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[Carrie McLaren <carrie AT stayfreemagazine.org>]

One of these days, the legal dept. of the Wall Street Journal is going to
catch up with me. Until then:

"Seeking New Markets For Tampons, Procter & Gamble Tries 'Bonding Sessions'
And School Slide Shows in Mexico" (from the WSJ, December 8, 2000)
http://www.stayfreemagazine.org/public/wsj_tampons.html
The title says it all....almost. You've got to read on to find out about
the how the sales reps wear doctors' coats and are required to use tampons.
Also there's a nice quote from a P&G alien about how not raising the issue
of toxic shock syndrome is a "realistic way" of informing Mexican consumers.

"Sick of Bad Christmas Surprises, People Demand to Know What's Under the Tree"
http://www.stayfreemagazine.org/public/wsj_xmas.html (from WSJ December 1998)


Also, in keeping of the holiday spirit, here (below) are a few Santa
stories, culled from the AP wire:
http://www.stayfreemagazine.org/public/santa.html


SANTA TRAGEDY AT XMAS PARTY

Birmingham Evening Mail, December 23, 1999

A CHRISTMAS party ended in tragedy when a Birmingham grandfather dressed as
Santa Claus collapsed and died of a heart attack in front of dozens of
children.

The tragedy happened on Saturday night at the Pheasey Park Farm community
centre in Hillingford Avenue, Great Barr. Fred Cantelo, aged 61, had been
handing out presents to youngsters when he started to feel unwell. Children
were ushered away when Mr Cantelo, who was known by his middle name John,
complained of chest pains.

Mr Cantelo, a former milkman who was forced to retire because of
ill-health, was rushed to Sandwell General Hospital, but was dead on
arrival.

According to Mr. Cantelo's son, who asked not to be named, "It is a
terrible tragedy but my father loved his role of Santa giving out presents
and at least he would not have suffered too much."

- - - - - - - -

MAN PLAYING SANTA IN PARADE KILLED IN ACCIDENT

December 23, 1999

AP - A Yuma man dressed as Santa Claus was killed in a crash between a dune
buggy and pickup truck during the Festival of Lights parade here.

Two others were injured in the accident.

George Mizar, 65, was riding in the last dune buggy of the parade, playing
the part of Santa and waving at spectators.

His dune buggy was hit by a truck that was not part of the parade. The
driver was identified as Richard Albert, 51.

Mizar was thrown from the dune buggy and killed. Two others riding the
vehicle, were injured in the crash.

Parade participants didn't know that a collision had occurred until someone
caught up with them farther down the route and told them.

- - - - - -

SANTA KILLED IN CAR WRECK

December 15, 1998

AP - A 69-year-old Alabama man dressed in a Santa Claus suit died Tuesday
in a collision on Interstate 10, police said.

Harvey D. McMath of Mobile was killed and the driver of a truck was
seriously injured in the 2:45 a.m. wreck, Mississippi Highway Patrol Sgt.
Joe Gazzo said.

McMath's car was stopped in the eastbound lane of I-10, one mile east of
Moss Point, with no lights on when it was hit from behind. Gazzo said
officers do not know if the car had stalled.

"He was dressed in a full suit - hat, beard, everything that Santa would
wear when he brought you toys," said Gazzo. "We think he'd been somewhere
to play Santa Claus."

The driver of the truck, LeRoy Bartley, 31, of Laplace, La., was taken to
Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula, Gazzo said.

- - - - -


MAN DRESSED AS SANTA CLAUS SUFFERS FATAL HEART ATTACK

December 21, 1987

AP - A man dressed as Santa Claus suffered a fatal heart attack just
moments before his first appearance at a farmer's market, his family says.

Thomas J. Quill, a 59-year-old grocery store clerk, was preparing to greet
children in this city south of Wilmington just before he died Friday, said
his daughter, Carol.

"He was supposed to be there at about 12 and the guy called and told us he
was sleeping in the chair and they couldn't wake him up," Ms. Quill said.
Quill was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, she said.

"He played Santa Claus every year for the family," Ms. Quill said. "That
was the first time he ever did it at the Farmers Market. He loved
Christmas."

- - - - - -

SANTA RON DIES ON DUTY

December 18, 1998

AP - A town centre Santa Claus collapsed and died today after being taken
ill in his grotto.

Former miner Ronald Gill, 61, who was known as "Rotherham's Father
Christmas", collapsed in a council building during a break from his duties
meeting children.

The grotto was closed and children turned away after the incident, said
Colin Scott, chairman of the sponsoring Rotherham Chamber of Trade.  ''Ron
was a fantastic Father Christmas there's no doubt about that the best we've
had,'' Scott said.