Capitalism at its best--"The agricultural workers in California who help put nutritional fruits and vegetables on American tables themselves suffer from "a startlingly high" risk for chronic illnesses such as heart disease and stroke--probably because of poor nutrition. This is true despite the workers' relative youth and vigorous physical exertion, according to the most comprehensive study of farm workers' health ever done in California'--Los Angeles Times.

Like we say, don't bend your knee--In the late 1980s and early '90s, some 1,500 people in the United Kingdom were fitted with artificial knees sold to 36 hospitals by a major supplier. Now they report that "hundreds" of these must be recalled (and, we trust, replaced) because they haven't lasted as long as expected and can cause bone injuries.

So what do they do?--In Turkey, hundreds of financially hard-pressed people are walking into hospitals and offering to sell their kidneys. A doctor at a national kidney hospital said, "We explain that it's illegal."

A deodorant?--In London, a team of cops sent flowers to an older couple they had earlier run out into the street in their nightwear. The officers said they had broken into the wrong house because they had been given the incorrect address for a wanted gunman.

Not to mention decent wages--Despite a general rise in the economy, southern Iowa is still hit by poverty. In Decatur County, an estimated 20 percent of the people are living in poverty. A sociology prof pointed to lack of jobs, government spending, natural resources, and good roads.

And the teachers?--In North Andover, Massachusetts, high school principal Susan Nicholson wants to change opening classes from 7:15 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. She said students are showing up bleary-eyed and cranky.

Protecting them from themselves?--The office of Nebraska's attorney general says prison inmates have no right to see their own medical records. And the mouthpiece for the prison system points out that prisoners can always try for a court order.

A query--News items like the previous make you steam? Good. One way to get such items around is to send clippings for use in this column. Send to Great Society c/o Pathfinder Bookstore, 2546 W. Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90006.  
 
 
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