Tuesday July 31, 2007

Living in the Keys has been a wonderful and refreshing experience.  These last few months have made it even better.  I am not a church person (don't belong to any, never wanted to).  However, my neighbors, Pastors Chuck and Winnie Elliot have the Eagle's Rest Church.  They are very nice people, but I have never attended their church.  I have Multiple Sclerosis and was in a decline when my neighbors, Chuck and Winnie asked if they could pray over me for healing.  They did.  Two months later I was due for my yearly MRI to check on my brain lesions.  After reading the latest MRI my neurologist was very surprised and said two of my brain lesions were gone.  I asked, "How did this happen?  He replied that he did not know.  The only thing I can attribute it to are my wonderful neighbors, Pastors Chuck and Winnie and their healing prayers.   I still have not gone to church, but I am very thankful for the gift of their prayers and the healing that has taken place.  I have my life back, bought a boat, snorkel equipment and am enjoying a full life. Thank you.

Referring to the 2 million dollar tab for the sinking of the white elephant ship Vandenburg, County Commissioner Spehar, siding with Mayor DiGennaro said she
will “not vote to opt out of the contract.”  Commissioner Spehar said, according to
an article in the Key West Citizen, that “I don’t want a reputation for breaking a
contract.  A contract is a commitment.” 

In this time of serious budget shortfalls caused in great part by the reckless spending
of county government, and while the County Administrator is irresponsibly cutting vital services to County residents, the Mayor and Commissioner Spehar suddenly get contractual consciousness.  They seem to forget that they have an implied
“contractual” obligation to the citizens of Monroe County who voted them into office
to provide responsible leadership and fiscal responsibility. 

Dear Chuck Chartrand (aka Chartrac@bellsouth.net), All I can say is how sorry I am for you.  You act in this manner and think that your opinions actually count?  You have always been short of facts and long in opinion.  Do you actually have an original idea of your own or do you just like to parrot your few misinformed friends?

Obviously, this isn’t a picture of me but a nice self-portrait of yourself, Chuck, if I do say so.  Only two pictures exist of me and the KW Citizen uses them frequently. Besides, I am not flexible enough to assume this position but I am sure it is easy for someone who doesn’t have a backbone such as yourself.  You make it look very easy.  Must take plenty of practice.

Bottom line Chuck, when you can’t debate the issues you just attack the person.  How pathetic.  By the way, I lost a set of car keys recently.  Did you find them while you were up there?  willi-tom@monroecounty-fl.gov

[numbers laid out (without attribution)…] You don’t need attribution here. This ain’t a newspaper. You want facts, read the Barometer.

[jobs going begging in the US and Americans can't or won't take them] If there were no Aliens to take the jobs, those jobs would pay a living wage and Americans would take them.

Although I am not surprised by Mr. Cosby’s statement, I whole heartedly agree with it. There was a black reporter who went to the Super Dome in New Orleans after the hurricane. His conclusion was that if all the white people would leave the USA, the blacks would turn it into a ghetto from sea to shining sea. Look what they did to the Super Dome in just five days. They turned it into a ghetto, with all the crimes of the ghetto, robbery, rape, and murder. Is it all the honkies’ fault? I don't think so.

The gym in Marathon connected to the Deli / Liquor Store is by far one of the best I have seen, plus the owner is kind to animals and handsome.  So is Roger.  Their trainers are top-notch and very friendly.  Keep in mind you have options on where you spend your money and with whom you choose to keep company.  It's sad how spiteful and vicious the people are down here and it is written all over their grimacing faces.  I have never seen so many miserable, gossipy, anti-social shut-ins.  These un-happys do not contribute a single thing to our unique communities nor have a kind word to say.  I've been down here many years and the only normal, nice people seem to be in Key West.  That gym has the right to refuse service to anyone, but I don't believe there are enough people who take care of their minds, bodies and souls to keep it afloat.

A thousand Kudos to Bill Cosby! My hat is off to him, it's a God Damn shame that the Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and other chicken-shit racists and are afraid to raise their voices, because of their fear of being labeled Uncle Toms. They keep their face shut, and let this idiocy go on. The "Brothers" in prison (and there are a whole lot of them) wear their hat backwards and pump iron all day instead of taking advantage of the opportunity to finish high school or learn a marketable skill. They are just not interested in bettering themselves. They like being tough guy burglars, stick up men, and common street niggers.

I hope Chief Justice Roberts revcovers from his seizure and is able to continue on
the Supreme Court. I worry about any judge that Bush and Chaney would appoint.

Saturday we, along with some friends of ours, took our families to the
KOA Campground on Sugarloaf with the understanding that it was a
local friendly place.  Nothing could have been further from the truth. 
We sat on the beach, watching our children swim, we ordered drinks
and sodas from the bar area, tipped the staff, ordered pizza, tipped
again, and then were treated like something worse than trash by an old
man in a golf cart.  He, in fact, told us it was not a local friendly place. 
 I've never heard anyone be so rude or nasty in my life.  He actually tried to start a physical altercation with us.  Our friend happens to be a very prominent business man
here in the Keys owning one of the oldest businesses in Key West.  He was very
refined(?) with the way he was treated, but you can bet KOA won't be a place he or
the rest of us will be recommending to anyone.  We were not loud or obnoxious in any way, and we were spending money.  It's too bad, because they really do have a nice facility that we would have enjoyed spending time and money at again.

I hate it when someone goes off on a long 
cherry-picked rant and the very first thing they
 say is BS.

Saddam and Osama were not going for the
same goals. In fact it’s been proven that
Osama hated Saddam as much as he hates the Western countries. He wanted Sadaam to turn
Iraq into a Muslim fundamentalist country and Saddam refused. We’re all glad Saddam is gone
but the old rhetoric of tying Sadaam and Osama
 as brothers in arms is, well…BS.

[Illegal aliens]  There is a video circulating on the web that shows a jokester picking up about 8 illegals telling them that he wants to hire them.  They load into his pick up and he drives straight to the local immigration office and leans on the horn.  They run like roaches out of a hot drain.  Video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Jie48FwoYKM

What a great time we had. Saturday night! My baby and I started at
Looe Key Tiki bar. It was hopping with Injade playing all sorts of songs
and the crowd was loving it. The dress code wasn't being enforced! Then
 we stopped by Boondocks and MM 24 Band had packed the place. We
saw some friends, but mostly didn't know a soul (didn't matter). The
band was on one of their long breaks, so we didn't stay very long.  Then
 we headed up the road to the Key Deer, usually our Thursday night
haunt.  We heard the best band ever! "Reach." We could not even wait for our drinks
 because they were playing "our song" it was "Crazy" and she made it sound like Patsy
 was back. We danced every song and plan to be back on August 17th when they
return.  If you missed it, you missed it.

[For Sale By Owner] This really works well, at least for the girls who where these
T-Shirts!

[stop blaming Clinton for everything]  But he's such an easy target for lying about sex. Seriously, how screwed up are you people?

I hope the Iraqi Parliment enjoys its summer vacation knowing
our troops will continue dying for them until they get back all
refreshed.

[two things to get off my chest] One, the U.S. Congress gets an automatic pay raise this September $4400.00. That’s over $170,000  per year each and they have an approval rating worst than the President of 14%

Two, the lobster mini-season. A friend of mine was out the Sunday before mini-season and witnessed divers hauling up lobsters. They called the FWC and nothing happened. I said that the next time he should take a video camera with him and then send the tapes to Governor Crist so he can take steps to abolish the rape of the reef .

Thanks I feel so much better now. 

It was so beautiful out on the water Sunday.  Not a million boats zipping by, just locals enjoying their week end.  The visibility was around 40 feet and a nice haze from the cloud cover kept things cool.  Another beautiful day in paradise!   

[For Sale By Owner] I get a bunch of kooks calling me that never show up. So
far--zilch.

I spent some time over the weekend poking around
the Monroe County website.  I counted seven
county employees that were hired at a pay rate far
 above the maximum allowed for that position. 
Several of them did not have the educational
degrees clearly required in the job description or the
work experience also required.  Is anyone ever going to put a stop to King Willi?  Can we impeach a county administrator?  What do I have to do in order to go
 from being a $25,000 a year biologist to being a $109,000 a year department director and not have the education or experience clearly
required in the job description?  -- deedeesails@hotmail.com

From a website advertising photo retouching. The person involved seems to specialize in pageant photos, and says "I'm glad to answer any questions you have. Don't hesitate to ask." My first and most important question is: WTF?
http://www.naturalbeautiescontest.homestead.com/retoucha.html
http://www.naturalbeautiescontest.homestead.com/retouch4a.html
http://www.naturalbeautiescontest.homestead.com/retouch2.html
http://www.naturalbeautiescontest.homestead.com/retouch1b.html
http://www.naturalbeautiescontest.homestead.com/retouch5.html

I think you’d better fear the terrorist more than the President.  The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

My boyfriend keeps saying how much he hates bush so maybe I'll shave. 
 Do guys like it totally bald?  Oh, I thing he meant the president!

[Extra fee for Lobster Season] $500 would sure help the County out, but our County Government is too stupid. The Mini-Seasoners will still pay the price to rape us. Let's get a little rape in return.

Local tree hugger arrested for assault with a deadly
weapon. Barry Patterson is a carpenter in Key Largo.
Arrest Record

Bill Cosby for President!

[the piece on Bush Haters]  Thank you. It was well written and 100% true.

Have you noticed that in all the home security alarm commercials, none of the people who kick in the door or break
the window are ever black or Hispanic?  How realistic is that?

[market high, unemployment low] GWB has influenced both the stock market and unemployment.  GWB’s Demo despised tax cuts have freed up hard cash for investment and business growth.  Business growth benefits everyone, even the something for nothing crew.  Watch out folks, the Dems are going to get in your knickers.  They're coming with higher taxes. Hide your goodies, they want to redistribute everybody’s “wealth”. Everybody knows it, watch the market for the next few months, it's headed for the pits.  Way to go Bush Haters.

Oops, Chief Justice Roberts took a fall yesterday. Well, I guess that’s what happens when you lean to far to the right!

Who ever wrote that thing about Bush haters needs to stop looking at I Love Lucy reruns and FOX (wag the dog) news.   Instead go to PBS or Free Speech TV.  The Manchurian Candidate is in the White House.  The Bush family has been in bed (oil business) with the Bin Laden family for more than 25yrs.   People don't seem to care as long as they have a chicken in their pot and shoes for their kid’s feet.   “That’s someone else's problem.”   No war has ever been fought for anything other than economics.   Bush has spent more money than all the presidents before him added together.   Your kids may not have a chicken for their pot and their shoes may be combat boots!  Everyone would love us and no enemy could find a hiding place anywhere if we dropped schools, roads and hospitals instead of these costly bombs.  But we need to have an enemy as reason to build weapons.  Would you not meet an oppressor at your door with a gun if they came here?   We set up Sadaam and what he did was OK until he wanted to sell oil for more money and to others.  We don't need more oil, but these maniacs want control of who gets it. Power!

[Illegal aliens] It seems to me that the Democrats are all in favor of leaving our borders wide open.  Forget the Homeland security issue, forget the tax and SS dollars that are lost to illegal aliens, forget the incredible cost to everyone of us for illegals healthcare and education--forget all that.  Just think of the major screwing that the open door gives to American low income workers.  While our borders are wide open and there is a horde of illegals, the basic law of supply and demand will continue to make stoop-labor or similar jobs unappealing to low income Americans.  As long as there are takers, jobs paying pittance wages will go to illegals.  Cut off the illegals, and the wages will rise, low income Americans will take those jobs.  Tax revenues will increase, education and healthcare costs will plummet, and just perhaps we might start to hear English spoken again.  Cutting off illegals will cause higher wages which will force big agriculture to engineer more crops that can be raised and harvested by machines. 

Labor costs forced the development of mechanized cotton, orange, timber, grapes, cane, peaches, rice, and a myriad of other crops.  Did you know that agriculture is actually developing a cube shaped tomato? Are you ready to holler “produce prices will skyrocket”, nope they won’t.  The economies of mechanization will result in unchanged or perhaps even lower prices.  I just can’t understand why our low income workers continue to give any support to the Democrats.  You ask “why don’t they go to Canada and get true free welfare”?  Well dear friend, 1: Canada has one growing season. 2: Canada is cold, Mexico is hot.  3: Canada is a whole country away from Mexico.  4: Canada doesn’t have the need for their labor. 5: Canada doesn’t want them.  I think that most folks already knew all of that. And oh yeah, there is no such thing a “free welfare”, you pay for it.

The Florida Key's sewer system would be well along to completion if everyone down here would just get out their picks and shovels and start digging.

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Tuesday July 31, 2007

Sunday July 29, 2007

Kudos to Commissioner Neugent for trying to break the contract to sink the Vandenberg. He says that the financially troubled county could better use the $2,000,000 to connect sewers for 440 low income people. Mayor DiGennaro said Neugent was just grandstanding. (What a strange concept—trying to do something for the little man.)

After living in the Keys for seven years now, lobster mini-season still never ceases to amaze me. Early in the week I watched as visitors renting the house across the canal from me parked a semi on top of the septic tank, ran over plants, then parked three huge boats and 2 more trucks outside.

Monday afternoon, as I was taking my boat out to snorkel and enjoy the sun, I noticed a man and two kids snorkeling in Bogey Channel right in front of the bridge, dead center, where most boats cruise through. There was no dive flag visible and boat traffic was high. That’s where I heard the best mini-season line yet.  I pulled up to them to tell them boaters couldn't see them and they were going to get hit.  “Where’s your dive flag?” I yelled out to them.  “I live here, I don't need one,” he said.  Just a guess, but if he is a Keys’ resident, I would think he'd know the law says otherwise.

Later that night, walking to No Name Pub to get a take-out pizza, I realized my mistake. The place was jammed with people, which is good, but many of them were rude. One girl, on her way out the door, said “Bye No Name Pub, a.k.a. crack ‘ho house.”

On Wednesday, I saw the renters’ boats leave the dock and return – three times – by noon. Offloading their legal limit each time and then heading back for more.

Several times while on the water, I saw huge boats scarring the bay bottom, as well as zooming by snorkel and divers at a high-rate of speed, giving them no space whatsoever.

I realize that mini-season boosts our local economy, but at what cost? Our sewers and septic systems are overloaded; our marine resources are compromised and our water quality deteriorated. Perhaps we should get more law enforcement from the mainland, where all these people come from, to help enforce the law, or better yet, create a lottery system where only a certain amount of permits are granted for mini-season to ensure our precious resources are protected from the lobster mobsters.  There has got to be a better way.

[USS GWB] I don’t hate Bush. I fear him. The war supporter cannot face the fact that there was no al Qaeda in Iraq before the American invasion. I’ll repeat this fact because he can’t seem to accept it: there was no al Qaeda in Iraq before the American invasion. Stop spouting the republican rhetoric about them following us here if we leave Iraq. Who will follow us here? That’s nonsense designed to prolong our occupation of a country that hates us. Strong borders and ports and a strong Homeland Security Dept are the way to stop them from coming here while we start attacking al Qaeda wherever we find them.

I couldn’t even finish reading yesterday’s post. When he keeps spreading the falsehood that Iraq had anything to do with 9/11 I have to turn off. I’d rather read The Hungarian. At least he knows which end is up.

[Another Cuban crime of passion] After Jim Cameron approved another developer’s request for the demolition of a Key Largo trailer park, the mostly Hispanic residents left the library and had themselves a good old fashioned rumble in the parking lot. It seems no one was hurt or arrested, just good clean development fun. For those that want to belittle Mr Cameron, at least he’s consistent.  –usa33043@yahoo.com

[Bush hater] I hate Bush. What has he done to make the stock market so high and unemployment so low? (nothing.) No matter who was the president, the market would be high (unless he interfered)

[Mosquito control spot spraying] While hearing helicopters buzzing at nape-of-the-earth altitude isn't anything new in the Keys, hearing one very early on Saturday morning doing round robins above roof tops is.  Whoever is doing it and for whatever reason needs to be reminded that his profit needs to take second seat to people's privacy and noise abatement guidelines.  I'd like to know whether a permit was obtained, who approved it and how we can help clamp down of such nonsense.  If they have to take pictures, they can do so at a reasonable time and with one pass, not repeated attempts at filming at 7AM over Cudjoe Key. 

[My pit bull is different] A Garfield County, Okla sheriff's deputy shot and killed a pit bulldog that witnesses say attacked this town's mayor and a little boy during a rampage with another dog.
Mayor Jim Postier, who is also an animal control officer, was hospitalized Friday after the dogs knocked him over and he hit his head on the asphalt road, authorities said. Postier was flown by medical helicopter to St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City, where he was treated for a cracked skull, his son, also named Jim Postier, said.

The boy who was menaced by the dogs was not injured. An Arnett woman who was visiting a relative said she and her teenage children were held hostage behind a chain link fence for several hours while the dogs terrorized the area.

