More Hillsborough County Corporate Welfare

The state and Hillsborough County are poised to reward an out-of-state corporate giant that has avoided collecting Florida sales tax for more than a decade by offering it millions in tax incentives to finally hire Floridians and contribute to the state's economy. Gov. Rick Scott tried to sell his tentative agreement with Amazon on Thursday as another sign that he is improving Florida's economy. Don't be fooled. Amazon is once again getting just what it wants — access to the Florida market at less cost than competitors who have been here for decades.
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Buy Local!

Tea Party Senators Kick Off Ralph Reed's God Fest

Marco Rubio revisited his campaign theme of American exceptionalism. He used a biblical passage from Matthew chapter 5 to encourage activists to keep bringing their faith into their political activism, especially, he said, at a time when people are told they should silence their faith. Rand Paul of Kentucky told activists that there is a worldwide “war on Christianity” that is being waged not only by “liberal elites” but also by American taxpayers through the country’s financial support of countries that persecute Christians. “American taxpayer dollars are being used to enable a war on Christianity in the Middle East.”
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Visit my post Republicans And Jesus.

Support Democracy - One Pint At A Time

Drinking Liberally Brandon
Every Thursday of each month, 7:00 pm
Square 1 Burgers, 2042 Badlands Dr in Brandon
info

Big-Box Opponents Demand Written Answers

Certified letters were sent to all seven Hillsborough County Commissioners by representatives of CAN-DO, under whose auspices residents are fighting a proposed big-box retail and apartment complex development off Bloomingdale Avenue.
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Allen West Blames Progressive Socialist Policies

Former Rep. Allen West and Tea Party favorite who once said President Obama wants Americans to be his slaves, invoked D.C. in his speech at today's Faith and Freedom Coalition conference to make an offensive point about progressive social policies. When discussing President Obama's social policies, West, a Republican who represented Florida for one term, told the predominately white crowd, according to the National Journal:
Some of you maybe will leave this beautiful hotel where you're having this conference and go into some of the black neighborhoods here in Washington, D.C., and see the decimation of progressive socialist policies that have broken down the family unit in what used to be the strongest family community that this great country ever knew.
here

Hispanic Politicians In Tampa Fight Back

"This is a blatant slap in the face to my constituents in District 62 and the Hispanic community," state Rep. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, said at the news conference Tuesday.
Tampa City Council Chairman Charlie Miranda and Hillsborough County School Board member Susan Valdes were also present.
The bill, HB 235, would have allowed some children of undocumented immigrants who are not U.S. citizens to
get a Florida driver's license through President Barack Obama's "Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals" policy,
which was instituted last year. HB 235 passed unanimously in the state Senate and 115-2 in the House.
nore, And here, Sign Petition here

Let's Give The Panhandle To Georgia And Alabama

Did rejection of Medicaid expansion help House Republicans?
In the first referendum since House Republicans bypassed more than $50 billion in federal aid for health care, Mike Hill, a 55-year-old tea party Republican insurance agent, won 57.9 percent of the vote in a Northwest Florida district that has an economy dominated by hospitals as well as the military -- which is weathering a sequester deal rife with budget cuts forced by congressional Republicans. Hill’s Democratic opponent, labor-union leader Jeremy Lau, mustered 42.1 percent of the vote in a special election held after Rep. Clay Ford died in March. Lau, a 40-year-old aircraft mechanic for L-3 Com Vertex Aerospace, a military contractor at Pensacola Naval Station, had made Medicaid expansion his No. 1 issue.
here
Put an R at the end of your name and some folks will vote for you no matter what.

