Stop Parent Trigger Legislation in Florida

A quality public education is the foundation of a bright future -- for our children, our state and our nation. But in Florida, a bill entitled “Parent Empowerment” will do the exact opposite. This bill, also know as the Parent Trigger bill, will take away our rights as parents and concerned community members to have a say in our children's education, and will empower for-profit management corporations to put profits first. Sign the Petition 
here

Two (NotSo) Favorite Sons Of Florida

Floridians Love The The Golden Girl
Hillary Clinton has double-digit leads over Rubio and Bush in the 2016 presidential race in Florida, according to a Quinnipiac University poll on Thursday. Clinton leads former Gov. Jeb Bush, 51 percent to 40 percent, and tops Sen. Marco Rubio, 52 percent to 41 percent, in the survey of Florida voters.
here

Buzztime At Gaspar's Patio

Ace Buzztime player and Ybor Stogie team member Sonny with Greg, NTN Florida representative.
Buzztime is back at Gaspar's Patio in Temple Terrace. You can stop in anytime and play but on Wednesday nights Greg has taken it to a whole new level. If you have never played this game you should. It is candy for your brain. Call 813.988.6959 for times.

Good Cop "Chad" Likes Local Doughnuts

Krispy Kreme server Michelle Ross reacts after Tampa police horse Chad pulls a paper with a jelly doughnut she was serving at the drive-through at the Krispy Kreme on Kennedy.
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To help Special Olympics Florida
click here
Great job SKIP O’ROURKE

Reo At The Grayhound Bus Station In Tampa

What Stogie Had For Lunch
Picadillo
With red beans and rice.
$6.95 at the Grayhound bus station in Tampa.

Conservative Activist Rejects Domestic Partner Registry, Transit And Something About Gays

We Won -- Again

Yesterday morning over 50 citizens helped represent you in front of the Hillsborough County Commission to get the conversation started there about how to create more options after two and a half years of silence. We won. It was a unanimous vote to bring the cities and transportation agencies to the table within 6 weeks to find a way to create economic development and improve quality of life by creating more transportation options. You made this happen. Many said it wouldn’t happen and that you couldn’t get it done, but the Hillsborough County Commissioners listened to you and we won.

Please take a minute to send the Commissioners a note to thank them for this step
– and ask them to keep moving forward.
here

Sweetbay Of Tampa Bay

Sweetbay Supermarket is now selling only seafood caught and farmed in sustainable ways to help ensure the long-term survival of the species. The policy announced Tuesday covers 2,500 products sold at stores, from fresh, frozen and canned seafood
to items containing seafood as its primary ingredient, such as soups.
here
My family and i did not eat tuna for years back in the 80's until they made it dolphin safe. To this day we will not touch Star Kist Tuna. I remember their CEO saying that they were going to go dolphin safe not to help the dolphins but becouse the boycott must of been working and sales were down.

Tampa Bay's Iraq War Dead

46 service members from this region have perished in the war as of March 19, 2013:

• Army Capt. James Adamouski, 29, Tampa. Iraq, April 2, 2003.

• Marine Lance Cpl. Andrew J. Aviles, 18, Tampa. Iraq, April 7, 2003.

• Army Pfc. Roberto C. Baez, 19, Tampa. Iraq, Oct. 3, 2005.

• Army Pfc. Brandon K. Bobb, 20, Riverview. Iraq, July 17, 2007.

• Army Sgt. Dennis J. Boles, 46, Homosassa. Kuwait (Iraq War), Oct. 24, 2004.

• Marine Lance Cpl. Brian Rory Buesing, 20, Cedar Key Iraq, March 23, 2003.

• Army Spc. David A. Croft Jr., 22, Plant City. Iraq, Jan. 5, 2010.

• Army Staff Sgt. Wilbert Davis, 40, Tampa. Iraq, April 3, 2003.

• Army Pfc. Marc A. Delgado, 21, Lithia. Iraq, Nov. 24, 2005.

• Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua W. Dickinson, 25, New Port Richey. Iraq, Dec. 12, 2004.

• Army Sgt. Dennis J. Flanagan, 22, Inverness. Iraq, Jan. 20, 2006.

• Army Sgt. Denis J. Gallardo, 22, St. Petersburg. Iraq, Nov. 22, 2005.

• Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Ronald A. Ginther, 37, Auburndale. Iraq, May 2, 2004.

• Army Spc. Cody C. Grater, 20, Spring Hill. Iraq, July 29, 2007.

• Army Staff Sgt. John L. Hartman Jr., 39, Tampa. Iraq, Nov. 30, 2006.

• Air Force 1st Lt. Joseph D. Helton, 24, Tampa. Iraq, Sept. 8, 2009.

• Army Sgt. 1st Class David A. Heringes, 36, Tampa. Iraq, Aug. 24, 2007.

