Despite Bernie Madoff's 150-year sentence, those he swindled received a far harsher sentence than he did.

Madoff is assured of three squares a day, a roof over his head and medications. He will never have to worry if he can afford to pay a utility bill, pay for a prescription or heat or cool his dwelling.

Some of his victims were very rich and have at least some others assets, but others were middle class and lost everything. Financial recovery is nearly impossible for those who are retirement age or elderly.

Because many charitable organizations invested with him, we'll never know for sure how many people he hurt or devastated.

Madoff's wife, Ruth, recently agreed to give up any claim to $80 million worth of assets so she could keep $2.5 million in cash the couple had (stole would be a better word.)

Instead of jail, why not let the Madoff's live the life many of their victims now have?

Let them find a decent place to live on with their meager Social Security income and buy their groceries with food stamps. Decide which medications they can no longer afford - Medicare does not pay for prescriptions.

Allow them to experience the horror of picking up mail that is filled with bills that are impossible to pay and calls from nasty bill collectors.

In other words - worry how to survive every day. Seems like a better punishment to me. Perhaps, if future Madoffs, know they will inherit the financial ruin they so cavalierly create for others, it will cause them to reconsider, although probably not.

What do you think?

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Is it possible people are more interested in reality TV stars like Kate & Jon and the real housewives of Orange County, New York, Atlanta and New Jersey than the likes of Brad and Angelina?

That thought seems to be driving media people such as, Geraldo Rivera, who rants about everything, and Perez Hilton, famous for ranting against the former Miss California, Carrie Prejean , crazy.

Could it be – horrors - that the general public doesn’t really care about Hollywood and film stars or their multiple marriages or their much-publicized adoptions of children or their political opinions? The sales of magazines, such as People, would indicate that is so.

At Starbucks, I heard five or six men “of a certain age,” discussing Kate and Jon and the impact of their divorce on their eight children. That’s amazing just in itself.

Maybe we’re all more interested in other minions – people just like us. Or at least they were like us before they made zillions of dollars filming their reality series in addition to the many perks that go with it.

I know a former editor of a national gossip newspaper that will go unnamed. I shared with him that I didn’t think people were really that interested in celebrities. Surprisingly, he agreed.

Magazines featuring reality “stars” are selling out, while the others sit there – begging to at least be glanced at as you stand waiting in line to be checked out at the grocery store.

The people who publish seem to be the last to get it. Arianna Huffington of the Huffington Post just can’t comprehend this trend - someone hand the woman a fan to cool herself off.

Is it possible they don’t get it because they don't want to get it? Time will tell.

I think Rivera and Perez’ problem is they see the handwriting on the wall meaning “bye, bye” to their lucrative jobs reporting on celebs that none of us care about.

I don’t know about you, but I’m infinitely more interested in seeing and reading about the millions of minions - not the Hollywood or D.C. crowd.

What do you think?

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A public service announcement sign on Military Trail reads:

Crime Alert. Lock your car doors and don't leave valuables in your car - like we didn't know that.

I recently talked to a Palm Beach County sheriff, and he said there has been a large increase in the number of break ins this year in both in autos and homes everywhere.

Purse snatching at the smaller shopping centers with grocery stores is on the rise. He warns it happens day and night.

One of the tricks is for someone to hide under your car. When you walk up to your car, that person grabs your ankles. Then, as you stand there in shock and panic, the assailant's partner rushes by and grabs your purse. Here I thought that was an urban legend. Guess not.

To find out exactly what's happening in your neighborhood and overall in the village by the sea, go to police activity at mydelraybeach.com.

It has a detailed listing of recent criminal and traffic activity in Delray Beach.

If you see something suspicious, call 911. Better to call and be wrong than ignore a potential crime. If it's a non-emergency, call the police department at 561.243.7800.

As always, stay alert and stay safe.

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Chances are at least a million or more of your nearest neighbors here in South Florida are Fire Ants.

