11/27/2002
Just not goin' to spend much time in front of a monitor during Thanksgiving. Gotta go to Tampa to have holiday dinner with my sister and family and will supervise teenagers and will fret over my son out on the road in his $600 Volvo driving with his worthless friends. It's all I can deal with. I'll be back on Monday.
11/24/2002
11/22/2002
One of my favorite places when growing up and to this day is The Loop. It's a scenic route, a long-way-home that goes through tunnels of overhanging tree limbs. It winds past picturesque ruins of Seminole War-era sugar mills, and opens up to breathtaking vistas of tidal marshes.
Only a few sections are in state parks so thanks to recent actions by the Volusia County Council it's going to be just another congested commuter road between connecting golf courses and McMansions with the surrounding sprawl. (For land-use wonks you can get the re-zoning request in pd format. Warning: big file.)
I wrote a column about it and there was an editorial and there were polite protests petitions, letters to councilmen and folks showing up at meetings. None of it counted for anything. Developers have a history of pretty much getting anything they want here. (Post-vote editorial: County Council wilts when developers turn up heat.)
You're not a real Floridian until you have your heart broken a few times by local government acting as the obsequious maitre d' for developers.
There will be an Ormond Loop page here in a couple weeks or so. See it while it's still here.
Only a few sections are in state parks so thanks to recent actions by the Volusia County Council it's going to be just another congested commuter road between connecting golf courses and McMansions with the surrounding sprawl. (For land-use wonks you can get the re-zoning request in pd format. Warning: big file.)
I wrote a column about it and there was an editorial and there were polite protests petitions, letters to councilmen and folks showing up at meetings. None of it counted for anything. Developers have a history of pretty much getting anything they want here. (Post-vote editorial: County Council wilts when developers turn up heat.)
You're not a real Floridian until you have your heart broken a few times by local government acting as the obsequious maitre d' for developers.
There will be an Ormond Loop page here in a couple weeks or so. See it while it's still here.
11/21/2002
I used to write editorials. I know how there's a time, usually right after elections, when you get really, really, really sick of the all the whining and criticism and anger. When you just want to write something that nobody, absolutely nobody, in your immediate circulation area could in any way be threatened by, second-guess or take personal offense at. It was that kind of day for somebody at The St. Pete Times.
(Thanks, Dragonleg!)
(Thanks, Dragonleg!)
Why they call this place Flori-duh. No. 27 in an ongoing series.
Where does Florida's graduation rate rank according voucher-espousing, Jeb! loving, liberarian-leaning think tank The Manhattan Institute? Dead last. Below even the Third-World ed system run by Mississippi. (The study is not yet posted on their site so read it in the Sentinel or in The Herald . (I navigate Miami.com so you don't have to. You're welcome.) The study and its ranking tables are now posted at the group's site.
This appears to be a reasonable reading of the data, but figuring this is not as straightforward as you might think. For instance: do you count GED grads? (Manhatten doesn't) Kids who move? Come to think of it, I would have counted as a dropout in this study since I went to college without the benefit of a high school diploma. (I got one when I was junior, but only after paying an old library fine.) Still, it's a reasonably fair comparative study and useful as such.
This appears to be a reasonable reading of the data, but figuring this is not as straightforward as you might think. For instance: do you count GED grads? (Manhatten doesn't) Kids who move? Come to think of it, I would have counted as a dropout in this study since I went to college without the benefit of a high school diploma. (I got one when I was junior, but only after paying an old library fine.) Still, it's a reasonably fair comparative study and useful as such.
11/20/2002
No, I haven't abandoned this project. But I have kids who are being high maintenance (single father, teenage twins, college applications . . .. all that), cars that need minor stuff done (in particular, son's $600 1985 Volvo ), and a column to write, and holidays about to happen and all that. And my gosh, look at all those palm fronds in the yard. And now Blogger's acting funny again. I so don't want to deal with Moveable Type.
11/18/2002
How much was spent carpet-bombing you with political ads this election? According to the Alliance for Better Campaigns $52,167,100 in Florida alone. In the Orlando/Daytona Beach market, politicians spent $11.7 million, with WESH hauling in the most money, $3.7 million.
11/16/2002
Hoo-boy -- am I being oversensitive or does this stamp look damn scary? Hey folks, there's friendly Deco and then there Mussolini/Metropolis/Nuremberg Rally Deco. (Thanks WhoseFla folks.)
