U.T.C. dress rehearsal

photo not from below

The first responders were called to the beach in Sunny Isles where early morning surf-walkers found a washed up U.T.C. (unidentified tin can) labeled,
"If found, contact U.S. military immediately."
Turns out it was a dud 'phosphorus flare'. Everything went according to plan.

Moon over USA

Sun Myung Moon has been a player in US since the 60's. Today his influence is worldwide and his legacy is sheer flabbergast authoritarian turd. There is something weirdly Austin Powers about the reverend from korea. I don't know where to begin but this guy does a job on the moon-messiah .

things whiteflies like

There is a new front in the war on privacy, and it's being staged right in our front lawns. The assault began just after artbaselmiami 07 when ficus plants in wynwood quickly lost their leaves. Recall after hurricane andrew, ficus became the most over-planted tree as folks wanted cheap quick leaf-makers to make privacy. Ficus makes for some splendid scissor-hands but if it is not cut back it will reclaim the swamp. Enter the new enemy, a tiny pest called the whitefly that hitched a ride on a barge form somewhere. A whitefy infestation is devastating so folks are using some bug spray from home-cheapo in their right for privacy.

shooting blanks

wow, this story is so telling of all that is 110% stupid with w's war on terra contracts.
miami beach attracts some really wdumb types.

Supplier Under Scrutiny on Aging Arms for Afphans
from NYT (not the harold)

"...the American military has relied since early last year on a fledgling company led by a 22-year-old man whose vice president was a licensed masseur.

With the award last January of a federal contract worth as much as nearly $300 million, the company, AEY Inc., which operates out of an unmarked office in Miami Beach, became the main supplier of munitions to Afghanistan’s army and police forces.

As Efraim Diveroli arrived in Miami Beach, AEY was transforming itself by aggressively seeking security-related contracts.

He also suggested that his activities should be shielded from public view."


blinking-insane.

cuban music

here's two very nice paintings by Adolfo... cuban musician

cachao RIP

Here's a painting by Adolfo of Israel "cachao" Lopez (base) the king of mambo beats and his cuban jam players. he recently passed away at the age of 89, but the music lives on n on.

have-a-nice Peter Rabbit Day

Big day for all chocolate bunny-loving, starchy-white-sunday-bonnet folk out there.

In the vatican the pope was supposed to carry a cross for the last three of twelve stations for the more than hour-long procession. But Vatican officials said that, due to the weather, it was decided that the pope, who turns 81 next month, should stay dry.

Meanwhile in little haiti a procession of the faithful re-enact the passion of christ with accompanying chorus draped in white lead by a very loud preacher in a truck/boombox.
These folks know there is plenty of faith-based dollars to rent a warehouse/start a church. Apostates need not apply.

neo-bohemians wanted

....." honey, we're moving back to south beach"....

Just 90 years ago miami beach was a wild-life sanctuary for flocks of flamingo birds. After Fisher/Collins/Flagler leveled the place, all the flamingos moved to where they are today, the Hialeah Racetrack. Our founders then brought elephants to lure more speculating types to the tropics.

Today the 'planners' of miami beach have a CANDO attitude. They are moving ahead with the Cultural Arts District Overlay. This approach reads like a tired, contrived, transparent scheem to lure artzy wannabes to the dead-zone around the Bass museum. I believe the city is obligated to provides a certain amount of affordable housing in order to be eligible for certain funds. In '92 my art studio was on espanola way next door to the 'crazys' housing for the needy who were later relocated to a blding just behind the bass. Who knows where they are today. Can you actually gentrify a neighborhood if there is no one living there......CANDO can do.

masters of malarkey

stuff white people like is a very popular blog. hhowhp you hhahda hahhpy saint patty dahy.

When we speak of "wee people" we are referring to the fairies from the irish spirit world. There are trooping fairies who dance in forest glades or by river banks, they are never alone. Then there are the solitary fairies - the leprechauns and banshees that can take the form of animals and can foretell the future.

Wee could feel sorry for people who don't drink cause when the get up in the morning that's as good as they will feel all day.

all politics is local

From sunday harold neighbors section.... save me your copy.

When the mayor knocked at the door, my knee-jerk reaction was to talk about my pet issues but we kept the conversation to cycling on the beach and the upcoming election in surfside.
One advantage to living in a small town (within a big county) is the access to our elected officials... better yet, they come to you. In a small town if officals don't connect with the folks they work for then chances are they will not last long in office. In miami the opposite seems true. Best of luck to those who live in unincorporated dade and need to talk to an official higher-up.

