Category Archives: Miami

The Harvard Crimson (they publish in summer?) has a nice story on Edmond Joseph Gong who flunked out of Harvard Law after his first year — they said he would “never become a lawyer” — but after a stint as a reporter found a second chance in his home town, at the University of Miami School of Law from which he graduated in 1960.

Mr. Gong went on to become an Assistant US Attorney, then got elected to the Florida House, then the Florida Senate in 1966, making him the only nonwhite state Senator at that time.

It seems the letter telling him not to come back to Harvard Law served as a powerful inspiration…

I was pleased and to be honest a bit surprised that Miami makes the top ten for College Degree Density:

(Via DeLong, via Barry Ritholtz via Richard Florida)

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 2010

FLZ063-066>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.