Help me to help you stop this loss of blood and treasure and end this occupation. Will you contribute your time, your energy and your dollars?...........here
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Samm Simpson: Questions for General Petraeus
Help me to help you stop this loss of blood and treasure and end this occupation. Will you contribute your time, your energy and your dollars?...........here
How Things Were In Cuba Before Fidel
The Miami Cuban MafiaThey're at it again: "Miami-Dade's Cuban- American legislators once again are pushing for laws regulating travel and business between the United States and Cuba."...........here
Brian Blair Plays Intolerance Card
Hillsborough County commissioner Brian Blair has picked up Ronda Storm's gay-bashing mantle. The The Former Bubble Bee is venting mock outrage that Tampa high school students will protest violence against LGBT...........here
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Orlando International Airport Going Green
The airport is testing four Ford shuttle vans equipped with internal combustion engines modified to run on hydrogen instead of gasoline.......here
Tampa Pets Adoption Expo
A fun day for the whole family! Be sure to mark your calendars for the Tampa Pets Spring Adoption Expo, April 12, 2008 from 10am-4pm at the State Fairgrounds, Tampa!.......here
Abortion And The Florida Legislature
With all the serious problems this state has, the Republican-dominated legislature always manages to find the time to address this subject in an election year.......here
Florida Republican Culture of Corruption
It just isn't surprising that we find Republican corruption in Florida. It's a Republican hotbed, after all, the home of the President's brother Jeb. I'm sure, since I lived there until three years ago, that Republicans, especially on the state level, feel they can get away with anything........here
Fighting for the Everglades
According to the Audubon Society, if the Florida House’s proposal — backed by Speaker Marco Rubio and House Policy and Budget Chairman Ray Sansom — passes, it would mark the first time in 30 years that the state has set aside no funds for land conservation, as well as the first time in eight years in which there’s been no money for the Everglades.........here
Democratic Surrogates Mix It Up In Tampa
It’s two more weeks before Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton compete in another primary, but today in Tampa, surrogates for the candidates battled it out among fellow Democrats. Frank Sanchez was named just last week as the National Latino Fundraiser for the Barack Obama campaign........here
Shame on China
Several hundred supporters of Tibet marched through the streets of San Francisco to criticise China before the Olympic torch is run through the city the next day.......herefreetibet.org
Monday, April 7, 2008
Oakland Water Raiders
A small town in Central Florida is considering forcing a 100-gallon-per-person daily limit on water for its residents. Some residents in Oakland, which is located south of Apopka, are outraged over the proposed limit on water and said the rapid growth in the area must stop until there is no longer a shortage........hereGovernor Christ And The Explore Adoption Initiative
Throughout Florida, more than 1,000 children from varied backgrounds, circumstances, races and ethnicities are looking for a forever family and a permanent place to call home. Florida Governor, Charlie Christ, recently created the Explore Adoption Initiative which promotes public adoption services........here
Warrick Dunn Given Top Honors
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Warrick Dunn was presented with the 42nd annual Byron “Whizzer” White Award, the NFL Players Association’s highest honor. The event, which recognized NFL players for their individual contributions to their communities..........hereWarrick Dunn Foundation
Bill Nelson: There Could Be “Blood On The Floor” In Denver
In an interview with WPTV news Senator Bill Nelson says Florida folks do not react well to having their votes taken away. He says the National Democratic party just does not understand. He says he tried to "settle this thing" nine months ago. He said Howard Dean and the rest of the committee...........here
Tampa Heights Looking For Juicy Gossip
We don't mean what Jane Doe said about the souffle John Doe brought to the porch party; rather we're looking for good things (confirmed or otherwise) happening in our Urban Corridor neighborhoods............hereNew Heights
Smokin Dad In Tampa
Police pulled over Jeremy Chapman Sunday as he was driving with an unrestrained child near Linebaugh. Chapman didn't hang around to argue his case.......hereChapman told police he is addicted to marijuana.
Jonathan Rivera Loses Lifelong Battle With Cancer
Jonathan Rivera, the 5-year-old whose brief presence in a Head Start class inspired his schoolmates to mount a project to help his family, has lost his nearly lifelong battle with cancer. Jonathan died Wednesday night with his mother next to him. "He passed away as I was singing him his favorite song about a butterfly," his mother Mary Beltran said from her Town 'N Country home this afternoon..........here
Tampa: A Brave New (Low-Cost) World
I’m from Massachusetts, which is located in New England, so by default I have this inexplicable disdain for all things southern. We northerners think of ourselves as superior to our neighbors to the south, and we also fear southerners for their guns and confederate flags and pickup trucks. To a Yankee like me, the South is truly a terrifying and exotic place........here
Sunday, April 6, 2008
In Florida, Get Busy With A Bear
Here are two proposals under consideration during the ongoing session of the Florida Legislature.Proposed Law A: Bringing a gun to work is legal. Proposed Law B: Having sex with an animal is illegal.
