The Orlando Sentinel provides a story of someone who took the “servant” in public servant, a bit too literally: Florida Hospital executive pleads guilty of defrauding New York workers

Florida Hospital executive Antonia Novello pleaded guilty today to forcing New York state employees to work overtime for her personal chores, filing false documents and costing taxpayers close to $50,000.

Novello, a former U.S. surgeon general hired in 2008 by Florida Hospital, entered the plea in Albany (N.Y.) County Court. She was New York’s health commissioner from 1999 to 2006.

She pleaded guilty to a felony in a deal with prosecutors to avoid prison time. Novello faced up to 12 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

Florida Hospital spokeswoman Sam O’Lenick said Novello, the vice president of Women’s and Children’s Health & Policy Affairs for Disney’s Children’s Hospital, remains on a leave of absence.

She was the Surgeon General under George HW Bush, and then hired by Governor George Pataki for the similar position in the state of New York. The complaints about her behavior started being filed with the NY Inspector General in 2001, but nothing was done until Pataki was replaced by a Democrat.

The ABC has a great headline: Happy hops damage poppy crops

The mystery of crop circles which have appeared from time to time in and around Tasmania’s legal opium poppy fields may have been solved.

It seems it is not aliens, but junkie wallabies hopping around in dazed circles – perhaps.

The BBC’s ‘Stoned wallabies make crop circles’ is just too staid.

I’m watching Invest 93L in the Western Caribbean to see what it wants to do. It is currently headed towards the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula and then into the Southern Gulf of Mexico. The conditions in the Southern Gulf are starting to shift towards possible development.

A minimal tropical storm with a lot of rain wouldn’t be regretted along the Texas coast right now, as they have been short of rain for a while.

The CBC reports that Toronto’s Canada Day celebrations cancelled

It’s appears Canada Day is going to be a big fizzle in many parts of Toronto, with festivals, celebrations — even the city-sponsored fireworks display — cancelled.

The city is having a labor dispute with its workers, and the show can’t go on without the labor force. Well, OK, it could, but then the politicians would lose a golden opportunity to drum up some public anger against the unions.

Since the negotiations are held in secret, the public doesn’t actually know who is being the more unreasonable, or even why the talks are stalled.

The Pensacola News Journal reports that our local Congresscritter has decided to take a stand on something – Miller: Rubio the man

U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller announced Thursday he has endorsed former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio in the state’s U.S. Senate race.

“Marco Rubio is a young, fresh voice for our cause, and he does believe in limited government,” said the Chumuckla Republican.

Miller, who said the race has “tremendous implications for the future of Florida,” becomes the first member of Congress to publicly announce his backing of Rubio.

Miller’s endorsement puts him at odds with top Florida and Washington Republican Party leaders who are backing Gov. Charlie Crist for the nomination.

His endorsement is the latest among conservatives; within the last two weeks, Rubio picked up support from former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee and Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C.

This is great news. One can only hope that it encourages the local rabid Republicans to back Rubio and deplete meager resources in a primary fight between Crist and Rubio. A Meek-Rubio Senate race would be a gift to the Florida political media.

Mr. “Suave” Takes a Nap

Zzzz…

[Editor: Property Income ignores the joys of a cat bed to sprawl at the back of my office chair. I not only zapped him with the flash, but he didn’t move when I sat down. I had to physically extract him from the chair. He takes naps seriously.]

Friday Ark