Monday Evening News Recap

I've been home basically only for sleep since Saturday, so I've had zero time to surf the blogosphere, let along blog.

Here's a recap with some quick thoughts on the latest news around the world and around South Florida:

- The ruckus over the cartoon published in Denmark is really drawing the line between West and East, between freedom and those who want to oppress via intimidation and violence. The Danish newspaper was right to allow the cartoons to be published. Muslims have the right to be upset. As a Christian, I would certainly be upset if a newspaper decided to publish offensive photos of Jesus, or if a federal taxpayer-supported entity sponsored an offensive work using Christian symbolism. But I wouldn't even think about setting buildings on fire because of it.

The way in which the extremists are reacting does absolutely no good for Islam, especially those Muslims who are decent, reasonable people. However, actions breed consequences, on both sides of the issue. Red State pretty much nails it with this post.

- Carl Hiassen digs up an old theme of his with his "white foot/black foot" argument. One can make valid points for a better immigration policy towards Cubans AND Haitians, but blaming the discrepancy in handling of Cuban and Haitian immigrants on racism is pretty stupid. I guess all those Haitians working hard to make a decent living in Little Haiti must be white, no?

- On the topic of Cuban immigration...seven of the eight survivors of the raft which beached on Elbow Cay were handed over to the Bahamian government, where they will surely be deported back to Cuba. The surviving rafters, as well as the ones that landed on the wrong bridge last month must have been black, no?

- The weather in South Florida has been magnificent the last few days. You just want to bottle this up and save it for July.

- Has a team ever won the Super Bowl doing as little as the Steelers did last night?

- Speaking of the Super Bowl, the commercials have become about as over-hyped as the game itself. And BTW, what drugs are the Burger King advertising people on these days? And where can I find some?

- And finally, this quite humorous incident outside of the WQBA studios in Miami on Friday as reported by Charles Rabin of the Herald:

Radio reporter calls police on Arriola

Miami City Manager Joe Arriola can't seem to go anywhere these days without controversy following him.

Spanish radio station El Zol personality Edwin Bautista got wind on Friday that Arriola was in the Coral Gables studio of WQBA. So the intrepid reporter made his way over there, cellphone in hand, hoping to get a word or two from the embattled city manager who is center stage in Miami's fire-rescue fee fiasco.

As Bautista followed Arriola along Southwest Eighth Street, he peppered the city manager in Spanish with questions asking why only seven city residents shared in the city's $7 million refund.

Bautista's cellphone was turned on. The questions he asked Arriola went live over the airwaves. Also live: Arriola's tirade toward Bautista for bothering him.

At one point, Arriola allegedly squeezed Bautista's flip phone closed, with the reporter's left pinkie finger caught inside.

Bautista called Coral Gables police -- and scurried to a Hialeah diagnostic center for X-rays. Gables police said they decided against pressing charges because Bautista had no signs of injury. ''If Bautista wants to make this an issue, he's got to go to the state attorney's office,'' said Coral Gables Sgt. Mike Frevola.

I would do almost anything to hear Alvarez Guedes tell a joke about the pinkie getting caught in the phone.