• Army Sgt. William R. Howdeshell, 37, St. Petersburg. Iraq, July 26, 2007.

• Army Spc. Arturo Huerta-Cruz, 23, Clearwater. Iraq, April 14, 2008.

• Army Sgt. Bryan Luckey, 25, Tampa. Iraq, June 29, 2006. Army

•Sgt. Marcus C. Mathes, 26, Zephyrhills. Iraq, April 28, 2008.

•Army Sgt. Benjamin E. Mejia, 25, Tampa. Iraq, May 31, 2006.

• Army Pfc. Patrick J. Miller, 23, New Port Richey. Iraq, March 29, 2008.

• Marine Sgt. Lea Robert Mills, 21, Masaryktown. Iraq, April 28, 2006.

• Army Pfc. Jody W. Missildine, 19, Plant City. Iraq, April 8, 2006.

• Army Pfc. Louis Niedermeier, 20, Largo. Iraq, June 1, 2005.

• Army Pfc. Cody J. Orr, 21, Ruskin. Iraq, Jan. 17, 2004.

• Marine Lance Cpl. James R. Phillips, 21, Plant City. Iraq, Dec. 23, 2004.

• Army Staff Sgt. Michael B. Quinn, 37, Tampa. Iraq, May 27, 2003.

• Army Cpl. John T. Rivero, 23, Tampa. Kuwait (Iraq War), April 17, 2003.

• Army Spc. Alexis Roman-Cruz, 33, Brandon. Iraq, Nov. 16, 2005.

• Army Pfc. Jonathan M. Rossi, 20, Safety Harbor. Iraq, July 1, 2007.

• Army Sgt. Michael D. Rowe, 23, New Port Richey. Iraq, March 28, 2006.

• Army 2nd Lt. Charles R. Rubado, 23, Clearwater. Iraq, Aug. 29, 2005.

• Army Spc. Raymond A. Salerno, 27, Land O'Lakes. Iraq, July 16, 2006.

• Army Staff Sgt. Wentz J. H. Shanaberger III, 33, Zephyrhills. Iraq, March 24, 2004.

• Army 1st Lt. Kevin J. Smith, 28, Brandon. Iraq, Dec. 8, 2005.

• Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, 33, Tampa. Iraq, April 4, 2003.

• Army Sgt. James D. Stewart, 29, St. Petersburg. Iraq, June 21, 2005.

• Army Sgt. Robert Surber, 24, Inverness. Iraq, June 3, 2007.

• Army Maj. David G. Taylor Jr., 37, Tampa. Iraq, Oct. 22, 2006.

• Army Sgt. Antwan L. Walker, 22, Tampa. Iraq, May 18, 2005.

• Marine Lance Cpl. Kevin G. Waruinge, 22, Tampa. Iraq, Aug. 3, 2005.

• Army Chief Warrant Officer Aaron A. Weaver, 32, Floral City. Iraq, Jan. 8, 2004.

• Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas Wilt, 23, Tampa. Iraq, Sept. 3, 2004.

• Army Lt. Col. Peter E. Winston, 56, Plant City. Iraq, Nov. 13, 2006.

Compiled from Times files, Associated Press casualty databases.

Pam Iorio for Governor

Show Pam and Florida that she has the backing of Floridians in this state. Rick Scott must go. When a politician ignores the people of his own state and puts politics before the economy of this great state, it's time for that politician to go. Pam Iorio supported High Speed Rail, she understood the economic benefits for Tampa and what it meant for Orlando and all of Florida. Crime remained low under Pam and she took a very hard but needed fiscal approach to the city budget during the Late 2000's recession. The state needs a politician and citizen like Pam to get this state on to the path of opportunity for all, and not just for the few.

here
Scott is down 12 points, 52-40; against Pam Iorio in a new Public Policy Polling survey.

Crimes Against Humanity

It seems that my memory has been on  steroids these last few days. On this the 10th  Anniversary of the Iraq war there are so many things to remember. Not only the birth of this blog but how hard i tried to show my family and friends the huge mistake we were about to make. I remember Michael Moore and the way he was maligned and ridicule, i remember the Dixie chicks and the way they were treated. I remember the millions of protesters all over the world. I remember the ban on photos of soldiers' coffins as they returned.  I remember Free speech zones (also known as First Amendment Zones) or Free speech cages, I remember our  brave politicians who spoke up people like Florida's Robert Graham, Howard Dean, Lincoln Chafee, Barrack Obama, Carl Levin, Nancy Pelosi, The late Paul Wellstone, Daniel Akaka, Barbara Boxer, Robert Byrd,Ron Paul, Jon Corzine, Richard Durbin,Russell Feingold, Daniel Inouye James Jeffords, The late Edward Kennedy and many more. But most of all i think of this wonderful place called  The Hague in the Netherlands, a place where they take war criminals and people who have committed crimes against humanity. The sad part is there are people that belong there
 that never make it.

Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County 25th Anniversary

Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County provides a hand-up, not a handout, with affordable homes and no-interest mortgages for deserving families currently living in substandard housing. In honor of our 25th Anniversary, please join our staff and board bypledging a donation of a $25 minimum to "raise the roof" on a home.Whether you donate $25, $50, $100 or more, your generosity will move us closer to our goal of $25,000 to bring down the cost of the home and provide the necessary building materials to sustain the mission of Habitat Hillsborough.

here

Come Dancing for WMNF- Swing Music at the Mermaid!

The Mermaid Tavern hosts swing dancing the last Tuesday of every month, and you can partake or observe to benefit WMNF! The Mermaid Tavern, this Seminole Heights hot spot, is a valued WMNF Community Partner, and is donating proceeds and offering drink discounts as you swing the night away!

info

The Stogie Is Ten Years Old

Happy Birthday Stogie
On This Date Back In 2003 The Ybor City Stogie Was Born.
The idea for the name came to me from a movie filmed in Ybor City about a minor league baseball team naned The Tampico Stogies. It was called Long Gone and started William Petersen,Virginia Madsen and the late great Henry Gibson. I was actually there and watched some of it being filmed. And of couse Ybor City being the stogie capital of the world.  It started out as a website ( you can see what it looked like here) and it became a blog in May of 2006.
Thanks to my awesome sister for the cake.

Stop Florida Parent Trigger Legislation

Florida's Culture Of Corruption Ccorporate Power Grab

To the dismay of parents, the Florida PTA, other parents groups and their supporters, the Parent Empowerment in Education Bill, a.k.a Florida’s “Parent Trigger” bill, has once again been introduced into the Florida House of Representatives and Senate. After failing last year due to the concerted efforts of parents and parent groups, legislators saw fit to reintroduce the bill once again to see if Florida parents and their supporters had changed their minds regarding this issue. Such insistence on a “parent trigger” bill in Florida can only be described in the manner that Diane Ravitch, the former Secretary of Education, describes “parent trigger” policy in general:

"It is the quintessence of a corporate power grab.”

Florida Legislators: I urge you to deny the passing of the Parent Empowerment in Education bill (HB 867 or SB 862) so that the public education system remains a corporation-free, public institution in the hands and power of the parents, educators, community groups, and taxpayers that support and nurture it.
Sign The Petition - Parents Across America

 Why would legislators reintroduce a bill that was vehemently opposed by
a significant number of parent groups?.....Florida PTA

Tapper Pub

What Stogie Had For Lunch
Corned beef sandwich
With Potato Salad and Drink
$7.00 at Tapper Pub, 3832 Britton Plaza  Tampa

Downgrading Ed Schultz

Did Obama Administration Have Something To Do With It?
Ed Schultz is telling everyone that it was his idea to be reassigned from his prime-time 8 p.m. show during the week on MSNBC to a two-hour time slot late Saturday and Sunday. After telling listeners about the change last Wednesday, Schultz said he’s happy about it because now he’ll have the time to do more in-depth stories on issues, which he couldn’t do before. maybe he really means it. But I’m not sure. Schultz had been getting increasingly agitated over the possibility of President Obama and the Democrats caving in to the GOP to allow cuts in social safety net programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, as part of a “grand bargain” for reducing the deficit. One week before the change was announced, Schultz said he had always supported Obama, but now was wavering. One night before he announced his change, Schultz said
"President Obama may really be the president who starts the undooing of the New Deal."
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I do not like Chris Hayes. I guess i will watch the crazy guy on FAUX..

Democrats Share the Blame for Tragedy of Iraq War

Not Howard Dean
The Democrats who voted to support the war and rationalized that vote by making false claims about Iraq's WMD programs - a minority of Democrats, but much over-represented in Democratic leadership councils - were responsible for allowing the Bush administration to get away with lying about
Iraq's alleged threat.
Here on the tenth anniversary of the Iraq War, it is important to remember that it was not just those in the Bush White House who were responsible for the tragedy, but leading members of Congress as well, some of whom are now in senior positions in the Obama administration.
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Read what Mr. Dean had to say back on April 17, 2003.

family-Resources Of Tampa Bay

Pinellas Park Charity Helps Homeless Do Laundry
It takes 16 quarters to wash a bundle of clothes at Quick Way Laundry and another six to dry it. Multiply that by the number of homeless teenagers who come to Kay Tillinghast with backpacks full of dirty laundry and you have an expensive charitable habit. Every week for the past few years, Tillinghast, who works for the nonprofit Family Resources, has been helping runaways and shelter kids do laundry.
more
Donations can be sent to Family Resources, 5180 62nd Ave. N, Pinellas Park, FL 33781,
or go to its website at family-resources.org and click the donate button

