And now for something completely different: Just saw a news blurb on the TV while eating lunch about a contest in some Italian village. Couples had to try to kill as many mosquitos as possible, by hand, in a few minutes. I think the guy had to carry the girl on his shoulders, but either could clap and smash the 'skeeters.

The winning couple killed 33 mosquitos. (According to the TV footage, each mosquito terminated was placed in a small, wooden, coffin-shaped box, with one box per team, making it easier to determine the number of kills per team.)

And the prizes? The winners got five donkeys; runners-up got five of some other sort of animal; third place got five chickens. Obviously, it wasn't Rome or Milan or some other metropolis, but it was a place that had a mosquito problem--and dealt with it in an entertaining manner. Those wacky Italians; gotta love 'em! [smash]