Posts by Tom Strubinger

Florida Jury find man not guilty for Medical Marijuana

Posted by on Mar 3, 2015 in A Featured Post

Florida Jury find man not guilty for Medical Marijuana

In Fort Lauderdale yesterday, a Jury found Jessie Teplicki, a 50 year old man, not-guilty of criminal charges, for growing 46 marijuana plants on his property. The plants were in various stages of growth, and Teplicki claimed he was not a drug dealer, he was growing them for his own medical purposes. The family man has 3 adult children, and has been married for 26 years. He works on luxury yachts, repairing air conditioning units, desalination machines, and refrigerators. Unfortunately he suffers from extreme anorexia, and the marijuana stimulates his appetite and subdues the nausea. The Broward County Sheriff’s office was tipped off anonymously in January of 2013, and Teplicki faced 5 years if convicted. However, defense lawyer Michael C. Minardi successfully convinced the jury Teplicki’s medical need is real, and that the he wasn’t planning to sell any of the pot he was growing. “It was for personal use,” Minardi said. “That is consistent with the evidence.” It is believed this was the first Jury Trial of this kind. However the defense has been used in other trials. In 1991 a northwest Florida couple used the defense in front of a judge, and they were found guilty. This ruling would be overturned in appeals court. Another man, also used a medical marijuana defense in 1998, but again in front of a judge, and was also found guilty. As in the first case, this ruling was also overturned in appeals court. Medical Marijuana in Florida Just last November the majority of voters did vote to amend the constitution in favor of Medical Marijuana. With 57.6 percent of the vote, the amendment failed by a mere 2.4%, as 60 percent vote is needed to amend the constitution. This case will be instrumental in getting Medical Marijuana back on the ballot in 2016, and lawmakers will probably use this jury’s ruling to get the 60% needed this time. Last year, the Florida Legislature did legalize low THC strains, however this doesn’t help people like Teplicki or cancer patients, who need it for the decrease nausea and increase appetite. The organization, United for Care, is getting signatures to put medical marijuana back on the ballot in 2016, and full scale medical marijuana bills have been filed in the state House and the state Senate for the upcoming session that begins today, March 3rd,...

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St. Louis Cardinals Autograph Reception at Roger Dean Stadium

Posted by on Mar 2, 2015 in A Featured Post, Tom's Blog

St. Louis Cardinals Autograph Reception at Roger Dean Stadium

In appreciation of Spring Training Season Ticket Holders, both the Miami Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals hold a autograph reception at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, FL the weekend before Spring Training actually starts. This Year Spring Training Starts on a Thursday, so its going to be a few more days before we get to watch some baseball… This truly is my favorite time of the year, even as a kid Spring Training signified the changing of seasons, and it always looked so nice in FL. Now that I am a full time resident, I am not going to lie to you, It doesn’t get much better than March in South Florida. St. Louis Cardinals Autograph Reception The Autograph Reception is for one hour, they let you in a half hour early, and you get in line and wait for the players to sit down at 1pm. At 2pm the players all get up and leave, line finished or not… I was in my second line when the time was called, and although I was far from getting anyone in that lines autograph, I do want to mention that Jason Heyward stayed and signed autographs for at least an extra 3 or 4 minutes…. The decision when you go in, is what line to choose. They split the players into 4 lines, with a superstar at the head of each. Like last year Line #4 headed by Yadier Molina was the longest. I have had a ball for a couple years now from the 2009 All Star game. The game was held in St.Louis, it was Yadi’s first all star game, and it was also the year my son was born. I figured this might be the only way I am going to get this autograph, so my son had the ball autographed, and I had a bat with multiple signatures signed. Carlos Martinez sat next to Yadi, and Greg Garcia was also at the table, with a 8 other guys that were at Spring Training with the hopes of making the 40 man roster. How much weight has Yadi Lost? I had been out at practice earlier in the week and noticed Yadi had lost quite a bit of weight, so I had to ask him, how much he had lost? He responded 15-20 pounds, so I said “Stronger, Faster, lighter, right?” Yadi just smiled…. I think it’s going to be another spectacular season for my redbirds, maybe we can give Matheny a ring at the end of it. I don’t care what anyone says, I think the guy is a class act, and as young as he is he will probably end up with multiple. Yadi said he’s lost 15-20 pounds, so I said “Stronger, Faster, lighter, right?” he just...

