Getting away from it all for a week can be one of the best ways to recharge your batteries. My preference is for an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean. Regardless of where you like to relax, there are a number items you’ll want to take with you to more fully enjoy your experience.

1. Wide-brimmed hat. Your nose and ears can really take a beating in the sun. Many people wear baseball caps, but those don’t cover the ears. While in Puerto Vallarta recently I saw a lot of people sporting the straw-type cowboy hat. They’re actually quite fashionable, but more importantly, very practical as they cover the face, neck and ears well. You can also use a “boonie” hat, or the Gilligan’s Island/fisherman’s cap.

2. Comfortable pair of casual shoes. You’ll be walking around a lot, so make sure you have a pair of comfortable shoes. And ideally synthetic, as they will be damp the entire week. Nothing dries out in those humid environments, even if you bring the item indoors. Shoes with natural fabric, such as canvas, begin to stink after a few days.

3. Lots of sunscreen and a pair of sunglasses rated for UVA and UVB. In fact, grab a second pair of sunglasses. The stores in the resorts charge ridiculous prices for many basic items.

4. Holder for towel card and other stuff. I used the type provided to vendors at trade shows. Made of sturdy plastic and carried on a lanyard, it has enough room for the towel card, a watch (cheap one, of course), and some tip money. It’s open on the top for access, so don’t wear it while swimming. But it holds up well while wading through the pool.

5. Fanny pack. Great for storing additional items such as room key (yes, some resorts use metal keys), sunscreen, camera, and other small items.

6. Lots of white or light-colored t-shirts. Everyone has a drawer-full of junk t-shirts. Whether from charity events, booze promotions, or a myriad other reasons, we have “t’s” that can be used for the cause. You’ll want light-colored ones for comfort and junk ones so you can toss ‘em if they get stained with sunscreen or food.

See if you can spot the spineless pandering to the criminal element in these sentences:

"A Des Moines pizza delivery driver who was suspended after he shot an alleged armed robber last week said Tuesday that he has been overwhelmed by support from people who cheered what happened.

"But no one had contacted me directly about a job offer," said James William Spiers III, 38, who was suspended by Pizza Hut after he fired multiple shots at a man who allegedly put a gun to his head…."

Still don’t see it? I’ll point it out to you.

First incident: “…after he shot an alleged armed robber.” Note how the victim “shot” an ALLEGED armed robber.

Later, we read that the victim—not “alleged” victim, but victim for sure—“fired multiple shots at a man who allegedly put a gun to his head…”

So, the criminal allegedly did something, but the victim did in fact do it.

How can that be if in fact a crime was committed? Was this media outlet, desmoinesregister.com, really wondering if something occurred? Or, more likely, did the reporter or editor not have the guts to call it like it happened?

How is it, then, that the paper (for the Register is a newspaper first) felt no compunction to state flatly that the delivery driver in fact fired as well? Isn’t that a no-no?

Not in today’s journalism. Reporters regularly hide behind “allegedly” to avoid stating the obvious. In some cases they should. But in a case like this, where it’s obvious two people had guns, the paper should simply state the facts. The driver was held up, he pulled a gun, and sent the would-be robber fleeing with several bullets in his hide. (Too bad the driver hadn’t aimed for the head or heart.)

It’s writing like this that drives normal people crazy. The media bend over backwards to protect the “rights” of the criminals—even though reporting factually about a crime does not diminish a criminal’s rights one wit—yet let the victim hang out to dry.

No wonder hard-working, law-abiding citizens are running away from the mainstream media in droves. They’re sick of the constant pandering and hand-holding for criminals. The delivery driver can count on at least one prominent (and proud) mention: In American Rifleman’s “The Armed Citizen” column.

The day after St. Paddy's Day, and the country--or at least some of us--awaken with a big hangover. We wonder: is all the bad news really true?

- Fed cuts interest rates again, but that spurs a rally on Wall Street, at least through late morning.

- Oil prices are up, but gas prices throughout much of the country seem to be holding steady.

- Another bombing overseas, but no Americans killed. Still too bad for the local citizen (a Yemeni). Americans cross their fingers and hold their breath for more bad news to come out of Iraq.

- New York has a new governor. Turns out the new one had played a little footsy several years ago, but so did his wife! They've since put that sad episode behind them. The old governor is holed up in his country estate in New York with the wife and kids, presumably trying to patch things up.

- Best news: The call girl who brought down the crusading New York Governor, forever to be known as Client 9, could come out smelling like a rose. Both Penthouse and Hustler magazines are pounding on her door.

Ain't capitalism great?

It has become fashionable for businesses of all sizes to demand a handout as a condition of expanding their operations in a community. So it really was no surprise when Cabela's approached the Washington County (Wis.) board of supervisors in 2006 looking for an “incen-tive” as the firm was contemplating a move into southeast Wisconsin.

Claiming that their new store would become a tourist magnet for the area around Richfield, Wis., Cabela’s’ representatives painted a rosy picture for their new development and the positive impact it supposedly would have on the area. Never mind that Cabela’s could easily afford to open another store. In 2005 the firm earned approximately $115 million on sales of nearly $1.8 billion.

Regardless, the Sydney, Neb.-based chain received $4 million in “incentives” from the taxpayers of Washington County. Construction proceeded, and the store opened in September, 2006. That’s not the end of the story, however.

Just this week, a competitor, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Inc., announced that it is closing its store in West Bend, Wis., about 15 miles from the new Cabela’s store. A news release issued by the firm doesn’t state why, but one can assume that Cabela’s store drew away a lot of traffic. That’s fine by itself. Competition, after all, is a hallmark of our free-market system.

The problem is that taxpayers greased the skids for Sportsman’s demise, and in the process helped put 63 people out of work. Oh, but look at the new jobs created and property tax revenue generated, the Cabela’s folks with say. That’s true, but it would’ve happened anyway. The firm has a strong reputation for drawing large crowds through its huge presence and impressive displays. Cabela’s did not need the extra money.

Washington County supervisors should’ve stood firm when Cabela’s asked for a handout. Business people need to be reminded that in a free-market society they are on their own. Indeed, they should shun government. Government means two things: taxation and regulation.

Yet today it’s customary for business people to ask for a handout before proceeding with a project. They’ll often pit one community or state against another to see which will offer the most “incentives”. It’s a form of prostitution, with the welfare-capitalist business owners pulling all the strings. This must stop. But it won’t until politicians develop the guts to stand firm.

Here we go again. Another new year, another rate hike for the power company.

Customers throughout southeastern Wisconsin got a nice jolt recently when they opened their electric bills. Consumer rates had recently increased approximately 15 percent, and now stand at about 11.75 cents per kilowatt hour.

With all the talk lately of trying to go "green" in the house and elsewhere, people are looking for ways to cut back on their electricity consumption. One goal, of course, is to reduce their carbon footprint--an impossibility for most people, as their power company burns fossil fuel to generate electricity.

But they also hope to cut their electric bills. Use less electricity, save money, right? Not if you're served by WE Energies (or Weenergies, as locals like to call the firm). Here, you can cut back and still face an increase in your bill. Weenergies claims it needs more money to pay for an expansion at one of its plants. Naturally the Wisconsin Public Service Commission OK's the rate request. We're supposed to be relieved, though, because the power company originally asked for an increase of more than 20 percent.

With no competition to turn to, consumers can only bite the bullet. And you know this is not the last rate hike we'll ever see. We can look forward to ever higher electric bills, despite the best efforts of consumers (residents and businesses) to cut back on consumption.