Your Evening Sift

Charlie Crist is still generating a lot of discussion in the South Florida political blogosphere. But there's other things for you in tonight's evening Sift, of course. Have a great night, readers, whatever plans you may have.

A- Miami-Dade Dems dissects Crist's announcement yesterday and includes an edited video that includes the more controversial parts. Eye on Miami also has a few thoughts. From the former...

Next clip declares that our political system is broken. Again, it’s really the Republican Party and its divisions that are highlighted by Crist's exit from the GOP. The broken political system is better seen when one looks at the Republicans in the US Senate, the Party of No.

B- Brickell Life posts a nice little video of the Corporate Run yesterday.

C- The Florida Masochist awards Charlie Crist his Knucklehead of the Day Award.

Crist knows he has little support. His staff has just defected and his money is drying up too. He can't beat Rubio, so he plans to sabotage the November election. Crist isn't running to help the people of Florida(He's been running for another office almost all the time he's been in the Governor's mansion. First angling to be the Vice President nominee, then for the Senate) but to satisfy his ego. If his needs can't be satisfied, then to hell with everyone.

D- Transit Miami wants you to visit Overtown this Monday.

If you want to learn more or, better, want to engage with the people who are making a difference in Overtown, TransitMiami.com joins County Commissioner Edmonson and City Commissioner Dunn in inviting you to a community meeting where you can review and provide input on the Overtown Culmer Center Redevelopment Project. This Monday, May 3, 2010, at 6:00pm. Culmer Center – 1600 N.W. 3rd Avenue Miami, FL.

E- You can expect bloopers from people drinking mojitos and you get them in this video clip from Miamism.

F- Baby mockingbird pictures provide the basis for Some Blogging Guy's post today.

G- South Florida Theatre Scene shares their weekly wrap up.

H- REV Miami has a large herd of photos from the recent Band of Horses concert.

Even though I'm only vaguely familiar with BOH's music, this was still one of the best times I've ever had. People were friendly, dancing, and in a general great frame of mind. Opening act Josh Roberts and the Hinges completely blew my mind with epic guitar solo'ing (when was the last time you heard a modern band have a 5 minute guitar solo) within the frame of country-themed American garage rock music.

I- Shorter Coconut Grove Grapevine...

Burn Notice, Burn Notice, Burn Notice.

J- Bark Bark Woof Woof examines how the Party of Limited and Smaller Government is anything but.

So it must be that limited government doesn't apply to the womenfolk because, as everybody knows, they're just flighty tizzy-headed emotional creatures who will dissolve into a puddle of tears and remorse if they see an ultrasound. Meanwhile, they have to prove that the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest, yet the law is apparently silent on what will serve as evidence. Will they have to bring along their rapist and have him fess up?

K- The Reid Report reveals an interesting development in the race for Florida senator that may mean bad news for Rubio.

I exchanged emails with a prominent tea party player who is connected to the Central Florida tea groups yesterday, and they pointed out that tea partiers have been following Amexgate, and while some give Rubio a pass, not everybody does. Meanwhile, recalling that tea partiers really fall into two camps — Palinites and Paulites, it’s safe to assume the Palinites will be all Rubio. The Paulites? Not so much. Not when there’s an actual Libertarian in the race. Below is a press release sent out by Libertarian candidate Alex Snitker today. It’s shall we say, interesting …

L- The big road construction projects that are starting up in South Florida are next to useless, according to Miami Beach 411.

With both the 595 and Interchange projects, traffic will be stifled during their years-long construction. Like, when the Palmetto was widened (or still is, really) traffic got worse. And that is exactly what will happen while these roads are being revised. So, in essence, we are spending money and creating even worse traffic for a couple of years so that in 2012 it might ease up a barely-noticeable amount. Doesn’t seem like a fair trade to me.

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Flashback Friday

We're going to do something a little different for today's Flashback Friday...

I think you have to be over 40 to have any kind of chance at this 10 question TV Theme Song Quiz posted at the St. Petersburg Times, but go ahead and give it a shot. I only got 6 right. Feel free to post your score.


-thanks to loyal SFDB reader Joe for the tip


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SFDB Viral Video

Via Neatorama....

Yesterday and today, callers who stopped to pay their final respects to the late Mr. Colón got a bit of a surprise. Instead of the traditional presentation of the body in a casket, Mr. Colón’s corpse, dressed in casual duds and sunglasses, was instead posed in a very lifelike position atop his Repsol-liveried Honda CBR600 F4. According to Puerto Rico’s Primera Hora newspaper, the motorcycle was given to the victim by his uncle, and upon Mr. Colón’s untimely demise, family members delivered the bike to the funeral home specifically for this unusual wake.

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SFDB's Favorite Comment From Yesterday

"Never forget, Rubio is Jeb's Mini-Me."


- Swampthing, The Incredible Malleable Marco

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Where Are They?

The oil is coming ashore in Louisiana but this is only the beginning...

Government officials said the blown-out well 40 miles offshore is spewing five times as much oil into the water as originally estimated - about 5,000 barrels, or 200,000 gallons, a day.

At that rate, the spill could eclipse the worst oil spill in U.S. history - the 11 million gallons that leaked from the grounded tanker Exxon Valdez in Alaska's Prince William Sound in 1989 - in the three months it could take to drill a relief well and plug the gushing well 5,000 feet underwater on the sea floor.

Ultimately, the spill could grow much larger than the Valdez because Gulf of Mexico wells tap deposits that hold many times more oil than a single tanker.

So where is Sarah Palin now? Where are the people who so vocally supported the cutesy "Drill, baby, drill" or "Drill here, drill now" memes that were so popular with the Right not so long ago? Have they become mute?

Where did Gingrich go?



More importantly for Floridians, where did this guy go?



Over at the American Solutions' Drill Now website...not much going on these days while their main page is trying desperately to put a positive spin on this catastrophe.

Other experts were quick to put the spill into context. Dr. Dagmar Etkin of Environmental Research Consulting said oil seeps naturally from the Gulf floor "at a rate of 1,500 to 4,000 barrels per day", or as much as two to three times larger than what is currently leaking from the exploded rig. Etkin also mentioned that the constant appearance of oil has produced a large amount of natural bacteria that breaks down oil and reduces contamination.

So it's kinda like no big deal, right? Unbelievable.

Watch for Marco, Newt, and Sarah to put the best spin on this tragedy as oil encrusted pelicans start showing up on the shores of Louisiana in the coming days.

Or maybe they'll just continue to ignore it.


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The Cooler

South Florida's mainstream media is all over Crist's totally expected announcement yesterday so guess what you won't see in the Cooler this morning? Here's what did catch my eye...

A- Herald: Slideshow, Miami Corporate Run.

B- Herald: It never seems to be just right.

