Mar 11, 2010 4:02 am
Warren Buffett brought home less pay than Berkshire Hathaway's chief financial officer again last year, but the company is paying more to protect the billionaire these days. The Omaha, Neb.-based company revealed in documents mailed to shareholders this week that Buffett's total compensation grew about 6 percent, to $519,490 last year. The... read more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 3:57 am
In an industry first, a new gaming service will start allowing people to "stream" popular high-end games such as "Assassin's Creed II" over the Internet in June, using a mechanism similar to watching TV shows or listening to music online. OnLive, unveiled a year ago with much fanfare, embraces "cloud computing," in which software runs on a... read more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 3:46 am
seeking STRINGING TIPS Does anyone know how to restring a wind chime? The strings have corroded off its wooden base. LISA SWAP I have some plumeria sticks to swap for lemons or oranges. EVELYN TURNER, Lakeland VACUUM CLEANERread more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 3:36 am Editor's Note:Each week, in a feature called "Taster's Choice," the St. Petersburg Times conducts a taste test of a store-bought food. Here is a round-up of items that scored well in the last 12 to 13 months.By KATHY SAUNDERSFOR THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES"Taster's Choice" panelists have found new twists to old treats. read more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 3:15 am
Senate President Jeff Atwater has proposed spending a bit less for public schools and criminal and civil justice than House Speaker Larry Cretul. Atwater issued allocations that will serve as a framework for the Senate's version of the state budget. read more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 3:14 am
Photos of vehicles with license tags from Texas, Louisiana and other states, but nary one from Florida, flashed on viewing screens in a Senate committee room Wednesday. read more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 2:53 am
In the past 12 years I've owned a 1995 Toyota Corolla, a 1998 Chevrolet Prizm (GM Toyota Corolla), a 2005 Pontiac Vibe (GM Toyota Matrix) and currently a 2010 Toyota Prius. I have never had any problems with these cars. read more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 2:50 am
My letter concerns the Feb. 16 letter "Scheduled Out of Health Care." The writer appears to have a peculiar viewpoint on the rights and corresponding obligations related to health insurance and employment. read more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 2:43 am
Are others disconcerted by the $33 million award to a Mulberry family because of a Walgreen's prescription error ["Court Upholds $33 Million Award to Mulberry Family," March 2, front page]? Certainly the family deserved some compensation for suffering. In addition, judgments such as these serve as a punishment and deterrent for those who make... read more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 2:33 am
Publix Super Markets Inc. has voluntarily recalled four varieties of its seasoning mixes because of possible salmonella contamination. The recalled products are: All lot codes for 0.75-ounce packs of Publix Mushroom Gravy Mix with the UPC 41415-03308. 1-ounce packages of Publix Meatloaf Seasoning, UPC 41415-03408. read more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 2:32 am
Sunday is daylight savings time, the time to 'spring forward' by turning clocks ahead one hour. That means the time will shift from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m.. While most cell phones will shift automatically, you'll likely have to manually adjust clocks and other electronics. read more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 2:30 am
The next two days will be rainy, but more pleasant weather is on the way. Meteorologists said to expect a 70 percent chance of showers today. The rainfall will increase overnight with heavy thunderstorms predicted Friday. The weekend will be mostly clear with highs expected to be in the 70s. read more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 2:27 am
Aaron Kelly, who grew up in Davenport, will find out tonight whether he will spend one more week singing for Kara, Simon, Randy and Ellen. The 16-year-old, who attended Ridgeview Global Studies Academy, has lasted into week 3 of "American Idol" on Fox. At 8 tonight, four contestants will be eliminated. He now lives in Sonestown, Pa. read more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 2:12 am
A well-known South Florida lawyer has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in what federal prosecutors say was a $2.5 million embezzlement scheme. Prosecutors say Lewis Freeman stole from 250 clients, hiding it with fake court filings. Freeman was frequently appointed by judges as a receiver or trustee in high-profilefraud and bankruptcy cases. read more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 1:42 am
