Oil and troubled waters By Frank A. Wood News-Chronicle "My top choices for colleges are the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and Howard," said an 11-year-old Minnesotan who just happens to be a Packers fan. ---- According to the Associated Press, crude oil prices hit a high of $43.05 a barrel, the highest level since the contract was first offered 21 years ago. Couple that with gas prices of about $2.00 a gallon - up one-third from last year's prices - and you begin to see a connection to the danger of inflation and the increase in our interest rates. ---- Old friendships are like good wine - they become even better with age. ---- I don't suppose there is any possibility that the price of oil could have anything at all to do with the situation in the Near East ... or the fact that three of the top seven companies in the Fortune 500 are now oil companies. ---- One wonders what part oil is going to play in our national elections in November. - Frank A. Wood Wood is the former owner and publisher of this publication.