SFDB New Year's Eve Turndown Service

Diana Krall, New Years Eve




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Your New Year's Eve Sift

We're experiencing the last few hours of 2012, readers. Be safe and enjoy your last evening Sift of the year.*

A- Burger Beast posts his 2012 Year In Burger.

B- Happy New Year from South Florida Lawyers.

C- Bark Bark Woof Woof reviews his 2012 predictions and reveals his prognostications for 2013.

- President Obama moves into his second term with pretty much the same situation in Washington and Congress as he has had for the last two years, so nothing will really get done. The budget matters, including the fake drama of the Fiscal Cliff, will still be around in some form because it’s a lot easier to kick it down the road than actually do something, especially when you have a Republican Party that absolutely refuses to work with the president on anything at all. It has nothing to do with policy, deficits or debt, taxes or revenue. The reason is pretty simple: they don’t like him, and so like a kid in grade school who refuses to do his math homework because he hates the teacher, they refuse to budge. You can pick your excuses, ranging from his Spock-like demeanor to his refusal to suck up to the Villagers, but most of it comes down to the unspoken reason that dare not speak its name: he’s black. No one dares say that out loud, but get three beers in any Republican, and I’ll bet they’ll admit it by saying “He’s not one of us.” How many dog whistles do you need? A big tell was that in the last-minute budget negotiations, Mitch McConnell went to Vice President Joe Biden as the go-between the Congress and the president. Why? Because Mr. Biden was in the Senate and knows how to talk to them, and also because he’s the white guy. So we will have another year of gridlock, and the new Congress will make the one just concluded look good.

*The last SFDB post of 2012 will be later with a special Turndown Service.



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SFDB Daydreaming

Love, love, love the design of this cabin from Balance Associates.

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SFDB's A Few Minutes At Mauro's Pizza In Hollywood

So I've been hearing consistently good things about this place and finally decided to check it out. If you drive in, make sure you park on Harrison Street, one street south, where you miss the perennially congested Hollywood Boulevard.

Doesn't look like much from the outside...

Or the inside...

And it seems like everywhere you turn, there's a sign telling you what you can't do...

This is the area behind the front counter. Click on the image to make it bigger so you can read all the signs.

While we were waiting to order, a woman came in and asked the guy making the pizzas if they sold subs. "This is Mauro's Pizza. We make pizza." And, yes, they sure do.

$2.75 a slice, $1 dollar for each topping.

What makes this pizza so great, in my opinion, is the crust. I added mushrooms for this first-time visit because I usually don't eat a plain slice but next time I'm going plain. It really doesn't need anything more.

Best pizza in South Florida? I'll leave that up to the experts [here and here].  But I will say that this is the kind of food that deserves a trip out of your way.

Simple, delicious, blue-collar pizza...served with an attitude on paper plates.



Mauro's Pizza
1904 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood
954.929.4001




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SFDB Question Of The Day

Are you off today and do you have any plans for tonight?


My answer: Yes, I am off today and, no, I have no plans for tonight other than to stay off the roads and in the house in order to avoid drunk drivers and falling bullets* [courtesy of of our well-regulated militia] so that I miraculously survive to enjoy 2013.



*





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Your Morning Sift

Good morning.

It's the last AM of 2012. Make it a memorable one and read this morning's Sift. Enjoy.

A- Phin Phanatic has some thoughts on yesterday's game and you can say that Beached Miami is a little frustrated with the state of the Dolphins right about now.From the latter...

I don’t think that asking for someone to be fired is a classy move, but re Jeff Ireland it seems reasonable at this point. The Dolphins have not had a winning record in four out of five years that Ireland has had his stinky mitts on this team. When he lets Jake Long go in free agency, no one will be left from his first draft. Why is this ok? How many draft picks has he made and given up on? Am I drunk? Why are we rewarding mediocrity, or worse, losers? Is he really still riding the wave of the Wildcat? Are you drunk? Seriously.

B- Reading the Sunday papers can be a frustrating experience for Obalesque.

In the Hurled’s front section, dedicated to international and national news, there were 20 stories. Just four were written by Hurled or McClatchy reporters, including all three on the front page. Six were reiterations from the New York Times, another six were Associated Press, two from the Washington Post, and two from others, including ‘wire services.”

C- Belle Isle Blog reviews the past year and looks at what the future may hold for their little part of the world.

D- Transit Miami reviews the evolution of Critical Miami in 2012.

Twenty-twelve was critical for Critical Mass in ways that go beyond the mere presence of famous athletes, though. Most importantly, the past year saw a virtually exponential increase in ridership.

E- Eye on Miami deems the collapse of US Century Bank to be "the biggest business story of 2012 in Miami."

