The librarysearch.org plugin for the Miami-Dade Public Library System no longer works, as a result of the MDPLS's (somewhat imperfect) upgrade of its library catalog.
I've put in a request for an upgrade. Here's hoping someone is paying attention.
Previous relevant item: Search Plugins for Miami-Dade Public Library.
Julian Kreeger, a great friend of the law school and one of our super Adjunct Professors, is profiled in South Florida Classical Review's Julian Kreeger marks a quarter-century of bringing the finest chamber music to Miami.
Julian and his wife, Judith Kreeger, a leading Circuit Court judge, have more records (LPs, not CDs) in their home than I have ever seen outside a record store. The article says they have 25,000, and I believe it.
A genial, rumpled presence at the University of Miami’s Gusman Conccert Hall, Kreeger is among the small and disappearing group of leading independent presenters who have helped make South Florida a surprisingly rich place for live classical music.
“I wanted to do what I could to bring world-class performers to Miami, continue the good work of Friends of Chamber Music that started in 1955, and do it at affordable ticket prices,” said Kreeger, who presents his final concert of the season this Sunday. “I tried to bring to Miami some things that you might not expect.”
Although the music world places a premium on great performers, Kreeger is one of the world’s great listeners.
He's also a really nice guy.
It's raining like crazy out there — wet enough to be a tropical storm, although I guess the wind isn't strong enough to qualify.
UM just sent out the following oh so helpful note by email:
The University of Miami administration is monitoring the severe weather impacting South Florida.
At this time, all classes, events and clinical activities are on a normal schedule.
You are urged to monitor media reports and official reports posted online by the National Weather Service, http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/ghwo/
(Why the passive voice?)
Anyway, the national weather service is all excited
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTH FLORIDA…UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
1125 AM EDT MON APR 26 2010FLZ063-066>075-168-172>174-270630-GLADES-HENDRY-INLAND PALM BEACH-METRO PALM BEACH-COASTAL COLLIER-INLAND COLLIER-INLAND BROWARD-METRO BROWARD-INLAND MIAMI DADE-METRO MIAMI DADE-MAINLAND MONROE-COASTAL PALM BEACH-COASTAL BROWARD-COASTAL MIAMI DADE-FAR SOUTH MIAMI DADE–
1125 AM EDT MON APR 26 2010…STRONG TO LOCALLY SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE EXTREME SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF SOUTH FLORIDA TODAY…
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH FLORIDA.
.DAY ONE…THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
THUNDERSTORMS: THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY ACROSS EXTREME SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF SOUTH FLORIDA THE REST OF TODAY. ANY THUNDERSTORM COULD PRODUCE FREQUENT TO EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING, VERY HEAVY RAINFALL, STRONG WIND GUSTS AND SMALL HAIL. ADDITIONALLY THERE IS AN ISOLATED TORNADO
THREAT ACROSS THE REGION, ESPECIALLY ACROSS PORTIONS OF MIAMI-DADE AND MAINLAND MONROE COUNTIES.TORNADOES: THE STRONGEST STORMS MAY BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING AN ISOLATED, BRIEF TORNADO OR TWO ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA TODAY, ESPECIALLY ACROSS MIAMI-DADE AND MAINLAND MONROE COUNTIES.
WIND: ISOLATED SEVERE WIND GUSTS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. THESE WIND GUSTS COULD BRIEFLY EXCESS 58 MPH.
HAIL: THE STRONGEST STORMS MAY PRODUCE SMALL HAIL UP TO PENNY SIZE ACROSS THE REGION.
WATERSPOUTS: WATERSPOUTS MAY FORM WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING ACROSS ANY OF THE COASTAL WATERS.
FLOODING: LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS LIKELY WITH THUNDERSTORMS AS THEY PROGRESS SOUTHEAST TODAY. THESE RAINS MAY CAUSE LOCALIZED STREET FLOODING AS WELL AS FLOODING OF URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. THIS MAY BE ESPECIALLY LIKELY ACROSS MIAMI-DADE COUNTY THE REST OF THIS MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS.