Lake Okeechobee, hammered by drought-driven lows over the last decade, brimmed Thursday with more than 15 feet of water. It will continue going up for several more days.

Problem is, South Florida's hurricane and rainy seasons are right around the corner. The big lake is rising when it ought to be falling.

That's not a good scenario for its aging dike or aquatic life in the lake and river systems that will soon be getting big doses of dirty lake water. By next week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which has been slowly trying to lower Lake O for months, will likely crank open the flood gates a lot wider.

``We would expect this during the wet season, but we're seeing it during the dry season, said Luis Alejandro, Lake Okeechobee basin manager for the Corps. ``We are in the high end of the range we would like to see.''

C- Herald: Will it snow in Miami again?

North Miami's former Superfund site has already been the Bermuda Triangle of failed dreams, but that isn't stopping another group of dreamers from trying again.

Anyone for downhill snow skiing in South Florida?

The latest idea calls for transforming the site once planned for the luxury community of Biscayne Landing into an entertainment park with an indoor ski slope and a winter playground.

The Solar Mountain project would be powered largely by renewable energy, and the centerpiece would be a ski slope, similar to Ski Dubai.

[...]

Plans call for other amenities at Solar Mountain beyond the ski slope. Among the possibilities being debated are an indoor ice skating rink, winter kid's playground, snowboarding, indoor tennis center, white-water rafting, surfing, electric car racing, shops, restaurants and more.

D- Herald: They write letters.

Second thoughts on drilling

America has had the divine fortune that when her brightest can't get the ball rolling, a catastrophe does. Just when the Democrats were giving way on offshore drilling, British Petroleum comes to the rescue. The only thing it didn't have was a bugle.

ROALD GARCIA, Hollywood

E- Sun-Sentinel: Broward Critical Mass takes off and The Miami Bike Scene gets a mention.

Catching the tailwind of a nationwide movement, a group of cyclists will pedal down Las Olas Boulevard at its busiest time, to draw attention to bicycling.

The Broward Critical Mass ride leaves from a downtown Fort Lauderdale coffee shop Saturday night and is linked to similar events that have been going on for 18 years — even though some bicyclists say the rides do more harm than good with the public.

"I'm aware there's some negative connotations when you use the words ‘Critical Mass,' but the goal here is to have a positive experience and increase bicycling awareness," said Jesse Scanlon, 21, of Boca Raton.

[...]

"For the most part, there's been little to no altercations aside from the occasional tap on the horn from an impatient motorist," said Rydel Deed, who organizes the ride via his http://www.themiamibikescene.com.

F- Sun-Sentinel: The Hollywood Trolley is a go.

The city is launching a year-round trolley service that will run every 30 minutes between beach hotels, downtown and West Lake Park.

"I do a lot of walking, but sometimes it's tough to turn around and go back," Rinamato said with a laugh. "That's where the trolley will come in handy."

The city is leasing three, 22-passenger trolleys from Limousines of South Florida to provide the service. The orange- and-green trolleys are equipped with bicycle racks, are air-conditioned and are accessible for the handicapped.

The city Community Redevelopment Agency is providing $300,000 for operating costs. The Florida Department of Transportation is matching that for one year.

The state money will allow the service to expand from seasonal to year-round, city spokeswoman Raelin Storey said.

G- Sun-Sentinel: Good riddance.

The Davie police officer declared a fugitive after skipping court two days in a row has fled the country, a Broward Sheriff's Office spokeswoman said.

Vally Getejanc, a rookie with the Davie Police Department, flew into a Rome airport Tuesday to avoid two separate trials on assault and battery charges, said agency spokeswoman Dani Moschella.

"We'll work with our federal investigators to continue to investigate until he is apprehended," she said.

The Davie Police Department fired Getejanc on Thursday, said Sgt. Robert Choquette.

While Getejanc made his getaway on Tuesday, a jury acquitted him of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on his then-fiancee, who was pregnant at the time.

Getejanc, 26, came to court Monday for the trial, but was a no-show Tuesday.

H- Sun-Sentinel: Chan Lowe.

I- WSVN: Remember, it's not the breed.

According to Sunrise Police, Julie Lovelle was standing outside her apartment located at 7649 NW 42 Place, when a neighbor walking a pitbull came up to Lovelle to introduce himself. He then went to shake her hand, when the pitbull, who was on a leash, allegedly bit Lovelle in the abdominal area. "Deep puncher wounds, I mean it's very deep. I'm having radiating pain," said Lovelle.

Pictures were released of Lovelle injures. "He grabbed me by my waist and he took his jaws and locked onto my stomach, and I had to take my elbow to knock the dog off of me," said Lovell.

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Your Morning Sift

Good morning.

We are here. It is Friday. TGIF. Enjoy your morning Sift, readers.

A- The Chowfather gives us his take of the latest Cobaya underground dining experience at Sakaya Kitchen.

As many of you know, I am a huge fan of pork belly and I was very excited when I saw it on the menu. Chef Hales' Cobaya pork belly was served with a Vietnamese caramel sauce, ("Nuoc Mau") roasted baby carrots, crispy bone marrow and coconut rice. This was awesome. I'm not a huge fan of sweet food but I really enjoyed the coconut rice. I thought it paired perfectly with the pork belly and crispy bone marrow.

B- B-Cycle might be coming to Broward County, Transit Miami says.

This morning a selection committee met to rank companies to implement a bicycle sharing program for Broward County. B-Cycle, a partnership between Trek Bicycles and Humana, got the top ranking. Their proposal is to provide at least 200 bicycles with 11 stations in downtown, beaches, and transit hubs in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood Beach, and Pompano Beach areas. The system could grow to potentially 575 bicycles with 52 stations in five years.

C- South Florida Beer Blog lists the beers that will make an appearance at this weekend's Brew in the Zoo event.

D- More photos are up at The Street.

E- Bark Bark Woof Woof has more thoughts on Charlie Crist's announcement yesterday.

The reaction of the GOP has been vitriolic. I suppose that's understandable, but actually, you'd think they'd be glad to be shed of him; he's been too moderate for a lot of them, and they've found themselves a new hot crush in Marco Rubio, so this move by Mr. Crist should make them at least relieved that they don't have to be seen as the only GOP in the South with a leader who isn't a far-right sound bite machine. Their response, though, to Mr. Crist's somewhat self-serving "I didn't abandon the party, the party abandoned me" indicates that they don't mind being aligned with the teabaggers... unless someone else points it out to them.

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SFDB Late Night Politics

Go to bed laughing at The Colbert Report's take on the Gulf oil spill...

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Fox News

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Your Evening Sift

It was a rather busy day for a Thursday in the blogosphere today. Usually I see sign on the weekend slow down starting up, but not today. Enjoy your Thursday evening Sift.

A- Now that Charlie Crist is officially running for the Senate with no party affiliation, Bark Bark Woof Woof has a few questions.

