That'll learn 'em--"More gas customers than usual may have to go without heat this winter after failing to pay last winter's bills. PSNC Energy, which provides natural gas for 370,000 North Carolinians, said it disconnected 25,000 customers for nonpayment during the first eight months of the year, 10,000 more than usual."--News item.

Ambulance chasers?--Seemingly a bit stunned by the audacity, a federal judge is squinting at improper billings and overcharges filed by bankruptcy lawyers and accountants representing Cali-fornia's Pacific Gas & Electric. Of fees totaling about $1 million for openers, the court requested an explanation of charges filed over a four-month period. Particularly tabs of $405 per hour compensation for time spent traveling.

The folks with the golden shaft--"PG&E Corp., whose utility arm has operated for the last seven months under bankruptcy law protection, said Monday that net income more than tripled, primarily because it is collecting more from customers than it needs to supply them with electricity."--News item.

Besides, it was only waste--"A federal investigation has concluded that there was no intentional wrongdoing in the case of two radioactive fuel bars missing from the Millstone nuclear plant [in Connecticut]. The report found no evidence of intentional deception. It said the rods may have been sent to a low-level radioactive waste dump."

Judge was hung over?--In a rare departure from the norm, a Santa Ana businessman was sentenced to a year in the slammer, for dumping toxic chromium into the city sewer system.

No hospitality--A Dutch travel agency is sponsoring a $440 "Live Like a Tramp in London" vacation. Vacationers will spend four days on their own around the city, equipped with a sleeping bag, a musical instrument, or a sketch pad or pencil. On the last night they'll have a meal and hotel room. London Homeless charities are put out and Scotland Yard says it will put them behind bars.

He had a real good union?--When United Airlines dumped CEO James Goodwin he landed on a good-sized bag of severance money plus minor fringes--like for three years a company car, company club fees and a financial advisory service.

Soft landing--When a United honcho announced Goodwin's departure, he shrugged off questions, declaring, "Jim had an employment contract and we'll honor it."  
 
 
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