Sticks of Fire What is UP with these people????

Geez, one attack after another.

The stick heads. One comes by and comments and you think ... okay. Then the attacks start.

Yall so funny.

It's very welcoming.

Like a slam-book in grade-school.

I like Jim Johnson the best. He seems to display the most culture and he's certainly the ... best. I was going to say 'looking'.... but damn, I can't.

He has a nice face. And a polite manner.

But I can say that about a lot of people I loathe, too.

Anyway, here's a shout out at Sticks.

Dang, thanks for the LOVE.

Is that the best you can DO???


LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Tommy, you've got to herd those cats better.

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Does Bill Sharpe know his people are attacking me?

Bill, I'M SHOCKED.

Are you still mad at me because I said that you should reschedule the "julie brown showcase" so that John Dingfelder could actually ATTEND a FORUM???

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Bad political move.

a. maybe she woulda made him look bad

b. bad political move.

c. unfair. people are sick of that shit.

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Listen, I'm sorry I don't have time for Sticks every day. I have huge commitments of time to the other city and county employees. You understand.

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Check Points Assessments

April 23, 2007
Weekend checkpoints net 48 charges
Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies issued 101 traffic citations, made 29 arrests and impounded 21 vehicles during a wave of sobriety checkpoints conducted throughout the county this weekend.

A total of 683 vehicles passed through checkpoints, located at Dunedin Middle School on Friday and at a Clearwater K-Mart parking lot on Saturday. Nearly 300 drivers were pulled over for assessment, organizers said.

WHY?? NO PROBABLE CAUSE. THIS is UNconstitutional.

Deputies said 29 people were arrested on 48 charges, including eight for DUI.

The checkpoints are performed in conjunction with a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration program called "You drink and drive. You lose."
April 23, 2007 | Permalink

ALMOST HALF THESE PEOPLE who drove by were pulled over. WHAT were they arrested for??

This and other similar actions are no different than checkpoints of another kind and everyone knows it.

Only eight of the people were arrested for DUI.

This is just an excuse to 'check your papers'.

This is going on every fifty miles or so in Mexican border states ! Checkpoints !!!

Against 'illegal immigrants' or other nationality 'foreign nationals' or 'mexican foreign nationals'??

Why, HELL NO. Bush passed a law designed to protect the Mexican traveler, remember?
And to keep us away from the border supposedly anyone who approaches it could be shot by a dang druglord. (oh my god it's hard not to laugh constantly when he talks)

These checkpoints must be designed to protect you from yourself and the American 'tourist' within side of you. Yeah, I spelled it exactly like that on purpose.

This sucks.

Say something.

Object.

Or do you REALLY believe you weren't using your civil rights, anyway???

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Stinks like a SET_UP where blue and red come together....

Finding no honest way to acquire my homesteaded, heirloomed, much-beloved and extremely valuable property ................... Tampa city and Hillsborough County continue to send out their finest ..... (the amazing part is they probably got the same guy to make a call they did LAST time they've been at this for so long ... but the MORE amazing thing is how often these emergencies involve ME) And how no one in a huge random sampling has my experience except for other valuable property holders. Oh, and activists according to indymedia and youtube.

463 (a regular and nice butt, too, two to a car but only saw ONE nice butt)

113949 (another regular -- she came around when I first started blogging ..... pictures, video, documentation ....)

and E-14 ran themselves some day-time drama.

But, sorry I have other things to do, today.

Your ex-cohort is turning up the heat. I believe he can soar .................

Obviously you people don't HAVE 'maybe we better knock it off before someone shows the world what we're doing' buttons.

I guess Officer Bercaw was not too happy to have his dishonest actions exposed.

I guess it's going to be pretty bad trying to prove what doesn't exist. I guess maybe somewhere along the way a bunch of you mad assholes will regret that you chose to be part of your bullying behavior and your sad actions against other human beings. By the way, feel free to call ME an asshole if I ever commence to stalking and intimidating YOU, kay???

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In sixteen minutes four of Tampa's finest went out of their way to run the usual drama. They flock on me like white on rice some days. I used to work for ESPN which certainly lends some flavor to the fact that I can edit and schmooze with the best of them.

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Oh, there must be a film-god. I had 14 minutes of tape and right after I got what I needed except for the final shot .... it hit the 'end tape'.

Now, realize NONE of this HAS to go like this. They're forcing it. Because they can.

No, YOU CANNOT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You absolutely MAY NOT continue to intimidate myself and people I know. You may NOT lurk around me and accompany your brothers in crime around on their made-up calls to the same place they went last time they rushed in front of me.

What's sickening is the planning that goes into this. Imagine what GOOD they could be doing with that time.

And, imagine why they would rather scheme and plan against a citizen with a valuable property.

Because they HAVE TO.