RIP CURRENTS: SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS OF 10 TO 20 MPH WILL LEAD TO A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT THE GULF COAST BEACHES TODAY.
Looks like I'll have fun driving to physical therapy today.
It's been rumored for a while, now it's official: Annette Taddeo is going to run for the County Council in a bid to replace retiring local icon Katy Sorenson.
Driven by my commitment to community service, I am excited to officially announce my candidacy for Commissioner of Miami-Dade's District 8, an area that includes the cities of Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay, Homestead, and unincorporated Southwest Dade. The open seat is being vacated by the Honorable Katy Sorenson.
Leaders emerge in the face of daunting challenges. I was inspired to run because I want to offer my talents as a successful small business owner and community leader to help steer Miami-Dade through the churning seas of unprecedented economic woes. I'm a fiscally conservative businesswoman who believes Miami-Dade government should slash wasteful spending, operate transparently and provide maximum value to the real bosses, the tax paying residents.
Jobs, crime, healthcare, education and “hold the line” are priority issues. I'm going to work tirelessly to create local jobs, reduce crime, advocate for affordable healthcare, and prioritize education. I will be a vocal champion of sustainable growth, green initiatives and the preservation and protection of our natural environment with a keen focus on the Everglades.
Unfortunately, I don't live in District 8, but it would be great if Taddeo, who ran a good Congressional campaign in 2008, got elected…although as a reasonable person she could be mighty lonely on the Commission (as was Sorenson, more often than not).
The Miami Herald has often been accused of shilling for local real estate interests (they used to buy a lot of ads). Excellent evidence for this accusation, or at least for one-sided local boosterism, can be found on today's front-page, top right, headline, which says in big extra-dark letters: Home sales up as prices stabilize.
The much smaller sub-head begins the clawback to reality: “In December, South Florida home sales continued to rise but prices still went down — although at a slower rate.”
Even so, explain to me how you get that headline about “prices stabilize” from this text:
(Paragraph 4) … Median prices fell just 5 percent in Miami-Dade and 2 percent in Broward in the year-to-year comparison. …
(Paragraph 6) … Realtors say more buyers are perusing property, and some believe prices have stopped their freefall …
(Paragraphs 10-11) Still, median home prices continued to fall, dropping 10 percent in Miami-Dade and 17 percent in Broward compared to November. The figures include only those homes sold by real estate agents.
Condominium sales skyrocketed in December, compared to the same month of 2008 — up 68 percent in Miami-Dade to 766 and 59 percent in Broward to 949. At the same time, median prices fell: down 16 percent in Miami-Dade and down 17 percent in Broward.
(Paragraph 12) …. Nationwide, the picture is different. .. prices rose from December 2008
So in fact the real story is that our prices are still falling more than the rest of the country's. Yet the headline reads “prices stabilize”.
I don't blame the reporter, Ina Paiva Cordle, for the headline, because we all know that editors not reporters do headlines. But I do blame the reporter for who gets quoted in this article:
Is there anyone on that list who doesn't have a financial interest in spinning positive news on home sales and prices? Well, the one person who isn't a realtor or doesn't work for one seems to be David Dabby. So what is this Dabby Group? The Herald doesn't tell us, so as readers we can't find out. Unless we fire up that browser and discover that the Dabby Group does real estate appraisals — something that also benefits from increase in transactional volume, if not necessarily as directly from increases in prices.
Can't the Herald find one independent voice to interview on this subject? There must be one in Miami somewhere. If not, folks, let me be the first to tell you that long distance is very cheap if you use Skype.
So I see where WordCamp Miami is up and ready to go in mid-February (charging $30 (plus service fee) for tickets).
But what's the story with (free) Bar Camp Miami? Supposedly there will be a 2010 edition, but the BarCamp Miami web page is all 2009.
I hope it's still on. Anyone know what's up?
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