Odds and Ends | 1,224-pound cupcake declared a record

It's a record

A sweet pursuit

A 1,224-pound cupcake baked by Ryan Abood, chief executive of GourmetGiftBaskets.com, and 30 helpers was declared a record Saturday by Guinness World Records. Abood and his team had help from Merengue Bakery & Café of California and Jensen Industries, which loaned them its oven, which generally is used to bake aircraft wings. The treat took 12 hours to bake.

People

Bollywood star questioned

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan on Saturday downplayed being questioned at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, saying it was part of a necessary but unfortunate procedure. Khan, 44, one of the Indian film industry's biggest stars, is in the United States to promote his new film, "My Name is Khan," which is about racial profiling. He told Press Trust of India news agency that he was detained because his name came up on a computer alert list at the airport. However, U.S. Customs officials said Khan was questioned as part of a routine process that took 66 minutes. U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection spokesman Elmer Camacho said Kahn was not detained. "His documents and papers were checked, which were found to be in correct order, but it took a little longer because his bag was lost by the airline."

Singer involved in crash

Singer-songwriter George Michael, 46, was questioned by Thames Valley Police after his Land Rover hit a tractor-trailer early Friday. He was released without charge five hours later. Michael confirmed the incident Saturday but said he had been "stone cold sober." The Sun newspaper, however, quoted the trucker, Lawrie Rowe, as saying the singer appeared dazed and confused.

Today in history

1858: A telegraphed message from Britain's Queen Victoria to President Buchanan was transmitted over the recently laid trans-Atlantic cable.

1954: Sports Illustrated was first published by Time.

Birthdays

Actor Reginald VelJohnson, 57. Director James Cameron, 55. Actor Jeff Perry, 54. Singer Madonna, 51. Actress Angela Bassett, 51. Actress Laura Innes, 50. Actor Steve Carell, 46. Actress Rumer Willis, 21.

Seattle Times news services