Daily Loaf

The City Council of St. Petersburg will make a decision this Thursday that will signal what path the city is taking for the future. The council will vote on spending nearly $700,000 in taxpayer money for more police and special projects for the owners of BayWalk, including privatization of the sidewalk outside the mall entrance.  BayWalk’s ownership, whose controlling interest is held by Wells Fargo Bank, said without the subsidy and the sidewalk, they cannot possibly turn around the failing entertainment complex.

From the standpoint of public policy that promotes sustainable economics, the council’s choice is clear, I think. Will it continue a worn-out policy of subsidies to out-of-town corporations and mainly profit the wealthy few? Or will it adopt an enlightened, sustainable public policy that promotes economic development of all local residents, in every community, not just the privileged ones?
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No one can explain capitalism in a simple manner, and Michael Moore is no exception. Yet Capitalism: A Love Story does a fine job tackling the different sides of a complicated issue and sets forth the premise that the struggle we now face, no matter what the pundits tell you, isn’t between capitalism and socialism.
It’s between capitalism and democracy.
Do we want a society based on profit for some, or freedom for all? That’s the choice and question at the heart of this important documentary.

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Last October, an economy that had been running its course for the past three decades was laid to rest. Our country has been on a nearly 30-year credit bubble where we have binged on cheap credit to buy up homes at ever increasing values. This 30-year ascent made us think it could be forever. But this bubble was based upon unsustainable principles and ecological destruction. We destroyed as much land as we could to produce quickly and consume as much food, building supplies, minerals as we could get from the land as fast as possible. We utilize an extremely dense energy source — fossil fuels — to live lifestyles that are historically similar to those that kings lived before. In order to accomplish all this, we have put ourselves in debt for decades to come. We have borrowed from the future to live in the present for far too long.

Here in Florida the Ponzi scheme of real estate flipping ended as well. As my carpenter friend remarked: “We worked ourselves out of a job.” The University of Florida released a demographic report showing that 58,000 people left the state of Florida this year, ending our over 60-year growth pattern. This is a turnaround for a state that based its economic model on perpetual growth. An economy strictly based upon tourism and building is falling apart. We are already witnessing the vast decline in state resources and even our own governor is leaving for Washington D.C. But I’m here, and I’m a native of Florida and I’m not leaving my state any time soon. I’ve been researching a green economy for the past year and a half and I believe it’s the way to move forward for this state and our country. It’s based upon ethics, entrepreneurship and decentralization — a return to a local living economy.
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Slap me silly and call me Norton, but I just don’t get the “outrage” over Obama speaking to a bunch of schoolchildren. This was front-page news in my local paper this morning — top of the fold!

What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week:

Living with the land: Florida’s first Earthship (video) – Eric Stewart gives a firsthand look at Florida’s first Earthship in Manatee County, and gets his hands dirty while helping out.

Not getting a million-dollar bonus this year? Think local stimulus- Scott Milinder shows us a real stimulus package that will work for us: we all commit to “Buying Local First.” According to recent economic studies, shifting your buying habits to locally owned businesses creates more circulation of money, more economic activity and more jobs in the local economy.

Eco-friendly summertime fashion accessories- Are you searching for a unique and beautiful purse to enhance your summer wardrobe? Then why not consider one of these recycled handbags that are made from recycled items that help to promote a cleaner and healthier world, reports Jen Meier.
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I just participated in a panel discussion on offshore drilling of our Florida beaches, sponsored by the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce. Also joining me were Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch, Senator Nelson’s staff Shahra Anderson, and the Ocean Conservancy’s TJ Marshall, as well as two other panelists acting essentially as lobbyists for the oil industry from the Southern Strategies Group – the firm that came close last spring to getting our state legislature to okay oil drilling within three miles of our beaches.

Over and over, their message came across: “Trust us. The oil companies would never do anything to harm your beaches. Honest, we can drill and you’ll never see a spill, nary a drop nor a tar ball. Never mind that Texas beaches, naturally as nice as Florida’s, have almost zero tourism revenue because of the muck and tar balls that ruin a nice walk on the beach there. If we had anything to do with that, we’re sorry, but that would never happen here. We’re much more careful now. Trust us.”

