tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-305351002011-12-14T21:31:44.092-05:00Miami, Florida's most popular blog.Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4241100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-6699512352444566102011-08-02T16:37:00.003-04:002011-08-02T16:45:35.168-04:00

Okay, this is the LAST post. We felt it was worth it to come out of retirement since the land it would be built on is the last remaining piece of downtown property fronting Biscayne Bay worthy of only the best "destination architecture." Nothing beats a city's bragging rights like claiming the world's tallest building. I hope Miami DEMANDS Genting (the company that recently bought the Miami

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-42135959590731965992011-05-01T12:17:00.003-04:002011-05-02T15:07:17.506-04:00

Please click images to enlarge. Unfortunately, Verticus' entry didn't make the cut but here it is anyway. It's a "fun homage to the Grand Dame." MVB has argued for years that Miami and the Beaches lack any building that could be labeled "destination architecture." Only after revisiting the Miami Marine Stadium (which we were lobbying since 2007 to restore) for this competition did we realize we

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-42003575800000172652009-10-04T14:34:00.005-04:002009-10-04T18:33:17.984-04:00

Please click image to enlarge.Due to popular demand (really), we've compiled a "Best Of" Miami Vision Blogarama. You can order it here and relive some of the fun and sorrow of yesteryear. Thanks for your enthusiasm, encouragement, and condolences since our last post. For those who still have jobs and can afford the best, the full-color version is available here.Vert.

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-15706816528936014872007-12-19T09:36:00.034-05:002010-12-26T11:03:57.603-05:00

Most of our hopes and dreams bit the dust with the county's ratification of the "Global Agreement." We feel like that fallen warrior from ancient Greece. We didn't put that smile on his face, but I'm sure he would have appreciated what we did to his middle finger. This is our last gesture to local politics and our first step in acknowledging what unchecked hubris can bring: lots of sound and fury

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-18649045977916436702007-12-18T13:59:00.004-05:002008-09-19T11:10:06.170-04:00

It's a freaking supermarket for crying out loud! Can you imagine? Reminds me of the work of the architects from the planet with all of those flying saucers. I absolutely love it and wonder why I don't see more of this kind of stuff on Earth. Carlos Zapata is the architect. Works out of New York City. Owned by Publix Super Markets, Publix on the Bay opened in 1998 and is located in South Miami

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-84417672964801354072007-12-17T09:19:00.004-05:002008-09-30T09:22:55.531-04:00

That is the question. Growing up with the Duke as a role model, that's always been the question. Whenever in doubt, I finger my elastic dayglo bracelet with the inscription: What Would John Wayne Do? The answer has never let me down. From bar room fights to dealing with the Indians (that Nokosee can be quite a handful now that he's teamed up with that crazy park ranger's daughter), I've either

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-71875383288308243122007-12-16T11:08:00.000-05:002008-12-18T11:14:52.222-05:00

Click Image to Enlarge.Another great concept from these sun-bleached shores: Bikini.com.

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-80550094914936140342007-12-14T12:45:00.007-05:002009-08-06T22:18:57.190-04:00

Miami's Manny Diaz is one tricky guy. Yesterday he got everything he wanted-- at the people's expense. Instead of putting the issue of diverting needed tax dollars from Miami's slums to building a new baseball stadium, tunnel, and propping up the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts, he worked behind the scenes with Miami-Dade County Manager George Burgess to come up with the

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-58856755401859500702007-12-12T08:00:00.001-05:002008-08-14T09:36:55.250-04:00

Today's Miami Herald reports the county is ratcheting up the pressure on the Florida Marlins and MLB to accept their offer to build a new stadium on the old Orange Bowl site. According to team president David Sampson, the next 10 days are "critical." If a deal can be brokered, he says, for the first time, that the team will play at the Orange Bowl site.How disappointing to hear. That site sucks

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-50410236734311496342007-12-11T19:40:00.003-05:002010-10-16T08:05:37.664-04:00

We'd like to think the graphics beat Chavez, that the iconic comic bubble caught enough people's attention down there in Venezuela to turn the tide on madness. Perhaps it will work here with the City of Miami Commission. For MVB, it's all we got because we've outlined our reasons more than once on this humble blog to the point of embarrassment.This Thursday the City of Miami commission votes on

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-56460454748648087082007-12-10T15:03:00.000-05:002007-12-10T16:27:15.389-05:00

If you want to find the pulse of a city's creativity, check out its blogs. There you'll find its most creative. If they ever get together in one place like they did last night at a party hosted by Miami Beach 411 at Tuscan Steak, it's quite possible you'll meet this century's best poet whose alter ego writes a blog called Sex and the Beach. Or a rising guerrilla-style filmmaker named Avery Pack.

