The Rooney Bin

Native American Indian Totem Pole Clipart November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich culture of Native American communities. It’s a legendary time, when Americans come together to reenact the first Thanksgiving and give thanks their internet is working so they can read email and play ... Read More

“We gain an hour today. At my age you appreciate any extra time on the clock.”—Maxine cartoon Autumn began Sept. 23…somewhere, but not in Florida, where the temperatures have been hot and hotter. The weather finally is cooling down, and tomorrow morning Daylight Saving Time reverts to Standard Time, an indicator ... Read More

That scariest time of the year is almost here. William Shakespeare called it “the very witching time of night, when churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out contagion to this world.” Today it’s called Trick or Treat, a night when costumed kids go door to door collecting sweets, including ... Read More

Beep, beep, beep! Help! It’s an alarming time of year, and the Rooney Bin is being held hostage by a hi-tech security system. If hurricanes, ghosts and goblins don’t get you, a dead battery could be your undoing. “The most disturbing sound in the world comes from the alarm clock at ... Read More

“There are three things I’ve learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.”—Linus van Pelt, Peanuts comic strip character The Rooney Bin agrees that it’s risky to write about religion and politics, but this is pumpkin season, and I plan to tune in to “It’s the Great ... Read More

"Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World.”—Christopher Columbus “Land ho!” After 10 weeks at sea, two words shouted by Italian sailor Rodrigo de Triana were welcome news to the ears of his shipmates and Capt. Christopher Columbus aboard the Pinta. One imagines that after a rousing cheer, ... Read More

“I’m passionate about old people because I am one myself.”—Len Goodman, Dancing with the Stars professional dancer Monday is International Day of Older Persons. The UN General Assembly established it as a global observance Dec. 14, 1990. It was celebrated for the first time Oct. 1, 1991with a “Universal Declaration of ... Read More

“Go Gators!” The University of Florida football season kicks off this month. However, another gator season got underway mid-August, with the start of Florida’s statewide alligator hunting season. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued more than 7,500 permits to control the Florida gator population believed to be about 1.25 ... Read More

The Rooney Bin social schedule is beginning to fill, and sometimes the day-squares on the calendar page aren’t big enough to list all the events there are to cover. I haven’t mastered entering appointments in my mobile phone, so I still work with a paper calendar. That puts me only ... Read More

“If all the cars in the United States were placed end to end, it would probably be Labor Day Weekend.”—Doug Larson, journalist Now that school has resumed and Rooney Bin residents are back from an end of summer vacation, the pressure is on. There are only two more shopping days until ... Read More