“I can’t teach common sense”
That was Bradenton's police chief speaking, referring to Officer Nicholas Evans, who (now, as a matter of police legend) arrested a veteran homeless woman-with-cart (on a prior warrant) and then, in an act of kindness to help her keep her worldly possessions together, literally dragged the cart alongside his cruiser (with his hand out the…
Morning Roundup
Today's must-reads: Further evidence that Tampa Bay increasingly wants more transit options. Tampa Taxi blog writes: "Racist holiday rammed down our throats." Nice bulleted list of insurance fixes on the table as the special session begins today. Tommy Lasorda and the RFK assasination.
Critical Updates
We didn't get to note the departure late last year of the Tampa Tribune's arts & theater critic, Amanda Henry, who also pitched in as one of that paper's restaurant reviewers. Now, the word among Trib staffers is that not only is Henry gone, but so is her position. E-limin-ated. Over at the St. Petersburg…
The End of an Era in College Newspapering
There are quite a few Florida journalists who went through the doors of the Independent Florida Alligator student newspaper in Gainesville, and for all of them, today is a sad/happy day as longtime General Manager and President C.E. "Ed" Barber retires after 30 years in that position. He joined the staff in 1963, as a…
The Gangs of Palm Beach County
The sheriff said the county is about to become Miami back in the "Miami Vice" days, what with the Top 6, the MS-13, the San Castle Soldiers, and the other gangs. 101 murders last yr. Gangs responsible for more than half (and maybe 3/4) of all the violent crime. [Palm Beach Post via Miami Herald]…
Trouble on the City Council
The latest round of campaign financing reports are in, and it looks like the Tampa City Council's two black incumbents could be in some trouble as the March 6 elections race toward us. Longtime Councilwoman Gwen Miller has raised only $16,000 in her citywide re-election bid, including — for the diehard Democrat — some Republican…
Afternoon Roundup
Happy MLK day: Speaker Pelosi says, "Sorry, Charlie." (via PEER Review) More inside skinny on the Bubba Clem wedding from Eric Deggans, with pictures!! Sax player Michael Brecker is dead, of leukemia.
New Game #1
In the first (and quite possibly last) installment of a continuing (maybe) series of undiscovered bar games, we present a new game for the watering hole sportsman: Name: Punch Polo.Creators: Creative Loafing Account Execs Anthony Carbone and Allison Currey.Moniker Engineer: Sales Manager James Howard.Inspiration: “Punch Buggy†(aka "Slug Bug").Prerequisites: Several alcoholic beverages; the willingness to…
Miami Blinks in Homeless Standoff; St. Pete Trying Hard
The Miami city commissioners yesterday suddenly turned soft on their proposed shanty-clearing law that would allow them to tear down the homeless demonstration in Liberty City. Instead, the commissioners will, get this, help the participants. St. Petersburg has been trying that approach at its own tent city demonstration for the past two weeks but has…
Morning Roundup
Sailing away on the crest of a wave, it's like magic: WMNF is looking for a few good people. Breaking down the 2008 presidentials' connections in Florida. Breaking down the 2008 Republican presidential candidates. Former Weekly Planet staffer Trevor Aaronson has gone mainstream, at the Memphis Commercial Appeal (see halfway down this column.) Huffington's interview…
Basketball, Football, Brainwork: Is There Anything U of F Can’t Do? (Wait, Brainwork?)
Well, yeah, Gainesville's world-class McKnight Brain Institute just got a $1.5 million gift to study addiction, and ostensibly it has nothing to do with the binge drinking that the school is famous for. Now, what's up with the donor, from Orlando, whose name is, well, Donald R. Dizney. [Gainesville Sun]Keys to Ending Corruption in the…
Kissing Baker’s Ass, Day 2
Not to be outdone by the Tampa Tribune's editorial smooching of St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker for his handling of the homeless problem in his city, the St. Petersburg Times today handed over a huge chunk of its op-ed real estate to Baker so he could make his case directly to the readers. Sensing the…
Loves Noose
Name of Kama Sutra Position: Loves Noose Getting into the position: The woman is lying flat on her back with her legs spread. The man approaches her from above and straddles her in such a way that he can encircle and entrap her thighs with his own. Now the man is instructed to "enjoy the…
Rubio Gets in Big Insurance’s Face
It turns out that incoming state House Speaker Marco Rubio of Miami is more than a free-spending interior decorator. He went right for big-insurance's jugular yesterday by demanding all the background data and analyses the industry uses to set its rates in Florida. (No can do, says the research firm that sells the data to…
Morning Roundup
Surging ahead: The Happy Couple. Great Buzz item on Gov. Crist not getting invited to the Lincoln Bedroom any time soon. SoCal pedal steel legend "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow has died.
From China with love
Love in the time of cholera (and beyond)
Heel!
Each of our two big-city mayors has a weakness. Iorio is addressing hers
Big ball o’ love
The cat’s in the cradle and then out the door
Capsule reviews from recently reviewed movies
Arthur and the Invisibles, Notes on a Scandal
Reggae from the U.K.
Pato Banton, Galactic, Fred Eaglesmith
Size really doesn’t matter
Miniature Art Show
The Sole Inhabitant
Thomas Dolby
What is the United States doing to help Iraqi refugees?
Your War Questions Answered
Mad skills
Z Grille’s fare is infused with expert preparation
A step into spring
Robert Constable creates a composition to precede Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring
Events around the city
Wine tastings and dinners
Bandwagonesque
Teenage Fanclub
Shining through
Top-notch acting makes this Asolo Conservatory offering a must-see
CL‘s picks for the week
King Jr. Unity Celebration, Massage Therapy Seminar
Dear Nancy,
You’re the first woman Speaker of the House. Get to work.
Star face
FILM
What’s in a name?
Port fights for its rights
Haunted by Birmingham
THEATER
CL’s previews of upcoming shows
Eric Johnson, Linda Eder, Moonshine Still
Glass eyes
A look inside the collaborative world of glass-making
Icing the holder
Tony Romo, Marilyn Mason, the president
Celebrating diversity
SPECIAL EVENTS
Letters to the Editor
Top 10 Issue, Advice Goddess
Mothers day
Volver
Upcoming concerts
Guy Davis, Mastodon, the Lemonheads
Spins
Clipse, Matt Wilson’s Arts & Crafts
