Columns  

Alas, Lancaster County, I hardly knew ye.

Following last week's column where I spoke in favor of gay marriage, I expected so much angry mail, I was planning to put a fake beard and sunglasses on my column photo. Instead, out of 45 e-mails I received, the most I've ever gotten since this column be...

When you hear the term "rare earth metals," you probably think of China and the rising price of energy-efficient light bulbs.


That's because almost all rare earth metals are mined in China. Spiral fluorescent bulbs are one of the more common items that use such materials and more stringent mini...

State Rep. Chris Ross, a Harvard graduate who once landed on a list of Pennsylvania's smartest lawmakers, is butting heads with consumer advocates, churches and others who say his payday loan bill opens the state to predatory lenders.

Wrong, Ross shoots back. Unscrupulous lenders already prey on ...

The most important thing that individual Americans can do to control rising health care costs is to lose weight, then maintain a healthy weight, and become committed to exercise &tstr; both aerobic and weight-bearing.
One of Michelle Obama's projects as first lady has been to spread the message ...

Jamie Dimon calls it "a doozy."
And it was. A $2 billion credit derivatives trading bungle that could mushroom to a $4 billion loss.
The shining industry agitator against some of the tougher regulations on banks has suddenly become the shining example of why still tougher regulations may be needed.
...

 

Every year I like to provide advice to college graduates.
By the time I graduated, I had in place some pretty good money habits thanks to my grandmother, Big Mama. Because of her, I've made it my mission to pass on the financial wisdom she taught me.
For college graduates this year, I offe...

 

There are two ways to defend gay marriage. Argument A is empathy: One is influenced by gay friends in committed relationships yearning for the fulfillment and acceptance that marriage conveys upon heterosexuals. That's essentially the case President Obama made when he first announced his c...

 

Today's mother is challenged to fulfill new and ever-changing roles. This simply adds to, but cannot replace, her awesome responsibility within the home and family.
A woman possesses unique characteristics that equip her in her role of motherhood. She has the power of influence, both for p...

We recently returned from a trip to Florida, where a grandson was celebrating his Confirmation. Our route was familiar, for the most part. We've made this trip many times and we're familiar with differences between the "Rebel" and "Yankee" states.
We expect gas prices to be lower in Georgia (and we ...

And another one bites the dust.
But Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar did not go quietly. After his defeat in the GOP primary, the veteran legislator issued a remarkable statement warning of the dangers of continued partisanship. Lugar, a conservative who embraces "the Republican principles of small govern...