Volunteers – including Sheriff Richard Nugent - will spend 24 hours or longer in the dog kennel to raise money and awareness for the Humane Society of the Nature Coast. ...more

February 15, 2008

Dear Lyn: I read your column on long-distance caregiving. My parents live across the country. Caregiving may be in my future someday, but the thought of reversing roles and caring for them seems unreal to me. Would things be easier if I ask them to move near me now? — Curious ...more

January 31, 2008

This week the TV news showed us images of George Bush, president of the United States and supposed leader of the free world, carrying a Saudi sword while dancing with a member of the Saudi royal family. For me, this ultimate indignity on the part of our president was reminiscent of a drunken Boris Yeltsin, leader of a failed Soviet Union playing "would you like to lead a band ?" Doubtless George, wearing his now famous smirk, saw no loss of dignity in playing the court jester for his Arab friends, perhaps to win them over to his pathetic plea for OPEC to sell more oil to assist the U.S. economy, one of their biggest customers as Bush reminded them. Their curt response was they will increase their sales when the market warrants it, thereby putting Bush in his place and inferentially reminding him that the OPEC cartel does not exist to do the U.S. favors. Its ability to squeeze the U.S. in a time of economic crisis, despite Bush's supposed generosity in approving a large sale of sophisticated arms to Saudi Arabia, is a blunt reminder of who is in the economically dominant position, in U.S.- Saudi relations. Way to go George! ...more

January 20, 2008

Deb Benson is one grateful American. In fact, she's so thankful that she recently launched a creative nonprofit organization named "Grateful American Coin," which mints commemorative coins to be given to armed service professionals, along with a thank you for serving this nation. ...more

December 26, 2007

Every now and then we come across heartwarming stories of survival and beating the odds that put our own problems into perspective. Like that of Sebring High School junior Cody Breen. Breen looks like a regular kid. He plays the trumpet in the Sebring Marching Band and has dreams of graduating from high school and going to college. Just like many other kids his age. But when Breen wakes up, his days are shrouded in darkness like his nights. They have been ever since he was born. Breen has been blind since birth. Is Breen bitter about his congenital disability? No. ...more

November 27, 2007

Former President Alberto Fujimori, awaiting trial in Peru on seven charges of corruption and human rights violations, is being held in poor conditions, his attorney and daughter said Monday. ...more

September 25, 2007