Florida Native Musings

Been such a Long Time

2010-02-25T18:55:00.002-05:00

I K now I Know...Blame it on FaceBook..But wanted to let my fellow bloggers know that as of Last Summer, the Mississippi Queen went back to the Magnolia State. I hope to get back in Blogging as I do miss it, I have kept up with y'all though.

Lot's going on here in the Sunshine State to talk about...

Yours in the Bond

Florida Native Musings: I was in the Barber Shop on Main St. in Chattahoochee FL

2009-09-11T07:43:00.000-04:00

Florida Native Musings: I was in the Barber Shop on Main St. in Chattahoochee FL

My Tiger is Double Digits Today!!!!!

2009-03-05T12:31:00.003-05:00

My Sport, My Shadow and My Clone is a Big 10 today. RP is the name a famous Uncle had and he reminds me of it now and again...So Happy Bday my Little Man....Your Daddy will always be your Caddy..

Yours in the Bond

Paycut for Folks Making over $100K on State Payroll

2009-03-03T11:10:00.002-05:00

Treasure Coast courts have 42 officials earning $100,000-plus
By George Andreassi

Monday, March 2, 2009

The Treasure Coast court system has 42 judges, prosecutors, investigators, public defenders and administrators who are paid more than $100,000 per year.

Circuit judges, who preside over major criminal and civil cases, are paid $145,080 per year under a state salary scale that went into effect Oct. 1, 2006. That makes Florida's circuit judges the 11th highest paid trial judges in the nation, according to a 2008 survey by the National Center for State Courts.

But the pay of Florida's circuit judges would slide down to 17th place nationwide if the state government enacts a Senate bill calling for all state employees earning more than $100,000 per year to take a 5 percent pay cut.

Some lawyers and judges said a $7,254 per year pay cut, combined with the increasing case load, could push some veteran jurists back into more lucrative private practice and prevent top lawyers from aspiring to the bench.

"If they're talking about pay cuts in Tallahassee, that is adding insult to injury," said 19th Circuit Chief Judge William Roby. "Our judges are working their tails off."

"A judge making $145,000 a year more than likely would be making twice that at a medium-sized law firm in private practice," Roby said. "At some point in time, if we don't get pay raises or relief, practical aspects are going to start kicking in and judges are going to be leaving the profession."

But Roby said the judges aren't asking for a raise until the economy improves.

State Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, said no one is immune from the fallout from the state's budget crisis, including judges.

"We think that judges do very good work, but like anybody else in this weak economy we need to look at everything," Haridopolos said.

"$145,000 to most folks is a lot of money," Haridopolos said "I think that clearly in the private practice of law there is the likelihood to make even more money, but I think (judges) are willing to give back to their community."

Despite the long hours and relatively modest pay, the prestige of a judgeship and the opportunity to serve the public will likely continue to compel many top lawyers to aspire to the bench, Roby and others said.

"There are intangible benefits to being a judge, like your first name becomes 'Judge,' " said State Rep. Adam Fetterman, D-Port St. Lucie, who earned $112,634 last year as general counsel for the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office. "There's a certain respect that goes with somebody who sits on the bench."

SIX-FIGURE SALARIES

19th CIRCUIT: Serves Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties

CIRCUIT JUDGES: $145,080 per year salary

William Roby, chief judge

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

Robert Hawley, Paul Kanarek, Robert Pegg, Cynthia Cox

MARTIN COUNTY

Gary Sweet, Steven Levin, Robert Makemson, Elizabeth Metzger, Sherwood Bauer Jr.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY

Barbara Bronis, Larry Schack, Dan Vaughn, James McCann, Burton Conner, Robert Belanger, Dwight Geiger

OKEECHOBEE COUNTY

F. Shields McManus, Lawrence Mirman

COUNTY JUDGES: $137,020 per year salary

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

David Morgan, Joe Wild

MARTIN COUNTY

David Harper, Stewart Hershey, Kathleen Roberts

ST. LUCIE COUNTY

Cliff Barnes, Kathryn Nelson, Philip Yacucci Jr., Thomas Walsh

OKEECHOBEE COUNTY

Jerald Bryant

STATE ATTORNEYS OFFICE: 150 employees

$153,140: Bruce Colton, state attorney

$147,877: Thomas Bakkedahl, chief assistant state attorney

$119,814: Nita Denton, attorney-in-charge, Martin County/Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association, education coordinator

$117,838: Bernard Romero, assistant state attorney, major crimes

$116,286: Bruce Harrison, attorney-in-charge, St. Lucie County

$115,900: Patrick Gillen, assistant state attorney, felony appeals

$110,428: Pamela Robuck, assistant state attorney, Martin County Juvenile/Drug Court and Mental Health Court coordinator

$107,019: Linda Craft, assistant state attorney, major crimes/sex crimes and Jimmy Ryce Division

$105,728: Nora Pfeiffer, chief investigator

PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE: 80 employees

$153,140: Diamond Litty, public defender

$146,163: Mark V. Harllee, chief assistant public defender

$118,277: John Hetherington, assistant public defender/head attorney of Stuart office

$107,151: Patricia Armold, [Lau: CQ ]administrative director/budget analyst

ON THE WEB

19th Judicial Circuit: http://www.circuit19.org

19th Circuit State Attorney's Office: http://www.sao19.org

19th Circuit Public Defender's Office: http://www.pd19.org

Martin County Bar Association: http://www.martincountybar.org

St. Lucie County Bar Association: http://www.slcba.org

Indian River County Bar Association: http://www.irclaw.org

Florida Bar Association: http://www.floridabar.org

Florida Conference of Circuit Judges: http://www.flcircuitconference.com

Council of County Court Judges of Florida: http://www.countyjudges.com

National Center for State Courts; state judge salary survey: http://www.ncsconline.org/D_KIS/Salary_Survey/home.asp

© 2009 Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers

I Need More CowBell..

2009-03-03T08:03:00.000-05:00

Settlement to cost state $10.4-million

2009-01-16T11:13:00.000-05:00

By Steve Bousquet, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau Published Thursday, January 15, 2009
TALLAHASSEE — Facing a $3.5-billion deficit next year, Florida desperately needs all the money it can get. But millions more will disappear because the state has settled a lawsuit that affects millions of motorists.
The Legislature will spend $10.4-million to settle a class action lawsuit over allegations that the state illegally sold drivers' personal information to marketing firms over a four-year period in violation of a federal law barring the practice. The state made $27-million each year on the deal, according to the lawsuit.
The settlement to drivers?
$1.
Drivers who held a license, car registration or state-issued ID from June 1, 2000, through Sept. 30, 2004, will get a one-time credit of $1 when they register or renew a registration between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010.
"Just one dollar?" Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, asked in a committee hearing on the settlement.
The four South Florida motorists who sued will get $3,000 each, and five law firms that pursued the case for more than six years will divide $2.85-million in legal fees, which is separate from credits paid to consumers.
Gov. Charlie Crist and the Cabinet approved the agreement in August, but the Legislature has to appropriate the money. The Senate Transportation Committee was briefed on the settlement Wednesday.
The personal information that was sold includes a driver's photo, Social Security number, driver ID number, name, address, phone number and medical condition.
The preliminary settlement requires the state motor vehicle agency to post on its Web site a system to obtain names of the mass marketers that bought the personal information, as well as a reference on license and registration forms on state and federal disclosure laws.
The state formally denied any wrongdoing.
"No one's hurt, no one's injured, and we're paying $10-million?" asked Sen. Larcenia Bullard, D-Miami.
"It's $10-million or the potential is in the billions," replied Steven Fielder, a lobbyist for the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
The state's maximum liability was estimated at $39-million, based on a $2,500 penalty for each violation of the federal Drivers Privacy Protection Act.
Congress in 1999 amended the law to prohibit states from providing drivers' personal information unless the state had drivers' permission to do so.
But Florida, the lawsuit alleged, continued to market the data anyway. The Legislature passed a law in 2004 ending the practice.
Anyone affected by the settlement has until March 16 to file an objection with the court in Miami. The case is before U.S. District Judge Jose Martinez
Sen. Carey Baker, R-Eustis, said it looks to him as though consumers should have gotten more.
"The victim really doesn't benefit very much, and the attorneys make out on attorneys' fees."

