Leilani’s Top Five Favorite Songs of the Week
“Spinal Meningitis (Got Me Down)†– Ween “Leave the Light On†– Brothers Past “Sky Saw†– Brian Eno “Running in Fear from Imaginary Assailants†– Charlie Hunter Trio “Buy Africa†– Fela Kuti What are yours? And what do these songs say about you?
New Pinellas group for LGBT Democrats
Pinellas County has a new political organization devoted to the interests of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Democrats, its first chapter of the Stonewall Democrats. Organizer Rick Boylan of St. Pete Beach said the group is meeting on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Pinellas Democratic Headquarters, 2250 First Avenue…
THE FIRST ANNUAL JOE BARDI MAKEOVER PARTI
Our boy's all growns up. After months of “Queer Eye†badgering, Joseph Bardi and his admittedly terrible hairstyle have been redone. The butt cut: Now a thing of the PAST. Of course, the blog was there to cover the FAJBMP, which turned out to be a fabulous affair. We saw folks eat. We saw Joe…
Food For Thought
We need to have a serious discussion of how the editing of blog posts is going to occur. I understand the reasons for CL wanting to have all posts edited before they go live, but I also think that that process is completely counterintuitive to the speed with which the blog should operate. In other…
House Rules
NO EMAILS, por favor C'mon, gang, this thing ain't live. If you want to make changes to it, figure out a name, and a design theme (personally, I think tacky Florida would be awesome), and then we can have one big long blog talk. Add suggestions to this post instead of sending me 100 emails.…
Haiku Review Presents Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire
ACT ONE Quidditch Cup uproar Death Eaters on the march as the Dark Mark appears Hogwarts plays host to the Triwizard Tournament and intrigue abounds you'd think we'd have heard of two other magic schools long before now, right? ACT TWO Harry's fourteen now the times they are a-changin' chicks are looking good but first…
Blogging it up
I would like to thank Wayne for teaching me how to blog. No doubt you'll all be riveted by my posts. I was just typing up this letter to the editor re: Useless jobs for next week. Thought it was mildly funny… “Speaking of useless jobs, how about reporters who probably smoke dope all day…
The Wesson-ator
Sure, it’s a publicity stunt, but as stunts go, it’s pretty good, and the issue is a vital one. Tampa congressional candidate Scott Farrell left today on a Tampa-to-Washington, D.C. political tour in a campaign RV that has been converted to run on waste vegetable oil, the kind left over after your French fries are done.Diesel…
Woo-hoo!
Look at me! I'm blogging! Blogitty-blog-blog-blog!!!
A helpful Hint
There's actually a web page that will generate all the HTML strings you need for posting links to the blog. The page also has many tips that will be very helpful to new bloggers. I added clickable links to the ends of the news bites below using the info from the tag generator. Check out…
Preview of a Future Write Up: Varekai
The sight of the blue- and yellow-striped tents brings a thrill of heady anticipation. I’m suddenly reminded of my last visit, a vivid recollection of me and Phil standing outside in the brisk fall weather, puffing down our cigarettes as fast as possible, fingers stiff with cold. Strange to think that I haven’t been a…
I’m in
Maxwell has graciously helped this geezer to sign up on the blog. I am officially breaking my blog cherry, right now!
A Drop in the Bucket
Democratic congressional candidate (and former boss o' mine) Phyllis Busansky reports raising $25,000 at a Thursday afternoon luncheon that featured Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel as a guest. Only 30 more luncheons like that to go before she catches up to Republican Gus Bilirakis' fundraising total as reported Sept. 30.
Ascots v. Dickeys
For the less-snobbish Planet staffers, however, there is another choice in passe neckwear: the dickey.Just as (im)practical, equally neck-warming, and even more removed from common fashion sense, the dickey is the working-person's ascot. Egalitarian. Of course, the patron saint of the modern era of dickeys is Randy Quaid, whose brilliant portrayal of Cousin Eddie in…
“Ascots Still ‘Right on Target’ Claims Ascot Salesman”
A certain Planet staffer, in fact, the only Planet staffer who would ever do so, was recently touting the virtues and apparent unavailabilty of ascots. Look no further Mr. Snider. The ascot wagon has arrived.
