  BERLIN (Reuters) - A U.S. sportswear maker has designed shoes that expand to fit a child's growing feet and is trying them out on cost-conscious German shoppers, the company said Tuesday. The "Max, der Wurm" (Max the worm) shoe, first delivered to stores in Germany last week, has a flexible design with an extending concertina panel between the toe and heel. One push of a silver button and the panel can be lengthened to accommodate quickly growing feet and bring relief to frustrated parents who want to avoid buying their children countless pairs of new shoes.
Bernadette Lingg, a spokeswoman for K2 Inc, an American sporting goods firm, said it was targeting Germany where shoppers' keen eye for a bargain has been sharpened by economic worries that prompt many to think twice before opening their wallets. "Our main focus is Germany. The German market for children's shoes is in a terrible state due to the number of imported models and aggressive prices," she said.
LONDON (Reuters) - British treasure hunters were warned on Tuesday to stay away from a colony of red squirrels after a best-selling newspaper reported the rare creatures' nature reserve may be hiding a $46,000 engagement ring. The diamond and platinum ring was thrown into the Formby Point nature reserve near Liverpool, northwest England, by the fiancee of 18-year old soccer star Wayne Rooney after a row, the Sun tabloid said. Rooney, who earns more than $90,000 a week, became a national hero after a sparkling performance while playing for England during the Euro 2004 soccer competition this summer in Portugal. The National Trust conservation group said the 300 squirrels would be disturbed if people started looking for the ring. "We are quite concerned about loads of people trampling around," National Trust spokeswoman Debbie Pears told Reuters. "We don't allow metal detectors on National Trust land and we are asking people to stay away so they do not disturb the squirrels.
" SAN ANTONIO - A killer whale at SeaWorld repeatedly slammed its trainer underwater during a show that was captured on home video in dramatic footage aired this week. The trainer, Steve Aibel, was not injured in the Friday incident. The whale began slamming Aibel during the show, and other trainers rushed to the side of the tank. Aibel, who has trained the whale for 10 years, said he was surprised and is unsure what prompted the behavior.
But he said the whale, named Ky, is near breeding age and may have just been feeling his adolescent hormones. OR MAYBE HE DOESN'T WANT TO LIVE IN BATHTUB ANYMORE. IT'S DIGUSTING WHAT WE AS HUMANS WILL SUBJECT ANIMALS TO JUST FOR OUR OWN AMUSEMENT. SALT LAKE CITY - Two men planning to throw lighted fireworks from a car were burned when they forgot to roll down the window. "They lit a large mortar rocket firework" and were going to throw it out the window, Salt Lake County sheriff's Sgt. John Barker said. "The passenger threw it out the window, but he forgot to roll the window down.
It bounced back in his lap. " Adam Weber, 24, was in fair condition Thursday at the Intermountain Burn Unit at University Hospital with second and third degree burns on his arms, legs and torso. "He's going to be in a lot of pain. I don't think it's life-threatening, but he's going to have a hard time. It's going to be a long process to get him healed up," Barker said. The driver, Jared Williams, only had minor burns to his back. The accident happened about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. The investigation has been turned over to the Unified Fire Authority.
An officer told KSL-TV any charges filed likely would be just misdemeanors. HOW STUPID CAN PEOPLE BE? IS THIS GUY A NOMINEE FOR THE DARWIN AWARDS OR WHAT? BLACKSVILLE, W.Va. - Warning: smoking in the toilet can be dangerous. A portable toilet exploded Tuesday after a man who was inside it lit a cigarette. Emergency workers said the man was not severely injured and drove himself to Clay-Battelle Community Health Center. He was later transferred to Ruby Memorial Hospital. His name and condition were not available Wednesday. The explosion, which occurred in Blacksville, resulted from a buildup of methane gas inside the portable toilet. The methane did not "take too kindly" to the lit cigarette, said a spokeswoman for Monongalia Emergency Medical Services. I'D SAY THE METHANE TOOK VERY KINDLY TO IT. 
