Your Evening Sift

I loved this picture perfect Chamber of Commerce but am very troubled that this may be the last of this stuff for 8 long, miserable months. Nonetheless, enjoy your evening Sift...

A- The repaving of Sunset Drive continues to get a lot of attention in the blogosphere...all for the wrong reasons. Today, Transit Miami and Spokes 'n' Folks voice their opinions about what they saw at last night's meeting. From the former...

Consider that at last night’s public meeting, which was more like a sales pitch than a conversation, FDOT did not present any options directed at improving safety for users with the exception of ‘Share the Road’ signs. They seemed shocked that so many people came to the meeting to begin with, and then they talked about moving cars, not people. We know that most people traveling along this road are in cars, but bicycle lanes improve safety for them, too. That’s right – people drive better, cyclists ride better and even pedestrians are safer when streets are designed to accommodate all of them and, more specifically, bike lanes are striped.

B- The Burger Beast says that he has a "strong like" for Caio's Picanha Burger at Boteco in Miami.

Caio put a lot of thought into making this burger and the high quality of ingredients came through in the taste. The burger was crispy on the outside and very juicy. I loved the taste and Caio may have been right about falling in love with his burger. Although right now I'm at a strong like which is so high school of me.

C- The Southern District of Florida Blog takes a look at today's Supreme Court decision that basically said that lawyers have an obligation to inform their clients of the immigration consequences of pleading guilty.

D- Estimates are that Cuban-Americans will account for 1 in 10 of the total visits to Cuba this year, according to Cuba expert The Cuban Triangle.

And there are now about 250 flights per month leaving from Miami, New York, and Los Angeles, compared to 170 per month a year ago.

E- As regular readers might imagine, Eye on Miami has some strong opinions about a New York Times article that notes how little of the seafood that is being served in Florida is actually from Florida.

We haven't been able to protect our fisheries because we live in an age of Idiocy where the reality of scarcer resources we need to survive provokes the opposite of conservation-- it provokes the impulses of greed: get what you can, while it lasts. We live in a time when being "for" a rule or regulation to protect the long term interest-- which surely, the health of oceans is-- instantly summons a hail of spitfire and brimstone from Fox News acolytes and dittoheads fueled by corporate interests. Instead of common sense and wisdom, we get a race to the bottom where crabs and scavengers flourish. That's freedom.

F- I'm just wondering if Worst Pizza really thinks that he's going to find himself a half decent store-bought frozen pizza.

As to taste. Well. You get what you pay for. After the recommended cooking time, the pizza was nowhere near my definition of “crisp”. An additional 3-4 minutes produced no changes in the texture, as well. The bits of pepperoni (is diced really that much cheaper than sliced?) had a flavor reminiscent of pepperoni, but a texture more akin to boiled ham. There was a sweet quality to the pizza that I didn’t care for, I assume it was from sugar in the tomato sauce. And the “topping blend?” Just that. No discernible actual cheese flavor, and as you can see from the photo, melt quality left something to be desired as well.

G- View From Virginia Key says there are two visions for the future of the Key: green or gritty.

What should be so hard about creating a master plan for Virginia Key? The hard part is hard-wired and has been taken care of by mother nature: aqua-marine waters, sandy beaches, green forests filled with rare songbirds.

H- City of Miami Mayor Regalado is far from being "transparent," according to Miami For Change.

You want sunshine?

How about a website that has more than a grinning picture of you?

A list of your staff members would be nice.

What about their phone numbers?

Email addresses?

Is a list of their salaries asking for too much sunshine?

We do want to know how fiscally responsible you are being with your staff salaries.

What about the Office of Resident Affairs and Public Documents?

Why do you routinely ignore public records requests from the citizens?

You want sunshine Tomasito?

Start with your own office.

I- Easter dining opportunities in Palm Beach County are posted at The South Florida Traveler.

J- Bark Bark Woof Woof sees through the Obama Administration's announcement yesterday that they would permit offshore oil drilling.

I am very sure the Obama administration will go to great pains to assure us that all the necessary precautions will be taken to protect the environment and if we're going to be energy-independent we have to find resources here at home and blah blah blah. I just wish they had the nerve to say that they're trying to either suck up to the Republicans or he's trying to undercut them on a campaign issue.

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SFDB Chuckle Of The Day

-inspired by Suburban Guerrilla

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So You Wonder...

...how it's possible that Republicans believe the crazy things that they do.

Here's your answer...




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South Florida Bloggers Shine

Nearly a week after Mango&Lime and Redland Rambles first told us about the innovative Roots in the City farmers market that has opened in Overtown, guess who is just getting out the story?

Just sayin'.


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South Florida Cartoons

Another great cartoon from the Castro-loving and totally biased Miami Herald.




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The Cooler

Let's get right to your jam-packed Cooler!

A- Herald: The reason I don't do carnival rides.

The two people stuck for about an hour atop the Space Roller ride at the Miami-Dade County Fair Tuesday afternoon have been rescued without injury, Miami-Dade fire rescue officials said.

Rescue workers were able to get them down using an emergency hydraulics system and did not have to use ladders.

The ride stalled at 1:54 p.m. with the two riders strapped in the leather seats turned horizontally with their legs dangling.

B- Herald: Tolls [mistakenly] become gauge for congestion.

When Victoria Perkovich sees a high toll on the illuminated Interstate 95 Express signs, she steers into the toll lanes.

``I think the traffic must be pretty bad,'' says Perkovich, a college student and frequent commuter. ``I'd rather pay $4 than spend two hours sitting in traffic.''

Her behavior helps explain the traffic growth on the I-95 Express Lanes -- and a classic misunderstanding of commuter psychology.

Traffic engineers assumed high tolls would deter drivers from using express lanes. Wrong.

Many drivers, like Perkovich, assume high tolls mean the toll-free lanes are clogged. Could be true, but the tolls rise mainly due to the number of drivers willing to pay a toll.

[...]

South Florida drivers aren't the only ones to misread the toll strategy. Before HOT lanes were launched on an I-10 commuter highway serving the Houston area, the Texas Transportation Institute based at Texas A & M University made an extensive study of driver attitudes and beliefs.

As many as 20 percent of the participants in several focus groups incorrectly interpreted the HOT lane toll as an index of traffic congestion in the free lanes, said Susan Chrysler, an institute research psychologist.

C- Sun-Sentinel: Muscovies better sleep with one eye open.

Local animal activists fear a little-known federal regulation that takes effect Wednesday will encourage the slaughter of Muscovy ducks.