Undersheriff Jerry Niles said since the dog’s owner was planning to put the dogs down voluntarily, deputies didn't take possession of the animals.

Goat pants. goatsonline.com - Home

We just got back home. We went away for Mini-Season. I hate it. The County could make some bucks if they would charge $100 per license for the 2 days. That would make some of us locals happy.

[25 words or less] Lets make it really easy--just pictures for those morons that can't read a full sentence.

One of the standard "panic" rumors that throw some African villages into turmoil is the report that a couple (usually unmarried and therefore deserving of bad fortune) has become stuck together during sex and cannot be unstuck without medical attention. A reporter for Kenya's East African Standard happened to be in the middle of a frenzied mob in front of the Naselica Hotel in downtown Kisumu on May 26, brought together by rumors that an ambulance had been called for a stuck couple. The reporter was convinced that most in the crowd were true believers, but the hotel manager said one of his competitors probably had planted the rumor, hoping to tie up traffic for the day and to create the impression that the Naselica is unlucky.

[Politicians] It always amuses me the way people will defend slick Willie (Clinton) to the end and lambaste anyone who reminds them of his lies, corruption etc. while they are saying almost the same things about our current president with such a righteous tone and calling anyone who dares to disagree with them all manner of names. What's the difference? None!

All politicians are corrupt, lying scum bags who are not accountable to us average citizens. Except for occasionally throwing us a little bone once in a while, all they care about is getting re-elected and appeasing the powerful people who put them in office (not us voters). The two party system we are stuck with will insure that this will continue. Thomas Jefferson said something along the line that the Republic will need a revolution every 20 years or the govt. will lose touch with the people. He also said that "the best gov't is the one that governs the least". He was right on both statements.

The federal gov't and its bureaucracy have become a parasite that has its tendrils wrapped around every facet of our lives. If you think this is good, you are part of the problem. What is the solution? I wish I knew. I might fantasize about a revolution where all the corrupt politicians are put up against the wall or taken to the guillotine, but I know this won’t happen. We live in the "age of the wimp" and the parasite has become so entrenched in our lives that we think we can't survive without it. May the Gods help us (but they don't care either).

[Iraqi pullout] Quitters never win. Winners never quit.

[Illegal Aliens] Kudos to the poster! If his statistics are correct and are from a reliable source, this is just a scary as terrorists smuggling a nuke into any big city in America. Every single tax paying person should be up in arms about this. Aren't you sick and tired of supporting a bunch of freeloading sons of bitches? I want to sponsor a Bill in Congress to have a few days each month, open season on illegal aliens. Just like lobster season. Until something better is implemented, it will do nicely.

Pointing out that Clinton and pals used the “I don’t remember” ruse hundreds of times was not intended to compare them with AG Gonzalez.  Gonzalez is apparently a liar and has been caught and will likely suffer some consequence as a result.  The intent was to point out that no matter how outrageous the behavior of the left wing Dems is, little or nothing is ever said about their deceptions, lies and other antics.  And even when caught with their fingers in the pie, there is little consequence and the liberal media does their best to ignore it.  However, let a Republican get caught engaging in the same behavior and all media hell breaks loose and continues to beat the proverbial dead horse while the Dems take to their soap box and begin preaching morality.  

[Somebody writing a book] It's not somebody, it's me. It's written already. Furthermore, I have been invited to write some more. So there! (Ed: We are happy to provide a place where aspiring authors can aspire. If anyone knows any other authors who would like us to publish their manuscript in segments, please contact us at info@bigpinekey.com  For those that don’t like this feature, they are clearly marked and placed at the end of the Coconut Telegraph so you can easily choose not to read them.)

While thinking about beautifying my house, I came to the conclusion it is not worth it. The Keys are dead, being sexually abused by developers and greedy slave master renters, so why waste my money?  I love these islands but not the new locals who could care less about anything except changing the place for fun and profit. It’s time for us to move on. 

County Administrator Tom Willi was recently photographed checking his agenda for the County budget and other important business. --chartrac@bellsouth.net

[USS GWB] Many times Kudos to the person who wrote that post. I wholeheartedly agree with that person. Now the wooses in Congress have to be tarred and feathered and run out on a rail.

What's going to happen to The Keys after the fish are gone?  Is Captain Conch going to run sunset charters?  Enjoy your seafood and know that our grandchildren will not unless it's farmed.  Maybe then it won't have any mercury inside.  I hope the angelfish survive.  Adios fish hunters.   

[AG Gonzalez]  I guess I must be missing something. Several posters have accused our AG of being a liar.  I must have missed the posts wherein these folks listed exactly what statements he made that they claim were lies.  From what I've seen and heard the AG is under investigation for firing about 8 or 9 deputies.  And, oh yeah, just what does executive privilege mean? Don't these dudes work at His pleasure? Isn't it his right to fire anyone for any reason?   I guess no other Prez has fired Dep. AG's.  Isn't it just like the political employees in Congress?  I don't suppose it's possible that the investigators are simply trying find any reason to smear GWB's admin.  Nah!  These investigators are rock solid honorable folks interested only in Truth, Justice, and the American way.  Sure, I just know that these fine Democratic gentlepersons are above reproach and above partisan politics.  By the way, I got a great offer on the web from a really nice person in Nigeria, he promised to make me a fortune, are you interested in joining in?

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Sunday July 29, 2007

Saturday July 28, 2007

Well, lobster mini-season is over for another year.  The manic destruction of our near shore sea floor, coral heads, ledges and reefs comes to an end and nature can try to begin the healing process only to be accosted again in 12 months.  While the bars, motels, hotels and short term renters are busy counting their money, many locals are cleaning up after the lobster lunatics who leave behind open bags of trash and garbage for the deer and raccoons to spread around the neighborhood, piles of rotting lobster heads stinking up the shorelines and however much more garbage they dumped into your canal.  

You can now safely take a swim in your canal or leave your boat tied to the dock without some hung-over idiot weaving down the canal ignoring the big NO WAKE sign while digging in the ice chest for another Bud Lite. 

It will be safe once again to approach a boat ramp without fear of some moron trying to get his shiny new boat into or out of the ramp without ending up sideways or backing into you or one of the kids.  Frazzled nerves of neighbors who have had to listen to all night parties and some jerk screaming “I can’t find the f**king boat key” at six in the morning from the rental next door are beginning to calm, and peace once again descends on our little island.  

[USS GWB] It’s always amusing when logic and reason flee a discussion, ad hominem (look it up) attacks ensue.  A poster says that I’m a blind, rich, sinner because I believe that it’s vital to our nation’s interests to “win” in Iraq.  It seems that even the most pathological GWB hater can’t deny that we need Mideast oil.  This Hater even claims that there was no Al Qaeda terrorism before Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Gee, I guess the Cole attack, Trade Center 1 &2, etc., etc., etc., were the work of Norwegian Rune worshipers.  This Poster of Hate fails to even recognize that we did not start this conflict, with terrorism.  We were attacked!  Iraq is simply a battle in this world war. .  If the US folds, or worse “loses” in Iraq, the world will see us as being weak and lacking will.  This certainly will embolden our enemies.  A “loss” to terrorism will guarantee increased terrorism and strife on a level we have not yet seen. If you think that  holding that view is prideful, you are....simply wrong.   By the way, I’m happy with the stock market.  I’m happy that the economy is growing at a very robust rate.  I’m happy that unemployment is at near record lows.  I’m happy that the national deficient is shrinking much faster than anyone anticipated.  I’m happy that tax revenues are at near record highs thanks to the GWB tax cuts.  I’m most happy that we have not yet suffered a new terrorist hit on our soil.  I’m happy that we’re fighting the bastards over there.  I’m very sorry that I’m not rich.  GWB sure isn’t perfect, but he’s pretty damned good in my book.  Having said that, I'd toss GWB in a heart beat if a better and viable course of action in Iraq was available.

To the owners of Looe Key Tiki Bar: I love your tiki bar and George and the other bartenders are great, but I would like to make a suggestion. Sitting at the table area on those days when the wind doesn't blow...it’s hot, its very hot! Some fans for the table area would great.

Defending the Attorney General Liar, Gonzales with the “blame Clinton” defense is lame. When will Republicans stop blaming Clinton for everything and start tending to their own house.

[free money for upgrading our emergency services communications]  Call or e-mail your County commissioner’s office and ask.  The phone numbers and e-mail addresses are on the county web site.  (But, even if the county were to get federal funds for the project, county administration would likely re-designate them in order to buy a badly needed restaurant or sink a ship!)

[Illegal Aliens]
1. $11 Billion to $22 billion is spent on welfare to illegal aliens each year
2. $2.2 Billion dollars a year is spent on food assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and free school lunches for illegal aliens
3. $2.5 Billion dollars a year is spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens
4. $12 Billion dollars a year is spent on primary and secondary school education for children here illegally and they cannot speak a word of English!
5. $17 Billion dollars a year is spent for education for the American-born children of illegal aliens, known as anchor babies.
6. $3 Million Dollars a DAY is spent to incarcerate illegal aliens.
7. 30% percent of all Federal Prison inmates are illegal aliens. 
8. $90 Billion Dollars a year is spent on illegal aliens for Welfare & social services by the American taxpayers.
9. $200 Billion Dollars a year in suppressed American wages are caused by the illegal aliens.
10. The illegal aliens in the United States have a crime rate that's two and a half times that of white non-illegal aliens. In particular, their children, are going to make a huge additional crime problem in the United States.
11. During the year of 2005 there were 4 to 10 MILLION illegal aliens that crossed our Southern Border also, as many as 19,500 illegal aliens from Terrorist Countries. Millions of pounds of drugs, cocaine, meth, heroine and marijuana, crossed into the U. S. from the Southern border
12. The National Policy Institute "estimated that the total cost of mass deportation would be between $206 and $230 billion or an average cost of between $41 and $46 billion annually over a five year period."
13. In 2006 illegal aliens sent home $45 BILLION in remittances back to their countries of origin. 
14. "The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration: Nearly One Million Sex Crimes Committed by Illegal Immigrants In The United States ".

So using the lowest estimates, the annual cost of illegal aliens is $338.3 billion dollars a year! So if deporting them costs between $206 and $230 billion dollars, Hey get rid of em', We'll be ahead after the 1st year.

"Government always finds a need for whatever money it gets."  --Ronald Reagan

[Mini Season] I didn’t see as many boats and trailers on the road this year. I wonder how it compared to last year.

Maybe 25 words or less is too few.  How about 100 words?  Some people are writing a book here.

When your defense of Gonzales consists of "So what? Look what Clinton did" it does nothing but give you a third grade defense. Kind of like "so look what my little brother did". Catch up. The Clinton crutches defense is getting worn.

Kudos to the person who wrote the Bill of Non-Rights.  Well said.

[A treatise on human history] You forgot Politian's and religious analysts, which are quite the same things!

There’s “no Democrats in the military”? Man the dumbing down of the Republican Party is complete. Can you say Wesley Clarke, Al Gore, John Kerry? All Vietnam veterans. Go ahead slam them but this American thanks them and all Veterans for their service to country. Even the, proven to be liars, Swiftboaters.

[bashing Attorney General Gonzalez for saying he “…didn’t recall,”] You seem to think that because Clinton and his crew used the "I don't recall" gambit that somehow excuses Gonzalez from being a dick.  It doesn't.  There is no excuse for any of these yahoos to act in this way.  I really don't see how it is a partisan issue. It is more of a "how much of this shit are we willing to put up with" kind of thing. We shouldn't tolerate this behavior from anybody in our gov't.

[people are confused by the Bill of Rights] You should have printed this in Spanish where it would have done more good.

President Bush has failed miserably, and yet many of his ideas, his policies and many of his initiatives have succeeded. Our economy is roaring, we’ve avoided any homeland attack since 9/11, joblessness is at rock bottom, we’ve got no inflation, the markets are sky-high.  We’ve had substantial successes in the mid east, North Korea is talking, Libya is quiescent, Afghanistan and Pakistan are still at conflict with the Taliban, but neither country is now ruled by the Taliban.  But still, GWB has failed. 

He failed to recognize the depth and width of the pool of resentment against him for beating Gore and then JFK (he’s a Vietnam Vet you know).  GWB is a plain spoken man with deeply held ethical and political beliefs.  GWB is not pretty, he’s not articulate, and because of that he's a good and decent man who speaks his beliefs.  He’s a man you would be proud to call a friend. 

GWB is a failure.  Early in his administration he tried to reach across party lines so as to involve politicos like Teddy (Glub) Kennedy in solving any number of problems facing our nation.  He was rebuffed.  The Bush haters have succeeded in blurring many American’s vision so as to believe that anything and everything that GWB promulgates is evil.  If GWB were to suggest that Mom and apple pie were righteous American staples, the Haters would bellow “Mom is a right wing religious zealot” and “”Apple pie is a ploy of the right wing wing-nuts designed to make you fat and vulnerable, it causes methane pollution”. 

GWB has failed miserably in the PR wars, and for that the country is the poorer.  GWB’s haters have spawned a “lets’ get Bush mentality”, sycophants to this cause advocate failure of any US initiative so as to denigrate GWB.  They embrace American failure like a long lost lover.  If you doubt it, simply read the responses to this.

The Delta Aquarid meteor shower will peak before dawn July 28. All but the brightest meteors will be washed out, however, by light from the almost-full moon. Try watching during the hour before twilight brightens the sky.

[113 The Hungarian] Mom and dad were gone for the better part of an hour.  I'm sure if it wasn't for the uncomfortable pillion pad, they would have been gone longer. They must have rode a ways into the country, in those low laying areas it gets cold this time of year because the diagonal scar, received from the crash with Gramps, stood out vividly on dad's forehead, but he was smiling. Mom climbed off the back and said, "That was fun, this motorcycle is a lot stronger than your Puch was." "Of course Marie, this one is twice as big." "Isn't this too big for Imre?" "No mom it's not too big for me at all, really it's not." I was afraid for a moment that I'll be demoted to a scooter or a moped. The good thing was that dad didn't fall in love with my Matchless, or Matchbox as my brother called it.

Monday morning I rode to school on my Matchbox and pulled up where the school buses usually stop. My note book and composition book, held together with a big rubber band, were sitting on the gas tank between my knees. I saw Paulette and waved to her. Dumb move, must wave with the left hand. By taking my right hand off the throttle the engine idled down and almost cut out. Grabbing a handful of throttle made the bike jump. My note book went flying, hit the ground, and slid. The rubber band broke, my home work and papers were blown all over. This convinced me to visit the surplus store in Bethesda and buy a military style canvas shoulder bag. The Hungarian

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Saturday July 28, 2007

Friday July 27, 2007

Reason #1.  Since the occupation of Iraq began terrorist activities are up over 3,500%.  When Bush Sr. was smart enough to get very close to Baghdad and contain Saddam, terrorist activities dropped.  Do the math.  It’s so easy "A caveman President" should be able to figure it out.

[Blame Clinton] While the left wing zealots continue bashing Attorney General Gonzalez for saying he “…didn’t recall,” consider this:

According to the Washing Post, during 17 depositions given by Bill Clinton in the Paula Jones, Monica Lewinsky hearings, then President Slick Willie Clinton said he “couldn’t recall,” “don’t remember” or some version of the same 267 times.  Other members of the Clinton Administration used the same tactic during questioning or testimony during the numerous Administration’s scandal investigations as follows:

Bill Kennedy 116, Harold Ickes 148, Ricki Seidman 160, Bruce Lindsey 161, Bill Burton 191, Mark Gearan 221, Mack McLarty 233, Neil Egglseston 250, John Podesta 264, Jennifer O'Connor 343, Dwight Holton 348, Patsy Thomasson 420, Jeff Eller 697 and First Lady Hillary 250.  (Not including being unable to locate the Rose law firm billing records conveniently stashed in her closet).

[Mini Season--We could keep the highway blocked for the whole two days!]  I'm in! 

[USS GWB] I don’t think anyone has answered you because your questions are those of a blind man. 1. No one ever said we’d be better off without Mid East oil. 2. We already have a stronger al Qaeda (where none existed before the USS Bush sailed in). 3. Global wimps? So you think we’re a better country by letting our troops get slaughtered just so your national ego can be fed? (and with the same end results) Pride is a sin.

You stated that Bush has done some good. I must have missed that part. Oh, you probably mean giving the rich a tax break.

A new study in the U.K. claims that those smoking marijuana, even once in a while, have a greater chance of becoming psychotic.

[A treatise on human history] Humans originally existed as members of small bands of nomadic hunters/gatherers. They lived on deer in the mountains during the summer and traveled to the coast to live on fish and lobster in the winter.

The most important events in all of history were the invention of beer and the invention of the wheel. The wheel was invented to get man to the beer.  Thus was formed the foundation of modern civilization and the catalyst for the splitting of humanity into two distinct subgroups: 1. Liberals 2. Conservatives.

Beer required grain, that was the beginning of agriculture.  Neither the glass bottle nor aluminum can were invented yet, so while our early humans were sitting around waiting for their invention, early humans just stayed close to the brewery, thus villages were born.

