Saturday March 31, 2007

[I have something to say] I am Leigha Fox, host of Biz-Baz on US1 radio 104.1.  Recently someone made some comments on my radio show and in this forum that where derogatory toward my character. I believe that the person chose this forum, BigPineKey.com, to express their views of me instead of in a private forum for fear of physical conflict. This person said that my partner and I are insensitive and uncaring.

Let me say this; and don't make me repeat myself when I say,  “I care about lost and found dogs, cats, bunnies, turtles, lizards, snakes, rodents and birds.  I care about dolphins, whales, sea turtles, see grass, mangrove trees, beach erosion, water pollution, manatees, the MARC house, the Wesley house, AIDS help, The Conch Republic Foster Children's Program, global warming, war on my homeland, Habitat for Humanity, Monroe County Aquaduct Authority, giant power poles running up and down US1, waste water treatment facilities through Monroe County, the freedom to say whatever you want as long as you abide by FCC regulations, I care about maintaining a signal to our listeners when they really need us. I care about a roof over my head and wheels under my feet.  I believe the greatest gift I have ever been given is being able to live out my dream job in paradise.

So don't ever say that I don't care!

The city manager of Largo Florida had to quite because he wants a sex change and the citizens didn’t like that. Why doesn’t he come to the Keys and be the Key West City Manager? They are certainly looking for one. He ran Largo for 14 years and made it a profitable city. So what if he’s a little swish, it would be great publicity for the City of Key West and he’s a really good city manager.
 
The only candidates applying for that position now are high ranking Naval officers who don't know much about the real world.

Hey Pineys, we’ve been in Costa Rica almost three months now. I’m finding out it’s not all that its cracked up to be. If I were going to do it again, I’d go all inclusive. There is lots of poverty thus crime, and noise, car alarms whooping, horns blowing, but on the upside there are a lot of attractive women. You can rent them by the hour or day or week or month or lifetime I suppose. Prostitution is legal. I haven’t found that on Big Pine, but then again maybe I just didn’t go to the right street in the Avenues.

Have they put up the Gates in Key largo yet? Just wondering. I also heard that everyone in the keys now has their own personal police officer. Is that true? The third world has penetrated the first. Is that true also?  I guess by now your seeing all those big old worn out red and white J.R.G. buses fly by with those human spirits on board that the elitist class is so willing to exploit! Ah, I guess there is nothing quite as satisfying as exploiting a foreigner, is there? Is anyone installing iron bars over there windows yet like they do here? Or chaining and locking every conceivable thing? Somebody let me know, it might be a good business for the future when they open the flood gates.

[really tired of the snowbirds] Look out BPK! We have lost our minds. Today we will cast off our lines and start sailing south. I know we will be swimming against the tide of snow birds, but that's OK. I know it’s hurricane season, but I figure we have just as much chance of getting whacked by a hurricane here in Charleston SC as we do in the Keys. So look for us in Cudjoe bay next to the power lines, I'll be the one dinking threw the canals without registration numbers. Don't panic call me over with a cold beer and we'll talk. See y'all in June or whenever, we have no schedule.

[Phone book listing under “Lousy Neighbors”] Instead of asking what key that the lousy neighbors live on, why not look for yourself in the phone book? If you don't find who you were looking for, then post. Unfortunately, the map of the keys in the front of the BellSouth phone book does not include BPK for some reason, but the Yellow book has a map of BPK.

OK, now let's get a story in here for Sunday about the Pigeon Key Bridge and new railroad.

[Part 2 Moving to DÖMSÖD!] Dad was a mechanic by trade but didn't work at it since the end of the war. Instead he tried to start his own business. He found two or three abandoned shot-to-pieces and partially burned Skoda automobiles. He begged, borrowed, maybe even stole, to get the parts and patch them and get them into running condition. Finally he started his enterprise, and called it 'Gray Taxi'. It was grey because that's the only color paint he could get ahold of. If I remember correctly, it was the same shade of grey as the German military vehicles were, Wermacht grey. There wasn't many cars running around the streets of Budapest in those days, transportation was at a premium. From the start, dad and the other driver were working eighteen hour days, and they were raking in the money. The biggest problem was getting the fuel. Dad knew the Russians well, they were queer for wrist watches. Dad made sure that he always had two or three inexpensive models in his pocket. He wouldn't wear any on his arm because a Russian could demand it at gunpoint. He would walk up to the driver of a Ford or Chevy truck, show the driver the watch, and walk away with two five gallon cans of gasoline. He had to take the cans back, that was part of the deal.

The Gray Taxi finally caught the eye of the communist authorities. The ÁVÓ (acronym for state police made up from communist thugs) came calling. They asked dad for the papers...The Hungarian

The only thing I know about Pinewood Septic is that they will work their butts off for you in trying to solve problems with the health department.  The whole crew seems to be great and, although we have just signed a contract with them and do not know first hand about their work we asked over 6 business people and 3 neighbors who had nothing but Kudos for them.  They also have their own machinery and do not seem to sub anything out as far as we can tell.  Good Luck; and we also find it a good idea to ask. Most people will tell you the truth and this company batted 100%.

The plugged canals were not filled in accidentally, they were forced to plug the ends because the original developers either dug the canals without the proper permits or they were dug too deep for the permit.  Unless the homeowners can afford the many hundreds of thousands in clean fill to re-permit and refill the canals they will never be reopened.  Owners on several of the canals have been trying unsuccessfully for years to reopen their canals.  

[Moondogs at Picnic Island] it doesn’t get any better than that! I’ll be there.

Mr. Poophead. You called in sick to work today. Don’t forget that you need a doctor’s excuse when you come back to work. Maybe Dr. Grider will give you one. Good Luck.

[Vacation rental]  Maybe you should try talking to your neighbor in a respectable manner and as an adult of your concerns.  Most people do not want any issues with their neighbors or undesirable renters in their houses and are willing to work it out with you.  Calling Code Enforcement without trying to work it out first will cause even more problems overall.

Plugged canals. Chances are that’s just how it was dredged originally. There are lots of quarries around here that were dredged for fill. They may have started dredging then had to stop. In the 70s there were laws passed to stop dredging projects. They still do allow some dredging and filling. Key West Navy stuff is an example as well as the 18 mile stretch and Little Palm Island got permits to dredge their boat basin. Little Palm paid to put in the buoys and maintain them at the coral heads off Big Munson. They pay NOAA money for maintenance fees. In return they got permits to dredge.

There were tons of development plans for down here. Roads were built just about everywhere to nowhere. Mosquito ditches dug everywhere killing deer and other animals like rabbits. Just about all the keys including back county islands were divided up for development. Different islands out back have been dredged for different purposes. The most well know are the two canals on Tarpon Belly which were dredged to raise shrimp. This island is privately owned just like many other out islands.

The keys right now are more ecological preserved then they have been since the 50’s. The water quality and the coral is another story. Mainland farming and development everywhere, I believe, is the cause. Most forests down here are, at best, second growth. Most of the keys wood was cut down for different purposes. There are more mangroves down here now then ever.

The most destructive dredge and fill project and the biggest problem is the huge dike (US1) running the length of the keys not some stupid cats. US-1 is built up so high that it holds the water back in case of a surge until that water can breach that dike. If it is high tide on the Atlantic it’s low tide in the Gulf. Therefore, there is always a place for the water to go, but it has to build up to get there. When hurricanes come from the west and up into Florida bay pushing all that water into that shallow v-shaped estuary be prepared for a large surge especially if you live on the Gulf side.

[The UN is just about the only place where nations are actually talking to one another]  Fine by me, I just said it’s about time they did their tongue wagging out of the U.S. and without my money lining their pockets.  Oil for food? My, you know what!   

[Fourth of July Party with Moondogs] Hell, l yeah!

If Bush didn’t have a plan to win the war going on 5 years ago maybe its damn time the democrats do take over. If you think Iraq would break into violence if we left you have not been paying attention. It already is. There are about 100 people injured and dozens killed daily. Wake up, it’s a farce.

Euthanize, or shelter? Advocates say cats have nowhere to go except their death. (By Steve Estes, News Barometer Editor) Trapping of feral cats on federal lands on Big Pine is scheduled to commence in a few weeks, but animals rights groups say the project has no future for the cats other than to euthanize them once they’ve been captured.
And that’s not something they’re willing to live with… http://newsbarometer.com/

Coondogs are a great band.

Marathon should be proud of themselves. They have done a magnificent job with Sombrero Beach. It is well kept, no homeless people lurking about,  a safe place for  family fun  and it is beautifully designed.

Over twenty volunteers picked up trash last Saturday in Eden Pines Colony.  www.EdenPinesOwners.com Many thanks to them, the Association and Robert Keely from The National Marine Sanctuary for all their efforts!

[plugged canals] They were not plugged by hurricanes. They are canals that were never cut to completion by the contractor due to one reason or another. As far as dredging you need permits from Army Corp and DEP to do this. You can only remove silt sediment. They will not let you dredge rock for any reason.

I volunteer my pontoon boat to hold the keg of beer for the Fourth of July party with the Moondogs.

[Plug it up] The way I heard it from old timers was a lot of the site work completed down here in the 60’s was done with out a permit. It was not uncommon for the permit to be received during the work, or shortly after completion. Enter the plug huggers! Yep, environ-mentals required the canals to “settle” for one year after dredging and before the final “plug” at the mouth of the canal was removed. It wasn’t long before they were looking for any excuse to not allow the plug to be removed. I heard of a group of home owners on Big Pine, Oceanside on the way out to Sea Camp that got together in the 70’s and filed several law suits. The only thing they accomplished was making several attorneys a little wealthier.     

[Eagle Scout bleacher project] More power to this young man, but isn't Watson Field a county park?

The plugged canals were dug by ambitious developers who failed to secure the proper permits first.  The state made them put the plugs in so they would not benefit from the illegally created waterfront. Rumor has it that once all the lots in Coral Shores are owned by someone other than the original canal digging developers they will be allowed to open them.

The planning is in the works for the upcoming "Snowbirds be Gone" party to be held at an undisclosed location on BPK in May. There will be live music, contests  such as who can give the best imitation of a snowbird, most creative anonymous calls to Code Enforcement, proper rude etiquette for the WD, and lots of other great events. It is really too bad we can't go where the 'birds live in the summer and disrupt their lives, but no one that lives down here would ever venture up North because basically it sucks.

"I believe that sex is one of the most beautiful, natural, wholesome things that money can buy." --Tom Clancy

[Airline cabin announcement] “Thank you for flying Delta Business Express. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride.”

I had the occasion to visit San Pablo's Church in Marathon. It is the most beautiful and inspirational place here in the keys.

[George Carlin's Solution to save gasoline] Bush wants us to cut the amount of gas we use. The best way to stop using so much gas is to deport 11 million illegal immigrants! That would be 11 million less people using our gas. The price of gas would come down. Bring our troops home from Iraq to guard the border. When they catch an illegal immigrant crossing the border, hand him a canteen, rifle and some ammo and ship him to Iraq. Tell him if he wants to come to America then he must serve a tour in the military. Give him a soldier's pay while he's there and tax him on it. After his tour, he will be allowed to become a citizen since he defended this country. He will also be registered to be taxed and be a legal patriot. This option will probably deter illegal immigration and provide a solution for the troops in Iraq and the aliens trying to make a better life for themselves. If they refuse to serve, ship them to Iraq anyway, without the canteen, rifle or ammo. Problem solved.

[“…the dance of love”] Wasn't there a song out in the 60's called " Blame it on the Bossa Nova?"  Just checking.

I have seen "Keys Disease" many times. Can some one provide a definition for this term?

[I hope Cay Clubs buys the Sugarloaf Lodge] Is it even for sale. Ick, no more money from big corporations. How did radio shack make it in so quickly?

Think we will skip Bon Apetito after reading your comments. They seemed pricey, but we figured the ambiance, food and service may be worth it. I guess not.

Decided to try the new Twisted Noodle in KW instead. We had been thinking about it and after reading the good review in the Blue paper we were on our way. Needless to say the review was right on. Great service, great atmosphere and more than enough good food! Two adults and two kids were stuffed to the gills and we went home with enough leftovers for dinner tonight. All for under $40 not including tip. We'll be going back!

Thanks to the bad attitude of my (would be) date, I decided to go out to dinner alone tonight. Out of the ordinary, I picked up a freebee paper from the stack near the front door of the restaurant and was seated immediately. Thumbing thru the first few pages, I nearly choked on my drink, there he was:  Andrew Tipler!  And what a lovely smile. Thanks for making my night, Capt. (I guess I can also thank my date for being an ass. Had I not gone alone, the paper would still be sitting in the stack. whew!)

The deadline for publishing is 6am
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Saturday March 31, 2007

Friday March 30, 2007

[No more UN] I agree that the UN is a goofy organization and for a large part useless, but getting rid or it? That is just about the only place where nations are actually talking to one another. We need more of that not less.

Looking around at property for sale I noticed several homes for sale on plugged canals.  How did they get plugged (hurricanes?) and how is it they are not reopened as they are again dredging in Key West.  Its ok to get the water churned up for cruise ships but these folks cannot reopen their canal?  Thank goodness they allow it in Key West or we would have to relocate the Navy. If anyone has any history on this some of us would love to hear it.  Does this mean that the rest of us can look forward to moving (or moving our boats) if our canal exit fills in?

First of all I want to thank everyone for making Blame It On The Margaritas our biggest CD release ever. To continue the party we’re heading to Dante’s in Key West (formally Monty’s) this Sunday at 1:00 PM as part of their grand opening. We’ll be having our first annual Mile Marker 24/ Dante’s bikini contest with the winner taking home a cruse to the Bahamas for two. In addition there will be all sorts of give-aways, drink specials and of coarse we’ll fire up the old Johnson outboard margarita maker. The party starts at 1:30 in the afternoon with the Mile Marker 24 Big Band so come early, sit by the pool and have a Keys Sunday. If you are not in the Keys we will toast one to you and look forward to seeing you down here or on the road this summer. Take care and may the tide keep pulling you back.

I too had a bad experience at Bon Appetito. The waiter was condescending and rude. I will not go there again. I also know someone who double-tipped because they didn’t know the gratuity was automatically added. Of course, they didn’t point it out to them. I think they should tell people that the gratuity is added on. They are probably hoping people won’t notice it on the bill. I wonder how many people have double tipped.  --michellelanderson@hotmail.com

[Let’s see how South Florida and the Keys react when the ecology shoe is on the other foot]. The reaction is the idiots that pushed the ecology rules way too far down here are now having to live with it and guess what?  They are leaving in droves because of too much too fast and only the rich can survive.   Cay Clubs etc. is moving in and the ecology shoe will be pushed the other way or ignored.  I can understand saving all the "special" trees in the refuge and on government property, but not allowing homeowners to do on their own property what they wish is un American.  The perfect example is the mangroves clogging the canals and owners scared to go out on their own property and trim them because of (Hitler like) neighbors who will turn them in. The funny part is that it is legal to trim them.  Yes; Mangroves have their place and do a lot of good, but the 5 or 6 on some lots would not be missed especially if the "powers" would allow one way canals a culvert (less erosion) for a clean out. 

The mandated sewer system could also solve the majority of people caused problems, but unfortunately "they" don't seem to be able to produce that when Tallahassee gave them a 10 year window to accomplish the sewer.  I never liked the soaps, but life in general down here is worth watching and reading the goings on and the feeling one gets is “what's next?”  The sad part is that the mainland and America are calling the Keys not a paradise but a third world country.  A couple of years ago I scoffed when I first heard it, now I believe they are right.

I hate to admit it, but I’m stunned. I’m in absolute awe at the antics ongoing in D.C.  The House and the Senate have passed legislation that the majority party touts as being “Troop Support”.  Do you hear any legislators bragging about the absolute fact that each bill contains hundreds of millions of dollars earmarked for such things as shrimp farmers, spinach farmers, peanut storage and a whole gut bucket caravan of huge bundles of cash for delivery to the home districts of those venal elected whores who voted for the bills? 

Maybe, just maybe, there may have been merit in some or all of the earmarks.  If so, why were these mountains of pork dollars hidden in the bills?  The House and Senate versions require assigning dates certain for the cessation of direct involvement of U.S. troops in the Iraq conflict.  Pure, utter, enemy-hugging, give-away-the-house, the kids, and the future insanity!  Why in the name of anything that’s holy would any sane person give their deadly enemy such a huge advantage?  Without a doubt there are some souls who purely believe that getting out of Iraq, now, at all costs is a righteous cause.  I must respectfully disagree with these persons.  If you disagree, review history and you’ll find that any display of weakness, timidity, or lack of resolve is a guarantor of ramped up aggression on the part of your foe.  The Bush haters have worked themselves into a blood frenzy, “W” can do no right.  I’m convinced that their animus toward “W” is so white hot that it has burned out their eyes. They’ve denied themselves the ability to see the consequences of their acts.  God forgive them.  Veto the damned bill "W"!

[Fundraiser for Zack Gilroy’s Eagle Scout Project] Zack Gilroy, Senior Patrol Leader of Boy Scout Troop 573 here on Big Pine Key will be seeking cash donations this Saturday at Winn Dixie from 9-3pm to provide a set of 3^rd base bleachers and other improvements for  Watson Field, a local recreation park used by the area youth.

On average, only 1 in 20 Scouts have advanced to this rank since its inception in 1912.  To earn the Eagle Scout rank, the highest advancement rank in Scouting, a Boy Scout must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service, and outdoor skills. In addition to this, their Eagle Scout Project must provide a benefit to their community.

Donations can also be made by check made out to Zack’s Eagle Scout Project and dropped off or mailed to the First State Bank of the Florida Keys branch in the Winn-Dixie, given to any Boy Scout of Troop 573.  Also by calling 305-684-9369 arrangements for a pick-up can be made.

Come join The Moondogs Friday night at the Looe Key Tiki Hut for fun and dancing. It will be an almost full moon party! Dogs please bring your owners along for tail-wagin' good time.

[Thinning the Herd] California Highway Patrol officers at the scene near Yuba City, Nev., said the 28-year-old driver that crossed into oncoming traffic and fatally crashed into a Hummer in February was, perhaps, working at his laptop computer while driving. Though the screen was shattered in the crash, the computer was open in the seat beside him and plugged into his car's cigarette lighter.

Monroe County Art in Public Places (AIPP) has issued a Request for Proposals for pre-qualified artists for the Monroe County Fire Rescue Station #22, also known as the Tavernier Volunteer Fire Station. The art budget is $9,000.  visit www.keysarts.com

Royboy, I didn't threaten you in that personal E-mail, pay more attention to what you read. What I said was that I would be willing to confront you face to face if I could. Why don't stop with the lies already. I hope you upgraded your glasses since the Pub clean up, because you should have seen me on my hands and knees in the kitchen scraping up the 1.5 inch crud from the floor. And helping to clean the pizza dough machine that was full of weevils, there were some other chores that I shared in with Rebel, John, and Rose. I remember being there!