The new regulations from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service add Muscovy ducks to a list of federally protected native birds. But they are native only to southern Texas, and are considered invasive in all other states. That could mean it's open season on the ducks in Florida and elsewhere, activists fear.

Where the Muscovies are considered invasive, wildlife agencies and property owners will not need a federal permit to kill them. That also goes for businesses that raise and sell the domesticated ducks for food.

D- Sun-Sentinel: Buying stamps takes that long?

A father left his 7-month-old son inside a parked car outside a West Palm Beach post office for about two hours Tuesday and was charged with child abuse, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said.

Seven Emeka Ezumba, 22, went to the post office in the 3200 block of Summit Boulevard at about 1:30 p.m. and left his baby behind in his car with one of the windows down about 3 inches.

The child was found with an elevated temperature and in distress and was transported to Palms West Hospital. He is expected to survive, said Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Teri Barbera.

E- Sun-Sentinel: Chan Lowe.

F- South Florida Business Journal: A lot of distress.

More than 40 percent of the 50,000 condominiums for resale in South Florida are either bank-owned or being marketing as a short sale, according to a new report.

G- CBS4: Video, electric bikes take the exercise out of biking. Perfect!

H- NBCMiami: Because grilled cheese sandwiches are so '90's.

It's not often a garage sale renders a religious experience, but that appears to be what has happened to Frank Salazar and his fiancee, Haydee Suarez.

The South Miami couple said they purchased a wooden dresser three years ago at a garage sale and put it in their home, only to never use it.

So during a little spring cleaning last weekend, Frank decided to put the dresser out to pasture in a garage sale of his own, when he had a holy moment of clarity.

On the top dresser drawer, he claims an image of the Virgin Mary suddenly appeared as he dusted the chest off.

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Your Morning Sift

Good morning.

The South Florida blogosphere was considerably quieter last night than is the norm. So I just have a couple things to note in this morning's Hump Day Sift.

A- Obalesque comments on the recent news that the Republican National Committee spend a couple thousand bucks at a topless club in the hopes of recruiting new conservatives.

What is the matter with these people? I can’t believe they fired her. Other than appeals to raw racism and class hatred, what better way to lure under-45 conservative voters to the party?

B- The Miami Bike Scene has a report from yesterday's FDOT workshop concerning the Sunset Drive repaving project.

Very good turnout at the FDOT workshop this afternoon, it was nice to see the cycling community come out and voice their opinions for this project. Most of those in attendance rode their bicycles to the meeting and showed genuine concern over FDOT's resurfacing plans for Sunset Drive/SW 72nd Street.

FDOT's current plan is for a 'shared use lane'. It's clear that the majority of those in attendance wanted bike lanes, however the present plan is not for bike lanes, instead they wish to widen an 11' lane to 14' and add some "Share The Road" signage. Yes, that's what FDOT is presenting to us! A wider lane which will only encourage cars to speed and some signs reminding motorists to share the road.

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Your Evening Sift

Late day at work means a somewhat delayed evening Sift. The good news, however, is that it was worth the wait. Here you go...

A- The grasses that cover the floor of Biscayne Bay are important to the marine life that call the bay home, says View From Virginia Key.

Combined with the mangroves that stabilize the shoreline and provide shelter for marine life as well as birds and other animals, the lush seagrass beds found throughout Biscayne Bay and in the waters surrounding Virginia Key, form the food chain for everything for the Florida spiny lobster to shrimp, fish, sea turtles and manatees.

B- REV Miami shows us inside the Odd Duck Indie Craft Bazaar in Davie.

Peanut butter and jelly sandwich necklaces, reproductive organ based plush and retro inspired handmade hats were just some of the interesting and exciting creations on sale at the all day event. Needless to say, I was in love with a good ½ of the items and ready to marry the other ½.

C- Wow. Worst Pizza does it up right with this post on the inaugural Chevy Pizza Crawl...lots of video and photos included.

Saturday marked the start of a new endeavor for the creators and readers of Worstpizza.com. We have teamed up with Chevrolet Cars to hold monthly #chevypizzacrawl events. Our first event took place at 5 pizza spots throughout Palm Beach County. Safe to say this was one of the most fun pizza events I have held, and cannot wait until next month for our second pizza crawl. This will most likely take place throughout Broward County.

D- The South Florida Watershed Journal wonders whether South Florida is in for a bit of a dry spell.

The same way that weather forecasters predicted the big November storm (that started it all) coming two weeks in advance,

Word from the Meteorologic front line
Is that our recent deluge was our wet winter’s Last Hurrah:

El Niño is wilting on the atmospheric vine
and the Jet Stream is moving north.


Or in other words,
We may get a dry season yet!

E- More Miami flashbacks at Random Pixels.

F- I love this picture at Depth of Field.

G- The Miami Bike Scene has a pretty cool video from last Friday's Critical Mass ride but says there were "issues" during the event.

I heard some participants had issues while riding by Ultra Fest on Biscayne Blvd. Some claim it was "too dangerous" and that they were left behind by the group. While I agree that there was a lot of traffic on Biscayne, I will remind folks that the point of Critical Mass is to be seen, and what better place to be seen by motorists, tourists, pedestrians, etc. then by riding by a huge music festival. It should have been no surprise to anyone that we were going by there, we've done it for the past two years and the route was available to the public weeks in advance. I cannot count the amount of times the group stalled to wait for those left behind, even making unnecessary complete stops.

H- South Florida Classical Review rates Lang Lang's recent appearance at the Arsht.

Eschewing his former penchant for volume and flashy histrionics, the pianist imbued Prokofiev’s 1921 tour de force with finesse as well as fire. The initial Allegro displayed Lang Lang’s nimble fingerwork but also rhapsodic sweep, rhythmic incisiveness and a kaleidoscopic range of colors. He was superbly attuned to the mercurial changes of mood in the theme and variations, balancing lyricism and angularity.

I- City of Miami Mayor Regalado would welcome a State takeover of Miami's government for three reasons, according to Miami for Change.

1. Make the State the “bad guy.”

An oversight board owes nothing to the City unions. They will come in and gladly cut salaries and pensions.

Tomasito can then tell the unions that it was not him but the big bad state that screwed them.

Of course, he tried to stop them, but too bad! By the time the rank and file union members get screwed, Tomasito, the Fire and Police union bigwigs guys will be long vested.

J- Taverna Opa is expanding to the Dolphin Mall, Eater Miami says.

K- The South Florida Traveler lists your Easter dining choices in Miami-Dade.

L- Are Sean Hannity and Oliver North phonies? Bark Bark Woof Woof has the possible answer.

