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Jay-Z, Beyonce in Cuba Was Approved by U.S. Treasury as "People-to-People" Cultural Visit

The Carters were officially OK-ed to vacay in Castro's Cuba. According to "a source familiar with the itinerary," Jay-Z and Beyonce's controversial fifth-anniversary trip to the island, Reuters reports, was fully approved and licensed by the U.S. Treasury Department as a "people-to-people" cultural ... More >>

Florida Leads Nation in "Zombie Homes," Empty Houses in Foreclosure

All across our lovely, sun-drenched peninsula, acres and acres of cookie-cutter suburbs sit wilting in the humidity, bereft of human beings. They're "zombie homes": properties mired in foreclosure whose owners have simply walked away, leaving the rotting places to become havens for drug dealers ... More >>

Chris Brown Turns to Jesus, Frank Ocean Wants to Press Charges

Chris Brown's "not working on negativity" anymore. Instead, the Grammy-nominated hothead says he's turning to Jesus and Michael Jackson for inspiration to help get him through his latest public display of douchebaggery: Sunday's parking lot scuffle with Frank Ocean. However, Brown may also need h ... More >>

Obama Swept Off His POTUS Feet by Florida Pizza Shop Owner

President Obama probably has the most stressful and figuratively back-breaking job in the country, right? Wrong. Scott Van Duzer, owner of Big Apple Pizza & Pasta in Fort Myers, took the back-breaking spotlight yesterday afternoon when Obama made an unscheduled pit stop at his pizza shop and Van D ... More >>

Call to Assassinate Hugo Chavez's Brother Allegedly Hidden in Venezuelan Crossword

Only in a country like Venezuela with such tight and ridiculous controls on press freedom could a crossword writer be accused of embedding a call to kill the president's brother in a puzzle. Perez Pirela, a TV pundit who is something like a pro-Chavez Glenn Beck, made the accusation against&nbs ... More >>

Mohawk Gaz Sells Ads on His Giant Hairdo

Gasmy Joseph AKA Mohawk Gaz Advertises On His Hairdo

Thirty-three-year-old Pompano Beach resident Gasmy Joseph wears a supertall Mohawk. About a year ago, an epiphany struck when he wanted to spread the word about a buddy's birthday party: Why not advertise it on the hairdo? In terms of innovation, Thomas Edison's light bulb now looks like a piece of ... More >>

People Who Think Trayvon Martin Was Unjustly Killed: 91% of Blacks, 59% of Hispanics, 35% of Whites

Damn white people, really?Two new polls conducted by Reuters and The Washington Post show stark divides by race and ethnicity when it comes to perceptions about the death of Miami Gardens teen Trayvon Martin. A majority of minorities feels that Martin's homicide was unjustifiable, while only about a ... More >>

In Miami Heat's Chapel, Jeremy Lin Prayed A Month Ago He'd Make the Knicks Squad

​It's hard to believe that just a month ago, Jeremy Lin was hanging on to his spot on the New York Knicks' roster by a mere thread. The struggling team was considering cutting him. He traveled with the team to Miami on January 27th. He didn't play a single minute in the game, but he did visit the ... More >>

Florida Elementary Students Accidentally Given Pornographic Slap Bracelets

via Santa Rosa SchoolsThe once idyllic Jay Elementary, before the pornographic slap bracelet invasion.​For hundreds of students at Jay Elementary, this week's fundraiser will go down in history as simply the greatest ever. In exchange for raising money for the Panhandle school, students received s ... More >>

Celebrate National Chocolate Covered Insect Day with Chocolate Covered Grasshoppers

by Manataka American Indian Council​Today is National Chocolate Covered Insect day. You've probably consumed your fair share of bugs during your lifetime -- either as a kid stuffing dirt in your mouth or last week when you yawned while riding around on your bike.No need to panic -- most insects ar ... More >>

Diana Nyad, 62, To Make Third Attempt at Cuba to Florida Swim

​Conquering the swim between Florida and Cuba is Diana Nyad's Holy Grail. She first attempted the swim decades ago as a 28-year-old. In August, at the age of 62 she tried again, but shoulder pain and an asthma attack forced her to give up. Rather than wait another 34 years, Nyad has announced ... More >>

Diana Nyad, 62, To Make Third Attempt at Cuba to Florida Swim

​Conquering the swim between Florida and Cuba is Diana Nyad's Holy Grail. She first attempted the swim decades ago as a 28-year-old. In August, at the age of 62 she tried again, but shoulder pain and an asthma attack forced her to give up. Rather than wait another 34 years, Nyad has announced ... More >>

The Duodenal Switch Twice as Dangerous as the Gastric Bypass?