Mr. Crist going independent also raises a couple of questions. First, is he running as an independent only in the Senate race, or is he now Gov. Charlie Crist (I-FL)? That may make his Senate chances better, but he still has to be the governor, and he will need some allies in Tallahassee and throughout the state, especially if the need arises. While he's a lame-duck governor and the Florida legislative session is wrapping up this week, he still needs to have some party clout unless he's planning to coast through the rest of his term. What if he needs to call a special session? Who is going to pay attention to him if they can't see any political advantage for backing him? And if he claims to be running only as an independent for the Senate race and still insisting on having the "R" after his name while he's governor, the Florida GOP, which is already scrubbing him from their website, might take a dim view of that and no party loyalist will give him the time of day.

B- Get a tour of Miami Tour Company's new Bluebird tour bus that is getting ready to be be put in service very soon...at Miami Beach 411.

We love the bus! She has giant tires, tons of character, and is perfect for Everglades tours, but before she hits the road, we are going to replace the floor, rebuild the seats, paint the interior and exterior, and install a GPS tour system.

C- Miamism Pix posts a photo of a cool wall mural in Wynwood.

D- Famous worldwide, Zuma is getting close to opening at the EPIC Hotel, says Eater Miami.

After its Hong Kong branch landed at #51 on the S. Pellegrino World's Best Restaurants list, Zuma, with locations in London, Dubai and Istanbul, went into high gear to ready Miami for its opening at the EPIC Hotel.

E- Worst Pizza shares some photos from a recent pizza tweetup held at PizzaVolante.

F- Coconut Grove Grapevine wonders if there's something that the city is doing to help the film industry in Miami.

According to District Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, "We all share in the enthusiasm and support for the film industry in Miami. It is in all of our best interests to work hand in hand with the film community to ensure that the industry thrives locally. One of the ways that we are working to do that is by working to close a deal on a very large property that will serve as a state-of-the-art sound stage. It will possess the spacing opportunities that members of the film industry have requested in a permanent facility."

G- A Hialeah couple provides some entertaining dance moves in a video posted by Sweet Home Hialeah.

H- Eye on Miami gets a solid round of support from readers after announcing that they will support Crist's candidacy.

This will be historic news. As a Republican, I am saddened by the extremist Republicans drumming our Moderates out of the party.

I- Under the Sun has the story of the only man delivering seltzer water in South Florida.

You may think the “seltzer man” went the way of the rotary phone, but Paul Urbant still delivers seltzer bottles. He is a “sodero” who travels throughout South Florida, delivering bottles to front doors. He came to Miami via Buenos Aires and New York City.

J- All Purpose Dark attended last night's grand opening of Via Luna at Lauderdale's Ritz and posts a few images to prove it.

The dessert was a secret nook overflowing with mini key lime tarts, tiramesu martini glasses, nutella-stuffed beignets, and cannolis studded with crunchy chocolate bits. I lurve crunchy chocolate bits.

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More Leftist Smears!

I'm thinkin' this Republican from Iowa is about to become the latest victim of those terribly unfair leftist smear campaigns painting Republicans as racist.

Speaking at a Tama County Republican forum Monday, six candidates for the GOP nomination to face seven –term Democratic Rep. Leonard Boswell opposed amnesty for illegal aliens and called for tougher enforcement of border security.

“I think we should catch ’em, we should document ’em, make sure we know where they are and where they are going,” said Pat Bertroche, an Urbandale physician. “I actually support micro-chipping them. I can micro-chip my dog so I can find it. Why can’t I micro-chip an illegal?

“That’s not a popular thing to say, but it’s a lot cheaper than building a fence they can tunnel under,” Bertroche said.

Being that he's from Iowa, maybe Mr. Bertroche is also familiar with how they brand cattle to keep track of them.

Don't tell Leonard Pitts about this guy otherwise he'll write one of his wild, far left diatribes accusing another Republican of being a racist. You know, crazy talk.

-via Media Matters

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The Incredible Malleable Marco

Marco Rubio wouldn't have taken the stimulus money...okay, so he wouldn't have taken most of the stimulus money.

Marco Rubio is fiscally conservative...okay, so maybe he's not so fiscally conservative.

Marco Rubio wants less government and smaller government...except when it comes to immigration control.

Marco Rubio has sold himself as being part of a new, insurgent brand of Republican, not part of the GOP "establishment"...okay, but he has accepted the endorsement of establishment Republicans like Jim DeMint and Dick Cheney.

What Marco Rubio has shown us over the past 6 months is that he is a typical politician, just like Charlie Crist, saying, doing, and sometimes wearing [see above photo] anything to get elected. Like Crist, he stands for nothing, but unlike Governor Crist, he is willing to pander to the extremists on the far, far right in order to get their votes and earn himself some national face time. And that's certainly okay for Florida voters who question President Obama's birthplace or like a flat tax or believe that the minimum age for Social Security benefits should be raised. And no doubt this slick package from Miami is the perfect choice for those who have already placed him in the White House in 2012.

Which is even more of reason that the remainder of Florida voters need to keep Marco far, far away from Washington, DC and insure that he remains in Miami where he belongs, spending his days sipping cafecitos outside of the Versailles with Los Exilos.

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SFDB Ecard Of The Day

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The Cooler

Lots and lots of things for your Cooler this morning including a big delay for international travelers at MIA last night.

A- Herald: Hopefully they'll be wearing bulletproof vests and Tea Party detectors.

Starting Saturday, 600,000 Census enumerators will fan out across the country to knock on the doors of the 28 percent of U.S. households that received questionnaires but didn't mail them back.

B- Herald: They'll be back.

A controversial proposal to move the Urban Development Boundary was abruptly withdrawn by the developer Wednesday, amid concerns that the measure lacked sufficient support to win the Miami-Dade County Commission's approval.

Ferro Investment Group, a privately owned firm in Miami Lakes, wanted to move the development boundary farther west in southwestern Miami-Dade County to open up nearly 10 acres for the construction of retail stores and offices.

But the proposal encountered stiff resistance from county and state planners, largely because there is already an adequate supply of vacant, developable commercial land in the county. County planners estimate that it will be more than 15 years before Miami-Dade's supply of commercial land is depleted.

C- Herald: This has "Burger Beast" written all over it.

IHOP's Pancake Stackers consist of a crustless cheesecake filling surrounded by two buttermilk pancakes and topped with a strawberry, blueberry or cinnamon apple compote and whipped topping. Pancake Stackers are available a la carte or with a combo meal, which adds eggs, hash browns and a choice of bacon, pork sausage links and ham to the tally.

And yes, the meal can be a diet buster.

The Glendale, Calif.-based company did not provide nutritional information for Pancake Stackers by themselves. But the company said the regular combo meal -- which includes Pancake Stackers with strawberries, two eggs, bacon and hash browns -- runs 1,250 calories.

