MyFoxTampaBay.com blog

Just a heads up -- our server engineers will be doing some maintenance and the blog pages could be down at some point this afternoon and this evening. 

Of course, if they're down, you can't read this.  In which case, you should feel free to panic.

From reading these boards, one would get the impression that the 2008 election was still a week away, not a week behind us.  There seems to be a lot of acrimony -- directed at individuals -- still pervading the blogs and, in particular, the comments.

This is by far the most polarizing topic I've seen on this site in the last two years.  Even topics that are, at best, peripherally relevant wind up with a back-and-forth exchange with the word "racist" or "terrorist" being tossed about.

I find this somewhat surprising given that this presidential election was decided by one of the largest margins of the last 20 years. 

So what is the source of this hostility?

• The conservative slant of most of the MFTB regulars?
• Obama's race?
• The combined Democratic gains by Congress?

Or am I way off base in this assessment?  I'd be interested in your take -- before things turn nasty. 

There's a new study out (isn't there always) about road rage.  Seems that people with bumper stickers are more likely to commit such acts of aggession.

Story from Nature.com: http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080613/full/news.200
8.889.html

Sounds like a bit of a stretch to me, but I did enjoy this tidbit:

"What's more, only the number of bumper stickers, and not their content, predicted road rage — so 'Jesus saves' may be just as worrying to fellow drivers as 'Don't mess with Texas'."

Any thoughts on this?  I don't have any bumper stickers, save a logo from my alma mater.  But I'm willing to betyou've seen examples from both extremes.

Hillsborough County schools plan to confiscate any students' cell phones they see next year.  The idea is that phones can come to school but must stay out of sight.

Full story: http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/pages/ContentDe
tail?contentId=6714091

What do you think about this?  Too harsh?  Should students be trusted with their phones?  Or should they be banned altogether?

OK, we have decided to open up the 'Faith' category of the blogs.  If the faith discourse can be as interesting as the other discussion on this site, then I think it will make for a lively board.

All we ask is that you treat your fellow bloggers with respect...

OK, there are a few lingering issues but I think we should pretty much be back to normal in terms of login functionality and moderation.  Please report any outstanding issues that pop up.

Thanks to all of your for your patience.  Hopefully you won't be hearing anything else from me for a while!