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-84964396916113753522007-12-10T10:10:00.000-05:002007-12-12T06:23:18.340-05:00

Tuscan Steak may not look like it has a pedigree from its less than ostentatious facade at 433 Washington Ave in SoBe, but it's part of China Grill Management which is known for its world-wide far flung empire of restaurants serving up great food and style in equal portions. Basically it's exactly what it's PR machine says it is, a "sophisticated, family-style Florentine grill" specializing in

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-61162366598398853662007-12-06T10:30:00.000-05:002007-12-06T22:32:29.447-05:00

As a public service to our readers, we are happy to offer "MiamiSpeak©." These are words and phrases used by Miamians and may come in handy for tourists or those just passing through this sun kissed burg.Today's offering is "Media Up!" "Media Up!" is a great way to keep the police from busting your head in. It's best used just before an arrest, especially if you've led them on a wild police

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-35274226167105365692007-12-05T11:09:00.005-05:002008-07-19T08:47:22.448-04:00

We were wondering what if anything Miami-Dade County's mayor had done recently since winning the right from the people to be a "strong mayor." For those who backed his proposal as we were proud to do, we are given hope by today's news that he vetoed extending the sacrosanct (at least to a few county commissioners) UDB. Hopefully Alvarez will become more pro-active on equally important issues such

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-43081622643998372762007-12-05T08:49:00.006-05:002008-09-12T13:52:17.511-04:00

Besides the economic crisis bubbling just below the surface of our sunbaked landscape where more than 71,000 residential property owners in Miami-Dade and Broward failed to pay property taxes for 2006, there is another one ready to burst forth in education. As we reported earlier:Florida "will need 12,000 more teachers per year than are projected to be supplied (italics included)."Increasing

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-24303362488470556192007-12-04T19:09:00.000-05:002007-12-04T19:17:48.864-05:00

Shopping in Miami can be scary. But if you can do it here, you can do it anywhere. To shop Miami style, please play the video.

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-91699166743892311422007-12-04T09:47:00.001-05:002008-03-28T15:27:57.807-04:00

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-16412524135655353792007-12-03T15:23:00.000-05:002007-12-04T07:50:39.173-05:00

Although MVB's main focus is Miami and the Beaches, some things demand posting no matter how far they stray from our narrow focus. In this case, we find ourselves getting excited about a new series of plays in Los Angeles. All of them take place in cars with the audience in the backseat. Cool. Real cool.This is how Gary Garrison, editor of The Loop newsletter for playwrights, sums up his take on

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-41652447311197629272007-12-03T07:31:00.000-05:002007-12-03T10:37:06.414-05:00

The Good: Venezuelans said "¡No!" to the Asshole of the Americas.The Bad: Russians vote for the Asshole of Russia.The Ugly: Both assholes will make the world an uglier place; one will try to reverse the election, the other will use it to steer his country further away from ally to foe by all means necessary. Both fuckers will affect where we live.Where is Blondie when we need him?

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-64583070863673704262007-12-02T14:28:00.000-05:002007-12-02T16:55:51.176-05:00

16 years. That's how long Florida and the Seminoles warred over casino gambling. And then along came Charlie Crist. Within months the newly elected governor hammered out an agreement between the Seminoles and the State that the Florida legislature couldn't do, a deal that would guarantee the state $375 million in the first three years and to share 10 to 25 percent of the gambling pot after that

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-7895083368253862582007-12-02T09:58:00.004-05:002008-09-20T10:05:40.243-04:00

The Godless Chinese commies get a winning landmark design from Herzog & de Meuron for their Olympic stadium. What does my favorite city get from this firm for its new art museum? A freaking auto mall! Where's the awe inspiring architecture? Back in Beijing. Hell, those hanging vines will be ripped asunder with the first thunderstorm! Years from now, people will look back at this time and wonder

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-79201158954363977852007-11-30T19:16:00.000-05:002007-11-30T19:56:49.678-05:00

This post is from a suggestion by my daughter. MVB is open to all activist ideas of this nature. If it fits in with our politics, we'll be glad to get the word out."Thanks to Bush Administration cuts to the Veterans Administration (VA) budget in recent years, veterans recuperating at VA hospitals aren't even allowed long-distance time to call home to their families over the holidays."*AT&T Inc.

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-46988727555749772802007-11-30T12:10:00.001-05:002007-11-30T12:11:57.362-05:00

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-30563692509046698652007-11-30T07:27:00.008-05:002008-11-02T14:13:44.238-05:00

We really, really want to like the proposed new Miami Art Museum design from Herzog and de Meuron but...Our hopes have fallen as flat as the new building's roof. Unlike Gehry's Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, it doesn't jump out and grab our soul.And, it makes us anxious. It looks less than hurricane proof-- despite reassurance from a Herzog/de Meuron spokesperson that the post and beam

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-23155385334983887622007-11-29T08:29:00.000-05:002007-11-29T08:45:00.951-05:00

Yesterday the Tampa Bay Devil Rays unveiled their new waterfront baseball stadium proposal. Unlike Miami's, which looks like it is trying to shun its location, this design embraces everything we love about living here: sunshine and ocean breezes. We like it and hope it sees the light of day. The 34,000-seat stadium appears it will face the same hurdles of getting built as our stadium has. Devil

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-49816670673903473562007-11-28T10:58:00.000-05:002007-11-29T16:25:20.946-05:00

I would have made a great woman.Perhaps I was one in another life. Who knows? In any event, I can't get enough of stilettos. In fact, I love them so much, I built a custom trike around one. Talk about a babe magnet, hoo-wee, the stories I could tell trolling Ocean Drive. Although I've never put them on and tried walking around in them (it's purely aesthetics for me, just like my affectation for

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-27766830524378085332007-11-28T07:15:00.006-05:002008-07-19T08:49:09.024-04:00

The Urban Development Boundary isn't supposed to be touched or moved an inch. It's been there since 1989 to protect ourselves from over development and encroachment of our wellfields and recharge areas, working farms, and environmental lands vital to the health of the Everglades and Biscayne National Parks. Yesterday marked the third time Lowe's came before the commission to request extending