Yours in the Bond

Soldier dies after bar fight over Jimmy Buffett song in Steamboat

2009-01-06T10:30:00.002-05:00

A soldier from Fort Bragg died this morning in Denver from injuries suffered from a bar fight in Steamboat Springs on Friday night over a Jimmy Buffett song.
Richard Lopez, 37, of Fayetteville, N.C., was pronounced dead at 4:16 a.m. today at Denver Health Medical Center. An autopsy by the Arapahoe County Coroner's office is scheduled for Tuesday.
"This is a very sad and serious case," said Capt. Joel Rae with Steamboat Springs police.
So far, no suspects have been arrested, although police have talked to two individuals involved in the fight.
"We know where they are and they have been interviewed," said Rae.
The case is being investigated as a homicide.
The incident occurred before 12:15 a.m. Friday when police were called to a fight between five people outside the Tap House.
"The initial disagreement was about music being played on the jukebox," said Rae, adding that it was a Jimmy Buffet song.
"Richard Lopez and two other individuals put on the song, but two other individuals did not agree with it."
It was not known which Jimmy Buffett song was being played at the time, but the fight was taken outside the bar.
By the time officers arrived on scene, the fight was over and Lopez was on the ground at Lincoln Avenue and Seventh Street.
Two of Lopez's friends, who were not identified by police but are from Steamboat Springs, were also injured in the fight.
Lopez was initially taken to Yampa Valley Medical Center, but later airlifted to Denver Health Medical Center.
Lopez's friends, identified by the Steamboat Pilot as Timothy Mottlau of Norfolk, Va., and Wesley Mottlau, of Fayetteville, N.C., were taken to the hospital with cuts and bruises.
Calls to the Mottlau's home in Steamboat Springs were not returned today.
Rae said that all three were on leave from the military - Lopez and one of his friends were with the Army, while the other friend was in the Navy.
A call to Fort Bragg indicated that Lopez was part of a special forces unit. More details were not available about his service.
Rae said the case is still under investigation.
"Somebody died," he said. "We're taking this very seriously."
While he said barfights were not uncommon in the town, it was unusual that a person died in a fight not involving any weapons.
"This is the first time that a physical fight has resulted in a loss of life from the use of hands and fists," he said.
"It's a shame that it had to happen."

Sad State of Affairs....WWJBD...

Yours in the Bond

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www.howObamagotelected.com

2008-11-18T06:49:00.001-05:00

www.howobamagotelected.com

Yours in the Bond

Uh...Change...

2008-11-06T07:53:00.002-05:00

Yours in the Bond

Mac is Back

2008-11-03T17:49:00.000-05:00

The Time to Choose....Go Vote Florida

2008-10-31T13:42:00.002-04:00

Yours in the Bond

Grunt Bait Proven..

2008-10-28T08:41:00.004-04:00

Years Ago while I was a little boy growing up in the Panhandle I got to know folks who were Professional Grunt Baiters...whereby you drive a stake into the ground and rub a piece of steel on it to make Worms come the surface where you bag 'em and tag 'em for fishing.

Now its official, It's proven how it works and it happened in Liberty County with the help of some local "Pros".

The secret of worm grunting, a mysterious technique used by fishermen to tempt worms to the surface, has been unearthed.Worm grunting is popular in the United States - they even hold grunting festivals - and involves driving a wooden stake into the ground and rubbing it repeatedly with a length of steel.To most people such behaviour might be regarded as, at best, eccentric but to fishermen it is a tried and tested means of providing enough bait to keep them going for hours.A biologist intrigued by the practice has now established that the apparently suicidal behaviour of the worms in coming to the surface, where they are easy prey, is driven by a desperate desire to escape their deadliest of enemies - moles.Moles are such voratious eaters of earthworms that the invertebrates would rather risk being caught by a bird or dried up by the sun than come within range of one.Dr Ken Catania, of Vanderbilt University in the US, found that the vibrations created in the soil by rubbing steel on the stake mimicked those made by moles digging through the soil.Fishermen had happily made use of the practice, known variously as worm grunting, tickling, snoring or charming depending on where it is done, but didn’t know why it worked.His conclusion, reached after a series of experiments in the Apalachicola National Forest, in Florida, confirmed a remark made by Charles Darwin in his 1881 book The Formation of Vegetable Mould.“It has often been said that if the ground is beaten or otherwise made to tremble, worms believe that they are pursued by a mole and leave their burrows,” he wrote.Dr Catania, reported his findings in the online journal PLoS ONE, after carrying out a series of experiments in Apalachicola National Forest in Florida where eastern American moles, Scalopus aquaticus linnaeus, are plentiful.He said: “Eastern moles don’t come to the surface when they are foraging, so fleeing to the surface provides the worms both immediate safety and the most efficient means for getting away from them.“The moles are quite noisy. Often you can hear the sounds of a mole digging in the wild from a few feet away.”The finding supports observation of gulls and wood turtles which have suggested the animals knew that by slapping their feet on the ground they would bring worms within reach.He found, with the help of veteran worm grunters Gary and Audrey Revell, that hundreds of earthworms came to the surface within 12 metres of the stake.“This makes it possible for an experienced worm grunter to collect thousands of worms in a day,” he added.

http://timesonline.typepad.com/environment/2008/10/secrets-of-worm.html

Yours in the Bond

Turn about is Fair Play

2008-10-27T13:15:00.000-04:00

Yours in the Bond

Wounded Hero...Please Pray

2008-10-26T21:39:00.005-04:00

A old friend of mine from my hometown of Blountstown...Col Edwards of the United States Marine Corp. serving in Afghanistan was wounded in action this past week while leading his troops in a Mountainous region.

He was struck in the head even with his helmet on. He is now in US, and responding..Keep him and his family in your prayers...

Ty's Website

Happy Birthday Hooters!!!!!!

2008-10-25T10:04:00.003-04:00

As I always celebrate all things Florida I want to give a shout out to a Fine Dining establishment that hails from Clearwater.....Hooters...or Hootiers (a fine French rest. as I tell my wife when she looks at the Credit Card Bill).

This Outstanding Artistic Commercial done by God Fearing Southern Girls who are just doing the Lords work Feeding the masses with Greasy Chicken Wings and Celery Strips celebrates the day...stop on by on the 25th of each month and this year and congratulate them.

Yours in the Bond.

Fla. Voters Offered Free Beer

2008-10-23T08:43:00.000-04:00

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- If a chance to help choose the next president of the United States isn't enough to get some voters to the polls, maybe a free beer is.

The HandleBar in Pensacola is offering a free beer to anyone who votes.

Customers must trade their "I Voted" stickers for the free drinks.

The offer is good for early voters and those who vote on Nov. 4.

This is the third year that the HandleBar has offered free beers to voters.

Yours in the Bond

You Gotta Love Our State DL Being used in this Ad.....

2008-10-22T15:38:00.001-04:00

Yours in the Bond

So long, suckers. Millionaire hedge fund boss thanks 'idiot' traders and retires at 37

2008-10-21T11:39:00.004-04:00

The boss of a successful US hedge fund has quit the industry with an
extraordinary farewell letter dismissing his rivals as over-privileged "idiots"
and thanking "stupid" traders for making him rich.
Andrew Lahde's $80m Los Angeles-based firm Lahde Capital Management in Los Angeles made a huge return last year by betting against subprime mortgages.
Yesterday the 37-year-old told his clients that he had hated the business and had only been in it for the money. And after declaring he would no longer manage money for other people, because he had enough of his own, Lahde said that instead he intended to repair his stress-damaged health; he made it clear he would not miss the financial world.
"The low-hanging fruit, ie idiots whose parents paid for prep school,
Yale and then the Harvard MBA, was there for the taking," he wrote. "These
people who were (often) truly not worthy of the education they received (or
supposedly received) rose to the top of companies such as AIG, Bear Stearns and
Lehman Brothers and all levels of our government," he said.
"All of this behaviour supporting the aristocracy only ended up making it easier for me to find people stupid enough to take the other side of my trades. God bless
America." Lahde became one of the biggest names in the investment industry
when one of his funds produced a return of 866% last year, largely by
forecasting the US home loans industry would collapse.
In his farewell letter, which concluded with an appeal for the legalisation of marijuana, Lahde said he was happy with his rewards and did not envy those who had made even more money.
"I will let others try to amass nine, 10 or 11 figure net worths.
Meanwhile, their lives suck," he wrote, citing a life of back-to-back business
appointments relieved only by a two-week annual holiday in which financiers are
still "glued to their Blackberries".
Lahde's retirement came amid an implosion among the hedge fund industry - some 350 of the funds have liquidated this year, according to Hedge Fund Research.
His final words of advice?
"Throw the Blackberry away and enjoy life"

Andrew Clark in New York
The Guardian,
Saturday October 18 2008
Yours in the Bond

Famous Floridian...Fruitcake Lady

2008-10-01T17:25:00.002-04:00

This was the "Fruit Cake Lady" from Jay Leno fame. She died a few yrs back over north of Tampa and was a Instant hit as a Floridian. She in fact was Truman Capote's Cousin and was in the movie "to Kill a Mockingbird"...Great Lady.

