Of Human Interest: News-lite

IT'S WHAT BINDS THE UNIVERSE

Celebrities have been immortalized in wax, carved in stone, and had their hands imprinted in cement on a celebrated "walk of fame."

On Saturday, they were sculpted out of duct tape --- at the first-ever 2001 Scotch Duct Tape Sculpt A Celebrity Contest.

17 duct-tape enthusiasts gathered at The Story Inn in Nashville, Ind., to create celebrity busts of their favorite stars. Contestants were judged on three criteria: how well the bust resembled the celebrity portrayed, creativity/originality of the sculpture, and how much duct tape was used.

The $1,000 grand prize went to Christine Wilson, a retired art teacher from Martinsville, Ind., for her duct-tape sculpture of Lucille Ball.

"I always associated duct tape with patching up air conditioners and fixing practically anything around the house. Now, I've discovered that duct tape is a great medium for art," said Wilson. "Hopefully, Lucille Ball would approve of my representation of her."

The first and second runners-up -- Jerry Collins from Gosport, Ind., and Lori Bernard from Nashville, Ind. -- were also awarded cash prizes for their creations of David Letterman and Mick Jagger.

Other celebrities represented included Julia Roberts, Jay Leno, Rosie O'Donnell, Michael Jackson, Sylvester Stallone and President George W. Bush. Altogether, more than 3,600 feet of duct tape -- the length of 12 football fields --- was used.

The duct tape sculptures will be permanently displayed at The Story Inn (a.k.a. the heartland of duct tape).

MAYBE JEEVES KNOWS WHERE OSAMA BIN LADEN IS

The national crisis remains top-of-mind for many but people are also thinking about Halloween, favorite musicians and friends. That's according to Ask Jeeves at Ask.com, an Internet search engine. For the week of Oct. 8, the top questions were:

1. Where can I browse lyrics? (Nelly, Usher and N'Sync are most asked about musical artists.)

2. Where can I learn about the bacterial infection anthrax?

3. Where can I find the latest news on the national tragedy?

4. Where can I find a reverse phone directory?

5. Where can I buy costumes for Halloween?

6. Where can I find pictures of the latest hairstyles?

7. Where can I see world maps?

8. How can I find party ideas for Halloween parties?

9. Where can I find an online dictionary?

10. Where can I find someone's email address?

REASONS TO CELEBRATE THIS WEEK:

MONDAY: This is National Color Day. (Web site: colorology.com)

It's also National Scientific Literacy Day.

Today is a national holiday at the Vatican.

And this is Zambia's Independence Day. Zambia, then known as Northern Rhodesia, gained independence from Britain in 1964.

TUESDAY: This is National Mole Day, celebrating the way of counting the Avogadro number of 6.02 times 10 to the 23rd power.

The swallows traditionally depart from the old mission in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., on this day.

It's TV Talk-Show Host Day. We have no idea why...

Today is a national holiday in Hungary, commemorating the 45th anniversary of the 1956 revolution.

And this is Chulalongkorn Day in Thailand, commemorating the anniversary of the death, in 1910, of King Chulalongkorn after reigning for 43 years.

WEDNESDAY: This is United Nations Day, by presidential proclamation, celebrating the anniversary of the founding in 1945 of the world body.

Today through Oct. 30 is United Nations Disarmament Week.

And it's World Development Information Day, as observed by the U.N.

THURSDAY: Today through Oct. 31 is Chicken Soup For The Laughing Soul Treat Week. (Web site: HumorProject.com)

It's also Peace, Friendship and Goodwill Week.

This is Cartoonists Against Crime Day.

Today is Sourest Day, a time emphasizing the balance of things in nature.

Hong Kong celebrates the Chung Yeung Festival. An old story tells of a man who was advised by a soothsayer to take his family to a high place on the ninth day of the ninth month to avoid disaster. When the man returned the next day, all living things had died in his absence. Part of the festival's celebration is climbing to high places.

And this is Retrocession Day in Taiwan, commemorating the restoration of Taiwan to Chinese rule in 1945 after half-a-century of Japanese occupation.

FRIDAY: This is Frankenstein Friday, honoring the "mother" and "father" of Frankenstein: author Mary Shelley and actor Boris Karloff. 2001 marks the 70th anniversary of the classic movie.

Today is Horseless Carriage Day. It's also Mule Day, commemorating the anniversary, in 1785, of the first importation of Spanish jacks to the United States.

And this is National Day, a holiday, in Austria.

(Thanks to Chase's 2001 Calendar of Events)

BY THE WAY...

For whom is the Grolier Club of New York named?

The Grolier Club of New York is named for celebrated French bibliophile Jean Grolier de Servieres, who died on this date in 1565. Grolier's consuming interest was books, and he assembled one of the world's finest collections -- a library of more than 3,000 elegantly bound volumes.