2 bike rides this weekend. I went north on Saturday and south on Sunday morning upping my total to end this week at 85.5 miles. Maybe I will hit the road to round it up to an even hundred, doubt it.
This was too nice a weekend not have spent time outside enjoying the local flora and fauna. I hope you and yours were able to take advantage.
Where were you when you found out about the Challenger tragedy? I remember pulling into the driveway to pick up a law school friend who came out and told me. We still morn this national tragedy and wish the best for the families of those who lost their lives.
Read History dot com: 1986, January 28, The space shuttle Challenger explodes after liftoff
At 11:38 a.m. EST, on January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger lifts off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and Christa McAuliffe is on her way to becoming the first ordinary U.S. civilian to travel into space. McAuliffe, a 37-year-old high school social studies teacher from New Hampshire, won a competition that earned her a place among the seven-member crew of the Challenger. She underwent months of shuttle training but then, beginning January 23, was forced to wait six long days as the Challenger‘s launch countdown was repeatedly delayed because of weather and technical problems. Finally, on January 28, the shuttle lifted off.
Seventy-three seconds later, hundreds on the ground, including Christa’s family, stared in disbelief as the shuttle broke up in a forking plume of smoke and fire. Millions more watched the wrenching tragedy unfold on live television. There were no survivors.
Follow the History dot com link above to read more.
FOSDU have sent me some additional Bernie MEMEs that I am adding here. Thank you for the updates.
Bernie has even been seen locally (We paused his Strava):
Final word on this topic:
MEME turns into a fundraiser for Meals on Wheels - See Insider: Bernie Sanders turned his inauguration meme into a sweatshirt to raise money for charity, by Celia Fernandez, Jan 22, 2021
Bernie Sanders turns inauguration meme into sweatshirt for charity, by Kelly McCleary, CNN
Well played Bernie, well played.
I am starting to think that this is far from organic, that this was preplanned, so maybe people are just very fast to bring things to market.
Local residents have also started a page called "Bernie Sanders Inauguration Memes" which had 186 members at last check. Please contact me if you are on Facebook and you like an invite.
Have fun everyone. I will add new MEMEs as I find new ones that strike me as blog-worthy.
First - immediately below, a collage of Bernie showing up locally, at Palmetto Bay area homes, at Southwood Middle and event at our Village Hall!
But now here is my (present) ALL-TIME favorite (so much that it its own spot):
Today is the next of many new days for our County that will impact the entire world as well as Palmetto Bay, our own lil piece of small town USA.
Best wishes to incoming 46 – Joe Biden and especially incoming Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman and first woman of color to serve as Vice President. A great step forward. I am excited for what she, herself, as well as what the entire team brings to their respective offices.
I like what I am seeing so far as to the cabinet nominees. May the US Senate put side show politics aside and allow the team to set up quickly and hit the ground running. It is important to note that the US Senate had then President Trump’s security team in place the very same day as his inauguration. We should expect no less of our US Senate on this day.
I will be keeping a close eye and have enjoyed the inauguration activities as they have been progressing. An inauguration is much more than a simple noontime swearing in. There have been activities leading up to this noontime swearing in. Activities will continue thereafter long into tonight as well as thereafter. These events are to mark and celebrate the peaceful transition of power and bring us all together. Our work, our participation in government, does not end at noon. We continue to bear our responsibilities of living in a representative democracy which includes public debate and working to achieve our goals.
Happy Inauguration Day!
Who manages the calendar for the Village of Palmetto Bay? Someone who isn't very attuned to current events . . . or eighth grade Civics. Village leadership, set a "virtual" sunshine meeting of all the Village Advisory, Board, and Task Force Chairs. It will take place tomorrow, January 20, 2021 and has been moved to 2:00 p.m. from a previous noon starting time.
Why, does this date ring a bell? Well it should to most, as this date has been in the news since November. In fact, it's been an important date since 1937, which was the first time the presidential inauguration was held on that date.
