Monday, February 28, 2022

February 28 Prayer Pod

 We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

February 28
Pray: Lord hear Your words: Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray - Amen      


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Sunday, February 27, 2022

February 27 Prayer Pod

 

We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

February 27
Pray: Lord hear Your words: James 5:19-20 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a Sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray - Amen   

   
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Electric Vehicles Sales Surging - What are the Short-Term and Long-Term Effects

FLORIDA  
WEST COAST        
Opinion by:  
E. Eugene Webb PhD
Author: In Search of Robin  

Even as late as November and December of 2021 most analysts were predicting modest sales gains for electrically powered vehicles in the United States and North America.

Since then, those projections have changed substantially as domestic and foreign automakers drastically ramp up their ability to produce affordable electric cars and trucks.

From Market Place by: Samantha Fields Feb 3, 2022 Sales of electric vehicles doubled in 2021. “More than 6.5 million electric cars were sold around the world in 2021. That’s more than double the number sold in 2020 and more than triple what sold in 2019, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency.”

From AXIOS Ben Geman, author of Generate: Analysts: Electric vehicle sales slated for 2022 surge



With gas prices rising rapidly in the United States, and the aggressive marketing push from Ford and other US automakers and automotive distributors the interest in electrically powered vehicles is certainly on the rise.

Petroleum industry estimates for the impact of electric vehicles on gasoline sales have long expected the real surge in electric vehicle purchases to occur much later in the 2030 to 2035 range.

It would appear, that the gasoline refining and retailing industry is going to need to do some significant reviewing of their sales and marketing forecasts.

All of this presents an interesting conundrum for the Biden administration. With gasoline prices soaring along with general inflation, there is pressure on the federal government to do something to bring gasoline prices down. However, those very high gasoline prices are a significant part of what is stoking the growing interest in electric vehicles.

The sudden increase in interest in electric vehicles for the American driving public fits nicely with the Biden administration’s approach to management of climate change.

For now, I would expect the Biden administration to let gasoline prices fluctuate based on global petroleum demand and allow the American public to make significant investments in electric vehicles.

It will take several years for the significant global impact of electrically powered vehicles on the petroleum industry to become fully apparent. However, as the global demand for refined petroleum products decreases, there will be an economic shift among crude oil-producing nations.

The geopolitical impact of these worldwide economic changes will probably not play out completely during the Biden administration unless President Biden is re-elected to a second term.

The effects of the growing adoption of electrically powered vehicles will have both a short-term and a long-term impact on the political power structure of the entire planet.

We can expect growing political unrest in the petroleum producing countries of the world as their economic structure and revenue to support political aggression begin to decrease.

E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (E. Eugene Webb) Friend request. Like or share on Facebook, follow me on TWITTER  @DOC ON THE BAY.

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Disclosures: 

Saturday, February 26, 2022

February 26 Prayer Pod

 

We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

February 26
Pray: Lord hear Your words: James 5:19-20 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a Sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray - Amen   

   
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Friday, February 25, 2022

February 25 Prayer Pod

 

We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

February 25
Pray: Lord hear Your words: Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray - Amen     

 
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Report: FL Children in Jeopardy of Becoming Uninsured

 

Florida News Connection

Originally Published: February 22, 2022

By: Trimmel Gomes

new report found Florida kids in the Children's Health Insurance Program could be at most risk of losing health coverage when the official public-health emergency for COVID-19 expires.

Researchers at the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families warned millions of children could lose coverage as soon as April, when states will have to recheck eligibility for everyone enrolled in Medicaid, including kids.

Joan Alker, executive director of the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families and Research Professor at the McCourt School of Public Policy, said the decisions to make CHIP a separate program from Medicaid, and to require families to contribute to the cost, increase the challenges to keeping kids enrolled.

"For all of these reasons, we estimate today that 6.7 million children are at extremely high risk of becoming uninsured during this process," Alker reported. "As big as this number is, we actually believe this is a conservative estimate."

