HAVE YOU NOTICED THE PRICE OF MILK?!?

Yesterday, I was in my favorite Ralph's Market. That would be Kroger's in other parts of the country. When I buy milk, I buy two gallons at a time, because it's cheaper that way. Fat Free is the type I buy and if you're trying to save money, you have to be sure you're buying milk that says, "BUY 2 & SAVE" on the cap. I've been doing this for years and the cost for most of that time has been in the high two-dollar or low three-dollar range for both gallons. It got up into the high three-dollar range recently, but yesterday's price was an eye-opener. Close to $5.50 for the two gallons. And yes, pretty much everything else has gone up except for cookies and other junk food items. A contentious contract for supermarket workers was recently settled and my first thought after being shocked at the price of milk was, "So is this is how Ralph's plans to get the money back for all the health benefits they agreed to?" Has the cost of milk gone up dramatically where you shop? Or anything else in your favorite supermarket? If so, I'd love for you to share so the rest of us can compare. Please send to scottstjames@sbcglobal.net.

SHOULD A CANAL MAKE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS?

Have you been paying attention to this All American Canal story? It's an 82-mile canal which carries water from the Colorado River along the border with Mexico. Some much needed repairs to the canal were recently made so that a lot of people can be sure their needed supply of water won't be disrupted.

Once again, under the category, "No good deed goes unpunished", some activist do-gooders (like the L.A. Times) are raising hell about the repairs. Why? Because a claim is being made that unless steps and rescue equipment are built into the concrete lining of the All American Canal, illegal immigrants might drown.

Hel-low!!! We're trying to keep illegal immigrants out of this country! If the word gets out that by trying to get here by using this canal could be hazardous to your health, I'm having a real hard time understanding what's wrong with that!

ON THE DAY MICHAEL VICK STANDS BEFORE A JUDGE TO ENTER A PLEA ABOUT WHAT IS BASICALLY A CRUELTY TO DOGS CASE, WE LEARN ABOUT A VERY COMPASSIONATE CAT!

We've all heard about the Michael Vick case. He enters a plea in Richmond, Virginia today. If he's been set up like the Duke athletes were, I hope whoever did it goes to jail. But if Vick is guilty of what he's being charged with, he can be thankful that I won't be the judge.

Having said that, have you heard this story being reported by AP about the compassionate cat at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, Rhode Island? The 2-year old cat was adopted as a kitten and grew up in a third-floor dementia unit at the facility. He was named "Oscar" and like the old television character of the same name, this cat's a bit of a grouch. Dr. David Dosa says that Oscar takes his work seriously, is generally aloof and "This is not a cat that's friendly to people." But Oscar, who's nicknamed, "The Grim Creeper", has the uncanny ability of knowing when a patient is about to die. When he spots a patient in that condition, he curls up next to that patient during his or her final hours. Most family members of patients appreciate the advanced warning, but everyone remembers when one family member wanted Oscar out of the room while a family member died. While outside that room, Oscar's unhappiness was noted because everyone could hear Oscar pacing and meowing his displeasure in a way that made people realize that upsetting "The Grim Creeper" or furry grim reaper, is an idea best discarded.

SHOWBIZ ITEMS:

Nothing new on Lindsay Lohan except that her new film, "I Know Who Killed Me" opens tomorrow.

I saw the first episode of "Damages" yesterday. That's the new Glenn Close show on FX, Tuesday nights at 10 and repeated at other times the rest of the week. Wow! Glenn Close plays a tough as nails lawyer and she is surrounded by other good performances turned in by Rose Byrne, Tate Donovan, Ted Danson and others. Watching Close made me think I was watching an acting clinic. Basically, this is a story about the Close character wanting to bring down the Danson character and in just the first episode we saw a lot of twists and turns. I mean we are left to wonder who the good guys are in this serialized drama!?! I can hardly wait for the second episode!

EDITOR'S NOTE: Don't forget! You can HEAR this blog! The links to the stations broadcasting today's blog can be found at the bottom of my links section which is to the right of what you're reading now. It's the last links.

A new blog is written every morning, Monday through Friday and is posted between 7 and 7:15, Pacific Time. Sometimes earlier. Questions and comments can be sent to scottstjames@sbcglobal.net. I do write back.

TOMORROW: I'll tell you about some new film openings and anything else that makes me say, "Whaaaat?!?"