Some men spent their days tracking and killing animals to B-B-Q at night while they were drinking beer.  This was the beginning of what is known as the Conservative movement.

Other men who were weaker and less skilled at hunting learned to live off the Conservatives by showing up for the nightly B-B-Q's and doing the sewing, fetching, and hair dressing.  This was the beginning of the Liberal movement.

Some noteworthy Liberal achievements include the domestication of cats, the invention of group therapy, group hugs, and the concept of democratic voting to decide how to divide the meat and beer that Conservatives provided.

Over the years Conservatives came to be symbolized by the largest, most powerful land animal on earth, the elephant.  Liberals are symbolized by the jackass.

Some modern Liberals like imported beer (with lime added), but most prefer white wine or imported bottled water. They eat raw fish but like their beef well done.  Sushi, tofu, and French food are standard Liberal fare.

Another interesting evolutionary side note: most of Liberal women have higher testosterone levels than their men.  Most social workers, attorneys, journalists, Hollywood dreamers and group therapists are Liberals.  Liberals invented the designated hitter rule because it just isn’t fair to the pitcher to make him/her bat.

Conservatives drink domestic beer. They eat red meat and provide for their women. Conservatives are big-game hunters, rodeo cowboys, lumberjacks, construction workers, firemen, medical doctors, police officers, corporate executives, athletes, Marines, Sailors, Airmen, Soldiers, and generally anyone who works productively. Conservatives who own companies hire other Conservatives who want to work for a living.

[Mini Lobster Season] I call them Pig days.  
http://www.keylargokey.com/pigday1.MPG

Thanks so much for the info regarding the lobster stamp for seniors. Now if I can just get him out there. He says there’s just too many people out there asking stupid questions and he's too old to say "Yes sir" to anyone. We enjoyed swimming at the local hole Sun. 'til the lightning got close.

There’s lots of good music around this weekend so get off the couch and out of the AC and take advantage of it or you'll be  saying, "There’s nothing to do around here".

George S Patton's new speech: Iraq and the modern world. Patton's back

I just wanted to say what a pleasure it is to have a convenient post office located in Summerland Key along with an efficient and pleasant staff. Unfortunately, I often have to use a Post Office in Delray Beach, Florida with lines 20+ deep and a 2 window staff that rivals the personality of a big city Passport Office. Keep up the great job here in the Keys ladies.

[Keys drought] We have a lot of rain, but they’re still making us ration water.

To paraphrase a confused person: If you don’t pray to the alter of Bush "grave danger awaits America". Gee, no hyperbole there! I love drama and fear mongers. Better hide under the bed.

How the Bush administration wants to improve fuel efficiency.

Not only the Keys are losing locals, but the country is too. The rate of families leaving the US of A has quadrupled in the last two years. Why? People are scared of the country going down the tubes and they have a right to be. Our leaders are floundering and fornicating our security and our wealth away. When a country's population starts losing faith in their maintenance department, it is time for a new crew . The problem is that no one knows what will work and who to hire. We did it to ourselves by thinking greed and laziness would feed us forever. Nobody wants to sweat anymore. Where to now?

A whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights."

ARTICLE I: You do NOT have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.

ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.

ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.

ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes . (This one is my pet peeve...get an education and go to work....don't expect everyone else to take care of you!)

ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care.

ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.

ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.

ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful.

ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.

ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country. We don't care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from!

ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country's history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, tough!

Kudos to the two deputies that stopped the U.S Xpress Enterprises semi on Friday afternoon. It almost rear ended me on the 7 Mile Bridge then it started passing me and 3 other cars even though we were doing 60 at the time. A semi coming from the other direction had to slow down to give him room to get back in his lane and the back of his trailer almost clipped the lead car in front of me. Someone must have called on him because he was stopped just as he left Big Pine. I hope he got a hefty ticket.

I also use BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) to beam the same email to others at the same time. This spam crap sucks! I never get any spam or bugs and the only thing I use is www.F-Prot.com for virus protection. I haven't had a bug for 5 years. Another way to stop Spam and advertising pop-ups is to tell all vendors you are over 65. They know you don't have any money, so why send you stuff! Ha!

If we want to get rid of the take over by non-English speaking people let's pass a law that the welfare and food stamp applications must be filled out in English.  It will be amazing how many of them suddenly learn English.  If I ever move to Greece I plan to learn Greek.  In America learn our language (and stop showering in after shave).

[Attorney General Gonzalez seems to have amnesia] I guess that George Bush made a big mistake sending them to Bill and Hill’s Scholl of Political Memory.

What ever happened to the dick head who was suing bigpinekey.com? (Ed: He knew he couldn’t fight the corporate structure and bottomless deep pockets of the mighty BigPineKey.com! But he probably just moved.)

With all the crime going on here, why don't we transfer about a 1000 DUI cops to real criminal catching duty. That should leave about 5000 for DUI's!

[3 commissioners like what Willie is doing] Come November ’08 the two that are up for reelection will, no doubt, be shown the door.

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Friday July 27, 2007

Wednesday July 25, 2007

[Lobster for dinner tonight] Today and tomorrow is the Mini Lobster Season which is dreaded by locals and embraced by the dive and hospitality industries. Let the games begin. Just keep out of my canal!

Kudos to the Sheriff’s Deputy in car 1306 who pulled over to remove the hazard in the middle of a very busy US1 on Big Pine yesterday. 

Bummer! Delta pulling out of Marathon Airport as of Sept 6. I got bumped back to KW on my birthday. Now I’ve got to thumb my way back to BPK!

[Kinetic sculpture] Truly amazing. http:/www.glumbert.com/media/kineticsculpture

If the attorney for the alligator killers can get the trial moved to my old Central Florida stomping grounds, the outcome will be to give the kids a stern talking to and make them buy a hunting license after the fact.

Oh, it's Ok to slander, ridicule, make jokes, in very poor taste, about our President, but not Jerry Coleman.

[No license needed] Florida residents 65 years of age or older who have in their possession proof of age and residency or a Resident Senior Citizen Hunting and Fishing Certificate are exempt from having the following licenses and permits: Saltwater Fishing license; Freshwater Fishing License; Hunting license; Lobster permit; Snook permit; Management Area permit; Muzzleloading Gun permit; Turkey permit; Archery permit; Crossbow permit; Migratory Bird permit; Florida Waterfowl permit; and some Quota Hunts*.

They are not exempt from needing the following when taking or attempting to take the fish or wildlife regulated by the following permits: Tarpon Tag; Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (federal Duck Stamp); Recreational Use permits; Special-Opportunity Hunts; Statewide Alligator Trapping license/Harvest permit; and some Quota Hunts.

No-cost, complimentary hunting and fishing certificates for residents age 65 or older may be obtained from county tax collector’s offices.

Screw Bill Gates and Vista, Get a Mac!

At long last comes the dawn.  It looks like the Keys really do need a modern sewer system after all.  Look around you.  10 people staying in a single family house on a canal.  Flushy, flushy, flushy.  Where is it going to go?  5 gallons in, equals 5 gallons out.   I would think that the septic tank process needs a little time to work.  

By the way don't "waste" any time looking for bugs in my canal, at least not the lobster type. There have been few to find recently compared to how it used to be.

[90# Scam] This is a repost of a chain letter that has been making its way around the internet for some time. Although not completely false it is nothing the average telco customer has to worry about as it is targeted to PBX systems. For more info: http://www.breakthechain.org/exclusives/90pound.html

I think all that tax "reform" mumbo jumbo was aimed at eliminating that pesky 3% cap on yearly Homesteaded property tax increases.

[Credit card fraud is everywhere]  The day after the iPhone came out, my mother’s credit card number was used to make purchases at an AT & T store and an Apple store in two separate states.  The businesses both claim that they swiped the card.  That would be impossible since my mother had used her card that day in another state.  Ironically, when she tried to use it four hours later, her credit card company declined the charge and asked her to call.  You’d think the card company would have questioned the $4500 in charges instead of her dinner bill.

Architektura. Video Slide Show (press Esc key to exit)

[The GTE Security Department requested that I share this information]  GTE has been out of business for over 10 years. Be careful of bullshit and out dated info.

Happy 40th birthday DanaI! I would have sent you a card and pictures of your nieces, but since you don't call me and the number I have for you doesn't work, I have no clue where to send it so…
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear Da-----na,
Happy birthday to you.
We will be down in August, hope to see you then. You have my number so call me.

I thoroughly enjoy the Hungarian's stories.  I would have loved to have had a pal like that in school, but I lived so far out in the country that after school activities were farm chores.  It was a great childhood and probably kept me out of trouble, but reading Imre's adventure is great fun!

Watch this, it will touch your heart. http://www.militarytimes.com/multimedia/video/hancock/

[alligator killer a sportsman?]  Maybe the next lawyer to represent a murderer can use that too.  “My client didn't murder anyone.  He was just hunting people.”

[Things over heard during President Bush’s colonoscopy] Is that a plop or is that his brain?   I can’t get the scope in; his head is in the way. 

[Virginia speeding fine is $5,500]  That sure sounds like a rebel speed trap to me.

[Disgruntled reader slander] They may be public figures, but I think that slender is only relevant when something said is false or cannot be proven true. The statement “The housing czar has not earned his pay by not providing or maintaining existing affordable housing” can be proven true if the czar has not provided or maintained affordable housing.

You can look up Defamation of Character on line for a good read. If you are a public figure you're out there in the open to be scrutinized. Deliberately harming individuals is a different story. If you are not sure if it is libel or slander use the term Defamation of Character. It encompasses both and I believe is the term the Florida courts use.

Coming out of our canal into Bogie channel yesterday I'm was gazing across the water and it looked like there were people in the water snorkeling smack dab in the middle of the channel; and there is a huge boat heading towards them. They were very hard to see (no dive flag).  I put my boat between them and the oncoming boat and told them that we couldn't see them and where was their flag?  His answer to me, "I don't need a flag, I live here!"  Unbelievable.  He deserves to get run over.

I freaking hate mini-season and the people that come here for it.  If I see anything illegal I'm calling the cops. 

How does The Hungarian get away with his postings in this politically correct world?  I'm Jewish.  Can I write a daily article called "The Jew"?  I'm a woman.  Can I write an article called "The Broad"? (Ed: Yes, on BigPineKey.com you can. We've never been accused of being politically correct.)

This is to the girl who keeps calling Debbie with a blocked number.  It's funny how people claim to be all big and bad but when they call to threaten you they restrict there name and number so you don't know who they are. Grow up and quit playing phone games. Either be a woman and show who you are or don't bother calling people. Maybe you should worry about your own relationships and leave other peoples’ alone.

I'm a little confused.  Dion's market on Big Pine was displaying numerous patriotic items a short while ago.  I then realized that the Dion's on Roosevelt Ave and White Street in Key West sells CITGO gasoline. CITGO as many know, is owned by the leader of Venezuela. Chavez, who is as anti-American as Bin Laden uses some of his wealth to buy Russian armament which he gives to the leftist causes in South America.  Although this knowledge has been on the internet for quite some time, many people still buy CITGO products.  I am hoping that most aren't aware of the affiliation.  Dion's, however, must be aware of it.  They should either get rid of CITGO or take down their patriotic signs and post a picture of a terrorist.

How about if we eliminate the web posters with 25 brain cells or less?  I was thinking natural selection would have taken care of you by now.  If you do not have the sense to stop reading a post for whatever reason, length or content, then Hell is your own creation.  Can you just shut up about it?  No, you're some wannabe weirdo that self-glorifies overseeing your own lame words in print online.  Pathetic! 

Obama Hussein Barack really made a fool out of himself at the CNN/YouTube debate. He said he would meet with North Korea, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela dictators happily. Not five minutes later his spin agent said, “No he didn’t mean that.”

They said Bush was stupid, but this guy makes him look like Einstein.

Download the Nutrient database search engine and find out just what is in your food. http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=12354500

[wouldn’t get out of bed for $6.55 an hour]  Neither will a lot of other people.  That’s why we have so many slugs sucking off of the welfare system!

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Wednesday July 25, 2007

Tuesday July 24, 2007

For those having trouble with old programs under Vista – have you tried running them in compatibility mode?  They provide options for each program to run like they were still under a variety of versions running all the way back to Windows 95. 

To try that, right click the desktop icon for the program in question, select properties, select (guess what) compatibility and pick your old version.  You might have to also tell it to run in administrator mode by checking the box at the bottom.  I don’t know if that will work, but just today somebody suggested that for another program I am getting ready to install.  

My trusty XP machine died and I took the leap to the latest and greatest.  I find Vista runs plenty fast.  But knowing it was going to be a resources hog I sprang for a dual core (that’s 2 CPUs on a single chip that run in parallel) model with lots of memory (2 gigabytes).  I sure wouldn’t want to try it on a single core CPU less that 500 megabyte machine.  Gee, just think – we put man on the moon when the computer in mission control only had 1 megabyte and took as much space as Win Dixie!

The minimum wage raise kicked in today. Now McDonald’s workers will earn $6.55 an hour. They’ll be no need for affordable housing anymore. We can fire the county's $500 an hour housing crook.

Frankly, I wouldn’t even get out of bed for $6.55 an hour.

Bush is finally doing the right thing in Iraq. The surge is a good idea. But it’s five years too late! Too little and too late to have any real success. The only way to win a guerilla war is to control one neighborhood at a time and expand from there. To do that Bush will need a far greater number of troops than he has available.

He should have left Iraq before the surge because all the American deaths since that milestone will have been for nothing. The end result will be just the same except we wouldn’t have lost all those additional American lives.

Lost in translation.

[Bar wisdom.] "I don't care if you worship a stick, just don't beat me with it."

This links go to a site that you can block or stop delivery of junk paper mail .  DoNotMailList

I agree with the person yesterday that said they find it "outrageous that the attorney representing a man who killed an alligator inside a National Wildlife Refuge is trying to pass his client as just a sportsman".  I am a hunter, and I abide by the proper ethics of hunting.  I hunt where it is allowed and permitted, only for food, and I always kill in what is considered a humane manner.  What these guys did is a disgrace to the hunting community and to humanity as a whole.  Torturing any animal, especially in a federal wildlife preserve, is unforgiving, and to kill protected migratory birds, just to use them to lure the gator to its death, is just as bad.

I read the article, in the Keynoter Saturday that said the judge had recused himself of the trial, because the defense attorney had made a motion to disqualify him.  It will be interesting to see what other "head games" these lawyers play with this, trying to get it delayed even more.  Next, they will be trying to get the sentencing moved out of the Keys because of all the "public interest" which they blamed on the judge and State Attorney's office.  Heck, from what I've been hearing, the "public interest" has nothing to do with what the judge might have said on Becker's morning radio program.

[Vista alternative] The free Linux operating system Ubuntu 7.04, called Feisty Fawn, is the cat’s whiskers! It runs on just about any computer. It’s fast because it used less of your computer’s resources than any other OS. Its biggest attraction (other than being free) is that it comes with very nice software pre-installed--nothing to buy. It has a great internet browser, word processor, spread sheet, image editor and a whole slew of other easy to use top-notch software. It is also the easiest operating system to install. Plus there are very few bad guys attacking the OS, so your risk of viruses and malware is greatly reduced.

[You get what you pay for] 3 commissioners like what Willie is doing. You’d better vote one of them out.

July is the worst month for lightning deaths. A diver was killed Sunday when he surfaced and lightning struck his tank. Ouch!

The YouTube Democrat debate last night was a big success. Everyone seemed to like the format. They asked all the questions that I wanted to know--about time. I hope all debates are run like that from now on.

I was trying to backup my PC’s hard drive to my external hard drive. I was on tech support with India for 1 ½ hours until she switched me to the next level of support. The next guy was straight to the point and professional. He had me delete all the stuff (an additional 1 hours worth of my time) she made me do and restart my computer. Now it works. My point is that you’re at the mercy of the tech support person, who often knows less than you do.

[Ready to jump ship] Al Qaeda already is stronger in Iraq. We are losers and the world already knows it. We always shoot and run once we realize that we can’t win. Why not? Iraq is already in chaos, there is widespread civil war, tribe killing tribe, even tribe killing each other--so what could get worse?

[disgruntled reader] A question for the Editor. although he probably won't print it as is again.  How is it that someone saying “Key Deer Bar is a very undesirable place with an undesirable crowd” slander, when naming a local Attorney isn't?  Key Deer is a place of business and saying “the bar crowd” doesn't specifically name anyone.  Naming attorney Jerry Coleman is using a person's name, tainting his reputation and slandering him personally.

Here are some postings that I copied and pasted directly from this website unedited that don't name the posting person:

Congratulations to Attorney Jerry Colman on his pay raise. As the county’s affordable housing czar Mr Colman has be rewarded for not producing one affordable house during his tenure. What was the other headline that I wanted to mention? Oh, yes…County slashes services, personnel and departments!

Can the county commissioners tell us in 25 words or less why we need Jerry Coleman or Slick Willi? I wish we could recall the 3 Stooges.