Summer of Sami – No Mistrial
The jury will keep deliberating the fate of the former USF professor. Judge James S. Moody Jr. has denied a motion by the four defendants in the Sami Al-Arian case for a mistrial after one juror reported that an Al-Arian-related news item was inadvertantly left in their morning Tampa Tribune before Thanksgiving. The tiny item…
Reggie Bush Can Ball
Check out this NYT story from yesterday, and click on the video link. This guy would own Retention Field at Eason Memorial Park. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/30/sports/ncaafootball/30reggie.html
garcia=genius
run. pass. football. politics. the man is a wordsmith.
Will Coach Run? Or Pass?
Will Bob "Coach" Henriquez run for the Hillsborough County Commission? Even he doesn't know right now, and in the course of writing a story today about the Planet's art critic mulling (or wold that be Mul-herning? more on that to come) a run for the same seat, I talked to Coach, who is a member…
hey hey
look at that. the internet works. now look at this
Wine List
2ND ANNUAL CLASSIC CORK 107.3 FM The Eagle presents its second annual fundraiser for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Taste fine wines, appetizers and browse the silent auction items. $15 per person; $25 per couple. 6-9 p.m. Dec. 1. Channelside, 615 Channelside Drive, Tampa (727-579-2246 or www.1073theeagle.com). THE HOLIDAY WINE SHOWCASE Step right up and see…
Main Venues
The Florida Orchestra, 800-662-7286 or www.floridaorchestra.com. Largo Cultural Center, 501 Central Park Drive, Largo, 727-587-6793. Palladium Theater, 253 Fifth Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 727-822-3590, www.mypalladium.org. The Pier, 800 Second Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg, 727-821-6443. Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 N. McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater, 727-791-7400, www.rutheckerdhall.com. Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, downtown Tampa,…
Outtakes
NEW RELEASES AEON FLUX (PG-13) Based on the popular MTV animated series of the '90s, Aeon Flux takes us 400 years into the future to the last city on Earth. Charlize Theron stars as an underground operative leading the rebels against totalitarian rule of a seemingly perfect society. Also stars Martin Csokas, Jonny Lee Miller…
Big Screen Ballet
Behind the scenes of the most influential ballet troupe of the 20th century.
Irish Intimacy
After building substantial credibility with her 1987 debut album The Lion and The Cobra and attaining multi-platinum success with the Prince-penned hit "Nothing Compares 2 U" in '90, gifted singer/tireless provocateur Sinead O'Connor basically wore out her entertainment-industry welcome sometime during the mid-'90s via a series of increasingly bizarre outbursts and announcements. She's continued to…
Sayonara Mr. Miyagi
Pat Morita waxes off We will always remember him for his turn as "Oriental #2" in Thoroughly Modern Millie. (God bless imdb.com.) teen driver, distracted by text messaging, kills colorado cyclist "BRB ht n x'd bkr" wireless survey says one in four tampa bay cell owners use their phones to vote for reality show contestants…
The Holidazed happenings List
ART EXHIBITS & HOLIDAY SHOPPING Christmas Lights from a Speeding Car An exhibit of abstract digital photography by Hampton Dohrman. The closing reception takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. Fri., Dec. 2. Free admission. Centre Gallery, USF-Tampa, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, 813-974-5464. Holiday Members' Show The 10th annual exhibit represents more than 70…
Planet Picks
HUMOR ON THE DRY SIDE In his nine-year run as a Saturday Night Live cast member, Kevin Nealon deadpanned fake newscasts as the "Weekend Update" anchor, planted subconscious barbs as Mr. Subliminal, and prevented muscle-headed jocks from becoming "girliemen" as Franz, the Austrian bodybuilder. On the new Showtime comedy series Weeds, Nealon plays a perpetually…
Shopping in the Sunshine
Freebie
Mum’s the F-Word
Profanity is a vice, but is it also an addiction?
Not Airing America
Conservative talk dominates radio hereabouts, but Air America’s negotiating.
