Sunday, January 8, 2012
NO PANTS SUBWAY RIDE Sunday In Philly, 3 PM!
Hope you've all got your undies ready for another year of Urban Playground's pants droppin' fun!
Yes, it's Philly's Annual No Pants Subway Ride!
Meet today -- Sunday, January 8 -- in front of the large dominoes across from City Hall @3PM so riders can all go down to the subway and distibute into cars.
Urban Playground says: "This way everyone on SEPTA will get a piece of the action!"
The weather will be great for this ride. Join in!
For more info please follow this link : http://www.facebook.com/events/208455259235542/?ref=ts
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Romney: Adopt Policies For Workers, Not Politics
Click here to find out more and/or to get involved.
Philly Parochial School Closings Bring Outcry
Nearly 50 parochial schools are expected to close in Philadelphia (one of the largest Catholic communities in the US) under a plan announced by the Diocese of Philadelphia after a recommendation by a special consolidation commission.
Here in South Jersey (just across the Delaware River) we've already witnessed the closure of numerous parishes and schools as the diocese has been all but emaciated.
So, I can understand the sorrow, the distress and even the outrage at these closings.
Nobody wants to see this happen.
But let's step back for a moment.
Looked at one way, these closings are nothing more than the wages of droves of wayward Catholics. If you call yourself "Catholic" but you never go to church on Sunday and you've never been back to the parochial school you once attended and you're not active in parish life or maybe not even registered with a parish, do you really have any right to complain?
Sadly, our society has become increasingly secular and unaffiliated with traditional organized religions, particularly mainstream religious groups.
I saw it once again this Christmas when a huge crowd turned up for Christmas Eve services at the Catholic church I attended. That should be a heartening sign, right? Well, not exactly. Because in many parishes most of these same people who turn up on Christmas and easter are nowhere to be found on a typical Sunday. They don't participate in the life of the parish and they don't contribute on a weekly or even fairly regular basis.
Yes, the sex scandal and the money needed to defend the resulting lawsuits have hurt the Catholic Church. And the Church must take responsibility for that.
B ut that's not the only reason for these latest developments.
The fact is that many "Catholics" themselves want it both ways: They want to call themselves "Catholic" and retain their fond memories of parochial school and a Catholic childhood (partly via shows like "Nunsense" and "Sister Ignatius" and others) but they reserve the right to shun the Church and its teachings and its activities in the here and now.
Well, the Catholic Church in America is not going to keep facilities open just for the sake of nostalgia. If you don't come, they can't run.
So, before you start bellyaching, examine your own record of participation -- or lack thereof.
Here in South Jersey (just across the Delaware River) we've already witnessed the closure of numerous parishes and schools as the diocese has been all but emaciated.
So, I can understand the sorrow, the distress and even the outrage at these closings.
Nobody wants to see this happen.
But let's step back for a moment.
Looked at one way, these closings are nothing more than the wages of droves of wayward Catholics. If you call yourself "Catholic" but you never go to church on Sunday and you've never been back to the parochial school you once attended and you're not active in parish life or maybe not even registered with a parish, do you really have any right to complain?
Sadly, our society has become increasingly secular and unaffiliated with traditional organized religions, particularly mainstream religious groups.
I saw it once again this Christmas when a huge crowd turned up for Christmas Eve services at the Catholic church I attended. That should be a heartening sign, right? Well, not exactly. Because in many parishes most of these same people who turn up on Christmas and easter are nowhere to be found on a typical Sunday. They don't participate in the life of the parish and they don't contribute on a weekly or even fairly regular basis.
Yes, the sex scandal and the money needed to defend the resulting lawsuits have hurt the Catholic Church. And the Church must take responsibility for that.
B ut that's not the only reason for these latest developments.
The fact is that many "Catholics" themselves want it both ways: They want to call themselves "Catholic" and retain their fond memories of parochial school and a Catholic childhood (partly via shows like "Nunsense" and "Sister Ignatius" and others) but they reserve the right to shun the Church and its teachings and its activities in the here and now.
Well, the Catholic Church in America is not going to keep facilities open just for the sake of nostalgia. If you don't come, they can't run.
