Speak Sisters--With more than 30 armed federal agents standing by, Bureau of Land Management goons seized 227 head of cattle, which they claimed were being illegally grazed on government land in Nevada. The cattle belong to two sisters--Mary and Carrie Dann, members of the Western Shoshone people, who have long fought to reclaim land they legally own and for which they have grazing rights. "It’s domestic terrorism," declared Carrie Dann. "Our homelands are threatened by the mightiest and most powerful nation in the world. To do this and take away our livelihood is morally and ethically wrong. We are trying to make a living off Western Shoshone land."

An omen?--One part of the New York 9/11 ceremony didn’t make the media until a week later. Along with Prez Bush beating the drums for Washington’s war on Iraq, there was to be a ceremonial release of doves. But, as WWII GIs used to say, it was SNAFU (Situation Normal, All F...ed Up). There were no doves available. So a poultry merchant sold them 80 pigeons, some of which couldn’t fly. Others fell into the Hudson River or smacked into skyscraper windows. Some dropped into the audience, with people swatting to keep them from sitting on their heads.

Especially New Yorkers--An arrangements committee member who apparently works in the area said he later saw several of the pigeons, including one who lives by a hot dog stand. "I tried to catch him but he flew away," he said. "Pigeons are natural survivors."

Tough situation for both--Jack Welch, retired top dog at General Electric, is pocketing retirement money by the bushel. GE pays the $80,000 rent on his New York pad and picks up expense tabs from groceries to stamps and toilet paper. Currently his spouse is suing for divorce and he’s paying $35,000 a month support money, which she is accepting "under protest" as "patently inadequate."

Meanwhile--"A large majority of workers over 45 plan to stay on the job into their retirement years, with 80 percent saying most people can’t afford to quit work altogether, according to a survey by the American Association of Retired Persons."--Associated Press.

Sliding-door closet--The Gay Softball Hall of Fame convened in Portland, Oregon, last month and held its world series there--all without incident until the arrival of another guest at the Hilton where many of the players were staying. An amateur drag night was held at the Grand Ballroom and placards in the hotel lobby welcomed folks to the event.

Meanwhile, protesters and Secret Service agents were on hand to welcome Prez Bush, scheduled for a rap at the hotel. How was all this dealt with? The placards in the lobby were taken down just before his arrival and reposted after he left.

Things can get sticky--Dennis Kozlowski, recently top dog at Tyco Intl., has to raise $100 million cash bail, or $10 million bail bond, or go behind bars while being tried for larceny. His ex-wife offered to post the $10 million bond, but the prosecution says Kozlowski gave her the money and it may have been "improperly" lifted from the cash box.

See, they always exaggerate--With the mass hunger summit in Soweto, South Africa, last month, comfortably situated delegates and visitors didn’t know what to expect in the harshly impoverished nation. But, observed a cheerful U.S. visitor, "Soweto is not as bad as I thought it would be. We’ve been through the middle- and upper-class areas and they seemed fine."  
 
 
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