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-66671568647759433862007-11-27T08:08:00.006-05:002008-07-19T08:50:15.208-04:00

Joe Martinez is the powerful chairman of the Miami-Dade County Commission. He is also a man who can't take "No!" for an answer because developers are again knocking on nature's door with proposals to extend the Urban Development Boundary. We're already living on the edge of the Everglades but extending the boundary (in this case for a Lowe's home improvement center) is too much. He should be

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-54478359843567784522007-11-26T10:42:00.000-05:002007-11-26T12:47:44.695-05:00

Today, in a ceremony at Miami City hall, mayor Manny Diaz presented Elita Loresca, the Storm Goddess, and Sir Manny Mojito and the Knights of the Mesa Redonda with a proclamation designating December 3rd as the first annual "End of Hurricane Season Parade." Ms. Loresca, former weatherperson at WSVN-Fox in Miami, will be the parade's first Queen. Sir Manny Mojito, who claims to be the King of

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-85475008115822128622007-11-25T13:01:00.000-05:002007-12-01T08:26:10.883-05:00

Sometime between December 4th and 6th the Herzog & deMeuron designed Miami Art Museum will be revealed to the public for the first time. So says Terence Riley, the museum's director in the December issue of Smithsonian magazine which profiles Art Basel.We believe that "unveiling" will be the most important part of Art Basel. Depending upon what the wunderkinds of Switzerland have come up with, it

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-35613448897524653632007-11-25T09:23:00.001-05:002008-08-04T14:20:47.470-04:00

Let me be the first father to officially offer up his daughter to the greater glory of football and the Christian church (not necessarily in that order). Her name's Diana and she is currently attending UF. She's a beautiful kid, has a great sense of humor (I hope), loves crafts, and can cook and sew (how many young women can say that). And, unlike most girls who may be showing up at your Sunday

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-62628486519014984742007-11-24T16:30:00.005-05:002008-10-08T16:33:23.045-04:00

What's wrong with this picture? It's another figment of our fevered imagination. If any city in the world should have its own air races, it's Miami. London gets them over the Thames. Rio along the Copacabana. Perth over its harbor.Thanks to Red Bull, even Istanbul, Budapest and Abu Dhabi get air races. All over water.But what do we get. We get this and a five year old unfulfilled promise from

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-40452454270312478102007-11-23T13:53:00.000-05:002007-11-23T14:42:24.939-05:00

The following is an excerpt from Shawn Beightol of the Miami Professional Educators Association (MPEA) to its members regarding the school board's suggestion that due to the sluggish economy, contributions from the county to teacher health care will need to be cut back with teachers expected to fill the gap which is estimated to be around $1,200.00 annually:"If this happens, this negates any

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-5532698348017279222007-11-21T09:59:00.000-05:002007-11-21T10:21:38.087-05:00

We're against its current approach to preservation so, when we saw this recent email from the City of Miami Planning Department's Historic Preservation E-Newsletter about the Miami Circle, we couldn't resist reminding our gentle readers what a lost opportunity it was not to combine development with preservation. When this "thing" in the picture above is one of the more recognizable objects

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-75118598221678631532007-11-21T09:20:00.000-05:002007-11-21T09:44:32.808-05:00

That's the title to Michael Putney's article on immigration in today's Miami Herald. He suggests that our community should focus on "assimilation" as the way to curb crime and the high school dropout rate, one of the highest in the nation.Good luck on that. Although the article is about Haitians, its really about all the other immigrants living here who just don't get it: you're living in America

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-62600974158342543552007-11-21T08:57:00.000-05:002007-11-21T09:14:26.840-05:00

Mattie Herrera Bower is the new mayor of Miami Beach. Lord help us all. Expect resistance to change and the stonewalling of the BayLink project. With her Svengali, ex- obstructionist knee-jerk reactionary mayor David Dermer standing beside her, the status quo should pretty much remain the same for the next four years. Cruz screwed up royally when he brought out the "ethnic card" pitting the

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-30624535916230225472007-11-18T12:17:00.000-05:002008-01-11T19:12:23.041-05:00

The race for mayor of Miami Beach has always been disappointing with its lack of ideas, but now it has also grown uglier. It appears our candidate of choice Simon Cruz has pulled off the kid gloves and is going bare knuckle against his opponent, the grandmotherly but dangerous Mattie Herrera Bower. Her side began the scuffle with a lie and now Cruz is responding with half-truths implying she's

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-37525082981285430132007-11-15T19:48:00.000-05:002007-11-15T20:09:37.401-05:00

It appears the Corvette designers are getting younger and younger, taking their styling cues from cartoons. At least that's our take on the new Vette. As soon as we saw it we started to laugh which was followed by an uncontrollable urge to pump high octane gas into the company car. You can see the new Cartoon Vette at the Miami Auto Show going on now at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-50641983520951072902007-11-13T19:28:00.000-05:002007-11-16T16:36:39.435-05:00

You know you're in Miami when the first three minutes of the 6pm News chronicles:Another armored car robbery (this is the third one in three weeks)A SWAT team was called out to extract a crazed husband from his homeAn alligator kills and eats a suspect on the run (this is the twist part).We're sure in Wyatt Earp's eyes, Dodge City would have looked like Mayberry compared to Miami. Oh, yes, one

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-51589336009869853062007-11-12T15:25:00.000-05:002007-11-12T19:34:29.095-05:00

