Transportation in Miami

Transportation is a very important part of life. The way people get to and from work, school and events are very critical. However, transportation can also be very frustrating and difficult. With the increase of technology and the quick capabilities to manufacture vehicles there are more vehicles on the road now than ever before. However, this problem has turned into business and fortune for some people in the United States, but particularly in Miami. 

GiamoJC in the 305 · Life in Miami: Transportation

The business of transportation is booming in Miami. Surprisingly, Miami is a very easy city to navigate. The Miami street system uses a cartesian style grid into four quadrants of Northwest, Northeast, Southeast and Southwest. Even new drivers can easily get there way around because of the street system in place. 

Another large reason for the increase in transportation revenue is that thousands of tourists come to  Miami without a car. So, the demand for ride share vehicles or public transportation is incredibly high. Some of the ways tourists get around Miami are through  renting bikes and ride share cars. 

Limebike 

Limbikes are very popular throughout Miami. The lime green and bright yellow bikes can be seen on sidewalks, cul-de-sacs, parking lots and anywhere outside. The reason for their popularity is because of their affordable price and easy use. 

For thirty minutes you can ride any Limebike for only $1. They often let first time users ride for free. The bikes are locked and unlocked through codes that can be operated through the Limebike application on a smartphone.

Even though LimeBikes are used by customers in Miami, the company headquarters is in San Mateo, California. This bicycle sharing business started in January 2017 and was founded by Toby Sun and Brad Boa. 

Freebe

 There’s nothing that beats free and Freebe’s transportation service claims free rides throughout the South Beach and Downtown Miami area. You can see these sleek extended golf cart vehicles zipping up and down the road with happy tourists and locals alike. 

Freebe began as a project by University of Miami grads Jason Spiegel and Kris Kimball to make traveling around short distances of Miami easier. Even though the rides are technically free for customers, the company makes almost all of its revenue from sponsors who put advertisements on the Freebe carts. 

Customers can catch a Freebe by downloading the application on their smartphone. After you put in a request for a freebee you just have to wait until you hear the phone buzz from a Freebe driver. The enlarged golf carts have seat belts and are “green friendly” by using electricity for energy, so you can feel safe riding around Miami. 

Uber

Some tourists do not like to deal with public transportation and having to commute around strangers. So a great alternative to traveling long distances on Miami’s bus system is Uber. This company provides a private ride sharing option. The distance between Miami International Airport and the popular tourist destinations in Miami are approximately 12.5 miles. So, it’s very common for tourists and locals alike to use Uber when they arrive at the Miami International Airport to get to Miami Beach or Downtown Miami. 

Uber was founded in San Francisco, California, by Garret Camp and Travis Kalanick in 2009. The company grew exponentially and is now international and popular around most of the modern world. However, some countries such as Italy, Germany, Japan and others have banned the ride sharing company due to their amateur drivers. The future of Uber and other ride sharing companies is increasingly becoming more and more disconcerting. 

Uber riders use their smartphone to request a ride. There are  different options such as Express POOL, POOL, and UberX. The POOL options are cheaper, but you ride with other people, while the UberX option is a private ride. If you decide to use Uber in Miami you may want to practice your Spanish, because several drivers speak little to no  English. 

Conscience Conversations in Miami

Miami is a  very popular city with lots of tourists and fun attractions. Some of the most popular nightclubs in Miami are Story, Hearts, King of Diamonds and others. What all these clubs have in common are loud music, overly crowded spaces, and lots of alcohol. Tourists come to Miami to leave the lulls of everyday life and step into a fantasy of hot cars, sexy women and long summer nights. 

GiamoJC in the 305 · Life in Miami: Conscience Conversations

However, unlike tourists, most young hard working residents of Miami cannot party, spend lots of money and chase vices every night. Sometimes it can be difficult to find affordable places to unwind and meet other like minded people. Having the opportunity to gather,  share ideas and network with others in a calm and sober setting  is very important for anyone but especially young adults. 

Fortunately, there are a few places such as Miami Warehouse where young Miamians can get together. Every Monday night in Hialeah, a city in the greater Miami area, a small group of people gather together for Conscience Conversations. This small group therapy session , hosted by Indigenous Empress, is a safe place for people to share art, emotions , food and music. 

Art 

The last Conscience Conversation session was focused on creating a vision board  using a montage of various pictures from popular magazines.  A vision board is a tool used to help clarify, concentrate and maintain focus on specific life goals. This creative activity helps release anxiety for the future and reminds people of what they want to accomplish in life. 

