I absolutely love John Stossel, the master debunker. On 20/20'' last week, he spoke about the promises that companies make about their products. The program began with a weight-loss program that has counselors who do not have degrees in nutrition or psychology or any other field of study that might qualify them. They are simply trained to sell, sell, sell, and the way they seduce clients is by getting them to cry. Isn't that compassionate? The motto is, If they don't cry, they don't buy.''Once the tears flow, the women - and the clients are mostly women - will purchase the high-end program, which includes supplements and extra foods that are supposed to expedite weight loss. The bottom line is that it's the same old, same old. All your buying is about restricting calories, and there's a weekly weigh-in with someone who resembles a drill sergeant.It is so sad that we continue to believe there is a magical diet that will help us shed pounds and one for which we have to pay through the nose.

Anger mounts in Zimbabwe as crisis nears

Zimbabwe is reaching the end game, witnessing the last, desperate throes of a regime that has destroyed one of Africa's few successful economies, plunged millions of people into grinding poverty and led to the deaths of tens of thousands from malnutrition and lack of medical care. .

LOCAL NEWS

The cause of the early morning Wednesday fire at a Cutler Street house that injured five people and displaced 11 is still under investigation. However, police said the fire did not appear to be suspicious.

Gas station attendant held up in Parsippany
Two men robbed a Parsippany gas station attendant at knifepoint late Tuesday night and escaped with $700 to $800 in cash, township police said.

Sex offender jailed for not reporting move
A 34-year-old Megan's Law offender has been sentenced to jail for failing to notify authorities that he had moved to a new address.

Teens charged with writing bad checks at pizzeria
Three 19-year-olds, two from Vernon, have been arrested following a weeklong investigation that resulted in charges of forgery and issuing a bad check, police said.