Taylor Chapman Of Fort Lauderdale

 Taylor Chapman  filmed and shared a video over the weekend of her screaming racist insults at Dunkin’ Donuts workers in Fort Lauderdale over a request for free food that was not immediately granted. The woman, identified by The Smoking Gun as 27-year-old Taylor Chapman, visited the eatery a night prior and demanded to have her meal price refunded when her cashier was slow to hand over a receipt. Another associate asked her to return the next morning and speak with a manager, which supposedly led to the confrontation seen on the video.
 “This shit’s about to go live, bitch!” Chapman screams at a female employee. “Right on Facebook, ’cause I already posted what your dumb ass did last night, so I hope you’re happy with your little fucking sand n—er self… I’m about to nuke your whole fucking planet from Mars. You think ya’ll are tough, big fat Arabs bombin’ the trade center? I’ll show you tough.”
She also called the employee “a complete cunt sand n—er whore,” and shouted: “I just want my bacon crispy and my people to be nice.” Chapman is even heard on the video wishing the footage gets “a million fucking hits,” which is likely a low estimate of the views it will get thanks to all the media attention since Monday.
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Just Say No To Rays Stadium In Tampa

Corporate Welfare For MLB, Billionaire Owners and multi millionaire Players!
Leaders split on using downtown Tampa tax for Rays ballpark. Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn's staff caused a stir 18 months ago when they said the city might be able to generate $100 million for a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium from downtown property taxes. That could go a long way toward helping to pay for a potential $500 million or $600 million ballpark.

here
As i mention in my post on Feb. 8th, Remember what happened in Arlington, Texas.

2013 Florida Middle Class Champions

Thank Florida's Middle Class Champions
here

Who Is Running The Asylum?

Right-Wing Media Plead With Rubio To "Walk Away" From Senate Immigration Reform Bill

Ingraham: Rubio Will "Rue The Day That He Became The Gang Of Eight's Poodle" Unless He Walks Away From Immigration Reform.
Bill Kristol: Rubio Should Walk Away From Immigration Reform.
Michelle Malkin: "Why Doesn't Rubio Form A Gang Of One And Dare Washington" To Pass Stricter Immigration Security.
Breitbart.com: Rubio Should "Put The Security Of Our Nation First" And Vote No On Immigration Reform.
here

Florida Right-Wing Blogger Running For Congress

Conservative blogger Jorge Bonilla from the right-wing Florida blog the Shark Tank announced that he is a Republican candidate for the U.S. Congress in Florida. He will be facing off with Congressman
Alan Grayson, in Florida’ 9th Congressional District.
here

Stormsian

What ever The Times is paying Sue Carlton it is not enough.
One day down the road, the silver-haired grandmas and grandpas of Hillsborough County may gather the children close to tell the tale of Ronda Storms and all she once wrought. How she had a heart of fire and brimstone and also the hearts of not a few like-minded voters. And how one day in 2005, in less than two minutes at a Hillsborough County Commission meeting, she used her powers to sway, or maybe in some cases to cow, the board into voting to send a message across the land.

here

The Worst Charity In America

Is right here In Holiday
 Every year, Kids Wish Network raises millions of dollars in donations in the name of dying children and their families. Every year, it spends less than 3 cents on the dollar helping kids.
here

Sign Posted for Bloomingdale Big-Box Meeting With Al Higginbotham

 Bloomingdale residents opposed to a big-box development in their community are making sure Bloomingdale Avenue residents know about the June 10 meeting with Hillsborough County Commissioner Al Higginbotham.
here

Dress Code In Tampa

Amana Food Market Busch Blvd  In Tampa

UPS Teamsters In Tampa Bay Organize

 Around the country, 250,000 Teamsters are voting on a proposed 5-year contract between the Teamsters and United Parcel Service. Teamster President Hoffa and the contract negotiators are also urging members to vote yes. They have sent out three different letters to the 250,000 members, full of skewed information promoting this tentative agreement. In Tampa, workers have been active in getting the word out. At the beginning of contract negotiations, part-time Teamsters started wearing shirts around the building which said, “UPS part-time poverty”In the UPS Tampa building there are part-timers who have waited more than ten years for a full-time job and there are plenty still waiting for the opportunity.

here 

St. Pete Pride

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Green Party of Tampa

Our planning meetings are on the second Wednesday of every month.
This month’s meeting is on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 7:00pm at
Sacred Grounds Coffee House in Tampa. There has never been a better time to come to a planning meeting and introduce yourself to your fellow Greens!  

