Daily Loaf

In this over-medicated age, drug companies continue expanding their empires into the farthest realms of human behavior, developing chemical cocktails for whatever ails us: if depressed take Prozac, if scatterbrained take Adderall, if sleepless take Ambien, if impotent take Viagra… Now researchers are searching for drugs that will help you stay in love.

Consider how people often attribute their inability to remain in a relationship to psychological reasons, saying such things as, “I’m not happy anymore,” or “the spark is gone.” In a sense, a lack of love is simply a chemical imbalance, which theoretically can be corrected. Someday soon drug companies may develop a prescription pill that helps you stay in love the same way Rogaine sustains hair. Read the rest of this entry »

“Putting on the sock” doesn’t refer to a condom or penis extension, but an age old foreplay technique. It begins with the woman on her back and the man kneeling before her with his penis placed at the entrance of her vagina. Instead of inserting his penis however, the man caresses her entrance, back and forth, in a circular motion. Don’t forget to involve the clitoris. The continuous stroking leaves her incredibly wet, and on the verge of a quivering orgasm. Just be careful to gauge her orgasmic pleasures, or she may be through before the man even gets invited inside for dessert! Read the rest of this entry »

Sex should be fun, free, and feel good, but the reality is that it’s not always easy to get in the mood for sex.  Many things can cause a couple, or partner, to be turned off of sex. Here’s a quickie list of mood killers and tricks for recharging your sexual energy. Read the rest of this entry »

I had so much fun in Key West for Fantasy Fest it should be illegal (though I’m sure some of it was, or very damn close).  The boat ride on the Key West Express was well worth it. We got there in a fraction of the time and my friend Melissa and I got a head start on the festivities by sucking down White Russians and talking to Fantasy Fest veterans and fellow virgins. My favorite old pros were Bob and Rita who gave us a heads up on the freaky crazy fun of swinger groups who meet in Key West just to have sex with one another and go to kink parties. We quickly realized how true their anecdote was when we stepped off the boat and were promptly offered a free room by some NYC cops. Unfortunately they were a bit vague as to the terms of their offer.

The best word to describe what I saw in Key West is WOW!! I knew I was going to see some weird shit at Fantasy Fest but no amount of preparation or pictures can ready a person for the real thing: a celebration of parades, naked people, drunken stupors, and casual sex. Read the rest of this entry »

“Sex is always the answer. It’s never a question. And the answer is yes. Yes. YES!” –Nickelback.

Sex is a great answer to most every relationship problem, unless you’re with someone who’s never in the mood or uses sex as a punishment. So you had a fight. Nothing resolves the issue or rekindles your lust for one another like a passionate bout of makeup sex.  Doctors have long preached the health benefits of a good sex life–relieves stress, strengthens the heart, and improves breathing–but it’s also a great way to maintain a healthy relationship. Read the rest of this entry »

Today Hillsborough County Commissioners are  scheduled to formally begin discussions on ballot language for a 1 cent sales tax referendum for light rail, increased bus service and improved roads.

But Commissioner Mark Sharpe now says that today the Board will simply hear from the County’s Transportation Task Force, and the discussion on the language for the measure won’t come until next month.

The discussion  comes two days after an estimated 300 people flocked to the Crowne Plaza hotel in Brandon for a transportation forum featuring Pat McCrory, the longtime mayor of Charlotte, NC.

McCrory, a Republican who lost in his bid to be governor of North Carolina last fall, is the longest-serving mayor in Charlotte history. He made  his presentation, “Mayberry & Metropolis: The Best of Both Worlds,”  to a group that appeared to be pretty much in support of light rail.  And it was a good show, because McCrory is an energetic and enthusiastic communicator. Read the rest of this entry »

The fabulously rich Democratic incumbent Governor Jon Corzine has been upset by the cheerfully overweight Republican challenger Chris Christie in New Jersey, MSNBC has reported. Maybe the Virginia election wasn’t a referendum on Obama, but New Jersey certainly could be viewed as such.

It’s a little early, however, (Howard Fineman, we’re talking to you) to see Corzine’s defeat as a rebuke of rich guys. Though Fineman was exulting at the closer-than-expected race for mayor in New York City, zillionaire incumbent Michael Bloomberg has been declared the victor in NYC, according to the New York Times.

Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Atty General all go to the Republicans in Virginia, with Bob McDonnell thoroughly trouncing Democratic opponent Creigh Deeds for the top spot — a defeat that’s no surprise to anyone. Interestingly enough, RNC chair Michael Steele on CNN comes off as idiotic in victory as he usually does in defeat, as he tries to backpedal in support of Conservative Party Congressional candidate Doug Hoffman in New York, the only Republican-esque candidate left standing after the GOP’s choice, Dede Scozzfava, dropped out.

Photo by james ostrand

[Editor's Note: Jim Harper, a former editor of the Weekly Planet (now Creative Loafing), covered St. Petersburg government, politics and racial issues from 1996 to 2000 for the St. Petersburg Times.]

I’ve been following the St. Pete mayor’s race fairly closely. Even though I don’t especially like either candidate, they are who you’ve got. And you have to make a choice.

Let me start by saying that I have never really liked Kathleen Ford. I covered her first race for City Council for the Times a dozen years ago, and caused her great grief by quoting her as saying something like “the reason the Old Northeast is important is because it provides a buffer for Snell Isle.” What Snell Isle should be buffered from, she didn’t say.

I sat in her Old Northeast living room — with a prim, severe portrait of some white woman from an earlier century glaring down from the mantel — and I listened to her talk about how tattoo parlors did not belong in downtown St. Petersburg. She also criticized retro clothing stores and anything else that might represent a messy creative revival in downtown St. Pete.

I mentioned all this in my coverage. (Well, maybe not the severe WASP ancestor portrait; I’ve got some of those in my own family, and I’m not sure what they mean.)

Her council opponent was weak. She won.

Fast-forward 10 years. I’ve read a lot about the current Ford model from sources other than the St. Petersburg Times, which seems to be  carrying my old torch in looking for ways to discredit her. And from what I can tell — despite her new, more user-friendly veneer: “Ford 2.0,” as she calls it — she seems still to be ill-tempered, snide, prone to say weird and prejudiced things when she speaks off the top of her head.

But — and this is a big but — she also has an impressive command of the details of city government  — including the balance of power that the City Charter prescribes between the mayor and the City Council. (Read her interview in last week’s Creative Loafing, where she applies that knowledge to the baseball question. Sounds like a reasonable position to me, and I’m a die-hard Rays fan. Gave my left nut to attend division and ACLS playoffs last year, and I’ve never missed an Opening Day.)

Ford also has a keen sense of what many St. Petersburg residents mistrust about their municipal government: Read the rest of this entry »

Well, it’s election day in St. Petersburg.  Foster or Ford?  Danner or Schmiege? Kornell or Rouson? We’ll mercifully know by tonight who’ll be governing St. Pete post Rick Baker.

There are state and local elections throughout the country, some said to have national implications.  I know Rush Limbaugh said  the other day that Barack Obama has a massive ego, but that still doesn’t mean that these races are necessarily about the President.

And the most interesting story of the day is that Lakeland State Senator Paula Dockery will be entering the race for the GOP nomination for Governor.

Download the report here

When approaching any piece of media, it’s vital to engage the work on its own terms. What are the creators trying to accomplish? Do they have a specific audience in mind or message they’re trying to convey? How did they use the resources at their disposal?

So it would be unfair to judge the second Brady Bunch porn parody, Not The Brady’s XXX Marcia, Marcia, Marcia, on the quality of the acting, writing, or cinematography. It makes no claims to excellence or even competence in any of these areas (and a good thing, too). It’s a porn movie that parodies an already ridiculous, previously parodied TV show, The Brady Bunch. Its goals are to turn you on with hot, XXX sex and to make you laugh. Sadly, it doesn’t do a very good job at either. Read the rest of this entry »

A ‘dating’ lifestyle for a single dad can be fraught with many nightmarish consequences. For example, I cannot bring a woman home without being asked what happened to the last woman I dated. My kids usually ask for her by name. Nothing kills a mood quicker than mentioning another woman’s name to your current date—except maybe calling your current date by another woman’s name. Read the rest of this entry »

Sex toys used to be thought of as kinky, perverted, and taboo, but things have changed. When I first got married I thought I’d never need to masturbate or use a vibrator. This was in the mid 80’s when you couldn’t anonymously shop for sex toys online. Now it’s easier than ever to search for all kinds of sexual aids without having to brave a visit to a “Dirty Book Store.” If you’re new to the world of sex toys, here’s a top ten list of a few of my favorites.

