Early lesson in journalism yields a practical perspective on appliances.(HOME & REAL ESTATE)(Home Work)(Column)

Byline: Art Levy

Early in my journalism career, I learned a hard lesson about perspective.

It was nearly 20 years ago and I was working for a small newspaper in western North Carolina. It was a slow Sunday and I was told to get a story.

Any feature would do, about anything. The weekend editor, who was nearly as inexperienced as me, didn't care what I wrote, just as long as I wrote something.

The front page had a hole and it had to be filled. So, out I went. I drove by an old hotel and noticed an older man and woman playing shuffleboard out front. I stopped and the three of us started talking.

It turned out they were from Florida …