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Weather: Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming east 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.
- Daily weather briefing from the National Weather Service in Jacksonville here.
- Drought conditions here. (What is the Keetch-Byram drought index?).
- Check today’s tides in Daytona Beach (a few minutes off from Flagler Beach) here.
- Tropical cyclone activity here, and even more details here.
Today at a Glance:
Western Expansion Developer Holds Public Meeting: Raydient/Rayonier, the future developer of 22,000 homes on 20,000 acres west of U.S. 1–the so-called westward expansion of Palm Coast–holds a “neighborhood meeting” about the proposed Master Planned Development at 6 p.m. at the Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Parkway. The purpose of the meeting, which is required by city policy, is to inform the public about the developer’s regulatory applications. The proposal has drawn fire from Palm Coast and county officials. See the development plan here. See:
- Calling Plan ‘Garbage,’ Theresa Pontieri Vows to Block Westward Development Unless Rayonier Pays More for Infrastructure
- Palm Coast Council Member Theresa Pontieri’s Statement on Westward Expansion Development Proposal
- Historic Old Brick Road Now a Battleground Between Flagler County Preservation and Palm Coast Expansion
- Palm Coast Council’s Pontieri’s ‘Warning Shot’: Why Are Taxpayers Paying for Infrastructure Benefiting Landowner?
River to Sea Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) meets at 9 a.m. at the Airline Room at the Daytona Beach International Airport. The TPO’s planning oversight includes all of Flagler and Volusia counties, with board representation from each of those jurisdictions. See the full agendas here. To join the meeting electronically, go here.
Conversations in Democracy: An open, freewheeling discussion on topics here in our community, around Florida and throughout the United States, noon to 1 p.m. at Pine Lakes Golf Club Clubhouse Pub & Grillroom (no purchase is necessary), 400 Pine Lakes Pkwy, Palm Coast (0.7 miles from Belle Terre Parkway). Call (386) 445-0852 for best directions. All are welcome! Everyone’s voice is important. For further information email [email protected] or call Merrill at 804-914-4460.
The Circle of Light Course in Miracles study group meets at a private residence in Palm Coast every Wednesday at 1:20 PM. There is a $2 love donation that goes to the store for the use of their room. If you have your own book, please bring it. All students of the Course are welcome. There is also an introductory group at 1:00 PM. The group is facilitated by Aynne McAvoy, who can be reached at [email protected] for location and information.
Juxtapositions: Three arches to remind us that the triumphal kind are usually the ugliest, least necessary, and nowhere near the majesty of the real thing. First, Drangarnir in the Faroe Islands, that cluster of volcanic surges halfway between Norway and iceland that, though Danish, did not figure in Ubu Roi’s grab for Greenland. That arch makes you think nature was using its slope for a slide with Euclid.
Then there is Beirut’s Grotte des pigeons, or Grotte aux pigeons (Cave of the Pigeons), which is neither a “grotte” nor much frequented by “pigeons” anymore. I suspect the natural monument got its name during the French mandate over Lebanon, when there may have been a couple of pigeons rousting about. The arch is near the Corniche in Beirut, site of so many trips by bus with my grandfather in my youngest years, when he would take me there for 25 piasters (or was it 15?) on the red and white buses, to have a little walk at Ras Beirut (Top of Beirut), look at the lighthouse there, have a Kaake, then home again. I liked the bus ride best, of course. I’m not sure the Grotte meant much to me. I’m surprised the Israelis haven’t demolished it yet.
Finally we have the arches of Etretat in Normandy, not yet separated from the mainland. The arch below is the lesser known of the three in that area, subjects of Monet’s paintings, an Arsene Lupin novel and Disney’s movie on France (at Epcot). Gide had a house in the area and walked to the cliffs a lot, but never mentioned the arches that I know of.
The Live Calendar is a compendium of local and regional political, civic and cultural events. You can input your own calendar events directly onto the site as you wish them to appear (pending approval of course). To include your event in the Live Calendar, please fill out this form.
May 2026
Flagler Beach Farmers Market
Coffee With Flagler Beach Commission Chair Scott Spradley
Democratic Women’s Club
Grace Community Food Pantry on Education Way
Touch-a-Truck in Palm Coast’s Town Center
Unity in the Community
Chess Meet-Up At the Flagler Beach Public Library
‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’ an FPC Production
‘The Curious Savage” at Daytona Playhouse
‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’ an FPC Production
‘The Curious Savage” at Daytona Playhouse
“Once on This Island,” At Limelight Theatre
Random Acts of Insanity’s Roundup of Standups from Around Central Florida
ESL Bible Studies for Intermediate and Advanced Students
Grace Community Food Pantry on Education Way
For the full calendar, go here.
