tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:00:25 +0000Revealing analysis of national trends and local news you won't find in Miami's mainstream media. Dedicated to ethical government, saving tax dollars and a healthy environment. We aim to break the chokehold of Miami's developers and lobbyists on local government and the public commons. We offer our forum to that end.http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/geniusofdespair@yahoo.com (Geniusofdespair)Blogger3229125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-7677134031985716070Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:15:00 +00002009-11-23T09:44:37.756-05:00Guest BlogTHE STAR STRANGLED BANNEROh, say, do you seethe, at the Dow’s daily frightHow so aptly we riled at the twilight’s last reamingWhose pinstripes and dulled stars plotted perilous nightsAs the bankers, we learned, were so flagrantly stealing?Plus the hedgers’ red stare, up all night in their lairGave proof through the night, that the crooks were still there.O say, does that star–strangled banner http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/jAcrHcm7E7k/verse-from-star-strangled-banner-by.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gimleteye)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/jAcrHcm7E7k" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/verse-from-star-strangled-banner-by.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-1454054298918897480Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:50:00 +00002009-11-23T08:28:00.869-05:00GeniusofdespairEnvironmental failureA headless, decaying panther was found Friday, alongside the Florida Turnpike. What more can you say? This is human cruelty I cannot comprehend. I found this on another blog, Lauren's close encounter with a Florida panther, let it serve as the panther's eulogy:"Oh my gosh!We have a real, BIG, Florida Panther living behind our house. This cat weighed 150 pounds, EASY. It. was. HUGE.So I called http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/cqe7CHYrXKg/headless-florida-panther-found-along.htmlgeniusofdespair@yahoo.com (Geniusofdespair)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/cqe7CHYrXKg" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/headless-florida-panther-found-along.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-8303678494917012949Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:23:00 +00002009-11-23T07:46:14.292-05:00GimleteyeLobbyistsEnvironmental failureWater Quality/SupplypollutionOne of the main themes of this blog is how the economic crisis enmeshing the United States was caused by an institutional willingness-- across industries and state boundaries-- to miscalculate risk. One of the ways this happened in Florida was shifting the cost of pollution from polluters to taxpayers. This achieved the purpose of stimulating and subsidizing low-cost economic growth. Another way http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/FKnbAV_rjg0/cry-babies-florida-special-interests.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gimleteye)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/FKnbAV_rjg0" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/cry-babies-florida-special-interests.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-5871536740315518963Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:30:00 +00002009-11-22T18:03:11.298-05:00MiscellaneousGeniusofdespairI always believed washing clothes was a waste of time. I think you should toss the garments when they are dirty. Now with spouse laid up for the past 3 days, I believe we should toss dishes too. I can't think of a bigger waste of time than loading and unloading a dishwasher...except doing laundry. With the dishes there is the added angst of knowing you have to be able to find everything again. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/y1Hh3sIrH14/housework-aint-for-me-by.htmlgeniusofdespair@yahoo.com (Geniusofdespair)15<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/y1Hh3sIrH14" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/housework-aint-for-me-by.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-9196587480038016206Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:38:00 +00002009-11-22T18:00:09.624-05:00Eye On MiamiGeniusofdespairCity of MiamiWe quote the Miami Herald a lot, it is good to see they also read and quote from our blog.BTW don't bother doing a search on line. I did one and couldn't find the article, under Eyeonmiami, Gimleteye or Alan Farago. Even the author's name, Edward Schumacher-Matos, had "0" results for this column in a "Search" of the Miami Herald. Here is what Schumacher-Matos said about Eyeonmiami in an article http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/D8l4k_AVnKc/herald-quotes-eye-on-miami-by.htmlgeniusofdespair@yahoo.com (Geniusofdespair)8<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/D8l4k_AVnKc" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/herald-quotes-eye-on-miami-by.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-3731914064608384503Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:18:00 +00002009-11-22T10:30:14.431-05:00South Florida Daily BlogGeniusofdespairAll I can say is I am thrilled to have my Blog on the Saga of the Phone Scam recognized by other bloggers and readers. Check it out in The South Florida Daily Blog.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/BOZYmTAyieI/i-was-recognized-for-post-of-month-by.htmlgeniusofdespair@yahoo.com (Geniusofdespair)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/BOZYmTAyieI" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/i-was-recognized-for-post-of-month-by.