Various and Sundry

- Off to Anchorage today, have to deliver a load of finished work to a customer and drop by the VA.

- Gas prices here are well over $4.00 per gallon and likely to stay that way.  I'm going to have to raise my prices for bowls and woodwork to compensate.  It costs me significantly more to harvest the wood because I need gas for the chainsaws and ATV's.  And unless I want to lug several tons of green wood a couple of miles out of the swamp on foot, I don't really have another option than the ATV's - the 700 Polaris in 4x4 mode, loaded down in low gear drinks a lot of gas.  And stock from the local saw mills is up significantly, because their saws run on diesel - and it costs me more to go get it, and to deliver products. Congress of course is looking into the matter - led by Arlen Spector who seems to feel that a congressional investigation into professional football is the answer.

- The polar bear is officially an endangered species. Don't expect drilling ANWR or point Thompson any time soon.  I actually don't know if this is a good thing or not, and I doubt it will have any affect whatsoever on polar bear decline or climate change.  I find both sides of the larger argument on climate change idiotic.

- Reader Sheila called my attention to this site: Subscriptions for Service Members, and a related site: Subscriptions for Soldiers.  I did some checking around, Better Business Bureau and Charity Watch wise and found both operations have good reputations - in fact, a BBB site in Kentucky has a link to both on its webpage and a favorable recommendation.  This is a good thing, there's not much you can do to make life in the meatgrinder a joy, but the little things like magazines from home really, really help.  I'm not asking anyone to donate, but should you feel the urge to make a small gesture of support, this would be money much better spent than buying one of those stupid yellow ribbon magnets.  If you do or don't, I don't want to know. I'm just putting it out there. Thanks, Sheila.

Now I have to go load up the truck, and replace a burned out brake light. Then I'm off to Anchorage, see you later.