Top Ten Movie Countdown

Some time ago here we did a top ten all time comics list. Now on The Sunshine Empire we are running down the top ten movies of all time. Come on over and check out who made the list.

Happy New Year

We would like to extend a happy new year to our readers in Thailand. Make sure you douse your favorite relative and clean up that Buddha statue.

I ain't washing no clothes

A long overdue update

This blog is the prior version of The Sunshine Empire. This blog primarily concerns progressive political commentary, social satire, the occasional rant, and sports commentary. I had intended to write on local Jacksonville and Florida matters on this space, but the national Presidential election had pre-occupied me.

Florida though is again in the news due to the fight over the primary re-do. I was watching CNN this morning and Florida Representative Kendrick Meek was arguing that the people of Florida made their voices heard, which is an absurd claim. With nobody campaigning in the state it can hardly be viewed as fair. Locally the city of Jacksonville seems to be falling apart, and we'll see more as Charlie Crist's foolhardy plan to placate South Floridians turns northern Florida into Youngstown Ohio. No taxes will mean less police. Great.

The Jaguars however have made the moves they needed to in order to succeed past the second round of the playoffs this coming year. But the Titans improved as well. Maybe we'll see a repeat of the glory days of the late '90's. But this time the Jags better win.

For more national political talk please continue to visit our political commentary site The Sunshine Empire.

On the frigid Florida coast

It is freezing in Florida. We're used to shorts and t-shirts, but it it finally cold. It's weird when you start seeing figures on the news start wearing overcoats, and you have a vague indication that it is getting cold somewhere. Then it finally overtakes you. The foul frigid breath of our Canadian brethren. It's 39 degrees, and I don't care how much snow you walk through that is cold.

I'll be heading down to Gainesville to see the University of Florida play Florida Atlantic University. For our Singapore readers that is a gigantic deal in the southern United States. College Football that is, because that game I am attending has little or no meaning. Just one more week until Free Shoes comes to town. I don't care how down Bobby and the boys may be, I want to pound them into the turf.

Lawton speaks from the grave

''There's a feeling loose in the land of utter frustration and anger, stronger than I've ever seen it.''

-Lawton Chiles; Former Governor of Florida

On the Jaguars attendence figures and the obligation of our good 'ole boys

Many national and local sports writers have been lamenting the Jacksonville Jaguars attendance figures this year. The team covers up large amounts of what is one of the largest stadiums in the National Football League in for all intents and purposes is the smallest market in the league. But there is a feeling that somehow the amount of people that are at the average Jaguar game is comparable to any other NFL market. Truth be told they should have to put up the temporary Florida-Georgia game extra seating for every one of the Jacksonville Jaguars home games in this supposedly football mad region of the sunshine state, but the whole story is never told by the liberal sports media in this town and outside it. After week two Jacksonville is drawing more warm bodies (especially in Duval in late summer, which lasts until December) than the Super Bowl Champions. Six other NFL football teams that have played a home game are averaging less than the Jacksonville Jaguars. Including Jesus' favorite football team the Dallas Cowboys. If Michael Vick was not killing dogs the Jags are probably in the middle of the pack in terms of attendance, even with consistent college football National Champions surrounding them.
That being said I think it is embarrassing what has happened in terms of attendance in that stadium. I for one will be in that stadium for the next game. In the old days of Jacksonville politics, great men like Jake Godbold would ensure that public evens like those where attended come hell or high water. When Jacksonville hosted the Olympic gymnastics trial in 1980 Godbold called in his contributors and good ole boys network and gave them the marching orders that those tickets would be sold. John Peyton is a part of one of the most powerful families in Northeast Florida. He should be calling the same people that he gives contracts to to buy those tickets whether it is a game with the Indianapolis Colts or the Bucs of 1976. Trust me, that team needs to make money but whether you like football or not the city has a vested interest in that team succeeding, and you know you love football. What the hell else are going to be doing on Sunday?

Let us alone will you

This was the first flag of the State of Florida. It sums up my feelings completely when it comes to new growth in this state. If you would like to come and visit we will give you the best time. We will treat you like family. Just don't stay here.

On the state of Duval

I may start writing back here again on some different subjects. I think if I have some local points about the City of Jacksonville and the First Coast I may just make them here. Please keep going to www.thesunshineempire.com for nation political news and humor. Not to mention the kind of music you know you like. Everyone is represented. But if I have a note to make, like the problems with raw attendance that people have begun to say nationally about the lack of interest in the Jaguars, I will make it here. Think of this as The Sunshine Empire Local Duval edition. By the way, the Jaguars had one of the largest stadiums in the league before they put the tarps on. Just as many people show up for the games as do any other city. So just shut the fuck up.

I think it is also embarrassing that the Duval County Democratic party could not find some reasonable candidate that could have stood against John Peyton. I think he has done an average job in extraordinary circumstances, but he was eminently beatable in his last election and got token opposition. My God rest the soul of Jackie Brown, but there needed to be someone with a little more weight as a candidate running against him. Harry Shorestien stands as the only county-wide elected Democrat and he is leaving soon.

These are just a few of the things that we will be discussing on this space, from time to time. Check us here at http://sunshineempire.blogspot.com for local and http://www.thesunshineempire.com.