You will see in the ensuing months, and perhaps couple of years, the global warming propaganda machine exposed for what it is; political bunk, simple, easy to swallow, (if you're a lemming), with no basis in real science, a crude, sloppy, socialistic presentation. It will crumble and become forgotten drivel. Youtube has the British presentation called "The Great Global Warming Swindle" Do yourself a favor and give it a viddy.

[The Hungarian] I have sent the end part of my story, now here is some of the beginning. I have not decided on the title.

The name of the village is Dömsöd it is only fifthly kilometers from Budapest, but it could be two hundred. It wouldn't make any difference.  A collection of peasant houses, all of them almost the same. Same color white wash, same lay out, facing the same way on the side of the road. Most of them constructed the same way too. Mud bricks and thatched roofs. It was a well-to-do farmer or a tradesman who had a tile roof on his house. The sharp spires of two churches dominate the skyline. The third church doesn't have a spire--the catholic church. All three are on the same street just about equal distance from each other. I don't think it was planned that way it just happened. Nothing was planned about Dömsöd, it's really two villages that kind of grew together, Dömsöd to the north and Dab to the south. That’s why there are two reformist churches, it makes you think that the catholic church was just an afterthought.

The people who live in Dab talk about the people in Dömsöd as if they were from a foreign country and visa versa. Many a fight has been fought between young men just because they tried to chat up a girl on the wrong end of the village. The two churches have large clock faces on the towers and huge bells in the belfry. I was told that during the revolution of 1948, the bells were melted down and made into canons (then they played a different tune). The bells are rung in all three churches every day at noon, or to call the villagers to services and mass. In times of danger, flood or fire the bells are rung by beating the clapper against the bell rapidly.

Rout 51 is the main road that runs thru the village, north to south. If you leave Budapest and head south on Rt. 51 you cant miss it. It has been there for ever, the first time I saw it was in the spring of 1948, it was old then. I was only five years old, my parents along with my kid brother moved here from Budapest. Dad had a house here, it was some house! Built of red fired bricks, it was four walls and a roof--a tile roof! It had gaping holes in the walls where the doors and windows should nave been. The unfinished building hummed from hundreds of pigeons nesting under the roof. Dad told me there was a grain mill nearby that was where the pigeons went to feed. They ate up all the spilled grain. I asked dad to take me to see the mill, I didn't even know what a mill was, but I wanted to see one. My mother walked me thru the unfinished building, pointing out where the kitchen, living room and bath would be. The house ended up never having a bathroom. Mom washed Steve and me in a large enameled pan called a Vájling.  There wasn't any running water either. We shared a well with a neighbor, a sweet rotund old woman that I got to know as Nanah. She was as wide as she was tall, had long snow white hair that she wore in a bun, and the kindest face you ever wanted to see. She could have been the wife of Santa Clause himself!

 If you liked this part, I will send another.

[Vacation rental] I too have a neighbor who rents short term. Personally, I think he should be able to. Fortunately, he only rents to well behaved people. I feel for you if his renters trash the neighborhood, but as long as the renters know enough to say they are just friends or relatives, there's little that can be done. If I had your problem, I'd call the owners by phone and report any trashing- no matter what time of day or night. You can imply that you don't want to report them, but maybe after enough calls, he will screen his renters better.

[Cats and Chicks] If anyone is a reader (even you Avenues people) follow at this link.  It should tell you enough about those cats to make you want to go out and get rid of them yourselves. www.abcbirds.org/cats/states/index.htm

[This goes out to Nicole and Chris Ricker] Wow, someone sure is mad at their neighbors.  If you don't mind me asking, what key do these two live on?

[Cats with bells] The smart animals will live and breed another day not the dumb ones. The raccoons do more destruction then the cats. As for birds, most were killed by past pesticide spraying. Cats are the scapegoat for mans’ destruction. I bet the storm surge didn't help the survival of any of these animals including the cats. As for cats having an instinct to kill, I have four cats only the one female cat kills anything and only kills the good stuff like lying snakes and rats. Over time you will see how fruitless all this is. Adapt or die. Only the strong will survive in South Central Pinerland.

Is there anyone out there that has a comment about Pinewood for septic tank problems?  I have heard both good and bad. The good mostly coming from the folks who work there.

I am one of those rednecks somebody wrote in about. I like NASCAR, big dogs, C&W music, loud Harleys and keeping my wife fat and pregnant. Got a problem with that? I didn't think so. Buy American, amigo.

What I find to be truly funny is that the people who moved here feel they need to justify their opinions by telling people how long or not long they have lived here. The true locals that were born here only say it when asked. They feel content with their place in society and their opinions.

It is too bad that the cats out there aren't large enough to stalk the people who dislike them. It would be an incredible irony if the big pussies ate them.

How do you hire a contractor? Here’s a place to start. Home Improvement | Residential Contractors | Home Contractors at ServiceMagic

[Fee file conversion] Do you have a file that you can’t open? Uses this handy online tool to convert it to a file type that you can open.
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All girls love Harleys because of all that vibration between our legs.

I hope Cay Clubs Inc. smartens up and buys out the Sugarloaf Lodge. Its got a private airport, plenty of waterfront, marina, restaurant/bar W/ liquor, a golf course and comm. store fronts.

Three men in history have walked on water.  The 1st one was Jesus Christ. The 2nd one was Peter (the apostle). Then there was this guy, Jose!

Shopping in Philly Video

Jack Schitt had a cousin, a priest, named Holy.

[Cats with bells] Please take your managed cat colony with you when you leave.  If you have a dog walk it and if you have a cat walk it and if you cannot keep it at home get rid of it.  The state is doing the right thing by protecting us from wild cats; and if your domestic cat is rounded up what the heck was it doing outside your property without you?

[Inherited the strongest military from the democrats] Comrade Clinton did everything he could to emasculate the military while in office, including selling our military technology to China. (who is not really our friend) If the democrats would shut up and let the military do what they are supposed to, we would have won in Viet Nam and we would be out of Iraq by now. If the liberals had their way we would be subjects of the U.N. and be paying tribute to Osama Bin Laden.

[Bet you can't] Without anyone watching you (they will think you are goofy) and while sitting where you are at your desk in front of your computer, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise Circles.

Now, while doing this, draw the number "6" in the air with your right Hand.  Your foot will change direction.

I told you so! And there's nothing you can do about it! You and I both know how stupid it is, but before the day is done you are going to try it again, if you've not already done so.

[Illegal Vacation Rental] Call code enforcement.  The problem is proving that the people are not just friends, family, or friends of friends.  You can loan your house out to anyone for as long, or as short as you like.  That makes proving short term rentals very hard.  The law just keeps the honest people honest.  

The same turd that snivels about snowbirds is probably the same one that snivels that they don’t have any money. They probably don’t want to work, can’t get a better paying job and are otherwise worthless.  Last time I checked the economy in the Keys is service industry dominant.

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Friday March 30, 2007

Wednesday March 28, 2007

[Fire Danger this week of March 26th - 31^st is Very High] With fire season underway, many of us that live in the lower keys are faced with the danger of wildfires. Please be conscious of where you flick the cigarettes and keep and eye on your kids this spring/summer vacation. Many fires are started by carelessness, bored children, and cooking fires from vagrants living in the woods. If we all work together and be observant of things in our neighborhoods, we should make it through another year with only minor fires. As much as I would like to take credit for the tree thinning/ fire break project, Anne Morkill from NKDR, her employees, and the "Jackson Mississippi Hotshot Crew" are the hard workers keeping lives and property a top priority on fire safety. Thanks Anne! If you have any questions about proper set backs for burning please visit our website for Florida open burning rules and regulations.

Thanks to everyone who helps out in keeping our community firewise! Senior Forest Ranger, Joe Cangemi, Florida Division of Forestry http://www.fl-dof.com/wildfire/index.html

I was very surprised at yesterday’s post by Roy Boy, all thru the years he let me believe that he was my friend! I got to know him thru Jim Womack.

When he took on the No Name Pub I was out there with many others and helped him clean the place up. From that time on he made like he was a buddy. Not all, but most of the things he said about me are lies. Yes, I worked in the army of a foreign country, but not as a killer. I was a soldier and wore a uniform. I only had a problem with one person in the Keys for all the years I lived on BPK. That was taken care of in the parking lot at Coconuts and it was done face to face.  There weren’t any live grenades. I never dealt in illegal weapons. I like firearms, always have, always had some. I never evicted my family from my house. When my second wife, Cathy, and I got divorced I gave her the house in Miami. She didn't even have to ask for it! I don' know where Roy Boy gets this crap from. It's not in my nature to put up a front, what you see is what you get. I’ve been told that I'm too blunt; if I don't like you I'll tell it to your face who ever you are. I’d like to ask Roy Boy if he can name me just five persons who are glad that I was busted and deported, however they can't be people who owed me money!

[Allies did not use anything stronger that Mustard Gas in WWI]  The Germans used VX which killed, not just left blisters.  There's a huge difference.  The Germans and Saddam Hussein were the only ones to have used the WMD gas on the battle field.  Please do not embellish the truth to make it sound as though we used poison gas.  Plus, who ever said that gassing the Kurds was the reason for going to war?  I don't recall reading that.  Someone inaccurately used Hussein's gas as a way to insult Bush Sr, and indirectly Bush Jr.  But the truth is, they were wrong in their statement. 

[Harley costume] Over the years I have had a bunch of scoots. My last was a H/D. I rode it for about 10 years. I now have a BMW, a very nice scoot.

By the way, I never, ever wore black anything. It’s hot. I have been riding since I was 14 (Yamaha 125cc) You could get your scooter license at 14 in Florida back in1964.

Be safe, it's not that they don’t like you; they just don’t see you and they will kill you. I guess what I am saying is that there are a lot of nice bikes out there; H/D's are just one of them. Be nice to everyone even if it hurts.

If you've found no credible record of Iraq using gas on the battlefield, you didn't look.  They used it against Iran in the Iraq-Iran War.  Afterwards, Iran went to the U.N. requesting assistance.  The request was denied due to Iran's own history.  Plus, it isn't a matter of using gas.  It's a matter of what kind of gas was used.  Comparing VX and Serin to Mustard and other irritants and inflammatory gases is like comparing a nuclear bomb to a hand grenade.  Come on folks, this is historic fact.  Don't let your partisan minds cloud what actually happened.

48 Iraqis were killed and 103 more were injured in bomb blasts yesterday. The religious civil war continues. Gee, we better not let them fight it out among themselves or it might get bad. Here’s your sign Bush apologists.

[Harley Davidson] You can’t explain the reason better then "You wont understand"?  You make it sound like "I don’t want to think I paid way to much for an average bike." If you want a good American motorcycle that out performs a Harley ride a Victory made in the good old USA and designed by Arlen Ness.

Gee, Royboy, I didn’t know you and (The Hungarian) Imre had such bad blood. Tell the truth, do you owe him any money? You know, for, er…services rendered? I have also know Imre for many, many years. He did sell dope, he did get caught. He is paying a much higher price than a whole lot of folks that did much worse. Let me say one thing, he is a man of his word and loves this country. I don’t believe he's whining about his fate. I think he's just allowing us to look at America from the outside in and letting us know what a great place this is to live. Royboy, I hope you are doing well out west and life is kind to you.

I think it's wrong that only one company makes the game "Monopoly"

[situation in Iraq] Iran just hijacked 15 British hostages from their boat—in Iraqi waters. Do you think Congress's vote to end the Iraq war before US elections encouraged the world's largest Terror State?

This is an experience I like to relate and it has to do with Harley Davidsons. I’ve been touring around Hungary, going to all the places that I didn't get to see when I was a kid. Where I live is centrally located and Hungary is so small that there is not any place that you can't visit and not be in your bed the same night. I do not like to motor when it's cold; I do my touring in the summer. Early in the spring I got a notice from the H-D dealer that the first week in June there will be a 4 day international Harley Jamboree on the north shore of lake Balaton in the town of Alsóörs . The brochure promised 12 Rock 'N' Roll bands, trick riding shows, beautiful girls modeling the latest bike wear, antique motorcycles, great food, free camping and a lot more. I’d have been to Daytona Bike week many times. I thought that some Harley people saw a video or pictures of Daytona or Sturgis and had an idea how to put on one of these things. My friend Gyula and I talked and decided to go.

Gyula left a day earlier and I was to meet him there. The distance that I had to ride was like riding from Miami to Key West; most of it on country lanes. I only had to go on a four lane for about five miles when I approached the Balaton I turned north and headed for Alsóörs. When I rolled into town there wasn't a banner across the road saying WELCOME BIKERS. There were a few bikers at the gas station and at McDonalds. I finally had to ask a fellow H-D rider where the hell the Jamboree was. He told me to follow the purple signs posted at intersections. I did that and arrived to a thing built out of wood that looked like a toll booth and the toll was 9000.00 Forints, thats like $45.00. For that money I got a bracelet on my bike and one on my wrist, just like in hospitals. Also I got a chit for a cup of beer and a T-Shirt commemorating the event.

Now I realized that this whole event will take place here, in this enclosed place, on the shore of the lake. I had my pup tent and sleeping bag, the next order of business was to find the camp ground.

I saw this woman on a scooter; she looked like she had something to do with the Jamboree and asked her about the campground. She asked me to follow her. She led me down close to the lake’s shore. Knee high weeds covered everything and clouds of mosquitoes took flight as we passed. The ground got mushy too, and the woman on the scooter got stuck. As soon as I saw that I turned my Harley and with a very gentle throttle I got the hell out of there. I met up with Gyula and when I told him where the campground was he said that we will camp behind a friend of his who was a vendor. From this point on things went down hill.

The quality of the rock bands were such that the bands that I heard at Coconuts are superstars compared to these guys. They tried to scream in English, but they didn't speak English, they faked it! The lead singer in one band was built like Fat Jack and half way thru his screaming had the audacity to remove his shirt. This guy’s gut hung over his belt like a grotesque apron and had stretch marks all over his body--it was gross! The food, well, just let me say this, I took a piece of sausage home and gave it to my dog, she sniffed it and left it. The trick riding was one of the mechanics from the H-D dealer. He did a few wheelies on a BUELL.

The antique motorcycles were a dozen Russian Pollak, Hunky, and Chek communist junk, not classic antiques. If I wasn't with some good people I would have left that day. The fashion show wasn't bad, most of the girls walked around as if they had a carrot up their butt, and they were unfriendly. The next day we went into the hospitality tent of a tire dealer. At the bar I asked the girl for a Jack and Ginger, she said they don't have that (the Jack Daniels bottle was right behind her). I met a guy in there who was obviously a biker from the way he was dressed. I asked him what kind of ride he had and he didn't even have a bike. When I asked him how he got there, he said he came on the bus!

There were riders from Germany, Italy, Holland, Belgium, France, Croatia, Bosnia, and Poland. The Jap clones outnumbered the Harleys 3 to 1. The one thing that pissed me off the most was Jap Crap with Harley badges. I went; I saw, and will never go again.

Seacamp Cat with Key deer.

[what’s so great about a Harley Davidson] It used to be an American way of life to own a Hog, but since the company was sold to AMC and then bought back, with most all the parts being sourced out of the country, and no really good engineering up grades to any of the models, I say it's time to make a real USA bike that will stomp the shit out the foreign crap, look American and growl in English!

[This goes out to Nicole & Chris Ricker] I can not wait till the day you freaking a-holes leave! All you do is cause problems for everyone in our neighborhood, calling the police when you hear our kids riding their motorcycles, causing problems with little kids only because you are not man enough to do it to a man. We will all have a big party the day you leave! You are a sorry pieces of crap.
-- JESSYNJAVI@aol.com

[Lucky rabbit’s foot] It has to be a marsh rabbit’s foot to be really lucky.

Glad to see somebody else was not snowed by the Hungarian’s words. Some of us don't forget things from the past.

The prefect husband Video.

In an ideal world we all would have enough money to buy land and food to house nuisance animals, but we simply never will. The best solution, I'm afraid, is for everyone to set traps for free-roaming cats, and euthanize them as humanely as possible. And never release one after trapping, because it is pretty rare to be able to re-catch it. If you are considering buying a trap, www.Cabelas.com has one for $53, item #DH-22-2984-296, called a raccoon/skunk trap. There are better designed traps out there, but probably more expensive.  I took a feral cat that was killing all the birds, snakes, anoles, etc. around my house to the shelter and without a rear door to release them into the shelter's holding cage, it was difficult - even dangerous.

There will be an important meeting today, Wednesday concerning the future of the pine rocklands of Big Pine Key. It will be held at the Lord of the Seas Church on Key Deer Blvd at 6:30 PM. There will be a number of speakers, and the public is invited.

Tipping is a American custom that has been rammed down our throats. Who said  10% is a bad tip and 20 % is a good tip? I bet it was thought up hundreds of years ago by restaurant owners who paid their employees chicken feed. If illegal alien produce pickers were paid the chicken feed wages paid to waiters, bartenders, etc (about $2 an hour) there would be a massive strike by the illegal aliens and product boycott by Americans. I'm tired of supporting every waiter and bartender in America. I’m poor too. Most restaurant owners have more money than I do. I tip 0% for bad service,10% for efficient service and no more. If it ain’t worth $5 to bring me my $50 meal get another job where your boss will pay you--not me.

[Bon Appetito] I have never eaten there, so I won't discuss the food, the ambiance, the staff, management or anything else about the place except for the following: As someone who spent over twenty years in restaurant management, I would never go to place that told me how much I was going to tip before I walked in.

If that assertion is true, don't count me as being a customer. When I go out to eat, I always tip better than 18% (sometimes far better) for even average service, but I don't want to be told I have to. I also have the right to tip far less if the circumstances warrant. Before you service employees get your bloomers in a wad, I understand that improperly cooked or slow food out of the kitchen is not your fault and I will tip on the service I receive. When that happens to me, I take it up with management. 

To be told I have to tip a certain percentage is ridiculous. Count me as a perpetual "no-show" at the Bon Appetito. I will go to La Trattoria. They provide great food, great service, great ambience, and I can tip accordingly. (which is my answer to another post here: "where is there a good Italian restaurant in Key West") Cheers and bon appetitio!

"Sandals" by Jim Doherty

[Hungarian] Thank you for your posts, look forward to reading them.

[Bon Appetito]  My experience was somewhat similar to other comments posted here.  The food was very good but the server was almost snobbish.  And while I certainly enjoyed the quality of my meal, the service was painfully slow and somewhat irregular.  While they may have an impressive wine list, it is terribly overpriced and they seem to want to push a more expensive selection on you than the one you choose. I was also offended by the automatic 18% tip added to my bill.  And while I always tip generously for service and often exceed 20% I don’t want it shoved down my throat. 

I have a suggestion for the feral cat problem.  Maybe the agency in charge of the cat roundup should buy a big load of that recalled pet food.  They could get it really cheap and make little kitty burgers and spread them around for all the furry felines to find.  They could call it Operation Puss and Boots.  Problem solved!

