The Way I See ItBy cj pollickIndian Rocks Beach Has New Leader - Incumbent Mayor Bill Ockunzzi lost his re-election bid to R.B. Johnson by 69 percent of the votes to 31 percent. The message from voters: less arguing, more attention to deals. In the IRB city commission race, Joanne "Cookie" Kennedy and Daniel Torres won city commission seats with 42 percent and 34 percent of the votes. Fire District Gets Fee Increase - The Pinellas Suncoast Fire District finally got the increase in fees they needed. The $70 increase in fees will bring the yearly fee to a total of $260. The vote was 1202 for and 842 against. Belleair Beach And Timeshares - When you drive along Belleair Beach you notice a community of mostly waterfront homes and oceanfront condominiums. You might not think that some of the homes are being purchased as timeshares by several owners. Same is possibly true in Belleair Shore and other waterfront communities along Sand Key Island. Timeshares? Belleair Beach City Attorney Paul Marino recently received approval from the city council to look into a city ordinance that could protect the city from such types of multiple owner home sales. Imagine your new neighbor is really four families as one, plus their friends, who might also participate in timeshare ownership of the house! Clever real estate marketing concept, but bad for the community. If this form of ownership bothers you, call your city officials and share your opinions. Do you want the home next to yours to be a timeshare? Obama And McCain Win - Wyoming and Mississippi voters voted to support Sen. John McCain for the GOP and Sen. Barack Obama on the Democrat side. The win puts Sen. John McCain clearly as the lone GOP choice and Sen. Barack Obama as the leading candidate for the Democrats. With only Pennsylvania and several other remaining state primaries, it is likely that the Democrat Super Delegates may decide who wins the DNC nomination. On the other hand, Democrats must confront the issue of delegates in Florida and Michigan since both candidates had agree to not campaign in those states due to them moving the primary election date. Confused? It may get worse after Pennsylvania. NY Gov. Eliot Spitzer May Resign - Democrats in New York voted for Attorney General Eliot Spitzer as governor because they felt Spitzer would run the state in a manner consistent with his honest, tough-man tactics he used against financial giants such as AIG and other large financial conglomerates. Spitzer, on the other hand, was disliked by many people as he portrayed the image of Eliot Ness (of The Untouchables) attacking the sinful and corrupt. It seemed as though it was Spitzer, The Conqueror, versus the rest of "white-collar" society. Unfortunately for the Harvard Law grad, something was amiss, he needed some companionship, paid "companionship," that he rationalized he deserved. The brilliant lawyer conceived a plan to obtain and satisfy that personal need by joining an expensive sex-for-hire club. A club where patrons were given a number instead of a name. Spitzer, therefore, became a number, possibly number 9, in this very exclusive club where a date could cost as high as several thousand dollars per hour. Wouldn't get caught, he believed, he was just another wealthy person (number) instead of Eliot Spitzer. Thus, a fleeting fantasy became an unfortunate reality. Of course, his thinking was erroneous and, as most people know, he was caught on police tape recordings in a sting operation, in great part due to his bank reporting large cash withdrawals. Spitzer has lost much the past few horrendous days, and may ultimately lose his job as governor. As expected, Democrats who once favored his political endorsement, such as Hillary Clinton, have distanced themselves from him. Spitzer's family, and whatever few friends he has, must now work through some very difficult times. With jubilant enemies he created over the past years, it is likely that he is finished as a politician and as a lawyer. Some of us can only hope for his full recovery and attention to a better future without political pressure. Readers know that this type of fall from grace has happened to political leaders from both major political parties; nevertheless, the news of Eliot Spitzer came as a shock to many New Yorkers last Monday. Religion Of Peace March In London - In London, friends of Islam held, what they called, "A Religion Of Peace March." Thousands of Muslims participated in the march by waiving signs and yelling comments to London bystanders. The march did not make the news in America perhaps due to the content of the participants' signs and unfriendly comments. Signs stated such things like: "Europe is the problem, Islam is the answer," "Islam will rule," "Down with enemies of Islam," etc., etc. All in all, the so-called "Peace March" was more of a protest demonstration than friendly festival. One person was so bold to say that England will be the first country peacefully taken-over by the followers of Islam. Of course, and for the many travelers who have visited London the past few years, there are many Muslims that live in London. Factually, the number of Muslims that live in England continues to grow each year. And yes, it appears that the followers of Islam might become the ruling party in England in the near future. Imagine, England a Muslim state! Speaking Of Can't Get Rid Of Them - How about Jane Fonda (remember Hanoi Jane?) and her verbalization of a certain unacceptable word on national television that would have gotten Bubba fined 100 million dollars? It makes you wonder why people go after folks like Bubba and Imus and let people like Jane Fonda alone. Then there is 1960's protestor Gloria Steinem and her off-the-wall comments. Good grief, some folks still live, act and talk as though they are in the 1960's. and the liberal media loves them. Rats Infest Alaskan Islands - When you think about Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, you would not think they had a rat problem, but they do, rats are flourishing on 15 of the 35 islands. Worse. The intrusive rats are killing sea birds and their young. Rats have become the top predators on many Alaskan isolated islands. On the other hand when cats were found on some of the islands, bird population increased. Of course, scientists killed the cats in 1980 and the rats have cleared some of the islands of all bird life. It is amazing that scientists did not recognize the fact that rats became the top predator when cats were killed. Bring back the wild cats? The Way I See It, they ought to bring back more coyotes, wild cats and other rat predators on the islands. Then again, scientists may need several more years of foundation monies to research the rat problem. Yes, rats rule on more than half of the Alaskan Islands. Names Change With Time - We all know that names given at birth tend to follow popular trends of the time. For example, names such as Charles and Sandra were popular in the 1900's to the 1960's. Then, in the 1970's something happened, those two names became ... less popular and literally fell out of favor with new parents. Names such as Emily and Jacob became popular names for youngsters. In fact, from 2000 until this day, Emily and Jacob remain popular names, and you rarely hear of a young Sandra or Charles. Remember when you were the young parent thinking of all the many names you might call the new baby? Further, do you remember that second name that you did not use, but maybe wish you did?
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