Aquinas is a giant of Western philosophy and theology, and for good reason. His writing is clear, well organized, free from bombast – ideas shine through his words. Famously, he insisted that faith and reason are in harmonious partnership, integrating the known science, philosophy and theology of his day into a comprehensive, interconnected system. All this helps explain why his work has maintained an enduring appeal, even as equally brilliant medieval thinkers have sunk into oblivion.
All Else
Palm Coast Government’s Website Launches ADA Functions to Improve Access for All
The City of Palm Coast has implemented a new ADA (Americans with Disabilities) Widget on its official website, palmcoast.gov, designed to improve accessibility and inclusivity for all users. This feature provides a variety of tools to enhance the online experience for individuals with different accessibility needs.
Bunnell Says No to Developer Seeking To Reduce Open Space By 10% at 8,000-Home ‘Haw Creek Reserve’
The 8,000-home development called Reserve at Haw Creek in Bunnell may proceed, but it will have to respect the city’s minimum requirement of 60 percent of open space. Rejecting a developer’s claim that his due process was violated or his veiled threat to build more apartment buildings if his request was rejected, the Bunnell City Commission voted 3-2 to deny an exception that would have allowed reducing open space at the Reserve at Haw Creek from 60 percent to 50 percent.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, December 26, 2024
Rotary’s Fantasy Lights Festival continues for a few more days in Palm Coast’s Town Center, Bachfest, a few reflections on Jewett’s Country of the Pointed Firs and the 100 best books of the 21st century.
How Gladiators Inspired Evangelicals’ Sense of Persecution
You might be surprised to learn that there are threads that tie together gladiators, Christian martyrs and the sense of persecution that exists among many U.S. evangelicals today.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, December 25, 2024
Nothing doing today, and beside the chestnuts roasting on a natural gas fire and the remains of yesterday’s fog, it’s time for Bachfest and the smell of Christmas in “The Plot Against America.”
Biden Commutes Nearly All Federal Death Sentences
President Joe Biden commuted the sentences on Monday of 37 death row inmates, citing his conscience as a force behind the decision. He also left the death sentences unchanged for three men charged with hate-motivated mass shootings and terrorism.
Justifying Book Bans, Florida Says It’s Not Required to Provide Libraries to School Students. Publishers Disagree.
Major publishing companies and authors Friday argued that a federal judge should deny Florida’s request to dismiss a lawsuit over the removal of school library books, saying a controversial state law violates First Amendment rights. Attorneys disputed a state position that selection of school library books is “government speech” and, as a result, is not subject to the First Amendment.
Palm Coast Senior Planner Phong T. Nguyen Earns Professional Transportation Planner Distinction
The City of Palm Coast announced Monday that Phong T. Nguyen, Senior Planner in the Community Development Department, has received the prestigious Professional Transportation Planner (PTP) certification. This recognition highlights his exceptional expertise in transportation planning and his commitment to fostering innovative and sustainable solutions that enhance the quality of life for our community.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, December 24, 2024
Clay Jones is rightfully upset that Disney kissed Donald Trump’s ring with that settlement, on the origin of St. Nick, Nicholas of Myra, and a spin around the world with Satchmo.
America, Not Just Florida, Faces an Insurance Crisis
Home insurance rates are rising in the United States, not only in Florida, which saw tens of billions of dollars in losses from hurricanes Helene and Milton. homeowners insurance increased an average of 11.3% nationwide in 2023, with some states, including Texas, Arizona and Utah, seeing nearly double that increase. Some analysts predict an average increase of about 6% in 2024.
Bob Dylan’s Creative Leap
The Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” starring Timothée Chalamet, focuses on Dylan’s early 1960s transition from idiosyncratic singer of folk songs to internationally renowned singer-songwriter. Sixty years ago, on Halloween Night 1964, a 23-year-old Dylan took the stage at New York City’s Philharmonic Hall. He had become a star within the niche genre of revivalist folk music.
Flagler County Raised Concerns Well Before Developer Sought to Reduce Open Space at 8,000-Home ‘Reserve’ in Bunnell
As the developer of the proposed 6,000-t-8,000-home Reserve at Haw Creek in Bunnell, the single-largest development in the county since Palm Coast’s origins, seeks to lower the proportion of open space there, Flagler County months ago issued a detailed letter to the city raising concerns with the plan, especially as it relates to the number of homes, flooding and open space. And that was before the developer increased the proposed density and sought to lower the amount of open space.
