Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Brian Blair's Love Letter To Chris Ingram

Chris Ingram Stars in War of the Bloggers

We all have a lot on our plates lately -- whether it's jobs, the economy, health, business, family, friends and - like you, I could go on and on; so I enjoy what little personal time I get on the computer.

Recently while on the internet I saw Chris Ingram of "The Irreverent View" Blog's name come up in other places here in Cyberspace. I am happy to say that I know Chris personally via face to face lunches, group political lunches that Chris often has at Datz Deli (excellent food) as well as Political Commentary on Bay News 9. As all of you know, I am often at the top of the charts when it comes to getting "half the story press".

Very much like Chris, I'm a "Straight Shooter" and am humbly unabashed to say what’s on my mind without being "Politically Correct", if you will. The point of this message is to share that I have always found Chris Ingram to be an Honest person with the highest Integrity as well as one of those people you enjoy having a soda or beer with. When he hosts the Datz Deli political events; Chris is always humble, makes sure the focus of the lunch is the invited guests and of course the "Guest Speaker". I have found that whether you agree or disagree (which I have) that his character is great, he’s entertaining and Mr. Ingram does what he does with passion.

As the 'Political Blog" wars continue like a soap opera; I would be remised not to share with you my opinion of a fine gentleman whom I'm glad to call a friend. With that said; I wish everyone who reads this - good health, happiness and God's blessings, during these difficult times. Please remember that it's much easier when you look at the glass "half full”!

Kindest regards,
Brian

Meet & Greet with Tampa City Council Candidates

Thursday, January 27 · 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Streetcar Charlie's Bar & Grille

Ybor City

Monday, January 24, 2011

Locals Tiffany And Allison



Demonstrate The 2010 Dodge Challenger
Park Auto Mall
Tampa Bay

Friends Of Stogie

Mother And Daughter
Franny And Tina
Streets Of Tampa

Florida Judge Paul Hawkes

If the Judicial Qualifications Commission is looking for one clear moment of conduct unbecoming a judge, it could look at 1st District Court of Appeal Judge Paul Hawkes' inaccurate account to a Senate committee this month of his pursuit of the "Taj Mahal" courthouse.

Hawkes and his colleagues didn't act alone. They had help from Republican legislators — including new

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, new Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist and Bush's hands are not clean, either.

(Yet) 1st District voters returned him to the bench for at least another six years in November, even after

St. Petersburg Times senior correspondent Lucy Morgan
reported how he and other judges pursued the new building.

here
You Should Know Your Judges When It's Time To Vote.

Tampa Bay Homeless

Meet "They Call Him Cowboy"
He is from Wisconsin. Has only been in town and homeless for 2 weeks.
Tampa Bay Homeless
We have money to bail out bankers and attack other people's counties but we can't take care of our own.

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Baked Chicken
With Yellow Rice And Platanos.
$3.99........At Deli Plus, 4820 East Busch Boulevard, Tampa
How Much Was Your Last Value Meal?
Eat Local!

Ed Turanchik Mayor



Meet Ed Turanchik, candidate for mayor of the City of Tampa, and learn his positions on the major issues confronting the city.
Ed Turanchik For Mayor

Local Blogger John Masters

On The Violence In Tucson
I have taken time in thinking about what I wanted to write about the events a couple of weeks ago in Tucson. I wanted more information as I wanted a reasoned and circumspect response.
here

Stogie Recommends

Burma VJ: Reporting from a Closed Country
Is a 2008 documentary film directed by Anders Østergaard. It follows the September 2007 uprisings against the military regime in Burma. Some of it was filmed on hand-held cameras, and the footage was smuggled out of the country. Other parts of it were reconstructed, which caused controversy.
Great Film

Linda Saul-Sena Endorses Kelly Benjamin For Tampa City Council

Five Term Tampa City Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena
Endorses Kelly Benjamin for Tampa City Council District 6.
here

"I’ve been acquainted with Kelly Benjamin for a number of years and have always been impressed with his understanding of urban issues, awareness of the challenges facing Tampa and his dedication and determination to solving them in a pragmatic fashion."....Linda Saul-Sena

Schorsch On Ingram Vs. Ciftci

Political commentator Chris Ingram was a friend. Tampa City Council candidate Michael Ciftci is a dear friend. I don’t like it when my friends fight.
here

Sunday, January 23, 2011

A Trolley Conductor For A Day



On The Teco Line Street Car Trolley In Downtown Tampa And Ybor City.

Inside the Lines

Website Debuts To Track Florida’s Redistricting Process
“Inside the Lines” offers the latest news, commentary and information on Florida’s reapportionment process, which is in the initial stage of a two-year process, culminating in the redrawing of the state’s Congressional and Legislative district boundaries.

