Sidelights.

The first radio station for federal bureaucrats, WFED-AM, went on the air in Washington, D.C. * Roughly 90 percent of American soldiers shot or hit by bombs in Iraq have survived, the Washington Post reported. During the Vietnam War, the figure was 75 percent.

* More than 80 percent of Palestinians believe Yasser Ararat was poisoned, according to a poll by Jordan's Al-Najjah University. * Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi said in an Italian television interview that it would be dangerous for Turkey to be admitted to the European Union: "As far as the Islamic world is concerned--including the Islamic extremists, even bin Laden--they're rejoicing over the entry of Turkey in the European Union. This is their Trojan horse." ... European leaders have unanimously agreed to begin talks with Turkey in October 2005 to discuss the Muslim nation's entry to the E.U.

* The Israeli paper Haaretz reported that the number of Muslims volunteering to serve in the Israeli Defense Force was 64 percent higher in 2003 than in 2000. * Iran's president, Mohammad Khatami, was booed by students at an appearance at Tehran University. Angry students chanted "Khatami, Khatami shame on you!" and "Incompetent Khatami, may our vote not bless you!" * Billboard now has a top 20 chart dedicated to mobile phone ring tones. * Residents of Red states have fertility rates 12 percent higher than those in Blue states.

* The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donated over $10 billion to charity between 2000 and 2004, BusinessWeek reports. * Salaries in the U.S. increased an average of 3.5 percent in 2004.

Americans spent over $43 billion on lottery tickets in 2004.... Gallup reports that more than half of all Americans would keep their jobs even if they won $10 million. * The Los Angeles Times reported that some Indian casinos derive 50 percent of their income from senior citizens. * Chinese Shaolin monks, renowned for their kung-fu prowess, opened a new Buddhist temple in Berlin. It is their largest temple outside China. Madonna, raised ...