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First Day of Cardinals Spring Training 2015

Posted by on Feb 25, 2015 in A Featured Post, Tom's Blog

First Day of Cardinals Spring Training 2015

The Pitchers and Catchers reported last week, and a few of the guys have been in town even longer, but today was the first full workout day of Spring Training for the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Team in Jupiter, FL. For the next 6 weeks or so we will be treated to the sounds of baseball… Practices are open to the public, with a good chance of catching a ball, if you hang around until the end. Games Start a week from tomorrow on Thursday March 6th, 2015 against the Miami Marlins, and the final game being April 2nd against the New York Mets. Yadier Molina lost a lot of weight in the off centerJason HeywardMatt & Matt walking to the practice field Holiday & CarpenterMark Reynolds, Jason Heyward, Peter Bourjos, Jon JayJon Jay & Peter BourjosKolton WongPete Kazma & Jhonny PeraltaMatt Carpenter Spring Training 2015Jhonny Peralta clowning aroundJohn Lackey & Carlos Martinez playing tossLance Lynn & Trevor Rosenthall warming upMark Reynolds #12 a new addition Matt “Big City” Adams #32Mike Matheney’s new number 26I like to call him Coach“The Wizard” Ozzie Smith at 2015 Cardinal’s Spring Training February 25th...

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Trombone Shorty at Delray Beach Garlic Festival

Posted by on Feb 10, 2015 in A Featured Post, Tom's Blog, videos

Trombone Shorty at Delray Beach Garlic Festival

I discovered Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue on Spotify. I was listening to a radio station on there, and when their horns came on I had to hear more, it was love at first listen… I also watched Sonic Highways on HBO. It is an 8 episode mini-series documenting the Foo Fighters making their new album of the same name. Every episode they travel to a new city in the US, delve into the music history of the area, and record a song in a week. With some influence from the city, and the musicians who perform there, many of the songs feature musicians from the area. The New Orleans episode talks a great deal about Trombone Shorty, where he got his name, and features him on the track “In the Clear” recorded in the world Famous “Preservation Hall” So anyway… When I saw the Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue were performing at the Delray Beach Garlic Festival, I was a little excited… Ok I was very excited. Pre-Sale Tickets were only $10!!! Even after the deadline ended as long as you got there by 6:00pm the ticket price was still only $10. I quickly got on the phone with the babysitter, and scheduled date nite for the wife and I. We arrived at about 5:45pm, and after finding $5 parking we got our $10 tickets. The Stinkin’ Garlic Festival has everything you would expect; lots of food, tented vendors for unique items, a kids Section, and the Live Music. Most of the money was handled by purchasing tickets, $1 for 1 ticket, so after a purchasing a sheet of 20, with cold beer (6 tickets) in hand, we started looking at the vendors. My wife an I immediately gravitated to a tent with these really cool paper puzzle lamps. Our daughter is turning 3, and we both quickly agreed, that this would make a unique and fun birthday gift for her. I would estimate there were 20+ non-food vendors at the festival selling everything from Guatemalan type clothing, sunglasses, hats in all shapes and sizes, various art, and jewelry. The kids area was larger than I expected, but tickets were still $1 per ticket, and most rides took 3 tickets. We did actually play a game, trying to win a stuffed teenage mutant turtle stuffed animal for our boy, but although I had the lead at one point, I lost my stride when the my golf ball bounced off the track. The Stinkin’ Food The food vendors varied from Garlic Pizza, Garlic Chicken Curry Kabob, Garlic Chicken in a pita, and even a stand with Garlic Ice Cream. My wife and I discussed the idea, that Garlic Parmesan Fries would of been  a real hit, and even fantasied about having a food truck for a minute, but after 15+ years in the food industry I’m really not interested…...

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