My Uncle Ken applied for the Wal Mart Greeter job...

2008-10-01T17:13:00.003-04:00

North Florida Fire Alarm

2008-10-01T17:11:00.000-04:00

Rebels on SI Cover...3rd time in History

2008-10-01T13:09:00.000-04:00

Hotty Toddy...What a Week for Ole Miss

2008-09-28T10:56:00.006-04:00

As many who read my blog have known for sometime, I am a Native Floridian....BUT I did attend the University of Mississippi for college. People have often asked me why and I tell them 4 Ms. America's, why not hunt in a baited field.

This past Sat. marked a ballgame I dread, the Ole Miss/FL game. It was in the Swamp, Gators would supposed to devour us in short order and low and behold we won. Tap this on to the Debate that happened Friday night in Oxpatch and Ole Miss had a Great Week.

As Fellow Alum Shep Smith from FoxNews says,

Hotty Toddy We always
win the Party

Yours in the Bond

Claudius Maximus....THE Gov. of Florida

2008-09-24T08:37:00.003-04:00

In my ongoing series I guess on Florida Gov's, I have to list my favorite Gov of All Time in our State. My parents knew him, btw he is still alive and well living in Palm Beach, and said he was the Real Deal...The True Maverick.

Gov. Kirk once said after hearing of a Killing in a Nightclub in Quincy (the town of my birth)..."That's just another Sat. Night in Gadsden County"...Good Stuff.

As the article below will tell he was a Stud and a Great Promoter of Florida. They Don't make 'em like Claude anymore.

Yours in the Bond.

He was a playboy bachelor, the first Republican governor of Florida since Reconstruction and a promising candidate for the vice presidency. His name was Claude Kirk Jr.

Four decades later, the legend of Kirk endures. He was a Florida original, a pure character, a combination of Huey Long, P.T. Barnum and Jesse Ventura. At his inaugural ball in January 1967, the 41-year-old governor was accompanied by a ravishing, 33-year-old green-eyed blonde known only as "Madame X." If Charlie Crist weds Carole Rome, he will be the first governor to marry in office since the man the Miami Herald dubbed "Claudius Maximus" exchanged vows with Erika Mattfeld.

Born in California in 1926, Claude Roy Kirk was raised in a hardscrabble section of Montgomery, Ala. He joined the Marines at age 17 and fought in World War II and Korea. The GI Bill put him through Emory University and the University of Alabama law school. In 1956, Kirk founded American Heritage Life Insurance Co. in Jacksonville.

The 1960s transformed Florida and Kirk. He switched his political allegiance to the Republican Party in 1960 and chaired the "Floridians for Nixon" campaign. By the mid-1960s, the convulsive social and cultural change sweeping the country - free love, drugs, anti-war protests, black power, race riots, youthful rebellion and political alienation - convinced Kirk that a Republican could win Florida.

When he announced his candidacy for governor in 1966, few commentators noticed. Florida had not voted in a Republican governor since the election of Ossian B. Hart in 1872.

"I got elected," Kirk recalled, "because I could read numbers. I was a businessman, an insurance man."

It helped that the Democratic Party was imploding. Gov. Haydon Burns, a former five-term mayor of Jacksonville, fully expected to be renominated by his party in 1966. His term in office had been turbulent: He helped lure Walt Disney World to Orlando but had mishandled civil rights and, overall, was an ineffective leader. The conservative Burns was challenged by Lakeland businessman and populist Scott Kelly and Robert King High, the liberal mayor of Miami.

The May 1966 Democratic primary was hard fought, bitter and close. Only 40,000 votes separated the three candidates, with Burns and High qualifying for the runoff. In that primary, writes Kelly biographer Dorothy Smiljanich, "Governor Burns would make the mistake of his political life." Burns spread a malicious lie that Kelly was offering his political support to High for $500,000. Outraged, Kelly swore vengeance. He volunteered to help High for the pure pleasure of defeating Burns.

Kirk read the headlines and beamed. Precisely at the moment that Americans were becoming disillusioned with Lyndon Johnson's Great Society and questioning the wisdom of Florida Democrats, the party nominated High. Kirk could not have dreamed a better scenario for November.

Signs began to appear on lawns in Central and North Florida: "I'M A DEMOKIRK."

Kirk routed the hapless High in the fall election, carrying 56 of the state's 67 counties and winning by almost 160,000 votes. Kirk received 62 percent of the white vote. He and Winthrop A. Rockefeller of Arkansas, who also won in 1966, became the first Republican governors elected in the South since Reconstruction.

Kirk proved to be a better campaigner than governor. He faced a Democratic-controlled Legislature. Critics charged that the flamboyant governor was more interested in jet-setting to glamorous locales than governing. Faced with a rising crime rate, Kirk hired a private security firm to combat the problem.

The governor did have a sense of humor. When newspaper reporters discovered that a state commission had paid for his German honeymoon, Kirk quipped, "Very good reporting!" He then added, "Suppose a political enemy instead of the press had found it? That would have been terrible."

He was also a great salesman. At a 1967 Republican Governors' Conference, Kirk was a one-man show, giving dozens of interviews. When Time magazine accused him of "hogging the spotlight," he responded with a burst of candor, "I'm just sellin' orange juice. Sellin' juice, sellin' Kirk, sellin' Florida."

In January 1968, Brandon astrologer Teresa Maddux said the stars were aligned for new Tampa Mayor Dick Greco and the new governor.

By late July, it seemed that Kirk might become Republican presidential nominee Richard Nixon's running mate. The Tampa Tribune was not impressed. In an editorial July 28, 1968, "Trying Harder Won't Put Kirk in No. 2 GOP Spot," the Tribune called the governor an overrated, "gallivanting chief executive."

Frustrated and fuming with the Legislature, local school boards and governor, Florida teachers did the unthinkable: They struck. In February 1968, thousands of teachers from kindergarten through high school walked off their jobs, closing down a third of Florida's schools. Floridians were furious. By the fall, 63 percent of Floridians disapproved of Kirk's performance in office.

Kirk, however, turned out to be a good environmental governor. He appointed Nathaniel Reed as his environmental adviser, and together they accomplished much.

It was President Johnson and other Democratic leaders who had authorized the Cross-Florida Barge Canal. It was to connect the Gulf of Mexico with the Atlantic Ocean, stretching from Palatka to the mouth of the Withlacoochee on the Gulf Coast. Environmentalists fought furiously to stop the project, fearing that the canal would slice through the aquifer. Kirk helped persuade President Nixon to stop construction in 1971.

Kirk lost his bid for a second term to Democrat Reubin Askew.

At age 81, Kirk remains active. He and Erika live at Bear Island in West Palm Beach.

Gary R. Mormino directs the Florida Studies Program at USF St. Petersburg. He would love to hear from teachers who remember the 1968 Florida teachers strike.

Fuller Warren...no not the bridge, the Gov.

2008-09-23T14:21:00.005-04:00

Fellow Calhoun County resident and Gov...who once said when dedicating the Bridge from Btown to Bristol over the Apalachicola..."Finally the folks from Calhoun County can have a better way to go visit their relatives in Chattahoochee (State Mental Hosp.) and Starke (State Prison)....good stuff. I knew some family members and I wish I had a chance to meet him, but I was 6 when he died.

Yours in the Bond.

Fuller Warren (October 3, 1905 – September 23, 1973) was the 30th governor of the U.S. state of Florida.

Born in Blountstown, Florida, he attended the University of Florida in Gainesville and was a member of the Tau Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity. While attending the university, he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives at the age of 21 in 1927. Following graduation, he moved to Jacksonville, Florida and began practicing law. He served on the city council from 1931 until 1937 and returned to the Florida House in 1939. During World War II, he was a gunnery officer in the U.S. Navy. During the election for governor in 1948, the debate over whether Florida would become a "dry state" heated up. Warren has been held to have delivered a speech more often attributed to Noah S. Sweat, the famous "if-by-whiskey" remark:

"If you mean the demon drink that poisons the mind, pollutes the body, desecrates family life, and inflames sinners, then I'm against it. But if you mean the elixir of Christmas cheer, the shield against winter chill, the taxable potion that puts needed funds into public coffers to comfort little crippled children, then I'm for it. This is my position, and I will not compromise."