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SFDB Post Of The Week

SFDB selects its Post of the Week by going back and reviewing all the Sifts that we've done over the past 7 days. We find the best post of the week and note the runners ups as we judge them to be.

It was another head scratcher when it came time to determine this week's PotW. However, the winner turned out to be no stranger to these parts and is quickly becoming one of my favorite reads in the South Florida blogosphere. Let's see who floated to the top this week...

Runners-Up: Carlos Miller welcomed a fellow photographer to the Magic City, showed him around the place and captured it all in a great post. Of course, being an associate of Miller's means getting intimately familiar with local law enforcement, which is exactly what happened. Artlurker's After Terremoto did a fine job documenting the damage that the recent earthquake inflicted on Santiago, Chile's art community. And View from Virginia Key penned a very pervasive argument for making Virginia Key a National Park in Worthy of a National Park.


Winner: It's rare when we get a back-to-back winner for the PotW, but this week is one of those rare occasions, I guess. Redland Rambles ventures into the city to tell us about an exciting farmers market that lies smack dab in the middle of Overtown. The post has some great photos but it also educates readers as to why this effort is so different from your run-of-the-mill market. The title of the post, Veggies in the City, is perfect and is the icing on the cake for a post that I'm happy to recognize as this week's SFDB's Post of the Week. Congratulations and thanks, Redland Rambles, for the great blogging.

Til next time, people, keep on blogging!

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SFDB Question Of The Day

When I need a break but I don't want to drive or fly forever to get away, I love heading up to the Hutchinson Island/Jensen Beach area for a few days to recharge and relax. The beaches are considerably less crowded than ours and the entire vibe is much more laid back. What about you?

What's your favorite getaway that you can arrive at within two hours of leaving your house ... and why do you love it?

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Has Armageddon Arrived Yet?

You know, because it's been a whole week.




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Crist v. Rubio: A Video Summary

Granted, this video of Sunday's Crist/Rubio debate that was held on Faux News is heavily edited but, nonetheless, pay real close attention to the end of the clip where Rubio declares that he would consider changes to our Social Security system that would significantly reduce benefits for you and me.




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The Cooler

The Herald's "bombshell news" yesterday? Ricky Martin is gay. That about sums up where we are with journalism these days, readers. That and more in this morning's Cooler.

A- Herald: Apparently, it's a baller thing.

Heat forward Dorell Wright apologized Monday after a naked picture of him surfaced recently on various websites and Twitter accounts. The picture, featuring frontal nudity, was taken during a private video chat session a last year ago.

[...]

He is the third NBA player whose naked pictures have surfaced on the Internet recently, following Portland's Greg Oden and San Antonio's George Hill.

B- Herald: Give some of that flow to Jackson.

For the first time in 12 years, Mount Sinai Medical Center has finished a year with a net operating surplus.

The audited statement by Deloitte and Touche released Monday showed the nonprofit Miami Beach hospital earned $13.8 million in 2009. Excluding $10.9 million in contributions from its foundations, the hospital had an operating net of $2.8 million, compared to an operating loss last year of $16.2 million.

``We had an outstanding 2009,'' said Chief Executive Steven Sonenreich in a telephone interview. He attributed a considerable amount of the success to ``the greatest heart surgery team,'' led by Dr. Joseph Lamelas, a specialist in minimally invasive heart surgery whom Sonenreich hired in 2008.

``People are traveling from all over the world,'' Sonenreich said. The biggest name has been Danny Williams, premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, who last month chose Sinai over Canada's government-run healthcare. ``This was my heart, my choice, and my health,'' Williams told the Canadian Press when asked why he had gone such a long distance for his surgery.

C- Herald: Yawn.

Sorry, ladies. Ricky Martin has finally come out of the closet.

After years of speculation, the Puerto Rican pop singer revealed the bombshell news Monday on his blog, rickymartinmusic.com. ``I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man,'' wrote the 38-year-old Living La Vida Loca singer. ``I am very blessed to be who I am.''

D- Herald: Video, another South Florida black man is buried much too early.

E- Palm Beach Post: Editorial, Republican BS.

"We're about 24 hours from Armageddon," House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, brayed Saturday. "This health care bill will ruin our country." Where have we heard such inane hyperbole before?

Oh, yes. It was August 1993, when another new Democratic president got his biggest piece of legislation through Congress without a single Republican vote. Then, it was Bill Clinton's deficit-reducing budget that contained tax increases. "I believe hundreds of thousands of people are going to lose their jobs," GOP Sen. Phil Gramm said. "I believe Bill Clinton will be one of those people." Mr. Clinton got a second term. During his presidency, the economy created nearly 23 million net jobs — it created about 3 million under George W. Bush — the unemployment rate decreased from 7.7 percent to 3.9 percent and the budget deficit became a $239 billion surplus.

And on Monday, one day after 219 of the 253 House Democrats passed the sort of health care reform that Washington has kicked around since Harry Truman was president, Armageddon did not arrive. Financial markets rose. Americans puzzled over busted college basketball brackets.

F- CBS4: Video, South Pointe stabbing victim tells her story.

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Your Morning Sift

Good morning.

I have kind of an unusually short Sift for you this morning. That's what so interesting about getting up each morning and logging in...I never know what, or if, South Florida bloggers are going to post overnight. Enjoy your Sift, this brisk Tuesday morning.

A- A few new photos of women on Miami's mean streets are up at The Street.

B- The Chowfather tiers his favorite Miami restaurants.

C- More evidence that this has been an extraordinarily wet dry season is displayed at The South Florida Watershed Journal.

D- The Green Parrot Bar has an interesting tradition they celebrate on April 1st.

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Your Evening Sift

If you haven't yet been outside, make sure you take a peek and check out the big moon we have tonight. It's very worthwhile. As is your evening Sift...

A- View From Virginia Key provides a little history about Virginia Key.

Known to a past generation as the “Colored Beach,” the historic Virginia Key Beach Park, an 80-acre public park on the 1,000-acre island, was created in 1945, only after members of the black community staged a protest, a “wade-in” at Baker’s Haulover County Park.

“It was the only place in Miami where African Americans were allowed to use the public beach and recreational facilities and it came at a price,” recalls Audrey Peterman in a new book co-written with her husband Frank, Legacy on the Land: A Black Couple Discovers Our National Inheritance and Tells Why Every American Should Care.

B- Speaking of history, Random Pixels takes another look at the Miami News archives and finds out that Hialeah was corrupt even back in 1960.

C- Worst Pizza gives Boca's Maggiano's Pizza 6 out of 8 stars for their flatbread pie.