Two problems with this argument:
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What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week:

Steps to becoming greener: Reducing your waste, reusing and recycling: Joshua Poll gives some useful tips for ways to start reducing, reusing, and recycling things you thought you could just throw away.

Genetically engineering cows that will produce less methane, reducing greenhouse gases: Geneticists in Canada are trying to engineer a cow that produces less methane, resulting in less greenhouse gases, reports Brian Roberts.
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This is the playlist for Chris Martenson’s “The Crash Course”. It is a brief rundown of the number of simultaneous issues affecting America in its energy, economy, and environmental areas. The road map that Chris Marteson presents is one that I will refer back to in coming blog posts. He does a wonderful job of tying together everything. Knowing what walls we’ve reached will allow us to determine a course of personal and community action that is most relevant to the future we will probably head towards. Will we truly see a great green energy investment bubble from cap and trade? Can we take on more debt to convert our livelihoods into a new energy transition?

Video after the jump.
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An increasing number of foreigners are visiting Ukraine in search of women. These “sex pats” (a play on expatriates), are becoming increasingly common in developing regions like South America, Asia, and Africa (despite 20% HIV positive populations in some African countries).

The Ukraine has become a breeding ground for “sex pats” for a number of reasons. Read the rest of this entry »

Is hemp our future economic stimulus? A recent article on Alternet.org written by Dara Colwell suggests so. Industrial hemp has 25,000 known applications. From paper (our Declaration of Independence and Constitution were written on hemp paper ), to clothing (your hemp pants will last forever ), to food products (according to this article, the Wall Street Journal stated that hemp is the fastest growing new food category in North America). Add in construction and automotive materials and you have a very sustainable green economy start-up.

But as most of you know, growing hemp in the United States is still illegal. The Drug Enforcement Administration has grouped this low-THC plant with its relative, marijuana. We are the only industrialized country on earth to prohibit hemp production. Canada even legalized growing hemp in 1997. Read the rest of this entry »

[Eds. note: Cathy's post was written Monday, before Senate President Jeff Atwater told reporters that he would not bring the offshore drilling bill up for a vote this year, effectively killing it, at least for now.]

Once again the foes of Florida’s future have united to pillage our natural resources.  You can hear the lip smacking and feel the glad-handing from here.  HB 1219 – the bill to allow oil drilling within sight of Florida’s Gulf Coast (that’s our coast), was passed in the House today by a vote of 70 to 43.  This is a bad bill for Florida, for the future of our beaches and the future of real energy policy change.  This bill buys a revenue band-aid, while trading the long-term health of our economy and our environment.  And let’s not forget that pesky climate change problem.  But I guess the creek won’t rise while these folks are in office.

However, as in most things, hope springs eternal.  The Governor has been making noises that he may not support this bill and we need to encourage that veto now.  Likewise, the senate can and must be contacted.  Let our local elected officials know that we want new energy policy or we choose new policymakers.   The stakes have never been higher.  Do whatever it takes to make them make them speak up for us now.  There’s info below the phone list with everything you ever wanted to know and everything they need to know about offshore drilling.  Let’s jam those phone lines! (See phone numbers below.) Read the rest of this entry »

It is a sad day when the economy starts affecting how we party.

From where he sits inside Rio’s Sambadrome, a snack vendor mulls what the global financial crisis means for “the greatest party on earth.”

First, the bad news: fewer foreigners at this year’s Carnival.

“The gringos who are coming this year – there are substantially fewer, and those who are coming are spending less money,” Cagiza Acides Paixao said.

On the upside: In Rio, nothing can stop a good time.

“Carnival in Brazil – with its marvelous sun, beaches, samba all year round, and, you know, the girls – it will shine, with or without a crisis,” Paixao said as samba music blasted from his small shop. Read the rest of this entry »

The highest-attended play in American Stage history.

There’s a lot being made about the state of professional theater in America these days.  You see theater closings almost daily, arts organization bailout packages are a hot topic, calls are being made for President Obama to create a Secretary of the Arts, layoffs are ubiquitous and now even the Kennedy Center is pitching in to provide support for arts organizations that may not make it another year.