The picture above is my vision board. The different photos  symbolize various values that I seek to live out in my life. In the top left corner there is a drawing of a ferocious black panther with a third eye. This image represents the importance of fighting through adversity and always keeping my mind on the goals I want to accomplish. The Statue of Liberty, clearly identifies my dream to be free mentally, physically, spiritually and financially in my life. The declarative sentence “You, Wake Up” is a constant reminder to dream big and not fall asleep on my potential. 

Conversation 

Each session has a different theme of conversation. In the last meeting, the lovely Indigenous Empress introduced the Law of Attraction as a topic. Through her own questions and selection of videos she created a conversation amongst the group about how to attract positive energy. 

Outside of talking about specific themes, these group meetings are an amazing time to meet other aspiring artists and cool people alike. Fortunately, I got the chance to talk to Shannon Lindstrom, who is a beautiful model and talented jewelry artist. She creates her jewelry using crystals, gemstones and other spiritually charged materials. You can find and buy  her jewelry here at etsy.com/shop/moonstonedshop . 

Food 

The Conscience Conversation usually goes from 8 pm - 2 am, so people get hungry in between that time. Like everything else, Miami Warehouse is all about providing healthy options. Most items on their menu are vegan or include a marijuana infused option.  The health benefits of a vegan diet include lowering blood sugar levels, protecting against certain cancers, helping lose excess weight and so much more. 

In the last meeting I ordered the deliciously handmade Chicken Rito, shown in the picture above. The ingredients included a tortilla wrap,  mixed wild greens, pico de gayo, tomatoes, bread crumbs and seitan which replaced the meat. 

South Beach Fun in Miami

Miami is known for its nightlife activities, colorful art, and latin music. But one of the main reasons Miami, nicknamed Magic City, is such a popular international tourist destination are the beaches. There are several different beaches such as Surfside Beach, Bal Harbour Beach, Haulover Beach, but the most famous and popular beach in Miami is South Beach. 

The reasons for this go back to the history and making of South Beach itself. Originally what we now know as South Beach was bought in 1870 from two New Jersey residents, Henry Lum and his son Charles. They wanted to turn the beach into a coconut farm, however this proved to be unsuccessful due to rabbits or rats eating the coconuts.

Overtime a new man, John S. Collins,  tried to bring business and stability to the beach . He was successful in growing crops and eventually partnered with Carl Fisher and the banking Lummus brothers to get his land officially recognized as Miami Beach.

From that point on the wonder and mystery began to grow within the town. Famous hotels were constructed such as the Colony, Clevelander, and others. Glamorous celebrities began to have large parties and build vacation homes. People from around the world became curious to the exciting new developments of South Beach.

Activities at the Beach 

When people think of the beach they may just think of tourists  laying in the sun or playing in the water. However, this is not the case in South Beach, because there are a lot of different physical activities in which to participate.

Volleyball is a very popular sport in South Beach. It's fun because up to six people can play on both sides of the net. Unlike basketball or soccer there isn't too much running in a casual game, so a player won't be too sweaty after a match. Also games are not divided by men or women. There can be co-ed teams or teams of both men and women together.

Another physical activity that's popular on the beach is working out. The Wellness Park has placed different tools such as pull up bars, weights and other things so tourist and South Beach residents alike can strengthen their muscles on the beach.

Parks 

At the very end of South Beach is a long pier called South Pointe Park. Tourists love coming here because of the scenic views and romantic setting. 

South Pointe Park Pier opened on October 25th, 1985 and became the nineteenth public park in Miami Beach. The 17 acre country urban park costed $3.6 million to build.

Another park in South Beach is named Marjory Stoneman Douglas Ocean Beach Park. This park with an incredibly long name gets its name after an American journalist. Marjory was an extraordinary woman who lived to be 108 years old. One of her most famous works was her book named The Everglades: River of Grass (1947). This book focused on saving the natural plants and wildlife in South Florida.

The park today is a very wide grassy area with several tall trees planted throughout the park. This park is located on 3rd Street and Ocean Drive and  is mostly for children as there is a large children's playground.

Modeling 

South Beach is not only known for its beautiful beaches,  but also the beautiful female models that come to enjoy the city. Models in South Beach are in very high demand, because of the different entertainment events such as pool parties, nightclub parties, business parties and so on and so forth.

Sometimes I enjoy going to the beach to take photos with different models. I find these models via the internet on Craigslist or just through talking with different women at events. South Beach is a great place to take pictures because of the breathtaking views and relaxing setting.

