Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

A Florida judge ruled against Democrat Christine Jennings, saying that she “cannot examine the programming code of the electronic voting machines used in the disputed election.” In plain English, this means that the corporate interests of the company who builds the voting machines was held in a higher regard than the ideal of a clean, verifiably accurate election. The irregularities are not normal, and have caused some serious concern, as noted in the Herald Tribune:

More than 18,000 voters who showed up at the polls voted in other races but not the Buchanan-Jennings race. That means nearly 13 percent of voters did not vote for either candidate — a massive undercount compared with other counties, including Manatee, which reported a 2 percent undervote.

Regardless of who ends up being the eventual winner of this race, it is deplorable that corporate interests can trump the integrity of the voting process. Contact your representatives and demand paper trails and accountability. Cross Posted @ Bloody Blue Blazes

Did you know that ESPN’s Erin Andrews is connected to Tampa Bay? In fact, she got that gig with the Worldwide Leader in Sports because the Tampa Bay Lightning went to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

More from the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

Before her gig at ESPN, Erin began freelance reporting for Fox Sports Florida South. The Sunshine Network (now Sun Sports) hired her to cover the Tampa Bay Lightning, then she moved to Atlanta in 2002 as a reporter and studio host for Turner Sports.After Turner let her go in 2003, she wiped her tears and got busy.

ESPN came to Atlanta for a Thrashers game, and she found out where their crew was staying downtown. She schmoozed them and sent in her tape.

When the NHL team she knew the best — the Lightning — made the NHL playoffs, ESPN called. A month later, she was covering the 2004 Stanley Cup.

She has gone on to college football, college basketball and major league baseball.

Also in that story, we found out that Steve Andrews - the guy on your side with those investigative reports for NewsChannel 8 - is her dad.  Furthermore, Sideline Hotties.com says she attended Bloomingdale Senior High School in Valrico (it does not say she graduated from there).

80 years ago…

December 31, 1926 – Air mail deliveries over the New York – Atlanta – Miami line, which includes Tampa, are suspended until the route can be “lighted”, which would allow night flights. The new night route would allow overnight deliveries between Florida, Georgia and New York. The “lighted” route would feature airfield beacons and route lights for pilots to follow.

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.

I normally reserve this space to mock the opposing team / city / Michael Vick but it’s Mike Alstott’s last game, maybe. And if it is Alstott’s last game (and I’m starting to think it’s not) then my hat is off to the throwback fullback. The man was drafted in Dungy’s first year, and along with Sapp, Lynch and Brooks, he has come to symbolize the new Bucs.

My Alstott moment was the 1999 Monday Night Football game against the Vikings, which I was fortunate enough to attend. Few games have as much energy as a Monday Night Football game, and the home town crowd was primed to explode. Alstott did not disapoint en route to rushing for 95 yards and a 24-17 win. The Bucs went on that season to get within a Proehl of the Super Bowl.

Seahawk to Watch: Matt Hasselbeck

Even if his brother has the hotter wife, Matt is in the better position. He’s surrounded by talent at the skill positions and the defense keeps getting better. Matt even has a Super Bowl (loss) on his resume.

Buc to Watch: Mike Alstott

With Cadillac likely out it look’s like Dwayne Scranton will get his wish. Alstott should receive the majority of the carries, and who knows, with the home crowd behind him we could be witness to vintage A-Train.

I realize that we here at Sticks of Fire are usually focused on local issues, food and rambling, but I think this is an issue which greatly affects all of us, whether we admit it or not.

In recent weeks, the Administration, the media and the pundit class have been harping about a troop surge, that is, a supposedly temporary increase in troop levels in Iraq. Let’s call this sick puppy what it is, escalation. Want to know how a fiasco gets turned into a disaster? Send troops you don’t have to a war zone where you’re not winning (in Bush’s own words). Here’s what Colin Powell had to say in that regard:

“The current active Army is not large enough and the Marine Corps is not large enough for the kinds of missions they’re being asked to perform,” said Mr. Powell.

Especially when many of our troops are opposed. We expect as much from the likes of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, but Joe Lieberman? Well, yeah, him too. The Bush Administration and it’s enablers are awash in needlessly spilled American blood and for that they will be relegated to the ignominious ditches of history. Say no to escalation before there’s a knock on your door.

Cross Posted @ The Delightful Yank

110 years ago…

December 30, 1896 – A crime wave hits Hyde Park when thieves focus on the pantries of the homes in the Tampa suburb. The most recent victim was Dr. Sumter L. Lowry, who lost a “cooked ham, a chunk of roast, beef, desserts, potatoes, celery, olives” and “a big piece of ice” from his ice box. Lowry would later gain fame as a General in the Florida National Guard, leading soldiers (including many locals) in battle in Mexico, Europe and the Pacific during the Mexican War, World War I and World War II. Lowry Park Zoo is named in his honor.

Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center.

Our TampaGold contest winner, Susan Dame just got back from Kissimmee (I added the links):

Thanks to a TampaGold.com trivia contest, my boyfriend and I had the wonderful opportunity to stay at the Gaylord Palms Hotel and experience one of the most unique Florida holiday events: ICE!

For someone like me, who has never experienced cold weather nor seen snow, the very chilly 9°F weather inside ICE! was definitely an instant dose of winter! It was amazing to see a fantastic world created with 2 million pounds of ice, including a walk-through train, horse-drawn carriage you can actually sit in, giant ice slides, and a life-sized nativity scene.

The giant hotel atrium was transformed into a Christmas wonderland with a towering Christmas tree, light shows, holiday entertainment, and free hot chocolate. The hotel and atrium also provided for a fun and very entertaining gnome hunt.

Twenty gnomes were scattered about and hidden in strategic places throughout the atrium. We found 18 of them! Hotel guests and visitors were encouraged to hunt for the gnomes and note their locations on an entry form to win a 6-night Alaska cruise.

Last but not least, was the “family memories” event which involved making a gingerbread house with a hotel chef. It definitely brought out the “kid” in us! We truly enjoyed this one-of-a-kind holiday experience and will always treasure the memories.

Susan Dame

We are glad to hear Susan had a good time, and want to extend another fun time to one of you. I have a pair of tickets for ICE. The attraction is in Kissimmee, and they MUST be used by January 2, so keep those in mind. Just like the previous contest, you will have to answer a trivia question:

Who built the first gasoline-powered vehicle driven in Tampa?

The winner will be chosen from all correct entries received by midnight tonight.

Remember, you can buy tickets to ICE as well - they are only around $25, and should you want to stay at the Gaylord Palms Resort hotel, you can treat yourself to an awesome spa, and the comfortable bar / restaurant on the boat in the key west section does all kinds of things for kids.

Go answer the trivia question now!

From our good friend rachel*:

The Hardest Working Man in Show Business has a successor!

DJ Mega, the Black Caesar of St. Petersburg, wants you to get up offa that thing and head down to The Lobby, 217 Central Avenue, this Saturday night for the James Brown Tribute Party.

Polish your dancin’ shoes and dust off your licking stick, ’cause James Brown is overdue for some love and the ‘Burg don’t take no mess. Mega channels the original disco man for all ages and races, so break that cold sweat outside on the deck and then get inside quick - before it’s too funky in there.

Dress to impress and get stoned to the bone on the sounds of DJ Mega and James Brown.

Also, call out all the James Brown allusions in this post to get an autographed picture of you and the mixmaster at the event and, of course, hang out with the cool kids all night.