Everyone has been forewarned, for more than a year. Today is the day that television stations across America will drop their analog signals for good and rely only on digital broadcasting. Many stations here in the Tampa Bay area did so earlier today. As of 8:00 PM, only two stations — independent WMOR-TV 32 and [...]
The Legislature’s actions during it’s session is the focus of today’s editorials among the five largest newspapers serving the I-4 corridor from St. Petersburg to Daytona Beach. Here is a brief rundown of what the various newspaper editorial boards are opining: Daytona Beach News-Journal: Dealing in Secrecy – The newspaper notes that the legislative session [...]
We’re still less than 18 months away from the next major statewide election, but we’re already seeing and hearing about politicos announcing their decisions as to their next step up the ladder. At last evening’s Polk County Democratic Executive Committee meeting in Bartow, Navy veteran Doug Tudor of Riverview announced that he filed the necessary [...]
The Lakeland Ledger offers another edition of it’s Gigs and Garlands editorial series, in which it notes positive and negative deeds by local people making news around Polk County. This morning’s editorial in the St. Petersburg Times says that Tampa Bay leaders and the state should work to revive Metro Orlando’s idea of the SunRail proposed commuter rail [...]
The Lakeland Ledger calls it a “remarkable” decision for 12th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Jerry Hill to prosecute Polk County School District lawyer Wes Bridges for a first degree misdemeanor by violating the state’s Public Records Law. The charge is related to a case in which for nearly a year citizen Joel Chandler made repeated requests [...]
While many of us enjoy the opportunity of spending at least part of our weekends outdoors beside the pool or checking out what’s on sale at the neighbourhood yard sales, we certainly need a good drenching of rain to provide some small degree of relief from the drought which has affected virtually all of Central Florida [...]
Well, you might just need just a tad bit more....
Looking for some family friendly and affordable fun all in your backyard? Check out these festivals, fairs and food events...
Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales Celebrates 80 years with FREE admission on Saturday, January 31, 9am-5pm. If you go, you will want to take a rare and unique opportunity to participate in “Crossing the Moat.” While crossing you will have access to the Tower’s brass door. “Designed by renowned master metal worker Samuel Yellin, [...]
Frank Gruber is in Washington DC for the inauguration. He streamed video live from the National Mall during the ceremony, uploaded a Twitpic, and some video as he was walking down 18th. I don't envy walking in the cold. You can see and hear more of Frank Gruber at Somewhatfrank and @somewhatfrank.
No, it wasn't either Barack Obama or John McCain. It wasn't even their vice presidential running mates. But a candidate for President who will appear on the November ballot did pay a visit to Lakeland this evening.Brian Moore is from Spring Hill, and is the Socialist Party USA candidate for the White House. Before coming to the Sunshine State, Mr. Moore ran twice as an independent candidate for Mayor of Washington, DC. Since coming here, he has run twice for Congress from the Fifth District in 2002 and 2004, as well as for the U.S. Senate two years ago. He holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Arizona State University, and runs his own executive recruitment firm specializing in health related fields.To date, Moore and vice presidential running mate Stewart Alexander of Los Angeles have only been qualified to be on the ballot in two battleground state --- Florida and Ohio --- and their Website notes that they hope to achieve a place on the ballot in as many as a dozen state. Their campaign has filed federal lawsuits seeking ballot status in Louisiana and MississippiMoore was in town this evening as part of the weekly community forum series presented by Lakeland's Uniterian Universialist Congregation, and was scheduled to speak in the topic How America Can Change from Capitalism to Socialism.So much for that...One other item of interest: GOP Vice Presidential candidate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin had planned to hold an outdoor rally at The Villages retirement community on Sunday, but that event has now been scrapped. Tampa Tribune political reporter William Marsh mentioned on his blog Marsh On Politics that the rally was taken off the schedule --- this time because of a 30 percent chance of rain forecast for the area. Marsh also noted that this is the second time that a planned visit to Central Florida by John McCain's running mate has fallen through.
The Sunshine State College Football Rankings according to Ski: It’s the second week of the college rankings for Florida, which means we can expect to see a good deal of shift at the top of the rankings from last week. An important note on my rankings, they are based largely on the schedule already played and [...]
I’ve been thinking about two things in the past week or so, and both have to do with the opportunity, artistic and otherwise, provided by living on the edge of a frontier, an exurban terra incognita. Thing One: Getting in on the ground floor of any movement or trend is an appealing thought. Your chance [...]
During the first three Tuesday nights of October, the League of Women Voters of Polk County will sponsor three forums focusing on the issues and candidates that you will choose in the November 4 General Election.The forums will take place in the County Commission chamber at the Neil Combee County Administration Building, 330 West Church Street in Bartow.The first event, to be held on October 7, will focus on the constitutional and charter amendments which will appear on the ballot. The following week will feature candidates for the Polk County Commission, with the October 21 forum concentrating on candidates for the United States Congress and Florida Senate.These will be great events to meet and hear the various candidates for office, and an informed electorate helps all of us.
It was not a great weekend for the Tampa Bay Rays, dropping the finale of their series in the Bronx to the Yankees 8-4 and coming away from New York winning only one game of the three game series, and two of the six games the teams have played against each other during the past week and a half.Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox won this afternoon against Toronto 4-3, taking the four game series three games to one and bringing them into one game of the Rays in the race for the American League title.The next three nights could determine that championship, as the Rays and BoSox face off starting Monday at Tropicana Field. Ace pitcher Scott Kazmir (11 - 6)will take the mound for the home team, facing off against Daisuke Matsuzaka (16 - 2).If there is a series where the local baseball fans' support is needed, this is it. Let's hope the Rays' fans pack the Trop for all three games!Meanwhile, the Buccaneers came away with a 24 - 9 home NFL win against Atlanta this afternoon.And congratulations to the South Florida Bulls, who in a nationally televised Friday night matchup of Top-25 teams defeated (some would actually say UPSET) the Kansas Jayhawks at Raymond James Stadium 37 - 34...thanks to a last second field goal by Lake Wales true freshman Maikon Bonani. This weekend will be one of those games where a team just coming off a huge win could be embarrassed easily, as the Bulls help Florida International University open it's new stadium in Miami.Finally, I would be remiss not to mention that my beloved Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles now own a record of 2 - 1 with victories against Louisiana - Lafayette and Arkansas State sandwiched between a loss at Auburn. This weekend will open a three game homestand and the start of the Golden Eagles' Conference USA schedule against Marshall. GO EAGLES!!!
Bio: Robert is a former radio personality, which ended with five years at Winter Haven station WHNR where he eventually rose to become Assistant Operations Manager. For the past decade he has continued to make a living running his mouth, working in the call center industry. Currently he is working as a Customer Services Professional at a local facility representing one of North America's major heating & air conditioning sales and repair companies.