Category: ‘MIAMI’

Friday’s Critical Mass Miami route

June 26, 2014 Posted by Frank M

Critical Mass for June is still on in Miami.

According to the Miami PD, it will be a “surprise” whether or not cops start cracking down on infractions inherent with the protest ride.

The coy comments came at a press conference this week where officials called the Critical Mass event unsafe.

This map was available at a Meetup group dedicated to the end-of-the-month rides, but tellingly not on Raydel Baluja-Herrera ‘s Miami Bike Scene blog. The Miami PD say Baluja-Herrera is the de facto organizer.

Most comments on the Meetup group seem to confirm they will be at the ride this Friday. However a poster named Richard Sanda said he would skip the circus he fears the event will become.

“Sorry; just not in the mood for the media or the cops…at this stage in the game, I try and avoid the whole hectic thing,” wrote Sanda.

Some have asserted the City of Miami is making a play for money. Hilda Diaz on the Meetup Group disagreed: “No, all the bullshit is happening because there are assholes joining the rides who have no business riding a bike in traffic. No helmet, no lights, cutting between cars and then ruin it for everyone one else. “

Riders meet at Government Center at 6:30p.m. and ride off at around 7:15.

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Miami Police calls Critical Mass unsafe

June 25, 2014 Posted by Frank M

The Miami Police Department has put Critical Mass Miami on notice. They have the certified mail receipt to prove it.

On Wednesday in front of a throng of reporters, Miami Police Chief Manuel Orosa declared the monthly bike event unsafe, and unsanctioned.

“When you have three thousand people riding bicycles you would think you would want control over it. This is why Critical Mass has turned into a Critical Mess,” said the chief.

“There is no order, there is no control,” said Orosa.

Critical Mass is a monthly bike event held on the last Friday of the month in hundreds of cities around the world. It is generally believed the biking is meant to draw attention to existing laws, or the lack of them, that establish a safe sharing of the road between bicycles and automobiles. Because of this, the event can become a moment of activism for some, and the rules of the road are purposely ignored.

“For bicyclists the same rules as a vehicle apply when you are on the road,” said Orosa. “Critical mass runs red lights, runs stop signs, and basically makes everyone wait for them.”

To some, that’s the point.

“Critical Mass is slight civil disobedience,” said Chauncey O’Connor a bicycle enthusiast who attended the press conference. He believes civil disobedience is the most powerful tool for change.
(more…)

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Fast Food Protest in Miami (Photos)

May 16, 2014 Posted by Frank M

By Frank Maradiaga

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MIA Music Summit Summary in tweets

March 25, 2014 Posted by Frank M

So the first MIA Music Summit took place this week in Miami Beach. It brought together the tech and music industry – which are no longer exclusive – and aimed to inspire the hundred of attendees into creating the next great start up.

The following is a quick hit through tweets. A full report to follow.

(Guess which account we go heavy on.)

(more…)

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Miami Tower in Venezuelan Colors

February 28, 2014 Posted by Frank M

In solidarity with the Venezuelan opposition, or just a call for peace, the Miami Tower blared the colors of the Venezuelan flag on Friday.

The situation is dire.

Some protestors have died in violent clashes with the armed forces of their government. Much blood has been lost, and in order to demoralize the movement the government has arrested the voice of opposition.

One anonymous commentator in country has told NewsHole[DOT]Info that they feel they are at war, but also wondered what could be accomplished.

Protests around the Miami area continue to pop up in various incarnations.

The Miami Tower is a city icon known for donning the colors of the seasons: 4th of July, Winter Holidays, and now unrest.

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Scratch Off Rip Off in Little Havana

February 25, 2014 Posted by Frank M

Some crooks just know where all the loot is hidden. On Monday it was under the silvery shards of scratch off tickets.

Thieves broke into the General Mini Market in Little Havana by busting open the roof and Tom-Cruise-ing their way down.

They ransacked the place according to the owner, who called police after noticing a large hole in the roof and the devastation inside. An odd assortment of items and cash were taken in addition to the bounty of of Florida Lottery scratch off tickets.

Anyone whose every bought a few of these scratch-ers know what a great investment they are. It’s printed money. **Insert eyeroll. **

When a store receives a new package of scratch offs, the vendor must register a unique code that comes along with that package in order for the tickets to go live. If the codes for the tickets are deactivated, a person would not be able to exchange a winning ticket because a vendor’s lottery equipment would reject the invalid serial number. It’s all automated, no eye-balling it.

The store is located at 1280 S. W. 1st street, any information contact the authorities.

Also, don’t buy bootleg scratch offs.

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Happy New Year South Florida

January 1, 2014 Posted by Frank M

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If you’re not going: Go to the Book Fair this weekend.

November 22, 2013 Posted by Frank M

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A small plea to those who don’t intend on going:

Go to the book fair.

Wonder aimlessly.

Pick a panel at random.

Or pick one that sounds remotely interesting. You can’t lose with so much talent crawling around this weekend.

(more…)

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Space Invader over Calle Ocho

November 8, 2013 Posted by Frank M

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Photo by Frank M.

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Miami Marlins Fire Larry Beinfest

September 27, 2013 Posted by Frank M

The Beinfest Shuffle, shuffles off Beinfest.

The Miami Marlins have fired their President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest.

The man seemed indestructible for a decade. He survived the destruction of the 2003 Championship team. He survived the implosion of the expensive 2012 Super Team. He even survived trading away this generation’s Babe Ruth, Triple-Crown-Winner Miguel Cabrera, and getting nothing in return.
(Seriously, not a player from that trade remains on the team, nor did they do anything worthwhile while they were here.)

And on top of that, for a decade he was plagued with embarrassingly low- anemic attendance.

What would have gotten nearly any other baseball executive fired and laughed out of the sport did nothing to this man, but only seemed to spook the crap out of discerning Marlins fan who came to the terrifying conclusion that Beinfest was unkillable. Some dark forces were at work here indeed.

In the end he was done in by Jeffrey Loria’s ego, saysthe Herald’s Clark Spencer. Reports have been floating around that Loria has become increasingly meddlesome in the day to day operations of the team.

“I have relieved Larry Beinfest of his duties so he may pursue other opportunities,” Loria said to the daily.

The Marlins finished the season by crossing the 100-loss line. According to MLB.Com, sources claim the Marlins will hold on to Giancarlo Stanton next season, but will not significantly raise their low payroll.

So in other words: all fixed!

H/T NewTimes for the Mlb bit

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