UP THE CREEK- FEBRUARY EDITION

       Democracy dies in darkness and  honest news continues to fade. One exception is the UF's Alligator newspaper. There is still no shortage of student reporters in Gainesville doing great work.

In a recent issue we learned a state audit  found that former UF President, Ben Sasse, went "cra-cra" with his UF checkbook.

Among many things, there was the $900-a-plate sushi dinner for forty friends, $300,000 spent on private jets and he is currently getting paid about $5000 an hour to teach a course on campus. The audit goes on to say "the public purpose of his getting a $1 million teaching salary is not readily apparent".  

What is apparent is that power-hungry politicians are pulling the strings that control our local university. They are a dire threat to its standing and integrity.

Five years from now the UF might be a larger version of our recently dumbed-down state school, Sarasota's New College.

 

THE SUN SHINES ON THE PIG 

Last January our pigish parade made the front page of the Gainesville Sun.   

   We're already meeting to plan the next one. This time we'll do it well after Christmas, on 1-3-26.

 Get in touch if you want to help. 

 

 BLACKOUT FRIDAY

     Our country is in trouble. We're having an Economic Blackout on Friday, Feb. 28th, to express our disgust with big businesses falling in line with #47's make the rich richer policies. For 24 hours don't buy anything unless it is from a small, local business.  Ward's YES, Publix No.

WORLD PREMIERE

    Earlier this month 140 of us enjoyed a festive evening watching the film we made of last December's Flying Pig Parade.  We thank our friends at the First Magnitude Brewery for making it all possible.

 

FINALLY CUBA

   We flew south to Cuba last month, an  eye-opening experience.

While the Cubans have limited income they do a lot with a little. Their citizens have free medical and dental services, free education, and low-cost housing. I was told no one is hungry or homeless.

Still, if you criticize the government you might get thrown in the slammer.
  Cuba is spectacular, filled with friendly people who are healthier than Americans.

 Our friend, Taylor Stein, returned from his Cuban adventure this week. He told us, "I found it remarkable that so much of the island is pristine and undeveloped. It's rare to visit any country now where there are no KFC's, McDonalds, or advertising, anywhere." 

 

NERDS GONE WILD 

    I attended Hogtown's Medieval Faire last month in Depot Park. It was a great success attracting large numbers of NeverLand fans.

I tried to recruit the Ocala guy, who made this fantastic dragon for the Flying Pig Parade.  Said he, "The thing weighs 95 pounds.  I can't walk very far".

Chasing the runaway ballot box

 

To fly with the pig you've got to be able to move!

 

 

 

Where else can guys put on armor and wait their turn to fight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's the perfect place to wear that tight leather outfit you haven't broken out since Halloween.

   A friend calls The Faire "a nerd fest" and that's a good thing, a coming together of dungeons, dragons, and pointy-eared fairies. We need things like this to distract us momentarily from our crumbling democracy. 

 

RAISING HELL

On Presidents Day 400 of us gathered on four corners downtown. For two hours we showed our disgust for the billionaires taking apart our democracy. 

 

 

Come join us when we raise hell again on March 4th.  That's from 4-6 p.m. at Main Street and University Avenue

MANGOES GROW IN GAINESVILLE

        As a lover of mangoes its nice to know a few manage to  grow here.

   They hate the cold so a fruit fan on NW 14 Av. built a heated tent to protect his front yard tree. I stopped to admire it today now filled with the glorious yellow blossoms of spring. Five months from now he's going to have a feast!

 

 ACT BENEFIT MARCH 15th

     The annual benefit for the Alachua Conservation Trust is coming up on Saturday, March 15th. Held at the picturesque Prairie Creek Lodge, it's not to be missed. The $100 tickets

include cocktails, dinner on the lawn, live music,and a silent art auction.  I donated one of my fish.

 

 DO THEY COME TOPPED WITH ZIGGY STARDUST?

  A new pizza joint, "Bowie Pizza", is opening next month on the corner of NW 13 St. and 16th Ave. Named after David, the dead rock star, the forty-seat eatery   could be Florida Park's new neighborhood hang-out.

 

A WORLD AWAY

Last week we ventured to Georgia's Cumberland Island for the first time.

It's just ninety miles away. It's wild horses, broad beaches, and tangled trees can make you forget -if only for a few hours- the incredible problems we face today. 

Wishing you peace,

GT

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