The enforcers--"OXNARD, CA--A metal recycler is leaking a lethal chemical into valuable coastal wildlife habitat, and has released radioactive substances that may have reached a storm drain that empties into the Pacific. Citing sloppy housekeeping, state water quality officials...said they issued a notice to Halaco Engineering Inc.... The enforcement action [?] is just the latest in a series of complaints against the recycler."--Los Angeles Times.

'911? I just died'--A Utah legislator introduced a bill to scotch the idea of requiring folks needing emergency health care to call their insurance company before dialing 911.

Digging their own graves ?--In the Communist Manifesto, Marx and Engels explain that the nature of capitalist production leads the capitalists to create and expand the industrial working class which will serve as the grave diggers of capitalism. A recent medical check of Fortune 500 execs and like fat cats, found 70 percent weren't active enough and 40 percent are obese.

Read it and shiver--Continuing water and air pollution and the persistent massive use of pesticides are taking an increased toll, especially on the children of poor city dwellers and farm workers, reports a special California commission. The children's cancer rate is 10 percent higher than it was 20 years ago. The report says women in Los Angeles and San Francisco have among the highest breast cancer rate in the world.

No senior rates?--The Alabama legislature is debating a "Pay to Stay" bill that would charge people $41 to $45 a day for time behind bars. The tab for locked-up children, however, would be a piddling $30 to $40 a day.

In lieu of a raise?--"Professional Secretaries Week" (Opens April 23) has been redubbed "Administrative Professionals Week."

Chortle of the week--Responding to the report of continuing economic surge, Bank of America honcho Michael Levy chuckled, "This is the best of all worlds."

Thought for the week--According to the World Economic Forum, 4.8 billion of the world's 6 billion poor people live in "developing" countries. Of these, 3 billion try to survive on less than $2 a day. Two billion have never made a phone call.

You can really help--The clippings you send will much improve the quality of this column. Send to Pathfinder Bookstore, 2546 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA. 90006. Fax: 213-380-1268.  
 
 
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