High on Gas and Out of Hope is a disturbing but important news story on gas-sniffing native kids in northeast Canada. When you read this, don’t think that this problem is confined to the arctic or the third world – while it’s gasoline in Labrador, in northwest New Mexico it’s hairspray. Cans of hairspray in stores around Gallup, New Mexio are locked behind the counters with cigarettes to combat this same problem.

Urban sprawl is the scourge of modern cities. It seems the ancient Maya had the same problems, complete with strip malls.

A while ago, I called my parents to say hi, I love ’em, and that other stuff. They weren’t there, but I got their answering machine: “Hi. We can’t come to the phone right now because we’re out spending our children’s inheritance. Leave a message and we’ll return your call. " A bit flustered, I left a message. I’ve just sent Guido back to Missouri to take care of things because, hey, I’m entitled to the three dollars I’ve got coming to me.

In his most recent journal entry, Mike Gunderloy of the most excellent LarkFarm wrote: “After dinner, we sat around the fire and read seed catalogs for a while. I’m resolved not to go overboard with vegetables this spring (especially since I have some other big projects planned), but it’s hard to keep that resolve when looking at yummy vegetable pictures in the depths of winter. " Similarly, last night I sat in the glow of my tivo and newly roboticchristmas lights and read seed catalogs. I’m resolved to go overboard vith vegetable this spring (despite some other big projects planned). Some people may accuse me of going overboard this last spring, but I was really only experimenting. Now it’s time to really go overboard.

The US Government released its first-ever standards on orgainic food today, and CNN is there with an in-depth special section. When I get my farm, it will, of course, be all organic. This last year, my vegetable was all organic for the first time. Really, all that meant for me was no Miracle Gro – I’d never used chemical pesticides or soil treatments anyway.

randomWalks, another favorite weblog of mine, turns one today.

Very busy at work, as usual when it’s quiet here. It snowed today. A couple inches out at my house, a bit less here in town. It took my as long to drive the last two miles into work as it did the previous 15, due to Athens folk panicing at the half inch that was on the road. I started rehearsing for Durang’s Baby With the Bathwater last night. I’ve got a great cast, and the whole process will be a ton of fun. In other news, I’ve decided to get a couple bee hives. More details to follow, as I find them. I imagine, what with winter and all, I wouldn’t actually get the hives for a few months.

  Holiday greeting cards from Modern Humorist.

I’m mighty glad I’m not the only one doing this. I’ve tried to rewind many real-world scenes recently. Maybe I shouldn’t admit that.

Exactly a year ago, I started following The Hacker’s Diet, as I decided I was far, far too heavy. I stuck to it very closely for a few months until I got the hang of things, and now, I’m 50 pounds lighter. I’ve still got twenty to go to reach my goal. I’ve held steady the last few months, but perhaps it’s time to make that final push. The Hacker’s Diet isn’t like those fad diets that push specific foods. It’s central point is “Eat fewer calories than you use, and you’ll lose weight.” To help me mentally, I started the diet by having bacon & fried egg sandwiches (with mayo) for breakfast for the first two weeks, and lost five pounds. Once my mind accepted that it wasn’t what I ate that mattered, but the energy input vs. energy consumption ratio, it was smooth sailing.