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My favorite pond has been dried up for a while but rain over last weekend took care of that. It doesn't take any time for the marsh birds to move in, when the pond is dry they have to go quite a way for fresh water.

In a particular part of Florida the White Ibis is known as the Chokoloskee Chicken. There is at least one FREEPER near Chokoloskee, they are a wild and rowdy bunch down there! North Florida FREEPERS, on the other hand, are genteel and cultivated! It's cloudy, wet and windy. Everything is hunkered down and waiting out the weather. The onshore wind has pushed the water way up in the marsh and the birds are hanging out on little islands.

A bid by Florida cops to probe whether Tiger Woods mixed a powerful potion of painkillers, sleeping pills and booze before he crashed near his home was rejected by a Sunshine State district attorney, according to a newly disclosed document. The report states Woods had access to the sleeping medicine Ambien and the painkiller Vicodin. The state attorney for Orlando, Fla., brushed off a subpoena request by the Florida Highway Patrol to obtain blood tests from Health Central Hospital, where Woods was taken after the Nov. 27 crash, according to the subpoena request obtained by the Herald.

In my piece about Randall Terry’s Tea Party-driven comeback, I broke the news that Terry’s activists were going to mount congressional campaigns in 2010 for the express purpose of putting anti-abortion rights TV ads on the air inside the beltway. Along those same lines, the persistent Obama conspiracy figure Larry Sinclair — a felon who managed to get 1 million YouTube viewers to watch a video about his off-the-wall sex and drugs allegations about the president — has transitioned into a run for Congress in Florida’s 24th district, a swing seat that elected a Democrat in 2008. I found out...

For Republicans, the picture is a political Rorschach test. The photo shows a cluster of Florida Democrats surrounding President Barack Obama this year at a Fort Myers town hall meeting to sell his economic stimulus package. Smack in the middle of the pack: Florida's Republican governor, Charlie Crist. Though Crist has since distanced himself from the stimulus program and has been tacking to the right in an attempt to shore up support for his bid for the 2010 Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, conservative activists are mobilizing in support of former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio's Senate candidacy. A year...

Florida is right now at the vanguard of a new railroad project that could bring good news to those that care about solving bloated state budgets, common sense employment laws, and cutting the corruption that comes with unions by pushing for a non-union workforce with its proposed intrastate rail system. And the unions are incensed, naturally... Read the rest at Publiusforum.com...

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – A judge in Florida wants footage to be turned over to the court so he can decide on a motion to dismiss a civil suit against "Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis. U.S. District Judge Richard Smoak on Wednesday ordered all relevant videos be handed to him so he can make a final ruling on the motion by Francis' lawyers. Smoak said the motion relies on the plaintiff's actions in the videos. Four women filed suit last year. They said they were 13 to 17 years old when they were filmed in stages of undress or...

We didn't see the Sun until mid afternoon, it broke through pretty good them but still mostly cloudy. When the Sun gets really low the reflections on the water start to flame, and the Spartina grass turns golden. I barely caught the Little Blue Heron, they can be hard to see on a bright day. Their feathers aren't at all reflective

The St. Augustine High School JROTC is leading the Christmas parade on Saturday. Today was the last chance to practice. This is my grandson drilling some of the troops. His patience is amazing, they keep recruiting people with two left feet! I forgot that the mic would pick up the radio program, that's the Paul Porter Show in the background. Paul is our local Patriot talk show host. CLICK THE RED LINK

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A federal judge has issued an order that will make way for a Confederate heritage specialty license plate from the state of Florida's Department of Motor Vehicles. Confederate license plate Sons Of Confederate Veterans The proposed Confederate flag. In a lawsuit filed nearly one year ago after two years of Florida legislative inaction to approve the plate, a federal Middle District judge upheld the First Amendment right to have a plate issued by the DMV. "We followed all the procedures, paid the fees required by the state, and did absolutely everything that was required by law, and...

In an eye-opening interview, Lieutenant Colonel [Allen] West (ret.), US commander in both Afghanistan and Iraq wars, harshly criticized the US administration’s handling of the “War on Terror.” Moreover, West, who is a candidate for US Congressional seat in Florida, insists that Israel has no choice but to unilaterally destroy Iran’s nuclear program ...

See Sarah Palin sign over a 1,000 books in Florida

Florida Gators starting defensive end Carlos Dunlap was arrested for DUI early Tuesday morning in Gainesville, according to Gainesville police department spokesman Lt. Keith Kameg. Dunlap, a junior from North Charleston, S.C., was arrested at 3:25 a.m. near campus and was booked into the jail at 5:52 a.m., according to police. Kameg said officers responded to a reckless driving complaint and found Dunlap's 2000 Chrysler stopped at a traffic light near the 200 block of W. 34th Street. Kameg said officers found Dunlap's car stopped at a green light. "They approached the car and found the suspect slumped over....

