Time to rejoice--"Laid-off workers swell pool of laid off applicants--Retailers say they can be more picky about whom they hire as former white collar employees vie for seasonal jobs."--Business section, Los Angeles Times.

Purrs like a kitten--"You can find some very good people in these times."--Wal-Mart chain spokesperson.

Great for barbeques--Workers thinning down trees in an area near Los Alamos laboratory in New Mexico were told to avoid certain areas near the site where the first atomic bomb was built. A spokesperson said it was a "precaution" for workers to avoid such areas and also assured there was no risk to recreational users.

More than a few getting shafted--A study found that New England customers are paying too much for milk. Unspecified "retailers," the report says, are making a fortune but little gets to dairy farmers. The news service, at least, neglects to mention which "retailers"--the giant chains or the mom ‘n pop groceries.

Why not open the gates?--Conditions at the Alabama prison for women are so outrageous that a judge--fearful of "a ticking time bomb"--ordered a four-week deadline in preparing an improvement plan. Built in the 1940s, the penitentiary was designed to hold a maximum of 384 inmates. Today the number is a few short of triple. They’re jammed into big, open dorms, with nothing to do.

Bon Voyage, doc--Passengers on a third Florida Carnival cruise liner have been slammed by a virulent intestinal infection. William Toth, a state medical official, said such outbreaks are not new and might even be in decline. Asked if he would take a trip himself, he replied, "Sure."

The sane society--"The Supreme Court took up a potential landmark case for the gay rights movement, agreeing to decide whether the Constitution permits states to enforce anti-sodomy laws exclusively against same-sex couples."--News item.

There is some good news--What with our emphasis on widespread lack of food, we should give this matter some balance. A generous crop of truffles will hold the current price under last year’s price of $3,300 a pound. And even that’s not a fair picture. We’ve never seen, no less eaten, a truffle. But we’re assured you don’t have to buy a pound. They’re available by the ounce and perhaps even by the gram.

Beat xmas rush--Please don’t wait until the last minute to send gift-related clippings. Send to Great Society, Pathfinder, 4229 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90011.  
 
 
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