LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it. And that someone at the University of Nebraska is Sol Morton. He has to power-wash each seat at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln before the football season starts. It takes the building service technician 22 days to wash away the dirt, dust and bird doo from the more than 80,000 seats. Morton says he loves being part of the Nebraska Athletic Department. And Morton tells the Lincoln Journal Star he -- quote -- "wouldn't trade this job for nothing."
ITALY-1-CENT-WEEKEND
ROME (AP) - It's the vacation deal of a lifetime. A romantic weekend at a
four-star hotel near Venice, Italy, for just a penny. Turns out the Internet
offer was someone's goof. The mistake was made at the Atlanta offices of
Intercontinental Hotels Group. But a company spokeswoman says the chain will
honor the 1-cent offer to the nearly 230 patrons who booked reservations before
the mistake was discovered. The Crowne Plaza hotel stands to lose nearly
$130,000 because of what's termed a human error.
STATE-USED CARS
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Can't afford to buy new? Buy used. That's what the
state of West Virginia is doing. State officials hope to
save $800,000 over four years by buying used cars and trucks. The state
recently awarded a contract to Chrysler Financial Services to supply used
Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles for state agencies. The used cars cost up to
40 percent less than new ones. Officials say the used cars get low mileage and
are covered by warranties.
CAST TATTOOS
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - Jessica Smith's broken wrist turned out to be a good break
for her. Smith was a University of Colorado art student, when she flew over her
bike handlebars in 2006. She didn't like her plain, black cast. So, that gave
rise to Boulder-based Casttoo -- as in cast-tattoo. Smith and her partner create
personalized cast decals. Prices range from $20 to 40 bucks for an extra-large
set. Smith tells a local paper (Boulder Camera) the arty decals help promote
"happy healing."
DEDICATED MARATHONER
HARRISTOWN, Ill. (AP) - See Kathleen Jensen run. And run and run and run. The
Harristown, Ill., Elementary School special ed teacher has run a marathon in
each of 50 states and Washington, D.C. She completed her feat of feet in June
with the Hatfield-McCoy Marathon in Williamson, W.Va. Now, she has a new goal.
Jensen tells the Decatur Herald & Review she wants to run a marathon in each
continent.
CUSTOM GUITAR
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Bruce Jacob's day job is a University of Maryland
engineering professor. But his heart is in music. Now, Jacob and two students
have designed an electric guitar that's able to make any kind of sound. They
have a patent pending on their Coil guitar. A grant from the university has
helped them market the instrument. But nothing comes close to the thrill Jacob
had when the circuitry finally came together. Jacob says his reaction was, like,
"Duuuuuuuuuude! It worked!"
