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Idiots In The News: Republican Rep. Joe Barton

On The $20 Billion BP Was Asked To Pay For The Gulf Cleanup
"I think it is a tragedy of the first proportion that a private corporation can be subject to what I would characterize as a shakedown, in this case a $20 billion dollar shakedown...a $20 billion dollar slush fund."......Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas

Seize BP!

Oil Spill - WorldNet Daily Says It Was God

Carl Gallups - Hickory Hammock Baptist Church - Milton, Florida
Yes, that’s right folks. I knew it would be just a matter of time, but the tea bagger crazies are now claiming the oil spill in the Gulf was caused by God......here

Florida Beaches Turning Black

A Memo To Kendrick Meek

Kenneth Quinnell, the uber-smart new media director for the Kendrick Meek campaign, recently asked a few of us in the blogging community for feedback on “on the candidate, the campaign and our new media outreach efforts.” While I am sure Ken would have preferred for me to deliver my counsel privately, I wouldn’t tell him anything privately that I wouldn’t write on this blog. So here goes.......here

Kendrick Meek 2010

Otis Padgett

In 1971, after integration, Otis Padgett became band director at Buchanan, where his students racked up honors. He retired in 1990, died in 2004. A scholarship in his name has been established........here

Treehouse Presents: Infected Mushroom

At Czar In Ybor City
info

Progressives and Obama

Norman Solomon: From Wall Street to the war, this isn't what progressive democrats voted for

The Refinery In Seminole Heights

Here The Mantra Is: Local, Local, Local.
The Refinery, on N Florida Avenue just south of Hillsborough Avenue, has a circle-of-life partnership with the Seminole Heights Community Garden, on Violet Street, just a nine-minute walk away......here

Florida State Board of Administration

Bill McCollum, Alex Sink, and Charlie Crist
If potential voters would read about the SBA, they would discover that trustees Alex Sink, Bill McCollum, and Charlie Crist are guilty of gross incompetence and negligence in the way they lost billions of our dollars as a result of ignoring the advice in at least 19 internal audits, while pandering to special interests.......here
www.michaelearth.com

Welcome To The Contaminated State Of Florida

The Beginning Of The End

Tourist Businesses From Pensacola To Panama City

Are feeling the full financial crunch of the massive oil spill, as normally packed parking lots sat nearly empty Saturday despite offers of discounts in an effort to drum up customers.....here

Gay Pride Festival In St. Pete

Tens of thousands of people gathered near downtown St. Petersburg for the annual gay pride festival Saturday and the rest of the city pretty much shrugged. Organizers estimated turnout along Central Avenue at 80,000, about the same as last year........here

Crowds Join Hands Along Area Beaches To Protest Oil Drilling

Hundreds gather to join hands Saturday at noon north of Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach while participating in the international Hands Across the Sand event.....here

Tampa Cops Resort To Planet of the Apes Style Policing

To Let The Scum Public Know Who Their Bosses Are
Restaurants and bars are whacked with county health violations if they so much as operate a dysfunctional dishwasher, and yet cops are given free reign to swagger through businesses on horseback in some kind of bizarre display of letting the scum know who their bosses are.......here

"It's Good Public Relations".......Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor

Ybor City: Where Cigars Are Still King

At the turn of the 20th century, Tampa, Florida,was the “Cigar Capital of the World.” Ybor City, a section of Tampa located near the port,was the center of cigar manufacturing........here

Tampa Bay Brewing Company

Started back in 1996 by the Doble family, TBBC is located in the entertainment district of Tampa known as Ybor City. They offer seasonal beers, year-round taps, a full menu, and a mug club frequent drinker program.......here

Ybor City's First Fire Station

The Mirta Hook and Ladder Volunteer Fire Station was established on this site. The station was named in honor of the youngest daughter of Don Vicente Martinez Ybor, founder of Ybor City.......here

The Ybor City Tattoo Company

Grand Opening & Art Show
Sunday, July 11, 2010 - 6pm to 10pm
Ybor City Tattoo Company
1730 7th Ave, Ybor City
info

Raining Oil In Louisiana

Dr. Riki Ott In Tarpon Springs

Dr. Riki Ott came to speak to the local community and fishermen of Tarpon Springs. For those of you that do not know who she is, she is an Exxon Valdez survivor. She has written two books about her experiences......here

Stogie Recommends

The Book of Eli

A 2010 American action film directed by the Hughes brothers, written by Gary Whitta, and starring Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Jennifer Beals and Mila Kunis.

The Stogie Is Unemployed!

Is The Economy Getting Better?
The Company I Was Working For Closed Its Doors.