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-8011715061601937728Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:27:00 +00002009-11-22T00:27:00.348-05:00Governor Charlie CristGeniusofdespairI have been hearing rumblings about Senate candidate Crist becoming a Democrat. That would save me the trouble of registering as a Republican which was my plan in an effort to stymie that scary Rubio from winning the primary. We all know that the radicals vote in primaries. I don't think there is a Democrat running that could beat either Crist or Rubio, thus, I would much prefer Crist as my http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/1FUmD8GetEk/atlantic-asks-is-crist-toast-by.htmlgeniusofdespair@yahoo.com (Geniusofdespair)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/1FUmD8GetEk" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/atlantic-asks-is-crist-toast-by.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-3879851866130028820Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:14:00 +00002009-11-21T09:04:47.966-05:00GeniusofdespairCity of MiamiJimbo does have a way of stating the truth...eventually. Not saying he is a liar because he is not, but he does have colorful stories and jokes that take you in circles sometimes but have a grain of truth at their core. In the final line in the Miami Herald article (and video) he said: "The still photographers don't come anymore because there's nothing there anymore."That is right Jimbo. The cityhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/mjtsaN6qHCo/jimbos-in-miami-herald-today-by.htmlgeniusofdespair@yahoo.com (Geniusofdespair)14<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/mjtsaN6qHCo" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/jimbos-in-miami-herald-today-by.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-5823071253497615646Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:07:00 +00002009-11-21T07:35:34.464-05:00GimleteyeCultureThe PR says that the new Royal Caribbean "Oasis of the Seas" is five times larger than the Titanic. It has its own climate and Wikipedia page. It is a small floating city for 4500. I live in a city. Why would I pay, to go to sea in floating one? I look at this vessel, and all I can see is a market top. In fact, the ship was commissioned at the peak of the housing asset bubble in the US. Bigger http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/fw389ms8wq8/oasis-of-seas-or-ark-of-bad-taste-who.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gimleteye)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/fw389ms8wq8" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/oasis-of-seas-or-ark-of-bad-taste-who.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-6070865771323632274Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:05:00 +00002009-11-21T08:28:11.306-05:00Mayor RegaladoGeniusofdespairCity of MiamiLongtime staff member for Tomas Regalado, over 10 years, Tony Crapp, Jr. is now the gate keeper. I thought you might want to know what he looks like in case you bump into him at City Hall. He always has been friendly to me, he is very personable. He made a salary of about $65,000 in 2007. The good looking guy on the right is also Tony Crapp. Tony E. Crapp, Sr. was appointed Executive Director of http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/S428hIKT47k/regalados-chief-of-staff-tony-crapp-jr.htmlgeniusofdespair@yahoo.com (Geniusofdespair)12<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/S428hIKT47k" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/regalados-chief-of-staff-tony-crapp-jr.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-1866294473780821923Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:52:00 +00002009-11-20T12:03:38.723-05:00MorinMiami HeraldGeniusofdespairJim Morin's cartoon in the Miami Herald today had me on the floor laughing. He certainly did capture the Commissioner we all love to hate, Natacha Seijas, on her previously reported county jet-setting on our taxpayer dime. Hot air balloon, works for me!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/5bA7ycjA_Y8/jim-morin-draws-natacha-seijas-by.htmlgeniusofdespair@yahoo.com (Geniusofdespair)8<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/5bA7ycjA_Y8" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/jim-morin-draws-natacha-seijas-by.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-4920112419786969076Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:35:00 +00002009-11-20T07:42:48.077-05:00Jeb BushBlogsGrowthGovernor Charlie CristGimleteyerubioCultureThe economic collapse and decline of print media has created a void slowly filling by pretender, quasi-news sources that pretend to be fair and balanced journalism. These look and "feel" and advertise themselves to be, from all appearances independent journalism. But they are not. These are not blogs, like ours. Nor are they websites that clearly state for readers their political preferences, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/pchNiQ-aw8U/new-slanted-news-in-florida-who-funds.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gimleteye)10<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/pchNiQ-aw8U" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/new-slanted-news-in-florida-who-funds.