Our industry is by no means recession-proof, and one that appears to be in as much trouble as the rest of the country. Yet, somehow, most of the professional theaters in the Tampa Bay area seem to be amidst their best seasons. Read the rest of this entry »

Andy Samberg has taken his SNL Digital Shorts shtick and made an album with his band The Lonely Island. Here’s the premiere video, for a song called “Jizz in My Pants.” Subtle.

• Obama says the economy will get worse before it gets better. Thanks for the confidence boost.
• A showdown looms in congress over the auto industry bailout.
• Tribune company weighs bankruptcy.
• Airline prices primed for a fall.
• Man, we haven’t seen gas cheap this cheap since all the way back in 2003.
• The Gators to play Oklahoma in the national title game.
• The making of The Godfather.
• Four Christmases continues to spread yuletide cheer atop the box office.

BRAGG-ING WRITES: Rick Bragg (at right) is a great storyteller and I’ve always had faith that people will continue to want stories. Ever since we sat around campfires in the days of the hairy and unhygienic cavemen, we’ve always wanted stories.

I’ve always been a sucker for them (stories, not cavemen) – whether in newspapers, magazines or books. Bragg made his mark in newspapers, writes frequently for magazines and has published several best-selling books.

Still — these are scary times for storytellers and people who love to read.

Alarms started going off in the newspaper industry, but still I had faith. I told myself: The nature of the publication might change, but people will still want stories … won’t they? They will still care about other people … people unlike themselves … won’t they?

Even though the delivery system has changed for the young folks, I still hold on to my newspapers. I guess that makes me a weirdo.  I look at my friends leaving the Tribune and the Times and ponder a world crushed by information and the incredible shrinking product from which I prefer to get the news. I don’t think a laptop can compete with a newspaper for pure portability and information storage. What a great invention.

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If you haven’t already, I highly recommend checking out Talking Points Memo’s “The Day in 100 Seconds.” It’s amazing how many video clips can be crammed into a minute-forty.

• Obama unveils team of Superfriends to fight crime around the globe.
• First up for the Superfriends …
• Politico: Alex Sink won’t run against Sen. Martinez.
• …but Martinez is vulnerable.
• Pat Kemp wins Hillsborough Democrat chief’s job.
• Crist’s plan to suspend foreclosures through the holidays hits Time magazine.
• Breaking news! Breaking news! We’ve been in a recession since December 2007.
• The stock market takes a shit.
• The Pentagon plans 20,000 troops stationed in the U.S. by 2011.
• And the new host of Meet the Press is …
• The stars aligned. Did you miss it?

Everything from the auto industry to the real estate market to retail sales are in the shitter. People can barely get by on their take-home pay and put food on the table — but the flesh fantasy business is as robust as ever, according to this release by national strip club chain Rick’s Cabaret:

HOUSTON – (November 14 2008) – Rick’s Cabaret International, Inc. (NASDAQ: RICK), the premier chain of upscale gentlemen’s clubs, said its nightclub sales in October were $6.1 million, a 113 percent increase over October 2007. Sales at clubs operated for more than a year were up eight percent over the previous year’s October results.

“These results are so outstanding that we have made an exception to our policy of announcing sales only on a quarterly basis, so that we could bring the news out sooner,” said Eric Langan, President and CEO of Rick’s Cabaret.

Mr. Langan said that sales were up nearly 30 percent at the company’s flagship New York City club, which had a record month. Each of the company’s brands — Rick’s Cabaret, XTC Cabaret and Club Onyx — reported sales increases over the previous year.

“Our Tootsie’s Cabaret in Miami continues to perform ahead of original expectations,” said Mr. Langan. “Our newest club, Rick’s Cabaret Las Vegas, is dealing with the general slowdown in Las Vegas traffic.”

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Palm Beach, Fl. Fifth-grade and aspiring reporter Damon Weaver interviews Joe Biden, asking the veep candidate what it is that a VP actually does. He likes Biden’s answer enough to declare them officially “homeboys.”