A Miami catering company turned into a crime scene Monday morning after police and paramedics rushed to help a man who had been shot. The man was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital, according to Miami Fire Spokesman Ignatius Carroll. The shooting occurred sometime after 9 a.m. inside Yolene Catering on the 5900 block of Northwest Second Avenue. Yolene Francois, the owner, told CBS4's Tiffani Helberg that her husband shot a man in self defense. She said the man had worked for them briefly. He allegedly came in demanding money and picked up a chair as if to strike him. That's...

"Tourist Arrested In Disney Bomb Threat German Man Claimed He Was Joking, Deputies Say" ORLANDO, Fla. - SNIPPET: "According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, Naumann was going through a security checkpoint at the entrance of the Magic Kingdom at about 10:22 a.m. and told a worker that he had two bombs in his backpack. The Disney cast member questioned Naumann, of Leipzig, Germany, and he again stated that there were two bombs in his backpack, deputies said."

WEST PALM BEACH — Even for a business that sells $250,000 Rolls-Royces, a tax increase of 602 percent is too much. So Braman Motorcars is fighting a change that West Palm Beach made to its business tax in 2007, and is refusing to pay a higher rate this year than it did before that change. And the city commission is considering relenting. If it does, six of the city's largest retailers may be getting a rebate, thanks to Braman. "I don't feel this was on purpose, but as a result of the new ordinance, we were severely penalized," said Vince...

NAPLES — Ten North Naples Middle School students were suspended last week after district officials said they participated in “kick a Jew day.” District Spokesman Joe Landon said a student told the dean of students at dismissal on Thursday that she was kicked because it was “kick a Jew day.” The following morning Principal Margaret Jackson addressed the entire student body on the morning news regarding the incident, reviewing the code of student conduct, explaining why what happened was wrong, the need to respect one another and possible consequences, Landon said. Jackson asked that anyone with information on the incident...

A Palm Beach County school bus driver is accused of inciting a fight between two groups of students on his bus and covering the on-board video camera with a hat so the attack would not be recorded, school district police reported. "If the black kids whoop your white ass, I ain't going to say nothing. There is more of them then there are of ya'll." Then he covered the camera with his black hat. One of the victims required three staples to his head to close the laceration to his scalp, police said. He also had a swollen nose and...

I posted the 2 part interview with Fox & Friends from The Villages in Florida

Patricia Sullivan is daring to go where many women would never have dared to go before Sarah Palin and Barack Obama came on the national political scene. She’s running for Florida’s 8th Congressional District currently held by Democrat Alan Grayson against a trial lawyer and a real estate agent. Palin inspired her; concern for her children’s futures motivated her to leave her current position as a self described Domestic Engineer/School Teacher/Community Organizer. “… and that still wouldn’t come close to covering everything I do,” quips Sullivan. “The first thing I would like to do is repeal the “stimulus” spending bill...

What an amazing lady! I do not know if the title makes sense but a women waiting in line to have her copy of Going Rogue signed told Sarah Palin she drove from Tennessee: As Governor Sarah Palin signed books, a woman in line approached wearing University of Tennessee orange. “How long of a drive was that?” Palin asked. “Twelve hours,” the woman replied. Palin Said “I love you, Thank you,” the woman said, claiming her book. “Run in 2012.” Orange Park was the first of three Florida stops for Palin on Tuesday. David Hunt from The Jacksonville Times-Union reported...

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fl.) is now urging Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to propose a revision to the Senate's cloture rules so that only 55 votes, instead of 60, would be required to end floor debate. His effort -- spearheaded with the help of an online campaign at StopSenateStalling.com -- takes special aim at the healthcare debate, which Grayson said has fallen victim to countless overused and unfair filibuster threats over the past few months. "Why should launching wars and cutting taxes for the rich require only 50 votes while saving lives requires 60?" asked Grayson, who listed a...

There are blue/grey herons around the world, and there are 3 in the USA, plus the Reddish Heron which has a blue cast. I seldom see a Reddish Heron this far North.I got the main trio today in just a few minutes. Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea Tricolored heron Egretta tricolor Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias

Debbie Wasserman Schultz brings another low water mark to the debate, saying Republicans are politicizing breast cancer,...this from ABCNews This Week with George Stephy Stephanopoulos...(Video)

Gov. Charlie Crist’s office is “looking into” the possibility of removing embattled attorney Scott Rothstein from the state’s Judicial Nominating Committee. Rothstein has offered to surrender his license to practice law. But, he may remain a member of JNC unless, or until, he’s charged with a felony crime. Gov. Charlie Crist named Rothstein to the JNC in August 2008. “Typically, the governor would only step in when felony charges are filed against a public official,” said Sterling Ivey, Crist’s spokesman. “Whether we will act before that point in this case is not clear yet. Our legal office is looking into...

