Florida is facing perhaps its largest budget shortfall in history; and it’s tough economic climate has constrained state dollars unlike ever before. However, although it is likely to cost the State of Florida millions of dollars and state and federal courts have already deemed it as unconstitutional, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed an executive order today mandating random and routine drug testing of state employees. With a workforce greater than 100,000 employees and a per test cost over $100, Florida taxpayers will spend millions of dollars per year to have every new hired employee screened at their time of hire and random testing for current employees will occur up to 4 times per year. Although Scott hailed the order as positive for the state, there is no documented evidence that drug-screening programs are effective at reducing substance abuse. Perhaps more importantly, there have been no factual data presented supporting that Florida’s state workers have higher rates of substance abuse that would warrant the screening. A great concern for resources, which are already stretched so thin, is the cost defending this order in court will cost Florida’s taxpayers. Courts have already ruled that mandatory drug testing for state and federal employees who do not directly impact public safety is a violation of the 4th Amendment of the US Constitution. Scott’s order equates to a very expensive, non-evidence based approach to solving a problem that is non-existent to begin with. Unfortunately, it will also be one that will drain financial resources from the state at a time when funds are at an all-time low. Scott’s order shows that poor leadership has consequences beyond politics. When unemployment is at an all-time high and the state is operating at a major budget deficit, drug testing state employees is a poor choice of resource allocation and only further cripples Florida’s already ailing financial situation.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Despite Huge Cost to Taxpayers and Unconstitutionality, Scott Orders Drug Testing
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Scott Booed at Yankees Game
With an increasing number of Floridians scratching their heads as to how on Earth Rick Scott was ever-elected Governor, his public receptions are growing colder. Only a few weeks after lawmakers filed a bill that would help ease Florida’s restrictive Constitution that prohibits public recall of its Governor, Scott showed-up Saturday to throw the first pitch of the game at the Yankees vs. Blue Jays Spring training game in Tampa. Fans in attendance gave Scott a tepid reception, booing loudly and forcing the Governor to issue a “No comment” response to media inquiries about the incident. See the WESH 2 News Report of the incident below: http://www.wesh.com/politics/27263130/detail.html
Apple Facing Mounting Pressure to Pull Exodus App
Last week, Exodus International launched an App on Apple’s iPhone and iPad systems to promote its agenda of “curing” homosexuality. Exodus is a religious-based organization that supports conversion-type therapies to those with “unwanted same-sex attractions.” The App links users to biblical scriptures along with “resources” that can assist him or her in their fight to change their same-sex attractions. Research and rigorous scientific inquiries have over-whelmingly indicated the dangers of these types of “therapies” and every major medical association (including the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association) have branded them as completely unethical and unsupported by peer-review and science. After gay civil rights organizations caught news of the App, they immediately began collecting signatures to encourage Apple to pull it. As of today, over 100,000 signatures have been collected. In addition, one of the psychologists (Dr. Gary Remafedi) quoted in the App has indicated his work has been perverted by the group and has alerted Apple to the misuse of his name and research. At this point, it is essential that Apple do the right thing and pull the App. For more information on “Conversion Therapies,” longitudinal research on their efficacy, their dangerous psychological effects on GLBT persons, and the unethical nature of their use, see my 2008 Issues in Mental Health Nursing article “Nursing Implications in the Application of Conversion Therapies on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Clients” under the “Research” Tab.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Listen While You Can!
