BY HARRY RING
The sane society - "Worldwide, the yawning gap between rich and poor is illustrated by a stunning statistic: Assets of the world's top 358 billionaires exceed the combined annual income of almost half the world's people, according to the UNDP [UN Development Program.]" - Los Angeles Times, February 16.

Toll continues - In December, 1984, more than 6,500 people were killed when 27 tons of toxic gas escaped from Union Carbide's pesticide plant in Bhopal, India. The British Medical Journal reports that researchers now find that respiratory problems are more common among survivors, as well as reduced lung capacity.

Moonlight and roses - In 1995, some 7 million U.S. workers held 15 million jobs. The number of women moonlighters increased fivefold in 25 years and they now constitute 44 percent of those with two or more jobs.

A connection? - The feds report that the number of union members who are women increased from 22 percent in 1972 to 39 percent last year.

`We're all in this together' -Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber is selling his 15- million London home and auctioning off his wine collection. Sir Andrew has been downsizing his oddly named Really Useful Company.

Apparently not very popular - "MOSCOW - Twenty-six Russian tax collectors were killed in the course of their work last year." - News item.

War on weapons - In Ocala, Florida, a kindergarten pupil was suspended for a day for packing a nail file.

Thieves fall out - A police informer in England, is suing the Constable of Hampshire for 32,000 he says he was promised but never received. It's believed to be the first case of its kind there.

Equal-opportunity alms-taker - We reported on the church in Leon, Spain, that installed a credit-card machine for electronic donations. (Your receipt makes it tax- deductible.) Happily, the church assures those without a credit card that their support is still welcome.

Up to your ears? Not to worry - Debtors of the world will take heart from the news that the Duchess of York has wiped out a 4 million debt. She has an advance on her autobiography, a contract to promote Weight Watcher products, and has already done a commercial for a diet cranberry juice. (It won't be shown in Britain.) She says she got hooked on heavy-duty shopping, "a form of addiction."  
 
 
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