Isn't it funny how laptops and cell phones have transformed from luxuries to must-haves? They've sucked in everyone from my 10-year-old niece to my 79-year-old grandmother. My dad, however, has always been the type to cast off new technology as frivolous and worthless. ...

In Monday's Speak Out column, someone made this comment about "financial learning" in schools: "I was shocked when I found out that children are not taught the simplest form of finances in school. I believe this should be mandatory and started by at least fourth grade, especially now."...

Two weeks ago, disaster struck: my e-mail was down. Actually, it was corrupt, according to one of our IT experts. I'm not sure why or how this happened. All I know is that the only way to fix it, apparently, was to delete my account and set it up all over again. The same went for my voicemail. But even those drastic measures couldn't save me from a newsroomwide (maybe even companywide) e-mail failure the next day...

Well. How 'bout that ice storm? Just a couple weeks ago, I was hoping for a decent snowfall in Southeast Missouri. I was born and raised in Northern Illinois, and I'm used to having several inches of snow on the ground all winter. In fact, I rather enjoy it. Give me an afghan and a cup of coffee, and I could sit inside and watch the snow all day. I love how a fresh blanket of snow sparkles in the sunshine and muffles the noise of everyday life. It's beautiful and peaceful...

Oops — I did it again. I went to Wal-Mart on a Saturday. I don't know why I put myself through this every weekend. Why does anyone? I spent one summer as a Wal-Mart cashier, and I know first-hand that even an hour spent in that madness, whether as an employee or a shopper, is enough to put any girl in a foul mood...