Rolex Sports Car Series in Homestead

* Nineteen Year Old Racing Sensation Dion von Moltke Roars Into Miami For Grand Prix of Miami

HOMESTEAD - Nineteen year old racing sensation, Dion von Moltke (www.dionvm.com), is roaring into Miami for the Grand Prix of Miami, March 5-6, 2010 at the Homestead Miami Speedway.

As the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series returns to Miami, all eyes will be on Dion as he returns to Doran Racing, driving with Memo Gidley. Dion will be driving the car #77, a Ford-powered Dallara Daytona Prototype that is being sponsored by McDonalds/South African Airways/P1 Groupe. This is a homecoming in many ways for Dion as Doran Racing gave him his Daytona Prototype start, and he currently lives in Miami attending college fulltime at Florida International University (FIU). P1 Groupe also provides driver management services for Dion, from sponsorships to marketing.

Fun Real Estate in Hobe Sound

HOBE SOUND - What’s more fun than looking at a few $1 million plus houses in Hobe Sound and Jupiter, Florida? Below, a little Trulia Slideshow of the top listings in the area, which is in Martin County north of Palm Beach.

Incredible Mr. Limpet at Weeki Wachee in 1964

Here, a fascinating video of the premiere of The Incredible Mr. Limpet, a part-animated movie about Weeki Wachee. It’s mermaids galore. The world’s first underwater premiere.

An Alternate Opinion on SeaWorld Death

ORLANDO - So today, we have a trainer who died at the hands of killer whale of stage-name Shamu, whose actual name is Tilikum aka Tilly.

There’s a reason why they call the breed a killer whale. Its because, well, they’ve got a bit of a streak in ‘em. They get that streak from being in the ocean, where they kind of rule the joint.

Apparently, Tilly was “was thrashing her around pretty good” and killed the trainer just before the start of a small-group public performance, the Orlando Sentinel newspaper said.

The Sentinel reported that SeaWorld President Dan Brown made a statement on the issue, saying that he had “initiated an investigation to determine, to the extent possible, what occurred.”

There will, of course, be an investigation. But looking back at the last time we were at the show, it was quite far from the quiet, respectful shows of old. The music was loud, deafening, almost angry. It was very tribal, with heavy bass. Creepy, in fact.

Believe, they said! They give the kid a necklace. Loud music. Screams. Bring the animal out! So loud music, a small, contained area, a large killer whale and age, and you have the recipe for a mess.

Frankly, we didn’t like it. And we can see while Tilly, who is getting old and crotchety, would not like it either. Sad to say that the trainer died.

Animals get bored. The animals get old. And these whales are wild. But the Shamu show, we think, had to play a part in it.

Love for some other thoughts on the issue.

Remembering Ocala’s Six Gun Territory

OCALA - One of the great pre-Disney attractions of Florida was Six Gun Territory in Ocala. It was a true western town, with regular shootouts, one of which was shown here. There was also a saloon, fair and Mexican cantina. It closed in the 1980s.

Great Video of Moonport Mercury

A great video of early Mercury launches.

Time For When You Need It Bad

Time to get the old commercial out. “When you’ve got it bad, we’ve got it good” was the slogan. It was run when the weather got cold in the Northeast and Midwest, and it did wonders.

Brown Florida Art Collection in Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH - Featuring the largest private collection of Florida-based art, “Reflections: Paintings of Florida 1865-1965,” from the Collection of Cici and Hyatt Brown, makes its exhibition debut at the Museum of Arts & Sciences in Daytona. It will be on display from November 21, 2009 to May 17, 2010.

From idyllic beach scenes to lush green jungles, “Reflections” highlights a total of 69 paintings depicting the natural beauty of the state before the great post-World War II building boom. Read more

Get Ready For Alligator Hunting with Florida Classes

TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is offering alligator hunters no-cost, three-hour classes to help them prepare for the Aug. 15 - Nov. 1 statewide alligator harvest. Reservations are not required to attend a class.

Attendance is not mandatory for licensed hunters, but the FWC recommends that participants attend, especially if they have not previously hunted for alligators. Class topics include preparing for the hunt, hunting techniques and safety, harvesting and processing, caring for your alligator hide and alligator hunting rules and regulations. Also, people who do not have an alligator harvest permit can attend if they want to learn what hunting alligators is all about.

Classes will be offered at the following locations:

•  July 29 (Wednesday), 6-9 p.m., Gainesville, Paramount Plaza Hotel and Suites, 2900 S.W. 13th St. For directions, call 352-377-4000 or visit www.paramountplaza.com.
• Aug. 1 (Saturday), 1-4 p.m., Dania Beach, IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum, 300 Gulf Stream Way. For directions, call 954-922-4212 or visit www.igfa.org.
• Aug. 2 (Sunday), 2-5 p.m., Okeechobee, Okeechobee County Civic Center, 1750 U.S. Hwy 98 North. For directions call 863-462-5195.
• Aug. 5 (Wednesday), 6-9 p.m., Tallahassee, Bryant Bldg., 2nd floor auditorium, 620 S. Meridian St. For directions, call 850-488-3831.
• Aug. 8 (Saturday), 1-4 p.m., Tampa, Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. Hwy. 301 N.; use the Orient Road entrance. For directions, call 800-345-FAIR (3247) or visit www.floridastatefair.com.
• Aug. 9 (Sunday), 2-5 p.m., DeLand, Wayne G. Sanborn Activities Center, 751 S. Alabama Ave. For directions call 850-488-3831 or visit www.deland.org/parks/wayne.htm.

All hunt permits have been sold for this year; however, alligator trapping “agent” permits are available for $52. Agent permits enable permit holders to assist a licensed trapper in taking alligators.

For more information on these exciting alligator hunts, visit MyFWC.com/gators and click “Statewide Hunts.”

Great Florida Quilt; The Ocean’s Daughter

Just some fun stuff on Etsy. It’s a Florida-made and Florida theme quilt called The Ocean’s Daughter.

See how to buy it at www.etsy.com

Read more

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