Sunday, March 23, 2008

Florida Hero Robert Wexler

On Monday, March 17, at the Deerfield Democratic Club in Broward County, Florida Congressman Robert Wexler , who represents the 19th Congressional District of Florida, was honored with the prestigious Backbone Award..........here

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Election Year Fear At Tampa International

Vehicle searches began this morning at the entrance to Tampa International Airport's short-term parking garage as part of a federal plan to help prevent a bombing at the terminal......Via The Tampa Tribune And Fox
They say they're trying to keep possible terrorist guessing by constantly changing up the security procedures at the airport.

Friday, March 21, 2008

Smiley Takes On Obama At Florida Memorial

Talk show host and political commentator Tavis Smiley dove headlong into the controversy over Barack Obama's former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, as he headlined Florida Memorial University's Second Annual Presidential Scholarship Banquet last weekend........more

Proud Of The Tampa City Council

Tampa joins a growing number of cities supporting the move away from one of the worst forms of factory farm animal abuse. Tampa joins Hollywood, West Palm Beach, Winter Springs and New Port Richey in passing such a resolution..........here

See Avril Lavigne In Tampa For 9 Bucs

click here

Obama/Richardson 2008

What A Nice 21st Century Couple They Make
Here are a few reasons why.

Walk for Water In Hialeah, Florida

In many parts of the developing world, people have to walk for miles every day just to get the water they need to drink and cook. To highlight that daily challenge, activists in Hialeah, Florida, plan to hold a Walk for Water walk-a-thon.........here

Liberty Girl: My Governor Rules!

From Charlie Crist office, in response to my open records request:
A search of our files revealed an electronic file responsive to your request. These files are contained on a CD. We can provide this CD via U.S. Postal Services. There will be no cost for this service. Please send an address for us to mail the CD. Thank you........here

Florida's Powerfull LGBT Community

The media has recently focused more attention on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues in Florida, which are playing an increasingly important role in the state’s contradictory political climate. Florida has one of the most vibrant LGBT communities in the country, while also continuing to have some of the most restrictive laws; Florida is one of a few states that still explicitly bans adoption by gay and lesbian couples..........here

Daniel Ruth Bashes Howard Dean

Dean isn't the chairman of the DNC. He's the pinched homeowner board president busybody from hell, armed with his clipboard, ever on the prowl for the improperly painted mailbox, the oversized yard flag, the dreaded errant open garage door.........here

The Sins of Debbie Wasserman Schultz

But the Republicans that Debbie Wasserman Schultz is hugging tightly are three Members of Congress who have actually had the power to make the Cold War colder in a small area of the world off of the U.S. border -- Cuba. They have thrived despite the phenomenal failure of the US embargo of Cuba and have succeeded in keeping a more serious interest-driven US foreign policy toward Cuba from ever taking hold........here But the Republicans that Debbie Wasserman Schultz is hugging tightly are three Members of Congress.........here
Debbie Wasserman Schultz seemingly turns a blind eye to the suspension of justice, the nepotism, and the corruption that have surrounded the Miami side of the US-Cuba policy feud. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL-18) has helped protect and then celebrate the achievements of Cuban-American terrorists -- particularly Orlando Bosch and Luis Posada -- in both Florida and in her Congressional role in Washington.
Either Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz does not read, is ignorant of the background and activities of these three Republican congressman, or she is complicit. Which is it?........Steve Clemons

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Florida Program Aims To Protect Nature’s Orphans

Workers at Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s wildlife rehabilitation center are bracing themselves. The sun reaches its vernal equinox over the Earth’s equator today, marking the start of spring, and business is about to boom.........here

Turn South Florida Blue!

If it's an election year, you can bet that both parties will be fighting hard to swing the battleground state of Florida in their direction. This election year, its clear that Floridians are tired of President Bush's failed policies and want big change. The environment is ripe for a big Democratic year and we have the top-tier candidates who can turn Florida "blue.".........here

GOP Is Afraid Of Obama

Republicans are interfering with democracy by pretending to be Democrats and voting for Clinton..........here

Terrorists Attack Florida

The leader of a stingray separatist group has claimed responsibility for the recent murder of a woman in the Florida Keys.The ray, who only identified himself as "The Great Spike," has said that his group, "has begun the war on humanity that our scaly brethren have desired for so long.".........here

Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. Has Tampa Ties

For years, Wright has made an annual pilgrimage here, packing sanctuaries at two large, predominantly African-American churches: Bible-Based Fellowship Church in Carrollwood and Bible-Based Fellowship Church of Temple Terrace, which draw members from throughout the Tampa Bay area. Even those who aren't members have flocked to his local revivals.........here

