Florida Blog

FEMA says no Florida request for drywall

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:00:53 +0000

A FEMA official says the state’s request doesn’t meet the federal criteria for an emergency or major disaster.

Read the original here:
FEMA says no Florida request for drywall

With census, concerns about privacy

admin — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:05:07 +0000

Census officials say too often undocumented residents avoid filling out the census questionnaire, and if they do, some fudge the household numbers. They say that’s unnecessary, because the information doesn’t go to ICE, or for any legal matter whatsoever. It is simply a population and demographic count.

More here:
With census, concerns about privacy

Check your resume

Beach Blogger — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:00:31 +0000

In the job market, the competition is crowded. Experts say only the top two percent of people who apply for a job will get called for an interview — and the difference is often a good vs. great resume.

Read the original:
Check your resume

Rare Lakeland swan injured

Beach Blogger — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:18:12 +0000

One of Lakeland’s prized swans was found injured today, with a fishing hook in its neck, close to an artery. The silver swan is among the most rare in Lakeland, with only three others like it in the world.

Here is the original post:
Rare Lakeland swan injured

Crackdown on homeless in cars

Beach Blogger — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:04:11 +0000

Some of the homeless in St. Petersburg are being told to move along, and take their cars with them. They’ve been living inside the vehicles outside a homeless shelter. But now their landing zone is about to become a no-parking zone.

Read the rest here:
Crackdown on homeless in cars

Crist Says Florida Ports Need To Be More Competitive

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:37:26 +0000

Gov. Charlie Crist says Florida is missing the boat when it comes to the competitive standing of its ports.

Read the original here:
Crist Says Florida Ports Need To Be More Competitive

Bollocks: America’s sweetheart Sandra Bullock trumped by tattooed biker chick!

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:25:41 +0000

Meet the new mistress No. 1 . Nope. Nothing to do with Tiger Woods . This painted young lady is Michelle “Bombshell” McGee . She outed herself in the upcoming In Touch magazine as the mistress of Oscar winner Sandra Bullock ’s husband, West Coast Choppers founder Jesse James . McGee (Courtesy michellebombshell.com/click on the photo for more) The real bombshell here is the story. McGee tells the supermarket glossy that she went to James’ motorcycle garage in Los Angeles one night last year when Bullock, 46, was filming her Oscar-winning lead role in The Blind Side in Atlanta. McGee was trying to land a modeling job at the apparel/motorcycle outfitting company West Coast Choppers but she claims she landed on James within a couple hours. James and Bullock at the Oscars March 7 (click on the photo for more) There’s been nothing leaking from Bullock’s camp at this point. Today, she bailed out on a European junket for The Blind Side without explanation. Bullock’s wholesome roles in films like Miss Congeniality and Speed endeared her as a down-to-earth movie star that fans related to easily. An Austin, Texas, resident, Bullock did surprise observers when she married heavily tattooed bad boy James in 2005. James appeared teary-eyed when Bullock thanked him while receiving her Oscar on March 7. Bullock once told an interviewer that she loved James because she felt he was the first man “who has my back.” Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

Original post:
Bollocks: America’s sweetheart Sandra Bullock trumped by tattooed biker chick!

Recurrent Thought

Beach Blogger — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:35:00 +0000

Honestly, right-wingers, as a class, are very, very stupid. They can’t even tell the difference between a century-and-a-half old respected professional journal of medicine and an advertising circular.

Original post:
Recurrent Thought

An Old Friend Goes West

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:21:00 +0000

When the Northwest Florida Zoo closed last Fall for lack of public funding, it was announced that one of the first creatures to leave was Ivan, the rare komodo dragon. As we recall, local zoo officials wouldn’t say where it went or whether he was sold or given away. Turns out, Ivan up and moved to the Phoenix Zoo, where we just happened to stumble across it on our recent trip. Phoenix is a great location for komodo dragons: hot, dry tropical weather, skilled zoo keepers, a local culture broadly committed to civic education and betterment; tourist promoters who know how to publicize a rare find like Ivan; and local governments and foundations willing to finance educational and tourist attractions for school children and the general public. Not all communities are like that; those, for example, that don’t have a komodo dragon anymore. The day we were there, school buses from all over southern Arizona and thousands of local vehicles and rental cars filled three huge parking lots to overflowing, each one larger than your typical college football stadium parking lot. In Phoenix, they’re spending a million dollars just to build a decent habitat for Ivan and two of his close relatives. (The million came from a foundation .) The Phoenix Zoo is not shy about promoting its komodo dragons, either. While the local press in Northwest Florida barely acknowledged Ivan’s existence or his subsequent departure, in Phoenix everyone is excited over the coup they’ve scored. Media coverage is daily and intense. He and his relatives are “our most popular exhibit, by far,” one zoo official told us. Ivan and the other two Phoenix komodo dragons are well-situated. They have indoor accommodations for the rare cool weather; and, when they’re acting like randy teenagers and have to be separated, lots of space and two pools out of doors — with interesting neighbors. As for Ivan, he’s still getting adjusted to his new surroundings. He was a bit surprised to see someone from the Florida panhandle, but he most graciously invited us to step inside his temporary abode for a chat. Not wishing to interfere with his adjustment to a new home, we felt we should politely decline. We parted most cordially. “Be sure to tell all the lovely boys and girls in Gulf Breeze,” he said as we backed away, “the next time they visit Phoenix, I’d love to have them over for dinner.”

Here is the original:
An Old Friend Goes West

Burglar gets belted by a black belt

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:00:00 +0000

Stupid criminal tip No. 3: When an armed, martial arts instructor tells you to get down on the ground, do it. Mark-Jason “MJ” White was upstairs in the Gainesville house he shares with two sisters when he heard strange sounds coming from below, reports the Gainesville Sun . White, 26, a second-degree black belt who teaches a martial art called Cuong Nhu, armed himself with a curved knife and a scary stick, and rushed downstairs. He found a man trying to climb through a broken window, reports United Press International. White ordered the man to get down on the ground. The man did not listen, and here’s where tip No. 3 comes into to play. “I quickly moved behind him and struck [him] once in the middle of the back and he basically flattened out,” White told UPI. “At that point, he was more pliable.” We bet he was. Christopher Brunson, 22, was arrested and charged with burglary of an occupied dwelling. Police say he admitted breaking the window with a chair. “In essence, he gift wrapped this case for us,” police Lt. Keith Kameg said of White. “He did a great job.” Photo: Christopher Brunson / Gainesville Sun More FloriDUH

Here is the original:�
Burglar gets belted by a black belt