E-Mail This Article to a Friend QUOTES + NUMBERS Painkiller a Killer

20 million

Number of people worldwide who had been using Vioxx when it was pulled from the market last fall by manufacturer Merck after studies suggested that the painkiller doubled a user’s risk for stroke or heart disease.

$253 million

Damages awarded last week in the first Vioxx-related case to go to trial.

4200

Number of pending lawsuits involving VioxX.

$18 billion

Amount analysts have estimated will be Merck’s total liability after all Vioxx-related cases are resolved.

340

The number of students at Empire High School in Vail, Arizona, each of whom received an iBook at the start of the school year instead of textbooks.

"Bitch Dog"

Name used on an August Comcast bill addressed to LaChania Govan of Chicago. Two Comcast employees found to be involved with the name change were fired.

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LAST WEEK’S RESULTS Should President Bush meet with Cindy Sheehan a second time? Yes 71% No 29%

"I WAS DRUNK THE DAY MY POOR OLD MAMA GOT OUT OF PRISON."

One of a series of cardboard signs spotted alongside Park Street church last Wednesday night, presumably placed there by the homeless man sleeping beside them. Others included "YOUR MAMA GAVE ME A HELLUVA BLOW JOB," "YANKEES VERY DEFINITELY SUCK," "BOSTON WOMEN ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL IN THE WORLD," "GEORGE BUSH RULES YOU SIMPLE BASTARDS," "VOTE FOR JOHN KERRY: ASSISTANT DOG CATCHER," and "I (HEART) ISRAEL."