Monday, March 3, 2008

Mayor Of Fort Lauderdale Uses Tax Dollars to Incite Violence

Mayor Jim Naugle of Fort Lauderdale has once again used his office to spread fear and hate about the gay community. In the latest city newsletter, paid for by the city and available on the city's website, Naugle again used misinformation and bigotry to paint the LGBT community as predators and a danger........here

Florida Bride Gets Dream Wedding

Tammy Clifton wanted her wedding to be the big day she had always dreamed of. But when she recently found out she had breast cancer, that all changed. So, about 72 hours after informing family and friends that she wanted to get married before starting chemotherapy this week, Clifton and Troy Lindsey were wed Sunday. The whirlwind event was put together through the generosity of local wedding planners, volunteers and area merchants.......here

Happy Birthday Florida

here

Op-ed by young woman incarcerated in Florida

Rebecca Falcon
I anticipated my 16th birthday so that I would be eligible to apply for a job. In all aspects, I was considered a juvenile; however, when my life made a turn for the worse, and I committed a terrible crime, I was at least in the eyes of the criminal justice system, an adult.......here
Visit Her Website.....here

Time to Stop Hatred and Violence

On Friday, Feb. 22, 17-year-old Simmie Williams Jr. was gunned down on a street corner in Broward County. Just 10 days earlier, Lawrence King, a 15-year-old Oxnard, Calif., junior high student, was shot to death in his own classroom because he wore makeup — because he was different. And less than one year ago, Ryan Keith Skipper, 24, was stabbed to death in Polk County.......more
Equality Florida

Where's Charlie? Florida Dems Want To Know

Democrats have launched a website www.EmptyChairCharlie.com, that challenges Crist for stepping away from his gubernatorial duties for a lot of January and February. The party claims Crist took more days off thann he worked in the first six weeks of the year -- calculating a 48.3 percent attendance record during 30 potential work days........more

More Cameras At Florida Intersections

The cameras are coming to the area beginning this month, and they'll almost certainly become more widespread if Florida legislators smooth the way by changing a state law this spring. This is plunging the state into a long-running nationwide debate: Are these devices just a bunch of cities' moneymaking schemes, a Big Brother-ish invasion of privacy? Or are they a way to restore sanity to intersections by fighting what officials call an "epidemic" of red-light running?......here

The Struggle For A Community Garden In Bartlett Park

Under a cloudy sky threatening rain, Bartlett Park resident Andrea Hildebran steps over discarded potato chip bags, torn newspapers and broken 40-ounce bottles of Budweiser. This vacant lot off Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in St. Petersburg has seen better days, though only the old-timers who've lived in Bartlett Park for decades can remember those times........here

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Gibsonton, Florida

For generations, carnies have wintered in Gibsonton - "Gib-town" - in south Hillsborough County. They eat and drink at the Showtown Bar & Grill. For business, they visit the annual trade show of the Showmen's Association. When they die, they wind up in a local mausoleum called Showmen's Rest......here
Al Tomaini

"President Uribe, I'll send some Sukhois"

President Hugo Chavez ordered tanks and thousands of troops on Sunday to the border with Colombia, accusing it of pushing South America to the brink of war by killing a top rebel leader on Ecuadorean soil......here

Olivia's Kiss

Chapter 4

The Great Calusa Blueway

Seriously, southwest Florida is a fantastic place to kayak, with miles of interesting little rivers and estuaries and enough birds to fill a thousand aviaries. In fact, southwest Florida has embraced the kayak fad with a 190-mile kayaking route called the Great Calusa Blueway.......here

Lobbyists-R-Us

Or perhaps, as those of us who are not gullible, Hero-supporting, Macho-Macho-Man-worshipping sheep with blindfolders surgically affixed to their skulls--as well as those of us whose paychecks do not sport the logo of any traditional media outlet--are able to see, Senator McCain is, in reality, a once-brave, once-admirable hero who long ago squandered his Honorable Man bona fides in favor of a relentless quest for the Good Life........more

