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SFDB Ecard Of The Day
04/03/2012

A- Sun-Sentinel: On the up side, mosquitoes won't go near him.

The suicidal man survived the revolting attempt to take his own life.

But by downing a toxic cocktail of malathion — a common pesticide — he touched off a chain of disruptive consequences Sunday when fumes from the poison sickened three paramedics, shut down a hospital emergency room and knocked a rescue vehicle out of service for hours.

[...]

The bizarre incident began just before 1:30 a.m. when paramedics were called to the 5900 block of 40th Lane, where the man was found lying on the grass.

En route to Northwest Medical Center, the man vomited, Booker said, and three paramedics in the rescue truck with him began "to become dizzy, nauseous and getting headaches."

At the hospital the fumes pouring out of the man prompted hospital officials to move him to another floor, away from the emergency room, which was temporarily shut down as a precaution, Booker said.

B- Sun-Sentinel: Life in South Florida.

The house that smelled up an entire neighborhood after a man's body decomposed for days inside a bedroom has finally been cleaned.

On March 23, Mayor Mike Ryan said city officials would try to get permission from the jailed homeowner to enter the house and clean up.

But in the end, a bank came to the rescue.

On Thursday, Regions Bank had a biohazard company remove the soiled bedding that was causing the stench, Ryan said.

C- Palm Beach Post: Liz Balmaseda returns to Miami...and eats.

New architectural icons swank up the town. Storefronts and cafés pop open to reflect the city's ever-shifting demographics. Hip districts rise where hookers and drug dealers roamed not too many years ago. Magical toll-grabbing devices wink upon traffic-choked highways in green and red. And in the grid and gridlock, my Miami still dances to its own beat.

I've been away for a few years now, and sometimes the metropolis confounds me with its sudden structures and new "it" places. Don't get me wrong- there's exciting stuff happening in Miami. In many ways, the city has reached its full cosmopolitan potential. It's so "there," you can taste it.

D- WPLG: The new, improved BK.

Over the past year, Burger King evaluated all of its ingredients from the bacon to the cheese slices it serves on its chargrilled burgers as part of a yearlong quest to reverse years of slumping sales of its Whoppers and fries. The result: On Monday, it plans to launch a lineup of smoothies, frappe coffees, chicken strips and snack wraps. The 10 new items mark Burger King's biggest menu expansion since the chain opened its doors in 1954.

A- Lotsa photos from yesterday's Trayvon Martin rally in Miami at Nikon Miami.

B- Obalesque has great fun with bill collectors and telemarketers.

Encouraged, they want a credit card, but I tell them I don’t have one — the bank cancelled my account when I over-extended the credit line buying a private jet. “Cheap bastards!” I say. “I gotta have my airplane, don’t I? Look — will you take cash? I’ll send you a fifty dollar bill!”

C- Van Dyke's music calendar for the month of April is up at Soul of Miami.

D- Food for Thought's wrap up of the latest Cobaya dining experience has a particularly distinctive element to it.

In case anybody couldn't decipher the translation, there was no mistaking the next course when it got to the table: each diner was presented with half a roasted goat's head. The goat's brains had been pan-fried, glazed with caper butter, and nestled back into their original home for presentation. Diners were instructed to first eat the brain, then flip the skull for easier access to all the rest of its meaty goodness.

E- Gilbert's has created a special burger just for the Burger Beast.

The 4B (Burger Beast’s Birthday Burger) is two 4 oz Certified Angus Beef Patties, sandwiched between crispy Bacon and Cheddar Cheese, topped with hand cut Potato Slices and then more Cheddar Cheese on an Egg Bun.

F- The Miami Bike Scene has another alert for a unique-looking bike that was stolen from Grand Central...and another reminder to use something other than a cable lock.

G- Bark Bark Woof Woof observes that conservatives seem to be willing to go out of their way to defend the white guy who shot the unarmed Trayvon Martin.

The alleged shooter in the Trayvon Martin case is free, and as of this writing, is not facing any criminal liability. And that, as anyone with a sense of justice, logic, and awareness of the institutional racism that is seething through a good deal of the discussion, is the difference. That is why Trayvon Martin is a national issue.

H- A whole bunch of new photos are up at The Street.

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Located on the South East corner of Lantana Road and Jog road is this new delight of a pizza place called Esposito’s Coal Fire Pizza. This is the type of pizza you will drive miles to taste, and the next day you could very well crave it again.

C- Eye on Miami would like to see more Norman Bramans in South Florida.

Norman Braman isn't Miami's only billionaire businessman. But he is the only Miami businessman who has had the courage, guts, and determination to tackle corrupt county politics by lending the weight of his voice and financial capacity to changing a dysfunctional status quo.

A- Food for Thought [now with video!] previews the Harding Dinner Series that you gotta move fast for if you care to experience it.

The next course was one of the best things I've eaten this year. Jeremiah' s duck pastrami was cured in salt, sugar and pink salt for about five days, then thin shavings of the duck were plated on a long communal plank[3] with brussels sprout "kraut" and a spiced pumpernickel streusel. It was just a perfect combination of flavors: the duck, meaty and fatty; the sprouts, bright, vegetal and tart; the streusel providing an earthy, spicy anchor for it all. Great stuff.

