Last week's column, in which I described in vivid detail the theft of one our newspaper racks, my comically heroic efforts to recover it from behind a grocery store and the debilitating back injury I suffered while loading its remains onto a truck, drew much sympathy from readers. ...more

October 28, 2009

Last Friday, the Pasco County Commission began reviewing the county's proposed budget for fiscal 2010. With the collapse of the Florida real estate-housing sector, on top of the nationwide economic slowdown, the county's projected revenue could fall about $37 million short of the planned spending in the $900 million-plus budget. Commissioners have received a list of proposed spending cuts meant to close the budget gap. "This is going to hurt a lot of people, seriously," County Commissioner Pat Mulieri said after pondering the cut list. ...more

June 17, 2009

Last Friday the U.S. Labor Department announced that nearly 540,000 Americans lost their jobs in April. As bad as that sounds, last month's jobless total was less than most economists had predicted. In fact, it was the lowest increase in joblessness in 14 months. Of late there have been a few other signs that the economy may not be recovering yet but its rate of decline has begun to slow. ...more

May 13, 2009

Last week, leaving a restaurant near the mall, my wife and I glanced up to witness a wondrous sight. It was the space shuttle Discovery, clearly visible. Its brilliant tail made a vivid slash across the eastern sky. ...more

March 25, 2009

It's tough to win a job when you can't even get on the field. ...more

March 4, 2009

Last week I offered some tips on pruning roses. After taking on the bushes in my landscape, I have a few more thoughts to offer that might help you tackle your own. ...more

February 4, 2009

Last week's "water landing" of the US Airways jet is a tribute to professionalism, experience, skill and teamwork. The pilot-in-command showed that with his calm under fire and his years of training as an Air Force, airline and glider pilot, that he had the requisite background to successfully execute such a difficult maneuver. As Barack Obama rides the train to his position as pilot-in-command of our country, let us hope that he learns from this pilot hero that one's split-second decision can mean the difference between the life and death of many people; that experience, skill and teamwork are important; that there is reward in "just doing one's job"; and in a command position, it is essential to conduct oneself with the character and humility of this US Airways pilot. ...more

January 20, 2009

Last weekend I spent several hours at the Westfield Brandon mall, one of the area's largest. ...more

December 17, 2008

Last weekend I spent several hours at the Westfield Brandon mall, one of the area's largest. ...more

December 17, 2008

Last week, Corey Smith, a River Ridge Middle School student, went before the Pasco County Commission and asked the county to build sidewalks or bicycle paths along Moon Lake Road. That was not all that unusual. Most of the time, however, the young person merely makes the request, the adult government leaders respond with smiles and a verbal pat on the head and that's the end of it. ...more

December 10, 2008