Trial Will Decide Whether Florida’s DEP Violated Endangered Species Act, Causing Manatee Deaths
A federal judge has rejected a state attempt to end a lawsuit stemming from manatee deaths in the Indian River Lagoon and said a trial is needed to determine whether the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has violated the Endangered Species Act. U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza issued a 17-page order last week siding with arguments by the environmental group Bear Warriors United that wastewater discharges into the Indian River Lagoon have led to the demise of seagrass and, as a result, the deaths of manatees.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, December 23, 2024
The Bunnell City Commission hears an appeal from a developer who thinks less open space should be fine, a few thoughts about harsh parents, and the Little Prince.
Memo to Rupert Murdoch: Now’s the Time to Sell Fox News
With Trump continuing to be Trump, Fox’s immediate future looks very bright. Political fortunes aside, the longer term future for Fox News looks much less bright. Fox News was a good and faithful campaigner for Trump, but it is notable that when people explain Trump’s victory, Fox is never mentioned. The best way to take the heat out of the Murdoch family conflicts would be to sell, or to float, Fox News, and this is likely to be more profitable now than in a few years’ time.
Florida Imposed More Death Sentences Than Any Other State in 2024
Florida led the nation this year in imposing death sentences, reflecting DeSantis’ successful push to eliminate the requirement of a unanimous jury recommendation. The Death Penalty Information Center reports that 26 people were sentenced to death in the United States in 2024, seven of them in Florida.
Maga’s Mega Mean Girls
Maga Mean Girls take pleasure in tormenting people, especially those weaker than themselves, and causing gratuitous pain. As Atlantic Monthly essayist Adam Serwer wrote in 2018, “The cruelty is the point.” And nobody enjoys cruelty more than Donald Trump, Mean Girl of the Century.
Court Rejects Teen’s Challenge to Florida Law Banning Trans Women Athlete from Teams
A federal judge appointed by Donald Trump dismissed a Broward County teen’s challenge to the constitutionality of a 2021 Florida law that bars transgender female students from playing on women’s and girls’ sports teams.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, December 22, 2024
Palm Coast Farmers’ Market at European Village, Rotary’s Fantasy Lights Festival in Palm Coast’s Town Center, remembering Eleanor Roosevelt’s utopian Arthurdale.
What Blasphemy Laws Teach Us About Religious Freedom
Some 79 countries around the world continue to enforce blasphemy laws. And in places such as Afghanistan, Brunei, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, violation of these measures can result in a death penalty. While the U.S. is not among those countries, it also has a long history of blasphemy laws that reflects a complex fight for the freedom of religion and speech.
21% Surge in Immigration Drives Nation’s Population Increase, Offsetting Decline in US Birth Rate
With Texas and Florida making up nearly a third of the nation’s population increase, a recent immigration surge brought newcomers to every state this year, helping to offset a continued drop in U.S. births while contributing to a national upswing of about 3.3 million new residents, according to new U.S. Census Bureau estimates.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, December 21, 2024
Miracle on 34th Street at Daytona Playhouse, the Democratic Women’s Club of Flagler County meets, Syria’s refugees and their mistreatment, school shootings and Clay Jones.
The Moral Dimension of America’s Flawed Health Care System
The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has set off soul-searching among many Americans. Part of that reflection is about the public reaction to Thompson’s death and the sympathy the suspect received online, with some people critical of the insurance industry celebrating the assailant as a sort of folk hero. Frustrations are no excuse for murder. But it has become a moment of wider reflection on health care in America, and why so many patients feel the system is broken.
Ragga Surf Eviction Stands as Marineland and Flagler County Snipe at Each Other and State Snubs Them All
If the 50-some of supporters of Ragga Surf Café who turned out for a Marineland Town Commission meeting Thursday evening to hear some hope, any hope, that the café can stave off eviction from its temporary home at the River to Sea Preserve on Dec. 31, they were disappointed. The eviction stands. The earliest Ragga may have a chance to reclaim its spot, if at all, may be March, judging from what County Administrator Heidi Petito estimated, though it would likely be longer.
