Gulf drilling politics; civil civics; Ferdie Pacheco

I'm not endorsing the 2010 opponent of State Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park. However, Cannon backed that horrific near-shore coastal oil drilling bill and he did so in a slimy (pun intended), last-minute manner. The state Senate and Charlie Crist stopped the bill, but with Dean slated to be the House speaker in 2011, we haven't heard the last of this bill.

Therefore, I offer this slogan — free of charge — to his opponent: Fire The Cannon. ...

After watching St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker and Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio trade witticisms at the Florida Humanities Council's history event last week, I'm convinced any political race between the two would be the most civil in state annals.

Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf spoke at the prestigious Berkeley Prep Friday. Meanwhile, rapper Bow Wow spoke at King High. Compare and contrast. ...

Seen on a bumper sticker: Reality Is A Crutch For People Who Can't Handle Drugs. ...

Ybor City's native son, Ferdie Pacheco, received a new honor when the United Nations Postal Administration chose his portrait of Gandhi for a stamp it will issue in October for International Day of Nonviolence. To see the stamp, go to links.tampabay.com. ...

The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay invites men to join A Call To Men, a new local chapter of a national effort to get men to stand up and end domestic violence. The meeting will be at noon Wednesday at the Urban Center, 4890 W Kennedy Blvd. in Tampa. Given the history of domestic violence as well as recent headlines, it's a call that needs to be answered in Tampa Bay. ...

That's all I'm saying.