And then there was something else. That was the matter of orna-ment. Let me give you an example with which almost everybody is familiar the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The world has been full of such triumphal arches ever since the day Titus erected one in Rome after the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. And most of them rather make you feel that the architects have somewhat overdone a good thing. In their desire to make these monuments tell the whole of the story about the lives of their heroes, they have been very apt to overload them with unnecessary details. Soldiers are committing mayhem on each other with swords and lances or they are dying most becomingly with a dozen hostile spears in their manly chests. Horses are prancing, bands are blaring, and special incidents are commemorated in special little medallions. The few square inches of space left blank were afterwards filled in with suitable arrangements of flowers and palm leaves. Sometimes they were not quite so suitable. But they were there and in great profusion, for the real purpose of the structure was to make the spectator gape and exclaim, “What a man! And how I do admire him!” The artistic effect might suffer from such treatment but the heirs and assignees of this great general or statesman were not interested in architecture. What they wanted was merely a convincing piece of marble publicity.”
–From Hendrik van Loon’s The Arts (1943).
Laurel says
You know that a kid like Trump in school didn’t have any friends, right? Yet you vote for him as President?
Ed P says
Hello Laurel,
You typify the intense polarization in American politics.
Some people simply hold political effectiveness and results above personal character. Others may have thought the Democrat’s “best” wasn’t better.
Harris/ Walz continue to solidify that premise, almost daily, on so many levels.
Jim says
Ed P,
Could you elaborate on “political effectiveness and results” for us?
You’re right, Trump did indeed beat Harris/Walz in the election. She conceded (Trump still claims he won in 2020). Not much to be gained by kicking that dead horse. Let’s stick to the theme – “political effectiveness and results”. He did close the border as promised. But, beyond that, what has Trump done for Americans? I’m talking the major issues of the day:
-Inflation – (Nope!)
-Ended Ukraine-Russia War in one-day – (Nope! – again. Not only has he not ended it, he’s cut off US military aid to Ukraine. Do you agree that’s what Americans want? 64% of Americans support supplying weapons to Ukraine. Ukraine is a struggling democracy. Russia is a dictatorship. Trump sides with Russia. )
– No more wars; I am the Peace President – (Nope! – again. We’re in the middle of a war with Iran that doesn’t appear to have any prospects of ending anytime soon. Trump goes back and forth from “bombing them into the Stone Age to extending deadlines within 24 hours or less. He says Iran has agreed to “everything”, quickly followed by another breakdown in “negotiations” immediately after. This war has been “finished” for about 4-5 weeks now, yet here we are…)
– $2.00/gallon gas -(Nope! – again. Trump touted cheap gas even though it never got anywhere close to $2/gallon. That’s because he lies and his followers just go along. And now it’s at $4/gallon or double his “fake pricing” with no signs of dropping anytime soon.)
– “I am your vengeance” said Trump. (Yes! He’s kept that promise. From firing FBI agents, DOJ attorneys and anyone who ever touched anything to do with the investigation of him to indicting numerous enemies of his without cause (hence, the dismissals of case after case). Trump wants to inflict pain on people who were doing their jobs. How dare they investigate a guy who is found with Top Secret documents in his Mar-a-Lago toilets! How dare they investigate and prosecute those who attacked the Congress, damaging property, assaulting, injuring and killing Capitol police. But he rectified that by pardoning those convicted and/or facing trial. Because it’s okay to break the law if you support Trump!
– Corruption. (This is a tough one. Is it “Yes!, he’s corrupt”, or “Nope, he’s a grifter”? A $400M plane that we’re spending somewhere from $400M to $1B to convert that plane so Trump can take it with him in 2028 when he leaves office [I’m assuming he makes it…]. Sounds completely legal and ethical to me. That is, of course, just the tip of the iceberg but what’s the point of pointing out crime if no one wants to see it?)
– “Ballroom”, “Arc de Trump”, Trump banners hanging from government buildings in DC, fake “peace prizes”, accepting a Nobel prize given to another person as a “gift”, posting pictures of himself as Jesus, the pope or the others that show Trump in great shape posing as cowboys, astronauts and other actual people that he in no way has anything in common.) These are all signs of a “very high IQ” normal person, right? To me, it has more in common with dictators, despots than any previous American president – but maybe I’m wrong. Some people think he’s “normal”.
Anyway, I’ve gone on too long. Please help those of us who can’t understand what Trump has done to help this country and it’s people but can see the numerous actions that are damaging this country in a way that we’ll suffer from for decades.