Fuller Warren won the election and assumed the office of governor on January 4, 1949. During his term, he set the foundations for the state's turnpike system, began the Florida reforestation program, quality control programs on Florida's citrus crops were instituted and new laws were established that forbade cattle to wander freely. After he left office on January 6, 1953 he moved to Miami, Florida and practiced law. He ran for governor again in 1956, but lost the election to LeRoy Collins. He died in Miami in 1973.

The Fuller Warren Bridge in Jacksonville, Florida is named for him.

Red White and Boooooooooo.....

2008-09-22T16:03:00.004-04:00

For those of you that watched it you know we had a great Ryder Cup Match this week up in KY. Our guys played stellar as did the Euro's. The one shining light this week was a Fellow Floridian from my neck of the woods, Boo Weekley. Boo is from the metropolis of Milton FL between Pensacola and Marianna where my people are from. Boo is a Good Ole Boy done good. He says Yes Sir and No Sir, calls people who interview him Mr and Mrs and is a hoot to answering questions. He has God given talent on the golf course, one of the best ball strikers you will ever see...this from a guy who got into golf on a whim when he was 14 yrs old.

This interview was done just prior to the Ryder Cup match and it illustrates how great Boo is...from his Mossy Oak Team Camo Hat that he wears on tour to his fishing pole in his golf bag...Boo is keeping it Real..

The last Video is from Boo from Last Year...Classic.

Enjoy

Yours in the Bond

God Bless Dixie

2008-09-20T10:02:00.003-04:00

My Alma Mater Ole Miss just installed the largest Jumbotron in the SEC....for those of you up north thats not the Sec. and Exchange Commission but Southeastern Conf...

After our victory against the Memphis Tigers a couple of weeks ago they played this video by the King...and everyone in the stadium stayed and sang and Cried...

Its a special Song to me as I had a Relative that just passed and this was her favorite song by Elvis..we would play it when I was a little boy every Christmas and we would have the same reaction.

Enjoy

Yours in the Bond

HOT.....Great Looks and can Shoot...

2008-09-15T13:02:00.002-04:00

Sarah Palin Rifle Training - The best bloopers are a click away

Yours in the Bond

Speaks for itself.....

2008-09-12T13:44:00.002-04:00

Good Bless You...Joe Cook

and yes this is Sarah and Piper.....

My VP Candidate looks hotter than your VP Candidate....

Ok its official....we have surpassed Cali as the worst place to be..

2008-09-09T15:02:00.005-04:00

Perhaps many of you have been reading and/or following the horrible story over near me in Orange County Florida about Caylee Anthony, the precious Missing 3 yr. old, whose mother Casey has been in and out of Jail, lie to the Police and Bounce checks around the town....

Well she is hold up in Home Confinement on Bail at her parents home, and it has turned into sort of a LA Court House for the OJ Simpson Trial spectacle..

Over the weekend there were fights between poor neighbors who are trying to take their street back from protesters, to George Anthony Pushing Protesters out of HIS driveway and finally today the one that struck a nerve...Loraine the Garbage Snoop took their Garbage to riffle through it for "clues"...oh yeah and Blog about it...

It's not the end of the World, but we can see it from here.

Yours in the Bond

Asst. Babe in Chief

2008-08-30T09:25:00.004-04:00

Fay ain't such a sweet name anymore....

2008-08-20T09:41:00.003-04:00

Don't know bout all my other Fellow Natives, but Ms. Fay (I say Ms. cause I don't think anybody will marry her) is kicking my butt.

Here in Central Brevard we are getting lots of rain, so much so I did a quick video on my Cam to show everyone....stay safe.

Yours in the Bond

Let's see....................

2008-08-18T21:16:00.004-04:00

Where to begin...I am not gonna come back on here and apologize as I have done the past year for not posting...from the looks of sitemeter...plenty of folks from all over the planet have been reading my ramblings for the past few months.

I mentioned in a earlier blog this year that my Dad was having some surgery...he did. It was Prostrate Cancer and mighty bad...turns out we think we got it all. Praise Jesus.

Funny thing is the Dr. who did it is a kid i grew up with, his dad was the local Drug Dealer (pharmacist) so he turned out ok..Now I am cursed with listening to my Dad say how his Sex Life is not too much affected....somethings are better left unsaid you know what I mean?

Death and Destruction have followed me around this summer. My Great Aunt who practically raised me in the summers when I would Summer in Biloxi passed away after some complications, that sucked. Then we found out my Mom-in-Law has Liver Cancer and is terminal. My wife and I are shuttling back and forth to Natchez..not good.

The market sucks so no one is throwing money my way....ah wait...there is a bit of good news. My Kids are excellent..My health and My wife's are pretty good. My dog's love me. My Mom and Dad and Brother and Sis in Law and Boys are okay, and looks like Brett is gonna work out at the Jets.

So as I promised I will not say sorry for not posting or reading my fellow bloggers here in our Lovely State...just know you all have been with me and you are all some of the finest people I have ever read...

Yours in the Bond.

Camp Boo Nee

2008-06-03T23:04:00.004-04:00

Every year for the past few years my parents host an exclusive camp for some special kids.

So special that you have to have a certain last name just to get in. There are 5 enrolled youths

ranging from ages 7-12 yrs. The name is often mistaken for a Indian name, meaning "old people doing great things for grandkids", but actually its my Mom and Dad's nicknames given to them by the grandkids.

This year we have the Camp coming up. Mom organizes events for the tikes, from swimming in the fabled 4 mile creek outside of the little town they live in to doing Beach Days and Bowling Days. The kids, my 3 and my brother's 2, look so foward to it that they start packing early...I mean real early 2 weeks to be exact.

One of the most prized possessions is the fabled "Camp Boo Nee" T Shirt that everyone gets. For the past few years it has been ones from Iron On letters to a nice stich one last year. This year we went high tech and developed our own company store... www.cafepress.com/campboonee

On it you will find everything a camper will need for the magic week up in God's Country. Help yourself to some merchandise, it's one of a kind and the newest hit...Camp Boo Nee Surf Club with Surf 4 mile Creek on the back is a Big hit. Picked up a couple for me and Mississippi Queen as a matter of fact.

Will be sharing pics and stories in a later post.

Yours in the Bond

Interesting things you can do with a new $20 Bill

2008-04-24T09:44:00.009-04:00

Got this email the other day and tried this....it works......

how someone came up with doing this is interesting.

The crazy thing is what you can do with the last fold...

Yours in the Bond.

Baby Boy

2008-04-19T11:12:00.006-04:00

It is with great relief and pride that my Wife and I welcome home our "baby boy" soon. Our Marine has been serving our country in Iraq the past year. Sitting high atop a Humvee with an arsenal of weapons, he was the point man in moving convoys in his super secret locations. We don't have any idea what he has gone through, we are sure we will have stories when he gets back and can be with us. We are just so happy that he will be back home safe very soon.

Jason is my Wife's Nephew from her Sister that passed away from Cancer some years ago. Although I didn't know his Momma, she was a special lady. Jan has taken over the Momma role now with this one. I have known Jason for going on 3 yrs now. Always a Southern Gentleman, calls me "uncle scott", loves his aunt and her new crew. My youngest Daughter has the biggest crush on him, she lights up whenever he is around and flirts with him the way that little girls do.
We understand that an old girlfriend from high school has moved back to his area and they have been hot and heavy over email and phone calls while he was away. His goal is to buy a home and settle down. He deserves it. He is our Pride and Joy.

Just when you think the younger generation has let us down from our Previous Post, we only need to think of the Brave Ones who are putting it on the line everyday in Iraq and Afghanistan to keep us safe and sound as we rumble on about how "tough" we got it. Believe me we got it easy compared to what this fella has done the last year.

So join me in welcoming back our newest Vet from the Great Fight to liberate Iraq.

Semper Fidelis (always faithful)

Yours in the Bond

Shocking....I hear you!

2008-04-08T02:48:00.003-04:00

Cheerleaders Pummel Girl For 30 Minutes In 'Animalistic' Ambush Attack...