[Re: the Photo Gallery]  Rocky, you’ve got a great smile, man!

Well, now it’s official. According to experts published on The Drudge Report (the article was pulled after ½ hour.) one of the largest contributors to global warming is the tourist industry. Now we can do our part by closing the Keys to tourists who fly or drive in. Trains, busses and bicycles are still ok, though. No more cruse ships more mean water for all.

Let’s see how South Florida and the Keys react when the ecology shoe is on the other foot. Don’t worry though; Al Gore will get around to everyone (except himself).

Win a HDTV HP "I want an HP TV" contest overview page

[the Hungarian] Imre, himself, concedes that he deserves what he got.  He has interesting things to say, and I enjoy reading them.  If he's that dangerous maybe the Hungarian gov’t has an actual reason to worry.  There should be more interesting episodes as he progresses in his new role as "freedom fighter".

A good way to catch those feral cats is with a have-a-heart trap. Use some cat food and when you catch one, drop the whole trap into the canal one minute and presto. problem solved!

This is in reference to Mr. Poophead’s comments about Dr. Grider. I am Mr Poophead’s wife and let me just say my husband’s opinions aren't necessarily mine! After ignoring a medical condition for a few weeks, I knew this morning, I couldn't ignore it any longer. So I called Dr. Grider’s office at 8:50am and they had me in at 9:15am. I was treated, as always, with total professionalism. Thanks to Dr. Grider and his staff. I really appreciate you all.

The Harley Davidson motorcycle has a mystique all its own. It has fought in wars, aided law enforcement and served ice cream. Yes, there are faster, more comfortable motorcycles. Harleys are for the people who understand them, and if we have to explain it, you would not understand it! After all, look at many of your imported motorcycles they are all trying to imitate the Harley look. Nothing else on earth sounds like a Harley, looks like a Harley, or rides like a Harley. They are truly the steed for the modern cowboy. Like the song says "…on a steel horse I ride. Wanted dead or alive." P.S. Marlon Brando rode a Triumph in the Wild One movie!

[cats and chicks] Seriously dude, if the few chickens and cats running around are putting a damper on your happiness you might as well just cash it in. Better yet, why don't you move to that “well furnished island 1.5 miles out” and bring a webcam. We'll tune in to that!

Have you ever noticed that the majority of Harley Davidson riders are so out of shape that they pant when lifting a beer?

I had a friend tell me that I wouldn't understand why they drive an overpriced hybrid. This sounds like the same argument the HD folks are using. I don't understand it because is makes no sense. Following the crowd is not necessarily cool unless you have zero going for you and need to fit in somewhere.

[more farting] I don't know anything about mustard gas, but my wife has a bad case of burrito gas from eating at a Mexican restaurant in Key West. I told her not to order the Tijuana Special, but she would not listen. The wall paper is peeling in the bathroom, the dog refuses to go inside, and I have to sleep on the porch.

Yesterday's poster says that her cat kills rattlesnakes, like that's a good thing. That's exactly why we need the free-roaming cats removed. How stupid you are. Please move back North.

Win a trip Rome. HMNS Presents Imperial Rome 

This kind of sounds like our cat problem: A non-native species disrupting Nature. Some Aussies actually feed these animals, even though it is widely accepted that they are harming the environment (Sound familiar?)  A 15-inch-long cane toad has been captured by an environmental group dedicated to wiping out the toxic amphibian, which has killed countless animals since being introduced to Australia in the 1930s.

The volunteer-run organization, Frogwatch, picked up the cane toad during a raid on a pond outside the northern city of Darwin late Monday. With a body the size of a football and weighing nearly 2 pounds, the "monster toad" is among the largest specimens ever captured in Australia. Cane toads were imported from South America during the 1930s in a failed attempt to control beetles on Australia's northern sugar cane plantations. The poisonous toads have proven fatal to Australia's delicate ecosystems, killing millions of native animals from snakes, small marsupial mice, and even the small crocodiles that eat them.  I think that their government had better get involved before these critters actually cause something irreplaceable to go extinct.

[The Hungarian] Four to two by my count.

The problem with people is they have a tendency to believe anything they see in print as if no one would ever publish an untruth. Be very careful who you put on a pedestal because of what they write. Some of the best authors have very wicked skeletons in their closets. My dad once said, "Don't believe anything you read, and only half of what you see."

If what you say about the Hungarian is true then, hell, we need 1000 more like him. Maybe then the asshole hippy burnouts and Yankee carpet baggers would go away. The Keys is for us pirates not the phony civilized people that are here now. As for sell and using drugs? What part of “right to pursue happiness” do you not get? The war on Drugs is a direct violation of the U.S. constitution. And infringes on our rights more than any other boondoggle ever, except prohibition and see how well that worked, right?

[The score was not 0-0; it was 24-7.] Whatever happened to: “It doesn't matter if you win or lose, but how you played the game?” It does not really matter what the score was. The losing team knew they were losing and by changing the score it only brought more attention to it. It is up to the coach and the parents to give words of encouragement during and after the game; not try to hide the truth from the kids who have done their best and still lost.

[Harley vs. Honda] Riding a Honda is like making love to a fat girl.  It’s a comfortable ride but I don’t want my friends to see me on one!  I’ll keep my Road King.

Congress' reaction to Alberto Gonzales' denial of wrongdoing:  "A flat out denial from Gonzales -- in the good ol' days that would have been the end of the story. The Republican-controlled Congress would have said, 'What? You didn't? Okay...' and gone back to, say, building bridges in Alaska to save Terri Schiavo from gay flag burners."

If you change "Bush that S.O.B." To "Bush that Dumb ass" then 73% of Americans will agree with you.

The deadline for publishing is 6am
Please include Kudos in the subject line so our spam filters don't.

Wednesday March 28, 2007

Tuesday March 27, 2007

[Oh, oh, the Hungarian]  All the folks who post on this site certainly have the right to their opinion, and to read or not read any post.  But I've kept my mouth shut long enough.  Some things finally need to be set straight.  There are still many people around we knew this man when he lived on Big Pine. He comes on like a good guy wronged.  Like a modern day Freedom Fighter forced to live in an oppressed country.  This man is not a good guy, or a nice person!  When he came to Big Pine, he proudly professed to spending many years as a mercenary in several countries. Mercenaries are hired killers!   Piners who knew him remember scary things like piano wire and live grenades across a driveway.  Also how he proudly trafficked in cocaine and illegal weapons.  Also how he treated his family by evicting them from his house.  How he treated his "so called friends" with threats of violence and even death.  How he derived pleasure in attacking people from behind or from ambush.  And this is only the tip of the Iceberg.  To the great relief of many, he was finally arrested, convicted,  incarcerated,  and deported.  There are far too many Piners who will not forget this man…but wish they could.   He is lucky to be where he is, and not in prison where he truly belongs.  His picture (and I don't mean the haircut) shows he is not someone you would want dating your daughter.  --realroyboy@cox.net

The old “Stairway to Heaven” on Ramrod finally coming down. After years of being an eyesore to some and a funky landmark to others, the stairs are torn down.

[You say t-o-m-ah-t-o...] I understand how disturbing it is when people misread or misquote your remarks. I prefer to think that they are not stupid, but are interpreting what they read (as you suggested) to suit their own thoughts. It still drives me nuts.

Our allies did not use anything stronger that Mustard Gas in WWI.  The Germans used VX which killed not just left blisters.  There's a huge difference.  The Germans and Hussein were the only ones to have used the WMD gas on the battle field.  Please do not embellish the truth to make it sound as though we used poison gas.  Plus, who ever said that gassing the Kurds was the reason for going to war?  I don't recall reading that.  Someone inaccurately used Hussein's gas as a way to insult Bush Sr, and indirectly Bush Jr.  But the truth is they were wrong in their statement.

I want to thank Joe Cangemi (Senior Forest Ranger) and his fellow Forest Rangers from Jacksonville, Fl, for the awesome job they did cutting down many huge dead pine trees (thanks to Wilma) in jeopardy of falling on my home.   In addition to the danger of the trees falling on my home, there was also the threat of serious fire.  We had already experienced a small fire we were able to distinguish quickly avoiding a catastrophe of losing our home and perhaps several in the area.  These guys were professional, polite and conscientious.  What really surprised us was how they cleaned up afterwards.  They also created a fire stop, since our home is so close to the deadlands.   After seeing what is happening in Homestead, I surely can sleep better and am forever grateful for their hard work and dedication to keeping us safe.   Keep up the good work guys.

[the Hungarian] Thank you all who came to my support, score 4:1 I think the person that doesn't like me is a real whacko! It looks like, deer hearts, those of you who care to will be reading my drivel for a while. You Hungarian hater whiner, I am no longer in the drug business! It didn't work out for me.

Picture of me, Eventide, in the middle of heavy traffic on a typical work day. Photo Gallery

Note to self: No more wild sex on cruise ship balcony!  A man and a woman who fell off a cruise ship into the Gulf of Mexico appear to be O.K. Princess Cruises says it doesn't know how, but the pair fell 50 feet or more from a cabin balcony. It took rescuers four hours to find them.

Harley Davidson from a Hungarian perspective! Let me say that I had four H-Ds in my life and I loved every one of them. I owned just about every kind of motorcycle made in my lifetime. Let me remind you that I had a motorcycle shop for 25 years. Triumphs, BSAs, Nortons are not strangers to me. I even owned the Rolls Royce of motorcycles the very fine BMW.

The H-D in Hungary is a status symbol, the people that have them are rich, well-off businessmen of some kind in middle age The Harley Davidson represents America, it's big, strong, and nothing sounds like a Harley. You can ride one all day and it feels like a rocking chair. There is a guy who used to live on Ramrod, got a 1938 WL 45, it has been rebuilt many times. You can't do that with any of the Jap crap. The Harley dealer in Budapest is such that it makers the one in Miami look like a swamp. I venture to say that it's on par with the dealer in Daytona. I know one real biker guy who would be a biker guy by American standards. His name is Gyula and he used to be a merchant marine. He is clean, has all his teeth and owns a bar and has a beautiful teenage gypsy girl for his buddy seat. He bought his Harley in Boston and shipped it home.

Harleys are very expensive here, I paid 5 million forints for mine, that equals $25,000 in American money. The tax is included which was 25%. The dealer rips off the Hungarians to no end. Since I have relatives in the USA I can get around the dealer.  If I need something for my bike I e-mail my daughter and she FedEx’s it to me and it still comes out cheaper than to buy it here. A good example is Harley oil; the dealer tells the owners, "You must use this oil" at $25 a quart? Get the hell out of here! I use Castrol at one fifth of the price.

Harley Davidson rules!

Hear ye, hear ye! It has come to my attention that a certain relentless contributor to this local gossip site has written that I am deceased. I am the tall, blond woman who walks her friendly little Britney Spaniel twice a day. I would like to squelch this rumor, and advise the local gossiper to cease and desist before more people nearly stroke out upon seeing me.  My lawn may be in need of repair, but I am not.

About to celebrate my 55th birthday, I have pinched myself numerous times an can conclusively state that I am alive and well.  I suggest that the aforementioned gossiper get a life, rather than constantly focusing on me, and stealing my garbage. I admit that my garbage is tempting, but I like it.  Enough said.

[Compassion and the decline of America] This past weekend, a friend of mine attended his 13-year-old son's baseball game. What he saw encapsulates a major reason many of us fear for the future of America and the West.

His son's team was winning 24-7 as the game entered the last inning. When he looked up at the scoreboard, he noticed that the score read 0-0. Naturally, he inquired as to what happened.  Was the scoreboard perhaps broken?  He was told that the winning team's coach asked the scoreboard keeper to change the score. He and some of the parents were concerned that the boys on the losing team felt humiliated. In order to ensure that the boys losing by a lopsided score would not feel too bad, the score was changed.

As is happening throughout America, compassion trumped all other values. Truth was the first value trashed in the name of compassion, the adults in charge decided to lie. The score was not 0-0; it was 24-7.

Wisdom was the second value compassion obliterated. It is unwise to the point of imbecilic to believe that the losing boys were in any way helped by changing the score. On the contrary, they learned lessons that will hamper their ability to mature. They learned that someone will bail them out when they feel bad.

[Cats and chicks] This is solely in regards to the "problem" were are all faced with the over population of cats and roosters here on Big Pine. There is an island, off the Gulfside of Big Pine, that is 1-1/2 miles out.  It’s very large, very well furnished with vegetation and I believe that if we had all of the cats, roosters and chickens rounded up and boated out to this island we would be rid of them for good. Now,  if they were to be sent out there we could, say, have a remote camera set up to watch what is happening. If the chickens and the cats were getting along during the day then we could see what would happen at night time too. We could watch if the chickens evolved into an aqueduct animal over time (like adapting to their environment). It could be a project for the kids at school to see about growing up in an environment that is somewhat foreign to you, changing eating habits, living conditions, survival of the fittest, that kind of thing. 

See, I'm against killing them right off the bat. Take the cats and farm animals and see how they do. If they turn out alright, well, then try the deer. Put them out there too; maybe even on their own island. Now that would be television to watch, heh? All of God’s creatures on their own island with no humans to interfere with their development. A cleaner shopping center with less risk of getting any disease from chicken poo. No more car scratching, no more cat fights at night waking people up, a lot less cats getting squashed on the road, and a great science experiment. Having the sound mind to do something for the good of the animals and for the good of mankind.

Look, its simple, the chickens cant fly more than 300 ft, that's a fact, and the cats wont swim, we all know they hate water, and if any of them do try to swim, well, good luck with the critters in the back waters of Big Pine. All the animal lovers and the animal haters would be satisfied, science would take a step forward, and we could have something cool to watch on the local cable channel, make it our own "Wild Kingdom". I really don't see any harm in this, satisfying all concerned.

Anybody have a barge we can use? Come on people, you know you were thinking the same thing; just no body wants to admit it. It’s the humane thing to do. Just a couple of days and it would all be done--volunteers welcome! Of course it would be overseen by the Wildlife people and by week’s end were cat free, rooster free. Oh what a happier life we would all have.

China's version of 'David vs. Goliath' in the real estate market! Demolition crews don't always get their way. A survivor stands tall. This family’s home (located in Chongqing, central China) was left standing on its own island as the family refused to accept compensation to move. While the row rumbled on, the bulldozers excavated the site around them. Rumored to have government connections, the family is not expected to be forced out.

[If you have to ask about a Harley you won’t understand] Of course, but the vibration wouldn’t allow you to hear the explanation.

Hungarian, I think your detractors are outvoted.  The majority of posts I read want to hear your perspective of events, both here and there.  Please continue to write and I will happily continue to read.  On the other side of things, I never get past Sloan's intro, he just doesn't write things that interest me.  But there are people who enjoy his contributions. There's room for all.

You brought up the subject of the UN.  I am so glad and feel so much safer now that the UN has got Iran in their sights.  All those big strong words in the latest resolution.  Iran is cowering as we speak.  They did such a good job with Saddam in Iraq.  When are we going to kick those bums over to Paris where they belong and give that money thrown at them each year to our military?

[Harley Davidson] I know that the only reason that everyone is always constantly revving up a Harley is because that is the only way they can keep them running or the motor will go dead.
Vroom vroom vroom 

[worrying if some species will be extinct] No they are not crazy or stupid.  Sorry, but there is an ever growing cry of sane people who just do not want to change what has been going on since the beginning of time.  That is the basis of everything and we cannot artificially change it.  Things evolve, change and work with the environment as it (naturally and not so naturally) changes.  We will always adapt to what is presented or die.  That is just the way it is and always will be. Get off the wacko train and enjoy life; and every now and again you can even step on a cockroach.  If the rats disappear of the face of the Keys, who cares? 

I think the Keys would be much better off if the Feds concentrated on reducing the number of feral rednecks instead of cats down here. Rednecks tend to kill all forms of wildlife, trash the islands and love to make all the noise they can with their loud bikes and trucks (“Look at me!”). I looked for a recipe for cooking up a redneck, but found zero because most chefs agree they are too hard to clean.

I like the Hungarian posts. The Hungarian is giving us insight into how the system over there does not function as it is idealistically written on paper and more socialism than we have to deal with here and how it does not work.  He is paying for his mistake and is showing everyone here how much!  Possibly his deportation will take away from the unfortunate glamour of being an illegal drug dealer/user in the Keys.  I like hearing and knowing that others are being shown how horrible it is under any other form of government; thus possibly preserving the few rights I have left and possibly I shall regain some property rights that have been taken away.

[Harley Riders]  If you have been riding long enough to relate to "The Wild One" You must surely remember that the Hero (anti-hero?) and many of his gang were not riding Harleys, but Triumph and BSA British Twins.  Yes, Lee Marvin rode a Hog chopper.  Yes they are American made.  Yes, since Willie G and his group saved the company, the quality and style has greatly improved.  You no longer have to carry tools and spare parts and oil.  You no longer need to spend 1/2 hour kicking to get them to run. Actually, they no longer have kick starters.  But the bottom line---even if they are over priced, vibrate, and whatever is if someone has to explain why they ride HD you would not understand!

We are collecting toner cartridges, inkjet cartridges, cell phones and aluminum for recycling. For a program to raise funds for Marine Mammal Conservancy (an all-volunteer IRS 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization).  For collection information contact islandmermaid1@bellsouth.net.  Visit us at www.marinemammalconservancy.org 

Who cares if cats kill rats and snakes? I have a cat to kill those animals I don’t want on my property and in my house. My cat bats around scorpions and warns me to their presence and has never been stung. She also kills rattle snakes. I have never seen a cat kill a rabbit before; and just because you have seen a rabbit here does not mean it is a Marsh Rabbit unless your definition of a Marsh Rabbit is any rabbit that lives in a marsh. From what I have heard on this site people seem to be the ones running the rabbits over and then blaming it on a cat.

I have never understood why some people don’t like cats, but I have since figured it out. Some people have low self-esteem and need an animal to fill this void. Cats with their independent-ness and wisdom can sense this weak mental state and avoid those people. Then those people lash out at cats in violent ways to build their self-esteem.

The bigger problem is these exotic snakes that I have been hearing about. I have heard of several very large snakes over 6 feet being seen on Big Pine. Those things could take down a Key Deer or a small child. The feds need to get their priorities strait and do what is most beneficial for the environment; first of which is to stop development on land that is habitat for these native species. But all they want is money.

All we need to do about the cats is put some bells on them. Then the native species will hear them coming and  run. Then no birds will get killed by a cat. Only the stupid animals will die and the smart will live to bread another day.

If someone hurts a cat on purpose I’m calling it animal abuse no matter what their rational is. I’m sick of the local government being above the law. They do not have to follow the law for permits and they have airboats running around down here to monitor tide gages. They should ust use a skiff.  If I were to use an airboat I would surly get into some kind of trouble. I, for one, am voting everyone that is currently in office out! Only the strong will survive in South Central Pinerland.

