It takes a lot of brawn to play the muscle bound villain in the latest Marvel-to-movie blockbuster, The Punisher. Just ask WWE superstar Kevin Nash who stars as "the Russian" in the upcoming film. Little did he realize that taking on this role would also result in being physically stabbed by a knife during the process of shooting the film. In a bizarre Hollywood accident, reports from the set indicate the actor and WWE star Kevin Nash was accidentally stabbed by Punisher actor Thomas Jane during the shooting of a knife fight scene. The word from the set is that Nash, who performs all of his own stunts, was so pumped up for the performance that he didn't even realize that he had actually been physically stabbed in the process. Though bad news for Nash, this does make for good news for Punisher fans as we can now anticipate an intense fight scene between the two once the film opens to theaters later this year.

239) 940-3397. 24 (Sat) Naples, “3^rd Annual Motorcycle Expo,” Golden Gate Chamber of Commerce. Golden Gate Community Center, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. More info call Keith Larson at (239) 455-2343.

31 (Sat) S. Ft. Myers, “2^nd Annual Armchair Quarterback Run,” ABATE, Estero River Chapter. Enjoy a great afternoon of football and riding, where you can be the hero of your own game!!! Game time & kickoff details coming soon. Two, Three & Four Wheels Welcome! More info call Tammy at (239) 289-2647 or Red at

FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
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February 26-March 7, 2004                      Plant City, FL
http://www.flstrawberryfestival.com/            

The Strawberry festival offers some of nations finest entertainment in a fun filled family atmosphere. Last year's Florida Strawberry Festival was an outstanding success with thousands of visitors enjoying the midway, livestock, kids days, concerts, arts & crafts, senior days, shows, parades, exhibitions, contests, petting zoos, and horticulture.

 FIRST ANNUAL Chrome Divas Port Charlotte Chapter POKER RUN to Benefit CARE (Center for Abuse and Rape Emergencies) of Charlotte County.  Sunday, March 21, 2004.  Leaving from Snook Haven, 5000 E Venice Ave, Venice, FL; Ending at Lady Luck in Englewood, FL.  First bike out at 11 am, last bike out by 1 pm.  $10 per hand.  Food, drinks and band at Lady Luck.  Live performance by Cosmic Rancher.  50/50, Door Prizes and more...  Donate your old cell phones, too.  For more information call Lady K at 941-286-9861 or email ridinatlast@yahoo.com.  Or contact Sue at 941-625-3598 or email smay655@earthlink.net

Freedom Rights Rally & State Meeting April 9 - April 12 State Meeting: Sunday April 11 @ 12 Noon Monticello - American Legion Hall

Here is where the big guy lays it out and possibly alienates some people. Oh Well. If you don't have the balls to say what you feel TOUGH SHIT on you! Being gay, while not palatable by many is NOT a litmus test for parent skills. I have a novel idea. Why not judge the adoption case on an individual basis and not on a blanket issue. So much for political correctness, but then the big guy has never been accused of being PC! BY coincidence note the other story regarding BACA in today's edition.
ADOPTION LAW - The Attorney General's Office successfully defended the
Florida law concerning adoption by homosexuals, which had been challenged by six homosexual men who sought to adopt children despite the 1977 statute against it. The U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeal in Atlanta ruled that the Legislature acted within its authority when it made the determination that adoption by homosexuals is not in the best interests of displaced children. The 11th Circuit said the Legislature - rather than the courts - would be the proper forum for any attempts to overturn the law.

A. Actually, a felony conviction does not prohibit somebody from running for or retaining public office. In Janklow's case, U.S. House rules prevented him from voting in the House until or unless he was re-elected by South Dakotans. That's the case for any House member convicted of a crime where the maximum penalty is two or more years in jail.

Janklow was given what's called a suspended imposition of sentence. That means if he adheres to the terms of his sentence - 100 days in jail, payment of fines, three years probation, etc. - his conviction of felony manslaughter will be removed from his record. People convicted of felonies cannot practice law. However, if the conviction is removed from Janklow's record, he may.