Cinco de Mayo in Miami

Cinco de Mayo, which means the fifth of May in Spanish,  is a day celebrated by Americans even though it is a Mexican holiday. In actuality not even all of Mexico celebrates this day rather the southeastern town called Puebla de Zaragoza celebrate by having a large festival.

The reason they are the only town to observe this day in Mexico is because on May 5, 1862, the earliest residents of the town fought against the French Empire. In an unsuspecting victory the Mexicans defeated the much more equipped French army in what is now known as the Battle of Puebla.

GiamoJC in the 305 · Life in Miami: Cinco de Mayo

The United States is connected to this battle, because the French were marching their way thru Mexico to help southern soldiers in America's Civil War. But now in 2018, Americans are the ones who celebrate the Mexican victory of the Battle of Puebla much more intensely than the people of Mexico. 

Cinco de Wynwood in Miami 

Many Americans observe this holiday by drinking, dancing, spending time with friends and more drinking. Like other cities Miami has a special place where the party for Cinco de Mayo is very exciting. Wynwood, an area near downtown Miami, has a large festival with DJ's, food trucks, alcohol vendors and so much more.  

There were several fun activities at the Cinco de Wynwood this past weekend. One of the most famous and fun activities to watch was the riding of the bull. Obviously it was not a real bull, but a mechanical one operated by a certified technician. This activity tests a person's balance and ability to react quickly.

Another intriguing event at the party was a test of strength. For the possibility of winning $100 a contestant had to hang on to a bar for 100 seconds. At first glance it looks pretty easy, however, it is not very easy to hold up your own body weight. In the entire time I did not see anyone win the $100. 

Typically during Cinco de Mayo in the United States a lot of different Mexican customs become apart of the festival. During the Cinco de Wynwood there were several parts of Mexican culture being represented. 

The colorful skulls as seen in the picture are actually apart of the Day of the Dead celebrations in southern Mexico. This interesting holiday honors deceased loved ones.

 It's very common to see people wearing large hats with a pointed top called sombreros in Spanish. These hats are very famous in Mexican culture due  in large part to the mariachi bands, famous Mexican musicians, who wear them during their performances.

A party cannot be considered a party without music and dancing and there was definitely a lot of both at Cinco de Wynwood. Common dances in Mexican culture are Jarabe Tapatio, Danza de los Viejitos (Old Men's Dance), Polka Nortena (Northern States) , and many others. 

However in the United States these traditional Mexican dances are not apart of the festival. Typical dances at a Cinco De Mayo party usually includes grinding, twerking and some couples dance salsa if latin music is played. DJ's who are in control of the music selection typically play reggaeton, pop music and rap for Miami party goers to get people in the mood to dance.

History and Future of Medical Marijuana in Florida

History of Medical Marijuana in Florida 

Before Amendment 2 passed medical marijuana was an available option for patients. However the requisites to receive medical marijuana were far stricter as you had to be terminally ill and with less than a year to live. For many this seemed preposterous because of the science behind the medical benefits of cannabis. Cannabidiol (CBD), a chemical in a marijuana plant, can be helpful in reducing pain, inflammation, epileptic seizures and possibly mental illness and addictions. 

Researchers continue to find new ways of how the chemical from marijuana plants can help people medically. Due to a lot of this research over half of the states in our country have some form of legalized medical marijuana laws, which  expands the amount of people the plant can legally help. In 2014, United for Care, a social service organization headquartered in Miami Beach created an initiative, also called Amendment 2, to legalize medical marijuana. 

Four years ago in November Amendment 2 wasn't approved on Election Day. However due to the initiative barely missing the percentage it needed to pass John Morgan, the central proponent and largest donor to the initiative decided to revamp the campaign in 2016. However along side the revamp were some modifications that made the 2016 Amendment 2 different to the previous one. 

The 2016 measure clarified requirements for parental consent for the use of medical marijuana by minors and also further defined what is meant by debilitating illnesses that would qualify for marijuana as a treatment option. The 2016 measure also assured voters that doctors would not be exempt of claims of malpractice in prescribing marijuana. 

Several organizations backed Amendment 2 in 2016 such as Miami Dade Young Dems, Planned Parenthood, Progress Florida, Florida NAACP and many others. However there were some who opposed the bill. 

Christina Johnson, a spokeswoman for the Vote No On 2 campaign argued that Florida would have to many marijuana shops based upon Florida's patient needs. In the anti Amendment 2 campaign's video they claimed marijuana shops would outnumber the Walmarts and Walgreens combined in the whole state of Florida. Also those against the measure claimed that Amendment 2 was just a scam to legalize pot. Fortunately, Amendment 2 was passed and is now helping people today get through real pain, not a scam.

