History tells us in no uncertain terms that English criminals were shipped off to Australia in gay abandon; anything from stealing a loaf of bread just in order to keep your family alive to the heinous crime of murder, ships sailed from England to Australia packed to the crow’s nest with unwilling passengers. From small children to pensioners, age was no barrier and, regrettably, before reaching their destination, many of those poor souls had succumbed to disease, abuse or just plain old malnutrition

In these days of conservation, and the threat of many species of animal apparently heading inevitably toward extinction, it seems very bad taste indeed that traditional far eastern tonic drinks should be made that include the carcasses of many types of snake and scorpion, among other things.

Most of us around upper east Tennessee know that it’s a little too soon to pack up all our winter sweaters and jackets just yet. Even though the spring flowers are blooming and the birds are singing we might just have a few more cold spells...