Bryan Dos Santos Gomes was kidnapped in Fort Myers on December 1, 2006. Police have now release additional information about the case. The believe the the abductors were driving a
1998-2003 black Ford Explorer 2-door Sport Edition. A $21,000 reward is offered for the safe return of baby Bryan.
Anyone with information is asked to call the toll free tip line at 877-667-1296.
Sketch of of the abductors
Image of Baby Bryan
Hillary Clinton has announced her intentions to run for president.  For years many have speculated if Hillary would run for president.   Name recognition will probably be valuable asset to the campaign. Is the country actually ready for a woman president? I say yes, but it is about the issues.  It should not be about the candidates and not about their race or gender.  The nation needs a candidate with wisdom to be its Commander and Chief each candidate should be evaluated objectively.  Hillary Clinton should be given a fair chance for the run for presidency.
This Super Bowl, Super Bowl 41, two former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coaches will go toe to toe for a Super Bowl ring.  Tony Dungy, now coach of the Indianapolis Colts, was head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2001. Lovie Smith, now head coach for the Chicago Bears, was an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2000.
Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy are also the first African-American head coaches to make it to the Super Bowl. Each of these men are well respected and Tampa Bay will be watching to see the outcome.
Public school students in Grades 4, 8, and 10 are required to take the Writing portion of the FCAT.  The 2007 Writing FCAT is scheduled to take place February 6-7, 2007.   A detailed schedule of the 2006-2007 FCAT is offered on the Florida Department of Education web site.   Along with the FCAT schedule visitors to the Florida Department of Education web site can find other information related to the FCAT such as: relased FCAT tests, an FCAT fact sheet and school districts of Florida FCAT scores.
Parents can also view the FCATÂ Parent Network site to get other FCAT information.
The FCAT Parent Network incorporates technology and state-of-the-art security measures to ensure parents can access their child’s scores as soon as they are available. Parents will receive a letter from their child’s school with the appropriate login and password information. The website provides parents with scores, resources and additional information on the FCAT in English, Spanish and Haitian-Creole.
Most people of heard that a a family was kicked off the plane after their 3 year-old had a temper tantrum and would not be seated. According to news reports the airline says they were already delayed and could not wait any longer for the parents to get the little girl under control and in her seat. The airline,AirTran, said they were trying to obey federal aviation rules, which require children over 2 to be seated and buckled in their own seat.
Airtran did refund the family their money and offered to fly them round trip to wherever the company had flights. The family declined the round trip offer and said they would not fly AirTran again.
I do understand that the company does have other passengers that need to get to their destination, but as a parent I do feel for the parents in this situation. I have had tantrum filled 3 year-olds that did need a few moments to settle.  And also, in this equation is that the child probably was waiting at the airport for at least an hour and parents know how restless children can become when waiting for a long time.
Source:Yahoo News
President Bush is giving his annual State of the Union Address tonight. This State of the Union is expected to focus on domestic issues.
‘On January 23, 2007, President George W. Bush will fulfill his constitutional duty to “give to the Congress Information on the State of the Union” (Article II, Section3). Presidents George Washington and John Adams delivered their messages in person, but in 1801 Thomas Jefferson chose to send his in writing. That precedent held until Woodrow Wilson decided to deliver his message in person in 1913, a tradition that continues today. Franklin Roosevelt referred to it as the “State of the Union Address,” a title that became official during the Truman administration. The first radio broadcast of the message occurred in 1923, and the 1947 address was the first televised.‘
It is no secret that I am a big Coach Dungy fan. For years I have been cheering him on as he tried to make it to the Super Bowl; both with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Indianapolis Colts. Finally, they they have made it and are now going to play the Chicago Bears in Miami on February 4th. Wow!! They came back after being down 21-3. They came back with a vengeance and showed when you are down you are not out. Congratulations Coach Dungy!!!!!!
Sport fanatics start at a very young age, with a little nudge from their parents, of course.  There are sports fans from every type of sports.  Devil Rays Baby items are available for those Tampa Bay fans that wear diapers and do not have all their teeth.
With the increase in homeowners’ insurance, home prices, and property taxes, Florida residents are getting frustrated and overwhelmed.   There is talk from friends about wanting to move out of Florida and find somewhere a lot less expensive to live.