Where did the date come from? The Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution, which states: "The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January."
The Palmetto Bay meeting was originally set for 12:00 PM – the exact date and time as the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States and the historic swearing in of Kamala Harris, the first woman and first woman of color, as Vice President. Apparently this is of little consequence to our local officials; just another day at the office (or golf course) for Palmetto Bay.
We note that not everyone will watch the inauguration, even President Trump is skipping this inauguration. It is more than apparent that our Palmetto Bay officials are following the lead of President Trump. But for many, setting a “sunshine meeting”, allegedly for the purpose of holding a meeting in public, but holding it originally at a date (and time) where it conflicts with such a historic and important international event really takes the cake.
Or perhaps there is a more sinister reason for the scheduling. What can they accomplish if most village residents are watching the inauguration instead of the sunshine meeting? Or perhaps the village higher-ups are making a comment on the Biden presidency.
After some outcry, the village belatedly moved the sunshine meeting back 2 hours. I'm sure that President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris appreciate it.
This is yet another example of the silly games played daily here in the Village of Palmetto Bay: hiding information in plain sight and setting meetings when no one (or, perhaps, no one with whom they disagree) will be able to participate.
The LUXCOM litigation is far from over, so our elected officials should put out their victory cigars and stop the back patting, or at least put in on hold for now. In something that has not been put out in any Village Update, Palmetto Bay is back before the Third District Court of Appeal in the ongoing legal battles with LUXCOM. A Petition for Certiorari was filed on December 30, 2020 (what a way to end an already bad year). LUXCOM continues to contest, to quash, (or reverse), Ordinance No. 2019-18 of the Village of Palmetto Bay which amended the Village’s official zoning map by revising the zoning designation of a parcel of land owned by Luxcom to one unit an acre (as I have stated, this action by the Village is fully defensible). I would expect that Palmetto Bay should prevail on this latest action before the Third District Court of Appeal.
This action is styled YACHT CLUB BY LUXCOM, LLC, vs. VILLAGE OF PALMETTO BAY COUNCIL, et al., Case Number: 3D20-1950, (Lower Tribunal Case(s):19-265-AP, Ordinance No.: 2019-18).
Judges of the Third District Court of Appeal rendered an order on January 6, 2021, requiring Palmetto Bay, the Respondents, “… to file a response within twenty-one (21) days from the date of this Order to the Petition for Issuance of Writ of Certiorari….” Wednesday, January 27, 2021, is the present date for the filing (unless extended by the Court).
BACKGROUND can be found in the PRIOR RELATED POST of December 1, 2020, Palmetto Bay wins round II – Court sides with Palmetto Bay. Luxcom's Petition for Writ of Certiorari is DENIED. Opinion released Tuesday, 12/1/2020
TRANSPARENCY ALERT: Here we go again. Does anyone else here feel like they are not being kept in the loop as to this extensive ongoing litigation? Those who want to know need to continue to track public court dockets for information. There once was a time when Palmetto Bay maintained a page on the Village website where updates were posted relating to litigation, but those were different times, and different directions on transparency under two different prior Mayors, both Stanczyk and Flinn. This lack of information is quite sad. Obviously the most recent election failed to led to increasing transparency or reporting to Village residents.
IMPACT: The Village of Palmetto Bay is now required to file our response on Wednesday, January 27, 2021, unless this deadline is extended by the court. Attorneys for Palmetto Bay will be arguing in support of the decision of the Appellate Division of the 11th Judicial Circuit. LUXCOM then has seven (7) days from date the Village files its Response, again, unless this deadline is extended by the court.
The Judges assigned to this Petition may affirm or reverse the action of the lower court decision. This is another wait and see period.
It is starting to smell like the Palmer Litigation. CLICK HERE to view some prior related posts relating to the past Palmetto Litigation.