F- Happy New Year wishes of one kind or another from Justice Building Blog, AshAndBurn, and Southern District of Florida Blog.



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Your Evening Sift

It was a gorgeous day in South Florida today. Hopefully, you got out and enjoyed it. Here's your evening Sift.

A- Arterpillar has lots of artist opportunities for South Florida artists.

B- Burgers by the Beach shares a quick sample of Johnnie Brown's [somewhere] in Delray Beach.

This burger was seasoned perfectly. Cooked just the way I ordered. And the flavors were great. The chipotle mayo & avocado salsa were perfect.

C- Miamism reveals their five most read posts of 2012.

D- Spiderman made an appearance at Critical Mass on Friday night and Transit Miami has the photos.



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Chat Chow TV: Hedy Goldsmith

Somehow I missed this October interview with Michael Genuine's Hedy Goldsmith on Chat Chow TV...

Hedy Goldsmith / Baking Out Loud from Chat Chow TV on Vimeo.

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Marco Rubio's Continued Lack Of Compassion

Earlier this month, Marco Rubio was one of 38 Republican senators who voted against a United Nations treaty meant to help the world's disabled and "assure that the disabled enjoy the same rights and fundamental freedoms as their fellow citizens."

On Friday, Rubio followed up that display of callousness by voting against a $60 billion aid package for Hurricane Sandy victims. Even though it was $20 billion less than what was requested by the storm-ravaged states, Rubio joined 31 other Republicans in saying no to Sandy victims. Fortunately, there were enough votes to get the bill through the Senate, anyway.

Hopefully, Americans are taking notes and carefully filing away Rubio's voting record to reference in 2016 when he is sure to be considered for the Republican presidential nomination.

Because we should give Rubio credit for being so consistent in his principled lack of compassion for the down-and-out and impaired.

Like these folks...




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Obama On Today's Meet The Press

On guns...



"We’re not going to get this done unless the American people decide it’s important..."

And a note to all the Republican hysterics out there who are claiming that ALL Democrats want to ban ALL guns...you're wrong. And you know it.

Because the only way that you can reject any call for any reasonable and sensible restrictions to gun ownership that most Americans support is to frame it as a total ban and to create fear.

While fanatical gun owners may be paranoid and afraid of their own shadows, the rest of us shouldn't be.



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Sunday Start

For car lovers: The Lamborghini Countach...








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Your Morning Sift

Good morning.

Back-to-back mornings couldn't be more different. Yesterday was warm and sultry, this morning is cold and breezy. Here's your very short morning Sift.

A- Meatless Miami gives MAOZ Miami Beach their top rating.

The premise of this Amsterdam-originated chain is simple: they serve up crispy falafel, either in a sandwich or on a salad. You can start with "premium" add-ons (avocado, feta, hard-boiled egg), and/or just deck it out at the Salad bar, which has everything from roasted veggies to tabbouleh, salsa and sauces.

B- Bark Bark Woof Woof reviews 2012 and mentions SFDB so, you know...



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SFDB Saturday Night Turndown Service

Eddie Vedder, Throw Your Arms Around Me





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Your Evening Sift

Just a couple things for your Saturday night Sift, readers. Things were rather quiet today.

A- The latest Cobaya dining experiment almost didn't happen, as Food for Thought explains.

After some quick reshuffling, Brandon was on another (non-direct) flight from Pittsburgh (his temporary home base), his mom was on a Greyhound bus down from Jacksonville to come help, Jeremiah had a trip to the seafood market to make, and I had a grocery list to feed a crowd of forty so there would be something to cook when Brandon finally arrived. Jeremiah and Steve Santana busted ass the next day to help with the prep, and Brandon's backup kitchen reinforcements arrived Monday afternoon.

B- Burger Beast presents his 5 (or 6) Best Miami Food Truck Burgers.

The Burgers are not in any order and are just numbered to keep some order. Eat these 5 6 Burgers and become one of the enlightened.

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When A Joke Becomes Reality

Speaking of Archie Bunker, as Bark Bark Woof Woof points out, 40 years ago we called this comedy.




Today's NRA and Republican Party have become the "All in the Family" of political discourse.




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Archie Bunker Lives

Sure, it's Kentucky, but still...




No doubt this guy probably calls Fox News "biased" and hates guns.





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Nice Flip

According to The Real Deal, this piece of property at 6405 Biscayne Boulevard in MiMo was recently sold for $1.2 million.

March 2011

So what's so special about this sale?

A 14,975-square-foot vacant tract of land in Miami’s MiMo district has sold for $1.2 million, according to Chariff Realty. The property, which is located at 6405 Biscayne Boulevard, previously sold for $300,000 in May 2011.

I wish I was able to find investments that gave me a 400% return on my money in a year and a half.

Sure beats the stock market.



