This is our regular feature where every day I do a quick post with the top posts/stories that I think people should read from the previous day.
1. Florida Citizens for Science – How do we calm the fears?: “As we continue to defend science here in Florida and across the country, it’s important to keep in mind what, exactly, we are up against. These folks are not anti-science just because they kinda don’t like science or find it generally offensive. It truly and completely scares them.”
2. Pam’s House Blend – Gay teen boy in women’s clothing gunned down in Ft. Lauderdale: “Your heart breaks for the family of Simmie Williams. By day he cared for his nephew and cooked dinner in the evening for his mother. But when he went out on the streets of Fort Lauderdale that were known for prostitution as Beyoncé, Simmie crossed paths with lowlifes who shot and killed the 17-year-old, leaving Simmie in the street like a piece of trash.”
3. Incertus (Brian) – This isn’t a joke. It isn’t cute. It isn’t funny.: “A South Florida student who wrote an article about Black History Month said she found a noose hanging near her lunch table.”
4. Blast Off! – I’ll have what he’s smoking: “I’m not sure what Gov. Crist is seeing, but the glasses he’s wearing sure are rosy…As the kids say, OMFG. Charlie, remember Amendment 1, which passed thanks in no small part to your smiling mug on all the billboards? You know, the tax break for the wealthy that’s going to drain $9.2 billion from the state’s coffers, on top of $15 billion in cuts that your pals, House Speaker Marco Rubio and Senate President Ken Pruitt, shepherded through the Legislature? Money that would have gone to public services and schools and, oh yeah, the state universities? Remember now?”
5. BeThink – Where Is the Beef? Where Are the Bees? Planet in Peril: “Late in January 2008, Americans read the startling news, Video Reveals Violations of Laws, Abuse of Cows at Slaughterhouse. Tears were shed by some; most turned away. The footage was too graphic. Countless wished to remain removed from a reality they do not wish to witness. Reports, of brutal treatment towards beefy cattle, were received by many as is steak on a plate. Those who eat the meat think it sad that a cow must be sacrificed in order to fill a human stomach….”
6. Ybor City Stogie – Florida: Congressional Races Round 2: “Florida has 25 representatives: 16 Republicans and 9 Democrats. Filing deadline is May 2, primary is Aug 26. Of the 22 districts with more than 17% veterans, 12 are in Florida; I think this makes Florida an excellent pickup ground – the veterans, traditionally a very solidly Republican group – are tired of the war and tired of being abused by the powers that be. Remember – Democrats support the troops, Republicans support the war.”
7. Avery Voice – No Get Out of Jail card, for a White House Gone Wild!: “Congressman Klein, remind your colleagues in the House, you cannot abandon the responsibility of OVERSIGHT. Do not support the current FISA Bill. Its not TELCOM Immunity they are asking for it’s Immunity of Whitehouse Gone Wild!”
8. Incertus (Amy) – Mawwiage: “Salon has a weird story up about same-sex marriage. Why, it asks, now that people can be married without regard to the sex of the partners, aren’t more gay people getting married!? It goes on to explore the reasons why.”
9. the 13th juror – He cut down his trees because he’s afraid of the homeless … say what?: “People living in a Daytona Beach neighborhood described as ‘already notorious’ are upset about a proposed homeless shelter. One guy even cut down his trees because people were sleeping under them.”
10. the 13th juror – But where will they go?: “Offering limited resources or options for where they can stay, Brevard County officials told residents of a homeless camp they have to leave by Monday.”
11. Interstate4Jamming2 – Mass Transit: Not A Bad Alternative, Considering The Cost Of Gas: “When one considers the voices predicting gas prices to continue heading upward — the latest Lundberg Survey suggests prices will reach as high as $3.50 a gallon for regular by summer — one alternative will likely be for people to discover mass transit.”
12. Pensito Review – Florida Governor Gets Closer to Being McCain’s No. 2: “The St. Petersburg Times’ political writer, Adam Smith, launched the Charile Crist Veep-O-Meter and it’s leaning toward the tanned one. Smith gives a bunch of reasons why John McCain might choose the Florida governor as his running mate, but the most compelling one is money.”
