Readers react to Marine's attack on Greek priest

[Jason Ludwig shot this photo from his Channelside balcony as the priest was loaded into an ambulance.]

Audio: Accused Marine tells Bubba the Love Sponge he's not gay

Nov. 12 update: Accused Marine tells his side to Bubba the Love Sponge

Nov. 11 update: Tow-truck driver says Marine attacked him, too

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Nov. 10 -- Today's story on the Marine reservist who allegedly beat and chased a Greek priest he thought was an Arab terrorist quickly became our most popular story and one of the most discussed on tampabay.com.

The priest, who is visiting from Crete, Greece, was lost in Tampa and stopped in a parking lot. He asked Jasen D. Bruce for help, but instead Bruce struck the priest on the head with a tire iron.

Bruce, shown on right with his lawyer Jeff Brown, then chased the priest for three blocks to the Madison Avenue and Meridian Avenue, police said, and even called 911 to say that an Arabic man tried to rob him. Police arrested Bruce on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and are investigating whether he committed a hate crime.

Readers are expressing outrage over Bruce's actions:

"Way to go for hunting down those terrorists!" VacantSea wrote.

Moshekatan wrote simply: "God (Help) Bless America!"

"Idiot. In Greece, they have been fighting Muslim extremism longer than the Marines have existed!" wrote Mike Norris on tampabay.com's Facebook fan page.

Several other Web sites have picked up the story, adding their own twist to the headlines:

DailyKos: I Fear More Of This To Come

Talking Points Memo: Really, What Can You Say?

HuffingtonPost: Greek Orthodox Priest Attacked By Marine Reservist In Fit Of Anti-Muslim Hysteria

Fark: Marine reservist attacks Greek Orthodox priest with a tire iron, then calls police to brag he's caught a terrorist

Think Progress: Marine reservist chases, assaults Greek Orthodox priest whom he mistook for an Arab terrorist

What's your take? Register to comment and have your say.

Traffic-free ride from Tampa to Disney World? Not so fast, readers say

This week marks a major milestone in Florida's quest for high-speed rail.

State transportation officials will submit their first application for billions in federal stimulus money to help pay for a rail line connecting Tampa and Orlando. The line is considered a top contender in the competition for $8 billion attached to President Barack Obama's vision for "world-class passenger rail" in 10 major corridors, including Florida. 

If the state is successful in its bid, money could start flowing as early as September for the $2.5 billion Tampa connection, which could be completed in four years. The line would eventually connect Tampa to Orlando, Miami and Jacksonville.

The prospect of a traffic-free ride to Disney has sparked chatter on tampabay.com, with more than 100 comments posted this morning. Here's a quick look at what they're saying: 

"FLA is not NYC. It's sprawling," wrote Conservative Mike from Largo. "The people that need this transit will not be able to afford it. Meanwhile we will foot the bill for another failed feel-good policy."

Campaign Contributor calls it "a boondoggle on wheels... or rails as it were. Millions in tax dollars for 27 people. And still no empirical data to show the need or want. Welcome to Floriduh politics; the best corrupt politicians money can buy."

"Once you get off the rail, THEN how do you get around?" asks Lively from Crystal River. "Your choices are very limited and the buses in Tampa/Orlando very slow."

No-zero grades: Will it help Hernando students or dumb down education?

Under a new policy up for a vote by the Hernando County School Board next month, the new grade for a missed assignment or test at the elementary level would be 40 percent. Translation: no more zeros.

The goal, district officials say, is to give kids a statistical fighting chance to turn around their overall grade — something tough to do even with a couple of zeros or a few very low marks on the books. But tampabay.com readers are asking: What lesson is this teaching the students?

Today's story is one of the most commented on tampabay.com; here's a look at what readers are saying:

"Wow. And what whill happen when these kids have to pass the FCAT on their own and are unable to?" asks Rene from Spring HIll. "The parents will be confused because their kids did well in school but can't pass the FCAT or did lousy on their SAT's. This does the children no favors."

