I am tired of reading articles denigrating public worker pensions. Let’s get one thing straight; teachers, policemen, firefighters and municipal workers did not crash the economy. It was crashed by unregulated banks and financial institutions with the blessings of Congress, who were later rewarded with bailouts while middle-class Americans bore the brunt.

There's a siege mentality about Michael Bay's movies, as though viewers are the enemy holed up in a bunker and he's the guy ordering heavy-metal music around-the-clock to wear down our morale and force us to surrender.

Recently, I took one of the most refreshing phone calls I’ve received in a while.

The largest Massage Envy in the Valley just opened in Ahwatukee Foothills and the owners say they’re confident they can fill its capacity.

The American people have been duped by the mainstream media into believing that the President has their best interests at heart. While our national news outlets were busy covering the recent dysfunction on Capitol Hill, those same networks also paid tribute to the President’s position as a voice of reason in the matter. Sound bites of his public pleas for a vote were never absent from nationally syndicated programs. Unfortunately for us, those pleas lacked real substance or intentions. This is a president who wanted to tumble over the fiscal cliff, or rather, could have cared less whether we went over. Either way, his agenda was marching forward; taxes were bound to rise no matter the outcome. And so goes his crusade to criminalize the personal achievements of the financially responsible, Americans who don’t envision a life of subsisting upon the hard work of others, for their taxes will soar.

Loss has never come easy for me; be it in cards, a high school sporting event or on a personal level.

Folkloric legends truly are the guardians of childhood. From the perspective of a child, the world can be an enchanting place full of infinite wonder and possibilities. The belief in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and others fuels such innocence. Once their existence is questioned though, kids begin to slide down an unstoppable downhill slope that will inevitably result in adulthood. Most grown-ups likely envy children for their ability to believe in such mythical beings. How we all long to replace our adult cynicism and practicality with the magic and mystery of youth.

Feeling trapped under a mountain of student loan debt?

Here we go again, talking out loud about the hair issue. I naively thought that we had done that issue to death, but the roots of the problem seem not to have been adequately addressed. Perhaps a little context will help grasp what’s going on now.

If you — or your kid — are blanching at the thought of yet another year of day-after-day brown bagged PB&J, perhaps this is the year to mix up the lunch box offerings a bit.

If you — or your kid — are blanching at the thought of yet another year of day-after-day brown bagged PB&J, perhaps this is the year to mix up the lunch box offerings a bit.

Envy.

The Olympic Trials for Track and Field begin today in Oregon, and Ahwatukee Foothills resident Lindsey Schnell plans to be ready. She will run the 800 meter in an attempt to earn a spot on the USA Olympic Team.

We have this running joke about our frugal practices in the early days of our marriage. I married a man who saved a percentage of every single dollar he’d ever received from childhood gifts, household chores, and grocery store paychecks. I wasn’t nearly as disciplined, but still, pretty cautious with spending. For 10 years in fact, we never even bought a headboard for our bed — we just let those mattresses sit on the floor in our master bedroom like college kids.

We have this running joke about our frugal practices in the early days of our marriage. I married a man who saved a percentage of every single dollar he’d ever received from childhood gifts, household chores, and grocery store paychecks. I wasn’t nearly as disciplined, but still, pretty cautious with spending. For 10 years in fact, we never even bought a headboard for our bed — we just let those mattresses sit on the floor in our master bedroom like college kids.

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama has resorted to "extremism" with stifling, anti-growth policies and sought to divide Americans, not unite them, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels said Tuesday in the formal Republican response to the president's State of the Union address.

Text of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, as provided by the White House:

Text of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, as provided by the White House:

A new company in Ahwatukee Foothills says it's changing the way people pay for chiropractic care to prove it's not only beneficial for overall health, but that it can be affordable.

Tom Patterson

Tom Patterson

Whether you're in your 20's or 60's, energy can be something to envy.