Ed P says
Hello Jim,
Is it effectiveness or style/character that you protest? If it’s purely effectiveness, which of the following must be changed or put back like it was.
1) closing the border to unvetted mass migration
2)attempting deportation of the estimated 2 million criminals to protect Americans
3) U.S. economy is pretty vibrant given head winds inflation still isn’t near historic high
4) reducing crime rate in America
5) Venezuela was a success/ slow flow of drugs
6) enforce sanctuary laws and simply have the criminals handed over to ICE
7) tax reform, no tax on tips, overtime, and a $6500 credit for the elderly and the jobs act of 2017.
8) attempting DOGE exposing antiquated federal inefficiency. Remember Stone Mountain Boyers Pa. What about using 1970 computers and software?
9) elimination of failed experiment called DEI
10) removing males from female sports
11) rebuilding the military
12) reducing burdensome regulations/ deregulation removed 25,000 pages from the Federal Register.
13) Abraham Accord
14) confirming 200 federal judges
15) seeking energy independence
16)creation of the space force
17)veterans affairs reform
18) 300,000 fewer federal employees
19) focusing in on Medicare/ Medicaid fraud
20) clawing back billions from fraudulent COVID programs.
I agree that Americans don’t like the style, character, tactics or many things about Trumps actions. Denying anything positive or declaring everything wrong is ridiculous.
Your observation that he didn’t end the Ukrainian
Conflict on day one or your impatience on each of your other criticisms is nothing more than talking points. Change requires time.
Mark says
Haven’t heard the Harris/Walz combo in months, if not longer, yet they live in Ed’s head daily.
Ed P says
Hello Mark,
Will you confirm that you believed that dynamic duo was the best the left had to offer?
That the point.
Skibum says
“Intense polarization”???
If you’ve been paying the least bit of attention, you would have seen her comment numerous times about being an independent, middle of the road voter who is not attached to either of the main political parties. As am I, but you have tried to pigeon hole me as some kind of far left radical as well.
Your comment to Laurel is very revealing. Maybe, just maybe… it could be that YOU and your continued defense of all things maga are the one who is so politically polarized that you see even middle of the road individuals as extremists. Take off your rose colored glasses, dude! Breathe some maga free air!
Ed P says
Hello Skibum,
A idiomatic expression.
If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it’s probably a duck. You are both ducks.
You or Laurel telling me you are moderate Independent registered voters does not accurately describe either of your ideologies, especially yours.
Your self chosen voting title is a masquerade.
Skibum says
Oh, so sorry for Donnie douchebag. His great gerrymander grift to himself and maga republi-cons to try an end run around the normal 10-year redistricting effort for U.S. congressional districts has not only failed spectacularly like all of his bankrupt businesses, but appears likely to ensure that democrats will take even more House seats and lock up and even wider majority in the upcoming midterm elections than thought possible just a few months ago.
Are all of you magazoids tired of “winning” yet??? When will you come to your senses and realize that the man you have adored, worshiped and sworn allegiance to is, was, and will always be for HIMSELF, not you?! More and more of his well known prior maga talking heads have belatedly learned the hard lesson and are telling maga followers just like YOU that this man must be stopped at all cost.
Well, just what are you waiting for before you too admit your mistake in supporting and voting for such a brain dead despot? There’s still time to try and save your GOP. Like all bad things, you can only go up from here… if you first admit the mistake and then take decisive action to correct it. It’s on YOU now.
Sherry says
Thank you Skibum! Hopefully more diehard Maga cult members will soon finally shake off their Murdoch crafted “stupor”.
While I am most certainly NOT a fan of those who were once passionate supporters of trump, like tucker carlson and marjorie taylor greene, at east they seem to have somehow come to their senses enough to see and admit that all is not heaven in “trumpworld”. Certainly, I have no clue to the magic potion that enabled such a revelation. All I can say is that I hope they have set an example for what is possible when it comes to shaking the cult mentality and returning to some kind of sanity.
God loves you anyway says
What will you do when President Trump is no longer your target of hate, release of your own anxiety and problems, and center of attention because you lack any skill, talent or imagination to make the world a better place. Will you then find something or someone else to bash and hate and bully?
Don’t you see, you write about yourself. You pick up the mirror and see a horrible, deceitful, hateful, scared, insecure man or woman who will be alone and pitied one day as you have no heart and have let the devil reside in you…. You reap what you sow.
Sherry says
@god loves. . . Obviously you have voted for and still support a “Convicted Felon/Guilty Sexual Abuser/Adulterer”. . . while reviling all those who do not support such a horrible sinner.
