When you pull off the interstate anywhere in Florida, chances are you're looking straight down a corridor flanked by gas stations and a Waffle House. ...more

January 27, 2008

I spent my holiday vacation in Costa Rica. That's not the norm for my family, but I decided it was time to round up the kids and take them on a trip that would be fun, educational and a little adventurous. No more lying on the beach - we went rafting, zip-lining and camping. ...more

January 20, 2008

I just have to write this, you see I have met "Rambling Norman A. Cukras" and his wife Ruth on a number of occasions. They are both super nice people. Although I have to admit my sympathies go out to Ruth whenever Norm and I get together, as you see we both just love to talk and we have to see who can top who in the telling tales department. Norm has told me so many things he has learned at the check out counter, Which Ruth has to add, "Maybe he could get something done if he would stay out of the stores." Then I have to see if I can top Norman with a tell I have learned about life, such as I don't call snowbirds snowbirds. I call them frogs... the way I see it they come to Florida to croak. ...more

January 19, 2008

SEBRING – Before last weekend, it had been four years since Lynn Topel had taken a bike ride. Topel also loves gardening but there has been no time for that either. However, that will soon change for the executive director of Florida's Heartland Rural Economic Development Initiative (FHREDI). Topel will be leaving her position after four years in leading the organization that covers six counties – Highlands, Okeechobee, Glades, Hendry, DeSoto and Hardee – as well as communities in Palm Beach and Collier counties. In the first two years on the job, 80-hour weeks were the norm for Topel because of the devastating impact from the hurricanes – especially Charley – had on the region. "I can tell you that those weeks were long," she said. "Now it's gotten much better. This past year has been much more normal – 40 to 50-hour weeks. But it also took those two years to create those relationships all through the state that are important to the region." ...more

January 13, 2008

No other basketball shoe has changed the face of business, athletics and marketing like the Air Jordan. This month, Nike releases the 23rd edition, and it is expected to be just as venerated as its predecessors. ...more

January 9, 2008

Chances are you just finished dropping a boatload of money on holiday gifts. You probably paid for the bulk of your purchases with a debit or credit card, particularly if you did any of your shopping online. But what did you do to protect yourself against identity theft? ...more

December 30, 2007

AVON PARK — Social-networking Web sites are one of the most popular ways for college students to keep in touch with one another, but it can't be done on South Florida Community College campus. The college has blocked sites like MySpace and Facebook from being accessed on the campus. Even YouTube, a popular Web site for watching and sharing video, is not accessible. "It's really frustrating when we are here waiting for class and we can't get on those sites," said SFCC freshman Justin Platt. "We use them for communicating with our friends, and I don't understand what's wrong with that." ...more

November 20, 2007

TAMPA - Joining the fray of causes depicted in specialty license plates is the plight of trees. They join a new plate that cries out to help protect Florida's springs. Oh, and let's not forget the one that could outsell them all: a NASCAR specialty plate that goes on sale this month. ...more

November 15, 2007

After three years in the league, Quinn Gray is expected to make his first NFL start for the Jaguars on Sunday against the Bucs. To hear linebacker Derrick Brooks tell it, he may as well be facing Brett Favre. ...more

October 26, 2007