Early in May, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) and EMI Group PLC (OTC: EMIPY) announced that Paul McCartney's catalog would be released digitally for the first time before the end of the month. A week ago, another announcement was made that the material was to be released this week on iTunes. As of this writing, no such release has occurred on iTunes, but according to PC World, the tracks are all available on Napster (NASDAQ: NAPS), RealNetworks Inc. (NASDAQ: RNWK)'s Rhapsody, Viacom International Inc. (NYSE: VIA)'s Urge, and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT)'s Zune Marketplace.

On iTunes (and I checked), the only available McCartney albums are the pre-order for his new Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ: SBUX) flavored album and his 2005 Grammy nominated Chaos and Creation in the Backyard. Furthermore, comparing the price of individual tracks on iTunes, $0.99, with those available for purchase (not the subscription service) on Rhapsody, $0.89, I am wondering if all of Apple's pronouncements about EMI and The Beatles are falling apart. iTunes is not the only store that is privy to the new EMI tracks (without Digital Rights Management technology), but clearly it is now the only store without a significant EMI catalog. It is also the catalog that is supposed to lead into The Beatles' catalog being released. Whether that happens on iTunes seems cloudy at this point, but other digital services will likely stay ahead of Apple's service in this game.

Apple's stock has been growing for a while now, closing at $110.69 yesterday and already well above $112 today, and any lack of Beatles-related material on iTunes won't dampen that progress.

It is without a doubt that Limited Brands (NYSE:LTD) is having an outstanding year. Year to date operating income has approximately doubled over last year and same store sales were showing a 7% increase just prior to November. I'm expecting that year end figures will be right on track with the previous three quarters.

What brought Limited Brands to my attention was their announcement of a new initiative to support the movement to protect endangered forests. It's only right that corporate America shows the government they can do the right thing without it being legislated against them. I live in a region of "working" forests. I have seen responsible forestry practices in action. I've watched as Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin implemented far-reaching and effective sustainable forestry practices. We love our trees, we work them and we protect them. Just last summer there was selected harvesting of mature trees right across the road from my home. I don't know how many thousands of dollars in revenue and income was generated by the project but I'll tell you what, if you stand at the end of my driveway, you can't even tell they were in there.

This announcement by Limited Brands should please environmentalists and the forest products industry alike. Limited Brands has pledged to maintain a high level of post-consumer material in their publications and has vowed to work with their suppliers to find workable options for acquiring the virgin material which quality paper production requires. Based on my experience in the field I think they and their suppliers shall find no shortage of viable options. I think this situation should serve to highlight the movement by corporate America towards environmental sustainability. The more we approve the right moves by our manufacturers, the more they will choose to make those right moves. My thanks to Limited Brands for exhibiting this high level of eco-responsibility.

Oh, and please keep the Victoria's Secret catalogs coming, my wife loves them.