I voted for Sheriff Benton when she ran the first time, but she will not get a vote from me this time. I don't trust her judgment. There have been some items that have come up that make me doubt if it is in the best interest of the county to keep her on as sheriff. Of course, as an average citizen I don't always have the facts, but I must go with my gut. ...more

August 30, 2008

I was thinking about the effect of bias in thinking and decision making. It came up in the context of some people indicating they could not vote for Obama for president because he was black, no matter what; a predictable and unfortunate attitude with some in the American South. But it started me thinking about bias in general, where and how much weight it is given in all kinds of thinking, in the process of decision making. Firstly, I was concerned with whether it becomes a factor in evaluation, whether it is included, inappropriately, in a list of concerns which lead to a decision. That would be bad enough but what if it serves as a filter, to block the receipt of otherwise relevant information never let into the process of weighing facts and making choices on a rational basis? I was watching a TV show, book reviewing, and I decided I didn't like the necktie worn by the lecturer. It was a skimpy, pale, stripy bow tie, an utterly silly looking thing and as I looked at it, the words of the lecturer seemed to fade. Was this merely an absurd fashion bias on my part or perhaps my questioning why anyone would wear such a tie and whether the choice of wearing such a tie reflected on the quality of the judgment-making ability of the wearer, and shouldn't I take that into consideration in weighing, or even accepting the quality of his opinion, downgrade his believability or even reject everything he has to say out of hand because of his flawed judgment in necktie selection? ...more

August 11, 2008

An anonymous tip called in to the clerk of court's office on March 25 has led to a sheriff's investigation into allegations that five county employees have been stealing county gasoline and/or diesel for use in their personal vehicles. ...more

August 6, 2008

An anonymous tip called in to the clerk of court's office on March 25 has led to a sheriff's investigation into allegations that five county employees have been stealing county gasoline and/or diesel for use in their personal vehicles. ...more

August 5, 2008

Billed more as an all-wheel drive vehicle than an all-out off-roader, the Tiguan benefits by being easy to enter and exit from all four doors. ...more

July 19, 2008

Community Development District Supervisor Jack Meehan sold insurance policies to two vendors that have contracts with the CDD, he said last week. ...more

July 9, 2008

In reference to an article in the June 28 Tampa Tribune titled "Landlords not wanting to rent to families who have been foreclosed on, losing their homes." How dare they? How dare them pass judgment on a family's misfortunes and place them in a category of deadbeats, insinuating that they do not want to pay for a roof over their family's heads. Not everyone is looking for a "free ride" or out to get something for free. I realize that there are people out there like that, but you simply cannot stereotype all people that have had foreclosures or other misfortunes as deadbeat. ...more

July 3, 2008

So, what exactly did General Wesley Clark say that is being attacked by the right? Apparently, he said what I did two columns ago, on June 19, that although Sen. John McCain's service to his country and his suffering of more than five years as a prisoner of war was more than admirable, none of this provided him with the "experience" needed to be president of the United States. ...more

July 2, 2008

HERITAGE ISLES - Community Development District Supervisor Jack Meehan sold insurance policies to two vendors that have contracts with the CDD, he said this week. ...more

July 2, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court has struck down a Louisiana law that allows the execution of people convicted of a raping a child. In a 5-4 vote, the court says the law allowing the death penalty to be imposed in cases of child rape violates the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment. ...more

June 25, 2008