The report said 2.9 million children could re-enroll in public health programs if they lose coverage, but about 3.8 million would have to find other insurance coverage or become uninsured. While kids in all states are at risk of losing coverage, the report lists Florida as one of the states at highest risk, along with Georgia and Texas.

Alison Yager, executive director of the Florida Health Justice Project, said she hopes Florida's leaders will jump ahead of the looming problem to ease the transitions in Florida's CHIP program, known as Florida KidCare.

"Even short gaps disrupt kids care," Yager pointed out. "If kids have unmet health needs that's going to impact their education, that's going to impact their ability to go to work. It impacts kids and families in so many ways."

While Medicaid beneficiaries age five and older are required to have their eligibility checked twice a year,
children enrolled in Florida KidCare are checked for eligibility only once a year. Yager is concerned that many families will be shocked when the relative stability that came with the public-health emergency ends.

Yager suggested the state should boost the call-center staff for the insurance programs to be more responsive.

Tricia Brooks, research professor at the McCourt School of Public Policy, said there are many things states can do to avoid coverage gaps, including moving kids into programs they are eligible for, rather than dropping them altogether.

"States should also enhance processes to follow up with enrollees via multiple communication modes, when action is required to avoid a loss of coverage," Brooks urged.

About five million Floridians are enrolled in the state's Medicaid program, most with managed-care plans.

Content for this Post is provided by Florida News Connection, a Bureau of Public News Service.  Public News Service is a member of the The Trust Project.

Thursday, February 24, 2022

February 24 Prayer Pod

 We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

February 24

Pray: Lord hear Your words: Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray - Amen      


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Wednesday, February 23, 2022

February 23 Prayer Pod

We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

February 23
Pray: Lord hear Your words: Psalm 119:9 How can I say young man cleanse this way? By taking heed according to Your word.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray - Amen      


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#DrainThe County Swamp Part 1: Vote Out Tax Raising Commissioner "Crony Cohen"!



Posted by: Sharon Calvert


The Tampa Bay Times just reported the inflation tax in Tampa Bay is raging at 9.6%. Of course everyone knows the real inflation rate of food, household goods, gas, furniture, vehicles, etc. etc. is in the double digits.



Crony Tax Raising Harry Cohen 
Hillsborough County commissioner Harry Cohen doesn't care. He is one of the Tampa Centric 5 Democrat commissioners pushing to put another massive $18 BILLION rail tax boondoggle on the November ballot.  

Harry Cohen is running for re-election in November. He wants to burden all Hillsborough County residents and businesses with higher taxes. 

Voters should know more about Harry Cohen before November. 

Cohen lives in Tampa and is a former Tampa city councilman. He ran unsuccessfully for Tampa Mayor in 2019 before running for his District 1 commission seat in 2020 to keep feeding his taxpayer fed trough.

Harry Cohen, a lawyer, has really bad judgment.

In 2016 Cohen said Hillary Clinton's "level of competence" is her big selling point. Hillary called half the country deplorable's and irredeemables and launched the Russia Hoax. The Hillary campaign is now implicated in the Durham investigation for paying operatives to illegally spy on a Presidential campaign and a sitting President. 

Cohen is a lawyer who supported the unlawful $16 BILLION All For Transportation (AFT) rail tax in 2018. 

As a lawyer we expect Cohen to understand Florida laws and statutes. Yet he supported a massive illegal and unlawful AFT rail tax hike. Wealthy local cronies who would greatly benefit from the rail tax funded AFT. Connect the dots. 

Cohen was not transparent during his 2020 campaign about his "cozy" relationship with AFT and the lawsuit.

Court documents from Commissioner Stacy White's AFT lawsuit reflect Cohen became legal counsel for AFT Defendant Clerk of the Court in July 2019. Cohen was hired by then Democrat Clerk of the Court Pat Frank, who he previously worked for from 2005 until 2011 when he was elected to his Tampa city council seat.


