Cold, hard, cash has always been "legal tender for all debts public and private" in the U.S.A. It says so right on the face of every dollar bill. That means it's accepted everywhere, right? Wrong. Next time you want to rent a car, don't offer to pay cash. It will probably be refused. Recently, I reserved a car with a major nationwide rental company, via the Internet. But when my husband and I went to pick up the vehicle, the local office of that company insisted we present a major credit card, which we did not have in hand at the time. Then they even refused cash on the barrelhead as an alternative. We use only debit cards; it keeps us from spending money we don't have. With virtually every other business in town, that makes us the very best, most-preferred, kind of customers, but not at this establishment. ...more

December 23, 2007

John McCaughey, senior district secretary to State Representative Rich Glorioso, R-Plant City, died Monday at South Florida Baptist Hospital. He was 67. ...more

December 22, 2007