28, and Ryan Altman, 31, both of San Diego, California, reflected the general lack of inhibition by rubbing their barely clad, pulp-slathered bodies against each other.
Some gave a moment's thought for the less fortunate.
"We were just talking about (famine in Africa). We thought we should get some garlic, make pizza and send it off," Altman said.
The origin of the tomato fight is disputed -- everyone in Bunol seems to have a favorite story -- but most agree it started around 1940, in the early years of the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco.
"There are several versions, but the most important thing is that it was started by the people," said Eusebio Carrascosa, 66, a member of the Tomatina commission.
Like the weeklong celebrations held throughout Spain in the summer, the Tomatina encourages all-night public revelry and behavior that's frowned on for the rest of the year.
"This is even better than the running of the bulls in Pamplona," said Australian Sandy Koch, 25, referring to another one of Spain's famous events.
Not everyone in Bunol joins the party.
"These are human degenerates. This isn't culture," said Pilar Masmano, 81, peeking out on the messy aftermath from her front door. "I'm going back inside."
20050830
Dogs go woof over Brazilian puppy love motel
A love motel, complete with a heart-shaped mirror on the ceiling and a headboard resembling a doggy bone, has opened for amorous pooches in Brazil.
The doggy love motel in Sao Paulo, South America's largest city, was inspired by the thousands of such establishments that rent rooms to Brazilian couples for four-hour periods for trysts.
"I am absolutely certain this is the first one (for dogs) in the world," said Robson Marinho, a director at the Gang dos Bichos, or Gang of Animals, a pet shop.
Marinho says he has already received reservations for the room, which he built on the second floor of the store and hung a sign that reads "Pet Love Motel." The window has thick curtains for timid dogs that want discretion.
Marinho's business partners own seven love motels for humans in Sao Paulo, including the island-themed Caribe and another called Opium.
The air-conditioned pet love motel room, with a paw print decorative motif, has a special control panel to dim the lights, turn on romantic music or play films.
"The owner has to know what kind of DVD will excite his or her dog," Marinho said with a chuckle.
The dog motel, which opened this month, costs 100 reais for two hours, making it more expensive than the least luxurious rooms at the Opium, which cost 107 reais for four hours.
"We also have a wedding agency that matches up dogs and if the female dog doesn't get pregnant, we offer artificial insemination services," said Marinho.
The doggy love motel in Sao Paulo, South America's largest city, was inspired by the thousands of such establishments that rent rooms to Brazilian couples for four-hour periods for trysts.
"I am absolutely certain this is the first one (for dogs) in the world," said Robson Marinho, a director at the Gang dos Bichos, or Gang of Animals, a pet shop.
Marinho says he has already received reservations for the room, which he built on the second floor of the store and hung a sign that reads "Pet Love Motel." The window has thick curtains for timid dogs that want discretion.
Marinho's business partners own seven love motels for humans in Sao Paulo, including the island-themed Caribe and another called Opium.
The air-conditioned pet love motel room, with a paw print decorative motif, has a special control panel to dim the lights, turn on romantic music or play films.
"The owner has to know what kind of DVD will excite his or her dog," Marinho said with a chuckle.
The dog motel, which opened this month, costs 100 reais for two hours, making it more expensive than the least luxurious rooms at the Opium, which cost 107 reais for four hours.
"We also have a wedding agency that matches up dogs and if the female dog doesn't get pregnant, we offer artificial insemination services," said Marinho.
20050829
Authorities investigate "Big Brother" baby
Dutch authorities are investigating plans by the producers of the "Big Brother" reality television show to include a pregnant contestant who will give birth on the show.
Talpa, the new television station launched earlier this month by the billionaire creator of Big Brother John de Mol, will broadcast a new series from Sunday in which a contestant is due to give birth six weeks into the show.
A spokeswoman for the social affairs and labor ministry confirmed a report in De Telegraaf daily on Saturday that inspectors were examining a request by Big Brother producers for the newborn baby to be allowed to appear on the program.
The Netherlands has strict rules governing young children acting on television, in films or on the stage.
The ruling Christian Democrats have condemned the idea of a birth on the live show, but the 27-year-old pregnant contestant identified only as Tanja defended the idea.
"I think that my child will be proud of it later," she told De Telegraaf.
