Forward Spin

By JANICE CASTRO/

HILLARY WATCH

Somebody around here needs to chill out. Only days after offending moms with her sarcastic remark about baking cookies, Hillary Clinton muffed another softball question last week. Asked whether she might serve as Vice President in a Clinton Administration, she snapped, "I'm not interested in attending a lot of funerals." Not to worry.

LONE STAR DISEASE

More Texans died from gunshots in 1990 than from traffic accidents. No other state has seen gun deaths surpass car fatalities. Look for fresh gun-control efforts.

JOYS OF THE OPEN ROAD

General Motors and other automakers are tooling up electric cars. Saab is developing a model with a joystick in place of a steering wheel. Electronic dashboard maps are coming. Next: a data screen instead of a windshield.

RECREATIONAL HAZARDS

Some workers suffer from carpal-tunnel syndrome. Now Nintendo addicts report a new hand ailment dubbed Nintendinitis. Can Rollerbladitis be far behind?

DEFENDER OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS

He's gone to bat for Claus von Bulow, Michael Milken and Leona Helmsley. Last week Alan Dershowitz showed up in Indianapolis to handle "Iron Bars" Mike Tyson's appeal. Wonder if he's too busy to help out Mrs. Noriega with her grand-theft charges.

CALL YOUR WAITPERSON

Some restaurants now pass out beepers so that people waiting for tables can go for a walk. Others feature airline-style lights on tables; when customers want service, they flick them on. Look out for a speaker in the booth: "Hi, I'm Randy, your waiter. Here are today's specials."

With reporting by Wendy Cole