Do as I say; not as I do. Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, in a speech earlier this week, criticized his opponent, Democrat Barack Obama, for waiting until now - after six years in the U.S. Senate and two years into a national campaign - to visit the Middle East where American troops have been fighting for seven years. Read more...

• Whale mistake

The problem with spring cleaning in April is that it is difficult to work up a good cleaning head of steam when it's hailing outside.

The City of Ketchikan wisely has repositioned its annual spring clean-up week from April to May. And it begins Saturday, taking a day off on Sunday, then resuming Monday through May 17. The clean-up week is for residential, not commercial, users.

The city asks that city residents not put their large items at the curb for pick-up until the day before their scheduled garbage day. The one-time curbside collection is for city residents only.

However, the Deer Mountain landfill will accept residential trash at no charge from all city, borough and Saxman users during clean-up week.

That includes residential construction debris, household yard trimmings, fallen-apart boat trailers, old boats, and brush. The landfill asks that steel pipe be cut into 6- to 8-foot lengths, and that brush be bundled for easier handling.

Although refrigerators may be delivered to the landfill free of charge this week, they will not be picked up at curbside.

City of Ketchikan Solid Waste Superintendent Bob Sivertsen said such debris and appliances normally carry a fee.

He asked that city residents be responsible in placing items at the curb for pickup. People who live on steep hills, for example, ought not leave out tires because they will inevitably get rolled down the hill.

Open containers of oil (or anything else) are a no-no. And cardboard boxes filled with debris that are going to break down in the rain aren't a good idea, either.

Paint, oil and batteries are accepted at the landfill all year, he said, but will not be picked up at curbside. Huge piles of debris, likewise, should be delivered to the landfill.

The hours for spring clean-up week are the usual landfill hours. It's closed Sunday and open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Oftentimes there is a line on Saturdays to drop off construction debris accepted for free, but in recent years the wait has not been very long.

Hazardous and certain other materials will not be accepted. (The special hazardous waste clean-up was this past weekend.)

And commercial trash is not included in the free pickup or free acceptance during this week, which is intended to help us spruce up our homes.

Those with questions are asked to contact the landfill.