Words vs. Bombs
Did you follow that story about the drug dealers in Palmetto Park who were arrested for trying to terrorize crime watch leaders by throwing Molotov cocktails at their houses? That was the story from the perspective of the St. Pete Times, at least. The Trib (and WFLA-8) took another tack: The big news wasn't that…
The Magic Buses
There's just something so sexy about a campaign bus tour. Everyone is doing it this year. I guess a train whistlestop tour is too old-fashioned? First, there is Democratic governor hopeful Rod Smith, who kicked off a bus tour of the state after filing his qualifying papers on Monday. He hits Tampa Bay on Wednesday,…
No Shit?
I have been fascinated this week by the MSM squeamishness over broadcasting or publishing President Bush’s use of the word “shit†in a conversation picked up by an open microphone at the G-8 summit in Petrograd/Leningrad/St. Petersburg. Come on; what’s wrong with shit? I hear 5-year-old kids saying it at the mall but the nation’s…
The Real Problem in Hillsborough County
It seems Hillsborough County commissioners have finally discovered the root of the problem when it comes to our clogged highways. And they are moving forward with a solution! We have far too many people on the streets heading to visit a strip club or out searching for a good spot to burn a flag, judging…
Whigged Out
Here's another installment of our reflections on life-changing albums, this time by music critic Scott Harrell: The Afghan Whigs, Gentlemen (Elektra, 1993) It was my first Florida roommate and new-sounds pusherman Jeff B. who really freed me from the chains of FM-dial slavery. He brought Pixies, The Replacements, The Descendents, Public Enemy, The Buck Pets,…
Cong. 11 Candidate Debate
Pencil this in on your busy social calendars: The Weekly Planet's Political Party live talk show will host a special edition on Wednesday, Aug. 23 featuring a debate between the five Democratic primary candidates for the Congressional District 11 seat. Jim Davis is leaving that Tampa-Bradenton-St. Petersburg seat for his run for governor. We've had…
Cirque du Harris
You gotta love the Katherine Harris campaign for sheer laughs. One day after insisting that it was only her press secretary who is departing this week, it turns out that damn near all the staff is turning over this week. Again. For the umpteenth time. Fact it, if Harris tells you that the sky is…
Dead Soldiers and Democrats
I gotta ask — Have the Democrats lost their freakin' minds? I got an e-mail from Rahm Emmanuel and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee that was the usual twice-weekly pitch for contributions. In it was a link for a sneak preview of a new Democratic video that they are using the rally the troops. And…
Cong. 11 Candidate Debate
Pencil this in on your busy social calendars: The Weekly Planet's Political Party live talk show will host a special edition on Wednesday, Aug. 23 featuring a debate between the five Democratic primary candidates for the Congressional District 11 seat. Jim Davis is leaving that Tampa-Bradenton-St. Petersburg seat for his run for governor. We've had…
Evaluating the Armory
It got absolutely no ink in the daily newspapers, but the city of Tampa’s Armory Selection Committee met this week to hear six redevelopment proposals for Fort Homer W. Hesterly in West Tampa and to give the public a chance to comment. At the Weekly Planet, we had already been pitched the six proposals, for…
Back Spin
Freedom Suite SONNY ROLLINS Riverside While Freedom Suite has not earned the same groundbreaking cred as Ornette Coleman's early work that also emerged in the late '50s, it was certainly innovative for its time. Working in a trio with drummer Max Roach and bassist Oscar Pettiford, tenor saxophonist Rollins navigates the nearly 20-minute title track,…
BLOW ME DOWN
COWBOY DIPLOMACY OVER Bush to launch new "Lame Duck Diplomacy" effort. FRANCE VS. ITALY World Cup final presages much-anticipated World War III rematch. SADDAM CASE CLOSING ARGUMENTS "You want the truth? You can't handle the truth." DEVIL RAYS OF SUNSHINE The Underfunded Boys of Summer take four out of seven games from Yankees, Red Sox.…
Paint with your food
Creative Clay gets down to basics with food art.