When I started this blog last year my goal was to talk about things going on in our Great State of Sunshine, some good some bad, but mostly to initiate dialogue. I have gotten away from that and I do apologize. This story I am posting was found on the Drudge Report today. It is something that shocks even the sitting Sheriff of Polk County as well as myself.

When I read the above headline I thought it was some crazy initiation into some wacky Cheerleading Club, not an organized ambush on a girl over in Lakeland. The video and pics of the attack are very disturbing. It shows that for pure fun and the ability to harness a video camera, our young skulls full of mush don't have any problem doing horrible things to one another for the sheer joy of posting it on You Tube and My Space.

What the hell is happening? These girls where born in and around 1990-91, grew up with Cable TV 24-7, Playstation War Games and Presidents telling them at an early age that Oral Sex is not really sex.

1st my heart goes out to the girl beaten and her family, no one should have to bear this in a public spotlight, not just in Polk County but the World. Drudge Yields Millions of Visitors every day and this just highlights some of the craziness we can inflict upon each other. I have to say that Florida always seems to have a zany post on Drudge. Way to go Sunshine State.

Secondly, My heart goes out to the Parents of the Girls doing the beating, then it rages at what has been instilled in these girls and 2 boys, one 18 who were the "lookouts". When did you lose the moral compass on your kids to allow this to manifest into this behavior. Personally, its symptomatic of the problem many parents are falling into, letting society raise your kids. The Idiot Box will teach your kids that crime does pay, lying is now the norm not the exception, Violence should be inflicted upon the weak any chance you get and that Sex before Holy Matrimony is best.

Also, deeper I feel the slow unraveling of doing what is decent. For sometime I have felt an edge to people out in the world. No I am not paranoid, but think about it, how many people do you know that are extremely good to the core anymore, hopeless optimist who are glass is half full kind of folk? I can't place when it started, what exactly caused it but believe me its there.

What to do What to Do? First these youngsters will be prosecuted and be out for good behavior, and will be running around town saying Momma didn't love me so I beat the hell out of this girl to get attention, our society will coddle them tell them it's okay and "feel their pain". This is where it has got to stop, punishment should fit the crime, these youngsters knew what they were doing and they ought to know its wrong....that's the damn problem. I tell you they didn't.

So we slap them on the wrist, put them on the local news and Oprah and make stars out of them.

In this election year where one party and media will be telling everyone that we are going to hell in a hand basket until Nov, and elect us and it will stop, we better get a grip on what our State and Country has come too..A place where no one is responsible anymore for their actions, unless your are with Big Oil, Big Pharma, Big Tobacco or even now Big Water. Our courts are stretched to the limits, Cops are seeing behavior that even Shocks them in all their years of seeing the worst of human behavior and we the people have not had that proverbial wake up call yet, until something happens to us.

Belize is looking pretty damn Good Right Now.

Its not the end of the world folks, but I am telling you we can see it from here.

Yours in the Bond

What's Coming up Next??

2008-03-20T07:58:00.002-04:00

Sometimes a look is worth a thousand words. This has been the expression of my fellow Financial Advisors and Stock Jocks the past few weeks with this crazy market. What's your thoughts?

Yours in the Bond

Ok Ok I know this is an easy one!!!!

2008-02-29T08:22:00.001-05:00

Instead of my usual rant on stuff I find on the 'net that I find interesting, I am leaving it up to you to post a comment to address the photo. Looking forward to reading what you write.

Yours in the Bond.

Obama Bloomberg 2008!!! This is Rich

2008-02-18T18:39:00.003-05:00

"The word on the street is that the Obama campaign and New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg have already met and devised an incredible plan if Clinton wins the nominee. Mayor Bloomberg would give nearly $1 billion to Obama's campaign after which Obama would bolt from the Democratic Party and run as an Independent candidate with king-maker Bloomberg as his running mate. The Obama campaign realizes that Obama is too new at this game and doesn't have the political weight of the Clintons to bring in the true heavy-hitters of the party's hierarchy. So, according to sources it was Bloomberg himself who suggested this cunning strategy. It's mind boggling that the Clintons are willing to destroy the entire Democratic Party, and potentially in the process lose the White House and seats in Congress, for their own selfish thirst for power and glory. "

Armstrong Williams Humanevents.com

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=25021

DCF Press Secretary Arrested On Child Porn Charges

2008-02-04T16:11:00.000-05:00

This stuff you can't make up in a Made for TV Movie. Only in FL is the bar low enough that they allow a Predator to be the Spokesman for the Dept of Children and Family.

TAMPA -- A person who was a voice and point of contact for the Department of Children and families is now facing a number of charges for being involved in child pornography.40-year-old Al Zimmerman was arrested after being accused of offering a pair of 16 and 17-year olds money to let him photograph them involved in sexual acts. In a search of his belongings police found a number of pictures that showed children involved in sex acts dating back two to three years. Police in Tampa, where he was arrested, say there is a definitely possibility there are more victims out there and they want anyone who was victimized by Zimmerman to come forward. Zimmerman is facing eight counts of using a child in a sexual performance, each a felony charge. If convicted he could face up to 120 years in prison. He was released from jail Saturday on $120,000 bail.DCF fired Zimmerman after leaning of the allegations and his arrest.

The Cape....no not that one silly!

2008-02-02T10:46:00.000-05:00

People often ask me about the pic of me and the "Crew" on the front of my blogsite. Many assume it's taken down here in Central Florida on the Beaches of Brevard County. Not that I have anything against the Beaches here, heck I grew up surfing on them back in my high school days after my parents moved down here from "Gods Country" .

Nope that Beach shot is from Beautiful Gulf County up on the Bend of the Gulf. Cape San Blas has always been a special place for me and my Family. 30 yrs ago you could go out there, down the long winding road out of Pt. St. Joe and be all alone for miles. Walk the beach, run with your dog before there were HOA, County Laws and Pesky People who didn't think Poochie needed to be on the beach. It's been ranked in the Past as one of the most beautiful beaches in the World. It has the highest dunes in Florida, 40 ft. high, Incredible Sunsets, Lovely Native Floridians aka..Dixie Loving People, and some great places to rent when you want too.

Like to plug a house that my family has always stayed at since I was knee high to a grasshopper, its owned by a family friend who is like family, Snyder House. You can see for yourself why it's amazing to be out there all alone and take it easy.

We have had some incredible "Blender Wars" on that deck. Some of the folks that were frequent partiers have gone to that great happy hour in the sky, but their memory lives on with the Lifestyle only a Beach Bum can appreciate.

When I was younger, we lived next door to a lady whose Husband owned the M&B railroad, know officially as the Marianna/Blountstown RR, it was called "Many Bumps" in its day. This gentleman helped lure a certain land developer down to Florida called DuPont and now that company he started is called the St. Joe Corporation, the largest land owner in our great state. This neighbor had once owned most of the Cape, with his brother-in-law who was a Young Judge in St. Joe for around $4/acre.

Your can imagine what that would be worth today. Take a look around the Cape on the 'net and if you get the hunkering, go visit. But be warned "No Shirt No Shoes No Problem"...oh and Cell Coverage sucks out there....ain't life grand?

Yours in the Bond

How come I didn't Think of this!

2008-02-01T14:26:00.001-05:00

This is absolutely the best product ever invented for Redneck Man. I just hate I found out about it after Christmas. Yeap its for Real and It works. Spread the love and Keep 'em Loaded.

Yours in the Bond

Change....Key Word for this Election!!!

2008-01-21T10:17:00.000-05:00

I remember back in 1992 it was "Hope", 1996 it was "For the Children" and 2000 was "Lock Box".

This is funny

Yours in the Bond

Cousin Cornelius

2008-01-19T10:45:00.000-05:00

I had a Cousin, no not someone I knew or even heard about as a Youngster who served for the Cause in the War of Northern Aggression as I was taught to call it growing up. Below is his Headstone that has been redone in recent years at a Cemetery in Jackson Cty Fl that quite a few of my relatives are buried in. The SCV had a ceremony for Cousin Cornelius in the Fall last year and I hate I missed it. My Mom/Dad and Nephews went and took some pictures that I hope to get and add soon.

Talked to my Dad about our Ancestor and he said he didn't know really anything about him, my Grandfather who was born in 1896 and knew him till Cornelius' Death in 1922, never talked of his service. Hard to imagine a young 15 yr old in Northwest Florida serving from a Home Guard to defend his homeland. No matter what your politics on the war, the bravery in which both sides fought is something that makes us strong as a people.