[what’s so great about a Harley Davidson] It used to be an American way of life to own a Hog, but since the company was sold to AMC and then bought back, with most all the parts being sourced out of the country, and no really good engineering up grades to any of the models, I say it's time to make a real USA bike that will stomp the shit out the foreign crap. Look American and growl in English!

I like this site so much better now they’re making people put their address on negative personal comments. I don’t really care to hear them. That policy has really slowed down the vindictive poster and has just left the genuine complaint! I never liked soap operas.

After 9/12/01 when we were all stoked to get involved and do what we could on our end our president asked us to "Go shopping". There are 23% supporters of Bush and 27% who have some sort of diagnosed mental disorder. That proves that even some of the nut jobs know enough not to back a retarded monkey.

My thanks to those have read and considered these postings.  You’re right, I have found no credible record that Hitler’s minions used poison gas on the battlefield.  Hitler used poison gas as a tool for genocide. 

Did you know that the Imperial Japanese forces did use poison gas in battle during their invasion of China?  It is my sincere wish that we get over the partisan braying concerning the genisis of the Iraq situation.  The fact is: we're there now.  The only topic worthy of worry is to settle on a course of action that is in the best interest of the United States.

Some argue:  “Pull out now”.  Some argue “Pull out (you fill in the date).  I find it disgusting that some legislators are so full of bile and hate for the President that they are pushing legislation that pours hundreds of millions of dollars to spinach growers, peanut farmers, etc., etc,.  These legislators make this rancid pork a core part of troop funding legislation.  This legislation actually diminishes funding for training and supply of our troops in theater.  These legislators aggressively seek the defeat of our mission.  Their actions give comfort and hope to our enemy.

Many, including me, are convinced that leaving Iraq unprotected will deliver this strategic country and its oil resources to the hands of the Mullahs ruling Iran.  We must leave as soon as a secure and responsible government is in place, and not before.  Only the most bile besotted partisan could believe that leaving sooner would be a boon.  Let’s think: what would be the consequences of the boogey scenario?  George Bush would have “lost” the war, hurrah.

The United States would suffer humiliation in the eyes of the world.  Hurrah?  The United States credibility would be grievously damaged.  Hurrah?  The fundamentalist Shi’a Mullahs would control the Iraq oil resources.  Hurrah?  The Mullahs might annex Iraq, but in any event would control an Iraqi puppet state.  Hurrah?  The wilds of Pakistan and Afghanistan would play second fiddle as a terrorist training and launch point.  Hurrah?  Neighbors Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other moderate Arab states would be quaking in fear at the prospect of a fundamentalist tsunami launched by Shi’a Mullahs.  Hurrah?  Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, and all other fundamentalist crazies would rejoice.  Hurrah? The entire world wide constellation of terrorists would gain strength and stature.  Hurrah?

Of course, Bush (that evil s-o-b) would be humiliated.  Hip Hip Hooray!

I pray that the foregoing does not come to pass, for it will mean evil, truly evil times for you, your children, and our country.

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Tuesday March 27, 2007

Sunday March 25, 2007

One year ago today, Friday, March 24, 2006, our little alligator, Cola, was tortured and killed in the Blue Hole on Big Pine (as well as three birds just to lure her close enough), and the perpetrators have still not been punished.  Their trial has been put off several times, with their defense attorneys telling the judge that "they are not ready".  It is now set for the first week of April.  It sounds like the attorneys are just prolonging this, which means more money they can bleed from the parents.  RIP Cola.

I read two postings today concerning our situation in Iraq. Very interesting.

One writer suggests that Saddam’s proclivity to gas his opponents is ancient history, not worthy of consideration.  It’s suggested that Saddam was a “prisoner in his little sandbox”, being cooperative with the UN inspectors, a threat to no one.  It’s suggested again that Iraq was better off under Saddam’s fist, and that our actions have fueled the terrorist.

Yep, your right. The gassing of the Kurds was years ago.  Saddam’s gassing of the Iran forces was years ago.  Saddam’s genocide was years ago, prior to our invasion.  Now let's reflect back on at least one other dictator who used poison gas, engaged in genocide, and invaded his neighbors.  I guess we never should have sided with the Brits et al; after all, Hitler didn’t attack us.  I guess that the Holocaust, the blitzkrieg, the quest for world domination by a fascist was insufficient provocation for the U.S. to become involved.  Ask any Israeli if the passage of a few years diminishes the import of the Holocaust.

Don’t forget for a second that Saddam invaded Iran, he brutalized Kuwait, and he had designs on Saudi Arabia.  Saddam was not, repeat not, cooperating with UN inspectors. Can anyone forget the TV footage of the inspectors being forced out of Iraq?  Who can forget sanction after UN sanction being levied against Saddam?  If Saddam was just a harmless annoyance, a toothless tiger, why the sanctions?  Saddam was cut from the same cloth as Hitler.  Spare us the partisan posturing, face it; Iraq and the world are better off without him.

Agree or disagree on the wisdom of the invasion and conquest of Saddam’s regime, the fact now is that we’re there.  The question is should we finish the job?  Should we stay and do our damnedest to ensure that a stable and responsible government is in place?  Or, should we boogie?  Should we leave the Iraqi’s to their own devices?  Screw em?

The argument you hear from the “boogie now” crowd is that the conflict is a civil war, being fought for theological dominance.  There can be no doubt that many Sunnis and Shiites are doing their level best to kill one another.  Is theological dominance the driving factor?  It’s certainly a part of it.  Another part is revenge; another part is tribal feuding going back to the dark ages.

Please, please, don’t delude yourself, don’t suggest for a moment that this conflict is driven by those who wish only to peacefully practice their religion as they see fit.  These insurgents seek political power.  They seek to have a larger platform from which to launch their brand of religious fanaticism on the world.

Iran is a Shi’a ruled theocracy; it is the single most powerful and important aggravator in this entire mix.  Iran provides weapons, money, Shiite fighters, and guidance to the Iraq insurgency.  One could write volumes on the evil deeds promulgated against the U.S. and many other nations by Iran and its fundamentalist government.  Do you doubt that Iran is a mega sponsor of terrorism?  Do you doubt that Iran lusts to join the world community of nuke weapons owners?  Do you doubt that Iran’s leaders lusts to inflict pain and destruction on America?

We must not boogie.  There can be no doubt that if Iraq were abandoned now, that the nation would soon fall to the Shiite insurgency.

We should leave only when a responsible Iraqi government is in place, when that government can protect itself from internal and external threats, and when that government asks us to leave.  We have won the “war”, Saddam’s regime is history.  Now we must provide Iraq the means to survive.

Neutering and releasing a feral cat doesn’t stop it from killing. I say pull all its teeth and declaw, then release, that should do it.

That “choo choo” letter yesterday was cuckoo! Has this guy just moved here or what? He’s a good example of airheads moving here and trying to change things without knowing what they’re talking about.

[Yes, Saddam did gas the Kurds] You’ve got to love the internet, it gives grade school dropouts an opportunity to almost sound intelligent (operative word being almost).

You’ll have to read the directions on how to play this game. Flash Circle TD - Play Online Flash Games Now at Candystand.com!

After doing a lot of research on motorcycles over the last year I have to ask what’s so great about a Harley Davidson? They don’t perform near as well as other makes of bikes and they really are not that nice looking. I think its a case of great advertising not a case of great engineering. Every time I see a Harley rider I think, "There’s a person who paid way to much for an average bike."

Bon Appetito is a great restaurant, with great service.  Don't you no-class people know that you should take your hat off inside, especially in a restaurant?  Were you raised in a barn?18% in my opinion is the least that you should be tipping anyway.  You all should be leaving 20%, you cheapskates.  30% is a good tip.  The owners are simply looking out for the livelihood of their employees, which is a lot more than I can say for other local "upscale" restaurants.  Too many people think that 12-15% is just ok.

I'm the Hungarian and I was busted for possession and distribution of a controlled substance (cocaine). Now you know the whole story! As many times as I visited this post I have never, never complained about my rights being violated. I was judged, sentenced and deported according to the law. I got no bitch coming. I complained about the conditions here in the land of my birth. If any of you don't like my drivel, like this post, just take the time and voice your opinion and you will never hear one word from me again. Please do indulge.

[Poop Head] There are other doctors. He's not the only one who has a piece of paper on his wall.

Hey, crab trap molester, I dam near caught your sorry ass yesterday. You had just dropped my trap, the mud hadn't settled yet, and guess what? I know your boat ass wipe!  Now instead of me watching for you, you better be watching for me dickhead! What goes around comes around. Nice boat, or it was. I believe in that old saying, revenge is so sweet. You’d better keep the lights on the ol’ boat all night because I don't sleep that well and roaming thru the hood looking at your boat won't be a problem.

[Keys disease] Let me see if I have this straight?  Someone contracts a person to tint his car windows and pays him in advance.  This guy disappears off the face of the earth for 3 months, so far, and does not return at least 10 phone calls.  Lastly he disconnects his business phone. You said, "the young man seems nice enough, he is just a little lax.”  Are you his mother?

If you're going to quote history concerning Saddam gassing the Kurds, perhaps you should quote it correctly.  First, Saddam gassed the Iranians during the Iraq/Iran War.  Only one other country has done that on the battle field.  Guess who?  That's right, Nazi Germany.  Despite the fact using gas as a WMD is illegal according to international law, he got away with it.  Then, he started killing Kurds by taking all males 14 and older out of their homes and putting a bullet through the backs of their heads.  Others were taken away and thrown in camps.  Prior to gassing an entire village, he buried Kurds in large pits.  Why did Bush Sr not do anything?  It's very simple to understand.  Iraq was the enemy of our enemy, Iran.  And, they were at war with our enemy at the time.  This was on the tail of the Iran hostage crises. 

[Cat Roundup] Ok, back to the cat “problem”.  As I see it, there is a division of opinion as to what should be done.  First, if all the shelters are full, as I hear they are, and 10^th Life won’t take any more cats because they need money and other groups have been unsuccessful in finding land to place a haven for the cats; then the only solution when these cats are trapped starting April 1, will be to kill them.  No don’t spoon feed me with “euthanize only those who can’t be placed”, because if there is no room, what are you going to do?  Transport them north?  To where?  Yes, people’s own pets, including those feral cats who have been adopted will be rounded up, just like cattle for slaughter. If there is no place to keep the cats to sort out who lives and who dies, then what is to prevent these people from killing your pet?  Where are they going to hold them? 

Why don’t you get a plan in place first, like where they are going to go? who is going to take them? how will be they cared for, etc before you go out to trap? You have negated the Trap Neuter Release program because all those who participated in this are now being told it was for nothing because they are going to re-trap those same cats and kill them.  All the hard work the animal people have done to comply and work within a program was for nothing.  It has been shown if a species is fixed so they can’t breed, they eventually die out.  Heaven help us that something bigger than humans doesn’t come along and do that to us. 

So who are these people who are doing the trapping?  The local animal people?  Hired killers?  Who?  You say cats should be leashed like dogs, they should be kept in the house like dogs.  Well they aren’t dogs.  Of course, if some states and people have their way, all animals will be neutered in order to be pets.  Then what?  Will only purebreds that are being bred for the convenience and financial gain of the owners be allowed to breed?  What are we coming to?  Don’t we have enough to think about with social security, alien invasion, health care, etc. without worrying if there is some species on earth that will be extinct?  How many species has man killed off because they wanted to expand, to build, to move out into the wilderness, etc.?   Are we trapping humans and moving them or getting them fixed or killing them for doing this? I think not. 

If this problem has been going on for ten years, why just now are we getting to the point we are?  Who got a burr under their saddle that this had to be done now after all this time?  It is another example management by fire?  Don’t make plans, don’t have things in place before you jump on the wagon and rush pell mell into the fray.  This is an example of poor management.

So stop this round up.  Get a workable plan in place and then proceed.  I think it will work out for all concerned, including the cats who don’t seem to have any high placed advocates.    

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Sunday March 25, 2007

Saturday March 24, 2007

Let’s try a little reality concerning Iraq. Yes Saddam did gas the Kurds, but that was over 15 years ago and not the reason we went into Iraq. In fact I remember very well that Bush Sr was in office when it happened and did nothing. Of course the republicans were not upset at all when it happened. I guess they found religion a decade and a half later. I think its safe to assume that before the occupation Iraq had schools and universities. Sure they had power outages during peak times of the year because of the heat, but its even worse now. American cities have power outages during peak summer months too. Come to think of it, who cares what we think about the current Iraq? 70% of the Iraqis want their occupiers to leave in a few years which is exactly what the Democrats proposed. And if you’re saying we’re winning the war on terror then the fact that terrorist attacks are up over 3500% worldwide hopefully will wake you up. American troops are bogged down in a Theocratic war over religion when they can be redeployed and regain the ability to drop in anywhere and catch the terrorist by surprise. Not be sitting in Iraq with huge targets on there heads. Quit tying troops’ hands and let them fight terror around the world. If you think Iraq’s so wonderful now it just goes to show how very little you understand. Their infrastructure is destroyed, families are scared to leave their homes, school buildings are wonderful, but if they don’t send their kids to them because of the violence, what use are they? When an Iraqi family can walk down their streets at night without the fear of getting bombed let us know. Its time the Iraqis stand up and fight their own religious war.

I saw two marsh rabbits on US1 by the deer overpass a couple of years ago.     

[Our war for theocracy] The well written letter yesterday regarding conditions in Iraq seems a little too rosy. Everything good he wrote of will probably be blown up by the time he reads today’s column.

[photo gallery of our readers] You first, Ed.

[Habitat for Humanity benefit] Tomorrow, Sunday March 25 starting at noon at Bobalou's. That's Doug and Debbie's (the queen of deep dish deserts) place at MM10 on Big Coppitt Key. Food, drinks, music, music, music. Terry Cassidy, The Mike and Possum Show, and also on the big stage, Mile Marker 24 Big Band with Howard Livingston. Come on and give us a big help making this a success.

Please remember the one organization that works hard for everyone in the Keys. They were there for us last year after every hurricane. Now lets all get together and help them. As Coconut Freddie would say, “Thank youuuuuuuuuuuuu!”

I can't believe they let that Hose-A Wejebe (ESPN2 fishing show host) off on the DUI charge. His lawyer argued and won saying he was on a sleep aid and not drunk. BS! DUI is not about alcohol only. Any drug prescription or otherwise that impairs a person makes them DUI.  Money talks the rest of us do time, community service and drunk school.

I truly miss the Keys. We arrived there in the 80's and had to leave as there was no way we could retire there.  It is true it has lost some of the old charm due to many things, but is it not funny the snowbirds don't change!  They have always for the most of them been rude to the locals, look down their nose at us.  I did, however, meet some that were very nice and enjoyed their time in Paradise.  Maybe you should round up the nice one's and have them give lesson to the snobs on how to be grateful and that they need locals to be able to come down every winter. They would not have been there years ago without stores, elect., a/c etc.; or maybe the locals should close the doors during their season and see how long they will not stay.  I know that’s not feasible, but it sure sounds good to me.  Also, some of you locals need to back up and start being nicer to each other. At one time it was the Smilin’ Islands. All were happy and helpful. 

[good Italian restaurants in Key West]  Opera is stellar, Antonia's always a favorite and La Trattoria is very good as well. 

[Methane emissions from cattle are responsible for 4% of harmful greenhouse gas emissions] Other studies have shown that most of the remaining 96% of harmful gas emissions come from Hillary Clinton’s speeches.

[Newbies] You know I can relate with the locals’ dislike of new people and tourists in the area. Heck, I grew up in Florida and tourists irritated my parents and then me when I grew old enough. Then you had the "snowbirds" who came in to enjoy things as they were and then there were others who wanted to come in an make it more like home. Those were the ones we did not like at all. But, we did not condemn all the newbies that came into town as many of them had great talents to offer to make our community a better place to live. So please do not automatically think all of us newbies are here to take over and destroy your beloved way of life. Plus, I bet many of the locals were once newbies or are decedents of them.

[good Italian restaurants in Key West?”]  Try Mangia Mangia at 900 Southard St. and/or La Trattoria at 524 Duval St.  I have been to both numerous times and have found them both to be very good.  Of the two I think that La Trattoria is somewhat more up scale with a more varied menu, but either will not disappoint. 

[Dog raising fawn] We saved a deer’s life. She was suffering from what appeared to be a broken jaw. It was infected and badly swollen. She was dying. I got some old antibiotics from several friends. And, daily, I would empty a capsule in some food I prepared for her. Today she is healthy and has a pair of twins. Her coat is once again shiny and smooth. If I got caught I would have been in serious trouble, but I just couldn’t watch her suffer like she was.

I’ve liked La Trattoria, Antonia’s and Opera for Key West Italian food.  They are located about a block apart on Duval.  Opera is actually behind another store that front’s on Duval and is right next to the back part of Antonia’s.

I have been a patient of Doc Griders for many years for high blood pressure and diabetes. I see him every 3 months.  I have never heard the office staff or nurses be less than helpful to anyone.  When I see how many patients are in the office all the time, I can see how someone like you would think they are rude.  It sounds like they were concerned about your health, even if you are not.   They probably are overworked and underpaid and knew they were wasting their breath trying to help you.   Remember, they are dealing with peoples’ lives.  You sound like you were ordering a pizza and expecting it to be delivered.

[Fight for theocracy] How can Iraq have free elections if only Muslims are allowed to run and only if they are approved by the Clerics? Maybe we should only allow Protestants to run for American political offices so we can really be free.

Choo Choo was on the radio again this morning about the train to nowhere and beyond.  DOT (Federal? or Florida?) is going to do some of the funding.  If we were allowed to vote on this happening or other uses for Transportation money I wonder who would win?  It was again suggested that the tourists could ride forwards all the way to Bahia Honda and then because there was no turn around room they could back up again to Marathon.  (Good Lord, Just put an engine on both ends. Can't these people think of anything?)

Just setting that ridiculous notion aside for a sec, lets think of some other goodies for DOT to spend the money on.

1. After they install the sewer and our already old potholed roads are all cut up. Newly pave the roads in the Keys. 

2. Four lane US1 on the majority of Keys (where possible) to help speed up evacuation time. This includes the bridges! Bahia Honda is four lane and does not do one thing to take away from the Keys.

3. Build tons of new fences and underpasses for the Key Deer so normal safe traffic speeds could exist. Just Kidding.  But, I'm sure we could throw some money towards the black snake and the rabbits that may or may not exist.  If they did not exist how would our lives be impacted?  Eat less rabbit and snake and more chicken?

4. The ferry service now to Miami is 4 hours and $98 round trip.  We need more of this to lighten the load  on US1.  Key West Express has got the right idea, but have you seen some of the hydrofoil ferrys that "fly" and could cut that time and you could make 4 trips a day?  North Carolina has a huge ferry system connecting the outer banks and swampy areas run by the state and it is very affordable.  Just think of how many tourist dollars would still come to the Keys and spend. but not crowd our road. And if it was more affordable, heck, we could afford to go to the mainland. 