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-1553853836634903609Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:10:00 +00002009-11-19T23:38:35.846-05:00barf meterGeniusofdespairCity of MiamiElectionsRemoved from her seat by the Governor (after she was charged with grand theft) didn't deter Michelle Spence Jones, she is running again for City of Miami Commissioner. If you live in the district, I implore you, please don't put her back in. Why didn't they appoint Flowers rather than have an election? Rundle's office bungled this one big time. Spence Jones should have been arrested before the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/Ny8RNhmDGqA/big-week-for-barf-meter-spence-jones-is.htmlgeniusofdespair@yahoo.com (Geniusofdespair)24<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/Ny8RNhmDGqA" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/big-week-for-barf-meter-spence-jones-is.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-75301793690662973Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:22:00 +00002009-11-19T08:17:45.343-05:00BanksGeniusofdespairNo advance notice is given to the public when a financial institution is closed:On Friday, November 13, 2009, the Florida Office of Financial Regulation closed Orion Bank, Naples, FL. Subsequently, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was named Receiver. To see if your bank might be in trouble, check the bank's star rating. To see who has been embezzling at banks recently (like at http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/ha5vby-A0uA/watch-your-bank-by-geniusofdespair.htmlgeniusofdespair@yahoo.com (Geniusofdespair)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/ha5vby-A0uA" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/watch-your-bank-by-geniusofdespair.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-6380950487764289032Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:01:00 +00002009-11-19T11:51:08.649-05:00Miami Dade CountyMAYOR ALVAREZGuest BlogRumor has it, Mr. Mayor, there are good looking women looking for you...26 women to be exact! At the Miami-Dade Commission on Women meeting on Wednesday evening, it was pointed out that those ladies are looking for a face-to-face meeting with you, Mayor Alvarez, and have been for at least SIX weeks but the volunteers that represent the largest constituency in the county can’t get past your 29th http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/kQIUYrGPRaM/good-evening-mr-mayor-wherever-you.htmlgeniusofdespair@yahoo.com (Geniusofdespair)17<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/kQIUYrGPRaM" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/good-evening-mr-mayor-wherever-you.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-1948399956980629987Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:53:00 +00002009-11-19T07:36:00.074-05:00GimleteyeEnvironmental failureUDBAgricultureCounty CommissionI'm intrigued-- if that is the right word-- how the mainstream media highlights volunteerism in our communities. NBC Nightly News, for instance, has a segment "Making a Difference". It is along the lines of 1000 Points of Light: remember those from the first Bush White House? Miami Today has its "Newsmaker" feature. It is basically an extension of the Chamber of Commerce. The Herald is AWOL, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/eerpak5CJ8k/barry-white-effective-citizen-activist.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gimleteye)14<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/eerpak5CJ8k" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/barry-white-effective-citizen-activist.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-1215659411305200527Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:15:00 +00002009-11-18T15:52:14.931-05:00barf meterGeniusofdespairSeijasSolar EnergyVery high on the Barf Meter: Vile Natacha Seijas talking about anything green is akin to Pat Buchanan or Rush Limbaugh posing as progressives to the dumb clucks in Washington DC.This morning, Vile County Commissioner Seijas joined Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, Virginia Senator Mark Warner, and other leaders from Florida; South Carolina and Virginia to demonstrate how local governments are http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/0dBxy6Tvk0k/barfable-news-vile-natacha-seijas-is-in.htmlgeniusofdespair@yahoo.com (Geniusofdespair)7<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/0dBxy6Tvk0k" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/barfable-news-vile-natacha-seijas-is-in.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-6955105514342994720Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:55:00 +00002009-11-18T06:58:14.605-05:00GimleteyeCultureWater Quality/SupplyThe owners of this swimming pool in South Miami, Philip Stoddard and Gray Read, began construction in their backyard in 2004. From this first photo, the pool looks no different from millions of swimming pools in Florida. This pool's owners have a leg up on the general public in thinking through an amazing design that recreates a natural habitat with minimal engineering inputs. Stoddard is a http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/I3tl46pSqrU/coolest-pool-in-miami-by-gimleteye.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gimleteye)13<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/I3tl46pSqrU" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/coolest-pool-in-miami-by-gimleteye.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-3892777158800418406Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:45:00 +00002009-11-18T07:52:23.304-05:00Youbetcha’community CouncilsRedlandGuest BlogGeniusofdespairThe Community Council 14 vote was a unanimous 4 against a formal soccer field in the middle of agriculture land. Here is the whole story by Youbetcha' and it is a good one:The attorney and his client did not seem at all concerned about the Urban Development Boundary or that they were plotting this 240 person stadium and 180 car parking area smack-dab in the middle of farmland. Yes, they knew thathttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/LoR975k-b8g/redland-community-council-rejected.htmlgeniusofdespair@yahoo.com (Geniusofdespair)9<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/LoR975k-b8g" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/redland-community-council-rejected.