The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio • Page 51

Inside Knowledge is a diamond buyer's best friend this Valentine's Day weekend. F4 The Beacon Journal Sunday February 6, 2000 fuo ArissLiviiig iliiMifcr ifJjuw; Worm wiggles to stardom Creations of author Richard Scarry are popular with kids at Inventure Place's Busytown exhibit television series, The Busy World qf Richard Scarry, which is broadcast on the cable channels Showtime and Nickelodeon's Nick Jr. The newest way to experience Scarry's busy, busy world is through the hands-on exhibit that is on display at Inventure Place through April 90. The exhibit was created at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, which intended for the show to tour nationally. What is Busytown? It is an area designed to encourage See WOKM, Page F5 exhibits floor supervisor.

Close behind is Hilda Hippo. If Lowly and Hilda aren't familiar names, you obviously need an introduction to children's books. Scarry died in 1994 after a 26-year career in which he wrote and illustrated more than 300 books. Folks who arent familiar with the books may have encountered the stories and animal characters on the animated By JimQuinn Bfem Journal staff writer Lowly Worm is a lofty star. Folks who watch the Busytown exhibit at Inventure Place, home of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, report that some of the characters invented by the late author Richard Scarry are definitely more popular than others.

"Lowly Worm is a big bit," said Anne Cunningham, ED SUBA, JRMkron Bmcoo Journal Robbie Jones (left) and Peter Johnson, both 11 and from Shaker Heights, play on air machine behind Hilda the Hipp. IF ONLY THEIR MILITARY WERE THAT AGGRESSIVE In a cafe, French couples casually touch each other an average of 110 times an hour. American couples touch each other only twice, reports Men's Health mag. After a 10-year absence, the California Raisins will return te action this Thursday -accompanied by Richard Simmons. S'nojoke A Washington conference on global warming was canceled last week because of a blizzard.

Dad in the doghouse During a colloquy on comedy with Eric Idle in Madison magazine, Carrie Fisher gets off a great line about her reprobate dad, Eddie Fisher, who recently published a tell-all book about his ex-paramours. "I'm having my DNA fumigated," she says. This day in music 1998 Carl Wilson, one of the founders of the Beach Boys, dies of lung cancer at age 51. Proud Mary, keep on turnin' Ike Turner, saying he was intent on "setting the record straight" about his highly publicized 1 -v? .0 7 Radio announcer Graham McNamee's injuries at the 1935 derby brought national attention to the Akren event. Derby sponsor seeks TV deal 6 Op -Vif" marriage to Tina Turner (she has portrayed him as a drug-addled wife beater), conceded that much of what she wrote about him is true except ft Tina Turner ii mS Goodyear searches for channels to run a taped segment on Akron 's big race By R.

D. heidenfels Bmam Journal titmsUm writer Almost from its beginning in the 1930s, the Ail-American Soap Box Derby has benefited from broadcast exposure. On radio and later television, the race was carried to audiences in the area and around the country, inspiring spectators to participate in local races and try for the big national event in Akron. The race's television connection is now in transition. After more than a decade of local broadcasts on Cleveland public-television station WVTZ (Channel 25), which then relayed the telecast to other U.S.

stations, national derby coverage shrank to a two-minute report on cable's TNN. This year, derby sponsor Goodyear is hoping for something bigger, a hope it also had last year when it became the event's major sponsor. (It has since ra-upped for 2000 and 2001.) But matters of money, corporate competition and what exactly is the See DERBY, Page F5 Mmrn- Alrat isaoan Jounal file photoa A cameraman at left films the 1949 All-American Soap Box Derby. It was perhaps the first time the event was televised. TV Spotlight 1 1 4 for being married to him.

In fact, Ike told Penthouse, they never legally married. He went on to say he can't remember how many times he's been married, and that he once shot a newspaper carrier for hitting a dog with a rolled-up paper. Calamity Bill President Clinton, who has declared 31 of the 50 states disaster areas, has not declared any in more than four months. Presidents have slumps, too. Emergencies indeed! 911 is supposed to be reserved for emergency calls, but, according to the LA Times, operators in La La Land sometimes receives pleas that fall somewhat short of that standard.

Examples: Eighteen-year-old male can't get any rest at home and wants a ride to the hospital. Thirteen-year-old girl stubbed her toe on a stereo speaker. Lady has blisters from working three days at a Taco Bell. Man is out of breath from running from the police. Person answered, no to the question, "Are you conscious?" The sporting news When courtside hecklers got on Seattle SuperSonics forward Vin Baker, his response was, "Eighty-six!" Not, however, 86 as in, "You're out of here," but as in an $86-million contract.

Thanks for sharing Britney Spears sets it all straight in the new People mag. She does not have breast implants. She is not dating anyone right now and that goes for 'N Sync's Justin Timberlake, too. And, yes, she's had contact with Prince William, but they won't do Valentine's Day together as rumored. "Like, I'm really going to get breast implants at 17?" comments the pop star.

She credits perceived changes to natural development, a 15-pound weight gain and a fondness for push-up bras. American ingenuity Police in Madisonville, watched as two trucks were being driven strangely on a rural road: A man would drive one truck 100 yards, stop, walk back to a See Poster, Page F4 As rancher, Coburn ropes in audience is James Coburn is an actor who understands the need to work a lot One day he'll show up in a small part in the dopey miniseries Noah's Ark, then give an Oscar-winning performance in the dark film Affliction. Now he's starring in a Hallmark Hall Sebastian Bach's Bring 'Em Bach Alive! includes Skid Row tunes. No loitering after Skid Row R.D. Heidenfels of Farm Vocalist Bach has own tour that includes Cleveland stop Bob Greene photo Lisa Zane, James Coburn (center) and Paul Kersey star in CBS' Missing Pieces.

accident 12 years ago. The movie, airing at 9 tonight on CBS, gets more complicated when Atticus learns Scott has committed suicide in Mexico and goes to reclaim the body. The trip and ensuing complications teach him a great deal about Scott and, in turn, about himself. But it also involves a mystery that gets more ludicrous the further it goes. And that's too bad, because the movie based on Ron Hansen's novel Atticus has some good stops along the way.

passionately loves to rock for all the right reasons and partially because it helps him fit into his pants. Tm still 179 pounds. I wear the exact same pants I wore on our first tour in 1989," the 6-foot-5 Bach said. "Back when Skid Row was huge, I bought a pair of $1,000 leather pants, and I still kind of need to get into them. And there is no physical workout like rock 'n' roll, man.

I run, I do tae bo, I do all that stuff, but the best exercise in the world is to rock," See BACH, Page F5 presentation called Missing Pieces. Coburn, gifted at laconic parts, makes a good fit with his character, a rancher named Atticus Cody who's used to saying no more than he has to often assuming that what he's thinking is clear even when he doesn't speak it But that has created strains in his relationship with his son, Scott (Paul Kersey), who blames himself for the death of his mother Atticus' wife an BY CHUCK KL08TERMAN Beum Journal staff writer There are many reasons to rock. Some people rock for the money; some rock for the fame and the glory, others rock because they really can't do anything else. But there are also aerobic reasons to rock, at least if you believe former Skid Row vocalist Sebastian Bach. He.