Tribune investor urges split or sale of company

What does this mean for our own Tribune-owned Orlando Sentinel? Not much really, but it would be interesting to hear how announcements like this affect morale around our local newspaper. Tribune’s debt rating also got lowered to “junk” status which I imagine won’t do much for their stock prices.

Sentinel employees are allowed to buy Tribune stock at a 15% discount to encourage employees to invest in the company. Anyone over there selling off their stock just in case? Most likely Tribune will sell off one of its other properties but wouldn’t that be a hell of a thing if say someone like News Corporation picked up our little paper (considering that it is one of the only Tribune papers turning a profit still, I think)?

I know some Sentinel peeps graze here once in a while, how’s the feeling over there?

Man defending neighbor kills alligator in Loxahatchee

“It was him or us.”

Wow, effing, wow. Next thing you know Wal-Mart and Channel 13 are going to be promoting gator safety kits and anti-gator repellent. Wait a minute…*runs to patent office*

So Daisy Lynum’s son gets pulled over for having a light on his vehicle burned out (a violation I can attest even “some white boy” would get pulled over for) and she throws the race card for the umpteenth time. Maybe, oh just Maybe, Daisy your son was driving around with a traffic violation? Are you suggesting that because he is black he should not follow the law? Of course not, THAT would be racist. Are you suggesting that he not be held accountable because he is the son of a local politician? Of course not, THAT would be nepotism. So then how do you explain your calling the officer’s superiors to try and get your son out of a legal traffic stop? Why, it’s not YOU being racist or practicing nepotism, it’s the police department being racist. Ah… I see… Actually, Daisy, all that makes you at best is a hypocrite, and at worst (and most likely so) a racist nepotist yourself.

This isn’t the first time Daisy has done and said things that should most likely get her tossed from public service, and it surely won’t be the last until voters in her district replace her with someone who will represent them with respect and sanity.

So in an effort to appeal to a wider field of voters Republican Gubernatorial candidate Tom Gallagher admitted to not only having an extramarital affair but also of having smoked pot 25 years ago. Shocking isn’t it?

Not to be outdone GOP opponent and current State Attorney General Charlie Crist took this opportunity to remind voters that he too “took the pot” back in the day, and he admitted it first. Apparently it is rather chic for political candidates to admit that they smoked pot back in the 70s. Come on fellas, that’s like models admitting to snorting coke, it is pretty much a given.

Don’t take my word for it though, just listen to my good friend Bob Saget.

I’ve got a better way for you to appeal to voters, talk about issues that matter and how you are going to improve our state. Leave the other stuff for your therapist.

Yes, in a state obsessed with all things pirate (ever been to Amelia Island?), the hype over the new “Pirates of the Carribbean” movie–and, more importantly, the re-opening of the ride–is swiftly approaching.

Did anyone doubt that the Disney marketing machine would be running full blast? In shocking disregard for the dress code, Mickey will be wearing a hoop earring, according to this Orlando Sentinel report. This is quite a forward move for a corporation who once ambushed their Carribbean Beach Resort employees to see if they were wearing the required black socks with their uniforms. Check out the last line of the article…made me laugh out loud…

In other news–rumors, rather–Johnny Depp is allegedly appearing in California for the re-opening of Disney’s “Pirates” ride. That leaves…yes, ladies, you guessed it!…the lovely and talented Orlando Bloom for the re-opening duties here at the Magic Kingdom. So far as I know, nobody has confirmed this, although a couple of employees are talking like it’s gospel. I needed a mop to wipe up my friends’ drool. (I don’t like to link to my own site, but click here if you’d like my personal opinion of Mr. Bloom, as published in the Sentinel last year.)

The ride is rumored to be largely untouched (whew!) except for the addition of Davy Jones. I didn’t see the movie, so do with that information what you will. But the best part about “Pirates,” let’s be honest, is the respite the indoor lines and cool water mists give us from the blood-boiling scorching freakin’ 90-degree heat with humidity. I am convinced that in any theme park, everything is 15 degrees hotter. “Pirates” is the only thing that stood between me and heat stroke on several long days.

So welcome back the pirates–but leave your hoop earrings at home, because it’s still against dress code for everyone except Mickey. And maybe the genie from “Aladdin.”

So the ordinance to limit the feeding of the homeless passed, albeit in a slightly altered form. Now not only do you need a permit to feed groups of 15 or more people, but the city gets to decide where you feed them. The ordinance must still go before the City Council for a second vote before it becomes law, but it is basically a done deal.

I find it interesting how they cite crime as one of the reasons for introducing this ordinance, thinking that it will curb minor theft and break-ins from the homeless. No, they are just going to be more inclined to do so since they can’t get free food easily and/or the crime is just going to be pushed out toward the fringe areas that the city leaders care a lot less about. Everybody wins! Well, except for the losers of course, but they don’t pay taxes so screw them.

Like I said before, perhaps if the city approached the homeless situation as a humanitarian problem than as a nuisance to the rich then maybe the crime would disappear as well. You don’t get rid of a weed by just running it over with a mower, you’ve got to get at the root.