10. Nipple Clamps: Read the rest of this entry »

Halloween came early Saturday at The Castle with Taboo 3. If you couldn’t make it, check out the photo gallery below for a taste of what you missed. Performances by Angela Ryan, Idelsy, Oni & Jody, Evelyn Rose, Victoria Sapphire, Aerial Eye Burlesque, Curse Mackey, DJ Tom Gold, DJ Sean, DJ Nemesis, and DJ Rob Givens. Nude body painting, fetish vendors, the Senator wearing a rubber condom, a naked desser bar, and some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.

Photos by Shannon Adams.

(Pics below very NSFW) Read the rest of this entry »

Jamaican dancehall singer Buju Banton, whose notorious song “Boom Bye Bye” advocates gay-bashing and murder, was originally supposed to play The Ritz Ybor and Jannus Landing this weekend. Those gigs are no more — cancelled like so many of the gigs on Banton’s U.S. tour. But now we hear the show is back on — at the Cuban Club in Ybor on Oct. 30. Here’s the promoters’ defiant announcement:

This is the show Gay Activists have tried to shut down. Originally scheduled for The Ritz Ybor then forced to move to Jannus Landing – Now CONFIRMED for The Cuban Club – The Buju Banton Freedom Tour! is an event for All Peoples of All Colors and Choices to embrace the Music from Jamaica BACK now in Ybor City where it should never have been made to leave!

Equality Florida had been calling for a letter-writing campaign to protest Buju Banton shows in Jacksonville, Miami and St. Pete, receiving what the organization calls “an unprecedented flood of hate mail and threats” as a result. Now that the St. Pete gig has been moved back to Ybor, expect a call to action there as well. Read the rest of this entry »

The Amazon begins with the man lying on his back with both feet in the air, legs curled towards his abdomen and spread comfortably. The woman then squats over the man, pushing his legs forward, curling him backward, so that she can straddle his hamstrings and achieve penetration at the same time.

Any recommendations on getting either in or out of this position?
Your parts aren’t going to match up nice and neat as in most Kama Sutra positions. The man is going to need to angle his member forward towards his testicles, which can be easier for some than for others! Read the rest of this entry »

Well the advisory panel to evaluate a proposal to sell Cone Ranch (brought forth by County Commission Chairman Ken ‘Half Truth’ Hagan) is getting nowhere fast on just what should be done to protect the already preserved and publicly owned land.

This was the first panel meeting I have attended in person (they have had five) but I have been following them for you on the video on demand that the county provides. Most meetings have been filled with presentations from county staff, other agencies and even the big time Republican donors…er…… I mean the brokers behind this deal, leaving the panelists almost no time to discuss the actual task at hand and last Friday was no different. They once again reviewed mitigation banks, conservation easements and county staff plastered up more red tape regarding the bonds from the water utility and the water rights held by Tampa Bay Water (TBW).

Photo credit: *hoodrat* Flickr.com Read the rest of this entry »

A recent article, “How Men Select Women,” sums up the science of what men look for in female mates. I’ve synthesized the information down to a blog-sized bite. Please note that these finding are based on averages, and that a wide variety exists on each side of every claim. Averages simply give us a language for talking about attraction. If you find you don’t match all of these criteria, which is pretty much everyone, rest assured there are many people who will have a thing for your differences.

High reproductive value: Men are attracted to younger women who have more fertile years ahead of them, or a high “reproductive value.” Read the rest of this entry »

With Halloween approaching faster than an ADD kid jacked up on Snickers, much ado has been made about the sexification of female Halloween costumes. While some women feel that Halloween is the one day they can wear provocative outfits in public without being called sluts, others feel this trend increasingly objectifies women. I don’t know who’s right,  but I do know I have no problem with the sexification of male costumes. Read the rest of this entry »

A spokesman for Pinellas area Congressman C.W. Bill Young is denying a recent report that the longtime  GOP Representative will not run for re-election in 2010.

Last week on Florida This Week, the local PBS public affairs program on WEDU, USF-St. Petersburg Political Science Professor emeritus Daryl Paulson said that Pinellas area Congressman C.W. Bill Young would not run for re-election in 2010 (when he will be 80 years of age).