Harry Cohen became legal counsel for AFT
Defendant Hillsborough Clerk of the Court in July 2019
(click to enlarge)

We could not find where Cohen disclosed to voters in 2020 he was legal counsel for one of the AFT lawsuit Defendants. 

 Subsequently, Court documents from 2021 reflect Cohen was removed as legal counsel for AFT Defendant Clerk of the Court on March 19, 2021. That was months AFTER he had won his election in November 2020.

Coincidentally, a month later on April 29, 2021, the AFT Defendants filed a court motion for "their" "funny business" refund recommendation. The AFT Defendants shady refund process was to allow the County to keep as much of the illegally collected AFT rail tax as possible. 

No wonder Cohen supports that phony baloney AFT tax refund scam. Connect the dots.

More bad Cohen judgment. In February 2020 right before the Florida Supreme Court threw out the AFT rail tax as unconstitutional, Bay News 9 reported Cohen wanted Hillsborough County, Tampa and HART to start spending the illegal tax dollars before any final court ruling was rendered. 

Big red flag! Cohen is a lawyer who should know better. Imagine the bigger legal mess if any of the AFT unlawfully collected tax dollars had been spent.

Always follow the money! 

When the commissioners were "handing out" over 25 MILLION of YOUR tax dollars left over from the FY2021 budget (aka flagged items) at the y. 7/29/2021 budget meeting, Cohen handed $2 MILLION to the Straz Center. Obviously funding local roads is not a priority.


Cohen also was not transparent about his relationship with the Straz Center. 

This video from Joshua Wostal, a county commission candidate running against AFT rail cartel ally Kimberly Overman, reflects Cohen's "circle of money" relationship with the Straz Center. 

The Straz Center is OWNED by the City of Tampa. Harry Cohen is a member of the Straz Center Board of Trustees. Cohen handed county tax dollars to a Board he sits on. Any conflict of interest there?

In addition, Gary Sasso, President and CEO of Carlton Fields law firm, is Chair of the Straz Center Board of Trustees. Sasso spoke at the 7/29/2021 county commission budget meeting asking for more county tax dollars for the Straz Center.

Cronies can attend a commission meeting to ask for hand outs for the Straz Center and they get immediately rewarded by Cohen (who sits on their Board) with your tax dollars. When taxpaying citizens ask that their existing tax dollars be properly spent fixing our local roads - a primary responsibility of local government - Cohen ignores them.

And in 2010 Sasso was Chairman of the pro rail Moving Hillsborough Forward (MHF) PAC and its sidekick rail cartel leader the Tampa Bay Partnership. They supported the 2010 rail tax boondoggle that was thankfully overwhelmingly defeated. 

In 2018 about a dozen Tampa Bay Partnership (membership by invitation only) crony associates funded the illegal AFT rail tax. Many of the AFT donors were the same ones who funded the 2010 rail tax. Expect the same from the same wealthy cronies when Cohen helps put the $18 BILLION AFT 2.0 on the November ballot.

Cohen is not only an ally of the rail cartel, he is also a member of the anti-car brigade. 

In 2020 Cohen said “We must reduce congestion by getting single occupancy vehicles off the road." In 2019 Cohen clearly stated "I oppose widening 275". 

Last year Cohen voted with the other Tampa Centric 5 Democrats on the Hillsborough County Transportation Planning Organization Board to stop the project to expand I-275 north of downtown. That project, within the existing property footprint FDOT currently owns, has been part of FDOT's plans for decades.

Par for the course since the 2018 AFT rail tax Cohen supported funded 450 miles of road diets to REMOVE vehicle lanes of traffic and prohibited funding the needed new road capacity in Hillsborough County for 30 long years. 

Cohen's costly vision is to expand the bankrupted Tampa Streetcar and "modernize" it into a light rail system. He wants to buy the CSX tracks to add another accident prone street level fiscally failed SunRail SunFail boondoggle in Tampa. And Cohen wants to force taxpayers in unincorporated Hillsborough to pay for these rail systems.

