Trends for July 9, 2001

Lisa Ferguson

Monday, July 9, 2001 | 8:39 a.m.

Foot fetish

Now that you've read the story above about aching feet (and we assume that you have), here's a tidbit for those of you with perfect, pain-free dogs:

Foot.com, a website featuring information about foot health, is searching for entrants for its second annual World's Most Beautiful Feet contest. The person with the finest feet will win a trip for two to Acapulco, Mexico, a free pair of Birkenstock sandals and a professional photo session for his or her feet, to help begin a foot-modeling career.

Last year's winner, Michael Cunningham of Cincinnati, was the lone male among the 10 finalists. He will serve as a judge for this year's contest.

So if you think that toes don't come any cuter than yours, e-mail photos of your feet to Feet@Foot.com, or send them in care of the contest to Foot.com, 414 Alfred Ave., Teaneck, NJ 07666. The deadlines for entries is Aug. 1.

Get a room?

Summer is, after all, a great time of year to show off your bare feet and, apparently, everything else in public.

According to the results of a recent survey sponsored by Adam & Eve, a mail-order distributor of, um, exotic toys, 68 percent of adult Americans have had sex outdoors.

Some other findings: 31 percent of people surveyed said they'd had sex in a public place; 17 percent said they'd engaged in phone sex; and 7 percent had partaken in sex online.

Meanwhile 74 percent of adults said at one time or another they'd had sex in a car. About 84 percent of men said they'd done it in a vehicle, compared with 64 percent of women who claimed the same. Puts a whole new spin on Herbie the Love Bug, doesn't it?

Whose bright idea was this?

Every once in a while an item comes across the desk here at Trends that almost defies description it's title, thankfully, just about says it all.

"Totally Absurd Inventions: America's Goofiest Patents (Andrews McMeel Publishing, $8.95) by author Ted VanCleave, is one of those. The more than 100 gadgets and gizmos featured in this pint-sized book have all been issued a U.S. patent.

Among the most absurd offerings: