Sunday, February 28, 2010
Swinging: when things go wrong
Posted by Rebecca Ammon on Sun, Feb 28, 2010 at 11:19 PM
![couple-shower_200[1]](/imager/couple-shower_2001/b/original/2118075/8af7/couple-shower_2001.jpg)
Swinging can sound exciting, thrilling, and sexy. Partner swapping, play with the same sex, and sexual exploration are all part of this lifestyle. Unfortunately the excitement of a new partner, and the thrill of the first touch of a virtual stranger, can quickly fade to disappointment.
Swingers can be finicky people. Some have strange rules, weird sexual ideas, and some are just in the wrong lifestyle. Here are a few common occurrences and personality types that can quickly ruin a potential night of swinger fun.
The Shower Couple: Showering with a partner is fun. Extra wet sex is exciting, but I ran into a couple that made a shower a prerequisite for sex.
Photo review: Stephen Marley at The Ritz Theater in Ybor City
Posted by Tracy May on Sun, Feb 28, 2010 at 10:20 PM
Here are some shots from the show last Wednesday, February 24, featuring reggae maker Stephen Marley with support act Trinity7.
Stephen Marley
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Trinity7:
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What will the 2011 budget mean for Pinellas arts funding?
Posted by Sarah Gerard on Sun, Feb 28, 2010 at 4:33 PM
Pinellas County residents are quaking in their flip-flops at the $60 million that's forecast to be cut from next year’s budget. But none quake so hard as arts and culture organizations, who after two consecutive years of belt-tightening, are going to have to tighten up once again.
The Green Community week in review: Walmart plans to cut carbon footprint, Atlantic Garbage Patch, factory farms breed superbugs and more
Posted by Katie Machol on Sun, Feb 28, 2010 at 12:15 PM
What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week:
Green your diet with these foodie iPhone apps - Whether you're a strict vegan or just looking to eat healthier, here's a list of just some of the many iPhone apps for greening your groceries, cooking, and dining.
Obama explains the difference between climate change and extreme weather (video) - Thank you, Obama, for finally publicly addressing the issue of climate change to all of the deniers out there.
Dependence on foreign oil threatens our nation's security - Operation Free, a coalition of veterans who are against oil dependence, states that America's oil addiction raises the cost of oil worldwide and pours funds into the pockets of foreign regimes that hold anti-American sentiments, harbor terrorists, and threaten America's national security.
New study shows factory farms breed mutated superbugs with antibiotic feed - There's no need to use antibiotics at all, except to add a few dollars to the bottom line.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Access Arts Scholarship at the Patel Conservatory: A stellar opportunity for young performers
Posted by amisalleecorley on Sat, Feb 27, 2010 at 7:27 PM
Though I left my post as operations and producing manager at The Patel Conservatory two years ago, I retained a responsibility that has proved to be a highlight of my time there: I am charged with recruiting over 100 financial-need students for full scholarships to Patel's summer performing arts programming, up to three weeks of camp or one 10-week class.
The Access Arts Scholarship program morphed out of a program called the Community Arts Ensemble, started by Fred Johnson years ago before the Patel Conservatory was even a glint in the eye of the former Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center (now the Straz Center for the Performing Arts). The Community Arts Ensemble (CAE) was a free program for the first 200 community members to sign up. Period. It was a hugely successful program and brought 200 community members into the building every summer — people who may not have had the opportunity to do so had the program not been in place.
When it's time to euthanize a beloved pet
Posted by Leigh Toborowsky on Sat, Feb 27, 2010 at 6:41 PM
It's never easy to make the decision to euthanize a pet, especially one that has been part of the family for years or one with whom you've had an extremely close bond. It can be difficult to watch your dog or cat age, and know that one day soon you'll have to make the heart-wrenching decision to drive to the vet for the last car ride you'll ever take together.
The questions can be excruciating. "When? How will I know? Is it too soon? Is there more time? Am I prolonging the pain and suffering because I love this animal so much I can't let go?" I've been asked these questions many times. And I have had to answer them for myself and my own pets.
Aronberg and Gelber rip into McCollum, not each other, at LGBT Forum in St. Pete
Posted by Mitch Perry on Sat, Feb 27, 2010 at 5:06 PM
At the LGBT Democratic Caucus Winter meeting being held in St. Petersburg today, Democratic Attorney General candidates Dave Aronberg and Dan Gelber engaged in a free flowing debate where they spent much of their time bashing the man who currently holds the job they aspire to, Bill McCollum.
