It's a free country, but the amount of freedom varies from state to state, according to George Mason University's Mercatus Center, which has just issued a new report giving an in

One of my favorite science fiction writers, Philip Jose Farmer, died on Feb. 25. He was never as famous are other vintage SF writers such as Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein or Arthur C. Clarke, but he had a devoted following.

Movie lovers have the Academy Awards, music fans have the Grammys, readers have the Pulitzers. Science fiction fans such as myself have their awards, too.

I thought California congresswoman Nancy Pelosi was the speaker of the U.S. House, but apparently she is acting more like an empress instead.

Construction of the Erie MetroParks Dog Park at Osborn Park has begun. The park is set to open this fall, but the Friends of Erie MetroParks Dog Park Committee are hounding the public to fix a remaining problem.

The park needs a name.

The folks at Lake Erie Shores and Islands have announced that Kelleys Island will be featured on TV tonight, on the National Geographic Channel’s “Naked Science.” The program explores “one of the world’s greatest geological mysteries.”

President Barack Obama has just given a speech in Arizona announcing his program for helping homeowners who are struggling to make their mortgage payments.

This has proven to be my most difficult month. I have only lost a couple of pounds. We haven’t done an inch measurement because Trevor Tieche, my personal trainer, has been out of town and I have had to work out on my own.

The week of March 8 was a great workout week and only a so-so diet week. The workouts with Trevor were some of my best since we began. I completed three workouts, each about 90 minutes. I am beginning to feel a little quicker in my agility drills and much stronger with the weights.

It was a pretty uneventful last week. I got in three good workouts. One with Trevor and two while I was officiating at the state swim meet in Canton.