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-6761837249724502004Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:31:00 +00002009-11-18T06:49:53.854-05:00GimleteyecorruptionCity of MiamiCounty CommissionDear Miami Herald, thanks for your coverage of the corruption scandals at the City of Miami. Here is what you missed: an analysis of business interests and their financial contribution to the campaigns of the fallen. In all cases, they are contributors tied one way or another to the Growth Machine. At the county commission, the public records of campaign contributions tell a clear story of the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/ZbxuaSLv-5o/miami-herald-on-spence-jones-one-more.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gimleteye)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/ZbxuaSLv-5o" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/miami-herald-on-spence-jones-one-more.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-3859393233443002261Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:58:00 +00002009-11-18T15:36:44.984-05:00GeniusofdespairSolar EnergySt. Lucie County is trying to make solar power affordable to residents, according to the TCPalm:The county is hoping to partner with other Treasure Coast governments and financial institutions to create a non-profit bank known as a community development financial institution that could lend money at low-interest rates for energy improvements to qualified applicants. And: The county plans to applyhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/Wcel46AdZKA/why-cant-our-county-try-to-help-us.htmlgeniusofdespair@yahoo.com (Geniusofdespair)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/Wcel46AdZKA" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/why-cant-our-county-try-to-help-us.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-4409622373029475066Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:30:00 +00002009-11-18T08:02:04.249-05:00Believe it or NotTaxesGeniusofdespairCultureAccording to Miami Today - I am told this came out in August but I never heard this:Operating a new Museum of Science at Bicentennial Park may require a new tax of some sort, the museum's president and CEO says."They've had special taxes allocated toward other sources," Gillian Thomas said Tuesday. "They could do that for cultural causes as well."Keep dreaming Gillian, we just had that county http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/Kla_kBGLwoA/believe-it-or-not-museum-of-science.htmlgeniusofdespair@yahoo.com (Geniusofdespair)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/Kla_kBGLwoA" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/believe-it-or-not-museum-of-science.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-7501035939046991587Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:01:00 +00002009-11-17T22:37:05.153-05:00GeniusofdespairCity of MiamiElectionsMiami BeachIn City of Miami's District 4 race Francis Suarez won as I predicted he would on Oct. 4th. It was close, Suarez had 51.45% to Manolo Reyes 48.55%. In Miami Beach's two run-offs: Jorge Exposito won with 52.83% of the vote and Michael Gongora won with 59.8%.Voter turnout was 18.23%. And at least two of the winners, Suarez and Gongora, raised wads of money compared to their rivals. Money is the key http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/oAXJmaCZvvE/good-looking-guy-won-by-geniusofdespair.htmlgeniusofdespair@yahoo.com (Geniusofdespair)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/oAXJmaCZvvE" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/good-looking-guy-won-by-geniusofdespair.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-6472544729367187341Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:17:00 +00002009-11-17T16:48:56.698-05:00GeniusofdespairCity of MiamiCan someone please find a decent candidate to run for this seat in the City of Miami? Charles Flowers, a retired pilot, was being vetted for appointment but he won't run for the seat. I was told his wife would murder him if he did.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/5JUMjRnfYcw/election-for-spence-jones-seat-will-be.htmlgeniusofdespair@yahoo.com (Geniusofdespair)9<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/5JUMjRnfYcw" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/election-for-spence-jones-seat-will-be.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37248244.post-8173926637905306234Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:31:00 +00002009-11-17T11:12:39.847-05:00ITCGeniusofdespairCounty BudgetCounty CommissionThis is why you all NEED the Miami Herald. We can't do this in depth research even though we reported on the waste at International Trade Consortium over and over. The reporter duo of Haggman and Dolan say that since 2007 the trips cost us about a quarter of a million dollars with no visible results. However, the reporters should add in the budget of the ITC which was $1.7 million since 2007 (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~3/DdPTtMR0ISc/hey-gimleteye-i-was-going-to-write.htmlgeniusofdespair@yahoo.com (Geniusofdespair)7<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EyeOnMiami/~4/DdPTtMR0ISc" height="1" width="1"/>http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2009/11/hey-gimleteye-i-was-going-to-write.html