Motoring public gets FDOTed again

The Gipper Reagen once said "America Is The Land of Tomorrow" which sounded great to some but the true sub-meaning for others was that his version of america was not for us here TODAY but for those in some indeterminate FUTURE, a future that never arrives.

The never-ending road-work the silent motoring public endures is like a hell in small doses. Day after day after months and years pass as the FDOT and local planners basically do whatever the want no matter what the inconvenience to us the taxpayers.

This article in the harold talks of the latest 'brilliant' plans for more of the same.
Get this quote from Mr. Lexus Lanes himself:

Gus Pego, chief of operations for the Florida Department of Transportation, told Miami Beach commissioners Wednesday that the agency has been ''running at 200 miles an hour on this project,'' but that FDOT would hold meetings in Miami Beach to explain it to residents and business operators.

We don't need expanations, we need to be respected. Somebody please take the car keys away from this guy.


MIAMI & MIAMI BEACH
Beach leaders wary of FDOT plan to close I-95 ramps
People want to know more about a controversial state plan to limit access between Interstate 95 and the Julia Tuttle Causeway.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami_dade/northeast/story/456588.html

Where is the outrage? We live in a car-azy world where most people are over a barrel with their heads in the sand.

sand-castles in the swamp

Of all the countless condos under construction in miami, many could be called ouchitecture, not so great, just plain tall. Some might be called doubletakitecture, cause you gotta look twice. On the beach near 63 st is this outragous but somehow cool looking
corn-silo-beach-bucket-thingi.

bikes on the beach

The town of Bal Harbour has been bicycle un-friendly for some time, limiting all bike enthusiasts to ride with car traffic on the main road when there is the lovely beach path just one block away. But recently and with little fan-fare the officials have decided it is now OK for cyclist to ride along the public beach hard-pack... but not on the walk-path. weeeeeeeeee

cluck, cluck, bugreeeeeen

With a warm welcome from the swamp, here is a photo of Hellen Thirstin' Howel III (the teenage chicken) and Juanita, both from the LittleRiverHoneyFarm.

The "developed" world is seeing an "urban chicken trend" that has emerged from the "green" movement, while the "developing" world grapples to avert another avian bird flu outbreak. Many foul-lovin-folks are raising backyard chickens as pets (and providers of chemical free eggs). As the poultry-larity grows so does the opposition (worms aren't too happy either). Authorities are scrambling to enact laws that restrict or prohibit the keeping of hens and roosters in urban areas. Officials instead of banning chickens, should create standards for people wanting to adapt them as pets in a sanitary and healthy fashion.

If green really is the new red, white, and blue... there are better days ahead for me and you.

The Little River Honey Farm might be the single remaining really natural neiborhood farm in the middle of the sub-urban jungle that is miami. The bees are all mostly gone but the magic remains. I remember a time when it was a field-trip destination for local public schools kids and disabled adults. Have you ever seen a "turcken"?

We're Here, We're Queer, Get Over It.

Viginia Key 1977 ( gay beach ) turn left at Seaquarium (sewage treatment plant) and Jimbo's. The 'black beach' was nearby.

I was Miami in 77 when Anita Bryant (citrus queen) led her shameful crusade with the help of the media (herald). It was also the year my brother came out of the closet. Back then, drive-by hecklings and fag-bashings were regular occurrence at the local gay clubs & drag bars. Anita is known to be the first person to be publicly "pied" (as is pie in the face). Wiki her to read the joke (not funny) her rise and demise. Republicans are know to "eat their own" Also see Katherine Harris ( the other citrus queen), she wears a pie of mascara everyday.


Like Bryant then, John Stemberger, chairmman of FL4Marriage, today leads worst element of the religious fruit-cakes (southern baptists) hate-driven agenda. They got their way on nov 08 ballot by using a tried-n-true mix of religion n politics... by using inflammatory sermonizing at sunday church services to extort signatures needed.

Only the crazies take delight in what is happening. For the rest of us, it is ongoing flabbergast.

The wording is deceptive and open to interpretation:
"Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized."

Interesting is that while the U.S. Constitution has existed for 220 years and has been amended only 27 times,it is shameful that the Florida Constitution most recently was revised in 1968 and since then has been amended a whopping 110 times. But the rules change when it's these folks wanting to take it to the voters.

Anti-gay amendments are just another 'carrot and the stick' of the GOP to get their voters to the polls. Their efforts also energize us, the opposition to push back.

A theatrical production by Michael Yawney at the Arsht Center is very nice IF it gets people out to vote NO in november on this latest 'marriage' amendment ... and send a clear message to Tallahassee/Crist. "we're here, we're queer, get over it"

Props to Campositions and TNFH for their efforts.