Opinion: Daily Loaf, Creative Loafing Tampa

On Newtown: Stop micromanaging the debate

Julie Garisto — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:02:55 -0500

Since the unspeakable became a reality on Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary, there has been, for every impassioned opinion, outcry and Facebook meme, a smarmy cynic wagging a finger and playing armchair society critic.

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I Am Choice's "Get Out the Vote" campaign launches in opposition of Amendment 6

Arielle Stevenson — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 13:24:40 -0400

Doris Rosen protested in October of 1989 against then Florida Gov. Bob Martinez when he convened a special session to examine tougher restrictions on abortions. The Republican governor had legislators return to session for three days to consider proposals.…

Political Wizards Turn Immigration Reform into Racial Profiling

Samuel Johnson — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:00:32 -0400

On Monday the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta ruled that at least one derisive feature of the Georgia and Alabama immigration laws will be left intact. The so called “show me your papers” provision is intended to allow law enforcement to more verdantly apprehend illegal immigrants who are suspected of a criminal wrongdoing.…

Pussy Riot found guilty

Arielle Stevenson — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 11:05:00 -0400

Russian girl punk rockers Pussy Riot were found guilty of hooliganism Friday. The three women were charged with premeditated hooliganism by organized groups of people, motivated by "religious hatred or hostility" said Judge Marina Syrova Friday morning.…

RNC closures are a little too sobering

Cecelia Messina — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:10:54 -0400

I finally sat down to take a look at the road closures for the RNC. Who came up with this plan?…

The price of corn versus the price of freedom

Samuel Johnson — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:29:42 -0400

"Politicks are now nothing more than means of rising in the world. With this sole view do men engage in politicks, and their whole conduct proceeds upon it."
Dr. Samuel Johnson (1791)

A few weeks ago with little fanfare and almost negative column inches the US Senate approved an extension of the Farm Bill with minor cuts.…

Meditating on Moss: A Green History

Samuel Johnson — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 14:58:51 -0400

When you conjure up images of European medieval woodland landscapes, as depicted in fairy tales and hero's adventures, the scenery is often an iconic archetype. The mosaic of images probably contains languidly moving brooks flanked by dense arboreal vistas and most certainly there is a vibrant lush green carpet stretching in all directions on the forest floor.…

Deifying Politicians

Samuel Johnson — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:32:25 -0400

The hagiographies of Catholic saints provide an insightful and useful blueprint to dissecting the populistic veneration of political figures when their biographies get a revisionist treatment. However, potential Catholic saints are scrutinized on the merits of their wonders before their canonization as a bona fide Saint.…

A Remedy for Societal Discord: 5 American Fakelore Heroes

Samuel Johnson — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 07:31:00 -0400

Myths, folklore and heroes' tales are at their root contextually more than the just the sum of their parts. Fakelore differs from folklore in that fakelore is consciously manufactured yarning whereas folklore has a more organic genesis.…

Voting in E (Flat) Harmony

Samuel Johnson — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 08:42:50 -0400

In the midst of the hostile and bitchy fervor of the 2012 American Presidential campaigns it seems appropriate to pause and reflect. Reflect on what really binds us all during this virulent political climate.…

The Single Most Important Father's Day Gift

Christopher Dorsey — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Two weeks ago, my dad called and said that my mom’s brother, uncle Jerry, had experienced a mild heart attack.

“Is he alive?” I asked. We’d been down this road before.…

Movie Matt-ers: Can men enjoy Twilight?

Matthew Kaiser — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:20:00 -0400

Editor's Note: Today marks the debut of "Movie Matt-ers," a movie advice column written by — you guessed it — a guy named Matt. If you've seen his work as a columnist for the movie site hudakonhollywood.com, you know that Matt Kaiser's specialty is answering reader questions.…

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USF held hostage by legislative terrorism

Scott Farrell — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:20:42 -0500

Over the past decade Americans have been fixated on terrorism. It seems terrorism is around just about every corner, or, in the case of the TSA, hidden in every senior citizen's walker.…
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Of course Facebook's spying on you

Scott Harrell — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:22:00 -0500

If you pay attention to such things, then you know there’s lately a lot of talk about privacy and the Internet.

If you pay attention to such things, then you know there’s always a lot of talk about privacy and the Internet.…
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Donald Trump officially endorses Mitt Romney: Who gives a…

Rebecca Forman — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:56:20 -0500

Originally I was going to blog about Showtime’s Shameless getting picked up for a third season (Team Gallagher, FTW — if you aren’t watching this show, you should remedy this STAT) but my phone has been blowing up in the last hour and I’ve therefore changed my mind.

Breaking?…
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Debate over tax policy continues, income disparity grows

Ben Luongo — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:28:48 -0400

The Congressional Budget Office released its October report last week titled Trends in the Distribution of Household Income Between 1979 and 2007. The report cites a growing, and startling, divide of income inequality between the top income earners and everyone else.…
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Will these folks go to jail after November 1?

Chip Weiner — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:53:00 -0400

Tampa City Council has scheduled its final vote on the Solicitation Ordinance, affectionately known as the panhandling law, for tomorrow, October 20, 2011. The measure passed its first round on October 6.…
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Democrats try to fix the economy, but Republicans get to frame the debate

Ben Luongo — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 14:05:47 -0400

The Labor department reported that job growth was stronger than expected as employers added 103,000 net new jobs in September. The news of added jobs comes amidst growing fears of an economy inching closer to a double dip recession.…
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Criticisms of the President's plan distract us from the real issue

Ben Luongo — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 13:50:46 -0400

Unveiling the second part of his $3 trillion deficit reduction plan on Monday, President Obama stressed, in no uncertain terms, that he would veto any bill that would call for cuts to Medicare without raising new revenue. According to the President, "I will not support any plan that puts all the burden for closing our deficit on ordinary Americans".…
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Workers anxious about job security amidst dismal jobs report

Ben Luongo — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 15:22:11 -0400

Stocks plunged as the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that no new jobs were created in August, holding the unemployment rate persistently at 9.1%. The latest BLS jobs report, the worst in almost a year, confirms fears of a stalling recovery.…
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Ybor City's awesome. Want me to prove it?

Courtney Bishop — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:39:00 -0400

Ybor City is a bit of an acquired taste.

While some people prefer foie gras, others are partial to grilled cheese.…
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Does the Dow's drop say anything about America's recent policy decisions?

Ben Luongo — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 12:36:44 -0400

Thursday presented itself as perfect storm of uncertainty as the Dow plunged 521 points amidst fears of an anemic global economy and the spread of Europe's debt contagion. This was the worst day for the Dow since the U.S. slid into recession in 2008.…
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Candlelight vigil commemorating the one-year anniversary of the BP oil spill disaster: Wed., April 20

Katie Machol — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 14:00:48 -0400

Join the Gulf Restoration Network and Sierra Club on the one-year anniversary of the BP Oil Spill Disaster for a candlelight vigil to remember the lives lost and the horrific damage done to our beautiful coasts, sea life and coastal economies.

The event will take place on Wednesday, April 20 -- exactly one year since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico -- on the main Treasure Island public beach access area.…
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Out in Left Field: Going nuts about peanut allergies in Edgewood, Florida

Catherine Robinson — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 17:13:04 -0400

Arcadia, a small, rural town in south Florida, had some trouble back in 1987. A group of concerned parents gathered together to protest the presence of the Ray children in their elementary school.…
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A People's History of Gasparilla: What is it we're celebrating exactly?

Andy Huse — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 19:14:52 -0500

It’s fun to be a pirate. Then there’s the rest of us.…
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