Paulson also said that Young was furious with Governor Charlie Crist about not getting named to replace Mel Martinez as the interim Senator until the voters will choose a new Senator in 2010.

But Harry Glenn, the Congressman’s spokesman, says Young has not made any decision yet on 2010.

“Congressman Young thinks campaign’s run too long as it is,” Glenn said, explaining why the Congressman is not focused on fundraising or any aspect of his re-election at this point.

Paulson also said that David Jolly, who worked for many years as Congressman Young’s Legal Counsel, would run for the GOP nomination for Young’s seat.

In an interview earlier this week, Jolly said that he couldn’t speak for the Congressman, saying it’s his campaign to run for.  But, he added, “If he steps down during the next re-election cycle, I will run for his office.  But this is not political ambition.”

Jolly repeated during our interview that he hopes that Young runs for re-election, but if he does not, he will run.

Young’s spokesman Harry Glen also dismissed the allegation that Young was upset with Governor Crist for not being named to be the fill-in for Mel Martinez in the Senate.

But Professor Paulson says that he’s heard from other officials close to Congressman Young that he was ‘ready and willing’ to take over Martinez seat, and thought Crist had committed to him.

Young spokesman Harry Glenn strongly denied that, saying that Representative Young “is not a quitter” and that “he never applied.”  Glenn said Young did speak with the Governor about possible candidates for the job, but that’s as far as their conversation went.

Crist selected his close friend and and former aid George LeMieux to the Senate seat.  According to a new poll just released, that selection has been received with mixed opinion by the Florida electorate.

Speculation about Congressman Young stepping down has become a parlor game of sort for Tampa Bay area reporters for years now.  Young is 79, and has served in Congress for 39 years.

Sat. Oct 24. Taboo 3. A Masquerade ball with a sexy fetish edge. World famous fetish performers, silk aerial & trapeze acts, burlesque troop, vendors, open play dungeon equipment, and naked dessert bars. Appearances by Angela Ryan, Oni & Jody, Idelsy, GoCatGo Burlesque, Aerial Eye Candy, Evelyn Rose, Victoria Sapphire and more. Music by DJ Tom Gold, DJ Sean, DJ Curse Mackey, DJ Nemesis, and DJ Rob Givens. The Castle 2004 N. 16th St. Ybor 33605.

Fri and Sat. Oct. 23 – 24. Shibari and Bondage Weekend. The Quest. 12517 66th St. N. Largo, FL 33773.

Sat. Oct 31. Fetish Factory’s Halloween Fetish Ball. Purgatory Nightclub.  1000 State Road 84 City, Fort Lauderdale, FL Zip. 33315. Read the rest of this entry »

Angela Ryan, one of many nation fetish acts performing at Taboo 3 this Saturday, describes her adventures in the world of alternative modeling.

Creative Loafing: How did you become a Fetish/pinup model and a burlesque performer?

Angela Ryan: I modeled a little professionally as a child and my mother constantly had a camera in my face. After I got through those gawky teenage years I picked it back up. When I was 20 I was asked by a friend who was a photographer to model for him. It sparked an interest in me since I was so familiar with posing as a child. I decided to pursue it further and was approached by photographers all over the country to work with them. I started doing burlesque to further my creative outlets. I ended up quitting my retail and cocktailing jobs to travel. I have been modeling and performing full time ever since. It started out as just fun but I have been lucky enough to make a career out of it! Read the rest of this entry »

Last week the Broward County Sheriff’s Office said it would not investigate the beating death of a Fort Lauderdale man as a hate crime, prompting outrage from gay rights activists. Craig Cohen was 47 years old and openly gay. He was walking home from a local diner in Oakland Park, just north of Fort Lauderdale last April when he was attacked by a group of men. He was pushed to the ground and repeatedly kicked in the head until his skull was crushed. Cohen spent the next six months in a brain damaged coma and died Oct. 7th never having regained consciousness.

Cohen was not the only person attacked on April 6th. A few minutes later and less than two miles away, 27 year old David Villanova was beaten and robbed by the same men. He survived his attack. He is also openly gay.