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Saturday Morning Start

Red Bull commercial...




[via Culture Designers]




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Your Morning Sift

Good morning.

Warm and humid in South Florida today. Nothing like July in December. Here's your morning Sift.

A- Shorter Gun Free Zone: The deaths of a couple dozen people at Sandy Hook has given gun nuts "a great opportunity."

B- If you can make sense of this Artlurker post then you are a better person than I am.

Plotted by subsumption of Miami’s profane tranquility–cultural tourist wonder about the hood without really being present in the hood. The native narrative is visibly underwritten by real-estate bestowing onto itself pillaging rights of those things pretending to be the left overs of past relational history. Hence forth carrying on an imagined dialectical relationship between Global mobility and an enlightened court of celestial nobility–the result signaling the illusion that new embodied immortal forms have arrived [here] to think somewhere else–res cogitans versus res extensas!

C- The M-Path isn't getting the respect it deserves from city employees, according to Transit Miami.




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Your Evening Sift

It's Full Moon Friday, readers. Enjoy your well-lit evenings and don't forget about the SFDB Weekend Widget in the right sidebar. Here's your Sift.

A- Miamism Pix posts one of their trademark panoramic photos, this one of South Beach from 1111 Lincoln Road.

B- On Two Shores highlights some new thinking on the continued detention of American Alan Gross in Cuba.

Earlier in the article, Mr. Herrero mentions that “like all things Cuba-related, the debate over Gross’ incarceration has since devolved into an ideological three-ring circus where finding a solution has become a secondary objective behind not appearing to be making concessions to the enemy.”

C- Jeff Eats releases the superlatives in his review of Fish Shack in Pompano Beach.

Every so often Jeff Eats comes across an absolute HOMERUN…Fish Shack is a GRAND SLAM!

D- Go Hydrology! finds himself pulled between calendar and water years.

Thus, after very careful thought, I have become a stickler (and what we call in the profession as an over-zealous advocate) for computer totals for the region from May 1st to April 30th, the first six months of which match our wet season and the six months after that our dry season.

E- When you want to quiet down a handful of restaurant reviewers, just (publicly) ask them which places they don't like...as they did at Eater Miami.

F- The five best sauces in Miami, according to Burger Beast.

G- Salty Eggs breaks out the lectern and reminds us that hating on Christianity is not cool.

I am not so naïve to assume that bipartisan agreement can be achieved simply by listening to the other side. I also do not think that civic discussions always lead to changed mindsets. But at the very least, treating others civilly and refraining from stereotyping can lead to more peaceful coexistence. Not in some heavenly afterlife or idyllic liberal utopia, but right here, right now, on earth.

H- Car2go and DecoBike are partnering up, according to Curbed Miami.

The idea is to make it easier to switch modes of transportation depending on your needs at the moment and where you're going.

I- Bark Bark Woof Woof does a review of The Hobbit.

Fortunately, director Peter Jackson has a good story to work with, and thanks to his work on The Lord of the Rings trilogy, he has a great deal of respect for Tolkien’s work.

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Friday Flashback

2002...




Bowling For Columbine



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Sh*t Cuban-American Hardliners Say

Here's Babalu's Albert de la Cruz on how those malcontent DREAMers need to learn to behave...

However, what I do not sympathize with is their bullying tactics and the insolent sense of entitlement displayed by some of the most vocal among them.

Wait for it...

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Hero

Oak Creek Police Lieutenant Brian Murphy was the first officer to arrive at the scene of the Sikh temple shooting in August. The former Marine was hit multiple times by a gunman armed with an semi-automatic handgun but survived the attack and is recovering at his home in Wisconsin.

His story of that day as related in Esquire is gripping and nothing short of amazing.

He shot, and hit my left thumb. Here's the crazy part: I'm thinking, Man, that's gonna leave a mark. He shot some more. I went down. I couldn't tell you if that shot knocked the gun out of my hand or didn't. Probably did. He came around. At that point I'm faceup. He shoots, starts hitting me. Once in my thigh, in my upper arm. And I'm thinking, Better get small.

If you look back at my grade-school pictures, I was always a front-of-the-line kid. I was always small. So I learned that you have to be able to take a beating and still come back, because if you give up, you're just gonna get picked on. That was part of surviving in Brooklyn. When the big guys gave you charley horses, if you started crying, they'd just give you more.

So I flipped over, started low-crawling. I had my vest on. If I tucked my head, stayed small, maybe he just hits the vest. He does, hits me right in the back. At that point, I'm probably hit half a dozen times. It got very quiet. It got nice and warm. Cozy. I started closing my eyes for a second. I thought, This is going out....

And then I thought, Fuck you.I'm not going out in a parking lot. I'm not going out like this. I'm not gonna let my wife down. I'm not gonna let my daughter down, and I'm not letting my stepkids down.