That meal is more than double KFC's Double Down chicken sandwich -- which weighs in at 540 calories -- and at least half the total calories many adults should eat all day. It also packs 2,750 milligrams of sodium. The Institute of Medicine recommends that adults not exceed 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day.

D- Herald: Morin.

E- Sun-Sentinel: This is news?

Referees caught Stranahan flag football coach Bennett Wyche on Tuesday pulling the flag of a Western High player headed for the end zone.

What Wyche didn't know was that a spectator's camera caught him in the act as well.

F- Sun-Sentinel: Video, it's all about the kids with Broward teachers.

G- Sun-Sentinel: Chan Lowe.

H- Palm Beach Post: It's because they're all about less government intrusion.

TALLAHASSEE — Florida's Republican-dominated legislature is poised to pass a bill that would force any pregnant woman considering an abortion to first have an ultrasound - and pay for it - even if she was raped.

The measure, if signed by Gov. Charlie Crist, would result in one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation. It also would require a woman to view the ultrasound unless she signs a form saying she was not coerced into having the abortion.

Opponents say that even then, the bill may require women to hear a medical professional's description of the fetus from that ultrasound before having an abortion unless they can prove they have been raped, are a victim of domestic violence or became pregnant under other extreme circumstances.

I- Palm Beach Post: Celine Dion's personal water park.

J- CBS4: Video, And you thought baggage claim sucked at MIA.

K- CBS4- Video, the dangers of Craigslist.

L- WPLG: The other part of the story.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- A South Florida man is accusing a Fort Lauderdale police officer of arresting him because he threatened to file a complaint against the officer.

A cell phone video taken by Brennen Hamilton's wife shows Hamilton asking Fort Lauderdale police Officer Jeff Overcash for his name and badge number. Overcash handcuffed Hamilton and carted him off to jail on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

[...]

Fort Lauderdale police said there was more to the story. They said Hamilton was taken to jail because of his disorderly behavior during his first run-in with the officer.

"No, he wasn't arrested because he wanted to file a complaint," said Sgt. Frank Sousa, of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. "He was given a warning prior to being placed into custody, prior to that happening, if he came back he would face arrest."

[...]

The misdemeanor charges filed against Hamilton are violations of the city of Fort Lauderdale's ordinance, not state charges.

Hamilton has faced a disorderly conduct charge before, but the charge was dropped. Cohen said that in that case, too, Hamilton was charged because he asked another officer for his name and badge number so he could file a complaint.

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Your Morning Sift

Good morning.

The Weekend Widget is up and packed with things to do this weekend. Make sure you check it out near the top of the right sidebar. I can almost tasted the weekend, folks. Here's your Thursday morning Sift...

A- The South Florida Watershed Journal says it's official.

Never before, in the past 20 years of record keeping, has swamp stage been this high this late in the dry season. Preserve-wide swamp stage is 15 inches higher than our late April norm and over 3 feet higher than last April this time.

B- Steffi Graf's home is [still] for sale on Miami Beach and Miamism shares the photos.

The MLS history shows that it was under contract at the end of 2008 and didn’t sell. Although the photos are better than the previous ones, this Hibiscus Island home is obviously stale and needs a marketing pick me up and can you say PRICE REDUCTION?

C- The South Florida Traveler has some dining suggestions for Mother's Day if you're Miami-Dade County.

D- A Norwegian fashion magazine did a photo shoot in Swampstyle's studio and he has the pictures to prove it.

E- The South Florida Theatre Scene posts their weekly wrap.

F- The Red Elvises look like a good time, especially when they're at the Green Parrot.


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Your Evening Sift

There's supposed to be a full moon tonight although I'm not seeing it just yet. I have a pretty good Sift for you tonight so sit back and enjoy.

A- Man or Maniac? and Carlos Miller have comments on a controversial videotaped arrest in Fort Lauderdale that has been making its rounds on YouTube. From the former...

Here's the thing; this crooked cop claims that he's arresting law-abiding Brendan Hamilton for "a previous incident." But if there was such an incident, Overcash would have been compelled by law to arrest Hamilton at the time of the incident. So either Overcash broke the law by not arresting Hamilton in the first place, or he broke it when he arrested him on camera. One way or the other, Overcash was clearly derelict in his duty.

B- Apparently there's some sorta pissing match going on between Rakontur and former NFL football player and UM alumni Warren Sapp...or something.

C- Miami for Change is upset that the blogosphere isn't noticing City of Miami Mayor Regalado.

Can you imagine if a public official during the Diaz administration had repeatedly ignored public records requests?

What if public officials circumvented those laws by using text messages or their private email accounts?

The blogosphere would be outraged!

Local blogs (whose names sound like “rye” and “ape”) would chronicle the misdeeds of the Diaz administration.

The Herald would launch an investigative watchdog report.

Community activists (whose last names rhyme with “dweeb”) would light up the comments section calling for investigations and resignations.

But Manny Diaz is no longer Mayor.

So when public officials of the new mayor’s administration laugh at citizens and trample all over the public records laws…

Dead silence.

D- The massive amount of work that is being done to the 826/836 interchange is not going to improve things, says Transit Miami.

Why they had to supersize the entrances at Flagler Street (which will only create more problems with surrounding congestion) or change everything around is beyond me. Another BILLION down the drain.

E- Coconut Grove Grapevine does a good job looking at the current status of Miami's film office and it isn't pretty.

The film folks at the meeting -- producers, directors, location scouts and casting agents are quite unhappy and they say it takes more to run the office than issuing permits. Although the Film Office is not even doing that now since the permits have been relegated to the Parks Department, under "Special Events." The problem now is that there is no one on call to handle problems, which is desperately needed. They all want the office to run like it did before former director Robert Parente was let go in February. One producer from Burn Notice told us that he had to actually print out his own permit last week and beg for an official signature.

F- For those who like their __________ [insert fast food or candy item] deep fried, The Burger Beast has just the place for you in west Miami-Dade.

The owner is dipping and frying everything in site so if you have any ideas send it his way. I'm sure he'd try it.

G- Bark Bark Woof Woof shares some thoughts on a Rubio/Crist/Meek senatorial race.

Mr. Crist will make his appeal to the moderate and independents who are nominally Republicans but are turned off by the nutsery, and he might even use the Obama hug as his foot in the door to Democrats who aren't sure of Mr. Meek. So you can expect to see Mr. Rubio going after Mr. Crist, which is just fine with the governor; he'll be considered the voice of sanity as the Tea Party cult takes on more and more weirdness as November approaches.

H- Despite having Fox News on its side, The Reid Reports explains that a poll shows that...

Even after a year of Republicans tearing into him, President Obama is still more trusted than the GOP to solve the nation’s problems.