Sully from Boston wrote: "The dumbing down of the dumb. How bizarre."

"This is ridiculous!" wrote Stephen from Tampa. "If they truly feel it is a problem (which I don't believe) allow the the kids to turn in missed assignments at a 20%/day penalty. At least the kids would still have to actually do the work. And if they don't do it at all, tough!"

Readers disappointed over school's 'censoring' of Springstead graduation speech

Tampabay.com readers continue to react to last week's story about the Springstead High School valedictorian who was forced to rewrite her speech because school officials deemed it "too real." Readers have posted more than 800 comments on tampabay.com stories and written letters published on ItsYourTimes.com.

The sentiments range from disappointment to disgust that the school "censored" Jem Lugo's address to her classmates.

A look at some of the comments:

Shame on Springstead," wrote Mom from Spring Hill. "You gave her the honor and then took it away by forcing her to say what you wanted. School board should have just said it themselves!

Marie Chapman of Palm Harbor, writes on ItsYourTimes.com: "We have been in the process of  'dumbing down' our education system for a very long time, and this is one example of how a bright young woman was made to do something --- don’t give up your individuality to correspond with the common standard --- that her original one warned against."

Hyde Park hit-run case keeps her up at night

Linda Karson of Tampa describes how troubled she is by the Hyde Park hit-run case in a letter on ItsYourTimes.com.

"Maybe someone can help me sleep tonight," Karson writes. "Melissa Sjostrom, Melissa Sjostrom, Melissa Sjostrom. I just can't get her out of my thoughts."

Sjostrom, a homeless woman living in South Tampa, was killed in a hit-and-run crash three months ago. Police say they know whose vehicle struck Sjostrom, but they can’t prove who was driving. A traffic ticket for careless driving issued to 17-year-old Jordan Valdez of Tampa was thrown out due to a lack of evidence.

Was Sjostrom's life not worthy enough to care about, she asks.

"How do we walk past our fellow humans, not look them in the eye, and pretend they don't exist?" Karson writes. "How can we maim someone and leave them to die?"

Karson concludes by asking everyone to get involved, to do what is right for Sjostrom.

Pathetic? Hopeless? How would you sum up Tampa Bay Rays' collapse?

[Rays pitcher Jason Isringhausen leaves the field as the Indians come out of the dugout to celebrate  winning 11-10 in the ninth inning. AP photo]

In a seventh-run ninth inning, a hit off reliever Jason Isringhausen ruined the much-awaited season debut for Tampa Bay starter David Price, who was staked to the early lead but ran his pitch count up and lasted only 3-1/3 innings.

The Rays had taken a 10-0 lead in the fourth, giving David Price a nice cushion, but the largest collapse in club history included seven runs in the ninth, six with two outs. In the rally, Rays relievers walked five, with veteran Jason Isringhausen walking three, one with the bases loaded, before giving up the two-run single to Martinez.

"Just a bad night; I couldn't find the plate," Isringhausen said.

Tampabay.com readers are calling it much worse than a bad night:

"Hilarious. Pathetic," wrote Carole from Seminole. "Maybe they need to start pulling some of us out of the stands to pitch. We aren't Major League pitchers, but obviously some of those fellas ain't either. Wow, how sad is that. Surely the other players resent these pitchers."

Brian from Clearwater commented: "I want to try out for the closer spot. I think I got talent!"

Readers to Jennifer Porter: Finish your probation

[Jennifer Porter, middle, with her parents in court during her sentencing hearing in November 2005. Daniel Wallace | Times]

Jennifer Porter, the former Hillsborough County dance teacher who avoided prison after fleeing an accident that killed two children and injured two others, wants to get off probation early.

Porter, who is halfway through her three-year probation, is scheduled to be in court Thursday.

But her attorney says Porter, 33, deserves the reprieve. “She has been impeccable in her conduct and her respect in the system as evidenced by how well she’s done on probation,” Barry Cohen said.

Critics already thought her punishment was too lenient, and many tampabay.com readers are expressing outrage that Porter would even consider making such a request. 

