‘You scratch my back’—The Pentagon helps the beleaguered contractors. Like, the Army just gave $72 million in bonuses to Halliburton, the giant contractor. We’ll wager a sliver will be in the monthly check deposited for Dick Cheney, top dog at Halliburton and now on leave as White House veep.

A shrinking flock—The venerable Church of England is grappling with a deep cash crisis, according to a report leaked to the Times of London. Church attendance has fallen while expenses rise. The report speaks of cutting the clergy by a third and closing many churches. Parishioners will be urged to worship God in living rooms.

Like the flu—A survey reported by the Des Moines, Iowa, Register, found that rich people worry too. The survey found that people with $5 million or an income of $300,00 a year said their biggest worry was that their children would have a tougher time than they did. Concern #2 was terrorism, and #3 the increasing cost of education. Hurray for capitalism.

A few other problems—The demand for worldwide cheap labor has swelled the number of people forced to work in slave-like conditions. The UN labor agency reports that 12.3 million people—at least half of them children—are forced into labor. The vast majority is said to be drawn from Asia and Latin America.

Certified rump-busters—The Chicago Tribune reports that bosses and unions (we hope dragging in the unions is false) are “alarmed” that job seekers with diplomas can’t function in the work place. They declare this “threatens to cripple American productivity.”

They suggest that grads learn the need for punctuality and willingness to accept supervision. They say a New York agency is testing a “work readiness” exam.

Thought for the week—“Remember birthdays, not balances.”—Thought offered on monthly credit card bull from Citi Group, the world’s biggest bank.  
 
 
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