When asked by the moderator (this reporter) if they were satisfied with McCollum waiting until new GOP Party Chair John Thrasher was elected to hold a “forensic” audit on the use of American Express cards by key Republican leaders, both men non-surprisingly exploited the growing scandal by taking issue with the AG's response -or lack of one.
Dave Aronberg said that the issue is something that the Attorney General should be involved in, because he said there could be criminal violations of the state's ban on gift giving by lobbyists. Gelber said the case demonstrates an "incredible amount of hubris" on the part of state GOP officials. He agreed that McCollum should look into the unfolding story, and that the receipts of all those who were issued Amex cards by former GOP chairman Jim Greer should be released.
When asked about the fact that Florida now houses more than 100,000 prisoners in its criminal justice system, but the costs to build new prisons run over a $100 million, Gelber said that though he's been a prosecutor (a fact he repeated in many of his responses), "I will tell you that the best way to stop crime is on the front end." He then said that the fact that the young man he worked with as a Big Brother has graduated with honors from high school and is now studying in college was (next to his family) one of his proudest achievements.
Aronberg responded by saying there could be a "real impact" on the state's burgeoning prison population by using more drug courts. He attributed some of the problems as being beyond the state's control in the form of federal mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines. But he said "if you have an AG who will use the bully pulpit, and make it as part of his legislative agenda, 1st time drug offenders away from prison and toward rehabilitation, I think you’ll see a real difference. I think our jails should be crowded for violent offenders. When they’re first time nonviolent drug offenders, I think there should be more diversion. And drug courts should be a model. "
Hot trailer: Luca Guadagnino's I Am Love, starring Tilda Swinton and Flavio Parenti (with video)
Posted by Anthony Nicholas on Sat, Feb 27, 2010 at 12:00 PM
Luca Guadagnino’s I Am Love has received near unanimous raves in Venice, Toronto and Sundance, so I have to admit my anticipation is high for this one. So high, that I thought disappointment was inevitable. Then I caught the UK trailer for this one and it knocked my socks off. The visuals are stunning, the score (by Pulitzer Prize winning composer John Adams) is awe-inspiring, and Tilda Swinton (nearly 50) has never looked this beautiful. The film centers around a forbidden love affair between a wealthy married woman and a young cook that causes tensions to rise in her wealthy aristocratic family. The film is set for a limited release by Magnolia Pictures on June 18 (Tampa will probably get it later than that). See for yourself what all the fuss is about by clicking below …
Joe Bardi talks Cop Out, American Idol, and Raging Bull on The Grind with Flip and Bill
Posted by Joe Bardi on Sat, Feb 27, 2010 at 6:00 AM
If you're in the Tampa Bay area, you can catch The Grind weekdays from 10-3 p.m. on 1010 AM radio. If you're outside the broadcast area or just prefer listening online, you can check out the show at WQYK AM's website. For this week's show, the guys and I discussed Kevin Smith's Cop Out, why the dudes suck on American Idol and the latest on Tony Kornheiser's PTI suspension. Plus, I try to talk Bill into liking Raging Bull — with limited success.
Friday, February 26, 2010
What dogs can learn from watching other dogs — and humans
Posted by Pam Hogle on Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 6:22 PM
Anyone who thinks that dogs do not learn by watching has never had two dogs. For that matter, dogs learn perfectly well by watching humans, too, but that is the subject for another blog.
I can give you endless examples of dogs learning from each other — for instance, my mom’s dog, Daisy, who hardly ever barked. Then she got a little brother, Buddy.
Buddy is a terrier mix. Which means that he barks. At everything. Now Daisy does, too.
A more compelling example might be our dogs and the mulch in our yard. Jana has always liked to munch on sticks. I’ve never really understood it, but I have failed miserably at stopping her. We now have a large yard, huge sections of which are covered in delectable mulch. Soon after joining us here, Oriel was observed delicately sampling small pieces. She is now a compulsive mulch eater. And if that weren’t enough, today I noticed Wiley gnawing on a choice piece of his own. I drew the line when he brought it in (through his prized dog door), wanting to recline on an indoor rug to enjoy his snack. It is cold outside, after all.