I- The Cuban Triangle has a very interesting and provocative quote from a Cuban political prisoner that you will never, ever see you know where.

J- Miami City Diggs posts some shots from the 21st floor of the Akoya.

K- Random Pixels discusses that state of the Miami Herald and mentions SFDB so...you know.

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The Best Healthcare System In The World

Everyone knows that the United States has the best healthcare system in the world, right? No unusually long delays. Efficient care. The best doctors. You know, much better than you can get anywhere else. Right?

Hardly.

But that's a cold, stark graph that doesn't tell the whole story, right? Well, actually, no.

When Godfrey Davies learned he needed surgery to remove polyps blocking his nasal airways, the self-described bargain shopper set out on a mission to find an affordable surgeon. He quickly learned a good deal is hard to find.

"The total numbers they were throwing at me were just incredible. I couldn't believe it," he says.

Davies, who is semiretired from his real estate business and uninsured, says he received estimates from two surgeons. When hospital, anesthesia and incidental fees were all tallied, the cheapest price he could find in Indianapolis, Indiana, was $33,127 -- which he would need to pay out of pocket.

"I was speechless." Davies recalls. "It was absolutely out of the question financially for me to have this done under those circumstances."

Frustrated that his bargain shopping saved him so little, Davies called on family in the United Kingdom for assistance. When they told him they had found a private hospital in Wales that would perform the surgery for $2,930 [or £1,897], Davies didn't think twice.

He purchased a $768 round-trip ticket, and on March 18, he boarded a flight to the UK to have his polyps removed there at a savings of nearly $30,000.

Yeah, but he's just one guy and...

An estimated 878,000 Americans will travel internationally for a medical procedure this year, according to a report from the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. That number is expected to nearly double by 2012.

The majority of medical tourists are uninsured; however, the cost of health care in this country has become so expensive that even some U.S. health insurance companies are coordinating with hospitals overseas.

"It is curious to a number of folks as to why an established American health insurance company would be interested in medical tourism," says David Boucher, president of Companion Global Healthcare, a subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Damn socialists.

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Don't Look Now...

...but we're [as in South Florida] about to get a taste of the future. Take a look at the Gulf currents...

Slick

Two thoughts about the above...

One, isn't it great that we have to rely on a newspaper from the booming metropolis of St. Petersburg, Florida to give us coverage of this major story that is about to affect South Florida. Yo, Anders, newsflash: Rothstein is yesterday's news, bucco.

And, two, where are all those Einsteins who were yelling "Drill, Baby, Drill" just a year and a half ago? Like these brain surgeons...



How's that old "drill, baby drill" thingy workin' out for you now, huh?

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As Bad As Florida Is Sometimes, Just Think...

...we could be more like Alabama...



In case you missed the little print that flashed on the screen for a nanosecond during that very real commercial: Tim James is a Republican.

But then, you already knew that, didn't you?

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The Cooler

The full moon and a space station will provide two reasons to glance towards the heavens tonight. That and more in today's Cooler.

A- Herald: New Publix will save the day.

``It used to be a ghost town,'' said Franky Arriola, 29, who moved into a Biscayne Boulevard condo in 2007. ``It's getting better day by day.''

Shortly after Arriola moved in, he witnessed a stabbing victim carried off the basketball court at Margaret Pace Park. Now he plays basketball there regularly and walks his dogs along Biscayne.

``Now, there's a pulse,'' Arriola said. ``It shows that there are signs of life if Publix is willing to invest. I can't wait for other things to be built.''

Alyce Robertson, executive director of the Miami Downtown Development Authority, said the new Publix is ``a wonderful signal to the rest of the businesses in the area that we've really turned the corner. This is a good anchor for the area. It has the potential to be a catalytic thing.''

B- Herald: Losers.

The Celtics advance to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Heat moves on to officially begin the mega offseason makeover that has overshadowed this season from the moment training camp opened.

C- Herald: Thanksgiving must be a hoot.

A meat cleaver and a machete were the weapons of choice for two Broward County grandparents who wound up in front of a judge Tuesday in unrelated cases.

Emma Bell, 63, was first up, facing a charge of aggravated assault for allegedly swinging a meat cleaver at her adult daughter, Tracy Bell, during an argument at Emma Bell's home in Lauderhill on Monday. The daughter received only a minor cut, police said.

[...]

Tracy Bell, 41, was charged with abuse of an elderly person for her alleged role in the fight. Police said she struck her mother with a metal stick, although it was not clear who swung first. Hurley set bail at $5,000 for her, too.

D- Herald: Embarrassing.

Was he running out of money, or just running out of patience with his favorite football team? Whatever the reason, accused Ponzi swindler Nevin Shapiro stopped making pledged checks to the University of Miami and got his name yanked from a student lounge in 2008, a school spokeswoman said Tuesday.

``He just didn't live up to the payment plan,'' said UM spokeswoman Margot Winick.

Prosecutors cited a 10-year pledge Shapiro made to get his name on a university lounge -- a donation made with money he fraudulently obtained from investors while operating a bogus food wholesale business, prosecutors said. Though they did not name the school, prosecutors said Shapiro donated $150,000.

Winick said the lounge was named after Shapiro in 2005, and now the lounge does not have a donor's name attached to it.

E- Herald: Morin.

F- Herald: Editorial, Arizona's new immigration law.

The people of Arizona have reason to be frustrated. The state has an estimated 460,000 undocumented immigrants. The border with Mexico has become a favorite crossing point for alien smugglers and drug criminals. The federal government has been derelict in its duty to protect the borders, despite a heavily beefed-up Border Patrol and futile attempts to build real or virtual fences to detect illicit traffic.

But none of this justifies racial profiling or usurping a federal responsibility. The potential harm the law will inflict on innocent American citizens creates an environment of fear that undermines respect for law enforcement and breeds resentment and ethnic divisions.

Meanwhile, fiscally ailing police departments -- whose chiefs are mostly against the law -- will find themselves busier than ever as they deal with the impossible job of enforcing it.

G- Sun-Sentinel: The AARP Robbers.

Two women and a man were arrested in connection with an April 9 home invasion robbery at Century Village, police said Tuesday.

Denise Ellen Oddstad, 56, of Pembroke Pines, and Crystal Lee Delmaro, 27, of Las Vegas, have been charged with burglary/battery, grand theft and false imprisonment.

[...]

Jerry Uwnawich, 47, of Fort Lauderdale, was arrested Friday and charged with dealing in stolen property.

The robbery happened at about 7 p.m. in the 200 block of Southwest 132nd Way, police said.

A 91-year-old woman told police that she went to her front door when she heard someone knocking faintly and found a woman standing outside, begging for help.

The resident would not let the woman into her home, and instead offered to bring a phone outside. When the elderly woman returned with the phone, two female robbers pushed their way inside and began taking things, police said.