The show's director Hummie van der Tonnekreek said Tanja would be well looked after in the Big Brother house, where a group of 12 strangers are locked in together and gradually voted out by the audience.
"She will get the maximum attention and care," Van der Tonnekreek said.
Versions of the show first aired in the Netherlands in 1999 have since been produced in dozens of countries worldwide.
Talpa, the new television station launched earlier this month by the billionaire creator of Big Brother John de Mol, will broadcast a new series from Sunday in which a contestant is due to give birth six weeks into the show.
A spokeswoman for the social affairs and labor ministry confirmed a report in De Telegraaf daily on Saturday that inspectors were examining a request by Big Brother producers for the newborn baby to be allowed to appear on the program.
The Netherlands has strict rules governing young children acting on television, in films or on the stage.
The ruling Christian Democrats have condemned the idea of a birth on the live show, but the 27-year-old pregnant contestant identified only as Tanja defended the idea.
"I think that my child will be proud of it later," she told De Telegraaf.
The show's director Hummie van der Tonnekreek said Tanja would be well looked after in the Big Brother house, where a group of 12 strangers are locked in together and gradually voted out by the audience.
"She will get the maximum attention and care," Van der Tonnekreek said.
Versions of the show first aired in the Netherlands in 1999 have since been produced in dozens of countries worldwide.
"Bright sparks" destroy car trying to steal fuel
Three men trying to steal fuel from a New Zealand farm on Monday ended up setting fire to their own car.
Police said the trio had siphoned diesel into a petrol-driven vehicle. When their car would not start, they examined the fuel pipe using a cigarette lighter.
One click, a boom and the car burst into flames.
"It wasn't a major whodunnit," senior sergeant Ross Gilbert told Reuters, from the small North Island town of Waipukurau, about 230 km (143 miles) northeast of Wellington.
"Fortunately for them, there is no criminal charge for stupidity."
The men, aged 18 to 19, escaped injury but were charged with theft.
Police said the trio had siphoned diesel into a petrol-driven vehicle. When their car would not start, they examined the fuel pipe using a cigarette lighter.
One click, a boom and the car burst into flames.
"It wasn't a major whodunnit," senior sergeant Ross Gilbert told Reuters, from the small North Island town of Waipukurau, about 230 km (143 miles) northeast of Wellington.
"Fortunately for them, there is no criminal charge for stupidity."
The men, aged 18 to 19, escaped injury but were charged with theft.
20050827
Official gives singer something to chew on..
Tennessee Attorney General Paul Summers has asked country star Gretchen Wilson to stop plugging smokeless tobacco in her stage act, but it's only a suggestion.
When Wilson sings her latest song, "Skoal Ring," she waves a can of smokeless tobacco. The "ring" refers to the circular outline the round can leaves on a back pants pocket.
In a letter to the singer, who hit the top of the charts with her debut album "Redneck Woman," the attorney general wrote: "Because your actions strongly influence the youth in your audiences ... I ask you to take steps to warn young people of the negative health effects of the smokeless tobacco use."
Summers said he heard of her act during a routine conference call with officials in other states discussing the national tobacco settlement with cigarette and smokeless tobacco manufacturers.
"We can't stop her and it's only a suggestion," Summers said.
A spokesman for UST Inc., which makes Skoal, said the company has no arrangement with Wilson, or with any other performer.
Wilson has not responded, said Sharon Curtis Flair, the attorney general's spokesman, on Friday.
When Wilson sings her latest song, "Skoal Ring," she waves a can of smokeless tobacco. The "ring" refers to the circular outline the round can leaves on a back pants pocket.
In a letter to the singer, who hit the top of the charts with her debut album "Redneck Woman," the attorney general wrote: "Because your actions strongly influence the youth in your audiences ... I ask you to take steps to warn young people of the negative health effects of the smokeless tobacco use."
Summers said he heard of her act during a routine conference call with officials in other states discussing the national tobacco settlement with cigarette and smokeless tobacco manufacturers.
"We can't stop her and it's only a suggestion," Summers said.
A spokesman for UST Inc., which makes Skoal, said the company has no arrangement with Wilson, or with any other performer.
Wilson has not responded, said Sharon Curtis Flair, the attorney general's spokesman, on Friday.
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