There is no other way to acquire said property without intimidation, threats and organized criminal behavior.

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Random things I have noticed

a. Sticks of Fire is NOT a lefty blog
b. Sticks of Fire does not really represent Tampa very well; not the reality-based part of tampa ....
c. I don't either, that's not what I'm sayin ..... (but at least I'm honest about the state of Tampa)
d. Sticks of Fire is not a mainstream blog
e, State of Sunshine is NOT a mainstream blog. (and all of the above and I don't think jim claims any different)
f. this does not preclude me reading OR enjoying these blogs and commenting on them when i have time or am drawn to.
g. Here I admit that I'm not absolutely sure of the 'utility' of a blog roll.
h. apparently it's a huge honor to be included on one. I am on quite a few ... I kinda repay others who place me on theirs but usually it's just people I liked their ideas.(right away enough to leave and blogroll them right then)
i. Michael Hussey dissuaded me of that although I've not updated the blogroll.
j.I kinda astricked the ones that get my special love or advocate what i advocate and I still have a few on my blog roll that probably don't belong there but I DO want them to have attention for one reason or another (perhaps asinine in some opinions)
k. so, i'm new at this and don't really understand the intent of blog rolls.
l. i've become opinionated since 2000 or so ... before I would let things go more....
m. i'm noticing a trend i am uncomfortable with (that centrist, one world, populist (but, only for SOME of the people) dealie ..
n. bob ross leaves the tribune to write for sticks .. that's not so bad ... who doesn't like bob ross?
o. but sticks seems to have these lil private connects and then also seems to sway things so that they kinda seem to highlight some shanky stuff in tampa (i mean it would be high theater to try to ignore it in tampa, yknow?) but really they are "OK" ing it. Like, what can we do? Plenty !!
p. did I mention that sticks are not left; certainly not progressive
q. I get a kick out of wayne garcia (for my own reasons)
r. not sure what i will do when i run out of alpha letters but have no heart to write a real live 'delightful diatribe' about this.
s. i'm noticing these tribune layoff and other layoffs at major msm
t. bloggers are moving to the forefront.
u. wayne garcia linked ALL OF US. Very cool. I mention him alot, as well.
v. Wayne Garcia blog-rolled Sticks and State of the Sunshine
w. i'm just sayin ...
x. neither of these guys is rep. of tampa ... anymore than the rest of us.
y. i don't understand the balance (if one is even intended, jim already writes at sticks)
z. perhaps it's not even politically motivated ... maybe they're great friends, maybe wayne's at lunch meeting new folks to blog roll
1. this is my thought.
2. nothing personal although people always overlook those words ATTENTION: NOTHING PERSONAL ... BUT
3. I don't know if it's cool with layoffs at newspapers and SOME old writers going over to sticks ... (
4. that these two blogs are singled out and maybe not intentionally as perhaps representative of two sides of tampa
5. as bloggers take prominent places in local news
6. we have to be very careful whom we trumpet.
7. this coming from someone who respects right and left wings if they have the ring of truth and just say 'some' bullshit I can't handle.
8. yep, ya can't make all the people happy all the time.
9. again, I'm always thrilled to take my place with astute people
10.i think others are more representative of people of tampa (in an honest manner)
11.don't yell at me.
12. i still read jim and sticks probably once a week or MORE. i read hussey and others (ybor) every day ....
13 smashed frog is ... TOO COOL. There are many blogs I read daily, actually.
14. this is the first post I have ever saved as a draft for a re-read before just flopping it out there ... I come back and edit which is certainly irritating, I'm sure.
15. maybe this wasn't so random.
16. this is my sum total honest feeling
17. if all our newspapers take a dive
18. i don't want to make it any easier for this 'emerging centrist populist' stuff to sweep the country.
19. having tampa represented by two blogs one of whom would fall off starboard if they leaned any farther ...
20. and one who proudly proclaims his starboard stance
21. america needs more than one party, more than two, maybe FIVE would make it competitive again.
22. newspapers will re-emerge as these 'axed' editors discern what happened (those who are still alive)
23. i'm not giving up on making sure the left voice of tampa is heard
24. michael hussey's blog --- well, first he and i don't always agree so it's not about that but nonetheless his information is accurate, balanced and progressive.
25. not centrist.
26. you're thinking i'll never run out of numbers
27. yes they are INfinite -- i learned that from a real teacher back in the day ... it probably wasn't easy to get through my head ...
28. but she managed to stay off her cell-phone long enough to give it up for me.
29. don't fall for this centrist populist crap
30. and i'm not accusing anyone of doing so
31. i think it's really cool the diversity flowing here but only a few blogs consistently rise above. they already know who they are
32. i'm done.
33. make me proud
34. pam iorio DID NOT invent PYHOT
35. Nazi Germany was extremely successful in murdering MILLIONS of INNOCENTS because the people were UNAWARE !
Why? Power of the media was CUT. Control of the media enabled this.
36. Yep, I am always going to draw the uncomfortable parallels.
37. whoever replaces judy hill(and she WILL be replaced) will never be able to imitate the aura of humanity that judy lent things.
38. whoever bill sharpe is he has just bought another newspaper and he is all cozy with sticks and owns tampa gold and supports OTHER bloggers and seems to air sorta biased news showsies on political candidates.
39. it's just too much for me to be comfortable with.
40. besides the gangs taking over our neighborhoods with the sanctioning of the city thugs --- look at what is happening to our media.
41. i was gonna have to point it out sooner or later
42. so again, no one should take this personally.
43. they are valid ponderings and at least one of you is up to something that can't be good for the people of tampa. or anywhere else !!!!!!!!
44. i'm watching.
45. and i'm going to talk about it
46. so there
47. know where you stand and stand there
48. and thank you for the link, wayne. Of most here, you may identify with but not agree with my pronouncement of alot of this current bullshit to do with our local media.
49. it's mighty fishy.
50. can't end on fifty
51. this is more like it.
52. south tampa news another example.
53. not long back they kicked a regular and NORMAL contributing editor to the curb
54. in favor of j.whitney
55. one of stand-in POTUS' volunteer of the years (mentioned in a previous post andy avile)
56. he dropped by her street corner personally to give her this dubious award without acknowledging other americans who are just as staunch of volunteers (despite the fact they disagree with george's dumb ass)
57. the same shake-ups at town and country news
58. temple terrace
59. carrolwood
60. sulphur springs
61. seminole heights (even their blog)
62. match this up to the 'new people' realtors who form your HOA and therefore set the rules for your hood (nope I ain't got one so it ain't a hate, i just READ and inform myself)
63. you got the block captains and the town criers of .... the Christian Right on the wrong side.
64. if you give people the wrong information for long enough.
65. they will believe it
66. which is why i oppose idiots and gangsters teaching children.
67. and others whom are aware
68. i have a feeling this will be added to.
69. so far i've added from 51 to 69.
70. oh well, i'm flopping it out there
71. let the chips fall where they may
72. i didn't stand by while my country was sold and while some mayor sold my city to her developer buds and 'gangsters'
73. i know it's too late for tampa

