Mike Roberto - Many local people remember Mike as an "idea-man," a man with the vision for Clearwater. "One City. One Future" said Roberto wherever he went. The way I see it, Mike Roberto was the catalyst for Clearwater's new condominium development - he had the dream of a better Clearwater
Our condolences go out to his family.
Cuba - Like many of you, I have long awaited the removal of Fidel Castro in Cuba. However, with U.S. intervention in Cuban politics faltering at just about every level, the communist leader of Cuba has continued to rule Cuba with an iron fist.
However, Castro is reportedly ill and has passed, for the first time, power to his brother (who does not have the leadership abilities of Fidel.)
Freedom in Cuba?
Some folks are beginning to think there is hope for a free Cuba in the near future. Interestingly, President Bush stated there is a "plan" to help the people of Cuba if there is a change in government.
An open Cuba?
Imagine the havoc a free Cuba might place on vacation spots in the Bahamas and Cayman Islands! An open Cuba would create immediate investments from U.S. businesses and citizens. Talk about a Caribbean vacation spot - Cuba is the place. Also, the marinas in Havana would be full with boaters from Florida looking to enjoy the beautiful waters of Cuba. (Key West might become a stopping point to Havana.)
Would the people of Cuba support a free and independent government after the demise of Castro?
Let's hope so. The redevelopment of Cuba would be a wonderful thing.
Short Memory - I can remember when a young singer named Mr. Nelson had short hair and tried to sing songs without a country accent. This young man was not doing well as a pop singer and creatively developed a country style . . . a rather unique country sound that over time became popular with the music industry, his name became Willie Nelson.
Country Willie Nelson.
Makes me wonder why this same Nelson would remind people that George W. Bush is not from Texas, but a Texan by choice. The way I see it, personal choice is important in deciding where you want to call home.
Big deal?
Heck no, the real substance of where one decides to call home is where one deliberately decides to live. Same with music. Willie Nelson will long be remembered as a country singer. Developing into a country singer was his choice … and that is what counts when it comes to music created by Willie Nelson.
But Willie, you didn't always have long hair, a bandana and great country songs.
It is like criticizing us Floridians for referring to ourselves as Floridian because we intentionally moved to Florida many years ago from another state.
Other than native Indians, even the Florida Crackers are transplants by a few generations.
Ease-up Willie, the Dixie Chicks can ridicule the President in Europe without your help.
And Then There is Mel Gibson - DUI for Mel Gibson. Apparently Gibson has been fighting a drinking problem for many years. Gibson now admits his drinking problem and is seeking treatment.
Let's hope it works, for his sake.
However, Gibson is making news for allegedly saying some things during his arrest that did not sound like the Mel Gibson of Hollywood fame. According to media reports, Gibson, while drunk, said Jews were responsible for all wars.
Of course, if Gibson was indeed drunk, his opinions of war in Lebanon were words from a man who had too much to drink. Outrageous words.
Gibson was wrong to drink and talk trash. Further, the conflict in Lebanon was not created by Israel, Gibson was wrong. It was created by terrorists attacking Israeli soldiers. The war in Iraq was not created by Israel, it was created by an uncooperative dictator, Saddam Hussein, who harbored anti-American terrorists. Israel did not create 9/11, radical Muslum terrorists bombed New York and the Pentagon and killed many innocent people from all walks of life.
Mel Gibson is just another celebrity that has said some outrageous things and made national news . . . much like some outrageous professors in Wisconsin.
Ethernet Speed - Scientists have recently studied the amount of information passed from our eyes to our brain per second.
10 million bits of data per second, can be passed from our eyes to our brain every second. That speed is about the speed of a computer Ethernet connection.
Amazing thing, the human body.
Interestingly, the more scientists learn about the human body, the more amazing the sophistication of all the small, minute body parts working together.
10 million bits of data transfer per second is the low end of the speed spectrum, the transfer may exceed this speed and reach as high as 100 million bits of data per second.
Sir Charles, Next Governor of Alabama - Democrats in Alabama are trying to talk ex-basketball Charles Barkley into running for governor.
Yes, Sir Charles governor of Alabama.
Barkley, on the other hand, has not accepted the challenge of a public office race. Perhaps Barkley is concerned about some of his off-the-cuff comments made on various sports channels where he has said some outrageous things. Or, perhaps he is not interested in talking about several of his off-the-court fights and handling of people who differ with him.
Barkley, governor of Alabama?
You never know, he might end-up as one of their best-ever governors. Barkley, on the other hand, does care about educating the poor and helping poor people to advance. Two admirable things for a politician.
One thing is for sure, there would not be much bad-mouthing the governor of Alabama - at least, not in person.
Lastly, if being governor would help Barkley's pitiful golf swing then all of his friends would contribute money to the campaign. Barkley has the worst swing motion in golfing history!
Reason - As sight is to the body, so is reason in the soul. - Aristotle