If any of you ever go out to the tail end of International Drive you’ll know that it is occupied by the shopping center/mall known as Festival Bay. And, if you’ve ever ventured inside you’ll know that it consists of Bass Pro Shop, the CineMark theater, Ron Jon, the Vans Skate Park, and a slew of stores that no one visits. The last time I went there I felt like the grand marshall of a parade walking by the bored and tired employees, their sad doe eyes following me as I passed beckoning me to come in and patronize. Okay that’s a little dramatic but you get me, the place has very low attendance.

The Sentinel has an article today that lays out some of the changes and additions they will be making in order to try and increase occupancy. One of these additions is the famed Ron Jon Surf Park that has been in the works for years yet seems to keep getting delayed.

I’ve talked to surfers from all over, including up as far as the Carolinas, and most all of them seem interested in this surf park because it will be one few like it in the U.S. My question is, what would people be willing to pay for this little piece of intercoastal terraforming? Or better yet, does anyone out there know how much a membership is supposed to cost? EDIT: I found the pricing list.

Non-Member Rates:
1 Session: $59.95
3 Sessions: $169.95
5 Sessions: $224.95

Memberships can run from $450 to as high as $3000 annually depending on the level that you want. The level you get determines your priority and how many sessions are allotted. I don’t know about you, but the beach is always free and the sunrise or sunset isn’t near as nice in the middle of the Orlando sprawl.

Another question, this one for surfers and/or environmentalists out there: Is there any reason to oppose this thing? Are there any surfers out there that feel that perhaps this artificial reef takes something away from the randomness or sport of surfing and the thrill of the unpredictablity of nature?

I think, and I’m hoping that it will be a rousing success because Lord knows that part of International Drive could use some business.

Official Site

In an update to my previous post regarding the free food for the homeless issue, the organizing group Food Not Bombs plans to hold a rally on Monday outside City Hall. Around 2PM is when the city plans to be deliberating the ordinance and members as well as outside supporters are being urged to attend the meeting.

Even if the ordinance passes though, it only says that they must get a permit to feed more than 15 people and that no group or person can have more than two permits in any twelve-month period. If they could file the permits as individuals and not as the group Food Not Bombs, couldn’t they continue to do the free food deal as long as they have enough volunteers? Considering they only do it once a week they’d only need 26 members to file for the permits each year. How much could the permits be? Surely the charitable Food Not Bombs wouldn’t mind shelling out some dough for their cause.

Now I am not saying that I support the ordinance by any means, but there are ways to circumvent the rules in a peaceful and compliant way, you’ve just got to be crafty. I mean the ordinance will probably pass. Who are the City Council going to be more prone to listen to, a group that publicizes themselves as organized along anarchist principles or the wealthy business owners and residents that can contribute to political campaigns and pay more taxes? Not too hard to figure out.

I fully support what Food Not Bombs does, but they also have to understand the city they are doing it in. The city embraces helping the less fortunate, just as long as the less fortunate can’t be seen outside their window.

Good luck.

(George Skene, OS Staff)

Alligators are killing Lakeland’s iconic swans

The attacks are just one more example of prehistoric alligators clashing with modern Florida [my emphasis]. A gator bit an Apopka man in the head earlier this month, and three people were killed by alligators in May.

No animal is more precious to Lakeland than the swan. The city spends about $10,000 a year feeding the graceful waterfowl, some of which have lineage from a royal flock in England. It also maintains a breeding program. A veterinarian puts microchips in the swans to help keep track of them, and the city takes regular head counts

It’s called nature you fools, and they were here first. So let me get this straight though, the folks in Lakeland are angry that the creatures native to this state are eating the creatures that are foreign to the area and were only brought here for asthetics?

Clashing with modern Florida? We encroached upon their environment, not the other way around. Hmm, I know another group that perhaps that $10,000 might serve a little better.

You’ve probably heard the story about someone throwing rocks at passing cars over on SR-417 near Valencia. Just wanted to give everyone a heads up about it so they can be on the lookout for errant sontes sailing toward their windshields.

What’s going on with kids these days? I think too much bad television and equally bad parenting has wiped out the imagination of many kids in this day and age. Now I know kids get bored in the summertime but come on, can’t you think of better things to do than to throw rocks at cars and possibly causing accidents, injuries, and death? I grew up poor and lived in a small community where there was virtually nothing to do and we managed. Why? Because we used our damn imagination and did constructive things like make tanks out of refrigerator boxes and walk places for no reason at all. Thrilling I know, but kids seem to want so much these days it is a little disgusting. Yeah I know, those were simpler times and all that jazz, but it’s not like I’m old or anything. Video games, while great fun and all, make kids want that instant gratification or huge payoff for whatever they do.

Who knows though? I could be completely wrong and these could just be bored adults throwing rocks at cars. If that is the case then this is a sad, sad town. I’d like to think we are better than that though.