In 2020 Cohen said his priorities were public transportation, environmental protection, climate change and affordable housing. Cohen barely won his District 1 commission race in 2020 against then first time Republican candidate Scott Levinson.

Scott Levinson is running against Cohen again in November. It is doubtful many voters in 2020 knew Cohen's "cozy" relationship with AFT being legally connected to AFT's big legal mess. They will this election go round.

Raging inflation, economic uncertainty, those still struggling from the pandemic and the illegal AFT rail tax refund mess makes the 2022 election light years away from 2020.

Voters are restless and mad - especially at crony incumbents they feel are not looking out for their best interests.  

Hillsborough County Center is a crony Swamp that needs draining.     

Vote Harry "Crony" Cohen out in November. 

#DrainTheCountySwamp 

Posted by Sharon Calvert at 2:14 PM 

This post is contributed by EYE ON TAMPA BAY. The views expressed in this post are the blog publisher's and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher of BayPost Internet.

 Cross Posted with permission from: Eye On Tampa Bay 

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

February 22 Prayer Pod

 We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

February 22
Pray: Lord hear Your words: Philippians 4:3 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray - Amen   

   
PLEASE SHARE TO YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM 

Monday, February 21, 2022

February 21 Prayer Pod

 We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

February 21
Pray: Lord hear Your words: 1 John 1:6-7 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray - Amen

     
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Sunday, February 20, 2022

February 20 Prayer Pod

 We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

February 20
Pray: Lord hear Your words: Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap lose heart.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray - Amen 

    
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Sea Level Rise – Where the real battle will be waged? Part 3

l
Tampa Bay
Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD 

Originally posted 2020
Updated 2022

It all starts very simply. You live or have your business on the coast. At super-high tide you notice, there is some water in the street. In a year or so the same tide is now up in your yard or over the sidewalk in front of your business.
 Next year, there is some water in your garage, or you show up to open for business, there is about an inch of water on the floor. No real problem you call your insurance company to file a small claim, they pay the claim and 30 days later cancel your insurance. Try as hard as you can you cannot find an insurance carrier will now write you a policy.
 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Note the year of the referenced report: 1992
Source: Sea Level Rise Issues And Potential Management Options For Local Governments 1992

Established in 1968 the program is administered by the Federal Insurance Administration which is component of FEMA.
Real Dangers of Sea Level  Rise - E. Eugene Webb PhD
“The program was intended to prevent or discourage unwise development but in fact, development has actually been encouraged by the availability of subsidized insurance. Rising sea level and the continuation of the NFIP will result in increased government spending of federal tax dollars to provide insurance for unwise development to a very small percentage of the population.”
Probably sooner rather than later, the Federal Flood Insurance Program will be modified to limit, if not, exempt property located in the predicted sea-level rise areas.
The simple reason is the cost will be prohibitive.

If you have not already seen them, check out these articles from the Tampa Bay Times:
From the Tampa Bay Times by Alex Harris, Miami Herald: Florida gets another $404 million for climate change prep  
Published Feb.1
Updated Feb. 1

From The Tampa Bay Times by Associated Press/ By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer Climate change a rising Fed concern as nominees face hearing  
Published Feb.2
Updated Feb. 2

From The Tampa Bay Times By Zachary T. Sampson and Langston Taylor Tampa Bay has huge flood risk. What should we do about it? 
Published Feb 3
Updated Feb. 4