My thanks to Mr. Dale Cox, a World Renowned Author and Fellow Florida Blogger for his input on Cousin Cornelius. Mr. Cox is in fact kin to me because of this, seems his side of the family are Owens too and that is who Cousin married. Mr. Cox has a Great book the Battle of Marianna that I was pleased to receive as a Christmas Present this year Hand Signed by him from my Parents. I encourage y'all to visit his sites.

Cornelius Stephens was born 5 Nov 1847 in Jackson County, Florida, and died 11 Jun 1922. He enlisted in Captain George Robinson's Home Guard 15 Jun 1864, at Owens Pond. He stated in his pension application that he was given the detail to follow the Yankee's after the Marianna Raid and then he was stationed to guard Marianna, Orange Hill, and Iola, Florida. he also served as a wagon train guard. He was discharged in April 1865 at Marianna, Florida. He married Mary Owens on 10 Feb 1880, in Jackson County, Florida. [ Letter of support. FLORIDA CONFEDERATE PENSION #A02400]

Yours in the Bond

VOTE!!!!!!!!!!

2008-01-19T10:24:00.000-05:00

Don't Look Back...something might be gaining on you!

2008-01-03T19:51:00.000-05:00

This is indeed a real photo, not photo shopped. Seems this chap in the Yellow Canoe is a Biologist who studies the Great White, yeap that's right, Great White Shark off the southern Coast of South Africa.

Bruce, (name Spielberg gave the shark in the movie "Jaws" after his attorney..ha ha) is around 13-15 ft long and was inspecting this fellow in his yellow vessel which to the shark looked alot like a Seal from underneath it.

Happy to report the Vessel, Biologist (who we will call Crazy) and shark are all doing fine. Just saw this pic on the 'net today and had to share.

Yours in the Bond

Sorry for the Sabatical!! Happy Holidays

2007-12-21T10:57:00.000-05:00

Florida Native and Mississippi Queen moved as I referenced in an earlier Post. We now are over on the East Coast in Brevard County, lot closer to the little natives.

Hope each of you have a wonderful holiday season. I have included my favorite Christmas song, one that makes me cry...cause it reminds me of my early years and Christmas parties with my Redneck Relatives in the Panhandle. Enjoy.

Yours in the Bond.

Kind Man and Great American!!!!

2007-11-01T19:17:00.001-04:00

Today I learned that Gen Tibbetts died. Read Story Below. Reason I bring it up is that I have been knowing a Great Man who was on the Enola Gay back some 60 yrs ago that brought to an end that terrible war.

Russ Gackenbach has been a friend and a client of mine since the late '90's. He and his wife are very dear and kind people. I first met Russ in the Melbourne Kiwanis Club back in 1999. He was the Treasurer. Very good and methodical with $$. Now I know why. But for a year or so, I never knew his history. He didn't brag, never said a word, People in the club knew his Historical Past but Russ never let on. It was only later that a fellow club member told me, after Russ and his wife became clients of mine.

Over the years Russ and I have talked at detail bout WWII. He told of the secret training he took in Cuba for what reason he didn't know at the time. How only 3-4 people on Earth knew we were building the Atom Bomb...Tibbetts, Sec of War, Churchill and Roosevelt besides the scientist held up in New Mexico. My how that would not happen today or would it?

Russ was the Photographer of the Famous Photo that you and I have seen in Multiple school books in School. Take a look at this online book about what that was like being prepped for that flight.

"Ruin from the Air"

When I heard the news today of Tibbet's Death I called Russ. He sounded good, told me his son-in-law called him after lunch to let him know. Russ and Tibbets were only 4 of the surviving crew of the mission I believe. They did a Discovery Channel show some 2 yrs ago to mark the 60th anniversary of the event. To this day not one man on the crew regrets what they had to do.

I have to say that Russ is one of the Kindest, Sincerest Men I have ever met. Would not hurt a fly, yet with all that could be involved in that Bombing in the war. When it was over Russ went back to his home in PA, met a Lovely young woman Named Evelyn, who he never knew who grew up 2 miles from him, @ a Dance at a Fire Station. Got married had kids, now grandkids and live in sunny Florida.

So tonight I salute you Lt. Gackenbach...You are a Great American!!!

Yours in the Bond.

Tibbets Tributes

And the Famous Actress is............

2007-11-01T19:10:00.000-04:00

Born 1941, January - As the co-star of the landmark Bonnie and Clyde, actress Faye Dunaway helped usher in a new golden era in American filmmaking, going on to appear in several of the greatest films of the 1970s. Born January 14, 1941, in Bascom (suburb of TWO EGG) FL, Dunaway was the daughter of an army officer. She studied theater arts at the University of Boston and later joined the ...

Come Monday.....

2007-10-28T20:44:00.000-04:00

Sorry my fellow Floridians and Galactic Bloggers for my lack of attention to FNM. Last blog of 9/11 whipped me. You know there's allot of therapy in these things. Anyway tomm my little lady aka "the Queen" is heading back to Mississippi without me for a week for a wedding and a surgery. Momma is having her gall bladder taken out on Friday and one of Queen's bestest Friends is getting Hitched Sat. in Jackson. Good Luck Chester and Tonya...

While surfing around on You Tube a few weeks ago I ran across a Jimmy Buffett Vid. Shot back in the early '70's. It included JB and his soon to be wife and his old pickup truck. The title of my Blog is about that song and it's appropriate since my Queen will be traveling tomm on Monday.

Hope all you fellow Parrot Heads enjoy, I know I do and I will be missing my Lady this week. FYI FNM is moving over to be near the little critters here in Nov. Can't wait to get back on a beach, being inland in our great state is like having a Ferrari in the garage and never taking it for a ride.

Oh, don't forget to check out my newest additions to my fav Blog's. 2 Fellow Floridians both hail from the Redneck Rivera such as I. One fella actually lives in Two Egg FL. If you are not cultured enough to know where 2 Egg is, its 34 miles north of Blountstown FL where my Parents live. Also, 2 egg is the birthplace of a Famous Actress.....any guesses? I will fill you in on my next post.

Also, Jim has a Great blog on History and Going's on in Florida. He like Me resides here in the Central Part of our Great State.

Until then I will always be

Yours in the Bond.

I was in the Barber Shop on Main St. in Chattahoochee FL

2007-09-11T20:30:00.002-04:00

So goes the story from my Daddy on where he was when he got the news that JFK had been shot.

I make this headline for my blog today 9.11.07 six yrs after that fateful day when I can still remember where I was when I heard about the Towers being hit. I had just gotten back from a Kiwanis Club Board meeting over in Melbourne FL @ Pop's Cash bah Rest. that Morning, got to my beautiful office on the Beach in Indialantic, turned on CNBC "Squawk Box" for my morning ritual of what was gonna happen in the markets that day and Mark and Joe were saying a small plane had hit the towers.

So we all thought at that moment, then as I was watching the single tower burn I saw the 2nd plane hit and come out the other side. A gal that worked for me, Dhana, came into my back office crying and literally set in my lap much like my young daughter Amelia did at the time. I knew and I knew I knew that we were under attack. So as the days events trailed on, I said to her " if we don't catch who did this, we are out of business in 90 Days".

Man I hate being right. You see I am a Stock Broker, had my own RayJay Office with employees, managing Millions of Dollar$ for Conservative Investors who were the Greatest Generation living their retirement dream down in Sunny Florida. I was President of the 4th Oldest Kiwanis Club in the Sunshine State, was Chairman of a City Planning Council, had 3 beautiful kids and managing to keep my chin up while going thru the motions of a Impending Divorce. Had just gotten a nice rental home right on the beach for my kids to come see Daddy and play in the water and thought hey I might be able to handle this Separation thing okay, then BAM....to end that..I shut my 2000 sq ft office Thanksgiving Weekend and starting managing $$ out of my house. I would have beeen better off at the time selling shovels, cause that's where my clients put their $$..in the ground...literally and really.

I remember my divorce atty going thru my Financials prior to filling with the state and asking, what happened to all the Income. I said, what if you got a letter today from the Law School you attended saying they had lied all this time, they were never accredited and your Law Degree is not worth the paper it's written on. You would be out of Business for no fault of your own. And so where we in my profession. Oh my clients would swell up with pride and tell me it would be okay. For they had endured the Depression, WW II, Presidents being shot and killed, Gas lines etc....but nothing they could comprehend or me for that matter, could prepare them for 19 people getting into Airplanes and ramming them into buildings.

