US Dept. of Agriculture reported that in 2006 35 million people in the US lived in “food insecure” households, including 13 million children… that’s more than 10% of the population. The outlook for 08 is worse with soaked fields and high fuel costs… This summer cities are distributing lunches to inner city kids who don’t get enough to eat even with parents working… Wall St. Journal reports that 13 million US households are currently struggling to put food on their tables.. Chicago, New York, Alabama, Nevada… America’s Second Harvest says that visitors to foodbanks are up 20% in a year…

Soil scientist Fred Magdoff of University of Vermont writes in MONTHLY REVIEW May issue that half the world’s population - or 3 billion people - are “food insecure”…

$110 million... the total compensation for the five top oil execs worldwide… and that was 2007. Just wait.  Also in 07... OECD reports that assistance to Africa by developed nations was down from 06…

Jamie Dimond on Charlie Rose last night talking up the $100 million JP Morgan Chase gives annually to charity… That’s the budget a power couple has to keep a residence in Manhattan and beach place on the Island… Still, it’s the thought that counts.

More pressure on private equity to stay out of the health care biz… SEIU focus on a Lazard fund the holds elderly care properties… Lazard’s Wasserstein, as you recall, renowned for paying top dollar in 80s M&A mania… pay now, balance sheets later… translation: cut muscle.

Solutions Research Group estimates that by 2013 the average American over 12 years old will spend 8 hours a day watching movies, shows, news and sports, or playing games on one type of screen or another….