We’ll see you there!

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The Ever-Evolving GOP Arsenal

How Republicans Use Pot Law Enforcement To Disenfranchise African-Americans 
 There are many tactics in the ever-evolving Republican Party arsenal for keeping African-Americans and other minorities from voting in a post Jim Crow era. One of the least understood and most effective way of taking blacks off the voting rolls, especially in the South, has been to prevent felons from voting and then arresting every black man in site on marijuana charges.

here

I am Bradley Manning

Visit them here

"The 'Storms' Behind Us Celebration

Andrea and Ronda!
Equality Florida and other rights groups are inviting people to the event getting called "Join Commissioner Beckner -- Pride is Back in Hillsborough"  a congratulatory party for local hero Commissioner Kevin Beckner, who helped make it happen. The event is from 4-6 p.m. Sunday at Hamburger Mary's Bar & Grille, 1600 E 7th Ave in Ybor City.

info

A Tampa Bay Treasure: Hong Kong Willie

Watch 112: Hong Kong Willie on PBS. See more from WEDU Arts Plus.

A Tampa Bay arts & artifacts business transforms trash
and found objects.

Sen. Graham: FBI Holding Back On 9/11 Probe

Former Sen. Bob Graham has accused the FBI in court papers of having impeded a joint congressional inquiry into 9/11 by withholding information about a Florida connection to the al-Qaeda attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.The information includes a recently declassified FBI report that ties a Saudi family who once lived in Sarasota "to individuals associated with the terrorist attacks on 9/1 1/2001.

here

Ronda This One Is For You

Kevin Beckner Rips Hillsborough County's Anti-Gay Pride Law. Before Board Repeals It.
Originally pushed through by hatemonger Ronda Storms in 2005. Back then, only Kathy Castor voted against it. She's now a beloved US Congresswoman, Ms. Srorms is home somewhere in Valrico. Celebrate! A vestige of Ronda's time eliminated with Drinking Liberally tonight 7pm, at Square 1 Burgers in Brandon

The Republican Brand

They eat their own
Cathie Adams, president of the Texas Eagle Forum (a religious right group), and former chairwoman of the Texas Republican party, said in a presentation at a Tea Party meeting that GOP anti-tax activist Grover Norquist is a secret Muslim because, among other things, he sports a beard.
here

Reaching out to African-Americans
Republican Party doesn’t want black people to vote,” per Texas Tea Party.
here

Reaching out to young people
A bill filed in the North Carolina General Assembly this week would remove the state income tax deduction for dependents who register at an address other than their parents.  In other words, parents of college kids would be punished with a new tax if their kids registered to vote at school – thus pressuring the kids not to register to vote.
here

Reaching out to women
•Education troubles began when mothers started working.
•"Liberalized policies" encourage military sexual assault.
•"It's not sexist" for men to be dominant over women, "it's science.
•Hormones found in nature" drive men to sexual assault.
All of it came out of the mouths of prominent Republicans. In the last week.
here

Reaching out to hispanics
Coulter: America has too many Latino, Mexican immigrants.
here
Pic: ZZ Top a Kick-ass American rock band from Houston, Texas. They are not Muslim.

The Citrus Taliban: Pahokee Edition

This June, Lake Okeechobee Resort in Florida will be hosting a Summer Solstice festival. The Lake Okeechobee Summer Solstice Festival will feature workshops on Celtic Reconstructionism, drumming, belly dancing, gardening, and runes, with musical performances by Lord Alexian, Hecate’s Wheel, and others. It is the first such festival in Pahokee, Florida, and if the local Christians have their way, it will be the last.

here

Florida's Michele Bachmann

Allen West Talks Possible Obama Impeachment
What is Alen West up to these days besides trying to impeach Obama?
has converted his campaign committee to a federal PAC and registered it as Deep Strike PAC. Deep Strike PAC will support or oppose more than one federal candidate and is affiliated with the Allen West Guardian Fund, his leadership PAC. The treasurer is Gregory Wilder in Deland, Florida......here
 He might run for president in 2016.....here
And still stoking conservative paranoia.....here

Tea Party In Tampa

 Obama Is Targeting Whites And Christians
According to John Junstrom of Tampa who along with his crazy comrades hung out at IRS office in Tampa. Decked in red, white and blue and waving American flags, some in the crowd of about 120 people on Columbus Drive wore shirts declaring themselves patriots, proud to be Americans.
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Wasn't the head of the IRS at the time this was going on appointed by President Bush?

