“An 82-year-old woman has received a $114 ticket for taking too long to cross a street in the San Fernando Valley, Calif. Mayvis Coyle said she began shuffling with her cane when the light was green, but was unable to make it to the other side before it turned red.”

Ruth Malhotra went to court last month for the right to be intolerant. Malhotra says her Christian faith compels her to speak out against homosexuality. But the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she’s a senior, bans speech that puts down others because of their sexual orientation. Malhotra sees that as an unacceptable infringement on her right to religious expression. So she’s demanding that Georgia Tech revoke its tolerance policy.”

FIRST National Bank ., tried to encourage business through billboard advertising, but conveyed quite a different message when the following ad was displayed: “Loans make life easier, at FIRST.”

DURING my first year in mortgage banking, I chose follow-up as my prime objective and made sure my clients knew it. On one case, a joint-venture construction loan that had required hours of preparation, I was eager to advise my client that I had finally received a letter of intent. I called his office only to be told that he had left for the day. Frustrated, I relaxed by sailboarding in the harbor near my home. As I sailed along on I noticed a large powerboat cruising nearby and was astonished to discover that the man at the helm was my client. I tacked close to the cruiser, and waved. Incredulous, he waved back and slowed the boat. “Just wanted to let you know I’ve received a letter of intent,” I called out. The deal was sealed soon afterward. Attached to the client’s agreement was this postscript: “When you say you follow up on a deal, you really mean it!”