B- Josh's Delicatessen & Appetizing is just a few weeks away from opening in Surfside, according to Eater Miami.

In addition to his award winning matzoh balls made with duck fat and ginger beer, Marcus promises a lot including smoked sable (black cod brined for three hours then hot smoked for four hours, topped with molasses and paprika); pickled mackerel; pastrami salmon; corned beef; Harding salami (a house-made combination of a savory Italian salami and classic kosher hard salami); and tongue.

C- In case you haven't had enough of the story of Rakontur and their films of about South Florida, Salty Eggs satisfies the need.

“L.A. is the place where you go when you wanna be somebody. New York is the place you go when you are somebody. Miami’s the place you go when you wanna be somebody else. That defines so much of our culture here, and so many of the Gatsby-esque characters,” says Corben. “The city inspires us literally every day with its never-ending sordid and assorted cast of characters and stories past and present.”

D- South Florida Food and Wine did a nice job documenting the Savor the Avenue dining event in Delray Beach last night.

The event was not just about food & wine but the entire outdoor experience with the highlight being the 1200+ foot dining table that stretched just about a quarter of a mile; each of the 18 participating restaurants decorated their tables personifying their restaurant, their staff and their chef.

E- Redland Rambles has your CSA share for Week #17.

F- I'm getting the idea that Florida Keys Girl can be a tough customer at a restaurant after reading her review of Hakkasan.

We were running a little late for our reservation so we called and let them know that we are late, but would be there. We were told that was not a problem. Then we arrived to a thirty-plus minute wait. (Yes, I understand we were late, but we called and were essentially told that they would hold our table.) They did not hold our table. When I asked the hostess about it, she tried back pedaling and said that they do not hold tables. That would have been helpful information WHEN WE CALLED YOU. Not so helpful when we are sitting at the bar for over half an hour.

G- South Florida Lawyers posts the latest "David Samson Of The Marlins Is An A-hole" story.

H- Was a Miami Beach police officer relieved of duty for racing along the beach with his siren and lights going? Random Pixels has the story.

And in another case that could prove to be a major headache for Martinez's new administration, I've learned that the chief was forced to relieve Officer Eric Dominguez of duty after a videotape surfaced that allegedly shows him speeding in his police cruiser along an area of the beach near Ocean Drive and 8th Street.

I- South Beach Condo Blog breaks the news that Rosie O'Donnell has put her Miami Beach property on the market. Yeah. Me neither.

J- Obalesque has purchased his new car!

The new car is a RAV-4 Sport. This is our fourth RAV-4, but Yes, sadly, it’s our first automatic transmission. I called around to numerous dealers with small SUVs that allegedly offer manual shifts. Zero results.

#1...

Porsche 911

The classic design of the 911 has been my favorite since I was young. I still love them and would one in any of its many versions.

#2...

Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce

Every garage needs a drop top, especially if you live in Florida. The Alfa [in red, of course] is my favorite.

#3...

International Harvester Scout

Since I'll be eventually moving out to Colorado, the Alfa and the Porsche are going to be grounded for 5 months out of the year. That's when I break out the Scout, knock it into 4-wheel drive and go!

#4...

BMW 2002tii

The memories of the rides I took in my Dad's burnt orange BMW 2002tii through the German countryside when I was a kid are still fresh in my memory. Why wouldn't I not want to relive those if I could?

So there they are. The four cars I would love to have to choose from for my sunny spring morning drive down the road.

What are some of yours?

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Oh boy. The first week of games are going to be something to ~~see~~ read about.

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- Dietrich Wagner via Fancy

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A- Sex and the Beach tells us about her 7 hour journey [roundtrip] from Miami-Dade to Broward on public transportation.

From South Miami Metrorail, using Tri-Rail, a free shuttle and one Broward County bus: four hours for 38 miles as the crow flies. If I had used a two-axle, the drive would probably not have been more than one hour each way. I made it to my panel by the skin of my teeth.

Take note: I started at 10:30 AM to get somewhere 38 miles away by 2:30 PM, thinking it would only take me about two hours, max.

On the way back from the conference venue: three Broward County busses, Tri-Rail and Metrorail: three hours.

B- Searching for Signs gushes over the new Marlins stadium and the team.

It’s a beautiful, impressive facility. A real ballpark, which for us Marlins fans who attended many a wet, hot, stormy game at Joe Robbie/Pro Player/SunLife Stadium, is a breath of fresh, air-conditioned air. I am always excited about baseball season, but this year is a little different. New stadium with beautiful sights and experiences and a team which promises to be competitive all the way to the end.

C- I guarantee that you will gasp after viewing this 1923 photo Ocean Drive...at The305.Com.

D- Tropicult spends a few minutes with Daniel De Las Casas of MiamiMayhem.Com.

Tell us about the new website, why did you kill the articles and replace event galleries with a portfolio?

I really just wanted to keep it strictly focused on my photos. I felt like there was no need to have a section for events since most people are over saturated with events already from Facebook and of course, all the annoying emails from promoters.

E- Arterpillar posts a slideshow from last night's art walk at F.A.T. Village.

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A- Go Hydrology! assures everyone that their April Fool's joke is just that.

B- South Florida's April classical event schedule is up at South Florida Classical Review.

C- Nikon Miami's images from last night's The Grind don't include the fire department shutting the place down early.