The best people to edit are the dead. No whining, no drama. And with the long dead, the Victorian dead, you get to rediscover the simple joys of compound sentences with semicolons. You can do this as a volunteer proofer at Project Gutenberg. The idea is that anyone can sign in, read a page or two, comparing each to a page image, and then knock off and come back later. I have reached 30 pages total -- they keep count -- so I am officially a "proofer," not a "newbie." And I got to read about Lincoln, The Peloponnesian War, WWI flying aces and the proper methods of public speaking from some 19th century expert. (Hint: use the diaphram.)
This is good literary karma. You are helping the Gutenberg folks reach their goal of posting a million books in ascii on the Web. You don't expect the damn publishers to keep these books around, do you?
This is good literary karma. You are helping the Gutenberg folks reach their goal of posting a million books in ascii on the Web. You don't expect the damn publishers to keep these books around, do you?
11/15/2002
Like a lot of states, Florida has screwy alcohol laws. I made reform of the state beer laws something of a cause. But did you know that driving across state lines to deliver a bottle of wine is a felony? That's right, a felony. (And it's not just us). And vendors can only deliver in their own vehicles not by mail or UPS. This makes Internet wine orders from places like Wine Globe illegal. (Wine.com gets around it with something called a "logistical center."
A similar law was struck down in New York state (and here.) But that probably won't help us here. (Explaination deep in this story.) Still, a court is set to reconsider Florida's law. (Legal wonks: pdfs of the briefs!)
I'm glad to see groups like Coalition for Free Trade and Free the Grapes! but I don't think the courts will help in the short run. You gotta buy yourself some legislators and get this changed. Besides it's always great fun to see free market, Libertarian-talkin' Republicans suddenly become archprotectionist, gotta-look-after-the-kids advocates of strict government regulation when the interests of big contributors like alcohol wholesalers are involved. Let's see some activist wine snobs in Tallahasee!
A similar law was struck down in New York state (and here.) But that probably won't help us here. (Explaination deep in this story.) Still, a court is set to reconsider Florida's law. (Legal wonks: pdfs of the briefs!)
I'm glad to see groups like Coalition for Free Trade and Free the Grapes! but I don't think the courts will help in the short run. You gotta buy yourself some legislators and get this changed. Besides it's always great fun to see free market, Libertarian-talkin' Republicans suddenly become archprotectionist, gotta-look-after-the-kids advocates of strict government regulation when the interests of big contributors like alcohol wholesalers are involved. Let's see some activist wine snobs in Tallahasee!
11/13/2002
The last days of Jeb! campaign already showed a rightward tilt says a Tampa Trib analysis piece. (Ignore garble at end.) And look, the head of a "family values"/anti-gay group is named to the transition team.
11/12/2002
Hey Dems! Maybe you're not depressed enough yet, so consider these insights from The Grapefruit: 1/ Jeb is laying the groundwork to run for president in 2008. 2/ And part of that is a move to the right. "More Alan Keyes and less Lamar Alexander."
According to another source close to the Jeb "Transition Team," Jeb has already drawn a firm "blueprint for a more conservative agenda" over the next four years. According to that source, issues such as expanding vouchers, school prayer, paycheck protection and faith-based social services will top Jeb's agenda. -- The Grapefruit.
According to another source close to the Jeb "Transition Team," Jeb has already drawn a firm "blueprint for a more conservative agenda" over the next four years. According to that source, issues such as expanding vouchers, school prayer, paycheck protection and faith-based social services will top Jeb's agenda. -- The Grapefruit.
Whose Florida? a site linked to here, has consistantly had a useful digest of Florida news and opinion stories. Most Florida newspapers bury their Legislative coverage both in their print editions and Web sites, (I defy anyone to find a Legislature story in less than five clicks at any Knight Ridder site) but whoseflorida.com exumes the links for policy wonks and Floridians who need their minimum daily requirement of outrage.
Like a lot of people, these folks are down about the election and are wondering what to do next and whether it's worth the work. And what good does do it anyway? And to be or not to be?
Send them a note telling them buck up, tomorrow's another day, and for heaven's sake, redesign the site. (It's so 1999. Lose the blue background.) Without the Whosers, the field of Florida news digest sites would be left to the Jebcentric agitprop site Sayfie Review, which is not just ugly, it's Drudge-Report ugly. (But dammit, I use it for the lists.)
Like a lot of people, these folks are down about the election and are wondering what to do next and whether it's worth the work. And what good does do it anyway? And to be or not to be?
Send them a note telling them buck up, tomorrow's another day, and for heaven's sake, redesign the site. (It's so 1999. Lose the blue background.) Without the Whosers, the field of Florida news digest sites would be left to the Jebcentric agitprop site Sayfie Review, which is not just ugly, it's Drudge-Report ugly. (But dammit, I use it for the lists.)
