Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

It’s amazing: the number and popularity of local blogs just keeps going up, up, up. Congratulations to a handful of local blogs that got a mention in the Planet: Give it up for McG, Diz is Erica, TampaBlogs, DotMoms, Bayciti, and The Legend. The reporter, Joe Bardi, writes a blog too.

The Tampa Tribune published excerpts of a recent interview with Al Lopez. Great stuff for baseball fans and historians.

Otis White’s latest issue of Civic Strategies e-Letter includes a bunch of articles relevant to Tampa Bay: The “white flight” of the 1970’s is being repeated, and creating a Hopscotch Effect. CS highlights Mayor Pam Iorio’s desire to rid the city of snipe signs and crack down on code violators. Possible scenarios are addressed for long-term care of aging baby boomers. Check the potential of advertising sales on downtown buildings. And there is a quick overview of Pinellas County’s new government and business collaboration (along with St. Petersburg College), The EpiCenter.

Don’t forget, CS also is keeping an informal list of urban-based weblogs.

Congratulations to Population Statistic. That blog has been chosen for Feedster’s feed of the day for this Friday the 13th.

In a comment at Bayciti, John asks why there is no ferry service between downtown Tampa and Pinellas. Without any deep thinking, it seems like it might worth a look.

You may remember Bob Lassiter, a talk show host on 970WFLA for years until he was canned in 1999. I-4 Jamming told me that his entertaining style can now be found on his new cyberspot, BlogLassiter (added to the roll).

I also recently found another Tampa blogger, Tampa Film Fan (also added to the roll). Her stuff is all about the movies, and creates a nice complement to local pop culture enthusiast, Crazed Fan Boy.

Saturday, May 14 is WMNF’s Tropical Heatwave. This is a great party, and high-quality music.

Here’s some blogs from the Keys.

Congrats again to Matt conigliaro. His blog gets some more publicity, this time from the Times.

Count Bass D (aka Dwight Farrell) made his first record in Tampa with help from Kenny K. CBD now lives and plays in Nashville.

Photos of St. Petersblog.

Tax breaks and giveaways for companies to relocate to the area are for naught. Florida Politics wonders if there may be a connection to GOP contributions.

Mark Lane reports that some legislators don’t want you to have access to high-level weather information.

Much of Florida is stuck in traffic. Orlandans spends more time in cars than New Yorkers. Via Florida Politics.

Boltsmag: Under-10 girls hockey league needs supporters and players.

Side Salad found a way to track air traffic around Tampa Bay.

On the Crazy Island, Pinellas County bus drivers run red lights while flippin’ the bird.

Florida’s base closures have been leaked by BRAC, and the state has been mostly spared. The Defense Finance and Accounting Services in Orlando (209 people) will close, as will the Naval Reserve Center in St. Petersburg, which employs 12.

MacDill AFB survived this round, but I still say we have to prepare for the day it does not.

Brett of My Addled Brain fame stopped by and kindly offered assistance with the CSS. So before he realized what he got hiself into (and taking full advantage of his kindness), I quickly sent a list of things for him to fix. Imagine my pleasant surprise this morning to see a bunch of them done!!!

So far, here’s what I noticed: The left menu items are now emboldened. yay! The right menu links can now actually be seen! yay! The main column posts now look as if they are in the same paragraph, as they should. Yay!!

Brett says he loves that CSS, and claims these were easy fixes. Not to me. I know so little about the processes, each little adjustment took me hours. As far as I am concerned, he did it with magic. And all his work is very much appreciated.

Thanks, AddledOne. I’d like to buy you lunch!

I’m sure you have heard that Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer has been trying to launch a takeover bid for Manchester United. He has been demonized by fans and supporters, and rebuffed over and over again by shareholders of the football team. But Glazer doesn’t quit. He just purchased 28.9% of the team. Let me clarify: In addition to the 28.8% stake he already owned, he now bought another 28.9%, so he is now the majority owner with over 57% of the team. Reuters has a Glazer/Manchester United timeline. Fans are still pissed (angry, not drunk (er, not necessarily drunk)).

Update 12 May 2005, 2:27 pm:
**** AMBER ALERT CANCELED ****
Amber Alert Canceled for 2 Florida Children
Posted: Thursday May 12 10:57 AM CT
Updated: Thursday May 12 12:42 PM CT
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Kissimmee Police Department canceled the Amber Alert after the children were found safe Thursday afternoon May 12.

End update

Amber Alert Issued for 2 Florida Children - Posted: Thursday May 12 10:57 AM CT

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Kissimmee Police Department issued the Amber Alert after the children were apparently abducted on Thursday May 12.

Samaya Turner James, 14 months. She is black, 2 feet tall, and 50 pounds.

Sierra Turner James 2 years old black female and 60 pounds. Both children may only be wearing diapers.

The children were last seen at the 1300 block of Dorado Drive and are believed to be in danger.

The suspect is Michael James 29 years old. He’s black, 5 feet 9 inches tall, with black hair and brown eyes.

The vehicle in the abduction is a dark blue 1989 4-door Mazda 626 with Florida tags B116DZ. Authorities believe they may have traveled out of state.

If you have any information please call the Kissimmee Police Department at 407-846-3333 or dial 911. Visit http://codeamber.c.topica.com/maadvKQabgU1bbexbzVb/ for more information

Agliano & Sons Fish Co. is closing. Sebastian Agliano opened the fish market in 1915, and it became a place to talk sports and politics. It is a piece of old Ybor City stuck in today’s perverted version. The original proprietor’s grandson Buster kept it going through all the changes throughout the years. Unfortunately, Buster died a year ago, and the place got to be too much for his wife and son-in-law. It’s a damn shame it has to close, but with the constant barrage (and success) of generic superstores, frankly I’m surprised it lasted this long.

The property is in a pretty good spot on Seventh Av., just west of 19th, and includes a vacant lot out back. All kinds of interested parties are buzzing around, and rumors for the spot include talk of a hotel, condo, restaurant, or parking garage. The lot is wet zoned (isn’t all of Ybor?), so it wouldn’t be out of the question to see (gasp!) another bar.