~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-cearthquake11sep11,0,1920513.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
6.0 earthquake in Gulf rattles some Floridians for 20 seconds
By Ken Kaye and Marlene Naanes
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
September 11, 2006
The Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, it wasn't.
But for Florida, a strong magnitude 6.0 quake in the center of the Gulf ofMexico at 10:56 a.m. on Sunday was almost as unusual as a snowstorm.
Its strongest tremors were felt for 20 seconds along the state's west coastand Panhandle, though officials said there was no danger of a tsunami ortidal waves.
With the epicenter about 260 miles southwest of Tampa, it prompted reportsfrom almost 3,000 residents of Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi andAlabama, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Even some South Florida residents reported feeling quivers and called local police departments.
=
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/09/11/news_pf/State/Key_battle_for_voter_.shtml
Key battle for voter paper trail goes to court
Sarasota County officials have concerns about the drafting of a referendum question on the security of touch screen machines.
By ALISA ULFERTS, Times Staff Writer
Published September 11, 2006
Six years after most of the furor over butterfly ballots, pregnant chad and razor-thin recounts was laid to rest, a ghost of the 2000 presidentialelection still haunts election officials in parts of the state: the paper trail.
Spectral sightings began after 15 counties - Sarasota, Pinellas,Hillsborough and Pasco included - purchased computerized, ATM-style votingmachines following the adoption of new rules that unify how Florida's 67counties conduct elections. Counties could pick from a handful of voting machines, some touch screen, some not. The touch screen machines tabulatevotes electronically. So far, so good.
But some fear that votes cast on the machines could disappear into anelectronic Never-Never-Land, and a paper trail is a safety net that offersassurances of outcome and a deterrent to hackers.
=
From: info@floridaglbtdemocrats.org
Sent: Monday, September 11, 2006 6:30 AM
Subject: It's Time for the Florida GLBT Community to Step Up
For a state as large as Florida, we haven't had many GLBT candidates, other than local municipal elections. This November we have the chance to elect three GLBT candidates, one to the Florida House of Representative and two in county elections. So what are you doing to make this happen?
While it's likely that these candidate's aren't in your district, everything we do to help GLBT candidates serves as a springboard to encourage more GLBT candidates to seek public office. If a candidates is in your district or near your district, you can volunteer to help get out the word about their candidacy. And whether or not you live in a candidate's district, it takes money to make a run for public office.
If each person who receives this message contributed even a small amount to our GLBT candidates, it would make a big difference in these races. And if each person who receives this message forwarded it to their GLBT friends, we could harness the political power of the GLBT community in Florida.
So, we ask the question again, "what are you doing to elect GLBT candidates?"
It's really very easy. In this internet age you can go to a candidate's web page and make an online contribution. No need to write several checks and put them in the mail. Simple.
So, take a moment, visit our candidate's sites and make a contribution to the future of the GLBT community in Florida. And if you're near one of these candidates, call or write the candidate and ask how you can volunteer!
=
LAVENDER WRITES PRESENTS
AN ONLINE SHORT STORY AND NOVEL WRITING WORKSHOP
FOR LESBIAN AND GAY WRITERS
The Next Generation, a project of Lavender Writes, the Broward CountyCultural Division, the Broward County North Regional Library and BorderBooks & Music, presents an ongoing free workshop for gay and lesbian adultswho want to learn how to write fiction or improve their knowledge andwriting skills. The course will meet online, with free computers availableat the Broward County Libraries for people who do not have access tocomputers at home.
Students will learn about the elements of fiction, write short stories ornovel chapters and critique drafts of work for other students, which willprovide feedback for students while helping them learn to evaluate andimprove their own fiction. This is an interactive class. Students willpost drafts of their work and participate in discussions of fiction wiringand problems and questions as they arise.
Contact us at rays.list@comcast.net for the full article.
=
From: info@floridaglbtdemocrats.org
Sent: Monday, September 11, 2006 6:30 AM
Subject: It's Time for the Florida GLBT Community to Step Up
For a state as large as Florida, we haven't had many GLBT candidates, other
than local municipal elections. This November we have the chance to elect
three GLBT candidates, one to the Florida House of Representative and two in
county elections. So what are you doing to make this happen?
While it's likely that these candidate's aren't in your district, everything we do to help GLBT candidates serves as a springboard to encourage more GLBT candidates to seek public office. If a candidates is in your district or near your district, you can volunteer to help get out the word about their candidacy. And whether or not you live in a candidate's district, it takes money to make a run for public office.
If each person who receives this message contributed even a small amount to our GLBT candidates, it would make a big difference in these races. And if each person who receives this message forwarded it to their GLBT friends, we could harness the political power of the GLBT community in Florida.
So, we ask the question again, "what are you doing to elect GLBT candidates?"
It's really very easy. In this internet age you can go to a candidate's web page and make an online contribution. No need to write several checks and put them in the mail. Simple.
So, take a moment, visit our candidate's sites and make a contribution to the future of the GLBT community in Florida. And if you're near one of these candidates, call or write the candidate and ask how you can volunteer!
Contact us at rays.list@comcast.net for the full article
#####