Florida's Bill Nelson - Let The Poor Starve

 28 Senate Democrats voted with the Republicans
Our own Bill Nelson was one of them.
Kirsten Gillibrand a Dem. from NY proposed to restore the $4 billion that the current farm bill--designed by Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Thad Cochran (R-MS)--cuts from SNAP (Supplemental Food Assistance, known as food stamps and to offset this restored funding with a limitation on crop insurance reimbursements. Our current crop insurance subsidies benefit large farms at the expense of smaller ones and are one of the many glaring manifestations of corporate welfare that Congress never fixes.  Gillibrand's amendment would, in essence, cut corporate welfare spending to restore social welfare spending.......more

Click to Take Action

Nelson will be a speaker at the Democratic Party's Jefferson-Jackson Dinner. This is the guy the FDP wants to run for governor? Check out Nan Rich. A real democrat.

Tampa protests Florida Senator Marco Rubio

 Protesters gathered in front of Senator Marco Rubio’s Tampa office to criticize the Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill currently being debated in the U.S. Senate and to demand, “Legalization for all!”
here
Poor guy he is getting it from all directions.

Tampa Light Brigade

Visit them on Facebook

Students Irises Scanned At A Polk County School

JJ-Gate: Liberal Champion Nan Rich

Alot is being said about the Florida Democratic Party not allowing Nan Rich to speak at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner. RPOF chairman Lenny Curry is loving every minute. Here's a message he sent out to Democrat Voters in Florida, and they have launch a "FreeNanRich" Twitter campaign.

Anthony Man of the Sun Sentinel writes "Republicans are having some fun rubbing salt in the Democratic Party wounds over the state Democratic chairwoman’s refusal to allow gubernatorial candidate Nan Rich a speaking slot at the big party fundraising dinner next month in Hollywood." But fellow Tampa Bay liberal blogger Michael Hussey of Pushing Rope said it best when he wrote: " This has less to do with the FDP and more to do with the DNC clearing the way for a Charlie Crist or Bill Nelson campaign." Why does the Democratic Party always brush aside as Howard Dean put it many years ago "The Democratic wing of the Democratic Party". Lets look at who is speaking, Charlie Crist? Ex Republican, Debbie Wasserman Schultz? Democrat In Name Only and Bill Nelson? Center Right at best.

Nan Rich For Florida Governor 2014

The Citrus Taliban Protest 'Gay Day

Several Religious Right groups are protesting Disney's annual 'Gay Day' at their theme parks. The Florida Family Association has two airplanes flying banners in English and Spanish over Central Florida, warning people to avoid Disney World because there will be people “promoting their various alternative lifestyles.” The Christian-advocate group One Million Moms claims Gay Day “is planned with the intent to expose and desensitize children to this lifestyle by
same-sex couples holding hands, hugging and kissing.”
In their e-newsletter, One Million Moms states: "How would you feel if you entered the Magic Kingdom anticipating a normal day of fun with your family only to witness thousands of same-sex couples holding hands, hugging, kissing and wearing tee-shirts that promoted their lifestyle?"
here
“Gay Day” at Disney World is EVIL!
here
Cash is good no matter where it comes from. Walt Disney World merchandise shops are preparing for the upcoming annual Gay Days event at the Magic Kingdom. Shops within the theme park are featuring red shirts with rainbow-colored Mickey Mouse heads, as well as rainbow mugs, wallets and more.
here

Rally At MacDill For Bradley Manning

For more pics here
I must say the 2 TPD officers that were there were very nice. They even stopped  traffic on  Dale Mabry so the protesters could get across.

