The Way I See ItBy cj pollickLobster Season Just Around The Corner - Florida "sportsmen" lobster season is on the 28th and 29th (Wednesday and Thursday) of July. Two days of snorkeling and scuba diving for Florida spiny lobster. These are the two days set aside for residents to dive for lobster without the intrusion of commercial lobstermen. There is a limit of six lobsters per eligible person each day, but, in most instances, that is plenty of lobster for several great meals. It is known as a fun time for families and recreational divers who tend to flock to the Florida Keys to dive in shallow waters. The oil spill? No problem. The oil spill has not affected the waters of Florida Bay or the Keys at this time and, let's hope the oil spill never does. Boaters are cautioned, however, to be alert for divers who, at times, may drift from one spot to another without a dive flag. Further, for those people who plan to use "hookah" dive gear (dive air regulators attached to a long air line and dive compressor), be especially careful. It seems each year that people die or are seriously injured from use of that dive apparatus. Have fun and good luck getting your share of the lobster. And yes, Florida lobsters are really Florida spiny crawfish. Marco Rubio Leads Charlie Crist - GOP voters are learning why career politician Charlie Crist can't be trusted. He is, after all, still a career politician trying to keep a well-paid public job (thanks to hardworking citizens.) However, recent decisions and flip-flops by Gov. Charlie Crist should make all voters wonder where Crist might go on any political decision. Recent examples of how Crist has abandoned his previous political views are plenty and clearly outlined in a well written article published online at Newsmax.com. The author compared Crist to Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania (a man who left his political roots just to try and keep his senate job-but lost.) Crist abandoned his roots when he felt he would lose the GOP primary to Marco Rubio and decided his best chance to win another political job was to run as a non-Republican and non-Democrat. He became an Independent. The good news for Crist? The oil spill has given Crist free airtime and photo opportunities. Not bad for a politician who had lost his political base. The bad news? Crist is falling in polls to Marco Rubio (by two points) while Washington Democrats have not warmed to Crist. Things should get interesting in the Senate race after the Democrat primary. Bill McCollum Takes Stand To Support The Arizona Illegal immigration Law - Republican candidate Bill McCollum recently said he would support the Florida legislature in a move to draft an illegal immigration law similar to Arizona's. This is a new take for McCollum. Previously, he did not see the need for such a law in Florida. With public sentiment growing in support for Arizona's lawmakers (over 60%), this decision by McCollum might just help him gain voter support. How do other candidates in the Florida's governor's race feel about the Arizona law? Democrat candidates do not support the Arizona law; GOP candidates do support the Arizona law. It's Still The Economy - Does anyone care if Tiger Woods wins the Open? Or, for that matter, does anyone care if Paris Hilton smokes pot? Probably not many people care if Al Gore is divorcing or if scientists discovered a 300 year-old pre-historic bone fragment. What people care about is the economy and lack of jobs. More and more people will vote in November who are either unemployed or fed-up with leaders in Congress, like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. With low popularity ratings of career politicians, voters wonder if they really care about political office or the people. Voters across America have overwhelmingly grown tired of the current leadership in Washington and want new, fresh voices. Career politicians from both major political parties will be subject to voter unhappiness in November. The results should be interesting. Biggest problem in America? The economy. Interestingly, U.S. home foreclosures reached a record high in the second quarter of this year and U.S. retail sales dropped for the second consecutive month in June. Financial Reform? - Perhaps there is something good in a financial reform bill of over 2,000 pages, but not likely. If something takes 2,000 pages to explain, it can't be good. Here is what bothers most people: Barney Frank and Chris Dodd authored the bill. Yep, the same two guys who once thought Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac was in good financial shape. Barney Frank could not say enough positive things about the two failing mortgage lenders who need billions of taxpayer government bailout money. Yes, it is a scary thought that those same two fellows are behind the financial reform bill. Another government run agency with more taxpayer-funded employees in Washington? Heaven help us. Cash Crisis - A cash crisis in Britain's National Health Service has left patients lying on the operating tables as doctors realized vital equipment had not been ordered. Let's hope this does not occur in the U.S. Housing Market Gloom - According to the Wall Street Journal, in major markets across the country, home sales are deteriorating, inventories of unsold homes are piling up, and builders are scaling back construction plans. NBA Union Plans For Lockout - When NBA Commissioner Howard Stern stated that NBA owners could lose up to $400,000 in 2010; the Players Union questioned the number and said it would plan for a "lockout" by the owners. Lockout? Don't those people remember what happened to baseball when they decided to "lockout" and not play the game? Attendance after re-opening fell to record lows. People were mad as heck over the arrogance of the well-paid athletes and billionaire owners. "If your efforts are sometimes greeted with indifference, don't lose heart-the sun puts on a wonderful show at daybreak, yet most of the people in the audience go on sleeping." -Eda F. Teixeira |