D- You know Transit Miami's April Fool's post is a joke because it makes so much sense.

E- Superbee receives the worst service he has ever experienced at a Miami restaurant.

Provoloneta eventually get their menus and order, the Waiter skips away, and all of us sit, as neglected as the slightly-fishy Caesar Salad present at every office luncheon buffet.

F- The Sun-Sentinel isn't getting Man or Maniac's money for their new pay per view system.

The Sun-Sentinel is barely worth reading now. You'd have to be whacked on drugs to even think of charging people to access the pitiful amount of content actually worth reading.

Morning Chuckles....$1
Cool of the Day...$1
Saturday Night Turndown Service.....50¢ to $1 [varied]
Friday Flashback....25¢
Political Posts....5¢

Any and all monies collected will be evenly distributed to blogs that appear on the SFDB blogroll.

I will also begin a new feature for those who purchase the SFDB Premium Package. For $10 a month you will have unlimited access to all the above content and receive a weekly email entitled "Thoughts From Behind The Paywall" where I will share opinions and analysis about the South Florida blogosphere that no one but Premium Package subscribers will read. If you care to VIP your subscription, I will also be available for appearances [no pictures allowed]. Please email me for further information about VIP subscription rates.

As always, thanks for reading. And don't forget: I accept tips.

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A- Shorter Gun Free Zone...

How To Get Ready For An Ugly Negro Uprising.

B- South Florida Guy checks out one of South Florida's true tourist institutions.

MeduSirena Marina and her mermaids perform at the Wreck Bar in the Sheridan Hotel on Fort Lauderdale beach.

and Dallas Morning News. In fact, the LA Times has been charging for content since March 5th.

Some Blogging Guy gives us his usual broad brush treatment of the subject this morning, but there are a lot of serious questions that a move like this generates that Mr. Greenberg's short, abrupt notice fails to answer. For one, how much is one of these subscriptions going to cost? The answer can be found here at the Sun Sentinel's digital subscription sign up page: $4.95 a month.

What do you get for that? Well, you might get access to the paper's "eEdition," which is a copy of the actual paper in a special viewer that I suppose makes the paper mobile device friendly although the Herald's version of the same system [at $1.99 a month] notes that the "[t]he web version of The Miami Herald Digital Edition Newspaper is currently not compatible with the iPhone or iPad because of its use of Flash." Then again, you might get access to the regular internet version that you now get for free. But it's hard to tell given the lack of information.

Another obvious question is whether or not there are enough people out there willing to pay for content that is already provided to a large degree by any variety of different news sources in South Florida. In a recent column by Washington Post ombudsman Patrick B. Pexton, a move to paywalls by Gannett Co. is noted but Pexton explains why the Post won't be doing the same thing...

Industry experts say that, to make a paywall work, you have to have a loyal core of readers who come frequently to the Web site and stay awhile. This core has to be several hundred thousand readers strong before it makes sense to charge them and take the risk of losing more fickle users who will go elsewhere for online news.

The Post doesn’t think that its core of loyal readers is large enough yet to consider a paywall, but it hopes to get there in a year, maybe two.

The Post may be the only paper in the country who is counting on more readers but, hey, good for them. The Sun-Sentinel's daily circulation in 2011 was 175,000, according to a Herald article that is reposted here.

Here's what I think.

The Sun Sentinel is no NY Times [who also is running a somewhat successful paywall system] or even an LA Times that maintains a daily circulation of over 600,000. It's a onetime decent local newspaper that has been run into the ground by Sam Zell and his cronies and has been left to rot in the South Florida sun for much too long. Legions of excellent journalists have been fired or have left because of bad management and steadily decreasing morale problems that have been unaddressed by each successive new wave of management to the company. Advertising revenue has continued to fall across the newspaper industry. Many newspaper executives like Mr. Greenberg have run out of ideas of how to become profitable and are seeing paywalls as a last ditch solution to the problem.

After years of neglect, the Sun Sentinel just isn't capable of producing enough unique content to motivate readers to pony up a subscription fee month after month. Readers will simply go to the Miami Herald, the Palm Beach Post or any one of a number of local TV news websites. Or they'll get creative like LA residents. After a few months, the Sun-Sentinel will be forced to reconsider their paywall initiative or it will become just another bad decision by the Tribune Co. that will further decimate the newspaper.

As best I can tell, the Herald and Palm Beach Post have not addressed this latest move by the Sun Sentinel. My guess is they're too busy considering where to place their new, beefy Broward Bureaus.

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B- Jeff Eats checks out The Filling Station in Miami and it sounds like he's okay with it.

To be perfectly straight with you guys, my game is FOOD…I know a bunch of you folks are really into “this beer or that beer”–but when it comes to joints like The Filling Station–delicious burgers- fries -wings- pulled pork and philly steak subs are my end game.

C- The Miami Bike Scene tee shirts are back!

D- Roy Black on concreteness.

Much of our language is abstract, but life is concrete. We need to turn our messages into concrete examples that the audience can easily grasp and remember. It is the difference between an engineer’s schematic and a working model.

E- Salty Eggs reports on the mood that was present at the Trayvon Martin rally this weekend.

