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A Wealth of Issues

From the Silicon Valley Young Republican Federations newsletter, which touted the overwhelming support in Santa Clara County for referendums against bilingual education, illegal immigration, and same-sex marriage: "Santa Clara County is a `Conservative County' with wealthy folks willing to support with their wallets `real Republican' and `conservative issues.'"

Amorous Animals

From an on-line article in The Idaho Statesman about the Boise zoo's fourth annual "Wild Romance" fundraiser: "`It's kind of a unique way to celebrate Valentine's Day,' said Debbie Snyder, Friends of Zoo Boise program manager. To keep the event intimate, only thirty-six people can attend, at a cost of $15 per person. For that, each person will get a champagne brunch and a slide show showing mating rituals of zoo animals."

You Want Fries With That?

From a Reuters on-line report datelined Delmont, Pennsylvania, on a drive-through strip club called Climax Gentleman's Club in Salem Township near Pittsburgh: "Motorists pull around to a window at the back of the club, show proof that they are eighteen or older, and pay about $5 per minute. Then they pull up to a second window and watch a nude dancer for the amount of time they paid for."

Priestly Porsches

From the on-line edition of the Chicago Sun-Times on Cardinal Francis George, who blessed the new Lynch Porsche showroom at Irving Park and Laramie: "`Bless all those who will use this building, either as buyers or sellers, so that by respecting justice and charity, they will see themselves as working for the common good and find joy in contributing to the progress of the earthly city,' George prayed. `May God the father of goodness, who commended us to help each other as brothers and sisters, bless this new building with his presence and look kindly on all who enter here. Amen.' The cardinal lifted his hand to make the sign of the cross and then grabbed a small vial of holy water, flinging droplets across the spotless hood of a $63,000 arctic silver Boxster. `You can't sell that car once it's been blessed,' the cardinal quipped."

Palm Pilot Pit Stops

From the on-line edition of the San Jose Mercury News on hand-held computers with new soft ware that directs its users to restrooms: "Rovenet Inc.'s free Where2Go 1.0 bathroom finder download arrived.... For now, the bathroom information is available only for San Francisco and eleven other cities, including New York, Philadelphia, Miami, and Washington, D.C."

Phone Lies

From a Reuters on-line article datelined Izmir, Turkey, on a lie-detecting telephone:" `This is a phone that enables you to tell if someone is telling the truth or not on the other end of the line,' said Tulay Ispirli, manager of a shop called Vakkorama in the western city of Izmir which is selling the phones for $159 each. The phone has an electronic device which notes changes in frequency that the ear cannot discern. A red light flashes if the person is lying, a yellow light means you should take their words with a pinch of salt, and a green light means you can believe what you hear."

McCarthy, the Man

From an A.P. story datelined Appleton in the Wisconsin State Journal on the Outagamie County Historical Society's plan for an exhibit on the life and times of Senator Joseph McCarthy: "`We want to show him not only as a Senator and politician, but as a man,' [curator Kim Louagie] said. `As a person, he was very well-liked and considered generous.'"

Rich Qualifications

From an article in The Weekly Standard by Dinesh D'Souza: "In 1980, anyone with a net worth of $1 million was considered wealthy.... Today, to qualify as rich you need $1 million in annual income, or $10 million in net worth. According to the Federal Reserve Board, some 250,000 households with around one million people meet this criterion.

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