I'm real sensitive to one-sided criticism of police officers and this kind of story is one of the reasons why. Sure, they take the job knowing full well what they may face and some of them make some pretty stupid and egregious mistakes along the way. But stories like Lt. Murphy's are overlooked and passed over by far, far too many people who are only there to criticize and mock.

I think they're worth mentioning.




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SFDB Friday Morning Kickstart

Cows tumble out of truck after accident...





Milk shake, anyone?




[via]



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The Cooler

Just a few things for you this morning from the South Florida news services that are still free.

A- TC Palm: Wow. Now everyone can afford that European vacation this summer.

An increased cost of living will bump up Florida's minimum wage by 12 cents on Jan. 1.

The new $7.79 wage is expected to add about $370 to the annual wages of 210,000 in the state, the National Employment Law Project reported.

B- WPLG: Video, local photographer chronicles lives of the homeless in South Florida.

C- WPLG: Because it's that time of year again to remind our well-regulated militia.

MIAMI - Community leaders gathered Thursday to kick-off the annual "No More Stray Bullets" campaign.

For the past several years, this campaign has been raising awareness about the danger of shooting off guns during holiday celebrations.

D- WPTV: Of course!

After a chase along a canal, deputies say they opened Pierre Revol's wallet and found crystal meth instead of cash.

The discovery of drugs was a shock, Revol allegedly said, claiming he bought the wallet from some guy on the street for a buck and had no idea about the dope tucked inside.

The story didn't stick with deputies, who charged the 26-year-old Boynton Beach man with drug possession and resisting arrest, according to a Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office report.

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Your Morning Sift

Good morning.

It's Friday, folks. Doesn't carry the same kind of weight when you've been off for the last week but I think that's a good thing. Here's your morning Sift.

A- Curbed Miami takes a look at a DuPont estate in the Grove that is currently on the market.

At 26,981 square feet, the house has a whopping 33 rooms and is listed for $22 million. It has a huge pool with underground viewing porthole, a tennis court, a yacht-sized boathouse, a private harbor, a long dock, lawns galore, and a guest house.

B- Obalesque wishes everyone a New Year and expresses his appreciation for their readership.

This blog may be inactive until 2013 — or not — but in case it is, Happy New Year, everybody, and thanks for all your visits, comments, and emails without which I’d curl up and die like a slug in the sunlight.

C- A colorful animated rain map can be found at Go Hydrology!




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Your Evening Sift

Although the official Full Moon isn't until tomorrow night, tonight's moon is pretty damn sweet. Check it out after you check out this evening's Sift.

A- Miamism lists a number of folks ("Miami Doers") who are giving back to the community.

B- Jeff Eats has a BBQ joint for you the next time you're up in Fort Lauderdale.

A recent outing had Jeff Eats “sampling” ribs, chicken, pulled pork sandwich, french fries, sweet potato fries…Now, trust me here—everything and I do mean everything was delicious.

C- South Florida foodies had a hard time deciding their best meal of 2012 at Eater Miami.

D- The Miami Bike Scene has a stolen bike alert where the bike was stolen from inside a car on South Beach.

E- Transit Miami gives a look at the brand new Flatiron Park on Brickell.

F- Get ready for some theater this weekend at South Florida Theatre Scene.

G- Bark Bark Woof Woof mulls over gun violence the world over and doesn't find answers to America's propensity for gun violence...but has some hope.

I don’t have an answer that doesn’t involve a course in constitutional law or a thorough examination of the reason for man’s inhumanity. But if other people have found ways to do it and still enjoy the fundamental freedoms that we are entitled to, then there has to be a way to end the slaughter of children without infringing the Constitution, emasculating the issue-prone of the species, or banning Call of Duty: Black Ops.

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South Florida Cartoons

Jim Morin, Miami Herald

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SFDB Post Of The Week

The holiday season has put a damper on posting activity this week in the South Florida blogosphere but last week things were still humming along. Here are the ones that I think deserve special recognition...

Runners-Up: Bark Bark Woof Woof took some time to work up the actual cost of placing armed guards in schools which was something that was suggested in the wake of the Newtown school massacre. Another great look at a local upscale restaurant was artfully composed by South Florida Food and Wine. South Florida Theatre Review did a nice job explaining why theater at the Kravis Center came to a grinding halt and kept a prominent Broadway show from taking place.


Winner:  Long Play Miami continues their string of interesting and informative posts with last week's profile of Cuban rapper Yrak Saenz, who is now a Miami Shores resident. Chronicles of a Cuban Rapero is not only Saenz's story but the story of Cuban rap and the strange symbiotic relationship it has maintained with the Castro regime. As is their custom, Long Play Miami includes a subject interview in the post that is very well written and smartly imaged. It's getting a little routine, but, again, I'm happy to recognize Long Play Miami with this week's SFDB Post of the Week.


