A lot is completely wrapped up in a first impression. But if you can take that first impression and buffer it by disseminating information to a person by the time you meet in person, there isn't so much of a shock-and-awe effect.

Definitely. I want to start somewhere, so I'm going to be going after a spot. When I first got here, we were getting hit really hard by the probation. Now we're starting to bounce back a little bit. All this competition is only going to make us better.

My belief is you have one chance to make a first impression.

I just don't give off a great first impression.

The fact that much of our supply of nitrogen fertilizers is imported should somewhat buffer the direct impact of Katrina's damage to natural-gas production capacity, but in the short run, nitrogen prices could increase,

Osby wasn't considered the smartest man in Eads County. But the no one . . . knew him well enough to realize that he wasn't all that far from it either.