Current EventsSports

Beware

There is evil in this world, and it wants to be loved. That’s why it is so frightening. It’s seducing you with winning ways and good looks. It wants you to believe that everything can be had, for the right price. Using its foothold in our nation’s economic capital, it has spread throughout American life through the media. Movies, Broadway productions, made for television specials…
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Current EventsThe Sunshine State

Second thoughts about gambling

Over the last twenty-four hours, I’ve rethought my views on legalized gambling, although my plan goes much farther than any of the proposals thus far. If we are really interested in raising money for state government, things like education and health care for the needy, why should we allow a private company to take a share, when the whole take could go back to the good folks of the State of…
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Current EventsPoliticsThe Sunshine State

An ad campaign that counts on the viewer’s stupidity

If you decide to vote this November (I’m talking to you, 49%), you’ll be asked to make a decision about gambling. Yes, gambling rears it’s ugly face in Florida politics once again this year. This time, pro-gambling forces are making a play for a foot in the door – rather than the heretofore-unsuccessful full frontal assault. Here’s the ballot language (courtesy of…
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Current EventsSports

Hanging up the ‘ole remote

This weekend was nothing short of a sports disaster. Once again my teams ran the gamut of losing. The Gators played well enough to win, the Bucs played just well enough to lose, the Red Sox played well enough to lose a couple dozen, and the hockey season just appears lost. My only consolation is that the Pats beat up on the Cardinals. But then, who doesn’t beat up on the Cardinals?
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Current Events

The Amateur Meteorologist’s Association of America

Water cooler talk around the Sunshine State has endured a shift of tidal proportions. Gone are the days when men could congregate in the workplace and fancy themselves better suited to make football decisions than the guy that’s paid millions to do the job. Instead, men and women alike are questioning the judgment of the folks over at the National Hurricane Center. “You know Jim; I…
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Current Events

Back from the brink

Surely you’ve had those moments when you question your own sanity? This past week I’ve wondered if I’m one of those people that become the poster children for gun control. “He was such a quiet young man. We never would have expected he was capable of this,.” It’s really a wonder that Cheryl’s family put up with me so graciously this week. Boy was I in a…
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Current Events

My second favorite news item yesterday

**Author’s note: if you don’t care for politics or the politics of the author, don’t read this entry (or the next one either). The assault weapons ban, passed in 1994 (under a Democratic legislature and President), is expiring this year. A flurry of lobbyists, law enforcement professionals, and the Brady family, descended upon Washington to urge lawmakers to extend the bill. The…
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Current Events

Why we need to be protected from ourselves, revisited

My favorite news item yesterday was a report that the manufacturers of anti-depressants had research findings which suggested their product could increase suicidal thoughts and actions in children, but kept it to themselves in order to make their product more marketable. The news story (N.P.R. – 9/8/2004) claimed that it was “well known” that drug companies did not share all of…
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