Sure, the majority voted for it, but the there are lots of ways to get around the class-size amendment and Jeb! will find them. (I'm a fan of Jac Wilder VerSteeg of the Palm Beach Post. He can write funny; he can write passionately; and he cares intensely about Florida public schools. He consistantly turns out the best columns on educational politics to be found in any Florida newspaper.)
11/09/2002
Can it be? National Buy Nothing Day is around the corner again.
I'm a moderate, though. I celebrate Buy Nothing at Retail Day.
I'm a moderate, though. I celebrate Buy Nothing at Retail Day.
11/07/2002
A lot of on-line folks (and the people they work for) have an inflated idea of the level of technology people have lying around the house on any given day. This headline gives needed perspective. I suspect the contrast is even starker in Florida.
11/06/2002
Fah! Bleh! I'm in sore loser mode today. Channel surfed the results last night listening to victorious Republicans pronounce God's blessings on everyone. It's as bad as the Grammy™ Awards where everyone thanks their producer and The Lord, in that order.
Locally, Carl Persis, whose principled stand against negative ads was mentioned yesterday, lost big. Lesson: go negative or go home. Barb Shepard the only environmentalist on the ballot in my county lost, too.
And that's just in my little neck of the woods. That's not even considering four more years of benedictions from the sanctimonious Jeb. (God bless you, too, and all who wrote checks in His name!)
But there is an up side -- Charlie Crist and Katherine Harris are among the easiest politicians on the planet for cheap ridicule. Lots of easy jokes ahead. The Legislature will be more outrageous than at any time since segregation ended. And it will be fun to watch the governor and Legislature weasel out of the Class Size Amendment. Yes, lots of material for a working columnist who is halfway awake.
I'm feeling better already.
Locally, Carl Persis, whose principled stand against negative ads was mentioned yesterday, lost big. Lesson: go negative or go home. Barb Shepard the only environmentalist on the ballot in my county lost, too.
And that's just in my little neck of the woods. That's not even considering four more years of benedictions from the sanctimonious Jeb. (God bless you, too, and all who wrote checks in His name!)
But there is an up side -- Charlie Crist and Katherine Harris are among the easiest politicians on the planet for cheap ridicule. Lots of easy jokes ahead. The Legislature will be more outrageous than at any time since segregation ended. And it will be fun to watch the governor and Legislature weasel out of the Class Size Amendment. Yes, lots of material for a working columnist who is halfway awake.
I'm feeling better already.
11/05/2002
Why miami.com sucks (and tallahasee.com sucks worse) and why Knight Ridder is laughing all the way to bank.
By 7:15 this morning, fully 43 people had voted in my precinct. It took three tries for the scanner to read my ballot, which I take as a bad sign.
Among the folks I voted for was Carl Persis for state House. He got nothing but derision for his principled stand against negative advertising. His opponent was contemptuous, the party guys were miffed at him, the experts gave him a condescending pat on the head.
Good on you, Carl! Good luck, today.
Among the folks I voted for was Carl Persis for state House. He got nothing but derision for his principled stand against negative advertising. His opponent was contemptuous, the party guys were miffed at him, the experts gave him a condescending pat on the head.
Good on you, Carl! Good luck, today.
11/04/2002
Local news doesn't like politics. A downer. Nothing visual. Hard to report. It's so much easier to do car wrecks and murder scenes. And candidates love to run their attack ads on local news programs. The result: Stations air over four times as many political ads as campaign stories and devote almost twice as much time to advertising as to news.
And you wonder why voters are apathetic, turned off and ill-informed.
And you wonder why voters are apathetic, turned off and ill-informed.
Only one daily newspaper out of the 20 top-circulation English-language Florida papers could make itself recommend Charlie Crist for attorney general. Neither the ulta-conservative Tampa Tribune nor the reliably conservative Orlando Sentinel could. Only the Times-Union recommended Crist. And even then, only by wrapping its two paragraphs of support into an ag commissioner recommendation.
(It also recommend voting out a state Supreme Court justice on the novel argument that because Democrats in Washington are holding up the president's federal judicial nominations, we must purge state courts of liberals. Huh?)
Here's what the less ideological papers in the state say about the AG race. Can you spot a pattern?
Dyer for attorney general -- St. Pete Times. "As a legislator, Crist made a name for himself with publicity stunts and sound bites" but Dyer "has the legal expertise and political skills needed to build on Bob Butterworth's 16-year record."
For Attorney General -- Miami Herald. "Crist, 46, has a lackluster record where he invariably put partisanship and personal ambition before the welfare of Florida residents."
Buddy Dyer Is Best Bet -- Tampa Trib. "Dyer's ethics, unlike Crist's, have never been questioned. He has not been investigated for election law violations and has refused to take money from organizations with business before the attorney general's office. He promises to lead in the tradition of Butterworth, and we believe he will."