[25 words or less]  You can start by eliminating the Hungarian, then you will not need to limit anyone else.  I must admit, I like the way you put it at the end of the column everyday, so I can skip by all that babble.  Having said that however, I do enjoy the writers that mock him. Thank you for the sense of humor Big Piners.

[Tar and feather Tom Willi?] Too cruel, how can people who are all upset about the demise of a giant lizard, be so cruel to a human? Terminate the sonofabitch with extreme prejudice.

[Profits plus] Of course profiting from your business is the idea.  But when you lie to your customers about product availability and lie about your "credentials", you shouldn't be in business at all.

Windows Vista is in every new computer] This is true, but not the only thing you can buy. Most computer manufacturers will install any OS you need instead of Vista. Windows XP Pro is considered stable.  Windows 2000 is the best, but hard to get because MS is supposed to drop support for it.

You all should have Dick Cheney's brains. You act like it's a bad thing that he would be in charge.

I admit it, I am a bit of a slow learner.  I was hit five times while riding my bike over the course of seven years, before I decided that the cost of fuel and insurance was well worth it.  Not one of those times was the accident my fault.  (Think drunks and gray hairs.)

[How can Iraq be safer if al Qaeda is in charge] They wouldn’t be in charge if the Iraqis stand up to them--right? Why do America’s sons and daughters have to be the ones keeping the Iraqi people safe? A lQaeda wasn’t in charge there before so why would the Iraqis let them control the country now? The usual fear tactic has worn very thin. Republicans need some new spin.

Wow, I just saw on the news that if you live in Virginia and get caught going 20 mph over the speed limit the fine is $5,500.  If you don’t pay they issue an arrest warrant and suspend your license.  That ought to cure the speeding problem!  Wonder what the second ticket sets you back.

Myself and many of my friends have new computers with Vista factory installed on them and all are problem free. They all work very fast and are a pleasure to use. On the other hand I know quite a few people that upgraded from XP to Vista and they are experiencing exactly what you posted. The new machines are built to be compatible while older ones seem to dislike it.  

Maybe the engineers of Americas highways are the morons. The way the interstate system is set up odd numbers run north and south and even numbers run east and west, thus US1 is indeed considered a north, south highway. Both ways can be considered correct. The same way someone can be Polish and put Polish on their shoes.

I always rode my bike on the left side of the road, facing oncoming traffic. That way, I would always know who hit me!

A new world’s record for the long jump was set today.  At an amazing 126 feet, the mark was set on a sandy beach by a woman with no professional athletic background.  Spectators stated that they heard a shriek and saw the woman cover the incredible distance.  An amateur photographer caught the woman on film immediately before the jump. Because it was not a sanctioned track and field event the record will remain unofficial!

Bush invaded Iraq because Arab al Qaeda members attacked America. Al Qaeda is in the northwest border of Pakistan, everyone knows it. So what does Bush do? He sends more troops to Baghdad.

Happy Birthday Lauren. I love you.
--Mom xoxoxoxo

[109 The Hungarian] It was in the late summer of 1959 and motorcycles were far from my mind. A whole bunch of us were down at our summer resort of Big Rock having a wonderful time. It is inevitable when everyone is having a good time, some no good sonofabitch has to come along and spoil it. This is what happened on that day.

It was a very nice, hot afternoon, but the water helped us to cope with the heat. A group of eight older boys arrived and started ordering the smaller boys around, not waiting for their turn on the rope, and just being a general nuisance. One of them climbed on the top of the rock and pushed all the others off and said, "All of you get the hell out of here. I’ll give you five minutes. If we see you after that you will get a beating." This didn't set right with me at all, everyone was getting their things together and I asked this kid, Kevin, who looked to be my age, "Who is this guy?" "Oh, that's Eddy Stump. He’ll be an eleventh grader next September and he’s bad news." "Kevin, we can't have him run us off like this." "You’re damn right, I'm going home and calling the police and they’ll run him off." I told him, "Bad idea man. The state owns this place and if the cops come and run those guys off, two days later there will be No Swimming  signs posted at the rock." "What do you think we should do?" I answered, "I will need some help to do what I want. Can I count on you Kevin?" "Sure thing, what do you have in mind?" "We need to teach them a lesson, so they don't ever want to come back. Can you get a few more boys to come back?" "Sure thing, how many you want?" "About ten and all should be good baseball players."  The Hungarian

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Tuesday July 24, 2007

Sunday July 22, 2007

The visibility was excellent out at the reef line on Saturday. I shot two fat mangrove snappers and five nice hogfish. I was hoping for some muttons, but I had plenty earlier this summer. Too bad the visibility isn't like this more often. It just comes and goes. Two weeks ago I was at the reef line and the visibility was maybe 10 feet of pea soup. We will see what it is like outback today. I bet the heads are packed ready and waiting for Wednesday.

[Free Willi]  The comments posted Friday, July 20 concerning County Administrator Tom Willi were absolutely right on the mark.  Since starting in his position he has shown himself to be wholly incompetent as an administrator, untruthful, deceptive and malfeasant.  On his watch he, with the help of the Gang of Three (DiGenarro, McCoy and Spehar), has brought the County to its financial knees, made a mess of numerous county departments, squandered millions of taxpayer dollars on ridiculous, unnecessary expenditures (ship sinking/buying restaurants only to sell at a loss, and the list goes on) , mismanaged construction projects costing millions more dollars in cost overruns and abused his position by firing anyone in his sights that dare to disagree with him while blatantly shifting blame for his incompetence by accusing others and engaging in endless finger pointing. 

I haven’t spoken to anyone who thinks he’s doing a good job and who doesn’t agree that he needs to go, and the sooner the better.  We are likely stuck with him until his contract expires. At that time I foresee a tremendous public outcry for his ouster.  It’s past time to free Willi!

Wetstock on Sunday the 21st. Picnic Island. Come on out and celebrate the big bar guy from Boondocks’ 23rd birthday. Band, Volleyball,  hoooowaaaaa!

Seven Mile Bridge] I remember at times having to drive the Big Pine Key Volunteer's new box-style ambulance to Marathon. Everyone knew you better have the window rolled up if you met a semi-trailer because you were losing your mirror for sure.

I think I would rather breathe fresh air like a tree hugger, then fresh farts from a taco bender. Save our country--fence the borders!

Can the county commissioners tell us in 25 words or less why we need Jerry Coleman or Slick Willi? I wish we could recall the 3 Stooges.

[Lower keys run north to south] This really doesn't matter to most of us that have been here long enough to know the awesome Keys are right under our feet.

A Mexican tipping the scales at 1,234 pounds will be listed as the world's fattest man by the Guinness Book of Records. Rising to the challenge, one of the local watering holes on Ramrod is proposing an "Eat to Beat the Mexican Night" with an all -you-can-eat buffet. First prize will be a trip to the Bahamas--on a barge.

[Five polyps removed from Bush's colon] Really more than I cared; or needed to know.

[The Litigious Society] St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock was killed in an April car crash after he collided with a stopped tow truck on Interstate 64 in the middle of the night. According to a police report, Hancock was intoxicated, speeding, un-seat-belted, and talking on his cell phone at the time. Nonetheless, in May, Hancock's father filed a lawsuit claiming that the causes of the crash were (1) the tow truck operator, (2) the driver who was being assisted by the tow truck operator, and (3) the manager of the restaurant in which Hancock had been drinking.

Can we negotiate?  How about 50 words or less?

[How much of a reward?] Lost in the Big Pine Key area (possibly in Winn Dixie or the parking lot). Two-toned gold Atocha coin ring with dolphins in the portholes on the sides. Gold and rose-gold color. A reward is being offered for the return of the ring. Please call Dr. Don at 872-4775 with any info. Classified Ads > Lost and Found

I was just looking through the past few days of the gossip column and read somebody’s view on bike riders on the road. If you look at the laws regarding bikes, by Florida Statutes, (and all state statutes) bicycles are considered a vehicle and have as much right to use the road as any car. They must obey the same traffic laws as a car. You have no right to yell at a road rider if they are on the right side of the road, riding in the same direction as the cars and are as far right as safely possible while still on the road. The bike paths that are not right on the road here are nothing but glorified sidewalks. People pulling out of all the places along the road don't even consider that there might be a bike on the bike path and don't think about stopping before the bike path to look for bikes. That is the reason real bike riders don't use the bike paths. Have you ever tried to stop a bike while you were riding 25 miles per hour without any warning when a car stops dead in your tracks? It can't happen. Every rider (including myself) I know has had at least one hard fall or crash into a car that didn't stop right in front of them on the bike path.  There are other obstacles on the bike paths: dog walkers, people strolling side by side with headphones on,  and along US1 I have even seen drunks sleeping on the bike path.

This has to be a redneck's vision of the perfect food: a hot dog filled with squeeze cheese, wrapped in bacon and battered. Find out how to make your own.

[25 words or less]  No quotas, please.  I agree the column is usually more fun when most of the posts are 3 liners, but not everything can be expressed in a condensed form.  Besides, got to get the latest chapter from the Hungarian!

I very much like the suggestion Saturday about keeping postings to 25 words or less.  Let's get as many people to write in supporting it to show Ed we want it. (this one is only 36)

106

The middle aged lady, Mildred, who was in charge showed me how to make shakes, floats, and the banana split. The banana split has to rank in Americana with baseball and apple pie. Only in the horn of plenty such a dessert could be thought of and created. I liked working behind the counter. I loved to see the faces of the children and the ones that want to still be children as their faces sparkled with anticipation as I scooped the different flavors. I sampled them all and after two weeks I was so sick of ice cream I got nauseous seeing a Good Humor truck.  The Hungarian

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Sunday July 22, 2007

Saturday July 21, 2007

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the "new" Seven Mile Bridge celebration, when partygoers ate stone crabs and the Key Lime Pie Band played on the hump to  commemorate the completion of the $175 million state-federal project that constructed or widened 37 of the Overseas Highway's 43 bridges. (Scary.)

So scary that at least 10 times frightened tourists knocked on the door of the Marathon substation begging deputies to drive them across the Seven Mile Bridge.  Some were willing to pay $10, which at the time was a half-day's pay for deputies.

A $63 million freshwater pipeline, which upgraded the one built in the early 1940s by the Navy, was also completed in conjunction with the bridges project, to fix problems with low pressure and poor supply.

Those two projects were the major boost the island chain needed during its new quest to become a tourist destination. (Scary.)

At the time, the Keys were desperate to replace the economic loss caused in big part by the Navy leaving Key West in the 1970s. The departure of thousands of  sailors turned the once-thriving main drag of the southernmost city into a boarded-up ghost town. "You could shoot a cannon down Duval Street and not hit anybody," said Dennis Wardlow, then mayor of Key West. "We saw tourism as the way to turn things around."

But something had to be done about the water situation.

It was kind of miserable in the late '70s and early '80s for those living on the second story because there wasn't  much water pressure up there. The upgrading of the fresh-water pipeline enabled tourists as well as residents to have the modern convenience of a good shower and the ability to flush toilets  even from the sixth floor of the La Concha hotel.

And for tourism to flourish, something also had to be done about the scary bridges, which were constructed in the 1900s for Henry Flagler's railway. The bridges were never intended for use by 18-wheelers and motor homes. Most of the bridges' travel lanes were only 10 feet wide, with virtually no shoulder and only old railway tracks serving as guard rails to protect vehicles  from plunging into the Atlantic Ocean on one side or the Gulf of Mexico on the  other.

Virginia Panico, now executive director of the Key West Chamber of Commerce,  remembers her instructions for driving the family's Winnebago over the old  bridges: "Take the right front tire and keep it against the cement. Bring in the mirrors. And if a big truck is coming, you might click. But don't be nervous." Gus Pego, a director of operations for the state's Department of Transportation, said many drivers "got white knuckles from holding the steering wheels so tight."

For the Keys' longest bridges, the project used technology from a French engineer who had designed a fast and inexpensive way to build bridges bombed  during World War II. The Seven Mile Bridge was built with 485-ton concrete segments cast in Tampa and  barged to the Keys, where they were lifted into place with a crane. The segments were placed onto 286 pilings and held together with cables. "It's kind of like a slinky," Pego said. Built with 12-foot travel lanes and six-foot shoulders, the structure became the longest concrete box-girder bridge in the world and was featured on the History Channel's Modern Marvels.

The new bridges cut an hour off the time it took to travel the 106.5-mile stretch from Key Largo to Key West. They also made the trip safer, although just 22 months after the Seven Mile Bridge opened, Jon Fascell died on it during a head-on collision. He was the only son of the late U.S. Rep. Dante Fascell, a major supporter of the project.

The new bridges not only opened the Keys to people who had feared the drive, but also became a tourist lure itself. In 2001, the Overseas Highway became a state recognized "Scenic Highway." Island History > Page 3

[say it in 25 words or less] Wow, it took 36 words to post that whine.

[Hemingway Days Street Fair Key West] This street fair is the major fundraiser for Helpline, the only free referral service for those in crisis.  Helpline is the place to call if you need help and do not know who to call.  They provide help to domestic violence victims as well as referrals for those looking for help overcoming drug and alcohol problems.  Helpline also provides reassurance calls to the elderly. They check on these people daily to see if they need anything and to just give them someone to talk to.  This is a great local organization, all your money stays in the Keys.  Helpline will also be selling hotdogs, hamburgers, water and cookies.  Their booth will be located in front of the Bull & Whistle at the corner of Caroline and Duval Street.  Come and support a group that supports you. (Ed: when?)

Gun owners have it exactly right. I hadn't owned a gun in four and a half decades, and suddenly realized I was neglecting a responsibility to myself, and friends and community not having a measure of defense. So, I measured out some defense. I now own quite a few handguns, shotguns and rifles, and a few hundred pounds of home defense rounds. Hope I never need them. But I'll tell you this; better to have them and not need them, than vice versa.

Ask any police officer “Does your wife or girlfriend keep a firearm at your behest?” The least reply you'll receive will be a wise, wan, and enigmatic smile.

[Which peddle is the brake?] An 84-year-old woman, playing golf with another woman, accidentally ran her down in her golf cart in Medford, Ore.

[Boat Poker Run] Correction - The cost is actually $30 per person and there will be 5 stops.  Registration will begin at Dolphin Marina at 9:00 am the day of the event.  The other stops will be Summerland Key Fishcutters, Bahia Honda State Park, The Old Wooden Bridge Fish Camp and the finale will be at Parrotdise Waterfront where we will have a 50/50 drawing and give you a chance to trade in up to 3 cards.  Hope to see you all there. Bulletin Board

[As to the 4 F letters] As I seem to remember it’s, Find them. Feel them, F--k them and forget them. It happens a lot on Big Pine Key. You don’t lose your girl friend; you just lose your turn.

[Summerland post office] I use both the Summerland and the Big Pine Post Offices and have never had a problem at either one.  People are often treated as they deserve to be treated according to their attitude.  As far as, “this one girl in front of me that the girl spit on the glass window on the way out.”  I would guess that her actions were demonstrative of her immaturity and obvious lack of any decent social skills.  I recently witnessed an outrageously rude customer berate a postal clerk over the cost of mailing a package as though the clerk had some control over the price.  Dealing with the public is often a difficult task usually due to the customer.  If someone has a particular problem with an employee it should be addressed to the supervisor in an adult manner without an attitude or “spitting” on a window.  My personal Kudos to the staff at both locations for providing me with consistently good, polite service.

The 25 words or less guy write 36 words.

As a gun owner I have to keep the record straight. Actually, there was a kid hit by a bullet on the mainland while the gun was stored and unattended. Nobody pulled the trigger or pointed it at him. His Granma had stored it in an oven with one in the chamber. He cooked a frozen pizza. Oops!  The lesson here is don’t eat frozen. And that was probably the only case ever of a gun killing by itself.

Kudos to Mickey Baker for having the stones to stand up for himself.  Why won't Govwatch05 identify himself?  It's probably Tom Willi. (Ed: No. It’s not Mr. Willi. Govwatch always identifies himself. It is us who use his email address as is our policy for negative personal remarks. You can see more Govwatch at his website http://keylargokey.com/ )

[Lower keys run north to south] The lower keys individual islands do. Look at a map or chart. Big Pine runs long wise in more of a north to south direction same as the other lower keys. Individual islands with the smaller island clusters to the north along a north south channel let it be Bow, Kemp, Nile or other. I am not talking about US1 or the main chain that is why I stated islands and clusters. The upper keys individual islands run long wise in more of an east to west direction or along the Atlantic. I don't know if I can make it more understandable. You may have to look at a chart to understand my thoughts. If you are not familiar with the area looking at a chart can help. Reading comprehension can be difficult, but can be accomplished.

The only mistake I made was I was actually thinking about elk horn coral not stag but either way they aren't at Looe Key anymore. The east side of Looe still has the most color and sea fans. But the west has the swim-through corals.