• Florida early voting sites to stay open longer each day to better disenfranchise the citizenry.
• Q Poll: Obama ahead by 2 points in statistical tie.
• LAT-Bloomberg: Obama up by 7.
• Obama cuts McCain’s lead to just 2 points in McCain’s home state, Arizona!
• … but the McCain campaign says the race is tightening. Rrrrriiigggghhht.
• Our daily “Nearer My God to Thee” Media update: Time Inc. will lay off 600 workers; Gannett to cut 3,000.
• Enjoy those big gains from yesterday Dow fans. They should be gone by this afternoon.
• Tonight’s half-hour Obama ad will not run on CNN, but will lead into the World Series on Fox.
• Speaking of which: Game 5 resumes tonight — if it doesn’t snow!
• Rate cut! Rate cut! Rate cut!
• The credit crunch finally hits the cards.
• Christian Science Monitor to dump the print paper and go Web-only (mostly).
• Consumer Confidence disappearing faster than your employer’s match of your 401(k).

This post continues an ongoing conversation with local arts leaders about how the economy is impacting their business. (Read the first in this series of posts here or an even earlier post here.)

The national media are starting to pick up the broader story about the effects of the recession on arts organizations and the art market. This Boston Globe article opens with the bittersweet account of a patron requesting an extended donation payment plan; in the past week, more ominous stories about art museums and the Frieze Art Fair hit the New York Times. All three articles suggest that the worst may be yet to come.

On the other hand, this story about the $69 million economic impact of Olafur Eliasson’s Waterfalls hit NYC newspapers this afternoon—a glimmer of good news that emphasizes one of the many ways in which we value art (i.e., by its nifty tendency to attract tourists).

As of three weeks ago, representatives from both the Salvador Dali Museum and the Tampa Museum of Art told me their building projects are on track to meet previously set opening dates (fall 2010 and fall 2009, respectively). And Lights on Tampa 2009 remains set to take place during the Super Bowl. (I assume it will play a role in luring Super Bowl visitors to Tampa’s downtown—what those visitors will think of the city’s core when they get there is another question.)

Thoughts from other players in the Bay area arts community:

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Anyone remember Terry Tate, office linebacker? He’s back, this time in a special guest appearance with some very famous faces. (Trust me, watch the video!)

• Obama leaves the campaign trail to visit his dying grandmother in Hawaii.
• Bernanke’s vibrator: Get this country some economic stimulation!
• Today’s poll: Obama up by 8.
• Stay off the roads: Nick Bollea is a free man.
• Florida State University researchers develop paper 500 times stronger than steel.
• The Phillies check out the Trop.
• Who looks shitty now, Mr. Blackwell?
• Gwynnie comes to Maddy’s aid.

Maybe it’s the beautiful weather. Or that, even in these trying times, I’m inclined to see the glass as half-full rather than half-empty. Whatever it is, I just can’t bring myself to be cranky today. Sarah Palin could walk in the office right now and I’d probably give her a wink and a hug and tell her to keep her formidable chin up. So rather than pick nits and force out an insincerely cranky post, here are a few reasons why I’m in such a good mood today:

I had a blueberry bagel this morning. Blueberries on their own are quite good. Mix them in bagel batter, and they’re fabulous! (So long as you cook the batter).

How can I be cranky when Megan's around?

Megan Fox. Just looking at her makes me happy. Really happy. I mean, really happy.

The slumping economy. Sure, the news is all bad right now, but has there ever been a better time to buy?

Carbon emissions don't matter when you've got one of these on your car.

A Hello Kitty exhaust pipe. How can you look at this and not feel all warm inside? It could be installed on the back of a Hummer and I’d still get all doe-eyed and want to kiss the driver on the lips.

Wade Tatangelo getting torn a new one in the comments section of his latest Bar Tab. Which is good because this will help Wade grow as a writer (if not in physical stature).

It’s Friday. And that means Friday Dance Party. Which I’ve taken great care in assembling to make my co-workers as cheerful as I am! I love you guys, you ROCK!

Have a great weekend everybody!