Science not just for war--Immersed in their labs, French scientists have developed a DNA test to distinguish the ultrapricey French truffle from the cheaper ones developed in China. These are currently being exported from China and the U.S. state of Oregon.

Reinforcements nearing--The municipal council in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is in the process of repealing its lunchtime ban on fortune tellers. The lawmakers are concerned with a court challenge to the ban as a curb on religious freedom. We thought they had all taken media jobs as experts and sources.

Gobble, gobble--The Montana budget director saw it as highly unusual and asserted it would be investigated. The state board of workmen’s compensation voted a "retirement bonus" of $133,000 for the president of the board. The bonus was tossed in when the board swelled his pay to $280,224, reportedly the highest for any state employee in the country.

A proud record--"Inmate suicides is increasing in Michigan because the number of mentally ill people sentenced to jails and prisons has increased, the Detroit News reported. Administrators say they the lack of money, personnel and expertise to evaluate or treat such inmates. The newspaper reported that 23 percent, or 11,598, of new state prison inmates in 2002 reported past mental health problems.... Michigan has closed 10 state mental hospitals in the past decade."--USA Today.

UK golden shaft--To deal with a mounting pension crisis workers are being offered a new retirement deal. The retirement age will be pushed up to 65 from the present 60. If they live to 70, they’ll get up to $30,000. The aim: to encourage workers to "work longer and save more," said the Times of London. It added, "The government calculates that 3 million people face penury in old age unless they start saving now. Another five to ten million face a big drop in living standards."

They’ll really get soused--In addition to bankruptcy and slashing the work force, United Airlines is scrapping lunch (get the pun?) on coach flights. Now they’ve extended it to business and first-class. Free liquor will continue, but limited to previous meal periods.

Faulty swivel chairs?--"The [accident] insurance plan for members of the Canadian forces, who may be joining a possible attack on Iraq, has a clause that denies payment to most soldiers injured in the line of duty, but allows generals to claim up to $250,000 for injuries or death."--National Post, Toronto.  
 
 
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