Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

110 years ago…

April 27, 1896 – Tampa’s “leading young society people” hold a ‘Trolley Party’, based on ones in northern cities. The party, which included fifty couples, toured the entire route of Tampa’s streetcar system, with stops at Ballast Point, Palmetto Beach, Ybor City and West Tampa.

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.

Many of you are new to these things called “blogs.”  The writers hope you like what you see.  We also know that you realize the work it takes to do this.  Some of you have emailed, expressing gratitude for our attempts at entertainment.  It always makes us feel good when we get notes like this.

Of course, we like what we’re doing, too.  If we didn’t, well, it would no longer exist.  It helps to get your feedback, but there is something else you can do.  And it doesn’t have to cost you any money.

In fact, there are several ways to show your appreciation in a meaningful manner.  We’ll cover them all real quick.

Give ‘till it hurts:  Some sites have a donation button or tip jar.  Sharp as a Marble uses a Paypal tip jar, and the Short Family Online uses Amazon as well as Paypal.  Donating is easy; you determine an amount to give, and you can charge your credit card.  A third party takes about 3% to process it, but the blogger gets the rest.  This is the most direct way to help your favorite blog.  Unless the site is registered as a non-profit, I don’t think you can deduct the donation on your taxes.

Buy some t-shirts:  Other sites sell merchandise.  Some bloggers don’t want to ask/beg for money, so they create the illusion that you get some great item for your money.  Sticks of Fire uses this method (choose your favorite style!), as does FlaBlog (mugs ‘n’ magnets!).  Any time you buy something from the gift shop, the third party (probably Cafepress), gets most of the cash.  The blogger gets about $3 for a $15 purchase.  It’s not as much as a straight donation, but at least readers get something tangible for their trouble.

Advertising:  The other way bloggers get paid is through advertising.  Seminole Heights, Population Statistic, In Theory, Boltsmag and Sticks of Fire all use googleads.  Googleads are the most common, because it’s easy to set up.  But, bloggers are not going to get rich with googleads.  Clicking on these keyword ads will usually send a few pennies to the blogger.  Theoretically, if enough of you click through to the ads, those nickels will add up.  Also, if you own a business, consider spending a bit of your advertising dollars on a blog you read.

Whenever you find yourself coming back to any blog, and find some value - entertainment, news, distraction, whatever - there is usually a way you can help keep that blog going. 

Thank you, and the blogosphere thanks you.

You may recall the Hillsborough County BOCC refused to discuss joining a partnership for regional transportation. Jim Sebesta has introduced a bill that will force them to join in.

The Regional Transport Planning Organizations (RTPO) would also include members from all manner of transportation in the region.

Of course, the bill also allocates state funds for the project. And since it is this late in the session, it will need to move quickly with broad support.

But at least someone is looking at the possibilities.

The Tampa Housing Authority has ok’d plan to move 1300 people out of Central Park Village.  The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) still must approve the plan, but current residents are being driven around town to find other housing.

The Central Park Group plans to develop the area.  For more on the relocation part of the plan, check out CPG’s 43 page relocation plan (pdf).

90 years ago…

April 26, 1916 – The first meeting for the City Beautiful Association is held at the DeSoto Hotel. The movement, which grew out of California, featured a desire to support “any person, firm or corporation that under a well defined plan shall seek to beautify any street, highway or public place in the city of Tampa or its surrounding territory.” The architecture of the new city hall building, which opened the previous year, reflected the City Beautiful Movement.

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.

If it were just a typical conversation, I imagine it would go something like this:

Billboard company: It’s our god-given right to display advertising on the interstate forever.

City of Tampa: Yes, sir. Sorry, sir. While I-275 is under construction, we’ll give you a spot right in front of a neighborhood.

Billboard company: And…?

City of Tampa: Yes, sir. Sorry, sir. The new replacement will be six stories tall so drivers can’t miss it between cell phone calls.

Neighborhood: We don’t want no six story billboard in front of our entranceway.

City of Tampa: Tough shit.

From the article:  Assistant City Attorney Julia Cole:  “If we didn’t relocate the billboard we would have to pay for it.” It would cost about $2 million to buy the billboard rights.

Well, thank goodness the city wants to save our $2mill.  Sorry about those folks by the West Shore exit.  And Lois.  And Dale Mabry.  And Howard/Armenia.  We don’t want South Tampa (New Tampa, North Tampa, etc.) paying for your tough luck.

Meanwhile…

New Miami blogger Pure RHETORIC says the State Legislature is debating a bill to restrict local governments’ ability to place anything in front of billboards.

Billboards compete with newspapers for ad dollars, so in a funny twist, the tree-killers will defend locals’ rights to plant trees. Check out the slant in this piece.

95 years ago…

April 25, 1911 – What started as a joke soon got way out of hand when Arthur Schlemann, Tampa’s dog catcher, was continually approached by Italians who were concerned that he would be picking up their children and taking them to the pound. Charlie Wall, king of Tampa’s gambling underworld, apparently started the joke, though it is not know why given his connections to, and dependence on, Tampa’s Latin community.

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.