The chairman of the Hillsborough County Commission has asked the county's top three appointed officials, County Administrator Pat Bean, County Attorney Renee Lee and internal performance auditor Jim Barnes, to resign or face firing, the St. Petersburg Times reported. read more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 1:42 am
Relations between the city of Winter Haven and pilots have improved in the two years since the airport was redeveloped. read more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 1:36 am
Two men died and four people were taken to hospitals Wednesday night in a pair of related hit-and-run crashes on County Road 39 near Plant City, the St. Petersburg Times reported. The first crash took place about 9:40 p.m. north of State Road 60, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. read more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 1:36 am
After today's Timeout section was printed, tonight's Andre Watts concert at Florida Southern College featured on page 12 was canceled because he is ill. Chopin pianist Vladimir Feltsman will take his place. Watts' concert was rescheduled from last season when he also had to cancel because of illness. Feltsman's concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. read more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 1:26 am
A Lakeland man accused of bilking investors of more than $300,000 was arrested Wednesday after a joint investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI. read more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 12:28 am
Evelyn Boyd, 55, was dead for at least a day and no more than three days before her body was discovered Friday, Associate Medical Examiner Dr. Vera Volnikh said. read more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 12:28 am
LAKELAND | Shane Davis had a job, but let it go. He left a steady job at a lumber yard for a promising position in Ocala. But when that didn't work out, Davis came home to Lakeland and joined the 37,000 Polk County residents who were unemployed in January. read more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 12:28 am
Two men were sentenced Wednesday to spend the rest of their lives in prison for the slaying of 17-year-old Angelia "Angel" Headrick. read more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 12:22 am
What an intriguing front page March 3. Two articles, one titled "U.S. Postal Service Wants to Stop Saturday Mail Delivery" and the other, right next to it, "Polk Man Loses 260 Pounds With Better Diet, More Exercise." They couldn't be positioned in better proximity to one another. read more. . .
Mar 11, 2010 12:02 am
A lost sticky note was to blame in the release of a "habitual traffic offender" on $7,000 bail instead of $75,000, according to an internal review by the Polk County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday. read more. . .
Mar 10, 2010 11:26 pm
The 40 days of Lent, which evokes the time that Jesus spent fasting in the desert, is a time of conversion and reconciliation. Yet, even as we have passed the mid-point in our Lenten observances, the word "reconciliation" has taken on a new-and-infelicitous connotation in our secular world. Reconciliation as a "legislative process intended to... read more. . .
Mar 10, 2010 11:16 pm
Each week in Florida, eight people die from an overdose of illegal drugs. During that same week, 42 people will die in Florida from overdoses of prescription medication. read more. . .
Mar 10, 2010 11:16 pm
By month's end, The Ledger will likely carry a news story that a motorist or passenger was killed in an accident when he or she was thrown from the vehicle or was killed because a seat belt wasn't used. ... read more. . .
Mar 10, 2010 5:03 pm
This one feels like a gift. Johnny Cash died in 2003, and a flurry of posthumous releases immediately followed. There's one new Cash original, 'I Corinthians 15:55,' plus covers familiar (Kris Kristofferson's 'For the Good Times' and Bob Nolan's cowboy song 'Cool Water' ) and surprising, such as Queen Lili'uokalani's sweet farewell 'Aloha Oe.'... read more. . .
Mar 10, 2010 4:53 pm
Norwegian pianist and composer Tord Gustavsen creates another bewitching CD. This soft-focus session with its delightful silences and slowly baked vibes pushes the leader beyond a trio, which dominated his last two ECM releases, 'Being There' and 'Changing Places.' Here Kristin Asbjxrnsen offers a few achy vocals, including one on the bluesy 'Lay... read more. . .
Mar 10, 2010 4:50 pm
'If I hadn't have been as eccentric, as obnoxious, as arrogant, as aggressive, as introspective, as selfish,' Gil Scott-Heron confides on a spoken interlude on his tunning first studio album in 16 years, 'I wouldn't be me. I wouldn't be who I am.' read more. . .