'Til next time, keep on blogging!




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Why We Live Here

Yesterday in Cleveland...

                                                                                     Lonnie Timmons III, The Plain Dealer

Meanwhile, in Miami...

Don't forget the sunscreen, South Florida.



[via]



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SFDB Cool Of The Day

Quicksilver x Tange Vandal Star R Fixed Gear Frameset

[via Fancy]




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The Cooler

It's a rather slow news day, readers. Here are some of the highlights.

A- HuffPo: Interview with owner of Gramps in Wynwood.

395 or 195?
195 gets you there faster. If I have a tourist friend from out of town and they want to look at the cruise ships, then 395. When I want to feel Miami coursing through my veins, I decide I have an errand to do at 4 a.m., hop in the car, and blast "Crockett's Theme" by Jan Hammer as I fly over the Julia Tuttle, I stare out over the water, see Miami Beach, and say to myself "the world is mine." Then, usually, I realize that I left my wallet at home or locked myself out of the apartment.

B- TC Palm: Life in South Florida.

FORT PIERCE — Brenda Albury spent Christmas Eve night at the bedside of her goddaughter, but not in the way either of them expected.

The goddaughter, a 13-year-old Pine Creek Village resident, was walking to her apartment with her mother late Monday afternoon when several shots were fired toward them, said Albury, who also lives in the complex but was out of town at the time. A bullet grazed the woman's leg, but her daughter was seriously injured, Albury said.

C- South Florida Business Journal: Aren't these called "Best Buy?"

Microsoft will bring its first South Florida retail store to Dadeland Mall next year, the company announced Wednesday.

According to a post on Microsoft's blog, the company will open six new retail stores across the country in 2013, said Jonathan Adashek, general manager of the Communications and Strategy, Sales & Marketing Services Group for Microsoft.

[...]

The stores sell all types of Microsoft merchandise, from Windows PCs, Windows Phones, Microsoft and third-party software, games, peripherals and more.

D- NBC Miami: Our well-regulated militia.

A Pompano Beach man has been ordered held without bond on suspicion he opened fire from the second-story balcony of his apartment complex on Christmas Day, authorities say.

At a hearing Wednesday, Broward County Judge Arlene Backman told Jymys Estrada, 21, that he isn’t eligible to post a bond. Estrada was taken into custody Tuesday on charges of discharging a firearm in public and possession of an altered firearm, according to a sheriff’s arrest report. The Honduras native was being detained on an immigration hold, the judge said.

E- WPTV: Absolutely. This will stop the school shootings.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - From Boca Raton to the Treasure Coast, our communities have seen violent crimes drop by 25 percent since 2007. That means fewer murders, aggravated assaults and armed burglaries. But a group of local religious leaders says that isn't good enough.

"It is easier for children to get a gun and kill someone than it is to get a quality education in school," says C. Shahid Freedman.

[...]

"The time has come to put metal detectors in all the schools," says Thomas Masters, Mayor of Riviera Beach.

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Your Morning Sift

Good morning.

Up and at 'em, readers. Kinda quiet in the South Florida blogosphere last night. Here's your morning Sift.

A- Obalesque shares some recent news items about Key West.

B- Yesterday was the first day of Kwanzaa and Blogging Black Miami explains the holiday.

Kwanzaa is non-religious and non-political. Its positive message overshadows its creator. If the black community practices: Unity; Self-determination; Collective work and responsibility; Cooperative economics; Purpose; Creativity and Faith.

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Your Evening Sift

It was surprisingly easy navigating the local roads today here in South Broward as long as you stayed out of mall parking lots. Also, the local blogosphere seems to be getting back to whatever normal is between Xmas and New Years. Enjoy your evening Sift.

A- Boy Writes Miami get bowled over by Blue Collar.

At one point one of the chefs, and I assume by his presence the owner, came up and asked how the food was. I didn’t say a word. I just chewed and gave him that, “Bro... it’s... wow” face.

B- Eater Miami is doing their end of lists so make sure you head over and check out all of them...for this evening's Sift we're going to highlight their Top Newcomers of 2012.

As is the tradition at Eater, our closeout of the year is a survey of friends, industry types, bloggers, and readers. We've already covered Best Standbys & 2012 in One Word. Now it's time for our favorite New Restaurants of 2012.

C- Homestead is Home is claiming that South Miami police cars are being used for official business in Homestead.

D- Five things Dolphins fans can be thankful for this holiday season, according to Phin Phanatic.

E- Roy Black gives us a lesson on introducing documentary evidence at trial.

