I would like any information you can provide about my old Teddy bear. Its head, arms and legs move. It is hard, so it must be stuffed with sawdust. The fur is a little worn, but it is in good shape for the age. ...more

December 27, 2009

This holiday season, it's not surprising that one of Hollywood's biggest box office hits is the revival of Charles Dickens classic tale, "A Christmas Carol." This Victorian-era story of good versus greed still clearly strikes a chord with audiences watching Wall Street pay out million-dollar bonuses while Main Street struggles to make ends meet. The dynamic can be found in our nation's capital as well, with some policy-makers often too eager to play Santa to special interests, at the cost of protecting our public lands from such travesties as the 1872 Mining Law. ...more

December 25, 2009

One professor called it spiteful. Another said it was far-fetched. Those were the reactions Wednesday to U.S Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite's request that President Barack Obama get the permission of Congress before he accepts the Nobel Peace Prize. ...more

October 29, 2009

Alexis Marie Ashby wanted a teddy bear with flowers or a heart. The 9-year-old patient at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Tampa got a black bear with a red heart sweater and quickly named it Valentine. ...more

July 1, 2009

While Barack Obama puts the finishing touches on his presidential cabinet, a 9-year-old South Tampa boy is busy filling his cabinet with presidential memorabilia. Third grader Houston Britain is a presidential history buff. In a corner of his family's Hyde Park dining room, a cherry curio no taller than Houston himself is loaded with stuffed JFK dolls, miniature Ronald Reagans, and even a bobble-headed Barack Obama. ...more

January 19, 2009

Graciously conceding as vice president in 1980, Walter Mondale spoke of voters wielding "their staggering power." This year's energized electorate did that, thereby proving, among other things, that bad governance is good for turnout, a fact that should give pause to people who think high rates of voting are unambiguous indicators of civic health. ...more

November 8, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Before Julia Child became known to the world as a leading chef, she admitted at least one failing when applying for a job as a spy: impulsiveness. Details about Child's background as a government agent come into the public spotlight Thursday with the National Archives' release of more than 35,000 top-secret personnel files of World War II-era spies. The CIA held this information for decades. ...more

August 14, 2008

In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Law Day, this year's theme is: "The Rule of Law: Foundation for Communities of Opportunity and Equity." ...more

May 8, 2008

In recognition of the 50{+t}{+h} anniversary of Law Day, which was established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958 to celebrate and honor our American system of justice, this year's theme is: "The Rule of Law: Foundation for Communities of Opportunity and Equity." ...more

May 8, 2008

Things To Do is a list of some of the most interesting upcoming events. For a complete list of Tampa Bay area events, see this week's Friday Extra. ...more

February 13, 2008