That's also capitalism--That study also confirmed that nonwhites are 1 1/2 times more likely to be poor.

Meanwhile, of course--A study led by Wall Street's Merrill Lynch says the world's richest people became 18 percent richer on the global stock market, thanks to runaway high tech stocks.

Verily--"Tobacco firm to buy Nabisco for $14.9 billion. Phillip Morris, which owns Kraft, would strengthen its position as nation's biggest food company. Consumers would get more products but probably not lower prices."--News headline

They saw his eye blink--In Savannah, Georgia, one lawyer is in the pen and his partner on the lam. A judge says they face jail terms unless they return the $2.4 million they allegedly took, without approval, from a comatose client.

The can-do system--"Million letters a week go astray, mail chiefs say."--London headline.

What a deal--Richard Gere is a busy person, what with screen acting and heading up Tibet House, an anti-China operation. So he's unloading his summer spot at Malibu Beach in the Los Angeles area. A mansion and guest houses are perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific.

Another guest pad is down on his private strip of beach. If still vacant, rent it in July and August for $75,000 a month. Or, grab it up for $10 million.

Busted heads don't count?--In Fargo, North Dakota, the police chief imposed "performance expectations" on the ranks. They will be expected to have at least five "contacts" a day with people, and write a minimum of 25 tickets a month.

What price sexism--"Although the 20th Century has seen women enter the professions at an impressive rate, their average earnings are still 40 percent lower than men's, figures show."--The Times of London.

Big Greyhound in the sky--Naively, we liked the plebeian sound of Airbus, name of the European consortium of airplane builders. Now we feel a bit foolish. Airbus is building the world's biggest "cruise ship" one that will seat up to 650 passengers.

But no more of that "first-class passengers, unaccompanied children and the infirm" first. First-class folks will board the top deck through a separate entrance. AP reports that's so "they need not mingle with people below."  
 
 
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