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Pushing Rope: Mean-Spirited Blogging Part 2

For your reading pleasure:


Pushing Rope: Mean-Spirited Blogging Part 2

Every link I go to mentions parent-teacher confidentiality. I feel certain that everything ever shared about a child goes like wildfire through the school and straight to the home and down every phone-line in the county.

So, why bother?

Your kids can get a better education if they STAY OUT OF Hillsborough Public Schools.

A Draconian system serving Jebby Bush, still.

Michael's right. There is no merit in posting communication between a parent and teacher. Even if it's 'fabricated.'

This is a not so subtle attempt to MAKE THOSE PARENTS STOP BOTHERING YOU. Don't call me. I'll publish your ass in the paper.

Yeah, we got that.

Just like Elia. It's top-down. Threats ---- and corruption --- it's how we win. I think that should be the new Hillsborough County slogan.


Tampa --- CORRUPTION --- it's how we WIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, and please go by and let Michael know that he is right about that parent-teacher confidentiality thing. It applies until it comes to law-enforcement. And, they're such stellar folk, eh?? LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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DUDE --- Cheney is OVER ....

Dennis Kucinich will announce formally on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 articles of Impeachment against Duck (whoops --- that's his hunting partners) Dick Cheney POTUS.

This will FORCE George W. Bush to serve as acting POTUS and THEN we can impeach him.


This is such very good news.

Burro Genius

There are always at least three sides to every story. My version. Your version. The truth.

In the interest of being sure the truth is always told, I offer only one true accounting of what teachers can REALLY be like.

I don't happen to believe that teachers need more money, more money, more money. That was true ONCE. Not anymore. When you read the Tampa Tribune and they pictify your 'ideal' next-door neighbors --- the ones who deserve 'special' discounts --- it's teachers, firemen, cops, armed-services people and nurses. First of all, these folks all have access to credit-unions and very very easy and readily available low-rate financing. MOST of them are already making WAY MORE money than average folks. I don't think they need any extra help living next door to me. To tell the truth, I don't want their asses there. A friend of mine in Seminole Heights had to go to court to get his lovely 'teacher next door' to stop intimidating and harassing him. She had taken out an injunction against him and almost went to jail for her lies and miscreant behavior.

Anyway .... I've talked to enough teachers to remain uninspired that they need more of my money. Or yours. They're too relaxed for me. No stress there at all because they have all the power. After work they forget about your kid and off to a bar or their own kids. That's all well and good but yknow what? They want to hold themselves up as DESERVING OF MORE and I want to ask WHY??? WHY THE HELL do you think you deserve MORE? You don't.

