opinion - The Independent Florida Alligator

Opinion

Death needs no label

By The Alligator Editorial Board | July 25, 2011

Call it the end result of advertising bombing raids, product placements, logos, mottos, catchlines or an unholy alliance of all these things, but we as Americans have a never-ending hard-on for labeling things. Especially things that have no business being labeled. It doesn't matter if it's Coca-Cola or Grandpa's coke, we can find a way to slap a tag, banner or any overarching gimmick on anything to generate a quick buck or a web hit.

Opinion

Winehouse, weirdo & warlords - Oh my!

By Shea Ford | July 25, 2011

What a busy week!

Opinion

The 'S' word: The avada kedavra of American political rhetoric

July 20, 2011

If you live in the United States, then you've become accustomed to the logic-be-damned attempts to malign politicians and public policy through the use of fear and hate.

Opinion

Radical group does not accurately represent animal rights activism

By Jared Misner | July 20, 2011

Sometimes we're mortified by our own kind. Today is one of those days.

Opinion

Gator Growl band choice makes sense

By The Alligator Editorial Board | July 20, 2011

Gator Growl got it right this time.

Opinion

Porn threatens society

By Sean Thau | July 18, 2011

Having just celebrated our nation's birth, I thought that my fellow Americans should be alerted to one of the most dangerous activities destroying America today, causing personal heartache, moral decay and a weakening of the American spirit: Internet pornography.

Opinion

Hard times await America's 'Tot Mom'

By Shea Ford | July 18, 2011

Casey Anthony is out and ready to party. Innocent or guilty, she had quite a favorable outcome and is free to do whatever she damn well pleases.

Opinion

Facebook facepalm

By The Alligator Editorial Board | July 18, 2011

We've all wondered whether our parents and even grandparents set up Facebook profiles to be more connected with us or to keep their eyes on us.

Opinion

Haridopolos' political exit is a move Florida needed

By The Alligator Editorial Board | July 18, 2011

And now we pause for a moment of silence to acknowledge the long-awaited death of the diseased politi-joke that was state Sen. Mike Haridopolos' legislative career.

Sports

Gay it forward: It’s time for a sports superstar to come out

By JESSE SIMONTON | July 13, 2011

Caution: This column is not for the mentally weak or irrationally bigoted. This is not a religious debate or political plea; this is a call for open-mindedness and acceptance. Stop reading if you hate equality and don’t advocate change.

Opinion

Why you mad?

By The Alligator Editorial Board | July 13, 2011

The saddest part about all of this? Not a sliver of surprise was felt by any of us.

Opinion

Parking downtown should stay free

By The Alligator Editorial Board | July 13, 2011

Saturday night at the club downtown could get a bit more expensive in the near future, and contrary to the city's hopes, we don't think that's going to attract more customers.

Sports

I’m gonna let you finish Wambach, but U.S. rides Solo

By MATT WATTS | July 11, 2011

If you weren’t in front of the television watching the United States play Brazil on Saturday, I feel sorry for you. The women wearing the red, white and blue showed incredible resolve in one of the most epic comebacks the sport has ever seen.

Opinion

Lost in the sauce: guy walks into the bar

By BILL O'CONNOR< | July 11, 2011

I've been back from Vietnam for seven years. I spent the first three in a drunken New Orleans haze. The next four, I drove for Hoffa's Teamsters.

Opinion

ABC Family ad blitz: accio facepalm

By Shea Ford | July 11, 2011

For those who are living in a cave and are unaware, the final Harry Potter film debuts in U.S. theaters Friday.

Opinion

That ain't right

By The Alligator Editorial Board | July 11, 2011

When a 168-year-old British tabloid read by millions goes down in the flames, we have to say something.

Opinion

Unity among Americans should last longer than one day in July

July 6, 2011

On Monday, we recognized a day of legendary bravery in an onerous battle for life, liberty and happiness. We put aside our political persuasions and forgot our delusions of enmity. For a brief moment, we all had long hair, figuratively sang "Imagine" by John Lennon and did indeed "live as one."

Opinion

A pissing contest like no other: My encounter with Rick Scott

By C.J. Pruner | July 6, 2011

Last Thursday, my good buddy/managing editor/the-man-who-has-the-sense-to-never-let-me-run-a-Muhammad-cartoon Joey Flechas and I drove down to St. Petersburg for the annual Florida Press Association convention. For the few of you who don't religiously follow the inner workings of Florida print media, the FPA convention is where a bunch of godless leftist journos/"media academics"/anyone with a hard-on for the written word from all across the state gather at some palace of a hotel, dress up in outfits picked out by Stevie Wonder and try to outstroke each other in rhetorical masturbation. Essentially, it's like the Republican National Convention with the exception that there's a limit to how much free booze you can guzzle.

Opinion

Casey Anthony trial doesn't make you a legal expert

By The Alligator Editorial Board | July 6, 2011

If you're looking for some sense of validation as to whether your expert hunch that Casey Marie Anthony is innocent or guilty, seek life elsewhere.

Sports

Welcome to the dead zone: America’s blackening hole

By JESSE SIMONTON | July 4, 2011

Like any good American this weekend, I drank Bud Light, shot bottle rockets at friends and saw “Transformers III.”