Friends and family told stories about the 17-year-old Martin: His football coach called him one of the “best defensive players” and a childhood friend described him as a “wise person, positive person.” Rev. Jesse Jackson called attention to the tragic and unnecessarily high rate of suspensions and expulsions among black male youth.

F- South Florida Lawyers tells us how Republicans have decimated Florida's civil justice system.

G- Random Pixels says we need to get ready for Urban Beach Weekend 2012 'cause the Miami Beach PD is.

At the heart of the 20-page plan are: street closures up the ying-yang, strict enforcement of open container laws, zero-tolerance for illegal parking, nightly DUI and "safety" checkpoints near Watson Island on the MacArthur Causeway, possible closure of the MacArthur if traffic becomes unmanageable, "enhanced enforcement of obstruction of traffic" and a "traffic/cruising loop" that's been cleverly devised to "route [non-resident] traffic through and out of the city."

H- Join what might be the world's largest conga line on roller skates this weekend on Miami Beach....at The305.Com.

I- Shula Burger in Islamorada makes a decent burger, according to Florida Keys Girl.

The burgers come in ten varieties, plus an option to make your own. At $6.99 to $8.99 they seem like a pretty good deal, too. That is, until you factor in that all sides are extra. Fries, onion rings and more can all be had for an extra charge. The burgers come in many varieties like the “wine country” with roasted peppers, roasted tomatoes and goat cheese topped with greens or the “southwest” with black bean and corn salsa, pepper jack cheese, roasted tomatoes and chipotle sauce.

All of the burgers are juicy, nicely cooked and come on a brioche style bun (yummy!) with the Shula logo branded on top.

J- Lots of folks showed up at today's rally for the Coconut Grove Playhouse and the Grapevine was there with his camera.

Miami historian, Arva Moore Parks spoke on the behalf of the playhouse through the history that she knows. She spoke of various people who were there at the beginning. One, named Estelle Overstreet, a Grove pioneer, born in 1909, claims that fresh water sand was used to build the old 1927 building and apparently fresh water sand is very sound. In Arva's words, the building is "salvageable." She said, "The theater needs to be restored, the theater needs to be opened. Give it back!"

K- Eye on Miami hosts an upbeat post from a guest that enjoyed his new Marlins Stadium experience. Lots of comments follow.

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Dining Notes: Mellow Mushroom confirms Avondale restaurant
04/12/2012

Mellow Mushroom is coming to Jacksonville’s Avondale neighborhood.

Rumors about Jacksonville’s fourth Mellow Mushroom pizzeria coming to one of the historic neighborhoods have circulated for nearly a year, but owner John Valentino recently confirmed the planned Avondale restaurant.

Chicken legs and thighs delicious, easy to prepare
04/12/2012

I’m a leg man, and I’m not talking about my appreciation for George Clooney’s current red carpet sweeper Stacy Keibler.

When it comes to chicken, you can have the breast and I’ll take a thigh and drumstick. Sure, there’s more meat on the breast, but there’s more flavor in the moving parts. At least that used to be the case when yardbirds actually roamed around a barnyard pecking after seeds. But it isn’t my intention to rip factory farming. I’ll save that rant for a three-part series.

Ugly Americans, Etc. [UPDATED]
04/10/2012

Earlier this week, the very conservative National Review Online's John Derbyshire wandered over to TakiMag and gave us some tips on what to tell your kids about African-Americans...

(10a) Avoid concentrations of blacks not all known to you personally.

(10b) Stay out of heavily black neighborhoods.

(10c) If planning a trip to a beach or amusement park at some date, find out whether it is likely to be swamped with blacks on that date (neglect of that one got me the closest I have ever gotten to death by gunshot).

(10d) Do not attend events likely to draw a lot of blacks.

(10e) If you are at some public event at which the number of blacks suddenly swells, leave as quickly as possible.

(10f) Do not settle in a district or municipality run by black politicians.

(10g) Before voting for a black politician, scrutinize his/her character much more carefully than you would a white.

(10h) Do not act the Good Samaritan to blacks in apparent distress, e.g., on the highway.

(10i) If accosted by a strange black in the street, smile and say something polite but keep moving.

I have no doubt that there are plenty of Americans out there who will read these tips and nod and then ask, "So where's the one about the hoodies?"

The National Review Online has wisely distanced themselves from Derbyshire on this matter, but he still remains a contributor.

In related news, the Miami New Times is reporting that armed Neo Nazis are patrolling and securing the streets of Sanford for the city's white peeps...

"We are not advocating any type of violence or attacks on anybody, but we are prepared for it," [Commander Jeff Schoep of the National Socialist Movement] says. "We are not the type of white people who are going to be walked all over."

I would be willing to bet that Schoep and his followers refer to the Affordable Care Act as "Obamacare."

And they also probably think that Fox News is fair and balanced.

They always do.

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The National Review Online has canned Derbyshire.

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A- Salty Eggs considers Marco Rubio's chances of receiving and accepting the vice presidential nominee nod.

Now that Mitt Romney has secured the Republican nomination — or rather that the media are forced to give up the horserace narrative they’ve perpetuated to make this primary season something other than a big snooze fest — the next overblown mystery du jour shall be Romney’s VP pick.

B- Eater Miami reviews your dining choices at Marlins Park and rates them.

C- Random Pixels shares his impressions from the Marlins' Opening Night.