November House Sales in Flagler County At Lowest Level in Almost 7 Years, Job-Holder Total at 2-Year Low
Flagler County’s unemployment was 4.4 percent in November, up a decimal point from a revised 4.3 percent the previous month, a statistically insignificant change, even as the number of unemployed residents declined slightly. More alarmingly: housing sales hit a seven-year low, while the number of Flagler residents holding jobs continued to decline significantly.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, December 20, 2024
Flagler and Florida unemployment numbers are released,Miracle on 34th Street at Daytona Playhouse, a 21st birthday celebration, trillions upon trillions of tiny marine organisms.
How Foreign Students Boost the Economy
Foreign students pump more than US$40 billion into the U.S. economy and support over 368,000 jobs. That’s not just paying professors and buying textbooks – it includes everything from renting apartments to late-night DoorDash and Grubhub deliveries. And it’s near a record high.
Colossal 6,000-Home Plan in Bunnell is Now 8,000 Homes, and Developer Wants to Cut Open Space by 10%
The developer of the proposed Preserve at Haw Creek, a 2,800-acre development west of Bunnell that would dwarf the city in size and population, has raised the number of dwellings from 5,000-to 6,000 in a May presentation to 6,000 to 8,000 now, and is asking the city to lower the minimum required open space from 60 percent to 50 percent. The city’s planning board unanimously rejected the request. The Bunnell City Commission hears the appeal on Monday.
State Raises Objections to Flagler Beach’s ‘Black Hole’ of Data About Veranda Bay as County Repeats Concerns
Flagler Beach’s proposed annexation of Veranda Bay, the planned 2,400-home development along John Anderson Highway, is facing yet more obstacles in addition to an opposition group’s threat to sue. State agencies tasked by law with reviewing the city’s planned amendment to its land-use rules to accommodate the development have raised objections, citing a lack of data.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, December 19, 2024
Marineland talks about Ragga Surf Cafe’s pending eviction, Model Yacht Club Races at the pond in Palm Coast’s Central Park, Drug Court’s last session of the year, the American judiciary’s reputation falls to historically low levels.
Appeals Court Splits Verdict on School District’s Sunshine Violations in Library Books Case
An appeals court Wednesday said an Indian River County School Board textbook committee violated the state’s open-government Sunshine Law but a committee that reviewed school library books did not.
Is News Bias Fueled by Journalists or Readers?
Demand-driven bias happens when newspapers offer slanted news to appeal to readers. Supply-driven bias stems from the ideological leanings of owners or employees. Both had influenced decision-making at The New York Times. The former top editor of The New York Times’ editorial page wrote that slanted coverage at the institution is “pervasive.”
Kevin Guthrie and UF Show Off AI-Powered Disaster Information Dissemination Service
The University of Florida, in partnership with government agencies, has showcased an artificial intelligence-driven disaster warning system leveraging radio waves — a program Florida Department of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said is guaranteed to save lives.
Argument Escalates To a Shooting at Palm Coast Econo Lodge, and 2 Men Are Arrested
Two men were arrested Tuesday following a shooting at the Econo Lodge motel off Kingswood Drive in Palm Coast. No one was injured in the incident, which drew a substantial response by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. James L. Everett, 19, faces felony charges of firing into a dwelling and tampering with evidence. Steven Hyatt, 22, faces a felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Flagler Tiger Bay Club features Jeff Hoffman, the global entrepreneur, the Palm Coast Planning and Land Development Board meets, Buc-ee’s happy place, a few thoughts from Casanova.
Palm Coast to Host USTA Pro Circuit Event at Southern Recreation Center
The Southern Recreation Center is the new home of the annual Palm Coast Open, a USTA Pro-Circuit event. This year, we are excited to introduce the Women’s 35k Tournament alongside the Men’s 15k Tournament, which has been a community staple for over 13 years. Over the years, Palm Coast has hosted tennis legends like Andre Agassi, Michael Chang, Monica Seles, Jimmy Connors, and local star Reilly Opelka.
How Liberals Lost Comedy, and Helped Trump Win
Trump’s success with comedy is a result of the new relationship between digital media and the business of joking. For decades, liberals were thought to hold a monopoly on comedy. Moreover, there was little money to be made in comedy acts devoted to right-wing politics. Since 2016, however, a new crop of right-wing comedians has taken to digital platforms and algorithmically driven audience targeting in order to change this reality.
