TampaBLAB

OMG girl, that is just sad and hilarious all at the same time! I’m not laughing…I’m not:O

OMG! What a story. I am so sorry this happened. But I’m glad you won’t have to keep digging anymore.

July 30: St. Lucie 5 – Lakeland 8

Box Score | Game Recap

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Lakeland	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	5	4
St. Lucie	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	3	4	3

Post from: Lakeland Local

Originally Published as Early Scoring Paces Lakeland to Win over St. Lucie

If you live in Connie Mack’s district ask him to back up his assertions with facts. Mack is choosing tyranny over democracy. These are not the principles US citizens should expect from their elected representatives........here

I keep my cell phone beside me, just in case. I crave every shred, every mention of the adventure you’re on. I am proud. I am jealous. I worry.

You’re borrowing my childhood, you know. These are the things I’ve wanted you to see for a decade now. With me. But I am here, with our sons.

I am ten thousand wives waiting.

I am borrowing too. Borrowing a life I swore against, always. Wandering through the whaler’s chapel. Reading the names of those who were lost. Gazing up at the widow’s walks silhouetted against the dismal New England sky. Not me, I said. I will never marry a fisherman.

Oh my love at sea. Sleep well tonight. My brother will watch over you and the engine will sing you to sleep and you will rock on the waves that have gently cradled ten thousand husbands before you.

I’ll let the sea borrow you, for now.

Last week at Fort DeSoto Beach it seems it was my day to see the unusual. Only a very few minutes into my walk down the beach I noticed a heron-like bird I didn't think I'd ever seen before. I guess that's what made it unusual.It caught my attention with its strange way of flapping its wings and prancing through the shallow waters almost as if it was purposely entertaining on-lookers. There was

The Hockey News’ Edward Fraser sat down with Lightning GM Brian Lawton and talked about the latest goings on with the Bolts. Here are the questions, answers and our comments about the July 22 interview:

The Hockey News: If you had the No. 1 pick, would you have taken Hedman?

Brian Lawton: We never comment on that; we didn’t have the No. 1 pick.

We said all along that we’d be thrilled with whomever we got and, as it turns out, we’re absolutely thrilled.

We think the world of John Tavares. He’s a tremendous player, as is Matt Duchene.

Lightning Shout: We think the pick would have been Matt Duchene, but that is purely conjecture, not fact based in any way. Lawton was a little put off by Tavares's attitude during his pre-draft visit.

THN: Having been a No. 1 pick yourself, do you talk to these young guys about the pressures that come with being a high draft pick?

BL: Last year a lot of people thought that Steven (Stamkos) didn’t do very well and I maintained from Day 1 that he did tremendously.

His delivery in the beginning of the year didn’t meet other people’s expectations and that caused a little bit of a ruckus, but he just handled it so wonderfully.

We never had any concerns about him. He really picked it up in the second half.

My philosophy is to be very cautious with these kids and it’ll be the same thing with Victor Hedman.

Vinny Lecavalier and Martin St-Louis are great with the kids. The kids coming into our organization have two great mentors, one that was at the top of the mountain to start in Vinny Lecavalier and the other one who was at the bottom of the valley, so they see the other end of it.

Lightning Shout: " Vinny has to step up and be more than a player. He has to be a mentor and a leader."

THN: Were you at all close at any point to actually moving Lecavalier?

BL: No, absolutely not. All the rumors, everything – no, never.

The future of the team has been decided, as far as I’m aware of. I suppose we could buy him out if we wanted to. But other than that, I’m not aware of any options that the Tampa Bay Lightning has with Vinny Lecavalier.

We think the team is pretty set and so many people look so foolish. I’m surprised that somebody would even bring it up at this stage.

Lightning Shout: Lawton is saying what he has to say...now. He can't admit that a trade was an option, now that Vinny is a Bolt for life. We believe that at the very least, the organization talked about moving Vinny.

THN: Have the ownership problems made it more difficult for you to do your job?

BL: Probably a couple of extra hoops to jump through, but not a big deal. Both of those guys are passionate about hockey; both of them want to win.

There’s a lot more common ground than people would know if they just went by media reports and things like that.

In a lot of respects, as opposed to maybe a more traditional situation, yes, a couple more moves. But comparing it to what’s printed in the media, not as significant.

Lightning Shout: "I'm talking about my bosses now, so I am putting on my politically correct hat."

THN: What’s your expectation for the upcoming season?

BL: Our expectation, quite frankly, is just to try to develop into a winning hockey club every night.

That’s what you need to be in the playoffs. If you’re at .500 in this league, you’re not going to be in the playoffs.