Enhance your blogging experience by pushing the button:According to today's Miami Herald, "Miami city officials are concerned that plans for the redesign of Bicentennial Park are too elaborate and pricey." Well, since it has been brought up, we thought we'd remind who is ever interested that one plan that has never been discussed is ours-- creating the first urban surf pool in the boat slip

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-21846453362924489442007-11-10T21:33:00.000-05:002007-11-23T14:47:42.693-05:00

What's with the Miami-Dade County Schools? It appears to have a penchant for taking its best teachers who have the temerity to ask questions that threaten the system's status quo and, through heavy-handed draconian measures, remove them from the classroom, banishing them to non-teaching positions in an effort to punish and intimidate.Shawn Beightol was the first to feel the wrath of the

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-67968793171218711882007-11-10T14:25:00.000-05:002007-11-10T19:09:15.503-05:00

What's wrong with Miami-Dade County government? According to Michael Putney, one of south Florida's most respected journalists, it's the Miami-Dade Charter Review Task Force. And we agree. This week the Miami Herald ran a column he wrote regarding his personal observation of the task force at work. It's not pretty. Their job once every five years is to review the county charter and to recommend

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-80556371620848043482007-11-10T13:59:00.000-05:002007-11-10T14:07:13.489-05:00

Shaquille O'Neal, a famous Miami Beach policeman, has endorsed Simon Cruz for mayor of Miami Beach. You should too. Get out and vote November 20th or vote early on the 17th or 19th between 9am and 7pm at Miami Beach City Hall or the North Shore Branch Library. Stop provincialism in its tracks, embrace responsible change and vote an open minded gentleman into office.

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-11148796341701636692007-11-10T12:42:00.000-05:002007-11-13T19:10:06.401-05:00

After tonight, the Orange Bowl becomes a fast fading distant memory. Following tonight's game with the 'Canes taking on 23rd ranked Virginia at 7:15, the fabled bowl will be torn down. In fact, according to the Miami Herald, some locals are already ripping the seats out for souvenirs.How sad. The stadium's ignoble fate is symptomatic of every public arena down here. We suspect next up on the hit

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-271024431924083592007-11-07T07:24:00.000-05:002007-11-07T16:48:31.182-05:00

There is a Blog God after all. For all of those who forum on the Net through personal observations about politics and the arts (like us), it looks like we won't be short of inspiration thanks to yesterday's elections. Of the candidates we championed, it was refreshing to see that the City of Hialeah is as horney as it wants to be with the election of Jose "Pepe" Caragol whose campaigning slogan "

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-81695211427478286892007-11-05T11:47:00.000-05:002007-11-05T14:29:35.163-05:00

Miami's Park West is back in the news. Overtown, Miami's historic black neighborhood, and other parts of this run down downtown business district have been grouped together by the City into a CRA called Park West. Designed to attract investors and developers via tax incentives and special use permitting, Park West's most prominent sign of its existence has been nightclubs. Low rent and 6am

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-37491432503969869312007-11-02T09:16:00.001-04:002008-05-16T21:46:11.537-04:00

Talk about dark energy (aka "irony"). Today's Miami Herald reports that the city, home of the largest book fair in the country if not the world, hasn't one bookstore. The paper asks:"Can Miami claim to be a center of arts, culture and commerce without a major bookstore in its city limits? How can a city have a new half-billion dollar performing arts center but no bookstore?"Good questions. The

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-48488473139041674112007-11-01T09:33:00.000-04:002007-11-01T10:05:51.812-04:00

And who doesn't need a "Topless Female Cocktail waitresses"? We're guessing it's for a Thomas Kramer affair, possibly tied-in with Art Basel. The entire ad can be found below:Topless Female Cocktail waitresses neededReply to: mailto:wolverine317@gmail.com?subject=Topless%20Female%20Cocktail%20waitresses%20needed Date: 2007-10-31, 1:09PM EDT for private party in miami beach estate In 6 Weeks I

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-84356298882467628872007-11-01T08:02:00.000-04:002007-11-02T10:38:17.627-04:00

"We are humbled," Sir Manny replied to the many keys of the city-- and one from the state-- that were given to him and the Knights of the Mesa Redonda for their unselfish effort in keeping south Florida and the state hurricane-free this season. The ceremony took place on the steps of the Dade County Courthouse where dignitaries agreed a parade was in order following the end of hurricane season

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-43921254069658316822007-10-31T11:28:00.000-04:002007-10-31T12:04:45.017-04:00

For all of those who have a problem with the Pelli designed Carnival Center for the Performing Arts, it could have been worse. Much worse.While the medieval half of our staff is worshipping at the altar of the fickle, but well-endowed Storm Goddess Elita Loresca, the other half began cleaning up the MVB offices. We were throwing out years of collected crap to make room for our new IKEA line of

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-44449189108366604692007-10-30T10:34:00.000-04:002007-10-30T18:26:02.410-04:00

"Ya, it had to be modified to be driven here," DaimlerChrysler Chairman Dieter Zetsche said in response to MVB's question. "What with your love for the Humvee and the way you drive, we had no other choice."The limited edition Miami Smart car will be available in January with the release of the original Smart car to US showrooms. Although only 25,000 of the regular Smarts will be sold in this

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-42865530131292077872007-10-30T09:01:00.000-04:002007-10-30T16:18:18.274-04:00

