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    Vol.63/No.10           March 15, 1999 
 
 
The Great Society  

BY HARRY RING
Think you've seen every thing? - NEW ZEALAND -One eye is all you need to see, just according to the government's surgery booking system. Elderly patients with cataracts in both eyes are being granted just one operation to restore their sight. Afterwards, they are told that as they can see well enough out of one eye they do not qualify under the booking system for more surgery." - New Zealand Herald

Things are tough all over -The drop of the Brazilian real is having an impact throughout the region, including Punta del Este, a wealthy seaside resort in neighboring Uruguay. Says the owner of a posh Italian restaurant: "The customers who used to order French wines are now ordering cheaper Uruguayan wines and they are sharing dishes or not ordering appetizers."

Enjoy your red hot - Last summer at least 11 people were killed by the bacterial disease listeria in Ball Park franks containing meat from a Michigan plant owned by Sara Lee Corp.

Five women suffered miscarriages and at least 70 other people were sickened. There were two other recalls of meat products found to contain listeria.

See, not to worry - Writing on the Sara Lee and other listeria cases, a Los Angeles Times reporter advises: "The outbreak at Sara Lee and other recalls are sure to result in greater government and industry scrutiny of ready-to-eat meats."

Oh - The British Patent Office rejected an application by her family and their memorial fund to copyright the image of Diane Spencer. If they had succeeded they could collect royalties from any one who used her image for commercial purposes.

The Patent Office asserted she is an historical figure, not a commercial brand.

Defies comment - Did you notice that Clinton is a nominee for the Nobel peace prize?

Natch - Washington has paid $20 million for the repair of the Alpine ski lift that crashed when a U.S. Marines plane sliced its cables. But, to be compensated, relatives of the 20 people killed have to file through the Italian courts, a process that could take up to 10 years.

The Golden Years - In England its estimated that 13 million of those who retire will live in hardship. Three years ago, the figure was 10 million.

That's the full list? - In 1992 an Israeli cargo plane crashed into a city block in Holland. Dutch authorities have now lifted the lid and admit the cargo included toxic gases, explosives, and ammunition.

Thought for the week -"Women `are fed up with family life.'" - Headline in The Times, London.

 
 
 
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