The title of this column could be "everything you wanted to know about some things you never even thought about."

Going through the daily mail in the news room of a newspaper can be a chore, but it can also be a learning experience and provide an enjoyable essence of trivia.

You have your hard news items, your statistical data, political assessments, club meetings and other information vital to any news media day.

Then, you have the little unusual tidbits that may be unimportant to some, important to others, but usually always interesting.

Like a recent note from Fentool Inc.

Seems that the Joliet, Ill., company offers a "simple solution to a universal need" -- a "Tota-Toilet."

The Tota-Toilet is a new concept in portable toilets, noted the release. It combines necessity with luxury and convenience, all folded up in one discreet package.

It can be used in the privacy of your home, car, boat, van or tent.

The product is packaged in a resealable plastic bag, taking up virtually no space in the truck of a car or other vehicle, and it can be placed in a backpack.

When assembled, the unit stands solidly on the ground, or floor, 16 inches high -- same as any standard model.

It comes in two sizes, child and adult, ranging in prices from $10.95 to $16.95.

Additional information? Contact Fentool Inc., 1-800-916-4242

Child's observance

A city boy recently spent his first night on a farm.

Much earlier than usual, he was awakened by the activity around. He remarked sleepily...

"It doesn't take long to stay here all night, does it?"

Descending experience

A group from near West Frankfort, Ill., offers you an opportunity to enter a cage and descend slowly more than 600 feet underground.

While there, you can smell the aroma of unmined coal formed more than 300 million years ago.

A news note from the National Coal Museum 25 miles from a major interstate highway reveals that the museum was founded more than two years ago and offers a real coal mine experience.

The museum was established to educate the public about the coal industry, while preserving the coal-mining heritage. The Museum also serves as a training and research center.

Interested in going below (the ground). Call 618-YES-COAL.

'Test your intelligence'

Missing some bottles -- soda bottle, that is.

A few years ago a company had problems getting its employees to replace their soft drink bottles into wooden cases alongside the vending machines.

Somebody came up with this sign.

"Test your intelligence...Try to put your round bottles into the square holes.

Suddenly the bottles started reappearing in the racks."

Largest melons, pumpkins

The Missouri Department of Agriculture recently listed the major reasons for growing large watermelons and pumpkins.

"If David Lettermen were to list the `Top 10' reasons for growing these humongous crops, he wouldn't have to travel much farther than the Missouri State Fair," noted the release.

The 1998 Fair will feature the "Largest Watermelon" and "Largest Pumpkin" contests.

The Fair, a mere four months away, is encouraging people's interest in the two competitions to start planting "those award-winning watermelons and pumpkins" now.

What's at stake?

The standard fair prizes are $20 for first place, $15 for second, $10 for third and $8 for fourth.

But this year's competition will feature some additional prize money -- $100 for the largest watermelon and pumpkin. The watermelon will receive another $100 if the winning melon exceeds 200 pounds. The pumpkin winner can receive up to $300 extra -- $100 if the winning entry is between 150 and 250 pounds; $100 if the winning pumpkin weighs 250 to 350 pounds, and $300 if the winning entry is more than 350 pounds. Pumpkins must be a minimum of 100 pounds to enter the counts.

All watermelons and pumpkins for the fair contest must be grown in Missouri.

Interested? Call 660-530-5600.

Where are the winners?

A few somebodies out there apparently don't want their "free" money.

A Missouri Lottery news release says four $100,000 Powerball tickets and four $25,000 tax-paid Show Me 5 tickets have not been claimed.

All four unclaimed Powerball tickets were sold in the St. Louis area -- at Schnucks, in Festus in June; Dierbergs-Lemay in St. Louis in July; Mubeen International in University City in October; and, at Lilac Kick 66 in St. Louis in November.

The four unclaimed $25,000 tickets were purchased at 7-Eleven in Maryland Heights in October; Schnucks on Big Bend Road in St. Louis in December; Texaco in Belton in February; and Yeatmann's Market, St. Louis in March.

If you purchased a ticket any of these location, check your numbers. You may be a winner. Players have a year to claim their prizes.

Nothing 'all' wrong

Nothing is ever all wrong.

Even a clock that has stopped running will be right twice a day.

B. Ray Owen is business editor for the Southeast Missourian.