Thursday, April 17, 2008
Howard Dean April 17, 2003
When Congress approved the President’s authorization to go to war in Iraq – no matter how well-intentioned – it was giving the green light to the President to set his Doctrine of preemptive war in motion. It now appears that Iraq was just the first step. Already, the Bush Administration is apparently eyeing Syria and Iran as the next countries on its target list.........here
Florida Doesn't Like Bush Rubberstamps
"That kind of divisive language is part of the reason why Mario Diaz-Balart was recently ranked 406th in Congress and last in bringing Florida taxpayers their fair share of benefits. The Diaz-Balarts are like the Sixth Sense -- they are dead, they just don't know it."........Joe Garcia
Florida Legislators Busy With Testicles
A discussion in the Florida Legislature on Thursday turned a bit awkward Thursday.The subject? Replicas of bull testicles hanging from vehicles. In some parts of Florida, it has become fashionable to attach the reproductions to the back of pickup trucks........here
Florida Unveils Champmobile
It’s big, purple and coming to the state of Florida. AARP and Divided We Fail unveil the “Champmobile,” an interactive educational vehicle traversing the state in the months leading up to the November elections........here
Ronda Storms: Arranged Marriage Taking Place
Sen. Ronda Storms attempted unsuccessfully Wednesday to eliminate the Byrd Alzheimer's center's state earmark, arguing that doing so would reveal whether the University of South Florida really wants the center, or only wants its money.........here
Campaign Finance Reform In City Of Tampa Elections
The idea is the brainchild of two-term city council member John Dingfelder. He wants to bar corporate and PAC donations, reduce the individual contribution from the current $500 to $200, and create more transparency of campaign contributions........here
Blue America Welcomes Joe Garcia
50's style red-baiting has become as salient as... hula hoops -- except in Florida where McCarthyite tactics are frequently on full display. Extreme right politicians are never shy about tarring their opponents as "Communists" and "commie-dupes." If you check over at ActBlue, you'll notice that Blue America's latest endorsee, Joe Garcia, has more contributions than all the other candidates in the entire state -- combined........here
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
What Florida Republicans Want
Now the Republican politicians in Tallahassee want to squeeze the people of Florida even more - including the most vulnerable among us. I'm always amazed by how heartless and self-serving Republicans in power are, but the proposed state budgets from the House and Senate mark a new low........here
Florida's Mystery Earmark
The Senate may seek a federal investigation into a 2005 earmark on a highway funding bill that was mysteriously altered after Congress approved the measure but before President Bush signed it.......here
Manatee Migration Draws Families To Florida Coast
Florida has been long-known as a metropolis for family vacations, complete with saltwater, sunshine and animals that frolic with children. However, a seismic shift in tourism is leading families away from the dazzling Magic Kingdom to the quiet waters of Citrus County........here
Anti-Tolerance T-Shirts At Wesley Chapel High
Wesley Chapel High students approved their Wildcat Gay-Straight Alliance statement of understanding and acceptance more than three years ago. The school, principal Andy Frelick says, is "preaching tolerance all year." That said.........here
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
The Conch Republic Independence Celebration
APRIL 18-27, 2008 - KEY WEST, FLORIDAThe annual Conch Republic Independence Celebration commemorates the day the republic seceded from the United States to form a fifth-world nation recognized by international public law as "a sovereign state of mind."........here
Florida Grouper with Peri Peri Beurre Blanc
I bought about a pound of grouper (which has been scarce lately). I made a quick dusting of flour, kosher salt, white pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and a bit of peri peri powder and lightly coated the fillet..........here
"The Land" Pulled From Tampa School’s Shelves
An award-winning young-adult book was pulled from the shelves of an elementary school after a review committee determined it was inappropriate for the grade level. “The Land,” by Mildred Taylor, will be collected and put on library shelves in middle schools instead........here
Sax Player Arrested In Ybor City
"There should be something in the Constitution that protects someone with little or no power," he said. "This country was built on capitalism. What I do is one of the purest forms of capitalism there is.".........here
Monday, April 14, 2008
Hillary Lost It
"It's not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."...........hereIf Hillary Clinton somehow manages to lie and divide and hate her way to the top of the Democratic ticket, she can forget about my vote.