Maggiano’s you have managed to surprise me with this delightful pizza concoction. Your flatbread pizza blows many of the other local places around town away. Places like Seasons 52 and Blue Martini could learn something from your chef! There is nothing else I would really change about this pizza.

D- Brickell Life whips up some Moules Frites and tells us how he did it.

Every once in a while the inner foodie geek in me comes out to play. Sometimes I like to go simple, other times you have to crank it up to 11. So on Saturday night, I found the fridge stocked with a couple bottles of Riesling – special thanks to the wife – and a hankering for some Moules Frites. A quick trip to Fresh Market in the Grove and Brickell Life was set up and ready to rock.

E- South Florida Theatre Scene does some spring cleaning to the blogroll.

F- Miami is one of the 10 most expensive U.S. cities to live, according to Forbes and Miamism.

G- Win a pair of tickets to the upcoming Artic Monkeys concert over at Sweat.

H- Miami-Dade Republican Whilly Bermudez gets a lot of love from a very Democratic place...Eye on Miami.

Whilly is a good looking guy with a big heart, he can be one of those irrational Republicans at times, who I like in spite of it. He at least is willing listen to the other side but he does have an annoying video on his site of Ronald Reagen talking about informed patriotism. I called Whilly to see if he was a birther or a tea-bagger and to ask him how his run for a State House Seat 116 was going. There are 6 candidates in the race but the man to beat is Carlos A. Manrique, who has a big campaign war chest and Steve Marin, it appears, is running his campaign.

Whilly said he is NOT a birther (thank you Whilly). He doesn't operate on that level. He believes Obama is our President even though he disagrees with him on issues. On tea baggers, he said: "I like that people are trying to be heard, I am just not sure that some of the rhetoric is helping the country."

I- The South Florida Traveler presents a few dining suggestions for Easter Sunday if you're up in Broward.

J- Some Blogging Guy gives Teavana a thumbs up.

At first, I thought we had wandered into a Starbucks that had been hit with a multi-dimensional beam from the 92nd dimension. The weird one. It looked like a Starbucks, sort of, but there wasn’t any coffee. Just tea.

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SFDB's The Way We Were

Random Pixel's most recent post gave me an idea for a new feature.

SFDB's The Way We Were will highlight an old ad or story from the archives of the Miami News in an attempt to add some perspective to how much South Florida has grown over the years. Other times it might be some piece of nostalgia that brings a smile to your day. Let's see how this goes.


September 1, 1949


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Victoria Jackson Continues To Represent

Over the weekend, Miami's own Victoria Jackson stepped away from the edge The Abyss long enough to represent the Tea Party in a way that it so justly deserves. As I watched this clip, I couldn't help but think that there is no one in the world more qualified to speak for the Tea Party and today's Radical Right than Victoria Jackson. She truly is the face of conservatism today.




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SFDB Ecard Of The Day

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The Cooler

Women getting stabbed on South for saying "no?" Some men are apparently still Cromagnums. That and more in this morning's Cooler.

A- Herald: Snoozer.

Gov. Charlie Crist tried to chip away at his U.S. Senate rival's conservative boy-wonder image during their first televised debate Sunday but failed to deliver a broadside powerful enough to level the surging Marco Rubio.

Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace's pointed questions were more effective than Crist's constant digs at exposing Rubio's shortcomings. The debate immediately turned hostile and stayed that way, suggesting that voters should brace themselves for another five months of feuding before the Aug. 24 Republican primary.

[...]

Wallace kept the conversation moving through a broad range of topics and cut the candidates short when they strayed from the questions. He highlighted some of Rubio's more controversial stances, such as his proposal to move away from an employer-based healthcare system, to raise the age requirement for Social Security and to slow down cost-of living increases for recipients.

``I think all of that has to be on the table,'' Rubio said.

B- Herald: Can't take rejection.

Two women were hospitalized late Saturday after they were stabbed at South Pointe Park in Miami Beach, police said.

The women, who were not identified, were walking with a blanket wrapped around them when Kidane Mengesha approached them and asked if he could get between the two, police said. When the women said ``no,'' Mengesha, 24, continued with his request and then reportedly pulled out a knife and stabbed both of the women, according to Miami Herald news partner WFOR-CBS 4.

C- Herald: Freedom for all...well, at least for those who share the same viewpoints.

Thousands of protesters formed a river of white as they marched around a lake in a Los Angeles park Sunday, joining other marchers around the world to expose the plight of political dissidents in Cuba and support the wives, mothers, and other women who defend them.

[...]

In Los Angeles, however, there was one ruckus when a man stood on a hill overlooking the crowd and waved a Cuban flag with an image of Che Guevara, the Argentine who helped lead the Cuban Revolution.

The crowd booed and organizers urged them to stay calm.

``We have the freedom to do that in this country,'' [Blogger Perez] Hilton said, drawing cheers.

But later a band of men clad in white wrestled the flag away and stomped it into the ground.

D- TC Palm: Life in South Florida.

Steven Andrew Plank of the 100 block of Southwest Starfish Avenue was arrested Saturday afternoon and charged with felony battery and felony battery on a person at least 65 years old.

Plank came into the kitchen and yelled at his father for using the stove to cook potatoes in a pot of water, according to the affidavit.

Plank grabbed his father’s urinal cup attached to his walker and poured it over his father’s head. Plank also dumped the pot of potatoes and water on his father, the report said.

E- WPTV: Video, Solar energy in Martin County.

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Your Morning Sift

Good morning.

Welcome to Miserable Monday. There's some heavy weather rolling through South Florida so keep your head low while you enjoy your morning Sift.

A- The state of blogging, according to Hidden City.

Today if you mention that you write for the web you are afforded the same respect as someone who scribbles tales of old Nantucket on men's room stalls. They say: You're blogging; quality doesn't matter, just quantity. They say: Stop thinking so much and just fill the page with buzzwords. They say: You don't need to have anything to say, you just need to keep on updating so the rubes keep coming back.

B- Artlurker announces the Miami Writer's Prize.

With the help of a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and donations kindly received from readers we are proud to announce the MIAMI WRITER’S PRIZE, a new annual prize aimed squarely at promoting and encouraging residents of Miami who write critically about art.

Judged by a panel of distinguished local professionals and open to anyone from Miami (see Prize Requirements), this year’s prize is held in association with Locust Projects, a leading non-profit art space located in Miami’s Design District.

Hopefuls may submit one original review of a recent art related event. In addition to having their text published, the winning entrant will receive an honorary stipend of $400 dollars to guest blog on ARTLURKER (see Guest Blogging Requirements).

