Why kill a tree to grow a flower?

Cutting cypress forests for garden mulch destroys vital wetlands that stabilize Louisiana's coast against hurricanes. At a time when Louisiana is asking the nation to invest billions to save its coast, it allows shady producers to grind its cypress forests into bags of mulch that are cleverly marketed at garden supply stores. Destroying these wetland forests has far-reaching impacts for Louisianans and all Americans. Sign on to tell Governor Blanco to Save Cypress Wetlands.

Characters and hands-on commerce: priceless

"For an area to have character, you need characters," says Hugh Taylor, owner of Pelican Place, "and characters are the last thing (Tallahassee) wants with their little white-bread downtown."—Tallahassee Democrat

Forget computers. Here comes the sun

T.J. Rodgers is surrounded by a sea of silicon wafers on the roof of his company's headquarters in a Silicon Valley industrial park. No, not the ones that Mr. Rodgers, who founded Cypress Semiconductor in 1982, used to make high-speed computer memories or the newer specialized chips that go into iPods and high-end Mercedes-Benzes. These wafers are soaking up the sun's rays and turning them into electricity.—by John Markoff, The New York Times

Everybody always wants the newest and the best

Jessica Melton wasn’t exactly the kind of customer the nonprofit developers of Country Place originally had in mind, but they’re not complaining.

Melton, a 19-year-old Baylor University sophomore, and her 20-year-old roommate will soon become the first residents of the 45-home South Waco subdivision, which Neighborworks Waco once planned as a quiet haven for retirees.

So much for that idea.—by J. B. Smith, Waco Tribune-Herald

Fries with that?

A long-distance call center for a drive-through window is something to marvel at. The real wonder is that the call center isn't in Bangalore.—Editorial, The New York Times

Brain drain? Give grads a reason to stay

Tallahassee's charms are considerable, and it's important to preserve the things that make us special and unique.

But that's not enough. It's also essential to economically innovate, to recognize that communities are dynamic and need to be constantly reinvented to stay relevant - in the job market as well as in our own back yards.Cities without diverse career opportunities - and a bit of after-hours sizzle - don't appeal to the much-discussed “creative class” of educated professionals.—Editorial, Tallahassee Democrat

College grads chase jobs, culture to big cities

Molly Wankel, who has a doctorate in educational administration, said she moved to Washington (DC area) for a job, and the culture of the city pulled her from the suburbs. "I just enjoy walking around looking at the architecture and the way people have renovated these 100-year-old homes," Wankel said. "I love the landscaping and the lovely mix of many races, straight people, gays, singles, older people, younger people."—The Associated Press

Would President Bush go to war to stop Tehran from getting the bomb?

It's the story every news organization is talking about. Read it yourself... "The Iran Plans" by Seymour M. Hersch in the New Yorker.

Creating nice, safe places to walk

Planners want to make U.S. Highway 17-92 easier on the eyes and safer -- a street that people would enjoy living along, driving on and walking near.

To accomplish this, there are plans up and down the highway for wider sidewalks, smaller driveways, improved streetlighting and extensive landscaping.—Orlando Sentinel

Kris Kristofferson

Listen to "Final Attraction" from Kris Kristofferson's first studio album in ten years.

The institutional Jesus of the Republicans has no similarity to the Gospel figure

Neither will any institutional Jesus of the Democrats.—Gary Wills, Op-Ed Contributor, The New York Times

Why not, Wal-Mart?

"What if we used our size and resources to make this country and this earth an even better place for all of us: customers, associates, our children, and generations unborn?"—Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott from editorial in Atlanta Journal Constitution