Two suspects were arrested in May in connection with the crimes, and a third, just 18 years old was arrested last week, charged with robbery and murder. The Broward County Sheriff’s Office determined that the attacks on Cohen and Villanova were crimes of “opportunity” fueled by a hard night of partying and a desire to “kick some ass.”

But Cohen’s friends say they don’t buy that and neither does Scott Hall, founder and president of Gay American Heroes, a foundation that honors the victims of hate crimes and also seeks to educate the public about a problem that Hall says claims an LGBTQ life every nine days. Hall said he commends Broward County Sheriff Al Lamberti’s ongoing support of the gay community, but believes the motive behind Cohen’s murder was hate, not robbery. Because the most typical things thieves would steal were still on Cohen’s body when he arrived at the hospital; wallet, credit cards, cash and a watch, Hall said “the only thing they stole from Craig was his life and the only thing that was actually missing were his car keys. So for them to classify it as robbery is doing an injustice to the community and to us as a county.”

Commander Rick Wierzbicki is with the Broward Sheriff’s Office and is Chief of the Hate Crimes/Anti Bias Task Force. When asked why Cohen’s valuables weren’t stolen if robbery was the motive, Wierzbicki said it wasn’t from the suspects’ lack of trying. He said several eyewitnesses testified that the men tried to get at Cohen’s wallet but “got spooked” by oncoming headlights when the traffic light changed and were forced to leave the scene.

Wierzbicki said his department actually began the investigation as a hate crime. “Sheriff Lamberti spoke out at the opening of the Stonewall Library, and we knew two of the victims were gay. We had composites drawn and within two hours, had them delivered to gay friendly businesses in Oakland Park, Wilton Manners and Fort Lauderdale. But as the investigation went on we knew it was, unfortunately, just an extremely violent attack,” he said.   Wierzbicki said the suspects would have had to have made specific statements or there had to be concrete evidence that the victims were attacked because they were gay and he said there was “absolutely no evidence to that point” and added “it’s a tragic situation but that’s where the facts are.”

Scott Hall says the Sheriff’s Dept. needs to be pressured to reevaluate the case, saying, “if they were to find an African American hanging from the end of a rope anywhere in the U.S. they would consider that a hate crime.” And he added that with the hundreds of different LGBTQ murders he’s researched “this is so evident of the brutality of the crime that it should alone give it precedent to say that it’s a hate crime.”

Now that Cohen has died, Wierzbicki said the charges against 21 yr. old Victor Gonzalez, 25 yr. old Pargu Leandro and 18 yr. old Chad Olah will be the stiffest that can be levied, with or without a hate crime classification, that of 1st degree murder.

If there is a positive side to this tragedy it is the fund that Cohen’s friends have established in his name. It aims to help the other victims in crimes such as this – the pets who are left behind. At the time of the attack Cohen shared his life with a dog named Eddie and 5 indoor cats, who Scott Hall said might have had to be euthanized, were it not for the “Craig Cohen Animal Advocacy Project”.

The CCAAP is part of “The Pet Project” which helps people living with HIV/AIDS keep their pets by providing care and support. Although still a developing initiative, the CCAAP found caring homes for all of Cohen’s cats and Eddie was adopted by a neighbor. To learn more about The Craig Cohen Animal Advocacy Project check out www.petprojectforpets.org. For information about the Gay American Heroes Foundation visit www.gayamericanheroes.info

At my former job I met a man I’ll call Scott. Scott came in multiple times to specifically seek my advice and stayed roughly an hour each visit. We talked about each others’ lives, specifically love and sex; I like to think these subjects are my forte and I talk about them with most everyone. The majority of the the conversations were about his ex and recent dates he went on. Once, when it was time for Scott to leave, I was on my way out for lunch. As we walked out together I said, “You know I don’t have that many good guy friends that I can chat with around here. We should be friends.”

He shot me a curious smile and gave me his phone number. We occasionally shot each other a text about our bad experiences with Verizon and the like, but then things went in a direction I wasn’t expecting.

Via text he asked, “What do you want?”

I laughed and said, “Well nothing. You know I’m not single, right?” I figured Facebook would have given him that answer.

“I’m not looking for anything serious,” he wrote. “You’re a cool girl and all, but I’m not looking for anything ’serious’ with you.”

I could not believe what I was hearing. I legitimately thought he wanted to be my friend, but in the end he just wanted to fuck. I ended communication with Scott immediately and called a close male friend to vent.

