An average of 17 times a day, I enter an automobile, twist my arthritic hip and stretch my bursitis ridden shoulder to place a safety harness across my med port. The port is plumbed directly into my heart for chemotherapy. My surgeon told me that a medium level impact while wearing my seat belt would probably unplug the port. Death would occur in about three minutes. ...more

August 29, 2009

President Barack Obama didn't have time to join a roast of prominent officials by the journalists who cover them, cracks Vice President Joe Biden, because Obama is getting ready for Easter. ...more

March 23, 2009

Bob Buckhorn walked into the thatched-roof Irish refuge called Four Green Fields. He looked briefly and a little longingly at the row of draft beer handles at the bar and then sat down and ordered water. ...more

March 20, 2009

The Santa who every December would visit our county commissioners, Richard Conover passed away this December. Our Christmas card greeting card sent to Richard at the nursing home in Clewiston was returned, marked "Deceased." A phone call verified the sad notation. This gregarious, fun loving, sometimes serious personality that so marked Richard is gone, but the many little jokes and jabs, directed mainly at our county commissioners, will linger on as we recall them. Many of us will miss getting an unexpected birthday greeting card from Richard, accompanied with a line or two, kidding (with kindness,) the fact that we are one year older. Why Richard's family decided not to have a memorial service to honor Richard's time amongst us remains a mystery. We hope that this little notice will remind people of this big bear of a man, whose gruff demeanor sometimes masked his "soft" side. ...more

January 10, 2009

"A Most Wanted Man," by John Le Carre (Scribner, $28) ...more

October 5, 2008

Entering the ring Friday night at the A La Carte Pavilion, Clearwater welterweight Keith Thurman was announced as "K.O." by ring announcer Mark Beiro. ...more

August 16, 2008

Jabs that once drove opponents toward rage are fewer and without nearly as much sting. Quips guaranteed to poke needles into rivals' thin skin now are mostly self-effacing. ...more

July 26, 2008

To the Staten Island girls who may have been taught to fight dirty in Brownies, Ken Pringle is sorry. ...more

July 20, 2008

As the man they call "King Richard" prepares to leave his kingdom, his subjects sent him off with praise and prose befitting royalty. ...more

May 28, 2008

TAMPA PALMS - As the man they call King Richard prepares to leave his kingdom, his subjects sent him off with praise and prose befitting royalty. Friends, co-workers and students gathered at a retirement reception Thursday, May 22, for Richard Bartels, principal of Freedom High. Bartels will retire from the school district in June after 35 years. ...more

May 22, 2008