Future of Medical Marijuana in Florida 

Today, patients in Florida can receive the benefits of medical marijuana. As addressed earlier, some of these benefits include helping control epileptic seizures, relieving arthritis discomfort, easing  pain of multiple sclerosis and so much more. However there are still wrinkles in the legislation of Amendment 2 that still seem to work against patients in strenuous pain. 

According to Michelle Weiner, a certified medical cannabis physician, "… the bill (Amendment 2) maintains the 90 day patient/doctor requirement which is nonsensical," she wrote in the Sun Sentinel. If a patient needs instant relief from severe pain, why should they have to wait 90 days to receive the medicine that would help them the most.

 Michelle Weiner continues to express her personal physician experience, " I have current patients who are suffering due to their terminal illness or debilitating condition who are not able to get relief with medical cannabis because I have not been their physician for 90 days. Yet I am able to prescribe any medication including opioids with the potential for overdose and uncomfortable side effects."

So clearly medical marijuana made extraordinary strides on November 8, 2016 by getting Amendment 2 passed. This finally allowed patients to use a medicine that for so long had been used only in a last resort scenario. This step forward was a victory, but the citizens and lawmakers in Florida cannot stop with just these regulations in place. 

The current medical marijuana regulations still fail many people in getting the instant relief they so desperately need. The state of Florida isn't only failing patients under the current medical marijuana laws, but also failing to cash in on the true prize, recreational marijuana. 

Florida is among 42 states right now missing out on the revenue that Colorado, Washington and other states are so happily bringing in. Through the taxes of legalized marijuana Colorado netted more than $105 million for the 2016-17 fiscal year. 

The Governor John Hickenlooper passed a budget bill that will allocate the earnings from the state's "Marijuana Tax Cash Fund." Presumably the money will go to health programs in public schools, housing for at risk populations and a new treatment program to combat the opioid crisis. Hopefully, the good people of Florida will realize the medical and economical power  legalizing marijuana has sooner rather than later. 

Positive Ways to Handle Infidelity

Infidelity is a common problem amongst romantic relationships across the world from the luxurious  life of celebrities to the everyday of  regular joes. Recently Teyana Taylor most famous for her dancing role in Kanye West's video "Fade", was subjugated to rumors of her professional basketball husband Iman Shumpert sleeping with other women. While the other day, a Miami supermarket owner was criminally charged for hiring accomplices to murder his wife's lover. 

In an ideal world no one would have to face the heartbreaking realities of a partner's deceit and cheating. However, these occurrences do happen and it is very important to know how to emotionally and mentally handle infidelity within a monogamous relationship. 

The most painful part of infidelity is the instant break of trust that takes place between a couple. The partner that remained faithful feels so many emotions such as anger, sadness, disgust, and so much more. These emotions can be compounded if a couple has made their relationship official for family, friends and social media to see. 

The faithful partner may not want to reveal the infidelity in their relationship, because of fear of what others may think. But in these situations it is very important to reach out to trustworthy people and confide in them about the partner's cheating and explain those difficult feelings about the situation. Opening up helps people figure out the next step to take in their romantic life. 

Dramatic changes in a person's life can create a chain reaction of negative episodes in the future. Undoubtedly, discovering a lover and trusted person is committing betrayal  by having sex with another partner can make one want to react immediately. However making a quick emotional reaction can cause even more damage to the situation.

 For example, some people display all of their relationship baggage on social media for everyone to see directly after breaking up. Others in a way of getting revenge on their partner pick up a rebound or have casual sex with someone just to forget about their former partner. In extreme cases some resort to violence and or murder to deal with the pain of a cheating partner. 

All of these quick emotional reactions to the revelation of an affair are very irresponsible and potentially destructive. This is why it is very important to take time to emotionally and mentally process one's feelings about the infidelity. 

After the time of healing and processing through the emotions of being hurt from cheating there comes a time for a decision. The faithful partner has to decide whether they want to continue to stay in a relationship with the cheater. This can be an agonizing and difficult decision, because all the trust that there was in the relationship has just vanished. 

 So the loyal partner must decide if they want to work to rebuild a positive and healthy life with the other person. Depending on how serious the relationship was before the breach of trust the relationship may be worth salvaging.

 However it is very important for the faithful partner to forgive and not hold on to the anger they felt if they do want to continue in the relationship.  Hoarding negative emotions will only cause more pain and suffering for both partners.