As naive as it sounds, I have never been asked out-right to be a friend-with-benefits. Don’t get me wrong, I see nothing wrong with that, but I honestly did not think he had an ulterior motive. I was very, very wrong.

This got me thinking of other scenarios with male “friends.” Two of my close male friends have told me that we couldn’t be friends or talk as much, because of trust issues with their partners. When did I cross a line where it’s not OK to be friends with males, especially if they are in a relationships?

I have always had more male than female friends and am confused as to why this relationship seems taboo to many. I can understand how a girlfriend would get jealous if I had slept with or dated these male friends, but otherwise I’m lost. The worst part is that I have been friends with one guy long before he met his recent beau, so why should I have to give him up as a friend?

My boyfriend and I have an exponential amount of trust for one another and I think this is what is lacking in couples that “forbid” their partner to have friends of the opposite sex. I feel that if you do not have friends of the opposite sex for fear of what will happen in your own relationship, you are missing out on some major life experiences, and I don’t mean sexually.

Why am I just now learning this unspoken rule? After some thought I think I have found a solution: the friend needs to meet the partner in order to convey a sense of trust and to prove that he/she has no ulterior motives. But is the rule only applicable to people in marriages or relationships? What about single people? I need some perspective on this one? What do you all think?

Follow Emmalee on Twitter here and read more by her here

Your week in sex and love news. No mention of balloon boy (other than this one). Pinky swear.

The Big O says ‘hell no’ to mile high club: Earlier this week, Oprah Winfrey’s former flight attendant claimed that she was wrongfully fired after being accused of having sex during a flight in June. The attendant, Corrine Gehrls, has sued Harpo, as well as former co-worker Myron Gooch and Winfrey’s goddaughter, Kirby Bumpus, for false and defamatory accusations that led to her dismissal.

Esquire discovers why vampires are so damn sexy trendy: On Tuesday, Esquire claimed that the reason that young straight American women have become obsessed with vampires is because they secretly want to have sex with gay men. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. The name “Celtic Thunder” sounds pretty cool for a soccer team.  But when the bombastic appellation describes five attractive guys from Ireland and Scotland who sing an odd mix of pop hits and traditional Irish songs at the Mahaffey Theater on Friday, it’s hard not to think someone dipped into the same well of kitsch that inspired over-the-top names like “Lord of the Dance.”

Be that as it may, when Celtic Thunder takes to the stage at the Mahaffey this Friday, they’ll bring with them impressive credentials.  Two of their CDs reached number one on the Billboard World Music Charts, and Read the rest of this entry »

Local and national adult stars came out early Monday for the 17th Annual Night Moves Adult Awards. Notorious porn star Ron Jeremy hosted the event, telling dirty jokes and fondling fans. Tampa performer Evelyn Rose taunted the crowd with her fetish act, Rebecca Love bounced out of her sequin Buccaneers cheerleading outfit, and 2001 Odyssey girls spiraled through an erotic version of Cirque du Soleil. Other adult stars in attendance included Jessica Drake, Kaylani Lei, Alektra Blue, Bree Olson, Kayden Kross, Alexa Jordan, Alexis Ford, Angelina Armani, Austyn Moore, Candi Lane, Chennin Blanc, Christy Wild, Deliah Strong, Derrick Pierce, Jazella Moore, Kayden Kross, Kaylani Lei, Kylie Ireland, Lexi Lamour, Lindsey Lovehands, Lisa Sparxxx, Mariah Milano, Nikki Rhodes, Nikki Sexton, Savanna Stern, Taryn Thomas, Teagan Presley, Trina Michaels, Veronica Rayne, and Zoe Britton.
(Pics Below are definitely NSFW) Read the rest of this entry »

Republican blogger, daughter of John McCain, and overall minx Meghan McCain, almost pulled a Miley Cyrus this week after a racy photo on her Twitter account sparked outrage from conservatives.  With all the problems Americans face these days, why are we worried about a little cleavage?

Full “racy” shot after the break

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. Read the rest of this entry »

After another weekend full of my usual make-out antics, an issue I’ve been coping with reared it’s ugly head: post-make-out dating etiquette.