Sea Level Rise Strategies for local Government
E.Eugene Webb PhD
As much as we might like to think the Federal Government, and perhaps the State Government will bail out all of us who live near the coast, the fact is they cannot and will not. While the politicians use climate change and sea-level rise to scare people and denigrate their political competition to get votes they have no big scale solution because there simply isn’t one.
Sea-level rise is ultimately a local issue affecting thousands of communities and millions of people. When the streets begin to flood at high tide, and what once was a marsh is now a bay with gradually rising water, when wastewater treatment plants conveniently located next to water ways are inundated the battle will be lost.
There is a no more formidable enemy than the ocean history has shown us that fact.
The questions are:
  • Will cities and counties change the building and development codes to stop building in sea level endangered areas?
  • Will cities and counties commit resources to buy back lands endangered by the sea-level rise?
  • Is there enough political courage to take on big developers?
  • When will the property insurers stop insuring property in predicted sea level flood zones?
  • Will the Federal Government insure these properties and protect the owners?
  • Who will actually pay the final tab for the sea-level rise – the property owners or all of us?
  • In the final analysis, as the sea level rises and people begin to find themselves with property, homes and business that they cannot get insured, occupy or sell what will they do?
  • Turn to the politicians? Their solution is hiring another consultant.
  • Turn to the insurance companies? They will have long ago lobbied in laws to protect themselves.
  • Turn to the scientist for a fix? They will simply say, “We warned for over a decade.”
  • So, what can you do?
For now, becoming aware of where your property is located in the sea-level flooding data is a good start. If you are already noticing what look like menacing high tides, it may be time to think about relocating.

Sea-level rise is not about “if” is about “when." You need to take the steps to protect your investment in your business and home now.
E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (E. Eugene Webb) Friend request. Like or share on Facebook and follow me on TWITTER  @DOC ON THE BAY.
See Doc's Photo Gallery at 
Bay Post Photos.  

Saturday, February 19, 2022

February 19 Prayer Pod

 We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

February 19
Pray: Lord hear Your words: Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him; And to our God, or he will abundantly pardon.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray - Amen   

   
PLEASE SHARE TO YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM 

Friday, February 18, 2022

February 18 Prayer Pod

 We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

February 18
Pray: Lord hear Your words: Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, end of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray - Amen 

    
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FL Lawmakers Double Down on Voting Restrictions

 

Florida News Connection 

Originally Posted: February 14, 2022

 

By: Trimmel Gomes

Florida Republicans are proposing yet another sweeping change to state election laws.

The new bill would establish an Office of Election Crimes and Security - a slimmed-down version of Gov. Ron DeSantis's "elections police" proposal.

Sponsor, state Sen. Travis Hutson - R-Palm Coast - says it's meant to safeguard elections.

But Mark Earley, the supervisor of elections for Leon County, said it also adds further restrictions to voting by mail that could cause more confusion and problems.

"We're very concerned, as supervisors of elections," said Earley, "that the requirement for these identification numbers from the vote-by-mail certificates is going to disenfranchise voters, complicate the process and make it much more difficult for us to get our vote-by-mail ballots tabulated by election night."

The bill also would require voters to write identification numbers on mail-in ballots and create a new envelope, which Democrats say raises new barriers.

Elections supervisors say they were not consulted on the proposed changes, but Earley said they're now vigorously trying to provide input.

Election supervisors would have to update their voter lists more frequently under the bill, which also would increase the penalty for so-called "ballot harvesting" to a felony.

But there was unified consensus that Florida's last elections went smoothly, even in public statements by Gov. DeSantis and Florida's elections chief, Laura Lee.

Earley said in his 36 years working on elections, Florida's was already operating at its best prior to the changes in 2021.

"[They] were more than accurate and very, very good and well designed to ensure the security and the trust of elections," said Earley. "Some of these other laws that have been coming forth since then, frankly are playing with people's fears, and it's regrettable in many ways."

Groups, including the League of Women Voters, are already waiting on a federal judge to determine whether the last elections overhaul, Senate Bill 90, unfairly discriminates against minorities, older voters and people with disabilities - in part through long lines at the polls, as alleged in the lawsuit.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Content for this Post is provided by Florida News Connection, a Bureau of Public News Service.  Public News Service is a member of the The Trust Project.