C- The water levels in the Everglades are significantly higher than last year at this time, as The South Florida Watershed Journal shows us.

D- Miami Beach 411 comments on the difference between the Ultra Music Festival and rock concerts of old and shares some photos and video.

For the most part, it didn’t look much different. Just thousands of youngsters having a good time in a sweat-infused orgy of musical brashness.

But the beer lines were shorter. And the lines for bottled water were longer, indicating that this generation prefers Ecstasy over alcohol, which is probably why you don’t see any moshing or stage-diving.

Or not a single fight, for that matter. That wasn’t the case back in the day.

In fact, there seemed to be plenty of love in the air. Or at least people caressing each other (and to think they called us Generation X).

And the music? Perhaps it sounds better on Ecstasy. For an old-school fogie like me, it did sound better after a few beers.

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SFDB's We Live Here

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.Homeless + sunbather, No. 515
Ipanemic


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Your Evening Sift

The South Florida blogosphere was unusually quiet today for some reason. Probably every one resting up and getting ready for Miserable Monday. It's still the weekend, however, so enjoy your Sunday evening Sift.

A- Random Pixels takes us back in Miami history courtesy Google-archived Miami News.

The Herald came out in the morning and the News was an afternoon paper. The News catered to a reader who had probably seen the Herald that morning. The paper had to have a different look and editorial approach which it delivered that in more ways than one.

How?

The feisty and scrappy News grabbed the attention of its readers in ways the stodgy and staid Herald couldn't. The front page of the News used headlines that were bold and splashy.

B- Miami Beach 411 has wrap ups of Days One and Two of the Winter Music Conference.

LMFAO, of “I’m in Miami, Bitch,” and “Shots” fame, were the first big name act of the afternoon. Gimmicky acts like theirs really shouldn’t be performed live. Your songs are cute, LMFAO, but going on stage and yelling words with no tune over a beat should be reserved for talentless rappers. Which they are, but it still has no place at Ultra. They also inspired countless unoriginal people to wear T-Shirts that read “I’m in Miami, Bitch.” Adorable. I wanted to wear one that said “I’m in a Mitt Romney Vulcan Death Grip, Bitch” and stood right up front. See what kinda reaction that one got.

C- An eye-opening video called Health Reform By The Numbers is up at Florida Speaks.

D- The Reid Report has the results of a recent poll that indicates that the more you know about the new health reform legislation, the more you're apt to like it.

In other words, the legislation is likely to become more popular over time, as people understand it more, except for Republicans, who don’t want to understand the new law, and don’t want to be persuaded.

E- The New World Symphony shined under the direction of Nicholas McGegan, according to South Florida Classical Review.

Carl Phillip Emanuel Bach’s Symphony No. 6 in E Major provided a graceful interlude of pre Mozartean classicism, the conductor virtually dancing on the podium in the rapid music. The Allegro spirituoso finale was particularly striking and original, a thematic fragment in lieu of the usual brisk melody providing the principal subject. Crisp string playing complemented McGegan’s vigor, tempos accelerating in hard drive Toscanini fashion.

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SFDB Chuckle Of The Day

-via apple arts

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Sunday Photo Browsing

Here's a couple slideshows that you might want to check out this lazy Sunday.

The first one is local photographer Al Crespo's assortment of images from the protest in Little Havana on Friday.

The second is ArtMurmur's collection of photos from the very unusual Jonathan Brilliant: Have Sticks Will Travel World Tour that opened on Friday night at 18 Rabbit Gallery in Fort Lauderdale. It's encouraging to see that those coffee sticks are good for something other than just stirring a cup of java.



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The Cooler

Not much in the way of interesting news this morning, but here's what I found notable.

A- Herald: Pitts composes a statement for the GOP just in case a Democrat is injured or killed by Right Wing fanatics.

``We condemn, in the strongest terms, the recent bombing/stabbing/beating/shooting that wounded/killed Senator/Representative/President __________________. There is no place in our democracy for that kind of thing and our party stands foursquare against those who would bring violence into political debate. We extend our best wishes/heartfelt condolences and join with other Americans in hoping the perpetrators of this heinous act will be swiftly caught and punished.

``At the same time, we must also reject the suggestion, made by some, that our behavior over the course of this long debate on healthcare somehow set the scene for this tragic incident which, as we have already said, we condemn.

B- Herald: Sawgrass Mills just keeps getting bigger.

The latest expansion of The Colonnade Outlets at the sprawling mall gives shoppers more opportunities to buy luxury items at a discount. And more stores are on the way.

Recent openings at the Colonnade, an outdoor shopping promenade, include Italian menswear retailer Canali; Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer; clothing retailer Tommy Bahama; luggage and travel accessories maker Tumi; and True Religion Brand Jeans. Sawgrass is the first South Florida outlet location for TAG Heuer, Tommy Bahama and Tumi. The Italian restaurant Villagio recently opened at the Colonnade, the fourth one for restaurateur Tommy Billante, with siblings in Coral Gables, Dadeland and Boca Raton.

Sawgrass also recently added an IMAX Experience at Regal Sawgrass 23.

C- NBC Miami: Video, Mayor's Jewelry at Merrick Park is robbed again, this time by guys using a wheelchair.

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Your Morning Sift

Good morning.

Today is Tax Day for me. Yep, I've been putting it off but have decided today is the day no matter what. Fun times. Enjoy your Sunday morning Sift...

A- Contrary to rumor, The South Florida Beer Blog says the Abbey is not closing and is, in fact, celebrating their 15th Anniversary today.

[Sunday] you will be able to drink all you want from 8am-5am for only $25. Yes, only $25!!! Go show your support and let them know you want to see them around for another 15 years.

B- PhinPhanatic is reporting that former Dolphin Joey Porter has been arrested in California.

C- Homestead is Home has the evidence to indicate that the Homestead Speedway wants to move the UDB.

D- The South Florida Watershed Journal talks oranges and includes a graphic that illustrates when the various types are traditionally available.

E- Jet's Florida Outdoors is history, according to Eye on Miami.

Apparently, a $2 million offer for a new bank branch was too good for its owner, Mark Siegel, to pass up. And for the bank, another place to lure deposits from far flung platted subdivisions of the future, assembled out of drained wetlands. Jet's is located way out west on Bird Road. Today it looks like just another store in a strip mall. It could be anywhere in Florida. Fifty years ago, it was one of the last outposts from Miami before historic Everglades wetlands. These outposts kept moving. Seventy five years ago, you could have found the wetlands just there beyond Lejeune Road and Tamiami Trail, about four miles to the east of Jet's. But block by block, strip mall by strip mall, the Everglades ceded territory to the interests of development. To me, Jet's was a throw-back. It was where hunters and fishermen and campers could reliably go, to reload on gear and equipment that didn't make any sense in a subdivision. Before CVS or Walgreens knew what DEET was, you could find it at Jet's.

