Peaches, pecans, and peanuts no more! A recent Associated Press article proclaimed Georgia the "cat litter state." We are apparently the nation’s leading producer of the clay used to make cat litter. This revelation gives new meaning to the slogan "Keep Georgia Peachy Clean!" Seven Georgia companies contribute $100 million a year to our economy processing approximately 750,000 tons of fuller’s white clay for cat litter.

Should the new Georgia quarter-dollar have had a cat pan on the reverse instead of a peach? I’m sure it would have been a first in coinage! If you have an interest in cats, or maybe a young child looking for a topic for a school report, and you have access to the Internet, I’d recommend taking a look at www.tidycat.com.

Haralson, err, Carroll Tech, one of 33 state technical institutes overseen by the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education, is a big asset to our community. Like many educational institutions though, I’m sure they have their share of problems hiring and maintaining a quality instructional staff. I’ve noticed an almost 100% turnover in the part-time (adjunct) instructor staff in the past 4 years. Did you know that Carroll Tech pays part-time instructors from 25% to 65% less, on an hourly basis, than the evening high school program here in Carroll County? Did you know that part-time instructors at CTI are required to submit time sheets? I guess I was wrong when I thought professionals at this level were somewhat beyond "punching the clock." Sometimes, I suppose, it’s difficult to determine if someone is an hourly, salaried, or a contractual employee. It must be nice for an employer to continually have the option of choosing among the three, depending on the particular situation.

As always, my e-mail provides constant surprises and entertainment. Following is a little story I particularly enjoyed:

A young man dies and goes to Heaven, where he finds he is third in line at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter is taking a much-needed break, so an angel is admitting the newly arrived to Heaven.

The angel tells the three new arrivals that because so many drug dealers and other criminals have managed to sneak into Heaven that St. Peter must now be a little stricter with the screening process. Each person is required to state his former occupation and tell his or her yearly salary.

The first man in line says, "I was an actor, and I earned $1 million last year."

The angel says, "Okay, you may enter." He turns to the woman in line and asks her about her life.

She states, "I earned $150,000 as an attorney." The angel thinks for a moment and then lets her in, too.

The angel turns to the third one in line and asks, "What have you done with your life?"

The man replies, "I earned $8,000 last year . . ."

"Oh," the angel interrupts. "What did you teach?"

Food for thought. Until next time. tomiswho@mindspring.com