Happy Moon Day!  Take a tour of the International Space Station.  ISS Interactive Reference Guide

I very much like the suggestion Saturday about keeping postings to 25 words or less.  Let's get as many people to write in supporting it to show Ed we want it.

[Muslims and the young] What do you expect from the New World Order of Castrated Americans?  Someone has to set a precedent to destroy the invaders. I hope Utahans and Montanans light the fuse soon!  Florida is too Jewish to get involved. The Rednecks too stupid to organize an effective retaliation. The Yankees too greedy to care. The politicos too castrated. Women too self induced to look out the window. No, we are being eaten by rug rats and will be history is a few years!

You can again carry cigarette lighters on airlines, but not bottles of water, etc.

Dick Chaney will become the acting president while Bush is unconscious getting his can explored. How frightening; imagine if Bush died? We’d have Chaney as our permanent president.

This next County election will be another referendum on development versus conservation. What side are you on? I’m on the conservation side and will do all I can to get rid of DiGennero, McCoy and Sphear. The mighty three only seem to think of their own power and personal gain from elected office. On the other hand Neugent and Murphy seem to be in office for public service and the community’s welfare.

A truism: in a land-scarce community only developers benefit by development. Development is forever and will always be there.

A recent poll shows that fewer young Americans think we are the greatest country in the world than older people do.

My father used to drink this in the morning for a hangover. He swore by it. He’d drink it down in one gulp. Then go to work.
4 oz Red wine
1 raw egg

Congratulations to Attorney Jerry Colman on his pay raise. As the county’s affordable housing czar Mr Colman has be rewarded for not producing one affordable house during his tenure. What was the other headline that I wanted to mention? Oh, yes…County slashes services, personnel and departments!

When I started the 10th grade, Wheaton High's parking lot had the teachers cars, and the students jalopy’s and hot rod's. More than twenty years later my son Joey attended the same school. I went by there on several occasions and was thoroughly amazed. The parking area and the adjacent streets were full of newer cars. There was hardly any that was more than two years old. There were muscle cars, Porches, Mercedes, BMW's and high dollar pick-ups. Isn't America wonderful? It had been good to me.

My learner’s permit was tucked away in my wallet. Of course the stipulation was that I had to have a licensed driver sitting next to me. I mostly ignored that. Mom gave me hell about it all the time and urged my dad to box my ears for breaking the law. The Hungarian

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Saturday July 21, 2007

Friday July 20, 2007

[Boat Poker Run] That sounds like a great idea, but I’m not going to pay $40 for a first time event. Maybe if it’s successful I’d pay that amount, but not now.

To the guy hammering Mickey Baker and Ty Symroski.  Mr. Willi hired both of those individuals, gave them the highest of recommendations, but he forgot to ask if they were “yes” men. When he found out they were not, that they were professionals – he fired them. Ty Symroski worked under Tom Willi’s oversight. For him to shift the blame to Symroski is absurd. Remember the old adage “The Buck Stops Here”? Willi’s adage is “blame it on the last guy I fired.”

Tom Willi is absolutely incompetent. He recommended doing away with the judicial system in Marathon, sharing county gas taxes with municipalities against senior staffer’s advice to not do it. He has not a clue about county management. Fire his butt. --Neugent-George@monroecounty-fl.gov

[The movies] Do you remember The 1951 Si-Fi movie The Thing? That’s the one where a space ship crashes beneath the North Pole and scientist and some Air Force people take a block of ice with a space creature (James Arness--Gunsmoke) in it back to the weather station. The ice cube melts and the thing kills most of them.

Well, it’s not called The Thing any more. They changed the name to The Thing From Another World. I’ve been seeing more and more of this name changing lately. I’ll wager that it has everything to do with avoiding royalty payments, distribution rights, etc.

[Complaining about Pirus’s battery] I think people like that, who jump at every chance to criticize those that are actually doing something to try and save the environment, are trying to make themselves feel better about their self-centered existence.

A boy of 11 with appendicitis was called a "wimp" by a doctor who failed to spot the condition. Liam Stone was taken to hospital by his mum for three days running with acute stomach pains. But each time he was sent home with painkillers because doctors did not spot appendicitis, which can be fatal. Liam's mum Vanessa said Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham, Kent, did not even offer a scan or blood test, reports the Daily Mirror. She said: "A pediatrician felt his stomach and asked me: "Is he always a wimp?” The 38-year-old mum and husband Robert eventually took Liam to Maidstone Hospital. He was diagnosed and operated on immediately.

A drunk was proudly showing off his new apartment to a couple of his friends late one night. He led the way to his bedroom where there was a big brass gong and a mallet.  "What's with that big brass gong?" one of the guests asked. "It's not a gong. It's a talking clock," the drunk replied. "A talking clock? Seriously?" asked his astonished friend. "Yup," replied the drunk. "How's it work?" the friend asked, squinting at it. "Watch, the drunk replied. He picked up the mallet, gave the gong an  ear-shattering pound, and stepped back. The three stood looking at one another for a moment. Suddenly, someone on the other side of the wall screamed, "You  asshole...it's three-fifteen in the morning!"

[I’m allergic] I have had cats and I have had dogs and even had an ostrich once. I find I’m mostly allergic to people.

I love it when gun haters show their ignorance.  There are something like 80,000,000 guns in this country. Gun registration is the first step to gun confiscation and a violation of our second amendment rights to bear arms.  The only people affected by gun laws are honest, law abiding citizens, criminals do not care about the law.  So, no matter what law you make they are still going to be armed.  The police, on average, take over 15 minutes to respond to a 911 call.  If you are being attacked and you cannot defend yourself you will be killed or seriously injured before the police can help.  Any person who does not take steps to provide for their own safety is in peril whether they like it or not.  I do not know about you, but I consider it my responsibility to protect my family and anyone in my home.  Personal firearms are the first line of defense of our homes, state and country.  Every citizen should be ready willing and able to defend their home, state and country from all enemies foreign and domestic. 

I can personally state that having a gun saved my life two times and I never fired a shot.  On one occasion I stopped a man from dragging a women from her place of work into his van.  Without my firearm, god only knows what would have happened to that women.  I could not stand by like at least 50 other people did and watch her be dragged by her hair kicking and screaming.  I was not a police official, but I was the only one able to put a stop to the situation.  Again I never fired my weapon, just the fact that I had it and told the man I would shoot him if he kept persisting in forcing her into his van.  I calmly stayed until the police arrived and took him into custody.  So I can testify to at least three lives that were drastically changed for the better because of firearms.  You can give up your safety if you want too but I will not avoid my responsibility because of your ignorance. 

I wish I was a drug addict, alcoholic, unwed mother, unemployed or black so Habitat for Humanity would build me a new house and I could keep my $200,000.00 boat under the free house before I hook it up to my Hummer and go fishing.  I would have lots of free time to go fishing since I wouldn't have to work.  Does Habitat require a random drug screening for all the people they give houses to?  That would save on a lot of building.

World's cleverest dog?

[Michael Vick dog fighting case made its way to the floor of the US Senate] So I guess it turns out that Michael Vick is just an older version of his thuggish little brother.  Maybe some of the posters on this site who gleefully tell of the horrors they'd visit on cats, dogs, deer, and iguanas can get an invite to his next event.

I hope there is a special place in hell for people who do terrible things to kids and animals.

[Boondocks, Bring back the clam chowder]  I totally agree with that request and that is one reason we stopped eating there!

History of the Bloody Mary.  Bloody_Mary

[The great Bloody Mary controversy]  It seems that all the local drinking establishments make their own version of Bloody Mary mix rather than using a good quality “commercial” blend.  The problem is that the home made mixes are never consistent from one batch to another.  Depending on who makes up a given batch they go from boring bland to mouth blistering hot, sometimes overwhelmed with either horseradish, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, even pickle juice and A1 steak sauce.  I have had Bloody’s that were so overpowering with a particular ingredient that they were undrinkable.  I recently watched a bartender making up a gallon of his “special blend” and it looked more like a chemistry experiment than a cocktail mix. 

A suggestion to local bartenders and owners:  Stick to a good quality commercial, name brand mix, rim the glass with Old Bay and toss in a celery stalk or a spicy green bean and serve a consistent drink.  If the customer wants it ‘extra spicy,’ slide them the Tabasco bottle and let them juice it up to suit their taste.  Bottoms up!  (Ed: That ish a good idea, hic, I’m going to add ya’ Old Bay rim trick to the bessst Bloody Mary resshipe, hic, exchusse me. Recipes > Bloody Mary)

[Mickey Baker] This is --govwatch05@comcast.net. How come your blog has thousands of hits and nobody is leaving comments? Can you verify your hits?   How come there are no comments on most of them (half are mine)?

Mickey, I have nothing against you, but crying over spilt milk is counterproductive. Is that what you did as an employee?

I just saw the rendering for the development condos around Schooner Warf Bar.  The plague has started and is eating into Key West inch by inch. God save the island!

You just don't get it. Gun registration is right before confiscation. This has happened countless times in history. Just ask the former satellite countries of Russia.

[girl spit on Post Office glass window] Wow, she sounds like a keeper, do you happen to know her name?

I have several firearms, all in a gun safe, but if you try to break in my house and I’m home I'm probably going to introduce you to my aluminum baseball bat, much more satisfying, instant gratification wise. 

[Doctors vs. Gun Owners] First of all I know the person who did that post, and he is far from being an idiot. Furthermore he does not think that most people that read this forum are idiots. However there are exceptions. The man's statistics are from impeccable sources, and everybody with a half a brain knows that guns don't kill people. A gun has not killed anyone if it didn't have a human finger on the trigger. You can rant and rave all you want about stolen guns. A gun will never run away from its owner. All of the evil things that been connected to guns, there has always been a human equation. A gun is a tool, a marvel of engineering and ingenuity and it keeps improving as we speak. The other day I saw a video of a gun that tames the fiercest recoil of large caliber ammunition.

Guns are part of America like baseball and apple pie. Guns made America great, and if you gun-haters can't acknowledge that, then you are stupider than a box of rocks. Many nations with very strict gun laws envy the Americans, and rightly so. In those nations the ones that have the guns have the power and the ordinary citizen sucks the hind tit. They are the prey of the government and criminals. An armed population can not be conquered. Peace through superior fire power!

Safe nuclear power.   Japan nuclear disaster worse

[mandatory recycling] I remember going to Michigan to visit a friend about 25 years ago and when I went to the store to buy a six pack and they rang it up it was pretty pricey. The cashier told me it was because of the deposit on cans and bottles which back then was 10 or 15 cents, I really can't remember. I do remember not seeing any bottles or cans lying by the side of the road though. 

When someone says the lower keys run north and south, well, that speaks for their creditability on anything else they say.

Bobby the fisherman is coming back. All those that want fresh fish meet me at Coconuts at night. I’m looking forward to a good season.

You profess to be a family man, coach local teams in multiple sports and even stay active in the local sports committee. Your girlfriend is a wonderful woman. She deserves to be treated better than you wish to treat her. I am sure your mind is clouded by substance abuse, but that is just an excuse.

You will not get away with your indiscretions. Everyone will know your true self and business dealings. I know your revenue streams and who you charge. Maybe I will call you Chip. OK? Your world as you know it will never be the same. Is it worth it? I doubt it. Stay clean, walk the right path and love your woman.

[And who said Polish jokes were a thing of the past] Twelve hundred troops from Poland were deployed to Afghanistan in June as part of a NATO buildup to patrol the Pakistan border, searching for Taliban forces, but Polish commanders admitted that they would not be combat-ready for several weeks because the keys to all their Humvees had been stolen. One commander said spare keys had been ordered.

It was a two-door hardtop with a bone white top and a black body. "What year is that Hans?" "Zes is '53 Crown Victoria, zis anneverzary model. Ford 50th. annewerzary 1903-1953." "I want to go in there and look at it. Will it start?" "Sure it will start, you look over ze cah real good and then come, and we talk." The Hungarian

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Friday July 20, 2007

Wednesday July 18, 2007

[Tavern mandatory recycling] I think they should put a deposit on glass and plastic drink bottles. If you put a value on bottles every bottle will get recycled. End of that problem!

I got a cat even though I’m allergic. Do you think it’ll be harmful to my body if I have an allergic episode every day? These “episodes” are sneezing and a runny nose for about fifteen minutes. I don’t want to take any pill everyday for the rest of my life (the cat will probably outlive me).

You f--ks need to print something other than the lefty stuff and letters from Kay Thacker and Ron Miller. You're getting boring. Here's some stuff your readers really want. Mickey Baker needs to move on. Give it up Mickey you are still pissing in a 40-knot wind. You’re terminated. That’s it. Nobody really cares. Not Bill Becker, not George Neugent, not no one. It’s time for government to cut the fat.

I like George Garrett, he’s a real nice guy, but look at how many bumbling-idiot-environmentalist law enforcement guys and girls we have clogging up our doughnut shops--too many. It’s time to cut the fat so some of the people of Monroe County can have a little change in their pockets to chip out a meager existents in this county.

Next: The Cudjoe Key satellite office was Ty Smyroski’s Waterloo. He is the one that overrode Willi's plan to minimize the footprint of this facility and to cut some of the extravagant features that Ty demanded. Ty screwed Cudjoe up not Willi. Let’s face it, Mickey, the only people that are starting a stink about Willi are the environmentalist: Kay Thacker, Ron Miller, Fred Nickerson and the list of what I call the BOCC regulars go on and on. The folks listed above don’t want another toilet to be placed in the Keys and want folks to live in dilapidated trailers. They’re the folks that will, in the end, cause this county problems dealing with lawsuits that inevitably will be put on the tax bills of all. Now Mickey get off your ass and go look for a job. --govwatch05@comcast.net

Jimmy Reed the bluesman’s wife used to stand over his shoulder and whisper the words to the song in his ear. He didn’t have a very good memory. But he had that bluesy-nasal higher-pitch sound that I like.

[Alcohol was involved] Andres Vasquez, 20, of Verona, Ky., initially told the 911 operator in May that someone had "thrown" his truck on top of him, but he finally admitted he was drunk, he had a one-vehicle accident, was trapped upside-down and was in dire pain, fading in and out for over two hours to the dispatcher. The operators pleaded the entire time for Vasquez to just to say where he was so that they could send a rescue party, but, as the Kentucky Enquirer put it, "When repeatedly asked his location, (Vasquez's) answer was always the same: ‘I'm under the (expletive) truck.'" (He finally gave a clue and was rescued.)

I’m sure glad BPK didn’t vote for incorporation. Marathon is going to pay $5,000,000 to build a bridge that almost no one ever uses (Boot Key). They admit they don’t have the money or know where it’s going to come from. I wonder who’s pockets are going to be lined over this boondoggle.

Double Kudos to the person posting the statistics on doctors and gun owners. It's such a pleasure to read some honest information form the right source. On the other hand there are some flaming a--holes that should never put pen to paper; or should I write, key to monitor.

[make it a law that taverns recycle] For years Coconuts, the bar you’re talking about, sold longneck returnable bottles. 50, 75 sometimes 100 cases per week were returned to Bud, Miller and Coors. No more. The Companys stopped selling them. We felt that we were doing the right thing for our Island and our customers. It was a lot of extra work on our part. We gladly did it. Call Bud, Miller and Coors. I am sure they will take the time to answer your questions.

Encrypt your air space on your Internet so your neighbors cannot piggy-back on your network which you pay for.  I had to call tech support and it took ten minutes to lock-up my Internet so they can no longer have a free ride.  Now they're hijacking someone else's connection because they're too cheap to pay a provider.   (Lousy tech support: I think he means password protect your router.)

Redneck Automatic Lawnmower.

Pritam Singh, isn’t that Latin or Indian for kill the reef?

[Nature Lovers] Before the Key West City Commission last night was an item sponsored by Commissioner Bill Verge to the effect that the City Commission approve putting on the ballot a non-binding referendum for voters to indicate whether or not they want the City to annex Wysteria Island, also known as Christmas Tree Island, for the purposes of residential development...
GoodMorningKeyWest.com

The band advertising is not free. We pay quarterly fees so our comments get printed.

Is your printer not turning out crisp flat copies? I think I found the problem. Video

Player finds tooth stuck in head

[Four Fs] How’s this?  F--king, Fishing, Food, and of course, Free beer!

Pagans say Homer is pants

How true it is when someone said Injade and MM 24 get free advertising.  Don't forget Key Deer Bar.  I guess we know where our editor drinks and what bands he likes.

[Disaster] Seems to me you need to take a survival course or too.  The length of time that it would take disaster relief to get here is never more than a few days.  If you cannot find some mostly fresh water and build a fire to purify by boiling it, and catch a few grunts from your dock or bridge to keep you alive we really don't need you down here.

I agree: get rid of Dixie and Sonny.  We need to clean house.  I hope Heather runs. We need a strong women on board.

[Driving in Key West] I feel the same way about driving to Marathon, .50 cal is a bit excessive though, I prefer a M-61 Vulcan Gatling gun.

Since motor vehicles get ticketed for driving on the bike path, why don’t bikes get ticketed for riding on the highway when there is a bike path right there?

