P.S.--United is axing 20,000 workers. No Congressional subsidies there.

For sure--Colorado state employees rallied on the steps of the capitol October 4 to protest three-digit increases in health plan premiums. In Pueblo County, a state employee with four children will pay a monthly premium of $500 to $800 a month. Warned one state worker: "We're the canary in the coal mine. If it happens to us, it's going to happen to you."

Caught holding the cards--In Scottsboro, Alabama, a former cop will face trial for burglarizing a building. He allegedly took $14,000 in cash and jewelry and a collection of baseball cards. The stated value of the cards is $13,084.

Bet he's waving the flag--Despite a loss of $9 billion last year, computer honcho Bill Gates is still the country's richest person. Currently, he "worth" $54 billion.

A few barrels of 'bad apples'?--"One in ten senior police officials in England and Wales is being investigated for criminal or disciplinary charges. Figures showed that 101 superintendents or chief superintendents are suspended from duty or are working under a cloud of suspicion."--Ben Taylor, crime correspondent, London Daily Mail.

Gobble, gobble--What with other retailers folding or hanging on by their fingernails, Wal-Mart, said to be the world's largest chain, announced it would open as many as 325 new stores next year and enlarge 115 more, or move them to larger spaces.

English translation available?--The UCLA Political Science department announced several seminars led by visiting academics. One title was more incomprehensible than the other. Our favorite: "Rethinking representation: A plural systemic and deliberative theory of representation, designed for the promissory, anticipatory, self-referential, and surrogate forms."

'Progressive' education--Colorado officials have replaced the old school report card with school accountability reports--in English only. At Denver's Valdez Elementary School, the principal estimates that 80 percent of the parents are Spanish speakers and won't be able to read the reports.  
 
 
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