Obviously not a pro--The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defense is grappling with a disclosure that, like U.S. GI's, British soldiers who handled Iraqi tanks hit by uranium-depleted bombs face a high risk of cancer. A Ministry medical report on this was written four years ago and suppressed. A spokesperson said the author of the report was a "trainee."

We were waiting for this one--"The state's [California] electricity crisis threatens to spill over into the gasoline and jet fuel distribution system, raising the specter of shortages as major pipelines and oil fields are being starved of power needed to operate pumps."--Los Angeles Times.

Capitalist education--England's Labour government allocated more than $250 million to step up the drive against truancy. The money will expand sweeps by truancy cops to collar youth they deem should be in school, plus community "awareness" campaigns.

Here's an idea--In England's Essex county, school officials said that a shortage of teachers might make them put the area school system on a four-day week. That, of course, would be cheaper than paying teachers a decent wage and providing them an opportunity to do some serious teaching. And it would narrow the opportunity for students to absent themselves from school.

Golly, if we weren't temperance--A travel deal: Board a private jet to check out some of the world's great vineyards. Plus, shopping, gourmet meals, etc. Reserve early for the 25-day tour and get $1,000 off the regular price of $59,500 (double occupancy).

See, he cares--Health care officials say that in the past decade, 1,000 U.S. hospitals and 1,100 emergency rooms have been shut down. Declared the president of the Massachusetts Ambulance Association: "We're dealing with lives. It's not like we're selling widgets."

The 'justice' system--Joseph Bini, a Denver cop, is getting his badge and gun back. He had written the wrong address on a search warrant for a no-knock raid. The result, a SWAT team went to the wrong house and fatally shot Ismael Mena who lived there. Bini will receive back pay for nine of the 12 months he was suspended. The city manager said he realized the reinstatement would spark criticism, but it was the "fair'' thing to do.  
 
 
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