The recent billboards denouncing separation of church and state have ignited the fires of a controversy that has been smoldering for decades. Not only has it been virtually unquestioned that the United States is a Christian nation, the much deeper assumption has been that morality can only be derived from religion. This is an enormous leap of faith even for the most religious zealous. ...more

July 23, 2009

We all groan nostalgically or with jealousy when we recall or read about gas at 27 cents a gallon in 1950. Boy, that sure was affordable. ...more

February 27, 2009

I read with interest the letter titled simply "Conservatives" printed on Jan. 20 in Highlands Today. Frankly, Roger, reading your letter was a bit confusing. I could not determine whether you intended to drop a bomb on all conservatives, or whether you were mainly critical of such people as George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, etc. ...more

January 23, 2009

While it may be comforting to know that our elected officials in Tallahassee are very concerned regarding the morality of its citizens in regard to gambling, I am at a loss to understand the following: Isn't the Florida Lottery gambling? It is the most easily accessible of all. Every store and gas station, etc. sells them and boy do they sell them! Where is the outrage regarding this? If you seek other forms of gambling most of us have to travel by bus, boat, plane or train out of the state or beyond the three mile limit. Now I certainly have nothing against the Florida Lottery but if the Seminole Casino in Tampa can benefit our state with millions of dollars of needed revenue, why lose it to other states? Of course, we all know that gambling can be abused just like overeating, drinking and buying things we cannot afford, etc. But some things are just plain fun and enjoyed by many, so I say let it be. Also, as you know the Powerball was just introduced to the lottery; I heard no objections to that. ...more

January 10, 2009

Harvey Holtzhouse of New Port Richey says in criticizing approval of Proposition 2 college student op-ed page columnist James Hibbs was letting his mouth get ahead of his research. ...more

November 15, 2008

Make no mistake about it; same-sex marriage has nothing to do with equal rights. ...more

October 17, 2008

Cuba has ordered jailed punk rocker Gorki Aguila, an outspoken critic of former President Fidel Castro and the communist government, to stand trial Friday for "social dangerousness," a charge that could carry four years in prison. ...more

August 28, 2008

"The Forgery of Venus," by Michael Gruber (William Morrow, $25) ...more

May 25, 2008

The Senate voted Wednesday to prohibit the CIA from using waterboarding and other harsh interrogation methods on terror suspects despite President Bush's threat to veto any measure that limits the agency's interrogation techniques. ...more

February 14, 2008

A growing number of people say the economy is the nation's top problem, with the less educated among the most worried, an Associated Press-Ipsos poll showed Tuesday. ...more

October 9, 2007