H- Palm Beach Post: It's not just Spirit.

DALLAS — Southwest Airlines Co., which bumped more passengers than any U.S. carrier last year, has been fined $200,000 for violating rules on kicking passengers off oversold flights.

[...]

Last year, Southwest bumped 13,113 passengers — 80 percent more than the next closest carrier. However, Southwest carried the most U.S. passengers, and travelers faced a greater chance of being bumped on some other airlines, with American's regional affiliate, American Eagle, being the worst.

I- Palm Beach Post: Your South Florida moment on the day.

PORT ST. LUCIE — Calling marijuana “God’s herb,” a man repeatedly blew pot smoke at an 11-year-old boy’s mouth and made him stand with his arms outstretched “in the same fashion as Jesus on the cross,” according to records obtained Tuesday.

Port St. Lucie police say Richard Joseph Nazareth, 38, also made the boy and a 9-year-old girl drink from a mixture of water, tears, spit and beer that he used to “bless” a friend’s house.

J- CBS4: Video, Scareware scams infecting computers.

K- WSVN: The Castle is torn down.

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- Construction crews are working to demolish a legendary South Florida home.

The 11,000-square-foot castle located at 4462 North Bay Road was razed Tuesday. Scott Mayaudon was a former employee at the massive residence. "Just seeing memories gone by," he said.

The castle, which was once owned by Windjammer Barefoot Cruise founder Michael Burke, was known as much for its size as for its odd amenities, like gargoyles, watchtowers and even a moat containing sharks. "It was good while it lasted. As you can see, it was basically one man's fantasy," said Mayaudon.

L- TC Palm: See the International Space Station pass over Florida tonight.

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Your Morning Sift

Good morning.

Opened up my RSS reader this morning and heard crickets. It was a quiet night in the South Florida blogosphere last night. Enjoy your Hump Day morning Sift...

A- Discourse has our "only in Miami moment" for the day.

I went to the bank today to deposit, among other things, a $5 rebate check for a piece of computer gear purchased before my illness. The check said on its front that it was “Not Valid Unless Cashed Before April 28, 2010”. Today is April 27, 2010. The teller refused to accept the check. “It says April 28. I can't accept it before that date. Come back tomorrow.”

B- Discussion about the new Arizona immigration law can be found at 305 and Bark Bark Woof Woof. From the former...

Needless to say, I was contemplating a trip to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon next year. I'm not of Hispanic origin, but El Hombre is. And honestly, even the hint of worrying that someone might harass him for proof of residency because he "looks Hispanic" is enough to look to other national parks and monuments I also want to see.

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SFDB Late Night Politics

The Daily Show hilariously takes down the new Arizona immigration law...

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Law & Border
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

-via The Reid Report

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Your Evening Sift

Thanks to SFDB reader Allen for pointing out that I have been using the morning Sift image for the evening Sift. There's a lot of cut and pasting here...sometimes too much. Here's your almost-full-moon evening Sift...

A- The Roots in the City Farmers Market is getting a lot of attention, according to Redland Rambles.

National TV news visited last week. On Wednesday April 21, a CNN crew consisting of reporter John Zarella, his cameraman Mike, and a field producer who was darting around with a notebook, hung out at the market all afternoon. Most of the people who created the market were on hand for interviews. Founder and Chef Michel Nischan chatted with a lot of enthusiasm on camera. Chef Michael Schwartz and Dr. Marvin Dunn (and several family members) were on hand for interviews, along with people from the Human Services Coalition. A school group came by, and the kids looked at, touched and tasted different fresh vegetables. Several people who came to shop were also interviewed. Some came over from downtown (where more than half of the shoppers are coming from), and some from the neighborhood.

B- Plan your visit to Key West around The Green Parrot Bar's entertainment schedule which just went up today.

C- More Blog About Buildings and Food does their usual good job with the latest Wynwood Artwalk.

A Fernando + Humberto Campana chair, part of a group show at Castillo. Nicole had to shoo people out of it a few times, even though it’s on loan from Craig Robins, and obviously sees its share of asses in its regular life.

D- You gotta love the pictures of the roast turkey that I Shot the Chef whipped up the other day.

E- Another story from the Keys, courtesy Restaurant Gal.

Later, after Policeman Paul was three hours late in picking him up, after they got lost finding the house where the wheels were garaged, after it took many minutes to adjust the seat and controls, he slowly made his way around from the back parking lot to the front door. And there it was: a sparkling, like-new three-wheeler standing out amongst the eclectic collection of bent and rusted beach cruisers that are parked in front of my bar at any given time.

F- Eye on Miami explains why County Commissioner Dorrin Rolle doesn't deserve to be reelected.

In 2006, The Miami Herald's House of Lies series reported the Scott-Carver homes were demolished and families displaced on promises that never materialized. Unscrupulous affordable housing developers raped the system under Commissioner Rolle's watch. A good portion of the district that was once a poor but functional community became a ghost town, weeds grew where children once played. A mere three blocks west of the former Scott-Carver Home Projects is a large empty parcel of land that an out-of-town developer promised to develop into a multimillion dollar project employing thousands. Today, the lot in Rolle's district is still empty and Liberty City has piles of dirt and gravel with no sign of the buildings and jobs.

G- The new Miami-Dade Transit website isn't all that, according to Transit Miami.

The site redesign is like many things Miami: all flash, no substance. Repackaging something doesn’t change what it says.

H- Miami On The Cheap reminds us of the drum circle and fire dancing on Miami Beach tomorrow night.

I- The City of Miami gets a bike, says Spokes 'n' Folks.

Some of the errands run out of Miami City Hall won't require gasoline consumption anymore. Mary Jane Mark presented a spiffy new bike to Mayor Tomás Regalado for his staff to use.

J- What's the Annual Secretary's Day Luncheon [benefiting the South Florida Firefighters Calendar] like? Sex and the Beach tells us.

Shrieks of joy were heard. Smiles of ecstasy filled the room. Adonises danced on stage. It could've been a Greek play set to Reggaeton, except dollar bills were whipped out and then it reminded me of a couple of bachelorette parties I've attended at La Bare -- except that here they didn't take their pants off and they didn't exactly stick their crotches in your face. But it didn't matter. Women are sensual creatures; sometimes we want things left to the imagination. Sometimes junk in the bunker gear is a good thing and this was enough for lunchtime titillation.

K- Such a deal @ Bourbon Steak, according to The Chowfather.

One of the best restaurants in South Florida is introducing a three course menu for $49.00. It starts May 1 and lasts until Miami Spice.

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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.

This past week brought us some unique posts in the South Florida blogosphere. It was fun going through them again and deciding which one was the best. Here are my choices.