Music Menu
THURSDAY, DEC. 01 HOT HOT HEAT w/THE RED WALLS/DIAMOND NIGHTS Canadian hipster fave Hot Hot Heat moved from semi-experimental synth-punk to (comparatively) more straightforward indie-pop fare, and rode this year's Elevator to MTV2 buzzdom. Those interested in being the first to hear the newest should come early and check out NYC's Diamond Nights, a rising…
Letters
SMELL THE ROSES I am writing in regard to your article on "The Most Useless Jobs In The World" (Cover Story, Nov. 9-15). I would like to add one more: Critics, in all categories: food, music, movies, etc. This job is based on only one criteria, that is, their opinions. Many times over my years…
Where The Air Is
You say you can't get Sarasota's WSRQ on your radio? (As mentioned elsewhere in this story, WSRQ is the only station hereabouts that gets Air America programming — and only Jerry Springer at that.) Well, there are alternatives. That newfangled satellite radio contraption, for one: Air America is on XM channel 157. Or you can…
Talking in Tampa Bay
If you like talk radio — everything from comedy to health to finance to politics — you have lots of choices in Tampa Bay. Unless, that is, you happen to like to listen to progressive political talk radio, in which case you have few choices. Here is a rundown of the top local and national…
Upcoming Releases
Upcoming Releases The following releases will be in stores Tues., Dec. 6: Jon Anderson, In Elven Lands: The Fellowship (United States Dist) The Black Crabs, Blast Off (Ravenous) The Chariot, Unsung EP (Tooth & Nail) Chelsea, Faster Cheaper and Better Looking (Captain Oi!) Eddie Cochran, Portrait of a Legend (Rocksta) Crimson Sweet, Eat the Night…
Bah, Humbug
Gypsy Productions needs to improve after the disappointing A Queer Carol
Shrinkage
Tribune folds Pinellas edition; Times set to trim paper’s physical size.
Traffic: Gold (Island/Chronicles)
Box Sets The mercurial British outfit covered a lot of stylistic ground during its nine-year run, and this twofer admirably gathers it. Starting with a slice of nascent psychedelia — 1967's "Paper Son" — Traffic weaved willy-nilly through stately British folk ("John Barleycorn"), funky rhythm & blues ("Feelin' Alright," "Pearly Queen," "Glad"), spunky pop ("Medicated…
A Three-Hour Tour
The Pearl takes diners on a culinary journey across the Mediterranean.
Eye Candy
A sampling of the season’s brand new music DVDs.
Coppola does Carmen
Bizet's Carmen first premiered in March of 1875 at the Opera Comique in Paris. The public's reaction was indifferent at best and disgusted at worst. The critics' reviews were ruthlessly damaging, and three months later Bizet died of a heart attack at the ripe young age of 38. Unfortunately for him, French audiences couldn't accept…
The Blotter
MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME: Childcare can be such a drag, especially when the kids are grown and drunk. A Tampa woman was having difficulties with her 26-year-old son, who had become belligerent, "hitting her and being abusive." The woman called her ex-boyfriend who lived up the road for help, but when the son realized his…
A lot of sap
A search for a Christmas tree is a journey into the past.
Conversation Pieces
A compendium of useless yet mildly interesting wine facts.
Spins
You Could Have It So Much Better FRANZ FERDINAND Domino If you've ever read an album review or description of a band that included the word "angular," and you weren't quite sure what that meant, then go buy Franz Ferdinand's You Could Have It So Much Better. The second full-length from these trendy Scottish alt-stars…
Al Franken Is A Big Fat Candidate… Maybe
Air America’s outspoken pundit tests the political waters.
Quantum Leap Farm
Who it helps: Special-needs adults (18 and over) Where to give: www.quantumleapfarm.org or by mail at 10504 Woodstock Road, Odessa, FL, 33556. Telephone: 813-920-9250. For Edie Dopking, perhaps the most inspiring moment comes when she sees all the walkers, crutches and wheelchairs abandoned (at least temporarily) on the mounting ramp at Quantum Leap Farm when…
Just Relax
Rejuvenating gift ideas from three area spas.
