Recently, I saw a video online about a new piece of technology that made me wonder at the possibilities that might suddenly be available if this were to come to the woodworking industry. What was it that I saw? A robot.

Slashing prices could allow you to sell more cabinets (or furniture, or whatever your shop produces), and though your profit margins fall, volume could make up some of the ground lost during the recession.

The other day, this article from The Chattanoogan popped up in my Google Alerts. It has to do with carbon sequestration, the storage of carbon dioxide in a solid material through biological or physical processes. This is one of the ever-increasing number of environmentally friendly options available to businesses and individuals seeking to reduce their impact on the planet.

I know I have this problem at home when I’m assembling something or doing a simple home repair, maybe I’m tightening a bolt on a piece of RTA furniture, and I’m not sure how tight is too tight and how tight is just tight enough, so a lot of times I end up going maybe a little too far. Most of the time this doesn’t end up damaging whatever I’m working on, but sometimes it might split the board.

The people who cry, ‘No timber harvesting’ are the same people who enjoy the benefits of using toilet paper every day. Let’s correct their misconceptions — one person at a time, if need be.

I’ve got to admit, I can’t resist clicking the stories flying into my inbox detailing the latest nasty economic indicator or big loss posted. Although it’s no fun being reminded of the current slide (I should get enough of a reminder while looking at my monthly 401k statement…ouch!), but morbid curiosity keeps bringing me back to financial news sections.

In my final Wood & Wood Products column of 2008, I suggested that the sudden collapse of oil prices came as a windfall that should benefit consumers and most businesses.

Everyone remembers the flood of lead based paint recalls that shook consumer confidence last year. Many blamed a lack of federal oversight for the seemingly daily doses of parental terror caused by the series of toy callbacks.

I recently read an article on FoxNews.com titled “How Green Is Recycled Plastic Lumber?” that debated the planetary friendliness of recycled plastic chunks made to look like wood.

Earlier this week, a Russian transport ship was hit with heavy seas off the coast of Kent, U.K. and lost about 1,500 tons of sawn timber. Since the accident, huge piles of ocean-soaked lumber have been washing up on the beach, and people have been traveling in droves to haul away some wood.