TV showed lots of ecstatic fans spouting effusive praise for the new stadium; all of them eager to get inside and guzzle $9 beers and munch on $6 hot dogs. And all of them apparently suffering from amnesia or simply choosing to ignore the fact that as taxpayers, they'll be paying for this white elephant for years to come.

D- Your Instapix Photo of the Week is up at Beached Miami.

E- Coconut Grove Grapevine explains why things are looking up in the Grove.

Earlier in the day, there were lots of people all over the Grove. I was told that public schools were closed that day, so that could be the reason, also the weather has been so nice, so people want to be out and about. Gigi and I had a long, leisurely lunch at Bombay Darbar and people from the neighborhood stopped by to visit, that was nice.

F- Get your theater squared away for the weekend at South Florida Theatre Scene.

G- South Florida Food and Wine and South Florida Beer Blog get together and go through some beer.

We tasted five beers starting with Blue Point Toasted Lager, a mild, medium bodied beer with trace hop bitterness. I liked this beer, this for me is a drinking beer; ice cold 2 or 3 on a hot day. Next in the lineup was a local favorite, Monk in the Trunk from Jupiter, Florida. I really liked this one, another easy drinking beer, medium bodied, no food required, just the desire to drink. And the last of the drinking beers, border-lining pairing for me was the canned, Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale. There is a lot of pine and citrus notes in this beer that came right at me, but not so overwhelming that I didn’t enjoy it. To fully enjoy this beer I need food to mellow out the composition; it worked well with the pairing of blue cheese and roasted chicken.

H- The Green Parrot Bar posts a nice collection of photos from last night's ukulele gathering.

I- Liam Crotty Photography captures some images of Cuban marionette artist Pablo Cano in his Little Havana home.

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A- The Miami Bike Scene has some info on a ride for a good cause.

B- Gun Free Zone interprets the Stand Your Ground law after warning us that he's not the least bit qualified to do so.

With the big caveat that I am not a Lawyer, not played on on TV, let’s get to basics.

C- UVu Blog shares a video of the opening number from the recent Carbonell Awards ceremony.

D- Eye on Miami remembers Jose Webeje who was killed in an Everglades City plane crash yesterday.

If my memory is correct, Jose had arrived from Cuba either on a raft or a small boat only a few months earlier. He was about our own age, a big raw-boned, barefoot kid. His knot tying skill was like his English: a work in progress. I remember pretty clearly; one day where Harry found bonefish everywhere, Jose couldn't find any until the very end of the day when just off Big Pine Key, a school tormented us to no avail. We kids circled the bonefish in the fading light, muttering. If you bet me then a live shrimp, that Jose would become a charismatic star of fishing television; an icon of a billion dollar industry, I would have swallowed the shrimp.

A- Your CSA share Week 18 is pictorially presented at Redland Rambles.

B- The very low profile My Ceviche is open for business on South Beach, says Eater Miami.

Status: Sam Gorenstein is a very low key chef, which is why his 240-square foot South of Fifth youth hostel hideaway My Ceviche opened very softly, as they say, and very quietly. But not for long. Gorenstein and his partner, Roger Duarte, founder and president of the thriving stone crab delivery service George Stone Crab, previewed their selection of an intimate seafood takeaway and delivery counter, serving a handful of ultra-fresh stone crabs, tacos, burritos, salads and of course, ceviches, during Sony Ericcson and are now doing takeaway and delivery from its SoFi HQ.

C- Salty Eggs lists the 5 reasons it is okay to date a feminist.

1) The conversation is better: If Schlafly’s talking about people who care about whether women — especially low-income women — will have access to basic healthcare (and Schlafly is wrong when she says this isn’t about access; just ask 130,000 poor women in Texas), then she’s generally referring to a group of individuals who like to read, to stay informed, to educate themselves before voting, and who genuinely care about the people around them. That makes for good company.

D- Beached Miami shares some photos from last night's Paco de Lucia concert at the Fillmore.

E- The first thing that came to mind when I read The305.Com post that MTV's The Real World was having an open casting call at the Bayside Hooter's was: Is that show still on?

F- Easter thoughts from Obalesque.

Easter is one of the two annual holidays where pastors actually see their congregants inside the church. So if you’re a member of the C&E tribe, remember not to leave too early, as the regulars can get mighty fussy about their customary spots in the pew.

G- Coconut Grove Grapevine posts a decent video of the "Give It Back" campaign.

H- Another Miami New Times contributor is apparently running for office, as Random Pixels points out.

Gus Garcia-Roberts has has thrown his hat in the ring. He recently qualified to run for an open commission seat in the small town of Surfside.

You may not recognize the name, but surely you've seen his work. Gus - a staff writer at Miami New Times - is the evil genius behind one of paper's more popular web features, "Mugshots Friday."

Gus announced his plans to run for Surfside's open commission seat a few weeks ago in a piece on his paper's blog, Riptide 2.0.

"I'm going to make this town awesome," Gus wrote.

*sigh*

I'll miss Chan Lowe's cartoons, for sure, but I'm fairly certain the crack team of Sun Sentinel owners and operators are going to find out real quick that charging for online content isn't going to be something that works for them.

