THE FUN NEVER ENDS . . . Blogger Andrew Halcro, one of Ear's favorite former legislators (and one of the brighter lights in that constellation), is engaged in an interesting dance with losing U.S. Senate candidate Honor Code Joe Miller. Joe's lawyer wants Andrew to finger the source who told about Miller's behavior as a Fairbanks city employee, which ended up on the blog. This all happened during the campaign. The information was later made public but Joe still sued.

Anyhow, Halcro refused to name Deep Throat, claiming the protection of Alaska's reporter shield law. According to a story in the News-Miner, Halcro said during a deposition Thursday that the law also applies to bloggers.

Maybe, maybe not. It's an unsettled issue but Halcro's a good choice for the fight: He's got plenty of money and he's stubborn.

Ear's question is: Will Halcro behave like a real reporter and go to jail rather than obey a court order to reveal his source, should it come to that?

This could be the most Miller-time fun since his rent-a-goons "arrested" a reporter during the campaign. Stay tuned.

MISSING, NOT MISSED . . . Darlings, did you see that Our Sarah got all bent out of shape over Alaska Airlines not handing out prayer cards with meals anymore? Hmmm. That tells us just one thing about Ms. Palin: She rides first class. That's the only place the prayer cards were distributed this century. The 99 percent of us back in steerage won't miss what we weren't getting.

Actually, Ear had a different reaction to the news. Ear figured it just meant the company finally used up the scazillion copies of the cards left behind by the guy whose idea they apparently were, former CEO Bruce Kennedy.

No worries, though. The airline announced later in the week it would start serving Starbuck's coffee to all customers. Seems like a fair trade.

NEW AND IMPROVED . . . Earwigs were relieved to note that the broken window in the legislative men's room door -- the one Rep. Bill Stolze smashed last year -- has been replaced by a solid wooden door, just in case.

SAYS IT ALL . . . License plate spotted in Anchorage last week: IMKOLD.

WHAT IF SHE SAYS NO . . . The Denali Society, a bunch of APU funders, is having a Valentine's Day Chocolate and Champagne Reception -- billed as an event to thank members for their support. An earwig reports the agenda includes an announcement that the gallery in the Carr Gottstein building will be named for Leah Peterson (Peterson Towers), who apparently willed zillions to the university. That's nice, of course, but also rumored, though not on the official program, are plans by a certain male person to drop to one knee and publicly pop the question to a certain female person during the event.

Ear isn't vouching for this, just passing it along in case it actually happens. It's supposed to be someone "known." And no, Ear has no idea who it is.

RADIO RODEO . . . They're shaking up the local talk radio lineup again. Dan Fagan, still playing right wing, is back this week with a daily show on Fox News Talk (KOAN), 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fagan will continue his 6-to-9 a.m. TV show on Channel 13 (to the delight of all eight viewers), but the noon-to-1 p.m. TV hour he recently added will be handed over to Republican political consultant, and Mayor Dan's former party planner, Bernadette Wilson. The show will be called "Alaska Live with Bernadette."

Shannyn Moore, playing left field, is changing time slots, from 6 to 9 p.m. daily. The new time allows her to broadcast the hour she does for a Washington, D.C., station live, presumably letting capital commenters call in. At the moment, that hour is tape delayed.

Tom Anderson's hour on ethics is now 5 to 6 p.m. daily, expanded from once a week. And Tom Sullivan is now 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.

NEXT TO LAST GOODBYE . . . Details for Anchorage pioneer Frank Reed's memorial service have been finalized: 2 p.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church. Father Norm Elliott will officiate. And yes, Frank's 100th birthday party is still set for December.

CHECKING IN . . . Lawmakers and lobbyists have to be careful about spending money in each other's presence during the legislative session. So isn't it nice that so many of both showed up Monday night for a fundraiser hosted by first lady Sandy Parnell to benefit the Alaska Children's Trust. And both types actually wrote checks.

Of course, the fact that it was at the Governor's Mansion and hosted by the governor's wife probably helped.

In addition to sitting lawmakers, former House Speaker John Harris was there, as a lobbyist now. Mandy Mallott, Byron's daughter-in-law, spoke about the trust's mission, which is prevention of child neglect and abuse.

THE TOURISTS LIE . . . Travel and Leisure magazine (online) has published a list that purports to rank America's rudest cities. Anchorage came in No. 13, if you can believe it. Ear doesn't know whether to be offended that we're listed at all, or that we're not No. 1.

NYC is ranked rudest. Chicago is less rude than we are, or so the surveyors claim. Vegas slightly more. Check it out for yourself at www.travelandleisure.com.

Compiled by Sheila Toomey. Message Sheila at ear@adn.com or 257-4341. Find Ear online at www.adn.com/ear.