GLOBAL PROTECTION

(I voted for Clinton, twice, but even I had to laugh at the compounded irony in this story...)

A rubber company in China has begun marketing condoms under the brand names Clinton and Lewinsky.

Spokesman Liu Wenhua of the Guangzhou Rubber Group said the company was handing out 100,000 free Clinton and Lewinsky condoms as part of a promotion to raise consumer awareness of its new products. He said that after the promotion ends, the Clinton condoms will go on sale in southern China for 29.8 Yuan ($3.72) for a box of 12, while the Lewinsky model will be priced at 18.8 Yuan ($2.35) for the same quantity. "The Clinton condom will be the top of our line," he said. "The Lewinsky condom is not quite as good."

(*chuckle*)

Liu said the company had chosen to use the Clinton name because consumers viewed the former president as a responsible person, who would want to stress safe sex as an effective way to prevent the spread of the HIV virus.

(*snicker*)

"The names we chose are symbols of people who are responsible and dedicated to their jobs," he said. "I believe Bill Clinton cannot be unhappy about this because he's a very generous man."

(*giggle*)

(And of course the biggest irony? I'll give you a hint - it's blue & women's apparel.)