The site for ranting and reporting by John Masters
This is for those posts that we wish to feature here at Deep Sand. It implies that these are a bit extra special.
Democrat Harry Cohen and Republican Scott Levinson are vying for this seat. I did not get a call from Levinson, but I did hear from Harry Cohen. In fact, that’s not the first time we’ve talked. Cohen is a policy wonk. He makes sure he knows what he’s talking about, and he will have thought through any proposals he makes, and he takes the long view. So for Hillsborough County Commission District 1, I’m recommending Harry Cohen.
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The two candidates are Democrat Nancy Millan and Republican T.K. Smith. I put out my usual call to both but spoke only with Millan. McMillan has 30 years of experience at the tax collector’s office. In speaking with her she was suggesting some innovative ways to meet the needs of the citizens with some simple common-sense approaches to the many tasks performed by the tax collector. She was open to minor suggestion I made, and I thought she was smart and practical. I’m recommending Nancy Millan based on her years of experience, knowledge of the office and its duties, and her commonsense approach to the office.
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The incumbent is “married into money” Chad Chronister opposed by Independent Ron McMullen and Democrat Gary Pruitt. Pruitt is the only candidate who returned my calls (and you know my rule). I didn’t expect to hear from Chronister. Chronister is the recommendation of Times Editorial Board, and we could do worse. In my conversations with Gary Pruitt I found him to be genuine and level-headed. He seems to care a lot more about “law enforcement” than about politics. He wants body cams and windshield cams. He also favors an actual “Citizens’ Oversight” function over just an “advisory committee.” I’m recommending Gary Pruitt.
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This has entrenched Republican incumbent Jackie Toledo being challenged by local Democratic activist Julie Jenkins. I have met with Jackie Toledo a couple of years ago and call her voice to provide input on important issues. Since she and I rarely see eye-to-eye, it’s no surprise she didn’t call in response to my ballot call. (I should note that I have a long-standing policy of calling candidates for local offices to speak with them directly prior to voting for them. Don’t call, you don’t get my vote, it doesn’t matter where you stand on the issues.) Ms. Jenkins did call, and I highly recommend a vote for her.
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Incumbent Andrew Warren (D) is being challenged by Attorney and Former Sheriff’s Officer Mike Perotti. I talked to Warren when he last ran, and again this time along with Mike Perotti. I don’t think there should be some kind of marriage between law enforcement and the judical system. That doesn’t mean I don’t think they have to work together, but one shouldn’t be seen as “serving” the other. I think Perotti’s career is one of law enforcement, not Justice. Perotti also said he wouldn’t enforce the mask mandate in Hillsborough County as the verdict isn’t in on their effectiveness, so you can imagine that’s all I needed to say no to him. I’ll be voting for Andrew Warren.
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Florida Congressional District 14 is between Democratic incumbent Kathy Castor and Republican Christine Quinn. I am not a huge fan of Kathy Castor. Not that I have opposed much of what she pushes, just that she doesn’t seem to push much, nor very hard. Quinn, on the other hand, has no grasp of major issues. Time and again, in interviews, she demurs and claims to not know much on the topics. “When asked about immigration, Quinn says she’s not equipped to give a short, succinct answer. But when asked if she supports the wall Donald Trump has proposed along the U.S. Southern border, she backs that idea with enthusiasm, adding her fear is that the undocumented could be bringing over diseases that could compromise our health system.” She reminds me a bit of Louie Gohmert of Texas.
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The story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos has inspired quite a bit of content, including a NYT Best Seller, an ABC podcast, a movie starring Jennifer Lawrence, and now an HBO documentary directed by “Going Clear” director, Alex Gibney. If you want a great overview of the story that concentrates on Holmes, this is an excellent two-hours you can spend. I’m going to give it a 7, what say you?
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April 1917, the Western Front. Two British soldiers are sent to deliver an urgent message to an isolated regiment. If the message is not received in time the regiment of 1,600 men will walk into a trap and be massacred. To get to the regiment they will need to cross through enemy territory. Time is of the essence and the journey will be fraught with danger, and Sam Mendes will make you feel like you’re running every mile with them.
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In 2017, Tampa passed an ordinance that prohibited conversion therapy for children under 18. As they always do, Liberty Counsel and their perpetual “client,” Las Vegas-based Robert Vazzo (not even a resident of Florida), and a David Pickup of Dallas (not licensed in Florida) filed a lawsuit to get the ordinance overturned. However, Republican Trump-appointee William Jung had to bend himself into a Gordian Knot of legal reasoning to give them that win.
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The only person I know who’d had Burger King’s new vegetable-based burger liked them a lot. I finally got around to trying one for lunch this past Thursday. I’m not vegan nor vegetarian, so I was viewing this very critically and didn’t care about the outcome (other than I didn’t want to eat a bad burger for lunch). I was pleasantly surprised.
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No spoilers from me other than anybody who saw the trailer knows the entire movie centers around a Royal visit to Downton Abbey. All the usual performances are as good as in the Television production but I really enjoyed the addition of Geraldine James as Queen Mary and Imelda Staunton as Lady Bagshaw cousin to the Dowager Countess Violet Crawley played beautifully as usual by Maggie Smith. And the Dowager Countess was as sharp-tongued as ever and made me chuckle out-loud more than once.
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