Apparently, his rights were respected --Rev. Carl McIntire checked out at age 95. The L.A. Times described him as "a firebrand fundamentalist radio evangelist who railed against communism, liberalism, racial integration, sex education, evolution and water fluoridation from his broadcast pulpit for four decades."

How about human ‘stuff’?--In New York, astronomical rents drive countless families to stuff countless numbers of relatives and friends into their apartments. But a Brooklyn landlord got a court ruling that Fei Xu, 71, has too much stuff in his modest apartment.

An avid collector of things, his apartment is jammed with electrical appliances, suitcases, chairs, etc. A reporter says the collection is carefully organized, and a fire dept. spokesperson said a description did not indicate any violation. The housing court judge, however, agreed with the landlord, and ordered Xu to cut the collection in half or face eviction.

Oh, the poor rich--The "Panic Room" isn’t just a movie. The Toronto Globe & Mail reports that in both Canada and the United States wealthy people are installing high-tech bunkers. According to the paper, buyers are "usually the rich and famous who fear kidnappers, stalkers, terrorists, assassins and plain old robbers." The article was headlined "Cowering in luxury."

No bunker complex?--The L.A. Times real estate section tapped it as "Home of the Week." Features include six bedrooms, a guest apartment, and three elevators. (One runs express to the wine cellar.) Perhaps for security concerns, there’s no mention of a panic suite. Nor is it cheap. The asking price, $29.95 million.

America the beautiful--Yun Tau Chee, a Hawaiian, died recently at 73. In 1948, she was the first Asian contestant in the annual Atlantic City beauty contest, which was established in 1921. It was limited, by written rule, to members of the "white race." In 1941, Mifauny Shunatona, a Native American, busted in, and in 1945, Bess Myerson, who was Jewish, won the cup. In 1948 Irma Nydia Vasquez , a Puerto Rican, won entry along with Ms. Chee. In 1970, Cheryl Brown, became the first Black contestant.

Holy macaroni--According to a USA Today survey, the cost of weddings in a good part of the country range from about $17,000 to $19,000. For the Big Apple, the tab is, on average, $31,800.

Thought for the week--"Only the wealthiest families have seen their incomes keep pace with increases in tuition." --Report on soaring tuition fees and how they hit low end of the income ladder the hardest.  
 
 
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