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Of Human Interest: News-lite

By PENNY NELSON BARTHOLOMEW, United Press International
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BEWITCHING SALEM

Terrorism isn't scaring people away from having a frightfully good time this year in Salem, Mass.

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In this seaport city north of Boston --- site of the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692 -- terror is a $30-million-a-year business, although it's make-believe terror with playful ghouls, ghosts and goblins and other creepy creatures.

The month of October is the busiest time of the year in Salem. But this year, Halloween festivities have been tempered somewhat by real-world acts of terrorism.

Still, Salem is heeding President Bush's suggestion to all Americans to "go about their lives."

Some 200,000 visitors are expected for the October-long celebration known as "Haunted Happenings." The festivities include haunted houses, street parties and costume balls. The major ball is on Oct. 31 at the Hawthorne Hotel, where the King and Queen of Halloween will be crowned.

One visible sign of change since Sept. 11 is a big trend toward patriotic costumes.

Katie Morrison at Samantha's Costumes said she's noted a definite difference in what costumes customers want this year.

"It's a lot of like Uncle Sam, Uncle Sam hats, and Lady Liberty, Betsy Ross costumes. Everybody's calling for the Statue of Liberty," she said.

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There are fewer devils and grim reapers, and "no one looks at the Arab-type costumes," she said. "They go, 'OK, don't think we can do that this year,' and they walk right by. (Or) 'Don't do that, somebody might kill you,' I've heard about every remark that you can get."

The Salem Chamber of Commerce's Denise Flynn said one person showed up at a recent event dressed as an eagle.

"It was," she said, "a beautiful costume."

(Thanks to UPI's David Haskell in Boston)


THAT MUST BE WHY THERE'S A VIBRATING MODE

The cellular phone is more than just a communication tool. A new study suggests that some men view the cell phone as a status symbol -- competing with other males for the most high-tech toy and even using the cell phone to seduce the opposite sex.

The study -- commissioned by Motorola --- took researchers to nine cities worldwide. They found men tend to use their phones as interactive toys --- and play more games --- while women value mobile phones as a means of social communication and expression.

The study also found two types of cell phone users -- "innies", who use their phones discreetly, and "outies", who are just the opposite.

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REASONS TO CELEBRATE TODAY:

TUESDAY: This is Dictionary Day, celebrated on the anniversary of the birth, in 1758, of Noah Webster, who compiled the first American dictionary of the English language.

Today is also National Boss Day.

And the United Nations observes World Food Day.

(Thanks to Chase's 2001 Calendar of Events)


BY THE WAY...

William O. Douglas, born on this date in 1898, served on the U.S. Supreme Court longer than any other justice. How long?

36 years.

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