Strange but true
BY SAMANTHAWEAVER

. Considering the fact that the United States has about 1 million new cases of skin cancer every year, as the summer sunbathing season approaches you might want to consider an addition to your wardrobe: the UV-alarm bathing suit. A Canadian company called Solestrom last year began marketing a $190 bikini that has a UV meter built into its belt. The meter displays a readout of the intensity of the current ultraviolet radiation on a scale of 0 to 20. When the UV level gets into the danger zone, the meter beeps to let the wearer know to seek out some shade.

. It is still unknown who made the following observation: "Life without danger is simply a waste of oxygen."

. It's been reported, though not confirmed, that the first owner of the Marlboro company died of lung cancer.

. When she was a child, famed aviator Amelia Earhart was a serious tomboy. Wearing pants before it was acceptable for girls to do so, she loved fishing and hiking. She even built a wooden roller coaster in her backyard so she could practice riding it without falling off. Small wonder, perhaps, that she became such a dominating figure in what was considered to be a man's profession.

. The average human body conducts about one-seventh of its respiration through the skin.

. Did you know that you can legally consume cannabis? Not the drug, of course, but hemp -- in the form of hempseed, hemp oil, even hemp flour. It's good for you, too. It's a great source of Omega-3s, and it has the second highest concentration of protein in the plant world (after soy).

Thought for the Day: "Remember one thing about democracy: We can have anything we want, and at the same time, we always end up with exactly what we deserve." -- Edward Albee

(c) 2007 King Features Synd., Inc