A Cuban Flag Hanging in Miami's Little Havana

The Cuban American National Foundation, the most prominent Cuban-American organization in the United States, has endorsed Barack Obama for President.  In a game changing move for Florida politics, the Chairman of the Miami based organization, Jorge Mas Santos, wrote and Op-Ed piece in The Washington Post published this past Saturday wrote that Obama was the better choice to affect positive change in Cuba going forward.  Santos explained:

Both presidential candidates have made clear that they want to help the Cuban people achieve freedom. But Barack Obama’s forward-looking and proactive approach toward empowering the Cuban people is more in line with these proposals than John McCain’s vow to continue the Bush administration’s policy.

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(ITOTD= Inconvenient Truth of the Day)

Tropical Storm Fay hit Key West late this afternoon, and the National Hurricane Center in Miami warns that the storm could strengthen into a hurricane before by the time it reaches Florida’s coast.

CNN reports that a hurricane warning was issued Monday for southwestern Florida, from Flamingo to Anna Maria Island. The warning means hurricane conditions are expected within 24 hours.

Monroe County emergency officials suspended their evacuation efforts for the Florida Keys, saying it was time for everyone to stay indoors.

Fay’s intensity on her projected path is still uncertain but forecasters are cautioning that the storm is still threatening and must be taken seriously.

Baseball update: Hurricane Fay’s threat leaves status of the Rays vs. Angels game tomorrow night.   MLB officials are meeting today to decide the status of the game. Angels manager Mike Scioscia said that the team is staying in Florida and if Tuesday’s game is postpones, they play a double-header on Wednesday.

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The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. Check out some of our most popular stories of the week, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites!

Katie Halper:

“The First Time I Every Saw Your Face” May Be the First Time You Hear About Ewan MacColl

California’s Gay Marriage Ban Overturned & 5 Ways To Take Action

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Nicole Hughes:

“Bottlemania” Book Takes Bottled Water Industry To Task

Arnold Tells Automakers To “Stop Whining” About Tougher California Emissions Standards

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Andy Kondrat:

Department of Energy Forecasts Large Increase In Wind Power Usage

Edward Norton & Gavin Newsom Speak To Congress About Environmental Building Practices

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Jon Popham:

Spencer Tunick Strips Hundreds Naked

Lichtenstein Sculptures At Fairchild Garden In Miami

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Giulia Rozzi:

Does Being Ethical Pay?

Is the Anti-Female Genial Mutilation Campaign Offensive?

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Gina Telaroli:

A Global Look At Media On Pangea Day

Everything Cinema: Brody Takes On the Working Life of Jean-Luc Godard

The Roy Lichtenstein monumental sculptures exhibit is coming upon the last two weeks of its unique run at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami. The installation features ten Lichtenstein monumental sculptures ranging from eight to thirty feet high and including some of the late, great pop artist’s most famous works, including House II and Brushstrokes, showcased within the gorgeous, lush surroundings of the Botanic Garden.

The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami - Dade County’s oldest cultural institution and one of the premiere Botanic Gardens in the world, has presented the exhibition as part of its annual Art and Flowers series. The premiere was last December during the world famous Art Basel Miami Beach international art show.

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Ecoist is turning trash into fashion. The Miami based eco-design firm is riding a fast rising star in the burgeoning world of eco-friendly fashion with their elegant handbags made entirely of recycled materials. Purses made from candy wrappers, rice bags, movie billboards, and pull tabs from aluminum cans (seen left) not only look fantastic but also saves tons of garbage from making its way into overfilled landfills while providing a fashionable and readily available alternative to the large amount of energy needed to produce new materials for the merchandise.

Ecoist has also just partnered with Coca-Cola, Aveda and Luna Bar to create handbags made from misprinted or discontinues packaging materials. Says company co-founder, Jonathan Marcoschamer:

“We tap into that source of waste because it is reliable and unfortunately it’s abundant,”

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