News In Brief

OH, WELL, IT WAS A FUN IDEA

The year was 1969, but already Judy Rosenberry was thinking about the new century ahead. She had her class at Post Elementary School in Westminster, Calif., put together a time capsule of predictions about the future. A jar containing the guesses was buried on school grounds - to be dug up and opened at the end of the 2000 academic year. So, last week, teacher and others - armed with a map and shovels - began digging. And digging. And, after hours of work, conceding that they weren't going to find the jar. Said one of them: "I was so focused on when we were going to dig it up, I can't remember what we put in it."

THE CHECK IS IN THE MAIL

In New York, J.P. Morgan & Co., a "blue-chip Wall Street firm" managing assets of $350 billion, is back online. It seems the bank had, well, an outstanding financial obligation. And, after waiting six weeks for payment of its "final bill," the Internet registration service Network Solutions pulled the plug on www.jpmorgan.com. Oh, the size of the bill: $35.

Top all-around retirement cities are rated by magazine

Looking for a vibrant place to spend your post-career years? The July issue of Money magazine picks five top retirement communities - each with a population under 250,000 - based on a survey by British research group Fast Forward. The survey considered such criteria as cost of living, educational opportunities, medical care, and outdoor and cultural pursuits. The winners and runners-up, in alphabetical order:

Winners

Asheville, N.C.

Bend, Ore.

Bradenton, Fla.

Brunswick, Maine

Fort Collins, Colo.

Runners-up

Amherst, Mass.

Hot Springs, Ark.

Madison, Wis.

San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Santa Fe, N.M.

- Associated Press

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