Tampa Entrepreneur Gets Life In Prison

Tampa Tony, the inventor that gave birth to such genius products as “Da Splitter”, is getting life in prison...........here

Mission Accomplished

May 1, 2003

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

The Stogie Is 5 Years Old

Palm Beach County School District

New York Law School Professor Deborah N. Archer, Director of the Law School’s Racial Justice Project, is one of the attorneys in the class action lawsuit filed Tuesday, March 18 by the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Florida against the Palm Beach County School District today, which charges that low high school graduation rates demonstrate a violation of students’ constitutional rights to high quality education.........here

Street's Of Tampa

Florida Aquarium Exhibit To Be Wi-Fi Friendly

The AT&T Foundation is partnering with George S. Middleton High School to provide learning opportunities at the Florida Aquarium. Through a $17,309 grant from AT&T, students at Middleton will develop "learncasts," utilizing Wi-Fi technology for the Aquarium's Ocean Commotion exhibit, set to open in October.......here

Closet Republican: Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Democrats believe for the first time they have a good chance of unseating one or more of the three Republican Cuban-Americans representing South Florida. The Democrats running to unseat them will have to do so, however, without the support of Wasserman Schultz. Her ties of friendship with the three Cuban-Americans are such, she says, that she cannot support her fellow Democrats. She will have to sit this one out........here
Looking For A Ned Lamont

Scientology A Good Neighbor In Plant City, Florida

The story of what has happened in the year since the Church of Scientology opened in Plant City is best framed by telling what did not happen..........here

Florida Lawmaker Hopes to End Ban on Gay Adoption

Florida state senator Nan Rich has introduced a bill that would bring the Sunshine State a little bit closer to ending its ban on adoptions by same-sex parents.........here

MLK And Florida Ave, Tampa

MLK BLVD is an "open source" photo/journalism project. What that means is: All are welcome to contribute or participate.......here

Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan

Rules of Engagement

Meet Team McCain: Pastor John Hagee

Tampa Bay "End the War Candlelight Vigil"

Tampa - Federal Courthouse, 801 N Florida Avenue, 4pm
St. Petersburg - Congressman Young's Office, 360 Central Ave., 5pm
Sarasota - US 41 and Gulfstream, 7pm
Sarasota- US 41 and Beneva, 4pm
Bartow - Main St. and N. Broadway Ave., 11am
Brooksville - 20 North Main Street, 11am
Find One Near You.......here......... http://www.5yearstoomany.org/

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Florida Has America's Cleanest Cities

Led by Miami, the Sunshine State dominates our 2008 list of America's Cleanest Cities with four metro areas in the top 10--Jacksonville (No. 3), Orlando (No. 4) and Tampa-St. Petersburg (No. 8) all make appearances. Clearly, a state that relies so heavily on tourism and part-time snow-bird residents knows the value of keeping itself spruced up for company..........here

Pets The Latest Casualty

Signs of economic turmoil have been popping up around the Bay Area for months now. Most of them say For Sale, Space for Lease, or Sale! Sale! Sale! The most disturbing may be at the Tampa Bay Human Society, where families are sacrificing their pets in order to save a few dollars........here

Tampa Bay Iraq War Protests

The Iraq war reaches a milestone Wednesday and local activists in the Tampa Bay region will mark the five-year anniversary with a mix of protest and tribute.........here

Book Banning In Hillsborough County, Florida

"There needs to be an examination of these words that elementary school kids are reading," said Darryl Brown, who lives in Live Oak in northeast Hillsborough. "I want them pulled."..........here

Hillsborough Bus Ridership Grows

Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority continues to gain ridership on its fixed-route services. Ridership increased 11 percent in February, to 975,893, compared with the same month last year. The system has gained nearly 9 percent year-to-date..........here

Obama: 'A More Perfect Union'

Free Parking In Ybor City

At long last, those going to shop or dine in Ybor City can enjoy free parking at some locations. The city is removing meters from the streets of Ybor City and turning the spots into two-hour parking spaces.......here

Florida's Cuban-American Congressional Republicans

After the 2006 elections, Garcia said polling in the three congressional districts based in Miami-Dade County produced results he termed amazing. "The most Republican of the districts is Lincoln Diaz-Balart's. His signature issue is Cuba [but] 54 percent of the district disagrees with his position on Cuba." What's more, Garcia said, Cuba was only the fifth most important issue in the district.......here

The Corrs - Toss The Feathers

Street's Of Tampa

Monday, March 17, 2008

Tampa Bicycle Cooperative!