We have a winner, We have a winner!  The 4 Fs are Food, Fishing, Football and F--king. I got 3 of the 4 taken care of. I sure do miss football.

Truer and more timely words were never written..."Choose your leaders with wisdom and forethought. To be led by a coward is to be controlled by all that the coward fears. To be led by a fool is to be led by the opportunists who control the fool. To be led by a thief is to offer up your most precious treasures to be stolen. To be led by a liar is to ask to be lied to. To be led by a tyrant is to sell yourself and those you love into slavery." ~Octavia Butler (Parable of the Talents)

How about 7/17/07's sunset?

I wonder if it’s possible for many to temporarily put aside their visceral hate for GWB and to replace that hate with true concern for the welfare of our country.  Only dispassionate history will be able to judge if GWB is a ruinous dolt or a patriot who has made incredibly difficult decisions which benefited our nation.

I think that all reasoning persons must agree that a mid east ruled by a West hating Muslim Caliphate would be disastrous to the modern world.  That Caliphate is unquestionably the goal of Al Quaida et al.  The Caliphate would surely deny any non-fundamentalist Muslim nations any access to their petroleum.  $3.25 gas would be nothing but a fond memory, the economy and our civilization would be in truly dire straits.  Petroleum, after all, is the life blood of our way of life.  The Caliphate would foment and fund a hells nest breeding sanctuary of terrorists on a scale that dwarfs our current situation.  Western civilization must expect conflict and home town terror on a scale that beggars imagination if the Fundamentalist Muslims achieve their interim goals in the Mid East.

It’s not appropriate to question the patriotism of those who call for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq, but it most certainly is appropriate to question their judgment.

If we withdraw precipitously it’s virtually certain that a sectarian bloodbath would immediately ensue and that the forces of Fundamentalist Iran would win.  Iran’s minions are better armed, and fueled with religious fervor.  Do you believe that a consortium of Iran, a new Fundamentalist Iraq, Syria, and Palestine are in the interest of our nation?

The current Iraq conflict is simply a battle in the very real war that has been declared against Western Civilization.  This war, and our way of life, is ours to lose. 

Bloody Mary from Boondocks needs "Bloody Help".   I agree with Jackson, the plastic specimen cup that held my drink was gross.  If you think that it came with a celery garnish, you can forget about it.  I really just wanted a great drink and sadly it tasted terrible.   Quite frankly, a key deer could have made a better drink.  If you can't get a decent drink in The Keys, where can you get one??  On a positive note... the food has greatly improved since the change over. 

(Great News! Manny and Isa's is going to reopen and they make a real homemade Key Lime Pie.) Boondocks, please respect your locals and support our need for a great Key's drinking experience. Thanks. -- rshishko@cfl.rr.com

[Disaster] Wake up, disaster can happen any where. It happened here when they were building the railroad. You take that chance to live here knowing we will get hurricanes. To me it's worth that chance to live here. We were vacationing here on 9/11. It was by Chance that we were here. Thank the Lord!

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office will conduct a sobriety checkpoint in Marathon overnight Friday.  Deputies will set up the roadblock on U.S. 1 at Mile Marker 50 between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m., spokeswoman Becky Herrin said.  Vehicles will be stopped at regular intervals and drivers will be checked for signs of alcohol consumption, valid driver's license status, and outstanding warrants, Herrin said. Vehicles also will be checked for safety violations, she said.  The Florida Highway Patrol will assist with the checkpoint.

[setting up dominoes takes talent] Not talent, but you can get a healthy Art Grant (taxpayers money at play) from the Fed if you got the guts to apply or are a minority or illegal.

Does anyone know what this is? There were millions in the water at Looe Key. They are like clear silicone. What's the official name of the disc creature?

I want to give kudos to this website for helping us locate the owners of a lost dog we found.  You corrected my errors and even posted a picture!! Thanks to all who called.  I am proud to say that we have adopted her with her owner's blessings and have abated her escapes.  I am pretty sure she's really happy.  Our girls love her and we are one big happy family.  Thanks again for everyone's help.  Foxy is doing great and Willow and Buffy are happy to welcome her.  Have a great day!  Catch a sunrise and you'll know why we are here.

I can’t believe someone would compare doctors to guns in relation to accidental deaths.  If you’re going to do that, flip it around to figure out how many lives doctors have saved vs. guns.  The only problem is the number of lives doctors save every year is immeasurable.  Taking care of patients is very complicated.  Shooting a gun doesn’t require an IQ.

[102 The Hungarian] I don't know if things like this happens to other people, but I was fortunate that it happened to me. I was working at the station, pumping gas, when a large two door hard top pulled up to the pumps. It was a Lincoln Capri, beautiful tan, with a black top. I asked the driver, "Should I fill'er up sir?" Instead of saying “yes” he had a request,

"Is there someone here that can listen to a noise in my engine?" I told him, "I can give it a listen sir." Doubtfully he replied, "I mean somebody who knows about engines." "I know about engines sir, I can tell you about you problem." "How old are you kid, fifteen, sixteen maybe, you don't know Jack Shit." He was right I never heard of the man, but I was sill being courteous...The Hungarian

[Driving in Key West] With the proper armament you won't need that warning sign in 6 languages. Hoo-Rah!

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Wednesday July 18, 2007

Tuesday July 17, 2007

[The Reef] My first trip to Looe Key was a very long time ago. I just could not believe that it was so very special.  Over the last 40 or so years I have seen many changes in and on the water.  After fish trapping and stab-netting was stopped, the fish came back. That's a very good thing.  I did commercial fishing for some years and have hook and line fished all my life and still get out to Looe Key a 100 plus times a year.  I try very hard to tell myself that everything is fine, but it's not.

The water is not clearing up like it used to and the very nice, clear days are less and less.  Today we had approximately 40 feet of visibility and that has been one of the better days.  Most of the folks that I spend time with on the ocean think it's great and I try not to talk about what it used to be like.  I can only say that whatever we are doing we are doing it wrong!  Septic tanks, highway run-off, "Big Sugar".  You  pick one or all and add to it how much we all love our ocean....to death.   It's becoming very clear to me that we will not have the kind of water that I have grown  to love very much longer.  The colors that I remember on the reef are now muted. Most coral has sand or silt or something covering it.   I have no answers but I cannot pretend that everything is OK any longer.  I am sad that I see no way to fix this in the near future.  In time we will find out how to treat our ocean better and with time she will come back. I hope I'm still around to see it.

[Stupid tourist questions] I’ve got a new one. Ie overheard a phone call from a guest at a Marathon resort to the manager. The guest wanted to know if they could cool the pool because it was too hot(2pm in July). A few minutes later another guest wanted him to catch their kid’s gerbil that was lose in one of the rooms. No wonder we drink so much in the Keys. Stupid Tourist Questions

Yesterday, Sloan Bashinsky mentioned Heather Carruthers as a possible candidate for mayor of Key West.  I feel Heather should run for one of the positions in the County of Monroe in the ‘08 election. Sonny and Dixie are up for reelection and it is time for a change. We are stuck with Mayor Mario until 2010 but we sure can change the attitude and direction of Monroe Country with someone who is for the people and not the developers.

[Catholic Church is the largest real estate owner]  They have to own all that property and pay no tax, so they can pay for all those molestation and child rape charges ($660,000,000 from California alone)

Congratulations Monroe County Commission. Lucky’s Landing is no more. It is indeed a sad day. They changed the land use with no good reason. Shame, shame, shame.

[Cats are stupid] If you point to something a dog will look where you’re pointing. If you point to something a cat will look at your finger.

The Mile Marker 24 Band will be at the Hogfish Bar and Grill on Stock Island for one night only, Friday, July 20^th.  at 6:00 p.m. (not 7pm as printed yesterday)

[Flash! From Hungary] I just got back from court. Despite the facts in my favor I was convicted of speeding on a date and time when I wasn't there. The Judge refused to believe that the police would falsify documents just to put a speeding charge on my neck. I told the Judge that his decision to convict me just emboldens the cops even further. He was kind to me and only fined me $100 instead $350 and he didn't take away my license. My daughter’s sworn statement didn't help and the fact that the speed limit sign was unreadable didn't make any difference either.

So much for Hungarian justice. This is a shit country, always was and always will be. The Hungarians lived on their knees for so long that they forgot how to stand on their hind legs. These people are sheep. Every hundred years, when the situation becomes intolerable, they have a revolution and decide to commit national suicide.

Can I get free advertising for my business on this form, or is that just reserved for Injade and the MM24 band?

[Four Fs]  I have a three "F" Rule: If it Floats, Flys or F--ks, it's cheaper to rent it."

Wow, some people just want to whine. We have been diving the upper keys for 15 years and thanks to the sanctuary status there are more fish now then ever. We always see eagle rays, goliath grouper and sharks.

As for the visibility, Molasses Reef is usually around 60-100 on calm days. And thanks to the sewers coming the near shore visibility will also improve. Maybe we should call our officials and demand that they expedite the sewer projects. The cost to each of us might be 20,000 dollars but all the people who are complaining about the clear water should be happy that something is being done; plus with all the grants available its a great deal

Can't we make it a law that taverns recycle? The dumpster and trash cans at last Sunday's benefit for Vern Siegel was overloaded with glass, aluminum, and corrugated cardboard. Every local bar is the same, not just that one.  I know for sure that there are states in the North that mandate recycling.

[Key West Sunday to visit friends. 75 percent of the people I knew are gone! Am I missing something here] Yes. I don't think they were very good friends if they didn't tell you that they were leaving.

[better dictionary] Dictionary.com seems like it may be a good site, but http://www.m-w.com/ (Merriam-Webster) makes it easy to hear an audio pronunciation by just clicking on the speaker icon. Dictionary.com says," Audio pronunciations are available only to Dictionary.com Premium members!

Colonoscopies are no joke, but these comments during the exam were quite humorous. A physician claimed that the following are actual comments made by his patients (predominately male) while he was performing their colonoscopies:
1. "Take it easy, Doc. You're boldly going where no man has gone before!
2. "Find Amelia Earhart yet?"
3. "Can you hear me NOW?"
4. "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"
5. "You know, in Arkansas, we're now legally married."
6. "Any sign of the trapped miners, Chief?"

[Remember when the Keys were advertised as having crystal clear waters.] Thanks to all the boat trash sponges, we now can advertise "The Most Beautiful Sewage in the World". Sponges filtered the waters keeping them clear. Now there are very few sponges left.

Driving in Key West is getting to the point I wish I had a .50 machine gun on my hood and a warning sign in six languages!

Regarding the Summerland PO ladies. I avail myself of their services on a regular basis and have never experienced anything other than friendly and professional behavior. That Peteck girl is the bomb! And she always asks if I need stamps before I leave. She's a customer service exemplar.

[Doesn’t charity begin at home or doesn’t that apply to organized religion?] Of course not, how the hell do you think all those "boys with toys" get to buy the high priced lollypops for the kiddies?

People just don’t understand what it takes to be a responsible dog owner, whether it’s in Florida or my home state.  It isn’t just the responsibility of feeding them everyday.  How many animals are up to date on their vaccinations, grooming or getting adequate exercise?  I got tired of the lazy bum down the street sending his little boy to walk the dog.  My neighbor posted the city ordinance out on a tree by the sidewalk about cleaning up after your dogs.  Knowing the child couldn’t read yet, I posted a more appropriate sign.  The first time the little boy passed my house, he told his brother, “Hmm, they don’t want dog poop in their yard.”  They never came back!

[Bury the "W" word] I know. It’s amazing that all of the large corporate scandals, the crooks and thieves that rob millions of people of their life’s savings are all white. Dirt bags all.

[4 Fs answer] Food, F--king, Fishing, and Football.

[Lousy bar service constantly at Boondocks] For the life of me I can’t figure out why locals go there. After 7 years down here, it fails to amaze me how the bartenders can be so bad (not all). Monday night, for instance, I went to see Barry Cuda with a couple of friends. The female bartender (not busy at our end) looked at me, saw $20 in my hand and sauntered to the other end of the elbow bar and engaged in a conversation pulling her hair. After 10 minutes without a bartender in sight I left. (Yes, the food has improved since Bill arrived.) This is not the first time. It’s the norm there. And I’m not talking about nights they’re slammed. I can wait with the best of them. It’s bad enough that the owners choose to serve mixed drinks in child-sixed cups, but then you have to deal with going to a bartender more often for service. I understand why regulars go there; they pull their hair in front of you. Enough for me.

As I sit watching this majestic sunset, I promise not to return there, no matter the quality of the entertainment. Have others had the same experience?

My name’s Jackson. Feel free to add my email address. --homeboundtech@earthlink.net

Can 2 women and maybe one guy still get in on a softball team?  Let us know if so; and who to contact. 

Doctors:
      (A) The number of doctors in the U.S. Is 700,000
      (B) Accidental deaths caused by physicians per year are 120,000
      (C) Accidental deaths per physician is 17.14%
      Statistics courtesy of the U.S. Dept. Of Health & Human Services
Guns:
  (A) The number of gun owners in the U.S. Is 80,000,000
  (yes that's 80 million)
  (B) The number of accidental gun deaths per year,
  All age groups, is 1,500
  (C) The number of accidental deaths per gun owner is 0.001875%
Statistics courtesy of the FBI

So statistically, doctors are approximately 9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners. Remember, guns don't kill people, doctors do.

The employees at the Summerland post office have always been great, maybe the problem is you.

[disaster] Just think if something happens in Miami, we Keyzies are bird food! No power. No water. No road. No food. No communication. No medical help. No Fuel. No nothing for days.  Maybe this is why locals are leaving. Or it could be this and the hordes of developers invading our happy homes to destroy all that we love. Things change!

Did anyone take photos of last Sunday evening's sunset? I'd love to see shots of that. It was an unusual visual phenomenon; the most unusual I've seen.

[Obsessive compulsive gossip]  Next time someone rips apart a person while they're not there to defend themselves, question the gossip and consider the source.  Have you ever noticed what a buzz the person gets while slandering?  Others listen intently to the "info" and the story teller is getting all that required attention they so crave.  Sadly, this is their pastime and it’s all they know.  Some of us who value our privacy may require our domestic help to sign confidentiality agreements since many of these people have keys to our homes and access to most areas.  If they're talking trash about the people who pay them for services, it makes you wonder if they're going through file cabinets for more "info" to share with others on a sunny day.  Maybe we will put their money where their mouth is for a civil lawsuit.  Don't say you were not warned when you've been rolled over and they are living large in a foreign country with your hard-earned cash.   

It's too bad the government hasn't been as diligent with the fire protection situation down here as they have been with starting up the Pigeon Key yacht club.

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Tuesday July 17, 2007

Sunday July 15, 2007

Prime Minister Maliki said that the Americans can leave at anytime and Iraqi troops can defend the country, but they do need more training and equipment. His speech fell on deaf ears because Bush doesn’t listen to anyone but Chaney and Rove—the rest of the world be damned!

[The old shark hunter of Little Torch Key] The Key Deer Reserve nimrods sure could use some lessons from him. $20,000 bucks to trap a 25 cent cat? That is the ridiculous running wild. .22 shorts are very inexpensive. 12 gauge No. 6 shot costs more but you hardly have to clean up after. Who is this flaming A--hole who spends this kind of money trapping cats. My girl friend Loca Sita had a kitty that was born crippled, the hind legs didn't work. The vet wanted $80 to euthanize it. I told Loca Sita that I would take care of it for free. It would go back into the food chain. She broke up with me. To her $80 was nothing, her ex-drug smuggler father owns half of Stock Island. (The older keys folks know who I'm talking about.)

[Free roaming cats] If you want to see cats, drive thru the Avenues section of BPK any time (even in the day), where plenty of nitwit owners let them roam free to hunt birds, snakes, and whatever little wildlife is left over there. At least there are no endangered rabbits over there. Real feral cats are very elusive, are rarely seen during the day; and they do most of their killing at night.

[Discrimination Is Discrimination] Following is the text of a thoughtful email I received from City Commissioner Clayton Lopez, in response to my recent posting, “Friday The 13^th.” And behind that is my reply. Sloan Bashinsky  -Paid political advertisement, Mayoral campaign

This pink dolphin seen near the Galveston/Bolivar Ferry in Texas.

OK America, Prime Minister Maliki went on record this past week saying that "America can leave whenever they want we don’t need them. Our sons and daughters will regain Iraq’s security" That’s good enough for me and a chance to declare victory and turn Iraq back over to their own countrymen. Time to regroup and take the fight to the terrorist around the world. Enough sitting in one spot with targets on their head. Give the Iraqis what they want; their own country back. Then the terrorist won’t see what’s coming. This present policy is failing.

Win Nintendo Wii

Just as Nero played his violin as Rome burned, the "musicians" at the Looe Key Underwater Music Festival play their instruments as the reef dies around them! Maybe I am missing something, but I don't see cause to celebrate.  The coral is dying, visibility is terrible and longtime Keys residents are leaving.