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Nov. 20 (UPI) -- An attorney who was a major fundraiser for Florida Gov. Charlie Crist allegedly conducted an investment scam that cost investors millions, a lawsuit alleges. A group of investors said in a suit filed against Scott Rothstein that the co-partner of the Rothstein, Rosenfeldt and Adler law firm took part in a scheme that cost the plaintiffs more than $100 million, The Miami Herald reported Friday.

Just called my Senators, Lemieux and Bill Nelson Re: healthcare. Lemieux will vote no and Nelson's office says he has not decided. Keep calling.

After arresting a young black man last night in Sara Sims Park, two white Boynton Beach Police officers faced down an angry crowd threatening violence. Cooney, who authored the incident report, noted here that there were some 100 people in the park and the surrounding area. He wrote: The crowd was also yelling loudly and closing in on officers. Kelley was still screaming obscenities. Kelley was then approximately five feet from officers (Connor) Haugh and (Jeffrey) Williams when he was advised again to leave the area or be placed under arrest. Kelley then stated, 'F

TAMPA - Business owners in Florida are about to get hit with a big tax hike: starting January 1st, all Florida businesses will have to pay skyrocketing unemployment compensation taxes to replenish the unemployment compensation trust fund.

Maria Sanchez Lake is almost downtown St. Augustine, a residential area with older homes. The lake is a bird magnet and there are often some nice flowers in yards around the lake. If you don't see any birds near the water look up in the Oak trees. This Great Egret and the White Ibis were waiting for the tide to start in. This flower is a Lycoris, it was almost hidden by someone's garbage can.

A great place to keep up with the 2010 Florida Senate race is Vote Rubio 2010. Rubio is a very impressive young candidate, and it appears he is really gaining ground on Crist.

. The Ford 400 from Homestead-Miami Speedway SPEED Pre-race show at 11:30 EasternABC Pre-race show at 2:30 Eastern Green Flag 3:30 Please visit the FR Canteen - Dedicated to our troops, veterans, and their families: The FR Canteen God Bless Our Troops

In my interview with Governor Palin yesterday evening, we touched briefly on some current events, including President Obama's trip to Asia and the place of the tea-party movement in the Republican party. Some highlights: 1) I asked Palin about the anti-tax-and-spending tea parties. "I love the tea party movement," she said. "It's beautiful, it's healthy. It's part of that good healthy competition that's needed in a political party." She contrasted the somewhat tumultuous state of the GOP to what's going on in the Democratic party today. "It seems like the Democratic party is filled with more sheep-like individuals, who go...

On November 11, I wrote of the statements that Charlie Crist made denying that he ever supported Obama's $787 billion stimulus bill in his role as Florida's Governor. Unfortunately for his obfuscation, though, I noted that he and 17 other governors signed a letter in February of this year announcing support for the Stimulus. Apparently Crist forgot that he signed this letter... conveniently. Yes, he was for the porkulus bill before he was against it. Well now there is even more proof than that mere signature on a piece of paper showing Charlie's support for the porkulus bill. From Ed...

It's a lot cooler now but we still have some flowers hanging on. I spent about an hour at the county arboretum, it's a great place to just sit. I saw the first flock of pelicans coming in today, a few singles have been around, but the migration is really rolling now. There will be ducks coming in any time. Since I retired my schedule has revolved around the tides and seasons, don't count on me to show up on time for anything else!

Supporters of President Obama's Amnesty plans attacked Tea Party Against Amnesty & Illegal Immigration demonstrators in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on Sat. November 14, 2009. One of the men attacked is 62 years old. Dave Caulkett of FLIMEN (Floridians for Immigration Enforcement) is assaulted and then kicked in the face while he is down. The other camera man from the Tea Party is hit with several signs. Those attacking the Americans that oppose Amnesty for illegal aliens were organized by ANSWER Florida.

Florida’s Global Warming University Malcolm A. Kline, November 16, 2009 Not content to push global warming theories on students even when temperatures don’t support them, Florida Gulf Coast University is trying to censor skepticism off of its campus. When Brandon Wasicsko of the FGCU Eagles 4 Liberty club attempted to advertise a showing of the documentary Not Evil, Just Wrong, Patrick J. Greene, an associate professor of Educational Technology, went berserk. “This email is a violation of the FGCU policy to not use our email system for Political propaganda,” Greene wrote in an electronic missive to Wasicsko on October 19,...