​As some of you know, I've been looking into different weight loss techniques as of late. I'm currently on the Gastric Bypass Hypnosis Surgery program by Rena Greenberg, which I'll be posting a halfway point update on next week.As some of you may also know - I believe in natural methods for losing ... More >>

In Cuba, Gay Man and Transsexual Set To Wed On Fidel Castro's Birthday

photo by Jonathunder via Wikimedia CommonsA transsexual who underwent Cuba's first state-sanctioned sex change operation and a gay man with AIDS are set to wed in Havana in three weeks, with Cuba's most infamous blogger serving as maid of honor. The ceremony is scheduled for Aug. 13, which also just ... More >>

Relatives of Taliban-linked Miami Imam Detained in Pakistan

​Three family members of Hafiz Muhammed Sher Ali Khan, the 76-year-old Imam of the Flagler Mosque who was arrested along with his American-based sons and charged with providing material support to the Pakistani Taliban, have been detained by official in Pakistan. The three were also indicted ... More >>

Will Orlando Push Miami Out as Florida's Most Economically Important Metro Area?

​Back in 1987, writer T.D. Allman declared in the title of his book that Miami was "The City of the Future," and over the next two decades, our metropolitan area largely made good on the moniker through impressive growth and increasing economic importance. Twenty-four years later, though, Miami is ... More >>

Cuba To Teach Youngsters About Taxes With World's Most Boring Video Game

​There's one hitch in Fidel Castro's plan to lug the Cuban economy closer to capitalism by laying off 500,000 state workers so they can start private businesses: None of these people have ever paid taxes before.So how to teach a new generation of Cubans that government tithes come hand-in-hand wit ... More >>

In Chavez's Crime-Torn Venezuela, No More Front-Page Photos of Bullet-Riddled Corpses

One opposition paper reacted to the ban with a front-page "Censored" photo.​Last year, more than 16,000 Venezuelans were felled by bullets, bombs, knives and other violent instruments of crime -- but don't look for their grisly death photos on the front pages in Caracas. A Venezuelan court yesterd ... More >>

Underground Trade Between Cuba and America Is Thriving Thanks to Human Mules

​Cuba has been a communist state for more than 50 years, but that doesn't mean there isn't lots of underground capitalism going on. For almost as long as the United States has had a trade embargo on the island nation, there's been a significant amount of black-market activity. You can place all s ... More >>

Human Rights Watch: Cuba More Repressive Than Ever

Cuba has been on a repressive kick since the beginning of a year. After well-known critic Zapata Tamayo died in February, other Cubans took to the streets in protest. ​Another one, Guillermo Farinas, is said to be at death's door. The government, in turn, responded by beating some them -- the Lad ... More >>

News Roundup: Roddick and Clijsters Win; Hurricanes Fall in WNIT

23-year-old Octavius Pruitt was shot in the head and killed while standing on a street corner. How mother witnessed the murder, and police are searching for suspects. [CBS4]Workers at Jackson Memorial have agreed to a plan that would reduce the hospital system's deficit. [WSVN]Police ... More >>

Cuba Begins Experimenting With Capitalism, or Something Vaguely Resembling It

​Cuba may have a bustling black market of underground entrepreneurs, but legal private enterprise has been outlawed since all businesses were nationalized in 1968. Now, according to Reuters, the communist island is about to embark on an experiment with something resembling capitalism.The ... More >>

News Roundup: SunRail Passes Senate

Miami students got some of the best math scores in the nation for urban schools. [CBS4]The Florida Senate passed SunRail legislation yesterday. Now the bill goes to the governor, who is expected to sign it. [Reuters]A mother of seven was killed in a hit-and-run early this morning. [Herald]Sport ... More >>

Cuba's Craigslist Is Apparently Back Online; You Can Still Buy That Sweet Yank Tank

via Revolico.comUvaldo in Havana just posted this '59 Ford Zephyr for sale this morning. It's yours for 14,000 convertible pesos. ​Revolico isn't just the best place on the web to ogle rusted out Yank Tanks for sale in Havana. As we wrote back in September, it's also the most remarkable example ye ... More >>

News Roundup

The ringleader of the Liberty City Seven gets 13 years in jail. [Reuters]A 2-month-old baby received a liver transplant at Holtz Children's Hospital. [CBS4]A student at Miami Norland Senior High has been hospitalized after an attack with a hair pick. [Herald]SportsThe Heat beat the Hornets last nigh ... More >>

Food News Roundup: Benihana, Fiji Water, Jamaican Jerk, Michael Jordan, Necker Island, and Cuban Food

Canadian companies attend America's largest food and beverage show, coming soon to Miami Beach. [GovMonitor]Miami-based Benihana restaurants to donate 100% of Fiji Water sales revenue to Best Buddies charity for month of November. [Reuters]8th annual Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival this weekend at Mark ... More >>

