“Gasparilla Pirate Fest,” Panther John Gomez, & the Fictious Pirate Jose Gaspar

Last Saturday, a ragtag pirate band calling itself Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla invaded the port of Tampa, FL, kicking off the Gasparilla Pirate Fest, notionally in honor of Jose Gaspar, a brigand reputed to be the “Last Buccaneer.” The festival … Continue reading

High Powered Boat Crashes into Beach Restaurant Near Tampa Florida

A quick quiz — you are the captain of a 39′ fast sports fishing boat with six passengers and a heavy sea fog has just set in. You either lack or are paying no attention to electronic navigational aides.  What do … Continue reading

“Gasparilla Pirate Fest” and the Fictitious Pirate, Jose Gaspar

Today, Tampa, Florida will be “invaded” by pirates. Every year about this time, Tampa celebrates the Gasparilla Pirate Fest notionally in honor of Jose Gaspar, reputed to be the “Last Buccaneer.” It is described as “a swashbuckling good time” involving … Continue reading

Red Tide Killing Record Number of Florida Manatees

An outbreak of Red Tide, a deadly algae bloom, in the Gulf of Mexico off Florida is killing a record number of endangered Florida manatees. The Red Tide bloom has been killing  at least 10 manatees a day and shows no sign of … Continue reading

Republican Convention Security to Train on the SS American Victory in Tampa

The museum ship SS American Victory will host the FBI, Transportation Security Administration and a half-dozen other law enforcement agencies in bomb detection and disposal training exercises later this month in preparation for the Republican National Convention to be held in … Continue reading

Re-Living History on the SS American Victory

The waters around Tampa Bay may appear to step back in time tomorrow as the World War II Victory ship SS American Victory leaves the dock for her first cruise in nearly three years. The critically acclaimed “Re-Live History Cruise”  will feature reenactors, … Continue reading

Fire in Tampa, Lightning in the Gulf and the Battleship Texas Still Afloat

Busy days in the Gulf of Mexico.  On the surface above the continuing Deepwater Horizon disaster yesterday, a drill  ship attempting to contain the oil was struck by lightning and caught on fire shutting down containment operations.  Reportedly, operations resumed today.   BP: Oil … Continue reading