Vote for Dyer -- The Orlando Sentinel. "Charlie Crist is not qualified to be attorney general."
For ethics over disgrace, choose Dyer over Crist -- Palm Beach Post. "The choice for Floridians is embarrassingly easy."
Florida can rely on Dyer's skill, commitment -- The News-Journal. "The Attorney General's Office is no place for a lightweight."
Dyer solid choice for Attorney General -- Florida Today. "His legal background, experience in the halls of Tallahassee and vision for the focus of the Attorney General's office makes him an easy choice."
Dyer for top attorney general - Gainesville Sun "Floridians can't afford a figurehead. Rather, it needs a strong, decisive, experienced attorney general. Buddy Dyer will fill that bill." (... and it never hurts to have one more Gator in high office in Tallahassee.")
Attorney General: Dyer -- Lakeland Ledger. "Dyer's credentials as a lawyer -the attorney general's office is, in effect, the state's largest law firm -- also far surpass those of Crist."
Recommendation for attorney general: Dyer --Naples Daily News. "Buddy Dyer the clear choice for his ability and drive."
We recommend Buddy Dyer -- Sarosota Herald Trib. "Voters could expect Dyer to continue and improve upon the policies of Attorney General Bob Butterworth." Crist an "invisible and ineffective commissioner of education."
(It also recommend voting out a state Supreme Court justice on the novel argument that because Democrats in Washington are holding up the president's federal judicial nominations, we must purge state courts of liberals. Huh?)
Here's what the less ideological papers in the state say about the AG race. Can you spot a pattern?
Dyer for attorney general -- St. Pete Times. "As a legislator, Crist made a name for himself with publicity stunts and sound bites" but Dyer "has the legal expertise and political skills needed to build on Bob Butterworth's 16-year record."
For Attorney General -- Miami Herald. "Crist, 46, has a lackluster record where he invariably put partisanship and personal ambition before the welfare of Florida residents."
Buddy Dyer Is Best Bet -- Tampa Trib. "Dyer's ethics, unlike Crist's, have never been questioned. He has not been investigated for election law violations and has refused to take money from organizations with business before the attorney general's office. He promises to lead in the tradition of Butterworth, and we believe he will."
Vote for Dyer -- The Orlando Sentinel. "Charlie Crist is not qualified to be attorney general."
For ethics over disgrace, choose Dyer over Crist -- Palm Beach Post. "The choice for Floridians is embarrassingly easy."
Florida can rely on Dyer's skill, commitment -- The News-Journal. "The Attorney General's Office is no place for a lightweight."
Dyer solid choice for Attorney General -- Florida Today. "His legal background, experience in the halls of Tallahassee and vision for the focus of the Attorney General's office makes him an easy choice."
Dyer for top attorney general - Gainesville Sun "Floridians can't afford a figurehead. Rather, it needs a strong, decisive, experienced attorney general. Buddy Dyer will fill that bill." (... and it never hurts to have one more Gator in high office in Tallahassee.")
Attorney General: Dyer -- Lakeland Ledger. "Dyer's credentials as a lawyer -the attorney general's office is, in effect, the state's largest law firm -- also far surpass those of Crist."
Recommendation for attorney general: Dyer --Naples Daily News. "Buddy Dyer the clear choice for his ability and drive."
We recommend Buddy Dyer -- Sarosota Herald Trib. "Voters could expect Dyer to continue and improve upon the policies of Attorney General Bob Butterworth." Crist an "invisible and ineffective commissioner of education."
11/02/2002
Got a note about Amendment 7, the Granny-flat Amendment --
Amendment #7 reads ..."exempt from taxation and increase in the assessed value of homestead property resulting from constructing living quarters for a parent or grandparent of the property owner or the property owner's spouse who is 62 years old or older . . . ." Does this mean that only persons 62 or older may claim this exemption, as the wording implies ?
Oh, the dangling modifer problem. This is just the ballot summary and not the actual legislation, but still.
Amendment #7 reads ..."exempt from taxation and increase in the assessed value of homestead property resulting from constructing living quarters for a parent or grandparent of the property owner or the property owner's spouse who is 62 years old or older . . . ." Does this mean that only persons 62 or older may claim this exemption, as the wording implies ?
Oh, the dangling modifer problem. This is just the ballot summary and not the actual legislation, but still.
11/01/2002
NASA is finding itself having to spend time and money to prove that yes, we really did land on the moon. (I navigate Miami.com so you don't have to.) Badastronomy.com can't do the job by itself. Don't blame me, I tried, too. There are just people out there who really believe what they see on Fox TV and hear on talk radio. Really.
