“Profit Protection Agency”?—A whistle-blower has exposed that the EPA has put a hold on shaping rules to protect children and workers exposed to lead-based paint. An agency spokesperson responded that they are simply considering “voluntary” procedures that might be more effective, and less costly for the industry and the pubic. The EPA guesstimates that about 1.4 million children a year are exposed to lead toxins in paint.

They are friendly chaps—Responding to a call of a possible shooting, 10 Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies chased Winston Hayes, 44. He tried to stop as squad cars surrounded him. The deputies fired some 90 bullets, wounding Hayes with four gunshots—he was unarmed—and two cops. Sheriff Lee Baca speculated the wounded cops were the result friendly fire.

P.S.—With the cross-fire shooting on TV nation-wide, it was clear the cops had gone ape. A department investigator upped the “friendly fire” theme, tagging it instead as an example of “contagious fire.”

Oh, well—“Carroll, Iowa—Bottled water is flying off the shelves after chunks of flesh and bones showed up in the city’s water systems last month. Officials say the water is safe to drink…. Chunks came from an animal, not a human”—News item.

Role model needed—There’s concern in Washington about the fledgling Iraqi government. Auditing the regime reveals $100 million in cash and supplies seem unaccounted for. Wailed a U.S. senator: “The U.S. risks fostering a culture of corruption in Iraq.” Well, how about a role model? Consolidate a U.S.-Iraq contract with Halliburton, a key player in Iraq.

True, there’s been questions about Halliburton on swollen contracts, and elusive dollars. These allegations have been deftly sidelined to keep the war going. But there’s Vice President Dick Cheney, who was Halliburton’s top dog until he was elected. He ensures that Halliburton does it all right.

Sleep well—It still seems weird. Former Tyco chief Dennis Kozlowski, and an associate, took the witness stand, trying to answer the charge of using some $600 million of Tyco money to spice up their life style. Kozlowski spent $12 million decorating his New York apartment. This includes the notorious $6,000 gold-threaded shower curtain, and a $2,900 set of hangers (hand-crafted gold?). The list also included a $4,995 blue and gold bed skirt (what’s a bedskirt?) and finally, a $2,665 velvet pillow. Not several for pillow tal

Imperialism, an example—“U.S. Territory, Virgin Islands—A cancer center in the Virgin Islands draws 50 percent of its patients from other small Eastern Caribbean islands in the Lesser Antilles that don’t have hospitals that provide chemotherapy and radiotherapy”—News item.  
 
 
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