RESEARCH NOTES: Litigation history LUXCOM v. Village of Palmetto Bay:
Circuit Court, including Appellate Division:
YACHT CLUB BY LUXCOM, LLC VS VILLAGE OF PALMETTO BAY, FLORIDA
Case Number 2020-023918-CA-01 Filed 11/05/2020 OPEN
YACHT CLUB BY LUXCOM, LLC VS VILLAGE OF PALMETTO BAY COUNCIL ET AL
Case Number 2019-000265-AP-01 Filed 08/29/2019 CLOSED
YACHT CLUB BY LUXCOM, LLC VS VILLAGE OF PALMETTO BAY ET AL
Case Number 2019-025745-CA-01 Filed 08/29/2019 CLOSED
YACHT CLUB BY LUXCOM, LLC VS VILLAGE OF PALMETTO BAY, FLORIDA
Case Number 2019-011663-CA-01 Filed 04/17/2019 OPEN
Third District Court of Appeals
YACHT CLUB BY LUXCOM, LLC vs. VILLAGE OF PALMETTO BAY, FLORIDA,
Third District case number: 3D19-1495 CLOSED
YACHT CLUB BY LUXCOM, LLC, vs. VILLAGE OF PALMETTO BAY COUNCIL, et al.,
Third District case number: 3D20-1950 OPEN
Today, Monday, January 18, is the day we celebrate the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King in 2021. President Ronald Reagan signed the legislation creating a federal holiday to honor King in 1983 . The holiday, first commemorated in 1986, is celebrated on the third Monday in January, close to the civil rights leader’s January 15 birthday.
Information provided below. Did you see or hear of anything? There was a murder on Wednesday, January 6, 2021. Miami-Dade Police Department, Homicide Bureau are seeking assistance from the public.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff deem it necessary to speak and direct on this issue. Yes, this is THE Joint Chiefs, people.
President Trump faces a single charge -- “incitement of insurrection” — after the deadly Capitol riot in an impeachment resolution that the US House is set to begin debating Wednesday.
What is “incitement of insurrection”
18 U.S. Code § 2383 - Rebellion or insurrection
Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.
Black's Law Dictionary:
What is INCITE?_____________________
To arouse; stir up; instigate; sec in motion; as, to “incite” a riot. Also, generally, in criminal law to instigate, persuade, or move another to commit a crime; iu this sense nearly synonymous with ”abet.” .See Long v. State, 23 Neb. 33, 30 N. W. 310.
The tools are online to enable you to research on your own and make your own decisions.
DENIED
The Supreme Court released 25 pages of procedural orders today, Monday, January 11, 2021. Contained within this long list of orders is one which denies request(s) to expedited consideration to suits filed by Trump’s campaign challenging election procedures in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. See page 3.
IMPACT: There will be no expedited review (and there remains no guarantee of any review at all) of the legal challenges by President Donald J. Trump to get the court to quickly consider challenges to President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the November election.
This slams the door on the president’s last-ditch legal attempts to overturn his defeat.
SPECIFICS: Orders released today, Monday, January 11, 2021, by the SCOTUS:
20-845 DONALD J. TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT V. BOOCKVAR, SEC. OF PA, ET AL.
20-882 TRUMP, DONALD J., ET AL. V. BIDEN, JOSEPH R., ET AL.
20-883 TRUMP, DONALD J. V. WI ELECTIONS COMMISSION, ET AL.
The motions of petitioners to expedite consideration of the petitions for writs of certiorari are denied.
CLICK HERE to view the full 25 pages of orders released today, Monday, January 11, 2021
NOTE: 3 of the 9 US Supreme Court Justices were appointed by President Trump:
Neil Gorsuch, Appointed February 1, 2017
Brett Kavanaugh , Appointed July 10, 2018, and
Amy Coney Barrett, Appointed September 29, 2020
I commend the staff at Jackson South. We completed the first of two steps in inoculating my mother for COVID. I often have some constructive observations for how to improve things, but I have none in this instance. Everything was set up well and everything moved much better than I dared to expect. I feared a traffic back up, a parking crunch, a long walk for my elderly mother to get to the specific department - but was pleased to find no fears realized. I was even able to accompany her throughout the process. In other words, our luck continued. It did not end at scoring the appointment.
