Son of the live chat, Tuesday noon - 1 p.m.!

I don't know if we can rival the turnout for last week's live chat about the proposed baseball stadium, but what say we give it a go from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday? I'll be here live taking comments and questions about current events in the Tampa Bay area and beyond. There's plenty to talk about -- heck, the Legislature is enough to keep us busy all by itself! So let's use the Legislature's last week as our starting point and go from there.

To observe or take part in Tuesday's chat: Come back here to TroxBlog at or just after noon and look for a new announcement with the headline, "The April 29 chat is OPEN." Click on the "Comments" link of that item, and you'll see a page with everything that's been said in the chat so far, and a box for you to add your own question or observation. Just keep refreshing the comments page to see the latest.

If you can't be here live Tuesday, feel free to "pre-file" a question to the comments of THIS item, just a few lines below -- I'll work it into the live chat. And remember, you can always come back afterward to read a transcript of what was said.

Hope to see you at noon Tuesday!

of th

Comments

[get-smart]

PLAY BALL!

Published Friday, February 24, 2012 11:55 AM
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ST.PETERSBURG - After many years of bitter legal wrangling with environmental agencies and grass root activist (aka "corn dogs"), the new "do-RAYS-mi-fa-so-la Lang Stadium" is finally ready for its Season Opener against the NY Yankees next month.

The tally for the cost of LaLang stadium is $680 million. So far it turns out to be $230 million more than what the City Council and Mayor originally approved of back in 2009. The original cost was $450 million.

Rays VIP Mr. Calt said, "Don't blame me for the cost overruns, blame the unions and environmentalists. We were forced into these stupid union contracts! Our original labor estimates were based on using 'foreign nationals.'"

He added, "Because we had to go further into the bay to accommodate the size and bulk of LaLang and Racetrack Roadway, we had to go beyond that stupid artesian well pipe where the dumb sea cows live. Swiftmud wouldn't just cap the pipe off as we asked. We had to build a special circular opening in the foundation above the pipe so the Manatees can come up for air. Yeah! like they need to breathe .. that alone cost $10 million ... I say, 'Plug it and they will go away!'"

Mr. Calt's final comments were "If you read the contract, these ARE NOT our overruns. These belong to the city
and county."

By:Cub Reporter

[editor's note: "foreign nationals" = illegal alien work force : "Sea cows" and "Manatees" are the same critter and they are not good eating. You are better off going to the Trop for a corn dog.]

[Chuck]

Here's where you get really mad -

Rays VIP Mr. Calt said, "Don't blame me for the cost overruns, blame the unions and environmentalists. We were forced into these stupid union contracts! Our original labor estimates were based on using 'foreign nationals.'"

Sounds pretty accurate to me.

[Chuck]

Dear Howard,

I really enjoy the Saturday morning market in Downtown St. Petersburg. Granted the possibility of us all dying at the market from the toxic fumes emanating from the new stadium once it is built is very real, but I really enjoy the local vendors.

One question - What do you think about people who knowingly buy breakfast from the Uhuru food stand? (Last time I checked it was there but I haven't been in a few months.)

Are these people consciously funding domestic terrorism or do the Uhurus just make really good eggs?

[Don Mott]

Hi Howard, here's a pre-file likely to get things stirred up. "A true scientist is searching for the truth, and that's what this is encouraging," said bill sponsor Alan Hays R-Umatilla.
Of course he is talking about a bill that 'ignores science' and opens the door for teaching our children creationism and intelligent design for which there is no scientific basis. He and Ronda seem to be creating some smoke and mirrors with their religious beliefs. What's your take?

[get-smart]

I'm no Howard, but if I may I would like a stab at it, if you don't mind.

Cut and dried science in a Newtonian sense is pretty much over with. Most scientist of the first order in physics are searching for God. Most major religions have a monotheistic component. The 'Big Bang' theory reflects a monotheism. Ideas in Quantum Mechanics are unobservable and speculative (not science) with plenty of gambling on board (chance). The Greeks understood 'Out of Chaos comes Order' which is predictable and science. The questions are 'How does it know what to do?' and 'What guides it?'

Pre-file question:

What IS the current justification for a ballot vote initiative?? Give us the language of the question to be put on the ballot.
If you support the effort, and accept the long-term deflection of public attention from REAL issues to defer to this most divisive question to be put forth in front our voting populace, please provide definitive language including dollar figures to give us the opportunity to truly VOTE on real facts.

