BIG HONKIN' PICKLE We've been in the news business long enough to know there are some things you just don't ask questions about. For example, this giant pickle. We're curious about why someone would want a plastic mega-dill that measures 42 inches long, but we don't actually want to know the reason. We're satisfied that whatever the root cause, it's best that it remains private. Cost: $97.77 each. Available at the appropriately named www.GreatBigStuff.com. ...more

March 1, 2009

Average Americans do not demand integrity from their politicians. ...more

December 31, 2008

Is the McCain-Palin rhetoric signaling a reformed Republican Party or a new third party? Let's take a look at history: ...more

September 26, 2008

Is the McCain-Palin rhetoric signaling a reformed Republican Party? ...more

September 25, 2008

"Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo; translated by Julie Rose (Modern Library, $28) ...more

August 31, 2008

The Vatican has published secret documents about the trial of the Knights Templar, including a parchment - long ignored because of a vague catalog entry in 1628 - showing that Pope Clement V initially absolved the medieval order of heresy. ...more

October 13, 2007

Five or six years ago housing prices took off in Florida. Our nice four-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath house began to look like a brilliant investment, made even better by the Save Our Homes tax cap. ...more

October 11, 2007