BY HARRY RING
A few good belly laughs - A Georgia retreat, Little Horse Spa for the Spirit, offers the opportunity to seek inner peace and hear success-oriented speakers. The operator says, "It used to be, `If I make a lot of money, I'll be happy.' Now it's, `If I'm happy, I'll make a lot of money.' "

God bless the greedy - The Wall Street Journal reports a growing response to the message that love of the Lord fits fine with the love of money. At a Seattle church, 500 people plunked down 50 bucks to hear Paul Zane, author of God Wants You to be Rich. The pastor said his message was, "If we're all poor, who's going to help the poor?"

Law 'n order in Tonga - In the South Pacific island chain of Tonga, ruled by a constitutional monarchy, the police warned the Pro-Democracy Committee not to proceed with planned meetings to discuss democracy. The Minister of Police declared that it's "against the law to induce people to hate the monarchy and the present form of government."

Love those car makers - Ford says there's no need to recall 23 million cars and trucks that for a decade have included ignitions that are potential fire hazards. In Canada, they had to do a recall after reports of 300 steering column fires. In the United States, 800 fires have been reported. Ford has advised customers that if they're concerned they can have the switch replaced for $100 or less.

Just put a lot of sauce on them - Singapore has banned the import of Tyson's chickens until Washington assures that no more spoiled chickens will be shipped. Tyson said it was only two shiploads and they arrived spoiled because the ships' refrigerator systems weren't working right. They assured that the chickens were only spoiled, not contaminated. They didn't say why they tried to unload them.

Sows with silk ears - "The job has changed. It's not so much the brawn.... What we also look for are strong interpersonal skills, the ability to handle situations in a de-escalating manner." - Ray Coleman, an administrator at the Seattle-area county jail.

Caught a real crook - Suspecting employees might be tapping the till, an East Harlem bookie installed a video camera. It did prove useful when the place was raided. The tape - which police officials refuse to release - catches one cop reaching into the cash drawer and pocketing the contents.

Anticrime program - Los Angeles bank robberies have dropped 58 percent. One reason, officials speculate, is that the elimination of many branches by mergers has reduced the number of targets.

The just society - A California appeals court upheld a 25- year-to-life sentence for a man convicted of stealing a pair of shoes and a wallet valued at $35.88. The sentence was meted under the state's "three-strikes" law. Petty theft is usually considered a misdemeanor. But if the defendant has two previous theft convictions, it can be escalated into a felony.  
 
 
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