In my mind, with the behavior of the Rays Franchise to date (and given my unfortunate personal experience with their supposed expertise in the public format), I wouldn't allow the Rays Franchise to site and build a Wally Watt in my backyard.

Lorraine

Reference a recent Times editorial..........

http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/article473588.ece

In the meantime, the Rays' political instincts are looking increasingly clumsy. The vocal support of hometown Gov. Charlie Crist is nice, but they won't even make it to the ballot if they don't win over the mayor. Given the tenor of Baker's report and public comments, they have their work cut out for them.

[Don Mott]

Yes most religions and the Big Bang Theory do rely on the belief of one God. Does that mean everyone should have the same belief? I have not researched nor do I know any physics scientists who are "looking for God", but maybe in my spare time I will look into that assertion. There certainly are many questions but I don't believe any of them have trumped the science revealed to date. Theories are great but without scientific evidence they are just that and in my opinion should not be introduced into early academics where children do not have the experience and education to distinguish between fact and belief. Theories should be shared between academics and not taught to children. There is a reason science class is called science.

[Don Mott]

I meant to say between scholars. Wish we could edit posts.

[get-smart]

Everyone has the same belief if they believe in science. The science is the belief. Science is compelling. It has magic to it and most of us bought in to it. Newtonian science is built on mathematics. Math is the manipulation of numbers. These numbers are just representations of natural phenomena. If you drop a ball off the top of a building it will hit the ground. We can calculate it at 32ft/s. When the ball is falls, the universe doesn't calculate anything. The universe is not a calculator. These numbers are all in our head. Many of the physicists are Jews. The search for God is in everything they do. Oppenhimer ,after the test explosion of the first A Bomb in 1945, quotes a passage out of the Bagava Gita. The only fact I know is if you drop a ball off of a roof it will hit the ground. I agree that there no reason to clutter chemistry with meta physicist. You still got to cut the frog open.

[Don Mott]

I'm not sure that Einstein, Edison, Franklin, Bell or even NASA would agree. But your opinion is welcome and accepted.

[get-smart]

Einstein commenting about quantum mechanics "God does not play dice with the universe" very famous quote

Most humans feel the impulse to seek the divine. Some scientists, God help us, believe that's hard-wired into a particular part of our brains. That same general area is where we keep our intolerance and aggression and our tendency to create "enemies" out of others, and of course where we keep our pleasure principle, the one that gets Republican senators and certain priests and school teachers and bored spouses in a world of trouble.

What an assortment of notions in these posts. Those darn Jewish scientists who seek God in everything? Everyone is a monotheist at heart? The Big Bang explanation is a theory about the One True God? Hey, the majority of humans over time have been Mother worshippers or polytheists or folks who believe that everything we see is just an illusion to be grayed out into nothingness. But what do they know, right? They need to be educated to the One True Faith, or killed on the spot.

Thank God that we have a well-armed populace. It looks to me like we're headed for that best of all possible worlds, where Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Zoroastrian, Sikh, Buddhist, Shinto, and all the rest can get down to the serious business of killing each other off, so the winning, loving God of all Gods can sort them all out into goats and sheep. Seventy-two virgins or the fiery lake -- what's it gonna be?

Just to inspire a little of that hatred, let me quote from my own Bible, Exodus 20:2-3: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me." Note it doesn't say there are no other gods, just that YWEH is number one. And Lo! the Rays are presently Number One too, playing nicely together inside the stadium we already bought them. Can it be God's will that they continue to do so? It's a SIGN AND PORTENT!

And Chuck, thanks for sharing your toxic emissions with the rest of us. It is so pleasant to us humans to share a mutual hatred and disdain.

[Jon McPhee]

Darn, forgot to sign the post at 7:49 again.

Re the quote about God not playing dice with the universe, I think the general view is that Einstein was no Theist, and this quote had to do with his being offended by the notions of quantum mechanics that probability and uncertainty are at the heart of all that is, seen and unseen. He had a running debate with later physicists, the same folks whose ideas underly your iPod and cellphone and every other semiconductor-based device in the Universe.

And do I remember right, that the Old Testament has directions on how to purge oneself of various sins, like intercourse with animals, by proper ablutions and offerings? And that YWEH sanctions killing tribes he doesn't favor, down to the last woman and infant, and leveling their houses and walls, and sowing their land with salt? Maybe there are reasons for the notion of separation of state and dogma.

