It’s been a rule of thumb since the Nixon administration. If you’re a politician, you don’t want to be associated with anything that includes the “gate” affix. Now we have “Memo-gate.” It’s a label currently adhering to the embattled Mel Martinez like a senatorial “kick me” sign. The notorious memo is the one written – [...]
The early morning tableau is pastorally stark: scrub land dotted by tiny, muddy ponds. The brisk air is punctuated by the gaggling and gurgling sounds of ducks and sand hill cranes. Their high-pitched tones, however, could be a predator alert. Snakes and coyotes by land, perhaps a hawk or a bald eagle by air. It [...]
For the sake of argument, let’s make a few assumptions. Let’s assume that a sizable enough chunk of Florida’s $2.2 billion surplus goes toward permanent funding aimed at making our kids safer from the state’s 5,000 sexual predators. Measures taken would include more probation officers and a sophisticated system of monitoring those would-be threats to [...]
For the sake of argument, let’s make a few assumptions. Let’s assume that a sizable enough chunk of Florida’s $2.2 billion surplus goes toward permanent funding aimed at making our kids safer from the state’s 5,000 sexual predators. Measures taken would include more probation officers and a sophisticated system of monitoring those would-be threats to [...]
When Dr. Tim Muscaro slips away from his South Tampa dental practice, he usually can be found on a golf course. He’s an 18 handicap – but would doubtless be better were it not for every duffer’s Achilles’ tendency: three-putt greens. Recently, however, he’s made progress. In his backyard. He sprang for an 18-feet by [...]
Believe it or not, something good may yet result from that debacle last week at Yankee Stadium. That’s where the Devil Rays were humiliated 19-8 by the Yankees. The Rays allowed a franchise record 13 runs in the second inning. The silver lining is this: The fiasco was witnessed in person – but not incognito [...]
Since 9/11, it’s been a key anti-terrorism tenet of the Bush Administration that those who harbor and support terrorists are part of the nightmarish problem and will be held accountable – and dealt with accordingly. Obviously easier said than implemented. Witness Saudi Arabia, which has incubated terrorists and then funneled protection money to them under [...]
It was one of those stories that stops you in your tracks and leaves you misty eyed. You just don’t expect it from the sports section over your morning coffee and English muffin. The news of the day featured Vince Naimoli’s latest temper tantrum; reflections on Tiger Woods’ victory in the Masters; the Red Sox [...]
“Academic freedom” is one of those terms – not unlike “freedom fighter” or “student-athlete” — that requires some fine-print scrutiny. Presumably no one is against “academic freedom” – at least until we introduce the repugnant likes of a Ward Churchill broaching an especially controversial subject in a particularly polarizing, patently disgusting way. But that’s classic [...]
We’ll not see his kind again. Not in our lifetime. The passing of Pope John Paul II galvanized the globe – as no other contemporary world figure could. His mourners transcended the planet’s 1 billion Catholics. Condolences came from Muslims, Jews and Protestants. Praise came from the most disparate sources, including George W. Bush, Fidel [...]
