WASHINGTON -- A puzzle from Philosophy 101: If a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound? A puzzle from the prairie: If an earthquake occurs in Illinois and no one notices, is it really a seismic event?

Variety is a Hollywood trade publication, but it can be hard to figure out where the entertainment industry ends and the industry's journalistic apple-polishers begin. Exhibit A is a commentary by Brian Lowry trying to compare the news media's current hate objects -- the tea party tax protesters -- with the entertainment media's hate objects, the activists opposing Hollywood-distributed vulgarity.

Our thanks to everyone in Tallahassee and the Florida Legislature who participated in the opening of our new satellite office and video recording studio at 225 Adams Street last week.

We're truly excited by what the move represents. No other news organization has a studio quite like this. Intentionally located only steps from the Capitol, the studio offers easy access to movers, shakers and newsmakers.

If Congress had a "Most Controversial Freshman Award," Rep. Bill Posey would be a leading contender -- if not a shoo-in.

Florida could become the 24th state to collect sales tax on purchases from Amazon.com and other online and out-of-state vendors if some lawmakers and business advocates get their way.

In a Friday press conference to generate support for their stalled bills, Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Daytona Beach, and Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, urged Florida to implement the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement and reap the bounty of a vast supply of uncollected taxes.

Statistics released this week from Florida Right to Life -- compiled from data gathered by the state Agency for Health Care Administration -- show that Floridians are having fewer abortions.

The number of abortions in Florida dropped in 2009 to 82,038, the lowest levels the state has seen since 1997.

The number of abortions in Florida peaked back in 2006 with 95,586 abortions performed in the state that year. Since then, the number has decreased, with 91,954 in 2007 and 87,520 in 2008.

The House bill to split the Public Service Commissions staff from the beleaguered panel was unanimously approved by the House Appropriations Council Friday with minor tweaks that did not address wide disparities between the plan and a measure already approved by the Florida Senate.

Calling President Barack Obama's NASA budget "unacceptable," U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas joined Rep. Bill Posey in demanding a greater commitment for space exploration from the White House.

Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, and Posey, R-Rockledge, spoke Friday at a congressional forum in Cocoa in advance of Obama's scheduled visit to Florida on Thursday.