Michael Hardy finally got the axe yesterday, something we've been urging since May 22nd. He will be replaced by legendary performing arts center savior Lawrence J. Wilker, once head of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Wilker is noted for creating award shows for the center that could be sold to TV earning JFK millions of dollars over the years. The center's

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-59690595065560855292007-10-28T15:44:00.000-04:002007-11-02T10:39:41.350-04:00

"Tropical depression Noel?" Sir Manny Mojito, King of Little H, asked in disbelief."It's coming our way," Sir Belvedere of Plymouth replied."But we've been worshipping non-stop before the Elita Loresca Storm Goddess altar since June to keep hurricanes away.""We are not worthy.""No wonder she skipped town.""Talk about rubbing our un-worthiness in our own faces. She's even given it a proper

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-6092988829060396482007-10-28T09:28:00.000-04:002007-11-03T09:52:10.909-04:00

In our 10/23 posting, we admitted-- as does the Sun Post-- we couldn't recommend any of the mayoral candidates running for office in Miami Beach. Our reasons were based on the fact that, as hard as we tried, we couldn't see any vision. Until now. In today's Miami Herald Neighbors, it mentions that Cruz is for BayLink as opposed to Mattie Bower, his main opponent. That's enough for us.Vote for

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-45142904038116348342007-10-27T10:09:00.000-04:002007-10-27T10:22:24.723-04:00

Unless, of course, your family is headed by a...Leather Master!I grew up here and have seen a lot of things in the Miami Herald but never a large color photo of a man and a woman dressed up in chains, black leather, and fishnet stockings. Oh, yeah, they're walking a pug with pink accouterments. The historical (some might say hysterical) picture appeared on the front page of Section B. You can

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-3448210269310481592007-10-26T12:19:00.000-04:002007-10-27T16:59:24.792-04:00

"I have seen the future of ballet and it resides in Miami." Those are the last words Peter Martins, Ballet Master in Chief of the New York City Ballet, uttered before attempting to take his life following the premiere of the Miami City Ballet's "Ballet Booty Call." Choreographed by Edward Villella with music by Luther Campbell based on an idea by Verticus S. Erectus, the homegrown spectacle was

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-38481001991607876922007-10-25T14:53:00.001-04:002009-02-17T12:46:47.826-05:00

Regarding the direction Carnival Center will take in the future for programming:"We'll let the audience decide." --J. Ricky Arriola, Chairman of the Center's trustee boardMiami Today held a Roundtable discussion on October 3rd at the Gusman between county cultural bureaucrats and the heads of our local cultural institutions. It's fascinating and we highly recommend you find the issue and read it

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-13230950933096125142007-10-24T11:19:00.001-04:002008-09-29T14:08:35.285-04:00

WARNING: First off, anyone wearing a monocle today should be viewed with suspicion. This gentleman, who wishes to remain anonymous as is a blogger's wont, is not the kind of guy you'd invite to a party. If his 1,000 yard stare doesn't quickly put your shindig into an irreversible slide toward downersville, his jaded, dyspeptic personality soon will. So, dear reader, read his words with caution

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-57708359009375491062007-10-23T22:35:00.000-04:002007-10-24T10:13:59.982-04:00

Real visionaries are hard to find, especially when looking at those running for office. Last night, we got a chance to ask questions of some of those running for Miami Beach council and mayor at a public meeting sponsored by the Hibiscus, Palm, and Star Island Homeowners Association in their 1920's era clubhouse. Of the campaign literature we've seen, none showed any ballsy vision. Instead,

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-4807140501094076792007-10-23T18:17:00.000-04:002008-01-10T20:55:39.534-05:00

Miami-Dade County School Police Goon Squad arrested Jeff Weinsier today for not getting off a public sidewalk outside Miami Central high school. That's when they discovered he was carrying a loaded .357 magnum revolver. His camera man, who captured the whole incident (click here), reported Jeff started carrying a gun when he began getting death threats from people who were unhappy with his

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-48140711946282942942007-10-23T12:20:00.000-04:002007-10-23T16:16:50.288-04:00

It's been going on since 2005, but experts will continue studying the feasibility of using the FEC railroad tracks to build an 85-mile long commuter rail corridor connecting Palm Beach with downtown Miami until at least 2010.It's times like these that make you consider the merits of a dictatorship. What this state needs is a transportation czar that says, "Enough with the studies! Let's build the

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-9735155598262184142007-10-23T11:19:00.001-04:002008-12-13T09:06:34.008-05:00

We've been saying it officially on this blog since July 29, 2006 what publisher Michael Lewis opined on in his October 18th Miami Today piece:This project could turn into another "Big Dig"Charging shippers tolls to pay for the $1.2 billion tunnel could drive them out of the Port of Miami and into the open arms of its chief rival, Port Everglades in Ft. LauderdaleConsider using the existing but

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-66852555291752312232007-10-23T10:56:00.001-04:002008-08-14T09:35:56.052-04:00

The Orange Bowl site for the proposed Florida Marlins baseball stadium is not "downtown"-- something the Marlins have been insisting upon from the get-go. But then, beggars can't be choosers.A Miami-Dade County bond advisory panel approved using $50 million in bond money earmarked for renovating the Orange Bowl to build the new ballpark for the Marlins. Estimates to ease arterial traffic

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-66525541819100898362007-10-22T13:29:00.000-04:002007-10-22T13:55:02.692-04:00

As a Public Service, MVB is proud to cop this presidential candidate quiz posted by WQAD-TV out of Moline, IL. We believe it will save all Americans lots of time by helping them cut through the political rhetoric to get to the presidential candidate they really share common ground with. Based on 11 simple questions, it's the fastest way we know of to cull the herd of presidential hopefuls. You

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-83860138851825001982007-10-22T09:54:00.000-04:002007-10-24T19:56:37.197-04:00

Advertising exists to make you buy something-- anything. The above ad is currently on the back page of Time magazine. I love it. Although it doesn't make me want to buy into the Louis Vuitton mystique, it does make me want to believe that the world is headed in the right direction. The fine print below the picture in the ad reads:A journey brings us face to face with ourselves. Berlin Wall.

