Environmentalists have been quick to point fingers at chip mills for devastating forestry practices. But the industry insists it''s "out of the loop" concerning timber cuts, since operators purchase their supply from private landholders. Industry officials are so infuriated, many refused to comment. The line connecting chip mills to clearcuts and destructive forestry isn''t a straight one, but it is visible. Dean Carson of the South Carolina Forestry Commission argues that chips can be transported more efficiently, using less energy, than large pieces of timber, and mills can utilize the whole tree. But processing the whole tree is exactly what has brought the mills under fire: because lumber is chipped into one-inch pieces, any size scrap of timber will do. With new markets opening up for treetops, undersized trees, and forked or crooked specimens, landowners have added incentive to clearcut a site for quick profits, instead of harvesting selected trees to be cut into boards. And timber previously left behind to continue maturing, or that provided wildlife habitat or eroded to replenish soils, now finds itself in the steely mouths of the chippers. A 1998 U.S. Forest Service report says clearcutting accounts for 13 percent of logged land in the South. And because the chips are needed for everything from rayon and plastics to particleboard and paper, chip markets continue growing. Timber giant Willamette Industries says chip mills allow landowners to merchandise otherwise unusable trees, discouraging forestry practices like "high-grading" (cutting only the healthiest trees). "Clearcutting is often the best tool to assure a rich, diverse forest," claims Willamette''s web site. "Many songbirds and other types of wildlife require open areas for nesting and food gathering."

TIPIt takes a crew of three to get the most speed out of a roofing nailer: one person driving nails, the others Laying shingles in place.Air compressorIf you have your own compressor, you''ll save about $25 per day when you rent an air nailer. So if you plan to use a nailer for eight days or more, buy a compressor. If you''re framing up a wall or two, renting a framing nailer probably isn''t worth the trouble. But it will save hours on a big job like a garage or an addition. You''ll nail studs, joists and rafters quickly, but more important, you''ll nail sheathing to walls and roofs 10 times faster than you could with a hammer.

"Jennifer, you talk too much! You''re not responsible for making me feel good about my game. I don''t want you to fix it. I want you to SHUT UP! Did it ever occur to you that I''m fine with my game the way it is?!" The speech apparently transformed Jennifer''s and Joy''s golf relationship. "I now save my comments until after the round," says Jennifer, "and I don''t give advice unless asked. But I''m not going to be subdued, either. I mean, I can''t get excited about a shot because she''s gonna get angry? Who needs that?"

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