803(6) is more than a rule to introduce documents. It also shows how to use the words of the rules to your advantage. All the lawyer has to do is parrot the language of each subsection in a question and the court will reflexively grant the request. The words are important. They have legal meaning. Use them to your advantage.

F- Primanti Bros on Fort Lauderdale Beach is a big hit with Burgers by the Beach.

Yes, the fries are on the burger. No need for side items... It all ends up in the same place so why not eat it all at once!

G- If you find yourself in Sweetwater during lunch, Burger Beast has a great Nicaraguan spot for you.

Carne Asada Tortilleria Nica is one of many Fritangas that can be found in Sweetwater. Sweetwater is the hub of the Nicaraguan community in South Florida. And el Centro Comercial Managua where Carne Asada Tortilleria Nica Fritanga is located would probably be its White House. You can also find the very popular Raspados Loly in this same strip mall.

H- The Chowfather updates his Top 20 Restaurants in Miami (-Dade).




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SFDB's We Live Here

Taken at a Hialeah Starbucks...

[via Fatgirl Hedonist twitter]



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SFDB Not-So-Random Thought Of The Day

The only thing funnier than the petition that well-regulated Freedom Fighters and the Grand Old Protectors of the Constitution have filed because Piers Morgan exercised his 1st Amendment privileges a little too much the other day, is the one that his "supporters" have filed in response.

Also, Fast and Furious.

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Our NRA World: A Regrettably Continuing Series [UPDATED]

In case you missed it, this is what was going on Christmas Eve morning in upstate New York.

Police investigating the ambush Monday in upstate New York in which two firefighters were killed said Tuesday that they had found what appeared to be human remains at the gunman's home. Authorities said they believed the remains were those of the gunman's 67-year-old sister, who lived with him.

William Spengler, 62, opened fire on the volunteer firefighters as they responded to a blaze in Webster just before 6 a.m. ET Monday in a small cluster of homes near Lake Ontario, police said. The firefighters — Michael Chiapperini, 43, a lieutenant with the Webster police, and Tomasz Kaczowka, 19 — were shot dead, and Spengler killed himself as seven houses burned around him.

Earlier, police said Spengler had left a three-page typewritten note saying he wanted to burn down the neighborhood and "do what I like doing best, killing people."

[...]

Although Spengler couldn't legally own firearms as a convicted felon, police said he was armed with a Smith & Wesson .38 revolver, a 12-gauge pump shotgun and a Bushmaster .223 caliber rifle.

No doubt the NRA, if they even take the time to address this latest carnage, will profile Spengler [pictured above right] as another nutjob because that's what some gun owners apparently morph into when they use their guns to do exactly what they were designed to do.

It's also interesting to note that the Bushmaster was the same rifle used in the Newtown school massacre. That's the same Bushmaster company who was running this ad at the time of the Newtown shooting...

One obvious solution is to place an armed guard on every fire truck in America.

Or every corner.

Don't even laugh.

**************

Related, this is pretty damn spot on...

The one thing all mass shooters have in common is guns. That's it. Mental illness, abusive childhoods, collapsed relationships, setbacks at school or work, and every other form of stress or trauma take place in every nation in the world, but of all the developed democracies only in the United States do we have more than 10,000 gun-related deaths each year. Every other developed democracy has some form of effective gun control. The United States doesn't. Those looking for other explanations have reasons for looking for other explanations. People in the other developed democracies watch the same movies and play the same video games, but they don't shoot each other at anything even approaching the rate that Americans do. It's about guns. When that silicon chip inside the head of people in other developed democracies gets switched to overload, they can't just go grab a gun and start shooting. People in the United States can.

************

Ronald Reagan, Gun Control Advocate...

Republicans in California eagerly supported increased gun control. Governor Reagan told reporters that afternoon that he saw “no reason why on the street today a citizen should be carrying loaded weapons.” He called guns a “ridiculous way to solve problems that have to be solved among people of good will.” In a later press conference, Reagan said he didn’t “know of any sportsman who leaves his home with a gun to go out into the field to hunt or for target shooting who carries that gun loaded.” The Mulford Act, he said, “would work no hardship on the honest citizen.”

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SFDB Culinary Adventure Of The Day

Here's something to try out over the holidays...

The Bacon Weave Breakfast Burrito

[via DudeFoods]



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The Cooler

The Cooler is back from vacation. Enjoy.

A- Palm Beach Post: Life in South Florida.

BOYNTON BEACH — A pregnant woman and her boyfriend remained in serious condition at Delray Medical center late Tuesday after they were wounded in a Christmas Day drive-by shooting in the 100 block of Northeast 17th Court.

The shooting happened around 3:30 p.m. near near Ezell Hester Jr. Community Park. Police found Kiara Andrews, 220, and James E. Williams, 22, in the front seat of a black 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo with gunshot wounds, police spokeswoman Stephanie Slater said late Tuesday.