I was out of work for 2 weeks while the markets were shut down. Nothing to sell, nothing to manage. It has taken me 3 years to get back on my feet. Had to move to North Florida, be away from my kids, take positions working for someone else (yuck) etc.. but I am here.

And I'm Lucky.

I had a young man who used to call on my who worked for a Large Financial Institution. I sold some of his products and he came by to see me from time to time. He was from Long Island NY and had friends who worked in the biz at WTC. I think he lost like 15 friends that day. He was telling me of going to NY for funerals for friends and seeing other friends who were asking about others, and saying no that friend was over at another friends funeral. All these guys were from the same hometown. After he told me that, I realized we probably have not seen that many people from one place killed on the same day since the Civil War. He thought and agreed.

I am rambling on with this blog in so much as to share, but also in hopes of healing. I get pissed every 9.11 and I am damn glad I do. My wife and I were watching a Special on the History Channel tonight and she wanted to turn it, too painful to watch and I stopped her and said No. We need to fill that pain, if not everyday but every year at this time. Let us not forget the Scum we are dealing with. The ash heap of history we are going to put them in. The Children who are 6 yrs older tonight that are crying for a Daddy or Mommy that aren't coming home. Yes we are lucky. We are reading this and have family to hold on too.

So when the years go by my fellow Floridians I too will be asked by my kids or my grand kids, Where were you?......I had just got to my office from a Kiwanis Club Meeting.

God Bless God, God Bless America and Florida

Yours in the Bond

Ole Miss and our Legacy

2007-08-29T09:31:00.000-04:00

I wanted to give a little shout out to My Alma Mater, Ole Miss.

Once Again we made the top 5 Party Schools in the Country. #2 to be exact.

As football season rolls around, I am reminded of my Days in the Mid 80's going to games
with Formally Gentile Southern Delta Queens who by the 3rd quarter turned into the "fun girls" if you have ever seen that Episode of Andy Griffith.

Was a blast I admit. Had some much fun I stayed around a extra year just to enjoy it.

University of Mississippi's Best 366 College Rankings

Click on the list name to see all the schools on that list or click the category name to see all the lists in the category.
Rank
List
Category
#4
Their Students (Almost) Never Study
Academics
#17
Students Pray on a Regular Basis
Demographics
#9
Best College Newspaper
Extracurriculars
#10
Lots of Beer
Parties
#3
Lots of Hard Liquor
Parties
#9
Major Frat and Sorority Scene
Parties
#2
Party Schools
Parties
#18
Students Most Nostalgic for Ronald Reagan
Politics

Beignets, Tamalas, and Cake!!!!

2007-08-21T13:40:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the long spite of no blogs but work has been keeping me hopping and busy.Took a little (pun) trip with the Queen this past weekend to her hometown of Natchez MS.

If you ever want to know how far it is from Orlando to Natchez, its a Good 12 hour Drive. I said its a Good (pun) 12 hour drive. Anyway, its was my Ma-in-Law's 80th Birthday and we went up for a Surprise Bday party. You can guess what I am about to tell you. It was no Surprise as I know of no Southern Belle from the State of Magnolia to hold a secret very long. So we made it in Thursday nite, dogs and all in Tow, to a much anticipated arrival.

Natchez is a great old southern city, having been there randomly from days at Ole Miss back in the '80's, I have enjoyed it now as I am older since I married a lady from there. Had some time on Friday while the Queen was helping her sis in law with accounting for her Flower Shop.

I went out downtown for a little site seeing. Took a few shots of the Mighty Mississippi and a very interesting house on the river, Bontura. It's a very neat house. In fact a Former Free Slave from TX came up the Miss. River and settled into it and ran a Carriage Biz from it to ferry people from the River Boats up the Hill to Natchez. What makes this so interesting is that he owned Slaves. During the War. Between the States. Wow.

View from the Street.

You see I can't get away from things Florida. That is the Writer of our State Song..Mr. Foster.

Looking South from Up the Hill...That River Boat is a Casino. Does Not Move!

And you thought we had Construction in FL. This is a Country Suites Goin in Downtown Natchez. My opinion it's a horrible place for it. Takes away from the charm of this great Southern City.

Tamales and 'rita's at Fat Mama's with Niece and Sis is Law

WWJBD!!!!!(what would Jimmy Buffett Do?)

Party Day Sunday with Momma and the Kids...Check out my Bro in Law's...Anything familiar?

Almost forgot, we had Beignets (Cafe Du Monde anyone Nawlins?) at this great French Open Market downtown Natchez one AM. They are pretty darn good.

Really Almost Forgot, This is the Cake...It was neat how they took a pic of Mom and put it on the cake as Icing. It's edible.

Well that was my trip. Sorry it's not as exciting as Pure Florida on the Cannonball Run. Talk to you soon.

Yours in the Bond

Red Beans and Rice!!!!

2007-08-05T20:32:00.000-04:00

Although I can't compete with Pure Florida on Recipes, I have to give a big shout out to

my Queen for making me a dish I grew up with.

I happen to be a 1/4 cajun from my Mom's side of the clan. I have many relatives along the

Gulf Coast from Biloxi all the way over to Lafayette so when I was a kid my Mom would always fix RB&rice on Tuesdays. She told me the ladies would always make it on this day due to it being wash day and it is a dish that basically cooks itself, what with the bean's sitting all day and the sausage's simmering in the pot. Rice added on the bottom with a bit of Bay Leaves, Onion's and Hot Sauce and you have got yourself a dish. Et Toi?

And here my little lady has made me a great dish. Although we had several recipes from family both in Natchez and Biloxi, we improvised and did the crock pot thang. Quick trip to Publix this morning and we are eating good watching the Saints play the Steelers up in Canton.

A little Proud Cook if I do say so myself, ain't she cute?

If y'all want the recipe for the Crock Pot, let me know and I'll shoot it over to you.

Yours in the Bond
"les bon temps roule"

Still Bragging.......

2007-07-16T20:38:00.000-04:00

Well I have to admit this is fun. Uploading Video's shot from my PDA while the Little Man and I are out at the Driving Range @ Harmony this weekend.

I have him practicing his timing as you can see in this. He get's a little hurried like his Daddy and I have him holding it at the top of his swing for a split second to slow him down. But what follows is his Pure Swing at hitting the target squarely, which is what we strive to always do in this game that Mark Twain once said "was a good walk spoiled".

He has a Big Tournament coming up at the End of August at Celebration. If he does as well as I think he will for his age group, he will go on the State Finals for a chance to be on the Golf Channel.

Wish him luck my Fellow Floridians.

Yours in the Bond

Surfing Dolphins.....Surfs Up.

2007-07-11T17:06:00.000-04:00

Many visitors to Australia have two particular things on their 'to do' list – go surfing and swim with dolphins.
It seems the dolphins like to do exactly the same.
As this astonishing picture shows, this group of at least 20 of the creatures couldn't resist catching a giant wave when it came along.
The friendly animals often come close to the shore at this spot some 300 miles north of Perth in Western Australia and rub their noses against swimmers and surfers in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.
Read Full Article here!!
Yours in the Bond

How I raise a Tiger!!!

2007-07-07T09:26:00.000-04:00

Been wanting to do this for awhile and I got a wild hair this am and hopefully
I can make it happen.

I am an avid golfer. Have been since I was knee high to a grass hopper playing
on the free course that the patients at the Florida State Hospital in
Chattahoochee kept up when my Dad worked there. I remember back in the 70's playing all day with Friends and my Brother and I thought it was the center of the Universe.

Well that love for the game has translated down to my Son, (Ryan) Scott Jr. He is a natural at Golf. He is both Left and Right handed like his Daddy. When I was younger Coaches told me to switch over to Right Handed cause it would make me play better with my Strong Grip. I choose not to do this with Tiger since Phi Mickelson is the same and does just fine.

Attached is a vid I shot of Ryan out at the Harmony Golf Course near St. Cloud that we go too alot to play. I will also add another Vid of Ryan's Swing from 2 years ago and one can see the difference in his swing. I swear this kid can play golf from Sun Up to Sun Down.

