Some are happy with the state’s proposed purchase of U.S. Sugar’s operation, and not just U.S. Sugar: Rethinking the grand plan for the Everglades

If they’re working, can you really call them panhandlers? City Considers Use Of Panhandlers

In college news: PCC Dealing With Budget Worries and the Tampa Tribune editorial board continues pushing their agenda against regional control of universities: Accreditation Trouble Reveals Flaws Of USF Regional System. No, Trib, the accreditation trouble reveals a simple flaw in a specific department at USF St. Petersburg. The Trib editor’s argument suffers from a simple logic flaw called Composition. You simply can not argue that because small parts of a whole have a certain feature that the whole has that feature.

Oddly, the Tampa mayor is bucking the obvious turn away from bottled water Don’t Toss Bottled Water, Iorio Says

Just be very careful where you park in downtown Orlando: Car-booting guy offers no apologies

This is a scary thought “The massive Deseret Ranch — four times larger than the city of Orlando — is taking a key step toward its first major development.” Homes, homes on the range in Orange County near Orlando International Airport?

The public has been discussing rail road issues quite a bit this past year, but how many officials were listening? Here’s a Florida DOT meeting so the Public Will Get Chance to Discuss Railroad Issues

A pair of bonus stories: Newspaper Industry Woes Inspire Prayer Web Site is presented without comment, other than if Americans can’t find a way to fall in love with newspapers again, we’re going to be a much poorer country.

This is an old one, but I thought it deserves a look. It’s all about fair representation and some people don’t believe we get it when politicians design political districts: Taking Aim at Gerrymandering

This past year in Colorado Springs has been quite a challenge. I worked at Academy 20’s Expulsion Program and my fellow teachers seemed to like me until they realized that the Christian books and subtle intimidation tactics weren’t working. I am going to stay Jewish and liberal. That’s when they decided I was too “East Coast” for their liking.

My children didn’t fare any better. They attended Freedom Elementary in District 11. This is a school district NONE of my Springs friends would send their kids to, but I swore it’d be different for us. ‘Cause my boys are smart and delightful. Turns out, too smart and delightful. Principal’s exact words were:

“I wouldn’t say they’re cocky. But they are confident. They communicate well. They don’t hesitate to say they’re great basketball players These aren’t bad things. Your children are also sensitive and sweet. Kind to everyone and very polite. It’s just that their more mature qualities make them a bit of a target with the other kids who don’t excel as much.”

What to do with such a town? Some might say to stick it out and fight for change. Why should I? I’m not a fan of dry skin, wild animals, or snowstorms in May. Why should I settle for second best, headaches, and intolerance?

Family counts for a lot. Not only do we have my parents in Tampa, but relatives from up north - the dreaded East Coast - visit Florida all the time. Three cousins arrived yesterday. Those with tight-knit families understand my point. I want my kids to experience the love that can only come from family.

Few months back, Husband green-lighted a job search in the Tampa Bay area. And I got *two* positions. A freelance writing job and a full-time gig going back to corporate training where I also get to dip my well-manicured toe into sales. I will wear suits, heels, and work from home whenever I want. Beat that.

Then my boys were accepted at a private school in Tampa. As a former public school teacher, I am supposed to hate private schools. But I don’t. The people I know who have attended them are the most tolerant, intelligent folks around. My kids will not be a social experiment. They will feel safe. They will feel secure. And they will receive a superior education no matter what neighborhood we live in.

Despite everything, I can’t tell you how happy I am for this past year.

I got to experience life away from everything I’ve ever taken for granted. I learned to appreciate. I got to join a great synagogue, a writer’s group, political activities, and the PTA. I got to meet some wonderful people I will never let go of and reconnect with others I’ve come to cherish even more. I got to stand up for my beliefs amid hostility and intolerance, which only made me stronger. I got to further appreciate a man who supports anything that is best for his children.

And then I got to come home.

With all its charm and challenges, Tampa is home.

For good.

Enjoy these Florida Fireworks courtesy of Fairfield FL artist Gary Borse:

Find more of Gary’s great Florida paintings at GaryBorse.com and at Florida’s Eden.

Happy Independence Day!

If Crist doesn’t get the nod from John McCain to be his Vice President…I predict they will decide not to marry, but will “remain friends.”

The Florida Supreme Court gave Crist an engagement present: Florida’s high court busts Crist’s deal with Seminole casinos or Court Tosses Crist’s Deal On Casinos. That crazy court and their wacky gag gifts.

The Orlando Sentinel Optimism Award goes to the Sentinel itself today for a short throwaway statement in its editorial on the city’s bus system: We think: Lynx bus system needs to find more efficiencies to thrive

“Commuter rail? That will help. But it’s not pulling into the area until 2011, and once it arrives it will complement Lynx, not prove a substitute for it.”

Now, that’s an editorial board that sticks to its guns. No matter how bad they misfire.

downtown Tampa seems relatively clean and safe (My hotel is about a mile away from where myself and some of the other writers grabbed dinner last night, and my walk back alone was uneventful). There are a few restaurants and bars, too, and two blocks down from the St. Pete’s Times Forum, there is an outdoor mall-like area that has stores, a Bennigans, a Thai place, a Hooters, etc. Included in there, interestingly enough, is a place called Banana Joe’s, the infamous spot of the Carolina Panther cheerleader incident a few years back.

Glad he felt safe here, but it’s sorta a bummer to read that Banana Joe’s is a notable landmark.

Speaking of hurricane damage: Free Inspections Coming To An End

The Sentinel staff would like to remind you Don’t get burned dealing with fireworks

Florida Falls Behind In Tech Race With Short-Sighted Investment comes from the same newspaper that seemed against the idea of USF Polytechnic. Remember Tribune, to have a well trained populace, you have to set up schools to train them.

This is far from over. My credit card was one of the breaches and [Tuesday] I apparently popped up in Tennessee on a shopping spree!!!!

Sure enough - a quick google finds that there is a recent uptick in the use of Sweetbay’s stolen credit card data.

Gayle offers sage advice…

WATCHING is just not good enough. Cancel all your credit cards that you may have used as Sweetbay.

Some credit card issuers are no longer giving you the option of replacing them, they are re-issuing plastic for all breached accounts.  Of course, not all of them are doing this, so you should take it upon yourself to prevent this - kill all your Sweetbay-used cards immediately.

But Sweetbay is not the only one to blame in the credit mess.  Gayle’s credit card company allowed the thieves to change her address:

.. when asked for a zip code on one purchase, my investigator from the credit card company said the thieves they had changed it and was able to continue with the several hundred dollar purchase. 

Shame on retail outlets that do not check for photo ID, and are only interested in making the sale.

Shame on all credit card companies who put you and I through telephone rigamarole just to DISCUSS our account, but allow thieves to change account information without much trouble.

You cannot count on any business to do the right thing - you must look out for yourself at every turn.

PS:  And now grocery stores are trying to even more closely track shoppers habits!