Over 20 million people are bit every year by these aggressive insects. A bite from one is painful and has been compared to a hornet's sting. Worse yet, when Fire Ants attack, they attack in hordes.

The scar from their bite will last forever...or so experts say.

It is estimated that 10 through 15 percent of these bites cause a serious allergenic reaction. Pets can have an allergy to their bites too - my little dog, Lollipop, did.

Young children are especially at risk. but sometimes the nests are too small to be seen making everyone, including pets, vulnerable.

Up to 500,000 biting ants can live in one nest.

They can make nests in electronics - including TV's and computers. Yikes!

There are several ways to kill them. You can use pesticides or environmentally friendly methods - either will do the job. The above web site has all the information you'll need to get rid of these nasty critters.

Just remember, if you don't kill the queen, the nest will come back.

Warn visitors who may be clueless about the danger Fire Ants pose...up North, they're not a problem. Like South Floridians, Fire Ants can't survive more than a two or three weeks in a hard freeze.

If you've ever want to look inside a fire ant colony - here's your chance:

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For those of us who like tennis, finding a park with tennis courts is not easy. Up north nearly every park includes several tennis courts.

Granted some communities have tennis courts. And there are beautiful facilities at the Delray Beach Tennis Center and the Swim and Tennis Club in Delray Beach. But it gets expensive to play there.

Delray has spent millions of dollars building upgrading and building new parks. Why not add tennis courts to some of them instead of always adding a playground…many playgrounds are in areas where very few children live.

How about asking residents who live near parks being built or upgraded what features they'd most like to see installed? I imagine the people who pay for these parks would like some say about what's going in them.

Listed below are some places in our area where you can currently play tennis at no charge:

Caloosa Park
1300 S.W. 35th Ave., Boynton Beach

South County Regional Park
11200 Park Access Road, Boca Raton

Veterans Park
9400 W. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton

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The news you've been waiting to hear finally arrives and it's good. In fact, it's great, and you can hardly wait to let everyone important to you know.

So, you start calling - but absolutely no one answers their phone. It's not possible you think - how can everyone be gone all at the same time?

It happened to me last Saturday. If it happened only once or twice before, it'd be a coincidence, but there is definitely a correlation between having good news and no one being anywhere near their cell phone.

You know what it's like. You're bubbling over with joy and want to spread your good news with close friends and family. After all, who wants to run into Target or Wal Mart or Publix and shout, "Hey everyone. I found a job (who'd believe you in this economy) or I lost ten pounds."

No enthusiasm there. Chances are, all you'll get is escorted out.

So you wait and wait and wait for the phone to ring checking it frequently in case you missed hear the ring.

Do they all meet up at the same place so they can miss your call?

Eventually, they all call back...ho hum...but your enthusiasm has waned by then.

Maybe I just have to chalk it up as one more of life's little mysteries...such as, where do those missing socks go after you've done the laundry?

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Susan Boyle has become an instant celebrity after appearing on Britian's Got Talent.
The 47-year old spinster has wowed audiences around the world instantly - she is a delight.

Take a couple minutes to listen and you'll see why everyone is talking about her - guaranteed to make you smile.

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It's time for my favorite arts and crafts fair - the Delray Affair with over 600 artists, crafts & exhibitors.

It runs on April 17-19, 2009, on Fri. and Sat., 10 - 8pm; Sun: 10am - 6pm along Atlantic Ave. from Swinton to the Intracoastal. Park & Ride service available.

Bring water, suntan lotion, hats and wear comfortable shoes. Do your pets a favor and don't bring them.

Here's what's happening:

* Art & Craft Show
* Local & Regional Talent
* Family Fun - Youth Rides, Games
* Sponsor Booths & Business Exhibits
* Delray Affair Commemorative Products
* Festival Foods - Famous Conch Fritters
* Continuous Stage & Strolling Entertainment

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TO YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES!

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