F- More meals on wheels at The Burger Beast.

What the hell is a Chimi? I found myself asking that question. A Chimi can be easily described as a Dominican hamburger. It's served on toasted Italian bread, topped with cabbage and a sauce that is both a bit spicy & sweet at the same time. The Super Chimi Los Primos truck serves Chimis as well as other Dominican delights, empanadas and natural juices.

G- Bark Bark Woof Woof shares a brief set of photos from yesterday's road trip to the Keys.

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SFDB Saturday Night Turndown Service

Tonight's Turndown is one of my favorite Everything But The Girl tunes from the good old days before EBTG went electronica and ruined everything, in my opinion.




Everything But The Girl, The Road


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Your Evening Sift

It was a beautiful, big blue sky kind of day today. But I have to say that I get the feeling that the summer doldrums are just a few weeks away. Enjoy your Saturday evening Sift.

A- FTL Today has a couple decent early morning photos of Fort Lauderdale Beach this morning.

B- What will cutting back your staff do if you're a newspaper company? Random Pixels has the answer.

C- Miamism rates a couple mojitos at the glamorous Nocecento.

D- Obamacare is very much like Republican Romneycare in Massachusetts, but, of course, that doesn't mean anything to a Republican. The Reid Report has the story.

Like abortion rights and Massachusetts vs. Utah residency (with fabulous mansions in both!) … healthcare reform with an individual mandate is something Mitt Romney has changed his mind about.

E- South Florida Theatre Scene comments on the Coconut Grove Playhouse story that I mentioned this morning.

If the board of the Coconut Grove Playhouse really intends to have a future in bringing theatre in Coconut Grove, they'd better get their heads out of their collective asses and start involving the public - and the Commission - in their plans on a very visible basis. The Grove won't be saved through secret meetings and silence; the board needs to out on the street and all over the media, engaging the public.

F- The Lamborghini family has opened a restaurant at the Village at Gulfstream Park, according to The South Florida Traveler.

Located at the Village of Gulfstream, Tonino Lamborghini Caffe Corsa brings the Lamgorghini brand to the restaurant industry. From the abundance of products imported from Italy to the branded color scheme — the brightness of the red wall brings cheer to the room, good things are going to come to this destination.

G- Environmentalists have scored a rare victory in South Miami-Dade, according to Eye on Miami.

129 acres at SW 184th & Old Cutler will be in public hands because of grass roots community action. Tenacity throughout a 3 year long process at multiple levels of government is what it took to keep this last piece of coastal green from seemingly inevitable development. Heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed to this outcome!

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Crist v. Rubio Tomorrow

For the political junkies out there, it's all about Faux News tomorrow morning...

What to expect when Gov. Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio debate on “Fox News Sunday“?

“There will be no rules. They can jump in. I play traffic cop,” says Chris Wallace, who will moderate. “We’ll have everything but the steel cage.”

Is Wallace concerned things could go out of control?

“We should be so lucky,” he says.

Crist and Rubio, Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate, will debate live at 9 a.m. Sunday in the Fox studio in Washington.

[...]

The debate will take the first 40 minutes of “Fox News Sunday,” Wallace said. Fox News has sought questions from viewers and received hundreds of suggestions, Wallace said.

I'll be watching.

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McCain/Palin: They Never Tire of One Another [UPDATED]

Yesterday, Sarah Palin fluffed up the crowd for Senator John McCain during a campaign stop in Tucson, Arizona. McCain is currently being given a formidable challenge by J.D. Hayworth, who is running largely on an anti-illegal immigration platform.

There's a couple things that jump out at me when I watch this heavily edited CNN clip. One, based upon how she's dressed, Palin must have stopped in Sturgis on the way down from Alaska. Two, McCain still looks as creepy as ever standing behind Palin. And three, Palin's speech could have been taken right from the 2008 Presidential Campaign trail, what with the "dead fish going with the flow" and the all the "mavericky" references. Just watch...



Tea Party people must be overjoyed that Sarah is enthusiastically backing such a moderate establishment GOP'er like McCain.

I'm just wondering when she's going to join the likes of Colin Powell, Tom Ridge, David Frum, David Brooks, Kathleen Parker, Peggy Noonan, Lindsey Graham, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Christopher Buckley, Dede Scozzafava, Chuck Hagel, David Frum, Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, George Voinovich, Joe Scarborough, Michael Smerconish, Sam Tanenhaus, and Bob Bennett on the Radical Right's list of RINO's.

......

Per Bill's comment I went looking for video of today's action and, well, isn't YouTube great?



Two ironies here. When Republicans stand up and shout down Democratic congressmen in town hall meetings, it's patriotic and they're exercising their 1st Amendment rights. When Democrats do the exact same thing, they're hustled out of the gathering by a goon squad which is then promptly followed by a declaration about how the Republican candidate has insured everyone their "right to protest."

You can't make this stuff up.



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Kudos To Coconut Grove Grapevine

If anyone sometimes wonders about the influence that bloggers and blogging can have, you only need to take a look at a recent example provided by Coconut Grove Grapevine. At a little after 5 on Thursday, CGG posted this...

Commission Chair Marc Sarnoff brought up an issue regarding the Coconut Grove Playhouse at today's City Commission meeting.

The pocket issue is a resolution asking Governor Charlie Crist and the members of the Florida Cabinet serving as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund for the state of Florida to revert the Coconut Grove Playhouse back to the State of Florida as a result of the restrictions in the Quitclaim Deed, urging the State to then convey the playhouse to a newly formed, not for profit corporation called The Grove Playhouse Theater, Inc.

CGG apparently attended the City Commission meeting himself or was advised of this information by someone else who was there. Whatever the case, CGG was able to disseminate the info in a matter of hours.

Today, two days after the meeting, the Miami Herald got around to reporting on the story and included this nugget of information.

The action -- which was not on the commission's agenda and was introduced three minutes before the end of Thursday's meeting -- blindsided key people involved with the theater, including current board chair Shelly Spivack, Miami-Dade cultural affairs director Michael Spring and GableStage artistic director Joseph Adler, who would run the playhouse if his theater's board reaches a final agreement with the current board.

``I found out this morning after someone on my staff saw it on a blog,'' Spring said Friday.