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Miami After 40 is written by a very cynical South Florida resident who really knows the area. If you're unable to be brutally honest about our tropical paradise, you best stay away.

I learned this wonderful Cuban expression which to me encapsulates the essence of Miamians. The saying in Spanish is: "se cree que es el último Coca-Cola in el desierto" which directly translated means: "he thinks he is last Coca-Cola in the desert" Which really means something like "he(or she) thinks he's all that". I like that saying because to me it says things on so many levels about the conceit that exists in Miami among its residents.

[...]

I don't know if it's the high rates of attractiveness, scarcity of mirrors (there are not a lot of them) or just that the members of the 1% like to play here, the self absorption is epidemic. It's a kind of willful ignorance that despite high rates of poverty, illiteracy and corruption that people breezily turn a blind eye to. It's like we're all Sarah Palin: confident, pretty, looking great in a pair of Giuseppe Zanotti platforms, what the hell else matters when you're wearing great shoes? I mean who couldn't conquer the world if they were wearing a $700 pump? Or live in an incredibly sexy town? So like that last drink in the desert, no not water, but the sweet one in the sexy curvy bottle. Miami: Pensamos que somos la ultima Coca-Cola en el desierto. We just think we are the last Coke in the desert.

Thanks to Sex and the Beach for the tip on the next blog in today's Blog Notes. Mac Stone Photography is, you might have guessed, a photography blog that captures the essence of the Everglades, Florida Bay and the other pristine areas of Florida. It's loaded with big, bold pictures like the one below that will make you appreciate our outdoor world that much more.

Freshly off the bus from Washington, DC, South Florida for Beginners is giving us their first impressions of the area.

This blog is an effort to pass on what I’m finding out as I go along. I hope it may also prove useful to others new to this strange, wonderful, and frustrating place.

I've always been somewhat fascinated by the way visitors view South Florida, so South Florida for Beginners is kind of like finding a steady source of those reactions to this place that many of us have grown weary of to one degree or another. Take, for instance, a recent post comparing Miami-Dade and Broward counties...

But for now, the neighboring counties do feel rather different. To me, Miami seems much more urban and cosmopolitan—a great big ethnic and cultural stew. There are times in parts of Miami and Miami Beach when I get flashbacks of Rio—or Brooklyn. It seems more chaotic and less planned. There is a bit more history there (though neither place really goes back very far), and because Miami’s growth spurt happened sooner, there are more neighborhoods gone to seed, though some have come back in spectacular fashion.

Fort Lauderdale seems newer and tidier and, to me, more suburban and white bread—kind of like Charlotte, NC but with a beach and more gays. Indeed, without the gay community (material for at least another post or two), I think the place would seem pretty dull. Las Olas is nice, but I find it a bit Disneyfied. (To be fair, Mary Brickell Village in Miami is sort of the same thing.) And Broward is probably a bit safer—and a lot smugger.

I like it.

You might be seeing more of it and the other blogs as we prepare to update the SFDB Blogroll.

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A- Sun-Sentinel: Slideshow, Barret-Jackson Auto Auction this weekend.

B- Palm Beach Post: Kids these days.

A 14-year-old student at Fort Pierce Magnet School of the Arts who complained about bullying was charged with possession of a razor knife at school on Wednesday, according to police reports.

[...]

Police quoted the boy as saying he was angry with two boys because they have been bullying him for two years.

"He was tired of feeling bad about what other students say and do to him. He got mad and yelled at them about the remarks they were making against him ... then he walked away from them," according to a police report that referenced an incident witnessed by a school custodian at the school in the 1100 block of Delaware Avenue.

C- CBS4: Crap.

MIAMI (CBSMiami.com) – The days of people fleeing the high unemployment, high taxes, and real estate meltdown of the Sunshine State may be at an end. Where US Census figures once showed people leaving Florida in large numbers, between 2010 and 2011, they started to return, with South Florida leading the state.

D- NBC Miami: Video, where rented Mercedes SUV's are used to burglarize homes.

E- WPLG: Damn. No concert in Lauderdale.

NEW ORLEANS - Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam has postponed his 15-city U.S. solo tour because of nerve damage in his right arm.

F- WSVN: Video, Mom makes son stand outside school with a sign about bullying.

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A- Everything you need to know about going to the beach in South Florida is at Miami Beach 411.3)

What is the best time of day to go?
The best time to go to the beach is between 10am and 12pm. The later you go the more crowded it gets and the harder it is to park your car. If you visit in the summer and fall, keep in mind, afternoon rain storms are fairly common in the late afternoon. The secret to maximizing your vacation time is to go to the beach early, and leave the afternoon free to relax and explore the neighborhood. For me, 2 hours is plenty of time to spend at the beach. Any longer and you run the risk of burning out and spoiling the night. If you’re staying nearby, I do suggest, however, going back to the beach around 6pm for swim to refresh your senses.

B- Justice Building Blog says that perhaps one of Roy Black's mistakes during his latest trial was violating the "golden rule."

We all know what the golden rule is during trial: a party cannot ask the jury to place themselves in the situation of the defendant or victim- and then ask the jury how they would feel if so situated.

C- Man or Maniac? deconstructs the latest right wing defense of George Zimmerman.

D- South Florida Guy checks out the Miami Renaissance Faire at Cauley Square.

