One of the leading controversies on the Sunday TV talk shows was the appropriateness of the government imposing limits on the executive compensation packages of those corporations which have been bailed out with tax funds. A moment's reflection on the fact that the taxpayer now stands in the place of the stockholder as the owner of these companies should be a sufficient justification for these limits. Stockholders, as the owners of a corporation, originally set the compensation of its officers and employees, but over the years, the officers and boards of directors, through a series of strategies, wrested control from the stockholders and, treating the companies as their own, set their own compensations without regard for the wishes of the true owners, the stockholders. Their view? If you don't like it, sell you stock. A board room "coup de corps!" ...more

October 27, 2009

Drill here? Drill now?! It's not foreign oil we must wean ourselves off; it's oil, period. ...more

September 14, 2009

Forty years ago this week, the Woodstock music festival blasted into existence in Bethel, N.Y. ...more

August 13, 2009

This month marks the retirement of Stevie Brownlee, capping four decades as a teacher for Hillsborough County schools. ...more

June 15, 2009

Once again the crusading St. Pete Pravda strikes out boldly, with a front page story (March 29) about how "young patients" are being denied mind-numbing drugs (paid for by you and me), which places a terrible burden on "loving" mothers, "caring" teachers, and society in general. Baloney! ...more

April 1, 2009

America's economic woes are taking their toll on the art world - especially in the Sunshine State, say state arts agencies across the country. ...more

March 31, 2009

Narcotics detectives this morning dismantled a marijuana-cultivation operation they uncovered in a string of small warehouses behind a Palm Harbor business plaza, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said. Search warrants were executed at the five units behind the Four Seasons Plaza, 39070 U.S. 19 N., sheriff's officials said. ...more

March 9, 2009

Scientists have found a new moon hidden in one of Saturn's dazzling outer rings. ...more

March 3, 2009

It's hard to find much to complain about following an undefeated season, but after three regional and district championships, James Bland's experienced enough to know improvement is always possible. ...more

February 20, 2009

Students in grades four, eight and 10 will face the first round of assessment testing for the 2008-09 school year this week, with the writing portion of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test being given Tuesday. ...more

February 9, 2009