We have to walk before we run. We were 30th and 29th the last two seasons and we were 16 games below .500 last year, so it would be a huge accomplishment to get this club back winning on a nightly basis.

We have our work cut out for us and there are no grand delusions that we’re going to win our division or our conference.

You’re not just going to snap your fingers and it completely turns around. We have great hopes. We have hopes our goaltenders, both of them, will be healthy; we have hopes that Mattias Ohlund will really help the mentoring of Victor Hedman and solidify our ‘D’ corps and help everybody play better; we have hopes that Vinny Lecavalier will come back and…that he’ll have a breakout season; we have hopes that Steven Stamkos will continue to progress; and we’ve got hopes that our new coaching staff will be more organized right from the beginning.

Right now, in the middle of the summer, that’s really all it is, hopes.

Lightning Shout: "I've done what I can. Toc is on the clock."

Innocent War by Susan Violante chronicles the life of a boy, Nino, who lived in the Italian Colonies of Libya during WWII. Written by Nino’s daughter, it is based on historical facts with some fictional anecdotes added.

Nino saw his father drafted into the war which he and his family believed in. Italy was allies with Germany, but Nino and his family only knew what he was taught by his school, by the government and what was on the radio. What unfolds during the book helps them learn the truth, but it is a painful journey to reality.

During the war, they go through many difficult times, such as not having food, going of bombings, learning of close friends dying, and having to move many times to try to stay safe. There were some positive things too. They meet people from other cultures and learn that they are all the same inside. Families and communities come together to help each other in dire times. Nino and his friends still enjoy playing and being children when possible.

Nino’s parents did all they could to keep their children safe, especially Nino’s mother, who was left to care for them on her own. She learned to make meals out of practically nothing, buy from the black market and do things that woman of that time normally would not (such as packing up and moving without her husband’s knowledge).

Seen through the eyes of a child, war is very traumatic. The constant changes and the unknown leave effects that last into adulthood. You can learn about this by reading Susan Violante’s website, especially clicking on the links of her videos on YouTube.

My Review: This was an easy read because of the intrigue, the history that I learned so much about and the humor. I learned a great deal about how children cope with war, which helped me to consider what it is like currently for children in war zones throughout the war. To read how Nino’s mother sacrificed for her children made me realize that my life is so easy.  I cried along with Nino and laughed at his antics. This is  a touching book on so many levels.

To Purchase: Innocent War is sold online for $15.99.

Giveaway: Win one copy of this book.

The Rules:

1. Contest starts now and ends Saturday, August 8th at midnight EST.
2. Open to people in the US and Canada.
3. Winner will be chosen by Random.org.
4. Winner has 2 days to claim prize.
5. Have fun and tell your friends.

How To Enter:
For One Entry For Each Below: (please leave a separate comment for each entry)

Mandatory to be entered into contest - Visit the author’s website and leave a comment about one thing you learned that wasn’t mentioned here. It can be about the book or the author. If this entry is not done, all other entries will not be counted.

For Extra Entries:
1. Sign up for this blog’s RSS feed. (Only for new followers)
2. Leave a comment on my other blog, Connie’s View. Let me know the post please.
3. Fave my blog on Technorati.
4. Write a blog post linking to this post.
5. Follow my blog on Facebook - use the Networked Blogs widget on my sidebar - Leave your Facebook name please.
6. Follow me on Twitter. (Only for new followers) Leave your Twitter ID please.
7. Become a fan of Brain Foggles on Facebook. Leave you Facebook name please.
8. Leave a comment about what you feel about war and its effect on children. - You can leave a new comment once every day during this giveaway.
9. Tweet about this contest. Please be sure to use my Twitter ID in your Tweet @ConnieFoggles. - You can tweet once every day during this giveaway.

This review and giveaway sponsored by Phenix and Phenix.

Q & A with Raheem Morris

We have written about this before.....
But after watching this on our local news and reading about it,we have question.......

You really need to read this before reading any further with our post.We want to make sure you know all the details.....

Have you read it?

Shall we proceed?

What kind of parent raises a child to think it's just "goofing around" to stick a hockey stick up another boy's ass?
Pranks and teasing? Call me naive,but doesn't this go out side of the boundaries of pranks and teasing?I don't know,but I wouldn't call that teasing.Isn't it teasing,when you call someone a name,or make fun of their mother?Isn't a prank,tripping someone as they walk down the aisle?Stuffing them in a locker?Stealing their lunch?

I guess we're really out of touch,if sticking a broom stick and a hockey stick up another students ass is considered teasing,or just a silly middle school kinda prank. Silly me.I guess I really am out of touch with this generation.