All I am trying to get across here is all of you know many more useful ways to spend DOT monies so please think of some really needy items and send it to the powers in Tallahassee and Monroe County and nip this in the bud.  Face it we do not have to fix the bridge for vehicular traffic. Close it to cars and leave it as it is for the walkers, gawkers and fisher folk. 

[Why can't we all get along? Ommmmmm] Amen! A support group for newbies just may be a good idea.

Doesn't Bush watch the news? Now a rag head fruitcake has snuck into the Iraq White House and tried to kill everyone inside. These nuts have been killing each other for three thousand years. They’re not going to stop for any US president.

Talking Parrots video

[good Italian restaurant in Key West?]  The Twisted Noodle on Roosevelt was awesome and I didn't have to fight the tourists or pay for parking.  Feels like downtown, especially inside, with a bit of a price break. Our old Deer Abby will be reviewing it in the blue paper next Friday.  This Friday she did Cowboy Bill's. She gets away with a lot, if she does say so herself.

[good Italian restaurants in Key West] Yeah, anyplace that spells hogie without the freaking "A". There ain't no freaking "A" in Hogie! The letter A was stuck in to try and get a copywrite license so Hogie Shop's would have to pay for a permit to use the word. That was done by a non-Italian of course.

[Italian food in KW] Rays for great casual dining. Leto’s on Green St for atmosphere and decent food. Stay away from Twisted Noodle and Big Johns and NY Pasta Garden as they are too pricey for Sysco food.  La Trattoria, if you have big bucks to burn, is pretty good too. We personally do Rays every time we are in KW and have paid a small fortune to have them run up to BPK to deliver for us. It sure beats all the stuff between here and there.

Does anybody else know why the Hungarian was deported? He is always complaining about loosing his rights when he was known for distributing illegal recreational things to some of the local population. Now his opinion on this webpage is so frequent he too should have a space all his own. That way we can avoid his drivel as much as we avoid the other common writer that spews a bunch of junk. If you break the law, be prepared for the consequences.

[Watch out Iguanas here come the Feds] From The Keynoter:

"Feral cats are in the spotlight right now, but the Invasive Exotic Species Task Force is also taking note of other pets that have made their way into the wild and proliferated: iguanas, monitor lizards, snakes and even some kinds of geckos. Florida joins the ranks of states having a serious feral-cat problem alongside Wisconsin and California, among others. The FWS is tackling the problem nationwide."

Is the little gecko that works for Geico safe?  Good Grief I do not envy the Fish and Wildlife workers as it has to be a lot of work rounding up all the wild cats roaming around and I cannot even think of how hard it is going to be to get all the Iguanas. I even see them dashing across the roads now everywhere; and I can assure you in the 60's we never saw one--ever!  Will they just shoot them? 

[Hypocrites] You complain because we failed to build a democracy in Iraq and ended up with a theocracy, but we actually have a theocracy here in America. There is not a government meeting or event that doesn’t start with a prayer to the Christian God. He’s even on our money. One of the big news stories this week was about the first Congressman to come out of the confessional and declared that he is an atheist. He is the only member of our government to admit it. Because of his outing he’ll never be re-elected—that’s a theocracy.

On the other side of the confessional are those that hear voices! In our society if you hear voices they take you away to the Funny Farm unless you say that it’s God talking to you. Then it’s OK and nobody pays much attention to you. That’s a theocracy of sorts too.

This Dubai hotel is a good example of a an oil country that has more money than Allah. I didn’t think there was this much money and ambition in the world. Video

OK, our local government says if the Fl state government forces the county to reduce our property tax (thus showing them a crisis exists that the county caused by overwhelming spending) that they have to get the money from somewhere or cut teachers and firefighters.  Why couldn't you talk about cutting something like environmental kookiness and Gore-like Chicken Little predictions of gloom and doom.  They won't even look at cutting like a business would do when heading into a recession because there is no such thing as layoffs in government.  God forbid they would have to make a profit or live within their means like we all attempt to do.  I guess we better spend a few more millions on sinking more old ships so a few hundred tourists can try to dive them.  Or better yet, the stupid idea to rebuild Flagler’s Folly (remember Flagler went bankrupt and died penniless) I guess they will have to get to the point when they are sucking the life out of everyone here and then when we all throw our hands up and leave the Keys they can give it to the Key deer that were brought here in the first place and the iguanas that are taking over.

Every day we see this idiotic spending. The other day at a fishing seminar, a very clean cut Fish and Wildlife employee stood up and told us about Tarpon tracking DNA funded research where we are asked to take a DNA (swab) of a thrashing Tarpon before we release it.  That way when that tarpon is caught again, and the DNA taken again, they could track where it went in so many days, etc.  Who the hell cares and what possible good could that do humans to know?  

The other and largest item that everyone is asking is school consolidation. With the loss of so many students they could easily close up some of the smaller schools and fill up more rooms in the larger schools.  How about it?

Here’s something to get your immigration hackles up about. 
Illegal Immigration Counters - Home Page

[Swim Season] Also coming up Big Pine Key is  Cudas Swim Team registration.  Call Eleanor at   872-1457 after 6 pm for more info. 

[T-Ball season] Wanted 4-6yr olds boys and girls.  Sponsored by BPAA.  Call Scott at Blue Heron Park M-F (except week of March 26-30 due to spring break) 872-0292 Bulletin Board

An “Oh, no!” moment. Mommy’s little helper video.

[Dr. Grider Monthly Visits] I respect your situation, but if you read my original comment, I can't afford to go monthly, obviously you have insurance, I do not.

[Gators winning two national championships in one year] Dude, read the papers.  The Gators already did that last year.  The 2006 basketball team and the 2006 football teams both won national titles.  The Gators are now the elite in Florida in athletics, and have long been so in academics.  Go Gators!

[Up north] I have had a Florida concealed weapons permit for about fifteen years and have never drawn my gun yet. Your laser has kept you out of a gunfight 3 times? You sound a little crispy around the edges, my friend. Sounds like you go out of your way to point your little laser at someone. 

[swimming hole] Let the tourist's come. They're the only ones with double DD's and nice butts.

Why don't people want to understand that this is a religious battle between the Holy Three for world domination, control of all wealth, control of everything? The old world European families still own America and whatever countries they conquered years ago. Freedom is a myth!

The deadline for publishing is 6am
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Saturday March 24, 2007

Friday March 23, 2007

[Newbies come here for a few years and want everything changed to be like where you came from and then you leave.] We did not come here to change anything. Let me repeat the fact that I am a Floridian. We were looking to find what little is left of the real Florida and the Keys. We landed in Key West and could not believe what the developers and city have done to it. Sad, really sad. If Monroe County has its way every little Key will be a condo complex. Lord, help us all.

Things need to be left alone and not commercialized for the tourists. They need to focus on the locals since we pay the taxes. If people come here and want all the conveniences of home or where they are visiting from then go back. Love it or leave it.

There is little left of the Key West we enjoyed growing up. We grew up on beaches with Australian Pines. Gasp! So to us they are native. We chose to come here to enjoy a more laid back, Florida life. We did not come here to take over and change things, only to pitch in, become part of the community, and hopefully enjoy and help save what is left.

To the person calling Commissioner Neugent an a**hole:  You demonstrated your inferior mentality and limited communication skills by starting your comments with vulgar, childish name calling.  Then to make a comparison between rounding up feral cats and the German concentration camp atrocities was evidence that you have limited intellectual abilities as well.  Also, you seem to focus your misplaced anger on a certain individual who has little, if anything, to do with the proposed trapping program.  And your remarks about lawsuits are empty threats and laughable at best.  If you have cats as pets, keep the creatures inside where they belong.  Or, perhaps you don’t want the creatures in your home but would rather just have them hanging around outside contributing to the problem.  

I'm writing to let you know that Injade will be rockin' the Looe Key Tiki Bar this Saturday March 24th starting at 7pm. Come on out for a fun party, great food and some of the best drink prices in the Keys.

[bug update] We have to keep all our packaged food like beans, cornmeal, cereal, etc. in the refrigerator because bugs get into the sealed packages. Ah, the foibles of paradise. We also started keeping spices in the refrigerator too, not because of bugs, but the spices are so expensive these days and refrigeration makes them stay fresh for at least a year.

Thanks to everyone who blew the whistle on the location of the Ramrod swimming hole.  Now, every pain-in-the-ass tourist and snowbird reading the postings will scamper right over there and overrun the place and no doubt ruin it for those of us who have enjoyed it for years.  They will bring their RV’s, complain about the locals, litter it, find fault with it, want it supervised, patrolled and improved and then leave for “back home.”  Yet another local’s spot that will now be ruined by the touristas. 

Please don’t let the Gators win the national championship in football and basketball in the same year!  They are already obnoxious enough.

[Top 10 reasons not to eat At Buon Appettito on Cudjoe Key] Damn!  Thanks for that report. I was going to go try that place out, but I think I've changed my mind.

[To the gentleman complaining about Doctor Grider] Dude, take your meds and relax. It’s no wonder you have high blood pressure. I see Grider monthly and, granted, at times they do seem rushed or in a hurry, probably due to the high volume of people who go to them on a daily basis. I recently had an accident and my prescription was destroyed by salt water. They were quick to resolve the matter and I wasn't charged by them for another appointment.  Good job Big Pine Medical.

So the bridge to No Name Key is a Richard Nixon/Bebe Rebozo boondoggle?  Some folks certainly seem to have a very interesting concept of history.

Is there a support group for all the people KD has ripped off? --Fuzzerboy@aol.com

Take your frikkin' kids to one of the many parks around the area and leave places like the swimming hole alone. If you wanted a fun, water-park like setting to spend quality time with the little nippers, you shouldn't be filling in our precious few boat basins and turning them into ball diamonds that nobody will use except those over 40. I'm thinking a water slide and kayaks instead of dirt and swing sets would be a better use for such an irreplaceable resource.

One of my Christmas presents to my wife was to get her windows tinted on her car.  The guy showed up a week before Christmas, but only installed the back windows.  Since then we have called him at least ten times, but he puts us off or does not return the calls.  Today I called again, only to find out that now his phone has been disconnected.  I paid him for half of the job in December.  Beware, he is listed in the yellow pages under Shady Creations, which really fits him to a tee. --joln8888@yahoo.com

In regards to the coffee price at the Bagel shop he must have purchased a latte or cappuccino. Coffee is $1.35 I buy it every day. Specialty drinks are more just like everywhere else.

If you want to see the outcome of trials, just look around. A convicted drug felon receives a harsh sentence for a third offense, then is back on the street after a token amount of time in jail. The real question is which judge is paroling these offenders so we can all enjoy the benefit of late night drug delivery traffic on our roads, drug guard dogs barking all night, and junkies ripping us off to get drug money.

[Conditions worse in Iraq] That depends which side of the fight you were on. Worse for the former controlling Sunnis better for all other minority groups that were being controlled and murdered. 

Dog raising the fawn is truly great. If I were going to do that on Big Pine Key, they would put me in jail and let the deer die. Wish we could take care of the animals that need help. They don't have health care insurance.

[Dr. Grider]  His office is extremely rude.  They all need a course in patient management and good customer service. This goes for Mrs Grider also. I have nothing against the Dr. It is his staff that is snippy and snotty. --BigPinePalm@aol.com

I think us “Newbies” should start up a support group. I’ve been here for four years and the locals are finally starting to warm up to us. Please do keep in mind, people, that the vast majority of us were all newbies once. p.s. I love everyone equally here! Have a lovely day.

[Blood Pressure Medication] I guess you could not comprehend what I said. This medication is not a narcotic. "Stupid?" I have been taking it for 15 years and check my blood pressure regularly. Try doubling your dose of Prozac so you can understand what I'm saying.

I see that some ignorant Little Torch Key resident wrote in to the Key West Citizen that there are no Lower Keys' Marsh rabbits in the Lower Keys. He knows because he has never seen one. He's probably the one whose car hit and killed one that was running across Key Deer Blvd. about a year ago at the Watson ball field. I was in the car behind him and took the rabbit to the Texas A&M biologists who verified what it was. I'm guessing that the rabbit was fleeing its number one predator, the free-roaming domestic cat when it ran into the road.

[Affordable housing Czar / Attorney Jerry Coleman believes $250,000 is not enough to retain his services] Give us a break. What has he done for us lately aside from suing us on behalf of Tampoa and degrading the quality of life for residents of Bahama Village?  Where does this nonsense stop?. This bum has not brought any solution to the table and won't. The county commissioners are simply paying this guy off so he won't sue us anymore.  This reckless form of spending will result in yet another 40% tax increase for property owners in 2008. As a landlord, we cannot pass on any form of affordable housing to our tenants when the county commission enables this form of reckless spending and continues to raise our taxes. --Diamondstar129@aol.com

Leroy at Sea Center: We Love you too. You've saved us many times.

[Drugs do cloud your thinking] I know I love mine.

[Petition to commissioners regarding land for Big Pine cats] 4 out of 5 commissioners have ignored a petition signed by hundreds of Monroe County residents. Thank you commissioner DiGennaro for being the only commissioner to read our petition.

[Up north] I left work at 2:20am. As I drove into a nearby u-turn under the freeway, there was a man with a walker lying in the  road. It appeared as if he had been involved in a hit-and-run accident. Something told me to go into bright "orange" mode. I backed up and turned my high beams on the man. As I got out of my truck, I saw the elbow of another man hiding behind a support beam. I pulled my concealed weapon. When his head came around the other side of the beam, I put a laser in his face. I called him what he was, jumped back in my truck, and hauled. I called 911 as I drove to a spot where I could watch these two try to get away. The police arrived and loaded them, told me that they would handle them, and that I need not give a report.  I believe this is the third time that a laser sight has kept me out of a shooting. The laser sight is not much help when target shooting, but the bad guys know what is right next to that little red line.

The entire Bush administration has the duty to take the oath of honesty when they are asked to explain their decisions. Why wouldn’t someone want to take the oath? Maybe they don’t have to answer to the American people anymore.

You can tell when locals are behind you on the road. They are the ones trying to sniff your butt while waiting for a fart. 

Kudos to the one who wrote the piece about the Somalis in Minnesota. Isn't it just like a Somalian in the woodpile, give them a hand and they want to take the whole arm! Those citizens in Minnesota need to wake up and realize that they can't have a few skinnies change things around their way. Those people should go the hell back where they come from. Don't want to handle pork products, how ridiculous. Back in Somalia the sunofabitch would have eaten the pigs asshole if he or she could find one.

Reminds me of a story, a little birdie was freezing to death, lost his grip on the branch and fell to the ground. Just about that time a buffalo walked by and dumped all over him. The bird was revived by the warmth and started to chirp, a wolf came by and ate him! You figure out the moral of the story.

[bugs in the crushed red pepper]  You're OK. Those bugs came in the pepper.  After a similar experience I too wondered, but when I brought a wreath of the dried peppers from New Mexico I learned the truth.  About a year later the little buggers started coming right out of the wreath.  I now throw away my jar of crushed red pepper every year and restock with a fresh one.

[Quick, what's wrong with this picture?] Britain's Home Office decided recently, in the course of remodeling at the Brixton prison in London, that, because of Muslim inmates, all the toilets should be re-positioned so that users would be respectfully facing perpendicular to Mecca as they answered nature's calls.

[Thank yous from Wild Bird Rescue] I always put a huge thanks to Ed every time I write in. I guess sometimes it's just not printed.  Regardless, I'm sure I'm missing many. So many people contributed that is why I am still in the process of getting it all together.

Always a huge hug of thanks to Ed of BPK.com. Thank you for this public forum Ed.

Coffee ads placed on manhole covers in downtown New York. Holes on the printed ad cover allows the steam to come out.

Its time to force the Iraqis to stand up for their own country. Give them 2 years and everything they need and all of the support they want then it’s all up to them. The democrats plan is sound and by that time it will be over 6 years of war. It’s time they get their country back. It does not end the war on terror that will continue worldwide but it gets the huge targets off of American troops’ backs and lets the terrorists know that we can show up anywhere in the world next. We wont be bogged down in Iraq anymore.

O.K. boys and girls, sit down, stow the hate Bush (that evil s-o-b) baggage under your seat for just a few minutes. Let’s take a brief tour of Iraq as it was 5 years ago. 

Saddam was doing his level best to convince the world that he had WMD, and that he had the stones to use it.  After all, ask any Kurd about the effects of poison gas on a Kurdish village.  Saddam was engaged in a serious effort to commit genocide on the Kurdish people. Our tour will include the streets of the village of Halabia, we’ll see the rotting bodies in the streets, we think you’ll find the dead children most interesting.  Did he have atomic WMD?  I don’t know, but I do know he wanted the world to believe he did.  On our tour we must stop off at a Saddam rape room facility and visit with the prisoners.   Let’s ask them how comfortable their surroundings are, are they pleased with the level of rape, pain, and humiliation that they’re receiving?  Perhaps you’ll get to visit with a husband or father of an inmate who was “permitted” to watch the rape and torture of his loved one.  A brief stop must be made at a facility operated by Saddam where his “enemies” were detained and interviewed.  You won’t get most of them to talk with you, Saddam cut out their tongues.  You might even get to see an “interviewee” being pushed from a tall building while bound.  What a thrill.  We must not miss the desert gardens, amusing trenches where Saddam buried thousands of his murdered subjects.  Our tour time is limited, so we’ll just have a few moments to greet his two charming sons, Uday and Kusay, fine looking lads, “chips off the old block”.  These fine lads shared the power of life and death over all Iraqis with their loving father.  The “family” ruled all media with iron fist. 

Visit Iraq today and you won’t see any of the above.  Iraq is the place if you want to see the new or rehabbed schools, (nearly 4000) or check out the nearly 300 independent new mass media outlets, the infant new free economy, inspect the results of the recent 3 free elections, or maybe visit one of the 20 universities, inspect the new public utilities under construction, or perhaps check out their new court system.  As for myself, the country does not sound like a great tourist destination even today.  They do have a brand new government, it’s not perfect, but it’s a start.  Their government includes Sunni, Shiite, Kurdish and even closet Baathist representatives.  I doubt that even Bubba Clinton could get elected.   Murdering Muslim fanatics are present in a few urban areas, dedicated to bringing all Iraqis under their fundamentalist thrall.  Their goal?  A world ruled by fundamentalist Muslims. Imagine the joy of living in the 15th century.  Recent polling clearly shows that the Iraqis want us out as badly as we want out, they just don’t want us to leave yet. The Iraqis are new to this freedom gig, they like it, but they’re frightened of the terrorists in their midst.  Is Iraq better off now that Saddam et al are toast?  Yer damned right.  Should we continue our efforts?  Hell, yes.

The deadline for publishing is 6am
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Friday March 23, 2007

Wednesday  March 21, 2007

[Dog chewing sock analogy] The writer seems to think it’s ok to politicize our federal justice system. What a shame.