Outtakes
NEW RELEASES YOU, ME AND DUPREE (PG-13) Fans of Owen Wilson films will be disappointed to know that his latest picture falls short of the comedy bar he's so firmly established. When the loveable yet immature Dupree (Wilson) gets fired from his job and kicked out of his apartment, he's forced to move in with…
Music Menu
THURSDAY, JULY 13 97X PRESENTS THE SUMMER ROCK SHOW I was just thinking it was about time for Bay area modern-rock station 97X to throw some shindig or other up at Clearwater's Coachman Park, and here it is. The kids love the flagship emo act Taking Back Sunday for some reason or other (though maybe…
Identifying the Victims
For those who come into contact with immigrant populations, such as medical clinicians or social service providers, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has come up with the following checklist of characteristics to look out for: • Evidence of being controlled • Evidence of inability to move or leave job • Bruises…
Get Your Laugh On
COMEDY/FUNDRAISER
MEET RANCID
It would be going too far to say that Rancid was the band responsible for punk's mid-'90s breakthrough to the mainstream … but not a whole lot too far. Hot on the heels of Green Day's Dookie, '95's … And Out Come The Wolves piled all of classic punk's trademarks — the look, the political…
Wine List
Got an upcoming or ongoing wine event? Send information to: The Wine List, 810 N. Howard Ave., Tampa, FL 33606, fax 813-739-4801 or e-mail winestuff@weeklyplanet.com. *UNCORK THIS Tampa Bay Uncorked hosts a wine happy hour at Byblos Mediterranean Café. Features discounted wines and appetizers. Free. 6-8 p.m. Thurs., July 13. Byblos, 2832 South Macdill Ave.,…
Under the Big Top
Books
Spins
Various Artists BLACK ON BLACK: A TRIBUTE TO BLACK FLAG Reignition Recordings Some of metalcore's biggest names populate a surprisingly thrilling tribute album from the label that brought you that extremely uneven love note to Smashing Pumpkins several months back. This time around it's hardcore's most recognizable (and arguably most revered) name getting the treatment,…
Borscht Belt
The draw for St. Petersburg Nights is the entertainment, definitely not the food.
Going Postal
SPINNING HIS WHEELS How far behind the times are you? The cool, chrome rims (Cover Story, "Reinventing the Wheel," by Eric Snider, July 5-11) have been around for years and you are just getting to them! How many years will it take before you notice the rims on custom bikes? I only read part of…
Sour Candy
Jerri Blank, the anti-heroine of Comedy Central's Strangers with Candy, was a fortysomething former junkie, sex worker and high-school dropout starting life over where she left off: as a freshman. Alas, the big-screen "origin story" will disappoint the show's admirers and befuddle everyone else. Jerri (co-creator Amy Sedaris) returns home after a lengthy stint in…
The Blotter
NO DIRECTION IN LIFE: A Tampa woman was walking north on Westshore Boulevard on her way to work. As she passed the Shell gas station on the east side of the street (just north of Kennedy Boulevard) an unknown man approached. The woman told the man that she had no time to talk and had…
ALL TOO REAL
An OK cast misses the intrinsic silliness that is The Miser.
Slaves Among Us
The hidden crime of human trafficking.
IN THE BAG
Bottle vs. Cask: the uphill battle.
Upcoming Releases
The following releases will be in stores Tues., July 18: Alien Ant Farm, Up in the Attic (New Door) Lily Allen, Alright Still (EMI Rock) Shane Bartell, Too Soon to Say (Sarathan) Scott H. Biram, Graveyard Shift (Bloodshot) Blanc Faces, Blanc Faces (Locomotive Music) Cactus, V (New Media Studio) Chop Tops, Triple Deuces (Split Seven)…
A Burning Concern
DISCUSSION
Keep It Grease-y
Once upon a time, the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Courts played host to thousands of amusement seekers, and, from the 1930s through '60s, the St. Pete Shuffleboard Club boasted upwards of 5,000 members. 'Course, members enjoyed cue and disc action in addition to a slew of social activities, like dancing, card parties, movies and music. Nowadays,…
Trivium’s Pursuit
Orlando-based outfit Trivium isn’t afraid to embrace the metal.
PULL UP A CHAIR
Pinellas Democrats look for a leader.
A BUG’S LIFE
It’s hard to get used to Florida’s more resilient creatures.
Skate to the Music
MUSIC
T Means Traffic
When trafficking victims are found and law enforcement (such as the police or ICE) becomes involved, they are not just sent back to their home countries. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, reauthorized in 2003, created legal immigration relief in the form of the T visa and something called "continued presence" status. Both allow…
Messing With Our Heads
A “tobacco accessories” merchant fights a proposed ordinance prohibiting the sale of drug paraphernalia.