Tampa will soon have a bicycle cooperative! This is very exciting news for the Tampa cycling community in that a bicycle co-op is a good sign of a healthy and growing bicycle culture......here

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Anonymous In Clearwater, Florida

Florida Panther Tracks In Volusia County

There is proof a panther has been roaming around Central Florida, according to wildlife officials. Recognizing the recent discovery of the panther tracks, Gov. Charlie Crist designated Saturday, "Save the Panther Day," and is urging people to help preserve and protect the remaining population, estimated to be anywhere from 80 to 100.......here

Gays In South Florida, We're Here. Get Used To It

From mounting a major offensive against Fort Lauderdale's mayor to winning county protections for transgender residents, South Florida's gay community wants politicians to know: We're here. Get used to it.........here

The Tiny Island Of Chokoloskee, Florida

Ed Watson was not a nice man. He lived on another small island and raised various small crops. He would "hire" help, making the men stay on his island until all the planting, caring for and harvesting was done. Then, instead of paying them like he said he would, he'd simply shoot them and bury them..........more

African-American Art Exhibit Coming to South Florida

The Norton Museum of Art will present an exhibition drawn from the artistic and historical treasures collected by Bernard and Shirley Kinsey of Los Angeles, California. The exhibition, "In The Hands Of African American Collectors: The Personal Treasures of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey," includes some 90 paintings, sculptures, prints, books, documents, manuscripts and vintage photographs the couple has loaned to the Norton Museum from their personal collection.........here

Absentee Ballots Go Missing In Pinellas County

The ballots for the March 25 primary in the House District 55 race were delivered to a postal center on Monday, but officials don't know what happened to them after that........here

Local Terrorist Groups According To The Duke Of Sarasota

Anti-war protests are scheduled for March 19th, the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, in Tampa, Florida by the following anti-war/Socialist/Communist/radical Islamic groups........here

Saturday, March 15, 2008

The Audacity of Hope In Ybor City

The Sixth Connection polled passersby in Ybor City to find out who's winning their vote for the 2008 Presidency. Filmed during Hypnotiq Thursdays outside of The Lucky Hookah Lounge, 1910 e 7th ave, Ybor City

South Florida Gas Stations Get Ethanol Blends

E10 contains 90 percent gasoline and 10 percent ethanol and began arriving in area stations at the end of last year. Among the brands that have E10 at some or all of their South Florida stations are Marathon, Hess, Murphy Oil USA, Pilot and Racetrac. Virtually all the marketers in Florida are moving toward 10 percent ethanol blends as rapidly as they are able.......here

Pelosi Leads DCCC In Supporting Florida's Democratic Challengers

Dated March 14, the letter from the five top figures in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee congratulates Joe Garcia on a "strong start" to his campaign for Florida Congressional District 25. Identical letters went to Raul Martinez, challenging in District 21, and to Annette Taddeo, candidate in District 18..........here

The Florida Torreya: One Of The World's Rarest Trees

Jackson County was once part of the natural habitat of the Florida Torreya tree.
Tens of thousands of these trees could be found growing in the region during the early 1800s, but today only around 200 survive on the entire earth.......more

Gov. Crist, Drug Laws Cause Crimes, Not Usage

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who has admitted smoking marijuana in his youth, opposes proposals to get drug offenders out of prison and into rehab. Crist said that reducing sentences for non-violent drug offenders would "sacrifice public safety,".......here

One Man's Trash Is Another Man's Treasure

Airstream Ranch might be art, but it still doesn't comply with county codes, officials decided Friday. The 71/2 Airstream trailers planted nose down along Interstate 4 in Dover violate zoning and sign restrictions, as well as rules against debris and improper storage, the Hillsborough County Code Enforcement Board decided Friday..........here

Lee De Cesare's Last Post

Go to Fred Burns. He's running for the board. Do what Fred tells you to do. I also have recruited another young woman to run against the adulteress Falliero when her term is up in 09. Fred will eventually find out the young woman's name; then you two can collaborate on this problem. She's very young too. But so are the boys going to Iraq. Young people can be brave and do incredible things........here

Buddy Johnson's Foul Stench

Something doesn't smell right about Buddy Johnson's cattle operation. The Hillsborough County elections chief bought a piece of property last year for $800,000. He subdivided the 20 acres into six lots, plunked down some cows and applied for a huge tax break, calling it agricultural land.......here