What lesson do you suppose your God would present to you? What do “YOU” honestly see when “YOU” pick up a mirror? In “YOUR” tortured soul, are “YOU” reaping the hate “YOU” are sowing? It most certainly appears that way to me. Perhaps “YOU” need to learn the very lesson you are trying to preach to others. Joy! Peace! Love!
BillC says
MAGA likes the phrase “FAFO” (f*** around and find out). In Iran Trump just FAFO’d himself.
Trump tore up the agreement Barack Obama negotiated with Iran in retribution for Obama mocking Donald Trump at the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, targeting Trump’s promotion of the “birther” conspiracy theory and his reality TV persona.
The countries that signed the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), were the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and Germany, along with the European Union. Iran was the other signatory to the agreement.
Obama’s agreement included key verification mechanisms:
Continuous IAEA Monitoring: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had 24/7 access to Iran’s declared nuclear facilities, including enrichment plants at Natanz and Fordow, using surveillance equipment like tamper-proof cameras and fiber-optic seals.
Monitoring the Full Nuclear Supply Chain: The IAEA monitored Iran’s entire nuclear supply chain — from uranium mining and milling to centrifuge production — to detect any diversion of materials for weapons purposes.
Access to Suspicious Sites: Under the Additional Protocol, the IAEA could request access to any site, including undeclared or military locations, if there were suspicions of covert nuclear activity. If Iran objected, a dispute resolution process allowed a Joint Commission (including all parties) to vote on access within 24 days.
Advanced Technology: Inspectors used satellite imagery, environmental sampling, radiation-resistant sensors, and real-time data transmission to detect undeclared nuclear materials or activities.
Stockpile and Enrichment Monitoring: Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile was limited to 300 kg of 3.67% enriched uranium, with continuous monitoring to ensure compliance. Enrichment levels and centrifuge numbers were strictly tracked.
Reporting and Oversight: The IAEA issued quarterly reports to the UN and the Joint Commission, which resolved disputes and ensured implementation.
These measures were designed to provide early detection of any violations, ensuring a “break-out time” of at least one year if Iran attempted to pursue nuclear weapons.
Compared to Obama, Trump’s handling of foreign affairs are those of a bumbling idiot. Try as he might Trump will never be able to fill Obama’s shoes.
Ed P says
Hello BillC,
So…
The 24 day process for accessing undeclared sites, ( not anytime/anywhere) would be effective?
The 10-15 year sunset clause was a permanent solution?
Not addressing the Iranian ballistic missile program wouldn’t prove problematic?
No Americans on the ground to be part of inspections would be good?
Immediate lifting of sanction provided Iran with a wind fall of cash between 29-150 billion was smart?
I would suggest that the 2015 JCPOA was not going to “get ‘er done”
But, it was better than nothing.
Also to declare failure or victory in Iran today is premature.
Every successful leader knows that their rigid stance is actually flexibility. Because of Trump’s willingness to adjust his approach, means he is significantly more likely to achieve a favorable outcome than if he stayed static.
A resolution will organically happen when the financial/economic implications outweigh everything else.
BillC says
@Ed P “…Trump’s willingness to adjust his approach…” That’s a hilarious reframing of his bungling. Aside from your comments amounting to a recitation of MAGA talking points, the main point is there was not any “imminent threat” posed by an Iranian nuclear weapon, the current justification for Trump attacking Iran. That was an invention of Netanyahu, who has been claiming for 30 years that Iran poses an imminent nuclear threat, with his public warnings dating back to 1992 when he was a member of the Knesset.
Benjamin Netanyahu met with Donald Trump on February 11, 2026, for a three-hour meeting at the White House to discuss the Iran nuclear threat. This hastily arranged visit focused on renewed U.S. talks with Iran over its nuclear program, with Netanyahu emphasizing Israel’s demands, including ending uranium enrichment and limiting ballistic missile development. He convinced Trump that a nuclear attack, as usual, was imminent and Trump needed to take preclusive action. Netanyahu played Trump for a chump, getting the US to do his bidding in Iran and pay for it to boot.
Despite your pooh-poohing the JCPOA and IAEA, the agreement worked (that is, until Trump tore it up as revenge against Obama). The expertise and understanding of JCPOA and IAEA on this matter was vastly superior to that of the incoherent Trump and his brain trust of sycophants who suddenly and without a plan got the US into this tragic worldwide mess.
Ed P says
Hello BillC,
Here’s the real problem. We don’t know the inside intelligence and aren’t equipped to proclaim there wasn’t any imminent nuclear threat. The American public is on a less than need to know basis. Don’t be fooled.
