Happy Hanukkah, which begins this evening, the Real Heisenberg on Omicron And The Slow Death Of Common Sense, Leslie Kirk Campbell on why she writes, and Ferenc Vizi plays Schubert as the weekend winds down all too soon.
How the Omicron Variant Was Found and What We Know So Far
South Africa has several laboratories that can grow and study the actual virus and discover how far antibodies, formed in response to vaccination or previous infection, are able to neutralise the new virus. This data will allow scientists to to characterize the new virus and develop counter strategies.
Flagler School Libraries Face Chilling Dangers Beyond Book Bans
Book-banning doesn’t really exist: ban a book, and it gains more notoriety than ever. The danger ahead in Flagler schools is Board members Jill Woolbright’s and Janet McDonald’s attempt to keep certain books from even reaching library shelves before they’re bought, thus eliminating the glare of controversy. That kind of self-censorship is far more damaging to diversity on Flagler’s library shelves.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, November 27, 2021
If your soul isn’t entirely soot from black Friday, let us now praise James Agee (and Walker Evans). An eventless weekend in Flagler, and Edith Wharton’s Duchess at Prayer.
Inaction from Florida House on ‘Vile’ Social Media Posts Against Muslims and Palestinians from GOP’s Randy Fine
In mid-August, an official complaint was filed in the Florida House of Representatives against Randy Fine, the Palm Bay Republican, for “hateful” and “atrocious” social media comments directed to Palestinians and Muslims, whom he’s called “monsters,” “terrorists,” and “rapists,” among other Islamophobic bigotries, on his social media platforms.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, November 26, 2021
Pictures of Thursday’s volunteer distribution of 100 free meals prepared by Beachfront Grill, a few cautionary words about shopping in unvaccinated environments, Rousseau on doctors.
The More Telling Months After the First Thanksgiving
What happened four months after the first Thanksgiving, starting in March 1622 about 600 miles south of Plymouth, is far more reflective of the country’s origins – a story not of peaceful coexistence but of distrust, displacement and repression.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thanksgiving Thursday, November 25, 2021
Happy Thanksgiving. No garbage collection today. Flagler Beach and others remember the neediest. Jean-Jacques Rousseau says a few very mean things about actors.
Criminalizing a Black Jogger: 3 Georgia Men Found Guilty of Murdering Ahmaud Arbery
Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was killed on Feb. 23, 2020, after being pursued through the predominantly white suburban neighborhood of Satilla Shores, near Brunswick in Georgia. For many, the manner of his death raised questions over the role race played in the killing, evoking a U.S. in which gangs of white men killed Black men and boys with impunity.
Keon Sands, 27, Veteran of Afghanistan, Is Killed in Motorcycle Collision With Semi on I-95. Semi Kept Going.
Keon Clyde Sands, 27, was killed moments after 11 p.m. Tuesday night as he was riding his motorcycle north on I-95, in a collision with a semi truck near mile marker 296, just south of Old Kings Road.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, November 24, 2021
The county and the country wind down ahead of Thanksgiving, a look at Thanksgiving prices in 1954, a Schubert impromptu, Adam Smith on science and superstition.
Between Jorge Salinas and Generous Federal Subsidies, Broadband May Finally Connect West Flagler By End of 2023
A slew of federal subsidies, including Covid-relief funds and an auction with broadband providers, is making possible what Flagler County commissioners have only talked about for several years. The commission approved negotiating a no-bid contract with Charter Communications, itself the beneficiary of over $1 billion in federal subsidies, to extend broadband to underserved areas in West Flagler by the end of 20223 or early 2024.
The Personhood Argument Gestating Over Abortion
On Dec. 1, 2021, the court will hear a case many believe will force the conservative justices — who now command a majority of the court — to decide if they will strike down Roe v. Wade or uphold the long-standing precedent. But a third path could focus a ruling on a more neglected aspect of the ruling in Roe — the court’s understanding of the facts of fetal personhood.