Going Native in Florida
As a trying-to-reform black-thumb gardener in Florida, I’ve learned to appreciate the benefits and advantages of native plants. They’re the smartest way to go for anyone who loves greenery but hates the constant battle against bugs, drought, heat and the region’s other environmental challenges..........hereSEVEN MILE BRIDGE TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE
The Seven Mile Bridge, longest of 43 spans that help comprise the Florida Keys Overseas Highway, is to close to vehicular traffic early Saturday morning for an annual footrace over the convergence of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.......here
Burger King Espionage In The Sunshine State
In Florida, groups organizing for tomato pickers’ rights say they might have been spied on and vilified online by the fast-food conglomerate Burger King. The Fort Myers News-Press traced threatening emails directed at the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and the Student/Farmworker Alliance to Burger King’s corporate headquarters in Miami, Florida.........hereHalf Of Florida’s Pirate Fleet Sinks
The replica pirate ship The Treasure Seeker went down in rough seas as it attempted a voyage to the Virgin Islands. Its owners had decided to leave Florida permanently for (supposedly) greener pastures in the tropics, and were lucky to escape with their lives..........here
Obama 2008
Florida's Conserve Wildlife License Plate
The Wildlife Foundation of Florida has awarded $414,034 in grants to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to support the agency’s research, management and promotion of Florida’s natural resources. A total of $358,034 came from funds raised by sales of the Conserve Wildlife specialty license plate............here
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Living Near Alligators
About 2 1/2 million alligators inhabit more than 90 percent of the lakes and streams in Florida.And, with warmer weather, all those reptiles are beginning to rouse from their winter slumber with two things on their peanut-sized brains -- finding another alligator to breed with and catching up on a few missed meals...........here
Bay County Is Serious About Marijuana
Mosley High School Assistant Principal Brian Barnes was arrested April 1 for allegedly purchasing more than 20 grams of marijuana. Police said he told investigators he wanted the illegal herb for stress relief and recreational use. Under Florida law, Barnes faces up to five years behind bars if found guilty as charged...........here
Governor Honors Renee Blaney
Renee Blaney, president of the Ocala Mountain Bike Association, was recognized by Gov. Charlie Crist last week with a Point of Light award for volunteer work. (Here she is with her family at a bike event in 2006.)............here
Citrus Taliban Official License Tag
Even though Florida now has more than 100 specialized license tags, the Republican-controlled Legislature may soon add one more: a colorful license plate that features the words ''I Believe'' set among a resplendent sunrise and the image of a cross in front of stained-glass window........here
Anonymous In Clearwater
Clearwater's petite downtown district was primed for the perfect storm on Saturday.On one end of downtown, 135 masked members of the group Anonymous began gathering at about 10 a.m. to protest the Church of Scientology..........here
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Things They Do In Tallahassee, Florida
Since our elected officials seem to be having a problem understanding what their priorities should be, I thought I'd put together a list for them to refer to. So here they are, in order of importance...........here
Patrick Lindsay: MySpace Is The Anti-Christ
Mr. Lindsay … is it possible that your estranged daughter, against whom your wife has a restraining order and who you do not parent, nor live with, might have some problems that don’t have anything to do with social networks? Is it possible that the eight teenagers who kidnapped and beat her suffer from similar lack of parenting, upbringing, education and suitable supervision?............hereFlorida Passes Bills Promoting Space Industry
"SB 2526 supports the development of an initiative to diversify the state’s space industry.........here
Killer Bees In Okeechobee
So-called killer bees may have claimed their first human victim in Florida, state officials said Friday in announcing a fatal attack earlier this week in remote Okeechobee County.......here
Friday, April 11, 2008
Antibiotic Alligator
Researchers hunting for new antibiotics might get some aid from gator blood. Scientists are zeroing in on snippets of proteins found in American alligator blood that kill a wide range of disease-causing microbes and bacteria.......here
One-Woman Zoo In Florida
It would be easy to miss. About 9 miles east of Crestview on Highway 90 is Sasquatch Zoo. It’s a small operation that is kept open by the determination of one woman.......here
Sell Florida's Tresure
With the state desperate for cash to balance its budget, one lawmaker has come up with a solution worthy of Blackbeard or Captain Kidd. Rep. Juan Zapata wants to plunder Florida's booty. One of the world's largest publicly owned collections of Spanish treasure — doubloons and other coins, some gold and silver ingots and chains — belongs to the state..........here
Florida, The New Wild, Wild, West
The Florida Legislature has bowed to the wishes of the National Rifle Association and approved legislation that bars employers from banning guns on their property. Employees and customers can now bring guns just about anywhere as long as they have a concealed-weapons permit and leave the gun locked in their car..........here
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