Month: May 2021

Categories
The Current Situation

John Oliver’s fantastic piece on COVID-19 vaccines

If you watch only one YouTube video today, make it Last Week Tonight’s piece on COVID-19 vaccines, or at the very least, follow the advice that John Oliver gives at the end:

In researching this pieces, experts repeatedly told us that the vaccine-hesitant generally don’t respond well to hearing from politicians, celebrities, or athletes telling them to get the vaccine.

…

I’m not going to be able to convince the people in your life who are hesitant. The person with the best chance of doing that is…you.

So if you know someone who is worried for whatever reason and you want to convince them otherwise, don’t show them this video. But maybe do show them some of the information inside it to tell them yourself.

And when you are trying to do that, don’t dismiss or judge them for having doubts.

I think we should also popularize Oliver’s very apt description of Tucker Carlson:

Here’s the video:

Categories
Florida Stranger than Fiction Tampa Bay

When you move into Florida, a little bit of Florida moves into you

Tom Brady wearing a black suit, black hat, white shirt, polka dotted black tie, and pocket handkerchief. Caption reads “Tom Brady is dressed like he’d going to kill Roger Rabbit and the rest of Toontown”.
Thanks to Jeannie Cool for the find! Tap to view at full size.

But go ahead, Tom, you’ve earned it.

Categories
Tampa Bay

Seminole Heights sights you might have missed: The 24-hour “Ice ATM”

Seminole Heights’ seal, which depicts a two-headed alligatorIf you’ve ever driven south on Florida Avenue past Trip’s Diner, you may have seen the structure pictured below on the south end of Trip’s parking lot:

The automated ice dispensing station on Florida Avenue, as seen from the sidewalk through some palm trees.
Tap to view at full size.

It’s the local “Twice the Ice” ice vending machine, run by Ice House America, which boasts a network of more than 3,500 ice vending machines around this world. It’s automated, open 24 hours, and a convenience that I’ve overlooked until recently.

This one is Seminole Heights’ very own, where you can buy filtered water for 25 cents per gallon (3.8 liters) or  dispenser, a five gallon (about 19 liters) bag of ice for a dollar, or fill your cooler with 20 pounds (9 kilograms) of ice for $1.75.

A closer look at the automated ice dispensing station on Florida Avenue, as seen from the sidewalk.
Tap to view at full size.

I moved to the neighborhood two years ago, and on the rare occasions that I’ve had to purchase ice, I’ve been paying way too much for too little at the gas station like a chump. Later this year, when it’s time to have guests over for cocktails, I’m going to have make use of this machine’s services.