Commissioner Pennington Assails County Administration Over Ragga Surf Fiasco: ‘Issues Didn’t Get Handled Properly’
Flagler County Commissioner Leann Pennington late Monday night sharply criticized the county administration, including its legal department, over a series of errors and missed steps that led to a state rebuke of the county’s permission to Ragga Surf Cafe, a for-profit company, to use public land at Marineland’s River to Sea Preserve to run its business. County Administrator Heidi Petito and County Attorney Al Hadeed defended their actions.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, December 17, 2024
The Palm Coast City Council and the School Board hold their last meetings of the year, taking a dive into Country Highway, America’s best new newspaper, a few words from Walter Kirn.
Town Center Glitters with Palm Coast’s Starlight Parade and County’s Float Takes Best of Show
This year’s Grand Marshal, Randy Stapleford, a retired U.S. Navy Captain and Flagler County’s Florida Inland Navigational District Commissioner, led the parade in grand style. Commander Stapleford, recognized as Flagler County’s Veteran of the Year in 2023, brought his dedication to service and holiday spirit to this cherished community event.
Grieving During the Holidays
Nearly 95% of people who have experienced loss report dealing with at least one symptom of physical or mental distress. Holidays and special occasions, which often include family gatherings, traditions and reminders of what’s missing, can amplify this pain, leaving those grieving feeling isolated and overwhelmed.
‘God Saved His Life So He Could Save the World,’ Randy Fine Says of Trump, Who Now ‘Needs My Help’
Randy Fine, the Brevard County senator who declared a run for U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz’s seat in a special election, said he is running for Congress to help Donald Trump save the world, and that he would “wash bathrooms in the White House in order to make him be successful,” if that’s what it takes. Meanwhile, he continues to file ideologically incendiary bills in the Florida Legislature.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, December 16, 2024
A pair of meetings of the Flagler County Commission, including an earful on the Ragga Surf Cafe mess, Holly Albanese on the Nexus Center, Bach’s Fifth French Suite gives Chuck Berry a run for his trills, Rabih Alamadeddine on memory.
Why Teen Girls Are Attracted to Boys who Hurt Them
Messages that link attraction to violence and contempt can occur in different settings and in different ways, and this association is known as “coercive dominant discourse”. Long-term exposure to this discourse leads girls to consider violent boys attractive, eventually pushing them into toxic emotional and sexual relationships.
Ragga Surf Fiasco: How Flagler County Risked Losing River to Sea Preserve Over Botched Favor for a Private Business
Flagler County government and the town of Marineland have come close to losing their joint ownership of the 90-acre River to Sea Preserve, the public park, after the state’s land trust discovered that the county and the town were allowing the for-profit Ragga Surf Cafe to use the preserve for its operations since September without permission from the state and in violation of the county’s own rules and procedures. Here’s what happened.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, December 15, 2024
The Palm Coast Holiday Boat Parade is scheduled for 6 p.m., Palm Coast Farmers’ Market at European Village, Rad Assal corrects New York Times headline writers, Riadh Alamadeddine with a key bartending observation, Bach’s sublime English Suite in A minor.
Don’t Ban Health-Related Books from Florida Schools, Groups Urge
Four groups — the Florida Freedom to Read Project (FFTRP), PEN America, EveryLibrary, and the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCA) — sent a letter to school superintendents and attorneys representing Florida’s school boards urging restraint when it comes to books that include topics such as anatomy, teen pregnancy, and sexual assault.
Why Americans Are Furious With Health Insurance CEOs
Over 8,000 Americans die every day, many unnecessarily. The United States still does not have in place a national health care system that guarantees everyone adequate medical attention. Some 25 percent of Americans have people in their family who have had to delay medical treatment for a serious illness because they couldn’t afford the care. Some 79 percent of America’s nurses, for their part, say they’re working in inadequately staffed health facilities.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, December 14, 2024
Palm Coast’s Starlight Parade in Town Center, American Association of University Women (AAUW) Monthly Meeting, Gamble Jam, dreaming of Las Vegas, Second Saturday Plant Sale at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park.