Headlines for: 05-05-1999

R2-D2 ACTOR: IT'S EASIER TO PLAY A ROBOT THAN A REAL PERSON MANCHESTER, England (Wireless Flash) -- The man who plays R2-D2 in "Star Wars" is finally revealing the bleeping truth about playing the lovable robot.

NEW STUDY: COLLEGE KIDS DRINK THE MOST BEER ST. LOUIS (Wireless Flash) -- When it comes to beer, Americans are still chugging away -- especially among those who are college age.

NUMBERS SAY MAY 9 IS A DAY FOR FIRSTS ISSAQUAH, Wash. (Wireless Flash) -- If you have an idea for an invention, you might want to sit down with a pen and paper this Sunday (May 9).

BEHIND THE SCREEN: TV MOMS REVEAL THEIR HOMES KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Wireless Flash) -- "Everybody Loves Raymond" mom Doris Roberts has something in common with Liberace -- a love of flashy trinkets and over-the-top furniture.

BETTE MIDLER'S TRASHY HOBBY (EMBARGOED UNTIL 6 P.M., EDT, MAY 6) NEW YORK (Wireless Flash) -- Bette Midler has a real trashy hobby -- literally. Midler tells the upcoming "Parade" magazine that in her

HUGH DOWNS TO STEP DOWN FROM `20/20' NEW YORK (Wireless Flash) -- "20/20" host Hugh Downs is stepping down from his job in September. The 78-year-old Downs, who holds the Guinness World's Record

LINT FARMING, ELECTRIC BANANAS AMONG ODD STUDENT EXPERIMENTS PHILADELPHIA (Wireless Flash) -- In the near future, plants may be grown in old clothing lint instead of dirt. That's the idea behind high school student Jennifer Boyd's

ROCK `N' ROLL `HELL' SCHOOL: CELEBRITY'S TEEN ANGST NEW YORK (Wireless Flash) -- Even the coolest musicians had their share of high school hell. Just ask "Valley Girl" singer Moon Unit Zappa, who tells the

ANNIE OAKLEY'S LUCKY PENNY ON SALE FOR $2000 PFLUGERVILLE, Tex. (Wireless Flash) -- Collectors of antique western memorabilia have a unique item to target: Annie Oakley's lucky penny.