A look at what readers are saying:

Thursby from Winter Haven called the Porter case an accident and a crime. "She hid her car for several days, that's a crime. He family assisted her, but were never charged. Were they ALL in shock?? Horrible injustice here, just horrible."

"Justice system, what a joke," wrote JS. "Jennifer, do your probation. You have already gotten off scott-free."

Killing shark for trophy brings tide of scorn -- and support

Bucky Dennis knew people would be mad when he reeled in a world-record hammerhead shark.

It was likely pregnant, and nobody wants to kill shark babies. But Bucky is a competitor. He already held one world record for shark fishing and he wanted another.

"I just had to do it," Dennis told St. Petersburg Times writer Leonora LaPeter Anton. "I could tell everyone I caught the world record and let it go. But nobody would ever remember."

Dennis may not have to worry about people forgetting his catch anytime soon. Tampabay.com readers have posted more than 200 comments on Anton's story, debating the ethics of killing a shark for sport.

Here's a sampling from the two camps:

"What a waste! " wrote Stephanie from Clearwater. "And for those of you who say it was not a human? No but it was a living breathing shark. To kill it for a trophy, then dump it in the ocean, he should go to jail."

"There is no good reason to kill these sharks. This man's behavior is disturbing and wasteful," wrote LB from Belleair.

FDA going after Cheerios? Back off, readers say

"It appears the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has its sights aimed at our breakfast table," writes St. Petersburg Times' consumer writer Ivan Penn.

Federal regulators said Kellogg's overstated the benefits of its Frosted Mini Wheats. (It doesn't really make kids smarter.) Now they're targeting Cheerios' cholesterol claims.

Penn says federal regulators shouldn't stop with cereal. How about some of the confusing labels on syrup, orange juice and lemonade (only 8 percent juice?!).

But tampabay.com readers don't appear so anxious to know the truth about what's on their breakfast table. Here's a sampling of what readers are saying:

Julie from Ohio says: "Don't mess with my Cheerios! I eat 'em because I like 'em. So back off FDA."

"Who really believes advertising hype anyway?" asks Kate from Tampa. "I buy these products because my family likes them, not based on advertising that is just someone's bright idea of how to get your attention. The public is smarter than that! We know that ads are gimmicks."

Dalt from Cincinnati asks why the government isn't focusing on more urgent issues: "Can't keep Chinese poisons out of the food supply, but let's play hardball with American companies over picayune

"Give me a frickin break," wrote Jim the welder. "The FDA obviously needs to back up and regroup. They have totally lost sight of whats important for the American public."

Your take? Do you really want to know what's in your Corn Flakes or Pop Secret popcorn?

Readers shocked over reports of kids getting zapped with stun guns

The St. Petersburg Times reported on May 2 about kids getting zapped with stun guns on "Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day" at the Franklin Correctional Institution.

After a sergeant zapped them with 50,000 volts of electricity, the children "yelped in pain, fell to the ground and grabbed red burn marks on their arms. One was taken to a nearby hospital," Times reporter Meg Laughlin wrote.

The story generated more than 115 comments from readers, who were outraged at the guards -- and the parents who apparently allowed the demonstrations. Christine Jamesson of Clearwater asked, "What was the Corrections sergeant thinking?" in a letter published on It's Your Times.

Now Laughlin reports that two more state prisons have acknowledged that guards zapped visiting children with handheld stun guns on "Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day." One guard was fired last week at Franklin prison in the Panhandle, and 10 employees have been suspended while the incidents are investigated at the two other prisons.

Today readers are asking questions about the prison guards and demanding all the guards involved be fired. 

"Are these people nuts?" asked A.H. from New Port Richey. "You don't just go around 'showing' how a Taser works. What if those kids had undiagnosed problems and the shock killed them?"

"How are these 'professionals' hired? Does somebody say, 'raise your hand if you want to be a jail guard'?" wrote OldSkool of Tampa Bay.

"These people should be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law," says Scott of St. Pete.

Read today's story and join the discussion.

Getty Images photo