"This hotel happened to have pools and fountains that did not have any fences, borders or anything to keep people out of the water - just level marble with pool openings. He was so engrossed in telling me what a great office he had that he walked straight into the pool," recalls Mr. Lancaster.

"It was very shallow and he just kept walking for 4 or 5 feet - but a foot shorter than he had been - walked out the other side, and just kept right on walking and talking without missing a beat."

ANIMAL GERMS

Uncle Sam is short of "essential" veterinarians to control potentially catastrophic "zoonotic diseases which spread between animals and humans, such as avian influenza."

So warns the Government Accountability Office (GAO), pointing out that most federal animal doctors work in the departments of Agriculture, Defense, and Health and Human Services (still in need of a secretary, let alone vets).

"[T]here is a growing national shortage of veterinarians," says the GAO, which surveyed 24 federal entities with veterinarian work forces, analyzing pandemic plans and interviewing those who responded to four recent zoonotic outbreaks.

The GAO seeks to empanel a veterinarian work force that would be needed "during a catastrophic event."

BIPARTISAN SPIRIT

"Who says Republicans and Democrats can't unite?" quips Ben Jenkins, communications director for the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, after young members of both parties joined together on Capitol Hill this week to support legislation allowing Sunday alcohol sales in three states where it's banned.