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-59284476707492697772007-10-19T18:41:00.000-04:002007-10-19T18:48:02.079-04:00

The City of Miami has released its first E-Newsletter on Historic Preservation. For all of those interested in the subject, please go here to sign up.

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-8819813425540894702007-10-17T10:45:00.000-04:002007-11-24T09:15:18.914-05:00

Looks like the Miami-Dade County Commission's designated bully is at it again. This time, Natacha "I want my water" Seijas is picking on everybody's favorite diminutive Brazilian artist Romero Britto. She doesn't like his nearly gratis* designs for proposed new MIA attire. She thinks they're "tacky" and said "My maid wears better clothes than this." She particularly doesn't like the one design

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-85717973937560092462007-10-16T16:16:00.000-04:002007-10-16T17:00:28.135-04:00

Science teacher Shawn Beightol, now freed from draconian exile by the Miami Dade County Schoolboard, will lobby before them Wednesday on behalf of the Miami Professional Educators' Association, which he co-founded following his release last year from the bus depot. Mr. Beightol will be endorsing board item H-16, which asks the august body to re-consider needless FCAT testing, the scourge of

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-56772015869759263762007-10-16T15:18:00.000-04:002007-10-16T15:51:14.541-04:00

A day rarely passes in this city when you don't come away feeling weighed down with the slime of mankind who seem to have taken up residence all around you. In today's Miami Herald we're reminded of a guy who left a five-year-old girl to die in the Everglades-- which she did, getting eaten by an alligator. Or the scum buckets who live among us who prey on the gullible through phone party chat

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-11121374061648902772007-10-14T11:09:00.000-04:002007-10-14T12:32:23.700-04:00

Dogs in Danger is a worthy cause. http://dogsindanger.com/ works with more than 120 shelters nationwide that destroy dogs. Although it appears there are no participating shelters in south Florida (typing in our Zip Code brought up a shelter in Texas), the site allows "Man's Best Friend" a last shot at a reprieve from the Grim Reaper. In fact it tracks each dog's destiny with death with a

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-14574457039600503272007-10-13T16:15:00.000-04:002007-11-30T12:20:01.593-05:00

Hialeans, please, please vote for Jose "Pepe" Caragol. Or, as his radio and TV ads say, "Si te gusta el sexo oral, vote por Caragol por sonsejal." He's everything many of you have been looking for-- and he may not even require you to worship him after he gets elected! The guys here at MVB know he's everything we've been hoping for. Of our crew, only Bobby Bermudez lives in Hialeah-- which

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-15541458141946403152007-10-10T13:09:00.000-04:002007-10-10T13:24:02.207-04:00

According to today's Miami Herald, Miami-Dade Commissioner Carlos Gimenez thinks the county should consider building a massive Ferris wheel at the Port of Miami, duplicating England's hugely successful London Eye and an even taller one being built in Beijing for next year's Olympics.We would like to counter offer with another re-cycled idea: MVB's Miami's Gateway Arch to the Americas. Yes, it's a

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-51899753431161875432007-10-06T12:47:00.000-04:002007-10-11T18:37:10.155-04:00

Miami-- Seven time Tony Award winner Stephen Sondheim (West Side Story, Gypsy, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Sweeney Todd and more) is turning to Miami for inspiration for his next musical. It's Only Information! is based on the City of Miami Police Department's unique take on reporting crime. Where most cities report carjackings, hold-ups, and muggings as crimes, Miami sees it

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-15735941920902233902007-10-04T13:25:00.000-04:002007-10-25T15:30:07.900-04:00

Miami-- Vince McMahon, founder of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), has been named the new CEO of Miami's Carnival Center for the Performing Arts. Unable to stop the hemorrhaging of millions of dollars a year due to mismanagement and poor booking decisions by its former CEO Michael Hardy, the Center's board of directors voted unanimously to fire Hardy and replace him with "someone who knows

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-56359055167509646822007-10-03T08:08:00.000-04:002007-10-17T08:06:56.584-04:00

In the Miami Herald's continuing series Poverty Peddlers, today's front page story succinctly summoned up in just a few sentences what the Miami-Dade Empowerment Trust did and didn't do:"...the Trust's investments...reveal a pattern of favoring insider firms above mom-and-pop enterprises while banking on risky real estate ventures that undermined the agency's own mission...During the past eight

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-50262653907365634232007-10-02T19:33:00.000-04:002008-01-17T08:28:57.090-05:00

Once upon a time in America, you could hear almost anything on the radio. Times, of course, have changed. In the south Florida market, choices are limited. In larger cities like New York, Boston, and Philly, you can hear this song on the radio because their demographics are more diverse and sophisticated enough to have an audience that will support folk music. If it hadn't been for an Old Navy TV