If they make the Ramrod swimming hole a park we won’t be able to bring our dogs or drink beer any more. Rules and more rules.

U.S. Military prepares for democrat cutbacks.

If you keep your adorable fixed cats inside where they belong, your darling pets will be safe and spared the trauma of being caught.  If they are chipped or their collars are properly marked with your name and number they will be returned.

For those interested in affordable housing, Habitat for Humanity will be holding two meetings this week  to invite applications for two new homes to be built on Big Pine Key.  The meetings will be held at the Habitat Office (behind Rogers's Furniture) on US 1.  The meetings are scheduled for:
Wednesday, March 21 at 6:30 pm
Saturday, March 24 at 10 am
You must attend one of these information meetings to obtain an application.  Questions?  Call 872-4456. Bulletin Board

My son is four and is very eager to start playing sports. If someone could point me in the right direction as to where I could call? Bulletin Board > Organizations

[Cow fart cure] Ananova - Pill to stop an ill wind

Killer squirrel attacks deer. Video

Protesting at the light on Big Pine for our soldiers is appropriate. Protesting there for a bunch of freaking cats is verifiably insane!

Free iced coffee today March 21st. Dunkin' Donuts Coffee | Buy Coffee Beans Online

I see now the County wants to make the Ramrod swimming hole into a "passive park". Hopefully they won't mess with the water access on this one. At least they aren't going to make it into another ball field. I think it is really stupid in a water oriented place like the Keys to fill in an existing marina and boat ramp to make another ball field like they did at the old Vista Linda motel. Public water access needs to be protected here in the lower Keys or it will become like Key West where you have to pay to see the sea.

I would like to comment on our local Big Pine Fire Department following the recent postings we have seen on this site.  A van caught fire outside my home last week. The fire truck along with the Sheriff’s Dept. was on scene in minutes.  Thank you for the excellent job you guys do.  Whilst I am giving thanks and kudos out I would like to say that Stanley Steamer’s customer service is excellent.  Thank you to Josh and DR.  You are the best.

What's going on in Minnesota? It seems to be on its way to be America's first Somali-Muslim state. First we've been watching the drama at Minneapolis Airport where Somali-Muslim cabdrivers are demanding the right to refuse service to passengers who violate Islamic law. These would be people carrying bottles of alcohol or who have a dog traveling along, such as a blind person with his or her seeing-eye dog. Then we have the situation with Target where Muslim cashiers refused to handle a package of bacon at the checkout stand. Target has now reassigned those people so they don't have to handle pork, which means that Target has agreed to go along with Sharia law. Then news today that in a suburb of Woodbury a man and a woman were found with a thousand pounds of khat. What is khat you might ask? It is a mildly hallucinogenic drug which is a favorite of Somalis. When I was in Somali the biggest crowds at the outdoor markets were always around the khat stall, where a new load of the leafy drug had arrived from the bush country or from neighboring Kenya.

All these indicators say one thing very dramatically: Somalis coming to Minnesota are not assimilating. They are bringing the Muslim culture of that desert country to Minnesota's snowy woods. They may have to wear warmer clothing, but the Somalis want Islamic law just like back home. And they want the same illegal drug they had back home, too.

Minnesota is famously liberal and now all eyes are on the state to see how voters there react to this onslaught against their culture and law. Are Minnesotans going to be so open-minded they say, sure you can have a different kind of law here, just for you and your people. We don't mind. We'll pretend we don't notice. There is such a thing as carrying politeness too far. What Minnesotans must say is this is America. We already have law here, and if the Somalis wanted to live under Koran law, Sharia, they could have stayed in Somalia.

[One of the few that have managed to stay off of the Sheriffs website]  I know Captain Andrew and he is a great guy and a fine captain, however, he is not only one of the few who have managed to stay off of the sheriff’s radar.  To hold a captains license you need to be free of felony convictions.  You also need to be enrolled in a random drug testing program.  So speaking for myself and my competitors in the charter boat community this group as a whole has some of the most upstanding individuals in our community. 

Florida Keys Wildlife Rescue Inc. aka Exotic & Wildbird Rescue Benefit. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You - Boondocks, Howard Livingston & the MM 24 Band, Adrienne, US 1 Radio, Michelle Dravis, Race, The Free Roaming Chickens, Scott Design's, Pirates Choice Rum, Cristal Clear Charters, Dave & Sue Murphy for the Van, John & Betty Duck for their generous contribution, all of the volunteers for the Florida Keys Wildlife Rescue Inc Benefit, the community that stepped up and gave us items for the silent auction & raffle, the community that came out to support our cause.  The list is very long of all those who contributed to make this a successful event.  As of today we raised $4,645 dollars, there are still some silent auction winners to be contacted and still a few checks in the mail from sponsors.  I will give you all a grand total once is all compiled and completed. 

For for those who may not know Florida Keys Wildlife Rescue was aka Exotic and Wildbird Rescue, she changed her name due to the fact that we don't only take in birds.  She has the certification to assist Manatee, Key Deer, anything that needs help.  So FKWR Inc. thanks all you from the bottom of our hearts, the assistance was in dire need.  We will continue to need support to keep running and to get bigger and better.  Thanks again to all that participated.  I will re-post once I have written the newspaper thank you as well.

[Shark Key getting sewer] OK, it is a gated community, but the way I figure it those homeowners have nothing different than I do except a gate to keep thieves and junk out and to keep their kids safer, etc. They have to follow the rules just like all of us do from the trailer house to the mansion.  I looked at some houses while looking for real estate up at Duck Key and the modest homes there pay around $30,000 in property taxes each year.  I can imagine only what the houses at Shark Key and Ocean Reef pay. I say, “Thank God for them cause they shoulder the major load of the tax burden both local, state and federal.”  So, I guess what I am saying is, they pay more taxes than we do because they are taxed on the Federal level at a much higher rate.  They pay the same % of tax on their home as we do so why are they not able to reap any of the benefits? 

Should we start and put all "rich people" in a separate category and tax them double and not give them the same benefits of that tax?  Possibly we could charge them extra for their stamps and they would have to haul their own trash and care for their own roads etc.  The way this system works is just fine and everyone should be equal for the same benefits.  Socialism is creeping in and watch out because Hillary is just around the corner. When they take everything away from the rich, who will be left to hire you?

Oh, how sweet you are,
you tall one from the loins of a fallen fisherman.
You stand out amongst the crowd,
with gleaming golden hair,
and always a smile on your face there is while in a sunny car.
How blessed is he who has your presence,
your touch,
your smile within his sight,
your slender arms to hold him with,
and that glow that surrounds you,
for he knows not of what he possesses.
For it is his duty and responsibility to all men,
to kneel before you and to worship you as the goddess you are. 
To the one who daily takes care of others in white linen laced rooms,
oh, but if there was a time to have such sweet pleasure with. 
Jealousy, I say, is to the one that makes sure you are taken care of,
and as you have been seen well, 
believe in the fact that you are truly desired.
Maybe the one owed,
for such a short time labor given,
can have but a moment in time to ravish in the midst of great beauty.
Ravish I say, until she can take no more,
or until the sun rises, 
whichever I hope either never happens!
Farewell my fair and lovely maiden,
until our cells cross paths again,
farewell.

Listening to the news show on 104.1 the other day I laughed as I listened to the proposal to spend, gosh knows how many, millions on a bridge to nowhere (Pigeon Key). But I had to really laugh when someone was suggesting that we construct a small scale train to ride out to…what? So the tourists could get the real feel of the bridges back when they were train bridges?  We need old man Flagler back, at least he built it on a tight budget and made a go of it for a while before going bankrupt.  Look at your past and you see your future.

The county, state or whoever came up with that idea is heading us for the poor house. They talk about affordable housing and the lack of it.  It’s all around us just like it used to be. You just took our houses and assessed them at a not-of-this-world price thus kicking out the working half of our population.  Take a page out of the state’s agenda and roll back tax assessments to 2001 and quit wasting the money that is left on crap.  Instead of the huge amounts of money to be spent lining your buddies’ pockets building affordable homes, just reduce the taxes as the state is suggesting and affordable housing will pop up where it has always been right under your noses.

Here is an old American thought.  The entity that owns the bridge and Pigeon Key sells it to the highest bidder who turns it into a money making tourist spot.  Thus again saving the good old taxpayer all the money the bureaucracy is going to waste on a bridge to nowhere plus adding money to the General Fund.

[Cats and kittens] You try to evoke sympathy by including "kittens" into your post. Cute as they may be as kittens, they grow up and kill wildlife. It doesn't matter how well fed they are, their instincts tell them to hunt. If you would keep your "cats and kittens" indoors where they won't kill our fast-disappearing wildlife, then you wouldn't have a problem. And thanks for reminding me to set my Have-A-Hart trap tonight.

This is directed to the people ragging on Sloan's Swimming Hole comments. I write with the firm hope that you will seek some kind of help because your statements indicate that your cognitive skills are in disarray. I challenge you to re-read Sloan's letter and communications with Dixie Spehar about this subject. Now, can you tell me what was the main point of his communication? Since your brain seems to be marinating in it's own little swimming hole between your ears, let's try multiple choice answers. What was the main point behind Sloan's mention of the Swimming Hole?

A. To expose the existence of a (whisper) swimming hole on (bleep) Key?

B. To chastise the (whisper) enlightened few who frequent this "mum's the word" exclusive Shangri La?

C. To illuminate the fact that Monroe County is discussing spending tax dollars to purchase nearby lots which would; 1.) Establish County ownership making it possible to adopt an ordinance that would allow the county to post hours of operation and prevent overnight parking, and 2.) Squander tax dollars which could be utilized in better ways for the greater good?

...tic, tic, tic, tic, tic, tic, tic, tic, tic, tic, tic, tic, tic. Times up!

I am hoping that you did not choose answer A because; Fact: The existence and location of a swimming hole on (bleep) Key is not and has never been a secret. No map was drawn, no mention of street names, directions from US 1 or GPS coordinates were offered. I am afraid you might opt for answer B after reading your postings. Fact: The Partiers at the Swimming Hole were mentioned because their activities there are the source of the County's scrutiny. As Sloan mentioned, you all who drink etc. there, operate motor vehicles when you leave there. I am sad to say you are law breakers and this is a public safety concern. The County would not be contemplating spending tax dollars to acquire these lots if not for your habits of relaxation. Do you have a designated driver? If you truly condone driving while intoxicated/driving under the influence then maybe it's you and your type that we don't want around here.

(Fingers crossed) Tell me you thought about and answer C was your choice. Your final choice. I mean think about it, Lightening. Fact: If the County spends this money that could be spent on other issues, so that it can make rules and enforce those rules for the Swimming Hole, your freedom to enjoy yourself there may be seriously compromised. Could Sloan possibly be on your side too? Suggesting a milder method of County influence on our beloved Swimming Hole and enabling those tax monies to be redirected? (whisper) You are the problem here, not Sloan. Don't tell anybody.

Lastly, I am the person who turned Sloan on to the Swimming Hole. One of you wrote that the Swimming Hole is a place to bring your dogs, kids, music, meet "new" people and "live and let live". Live and let live? Did you write that? Freedom to enjoy oneself? Did you write that? We would like to enjoy the Swimming Hole too without having the County posting hours and rules. It's everyone's respite, not just yours.

You have no exclusive. You are delusional about some imagined inner circle of secrecy. You are not realistic about the impact your own behavior is having on those around you. You disregard the safety of yourself and others. You take it personal when a concerned citizen tries to advocate for the greater good for all. You miss the point. Or did I miss the point? Is it really all just about you? You are exhibiting symptoms of Acquired Self-centered Syndrome otherwise known as A.S.S. Get some help for everybody's sake.

Finally!  We get to buy the new Howard Livingston and Mile Marker 24 CD this Saturday at Boondocks.  I tried to score a copy at the Benefit for Maya and The Birds this past Saturday but the release is this Saturday.  "Blame it on the Margaritas" is their first Billboard 100 hit.  Love you guys.

[Dr. Grider on Big Pine Key] I'm a local and I'm done. Your office was not only rude, but they definitely gave me the opinion that nobody gives a shit. I've been on blood pressure pills for several years and I have to go in every 6 months to pay for an office visit just to get my prescription? What's up with that? Thanks, Dr. Feel Good. -- jimwhitmarsh@bellsouth.net

I need a tankless water heater installed. Any suggestions on whom I should call?

[Ramrod Key Swimming Hole] How do you think those of us feel that used to bring our children to the Ramrod swimming hole when you party animals found it? We were forced to stop binging our young ones there because of the broken bottles and the foul language that I, for one, didn't want to subject my children to. That was years ago and you feel you have a right to complain? For your information that area is actually state owned and is designated as a park. Turn at the nursery and take Mako Road north as far as you can go, following turns. When you get to the end you are there. Nice deep swimming canals. At least they used to be 20 plus years ago.  Now everybody knows. The newbies live here too and it was ruined by being found years ago. Call me whatever you will, but I lost it to you years ago.

What is it going to take to fire Tom Willi's ass?  Who the hell does he think he is?  How much money did he spend on the Hickory House?  How much is he spending on the sinking of a ship?  Now, he wants to cut the Sheriff's budget and victimize the men and women who beat the streets and serve our County?  Where the hell are the priorities?  By the way, what is Willi's salary, and how much did he get paid when he demanded double-time for hurricane duty?  That self-serving S.O.B. needs to get the hell out of office right now.  --blondbabe_babyblue@yahoo.com

That list with the dog food recall has over 40 brands of food on it. Premium foods as well as the cheap grocery store stuff. It only pertained to canned food and the small foil pouches of food. Go to www.menufoods.com  if you want to see the list.

At what point are we going to have top officials in this county that actually look out for the working class?  Tom Willi has proven himself time and time again as being someone who only looks out for his own best interests, not those of the county.  I didn’t think someone like him could be in cahoots with someone like our Sheriff though.  I read in the Citizen on Saturday that Sheriff Roth and his budget crony, Mike Rice, are blaming the unionization of his deputies for the budget problems.  I'm sorry, but $36,000 to a starting deputy is certainly not being overpaid with the cost of living around here.  Perhaps Roth and Rice should take a closer look at what Lieutenants are being paid compared to other counties.  Perhaps they should re-evaluate why it takes three people to run the county jail.  I found it interesting that nowhere in the article was it mentioned that dispatchers who work the night shift make more than deputies, or why senior jail employees have take-home cars, or why admin workers get semi-annual pay raises.  Instead, let’s punish the men and women who beat our streets for a buck.  I think it's time to completely clean house in this county and just start over.

My son told me that Hurricane Dave was in a bad accident. Is this true? If anyone has any information on this or how he is doing I would appreciate you posting information to this site.

The only difference between testifying under oath or just testifying is that lying while under oath is a criminal offense while otherwise it might not be.  You don't think that the Bushies have anything to hide, do you?  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that this administration has corrupted power far beyond what has become normal in Washington politics.  Maybe that Hungarian wacko should rethink who his real freedom stranglers are.

Does anyone know what really happened at the Dockside on Sunday night? Our usual group of locals was there, dancing to the Florida Straits Band all night long. They usually quit at 10 pm because they have to, because of the local noise ordinance. But that night the management asked Rocket Man and his band to keep on playing. After another set, Rocket Man asked the management if they could be paid for playing the extra time, and then the manager got mad and told them to get out of there and not come back and that they were fired from the Dockside.

Can you believe that? These guys (most of them anyway) have been playing there for what seems like forever, and now they are thrown out. It seems pretty hard to believe, but I figured if anyone knew what was really going on there, they might post a message here with the info.

As a republican I’m getting real tired of my fellow republicans going against the President. Some are asking for Gonzales' resignation and others are calling for a timeline concerning Iraq troop withdrawal. If they cannot follow our Presidents path they need to resign and change over to the Anti American Democratic party. He’s our President and shouldn’t be questioned concerning our national security.

Alberto Gonzales's response to why resigning is out of his hands, “I serve at the pleasure of the president.” The problem with that phrase is it makes the president appear to be a king or a monarch. “Bring me the Attorney General -- and some Moroccan boys and fruit!"

Remember 9/12/01?  I do.  We were pissed.  We were scared. We grieved.  We were now at war with terrorists who had killed thousands of Americans both here and abroad for decades.  Hundreds of thousands (perhaps millions) of fanatics who considered killing infidels a sacrament were anxious to murder more Americans.  Arrayed against us were Libya, Iraq, Pakistan Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, plus other Muslim nations.  The biggest terrorist threat was posed by ephemeral stateless terrorist organizations such as Al Qaeda.  Leaders such as UBL were soaking up headlines and approbation from their minions.  These leaders showed remarkable courage by hiding in the wilderness of Afghanistan in the care of the Taliban.  Iraq was in the grip of Saddam.  Sadam had used WMD in pursuit of genocide and had threatened to use WMD against his enemies.

Saddam ruled with a bloody hand equaled only by his hero, Hitler.  Saddam was then subjected to harsh scolding by the UN.  Saddam had replied with an Arabic single digit salute.  And so, Pres. G.W. Bush, (that evil s-o-b) took us to war.  He called it a “War against Terrorism”.  He warned us that the war would be lengthy, bloody, expensive both in lives and treasure.   He promised to rid Iraq of Saddam, he promised to deliver a democratic government to Iraq.  He promised us a stable Iraq.  President Bush, (that evil s-o-b), promised to roust the Taliban from Afghanistan, and to pursue them wherever they went.

Where are we now?  Our forces have defeated Saddam. He and his bloody regime are history, gone, dead.  We won the war kiddies.  Iraq has had 3 free elections.  A freely elected Shiite/Sunni/Kurd government is in place.  It ain't perfect, but it's a start.  Most Iraqis want us out, but not yet.   Northern Iraq is virtually pacified.  The Kurds are optimistic.  Most of the rest of the country is relatively calm, with hot spots still extant in large urban areas.  It is reported by many news organizations (grudgingly) that Bush’s (that evil s-o-b) surge might just be working.  But what about the rest? 

Libya has renounced terrorism and is considered to be friendly to the US.  Afghanistan: the Taliban still exists, is fighting, but is out of power.  The country is an American ally.  Pakistan is an American ally.  Syria has backed out of Lebanon.  Lebanon claims to be an American ally.  Iran and its fanatic leaders continue to be problematic.  The leadership of Al Queda has been reduced to cave dwelling.  There has not been a terrorist attack on American soil (they tried though).  It seems to me that by any rational assessment that the war against terrorism, only 4 years old, is going pretty damned well.  The war ain’t over, and it probably won’t be until religious fanatics decide that the murder of innocents is not a sacrament.

[Now Sloan has exposed it and “newbie’s” are asking where it is] Sorry I asked. Thanks for the warm welcome to the Keys. We have run into some of the most miserable, unfriendly people here. What is up with that? Heck we are in paradise and this alone should make one happier. We will definitely not retire here.