B- South Florida Business Journal: Heading north.

Florida's effort to crackdown on pill mills has led to the same types of clinics popping up across state lines in Georgia, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Georgia now has 125 such clinics compared to less than 10 in 2010, according to the state's Drug and Narcotics Agency. More than 16,500 people die every year in the U.S. due to overdosing on opioid painkillers, which are now the nation's deadliest drugs outpacing heroin and cocaine combined, the Journal reported.

C- South Florida Business Journal: Not only good for our health.

The 10th annual ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon generated $52.2 million in total economic impact for the city of Miami and Miami-Dade County in 2012, according to a new study by the Sport Industry Research Center.

The three-day event, held during the last weekend in January, features a 5K race, half marathon, marathon and health and fitness expos.

The economic impact of the Miami marathon increased 26.3 percent from the 2011 event, according to the study. The increase is attributed to a rise in individual spending by international visitors and an increase in the number of non-local participants.

D- South Florida Business Journal: More money for Sam Zell.

Tribune Co., which is trying to emerge from bankruptcy court, is dropping the Associated Press news service for seven of its newspapers, including the Sun Sentinel and Orlando Sentinel, TimeOutChicago.com reports.

[...]

Many Sun Sentinel readers may notice little difference because AP stories in its print edition appear to have been rare in recent weeks. However, a major advantage of the AP is its ubiquity with 3,700 employees, mostly journalists, and 300 locations, including every state capital.

E- CBS4: Dashing through the Keys, in a white, old open Toyota.

MONROE COUNTY (CBSMiami) – A 46-year-old Boynton Beach woman led deputies in the Florida Keys on a chase that reached speeds of 120 mph and left her sitting in her urine and feces early Sunday.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said Laura Rager was southbound in her white Toyota at 73 miles per hour in a 45 mile per hour zone at 2:23 p.m. when Deputy Juan Martin-Reyes spotted her, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. He turned around and attempted a traffic stop, backed up by Deputy Jon Huff.

Rager pulled over but just as the deputy was getting out of the car, she took off. She reached speeds of up to 120 miles per hour, crossing both the white and yellow lines of the roadway and forcing several vehicles off the road.

F- NBC Miami: More Keys women.

A Florida Keys woman was arrested after deputies said she drank a few martinis and then fired a handgun from her porch.

Beverly Richards, 58, was arrested late Sunday night and faces charges including improper exhibition of a firearm, discharging a firearm in public and use of a firearm under the influence of alcohol, according to online records. She was since released from jail.

[...]

Richards said she shot the gun after having a couple of martinis because she was angry that she would not be able to see her granddaughter on Christmas, according to Monroe County Sheriff's Office deputies. Firing the gun, she said, made her feel better.

G- WPTV: Snuggle Alert!

One more warm day and then a significant cool front sweeps through the area tonight. That front will drop temperatures 30 degrees overnight, so a SNUGGLE ALERT is in effect. Temperatures warm up quickly again with another front for Saturday.

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Your Morning Sift

Good morning.

Looks like the SoFla blogosphere is still nursing a holiday hangover. Just a couple things for you this Boxing Day.

A- The Miami Bike Scene posts a BMX video that should go well with your cup of coffee this morning.

B- Hello, I'm Scott shares some nice Christmas photos.




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Your Christmas Evening Sift

Guess what?

Nothing going on in the South Florida blogosphere today.

So what are our choices?

We can post another sappy Christmas video....or we can get ready for Boxing Day with Blink 182...I'm going with the latter...









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South Florida Cartoons

Jim Morin, Miami Herald

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SFDB Ecard Of The Day

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SFDB Christmas Chuckle

Here's hoping you got everything you wished for this morning...






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Your Christmas Morning Sift

Merry Christmas, readers. As you might imagine, not a whole lot going on in the South Florida blogosphere. Put aside those presents for a minute and check out your Christmas morning Sift.

A- Merry Christmas from Gun Free Zone, South Florida Theatre Scene, Justice Building Blog, and Bark Bark Woof Woof.

B- Beached Miami shares their 2012 Photos of the Year.



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Merry Christmas 2012

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Your Christmas Eve Sift

Hope you are all settled in for the holiday and this special night. Enjoy your Christmas Eve Sift.

A- Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays from Culture Designers, Go Hydrology!, Random Pixels [who also sports a new header], A Mom, A Blog and the Life In-Between, South Florida Lawyers, and Bark Bark Woof Woof.

B- Beached Miami and Phin Phanatic comment on the Dolphin's latest victory and the season as a whole. From the latter...