The experience was easy. Parking was directly in front of the line. Out of the car into the line (we were luck on the specific parking spot that the police officer directed us to). The line itself moved quickly. We were in and out in less than fifty-five (55) minutes, and that includes the 15 minute required wait time post injection.
Staff was professional, as you would expect. The lines provided for proper social distancing. Everyone was wearing masks (and properly wearing their masks). Everyone was pleasant from staff to the other patients waiting for their turn, but of course everyone is happy. We all felt like we won the lottery. So many of my friends are 0 - 4 for scheduling appointments for the vaccinations- Jackson, Tropical Park, Baptist Health Systems, and then Hard Rock Stadium. We feel lucky to have the first of two shots out of the way.
My mother's second and final appointment is set for the end of this month, January. It will be a relief when she is set - one down, with date in hand for the second and final. But there is still the issue as to the rest of my family - and myself - to go, without even a projected date for when we can reasonably expect our doses. And then, will we be as lucky as my mother and get the appointments promptly when our numbers are called or will it be our turn to go 0-4 or 0 for more when they reach to the younger, more active age groups? We are still at 65 and older. I am concerned with when and if my number gets called. After all, will our respective age groups be called or will be be competing in a larger pool that includes those over 65 still fighting for their inoculations?
We joked that my mother can now do the grocery shopping for the rest of us once her immunization is complete (she cannot), but at least I wont have to worry about bringing COVID home to her.
But the sobering fact remains that the rest of the family remain at risk as we do not have the luxury of maintaining a sealed bubble at home. We need to get more doses to the professionals at Jackson South. The COVID vaccine needs to get off the production line and into our arms at a much faster rate. I have seen the delivery. And we, the taxpayers, have done our part by providing the tax dollars for the research and development. The issue now is delivery so let's put aside the photo ops, the government officials selfishly butting the line, and speed up the supply. Quiet honestly, the elected officials should anchor the line, not butting it.
Again, there are professional PR staff to release the information. I prefer elected officials who are busy in meetings and public hearings setting up delivery and making sure the distribution is properly funded for success.
Thank you Jackson South.
Is his how low we have sunk, Protesters storming the US Capitol in an attempt to prevent congress from doing their constitutionally required acts? Who here thought they'd live to see such a day?
I love a good robust debate. I value difference of opinion. But this is not political debate.BREAKING: 1 person was shot this afternoon inside the U.S. Capitol building by a member of law enforcement as Trump supporters stormed the building, several law enforcement officials say - @PeteWilliamsNBC https://t.co/fDFoVdRK0C
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 6, 2021
What ever happened to "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
attributed to Voltaire
I am a full supporter of the first Amendment (among all the rights granted under the Various Bill of Rights enacted Federally, State, County and Palmetto Bay's Citizen's Bill of Rights).
Debate is good, though locally we hear about suppressing speech judging it to be 'negative'. No, I reject that as suppressing debate and public discourse.
The chaos though take over of the capital is unamerican. Voters have spoken, Our government is determined by the voters through elections, not mob rule. In fact, U.S. Senator (and presently Senate Majority leader) Mitch McConnell (R) repudiated the ongoing consiracy thories and plots of using the VP and our US Congress to reject the elections and place Trump in command for another four year term, stating:
“We cannot simply declare ourselves a national Board of Elections on steroids,” ... “The voters, the courts and the states have all spoken. If we overrule them, it would damage our republic forever.”
Former President George W Bush released as strong statement condemning the actions of President Trump:
“It is a sickening and heartbreaking sight,” he wrote in the statement. “This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic—not our democratic republic.”
President Bush went further to state that:
“Our country is more important than the politics of the moment,” Bush wrote. “Let the officials elected by the people fulfill their duties and represent our voices in peace and safety.”Bottom line: If you are not disgusted by what is currently going on, then you are part of the problem.