Wayne Garcia recently implored us to stay out of the water. In addition to his complaints of sharks, gators, red tide, and jellyfish, a new waterfront threat has emerged: Pelican Slams Into The Face Of Swimmer.
Crazy news this week, and they all sound like someone is sending code.
With crazy news comes crazy quotes.
“I think they’re more street-smart than a zoo monkey.”
“If you’ve got an alligator going into a house, you’ve got a problem.”
Ya don’t say.
Charley Belcher is a helluva guy.
I’ve had the opportunity to talk with him a number of times, and he’s a really cool cat. He’s had some personal issues lately, which bums me out, but with all the good vibes he and his family deserve, I’m sure things will turn out just fine.
You know Charley from Fox 13. He’s the Tampa representative that covers all of the American Idol nonsense from a local angle. 
He also stars in the Charley’s World segments that used to run on the 10pm newscast (HEY WTVT, bring Charley’s World back to the 10pm broadcast, would ya? PS, your "hotlinks" segment is lame.)
If you keep up with American Idol, you may know that contestant David Cook has been wearing an orange wristband in support of Charley’s daughter, Lindsey Rose. Lindsey Rose was recently treated for leukemia, and … well, I’ll just let Charley tell you the story.
Anyway, I’ve been keeping up with the news through updates on Charley’s MySpace page. The latest bulletin is terrible, but not very surprising:
Always someone out there trying to take advantage…
My daughter and her family are NOT selling wristbands… for any reason right now. We have not given permission for ANYONE to sell wristbands in her name or honor.
We WILL NOT sanction anyone to sell wristbands at this time… for any reason that is connected in anyway to my daughter and David Cook.
Please do not be fooled by imposters, or even people with good intentions who are doing things without asking first.
This was NEVER intended to be a fundraising effort.
If you see or hear about anyone offering to sell anything related to my daughter… please tell them they SHOULD NOT be doing such a thing… and report them to me.
Please repost this to all of your friends who could be affected by this.
Thank you,
-Charley Belcher
If you know of anything going on like this, let Charley know. If you want to be anonymous, leave a comment here, and I’ll pass it on to Charley.
By the way, wifey says David Cook is a pretty good singer, even if he sorta looks like David Jenkins.
The teaching of the theory of evolution was made a requirement just last month. But now, Ronda Storms has introduced a bill that will allow teachers to contradict the theory of evolution. If the bill passes, educators will be able to teach anything they want, including pastafarianism:
Florida Sen. Ronda Storms, a Republican from Valrico, is taking on the theory of evolution.
On Friday she introduced an Academic Freedom Act designed to tweak the state’s recently adopted educational standard that calls for science teachers to teach evolution.
Storms said the new bill merely says teachers should have the freedom to teach what they want, including theories that may contradict the prevalent theories of biological and chemical evolution…
The bill does not specifically mention pastafarianism, but basically, if a teacher wants to present the beliefs of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, this bill would protect them.
Way to go, Ronda!
There is another video making its way around the world. Instead of a wheelchair dumping, this time Tampa Police Officer Kiet Truong was dragged down the street for blocks. How scary is that? He could have been killed. Because of the very real dangerous situations they are often in, I tend to give cops the benefit of the doubt, as I did with the wheelchair incident.
Now let’s be clear here. Street cops have to be alert to many more variables than jail cops. But I don’t think you can say that those jail cops have an easy job, either. Still, I’m beginning to feel very foolish for simply suggesting we wait for all the facts.
Ever since the worldwide outrage toward the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office for tossing a paraplegic from his wheelchair, the law enforcement agency has been inundated with phone calls from people who claim they too were treated abusively during their stay in the hoosegow. A handful of those have found video that supposedly backs up their story, and have been featured in your local news outlets.
Because of all of that, the HCSO is “looking at ways to better train deputies.” But the accusations keep on coming.
The latest is another handicapped man who was also dumped from his wheelchair. But in this incident, HCSO says the dumping was justified, because the guy threw a crack pipe at deputies. Besides, they say, this guy shot someone earlier, so “the use of force was justified…”
It is becoming clear that the original incident was simply the tip of the iceberg. In that first video, remember looking at the reactions (or really, the lack of any reaction) by the nearby deputies? That suggests that this kind of thing goes on every single day. Prisoners are treated as the scum of the earth, whether they are guilty or innocent.