"Cuba" The Official Newspaper of the Cuban Revolutionary Party

On this site was published the historic newspaper "Cuba," dedicated to the cause of Cuban Independence. "Cuba" was the successor of "El Critico De Ybor City." Its editor was Ramon Rivero y Rivero, a great revolutionist. In 1891 Rivero collaborated with Jose Marti in drafting the Basis for the Cuban Revolutionary Party.......here

Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County

1st Annual Charity Golf Tournament
Emerald Greens Golf Resort & Country Club
Monday, September 20 at 11:00 am
info

Ghosts of Ybor: Charlie Wall Story

Friday, July 2 7Pm at Centro Muvico, Ybor City
info

Right Wing Celebrities

Hollywood stars and celebrities are generally considered to be a liberal and Democratic-leaning community, but these celebrities are all declared Republicans according to the FEC, or known conservatives.

here

U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman

The Louisiana judge who struck down the Obama administration's six-month ban on deepwater oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico has reported extensive investments in the oil and gas industry, according to financial disclosure reports. He's also a new member of a secret national security court......here
List Of Feldman’s Income In 2008

Josh Burgin: Brian Blair's Minnie-Me

On Friday of last week, Josh Burgin qualified to run against
Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe
for the at-large seat Sharpe has held for the last six years. As for his platform. It basically boils down to one issue: he’s opposed to the transportation infrastructure improvement plan Sharpe supports......here

It's Good Public Relations

Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor
A Tampa Police officer was caught on tape walking his horse through a crowded Ybor City bar, and the police chief said she approves of it. The 37 second video was posted on YouTube.....here

Team Tudor at: Red, White, and Kaboom 2010

Saturday, July 3, 2010 - 6:00pm - 9:30pm
Lake Mirror, Lakeland
info

In Memory of Britton Hardy

here

Tampa, Do We Need To Break Up?

There comes that moment you know its over. Despite all your efforts it’s time to pack up shop and just go home. It’s heartbreaking to walk away from something you invested so much hope into.......here

Columbia Restaurant In Ybor City

Tales Of Remarkable Longevity And Success
This week, the Columbia is honoring nearly 90 employees who have been with the restaurant's various locations for more than 10 years......more

Vicente Martinez-Ybor

Pioneer Of The Cigar Industry In Florida And Founder Of Ybor City.
here

Oil Spill Nearing Tampa Bay

Friends Of Stogie

In Tampa

Monday Mosaic Ybor City

slf photography

The Bricks In Ybor City

The restaurant/gallery/coffeeshop is the new venture of Skatepark of Tampa owner Brian Schaefer and other key partners.
here

Hands Across The Sand

Gandy Bridge
Saturday, June 26th, 11:00 AM
info

Joe Redner For Florida House District 58

here

Tampa Cop And Horse Through A Bar

In Ybor City

Lawton "Bud" Chiles Campaigns In Ybor City

Last week, the Florida governor’s race got a little more interesting when Lawton “Bud” Chiles III entered the race without party affiliation. Though he’s the son of former governor Lawton Chiles, he’s still somewhat unknown. Today the gubernatorial hopeful was in Ybor City talking about the changes he’d like to see in Tallahassee.......more

Historical Hand Painted Tiles, Ybor City

here

Ybor City Engagement Session

Jason Angelini Photography

Phone Bank for Doug Tudor

We Will Be Dialing For Doug

6:30 to 8:00 pm June 22 and 24 from the law offices of Gary Miracle, 1353 Oakfield Drive.
For More Information

Contact Kent Bailey, Hillsborough County Volunteer Coordinator, at 813-235-8874 or Kent@TeamTudor.Org

Stay Out Of The Way On Beach Protection

Florida County Tells Feds
If you live in Okaloosa County, Florida, or Destin on Florida's Emerald Coast and are wondering who's going to be calling the shots if black crude oil comes ashore -- wonder no more. It won't be the federal government......here

Michael E. Arth For Florida Governor

Biking Mike in Ft. Lauderdale
here

Friends Of Stogie

In Tampa

Mayor Pam Iorio Wants Flights To Cuba From TIA

Mayor Pam Iorio sent Obama a letter Wednesday asking him grant the airport status as an authorized port of entry and exit for the flights. She says Tampa has a significant Cuban community, which would benefit greatly from access to direct flights......here

Pictures of Tampa

Jordi Scrubbings

Worldwide BP Protest Day

here

Ybor City: New Life In The City’s Historic District

At the turn of the 20th century, Tampa, Florida, was the “Cigar Capital of the World.” Ybor City, a section of Tampa located near the port, was the center of cigar manufacturing. High quality cigar tobacco was imported from Cuba and thousands of skilled workers hand rolled millions of fine cigars......here

BP Oil Spill 7 Miles West Of Tampa!

Video from a training flight 7 miles west of Tampa Bay in the Gulf of Mexico. The video shows the BP oil slick approaching central Florida.

WeAreChange Tampa

"If the American people knew what we have done, they would string us up from the lamp posts." -George H.W. Bush
here

Introducing The 1-800 Ask-Gary Amphitheatre

Wanna know the new name of the Ford Amphitheatre in Tampa? Ask Gary

here

The Fourth Annual Pepper Fest

Spicy food lovers had the opportunity to sample some great barbecue. Vendors sold plants, crafts and other items. There was live music and even a pepper eating contest......here