General Discussion
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In the wake of George Zimmermans acquittal, a lot of people from outside Florida blamed Florida. Weve had commentators complaining that Florida is the worst and the rest of the country would be better off without that uvula-shaped state. Some clever people posted on their Facebook pages an old YouTube clip of Bugs Bunny sawing along the state line and pushing us out to sea.
OK folks. Lets play the Its a Wonderful Life game and see what you lose if Florida doesnt exist.
1. Computers. The genius who invented the first computer, John Atanasoff, grew up in Florida. He began tinkering with his dads slide rule at age 9, graduated high school in only two years and then earned a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Florida.
2. Air conditioning. Dr. John Gorrie became so concerned about his yellow fever patients sweltering in the Apalachicola heat that he invented a way to cool their homes and later received the first U.S. patent for a mechanical refrigeration unit in 1851. (snip)
Also on the list:
4. The Endangered Species Act
5. Public defenders
7. National Wildlife Refuges
etc...
sinkingfeeling
(51,490 posts)they would have probably have grown up in the state they were born in or some other one.
1monster
(11,012 posts)Sounds like Florida gave him a pretty sound grounding for his future invention.
But, of course, it WAS Florida, so you must discount it.
And I guess Florida get no credit for Ray Charles learning to play the piano (and the saxophone, clarinet, organ, and trumpet) at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine, either.
After all, it WAS Florida, so you must discount it.
etc., etc.,
sinkingfeeling
(51,490 posts)but really couldn't live in South Florida. The sand fleas and other bugs drove me to distraction. I had to put my son in a private school because the public schools were running two shifts of students a day. My Corvette developed mildew as did almost everything else. I left Davie after 22 months.
I've lived in 9 states as an adult and, sorry, but would never live in Florida again.
1monster
(11,012 posts)Can't stand the place.
But Jacksonville is not all of Flroida, any more than Davie is all of Florida. (I wouldn't live in Davie, either. I don't like Tampa, but my son loves it.) The thing is, Florida is VERY diverse. It has something for almost everyone.
I've lived here for 38 years, and don't really want to live anywhere else I've been.
edits: typos
Tommy_Carcetti
(43,227 posts)But it has changed a lot since 1976, for the better.
1monster
(11,012 posts)all the way down to St. Augustine and all the way up to Fernandina now.
Tommy_Carcetti
(43,227 posts)The one major negative about Florida is that the developers have gotten away with so much for so long, and threaten to destroy everything that makes that great state great.
1monster
(11,012 posts)session by having a last moment amendment added to a bill which gave him the right to build a huge delvelopment when he had been denied permission to do so.
Fortunately, people were paying attention and put so much pressure on the Gov. and the Legislature that it was repealed first thing this session.
And I'm hoping that north Florida never gets close to the urban sprawl of south Florida.
sinkingfeeling
(51,490 posts)Tommy_Carcetti
(43,227 posts)And yes, we are totally screwed up, but at least we admit to our craziness. You all 49 others are just in denial.
1monster
(11,012 posts)L0oniX
(31,493 posts)The most diverse plant life in the US, underwater caves, Ocala Forest, Crystal Springs, Blue Springs, Zepherhills, Ringling, Bush Gardens, Buc's, Rays, Dolphins, Gators, ...geeze there's a lot to love about Florida.
Tommy_Carcetti
(43,227 posts)Game over.
1monster
(11,012 posts)He looked slightly familiar (but it was during a time when I was more or less insulated from what was going on in the entertainment world) and I didn't recognize him until after he was gone...
But then, a lot of celebrities live around here because no one pays any attention to them. They can live more or less normal lives if they want to do so.