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Human interest stories from the Reuters world file:
Australians launch sperm-friendly underwear
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australian scientists have teamed up with an underwear company to tackle the hot issue of male infertility with cool, sperm-friendly boxer shorts.
Monash University's Institute of Reproduction and Development, which treats infertility, launched the new ``Air Conditioned'' underpants Wednesday with commercial partner Davenport Industries Pty Ltd.
Unlike normal boxer shorts, known to be kinder on sperm than tight and sweaty briefs, the new cotton garments provide an inner mesh lining for a snug fit, the institute said.
``Some men I see with tight underwear don't like wearing boxer shorts because they don't like the freedom, the loose feel,'' institute director Professor David de Kretser told Reuters.
Recent British research has shown tight-fitting underpants can overheat testicles and damage sperm. International studies have also shown men's sperm counts are falling around the world.
Luxury movie theater to offer free popcorn
CHICAGO (Reuters) - A luxury movie theater that pampers film-goers with champagne and appetizers opens next month near Chicago -- and the popcorn is free.
General Cinema, a unit of Chestnut Hill, Mass.-based GC Cos. Inc., plans an April 3 premiere of the Bruce Willis action film ``Mercury Rising'' for its 70-seat theater at the new Yorktown 18 complex in the far west suburb of Yorktown.
For $15 a ticket, guests will drive to a private entrance, have their cars parked by a valet, go to a lounge where they can purchase champagne, wine, beer, appetizers like spinach and artichoke dip and light entrees such as Florentine bread, then be seated in extra-wide leather seats with ample leg room.
Viewers can also have as much free popcorn as they want.
``This is premium cinema, which is designed to be a first-class movie-going experience with all the luxury and comforts of first-class air travel,'' General Cinema spokesman Brian Callaghan said.
'Happy Monday' plan nixed by senior citizens
TOKYO (Reuters) - It seemed such a good idea.
But Japan's effort to persuade gloomy consumers to spend more by adopting a ``Happy Monday'' plan to increase the number of three-day weekends has run afoul of a tradition-minded senior citizens' group.
Unveiled in a batch of economic stimulus proposals last October, the ``Happy Monday'' proposal would ensure that four of Japan's annual holidays land on a Monday so people could spend more time -- and money -- shopping during the longer weekends.
But the Japan Federation of Senior Citizens' Clubs -- with nearly nine million members over age 60 -- said Wednesday it objected to shifting some national holidays -- including ``Respect for the Aged Day'' -- for such crass motives.
``This holiday has a five decade-long history and t simply change the day would ignore the feeling of the elderly,'' federation official Hisashi Kaneko, 51, told Reuters.
``National holidays are not for the sake of having days off -- they had certain meaning when they were created,'' he added.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is scrambling to find ways to cheer up cautious consumers and keep its economy afloat. But with an election looming in July, the party may be wary of alienating elderly voters.
``The LDP said they couldn't ignore the opinion of the elderly,'' Kaneko said, noting Japan has one of the world's most rapidly aging populations.
Fed-up school bus driver pulls knife on unruly kids
MARTINEZ, Calif. (Reuters) - A school bus driver fed up with his unruly passengers allegedly pulled a knife on the children and threatened to ``cut their ears off'' if they did not quiet down, police said.
Lt. George Lawrence of the Contra Costa Sheriff's Department said the 63-year-old driver exploded in anger after a particularly raucous ride home Friday in a bus full of children aged between 9 and 12.
After repeated warnings, he stopped his bus and allegedly brandished an extended jackknife at the students, Lawrence said.
``He allegedly made some threats, like he was going to cut their ears off,'' Lawrence said.
The driver, who has not been named, has not yet been charged but has been removed from the bus route in Brentwood, about 45 miles east of San Francisco, Lawrence said. The incident is still under investigation.
Bad food found in Mexican congress
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Food served in the restaurant in Mexico's lower house of Congress can be dangerous to health, according to a news agency report.
Food and water from the restaurant that served deputies contained everything from dirt, bacteria, fungus and soap traces, to amoebas, a study conducted by the biology department at the National Autonomous University of Mexico found.
News agency Notimex said that the Chamber of Deputies has canceled the concession of the restaurant ``Los Cristales,'' that served about 800 meals a day.