Ask & Tell

As in “you don’t have to be afraid to tell the truth if you’re asked … ”

Today’s the Senate’s vote on the dumbass don’t ask don’t tell law that bans gays from serving openly in the US armed forces.

I hope they get this one right. (more…)

Monday morning bragging rights

Some good news appeared about me in the media over the last couple of weeks — and I’m in the mood for a little Monday morning bragging (as opposed to quarterbacking!)

MC in today's Sarasota Herald Trib Business People section

Black and white and red all over

I know — it’s supposed to be “read” all over as in that old childhood joke — What’s black and white and read all over? A newspaper! But if you read this blog, you’ll have the context for why I’m writing it as red, not read.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the comments I received on this blog recently — questioning why I identified Sarasota’s new Police Chief as African American and why I felt it was important to comment about having a black individual in this role, particularly in Sarasota.

I answered some of the concerns in the comment section of that blog — you may want to check out readers’ and my comments here.

I do feel that sometimes, in a story, or in a discussion, a description of the people involved — their race, religious or political affiliation, their ethnicity, their socio-economic background, their marital status, even their sexual preferences — can be relevant and important and provide context.

In our culture right now what’s terribly, terribly missing nearly all the time is context. (more…)

Cute cats chez Coolidge

Coco on the table where she's defiinitely NOT supposed to be!

Einstein squeezed herself into this empty shoebox on my bed ... she's adorable!

Boomer-doodle playing with a feather.

Day of atonement

Lesson 101 on building and maintaining and building and maintaining — and building and maintaining — a successful blog? A blog that has relevance and holds the interest of its loyal, longtime, and new, potentially regular readers? (more…)

Welcome, Sarasota’s New Police Chief

Sarasota has a new Chief of Police and I couldn’t be happier. I’m so glad the powers that be came to their senses and hired Mikel Hollaway, who has been serving as Interim Chief since May.

Mikel Hollaway (photo courtesy of City of Sarasota website)

Hell in a straight jacket

I don’t believe in hell — except the ones we humans make on earth — but if I did, I’d say Terry Jones is going straight there … in a straight jacket. Whether he’s canceled his lunatic plan to burn the Koran or not, the guy’s deranged and the only thing that scares me more than him is that I believe there others like him across our country … just quietly, for now, brooding and breeding.

Sarasota’s Economic Development — Playing Poker with Taxpayers Dollars

I just read a fascinating article in the September issue of BIZ941 Magazine. The piece is by Johannes Werner — titled Incentive Poker: Sarasota’s aggressive game of creating jobs is hurting neighboring counties.

Here’s an outtake:

It seems we’ve swung from one extreme to the other — from bullying a small manufacturer to shower it with tax rebates and cash. (more…)

Doug Holders says stay-at-home moms aren’t part of “workforce” … oh, no he dit’nt!

I already didn’t like Doug Holder — current State Representative District 70 — too much for his stance, voting, and wishy-washy statements on oil drilling off the coast of Florida, but now I like the guy even less. Holder is a holdover from the Mad Men era — apparently, the guy doesn’t have a clue the 60s are over.

During yesterday’s Sarasota Tiger Bay meeting, Holder had this to say about his challenger in the race for District 70 — Nancy Feehan:

“My opponent hasn’t been in the work force for 25 years.”

Oh, no, he dit’nt! (more…)

In Sarasota Local Matters Matter

Are you all aware of a local community radio show called Local Matters? It runs on Thursday evenings from 6-7 pm, WSLR 96.5 LPFM, with live broadcasting on the Internet, as well. (more…)