Undoubtedly, the internet has revolutionized dating protocol. The days of going to your mom for advice are gone. I am pretty sure my mom would be stumped if I asked her “What does it mean if he posts on my Facebook wall, but just writes ‘Hi’?” Read the rest of this entry »

The Skipperdome was packed this past Sunday, October 11, for WMNF’s Woodstock Flashback. Having been to Skipper’s Smokehouse more than anywhere else in Tampa, I was shocked to find so many people there, both in the restaurant and the outdoor venue. The parking lot was packed to overflowing.

Due to the lack of parking and the fact that we had to pay $5 for the spot we found, we didn’t see the opener, Soul 2 Earth, playing Jimi Hendrix, though we heard it the tail end of their set on our way in. We got our wristbands as they were exiting the stage.

It was practically standing room only at the ‘Dome, patrons with drinks and food in hand, and wearing smiling faces. Indeed, the WMNF regulars I’d spotted at previous events were in full attendance, but like always, the audience was a diverse bunch, ages ranging from infant to senior, and everyone was there to have an amazing Woodstock Flashback experience. Read the rest of this entry »

Conservative icon Rush Limbaugh is in discussions with a group looking at buying without doubt the worst team in the National Football League right now — no, not the Bucs — the St. Louis Rams.

The NFL Players Association head has come out against this, as have a few black players, who don’t think much of “El Rushbo.”  Predictably, the Reverend Al Sharpton has come out against this as well.

Nothing new in any of this.  But it gives me the opportunity to weigh in on the fact that, bar none, if you’re looking for tasteless if not flat-out racist letters to the editor, you’ll not be disappointed if you go to TBO.com to read from the fair-minded citizens of the Tampa Bay area, on this or any other issue that affects blacks or Muslims. Never fails.  I give credit to the folks at TBO that they’ve omitted several entries on this story as being ‘inappropriate.’

In Tampa today, the Hillsborough County Commission has voted to reject a rezoning request today that would have allowed for Catholic Charities to get closer to building a tent city in the County.

The organizers said they would build housing for up to 250 homeless people, for up to 90 days at a time.

Interestingly enough, the Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County is against the proposal.  The head of the Coalition, Rayme Nuckles told Fox 13 last week that:

“The tents are not an effective way to meet the needs of the homeless,” said Rayme Nuckles, CEO of the Homeless Coalition, who has also been critical of Catholic Charities.

Here’s what Nuckles says on a home video shot at a meeting of the Stop Tent City group October 2nd:

“We said, ‘let’s do this the right way, because you screwed it up in Pinellas County.’” There were hoots and applause, music to Tent City’s detractors, who’ve pledged to campaign against any county commissioner who votes for the tents.

But again, on a 4-3 vote, Commissioners Higgenbotham, White, Sharpe and Hagen voted to deny the rezoning.

For those who work difficult jobs, sex is an important way to blow off steam.  My husband has a very stressful job, so I do my part to make his home life as pleasurable as possible.  One particular night my husband called home late from work. I could tell he had a rotten day because he asked if we had anything to drink.  At that moment I went into whore mode. It would take him a half hour to get home, which was enough time for me to plan his evening. Read the rest of this entry »

I consider myself a fairly patient person, especially when it comes to service in restaurants. I, along with millions of others, toiled in commercial kitchens and dining rooms across the country, and certainly understand the often horrific treatment endured by smarmy scumbags masking as diners. But enough is enough. I must kvetch about wine service in restaurants. Wine is conceivably the most lucrative cash cow a server has at his/her disposal, yet so many abuse the privilege of potentially making 15 percent for simply opening and pouring a bottle. To futz this up is ludicrous.

My least favorite flubs: Read the rest of this entry »

“Do you think it’s possible to love someone without being afraid of losing them? But at the same time is it possible to be alive in this world without loving anyone at all?”

Those questions are at the heart of the gentle, bittersweet Love of Siam, Thailand’s 2008 submission to the Academy Awards. They’re spoken by Mew to his best friend Tong, childhood pals who have rediscovered each other as teenagers, both having suffered wrenching losses: Mew of his beloved grandmother and Tong of his older sister, whose disappearance years before still haunts his parents. Mew has somewhat inexplicably become the lead singer in a boy band (Did Lou Pearlman move to Bangkok?), but when he reconnects with Tong his love songs take on a whole new dimension. Read the rest of this entry »