J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo

A watermelon explodes in a dramatic demonstration of the power of holiday fireworks, staged by the Consumer Products Safety Commission near the National Mall in Washington this morning. The CPSC estimates that in 2006 about 9,200 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries. You write the cutline.

Top Cutlines

1. Jessee Tinsley records Larry Spencer's reaction to the Kroc Center groundbreaking. As Mayor Bloem pointed out,"That's Larry. *nd that's Larry. And that's Larry" -- Thom George.

2. Food scientists are depressed when their attempt to combine cauliflower and watermelon fails. In fact, they're looks of melon-cauli was hard to hide -- John Austin.

3. Joe Smith's attempt at growing a record size watermelon ended in disaster when the melon exploded yesterday. Record temperatures caused by global warming are to blame, says Smith, who plans to try again next year -- Pia.

HM: Digger and Toadman

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