One of these proposed laws is sailing through the legislature, and the other is stalled and heading nowhere. Can you guess which is which?
I'll give you a very big hint: This is Florida.......here
Many Say Goodbye To Fallen Soldier
Tara Nelson stands by the flag drapped coffin of her fiance PFC Patrick Joseph "PJ" Miller Sunday after his funeral at the Frist United Methodist Church of Hudson.........here
What Is The Miami Cuban Mafia?
The Cuban Mafia is not an established organization per se; it is a state of mind of certain American politicians who are vociferously anti-Cuba, and who are primarily based in the state of Florida. But this Mafia is also an equal-opportunity group; they also welcome as members those who belong to the Democratic Party...........here
Clearwater Retirees Resort to Firepower to Take Out Pesky Ducks
A Florida retirement community did a little more than shoo, choosing instead to shoot at the Muscovy ducks that had fouled the pool and become a general nuisance for residents.......here
Rate Your Local Cops
Armed with a laptop and the names of tens of thousands of police officers across the country, a Southland entrepreneur is raising the ire of law enforcement with an online, five-star rating system similar to those used for teachers.......here
Florida May See More Nuclear Plants
Florida's energy future, as envisioned by Gov. Charlie Crist and put forward in sweeping House and Senate energy bills, means more nuclear power plants and more power lines across state conservation lands. For environmental advocates it represents a trade-off. The earth-friendly ends are important enough that some are willing to swallow hard and accept the means to get there........here
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Florida's Water Wars
Opening a new front in Florida's water wars, Orange County and St. Cloud are fighting with state officials over proposals to draw water from a trio of lakes in the ecologically sensitive Kissimmee River basin. The lakes that the two Central Florida governments are seeking to tap into help make up the headwaters for Florida's Everglades........here
Florida Rapper Riskay
Bartow, Fl rapper Riskay wrote one of the raunchiest, and funniest cheating songs of 2007. The tune is called, "Let Me Smell Yo Dick" and everybody from the New York Times to Perez Hilton caught wind of the song and wrote about it.........here
Freaky Florida
Flamingoes and giant plastic alligators, pirates and underwater dancing mermaids: Jo Roberts finds an intriguing, idiosyncratic patch of America. American crime novelist and poet James W. Hall calls Florida "the weirdest state in the union" in his book Hot Damn!, inspired by the state. After two visits to this most curious part of America, it's hard to disagree..........here
Florida Native Patrols Iraqi Capital
1st Lt. Sam Rosenberg, a native of Fort Myers, Fla., patrols through the now quiet western Baghdad neighborhood of Kadhamiyah April 2. Rosenberg serves as the platoon leader for 2nd Platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division..........here
New Tampa Museum of Art
The contract for the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and the Tampa Museum of Art was approved by Tampa City Council on Thursday, April 3. Construction will begin soon on the projects and completion is scheduled for June 2009...........more
State Farm To Tampa Bay - No Thanks
State Farm Florida Insurance Company just sent a clear message to City of Tampa residents- “We will not write you a new Florida homeowners insurance policy, but we want to keep your auto policy and all your other Florida insurance business.”.......here
Madfloridian: Debbie Wasserman Schultz
You know what, Debbie? I had sort of figured I would back off writing about you Florida Democratic leaders for a while. I figured that since the meeting with Dean yesterday, you guys would shut your mouths for a while.......here
Walk With A Swagger
Met with my children's principal and teachers yesterday. My demand to these educators - stop Tyler* yourselves or stop punishing my children when they stop him.The principal is a nice guy. He means well. My children's teachers seem kind and patient as well. They assured me that bullying has no place in their school......more
Friday, April 4, 2008
Darcy's Plan
Thank YouLarry Byrnes - Alan Grayson - Joe Garcia - Faye Armitage - Timothy Cunha - Clint Curtis - Stephen Blythe - Samm Simpson
Barge Stuck On Sandbar Near Egmont Key
A barge and its tug that had been stuck on a sandbar near Egmont Key since Wednesday evening are free. The 138-foot tug Yankee was transporting a 441-foot barge, both owned by K-Sea, from Houston to Tampa when it ran aground on a sand bar about 5:45 p.m. on April 2. The double-hulled barge was carrying 119,000 barrels fuel oil.......here
Justice For Alan Crotzer
