{ry9.TDilh'^rA 6"^t9*, -1 uypress

Select &2 & Btr. Grades 414 - 514 - 814,3"-L2" width

Surfaced to S4S or patterns - Bevel siding - Fresh Resaw Face

Southern Yellow Pine

Specialize

Stock Width Hardwood

Specializing in Stock or Fixed Width Lumber

All

Please call for exact specification.

The Sawmill For AllYour Quality Lumber Needs

PUBLISHER Alan Oakes (ajoakes@aol.com)

PUBLISHER EMERITUS David Cutler EDITOR David Koenig (dkoenig @ ioc.net)

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Robert Fav (day@ioc.net)

AD SALES MANAGER Chuck Casey (chuck@ioc.net)

ADMINISTRATION DIRECTOR/ SECRETARY Marie Oakes (mfpoakes@aol.com)

CIRCULATION Heather Kelly (heather@ ioc.net)

How to Advertise

Contact our advertising otlices for rates: U.S.A.: Chuck Casey, 4500 Campus Drive, Suite 480, Newport Beach, Ca, 92660-1872. Phone (949) 852-1990 Fax 949-852-0231

E-mail chuck@ioc.net

INTERNET ADS: Alan Oakes, www.buildingproducts.com. Phone (949) 852-1990 Fax 949-852-0231 E-mail ajoakes@aol.com.

How to Subscribe

Call Heather at (949) 852-1990 or send a check for the following amount to Building Products Digest, 4500 Campus Drive, Suite 480, Newporl Beach, Ca.92660-1872:

U.S.A.: One year (12 issues), $18

Two years, $29

I nree vears, uij9

FOREIGN (Per year paid in advance in US funds): Surface-Canada or Mexico. $39 Other countries. $50

Air rates also available.

Single copies, $3 + shipping

Back issues (when available), $4.50 + shipping

Vsr Us Oruurue rr WWW.BUILDING.PRODUCTS.COM

About the Cover

The tront cover is a pard advertisement, this month sponsored by Osmose's NatureWood preserved wood nrndil^tc

OstE

Ready To Roll

Unfortunately, the danger in writing a monthly column is that by the time it's read, two to three weeks later, much can have changed. I will take that risk, as today I scrapped my original column, because I cannot pretend that life is normal.

My no-brainer prediction in March's column that war seemed inevitable has indeed come true. Since the start of the war last week, we talk about the issues here in the office, and I, like many ofyou I suspect, have been up several times a night to watch tv and follow the latest news. The insight we are being given by the media crews has been quite incredible. While I have often been quick to bash the national media, they have paid a price to allow us to literally look over their shoulders, and follow each and every movement. I suspect more loss of life to come. I am thankful my job is to sit at my desk out of harms way.

Today the situation with our troops is very tense and fluid, but still remarkable in the progress made in a matter of days. While much of the world-including many of our own-marches in protest, our troops bravely press on.

Saturday March 22 was a high, with reports of mass surrender and cheering by residents. Sunday was the first real telling day, after the alleged capture and execution of our soldiers, and the coalition forces had their highest casualty rates to date. Resistance appears to be stiffening the nearer we get to Baghdad, and I suspect that this will be the tip of the iceberg. It is clear there will be many more dangerous obstacles to face. However, as we become addicts of "reality tv," there is a real danger that the public may not understand or may underestimate what truly is happening. I do not want to downplay bad news, but replayed over and over again, it can truly distort the bigger picture.

Monday in response, the stock market retreated by 307 points suggesting that Wall Street thought it would all be over in the first weekend-oh for it to be so-but I fear the conflict will last the anticipated three to four weeks. Our troops and planners have done superbly in such a short time, and while it is clear the outcome is inevitable, I hope there will be as few casualties as possible. In just a few days we have achieved so much, and despite the apparent race to Baghdad, there is still much to do, and war can never be pretty.

To business: I speak to several hundred companies each month, and since early February, much of our talks has centered on the impending war. Business owners, not only in our industry, have curtailed spending and eliminated hiring. It is hard to suggest that they should do otherwise. However, as I call around the country I get the sense that the bigger issue in those geographical pockets where business appears to have been tough, has been the harsh winter and weather. Indeed the levels of pessimism are not as bad as I would have expected. Quite a few companies have told me that business has hung in there.

Many of you might be just sitting there waiting for events to unfold. The trouble is we have no control of the outcomes of the war. I have never been good at sitting by waiting for the worst to happen as treading water is not in my vocabulary-ask my wife. Consumers by first accounts are still spending. I think the market is there for those ready to roll. If you are selling what people need they will buy in both good and bad times, although the "mix" may be different. We as business leaders need to take care of our economic recovery. No one can do that for us.

Lastly, our thoughts and prayers go out to our soldiers who are in Iraq today, and to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice including their immediate families, parents and grandparents. No one can walk in their shoes, but their unselfishness will make this world a better and safer place.