RIPPED FROM THE NET ... It's been around for a while, but still worth noting:
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring.
Therefore, according to every historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, every single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, is a girl.
We should've known. ...
Only women would be able to drag a fat-ass man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.
FOLLOW-UP ... Ear reported a couple weeks ago that A.G. Talis Colberg was a 1983 law school classmate of (still, amazingly) Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, and was maybe his actual roommate.
An earwig from the Valley reports Talis, on a mission to sell Sarah's budget to the Wasilla Chamber of Commerce, confirmed he was.
He noted with a straight face that he has the distinction of knowing personally the two most famous governors in the nation.
Or words to that effect. Probably cleverer words since he has a pretty impressive dry wit.
And speaking of Blagojevich, who is not notably witty, he tells people he earned money for college by working in Alaska after high school as a dishwasher on the trans-Alaska pipeline.
Hmmm, wonder if he roomed with that other famous Alaska temp, George Bush.
ON THE MOVE ... Across town, anyhow. Julie Hasquet, former KTUU reporter and long-time communications director for Mayor Begich, will become Sen. Begich's press secretary starting Jan. 3. She'll be working out of the Kid Senator's Anchorage office.
AND NEXT DOOR ... Federalized earwigs report Chad Padgett, acting director of USDA Rural Development, is the new guy in charge of Don Young's Anchorage office, replacing Jerry Hood, who is reportedly moving Outside.
LITTERMATES ... If you missed the exchange of e-mails between PETA president Ingrid Newkirk and Palin spokesman Bill McAllister on Tuesday, do go to the Alaska Politics blog at adn.com and check it out. It's worth the trip.
In brief, PETA claims they got a call from an unidentified person in the governor's office threatening to sue if they didn't remove Sarah from an online game on the PETA site -- players get to pelt her and a bunch of other people PETA doesn't like with snowballs. McAllister claims no one in the office made such a call, that no one would sue over the stupid game, that PETA didn't check before making the charge, etc.
There's no real issue here darlings, but the tone of the exchange offers insight into both characters, who come off as two third-graders yelling "Yo mama" over the trailer park fence.
If you want to play the game, www.peta.org/feat/HolidaySnowballFight/index.aspx.
FINALLY, REAL FAME ... In the New York Times crossword puzzle last week: 109 down -- "Sarah Palin's husband." Four letters.
No, not "Dude."
LEGISLATIVE LOVE ... Everybody wants to tell Ear about a hot love affair between a sitting lawmaker and a newly elected one. However, Ear has a policy against being called as a witness in divorce cases, so no names yet.
OF COURSE ... Metro Music & Book and Title Wave were selling decks of Alaska-themed playing cards right before Christmas. And what's the theme, you ask? "Alaska Outlaws, Rebels and Cons" of course.
The infamous Alaskans pictured include the Corrupt Bastards Club, Tom Anderson, Ben and Ted Stevens, Michele Linehan, Sarah Palin, Bill Allen, Christopher McCandless, Steve McQueen, even Buzzwinkle.
It also features people like Wally Hickel and Theresa Obermeyer, who are presumably "rebels."
Stocks were low, and might be out. But the company Web site promises delivery in early January. The site doesn't say who's behind the product.
PROMISED ... Earwigs report Peter Grunwaldt and Rosie Fletcher are engaged. He's president of Premier Alaska Tours and one of the Alaska Journal of Commerce top 40 under 40 people a couple of years ago. She, of course, is the snowboarding Olympian who works for the muni.
Compiled by Sheila Toomey. E-mail ear@adn.com. Find Ear online at adn.com/ear.