Conexion Miami / Giants found in Florida

The Aquatic Life and Wildlife Conservation Commission of Florida reported that two fishermen pulled a giant sea shrimp while fishing off a pier in a city of Fort Pierce, Florida. According to Steve Bergaron, the fisherman, the “creature” measured 45 centimeters (or more than 17 inches). Scientists believe the creature could be a Stomatopod, a type of crustacean commonly known as galley, lobster mantis, locust or mantis marine boxer. 

Add Cuba to the list and create more jobs

Goods exported from Florida supported more than 275,000 jobs last year, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Key export categories for Florida included computer and electronic products, transportation equipment, chemicals, primary metal manufactures and machinery other than electrical. Top destination points for Florida exports were Canada, Brazil, Switzerland, Colombia and Venezuela. Miami (with $41.8 billion in goods exports) and Tampa Bay ($6.7 billion in exports) both ranked among the top 50 metro area exporters. Now dare to imagine if Florida were allowed to export to Cuba. Oh how those numbers might grow… 

Latest poll in Florida governor’s race

A poll released Saturday has Florida Governor Rick Scott with a 43-41 percent edge over Charlie Crist. Libertarian candidate Adrian Wyllie came in at 4 percent. Eleven percent of the voters remain undecided.  Scott draws his best support from North Florida (54%-32%) and Southwest Florida (52%-32%), while holding a smaller lead in Central Florida (44%-38%). Crist is commanding Southeast Florida (50%-35%) and holds a smaller edge in his home Tampa Bay region (45%-38%). Scott runs stronger with men, whites and voters over the age of 65. Crist leads among women, blacks and voters under 35. Crist’s negative ratings with voters are higher than Scott’s (44%-41%).

Jeb Bush?

The Walls Street Journal is reporting that “Republican strategists and fundraisers say Jeb Bush’s closest advisers have been quietly spreading the word that they should avoid committing to other possible presidential candidates until he decides on his own course after the November election.”

Change of heart for Graham

In what appears to be a change of heart, former Florida Governor and Senator Bob Graham says he supports same-sex marriage. “I can’t make the case that there’s a reason that if two same-sex people fall in love and would like to have a permanent and sustained relationship, that that violates some fundamental principle of the state which trumps the principle of equal treatment of all persons,” he said. Graham voted in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996, when he was in the U.S. senate.

Med weed still up in smoke

Though early polling showed overwhelming support for medical marijuana in Florida, a new poll indicates that many likely voters are still unsure about a constitutional amendment that would allow it. Florida’s proposed Amendment 2 – which goes to a vote Nov. 4 – would let people use marijuana for debilitating illnesses with a doctor’s consent. Asked a question phrased directly from the ballot, 56.7 percent of likely voters said they support the amendment, with 24.4 percent opposing. That left more than one voter in six surveyed who said they had not thought much about the amendment one way or another. Sixty percent is the winning threshold in Florida.

Flowers in danger

For Miamians who love flowers… two flowering plants that grow in the wild are on the brink of extinction. The Miami Herald reported that the very few left were found in an area where a developer wants to build a Walmart. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that it will add the plants to the endangered species list. Still, danger lurks for the white-bloomed Florida brickell-bush and yellow Carter’s small-flowered flax. “Unfortunately there’s a wrinkle with the Endangered Species Act where plants are treated as second-class citizens,” said Jaclyn Lopez, an attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity.

Buena Fe, Miami and the Ladies in White

A delegation of the Ladies in White (Damas en Blanco) that visited Miami expressed that they liked Buena Fe, something that has bothered organizers of the boycott against the Cuban musical group, which will play Miami later this month. The fact is that it’s just another sign that extremists keep losing ground… Let tolerance prevail on the world map!

Solution to baldness – not!

Progreso Weekly publisher Alvaro Fernandez, who is bald, felt a tinge of sadness this past week. The Miami Herald reported that Joseph Fox Batista, an eccentric South Beach wannabe inventor, was found guilty of grand theft in the second degree. Fox, 59, was sentenced immediately to 10 years in prison plus five years probation. Fox had dazzled investors for some time now with the promise of a creamy yogurt base to grow hair and slow aging.

Koch brothers spending big against Joe Garcia

The billionaire brothers Koch are the scourge on progressive politics and general decency in this country. The brothers have funded in the past the passage of such Florida laws as ‘Stand Your Ground’ and have backed the privatization of schools. They are now behind ads and commercials against incumbent congressman Joe Garcia, who is running a very tight race against former school board member Carlos Curbelo. The Kochs have spent upwards of $700,000 in this race, according to Cristóbal Alex, head of the liberal nonprofit Latino Victory Project.

Pam Bondi wants to be both gay friendly and anti-gay

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has been adamant about her opposition to gay marriage. But facing an election against a democrat who has come out in favor, and with the courts ruling against her wishes, Bondi has shown her political (or can we can it hypocritical) side. This new facet of la Bondi wants voters to feel her gay friendliness. In a Tampa Bay area TV interview she was heard to say that she has “many, many gay friends.” She even noted that she took pictures during the baptism of a gay friend’s adopted daughter.

Charlie and his permanent tan

Adam C. Smith, in a Tampa Bay Times column, writes of the race for governor and discusses a focus groups who was asked what word came to mind when they heard the name of the two front running candidates. The word that came up with Rick Scott was usually “jobs.” And Charlie Crist’s? “Tan…” Ouch!