Grand Chanukah Celebration at European Village Monday
Chabad of Palm Coast will ignite a 6-foot Menorah at European Village, an event to be followed by a community-wide celebration on Nov 29, the second night of the eight-day holiday of Chanukah. The ceremony, organized by Chabad Jewish Center Rabbi Levi Ezagui, will feature Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin and Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly.
Future July 4 Celebrations Take Shape Between Certainty of Fireworks and Uncertainty of Flagler Beach’s Geography
The July 4 committee the Flagler Beach City Commission appointed last August to figure out whether there is a future for the Independence Day fireworks that light up much of the city’s historical identity is close to finishing its work, with a final report now in preparation.
Judge Exonerates 4 Black Men Known as ‘Groveland Four’ Who’d Been Falsely Accused of Raping White Woman
A Central Florida judge on Monday exonerated Black men known as the “Groveland Four” who were accused of sexually assaulting a white woman in one of the most-notorious cases from the state’s Jim Crow era. All four have died. They were accused in 1949 by Norma Padgett, then 17, of Lake County.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, November 23, 2021
The Flagler Beach Ad Hoc Committee appointed by the City Commission to study the city’s July 4 festivities meets this morning. The Stetson Choral Union and Chamber Orchestra is in concert. Seneca reflects on gladiatorial barbarism.
Waukesha, Wisconsin, and the Era of Vehicles as Weapon of Mass Killing
Cars, SUVs and trucks can be an efficient means of mass killing such as the SUV attack of a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and one that can be virtually impossible to prepare against. Furthermore, it is becoming harder to prosecute the driver involved in such fatalities in some states.
On Book Bans, ‘Equity’ and the School District’s Duty to Honor Student Diversity: The Students’ Perspective
Karissa Jackson and Kaylee Briggs are among the more outspoken student board members who have served on the Flagler County School Board. They both addressed the ongoing attempt by Board members Jill Woolbright and Janet McDonald to remove or review books from school libraries.
Flowers for the Holiday? Winn-Dixie’s ‘Bloomin’ 4 Good’ Bouquets Mean Help for Flagler County Meals on Wheels
This local-support program runs through the end of November. Every dollar spent on a bouquet means 10 meals for a local charity, which in this case happens to be Meals on Wheels.
Sheriff’s Detectives Investigating Death of Michael Ursini, 42, After He Was Reported Jumping in Water on Fire
Michael Josef Ursini, 42, a resident of the B-Section and the owner of Ursini Signature Painting, a company he founded two years ago with his fiancee, died following an unexplained incident in which paint caught on fire and he was seen jumping in a canal near the Tidelands house where he was painting with a co-worker Saturday.
Violent Felon With Long Prison History Accused of Attacking Teen Unprovoked in a Seminole Woods Driveway
Sean Patrick McNamara, who has spent almost 27 of his 53 years in state prison, moved to Palm Coast in 2020 and has since faced four charges in three incidents, the last two being felony child abuse and making threats to kill following a confrontation with a minor child in the boy’s driveway in Seminole Woods in Palm Coast.
Flush With Federal Money, DeSantis Pitches Temporarily Eliminating State Gas Tax, Reducing Revenue by $1 Billion
Continuing to contrast his economic approach to the Biden White House–which ensured that Florida would get billions in Covid and infrastructure subsidies–DeSantis said the approximately 25-cent-a-gallon “gas tax relief” proposal could save the average Florida family up to $200 over a five- to six-month period, while reducing state revenue by more than $1 billion. DeSantis wants lawmakers to approve it during the legislative session that starts Jan. 11.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, November 22, 2021
Remembering John F. Kennedy’s idealism and the New Frontier, the Bunnell City Commission borrows millions to rebuild its sewer plant, Bill Maher explains why Democrats are losers.
Conversion Therapy Is Lethal Bunk, But Fewer Than Half the States Ban It
Many LGBTQ youth live in states, Florida among them, that have no ban in place protecting them from conversion therapy – a practice that the scientific community has long since shunned, and that nearly doubles the incidence of suicide among gay, lesbian and bisexual people victimized by the fraud.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, November 21, 2021
Voltaire on old age (it’s his 243rd birthday today), the final Fall Festival day at the county fairgrounds, the final day of Sartre’s depressing “No Exit” at on stage Stetson.