So, before you start bellyaching, examine your own record of participation -- or lack thereof.
Christie Orders Flags Lowered To Half Staff
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has ordered all State buildings to fly flags at half-staff on Thursday, January 12, 2012 to honor the service and sacrifice of United States Army Specialist Ronald H. Wildrick, Jr., who was raised in Byram Township, Sussex County, and graduated from Lenape Valley Regional High School in 2000. Specialist Wildrick lost his life serving on active duty in Kunar Province, Afghanistan while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Friday, January 6, 2012
How High Will Media Set The Bar For Romney?
Mitt Romney continues to hold onto a Big Lead going into next Tuesday's New Hampshire primary.
But just any Romney win may not be enough for the dominant media.
Instead, the media will insist on a veritable Romney landslide.
The way the media will set this up, the expectations game will prevail. So, for example -- they may say that a Romney vitory of 20 or 25% over his nearest opponent is expected. They may very well decree that's the kind of margin that will be needed for Romney to claim victory.
Forget that Romney lost New Hampshire last time around.
Forget that New Hampshire voters may be notoriously finicky and change their minds at the last minute.
Forget that the Anybody But Romney crowd is now pouring a ton of dough into New Hampshire.
Forget that people in the granite state don't often follow Iowa's lead.
All of those things would make ANY Romney victory all the more impressive.
But those things don't matter to the New York Times, the Washington Post, The LA Times or the Boston Globe. And they don't matter to NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN or MesSNBC. What will matter is the threshold they determine -- probably up to a 20% Romney margin of victory. They mean to set the bar for Romney, period.
So, if Santorum (just as an example and not to predict he'll actrually be the runnerup) finishes in second a full 10 points behind Romney, the dominant media may very well declare it a Santorum "victory."
It's an expectations game.
And the media delight in this sorta thing.
They want to see the GOP presidential battle go on as long as possible with the thought that any eventual Republican nominee may emerge so bruised and bloddy that there will be no road to victory.
So, in response the Romney people are wise to lower expectations in New Hampshire.
It's the only thing they can do in the face of this ridiculous nonsense.
But just any Romney win may not be enough for the dominant media.
Instead, the media will insist on a veritable Romney landslide.
The way the media will set this up, the expectations game will prevail. So, for example -- they may say that a Romney vitory of 20 or 25% over his nearest opponent is expected. They may very well decree that's the kind of margin that will be needed for Romney to claim victory.
Forget that Romney lost New Hampshire last time around.
Forget that New Hampshire voters may be notoriously finicky and change their minds at the last minute.
Forget that the Anybody But Romney crowd is now pouring a ton of dough into New Hampshire.
Forget that people in the granite state don't often follow Iowa's lead.
All of those things would make ANY Romney victory all the more impressive.
But those things don't matter to the New York Times, the Washington Post, The LA Times or the Boston Globe. And they don't matter to NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN or MesSNBC. What will matter is the threshold they determine -- probably up to a 20% Romney margin of victory. They mean to set the bar for Romney, period.
So, if Santorum (just as an example and not to predict he'll actrually be the runnerup) finishes in second a full 10 points behind Romney, the dominant media may very well declare it a Santorum "victory."
It's an expectations game.
And the media delight in this sorta thing.
They want to see the GOP presidential battle go on as long as possible with the thought that any eventual Republican nominee may emerge so bruised and bloddy that there will be no road to victory.
So, in response the Romney people are wise to lower expectations in New Hampshire.
It's the only thing they can do in the face of this ridiculous nonsense.
Christie Spurs Job Growth With GrowNJ
Trenton, NJ – Acting on an agenda to create jobs for New Jerseyans and spur economic development in areas across the state, Governor Chris Christie today signed S-3033, legislation creating the GrowNJ Assistance program to provide at least $200 million in incentivesto create and retain Jersey Jobs. The GrowNJ program will encourage business investment and expansion in New Jersey by providing tax credits to companies moving to or growing in the state based on capital investment and job creation or retention.
