Friday, May 16, 2003

Politics Minimum number of federal lobbyists registered since 1999 whose interests cover "terror" or "security" issues : 444 Source: PoliticalMoneyLine (Washington) Econony Date on which the Bush Administration announced the cancellation of monthly federal reporting of mass layoffs : 12/24/02 Number of announcements of mass layoffs reported in 2002 : 17,799 Source: CSX Corporation (Richmond, Va.) Lifestyle Number of female characters with supernatural powers on major U.S. network-television programs last season : 20 Source: National Organization for Women (Washington) Health Number of deaths in 2001 that the Japanese government classified as having resulted from overwork : 143 Source: Embassy of Japan (Washington) Finance Minimum amount S&P 500 corporations owe in retirement benefits for which they have set aside no funds : $458,000,000,000 Source: Merrill Lynch (N.Y.C.) Lifestyle Minimum number of locals hired to act as Arabs heckling U.S. troops during an army war game in California last year : 15 Source: U.S. Army (Fort Lewis, Wash.) Lifestyle Minimum number of box cutters taken from U.S. airline passengers since last February : 34,777 Source: U.S. Transportation Security Administration 6:34:08 PM    comment []