Rep. Kathy Castor’s Exceptional Courage

In a first for U.S. politics, a Florida member of Congress is becoming a figurehead for the U.S. movement to normalize relations with Cuba. The Center for Democracy in the Americas, a Washington-based advocacy group, highlights Rep. Kathy Castor’s increasingly prominent role by honoring her on June 27 for “exceptional courage” in speaking and acting in favor
of dropping the U.S. embargo and travel ban.

here
Pic: Ms. Castor with Cuban dissident/blogger Yoani Sanchez Mar 29, 2013 in DC.

Endangered Tiger Cub Trio Born at Busch Gardens

Three endangered Malayan Tiger cubs were born at Busch Gardens Tampa on March 31. The litter consists of two males and one female, each weighing between six and seven pounds.

here

Cuba Journal: An Open E-Mail to Barack Obama

Cuba Journal repudiates and condemns your failed policies toward Cuba. Cuba IS NOT a terrorist state. What you should do instead is put a stop to your extra-judicial executions with unmanned drones throughout the world. That constitutes real state-sponsored terrorism.
here
Sign Petition

John Stemberger: Florida Family Policy Council

'Anything That Has the Word 'Gay' on it [is] Inappropriate for Kids'
John Stemberger is the president of the Florida Family Policy Council, a conservative Republican group.

Good News For The Keys

Zarubezhneft abandons offshore drilling in Cuba, for now
More than one month after the owner of a drilling platform said it would pull its rig from Cuba, state oil company Unión CubaPetróleo (Cupet) announced in a terse official note that Russian state company OAO Zarubezhneft postponed further offshore exploration. The pullout effectively ends all offshore exploratory drilling in Cuba, for now.
here
We must do all we can to discourage Cuba from drilling off it's coast. Venezuela has all the oil they need.
 If they want to resurrect the cash-starved Cuban economy they should find another way.

Right-Wing Attacts Rubio In Florida

Anti-Immigration Reform
A group called Californians for Population Stabilization said it has spent $100,000 to run a week's worth of ads. Already seen in Brevard County, anti-immigration reform TV ads have popped up
in Tampa and Orlando.
here
Another group called Floridians for Immigration Enforcement have erected a billboard attacking Republican Sen. Marco Rubio’s proposed immigration bill along I-75.
here
Hang in there Mr. Rubio. These people better be thankful they were not around when their ansestors Immigrated to America.

Tampa Hotbed Of Apologists And Proponents Of The Castro Regime

It seems that Tampa has now become a hotbed for apologists and proponents of the vile Castro regime. This motley crew of elected officials and community leaders led by U.S. Representative Kathy Castor are expending large amounts of energy and money to defend and promote the lawless regime of the Castro family, which is the bloodiest dictatorship in the Western Hemisphere.".......Alberto de la Cruz 

Florida's Culture Of Corruption: HB 999

Gov. Rick Scott has signed HB 999, a bill so detested by a host of environmental groups that they brought in former Sen. Bob Graham to try in vain to stop it.  The bill drew more than 350 letters or emails urging him to veto it, They don't care what we think. They care about people like Frank Matthews, who lobbies on behalf of developers, phosphate miners, boat manufacturers, sugar growers, power companies and a garbage company who said
 ""He couldn't be more accommodating, my clients appreciate the Legislature and the governor continuing to protect Florida's resources while promoting economic development and recovery. It's unfortunate regulatory reform is often sensationalized and characterized as anti-environment."
The bill won approval in the House 98-20, with some Democrats joining the Republicans.
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"I care a lot about the environment," the governor said. Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, sponsored the bill. (Patronis is ALEC’s leader in the Florida Legislature.)