Runners-Up: A trip to the DMV in Little Havana to renew his driver license provided for some entertaining reading in More Blog About Buildings and Food's Day Trip To The Little Havana DMV. Sweat Records did an excellent job with a post that wrapped up Swetastock with a number of videos and links. And Some Blogging Guy photographed the birth of a monarch butterfly in a unique post called Monarch Birth that drew some comments.

Winner: This past week we dreaded lamented totally forgot about recognized the 10th anniversary of the The Day Elian Gonzalez Became A Martyr. Political commentary aside, Miami Beach 411, employed the services of photographer Bill Cooke, he of Random Pixels, and posted a great summary of the story from the perspective of a photographer who was assigned to cover the controversial drama that unfolded in Little Havana. The Elian Gonzalez Story: 10 Years Later is an interesting retelling of the events that is loaded with photos and insight from someone who lived the story, day in and day out, for 4 months. You don't find this kind of stuff floating around in the South Florida blogosphere very often and when you do, you can be sure it's going to get that week's SFDB Post of the Week. Congrats to Miami Beach 411 and Bill for a job well done.

'Til next time, people, keep on blogging!

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Coming To A Shore Near You

This thing is making tar balls look like spilt milk...

NEW ORLEANS — Oil continued to pour into the Gulf of Mexico on Monday as the authorities waited to see if the quickest possible method of stopping the leaks would bring an end to what was threatening to become an environmental disaster.

Remote-controlled robots operating 5,000 feet under the ocean’s surface were more than a full day into efforts to seal off the oil well, which has been belching crude through leaks in a pipeline at the rate of 42,000 gallons a day. The leaks were found on Saturday, days after an oil rig to which the pipeline was attached exploded, caught on fire and sank in the gulf about 50 miles from the Louisiana coast.

As Fred Grimm says today in the Herald, this could be a game changer.

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News That Makes The Little Limbaughs Sad

Because what's good for America...

The recovery is shaping up to be stronger than expected and there is little risk the economy will slip back into a recession, according to USA TODAY's quarterly survey of 46 leading economists.

Yet most still say the rebound will fall short of the sharp, V-shaped upturns that often follow severe slumps, and the 9.7% jobless rate will fall slowly.

As the Fed meets to assess the economy this week, seven in 10 economists say they're more optimistic than they were three months ago.

"I think we've gotten to a point where it's a self-sustaining recovery," says Standard & Poor's chief economist David Wyss.

The experts predict growth of 3% this year, up from forecasts of 2.8% in January. In V-shaped upswings, growth is often 7% or more.

None see a return to recession by next year, and those who see some risk say it's lessened markedly.

"I feel more confident ... there'll be no relapse," says Stuart Hoffman, chief economist of PNC Financial Services Group.

Is bad for Limbaugh Republicans.



-via Bark Bark Woof Woof

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The Cooler

The mainstream media is brimming with interesting stories this morning. Here are some of them.

A- Herald: It was useless anyway.

TALLAHASSEE -- The Florida Senate was poised Monday to pass a long-championed ban on texting while driving in what traffic advocates predicted would be a banner year for driver safety, but there is barely a wisp of hope that the legislation will become law.

Although 23 other states have similar statutes on their books, and the bill has wide support, it has been parked in a House committee for more than a month, with no chance of moving forward.

``It's not stalled,'' said Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, chairwoman of the House Finance and Tax Council. ``It's dead.''

Bogdanoff said she told lawmakers she would not hear the bill in her committee because it targets careless behavior already prohibited by Florida's traffic laws. Her opposition has created a substantial hurdle for a measure that lawmakers vowed to finally push through the legislative process after years of failed efforts.

B- Herald: Video, yesterday's weather in dramatic fashion.

C- Herald: The only ones sticking around are the militants.

From a studio in Coral Gables, Roberto Rodríguez Tejera, a popular host on Spanish-language radio, is feeling firsthand the fallout of the credit card scandal that has tarnished the image of the Republican Party of Florida.

``Until recently, every time I opened the microphones there was a pragmatic sense that basically anything the Republicans did was good, no matter what it was,'' said Rodríguez Tejera, host of Prohibido callarse (Barred from keeping quiet) on Univisión station WQBA-1140AM. ``But that view has begun to collapse. My audience is seeing the reality less from a party perspective and more about what is happening.''

This sudden change, especially among older Cuban Americans who have been Republicans to the core, may influence who will be the next Floridian to take a seat in the U.S. Senate and in the congressional elections.

``Marco [Rubio] has been the guy who comes on a white horse dressed as a warrior. The level of hope in him among many Hispanics was very high,'' said the radio host. ``But suddenly they're looking at him like any other politician. As more information comes out about the credit cards, more harm is done.''

D- Herald: Morin.

E- Herald: They write letters.

Crist gets it right

Gov. Charlie Crist has been accused of abandoning the Republican Party. However, he is a role model for everyone in elected office. When a politician places party loyalty above the public interest, he has violated a sacred trust to represent the people with no regard to party affiliation or ideology.

Crist has decided to follow a solid, moral path, and he should be elected to the U.S. Senate as an independent. He has proved beyond all question that he will not be a prostitute for any political party or way of thinking.

JEFFREY FICHTELBERG, Miami Beach

F- Sun-Sentinel: Because everyone knows these folks are the most expendable.

Principals at dozens of Broward County public schools have given librarians and teachers of art, music and physical education a choice: Take a pay cut of almost 50 percent, or take your chances waiting for a job to open up at another school.

"I've been teaching for over a decade, and now I'm supposed to be living for under 20 grand a year," said Jason Hammett, a physical education teacher at Plantation Elementary School. "I have a newborn son."

G- Sun-Sentinel: Unimaginable.

Cheryl Arthur, 39, is being held without bail on a murder charge in the death of her daughter Makeda, whose lifeless body she brought into a fire station Saturday, authorities said.

Arthur, who is listed as unemployed, told homicide detectives she had been feeling depressed and overwhelmed Saturday afternoon when she left her Hollywood apartment and took her daughter for a walk, police said. She and the girl lay down together near the Tri-Rail overpass on Sheridan Street, according to police.

"Arthur told me that while there she kept thinking how overwhelmed she was and that she did not want her daughter to turn out like her," a detective wrote in an arrest report. "Arthur stated that at some point she placed one hand on her daughter's throat and strangled her and the other hand she used to cover her mouth and nose to suffocate her."

H- Sun-Sentinel: Chan Lowe.

I- CBS4: I don't get it.

The unsolved murder of aspiring model Paula Sladewski has received national attention, and now her death may affect you when you head out for a night on the town in Miami.

Officials are in the middle of examining liquor laws regulating bars, clubs, and even convenience stores. Sladewski's sister is now begging City Commissioners to crack down, especially on clubs like Space, where Sladewski was last seen.

In a letter to Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, Kelly Farris wrote, "I am pleading to you and to your panel to put an end to clubs that serve alcohol 24 hours a day. My sister's life is gone. Let's hope and pray that you will stop this before another life is needlessly ended."