Why is it that the owner of Parrotdise insists on annoying everyone who dines in his establishment with his Big Pecker wine stories?  Give it a rest and let us eat in peace! --ohio.fan@hotmail.com

I'm coming down to do a little fishing in the Keys, see you soon! Are there gas stations close by?

Capt. Andrew here. My wife says these comments are making my head swell.  On behalf of my fellow captains here in the lower Keys, I don't think you will find a better group of people, ex-con or not.  By the way I am very curious who started this post?

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Wednesday  March 21, 2007

Tuesday March 20, 2007

[Concession stand at Watson Field was broken into]  This is a plea to anyone with information, who can identify the juvenile’s that removed the baseball bat and ball off the tower.   I am writing this letter as I am the mother of the deceased child, Justin Neurath, who had this bat and ball made in Justin's memory and donated it to Big Pine Little League for display on the tower back in 1995.  It stood there many years without any attempt to damage it. 

These juvenile's think they have gotten away with this. If you and/or your parents are reading this site, be assured that this will not be put to rest until you are found and prosecuted.  

To Sharon, the concession lady: Thank you for caring. With Big Pine Little League behind us justice will prevail. ratbpk@aol.com.

[Sewers for the rich] I read in the Key West Citizen that our County Administrator, Tom Willi, is now supporting/proposing the outrageous idea of diverting more than $2 million dollars from the County taxpayer’s money to be used to partially fund sewage treatment for Shark Key residents. 

For those of you who don’t know, Shark Key is a private, gated community of wealthy homeowners living in luxury, million dollar (or more) homes. These wealthy property owners, who choose to gate their “private” waterfront estates, can well afford the costs they may incur for sewage systems.  This is yet another of Willi’s malfeasant and disgraceful use of County monies and will only benefit a select, wealthy few.  It was also reported, and comes as no great surprise, that one of the companies that would receive a large piece of the money pie is the firm that employs his wife.  How convenient.   And how disgusting!  

There was a Chinese Auction at the Baptist church. I wonder where they get ‘em?

Don’t assume people don't know what you know. I knew everything on Monday’s list except F. It is not uncommon for a president to fire all the US Attorneys at the start of his administration. What is unusual is for a president to fire them in the middle of his second term. This firing is at a time when the US Attorneys were grumbling that they were being told what cases to prosecute and when to prosecute them. Something’s fishy!

Dysentery in prisoner of war camps. Can you imagine being in a sweaty jungle camp with the runs and no toilet paper or water to clean yourself. And no clean clothes to change in to? Or having a small cut that gets infected out of control? Those poor bastards really suffered more than we’ll ever know.

I never had revenge in mind; 'cause an eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind. --James Hunter

Eden Pines neighborhood clean-up this Saturday, March 24. Neighbors are invited to come out and participate in a Neighborhood clean-up. Spend Saturday morning from 9am till 11am cleaning up. Neighbors are asked to pick up trash and debris on the edge of the wet-lands, vacant lots, and public property. Many of the residences in Eden Pines boarder areas that get little attention and may still have trash that has washed up from the storms. If possible please dispose of it in your trash cans.  Neighbors will be set up at the corner of Watson & Narcissus at 9am to hand out trash bags and assist with the clean-up. If your area is clean and you would like to help clean one of the hotspots that accumulate trash, stop by Watson & Narcissus between 9am and 11 or we can send you to a hotspot. If you know of a hotspot that you would like cleaned, also notify us so we can get it cleaned-up. http://www.edenpinesowners.com      Bulletin Board

As a Ramrod Key resident, I wouldn't take my kids to the swimming hole.  It's not really a good place for kids.  It is a great place for kids over 21.  Yeah, it can get a little bit rednecky at times, but it's great just the same. 

We are not "trying" to give Iraqis a democracy. Their constitution, which had to be approved by their clerics, states that only Muslims are allowed to be voted into government. Every person running for office also has to be approved by the leading clerics. Sorry, but that’s a Theocracy which is far from being a Democracy.

Don’t believe the dog and pony show and I encourage people to please take the time to learn the true facts. Test mine out and you will see they are correct.

Ekanuba and Iams, the premium priced “health food” pet food isn’t so healthy after all. A whole bunch of cats and dogs have died from eating it. And the manufacturer is recalling their products.

It'd be helpful if you could put the date on the first page.  Then I wouldn't have to keep checking to see if today's Telegraph was up yet. (Ed: Good idea. Thank you.)

Anyone know this biker? 

[There is no agreement with 10th life sanctuary] These cats and kittens will be killed unless we stop them.  Please protest on April 14th & 15th at the corner of US1 and Key Deer Blvd. Please call-in, fax-in, and e-mail George Neugent at: boccdis2@monroecounty-fl.gov. Phone: 872-1678, Fax: 872-9195.  Please let him know that we don't want the Feds to kill our cats and kittens. Bulletin Board

Driving to work in Key West every day is a real time loser, but I consider myself lucky because of the light traffic, spectacular views and the F-16s at Boca Chica Naval Air Station.

The other day the sky was filled with those great planes. There were 4 of them in a tight formation and another 3 breaking off from each other. All this was happening right over the highway. I was both proud and excited at the same time. Go fly boys!

Did you know that an F-18 can fly at speeds well over 1300 miles an hour?

[Love struck] Thank you for replying, Andrew (darn it). Hey, at least it's some positive advertising.  For anyone looking to go fishing www.lastcastcharters.net  is your man. Not only is he one of the most intelligent people I've met in the Keys in 5 yrs, but one of the few that’s managed to stay off the arrest site.  Cheers! (And thanks, Ed, for your successful portal of the information highway.)

[Benefit for Maya’s Bird Rescue] We had a great day. So far we received $4,645 and have about a thousand more to be collected from the Silent Auction items.  Hope all the checks clear!  Thank you for your support!

[Concession stand break-in...parents of these children deserved to be prosecuted for not knowing where or what their kids were doing] Yea, and don't forget prosecuting the kids too.

Politicians and diapers both need to be changed often, and for the same reason!

Yesterday was the Iraq war’s 4th anniversary and the democrats should be ashamed. In 2002 it was a democrat controlled Congress that ordered the war and now in 2007 a democrat controlled Congress is still funding the war.

If you don't stand behind our troops, please, feel free to stand in front of them.

[Mission accomplished] No better than the Balkans War where we still are to this day. (Also called "Monica's War", for the forgetful of history).

Why is it that people with cats assume that their pets can roam free to dance on my car, defecate in my yard and whatever else they do? As a domesticated animal, cats should be held to county leash laws just as dogs are. Quite frankly, to allow these animals to roam free is as irresponsible as dog owners doing the same. 

[Sloan should mind his own business] I agree that Sloan stepped over the line about the swimming hole. My wife and I have gone there for many years and many sunsets, had a glass of wine and appreciated the essence of a laid-back secret place. Now Sloan has exposed it and “newbie’s” are asking where it is. What Sloan doesn’t seem to understand is that there are many folks here who don’t have the big bucks (i.e., moving to Key West to run for mayor) and the old swimming hole is a place to play horseshoes, hang out after a day’s work and enjoy the real lower Keys. The police know about the place and stop in from time to time. Yes, I’ve seen a few there with too much to drink, but I also have seen the same in our bars in the lower Keys.

But Sloan exposed the secret and is becoming god-like in his daily rants. His narcissism coupled with his paying for a link on this site makes me want to do the same to rant on Sloan. Instead, I will stop into Mangrove Mamas from time to time, go into the men’s room and use the urinal. Men, stop in and use it. You’ll get my point. Feel free to post my email address.
--homeboundtech@earthlink.net

Isn’t a sink’s garbage disposal illegal in the Keys?  My roommate informed me that they install them a lot on the job (electricians), but I could have sworn that there was some ordinance against it here.

Wow, this guy from yesterday seems like a whacko. His comments regarding George Neugent: tossing cats into furnaces, shooting cats with darts and nets. I have sent and received several emails from Neugent, and he is not at all in favor of "terrorizing" anything. In fact, he seems to me to be a bit wishy-washy about clamping down on those wildlife killers.

Have you ever seen a bunch a puppies tearing up a sock that had fallen on the ground? They grab the sock, they run, they shake the sock, they try and pull the sock apart, they steal the sock from each other, they bark, they drool, they whine and do their damnedest to kill that devil sock.  It sure looks like our newly minted Attorney General Gonzalez is being socked by the sock tucking folks from Congress who will do anything, repeat, anything to put a hurt on Evil George Bush. 

Why is Gonzalez being ripped by the puppies?  Because he fired a handful of subordinates.  Remember these subordinates have no union, they serve at the pleasure of the President(that evil s-o-b).  Simply put, if the President(that evil s-o-b) doesn’t like them he can can them.  Oh, yeh, that holds true for every President, even Bubba Clinton.  Clinton ordered that all office supervising Assistant Attorneys General be fired when he took office.  Some folks are hyperventilating, wheezing and spraying spittle that these fired mouth-pieces supported Democratic Party causes.  They say that these Assistant AG’s were active in opposition to the Presidents policies and were fired because of their politics.  Maybe so, maybe not, so what?  Let’s say you’ve been arrested, you need a lawyer.  Do you want a lawyer that you trust?  Perhaps you’d prefer the brother of the guy you’re charged with ripping off.   The spittle spewing sock tuckers know that President Bush, (that evil s-o-b), has an absolute right to fire any Assistant Attorney General for any reason, or for no reason.  These are serious, even deadly, times in which we live.  We deserve better from our Congress.

I choose to tell you it's chose not choose.

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Tuesday March 20, 2007

Sunday March 18, 2007

[Val Plame is a serious hottie]  The idea of her working undercover is full of possibilities, my mind erupts with imagery.  Did “Scooter” Libby lie to the Grand Jury or the fed investigators?  Did Scooter commit perjury to the Grand Jury or to the fed investigators?  Did Scooter mislead the Grand Jury or the fed investigators?  Three different issues, three different offenses, possibly three different crimes. 

We won’t know until the appeals process is concluded and until transcripts are available.  We do know that Plame was not an undercover or covert CIA operative anywhere near the time of these events, (if ever).  It is apparent that neither she and nor her family made any effort to conceal her employment or her CIA assignment secret.  We can have no doubt that she and her husband did their level best to sabotage the foreign policy of their employer, the United States.  We do know that she and hubby Wilson are photo op and ink loving narcissists.

As I understand it, the only set of charges against Libby involved his statements during the investigation to determine who “leaked” information concerning Plame to the media.  Libby was not charged with “leaking”, the “leaker” had been previously identified, (bet that pissed off a lot of folks).  If Libby intentionally misled the Grand Jury or the investigators, but did not lie about a material fact, he’s not a nice guy, he messed up, and he should wash his mouth out with soap.  But, he’s not necessarily a criminal.  On the other hand, if Libby intentionally provided false information, under oath, to the Grand Jury.  And if this information is relative to a material fact, he’s committed a crime--perjury. 

I think that we will all agree that misleading, lying, and dissembling are the noxious grease that keeps DC sliding along.  Perhaps it’s necessary, Bill Clinton sure thought so.  Sandy Burger felt that stealing historical documents was proper.  William Jefferson likes to keep cold hard cash on hand.  Randy Cunningham proved to be an ace at taking bribes.  John Murtha was reluctant to take bribes from strangers, but said he’d sure consider it later, (we suppose he lost the FBI’s telephone number, that’s why he didn’t report it).  This perp list could fill pages.  Did Libby perjure himself, did he commit a crime, I hope not.   If he did--punish him.

The frogs were singing last night. All that rain the other night must have awakened them. That’s one of my favorite sounds is when the frogs sing.

[Valerie Plame outing hearings] Excellent coaching! 

[We already have lots of homes and rental units in the Keys] Teachers want a shot at owning their own home (without having to marry a rich old man or woman) like they can anywhere else--but I'm biased. 

[Vehicle parked illegally] Code Enforcement only shows up when they receive a complaint. One of your neighbors called them on you instead of telling you themselves because they didn’t want to make an enemy of you.

[Our man in Hungary] Comrade, don’t they monitor the internet there? Your comments are seditious and could get you into a whole lot of trouble. Maybe you’re freer than you think. If I were to write comments like you did in Saturday’s column our Dept of Homeland Security would have me in Guantanamo prison without a prayer. Or the CIA would whisk me away to one of their secret prisons in Europe. President Bush has taken away so many of our freedoms that our country is in a downward spiral. Our freedom of speech and privacy both have suffered enormously under this fool. Be safe my friend. You quoted Nathan Hale about your plight in Hungary. I’ll quote another great American, Patrick Henry: “Give me Liberty or give me death.”

[Love this site] The diverse personalities in our community are endlessly entertaining. One question for our local historians: why is West Summerland Key located East of Summerland Key? What’s the story on that?   Island Information  > Key Name Search

A lady was video taping her son riding a skate board when her attention switched to an old woman trying to cross the street. It is the best direct hit I have seen in some time. You can hear the lady taping also giggling as she records the event. Video

[Feds to kill feral cats on Big Pine and No Name] First the ferals then your pets. There is no agreement with the organization 10th Life!   Do not believe what they said in the paper.  These cats and kittens will be killed unless we stop them.  

[The Hummer] A musical condom designed to play louder and faster as lovers reach a climax is to go on sale in Ukraine. Grigoriy Chausovsky, from Zaporozhye, said his condoms came fitted with a special sensor that registers when the condom is put on. It transmits a signal to a miniature speaker in the base of the condom which play a melody. He told local media: "As the sex becomes more passionate, it registers the increased speed of the movements and plays the melody faster and louder."

[Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11] It’s nothing now but a training camp for terrorist being paid for by the American people. How nice.

Just a reminder to all the fine folks in BPK as to why there are snowbirds. Do you blame us for wanting a taste of paradise, if only for a short time? Enjoy!

[That is the dumbest thing I ever heard]  "If we can round up all the loose cats, why can't we round up all the yippy dogs"  First of all if you see a loose dog, either the owner cares enough to look for it and find it, or the dog catcher will.  The cats that are loose, are neglected by their owners and the sneaky bastards hide under houses all day and then come out and get in your garbage, lay on the roof of your convertible (try getting that hair out), shit and piss on your boat (like the one did to my fairly new boat last night) and kill the birds for the fun of it. Did I miss anything?  There are noise ordinances if you have a dog that is disturbing you. That dog is always in the same spot so you can report it and have the problem taken care of.  How do you report a nuisance cat when the owners let it run loose?  You can't catch it to get rid of it.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day   

       The Jig is Up
The leprechauns are laughing
For their day is finally here
The legends and the folklore
Seep through the atmosphere

The dancers are all ready
An Irish jig is in the air
The walls of the pubs are bursting
There is not an empty chair

As the night becomes the morning,
The barman leads the song
From Danny Boy to Irish Eyes
The serenade goes on.

Then a husky voice is heard to say
Make this your final stein
For St. Patrick's day is over
At it's a Gentlemen’s closing time

[Regarding the cross island connector] Come on people!  Is it really that important that you shave five minutes off your trip to Winn Dixie by barreling through and destroying the peace in my neighborhood? Can we barrel through your neighborhood instead?  It's not like we are living in the big city.  The only real problem is during season. 

Patience and empathy, please!  We are living in paradise.  Be happy and think of your neighbors.

I love the Sunday morning talking heads. When there’s a big story I can’t wait for the Sunday talking heads, so I go to Bill O’Reilly for a warm up. And the most outrageous of all is Bill Maher who I watch on Sunday nights (Talk about irreverent? Whew!).

[Half assed dancer] A German belly dancer has been awarded £12,000 compensation after a plastic surgeon accidentally sucked away one of her buttocks. Julia 'Cleopatra' Meyer, 38, from Munich, wanted slimmer thighs and instead ended up with half her bum missing. The court heard that during the liposuction the plastic surgeon, not named, from a private clinic, had removed fat from her right buttock instead of her thighs. She said: "I had been unhappy with my saddlebags, the fat stored in the outer thigh area. Because of the local anesthesia I did not realize what he was doing. "When I saw afterwards that half of my bum was missing I almost fainted. It had been completely sucked away."

Another Sunday and the peace supporters made their feelings known. Another Sunday the war supporters sit silent. Lazy asses.

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Sunday March 18, 2007

Saturday March 17, 2007

[Fart Fine] Hot damn, I like the idea of these “carbon credits”.  Are you generating methane?  Is your carbon footprint too big?  You should purchase some “greenhouse gas” credits--call it a fart fine.  Maybe Big Al Gee is a true genius; on the way to making really serious bucks for himself and maybe saving the world from greenhouse gases and carbon overload.  Imagine: fart-o-meters on cows.  Nationwide advertising hawking “Big Al’s House of Discount Carbon Credits”.  Carbon credit jingles and rhymes. “Cash on--Carbon off.”.  Master Card Carbon Credit Cards.  For the kids: cuddly carbon credits.  

As I understand it, a dude who is a carbon abuser (I wonder if that’s like self abuse?) can redeem his ecological karma by buying these carbon credits.  Just think, if the idea spreads and if you were to slip some chick a roofie and score, maybe then you could buy a “booty credit” and make it all well.  Fishermen will rejoice.  Just think, 18” dolphin, 14” trout, 26” cobia, all O.K., just buy some “fin credits”.  I’d suggest a buck an inch; buy them in advance and get a discount.  The thing I like best about it is that the more bucks you’ve got the more fun you can have farting, carbonizing, and generally leaving big footprints. 

If you can afford a jet, a limo, and/or a yacht, you shouldn’t have to feel bad about using them, after all, you can afford carbon credits.  If you can only afford a 1989 Ford F150, a Mitchell with a 1988 ‘Rude 50, and/or a trip on Jet Blue, you got no business messing up my planet with your crap.

What I understood from the Valerie Plame outing hearings yesterday was the White House says she was not a covert operator when she was outed so it was ok to out her. And that Carl Rove was able to keep his top secret security clearance after it was found out he was the leaker. And that the White House didn’t investigate the leak.

I want to thank all my BPK friends for their concern for me. No, I didn't get gassed. After I got home I got gassed at my local watering hole on Hungarian Pálinka. As for the good Samaritan who warned me about threatening the police; these police need to fear the people. There wouldn't be half as many cops in Hungary if the gun laws were as liberal as in the USA. Capital punishment has been banned here just before the communist government collapsed. Not because they had a change of heart and to have a kinder gentler nation. No, it was so that those that had blood on their hands, covered their ass. They live among us today as protected persons. Some of them are responsible for the death of hundreds maybe thousands.  The Hungarians are unarmed; you have to have a permit for a BB gun. I wish I was wealthy enough to go to Serbia and buy 1000 AK-47s with ammo. I would give it to patriots who feel the same as I. Unfortunately in Hungary political power does come out the barrel of a gun. The ballot box has been tried several times and the people were cheated each time. All the communists that played a part in the old KÁDÁR regime of forty years ago have to be purged by fire and steel. Hungary will not have a true democracy until then. I rebel-rouse as much as I can, I'll be 64 this year. What can they do to me? Jail me? Kill me? I'm not worthy to quote this great American, but, "I regret that I have but one life to give for my country!"

