There, a street adjacent to the British embassy was renamed Bobby Sands Street. From Northern Ireland, the Bobby Sands Trust reports that the United Kingdom government has been demanding that the street name be changed. The earlier name had been Winston Churchill, UK Tory prime minister during World War II.

Plain talk—Fluor, the octopus-like engineering and construction company is not in a hurry. John Hopkins, a top dog, said that despite the turmoil, Fluor wants to continue their myriad projects in Iraq. They already have some 4,000 Iraqis on the payroll being broken in. Hopkins added that Fluor also wants to deepen its role in Russia, China and Poland.

Adjectives fail us—By near unanimity, the U.S. Senate voted to permit the Internal Revenue Service to outsource delinquent tax collections to private companies. And, neatest of all, the companies would win rewards for catching people cheating on their taxes.

It figures—In Denver, a survey found that in the city’s lowest-income neighborhoods, the public libraries, seven of them, were open 30 hours a week, 30 percent less than the rest of the city’s library chain.

Loyal servant—“Colorado—Gov. Owens signed a bill barring people from suing over afflictions they blame on fast food. The measure echoes federal legislation. Owens said people have no right to blame corporations for their problems. The measure was one of four signed by the governor to protect businesses.— USA Today.

The fight continues—Recently, a federal court in Louisiana upheld a prison in preventing an inmate from having an abortion. Victoria, who learned she was pregnant in prison, was told she would have to hire a lawyer and obtain a court order. A lawyer did take on her case and she was granted an early release. But too late to obtain an abortion under Louisiana law. She had the baby and placed it with adoptive parents.

The bountiful society—In Wyoming, 40 percent of single mothers live at, or under, the poverty level.

The foul society—Bristol-Meyers Squib has stopped selling the antidepressant Serzone in the United States. The pill has been linked to numerous kidney injuries, including at least 20 deaths. The company said sales of Serzone have been poor and several suits have been filed against it.  
 
 
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