And look at the official responses for each of the above incidents. Basically, “the use of force was justified,” “the use of force was justified,” “the use of force was justified,” and “the use of force was justified.” Mostly against drunks and drug users.
By using that excuse every time, and with folks like myself giving law enforcement the benefit of the doubt, it could very well be that these institutions think they can get away with murder. In fact, in the hands of these jailers, it’s not too surprising that some folks have died in there.
Of course it’s not just here in Hillsborough County. Polk County jailers have similar problems. There are deaths in jails all over the country.
But who is upset? Not many. Complaints have been made against law enforcement, but they are dismissed with “appropriate use of force” arguments. Maybe it’s because they are just (alleged) criminals. People think “even if they are innocent of this charge, they probably deserved it.” And video cameras don’t show everything. So with not much proof, media shrug their shoulders, and just move on to another story. Steve Otto ALMOST admits it, and says the allegations are “easy to dismiss”:
I’ve been almost as guilty. Not too many days go by I don’t get an envelope stuffed with pages of handwritten material from an inmate in Hillsborough County. The pages are filled with detailed references to that inmate’s experiences in jail, along with the news that he has been unfairly charged.
When I get these I go back and check the records and usually find that the writer has been locked up for multiple reasons and generally for a string of violations.
I received one this week from an inmate who wrote that he is diabetic and went on to describe how his treatments have been messed up in jail, and he identified correctional workers and how they had abused him.
These are letters that are easy to dismiss, or at best taken to an editor to deal with it or not.
But when evidence is overwhelming, the editorial boards are aghast. St. Pete Times: Punish Now Severely. Tampa Tribune: casual cruelty is an outrage.
Which brings me to another question. If the deputies are guilty of just standing around doing nothing while inmates are treated as punching bags, what are we to say about the media?
Sarah Williams and Nisreen Swedberg were kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight for being verbally abusive and threatening toward both the airline staff and other passengers. But they say they were denied a flight cuz they are hotties:
“I think they were just discriminating against because we were young decent-looking girls. I mean, nobody else on the plane looked like us except us,” she said. “[The flight attendants] were like older ladies. We were younger. Who knows, they could have been just jealous of us because we were younger.”
Um… I’m not so sure about that. Watch the video story from Channel 10, as well as a video response from Southwest Airlines on YouTube. Also, here’s Sarah Williams’ myspace page.
I don’t know what the girls’ parents have told them, but I’m guessing they might have laid it on a little thick. And here is your result - a couple of spoiled brats - conceited, condescending tramps accustomed to getting their way. When the passenger didn’t jump up out of the bathroom right away, and flight attendants took their time with their requests, they threw a fit.
Girls - you didn’t get treated with disdain because of your looks. You got treated that way because you are jerks.
Chef Robert Irvine was set to open, not one, but two restaurants in St Pete this Spring, Oooze and Schmooze. I think plans are on hold.
I almost spit my coffee out this morning from laughing while reading Ben Montgomery’s story about Robert Irvine’s tendency to enhance his reputation with a generous helping of BS. You just can’t make this stuff up!
“Irvine’s relationships have soured like month-old milk. His Web site consultant claims he owes her thousands. His restaurant designer has backed out. His interior decorator is suing him. ..Another woman, St. Petersburg socialite Wendy LaTorre, says Irvine owes her more than $100,000 for marketing and promotions and for helping him find property.”
Um, does this reek of a torrid love affair or what?
Apparently, Chef Robert Irvine of Food Network fame, is not a Knight, has never cooked at the White House, never attended the University of Leeds, did not make Princess Diana’s wedding cake, is not friends with Prince Charles, and is not as wealthy as he led us to believe.
Damnnnnnnnnnnnn! Humiliation does not even tip on what must be zipping through Irvine’s head right now. I’d be a little more concerned about whether or not Scripps (owner of Food Network) will be canceling my show. Scripps is notorious for demanding their talent be honest and respectful citizens of society at all times. They canned a guy in last season’s Food Network Star for stretching the truth about his departure from the military, a white lie at best.
Times writer, Laura Reiley, posted the official comment from Food Network spokesperson Lisa Del Colle:
“It’s unfortunate if Robert embellished the extent of his culinary experiences. We are investigating the matter and taking the necessary steps to ensure the accuracy of all representations of Robert on Food Network and foodnetwork.com.”