[get-smart]

Thank you for the bowl of cherries Mr.McPhee. Your tour through history was enlightening. We do live in a post-modern world and our mind set differs even from the modern mind (1870 - 1960). The more ancient peoples had a God that loomed over them and watched every move (Osama types). Everybody is a Buddhist, they just don't know it yet!

[Chuck]

Here's a question -

What is going on at the Tyrone Gardens Shopping Center? This will make four deaths at the shopping center this year - a double murder, the murder last night and a violent suicide.

It just seems out of character for the area.

[Chuck]

Dear Jon, (undoubtedly a familiar phrase to you)

What's wrong with what I said? Do you find it unfair to label Uhurus domestic terrorists or what? Stop picking on me man.

[justme]

Chuck, I was wondering about Tyrone Gardens too. But it's not just Tyrone Gardens, its the city. Why isn't law enforcement doing something about the high rise of crime in St Pete? I rarely see an officer on the streets. Between shootings and red light runners they need to be more visible.

[justme]

If they don't do something about the crime rate in St Pete I think all hell is going to break loose. More people will start carrying protection and it will just become even a bigger "issue". Innocent people are going to get hurt or killed.
Citizens can not skimp on law enforcement, ems, and fire as they are the people who protect us.

[Chuck]

The Tyrone Gardens situation is puzzling to me because the surrounding area isn't exactly what you would call "crime infested", at least not to a point where you wouldn't be surprised by multiple murders.

I've been to the Abbey Road Pub several time and generally enjoy it. It seems unclear if the shooting occurred because of an incident at the pub or if it was simply in the general area. Regardless, the victim wasn't of drinking age.

The footage of the crime scene on WFLA last night showed an overwhelming African American patronage at the pub, something I've never encountered there in the past. I have to admit, I'm not crazy about multiple murders occurring less than a mile from my house.

[Chuck]

You guys know that an increase in the number of police isn't necessarily a crime deterrent. Unfortunately personal accountability and parent responsibility seems to be out of the question as well.

[justme]

I go to that shopping center all the time to get lunch. I never knew about the Pub in that center corner. Shows how much I observe things. The victim was definitely to young for the Pub and why he was in the back area at that hour is another story. I know a lot of kids skateboard in that area. Maybe it was a drug sale gone bad. Time will tell. But it does have me concerned it is just to close to my home & work for my comfort zone. I have lived in this area all my life and the crime rate has really increased over the past few years. Tyrone Mall is a different story. I just try to avoid going there because they are always having problems out in the parking lot.

It just shows that no area is immune to crime and to always be on the caution.

[Howard Troxler]

And here's a series of pre-filed crime comments:

What is going on at the Tyrone Gardens Shopping Center? This will make four deaths at the shopping center this year - a double murder, the murder last night and a violent suicide. -- Chuck

Chuck, I was wondering about Tyrone Gardens too. But it's not just Tyrone Gardens, its the city. Why isn't law enforcement doing something about the high rise of crime in St Pete? I rarely see an officer on the streets. Between shootings and red light runners they need to be more visible. -- justme

If they don't do something about the crime rate in St Pete I think all hell is going to break loose. More people will start carrying protection and it will just become even a bigger "issue". Innocent people are going to get hurt or killed. Citizens can not skimp on law enforcement, ems, and fire as they are the people who protect us.-- justme

You guys know that an increase in the number of police isn't necessarily a crime deterrent. Unfortunately personal accountability and parent responsibility seems to be out of the question as well. -- Chuck

[justme]

Chuck.. thats because a lot of parents have no control over their children these days. It's never their kids fault, the parents blame the system because they do not want to be parents and teach their children about respect.
My ex husband was a high school teacher in this county. I would sit there listen to him call parents and tell them their kid was on the verge of failing the grading period and the comments the parents made were shocking. They would literally admit that they have no control over their kid. What is wrong with that picture? In my day, if a teacher called the parent you would be afraid to go home. Now the parents are asking.. "what did you do to my kid". But that all goes back to discipline when a child is young and not when they are 14.

[Howard Troxler]

Hey, Howard here -- make sure to post to the TOP blog item, the one headlined, "The April 29 chat is OPEN." As you can see, even I put something in the wrong place up above...