“Through the creation of GrowNJ, we are ensuring that critical economic development projects are moving forward and that businesses are staying, growing and creating jobs for New Jerseyans,” said Governor Christie. “Expanding the reach of these job-creating incentives will put people to work now in construction jobs and create long-term, permanent jobs for our families. This bipartisan bill puts into action an initiative of my Administration that recognizes and builds on the success of the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit, while increasing the competitiveness of New Jersey as a business-friendly environment for job growth.”
The GrowNJ program, a Christie Administration initiative, duplicates and expands the success of existing incentive programs while embracing innovative ideas to spur job growth and economic expansion. The program provides areas of New Jersey not currently eligible for the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit (UTHTC) with a comparable business incentive program, allowing them to compete for new development, the retention of jobs and reinvestment. Since the GrowNJ’s tax credit allocation of $200 million falls under the $1.5 billion total tax credit cap already provided for in the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit Act, the program will not result in any new costs to the State.
Under GrowNJ, an eligible business will receive an annual tax credit of $5,000 - $8,000 for ten years for each full-time job created or retained. A business would be eligible for a GrowNJ tax credit if it retains 100 full-time jobs or creates at least 100 full-time jobs in an EDA-designated desirable industry and in addition to job creation/retention also makes a capital investment of at least $20 million in a qualified incentive area.
S-3033 also makes changes to eligibility requirements for the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit program to expand the program’s use in retaining and attracting jobs to New Jersey, including the addition of medical facility sites, vacant hospital sites, and federally designated CHOICE neighborhoods within 1 mile of a rail station in a UTHTC city.
Since Governor Christie took office, through the Partnership for Action, the Administration has continued to advance policies that will improve New Jersey’s business climate, which has led to the creation of nearly 50,000 private sector jobs. Governor Christie sunset the corporate business tax surcharge, signed new, robust business attraction legislation, and enacted $2.35 billion in pro-growth, job creating tax cuts. These policies have positioned New Jersey for business expansion, economic growth and job creation as our economy recovers.
Sponsors of S-3033/A-4306 include Senators Joseph Kyrillos (R-Middlesex, Monmouth) and Raymond Lesniak (D-Union); and Assemblymembers Anthony Bucco (R-Morris), Gary Chiusano (R-Sussex, Hunterdon, Morris), Herb Conaway (D-Burlington, Camden), Albert Coutinho (D-Essex, Union), and Ruben Ramos (D-Hudson).
“Through the creation of GrowNJ, we are ensuring that critical economic development projects are moving forward and that businesses are staying, growing and creating jobs for New Jerseyans,” said Governor Christie. “Expanding the reach of these job-creating incentives will put people to work now in construction jobs and create long-term, permanent jobs for our families. This bipartisan bill puts into action an initiative of my Administration that recognizes and builds on the success of the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit, while increasing the competitiveness of New Jersey as a business-friendly environment for job growth.”
The GrowNJ program, a Christie Administration initiative, duplicates and expands the success of existing incentive programs while embracing innovative ideas to spur job growth and economic expansion. The program provides areas of New Jersey not currently eligible for the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit (UTHTC) with a comparable business incentive program, allowing them to compete for new development, the retention of jobs and reinvestment. Since the GrowNJ’s tax credit allocation of $200 million falls under the $1.5 billion total tax credit cap already provided for in the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit Act, the program will not result in any new costs to the State.
Under GrowNJ, an eligible business will receive an annual tax credit of $5,000 - $8,000 for ten years for each full-time job created or retained. A business would be eligible for a GrowNJ tax credit if it retains 100 full-time jobs or creates at least 100 full-time jobs in an EDA-designated desirable industry and in addition to job creation/retention also makes a capital investment of at least $20 million in a qualified incentive area.
S-3033 also makes changes to eligibility requirements for the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit program to expand the program’s use in retaining and attracting jobs to New Jersey, including the addition of medical facility sites, vacant hospital sites, and federally designated CHOICE neighborhoods within 1 mile of a rail station in a UTHTC city.
