Watercooler Stories

NEITHER RAIN NOR SLEET NOR ANTHRAX

Reports of late mail delivery continue to surface from around the country. But, according to The Washington Post, the reason is not something over which the postal folks have much control. The delays continue to be caused by the ongoing concerns over the possibility of anthrax or other contaminants being sent through the mail.

The Post says the U.S. Postal Service has lately admitted several embarrassing incidents of inordinately late deliveries. Some include the delivery of mail, in recent days, that was sent before Christmas of last year.

Included in the truly "snail-paced" mail are not only regular letters and cards, but police citations, parking tickets, vehicle registrations and passports.

AIRLINES TO BECOME SELF-INSURED

The country's major airlines have agreed to start their own insurance company to provide coverage in case of future terror attacks. The plan has the blessing of the White House. The airlines' plan, approved this past week, would get a subsidy from the federal government. With the passage of time, if attacks either decline or are eliminated, the project would be phased out.

The New York Times reports that consultants say that dozens of large corporations have taken similar actions and are now self-insured.

Meanwhile, some large insurance companies are complaining that the plan will take business from them.

ARMED FORCES LOOKING FOR MORE 'PADRES'

Although it's not politically correct to refer to military chaplains as "padres" anymore, the concept stays the same. According to a new survey, the Pentagon is hunting for what one intuitive headline writer calls "a few Godly men."

All three of the major services are actively recruiting more "men of the cloth" to help soothe the souls of men and women in uniform.

The shortage of chaplains is exacerbated by a few factors. One is the "graying" of the current cadre of priests, chaplains and other clerics. The second is the decreasing number of young men entering traditional vocations. Thirdly, with the growing "melting pot aspect" of America, and the number of men and women in uniform from an increasing number of minority religions, finding chaplains is getting more difficult.

NATIONAL GUARD HEADING FOR CANADIAN BORDER

Since this country first normalized relations with Canada, crossing the border was little more than a quick check of papers, a smile and a wave on. Now, in the wake of 9/11, things are different. Boarder crossing guards on both sides tell United Press International they are having to assume a "tougher posture" than many would like, wishing they could keep the friendly nature of the crossing between the two neighbors forever.

Now, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper reports that the Washington state National Guard is being ordered to the Canadian border.

The move, approved recently by the White House, will see about 70 guardsmen standing by on the state's long border with British Columbia and at the many ferry crossing points, such as Port Angeles -- the gateway to Vancouver Island.