The Rooney Bin

“Liberty is always dangerous, but it is the safest thing we have.”—Harry Emerson Fosdick, liberal protestant minister  On Saturday, Americans feted the war that gave birth to this country with fireworks, picnics, parades and protests. Due to a resurgence of Covid-19 cases fireworks displays and parades were limited or virtual. Picnics ... Read More

AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DINOSAURS! “I wish it need not have happened in my time, said Frodo. So do I, said Gandalf, and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do ... Read More

“Virtual reality was once the dream of science fiction. But the internet was also once a dream, and so were computers and smartphones,” Face Book founder Mark Zuckerberg said.             Zuckerberg’s virtual reality dream has turned into a nightmare. Repercussions from Corona virus have plunged folks into a bizarre virtual world ... Read More

These days I’m often asked (from a distance, of course), where has the Rooney Bin been? “Social distancing,” I reply. The Bin column was created about 19 years ago to cover social news on Florida’s First Coast. Sometimes I think it’s time to retire, but can’t seem to find a way ... Read More

 “The essence of life is to serve others and do good.”—Aristotle April is National Volunteer Month, but March is the peak of volunteerism in Ponte Vedra Beach as The PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP swings into action. More than 2,200 people from the U.S. and seven foreign countries—Germany, Argentina, Columbia, Canada, The United Kingdom, Scotland and Switzerland—perform  a ... Read More

“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘let’s party.’”—Robin Williams             If each month of the year was assigned a different color, there is no doubt March would be spring green, the color of nature, health, growth, fertility and shamrocks. March 1 is generally considered the start of spring by meteorologists, who divide the year into ... Read More

It’s a bird. It’s a plane, It’s Superman, and the comic book superhero’s birthday is today…or so some say. The Man of Steel is one of about four million people known as “Leaplings,” because they were born on Leap Day. The Earth circles the Sun once every 365 days, five hours, 48 minutes and 45 ... Read More

“The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature affects the cure.” –Voltaire             The cold and influenza season peaks in February. Everyone seems to have come down with something this winter including Rooney Bin residents; we’re hoping it’s soon to be over. However, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, virus ... Read More

Mark Twain said, “An American has not seen the U.S. until he has seen Mardi Gras in New Orleans.” It’s Mardi Gras season, so let the good times roll. New Orleans is best known for its tradition of wild Carnival events featuring Cajun food and drink and parades of large colorful floats with revelers ... Read More

For a relatively short month, February has quite a few holidays, beginning with Feb. 2, Groundhog Day. Florida winters are generally mild, so the celebration lacks the impact of the Groundhog Day parties that take place up north. For example, in western Pennsylvania thousands of people gather to watch groundhog Punxsutawney Phil emerge from ... Read More