Some of you do; the rest of you are just part of the problem. We'll never get rid of you and until you get arrested (and even still then from my reading -- you just go and get your licenses re-upped) you have access to my child's mind. Out of 22 teachers I encountered in public schools here and in other counties only three of them merited the awesome, incredible respect one reserves for a true teacher. Three out of 22. One actually told me that she didn't want to teach and wanted to work for her parents' car dealership. Honey, pack your shit and move on. This was the same teacher who was once vociferously remarking on the lack of acumen of a child in her charge and me (all puzzled because the chld is a walking calculator) took the papers she referred to and said .... 'uhhhhh, derrrr --- these are NOT this child's papers) She tossed them in the trash and could not find any more examples of his poor work. Why? Because she was LYING. I hope she does title work until her fingers fall right off. And, yknow what? I liked her personally; I enjoyed talking with her. She was cute and funny and endearing and likable. But, when it comes to my child, lady all I want you to do is be a TEACHER. Teach. Not your philosophy or your ideology or your smart-ass attitude. Teach the subject. Close the book. Shut the hell up if you can't say anything nice.

I found many instances of teachers intimidating children subtly. But, I didn't HAVE to look, I've observed it. All the fences around schools make them look like prisons. They ARE prisons and the dark side is quickly taking them over. Talk to teachers. At some point you'll see that most are not worth the first paycheck never mind an additional one.

For the record: When children in my charge started school I thought teachers were ... close to HEAVEN .. the highest level of decency one could find. That was MY personal experience. I had to be TAUGHT differently. Thanks, Elia. You've done a bang up job. Pay them more? No thanks. Let people who love the job and want to teach make sacrifices like with EVERY calling. If they took the money out of politics we'd have public servants again. It's true.

When Victor Villaseñor stood at the podium and looked at the group of teachers amassed before him, he became enraged. He had never spoken in public before. His mind was flooded with childhood memories filled with humiliation, misunderstanding, and abuse at the hands of his teachers. With his heart pounding, he began to speak of these incidents. To his disbelief, the teachers before him responded to his embittered recollection with a standing ovation. Many could not contain their own tears.


Testimonials:

Victor Villaseñor has done it again!
With Burro Genius he has reached into the darkened regions of our collective heart and soul and found a ray of sunshine and hope. Having been dealt an unusually cruel and heavy load to bear by the American educational system, Victor’s amazing burro resilience not only helped him survive but also gifted him with the ability to forgive. His message transcends cultural innuendo and historical time frame. We are all guilty. Victor Villaseñor is truly a guardian deity of the human race.
Burro Genius is a must read for all public servants, including those of us in the mental health profession!

Joel Moreno, M.S.
Training Supervisor
Kern County Mental Health System of Care

I truly enjoyed Victor Villaseñor’s new book, Burro Genius. This should seriously be reviewed as a resource/professional teaching book for individuals who master in education. I would seriously ask that you consider meeting with various professional colleges of education (Specifically the Chairs or Deans) and see if they would be willing to place this book on the mandatory reading list for graduate students. It gives incredible insight into the mind and conscious of a child who has a difficult learning process. Also, the Orton Dyslexia Society could truly benefit from this book. . . . this book is a goldmine to educators.


Lucia Ortega-Villasana, Director
UECC Center For Public Service
Office of the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs
University of California, Riverside




I just finished Burro Genius! My God, what a book!

It made me remember Miss Mason, my 6th grade teacher, who grabbed a kid and slammed him into a cast iron heater. His collar bone was broken. The class was completely terrified of her, and her deed went unpunished.

Victor Villaseñor tells the awful truth about adults who bully and intimidate children. Teachers, priests, principals, nuns, school yard supervisors, .... who think breaking a child is the proper way to educate him. I am amazed that Villaseñor’s rage didn't consume him, that somehow the spirits of his ancestors broke through that rage and delivered him to the place where he could see these enemies of all children as, pathetic, and lost souls.

I believe every teacher, and adult that has a position of authority over children should read Burro Genius. Children come to us wide-eyed and with the electric current of wonder and too damn many of us go about trying to extinguish that spark.

Villaseñor has dyslexia, but no educational professional caught on when they should of. Instead they labeled him a "dumb Mexican" and tried again and again to beat him down. But the miracle of life runs strong in this original American writer. Do yourself a favor, read Burro Genius before you scold another child!

Stan Cooper,
Ethnic Studies Teacher
Paso Robles High School
Paso Robles, California




Book quotes:
The Kingdom of God is within us.
What lies before us and what lies
behind us are small matters compared
to what lies within us. And when we
bring what is within out into the world,
miracles happen. Jesus Christ
Henry David Thoreau