I am not an avid fisherman and I gave up Hunting some time ago cause I love wildlife too much just to go out and kill it for the sake of killing it. This is something that Tiger and I do just for us and I have to say I get teary eyed everytime I see him swing a Club. I promise you will see this young man on the Tour one day and somewhere in the crowd will be ole Florida Native cheering him on.

Let me know folks if the video is okay, I followed some directions from Beta Blogger Help about putting these on You Tube and embedding them in the blog. Hope it works.

Yours in the Bond.

Tiger @ 7 Yrs Old Feb 2007 Harmony....

Tiger @ 6 yrs old over in Tampa!!! Check out the Difference a year or so makes!

Lordy Lordy looks who is turning 40!!!

2007-06-28T12:30:00.000-04:00

Yeap you guessed it....Big 40 for ole me tomm.
Have to say I feel my age, got some grays on my hard head that makes me look distinquised according to my wife.

Being 40 I think does not run the stigma that it once did like when my Mom and Dad hit the big day. My kids of course think I am ancient, can't imagine a world I grew up without Ipods, Cell Phones so small you can put them in your Pocket (they still can't get that we had cell phones only in Cars when my Dad first got one back in 1981).

But all in all things are good here in the Great State of Sunshine. Was in Miami on Biz earlier this week and have to say that South Florida is another Country. Tried ordering Coffee in a Cafe at a Office Building and got Cafe Locha....not bad but not Maxwell House.....Found out you get what they think you need in Spanish. Oh well....I survived.

Hope all on the Florida Native Blog world are doing fine.

Yours in the Bond

Back Again!!!

2007-06-05T09:07:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the long delay in Posting a Blog, but the Queen and I went to Mississippi to visit family over the Memorial Day Holiday Week.

My wife hails from Natchez MS so we went there first to visit Momma. Natchez is a fine town, full of history and magnificent homes. We made our way to the World Famous Fat Momma's Tamales down by the river.

It's a Great Place to eat, with their Famous "Knock U Naked" Margaritas. Ask the lady helping us who owns it how Tamales got so famous in MS, I have had them throughout the state especially in the Delta while I was @ Ole Miss, and she said historians believe the Native Americans invented them and that's how they got in the culture, I assumed it was from the Spanish who explored MS and the South back in De Soto's days. Learn something new everyday.

Fat Mama's will be moving soon, thanks the Dept. of Interior's move to bring the Natchez Parkway right downtown to the River. They will be up the street by the Old Depot that has been converted to shops. The old log cabin they have been in for years will be gone and so will it a great place to sip 'Rita's and eat Great Hot Tamales.

If you ever go to Natchez, take it in.

Yours in the Bond.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Love Bugs!

2007-05-18T12:51:00.000-04:00

Well it happened, I got served notice from the Above Named Special Interest Group for crimes against Love Bugs.

From the collection of these critters on my front bumper and windshield, I have crossed the line in extermination.

Now I don't care what these "Insects" do in the privacy of their own home, but these Group Orgies on the Highways and Bi ways of our Fair Central Florida is out of control. I think these critters were hatched up by the Hippie Generation of the '60's with free love and all.

I hear 911 calls are up from the bombardment of casualties and Make Sift Morgues are being set up at every interchange around our fair city. I treat them fair, wash them off my truck and get on with my day. But being served notice that I am "Murderer" is unfounded.

I hear John Walsh is coming into the area this year to do a Americas Most Wanted on the main killers of these critters.

Floridians of our fair state unite and fight the invasion and lobbying going on to put these "insects" on the endangered species list. Stand your ground and fight for the cause.

Yours in the Bond

Where is the Great State Gone?

2007-05-16T10:50:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the downer of a posting but I have to get something off my chest. Not a new topic but one that has now hit close to home. Crime in Central Florida.

Yesterday after running some biz errands downtown St. Cloud I came back to the Home Office around noon and witnessed a Late Model Green Altima parked facing me on my Cul De Sac. A young Hispanic or Light Skinned Black Male was in the driver side sitting way back like the kids do now adays talking a cell phone. Look funny but I also know the home in which he was in front of has a High School age girl who looked around his age so I assumed he was waiting on her.

As I pulled up in my garage on the phone with Tony G I witnessed another car come down the street, Green Supped Up Rice Burner, and then all cars sped away. Nothing Unusual since all the kids this age drive like a bat out of hell ( god that sounded old) . Went inside and came out bout 2 hrs later to see a Deputy Sheriff down the street talking with neighbors. Neighbor came over to me and ask me if I seen anything, come to find out the house had been robbed and the Array of Human Debris even stole the Owner's Fine Black Mustang which was covered up in his garage.

I felt sick, I could have stopped this but turns out they hauled azz when I showed up. In Broad Daylight these sh--t's did this. The husband is out of town on biz, wife and kids were distraught and to add to it, they couldn't find their Dog, a cute Jack Russell Terrier. I went around the neighborhood several times and down the road but no dog. I came back to tell them I didn't see anything and there barking at me in the house was the Dog, Jackie. Turns out the Crooks had put the dog in a Closet and he was in there for like 5 hrs. till they found him.

Now after that, My wife is afraid and as a Southern Male its in my DNA to protect her and my kids, so out comes the 12 gauge Pump Action locked and Loaded. Florida now has the "Stand your Ground" law which gives citizens the option to blow the hell out of someone in your home or on your property if you feel your life is in danger. Not that I am promoting that, but when the Orange Cty Sheriff goes on TV last year and says's his dept. is overwhelmed with crime that is being brought into the city from other parts of the country and some Third World Trash, its scary. It's like the damn Wild Wild West here. I remember growing up in Cocoa Beach in the 80's and never hearing about Tourist getting robbed or raped, 2 happened this week. Never heard of Home Invasions, hell that's nightly here. Never heard of ATM killings, weekly I am afraid to say.

Orlando is the new Miami looks like, which we all knew would happen, but now it's here on us. Used to be a bumper sticker Natives would have on their cars that said "last American leaving Miami, please bring the flag"

So to my fellow Floridians who are not close to Orange/Osceola/Seminole Counties, stay away for your own safety. Yeah the Parks are nice, Good Golf, but like I said about NYC when I visited there a few yrs ago, nice to visit but I wouldn't want....u know the rest.

Yours in the Bond

Explorer.....Million $$ Question

2007-05-11T08:42:00.000-04:00

Last nite on my fav game show '' R u Smarter than a 5th Grader" Steve, Yale Grad, got up to the Million Dollar question with the Redneck Messiah Jeff Foxworthy. Now this guy had $500K in the bank if he walked away and a couple of other people have already done that in the season, but to give him credit he felt like I would have felt that if he lost the question, he would still walk away with $25,000.00 ($12K after taxes in Kalifornia per Arnold). So the question was 5th grade astronomy which he had gotten right a couple of answers before with NASA. So he was pumped. The question was what was the 1st satellite put into space by the US?

Now for someone growing up in my high school years in Cocoa Beach, you think I would have nailed this one....I knew Sputnik was the Soviet Satellite, but for the life of me I had no clue what ours was. He was thinking Mercury....Glenn, Shepard, Gordo and the boys....no Satellite but a Spacecraft....Answer was Explorer. He got it wrong and went back down to $25K....

I don't fault the guy at all...Who among us would not take $25K on the quick pick for Sat's Lotto by getting 5 out of 6 #'s. I could tell Foxworthy was disappointed cause he really wants someone to win the big money to help the show grow, but that question I don't even remember from my 5th grade class back in Blountstown in the 70's.

Do You?

Yours in the Bond

Cape San Blas Florida....Forever Florida

2007-05-09T13:49:00.000-04:00

Just a quick pic of the Crew I have assembled. And to point out one of the most beautiful places in Florida, Cape San Blas. Having been named one of the most beautiful beaches in the world several years ago it has gotten alot bigger with homes, but it still has that lost charm that I remember as a child.

I have always wondered what it must have been like to be on a beach in Florida before there was a Florida as we know it today. The quite, the waves lapping and seagulls signing. No Boom Boxes or Cars, No Microwaved Tour-asses, and no Ron Jon Surf Shop T-shirts.

I am here to tell you that this place still exist, for a brief time I am afraid, up in Gulf County. My family has been going there for over 30 yrs and I am glad my 3 children got to see their Real State.

Yours in the Bond.

Scott

Hello

2007-05-02T20:10:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my world of a Genuine Florida Native musing about the Sunshine State in which we call home. Lot's of changing going here. Stay tuned for my thoughts of the day about the state of our State.

Scott