TALLAHASSEE – To increase protection for the millions of visitors and residents enjoying Florida's coastal waters, the Department is offering uniform beach warning flags to coastal communities statewide. The Department will place uniform flags advising beachgoers of surf conditions in all coastal state parks where lifeguards are on duty in time for next year’s Memorial Day holiday.

“Florida’s white sandy beaches attract millions of visitors and bring billions of dollars into the state annually,” said Secretary Struhs. “With easily recognizable warning flags, America’s families and international visitors can safely enjoy Florida’s pristine waters.”

At the request of the Florida Legislature, the Department adopted the beach warning flag system developed by the International Life Saving Federation for coastal state parks. Since warning flags can vary from beach to beach, the Department is offering the uniform system, along with signs explaining the flags, to coastal communities throughout the state.

The International Lifesaving Federation’s recommended flag colors and warnings are:

• Green: Low hazard, calm conditions.
• Yellow: Medium hazard, moderate surf and/or currents.
• Red: High hazard, rough conditions, strong surf and/or currents.
• Red over Red: Water closed to the public.
• Purple: Marine pests present.

Florida is the first state in the nation to officially adopt the Federation's beach flag system. Flags and signs are available to beach communities free of charge through the Coastal Management Program. Respondents are responsible for flag installation, exchange and maintenance. Visit www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/legislative/coastal/about.htm for more information.

June Foray (the voice of Rocky The Flying Squirrel and many others). provided the voice for the original Chatty Cathy Doll?

Each year, 9 million tons of salt, more than 10 percent of all the salt produced in the world, is applied to American highways for road de-icing. The cost of buying and applying the salt adds up to $200 million.

A confrontation on a Frontier Airlines flight left 21 bikers stuck in Denver with nothing but the leathers on their backs.

Members of Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) were returning to Salt Lake City on Sunday evening from a national convention in Texas when one of them confronted a couple disciplining their child, prior to takeoff.

"There was . . . an escalating situation between a group of passengers [BACA], and it centered around a set of passengers disciplining their children and one set of passengers who didn't like it," said Joe Hodas, Frontier Airlines spokesman.

Hodas said appropriate action was taken by the pilot, who deemed it necessary for the safety of the passengers to return to the gate around 10 p.m.

According to BACA member Darrell Sparti, a 49-year-old father of two children, he was sitting behind the parents when they began to discipline the youngest child, a 2-year-old girl who was tired, crying and cranky. Sparti says the mother began spanking the child. Then he heard the words "bruises," and "Daddy's belt."

When the mother handed the girl to her father, Sparti says, the father placed his hand over the mouth of the child to muffle her screaming. Sparti says he intervened when the father struck the child with his hand and raised his hand again. "That's not appropriate," Sparti says he told the father. "You cannot do that to any child. Would you like to get off the plane and discuss it?"

The father, Sparti says, responded that he would discipline his child however he wanted. Sparti said the situation was "over and done with in less than 30 seconds."

Most passengers didn't realize what had occurred and were bewildered and angry that the pilot taxied back to the gate. Once stopped in Denver, a flight attendant pointed out the 21 BACA members to police, who instructed them to leave the plane along with the couple and their two children -- and a couple who by coincidence were wearing Harley-Davidson T-shirts but were not members of BACA.

"We felt we were discriminated against with what we were wearing," said Dennis Sortor, BACA's Wasatch Front chapter president. "I was told that the male attendant said to police that 'Bikers shouldn't be allowed on the plane.' " Sortor said "we were all guilty by association," including the couple wearing Harley T-shirts.

A lawyer who specializes in motorcycle rights has been asked to investigate, said Paul Dubois, BACA national public relations spokesman. Police plan no charges.

"Members of BACA, in addition to the family, were removed from the plane," said Denver police Detective Virginia Lopez. "They were interviewed. No charges were filed." Frontier and Denver police declined to release the names or hometown of the couple. The BACA members refused Frontier's offer of another flight and returned to Salt Lake City on Monday aboard SkyWest.