Central Florida’s insatiable thirst for water to dump on its collective front lawn has real causualties — as evidenced in this short video, showing bulldozers destroying a cypress forest in order to make way for the new Yankee Lake water siphoning facility. When complete, the plant (which was approved, despite massive citizen outcry, by the St. Johns River Water Management District) will be able to suck as much as 55 million gallons a day from the St. Johns River. Watch it before you water your lawn:

– Posted by Anne Schindler

If you haven’t been down by the river in the past few weeks, here’s a grim look at what your missing. Andy Leverett, the college winner of the St. Johns Riverkeeper’s 2010 PSA Video Contest put together this video montage of the putrefaction in the river. Watch it on an empty stomach. And if you think of it, give Rep. Ander Crenshaw a call and let him know what you think of his recent attempts to undermine river cleanup efforts.

– Posted by Anne Schindler

Bad news, y’all. The “exhaustion” that sent Flaming Lips drummer/multi-instrumentalist Steven Drozd to the hospital last week forced the band to cancel its gig in St. Augustine on May 14. According to the St. Augustine Ampitheatre folks, the show is rescheduled for October. See the full press release below:

Due to illness, the Flaming Lips will be rescheduling their May 14th performance at the Saint Augustine Amphitheatre to Friday October 15th.

Tickets to the May 14th show will be honored on the October 15th date. 

If necessary, refunds will be available at point of purchase. 

– Posted by Anne Schindler