I'm starting to think I may be have been a bad parent,because I would have kicked my kids' collective asses if I even thought that thought had crossed their minds.And if they had done something like that,I would not be writing this right now,as I would be serving a life sentence for their murder. Not that I would've murderd them.I just would've beaten them senseless.

What amazes me is that one of these "angel's" pastor wrote on his behalf what a good person he is.What kind of church preaches that?And what kind of pastor are you,if you are so out of touch with your congregation that you are not aware that this kid admitted he did it,but it was just "goofing off" ?
Sorry,but I ain't attending that church anytime soon.

And I really love this statement:
"Latoya Williams of Tampa wrote May 12 that she has known Price-Murray for more than 10 years and that he is respectful and an excellent student.
"I am fully confident that Raymond would never hurt anyone intentional or unintentionally, he has always exhibited a care and concern for other's personal well being, while offering assistance to anyone who needs his help," Williams wrote."

Yep-she really knew him well.....

Call me opinionated and a bitch and whatever comes to mind,but my kids don't need that kind of concern,or assistance.


I still want to ask the parents of these boys,and any other child that was aware of this,
These are the grandchildren of the Peace and Love Generation.

Now,we have a generation of children who think it's quite permissable to stick a broomstick or hockey stick up someone's ass just because that person pissed them off.And call it "goofing off."

Oh yeah---

Dance MF’ers!

Matt Yglesias and Ryan Powers have interesting posts on how the health industry has spent vast sums of money to stop health care reform. The lobbying dollars shifts to the party in power. The biggest beneficiaries of been the Blue Dog Democrats.

Overall, the typical Blue Dog has received $63,000 more in campaign contributions from the health-care sector than other House Democrats over the past two decades, according to the CRP analysis. The top three recipients were Rep. Earl Pomeroy (N.D.), with $1.5 million, and Tennessee Reps. Bart Gordon and John Tanner, both of whom collected over $1.2 million from the industry and its employees, according to the data.

The only major health care policy proposal off by Blue Dogs is the trigger. Current private health care would run in it's current state. If the costs become too high then that will "trigger" Congress to respond. The trigger is a stalling tactic and should be treated as such.

Joel Coen & Ethan Coen are at it again. Apple - Movie Trailers - A Serious Man

"We already have major distribution of wealth going on in this country. … Redistribution of wealth, from rich to poor. The rich pay — the so-called rich. We’re talking about $250,000 or more in New York City. I know this is hard for people to understand. These people sometimes are two-earner families. They’re really struggling."

Rudy Giuliani

Parts of America have unemployment levels above 10 percent. 47 million Americans do not have health insurance. Wages have become stagnant. Giuliani's message is the poor are getting too much. Those people making $250,000-a-year are suffering. Republicans wonder why they have had credibility problems on economic matters.

“Is there a margin muse in your library book?” from The Guardian Books Blog:*

“Marks in library books are usually moronic scrawlings or tedious displays of ego, but just occasionally you come across something fascinating.”

I never write in library books, but I used to write in all my college textbooks and readings. In a textbook I knew I’d sell back—probably for a dollar—to the college bookstore at the end of the semester, I wrote a message to the next owner, “Do you have [Prof. X] for [Class Y], too? Isn’t he the worst professor you’ve ever had?”

I love to read previous owners’ margin notes in used books—please, NOT library books! Do you find such notes interesting or annoying?

*Seen on Library Link of the Day, July 31, 2009.

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“Stormtroopers 365,” a photoset on Flickr: Maybe it’s just me, but the combination of action figures and macro photography is always hilarious.

Maybe you and I can take our own hilarious photos. The library has 2 copies of “The Complete Guide to Close-Up and Macro Photography.”

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NPR’s 60 Best Beach Reads Ever!:

Our SUNCAT list of the first 60 of NPR’s 100 Best Beach Reads Ever!

Want to see the whole list? Check the NPR web site here.

IAMCASEFACE

Big Cat Rescue is one of the tressures of the Tampa Bay area. BCR has educational tours. Go check BCR out.

Enjoy this fabulous trailer/teaser for the upcoming World Premiere of Wonderland. Tickets go on sale in 15 days!!!!

(Special thanks to Lorenzo C. and Tina B. our incredibly talented-very-helpful-holds-down-the-fort-with-a-smile-audio-video-staff for creating this fun appetizer).

The 2009 Tour de France didn't have a doping case until today, when a stage winner got nailed.

It wasn't Lance. It was this guy.

Sorry I missed last Friday, had to “exit stage left…” Friday Cat & It’s Friday… Dance MF’er material all-in-one.