Trees do us more good than you may think

A Florida live oak at Eden Gardens State Park in Point Washington. Image courtesy of Del Stone Jr.

A wooded lot on Racetrack Road was recently cleared. A business was gained, and a couple of hundred trees were lost. But that’s not the whole story. A bit of smog control disappeared into the woodpile. Trees help filter pollutants… READ MORE

B-24 ride brought an unexpected windfall

Image courtesy of Del Stone Jr.

When you’re next at a bookstore or newsstand, be sure to pick up the premiere issue of Vent magazine. Vent is published by Marta Randall, who is the wife of somebody you probably know: Rush Limbaugh. What you don’t know… READ MORE

An emphatic ‘No’ to tech for the sake of tech

In this photo the author (right) explains to visitors how the newspaper is assembled during an open house. Photo courtesy of the Daily News.

Very soon, the Daily News will abandon its old, proprietary computer system for a brand new, PC-based computer system. With this change, we will move up a notch in the high-technology race that seemingly shifted into high gear during the… READ MORE

Let’s not spank the kids; let’s spank the parents

Image courtesy of Flickr user Frank by way of a Creative Commons license. https://www.flickr.com/photos/frankonyc/

The other day, as I paid for a tank of gas, the lady behind the cash register offered to give me her son. “Take him. He’s yours,” she said exasperatedly. I felt my eyes darting, minnow-like. Where was this son?… READ MORE

Abdominal cramping and loose stools? Sign me up!

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons user Phoebe. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Phoebe

“Olestra may cause abdominal cramping and loose stools. Olestra inhibits the absorption of some vitamins and other nutrients.” So says the label on a package of Ruffles WOW! ripple-cut potato chips. Perhaps you remember the story behind this label, which… READ MORE

You can’t have rights and growth at the same time

Once upon a time the beautiful beaches of Northwest Florida were freely accessible by the public. They're still beautiful - if you can get to them. Image courtesy of Del Stone Jr.

In the shadow of Pride Week and Earth Day, you too could have spent your Saturday creeping bumper-to-bumper through Destin on your way to an oil-stained beach lined with murky brown water. Ah, the rewards of growth. Praise the Lord… READ MORE