The content for “Inside the Lines” will be provided by Peter Schorsch, executive editor of two of Florida’s most-trafficked and influential political websites, SaintPetersblog.com and BattlegroundTampaBay.com.

here

Vixens Against Violence

info

JP Puerto - Stupid Old Me



Long Lost Friend

We Support Carrie West

Stogie's Friend Marla With Mr. West
"I am so proud of what you have done for so many people. Let you have a chance to fix this town."......
Marla Pellicone
Go West!

Benjamin On Miranda: He’s An “Anachronistic Luddite"

One of my favorite candidates running in Tampa, Kelly Benjamin, offers a very strong reaction to today’s article from Justin George.
here

Friends Of Stogie

Tina And Fran
More At

Hakoda, The White Rat From Wesley Chapel

I went to PetCo in Wesley Chapel last night for snake food. I struck up a conversation with an employee named Paul who, it turns out, had fallen for this rat and didn't want IT to become snake food. He offered to buy the rat if we would take it. This, of course, was after I had told him of my love for rats and how I could only feed frozen/thawed food to my snakes. I called John, my husband, and had the guy talk to him. John heard "snake food," and said we'd take it. The guy was incredibly grateful to us. He was in tears, and even hugged me!
When we got home and I let the rat, by then dubbed Hakoda, out, he immediately went over, laid down by John, and just snuggled there, enjoying the attention and love. This may have been very special timing, as one of my rats, Roku, seems to be deteriorating in health, and I want to try to have 3 rats at all times, as they live in colonies in the wild and do better in small groups. I stopped by again today to update Paul, and he was thrilled that Hakoda has a good home and is being taken care of. He wants us to take him by next weekend for a visit.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Cheeseburger
With Fries
$3.99.......At The Gas Station On The Northwest Corner Of Busch Blvd. And 50th Street
How Much Was Your Last Value Meal?
Eat Local!

Personhood Florida Enlists Pastors

The group sponsoring a ballot initiative that seeks to ban abortion and some forms of birth control says it plans on enlisting the help of Florida pastors this weekend, in an effort at gathering “several thousand” signatures to coincide with the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.
here

FloridaOrBust Live - Kicked Out Ybor City



Here's a clip from the Florida or Bust REAL TV series filmed of me and fellow, South Carolina music artist Cash Wade. We shot a video while down there and here's some of the outtakes of fun things we did while visiting Ybor City. This Live Show 2 footage was just of us performing on some steps in Ybor City, just because we felt like Jamming. Security came and told us we had to leave and stop playing in that area.

City Of Tampa And It's Kooky Ideas

Dale Mabry Highway And Kennedy Boulevard
Tampa officials moved to enact a St. Petersburg-style ban on panhandling, charity drives and newspaper sales on the city's busiest roads. "It is a good compromise," said Chairman Thomas Scott. Joining Scott in support of the ordinance were council members Gwen Miller, Mary Mulhern and Curtis Stokes.
here

"A ban might be popular but does nothing about unemployment or homelessness. We have a problem. We're not addressing how to solve it. We're addressing how to get rid of it."......Charlie Miranda

Ms. Mulhern I Am Very Disappointed In You.

On The Right Path

The other day i read a great post from the Tampa Do-Gooder and then i ran into this situation. The Stogie was the chauffeur for his nephew Ceasar and his friends Eric and Josh. We were driving on Henderson Road in Tampa at night. We notice a man pushing his car. Ceasar suggestive helping him out, his friends agreed. The results are above.

For that these young men belong on the Stogie, and thank you Tampa Do-Gooder for the inspiration.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Friends Of Stogie

Streets Of Tampa Bay

Buffalo Soldiers



In Honor Of Black History Month
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute presents british actor Cedric Liqueur in his one-man theatrical production depicting the life and bravery of Williamson County African-American Buffalo Soldier George Jordan at The Centro Asturiano in Ybor City. With special guests Tedd Woodard and Richard Thomas of the Florida Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club.

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Chicken Piccata
With Yellow Rice, Platanos And A Salad.
$6.95.....At Latam at The Centro, 1913 Nebraska Ave, Ybor City
How Much Was Your Last Value Meal?
Eat Local!

Tampa Bay Homeless

Meet Homeboy Glenn
He has been homeless since 2005.

Garden Party For Mary Mulhern

With Special Guests Alan Snel And Robin Milcowitz
RSVP: 813.253.8803
You can contribute online by clicking
here
Contributions by check can be mailed to:

Mary Mulhern Campaign
2527 W. Watrous Ave.
Tampa, FL 33629

Thank you for your time, dedication and generosity. Remember Vote on or by March 1st!

Vote Kelly Benjamin For City Council



Part 1: West Tampa

The Spencerian Is Six Years Old

Congratulations!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Cedric Liqueur In Ybor City

Buffalo Soldiers Performance: First Sergeant George Jordan
Jan. 21, 12:15pm

Centro Asturiano
1913 N Nebraska Ave, Ybor City
info

Tough Times Ahead for Florida

Recent data released from the Census Bureau shows that Jacksonville, Florida is the home of one of the largest communities of gay parents in the country. However, Florida’s Governor Rick Scott has just appointed a conservative Christian by the name of David Wilkins
as the head of the Department of Children & Families.
According to the Miami Herald:
Wilkins, a member of the governor’s transition team, is the finance chief of the Florida Baptist Children’s Home, a private agency that allows only “professing Christians” to adopt children in its care.
Baby Pic Courtesy Of Danyelle Jones.