Since Governor Christie took office, through the Partnership for Action, the Administration has continued to advance policies that will improve New Jersey’s business climate, which has led to the creation of nearly 50,000 private sector jobs. Governor Christie sunset the corporate business tax surcharge, signed new, robust business attraction legislation, and enacted $2.35 billion in pro-growth, job creating tax cuts. These policies have positioned New Jersey for business expansion, economic growth and job creation as our economy recovers.
Sponsors of S-3033/A-4306 include Senators Joseph Kyrillos (R-Middlesex, Monmouth) and Raymond Lesniak (D-Union); and Assemblymembers Anthony Bucco (R-Morris), Gary Chiusano (R-Sussex, Hunterdon, Morris), Herb Conaway (D-Burlington, Camden), Albert Coutinho (D-Essex, Union), and Ruben Ramos (D-Hudson).
Revealed: Obama's Fall Campaign Strategery
George W. Bush called it "strategery."
And in so doing he coined an apt term: the way to describe a pin-pointed, goal-driven strategy for success.
So, what will President Obama's strategery be for the fall campaign? The answer shouldn't be too complicated to anyone who's really been paying attention. And it can be summed up in the following points:
1) Plan on facing Romney. Obama & Co. would love to face somebody from the extreme right wing of the GOP but they know they will probably face Romney and they know that will be tough. So, they're preparing now. They will gather everything they can on Romney and hit him hard. The Obamamaniacs play Chicago hardball so they will throw everything they've got at Romney. For his part, Romney better be ready and he better not only be prepared to fight back forcefully and promptly but he ought to strengthen his offense as well. And he needs to do it now.
2) Throw money into the campaign. We're talking A BILLION DOLLARS here, folks. Obama will not only flood the airwaves but he will run a sophisticated social-media campaign as well. Plus, Obama will use all the PACs he can and he will benefit from Big labor bucks as well. The GOP may not be able to match this but they need to come close.
3) Inflame class warfare. Obama will stir up class resentment and run against Wall Street as much as possible even though that's precisely where much of his money comes from. High finance, big corporations and so-called monied interests will become the enemy. And, incredibly the Team Obama will do all this while hobnobbing with the rich and famous, especially in Hollywood and among disconnected liberal elites everywhere. Obama & Co. will attempt to paint Romney as an out-of-touch zillionaire who couldn't care less about ordinary "working people," let alone even begin to understand them.
4) Play for time. In 1982 Ronald Reagan said "stay the course." He wanted (and needed) more time for his policy and programs to begin to work. The slogan stuck. Obama will play the same tune. He'll argue that his programs are only now beginning to work, beginning to take effect and that things are finally beginning to move in the right direction. He will conjure up the image of "W' and the darkest days of the Bush era and plead: "Don't turn back the clock. I said it wasn't gonna be easy but we're finally on the right track now. Give us a chance to finish the job."
Expect lots of rhetoric as the golden-tongued orator revs up. His teleprompter will be working overtime.
5) Run against Congress. Obama will borrow a page from Harry Truman's history-making 1948 campaign and run against what he calls a "do nothing" Congress. He will say that he has not hesitated to act unilaterally when he could (and even when legally, he probably couldn't have and shouldn't have) but that Congress has refused to act and has stood in his way. Of course, he'll have to focus only on the House because his own party still controls the Senate.
But that's a minor matter to Obama.
This is gonna be a rough 'n tough campaign all the way.
And it will be made more difficult for the Republicans because Obama will have the dominant media solidly in his corner.
Old-line print and electronic media will hail every bit of good news available (even if they have to skew some of the facts and/or make some of it up) and they will cast Obama in the best possible light. They already have too much at stake to do anything else.
Let's remember this: After just two years under Reagan there was good reason to "stay the course" and by the end of his third year he was well-positioned to stay in office. The signs were already pointing in the right direction.
It didn't take long for Reaganism to prove its mettle. The die had been cast and Reagan was able to run a very upbeat ("Morning In America") and positive campaign.
It's not the same with Obama. This President will have to run a nasty, combative campaign. Three out of four Americans say the country is clearly headed in the wrong direction. So, Obama will have to scurry -- he'll have to run away from the mess he created as fast as he can; he'll have to play the blame game.