This is a very quaint and historic piece of Miami's past and I am so glad the Florida Renaissance Festival will be bringing thousands of new visitors to what I hope is their new permanent home. I spent a lot of time at the Ren Fest in Deerfield Beach this year and a lot of the visitors at the Miami shown were new to me. It's great to see even more people enjoying the last of the Vaudevillian style performances in America, and hopefully maybe even their first trip of many to Cauley Square.

E- Bark Bark Woof Woof has the latest ridiculous demonstration of just how mentally dull and bigoted the Republican Party is these days.

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A- Everything you wanted to know about the Passover Seder meal but were afraid to ask...at Florida Keys Girl.

We do not eat right away, however. We drink some wine, and in addition to the matza we have a sprig of parsley dipped in salt water (or what I refer to as the “hors d’oerve“), the salt water symbolizing tears shed while the Jews were enslaved in Egypt. Then we eat some horseradish. This is not the mild, prepared stuff that comes in a jar. This is the horseradish root and it is not too tasty (symbolizing the bitter lives of the slaves). Then, for what I refer to as the “appetizer” we eat the matza with the horseradish root, and a little bit of charoset (the apple/wine/cinnamon concoction that symbolizes the mortar used with bricks and is really delicious). Here is the thing about Passover: not all gefilte fish is good (some of it comes from a jar and has a nasty jelly on it – ick) but all charoset is good.

B- Gun Free Zone and his readers are still preparing for the great African-American uprising that they maintain is coming. I suppose he hasn't heard that out in Oklahoma the white folk are taking the offensive.

Among some of my friends, the reaction to that quote has been the same: A wicked smile and that look in the eyes that says “I might need to drop by WalMart on the way home.”

C- Arterpillar looks at Lucinda Linderman's exhibit at Cafeina.

D- Salty Eggs says Campaign Obama and President Obama are two different beings.

But nothing in the past has offered us any evidence — none whatsoever — that Obama will govern any differently than he has in the past. And while he may deride obviously absurd, off-the-cliff nightmares like the Ryan budget, he will also continue to work with Republicans to find solutions. It’s no coincidence that ideas like the healthcare plan and his early support of cap-and-trade were all initially supported on the right side of the aisle. The fighter is a campaign-time caricature. The president we have is the one we will get.

E- Tropicult runs down the 411 on Sweatstock 2012.

F- The Miami Beach city manager is cracking down on city towing policies after having his car towed, claims Random Pixels.

According to my sources, Gonzalez has ordered a review of the city's towing policy.

The reason for Gonzalez's sudden change of heart? In January, Gonzalez had his car towed by Beach Towing from a space on Lincoln Road where he was blocking a fire hydrant.

In the wake of that unpleasant experience, several sources tell me that Gonzalez may be looking at revising and/or rewriting the city's towing policy.

G- Eater Miami has information on yet another restaurant coming to Brickell.

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It might get kind of interesting, however, if these yahoos decide they want to harass, taunt or remodel the cars of the Marlin fans who do continue to go to the games.

That, readers, would be their style.

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A- Herald: A "new" direction for China Grill that doesn't include South Beach.

China Grill, which has been one of South Beach’s landmark restaurants since 1995, is closing its doors on Saturday, April 28 in preparation for a move to Brickell Avenue later this year.

[...]

“After years in one of the most iconic South Beach locations we felt our client demographics had changed,” said Terry Zarikian, director of product development for China Grill Management. “We decided that Brickell would be a better location to introduce the new direction of China Grill.”

B- Herald: They write letters.

Waiting for tomorrow

Whether we like it or not, the Catholic Church in Cuba has chosen a path of co-existence rather than confrontation. We can either characterize its policy as surrendering its moral integrity or as creating an atmosphere where it can exercise moral integrity under the most difficult of conditions.

The church in Cuba ministers to the spiritual needs of its flock and through its ministries helps to alleviate the dire economic conditions of the neediest.

It has negotiated the release of hundreds of political prisoners, albeit under conditions we don’t agree with. It’s a Trojan horse that will be of immeasurable benefit once mañana in Cuba finally arrives.

Marcelino Vega, Miami

C- Palm Beach Post: Behind closed doors.

GREENACRES — No one passing by the townhome on 27th Lane would have suspected the horrible conditions inside that led authorities to rescue nearly 50 cats living there.

The manicured lawn and a back yard opening onto a lake belied the stacks of garbage bags and stench of urine inside the Sherwood Lakes home. Scores of cats scaled the trash heaps in what investigators are calling the biggest recent case of animal hoarding in Palm Beach County.

D- Palm Beach Post: Republicans doing what they do best.

Dumping no-fault insurance saved Colorado drivers 35 percent on their auto premiums, but Florida motorists won't get the chance to find out what that feels like this year.

Once he gets the bill, Florida Gov. Rick Scott is expected to approve an insurance law that would stiff massage therapists and acupuncturists but generally preserve a $2 billion-plus government-mandated coverage defended by hospital and insurance lobbyists.

"Instead of measures aimed at preventing true fraud, we're left with a bill that pads the pockets of big insurance companies while stripping consumers of choice and benefits," said Bill Newton, executive director of the Florida Consumer Action Network, after the bill's passage in the waning hours of the 2012 legislative session.

E- CBS4: And yes, traffic will be FUBAR.