What you describe as Trump bungling around is actually a strong management style emphasizing the bottom up approach.
For example, where did he hear no tax on tips. From a food server. He admits it. He listens to everyone.
The TACO handle is not a weakness but his willingness to change tactical approaches to his decided strategic plans.
A real leader never draws the proverbial red line, or says “Don’t “ unless he means it. Nor will he over play his hand.
Your strident unyielding position that the Iranian were not a threat probably doesn’t align with reality.
Do you suggest they are honorable zealots? Not really bad, just because they were the worlds proxy for terrorism and threatened death to America for 47 year. Responsible for over a 1000 American lives. Just misunderstood?
Next will you proclaim negotiations were working?
The nuclear agreement was a joke. It was not a solution.
It’s rich that you think I’m using talking points when I laid out a logical explanation why the agreement wasn’t going to work and you double down on a argument that fell apart years ago.
BillC says
Iran did not pose an imminent nuclear threat, according to multiple assessments from U.S. officials, the IAEA, and intelligence agencies. While Iran had advanced its nuclear program—accumulating enough 60% enriched uranium for several weapons and possessing the technical capability to enrich further—there was no evidence of an active nuclear weaponization program as of early 2026. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi stated in March 2026 that there was no structured effort to build nuclear weapons, and an unnamed U.S. official confirmed there was no imminent threat.
Granted, Iran is a bad actor, it’s people have looked up to the US, but it is doubtful they still do, as Trump’s illegal war of choice has caused them immense suffering, like trading one tyrant for another. Netanyhu may have convinced Trump that an attack would result in an uprising and overthrow of the government after a few days, but obviously that was fantasy. In response to this failure did Trump “change tactical approaches”? No, he double downed on failure. Now our allies have abandoned the US and we’re on our own with little hope of international cooperation being exerted to force Iran into a negotiated settlement that would benefit the world and especially the people of Iran.
Ray W. says
This from a BBC story.
Late last year, EU leaders prepared a €90 billion loan package for the Ukraine. A unanimous EU vote would have finalized approval of the loan package.
After four years of not attacking a Ukrainian-based storage tank and pumping station complex that pushes crude oil through the southern leg of the Druzhba pipeline that connects Russian oil to Hungarian and Slovakian refineries, the Russians finally targeted the complex. When Ukrainian engineers were sent to repair the damage, the Russians targeted them, too.
Hungarian Prime Minister Orban then announced he would vote to veto the EU loan package to the Ukraine unless the Ukrainians repaired the complex. The Ukrainians knew that the Russians would just rocket the complex again. An impasse developed.
After Victor Orban conceded that Peter Magyar had defeated him at the ballot box, Orban then announced he would no longer oppose the EU loan package.
By inference, Russia knows that it has lost the veto leverage Orban had wielded on Russia’s behalf. EU leaders are meeting in Cypress to finalize the terms of the loan package. The damage to the complex has been repaired. Russia will only gain European enmity if it attacks the complex again.
Make of this what you will.
Dennis C Rathsam says
TRUMP,S economic strong hold is working, Iran is losing billions….ole mentally unfit TRUMP, dumb as a fox! Stop PANICING Mr bum,your TDS is blooming out of control. Get a grip man, you were happy with your tax reduction. Just hating because you don’t like his politics, shit happens! Your party threw money at these dessert rats, how did that work out? 77 million Americans were fed up. Woke made us broke. TRUMP is in the right place, at the right time, one day you’ll wake up. Democrat hypocracy embracing Iran. It shows how the jackass party, wouldn’t know a patriot from a cow
Ray W. says
It’s just another mild Texas day. Mostly overcast. Temperatures hovering around 80 degrees F.
At 3:10 pm CT, ERCOT showed grid demand at 55,642 MWs.
With a posted combined maximum generating output from natural gas plants listed at 88,388 MWs, one would think that if natural gas offered the cheapest supply of electricity, then all of today’s demand for electricity could be met by output from the many available natural gas plants. But, at 3:11 pm CT, 74,358 MWs of ERCOT’s natural gas generating capacity sat idle.
Wind and solar, at 3:11 pm CT, provided 63.2% of grid electricity supply. Fossil fuels? 32.8% of grid supply. Nuclear filled the small gap to 100%.
Make of this what you will.
Me?
On this mild April afternoon, ERCOT wholesale power purchasers have over 1,460 power plants to choose from to get the power its customers demand. Which power plants do ERCOT power purchasers choose first? Solar and wind! Which power plants lie idled the most? Natural gas!
Pogo says
It figures
… cleared for non-stop to hell.
https://www.bing.com/search?q=Vader+01