No doubt that blog was Coconut Grove Grapevine.

As newspapers scale back their operations to a level that only allows for coverage of the major news events, local blogs are going to pick up the slack.

The other day we discussed the Herald's latest attempts to integrate local blogs into their product. It's somewhat controversial but as one can see from the above, it's necessary in order to keep up with the "smaller" stories that can sometimes be as interesting to readers as the "big" ones.

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The Cooler

Here are some of the more interesting stories I found in this morning's mainstream media outlets.

A- Herald: Life in South Florida.

Daryl Eddie had called his mom, asking her to pick him up -- and quickly -- from the bus stop. Two boys from school who'd been threatening him the last two weeks were going to beat him up, he said.

`` `You need to hurry up because they just saw me,' '' Shonka Ward said her son told her.

When she and her younger son, 16-year-old Edward Collier, pulled up at the Cutler Bay bus stop Thursday afternoon, they saw Daryl on the ground, trying to fight off his attackers.

That's when 6-foot-1, 280-pound Edward jumped out the car, grabbed his 18-year-old brother by the shirt and dragged him out of the tussle.

But Edward never made it out alive.

Ward said she watched as a third young man pulled a gun from his waistband.

``I got out the car and was pleading with him, `Please don't do it,' '' said Ward.

``He looked at me, then at Edward, and then back at me and pulled the trigger,'' said Ward.

B- Herald: Op Ed, yeah, but they once collaborated with Carlos Santana [who has worn a Che tee shirt] which makes them communists!

The significance of the Estefans' leadership in defending human rights and freedom for Cubans cannot be exaggerated. They have been capable of directly reaching and motivating President Obama to make a statement reaffirming the right of Cubans to be free. Other celebrities such as Willy Chirino, Lisette, Olga Guillot, Albita, and Pitbull demonstrated solidarity with the Estefans' cause of freedom in the Miami march.

Their actions inspired music icons such as Shakira and Ricky Martin to ask for freedom for Cuban political prisoners. Soon Andy Garcia will organize a similar march in Hollywood with the participation of international stars.

Even more significant is the fact that this event reached out beyond our Miami Cuban-American community. Because of the Estefans' celebrity status, as well as the massive nature of the demonstration, U.S. national newscasts and international media covered it. Thus, this peaceful initiative should increase awareness among millions in the United States and the world of the plight of Cubans fighting for freedom.

C- Herald: They write letters.

A campaign ploy

Our state is bleeding cash, and Attorney General Bill McCollum has the gall to spend absolutely unnecessary state funds on a frivolous lawsuit to stop the healthcare bill. Obviously, his true motivation is publicity for his gubernatorial campaign.

What is even worse is that we don't have a governor willing to stop this because of his need to cater to the conservative elements for his senatorial campaign. Shame.

MICHAEL STONE, Aventura

D- Sun-Sentinel: The scene at Club Space, post murder.

On a recent Sunday morning, the sun was just rising and a cool breeze was blowing in from Biscayne Bay to the east as people came and went from Club Space and across NE 11th Street at Goldrush.

Limousine driver Gary Stein leaned against a barricade waiting for clients inside, while Club Space doorman Alan Tibaldeo clowned for passers-by. "We're just getting started, honey," he announced loudly.

Taxi cabs and police squad cars cruised by, and one giggling couple walked out of Goldrush and tried to order two steak sandwiches through the window of a take-out restaurant that might have been closed.

Friends Beca Stout and Janie Rau said they had awakened just an hour or so earlier, got dressed, and decided to start their day on Club Space's dance floor. "This is the only time I go out, honestly," said Stout, 38. She might party until noon, Stout said, "and then I have my entire day."

E- Palm Beach Post: The intellect of people is sometimes astounding.

Rafael J. Garcia, 28, was arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse and child neglect, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said. According to a sheriff's arrest affidavit, Garcia left his 9-month daughter inside his blue Ford Escort for 36 minutes while he browsed inside the Guys and Dolls Adult Book Store at 464 South Military Trail in suburban West Palm Beach.

A sheriff's deputy responded about 10:52 a.m. to a call of an infant child left in a vehicle. The engine was not running, three windows were fully closed, and the driver's window was slightly cracked open, the arrest report said.

[...]

Garcia told investigators that he only planned to be in the store for a few minutes as he was shopping for a sexy role-playing outfit for his wife. He said that the store did not have the outfit and he lost track of time while browsing, the report stated.

F- CBS4: Video, Humpback whale in distress off of Key Biscayne.


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Your Morning Sift

Good morning.

It's a lazy Saturday morning at the SFDB hacienda. This morning's Sift brings you lots of pictures and videos so make sure you have lots of bandwidth available and enjoy the Sift.

A- Ash&Burn captures one man's special form of transportation on South Beach.

B- Ultra Music Festival pictures and a video at Miami Beach 411.

C- Redland Rambles shows us what's in the CSA box for Week #17 and then explains how it got there.

Ever wonder how the food in your CSA share box actually gets into the box? Or how many people it takes to do it? Many steps and many hands are involved.

D- The Burger Beast provides photos of all the different kinds of exotic and sophisticated food being offered at the Miami-Dade County Fair including the...are you ready for this?...Pork Parfait.

E- A stock pot for a mailbox? You decide at Sweet Home Hialeah.

F- Florida Speaks posts a great video showing just how wrong the media was with health care.

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Your Evening Sift

It's Friday night, readers, and I hope you have a great evening planned. Before you get into it, check out your evening Sift.

A- You'll want to check out Miami Beach 411's review of Pasha's on Lincoln Road if you've never been.

My favorite thing about Pascha’s is their selection of fresh squeezed juices. Where else can you get tangerine juice? Once you try the heavenly tangerine juice, Florida will never make you think of oranges again. Although their tangerine juice is seasonal, their other delicious juices, including melon and pineapple, are always available.

Dr. Arthur Ageston, author of “The South Beach Diet” even approves of Pascha’s healthy menu, and features several recipes from Pascha’s in his South Beach Diet cookbook. He never mentions how he feels about their chocomousse, a decadent mousse made with European chocolate or their delicious pistachio macaroons. With desserts ranging from $1.60- $4.50, you can have a treat without breaking the bank.

B- One of the Fountainebleu's restaurants is "closing for renovations," according to Eater Miami.

After a meh review from Lee Klein, Blade Sushi Restaurant at the Fontainebleau is closing on Monday, March 29 for "renovations." According to a press statement from the hotel, the space will reopen early summer "as a chic high energy, celebrity and music-driven ultra lounge."

C- It's all about the high salaries of City of Miami employees, according to Miami for Change.