Tudor3522 posted this on Chowhound:
“I had the unfortunate experience of working for “Chef” Irvine…He is, beyond a doubt, the most insecure man I’ve ever met…Other tales of … redoing the plates of Tom Keller, Charlie Trotter, and Eric Rippert at a James Beard event in NYC before they left the kitchen are just too bizarre. Tom Keller would break his arm if he touched his plate!”
Um, Thomas Keller is like the best chef in the WORLD. I’m not kidding, he and Adria Ferran are considered the best chefs in the world. (We root for Keller because he is American, not to mention God.)
Whether or not this story has been fabricated is yet to be seen. It’s pretty obvious the guy has told some tall tales. Does he deserve to lose all credibility, not to mention his career? I guess we will see.
Word to the wise, Irvine: Never, never, never piss off a St Petersburg socialite.
Thanks to investigative reporter Mike Deeson, Tampa Bay’s 10 was the first to air the video of the Hillsborough County Sheriff Deputy dumping Brian Sterner out of his wheelchair. That video has since made its way around the world on such outlets as NBC’s Today Show, CNN and the front page of BBC’s website.
Everyone is horrified.
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum is “appalled,” and ready to investigate, while Governor Charlie Crist finds it “terribly disturbing.” Sheriff David Gee said it was “horrific” and “aberrant,” and apologized for the actions of his deputies. Chief Deputy Jose Docobo said the actions are “indefensible,” and “anything short of dismissal would be inappropriate.”
Advocacy groups and officials nationwide are stunned. Daniel Ruth says cops are “inured to the suffering of people,” and assume that every prisoner is scamming. A Tribune editorial says there is no excuse, and the casual cruelty is an outrage. St. Pete Times editorial wants a severe punishment immediately. Steve Otto says nobody does their job right.
Of course, these are all the same people who vilified officer Matthew Parco for arresting a harmless 74 year old lady at the McDonald’s drive-thru. But that wasn’t the final story. Turns out the French Fry Grandma is a colossal b*tch, and Parco did nothing wrong.
Still, all of us rush to judgment. My first reaction was one of horror. And I too wondered why the other people in the room acted as if it’s a daily occurrence. But I think there is much, much more to this.
Times reporter Abbie Vansickle found out that his friends say Brian Sterner hasn’t been his normal self lately. He was arrested for “fleeing and attempting to elude officers,” which if true, doesn’t show much respect for law enforcement. After his initial report, Mike Deeson followed up with Sterner’s neighbors who are so scared of the guy, they don’t want to be seen on camera, and he has allegedly tried to run some of them over with his car.
Meanwhile, according to Tribune reporters Josh Poltilove and Mike Wells, Deputy Charlette Marshall-Jones has had a very good record:
A review of the personnel files of Marshall-Jones and the three supervisors turned up mostly positive performance evaluations and dozens of commendation letters. Her last evaluation was written by Hinson (one of the supervisors seen in the video) two weeks before the wheelchair incident… In it, the sergeant says Marshall-Jones is an outstanding employee who handles inmates well.
In fact, her personnel file indicates she was praised:
… contains at least 13 commendation letters praising her service from various residents and other county workers. In November 2003, she and the rest of the booking room staff were named employees of the month.
But like you, she is not perfect. Marshall-Jones has been suspended twice. But notice both were administrative screw-ups, and both happened over eighteen years ago.
She worked at the courthouse with Hillsborough Circuit Judge Barbara Fleischer. Check what she says about her:
“She used humor to cajole people who otherwise were difficult to deal with. If anything, she calmed down situations that otherwise might have resulted in confrontation.” … “I never had any issue with anything related with her behavior.” … Marshall-Jones was “one of the better people I’ve come into contact with.”
Sue Carlton covered the courthouse, and remembers Marshall-Jones:
One of the nicest [bailiffs at the courthouse] was a female deputy who worked with a judge who liked the courtroom to run just so. Still, she kept things pleasant, always seemed even-keeled, funny, friendly. She was someone you never minded running into. Her name was Charlette, and every time I see her on that video, I can’t imagine.
And someone at Marshall-Jones home is confident:
A woman who answered the telephone at the home of the deputy, Charlette Marshall-Jones, said: “I feel positive. When I know I’m not wrong, I feel that way… I do believe the truth will come out, but I can’t offer more than that.”
Again, the video of a disabled person getting dumped out of his chair is horrific. It’s difficult to imagine what might have led to that happening. But we don’t have to imagine. This is the United States of America, so Deputy Marshall-Jones will have a chance to explain her side. I’m willing to wait for that.
Let’s get the entire story.
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