[...]

Sarnoff agrees, the city's liquor laws need to be tougher.

"I think in certain areas of the city it's a great idea," he said. "I think when you're around schools and school zones, I don't see how you can continue to drink between five and six am."

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Your Morning Sift

Good morning.

Not only is Monday behind us but so is the rain. How bad can today be? Enjoy a very thin morning Sift.

A- Obalesque informs us that he has just commenced his radiation treatments which he suspects will lead to a desire to take up scrapboking.

After hours of research and personal interviews, Guido and I determine that the best course of treatment for my prostate cancer is radiation, where, for want of a better term, radioactive beams are shot up my ass to destroy the cancer cells. Kind of like Star Wars In Your Anus.

B- It's Sunfest weekend, according to Soul of Miami.

C- REV Miami shares a few videos of some local bands with us.

D- Some new photos are up at The Street.

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Your Evening Sift

And so, with today's monsoons, how long before mosquitoes the size of wombats make their appearance? I give 'em 2-3 weeks. Here's your not-so-blood thirsty evening Sift...

A- Frankie's South Beach Hide-A-Way on Washington Avenue is unpretentious and well worth your time, according to Searching For Normalcy.

Our friends ordered spaghetti and meatballs, cheeseburger sliders and – get this – grilled fish sliders! The burger patties for the cheeseburger sliders were hand-formed and grilled to perfection, with a nice crust on the outside, but still juicy inside. The fish sliders were made with fresh fish (I think either Mahi or Tilapia; I forgot to ask), which was white and flaky, and all were topped with fresh lettuce and tomatoes. They were perfectly sized if you wanted to eat one and take the other home.

B- View From Virginia Key points us to a recent article on a national parks webzine that discusses integrating Virginia Key into Biscayne National Park while Spokes 'n' Folks tells us about the plans some mountain bikers have for the key. From the former...

An article in the National Parks Traveler, a web magazine dedicated to the National Parks, considers how creating an urban gateway to Biscayne National Park on Virginia Key would put a national park within steps of downtown Miami, accessible through the scenic Rickenbacker Causeway. This would make Biscayne National Park perhaps the only national park that combines both remote island wild lands, such as the Channel Islands National Park, with the easy accessibility to natural and historic sites provided by urban parks such as Santa Monica Mountains or Gateway National Recreation Areas in California, the article states.

C- Join South Florida Beer Blog as they celebrate their 1-year blogaversary.

Friday, May 7th, South Florida Beer Blog will be celebrating its One Year Anniversary at Abraxas in South Beach. It will be a special celebration full of surprises, giveaways, and rare treats.

D- Food For Thought walks us through the latest Cobaya underground dining experience at Sakaya Kitchen.

For those who were already familiar with Sakaya Kitchen, this dinner was a chance to try both some "old" favorites and also some new and different things that Chef Hales hasn't rolled out yet on the standard menu (and I sort of doubt you're ever going to be seeing Korean Fried Sweetbreads or crispy bone marrow on a regular basis). For those who had not yet been, it was a great introduction to a place that is a real gem in the rough. Sakaya Kitchen looks for all the world like a fast food joint, giving little indication of the quality and seriousness of cooking going on there.

E- Transit Miami gets political for a moment and posts some words from Democrat Joe Garcia.

F- Dine out this Thursday and help fight AIDS, according to South Beach USA.

South Beach USA joins forces with local media outlets in asking you to dine out this Thursday, April 29 at participating local restaurants that are donating 25% – 100% of their full day’s receipts to Care Resource, a local agency supporting South Floridians living with HIV and AIDS. Find some friends or family members and enjoy a meal at one of the great spots listed below to make a real difference in the lives of your fellow Miamians.

G- More photos from this weekend's Bike Miami Days at Coconut Grove Grapevine.

H- UDB hearings are entertaining, says Eye on Miami.

Come down on Wednesday. Join the public to express what you feel about the costs of growth that have resulted in whopping billion dollar infrastructure deficits, not to mention current deficits. It should be an interesting meeting. It's much better than television, the same way that going to the ballpark gives you a view of the game that encompasses so much more than who is batting or fielding, throwing or catching. You have to see the side-glances, the way that staff look at each other or bury their faces in the crook of their arms when lies and demagogues take flight at the microphones. Watch Katy Sorenson in her final CDMP zoning hearing as a county commissioner. Will she say, "I told you so", about overdevelopment to her colleagues on the dais? Will they ignore her? Will Natacha Seijas and Joe Martinez turn away as she speaks, or Dorrin Rolle pick up his Get Smart phone?

I- The Tea Party, the one that is supporting Marco Rubio, gets the ringing endorsement of David Duke, but is anyone really surprised? Bark Bark Woof Woof has more.

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Imagine If The Tea Party Was Black

From "the things I wish I wrote" file...

Imagine that hundreds of black protesters were to descend upon Washington DC and Northern Virginia, just a few miles from the Capitol and White House, armed with AK-47s, assorted handguns, and ammunition. And imagine that some of these protesters —the black protesters — spoke of the need for political revolution, and possibly even armed conflict in the event that laws they didn’t like were enforced by the government? Would these protester — these black protesters with guns — be seen as brave defenders of the Second Amendment, or would they be viewed by most whites as a danger to the republic? What if they were Arab-Americans? Because, after all, that’s what happened recently when white gun enthusiasts descended upon the nation’s capital, arms in hand, and verbally announced their readiness to make war on the country’s political leaders if the need arose.

Imagine that white members of Congress, while walking to work, were surrounded by thousands of angry black people, one of whom proceeded to spit on one of those congressmen for not voting the way the black demonstrators desired. Would the protesters be seen as merely patriotic Americans voicing their opinions, or as an angry, potentially violent, and even insurrectionary mob? After all, this is what white Tea Party protesters did recently in Washington.

Imagine that a rap artist were to say, in reference to a white president: “He’s a piece of shit and I told him to suck on my machine gun.” Because that’s what rocker Ted Nugent said recently about President Obama.

[...]

In other words, imagine that even one-third of the anger and vitriol currently being hurled at President Obama, by folks who are almost exclusively white, were being aimed, instead, at a white president, by people of color. How many whites viewing the anger, the hatred, the contempt for that white president would then wax eloquent about free speech, and the glories of democracy? And how many would be calling for further crackdowns on thuggish behavior, and investigations into the radical agendas of those same people of color?

[...]

And this, my friends, is what white privilege is all about. The ability to threaten others, to engage in violent and incendiary rhetoric without consequence, to be viewed as patriotic and normal no matter what you do, and never to be feared and despised as people of color would be, if they tried to get away with half the shit we do, on a daily basis.

Read the entire thing here.


- photo via Getty Images

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