13. Eye on Miami (Genius of Despair) – Sierra Club Meltdown in Florida: “There is big news for Sierra Club Florida but only the Palm Beach Post has reported it. The President of the Board of Directors of National Sierra, Robbie Cox, has sent a threat letter to all Sierra members in Florida. They want to shut down our Florida Chapter for 4 years. In other words, they will still take your money, but they are firing all the volunteers that represent the groups on the State level – The Executive Committee or the Florida Chapter. Yes you heard it, they want to throw out the volunteers. His reason…”
14. Flablog – Evolution fight, cont.: “Rubio: Science=communism. Well, not exactly, but teaching science is a lot like teaching communism.”
15. Draft Joe Garcia – Joe Garcia Bulldozes Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart: “With Fidel Castro resigning, potentially one of the top races in the country for 2008 has been highlighted in the 25th district of South Florida. This race particularly offers a chance to change the landscape on American foreign and domestic policy to a progressive direction and send the signal that the people want something new. Here in this cartoon via the El Nuevo Herald, Democratic candidate and former Miami-Dade Dem Chair Joe Garcia bulldozes over Rep Mario Diaz-Balart.”
16. Draft Joe Garcia – Joe Garcia on ActBlue: “Joe Garcia is now officially on ActBlue. I started a new page called ‘Democrats for Courage’ on Joe’s listing. If you want to help elect a Congressman from Florida who will stand up with courage and lead the Democratic Party and the progressive movement, then make a contribution today.”
17. Blast Off! – Haridopolonomatopoeia gets a gig in Gainesville: “State Sen. Mike Haridopolos (R-Indialantic), a rabid wingnut from my old stomping grounds in Brevard County, has been hired for a $75,000-a-year teaching position at the University of Florida … which is more than two hours distant from his home. This pretty much squelches any thought of him running for Congress, which I had predicted he would do after Dave Weldon (R-Batshit Crazy) announced his retirement. So much for my prognosticatory skills.”
18. Mark Weaver – Mark Weaver Show Recap: “Saturday’s show (now archived) reviewed the Israeli government’s brutal blockade of Gaza and read excerpts from Jimmy Carter’s breathtaking book ‘Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid’…”
19. Interstate4Jamming2 – Bill Nelson: Florida’s Political Equivilent Of Paula Abdul?: “Anyone who watches American Idol will know that singer/dancer and judge Paula Abdul rarely says anything negative regarding a contestant’s performance, no matter how much of a flop he or she is. We saw a touch of that Paula Abdul attitute Friday from Florida’s senior U.S. Senator, Bill Nelson, when he appeared before the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club.”
20. Eye on Miami (Genius of Despair) – Hialeah Park’s Proposed Development has a Protest Song!: “Hit on the audio at this Herald link to hear the ‘Save Hialeah Park’ song. Also check out the You Tube entry featuring Alex Fuentes. According to the Miami Herald: ‘Alex Fuentes, founder of Citizens to Save Hialeah Park, asked Los Primeros to come up with a song that would draw attention to Hialeah Park…”
21. Tallahassee Leaders Forum – Should 16 Year Olds Vote?: “After Super Tuesday, The New York Times (who I love more and more each day) ran this article: You’re 16, You’re Beautiful and You’re a Voter. It is a great article about raising expectations for our young people and the positive effects it can have on their civic participation and future.”
22. Ybor City Stogie – Florida Theme Parks Building Ties With Political Parties: “Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando are building ties with lawmakers through hundreds of thousands of dollars in free tickets, food, drinks and hotel rooms. Campaign records show the two theme parks gave Democrats and Republicans in-kind contributions worth more than $571,000 from 2001 through 2007.”
23. Blast Off! – Something smells Fishy: “It’s interesting to see the reaction to the announcement yesterday that the Miami City Commission and the Miami-Dade County Commission jointly approved a $619 million tax-funded outlay to fund a new retractable roof stadium and parking garage for the Florida Marlins, who will change their name to the Miami Marlins as part of the deal. But even more interesting are the comments appended to the several Herald articles about the move. You might be surprised to learn that there are — gasp! — racists and bigots in south Florida.”
24. Here are the sites in our Candidate Watch Network that have been updated: Florida Senate Watch, Florida House Watch, and Say No to Mario.
25. Also check out CG Radio.