[Poison wood is a protected species, unlawful to remove.] It is lawful to remove them from your yard when they’re a hazard to people. (even small children). Maybe we still put people ahead of a damn pigeon, temporarily, at least. Why to greenies try to deny that humans are a species of fauna on this planet and have the right to prosper and survive just like any other species?

I thought the Stray Dogs sounded better than their father, the Moondogs. And the original name is better too.

[Darren Bell] Ok, I know this is going to sound crazy, but can someone tell what happened with Darren Bell?  What did he do exactly?

Free Willi, it's time!

If my fishing partner looked like the lady holding up the Bass I would bait her hook and take the fish off for her. I don't think I would even take a fishing pole when we went fishing. What an outstanding picture of two of my most favorite subjects: Fish and women.

Is Marshall Law next? http://towardfreedom.com/home/content/view/911/

[Computer driven instead of radio waves] Let’s clarify that statement, shall we? I think that by "computer driven" you mean digital, and by "radio waves" you mean analog. Any future wireless system either digital or analog would still use that portion of the electromagnetic spectrum we call radio.

Thought I saw a posting here with a number to call to get rid of old boats/hulls. It may have been fish & wildlife related. Anyway, If anyone knows what I’m talking about, please enlighten me. Otherwise, what are the options (other than sinking) to get rid of a boat hull around here? (Ed: there was a County Department that would have helped you, but the Administrator fired the whole dept last week.)

Uh, oh! Sloan is back.

[Now It Begins] The guy bitching about the Stray Dogs doesn't live in the Keys. He "winters" here; pay absolutely no attention to him.

Someone wrote in that they’re unhappy with the Summerland Post Office.  Go to The Big Pine Post Office.  I have never seen a more friendly, fun, polite, sincere and nice group of people in one work place.  Every time I go in there I leave smiling.  I do admit I miss Susan being there very much, but the others hold up her friendliness every day.  Susan, I miss you and hope you’re doing well in Ga.

Spot the Mistake (Ed: didn’t we do this already?)

[99 The Hungarian]I asked dad to drive my car to the station so I could do some work on it, I was to be down there a couple of times next week anyway. Just a couple of blocks north of the station on 14^th Street was Strick's Custom and Speed Shop and I wanted to get a few things from there. I wanted to make the car look different; the hot rod fever was on me.

The day dad took my car to work, I was there earlier than usual. I removed the stock grill, and cleaned all the road grime from the radiator opening. With a can of appliance white spay paint I painted the whole opening white, this would make the grill shine even brighter. I couldn't install the grill because it took a long time for the paint to dry.

Dad had to take my car to work four or five times before I thought I spent enough money. Strick's was an expensive place. I bought four spun aluminum wheel covers, cleaned the engine real good, and painted it red. The Hungarian

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Sunday July 15, 2007

Saturday July 14, 2007

The weather’s great for today’s Underwater Music Festival. The tourists should love it. Everyone have a great time!

I know a lot of people have been paying attention to the blunders of Tom Willi, but I can't believe this entire county is not in a total state of outrage because of this guy.  Tom just illegally fired two people only a couple of years away from retirement.  Now, this county of islands is without a Marine Projects department.  If ever there was any hope of clearing our waters of debris and derelict boats, Tom just flushed it away.  I pray George Garrett and Kim McGee sue him personally.  In addition, he wants to fire 80-100 other county employees.   Not only does this guy need to be fired, but he needs to be thrown in jail.

Another result of his mismanagement is the elimination of dozens of positions in the Sheriff's Office.  The entire Marine Unit is being eliminated and the small office at the Big Pine Key DMV is closing.  At least the Sheriff had the decency to buy out the eliminated positions instead of just canning them like heartless Tom.  Don't think it's a big deal now?  Just wait until it takes a Deputy 3 hours to respond to a priority call.   This is the road Tom Willi has this county going down.

Funny how all of this comes on the heels of a big, fat raise for him.  What is it going to take to get rid of him?  Why is the Commission allowing this?  Ms. Thacker, where are you?  Let's start some sort of protest, or something.   We the people need to do something, and fast!
--cruzaholic41@aol.com

[passing on the right] I think you're missing the point here.  Darren Bell didn't pass on the right to get around a car that was turning left; he was on the causeway at the time.  He did it, at full speed, to get past the line of traffic backed up from Big Pine.

Often when I drive thru an intersection, I have to duck down to see below my windshield’s rear view mirror in my 2006 Chevy truck. Why don’t they raise the mirror? It could be dangerous blocking my view like that. I’m 6’2” tall.

[Poison wood Tree] It's a protected species, unlawful to remove.

[Uninsured/Underinsured]  I say, amen!

Too late for a Funny Friday....Call it a Silly Saturday or something.

"Republican Senator and family values conservative -- that's what he calls himself -- Senator David Vitter of Louisiana admitted he was a client of the so called DC Madam in Washington. See, this is so wrong. At least use a hooker from your own state. I mean they're gonna pump money into the economy, make it your own." --Jay Leno

"Well now more problems with this Vitter guy. You gotta go on his website, he's like Mr. Religious, Mr. Family Values. Well now a second madam has come forward and told the Associated Press that he was also a customer at her brothel. This guy was cheating on his hooker with another hooker." --Jay Leno

"In the new [Harry Potter] movie, Harry is prohibited from using his wand. I believe it's the same deal Hillary has with Bill." --David Letterman

"There's another one of those prostitution scandals down there in Washington, DC. Louisiana Senator David Vitter admitted that he's been visiting Washington area prostitutes. And I thought about this, 'Whoa, wait a minute, a politician, paying for a hooker? I didn't see that comin.'" --David Letterman

"But good for Vitter, he said that it did not cost the taxpayers a cent. He pays for the hookers with his bribe money." --David Letterman

Here in Los Angeles, it turns out our Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was having a long time affair with a Telemundo reporter -- the reporter who covered him for the news. And typical of a politician he didn't actually admit it, he said he was illegally south of her border." --Jay Leno

"A new poll finds that Dick Cheney has a 59% disapproval rating, which makes him the least popular vice president in history. Even worse, the only people polled were Cheney's wife and kids." --Conan O'Brien

"Next month, the Democratic presidential candidates ... will participate in the first ever debate focused entirely on gay issues. Yeah, apparently in the gay debate when one candidate disagrees with another, they'll be required to begin their rebuttal with 'Girlfriend please!'" --Conan O'Brien

"The pope announced that the Catholic Church provides the only true path to salvation and that other Christian groups are either defective or not true churches. Yeah, the pope finished by saying that 'God loves everyone, but he loves me more.'" --Conan O'Brien

"President Clinton has a new book coming out next month, that's right. And he says in this book 'I've done my best to demonstrate what I've seen firsthand around the world.' That's right. Which explains why the book is called 'Global Booty'" --Conan O'Brien

"Washington, D.C.: It's so hot down there, a chunk of ice fell off Dick Cheney. So hot, Scooter Libby wishes he was in the cooler. ... So hot today, President Bush pardoned Al Roker. So hot, Al Gore's son was doing 100 mph in a Mr. Softee truck." --David Letterman

"Did you hear about this? Al Gore's son was arrested speeding doing 100mph. Al's already made a movie about it called 'An Inconvenient Son'" --David Letterman

"The only thing pundits enjoy more than speculating about who might run for president? Speculating about who that hypothetical person would run with [on screen: pundit saying the 'dream' ticket would be Bloomberg and Chuck Hagel]. Bloomberg-Hagel? That doesn't sound like a dream ticket. That sounds like a rare genetic disorder." --Jon Stewart

"In fact, I recommend right here, right now anybody thinking about having kids be tested for Bloomberg-Hagel. 'Vote Bloomberg-Hagel: A Better Choice Than Epstein-Barr'"--Jon Stewart

No comment. I just want to look at her some more. Oh, and the fish too.

[Now It Begins] Excuse my language but get the f--k out of the Keys you flaming a--hole.  Everyone else had a great time at Wetstock and we love all of our musicians who entertain for us.

Don't hold me to this, but I think I heard Vic Latham had passed on a few years back.

In yesterday’s press conference Helen Thomas asked Bush, “Don’t you realize that we brought al Qaeda to Iraq?”

Someone was complimenting a new band on how they talked to each other when on stage and performing. I hate when bands do that. It’s so Holiday Inn. I want them to be seriously involved in the performance not chit chating. I need to be convinced that they are serious musicians not just skating through a tune.

70% of prisoners return within three years of their release. We need to retrain them how to live like citizens and provide more job training. This proves that simply warehousing crooks doesn't work.

Blossoms grocery on White St in KW has Purina Deer Chow for only $13 a bag. The BP feed store used to charge over eighteen.

I’ve been to about a dozen Underwater Music Festivals at the reef and I’ve never seen any of the stuff they show in the papers. I suspect they put all those actors and art in the water just long enough to take pictures and then take them out. I think that’s why we’ve never seen anything out of the ordinary there.

They should have a main boat for people to go to so they know where all the man made oddities will be. That way the public can be more of a part of the festivities instead of all of us diving by ourselves just like on any other day. When you go out there it looks like a normal Saturday. There is no visual thing to let you know that you’re at an Underwater Music Festival. There should be.

I have heard the tinny music under the water, but you have to wait for the cattle boats to get there and drop their speakers. There is no sense of direction of the sound. It's strange and seems to be coming from inside your head. There are no low notes. It's a very strange listening experience.

[Howard Livingston and The Mile Marker 24 Band] Listen to the debut of our new tune "Under Looe Key" performed live on US 1 Radio 104.1 FM on Saturday July 14th at 11:00 AM for the 23rd Annual Underwater Music Festival. This will not only be broadcast live on US 1 Radio 104.1 FM, and on the Internet worldwide at www.us1radio.com but also piped under the water in the Florida Keys at Looe Key Reef. Take care and may the tide keep pulling you back,

Virtual Boring, I have to agree.

Bush is doing what he should do--stay in Iraq and turn all the terrorists to dust. You do not give up your forward operating base when you are at war. You people just don’t get it. It is us or them. I chose us. They need to take the illegal alien invaders, draft them, use them for the border and terrorism or they go to jail. (You know there was terrorism in Mexico the other day.) You may not like but it is time to stomp the bug dead. Terrorist are in Iraq. Kill them there. Just because we leave Iraq will not end it. You have to do the unpopular thing. Wake up America, kill all terrorists now.

Kind of a long download, but if you like flower gardens it's very worth the wait. Video

I love that little tiny Palmtoon(?) boat floating around the bays of BP. Those people are great. Keep the beer cold R&B.

[Women driver funny pictures] The funny thing is that any one of those pictures could be me and I have the lowest car insurance rates. 

[Every time the machine dropped out a bottle he considered it a personal victory.]  I can identify with that yet today!  Vending machines are legalized one-armed bandits and I swear they're set to only produce a percentage of their available product on demand.

[Condo] A cheap design of homes/rental properties that resemble the old style low income Row Homes in older cities, but stacked to allow more profit potential for their developers. Also known as a low renters paradise, transit trash containers, hot bunk boxes, and other nefarious names.

What is the problem with the women at the Summerland post office?  They are the rudest women around. 

[Each cat removed has cost $20,000] It's called job security. What the hell else do the trappers do?

[poisonwood tree. Any tips for eradicating it]  My tip would be to use discretion in doing so--they are a protected species because they are where some migrating bird, don't remember which one, nests. I can't blame you for wanting to be rid of it, just do it on the QT.

[Passing on the right] I drive to and from Marathon daily and have seen many County cops and FHP do the exact same thing.

[Poisonwood trees]  That poster obviously doesn't know much about Keys' ecology if he doesn't value poisonwood trees. Fruit from those native trees are important to the survival of many birds, especially the white crowned pigeon.  Now if it was an invasive exotic like Brazilian pepper, then by all means tell the homeowner about it.

[Now it begins] I’m glad I had gone to Marathon to float around with my Grandkid's in their new pool. More power to those that had a great time at Picnic Island. And to you that didn't, find something else to do next year and quit bitching.

[Hungarian Socialism?] I'm having a very bad experience with the police right now. I broke no laws, I just voiced an opinion. The Hungarian police have been like this forever. They don't just want to keep the peace, they want to rule. I'm sorry I will not stand for that. The police woman told me, "If you don't like the system, you can go back to America." That pissed me off and I asked her, "Who the f--k are you to tell me where to go, you stupid bitch?” If I don't like the system, I will try to find a way to change it. Now I am suffering her wrath. She told me, "You just wait; I'm going to fix your wagon. I know your name, your address, and your license tag number. Two days later I got a speeding ticket in the mail. Charging me with doing 62 in a 30 kph zone which carries a $350 fine and a year’s suspension.

They even have a picture of my car with the date and the time. The thing in my favor is that on that date and at that time, I wasn't at that place where the picture was taken. I have to go to court on the 17th of July. I will tell you what happened.

[Isaksen Insurance update] Renters insurance is very inexpensive, since it only is covering contents, except that with a fire policy it would include liability. It costs about $130 a year depending on the amount of contents and type of policy. 

We have been getting very good comparative rates for boats, especially the larger and newer ones, that people have been very pleased with.  We’re still getting great homeowner rates.    We’ve gotten really low Builder’s Risk policies.  We do a lot of Commercial Liability policies, and of course, auto policies.  It’s the “rainy” season and people should be checking their wind policies to make sure they are adequately covered and are getting all the discounts they are entitled to.

Even though we have really good rates, we think our greatest asset is our customer service.  We pride ourselves on being as helpful and informative as possible to our customers, and potential customers.

[my way] Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body and being placed in a beautiful casket.  But rather to skid in sideways,  Baileys  in one hand, Miller Lite  in the other, body  thoroughly used up by a young chick who left me smiling, and  totally worn out and screaming Woo! Woo! - What a  ride!

Then smoke me up in flames and spread me around my favorite watering holes in the fabulous Fla Keys, the out islands of the fabulous U.S.A. 

[That fellow who used to live on Little Torch is probably no longer around] Thank God! There are certainly better and more humane ways to deal with feral cats. The first way is for a responsible pet owner to spay or neuter them. The other is for people to stop dumping their cats like they are trash.

I find it interesting how so many say there are "so many" or "hundreds" of them running around on BPK and LTK. The trapping has only trapped 2, yes two. I have not seen all these cats roaming around either, so where are they? I have lived in other areas where there has been a feral cat problem and you definitely see them.

I too divorced over religious reasons.  Once I said, "I do" my wife thought she was The Virgin Mary.  I quickly learned that the best way to make a woman stop sleeping with you is to marry her.

You're right, passing on a right isn't a big deal unless you are the person trying to get out on the highway from a certain road, lets say to go northbound, and everyone is passing the vehicle on the right side going southbound which is trying to make a turn on that certain road that you are on, making it that much harder for you to get out on the road and that more dangerous! (i.e. Shipsway) It is illegal and cops will give you a ticket for it--for a good reason!

Christmas Tree Island a park? It is a "park" already. A park for bums, criminals and trash. What should be done there is to make it another Sunset Key, exactly duplicating what Sunset Key looks like, then it will not be a haven for the boat people or the weekend warrior camper nitwits. Absolutely no condos! Bring some class to Key West please!

The marketing efforts of some of the bands down here is amazing. One band always associates themselves with a really popular band as if they were the same quality. It works and it gets them free advertising on this site.

[Fine Points of the Law] Thomas Wimberly, 74, was arrested for stealing two hot dogs (value: $2.11, including tax) from a Quik Trip convenience store in Wichita, Kan. (though he said he had merely forgotten to pay). Because it was Wimberly's third misdemeanor theft charge, Kansas law required that the count be upgraded to a felony. Wimberly could not immediately make bail, and in fact was incarcerated for 71 days before his trial (once being subject to a bond of $100,000), but prosecutors insisted on a trial. A jury of 12 people (reportedly angry at having been called to such an insignificant case) found Wimberly not guilty. (The penalty, if he had been convicted, was 12 months' probation.)

[Now It Begins] To the person who wrote about the Stray Dogs at Picnic Island. You don't belong in the Keys.  Every person I have talked to absolutely loved the band and the atmosphere at the island.  Why don't you hang out at Monkey Island.  Maybe they will make some sounds that you will like!

Someday there will be wireless towers similar to call phone towers that will provide seamless coverage for the car’s entertainment center. It will be computer driven instead of radio waves. We’ll be able to download podcasts and internet radio and listen to what we want when we want it.

Don't get caught killing that poison wood tree, they are protected. You don't want some righteous bunny hugger to demand you be punished to the full extent of the law, do you? Besides, the white crowned pigeons will fatten up on the berries before migrating to the islands south of here where they can be hunted and eaten.