No Such Things as ‘Smart’ Missiles That Avoid Civilians
The development of more precise missiles and guided bombs does not automatically mean a reduction in civilian deaths. For one thing, “precision” is not about protecting civilians so much as making these weapons “more lethal”.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, November 20, 2021
The annual 150-mile long garage sale along State Road A1A, the Fall Festival at the Flagler County Fairgrounds, a 30-year retrospective of artist Bettie Eubanks at the African American Cultural Society, I.F. Stone when the Supreme Court rediscovered its sanity–in 1957.
Rittenhouse Verdict Flies in the Face of Legal Standards for Self-Defense
In delivering its verdict, a Wisconsin jury decided that Rittenhouse’s conduct was justified, even though the prosecution argued that he provoked the violent encounter and, therefore, should not be able to find refuge in the self-defense doctrine.
‘Festival of Trees’ Featuring Linda Cole at Flagler County Public Library
This year’s “Festival of Trees” at the Flagler County Public Library main Palm Coast branch is early this year, because Thanksgiving falls on the last Thursday of the month. The festival begins at 6 p.m. this evening (Nov. 19).
It’s Our Right as Americans to Breathe Open Air Without Some Wussy Libtard Face Diaper
Gov. Ron DeSantis and the fine MAGA folks of the Florida Legislature are right here in the state capital, passing laws telling Biden where he can stick that order making businesses with more than 100 employees mandate the vax. And yeah, it might cost the taxpayers several million for the lawsuits that’ll come out of these new bills, but keeping Florida free is worth every penny.
Closing Inquiry, Sheriff Rebuffs Charge of ‘Crime’ in Book Controversy; Woolbright Wants ‘All Young Adult Books Checked’
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office found no grounds for a criminal inquiry into School Board member Jill Woolbright’s charge that making “All Boys Aren’t Blue” available to students was a “crime.” The sheriff was sharply critical of having been brought into a position of making judgments he said are the responsibility of the board and its processes. The inquiry also dismissed claims that Woolbright faced any immediate threat, as had been claimed.
Congressional Committee Launches Probe into University of Florida Policy That Gagged Professors
In a letter to University of Florida President Kent Fuchs on Thursday, the U.S. House Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties said the panel has opened a probe into UF’s conflict-of-interest policy used to silence professors, saying it “undermines the academic and free speech values that are essential” to higher education.
Flagler Unemployment Flat at 4.4% But County Builds on Record Employment and Workforce Approaching 50,000
Flagler County’s unemployment rate stayed flat at 4.4 percent in October, with the county’s workforce growing by a few hundred people, the number of people employed growing by some 245 people and the number of unemployed growing by two dozen.
Buddy Taylor’s Cara Cronk and Indian Trails’ Amy Neuenfeldt Are Flagler Schools’ Top Administrators of the Year
Cara Cronk, principal at Buddy Taylor Middle School is the Flagler Schools Principal of the Year. She’s held her current position since last year. Amy Neuenfeldt is the Flagler Schools Assistant Principal of the Year. She has been an assistant principal at Indian Trails Middle School since 2017.
AACS Presents a 30-Year Retrospective of Fine Artist Bettie Eubanks
The African American Cultural Center and Museum of Florida (AACS) in Flagler County will host a “30-Year Retrospective of Fine Artist, Bettie Eubanks”. The exhibit will formally open to the public on November 20, 2021 during which there will be a “Meet the Artist” reception from 3pm – 5pm.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, November 19, 2021
The Fall Festival at the Flagler County Fairgrounds kicks off today and runs through the weekend, unemployment figures for Flagler and Florida are released, Sartre’s “No Exit” on stage in DeLand.
School Board’s Cheryl Massaro Reverses Against Dropping ‘Equity’ in District Goals’ Language
Cheryl Massaro had previously joined three other board members on Nov. 2 in directing Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt to drop the word “equity” from the district’s upcoming Strategic Plan. Tuesday, she said she wanted the matter brought back up for discussion, and that she was no longer in favor of dropping the word.
