Friday Hound Blogging

Well, as one of our favorite contemporary philosophers and all around raconteurs says, "Rut Ro." Looks like the governor of Florida has stepped into a deep ole' pool of trouble. With a capital T and that rhymes with P and that stands for pari-mutuel.

Shortly after Governor Charlie Crist dealt Florida pari-mutuels a bust card by approving a deal that will allow Indian casinos to install Las Vegas style slots and card games at their seven casinos, overlord Izzy Havenick — one of the owners of the Naples Fort Myers Greyhound Track said the fight is just beginning. "We're planning on a big demonstration in front of the capitol," Havenick said. "What is the capital of Florida anyway?"

House Speaker and overlord puppet Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, challenged Crist's gambling compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. "We give the injuns slots. What's next? We give them back the Everglades? Where does it stop, that's all I want to know," said Rubio.

"Focus, Rubio, focus." Havenick said. "You're trying to keep us from having to get jobs."

"Right. Why should these so called Native Americans not have to work while real Americans like my friend Igor here have to engage in productive labor?"

"The name's Izzy."

"Right. Iggy."

Rubio asked justices to void the compact, which would allow the tribe to offer blackjack and other high-stakes games in exchange for hundreds of millions of dollars that Crist wants to spend on education. "Dropping out of school in the third grade didn't hurt my friend Ike at all. It should be good enough for the rest of the children in the state too."

"My name is Izzy, you bonehead."

By getting Crist to agree to the compact, Jim Allen, the CEO and president of Seminole Gaming, says Immokalee would reap the benefits of increased gaming. "You know, things like drug use, crime, low wage dead end jobs, all the things progressive communities look for."

"We've already got that out at the track, " Havenick countered."

The deal immediately came under fire from ranking members of the state Legislature, including some in Crist's own Republican party. "Where's our cut?" said one legislative aide. "This is just another example of the white guy getting screwed again."

"I have to be honest, it's worse than we thought," Havenick said. "It's a bad deal for the pari-mutuel industry, the people who work here and the state of Florida. Not to mention that the Walmart closest to my house isn't hiring."

Hey, maybe he could get a job at the casino. What do you think Okie?

Okie is playful and puppy-like. He is comical and curious. He wants to be near his family to see what they are doing. He is very affectionate and will compete for attention with the family grey. He likes to play with toys and likes his squeaky ball. He is vocal for a greyhound and will whine when he wants something. Okie would do well in a working family home with well-mannered children, 10 and up. He is good with other dogs and would probably be fine as an only dog with a family that will interact with him often. For more information about this dog, and other rescued racing greyhounds looking for homes, go here. If you don't know about the plight of racing greyhounds go here.