Attention ChileHeads! After the problems a while back when the Lebanon, New Hampshire police pressed assault charges against a teenager working in an all-night coffee shop for putting too much hot sauce in an officer's breakfast, chileheads have learned to be watchful and ever-vigilant against those whose actions would defame El Grande and limit the rights of every chilehead to inflame his or her alimentary system and that of those in moderately close proximity. Toward this end, I present the following shocking newsclip, an excerpt from an AP wire service story cited in yesterday's Boston Globe's New England News Briefs: TOWN FINES FIRM FOR PEPPER RUNOFF --------------------------------- DEERFIED, Mass. - Selectment have voted to fine Cain's Foods $14,000 for sendng too much hot pepper juice into the town sewer plant. Selectman John Paciorek said the food processor has exceeded the limits of its permit to use the sewer plant, which is operating at near capacity. Brian Warne, director of engineering for Cain's, questioned whether the company's expansion was to blame for the sewer plant's troubles, and said company officials hope to meet with the selectment. Cain's is a very respected regional producer of pickles, condiments, and mayonaise. It is shocking to think that, in Massachusetts, birthplace of American liberty, this company could be hauled before a legislative body over excessive hot pepper juice -- not to mention the very arguable concept of "excessive" as an adjective applied to hot pepper anything. Chileheads will be watching this matter closely, I am sure. cheers, the old bear