President Obama is scheduled to give a speech at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton about the economy. Mr. Obama is expected to talk about the “Buffett Rule,” which is a principle for fairness that ensures millionaires pay at least the same effective tax rate as middle class families pay.

[...]

In addition to the speech at FAU, the president is expected to attend three campaign fundraising events in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

F- NBC Miami: Time for a Miami repudiation rally!

A group of Cuban-American demonstrators plans to boycott the Miami Marlins as a result of manager Ozzie Guillen's comment that he respects Fidel Castro.

Vigilia Mambisa, headed by Miguel Saavedra, said it plans to begin a caravan of cars at SW 36th Avenue and 8th Street Tuesday that will culminate in front of the ballpark.

G- WPLG: Life in South Florida.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - A man stopped to help a stranded driver on the side of the road and then mugged her, according to police.

A- Searching for Signs discusses the recent controversial remarks by Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen.

It goes without saying that his initial comment was quite insulting and deserving of a profuse, sincere apology to a community that has suffered so much at the hands of Castro. Not only from Guillen but from the Marlins organization (which to their credit, they delivered). If this came from someone known to be serious and studious, the remark would be extremely scandalous. However, Jorge’s points about Ozzie’s track-record of making foot-in-mouth remarks, habit of knocking back some adult beverages at the hotel bar and his alleged dabbling in santeria tell me that putting too much thought and analysis into Guillen’s statement is much too disproportionate to the brainpower it took to produce such a brain-fart. It’s almost like blowing up an anthill with an atomic bomb.

B- Under the Sun tells us about some guy who is going to be canoeing through the canals of Miami-Dade County.

Next Monday, April 16, Terence will launch his canoe from the canal on NE 79th street and Biscayne Blvd. into the relative unknown of the canal system. Under the Sun will follow his trajectory online and over the airwaves as he passes through the cities of Miami, ending up in Coral Gables Waterway near Cartagena Park.

C- Bark Bark Woof Woof explains why Republicans are so upset about President Obama's aggressive defense of the Affordable Care Act.

I think what especially irks them is that it's coming from President Obama, who is, in their eyes, getting dangerously uppity about his re-election campaign. He is not showing the due deference that Democrats and lesser forms of society should show to their betters.

D- U.S. Congressman David "I Like To Run Mail Trucks Off The Road" Rivera has finally picked up a challenger for the upcoming elections, according to Eye on Miami.

David Rivera was called "Corrupt"by the Democratic Executive Director and I tend to agree. He is ethically challenged at best. I would vote for Gloria Romero Roses in a heartbeat. Don't complain that she doesn't live in the District. Rivera doesn't either and his legacy of positives during his political career is woefully anemic. Anyway, send her money pronto!

Enjoy your evenings!

A- Cute puppy dog photos at Nikon Miami.

B- Coconut Grove's Art Walk is booming, according to Coconut Grove Grapevine.

It was a long day for the galleries, which started earlier than usual and ended quite late due to the large crowds. I myself wanted to get home early, but ended dragging in about midnight. How could I leave when so many friends were out and about enjoying the fun?

C- Easter greetings from Blogging Black Miami, Searching for Signs, South Florida Food and Wine, Go Hydrology!, Eye on Miami, and Some Blogging Guy.

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Information for Seffner, FL

Free Home Buyers Relocation Packet for Seffner, Florida

Seffner, FL

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Latitude: 27.992299 -- Longitude: -82.276692

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SFDB Ecard Of The Day
04/03/2012

Dining Notes: Mellow Mushroom confirms Avondale restaurant
04/12/2012

Chicken legs and thighs delicious, easy to prepare
04/12/2012

Ugly Americans, Etc. [UPDATED]
04/10/2012

Information for Seffner, FL

Free Home Buyers Relocation Packet for Seffner, Florida

Seffner, FL

Homes - Schools - Census Data - Jobs - Maps

Latitude: 27.992299 -- Longitude: -82.276692

We need more photos. If you have photos of your local area, submit them today. Click here to Add Photos.

Enter our Photo Sweepstakes and Win $200 for your Seffner photos!

We need more photos. If you have photos of your local area, submit them today. Click here to Add Photos.

Top News Stories 20/20 | Business | Entertainment | Top Stories | Good Morning America | Health | Nightline | Politics Prime Time | Technology | Sports | Travel | This Week | US | World News | World

ASKME a Question About Seffner, Florida

Census Data for Seffner, Florida

Cities

Check out what's happening in the NewQuestCity Forums for Florida .

SFDB Ecard Of The Day 04/03/2012

Dining Notes: Mellow Mushroom confirms Avondale restaurant 04/12/2012

Chicken legs and thighs delicious, easy to prepare 04/12/2012

Ugly Americans, Etc. [UPDATED] 04/10/2012

Top News Stories
20/20 | Business | Entertainment | Top Stories | Good Morning America | Health | Nightline | Politics
Prime Time | Technology | Sports | Travel | This Week | US | World News | World

SFDB Ecard Of The Day
04/03/2012

Dining Notes: Mellow Mushroom confirms Avondale restaurant
04/12/2012

Chicken legs and thighs delicious, easy to prepare
04/12/2012

Ugly Americans, Etc. [UPDATED]
04/10/2012