According to a article in the Sun Sentinel:
For the first time in 30 years, United Van Lines Inc. says it moved more people out of Florida than in, and analysts see that as a sign that consumers are looking elsewhere for a cheaper slice of life.
Source: Sun SentinelÂ
This, of course, is not a specific and official study,but the exodus of Florida residents would not be surprising. Service workers from many parts of the State have been priced out of affordable home ownership.
Students that are enrolled in 4th or 5th grade in the state of Florida can enter the Florida Hazardous Weather Poster Contest.  Winners can receive prizes up to $500.
Posters must be postmarked on or before Monday February 5th 2007 and must arrive at the American Red Cross no later than Wednesday February 7th 2007. Winners will be notified by phone.
Essay contest for Florida high schools students. The deadline for this contest is right around the corner, January 21,2007.
Entries are to be based on Hazardous Weather Awareness Week, wherein the participating student is to respond to the following question: You are the mayor of a community that is being threatened by a major hurricane similar in size and strength to Hurricane Katrina. Emergency managers advise you that this hurricane is approximately 72 hours from landfall, and that our city is in the potential path. What actions would you take to finalize preparations for our community? Consider the needs of people, pets, emergency personnel, schools, businesses, etc. in your planning.
Source:Just Read FloridaÂ
More Information on Hazardous Weather Awareness Week High School Short Essay ContestÂ
Just Read Florida has an essay contest open to high school students.
Florida High School Students can compete for:
First Place – $5,000 scholarship
Second Place – $2,500 scholarship
Third Place – $1,000 scholarshipFlorida High School Students, here’s what to do:
Source:Just Read Florida
FCAT explorer provides online FCAT practice to Florida students. The FCAT explorer requires a login name and password. The login name and password is provided by your child’s school.
FCAT is a a required part of all Florida public school student. Graduation of seniors rest upon them being able to pass the 10th grade FCAT exam. Preparation of FCAT has,therefore, become an important to Florida public school students and their parents.
My Safe Florida Home is a place for information about getting your home safe and secure in the event of a Hurricane.
The My Safe Florida Home program is designed to help Floridians identify how they can strengthen their homes against hurricanes and reduce hurricane damage exposure in our state. To achieve this goal, the My Safe Florida Home program offers a free home inspection to eligible homeowners by trained and qualified hurricane mitigation inspectors, and the opportunity for those homeowners who have received free home inspections to apply for matching grants up to $5,000 to make recommended improvements.
Source:My Safe Florida Home
The insurance crisis that is facing the majority of Florida homeowners has resulted in the Florida legislature holding a special session to discuss the issue. Homeowners insurance has gone up significantly across the state.  My mother lives in South Florida and now has to pay $5000 a year in homeowners insurance.
Recently my home insurance company dropped us and told us that they were leaving the state of Florida. Â We were able to find a new company to insure for double what we were originally paying.
Even those Floridians that pay little attention to the government policies are paying close attention this special session.  Stories that I have heard from friends and family about the doubling of their insurance is the the story that most residents of Florida are telling.
Hopefully we can find some relief.
Today we honored the memory and sacrifice of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Dr. King was a civil rights leader that fought hard for the equality of all people. To honor him there were parades and remembrance celebrations all over the country.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are going strong with another win. They beat the New York Islanders 4-3 and now are on a 5 game winning spree.  Go Bolts.
Jennifer Hudson has won a best supporting actress Golden Globe for her portrayal of Effie White in the Dreamgirls.  When I saw Dreamgirls the theater was applauding in their seats. She definately earned that Golden Globe. After her performance of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” the audience in the movie theater applauded.   She captured and expressed every emotion of that song.
The Lightning won over the Sabres 3-2. Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards,and Jason Pominville scored separate goals.  The Lightning play the New York Islanders on Monday night.
Belle of the Ball, based in Clearwater, Florida provides free dresses to teens facing financial hardship. These dresses are donated by people from all over the Tampa Bay area. Dresses are provided for prom and for homecoming. Belle of the Ball also provides free dry cleaning through Sun Country Cleaners. After using the dresses, the girls can choose to return it to Belle of the Ball or keep it for themselves.