Blogger Jordan Carmon catches Marco Rubio’s upstart Senate campaign putting together an ad against Gov. Charlie Crist (R-Fla.)–his opponent in the 2010 GOP primary–that looks and sounds exactly like a hard-hitting ad then-presidential candidate Barack Obama ran against Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in 2008. Check out the ads. First, Rubio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hghjqOw3CBs Now, Obama: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6reQLzgywzk Notice that the equivalent of the picture with Bush is a picture of Crist with Obama.

Who best represents the views of most Republican Party members in Florida? A) Governor Charlie Crist B) Former House Speaker Marco Rubio

I am beyond disappointed or hurt. I am personally offended. Do you idiots [RNC] never learn? There is no such thing as Republican or democrat anymore. Look at the rise of independents, goofballs! There is one thing every independent rejects, absolutely and completely: Being told that party registration of a candidate means adherence to a pre-set list of positions, that we somehow can't talk to people of different registrations. As Korn sang, Freak on a leash. I am at a complete loss to grasp the depth of your inability to understand modern politics.

The Tea Party Express successfully completes its second cross-country bus tour, tonight, in Orlando, Florida. This second Tea Party Express tour in 2009 included 41 Tea Party rallies in 41 cities covering 17 states in 19 days! Woo hoo! My ears are still ringing and heart still pounding! Thousands of patriotic citizens turned out all across this great land to help us tell Obama & Co that we're fed up and we're not going to take it any longer! We're determined to take our country back from the Marxist usurpers! No more taxes! No more socialism! No more bailouts! No...

On November 5 on CNN, Florida Governor Charlie Crist told Wolf Blitzer that he didn't back the $787 billion Obama stimulus bill. Crist has since said that it isn't a flip flop when he says he supported the stimulus "in concept" but didn't support the specific bill. In essence he's trying to have it both ways. Claiming he wasn't a supporter of the actual bill, but hedging by saying he felt something was necessary. It seems to be Crist's way of straddling the line. Unfortunately, the facts seem to belie Crist's delicately balanced tightrope act because in February of 2009...

<p>The Sarasota National Cemetery honored Air Force and Korean War Veteran, Lieutenant Van Eitel, with a full casson military burial.</p>

BROOKSVILLE - Try as he might, political activist Brian Moore could not uncover any wrongdoing on the part of the sheriff's office in the death of a fugitive who drowned two months ago during a pursuit.

I've been cooped up since last Tuesday, finally got out today. The weather is gray and dark, rain coming later from hurricane Ida. She is giving Ray Nagin ulcers now! The grackle girls saw me coming way down the beach, I had 15 or 20 on and around the car in a short time. I don't know if they recognize the car, or recognize me. I try not to attract them inside, they aren't housebroke, LOL! The gull with spots is a young Ring billed gull, the gray bird is a Laughing gull. It's common for them to flock together.

lorida Senate candidate Marco Rubio (R) said on Monday that he would welcome the endorsement of ex-Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska). The conservative insurgent candidate challenging Gov. Charlie Crist (R-Fla.) said that Palin's endorsement would be more than appropriate because they agree on nearly every issue. "I can't think of anything her and I disagree with off the top of my head," he told CBS News in an interview.

A surprise proposal by the FDA to ban the commercial harvest and sale of Apalachicola Bay raw oysters has Franklin County business and tourism leaders reeling from the implications and united in their resolve to derail the proposed economic threat. The FDA proposal has not only shocked commercial seafood interests all along the Gulf Coast, it has stunned local business and tourism leaders - especially when they learned that the FDA officials had not analyzed the economic impacts of such a proposal.

A Florida conservative has registered an official "Tea Party" with the office of the Secretary of State, and is promising to run candidates against Republicans and Democrats in state and national races. "The current system has become mired in the sludge of special interest money that seeks to control the leadership of both parties. It’s time for real change,” says Orlando lawyer Frederic O’Neal, the new party's chairman, who couldn't be reached immediately by phone, in a press release. A spokeswoman for the Florida Secretary of State, Jennifer Davis, said the party had registered in August, and that its qualified...

Owners of exotic pets streamed into the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's amnesty day Saturday, turning over animals that have gotten too large, unruly or were just unwanted. The program was established so owners could give pets to the state rather than turn them loose in Florida's woods and swamps. Biologists point to the Everglades, where a growing population of Burmese pythons and other exotic snakes has taken hold. Wildlife officials say the population began when python owners let loose their pets after they got too big to handle...."Mostly they were reptiles," she said. "Snakes, lizards and turtles.".....