Watercooler Stories

MORE WOULD-BE CITIZENS DIE IN DESERT

Immigration officials in Tucson, Ariz., say that at least seven Mexican immigrants have died in the intense heat of the desert, trying to find new homes in that state. The Tucson Star is reporting that the latest victims apparently were part of a group of more than 70 people who had come across the border from Mexico last week and began walking northward.

At the Mexican consulate in Tucson, the publication says that workers tried to identify the victims and notify relatives in their native country.

When the group of Mexicans was found, rescue workers did all they can to rehydrate men who were on the verge of death. The more serious were transported to a Tucson hospital.

The group was found wandering in a part of the desert where it's nearly 110 in the shade. There was no shade.

YOUTHFUL SINGERS CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARY

When you're part of a musical group it's easy to stage a noise birthday party. And that's what the Young People's Chorus of New York City has just done. The group tells United Press International that it celebrated its fifth anniversary with a special concert.

The five different choirs that make up the chorus presented a special revue of Latin music at Tully Hall's concert theater.

The event was hosted by a series of Hispanic local television personalities.

A pre-concert champagne benefit reception was held in advance of the singing gala. Tickets went for $200 with all proceeds to help the group.

The Young People's Chorus of New York City is, technically, the resident chorus of the 92nd St. YMCA.

BILLY MAY'S TRUMPET TRADITION LIVES ON

The Billy May Orchestra, now under the direction of Andy Prior, is about to stage another major Las Vegas concert. The Stardust Hotel and Casino says that the aggregation, keeping the jazz-big band traditions of the late musician-arranger alive, will perform at the ballroom in the complex next weekend. The date will be a major 3-hour concert.

May, winner of one of the first Grammy awards, first joined the Charlie Barnett Orchestra in the 1930s. He later went on to work with Glenn Miller, as a trumpeter and arranger.

He became the musical director of Capitol Records, when that label was founded and did some amazing work with Frank Sinatra.

Many of Sinatra's tunes will be presented when the band performs this week.

ORBITZ ON-LINE BOOKER UNDER GOVERNMENT EYE

It was a little over a year ago that a new on-line travel booker hung out its shingle on the Internet. At the time many people were not aware that orbitz.com was the brainchild not of an independent company, but was put together by four airlines, including Northwest.

Now, a year later, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune says a Congressional commission is looking into the operations of the click-and-book Web site.

The questions being raised are whether orbitz is violating anti-trust laws because it has carved out such a large niche on the Web -- now the third-largest company of its kind -- in light of the fact that it's essentially "industry-owned."

Because orbitz is owned by the airlines there are fears that the airlines involved can offer better fairs to its "child" than to other Web-based brokers, essentially driving the competition for bookings out of business, then hiking fares.