I inherited a vase from my parents and believe that it dates from the 1930s. It is brightly colored, pictures a Japanese man and woman in period dress and is marked "Made in Japan." ...more

June 5, 2008

My parents left me an antique hall tree that they bought many years ago at a yard sale. What is it worth? ...more

May 29, 2008

A friend gave me two figurines of a man and woman that he said were in his mother's home. They are marked with a leaf and the words "Fern" and "Hand Painted." Both pieces are in excellent condition. ...more

February 9, 2008

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama said Wednesday that a Hillary Rodham Clinton presidency would be a step back to the past, turning her husband's image of a bridge to the future against her. The former first lady decried the tenor of his comments in an interview with The Associated Press. ...more

January 31, 2008

I know editorials are opinion pieces, but opinions that make it to your editorial page should have at least some remote basis in fact. What facts do you have to back your assertion that the rising number of voters registering as independents reflects dissatisfaction with the major party candidates? Surely, you don't mean there is a tide of support for independent candidates, since for all practical purposes there aren't any. Do you have surveys, polls, interviews, etc. to support your statement? Worse, you then lapse into repeating the insipid populist pabulum that we have sent so many jobs overseas that wages have not kept pace with the economy. You really should check the facts. Trade has increased over 10-fold since 1960 to nearly $3.5 trillion –– more than one fourth of our total economy. If it caused unemployment and lower living standards, we would all be on welfare by now. Instead: Real GDP more than doubled, we added 81 million jobs, real per-capita and median incomes rose by a third, inflation and unemployment fell to historically low levels. We still manufacture twice as much as China and the combination of manufacturing, mining, and agriculture as a percent of our GDP remains at near record highs. Yes, the number of people working in manufacturing is declining. The same is happening in nearly every country, including China (where the number of workers in manufacturing has fallen 10-15 percent in recent years). We are witnessing the same miracle in manufacturing today that we saw in agriculture in the mid-20th century. Fewer people making more. It doesn't mean we have more unemployment; it means we have more stuff. ...more

January 15, 2008

I have collected some antiques over the years, including a wall-mounted telephone. I paid $200 for it and would like to know what it is worth. ...more

January 12, 2008

I would like to know the value of a chocolate set that we inherited from my husband's grandmother. It totals 48 pieces. ...more

January 5, 2008

An abstract masterpiece by a Mexican artist that was found in the trash by a woman who knew little about modern art has been sold for more than $1 million. ...more

November 22, 2007

In Tarpon Springs, officials are pondering the fate of a downtown building at 144 E. Tarpon Ave. A recent inspection by a Tampa engineering firm found major structural problems with the building. It should be fixed or torn down, the outside engineer and city staffers stay. ...more

November 13, 2007

In an out-of-nowhere end to Martina Hingis' comeback, the five-time Grand Slam champion revealed Thursday she tested positive for cocaine at Wimbledon and will retire for a second time rather than fight what she called a "horrendous" accusation. ...more

November 2, 2007