Cuba's Craigslist, Revolico, Blocked

1959 Buick for sale on Revolico.​So you had your heart set on that 1959 Buick advertised on Revolico and forgot to write the contact number down? You might have blown your chance.Reuters is reporting that the popular Cuban version of Craigslist -- which boasts 1.5 million page views a month -- is ... More >>

News Roundup

Efraim Diveroli, the 23-year-old Miami Beach arms dealer who illegally supplied Chinese-made ammunition to Afghanistan, has pleaded guilty. He face five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. [Reuters] Mitch McConnell and John McCain are confirmed to be at that health-care forum today in Hi ... More >>

News Roundup

The Coral Gables Gazette has gone online-only. [Herald]Police arrested a 16-year-old boy in the June killing of a Metrorail security guard. The kid has been arrested ten times since he turned 11. [Herald]Donte' Stallworth is now allowed to leave his house to work with a trainer. [Reuters]A ... More >>

News Roundup

Miami-Dade officials will finally end the era of sex offenders living under the Julia Tuttle Causeway, we hope. The first round might be moved this week to condos in South Miami. [Herald]Two men carried a dead shark around on the Metromover, hoping to sell it. Then they just left it in the street. ... More >>

Quincy Jones Disses Miami Herald

via Wiki CommonsThe great magazine die-off claimed another victim yesterday: Vibe, one of the largest mags covering hip-hop and R&B. But Quincy Jones, who founded the magazine in 1993, is looking to step back in and make the periodical a fully online venture. In his reasoning, he dissed some of ... More >>

Mexican Navy Finds Sharks Stuffed to the Gills with Cocaine

This story doesn't really have a local hook per se, but I know you all love sharks, and I know you all love cocaine. So what if somehow, some way, sharks and cocaine came together in one slightly amusing but ultimately troublesome incident? Well, thanks to the ingenuity of Mexican drug lords, t ... More >>

New York Steals Miami's "Angriest Drivers" Crown

via Tony the Misfit's flickrFor the past four years, Miami has reigned supreme as the U.S. city with the angriest and most aggressive drivers, but not anymore. According to Reuters, New York City has stolen our crown. This year, we didn't even make the top five; we placed seventh. Which is still to ... More >>

Supreme Court Won't Take Cuban Five Case

Today was the day the Supreme Court decided if we are all -- in the words of my editor, Chuck Strouse -- "scum-sucking Cuba haters." Apparently, we aren't. The court declined to hear the case of the Cuban Five, who claim their 2001 trial and conviction for spying for the Cuban government was tain ... More >>

News Roundup

LocalForget the ethical, legal, political and human concerns that would arise if the embargo on Cuba is lifted. How would it benefit me economically? [Reuters]If you have a bunch of umbilical cords taking up space in your closet, South Miami Hospital now has a donation bank. [Herald]The Ve ... More >>

Crunch Gym Files for Bankruptcy

Amongst a certain crowd in South Beach, which gym you go to is almost as important as which night clubs you frequent. I found this out first hand when I joined a fancy SoBe Gym, luckily it wasn't Crunch. The "designer gym" chain has twenty-two locations in trendy neighborhoods in six major cities, i ... More >>

University of Miami Returns to Playboy's Top Party School Glory

via Wikimedia CommonsUniversity of Miami used to be a "Top Party Schools" mainstay back in the 80's, coming in at #2 on Playboy's first 1987 list, but with a rise on academic lists came a fall on the party lists. UM didn't even make Playboy's list last year (the top spot went to University of Florid ... More >>

Commemorate Your Ponzi Scheme Losses with a Nice Decorative Tile

Have you been swindled out of your life savings in a massive Ponzi scheme? Are you looking for the perfect way to remember all those heady days of 15 percent returns before the market collapsed? Do you just love R. Allen Stanford's manly Texas mustache? via eBay listing We suggest you buy en ... More >>

US Economy Expected To Kick Off a Comeback Tour in Third Quarter

via Eric Dickman's flickrU.S. Economy used to be the number one band in the world. Flying between gigs in private jets, constantly hitting the top of the charts, and attracting screaming fans wherever it went. Then Real Estate (on bass) got really into cocaine, and just got higher and higher and hig ... More >>

Manny Being Manny (And Shooting for That Cabinet Job)

So we've got this little economic downturn going on, in case you've already taken up residence in your new tent city and haven't heard the news. But don't worry about it. Manny knows how to cure what ails us.Miami's suddenly superstar mayor, who has been rumored as a candidate for everything from Se ... More >>

Burger King Pitches Penny To Tomato Pickers

Ecuadorean Military Base in Miami

Brasil to Nix Live Earth Concert?

Is Long Beach, California, the new South Beach?

The Great Elián Hoax

Did Demetrio Perez, Jr.'s Libre really produce this book?

News of the Weird

News of the Weird

News of the Weird

Emigrant Song

Domenico Modugno's moment in the American sun is to die for