Mar 10, 2010 4:39 pm
GAMES FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, MONDAY, LAKELAND Spring training games against Philadelphia, New York Yankees, Toronto and Houston. WHEN: All games start at 1:05 p.m. LOCATION: Joker Marchant Stadium. TICKETS: $8 to $22. Available via tigers.com, Joker Marchant box office or by calling 866-668-4437. — JENNIFER AUDETTE/The Ledger read more. . .
Mar 10, 2010 4:03 pm
'I am playing lots of villains. It's horrible. Serial killer, sadist. But I think it's the age, you know. That's what you get over 40, maybe,' says Helena Bonham Carter, 43, who plays the Red Queen in 'Alice in Wonderland.' Shifting into a shrill hag's voice, she adds: 'Ooh, she's aging. She must be evil. She looks like a witch.' read more. . .
Mar 10, 2010 3:45 pm
'She's Out of My League' star Jay Baruchel was asked to go bottomless for a 'grooming' scene in the movie, but declined because he didn't want his mother to see him naked, among other reasons. — The Chicago Tribune read more. . .
Mar 10, 2010 3:27 pm
Robert Pattinson, 23, of 'Twilight' fame, not only stars in the romance 'Remember Me,' he is also an executive producer on the film. — The Associated Press read more. . .
Mar 10, 2010 1:25 pm
All the war-zone authenticity in the Arab world cannot salvage the silly Hollywood plot at the heart of 'Green Zone,' Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass' first collaboration outside the Jason Bourne realm. read more. . .
Mar 10, 2010 9:54 am
One enters a movie like 'Our Family Wedding' bracing for cheesiness. As a genre, wedding films are typically about as cloying as two-hours worth of kitten videos on YouTube. Add in the equally checkered history of stridently ethnic movies, and you might want to start asking moviegoers to remove their belts before entering the theater. read more. . .
Mar 10, 2010 9:54 am
Cirque Le Masque reminds audiences of Cirque du Soleil in its early days, before it became a multibillion dollar company, according to Dennis Schussel. read more. . .
Mar 9, 2010 3:42 pm
Classical artists are often identified with a particular composer, one with whom they have a special bond. For pianist André Watts, that composer would be Franz Liszt. read more. . .
Mar 9, 2010 2:17 pm
Eric Overstreet, 25, enjoys working as a bartender at Longhorn Steakhouse. Be it the Brandon, Winter Haven or, most recently, the Lakeside Village location in Lakeland, Overstreet has been with the company for 7 1/2 years. He credits his longevity to the people he works with. When asked if anything unusual has happened while he was behind the... read more. . .
Mar 9, 2010 2:16 pm
J.W. Lees & Co. out of Manchester, England, is gaining a reputation here in the states for its annual Harvest Ales series of beers matured in vintage oak casks. The brewer, established in 1828, offers an array of these ales, each with a distinctive flavor derived from the wood barrels and the spirits they once contained. read more. . .
Mar 9, 2010 1:36 pm
Are you ready for beach season? Spring break is soon upon us, and you may not be able to lose 50 pounds by then, but you can do other things as a couple to get ready for fun in the sun. Shop for new bathing suits. Get each others' opinion. Be honest! read more. . .
Mar 9, 2010 1:36 pm
The Germans are coming. They've just sounded the whistle and the infantry is pouring out of the trench with a great yell, darting across the battlefield like a string of ants. They'll soon be followed by cavalry and a procession of hulking tanks. Probably biplanes, too, since this is World War I we're talking about. read more. . .
Mar 9, 2010 11:46 am
Garrett Hicks ● 23 ● Lakeland ● "Here is Love" ● Brian Johnson What style of music is this? Christian worship song. What is the message of the song? It's an old hymn that has been redone by several artists. The message is about the vast love of God and how great it is. read more. . .
Mar 9, 2010 11:42 am Blues Traveler WHEN: 7 p.m. April 26. LOCATION: State Theatre, St. Petersburg. TICKETS: $24. On sale 10 a.m. Friday. Jonny Lang WHEN: 8 p.m. May 21. LOCATION: Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. TICKETS: $53, $37. On sale noon Friday. WHEN: 7:30 p.m. May 22. LOCATION: House of Blues, Kissimmee. read more. . .
65° CLOUDY,