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Saturday July 14, 2007

Friday 13, 2007

That fellow who used to live on Little Torch is probably no longer around, that is why there are so many cats. This fellow had a very long chain in the back of his pick up, every 5 feet there was a large shark hook attached. He would go to the boat ramp on the island before dark and put the chain with the large hooks in his row boat. Then he bring his large heavy duty plastic bag, put that in the boat too. He’d row out to the middle of the channel and start to bait the hooks, half a cat each. Some of them had collars on them, when all the hooks were baited, he attached a quarter inch steel cable to the end of the chain with a shackle and row the end of the cable to the shore where he secured it to a thick re-bar driven into the ground. He came back in the morning and hooked the cable to the back of his pickup and hauled the whole thing out. It was good for everyone. Less sharks, less cats and he saved a lot on bait. I wonder what he did with the sharks.

[He’s back] I have heard it said that in the old days they stoned prophets, regardless of how their prophesies turned out. After two really intense weeks in my hometown, I'm back in the Keys -- cheers!

I just filed papers with the City Clerk to be a candidate in the upcoming Key West mayoral. This time, I'm running to win. Further information can be found in various menu pages of goodmorningkeywest.com, especially "Key West Politics Not As Usual," and wander around from there. I will try to get future blurbs in on time for posting in the Coconut Telegraph’s relay to goodmorningkeywest.com In case anyone cares to know, dreams had nothing to do with any of this, or with anything before this. I made that all up, in dreams. –Sloan Bashinsky

The Changes in Attitudes entry the other day sure brought back some memories. I enjoyed the memories and images of characters that I haven't thought about for a while.  I am pretty sure that I also know everyone that the author was talking about.  I raise my rum glass to him and all others who remember those days.

Thank goodness we still have honest commissioners like Bill Verge looking out for our interests. Don’t annex Wisteria Island. No one benefits except developers. If you do annex it, do it with the citizens in mind, and make it a park.

Congratulations to the Hungarian for getting a publishing deal. If you need more material, fell free to incorporate any of my "Tales from the Old Country" stories into your book. If my saintly Gramma Krevlik were alive today she would say to you, "Borofkek come meirda"- which loosely translates into "when you are rich and famous stay out of the DC whorehouses."

Now this is a cool picture! Amid all the 787 roll-out hoopla, perhaps the coolest event went unnoticed.  On Saturday night, Boeing had all of the 787 airline representatives at an event at the Museum of Flight.  At 7:07 PM, an Omega Air Refueling Services 707 landed in front of the crowd (after taking off from Paine Field in Everrett).  At 7:17, an AirTran 717 landed.  This continued until 8:17 when an Air France 777-300ER landed.  In the end, the 717, 727, 737, 747, 757, 767, and 777 were lined up nose-to-tail on the taxiway.  It is the first time Boeing has had every 7-series airplane in the same place (not counting the 787, which couldn't make the flight, of course).  

From right to left: 707, 717, 727, 737, 747, 757, 767, 777

[In essence, the uninsured or under-insured pay more for health care than the insured] I work for a hospital, and run a medical practice.  In the example you gave, an uninsured patient would have to pay $184 for their x-ray, one time.  The insured patient (or their employer) is paying close to $300-400 per month for their health insurance premium, twelve months a year.  People paying insurance premiums are paying a lot more for their health care than the uninsured.  The entity getting rich is the health insurance company that only pays $17.  And how many uninsured patients do you think actually pay their bill?

Our physician offices often discount the bill for uninsured patients to equal what Medicare or State Medicaid pay us.  The uninsured are not being robbed.  It is illegal for us to bill them any less.  If we do, Medicare and Medicaid have the right to lower our reimbursement, as do all the insurance companied we contract with.

A person is generally uninsured for one of two reasons: 1) they are unable to afford the premiums, or 2) they can afford health care but choose to gamble that their health costs won’t cripple them.  If you can’t afford the premiums, most health care providers offer assistance and are willing to discount or write off the charges.  If you’re a gambler, you lose.

Passing on the right isn't such a big deal unless the person passing decides to do it without slowing down.  I'm sure the cops turn a blind eye to it because it's the lesser of two evils.  When a car is sitting on US1 waiting to make a left turn, passing slowly and carefully prevents a long line-up behind him.  Passing on the right is a traffic infraction, not a crime as someone indicated.  It's when your traffic infraction leads to a fatal accident that it becomes a crime.  A certain amount of common sense has to be applied by both regular drivers and the cops.  Darren Bell did not use common sense and had he passed carefully and slowly, he would not be in the situation he is currently in.

[Changes in Attitudes Create the Changes in Latitudes] I, too, have some fond memories of the Key West I moved to during the Bicentennial Year: The great musical, Cayo Hueso '76, put on by the guys who had the Handprint shop; the “magic brownies” from La Bodega; afternoons that stretched into the early morning at the Full Moon--wonder what ever happened to that painting that hung over the bar? I also wonder what happened to Victor Latham? Those were some good times!

Passing on the right is illegal, I learned. I got a ticket on Big Pine for having my right tires touch the gravel when I passed a turning vehicle. The guy said that you cannot leave the paved road when passing; even if there are tire tracks from the many other drivers doing it.

The reality of our local USFWS program to remove feral cats from Key Deer Refuge land is finally coming to see the light of day. Each cat removed has cost $20,000. Only a fed can think this is a good deal. Then again, maybe only a fed that makes their living from this waste can think this is a good deal.

America family values can never start too young! baby_shoots_his_first_gun.html

[China executed a former director] You just know the next guy in that job is going to do the job right.

[The Hungarian] Your publisher is a good one, but read the sixth entry here first: Publishers

I'm looking forward to a big weekend of music. Mile Marker 24 duet on Friday and the full band Saturday at Boondocks and 40 Foot Sharpie Friday at Looe Key Tiki Bar. Recognize the good music we have and be part of it. Let's have some fun!

[Darren Bell] Yep, he's so upset about it he even managed a charge of false affidavit perjury. 

Pit bulls are more dangerous than you think. Pit bull sodomy

An international team led by Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers has created a building made of water. The building, to be unveiled during next year's Expo Zaragoza in Spain, features liquid curtains for walls -- curtains that not only can display images or messages, but can also sense an approaching object and automatically part to let it through. The pavilion's roof, covered by a thin layer of water, will be supported by large pistons and can move up and down. When the pavilion is closed, the roof will collapse to the ground and the whole structure will disappear.

The facade of the water pavilion will be like a very large display, with text, letters, and interactive patterns. "You could throw a ball at the wall, and then see an open circle drop down to meet it precisely where and when its trajectory intersected the water surface," said William Mitchell, head of MIT's Design Laboratory.

Officials said the pavilion illustrates the potential of "digital water" as an emerging medium. The concept was developed at MIT, with the design produced at a Turin, Italy, architecture firm, with help from a British engineering company and French landscape architects.

[Robin Songs] You appreciate the Robin's song as it's a member of the Thrush family—America's finest songsters.  Buy a CD of bird songs: especially check out the Hermit-Thrush and Wood-Thrush songs. It will enthrall you and certainly take you back to your early days.  If you're musically inclined, buy Mathew's book on Bird Songs (published in 1904 and reprinted in 1920).

Frontier Multimedia - The Good Earth: our beautiful and bizarre world as seen from space (takes about a week to load)

Al-Qaida is stepping up its efforts to sneak terror operatives into the United States and has acquired most of the capabilities it needs to strike here, according to a new U.S. intelligence assessment.

Habitat’s latest group of partner families found out this past Wednesday exactly which Bayside Landing home each of them will occupy.  A total of 18 families gathered with friends of Habitat for a barbecue at Peace Covenant Church to draw for their homes.  Each family has met the initial requirement for sweat equity hours and has made their first down payment to secure their interest-free mortgage.  They will continue to follow the criteria necessary to purchase their new home, including accruing additional sweat equity hours, attending classes on home ownership and making sure they remain on firm financial footing, so they are able to meet the obligations of owning their own home. 

The children of the partner families seemed the most excited, as many of them currently do not have neither their own rooms nor suitable spaces to play.  Habitat hopes to get through the final permit stages very soon, so these families can finally realize their dream of owning their very own home.

Benefit for Vernon Seigal  Sunday, July 15  from 1 pm to 6 pm at Ccoconuts"  30535 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key.  Pig roast by "Team McClain"  50/50 raffles and silent auction and the infamous "dunk tank".  Music by Terry Cassidy,  Michelle Dravis, Black & Skabuddah  and the More Than 4 Band. Come join the fun and help us help our neighbor!  Bulletin Board

My wife and I divorced over religious differences. I'm a Christian, and she was the anti-Christ.

[Changes in Attitudes] What a good writer. It’s so nice to read such great stories without the typical negativity of the old-times.

I think this is my song, but I can't quite remember. Video

[Attention All Riders] Remember this Sunday's Blue Water Choppers Poker Run! Card's available starting at 9:00am at Parmer's Resort on Little Torch Key, with a 10:00 sharp departure. The final stop is at Boondock's. Lanny and his crew have big plans for us. They are hosting thier first ever "Bike Fest". Live music by "Joe Mamma", a special $7 "No Wait Menu" featuring Hog Dogs, Hog Wings, Boss Hog BBQ, and a free cocktail for all registered riders. Lots of drawings and prizes, and special awards for "Best Dressed Biker", "Best Biker Babe", "Best Custom", "Best Stock Bike", "Best Rat Bike". $20 per hand - winner take all. Call Jay with questions at 923-5500 Bulletin Board

[Now it begins] I think that Picnic Island would have been more enjoyable without the bad band that sounded more like dead dogs than the stray dogs. Bands at Picnic Island are a bad idea and should not be allowed anymore. It sucks listening to boring music that old farts and dead beats like to listen to. The next time there is a band at picnic I will put a stereo in my boat loud enough to drown out the music of those wanabees.

[No name, No day benefit] There is benefit this weekend at Coconuts  from 1-6 pm for a local person who has lived here along time and most of us know him.  Thank God he is not dieing, but he almost did.  Please come out and support one of our long time locals and let’s all have a good time and show the world what this community is all about.

I would like to throw this out to the community at large for feedback.  I have realized while walking my dogs that my neighbor has a poisonwood tree growing on the edge of his property.  It has just become large enough to produce and it is laden with berries. 

I think if I had such a thing growing on my property, I would want to know so I could take care of it.  It will only become more difficult and costly the larger it gets.  Should I let him know about the tree or just mind my own business? 

My roommate says to just butt out.  Maybe the guy knows it's there?  I don't want to be a busybody, but I sure don't want some storm distributing all those berries around and also an animal could be harmed by it as well. 

Any tips for eradicating it?  I heard that if you pour antifreeze at the base it will kill it but I cannot stand to think about the effect this would have on the reef.

What would you do? 

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Friday 13, 2007

Wednesday July 11, 2007

[The Hungarian] Thank you all and Kudos to you who encouraged me to keep on keeping on. To you Whiners who just wanted to put me down, well it's best that I say nothing.

I have some great news to share with you all. I know that all my English teachers must be spinning in their graves, or if they are still among the living, will not believe their eyes. Because in my years in public school I murdered the English language more so than Muggs McGuinnes (Leo Gorsey) in East Side Kids. Dorrance Publishing of Pittsburg has accepted my story for publishing. Hurrah, hurrah. I was thinking positive and was keeping my fingers crossed that I would not get a rejection. They are urging me to crank up my creative juices and finish the story so it could be evaluated further and go to print. I don't have my head in the clouds, but if my book makes it to the shelf of the Library of Congress, even if it's in the basement. I will consider it an honor. Being called an Author is nice, a lot better than “asshole”.

Kudos to the two divers that risked their lives to make an emergency assent from 185’ without decompressing to bring a third diver to the surface when they found him on the bottom without his regulator in his mouth. These men are real heroes. They knew the danger of not decompressing from such a depth. Capt Mike O’Connor got the bends and was treated and the other hero Mark Woods appears to be all right. The third diver died.

[Changes in Attitudes Create the Changes in Latitudes Part 2] I’ve seen more than I can recall. I’ve been a Keys-guy since the mid-1970’s. That is, I mean hanging out down-island without parental supervision; and like many of you I’m astonished by the metamorphosis of the entire island chain.  I remember the Keys as an enclave of non-traditionalists, unconventional folks, some, hippies if you will; who lived meagerly in small homes, shacks and trailers that dotted unpaved streets splintering off a two lane artery that spanned the breaches in land mass over the blue ocean on old train trestles.

Water was held in cisterns and consistent electricity was considered a luxury. Some were retirees; many were veterans of the Second World War, yet most were folks who followed Florida’s four seasons…fishing, shrimping, lobster, and hurricane.  The first three were the basis for the economy and those businesses spurned other types of inter-related water-borne businesses, including tourism. The latter was no big thing; it was just part of dealing with living in paradise. Floridians took their chances. For me, those are the “old days”.  Back then, Key West had a half dozen or so day-sail operators who plied the local waters; most being six pack operations like Banana Boat Charters.  “Bring your bodies, booze or whatever,” advertised a framed advertisement that hung in the bars of Key West. The all day trip cost $35 and included lunch. 

The “whatever” always intrigued me; but I surmised a day aboard the Chiquita was a hoot! Without indicting any of my friends, I’ll just say my Key West of yesteryear is no more, and while I’ve many fading memories of my antics along A1A, the islands have changed, as I have. My favorite personal recollection of olde Key West is of the night Vic Latham physically tossed me out; through the double doors of his Full Moon Saloon, which was in the parking lot of the Southernmost Hotel. He warned me not to do that on his bar and what the hell; nowadays I’d have probably gone to jail.  I just picked myself up and stumbled down to the other end of the island, to a jazz club that was upstairs from a “gentleman’s club” called Pirate’s something...something I can’t recall.

I ruled my world from a payphone, and back then many Conchs did too, from a bank of payphones down near the Southernmost Point. Mine was elsewhere; next to my seat at the end of a bar on Duval Street.  There’s still a payphone there at the bar beneath that giant tree next to the store that sells glassware and electronics. It doesn’t ring when you dial the old number from back when. It was my office, but I can still call a cab from that bar stool without standing up.  Anyone remember when you only had to dial five sixes to call a cab when the 29 prefix was not needed? These were times when you could “own the docks” without ever taking title to them, or own a small conch home for tens of thousands of dollars.  Ha! And we used to ask who’d pay that for a house so old that if the termites quit holding hands it would fall off its foundation! B.O.’s Fish Wagon was a fish wagon, and the Half Shell Raw Bar was little more than a tiny kitchen with a screened room for a dining area.  Half the grouper that slid along the rickety wooden docks into Edith Raw’s fine establishment had fins; while the rest appeared to be grouper of the square species.

That was back when the parking lot was “paved” with oyster shells and the parking was free! Waterfront, sunset dinners included free entertainment and was served in Styrofoam cups from a cooler on the back of a bicycle. Cups that overflowed with fresh, home-made conch salad that I topped off with fresh baked desserts delivered in the same fashion, and dessert always came with a rhyme and a smile.  Alas, times have changed; the Conch Salad-man has passed, the Cookie Lady is creating art in Ohio, and Will Soto has claimed he’s retiring. The Sunset Celebrations of paradise past; the memories of many…ah yes, my memories, in what few brain cells I maintain, remain quite the same. Yesterday’s over our shoulder, so don’t look backwards too long, it’ll make it hard to see the good times ahead, you’ll miss out, and that would be wrong. 

Over the years, I’ve voiced my opinions on everything from the loss of the black spiny sea urchins, which I believe was the beginning of the decline in Florida’s reefs, to the feds creating their sanctuary. Mainly because I grew up snorkeling, diving and fishing along Florida’s east coast and lord knows how many pounds of fish I carried home on my bicycle as a kid. I hated when they paved the parking lots and I had to start paying for parking. I hated the idea of cruise ships blocking the sunset, although it does my heart good to think tourists pay big bucks to stay sunset side and end up having it blocked by the same big white boat I despised arriving. I even wrote letters decrying the parking garage and ferry terminal.  Yep it’s the very ferry terminal I now use!  But just like the Florida I enjoyed as a kid, the old days are memories; souvenirs from our past just like Henry’s railroad, pirates, wrecking, rum running, drug running, and of course, cheap bars and hotels. You see we call it history but for those who experienced it those were the good ol’ days. For many today, these are the good ol’ days!

My trips to the Florida Keys are few, however they are memorable and life changing in every way. This past week, my uncle and I drove down from Savannah, GA to visit friends in the Big Pine area. Consider this my thank you note to everyone.

Steve and Amy, I have yet to have a bad experience with ya'll. Every time seems to be better than the last and you never seem to get tired of me. (You should teach Doug how to do that.) You two are some of the best people I know. Thank you for allowing Chris and I to join you on the Fourth and the Sunday before. I hope to someday repay the generosity; however, in my mind there is no way to return the many experiences I have shared with ya'll. I already miss you!

To Albert, thanks for the entertainment. Ha, ha! You're a hoot. Get Chris' number from Steve and next time you come to Birmingham we can all meet up again.

To Lee, thanks for the food! You freakin' rock!  Every party needs you to pull up on a boat. Ha, ha. You've heard of Meals on Wheels. You can be Meals from Reels. Hope you enjoy the seafood breading (and onions).

And to whomever did the fireworks: Ic