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-52590114360940494212007-09-28T10:12:00.000-04:002007-09-28T19:00:59.774-04:00

Verticvs S Erectvs, publisher of MVB, is, among other things, one of the world's-- some would say the world's-- most important astrophysicist living today (although some would argue of all time). Portions of his October interview in the prestigious Science magazine are posted below for our limited but very worthy readers:Science (S): Professor Erectvs--Vert (V): Call me "Vert."S: Okay, Vert,

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-23774368885319737442007-09-25T11:14:00.000-04:002007-10-11T11:36:44.432-04:00

It costs $26 million a year to run Miami's Carnival Center for the Performing Arts, so giving its CEO Michael Hardy a 42 percent raise today that will bring his base salary up to $326,255 a year may not seem so out of line until you consider what this well-paid "professional" has done to earn it:Among other things, the man under estimated electrical expenses for the PAC's annual budget by basing

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-7487097798078123872007-09-24T06:59:00.000-04:002007-09-24T08:05:16.467-04:00

Mr. Bloch was my sixth grade teacher. I hadn't thought about him in quite awhile. Not until yesterday when the Miami Herald ran an obituary about Ruben Blumstein. Blumstein taught Spanish in the Miami-Dade County Schools. He was one of those rare kind of teachers who really enjoyed what he was teaching and made every effort to make sure you did too. He was 81 when he died.Mr. Bloch was 83. I

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-7277297184006735732007-09-21T08:45:00.000-04:002007-09-21T09:10:13.467-04:00

There's a new south Florida blog called Strategies of the Condo Vultures which we highly recommend for anyone thinking about buying a condo in "paradise." It's part of a larger realtor website offering a heads-up on condo deals, financing, and insider information on the south Florida condo market. We think it could be one of the best tools out there for someone searching for their own little

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-26027702026288124162007-09-21T06:35:00.000-04:002007-09-21T07:44:42.816-04:00

Well, New Mexico is proceeding with the world's first civilian spaceport as Florida sits idly by and allows that upstart little state to usurp our rightful place in history. Recently Spaceport America selected the architectural firm of URS/Foster + Partners to design the main terminal and hanger building in that state's godforsaken desert (follow the link to some amazing conceptual images right

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-69967752293180997492007-09-19T10:09:00.002-04:002008-05-25T17:04:34.229-04:00

In the course of human events when it becomes apparent that no matter what you do the world continues its downward slide into the shitter, we dedicate this monument to those who could have made a difference but didn't. Although inspired by the cowardly lunatics and myopic nincompoops sitting on the Miami, Miami Beach, and Miami-Dade County commissions, this monument owes its singular inflated

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-18832670230900082692007-09-17T15:26:00.000-04:002007-09-19T11:38:56.476-04:00

despite living here:The electric car. CBS' Sunday Morning show had this exciting and hope inducing story on next generation electric cars. GM's Volt looks so promising and we wish them and the entire American auto industry luck.Because the Republic of Singapore experiences one of the worst traffic congestion problems in the world, it has come up with an enviable solution that portends what other

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-44596602007528721372007-09-13T10:37:00.000-04:002007-09-14T15:23:37.582-04:00

Yeah, it would be "something." In fact, it would be, in another choice John Kanzius word, "neat." Although the Miami Herald picked up this story from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, it attributes this most amazing discovery to a Pittsburgh man when in actuality, Mr. Kanzius is a semi-retired modern Prometheus living on the west coast of Florida. It seems one day when Kanzius was trying to discover

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-84464026691808145102007-09-11T14:58:00.000-04:002007-09-11T20:14:18.653-04:00

MIAMI-- In order to promote Miami's attitude towards its architectural, artistic, and cultural treasures, the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce unveiled its new ad campaign aimed at attracting those who don't need culture and won't miss it. Called "Miami: White Trash City, U.S.A." the campaign's message will be delivered in English and Spanish. The official band for the new campaign will be Southern

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-82087272373204830272007-09-11T08:35:00.004-04:002008-05-25T17:02:07.558-04:00

One of our favorite local blogs, Boom or Bust: Miami, recently posted some great shots of the new balloon ride getting ready to launch in downtown Miami. We have been looking forward to seeing that new attraction get off the ground for sometime now but were surprised to find where the City of Miami allowed it to set up shop: right on top of the Claude and Mildred Pepper Fountain. The fountain and

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-66819777991565770512007-09-09T10:28:00.001-04:002008-09-01T09:10:55.540-04:00

Today's Miami Herald ran a story on its front page called "Where Art Thou?" It's about the county's missing art in public places. At least 20 works valued at over more than $860,000 are damaged or missing. 10 percent of the collection (87 pieces) are missing outright. Without any major sleuthing on the reader's part it appears to us that the answer to the Herald's question can be traced to two

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-71120983383102813232007-09-08T10:52:00.000-04:002007-09-08T11:29:31.224-04:00

Man on Captial at Brickell Bldg (MoCaB): Look! It's MVB Man!Woman on Capital at Brickell Bldg(WoCaB): MVB Man?MoCaB: Miami Vision Blogarama Man! He's got vision!WoCaB: X-ray vision?MoCaB: No, vision-vision! He sees things the way he wants them to be and they become just that!WoCaB: Really?MoCaB: Really. A while back, he wanted Florida to bring back the chain gang.WoCaB: The chain gang?MoCaB: The