The Florida Senate voted moments ago to pay Alan Crotzer $1.25-million for the 24 years he spent in prison on a bum rape charge. The House acted last week, meaning the ordeal is over for the former St. Petersburg man, who erupted in tears following the vote........here
Kevin Brown, The Jamaican Guy
Held a couple days ago, accused of trying to take bomb-making parts into Montego Bay on an Air Jamaica flight from Orlando, Florida. Brown survives and heads back home to Jamaica. The sad part is that he could probably end up in jail and could be sent away for a long time. For all intents and purposes, Brown is now regarded as a Jamaican terrorist. The sadder part is that many of us Jamaicans, who just love to fly into 'the States' are now going to find our trips a little less pleasant. The saddest part is that if the American authorities understood just how much we love their country, they would know that we wouldn't want to blow anything up there. It is our Promised Land.......here
Smokin Em Charters Of Ft. Pierce, Florida
Smokin' Em Charters was told to leave the city marina for violating its family-friendly atmosphere. The husband-wife team of Kathi and Harold Coombes has run the company for eight years and started offering charters with bikini-clad or topless women in January. In addition to regular boating duties, the women also prepare food and drinks.........here
Bounce In Tampa
Starting Friday, Tampa will become a national epicenter for gay women, thousands of whom are coming to town for the Final Four of the women's NCAA Tournament. Most of the activities will center on Ybor City, where clubs are hosting all-girl bands and an event called Bounce, promoted as the largest women's party in the Tampa Bay area. The National Center for Lesbian Rights is holding a mega party at club Underground.......here
Where Is Mel Martinez On The Environment?
Martinez cannot afford to sit on the sidelines while legislation so critical to Florida's future is hashed out. Too many in Florida's delegation say they support reducing greenhouse gases and want to see a fair cap-and-trade system, yet they have benched themselves in what is arguably the most important debate this nation may ever have on an environmental issue. Certainly, it has immense importance to Florida, especially to the coastal cities of Key West, Miami, Jacksonville and Tampa, to name just a few. Does it get any more important?........here
Mountain Dew And Marijuana - Florida's Birth Control
Frightening survey results from the University of Florida reveal the necessity of comprehensive sex education in schools. The Associated Press reports that the survey shows some Florida teens believe that drinking Mountain Dew or smoking marijuana will prevent pregnancy. According to the University of Florida, most Florida schools teach from abstinence-only curricula, if they teach any sex education programs at all..........here
Bill Clinton and Oprah are Candidates to Save Florida Jazz Festival
Refusing to let the music die, the North East Florida Jazz Association (NEFJA) extended the auction of the Title Sponsorship to the 3rd Annual Legacy Jazz Festival for one more round of bids when there were no takers on the first round. We just need a superhero who is passionate about jazz and understands the importance of passing on this legacy." By using eBay to market the Title Sponsorship, NEFJA was hoping to catch the eye of a cultural icon like Oprah Winfrey or former President Bill Clinton who's a major fan of the endangered genre........here
Why Faculty Leave Florida
In the parking lot this morning, I met an assistant professor I know well who told me that he’s leaving USF. He’s going to a public university in another state where he’ll be paid a good chunk more than what he’s paid here.......here
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Howard Dean Gets Motivated
After huddling yesterday among themselves, Florida's congressional delecation and state chair Karen Thurman met with DNC chair Howard Dean, and emerged making positive noises. In attendance at the meeting from Florida were Sen. Bill Nelson, Reps. Alcee Hastings, Corrine Brown, Bob Wexler, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Ron Klein, Tim Mahoney, Kathy Castor, Allan Boyd, Kendrick Meek and Karen Thurman.........here
If King Had Lived?
"God didn't call America to engage in a senseless, unjust war," King said of the fighting in Vietnam. "And we are criminals in that war. We've committed more war crimes almost than any nation in the world, and I'm going to continue to say it."..........here
Predator Drones Coming To Florida's Gulf Coast
Four Predator B drones have become fixtures over Arizona since October 2006, and two more will join them soon, Juan Munoz-Torres, a Customs and Border Protection spokesman, said Wednesday. Once those six are in place, the agency wants Congress to fund six drones along the Canadian border and six more on Florida's Gulf Coast and the Caribbean..........here
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