I was in flight during the simultaneous multi-city protests across the country on Saturday, but I’m sure you’ve read plenty already on other blogs. For a smaller-city perspective, go check out Martini Gurlatalova’s coverage of the Des Moines, Iowa protests.

I’m in Tallahassee, Florida for work, but came down a few days early to check out the sights in the panhandle of Florida. On Saturday I checked into the quaint, 1930’s style lodge at the Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park just south of Tallahassee, Florida. These springs pump millions of gallons of crystal-clear water up to the surface. Several Tarzan films starring Johnny Weissmuller, Airport ‘77, and The Creature from the Black Lagoon were all filmed there due to the amazing clarity of the water.

I didn’t so much as see, but first heard the manatees near the lodge. When they surface for air they make a sound much like a whale would, and I quickly figured out what they were. The websites for the park didn’t mention they’d be there, so it was quite a pleasant surprise. I was planning on camping in the area, but I’m glad I didn’t as it was near-freezing while I was there. The food at the lodge was good, and all the desserts, including delicious key lime pie, were baked on site.

The next day I went on a boat tour down the river created by the springs, and got a world-class view of local wildlife. I’ve been on a lot of wildlife tours, and this was one of the best. I was right up close to many American alligators, Suwannee Cooters, freshwater mullet, common moorhen and purple gallinule, anhingas and of course more manatee. The entire photo gallery can be viewed here.

After my wildlife expedition, I drove out to the Lighthouse at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. I also visited the San Marcos de Apalachee State Park nearby.

Today I drove back towards Tallahassee and stopped at the Leon Sinks Geological Area in the Apalachicola National Forest. I wanted to see the Big Dismal Sink to check off on my list of visiting all things Dismal (I’ve already been to the Great Dismal Swamp). I’ll have to say the Big Dismal Sink wasn’t very Dismal, it was kind of festive, actually.

The whole area is riddled with limestone karst topography, making for a very spring- and sinkhole-laden landscape. I hiked on a four-mile loop trail that skirted the edges of these depressions that are filled with groundwater. A sink may have trees growing in it, but differs from a swamp as a sink is filled with groundwater, whereas a swamp is filled with surface water. If water goes down into a hole instead of from a hole, it’s called a rise. The naming doesn’t make any sense, sort of like how a towboat pushes barges whereas a tugboat pulls barges. I wasn’t responsible for naming topographical features.

This includes additional absentee ballots that came in + provisional ballots.   The results hold.

ANC FOR SMD 2C01

2/2 100.00%

Alexander M. ”Alex” Padro 455 62.24%

An intriguing new survey by the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations finds that nearly one-quarter of homeowners facing foreclosure who sought counseling were able to obtain a loan modification from their mortgage lender. Drawing from 1,143 people who have sought assistance from non-profit agencies providing housing counseling, the survey also contains information about the percentage of successful resolutions, an overall satisfaction rating by counselors, and a letter grade.

An interesting study would compare these results with people who have not sought assistance from a counselor to measure the role of this assistance. I’m also curious about the nature of the loan modifications. Nonetheless it presents a window to what’s happening at the local level - thousands of homeowners facing hard choices and negotiating with lenders to find solutions.

> Boston Globe: “Lenders graded on response to troubled homeowners”