Britney Spears’ follow-up to “Hold Against Me” has leaked. Entitled, “Till the World Ends,” the song is VERY unique for Spears. With the increasing use of vocal synthesizers, it is apparent that the success of Ke$ha (named 2010 Artist of the Year by Billboard magazine) is having reverberating effects in pop music. Take a listen to the new single (while you can) below:
Friday, February 18, 2011
Britney Spears’ “Hold It Against Me” Video Released
The Princess of Pop herself has released a new video for her single “Hold It Against Me” the first single off her upcoming (March 2011) album. The single was Spears’ 18th single to debut at #1. Only Madonna, with 25 #1 debut singles, tops Spears as the female artist with more debut #1 singles. Last week when Lady GaGa released “Born This Way” Britney was knocked out of the top spot. GaGa also crushed Spears record-selling digital downloads. “Hold It Against Me” was downloaded 411,000+ times when it released but “Born This Way” reached over 460,000 downloads in just 3 days! Watch the fun and poppy video for “Hold It Against Me” by following the URL below. Britney obviously had a lot of fun recording this one and she looks as HOTT as ever! If this song is any indication, her upcoming album should be great! Follow the Link to watch the video: Britney Spears’ “Hold It Against Me” Video Released
Erasure Begins Recording New Album
The internationally successful pop-synth duo Erasure headed to Vince Clark’s studio in Maine today to begin laying down tracks they’ve been working on for over 3 years! Erasure’s last album (2007’s Light at the End of the World) was a major success and was followed-up by an international tour that sold-out practically every city in which it played. The Light at the End of the World Tour played a sold-out Hard Rock Live in Orlando on July 8th 2007. Erasure has a few 2011 tour dates booked (including a March 25th performance in Miami as part of the Ultra Music Festival) but has already announced a world tour that will embark at the end of 2011 after the release of their album. Below, Erasure’s Vince Clark is pictured with one of the producers of the album Vincent Frank (of Frankmusik). You can follow Erasure’s progress in the Cabin Studio by accessing their Web Cam: http://www.vinceclarkemusic.com/studiocam/index.html.
Zach Wahls, Brave College Student who Testified for Equality in Iowa Talks to Ellen
An initiative to repeal marriage equality in Iowa, spear-headed by Republicans in Iowa’s House of Representatives, has been underway for the past few weeks. Democrats have vowed they will do whatever is in their power to make sure the Republicans are unsuccessful. Last week, Zach Wahls, a 19 year-old University of Iowa engineering major who was raised by two lesbian moms, provided testimony against the bigoted effort. Today, he appeared on Ellen and gave an incredible and inspiring interview. Take a look below:
Monday, February 14, 2011
Lady GaGa Wins Grammy, Gives Incredible Performance
Lady GaGa’s new single “Born This Way” released on Friday has already been downloaded more times on iTunes than any other single in history–in over 21 countries! But, if that wasn’t enough–the pop superstar won the Grammy Award on Sunday for Pop Album of the Year for The Fame Monster. Just minutes before, she gave an incredible live performance of the new single. Congratulations to Lady GaGa for her Grammy win! Take a look at her performance below:
Roxette Performs Medley
From TDR: Roxette’s perfomance this weekend on the German television program “Wetten, das
?” was a high-energy medley of “She’s Got the Look,” “It Must Have Been Love,” and the new single “She’s Got Nothing On (But the Radio).” The set designer had Roxette performing in an open tunnel lit mostly with blue spotlights. In the audience shots, several fans could be seen wearing “Charm School Girl” t-shirts, complete with graduation caps at the end. The host said “Welcome back!” to Roxette and presented Marie with a bouquet of sunflowers and yellow roses. Per said the show went “very, very well.” Take a look at their great performance below:
Wonderland Close to Opening on Broadway
The musical Wonderland: A New Alice. A New Musical which got its start under a slightly different subtitle (The New Adventures of Alice) at the Tampa Bay Center for the Performing Arts, is close to opening on the Great White Way. The show begins previews March 21st at Broadway’s Marquis Theatre. The show opened in Tampa at the end of 2009 and was the first ever workshop produced by TBPAC specifically as a Broadway-bound musical. According to Playbill:
Wonderland is a new pop musical about a modern mom who goes down Alice’s rabbit hole, has a book by Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy, lyrics by Jack Murphy, music by Frank Wildhorn, choreography by Marguerite Derricks and direction by Gregory Boyd. It will open April 17. The company features Janet Dacal (In the Heights) as Alice, Darren Ritchie (Little Shop of Horrors, Thoroughly Modern Millie) as White Knight, E. Clayton Cornelious (The Scottsboro Boys, A Chorus Line) as Caterpillar, Jose Llana (Spelling Bee, Flower Drum Song) as El Gato, Karen Mason (Hairspray, Mamma Mia!) as Queen of Hearts, Kate Shindle (Legally Blonde, Cabaret, Jekyll and Hyde) as Mad Hatter, Carly Rose Sonenclar (Les Miserables, Little House on the Prairie) as Chloe, Edward Staudenmayer (Spamalot, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me) as White Rabbit and Danny Stiles (regional productions of Guys and Dolls and Sister Act: The Musical) as Morris.