Odds and ends: San Diego hopes barking spooks seals

Published 9:49 pm Sunday, May 24, 2009

Officials in San Diego who want to prevent seals from taking over a popular beach are hoping that a dog’s bark is worse than its bite.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Saturday that the city will seek court approval next week for a plan to use recordings of barking dogs at Children’s Pool beach in La Jolla, Calif.

The city hopes the recordings will disperse about 200 seals. The plan will cost nearly $700,000 a year.

Marine experts say the seals likely will adjust to the noise, but city officials say their backup plan is to add other sounds and spray the seals with water.

Record for longest craps roll

Patricia Demauro of Denville, N.J., set a new record Saturday for the longest craps roll, hanging on for four hours and 18 minutes at the Borgata Hotel Casino &Spa in Atlantic City.

Borgata officials say she beat the previous record by one hour and 12 minutes. They say Stanley Fujitake of Honolulu set that record nearly 20 years ago in Las Vegas.

“This was only my second time playing craps, so this was very exciting for me to be a part of history,” Demauro said.

Demauro bought into a game for $100 and quickly amassed a cheering crowd. When she finally lost around 12:31 a.m., after 154 rolls of the dice, she was greeted by Borgata with a champagne toast.

The casino wouldn’t say how much Demauro won.

Associated Press