Recently in Lifestyles Category

The Hound has noticed a lot of those "recyclable" bags at area food and retail stores. But here's the question that has been bothering The Hound: Is it OK to take a Jewel bag into, say, Dominick's or a Wal-Mart bag into Target?

The Hound has heard of one Dominick's where a manager gave a customer two free bags (theirs are black) rather than seeing her use Jewel bags (dark green).

So, what is the etiquette here? Is it OK to use any bag you have because they are environmentally sound (or so we are told)? Or do your bags have to be store-specific?

Life is just full of questions, right? Next week The Hound will tackle organic foods. Then again, maybe not.

It's good to know that when we flatlanders cross the Cheddar Curtain starting next month on vacation that we do so in danger. That also includes all you folks who commute daily to work in the businesses that have been lured north of the border into Wisconsin.

That's because, according to a government study, Wisconsin leads the nation in drunk-driving rates. Let's see, there's 50 states and the Cheeseheads are No. 1 in something besides raising unhappy cows for cheese and walleye fishing.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than a quarter --- that's 25 percent --- of Wisconsin adult drivers have driven a motor vehicle while under the influence. That is under the influence of alcohol, not Jane Austen.

Isn't this the same state whose lawmakers want to lower the drinking age back to 18? After this survey, that's really going to happen.

Oh, besides those in the Badger State leading the nation in driving a vehicle while drunk, the other top five included North Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota.

And where was Illinois? Same place, except when it comes to financing education: Somewhere in the middle.

Which is sobering news enough.

There are a few people who think the Illinois Legislature has gone cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. They haven't met members of the Florida Legislature.

Lawmakers in the Sunshine State this week approved the taking of your guns to work, as long as they're kept in the trunk of your car. This applies to the 5,000 or so Floridians who have concealed carry permits.

Now what kind of law is that? Who says you need a law to transport your weapons in the trunk of your car, especially if you have an FOID card? The Hound knows a number of Floridians and they're pretty excited about getting to take their weapons to work. None of them work at the post office, by the way.

Apparently, the only complaints about the bill, expected to be signed into law by Gov. Charlie Christ, named prominently as a possible vice presidential candidate with John McCain, are coming from the business community who not only are afraid, but maintain they should be able to set rules banning guns from the work place in an attempt to protect employees or customers.

How unconstitutional is that? Even Gov. Christ notes, "The Second Amendment is very important. I understand there are competing interests...but people being protected is most important to me." Especially, if that protection is locked in the trunk of one's car. Unlock those trunks, Gov. Christ.

You think that defense of the Second Amendment is going to get you votes in Wyoming? Sen. McCain should dump this tanned boy from his short list.

You probably missed a milestone on Thursday. That's because you were driving while talking on your cell phone or maybe texting a loved one. The Hound celebrated with throwing his old Motorola brick phone into the recycling bin. Yes, brave new world warriors, it was the 35th anniversary of the first cellular telephone call.

The use of our cell phones are so ubiquitous that who remembers when cell phones weren't around? The Hound 's boss does. It was 1973 in New York City and it was made from a two-pound brick phone. Ten years later "mobile phones" were selling for $3,500 which included an hour's worth of talk time. This according to U.S. Cellular.

Since then, 243 million Americans have gone wireless. Millions more across the globe. Who knew we had to be in constant contact with each other? Indeed, 12 percent of U.S. households have dropped landlines and use cellular phones as their main telephone. Not exactly a party line, eh?

And what can we determine from this telecommunications revolution? Well, there's more bumper stickers that say "Hang up and drive." The pay phone industry has gone belly up and the next complaints of carpal tunnel syndrome will come from text messengers using their BlackBerrys, which The Hound understands are outstanding information technology tools.

So let's take a moment to salute the wireless telecommunications industry and remember where it will be in the next five years. Everywhere.

The evidence continues to mount that Waukegan Park District commissioners may be right when they voted to demolish Orchard Hills Golf Course and turn it into sports fields mainly to play soccer. The latest comes from Golf Business magazine which in a recent article quotes a developer of golf courses: "There’s just more than enough golf to go around right now in the U.S.”

Perhaps this is an odd time to bring this subject up, after all we're still in the grips of winter, but according to a recent survey, more than 80 percent of all children in the U.S. never play in their neighborhoods without adults present. The Hound remembers in his youth, just a decade ago, that he gamboled quite frequently in neighborhood parks, yards and of course, The Rockpile.

Without any dog shows on the tube over the weekend, The Hound happened to prowl his favorite Ace Hardware store. It was like a miracle. There, waiting for us big strapping hounds, was everything we'll need come April or May. Except we're in the middle of another winter storm advisory.

The Hound was shocked to find out that included in that energy bill signed into law last month by President Bush there is a provision which, for all practical purposes, is the eventual death knell for the Chevy Corvette, a true American road classic. The culprit is the higher fuel effiiciency standards for U.S. vehicles the government is requiring by 2020.

With a warm spring-like weekend, there's no reason for your holiday decorations to remain dangling from your roofs or flashing merrily along in the front of your houses. You had your chance. If you're holiday decorations remain up you will be reported to the authorities.

The Hound continues to be puzzled by Waukeganites' reaction to the proposal to turn Orchard Hills Golf Course into a sports/soccer complex. It must be something in the air that keeps residents from letting go of the past and moving into the future.