BY HARRY RING
Prelude - In 18 months, some 200 lawsuits have been filed in Japan by relatives of people who died from overwork. The Vancouver Province says the figures "reflect not only that more Japanese are dying from the stress of work than ever before, but that fewer people are prepared to suffer in silence."

The Ugly American - Washington has its usual list of b.s. demands for the new government of the Republic of Congo - "free elections," etc. Also, according to one report, "an end to Marxist claptrap." Will they get these things? No doubt about it, says a State Dept. big-lip. "As the world's only superpower, we have the political clout," he says. "Kabila is well aware of that...We are going to watch him very carefully."

Get doggie bags - Backed by union tops, British Airways won a plan under which cargo workers will take a two-year wage freeze and lose 400 jobs in exchange for an agreement not to give the work to outside contractors. Meanwhile, at London's Heathrow Airport, an unauthorized walkout by catering workers left long-distance flights taking off without a full supply of meals.

Passengers were given vouchers for a meal at the airport before takeoff.

Some preferences they like -Stifling debate on the issue, University of California regents killed a motion to end the practice of setting aside admission slots for relatives and friends of heavy donors.

Coincidentally, the meeting also voted to kick off the public phase of a campaign to raise $1.2 billion. (In 1995 the regents iced student affirmative action programs.)

Big Royalburger? - Britain's incoming Labour government says it won't put up the 60 million to replace the Royal Yacht, but is talking with some firms about providing the yacht. The idea of a company owning the boat is not expected to sit well with the Queen, who takes a dim view of any suggestion of commercial sponsorship of the monarchy.

http://www.lucifer.com - Addressing the Prayer Book Society, the Prince of Wales warned that society is in danger of making new technology the arbiter of "virtual reality ethics" and the "eventual murderer of the soul of mankind."

The prince knows something? - A survey indicates that 35 percent of U.S. companies practice electronic surveillance of office employees, "at least occasionally," and often secretly. That includes listening to phone calls and voice mail, reading e-mail, and videotaping workers' performances.

Then there's the location badges which track where a worker is at all times.

`Whatever' - Testifying at the trial of Arizona Gov. Fife Symington, his former secretary said she helped him prepare three versions of the same financial statement and he would then choose which one to send to which lender. The gov is on trial for bank fraud, attempted extortion, and perjury.

`Where there's smoke..' - We noted the World Health Organization finding that cancer rates in Third World countries will double in the next quarter century. Additionally, each year cigarettes alone claim some 3 million cancer victims world-wide. R.J. Reynolds (Joe Camel) had an export take of $3.6 billion last year and sales are rising.  
 
 
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