Tampa Bay Homeless

Homeless Living In Tampa

Raise The Minimum Wage

Once again the message to America from the Republican party is, "Please go phuck yourselves!
SOG City Oracle

HB 7065: Florida's Culture Of Corruption

An Outright Sellout
One of the broadest assaults on the Everglades cleanup effort is speeding toward passage in the Florida House. The measure would put the state's taxpayers on the hook for pollution caused by the agriculture industry — and open an avenue for even more environmental damage down the road. Shifting cleanup costs from Big Sugar to those who are downstream from its dirty fields is Robin Hood in reverse and undermines the intent of a voters' mandate to have polluters pay.

 Gov. Rick Scott and the Senate need to stop it.

here

Remembering Joyce

The Irish Belle

I've had the honor of knowing Eva for almost 20 years. I only got to know her mom Joyce for a short time before she was taken from us. She was a beautiful Irish Belle whose door to her home was always open to friends.  She loved to travel and her wanderlust has led her to many different parts of the world.
 Today on St. Patrick's Day i miss her terribly!

The Paul Ryan of Florida

Will Weatherford
This post is not about cronyism, $2,005 monthly mortgages, his troubles in Ybor City, his beautiful family or his parents giving him a fundamentalist education steeped in Scripture. 
(See How Can You Love Jesus And Be A Republican?)
This post is about Democrats. When i said the other day that the reason people like Mr.Weatherford get elected is becouse people don't get out and vote, i was wrong. According to the Times
When he first ran in 2006 Weatherford faced someone his own age: 26-year-old Donovan Brown, a Zephyrhills insurance agent who, during the home stretch of the campaign, was hospitalized for a bipolar disorder. While Democrats didn't give Brown any money, Republicans contributed $70,000 to Weatherford. He outraised Brown 575-to-1. His campaign mailers highlighted Brown's opposition to jail time for people caught possessing small amounts of marijuana."Don't let our values go to pot," the mailer stated, with Brown's face printed on a marijuana leaf.
Democrats didn't oppose Weatherford's re-election in 2008, and he still raised $214,000. When he did face opposition in 2010, he raised nearly $1 million. Weatherford won 66 percent of the vote.
Last year, he was re-elected without opposition while sitting on a war chest of $427,000.
"I've never been ashamed to ask people for big checks," he said
My point is where are the Democratic candidates, where are Libertarians, the Greens. Having a two party system is bad enough but when it becomes one well we have a
problem.Don't you think?
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Morgan and Morgan For The People

John Morgan, a major President Obama fundraiser and the boss of former Gov. Charlie Crist, is taking the reins of a Florida medical marijuana initiative, (Cathy Jordan Medical Cannabis Act) promising to pump major money and political muscle into the popular issue.

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Great News!We should have this in the bag.

Morgan and Morgan

Happy St. Patrick's Day

 

No Strip Clubs, Casinos or Liquor, Guns ok.

Florida lawmakers are considering legislation that would ban those receiving government assistance from using their electronic benefits (EBT) cards at strip clubs, casinos and liquor stores. The provision banning EBT use in gun shops was stripped out in committee.

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Pic Thanks To World Of Wonder

The Weather Kids on TBCN

Bring your children to TBCN to give their own version of the weather report.
Call us at (813) 977-5200 or visit us at tbcn.org.

Illegal Ggambling's Fat Checks

Allied and affiliates pumped $2M into political campaigns.
Threatened with being shut down, the owners and operators flooded lawmakers with campaign cash and hired a stable of lobbyists with money that police now say was illegally obtained. Among the biggest contributors was Allied Veterans, the purported charity that authorities this week said illegally operated electronic slot machines at 49 Internet cafes across Florida. Allied and related companies donated $2 million to the lawmakers' campaigns and committees over at least three years, police say.
here

Sen. Jack Latvala, R-St. Petersburg $40,000
Joe Negron, R-Palm City $25,000
Both voted against  Medicaid Expansion.
Republican Party of Florida $52,000
And even the Dems were in on it.
Florida Democratic Party $75,000

Corporate Welfare: $3,796 Per Job In Florida

 For the past 16 years, more than $80 million in state incentives backed by taxpayer money helped recruit and subsidize companies creating nearly 20,000 jobs around Tampa Bay. In more than 200 deals since 1996 by Enterprise Florida in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties, the largest sum handed over to a firm is $19.6 million to California research firm SRI International. In 2009 SRI opened a marine research facility in St. Pe t e r s b u r g . The number of SRI jobs documented by the state so far: 86.

here

Bikes On Buses

 Hillsborough Area Regional Transit
Go Hart