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

Palm River Icon

Palm River Road And 50th St. Tampa

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

Ritz Theatre Of Ybor City

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?............here

Experts: YouTube not to blame for attack video

Florida Passes Bills Promoting Space Industry

"SB 2526 supports the development of an initiative to diversify the state’s space industry.........here

Support NASA

Why Stogie Likes Tampa Bay

Clearwater, Florida

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

Tampa Ruff Ryders Charity

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

The Shiftless Kid

A moment I've been dreading. George brought his n'er-do-well son around this morning and asked me to find the kid a job. Not the political one who lives in Florida ; the one who hangs around here all the time looking shiftless..........here

Mario Diaz-Balart Called Me A Left-Wing Extremists

''Joe Garcia continues to align himself with left-wing extremists. The latest to join the ranks is Congressman Charlie Rangel,'' reads a statement from Diaz-Balart's campaign. ``He has a long and well-known history of supporting a radical left-wing agenda including supporting higher taxes on working families and appeasing our nation's enemies. Left-wing birds of a feather, tax and spend together.''............here

Victor Dimaio Claims DNC Is Racist

South Carolina and Nevada were allowed to hold their primaries before February 5th because the high percentage of blacks and Hispanics in those states helped compensate for the pasty complexion of Iowa and New Hampshire. That's the basis for an amended legal filing planned by Tampa Democratic activist, Victor Dimaio.........here

Tampa Bay, I Love This Town!

United States of Florida

Regular citizens have finally cried No More! and awakened from their hibernation to reinvent Florida, threatening to ouster a Republican majority focused on causing its citizenry pain, worry and grief........here

I feel Barack Obama believes in the Constitution and innately understands this grand document could lead us back toward the people we are, not the people we have become.....Sunny

Florida's Hate Amendment

This so-called gay marriage ban would not only ban gay marriage, which is already illegal in Florida, it would prevent cities and companies from providing benefits of any sort to gay couples and would also affect many straight couples and just plain roommates in a very negative way..........here

Florida’s Endangered Species

Florida is the home of over 100 endangered and threatened species.......list