Quick stuff--The recall of some 28 million pounds of poultry cold cuts because of listeria bacteria contamination came despite the concern of the company, Pilgrim’s Pride, and the extensive inspection system of the feds. According to the Bloomberg business news service, the Dept. of Agriculture has about 7,000 inspectors in 6,500 meat and poultry plants--averaging one and a something per plant.

They’ve been around the block--"We have a thorough and comprehensive insurance program that we are sure will cover the company."--Richard Gogdill, keeper of Pilgrim’s Pride purse strings.

Think if we didn’t have capitalism--"If you include the most recent downturn, then we’ve had four out of the past four recessions caused by the Middle East."--David Wyss, economist at Standard & Poor’s.

Worry all the way to the bank --"Terror, war worries push oil up 2.5 percent"--News headline.

Try the local bus--With more price hikes looming, ambulance companies are openly advising they will serve people with private insurance rather than poor people with skimp stuff like Medicaid and other "coverage." The latter pay $150 a trip against a current fare of $350.

Sunny California--"More than three-quarters of California nursing homes fail to meet federal standards [What federal standards?] and more than four in 10 homes violate a state law, according to a comprehensive review."--News item.

Housing tip--Leo Hinderly, briefly a top dog at Global Crossing, the telecommunications outfit that is now belly-up and under federal scrutiny, is demanding back rent and severance money from the company, which also owes severance pay to thousands of ex-employees. The company was paying $22,000 a month rent for Hinderly at the posh Waldorf Astoria.

Our advice--Recently, if memory serves, St. Patrick’s Cathedral on nearby Fifth Avenue beat a court move that tried to bar it from letting homeless people sleep on its steps. Maybe Hinderly could make a reservation.

Finally--We balked at picking up the widely reported item of the $6,000 shower curtain bought by Dennis Koslowski on Tyco Int’l money. We wondered where you could buy a $6,000 curtain, and assumed it was a whimsical item on a swindle sheet. But one writer suggested maybe it was to show visitors his contempt for money. We thought, more likely for himself.  
 
 
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