Contrast this with Congress where we learn that "2,000 House staffers make six figures."

"The 43 staffers who maxed out at $172,500 — the salary cap for leadership and committee staffers — include John Lawrence, chief of staff to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi."

Salary caps?

Pelosi's Chief of Staff makes LESS than a typical City of Miami bureaucrat.

D- Homestead is Home says the City of Homestead needs a spell checker for their signs and I have to agree.

E- Coconut Grove Grapevine shows us that solar-powered parking meters are being installed around the Grove.

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Flashback Friday

Crosby, Stills & Nash, Southern Cross


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Obama Derangement Syndrome Reaches New And Glorious Heights

Well, would you just take a look at how Real America is flipping out...



Ironically, it's the same morans who were giggling about Bush Derangement Syndrome back in the Grand Old Days of Torture who are now flopping around and slobbering on themselves like rabid Rottweilers on Red Bull.

But can you blame them? I mean, this country is standing on the edge of an abyss and being led by a Muslim radical socialist Marxist commie who is going to confiscate your guns and send your grandma to stand before a death panel. And he's racist!

At least that's what Glenn Beck and Fox News says.

- via Think Progress

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Alert: Pillow Fight Next Weekend On South Beach

Celebrate International Pillow Fight Day.

A South Florida blogger better show up for this thing...with your camera/video, please.

LOCATION: 8th Street and Ocean Drive

TIME: 3:00pm

FLASH MOB RULES:

-Bring a pillow with you.
-BE SURE TO KEEP IT CONCEALED until it’s time to start
-ARRIVE ON TIME. Be there at exactly 3:00pm
-WAIT for the start signal
-When horn is blown START THE PILLOW FIGHT
-The pillow fight will last EXACTLY 10 MINUTES
-When the STOP horn is blown, DISPERSE AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED

SAFETY:

+ Soft pillows only!
+ Swing lightly, many people will be swinging at once.
+ Do not swing at people without pillows or with cameras.
+ Remove glasses beforehand!
+ Wait until the signal to begin.
+ Stay off the road, do not interrupt the flow of traffic!

Apparently these events have been held in other cities for quite some time.

Check out the one in San Francisco in 2006...



Okay, so who's going?



-via South Beach Examiner

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"Go For It, Republicans"

More, much more of this, please.

Yesterday, in Iowa...





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South Florida Cartoons

Chan Lowe, Sun-Sentinel


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The Cooler

The Mayor of West Palm Beach busts a school zone at over 45 mph and walks away without a ticket. That and a lot more in this morning's Cooler.

A- Herald: Video, yesterday's march in Little Havana. I'm wondering how many narrow-minded hardliners will ever again have the gall to call Gloria Estefan a communist.

B- Herald: At City Hall they're trying to hope and pray away the city's financial problems.

If City Manager Carlos Migoya's projections prove accurate, Miami could be on the verge of declaring a fiscal emergency -- triggering a law requiring the city to notify the governor it's in financial jeopardy, the city attorney warned Thursday.

[...]

Though Migoya outlined moves he hopes will reverse the projections and help the city avert an emergency state, he said Miami may need the help of a higher authority.

``At this point we're just hoping and praying, and hopefully the right gods will listen to us.''

Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado said he didn't believe the city was quite at the point of calling in the state.

``I don't think we need to declare an emergency yet,'' he said, ``but it's something that needs to be considered.''

C-Herald: South Florida museums are busy.

At the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Science and Discovery, last year's attendance was not particularly strong, but the first two months of 2010 have been marked by sharp increases in foot traffic, said Kim Cavendish, the museum's president and CEO.

"We had in January the highest January attendance that the museum had ever experienced and in February the highest attendance in 10 years,'' she said, adding that the museum's exhibits and IMAX movie theater were marketed as a low-cost entertainment option for families.

D- Herald: They write letters.

Seeking political boost

It is unfortunate that Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and the state's entire GOP establishment have decided to attempt to block healthcare reform for crassly political purposes.

The new healthcare law will begin to address the 3.7 million uninsured Floridians. Simply put, it is the most significant social achievement since civil rights and is a historic accomplishment that will benefit tens of millions of Americans.

McCollum, Marco Rubio and company should have made constructive good-faith efforts to address the uninsured and health-insurance reform rather than aiming to score political points.

JOHN ISE, Biscayne Park

E- Palm Beach Post: Loss leaders.

In another reflection of the state’s weak economy, Floridians’ personal income fell by 2.7 percent from 2008 to 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis says today.

Floridians made $700 billion in 2009, down from $720 billion a year earlier. Florida’s decline was among the steepest in the nation. West Virginia’s 2.1 percent increase was highest in the nation, while Nevada’s 4.8 percent decline ranked lowest.

F- TC Palm: Just how wealthy is Greg Norman?

JUPITER ISLAND — Golfer Greg Norman’s Jupiter Island home has been named one of the nine “most expensive homes on the market,” according to the online news blog The Huffington Post.

Norman’s property at 382 South Beach Road is priced at $65 million by its listing agent and real estate Web site Zillow.com, the source of The Huffington Post’s nine properties.

According to Zillow.com, monthly payments on the property would be $271,787.

G- CBS4: Video, FIU President addresses the murder of a football player on the FIU campus.

H- NBCMiami: This is totally BS.

West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel stopped short of saying she is a lead foot, but her comments after getting caught racing through a school zone pretty much tells you how she is accumstomed to driving.

When asked about why she was driving 46 mph in a 20 mph school zone Wednesday, Frankel didn't mince words.

"Let me tell you something. I thought I was going normal speed," she told WPBF 25 News.

[...]

Despite flying through a school zone, Frankel avoided a ticket after the city motorcycle cop who stopped her recognized the city leader. He gave her a warning and let Frankel go on her merry way. She talked with the cops for 10 minutes and allegedly said "I am sorry."

Frankel would have faced a $411 ticket for speeding in a school zone.

I- WPLG: Jeebus.

NORLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL -- An elementary student is accused of forcing a girl to perform a sex act in a bathroom at a Norland Elementary School in Miami Gardens.

The 11-year-old boy was arrested, along with two classmates accused of acting as lookouts.

The mother of the alleged victim said her daughter had gone to the restroom on March 3 when an 11-year-old male student followed her in and forced her to perform oral sex. Two other boys, ages 11 and 13, are accused of acting as lookouts, according to the arrest forms.

"It's a nightmare. It's actually like living a nightmare," said the girl's mother, who did not want to be identified.

J- WPLG: Video, Road rage and life in South Florida.

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