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-88041569861385665002007-09-07T14:32:00.000-04:002007-09-07T15:54:23.919-04:00

"One thing that I don’t think I blow out of proportion is the state of driving in South Florida. If anything will completely devastate your outlook on fellow man, it’s having to drive a car here. If anything would turn Mother Theresa into an orphan-slaughtering crack-smoking homeless whore it would be to share the road with fellow South Floridians while you’re on a motorcycle."--Habla Mierda, 9/6

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-18832205659154617342007-09-07T09:19:00.001-04:002008-12-13T09:07:45.740-05:00

In what the Miami Herald describes as a "stunning decision," the Florida Supreme Court yesterday made it more difficult for local government to rob Peter Public to pay Paul Megaproject. Instead of leaving it up to the whims of city commissions to decide whether or not public projects costing hundreds of millions of dollars should tap into community redevelopment agency (CRA) funds-- generated by

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-91440675022972900342007-09-06T06:29:00.000-04:002007-09-07T10:04:30.893-04:00

You awake with a start knowing the Miami-Dade County Commission of Clowns has done it again. Two days ago this Senate of Stooges voted unanimously to explore the feasibility of building a Bay of Pigs museum on one of the last parcels of bayfront land, land promised to voters that would remain park land in perpetuity. "Perpetuity" is Miami's version of a "New York minute": it's a lot shorter than

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-16690033526042784122007-09-05T09:07:00.000-04:002007-09-05T09:25:16.897-04:00

The last thing Miami needs is a Bay of Pigs museum. County commissioners voted unanimously yesterday to study a proposal to build one on bayfront land that was promised to be held in perpetuity as an open space park to voters. Now there is talk about building not only a museum to a lost cause and one of America's most embarrassing moments but also a multi-story parking garage which the museum

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-29285580641535333582007-09-03T12:56:00.001-04:002008-02-16T10:10:29.127-05:00

Miami Today writes about the Miami Parking Authority's proposal to tear down and build a new garage in downtown Miami. The "Authority's" plan is to tear down the Courthouse Center Garage and build a bigger one in its place. What we don't understand is why don't they include affordable housing above it? Yes, the plan shows some forward thinking regarding ground level retail, but why not ten or

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-56704148168811225322007-09-01T08:33:00.000-04:002007-09-11T15:44:25.631-04:00

You believe Miami will get a baseball stadium where it belongs, the mainland will be connected to the beach by a monorail, and, despite what the government says,astronauts have been known to tip a few before a launch,and space aliens exist.Your only question is,Did Orestes sabotage the missile?(T-shrits with slogan available at CafePress.com)

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-8684403021084823302007-08-30T22:57:00.000-04:002007-08-30T22:59:37.034-04:00

Patience and cajones paid off. Anna waited for the soldiers to pass before working her way around and over the mangrove buttress roots to get to the raft. Orestes had commandeered an old beat-up ’49 Merc station wagon and turned it into a motorized boat on the sly. Anna drove it right out of the mangroves and into the Gulf Stream. She was relieved to see it didn’t leak. Hell, even the radio

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-82763823247300243372007-08-29T23:02:00.000-04:002007-08-30T08:15:19.391-04:00

Castro turned out to be more of a liability than a shield. The old man couldn’t keep up with Anna and Orestes as they fled the “last party” and stumbled to the floor. Gripping the old man by the back of his collar, his emaciated body had become a useless bag of bones Anna and Orestes struggled to drag behind them toward an old Russian military truck parked outside. The driver, with an AK-47 slung

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-14714713254871309922007-08-28T22:30:00.000-04:002007-08-30T23:27:10.639-04:00

The sun was setting as Anna drove through the ancient, dingy streets of Havana. She caught herself thinking about how many yanquis dollars her heap would reap when the norteamericanos see it. Anna’s loyalty was wavering in the last days like the shimmering images rising up from the heated road beyond the dusty windshield. She knew it was impossible to look the other way and pretend there was a

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-24993841361341944422007-08-27T23:31:00.000-04:002007-08-27T23:40:15.159-04:00

It began with an invitation from Lider Maximo himself. He wanted Anna and her big tits at a party he was throwing at one of the most heavily guarded buildings in east Havana, La Vivienda. Anna knew she was a showpiece for the regime, that she was being exploited for the juxtaposition of her Junoesque beauty and its politically correct allusions to the heroic, overly wrought Stalinist sculptures

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-79576200845146966582007-08-26T21:32:00.000-04:002007-08-27T11:47:18.792-04:00

"Washington had a file five inches thick devoted tomissiles in Cuba, three years before the Russianssent them. Some reports were laughable and made all others suspect." --THE BRINK, by David DetzerMachine gun bullets screamed inches above Anna's head as she threw herself onto the dark jungle floor. She looked up through the mangroves and saw stars twinkling through the clouds. She cursed the

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535100.post-13595821907138245872007-08-25T17:44:00.001-04:002008-05-15T09:31:44.956-04:00

From today's Miami Herald: "Recruiting workers and keeping them has become increasingly challenging for South Florida employers, as home prices have soared out of reach even for many two-income households."Scary Stats:Incomes rose here by 28% between 2000 and 2006. The $39,900 median income has been "all but gobbled up by the rise in property taxes and insurance alone."Property tax on a

Verticus Erectusnoreply@blogger.com6