Obama and his people are amply experienced in the blame business. It's their forte. It's what they do best.
Message to Mitt: The onslaught is coming. Sharpen your strategery.
And in so doing he coined an apt term: the way to describe a pin-pointed, goal-driven strategy for success.
So, what will President Obama's strategery be for the fall campaign? The answer shouldn't be too complicated to anyone who's really been paying attention. And it can be summed up in the following points:
1) Plan on facing Romney. Obama & Co. would love to face somebody from the extreme right wing of the GOP but they know they will probably face Romney and they know that will be tough. So, they're preparing now. They will gather everything they can on Romney and hit him hard. The Obamamaniacs play Chicago hardball so they will throw everything they've got at Romney. For his part, Romney better be ready and he better not only be prepared to fight back forcefully and promptly but he ought to strengthen his offense as well. And he needs to do it now.
2) Throw money into the campaign. We're talking A BILLION DOLLARS here, folks. Obama will not only flood the airwaves but he will run a sophisticated social-media campaign as well. Plus, Obama will use all the PACs he can and he will benefit from Big labor bucks as well. The GOP may not be able to match this but they need to come close.
3) Inflame class warfare. Obama will stir up class resentment and run against Wall Street as much as possible even though that's precisely where much of his money comes from. High finance, big corporations and so-called monied interests will become the enemy. And, incredibly the Team Obama will do all this while hobnobbing with the rich and famous, especially in Hollywood and among disconnected liberal elites everywhere. Obama & Co. will attempt to paint Romney as an out-of-touch zillionaire who couldn't care less about ordinary "working people," let alone even begin to understand them.
4) Play for time. In 1982 Ronald Reagan said "stay the course." He wanted (and needed) more time for his policy and programs to begin to work. The slogan stuck. Obama will play the same tune. He'll argue that his programs are only now beginning to work, beginning to take effect and that things are finally beginning to move in the right direction. He will conjure up the image of "W' and the darkest days of the Bush era and plead: "Don't turn back the clock. I said it wasn't gonna be easy but we're finally on the right track now. Give us a chance to finish the job."
Expect lots of rhetoric as the golden-tongued orator revs up. His teleprompter will be working overtime.
5) Run against Congress. Obama will borrow a page from Harry Truman's history-making 1948 campaign and run against what he calls a "do nothing" Congress. He will say that he has not hesitated to act unilaterally when he could (and even when legally, he probably couldn't have and shouldn't have) but that Congress has refused to act and has stood in his way. Of course, he'll have to focus only on the House because his own party still controls the Senate.
But that's a minor matter to Obama.
This is gonna be a rough 'n tough campaign all the way.
And it will be made more difficult for the Republicans because Obama will have the dominant media solidly in his corner.
Old-line print and electronic media will hail every bit of good news available (even if they have to skew some of the facts and/or make some of it up) and they will cast Obama in the best possible light. They already have too much at stake to do anything else.
Let's remember this: After just two years under Reagan there was good reason to "stay the course" and by the end of his third year he was well-positioned to stay in office. The signs were already pointing in the right direction.
It didn't take long for Reaganism to prove its mettle. The die had been cast and Reagan was able to run a very upbeat ("Morning In America") and positive campaign.
It's not the same with Obama. This President will have to run a nasty, combative campaign. Three out of four Americans say the country is clearly headed in the wrong direction. So, Obama will have to scurry -- he'll have to run away from the mess he created as fast as he can; he'll have to play the blame game.
Obama and his people are amply experienced in the blame business. It's their forte. It's what they do best.
Message to Mitt: The onslaught is coming. Sharpen your strategery.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Students Laugh When Obama Says They Inspire Him
At Shaker Heights High School in tony Shaker Heights, Ohio, President Obama got laughs when he wasn't supposed to. Speaking to students, Obama told them that they inspire him. This prompted tittering from the high-schoolers.
"I want you to know you're the reason that I ran for this office in the first place. You remind me what we are still fighting for," Obama said to barely tepid cheers.
"You inspire me," Obama said to an audience that laughed at him.
Only a few short years ago young people adored Obama. They seemed to hang on his every word. Now they chuckle.