We Are Change Tampa Confront Commissioners



Fluoride poisoning exposed by WAC Tampa we slam county commissioners for accepting putting a certified toxin in our water and forcibly medicating the public.

Tampa Do-Gooder

Leaving The Path Of Least Rresistance
I came up with Tampa Do-Gooder over a year and a half ago so I could focus on that giving side of myself and others, and I'm still surprised when I come across true do-gooders. I may have the heart and the desire, but I spend more energy frustrated and not knowing how I can best help than actually doing. Intentions are great motivators but they fade like dreams when you fail to act upon them.
here

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Republicans Wasting Our Money

Swiftly Honoring A Campaign Pledge
Newly empowered Republicans pushed legislation to repeal the nation's year-old health care overhaul through the House Wednesday night, brushing aside implacable opposition in the Senate and a veto threat from President Barack Obama.
here
Showing-Off To The Flock!

Live On Bay News 9 From Blake High School

Conversation With The Candidates
Feb. 8 at 7 p.m.
Bob Buckhorn, Rose Ferlita, Dick Greco, Thomas Scott And Ed Turanchik.
The monkey cannot make it.
info

Stop The War On The Cuban People

Free Flow Of Information - End The Embargo
Let me offer a bit of hopeful prognostication: someday the embargo will go away. Probably not tomorrow, not the next day, not next week, probably not even next year. The embargo hurts the people of Cuba, not the terrible regime (even a kid can understand this concept)."......The Spencerian
Flights To Cuba Out Of TIA

Tampa Bay Homeless

Meet Lonnie
He has been homeless 9 months. He is from Tampa.
Tampa Bay Homeless

Kind Words From Peter Schorsch

A Brief Tribute To The Ybor City Stogie
All of the rich-and-powerful who read this site, all of the political players who I hope read my work, all of the Masters-of-the-Universe at the Governor’s Club lounge or the Tampa Club…far too few of them read, much less agree with, the writings of the Ybor City Stogie – a rudimentary cut-and-paste of Florida and Tampa Bay’s right-wing.

But I read you Stogie. And so did many others. They may not walk the corridors of power (maybe they do) but you’re readers are out there. Your features on the homeless, on the downtrodden, on the discriminated are, on one hand, heartbreaking; on the other hand, they are inspiring.

Stogie, you’ve got balls. You recently, oh-so-subtlety called out some of our fellow bloggers, asking where the hell is everybody. And for that alone, you have my respect.

In your eyes, Stogie, I must seem like a sell-out because I don’t fight for every left-wing or Democratic candidate. In fact, there are quite a few Republicans I support, respect and admire. But that’s me — working from the inside out. You keep doing what you are doing — reminding all of us what we should be saying and thinking.


Peter Schorsch

Local Republicans Bicker

Michael Ciftci Is Squirrel Poop
In a post published earlier Tuesday on CL’s News & Politics site, CL contributor and Republican political consultant Chris Ingram took a shot at Michael Ciftci. A fellow Republican who is running in the District 3 Tampa City Council seat this March......From Mitch Perry, From Chris Ingram

Tampa Target Of Partial Panhandling Ban



Tampa City Council Chairman Tom Scott is proposing a partial city ban on panhandling that would include major roads like Dale Mabry, Kennedy, Fowler and Fletcher.

Mr. Scott you are running for mayor and this is the best you can come up with?

WTF

Should Mr. Obama be according Mr. Hu the kind of pomp and circumstance ordinarily reserved for more like-minded allies. The 2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Liu Xiaobo, is a political prisoner in China. And Mr. Obama himself won the prize in 2009.

“It creates a situation where a Nobel Peace Prize laureate is hosting a banquet for a leader who is imprisoning another Nobel Peace Prize laureate.”.....Michael Green

Homeless Dwellings

In Tampa
Tampa Bay Homeless

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Parrilla Argentina
With Black Beans And Yellow Rice
$13.00.....At El Puerto Restaurant In Ybor City
Eat Local!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

SWFBUD's PSA Poster

SWFBUD believes both motorists and bicyclists need to be educated about road safety and that we're all responsible.
info

Tampa Bay Homeless

Meet Lisa
She has been homeless 18 years. She is from Georgia.
Tampa Bay Homeless

WMNF's Record and Book Sale

Saturday, January 22nd
WMNF members, get in before the rest of the crowd at 9:30am. The rest of you can come in at 10am.
Cuban Club In Ybor City

Grass Root Organic Restaurant

2702 N. Florida Avenue In Tampa
info

Eat Local!