The good news through all this is the Dolphins are the second youngest team in the NFL and have no expiring contracts of players that they simply can not lose. While fans would love to see this guy or that guy brought back, none of the players heading out the door are game changing playmakers. That will not go unnoticed by Jeff Ireland. With Reggie Bush the only “home-run threat” it’s clear that even he has no lock on the roster next season. The Dolphins are not going to throw money to the wind and let it fly. They will stick with their plan and they will stick with their way of doing of business. Right or wrong in the public eye.

C- Blind Tastes posts his final installment of the Ten Days of Bourbon Christmas.



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The Gingerbread White House

Somewhere out there this Christmas Eve Day, there's a Tea Party knucklehead cursing the use of tax payer monies to build a gingerbread White House.

Count on it.





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SFDB Ecard Of The Day

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Christmas In Our NRA World

While you were spending your weekend picking up some last minute Christmas gifts for loved ones, a certain segment of the population was also out shopping, fueled by fear, the events of the last few weeks, and the words of a man who benefits greatly from this anxiety and worry.

(Reuters) - Gun enthusiasts thronged to shows around the country on Saturday to buy assault weapons they fear will soon be outlawed after a massacre of school children in Connecticut prompted calls for tighter controls on firearms.

Reuters reporters went to gun shows in Pennsylvania, Missouri and Texas, and found long lines to get in the door, crowds around the dealer booths, a rush to buy assault weapons even at higher prices and some dealers selling out.

The busiest table at the R.K. Gun & Knife show at an exposition center near the Kansas City, Missouri airport was offering assault weapons near the entrance.

West Plains, Missouri dealer Keith's Guns sold out of about 20 AR-15 style assault rifles in a little over an hour, owner Keith Gray said.

An AR-15 type assault weapon was among the guns authorities believe suspect Adam Lanza stole from his mother to use in the massacre of 20 school children and six adults at a Newtown, Connecticut elementary school on December 14.

Merry Christmas, America!

[more NRA family portraits]


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SFDB Morning Chuckle

This seems about right...






[via]



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Your Morning Sift

Good morning.

We're in the home stretch, folks. Hopefully, you've already got all your presents and all you're doing today is some wrapping. Here's your morning Sift.

A- On the 9th Day of Bourbon Christmas Blind Tastes suggests another gift for your bourbon buddy.

B- South Florida Classical Review posts January's classical calendar for South Florida.

C- Obalesque pens a self-described Post of the Week. You be the judge.



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Your Evening Sift

So I guess we're down to Amazon gift card time, right? Or is anyone seriously going to venture anywhere near a mall tomorrow? Here's your evening Sift, readers. Enjoy.

A- Seraphic Fire continues to deliver for South Florida, according to South Florida Classical Review.

Seraphic Fire has had a remarkable year. In 2012 the Miami based chamber choir celebrated its tenth anniversary, was a classical Grammy nominee for two albums, signed a recording distribution deal with the innovative classical label Naxos, gave acclaimed performances of Bach’s monumental Mass in B Minor and presented a wide-ranging exploration of psalm settings. To conclude this landmark annum, the choir offered highlights from Handel’s Messiah, the group’s first performance of this Christmas perennial in two seasons.

B- El Tamarindo Coal Fired Pizza provides Worst Pizza with free drinks, appetizers and dessert and also gets 7 out of 8 stars for their pizza.

Mike told us he would put the pizza pie in their coal ovens but wanted us to sample some of their other specialties first. How could we say no to such a generous offer. After bringing over what seemed like every appetizer and specialty drink on the menu like Passion Fruit Cocktail, Tamarindo Cocktails, I was almost too full for the pizza. Each and every item he brought to our table was fantastic. Seriously, I couldn’t find fault with any of them. It doesn’t seem like you can go wrong with anything on their menu.

C- Gun Free Zone's answer to the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary: a meme!

WE WILL KEEP YOUR KIDS AT THE MERCY OF DERANGED KILLERS UNTIL WE GET WHAT WE WANT.
Signed, Gun Control Advocates

This has to be the message we pounce everywhere: Gun Control Advocates are nothing more than self-confessed terrorists that really do not care about the children or people in general but on their own political gain.

D- Eye on Miami thinks the idea of police officers patrolling the halls of America's schools is ridiculous.

It is time for society to "stand our ground" for common sense. Ban assault weapons. Get them off the streets.We cannot legislate certainty any more than we can legislate madness, but we can ban assault weapons and should. If Congress can't shake the N.R.A., voters must elect members of Congress who can.

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SFDB's A Few Moments At SantaCon Fort Lauderdale

Last night we took a drive up to Fort Lauderdale, had a pizza and wandered around downtown taking in the sights and sounds of Santacon 2012.  It was a bit chilly but perfectly suited for the heavy Santa outfits. The elves were a little cold I think.

Here are a few of my images.

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