Hillsborough County To Revisit LGBT Pride Ban

Cmmissioners will consider a motion to lift the county’s ban on recognizing gay pride events on Wednesday, June 5. at 8:15 a.m. at the County Center at 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., in downtown Tampa. Kevin Beckner, the county’s only gay commissioner, introduced a motion at the last commission meeting that would lift the ban which has been in place since notorious anti-gay, former commissioner Rhonda Storms pushed the bill through.
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“We hope the Commissioners will end this national embarrassment and daily insult to gay people in Tampa Bay.”...Ed Lally Equality Florida’s Tampa development coordinator

Right-Wing Conservative Nut Case

Democrat Jamie Grant

 Nearly made the professor gag.
“We’re not speeding up the death penalty. We’re just slowing down fraud. We’re just simply saying you can’t abuse rules of civil procedure in the appellate process.”
Stephen Harper a professor at Florida International University’s College of Law, nearly gags when he’s read Grant’s quote. “All litigation is legitimate litigation if somebody’s life is at stake,” he responds. Harper worked for nearly three decades inside the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office. He says if a state has a death penalty system it’s imperative that there be a “significant amount” of post-conviction remedies available, because it’s “very complicated stuff.”
here
Tell Gov. Scott to veto HB 7083 here

Peter Schorsch A Thing Of Beauty

Next week, Mayor Bill Foster will ask the City Council to appoint Schorsch to the City Beautiful Commission, which promotes the beautification of the Sunshine City. Schorsch, the president of the Crescent Lake Neighborhood Association, said one of his goals is to preserve and enhance the aesthetic value of the city.
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“I spend some of my free time literally mowing the lawns of elderly neighbors who can't do it for themselves and picking up the snipe signs illegally placed in right-of-ways, I hope I can contribute to making St. Pete a great place to live and work.”
Congratulations

Debbie Wasserman Schultz Is A Democrat?

Nan Rich: Dem Party is "inappropriate" for blocking 5-minute gala speech.
Chairwoman, Allison Tant It's blocking former state Senate Democratic leader Nan Rich, a gubernatorial candidate, from speaking at the annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner. Tant, who decided along with party leaders to keep the June 15 fundraiser at the Westin Diplomat in Hollywood limited to three speakers: Congresswoman and Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and featured speaker Julian Castro, the mayor of San Antonio. I have a solution, lets boot DINO DWS and let Ms. Rich speak instead.
here, Via Pushing Rope
Nan Rich, Democrat for Governor

Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society

The Tampa Bay Chapter of Students for A Democratic Society is a student/youth activist organization. We fight against budget cuts, racism, and social injustice. We organize for good, affordable education, equality, and better future for our community and country.Our aim is to organize ALL students in the Tampa Bay area and give them a voice and power on campus, in their workplaces, and

in their community.

Join them here

Antonio Lee Shot To Death In Tampa

Sligh Middle Magnet School Begging For Books

Why does a public school in Tampa have to beg for books?
On so many levels, this is a disturbing story. In the 9th biggest district in the county (America, …remember America?) a public school (mostly minority) has to beg for books, … while the district has three lavish district headquarter sites (coffee shops included) filled with an army of highly paid administrators… a superintendent making more than $263,000 and many, many others outside the classroom making six figures.
here The story at The Times here

Keyshawn And The Bieber

It seems Justin Bieber likes to drive his  Ferrari around his LA hood like a crazy man. Bucs great Keyshawn Johnson and Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson also live there.  Johnson chased after the singer in his Prius and tried to confront the singer about his dangerous driving habits -- but JB ran away like a scared little child.  Dickerson tweeted "I live in Calabasas too and he needs to slow his ass down."

here

Rally At Rubio's Tampa Office

Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Join us at a rally to let Senator Rubio know that we won't settle for any immigration reform that does not include our GLBT families. Bring signs. Bring a friend. Help us spread the word. We will meet outside the main entrance to the building Can you join us in Tampa on Friday?
Click here for more details and to RSVP

MetroRapid

Free Rides For 2 Weeks
Sleek, shiny, technology-laden and quick — Hillsborough County's newest form of mass transit is meant to lure commuters out of their cars and into a passenger seat.
here
Nice new bus smell.

WMNF: The Third Annual Sunset Tiki Party!

Saturday, June 1st and Sunday, June 2nd
Post Card Inn on the Beach, 6300 Gulf Blvd, St Pete Beach
Tickets and information: here