Silent Tribute In St. Petersburg

Silent Tribute to the men and women of the U.S. armed forces who have died in the two conflicts in Iraq is traveling around the country. Recently it stopped here in St. Petersburg........here
4,440 Flags

Tampa Bay Historical Markers

Central Avenue
From the late 19th century until the mid 1970's, Central Avenue was the principal business and entertainment district of Tampa's African-American community. Before it was destroyed, this section contained schools, churches, lodges, a library, physicians, lawyers, dentists, grocery stores, barbershops, drug stores, insurance companies, newspapers, restaurants, a hotel, movie theaters and more than a score of bars and nightclubs, some featuring major headliners of the black entertainment circuit......more


Celebrities, such as Ray Charles, James Brown, B.B. King, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Nate and Cannonball Adderly, all played on Central when they were just getting started.

Tampa, The Royal City Of Atlantis

Tampa was once the Royal City of Atlantis. Using Plato's description of Atlantis, the film maker matches the Florida terrain with the Great Plain of Atlantis.

Bringing More Warmth To The Sunshine State

Many charities have got car contribution programs which are indispensable to their ability to raise funds. The cars donated will, if in good adequate condition, be used by the charities in their worMany charities have got car contribution programs which are indispensable to their ability to raise funds. The cars donated will, if in good adequate condition, be used by the charities in their work.......here

Gov. Crist Supports A Repeat Of The Democratic Primary

Howard Dean said he's open to the possibility. Primary elections are paid for by a state's taxpayers, so the offer from Crist, a Republican, is ``very helpful'' because money is an issue, Dean said.
"We're very willing to listen to the people of Florida"........here
So, thanks to the Florida Democratic Party and the Republicans, Florida might have to vote again! Vote Obama.

Jack Nicholson's Hillary Clinton Ad

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Florida Has A Medical Examiner For Manatees

Martine De Wit is a medical examiner, for manatees. If one of the endangered animals is reported dead anywhere in Florida's waters, it's brought to de Wit, who helps determine and duly record its cause of death. About 250 of their bodies arrive at her lab every year......more

We Are The Ones We Been Waiting For

Tampa Bay Gas Prices Could Push $3.75 A Gallon This Summer

The average cost of unleaded gas in the Bay area went up by 3.2 cents on Wednesday to a little over $3.10. That's 3.2 cents in a single day.That one-day jump put regular gas 87 cents higher than the same time a year ago, and barely below the all-time record set in November 2007.Hold on to your wallet, because the experts say there's more to come........here
Alan Snel Can Help.......here

Debby Dowell: Hillsborough Teacher Of The Year

A middle school teacher 15 years into her second career jumped up and down, hugged everyone in sight and gasped for breath when she learned Thursday night that she is Hillsborough County's 2008 teacher of the year. Debby Dowell was then short and to the point in her acceptance speech......here

Rogue Florida Democrats

Proving yet again that nobody does bizarre elections like Florida, thousands of loyal Democrats turned out for a rogue election Saturday where the votes may not count and the winners may not win......more

Miami Vice: Bottom-Fishing For Condo Bargains

Home buyers from around the U.S. and abroad are descending on Florida to buy condominiums that have suffered sharp price drops amid the housing glut, subprime-mortgage crisis and credit crunch. Some are searching for investment properties, confident home prices will eventually rebound. Others are hunting for vacation or retirement homes. Yet pitfalls abound, and experts warn that prices could dip even......here

From Tampa to Tallahassee: Cracker Horse Heritage

Catch a glimpse of Billy Ray Hunter and Carlton Dudley as they try to ride two Floridian Cracker horses from Tampa to Tallahassee in hopes of making the Cracker horse Florida's official Heritage Horse.......here
Story......here

Big Brother Won't Ogle Beaches In Florida Town

It appears the Almighty Dollar was just too much for Big Brother to handle in this South Florida town. Due to the cost, the Martin County Commission decided this week against spending $300,000 on a high-tech video surveillance system which would "talk back" to people, warning them not to have sex on the beach......here