These Foods You Love Are as Addictive and Worse Than Cigarettes and Booze Combined
For many, the desire to change what they eat is triggered by concerns about potentially life-threatening health conditions, like diabetes and heart disease. The impact of diet on health is not a small problem, and pose a greater risk to human health than unsafe sex and alcohol, drug and tobacco use combined.
DeSantis Signs Bills Prohibiting Vaccine Mandates in Geographically Keyed Obscenity at President Biden
DeSantis has spent months battling with the Biden administration about Covid-19 policies, and Thursday’s event was held in Brandon, Fla., a community that shares a name with part of a conservative derogatory slogan about President Joe Biden.
Trevor Tucker Is Re-Elected Flagler School Board Chair in Nomination Reflecting Guile Behind Deep Divisions
Trevor Tucker was unanimously re-elected chairman of the Flagler County School Board board, with Colleen Conklin re-elected vice-chair. The unanimity of the Tucker vote hides deep divisions on the board that were reflected both in the Conklin vote and the nomination of Tucker.
Why All Boys Aren’t Blue Belongs in High School Libraries: A Response to Brian McMillan
Palm Coast Observer Editor Brian McMillan would restrict the book at the center of a controversy from high school libraries, even though he doesn’t find it pornographic. His argument and his prescription are untenable, because they rest on an analogy that has no application to George Johnson’s “All Boys Aren’t Blue.” A school district committee is currently reviewing the book’s status.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, November 18, 2021
The Flagler County firefighters’ union and Flagler County government’s management team are in collective bargaining negotiations, Sartre’s “No Exit” at Stetson’s Second Stage Theatre, notes on war reporting for cowards.
Online Anonymity: ‘Stable Pseudonyms’ Create a More Civil Environment than Real User Names
Research suggests that anonymity – under certain conditions – can actually make for more civil and productive online discussion. This surprising result came out of a study looking at the deliberative quality of comments on online news articles under a range of different identity rules.
Ex-Sheriff Jim Manfre Gets Most Votes in Short-Listing of 6 Candidates for Palm Coast City Manager
In a stunner, former two-time Sheriff Jim Manfre was the top vote-getter in the short-listing of possible candidates for Palm Coast City Manager as the council this evening picked six candidates to back-ground check and possibly interview in January.
Florida House Votes to Reject Federal OSHA Protections for Workers and Replace them With State Alternative
With Republicans angry about a vaccination rule issued by the federal Occupational and Safety and Health Administration, the Florida House on Wednesday approved a proposal that could lead to the state taking over regulation of worker safety and health issues.
Fire Chief Jerry Forte Recognized with Tony Gasparino ‘Lest We Forget Award’
The Knights of Columbus Corpus Christi Assembly 2810 and Santa Maria Del Mar Catholic Church recognized Palm Coast Fire Chief Jerry Forte with the Tony Gasparino “Lest We Forget Award.” Attending with Forte was his wife, Lisa, and his mother, Theresa.
Help Make Flagler County Known for Progress, Tolerance and Growth Instead of Ignorance and Hate
Offering the perspective of a parent, Palm Coast resident Courtney Hildreth calls on the Flagler School Board to re-focus on academic and intellectual freedom, ensuring access to age-appropriate literature, filling classroom vacancies, and preserving principles of equity and acceptance.
Student Protesters Face Hail of Vile Obscenities, Taunts and Threats From Group Claiming to Speak For Children
Students and parents protesting against a potential book ban in school libraries were confronted with a loose band of counter-protesters at the Government Services Building Tuesday evening, some of them in camouflage and body armor, taunting with obscenities, homophobic slurs and threats even as they claimed to object to “obscene” books. Sheriff’s deputies kept the taunts from escalating beyond the verbal.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, November 17, 2021
The Palm Coast City Council meets in special session this evening at City Hall to review the applications for city manager. The council members are expected to bring their own short lists of up to five candidates each.