Where did things go wrong and why did these students at a high school in an upscale community laugh when the president said they inspire him?
Having worked with young people for many years, I can tell you this: They have a built-in phony antenna. They know when something or someone doesn't ring true; when how someone acts or what someone say is inauthentic; when it's just not real. They can tell. They know when someone's trying to jive them.
Three years ago Obama seemed authentic. He seemed to them like the real deal. That's gone now.
And they're so sophisticated that when this happens they simply laugh it off -- because it happens so frequently and they see it so much. They live in an age of irony, a time when there's always a whiff of phoniness in the air. And it breeds cynicism.
So, it doesn't really matter so much that it's the president speaking. When someone speaks to them, they size up the speaker and the situation very quickly. And when things don't ring true, they know it.
They don't believe that Obama really sought to be president because of them nor do they believe that they actually inspire him. Why? Because they don't believe that he even knows or understands them. On top of the fact that it doesn't seem plausible, the whole notion that someone like the president might try to convince them that they inspire him makes them uncomfortable. He's supposed to be the leader. He's supposed to inspire THEM; not the other way around. They want to look up to him but in this situation they can't. It's downright awkward. So, they laugh. They laugh because they don't know what else to do.
Some of them are thinking: ME inspiring the president? C'mon, dude!
It's too much of stretch for them.
Now, if they performed well (or improved substantially) for someone who built a relationship with them over time -- someone who they came to like and/or trust -- he or she might be able to say at the end of a year that the students inspired him or her.
And it could indeed be credible.
It might go something like this: "This has been a great year; tough at times, but fun, too. And I learned from you just like you learned from me. And the progress that you've made has encouraged me and actually inspired me and made me want to continue to help you and others like you. So yes, you inspire me."
That might work.
But the President of the United States? NOT!
"I want you to know you're the reason that I ran for this office in the first place. You remind me what we are still fighting for," Obama said to barely tepid cheers.
"You inspire me," Obama said to an audience that laughed at him.
Only a few short years ago young people adored Obama. They seemed to hang on his every word. Now they chuckle.
Where did things go wrong and why did these students at a high school in an upscale community laugh when the president said they inspire him?
Having worked with young people for many years, I can tell you this: They have a built-in phony antenna. They know when something or someone doesn't ring true; when how someone acts or what someone say is inauthentic; when it's just not real. They can tell. They know when someone's trying to jive them.
Three years ago Obama seemed authentic. He seemed to them like the real deal. That's gone now.
And they're so sophisticated that when this happens they simply laugh it off -- because it happens so frequently and they see it so much. They live in an age of irony, a time when there's always a whiff of phoniness in the air. And it breeds cynicism.
So, it doesn't really matter so much that it's the president speaking. When someone speaks to them, they size up the speaker and the situation very quickly. And when things don't ring true, they know it.
They don't believe that Obama really sought to be president because of them nor do they believe that they actually inspire him. Why? Because they don't believe that he even knows or understands them. On top of the fact that it doesn't seem plausible, the whole notion that someone like the president might try to convince them that they inspire him makes them uncomfortable. He's supposed to be the leader. He's supposed to inspire THEM; not the other way around. They want to look up to him but in this situation they can't. It's downright awkward. So, they laugh. They laugh because they don't know what else to do.
Some of them are thinking: ME inspiring the president? C'mon, dude!
It's too much of stretch for them.
Now, if they performed well (or improved substantially) for someone who built a relationship with them over time -- someone who they came to like and/or trust -- he or she might be able to say at the end of a year that the students inspired him or her.
And it could indeed be credible.
It might go something like this: "This has been a great year; tough at times, but fun, too. And I learned from you just like you learned from me. And the progress that you've made has encouraged me and actually inspired me and made me want to continue to help you and others like you. So yes, you inspire me."
That might work.
But the President of the United States? NOT!
Delighting In Joys Of Gulf Coast Florida
We've been having a wonderful time here on Florida's beautiful gulf coast.
Though our temporary home base is here on Longboat Key, we've been traveling to nearby areas and checking our sights and attractions.
