Phone Watch

The federal government has joined the battle to trim its telephone expenses, but its plan, critics claim, smacks of Big Brotherism.

The Office of Management and Budget wants to start monitoring all telephone calls from federal offices, using a computer to red-flag calls made to the same number more than three times per month, calls lasting more than 20 minutes and long-distance charges of more than $500 per month to a single destination.

Of special interest will be calls made to services such as Dial-a-Joke, collect calls and calls to resort cities, according to the March 18 issue of the Federal Employees News Digest.

But the computerized watchdog is not a sure bet. “This smells of Big Brother,” complained Rep. Don Edwards (D-Calif.), who is chairman of the House subcommittee on civil and constitutional rights. He said last week he will attempt to block the telephone monitoring plan.

Teetotalers Club

Lou Shwiller had lots of time to think about his future when he spent the entire month of February as a patient in a local alcohol rehabilitation center.

“Sitting around with nothing to do, I concluded that there was nowhere to go to have a good time anymore. The idea of going to a bar was frightening and scary; it is too easy to get back to drinking.”

And so Shwiller, a former photographic services salesman from Florida who had been drinking steadily and heavily for 26 of his 42 years, will inaugurate Sobriety Sam’s on April 27.

The venture--complete with dancing, a band, non-alcoholic spirits, food and live entertainment--will open in The Mavin delicatessen in Mission Valley at 9 p.m. (when The Mavin closes) only on Saturdays.

“If it catches on, we’ll expand to Friday. And if that goes, then we’ll open the whole weekend,” said Shwiller, adding that he’s had “terrific support from recovering alcoholics” for the club’s concept.

Cool Reception

The Sonido tax preparation fraud case attracted several agents from the IRS’ criminal investigation division to court last week. When a Times reporter introduced himself to one of them, the agent refused to shake his hand.

Later, the agent approached the reporter. “I didn’t mean to be rude,” he said. “But the one thing they teach us in training school is ‘Don’t talk to the press.’ ”

Meetings Blossom

To most people, budding flowers are a sure sign of spring. But to those who get their kicks reading the fine print in corporate proxy statements, spring’s arrival is heralded by an avalanche of annual shareholders meetings.

For them, spring is here.

Among the company annual meetings in the next two weeks are National Bank of La Jolla, TraveLodge, SDG&E;, Maxwell Labs, Burnham American Properties, Energy Factors, Home Federal Savings, Humphrey and The Signal Cos.