Years ago, when I worked in Louisville, Ky., I went to a going-away party for a copy editor who was moving to another paper. I noticed everyone greeted the honoree with ''30.'' That's the symbol that was used to show that a story had ended back when they were typed on paper before being printed.
MONEY TALKS
I was going to do a column on all the good things about this searing, sizzling time of year. Two hours later, however, the most I could come up with was, ``Congress is in recess.''
MONEY TALKS
Years ago, before even I can remember, there was a TV host named Art Linkletter who coined the saying, ``Kids say the darndest things.''
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This was going to be such a great trip. Start on Spain's Mediterranean coast, detour through France and Italy, then hop to the Aegean for scuba diving in the Greek isles.
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As a journalist, you are often called upon to look at the world through other people's eyes. This can produce some unusual conversations, however. Once, I was assigned to do a heartwarming holiday story on a couple who'd been married for 50 years.
MONEY TALKS
It's pretty hard to argue against the notion that the American economy is in deep trouble. On world markets, the dollar is currently good primarily as a source of jokes. (``Congress just gave itself a raise -- they're going to take their pay in euros.'')
MONEY TALKS
It appears that the economy is weakening and, in response, more Americans are cutting spending and preparing for the worst. I recently decided to do the same. Never mind that this economic strategy is similar to an investor saying, "My stocks have all dropped sharply in price, I think I'll sell." When the going gets tough, the tough should go shopping to support our retail-oriented economy. But human nature doesn't always work that way.
MONEY TALKS
I don't know much about patents, but I have discovered a new product that is guaranteed to cure insomnia. The only problem is, it also causes nightmares.
MONEY TALKS
Frankly, the sordid stretch of Biscayne Boulevard where it set up shop was better known for muggings than mugs of java. If they wanted to peddle $4 cups of joe on a corner better known for johns who reportedly like to haggle over price -- well, more power to them.
MONEY TALKS
I was struck by a couple of ironies last week, both involving the wildly unstable real estate market in South Florida.
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But as we celebrate Labor Day and honor the American worker, I have to confess I have developed an obsession that is sick, destructive and clearly addictive. I can't stop checking my 401(k) balance.
MONEY TALKS
One day last week, the healthcare crisis gripping our nation was driven home to me in a very personal way. Not the one affecting people. I'm talking cats. More specifically, a money-sucking black hole of a feline named Sox.
MONEY TALKS
Tourists said their biggest gripe with Miami is traffic. As James Taylor might say, damn those traffic jams. Apparently the visitors didn't realize that Florida's slow pace was a description of movement on the Palmetto Expressway.
