All things being equal – which they rarely are – would the Tampa Bay Area be better off with a governor from here? Political consultant and USF history professor John Belohlavek cautions about jumping on that parochial bandwagon. For all of our regional rhetoric, notes Belohlavek, this still remains an area rife with “divided loyalties.” [...]
I’ll admit up front that I’m no expert when it comes to the game of soccer. But in a frenzy of raw chauvinism, I hop on the World Cup bandwagon every four years and root for the ultimate home team. At least in America, it’s still a refreshingly safe, hooligan-free outlet for jingoism. Kick some [...]
When you only have one screen, as is the case with Tampa Theatre, you can’t afford many – maybe any – misses. Most movies go a week, maybe two. Rarely more. Among the exceptions: “Capote,” “March of the Penguins” and “Brokeback Mountain.” Now add “The Lost City,” the film based on the work of the [...]
Generally speaking, athletes do not make the best — and frequently not even good — role models. Would that veterinarians and cancer researchers topped all lists. Playing a game is not particularly important; it doesn’t win any victories for humanity; but it does catapult players to society’s center stage. Especially this one’s. And impressionable kids [...]
The World Health Organization, which began a global immunization drive against polio in 1988, failed to meet its target of global eradication by the end of last year. One reason: Nigeria, where the disease is making an insidious comeback. Seems that the mostly Muslim north has been ordering an immunization boycott since 2003. Authorities claim [...]
According to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Largo-based Ker’s WingHouse did not infringe on Hooters (trademark-like) trade dress. In other words, Hooters doesn’t have an exclusive on buxomly waitresses in tight shorts and tank tops. It took a lawsuit to determine that?
You reach a certain point in life – after having seen and done some things – such that you feel qualified to not just pass on advice – but to codify it into rules. Here are some – thanks to the internet – and courtesy of Microsoft billionaire and philanthropist Bill Gates and comedian millionaire [...]
Much continues to be made of the Senate’s recent failure to pass a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Of course, it was a political diversion from more important stuff. And the rhetoric was predictably partisan; most of it grounded in raw, pandering expedience. Having said that, it’s worth noting that: *The Full Faith and Credit [...]
It was only fitting that Mayor Pam Iorio was the keynote speaker at last week’s 20th anniversary Tampa Downtown Partnership meeting and luncheon. With a city-core visual aid and a pointer, she was preaching to the choir on her favorite boilerplate subject: the changing face — and focus — of downtown Tampa. Some asides: *”Over [...]
Notably, not even the Pamglossian mayor could wax effusive about the blight stuff that is Central Park Village redevelopment. “I’ll skip over that for now,” quipped Iorio. It was intended to be – and succeeded as – a bittersweet laugh line. The squalid, northeast gateway to downtown has been hostage to a dysfunctional city-county dynamic, [...]
