Chum Chowder

It’s been a busy week, so here’s some accumulated chum to chew on:

• From the “It’s Only Going To Get Harder” Department: You knew it was coming. First the banks. Then the automakers. Now the porn industry wants a handjob handout. Specifically, folks like Larry Flynt and Joe Francis want $5B to prop up their limp industry. I suggest instead they consider responding to a Viagra ad.
• From the “And Speaking of Long Hard Meat” Department: The LA Times has an interesting article on a specialty sausage shop in Beverly Hills that makes, among other delicacies, South-African Jerky. Sounds like a place worth visiting.
• From the “And Then The Girls Went and Raised Their Prices” Department: In this case, it is the metro-St. Louis Girl Scouts, who have raised the prices on their Girl Scout Cookies. They’ve gone up 16% — to $3.50 per box. But don’t worry: they’ve added a new variety: Dulce de Leche, “rich with milk caramel chips and stripes.”
• From the “And What A Wardrobe” Department: Just think. I’m about as old as Barbie. I turn 49 in two weeks…. and the stacked miss turns 50. So 50 fashion designers are making clothes for her. I guess they don’t have much else to do, given the economy.
• From the “Perhaps the Tooth Fairy Will Save Us” Department: But you can always count on the tooth fairy. And those teeth are getting more valuable. It appears that baby teeth and wisdom teeth have stem cells that may be usable to grow new teeth. You should seen the look that nsshere just gave me — she had her wisdom teeth out yesterday.
• From the “Long and Hard… and it’s Reused” Department: The LA Times has an interesting article about a fellow who recycles trees. No, not the type cut for wood, nor the type cut for ornaments in December. But big trees, felled in urban areas that might otherwise be used for firewood or be thrown away. He makes them into one-of-a-kind wood products.
• From the “Baby, You Can Drive My Car” Department: Every wish your kid would drive themselves to school. Well, a 6-year-old in Virginia did. You see, he missed his bus, and he wanted to be there for breakfast and PE… so he took mom’s car. Amazingly, no one got hurt when he hit that utility pole.