Even when we've supposedly arrived at where we're going, we sometimes find it hard to stay put.
Yesterday we visited downtown Tampa and checked out that city's burgeoning new Riverwalk. Though the walk is not yet completed it still made for a hearty stroll along the water and it is beautiful -- dotted with new hotels, the convention center, sports complex, docks for pleasure boats, sculpture gardens, parks and other attractions.
Tampa seems to be fixing up and sprucing up so that it's ready for the Republican National Convention this summer. And from what we saw yesterday, the city will provide a wonderful backdrop for the event which will nominate the person who we certainly hope will be the next President of the United States.
Today, we journeyed to nearby Siesta Key and Venice.
In Siesta Key we were impressed with the town's beautiful white sand beach. The beach is wide and the sand is fine and inviting. The water (as on most of this gorgeous gulf coast) is wonderfully blue with tinges of green -- so vivid with the sun sparkling along the surface of the sea. The ocean has been quite calm all week and today the temperature drifting into the 70's -- just perfect.
Siesta Key has a more youthful vibe than some of the other areas near Sarasota. The town's business district is lined with tiki bars and beach shops. We stopped at a local coffee shop and enjoyed the passing parade.
Venice presents a quieter, more mature atmosphere. Tall palm trees and a Spanish/Italian motif give the town an old California charm. Venice was built in the 1920s and the architecture was inspired by the city of canals. The shopping district offers a rococo appeal, complete with many decorative architectural features.
Though Venice barely made it through the Great Depression it got a badly-needed injection when the military established a base there during World War II. After the war, it slowly emerged as a retirement community. Then, Ringling Brothers relocated the winter home of the circus to Venice giving it another boost. Today, it seems to be thriving -- a town with its own graceful, quiet appeal; a place to savor the simple pleasures of life by the sea.
All around us we are able to enjoy welcoming sunrises, clean, sparking waterways and magical sunsets.
Florida's gulf coast is a distinct American treasure. If you haven't been here you're missing one of this country's natural gems.
C'mon down!
Though our temporary home base is here on Longboat Key, we've been traveling to nearby areas and checking our sights and attractions.
Even when we've supposedly arrived at where we're going, we sometimes find it hard to stay put.
Yesterday we visited downtown Tampa and checked out that city's burgeoning new Riverwalk. Though the walk is not yet completed it still made for a hearty stroll along the water and it is beautiful -- dotted with new hotels, the convention center, sports complex, docks for pleasure boats, sculpture gardens, parks and other attractions.
Tampa seems to be fixing up and sprucing up so that it's ready for the Republican National Convention this summer. And from what we saw yesterday, the city will provide a wonderful backdrop for the event which will nominate the person who we certainly hope will be the next President of the United States.
Today, we journeyed to nearby Siesta Key and Venice.
In Siesta Key we were impressed with the town's beautiful white sand beach. The beach is wide and the sand is fine and inviting. The water (as on most of this gorgeous gulf coast) is wonderfully blue with tinges of green -- so vivid with the sun sparkling along the surface of the sea. The ocean has been quite calm all week and today the temperature drifting into the 70's -- just perfect.
Siesta Key has a more youthful vibe than some of the other areas near Sarasota. The town's business district is lined with tiki bars and beach shops. We stopped at a local coffee shop and enjoyed the passing parade.
Venice presents a quieter, more mature atmosphere. Tall palm trees and a Spanish/Italian motif give the town an old California charm. Venice was built in the 1920s and the architecture was inspired by the city of canals. The shopping district offers a rococo appeal, complete with many decorative architectural features.
Though Venice barely made it through the Great Depression it got a badly-needed injection when the military established a base there during World War II. After the war, it slowly emerged as a retirement community. Then, Ringling Brothers relocated the winter home of the circus to Venice giving it another boost. Today, it seems to be thriving -- a town with its own graceful, quiet appeal; a place to savor the simple pleasures of life by the sea.
All around us we are able to enjoy welcoming sunrises, clean, sparking waterways and magical sunsets.
Florida's gulf coast is a distinct American treasure. If you haven't been here you're missing one of this country's natural gems.
C'mon down!
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