[Hungarian Protest Part Deux] I went home when the official celebrations were over, but a great American Yogi Berra once said "It ain't over until it's over." It wasn't. A large portion of the protestors moved toward parliament square (Kossuth-Tér) with the slogans that demanded the resignation of the PM Gyurcsány. This the police prevented. Like I previously mentioned, the police were on a very short leash and did their job with proficiency and professionalism. The protestors raised barricades from building materials taken from construction sites and from anything they could get their hands on; telephone booths, park benches, large trash containers, etc. With disciplined phalanxes and the use of water cannons the protesters were cleared from the streets. Several dozen protestors were arrested. Only one protestor was injured, five policemen were suffered light injuries. The street clean up started 1:00 am. this morning and by 6:00 all was quiet.

Will the "going out of business sale" at Beachcomber EVER stop?  City code requires a permit, which is valid for sixty days (extensions can be requested).  This "sale" has been going on since early November.  I know, because my sweetie made me get her an engagement ring, and we looked there first.  We bought one somewhere else, though.  Below is the excerpt from City code:

Sec. 18-258. Term.
A license issued under this division shall be valid for a period of 60 consecutive days. The licensing division may grant a one-time extension of 14 days upon a showing by the license holder of facts justifying an extension, including but not limited a showing that original inventory remains unsold.(Code 1986, § 105.02(c))

Dear Sagittarius person who dumped me and said you wouldn't. Are you ready to get back together again? I really miss you bad. You were the best! It was nice to see you Friday night and I got excited that you said "hello" and I hope that we can play nice again just like the old times. You know it's a small world down here and I am having a hard time moving on without you (even if it's only once a month). Thanks for your consideration. Write back here or call me.

[good hair salon]  I know a great stylist/colorist if you want to invest a smidgen into your beautification. Email me flakeysgurl@aol.com  She is always booked due to her talents so it may take a couple of weeks to get in, but it is beyond worth it.  Like an artist, the girl has the talent!

BPK Funny Fridays (better late than never) If you're drinking green beer, and it's not St. Patrick's Day... get out of that tavern!

One of the ways they're trying to get pandas to mate is by showing them porn. And my question is, is it panda porn, or is it human porn? Or is it humans dressed like panda porn, which is some kinky panda porn that I might be interested in. ~Mike Birbiglia

Good news for the Bush administration. Just one week after the outrageous Walter Reed medical scandal, that story is gone ... because there's a new kid in town. His name is 'Outrageous Fired Federal Prosecutors Attorney General Scandal'. Yes, in one week, it's been revealed the administration screwed over wounded vets -- the most revered people in America -- and lawyers -- the most reviled people in America -- proving they've got range. ~Jon Stewart

President Bush is safely back from his tour of Latin America. He said it really opened up his eyes. He said, 'We thought we had a lot of illegal immigrants here, they're all over the place down there.' ~Jay Leno

I find that a sympathy card is kind of an underwhelming gesture, in a way. It's like saying, 'I know you're going through the deepest loneliness of your entire life, so here's a picture of a daffodil, I hope that works out for ya.' That's why I wanna make my own line of sympathy cards. Like on the cover I'd put a picture of a duckbill platypus playing checkers with a rhinoceros and in the background there's like a hot dog with arms holding up a lemonade stand at gunpoint, and you open it up and it says 'The world is messed up man.' ~Mike Birbiglia

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace, told the Chicago Tribune he considers homosexual acts to be immoral. In fact, he feels so strongly about this issue that he won't shake hands with the Navy's Rear Admiral. ~Jay Leno

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff recently upset gay activists because he said, 'a homosexual act between two individuals is immoral.' Then the chairman added, 'Unless it's two chicks.' ~Conan O'Brien

Everybody is caught up in St. Patrick's Day. Here's exactly what I'm talking about: Earlier today, down in Washington, DC, Vice President Dick Cheney shot a leprechaun in the face. ... Scooter Libby, by the way, is already wearing a button that reads 'Pardon me, I'm Irish.' ~David Letterman

I think Bush seems like that fun guy. You know, that guy you invite to the barbecue because you know he'll start the whiffle ball game. He's like Whiffle Ball Tony! You're like, 'Yeah, Whiffle Ball Tony's here! Alright, alright. This is cool.' And then one day, somebody's like, 'We're gonna put Tony in charge of EVERYTHING.' And I'm like, 'We are? I dunno if that's such a good idea.' Because he's very competitive. He starts going to the neighbor's lawn and challenges them to Whiffle Ball. He's like, 'I heard you wanna play Whiffle Ball, bitches!' And they're like, 'We never said that!' But he starts chucking hamburgers at them. We're like, 'Tony! What are you doing, man!?' He's like, 'They were gonna chuck hamburgers at me!' Then it turns out that they don't even have hamburgers! They have hot dogs, but they only throw them at each other, so it's cool. Then people get upset and they're like, 'Well, maybe we should've gone with Bookworm Steve... but he's so boring!' Then one guy's like, 'What about me? What about Ralph?' And we're like, 'Shut up, Ralph. This is no time for jokes.' ~Mike Birbiglia

President Bush was in Mexico today and he met with Mexican President Calderon to talk about immigration issues. Unfortunately, things were cut short when during the meeting, President Calderon immigrated to California." ~Conan O'Brien

While in Mexico, President Bush visited the ruins of an ancient Mayan city. There was an awkward moment when Bush said, 'We will get the evil-doers who did this.' ~Conan O'Brien

President Bush is in Mexico. It's nice that we still have a president who goes on Spring Break. ... It's all part of his program 'No Margarita Left Behind' ~David Letterman

The legend of St. Patrick is that he drove all the snakes out of Ireland... and into law school. ~David Letterman

I invented the cordless extension cord. ~Steven Wright


The way I see life, is like we're all flying on the Hindenburg...Why fight over the window seats?

Honesty is the key to a relationship. If you can fake that, you're in.

I think that's how Chicago got started. A bunch of people in New York said, 'Gee, As much as I'm enjoying the crime and the poverty, it just isn't cold enough, let's go west.

If you have a choice of selling shoes to ladies or giving birth to a flaming porcupine... look into that second career.

It is a sad fact that 50 percent of marriages in this country end in divorce. But hey, the other half end in death. You could be one of the lucky ones!

(Referring to religious wars) You're basically killing each other to see who's got the better imaginary friend.

My mother never saw the irony of calling me a son of a bitch.

(Referring to some women he's met) At least Charles Manson has the decency to look crazy from the moment you meet him.

There is an obesity epidemic. One out of every 3 Americans...weighs as much as the other 2.

You know what the average person is? Average.

I always look for a woman who has a tattoo. I see a woman with a tattoo, and I'm thinking, OK, here's a gal who's capable of making a decision she'll regret in the future. ~Richard Jeni

[Wildlife Rescue Benefit today] Will they except donations of blankets, towels and pet food or just cash?)  We will take this as well, always needed.) Yes, please drop off items at Center adjacent to Habitat Housing on Wilder / Avenue B / Watson or call Maya at 305.872.1982 or bring to Benefit, either way.  Thank you for your support.  Please call about the food, it is specific what the needs are for the animals. Bulletin Board

The snowbirds just do not get it. We are here year round because we love the place. Sorry that you, who have 2 homes, do not really enjoy it here year round. By the way, treat a local like crap and the then leave your property alone for 6 months? Duh.

During the 60's I used LSD to make the world look weird. Now I take Prozac to make it look normal

Bush fired 9 US attorneys and Clinton fired all 93 US attorneys. Now What?

(?)please add to "respond to Bambi"

[Clutter Car] “I think I see something on the road, or is it on the dash?”

I have recently received a warning from code enforcement about parking my registered motor vehicle in front of county owned land across the street. Is it not public land purchased with our hard earned taxed dollars? Has anyone else received such a registered love letter? Do they have anything better to do with their time, besides harassing hard working people about parking in front of there own home? What is paradise coming to--a place where we all must live on edge worrying about anal things?

I do not usually pose naked like this, but this was just one of my lazy days when I was laying around in bed until some snoopy person decided to take my picture.

Book sale. Saturday the 17th at the corner of Linda & Loma streets.  starting at 8:00 a.m. Like new hard cover books. Bulletin Board

The biggest problem with Key West and the Lower Keys is its lack of a four year school. This has far reaching impact on teachers and long term residents. With a four year school more local kids that graduate from Key West High School would stay in the Keys. This is the population we need to keep. They know the feelings of the Keys and would make the best employees and neighbors. These individuals would not need affordable housing because they already have support structures in place. If FKCC would be allowed to build dorms that would also give new students time to find housing and room mates. This would help our problems with less destruction on the local environment and would also help stabilize our economy.

FKCC has had a couple of different teaching programs at the collage, but all have failed. They lack staying power for two reasons. First, they have not promoted enough at both Marathon High School and Key West High. Secondly, they did not stay long enough to build a following. I believe those two reason led to their demise.

I believe with the edition of a four year college in Key West with dormitories, the affordable housing and lack of employees problem would cease to exist. With this our economy could become more diverse. And we would have local people that love the Keys and won’t get board and move back up north for more shopping.

It's another one of the Erin go Baugh days; and for those who don't know, that means “Ireland forever” in Gaelic. The story goes that even the beloved Irish cats have a beer on Saint Patty’s Day And no March 17th is complete without some good ol’ Irish Music and a bunch of nutty Irishmen carrying on. Capt. Danny McLaughlin, my son Dan Jr., daughters Donna, Janine and Kathy and 13 grand kids all wish you a Happy St. Patrick’s Day. We’ll be partying tonight at St. Peter’s Church with a favorite Irishmen, Father Tony, and listening to Irish Terry Cassidy singing and playing the songs I love. God Bless you all.

People have said things have changed down here over the years and they’re right. There has been a run in cookie cutter condo neighborhoods and that is what I see here today just under a different name. We have let developers take away local business by converting working marinas into condos, take away business from Key West restaurants due to hotel to condo conversions and take away affordable housing by closing trailer parks. Now they would like to profit buy using school district land. If the county really wanted affordable housing they would not let developers convert the affordable housing we already have.

We already have lots of homes and rental units in the Keys. Home owners and landlords that provide affordable rentals for individuals and teachers should receive tax incentives. That would increase the amount of affordable housing across the Keys, not just on one key. It is backwards to offer developers permit incentives if we already have existing structures that could, right now, be affordable housing. The way it is being done is only making developers and affordable housing task force member’s money. And at the same time destroying more of our critical environment (more development = more run off). We live in an area of Critical  State Concern but it seems like the only people that are concerned about this is people in Tallahassee, not our own local representatives.

To the person who asked which “agency” is responsible for pruning the mangroves on the canal. You sound like you might like to live in Hungary and wait for the State to do everything.  The answer is, you are responsible. How refreshing.  Get off your duff, in your boat, and trim away. It’s not that hard, and you can do it.

My email address is batwallen@hotmail.com

[Jealous of the snowbirds]  I'm laughing like hell as I type this.  You just don't get it.  There are snowbirds here that I love to death, then there are the "snowbird" losers.  I have a lot of friends that are locals, then there are the "local" losers.  It doesn't matter if you own one house, or two, or three or more.  It doesn't matter if you lay your head down in a beautiful home, in a trailer, or even in your car.  If you're a loser, you're a loser.  

The water level of Lake Okeechobee was lowered, presumably in anticipation of an active hurricane season last year. Drained of a huge store of water, the state is desperate for, right down to the flats. Now we are made to pay the price again, by way of drought restrictions and fines, while those bureaucracies wasted millions of tons of water. Why is it that South Florida Water Management and Army Corps of Engineers get free passes and the tax payer always carries the burden for these mistakes? Why is it no news agencies ever bring light of day to these otherwise very quiet, hidden disasters?

[Beauty Salon] Go up to Marathon to the Headhunters and ask for Colleen.  She is wicked good!  Best haircut I’ve ever had.

[Feral cat sighting] Running across Key Deer Blvd at 4 p.m. Thurs. from west to east into environmentally sensitive area, just north of Sweetwater Home Sales.

[Do we want and need affordable housing] The housing prices have peaked, for now, and seem to be dropping. Local schools have lost many employees over the last few years. I believe a good number of these teachers left because they took the money they made on their houses during the rush and left. The days of losing 80 teachers a year are coming to an end.

The price of housing is stabilizing and with peoples’ income increasing  housing will become more affordable over time. As good works leave and the quality of life and services decrease so will the relative price of housing? People do not want to live somewhere, where they can’t get anything done. Forget the idea of affordable housing. All it is is developers making money under a different name.  Call it affordable housing and people kiss your ass.

If we can round up all the cats on the loose, why not the little yippy dogs and their owners as well as they seem to create more of a problem? 

The deadline for publishing is 6am
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Saturday March 17, 2007

Friday March 16, 2007

Well Deer Hearts, I am back from the protests. I rode up to Budapest on my hog, flew the '56 vintage tri-color on the sissy bar. My first stop was the grounds of the national Museum, the 1848 revolt started here. The Prime Minister was to deliver a speech here, when he arrived jeers and whistles greeted him. When the communist bastard mounted the podium a chorus of 'Filthy Traitor' and 'Gyurcsány Resign' greeted him. The cops didn't make any aggressive moves anywhere. Gyurcsány the PM didn't make his speech.  Protestors = 1 government = 0.  My next stop was at the Petőfi statue, Alexander Petőfi was the poet of the nation and played a leading role in the 1848 revolt. The man died in the last battle of the revolt, killed by Russian Cossacks.

At the statue square several thousand citizens gathered with the national colors and the striped flag of the Árpád Hause. Gabór Demszky the mayor of Budapest, another communist bastard, and a crony of the PM was supposed to make a speech. After the singing of the National Anthem and the laying of wreaths, the mayor started his speech, during which he said something about a just and socially correct government. This did not sit well with the multitudes, and the mayor was showered with eggs and tomatoes. His security people tried to protect him with umbrellas, it was an exercise in futility. A couple of pieces of toast and the mayor could be had for breakfast, he is a pig anyway. The cops were kept on a short leash, I only heard of one incident. A man attacked a policeman and the man was arrested. The PM knew that the people will not stand for any strong arm tactics, like there was in October. I hope the PM will resign between now and October. If not blood will flow again on the streets of Budapest!

[Grand opening of Habitat for Humanity’s Key West office] On Wednesday, March 14, 2007, friends of Habitat gathered at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church at 800 Center St. in Key West to officially open the new satellite office located in the Thrift Store across from the church.  Hours will be by appointment only.  This office will provide Habitat with a place to hold meetings in Key West and to share information with Key West residents who may not want to drive to the main office on Big Pine Key. For more information, please call 305-872-4456.

Solar Ghetto Power.

[Affordable housing behind Sugarloaf School] I have two children at the school and I'm starting to get peeved. While it's their right to do so, I'm embarrassed by the parents opposing the housing. They don't represent me.  I can't explain it--there's just something very appealing about the idea of having teachers for my children. For Christ's sake, they're not proposing erecting a low-security prison for violent criminals or a sex-offenders rehab clinic--they're proposing a neighborhood.  In the rest of the world, schools are often located in neighborhoods.  I'm the first to point out flaws in Florida's public school system, but we have an "A" school district and Sugarloaf is ranked in the top 50 schools statewide. I like that, and I'm glad some forethought is going into ensuring consistent quality in teaching and school personnel. They are gifts to our community who could go anywhere else in the country and live much more comfortably on a teacher's salary. The Keys are nice but so are groceries. 

[Which agency is responsible for pruning the mangroves on our canal] You are. It's the law that you must keep the right of way open at all times. But you cannot cut them back into your property. Just cut them flush with the canal edge.

It definitely shows how long someone has been here when they ask for a cross island road for us locals to avoid the seasonal traffic. Let me tell you a story. There was once this fantastic idea running around regarding an access road across the middle of Big Pine so we could avoid seasonal traffic. Even the County realized the need for this on this island. It was called the "Cross Island Connection" If it wasn't for a very loud handful of got-miners here we would have one. Several residents of one subdivision (most of who have moved away since that time) put a blinding halt to this idea with very loud complaints. This is something that would have benefited everybody here on this island, themselves included. And so it goes here on Big Pine--complacency rules.

Bush’s attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, fired a bunch of US Prosecutors because they were investigating Republicans. Now that the Democrats are in power we might be able to put a halt on the Bush gang’s trampling on our laws and civil rights.

[Nobody tries to kill themselves “three times”] ...except for Blondes!

Someone said at the last Lower Keys Beautification Meeting that all this is costing Monroe County Taxpayers $1,200,000 to get ideas to make things nice. What did we vote the bureaucrats in for?  It seems our maintenance department needs a good looking at.

[Cross Island Connection] This was a good idea except for us. Except it wasn’t a good idea for those people in quiet neighborhoods who didn’t want to lose their peace and quiet (the main reason most of them moved here in the first place). Imagine living peacefully and then one day they build a main road in front of your property. I’d cry if they did that to me.

I have to say that I am not in any way jealous of you snowbirds. I am happy with being able to afford my 2 houses down here. And being able to rent one out to a working person at an affordable rent, although I'm sure I could charge way more than what I do, but would rather do that when I buy that rental up north.

On a lighter note; it's my favorite time of year, the weather is absolutely gorgeous, my grass doesn't need to get cut, the flowers are pretty and the money is coming in. Thank you.

To the a'hole Wednesday bragging about iguana meat being delicious:  what secret are you letting out of the bag?  It's a known fact that their meat is delicious to some...so is dog, horse, coon...to some.  You don't care if your buddies won't speak to you anymore?  Why don't you put your name on here so the rest of us know who you are. That's the secret to let out of the bag.

[Cross island road] Boy, you sure can tell some people are “newbies” Haven't we gone over that year after year?

You are responsible for maintaining your canal’s overhanging trees.

I can assure you that the majority of locals are not jealous like the one that posts here.  Some of us are lucky enough to have two (or 4 houses in some instances) and they have none, so I can understand the mouth frothing, green eyed, hate.  These few will move on quickly and the majority of locals will bend over backwards to help and I do the same for them when I rush down to help myself.

ABATE’s March Madness poker run, the 18th. First south stop is at Geiger Key 9-10 am First north stop is at Caribbean Club 10-10:30. We’ll all meet up at Jo Jo's by 1pm, for food, libations, music, fellowship and biker games. Come ride with us, and remember all folks are welcomed...by car, too! Anyone know this biker guy? Bulletin Board

The permanent residents of Big Pine shouted down 3 different options for a by-pass road proposed by the state.  They were along the lines the previous poster suggested, and some would have paved some of the pot hole ridden dirt roads in the area.

[Work hard and save and you too could be a snowbird] It took 22 years of hard work to get to Paradise, to become a "local" and appreciate this way of easy going lifestyle. Now that this is dying out, because of uncaring snowbirds, I cry a lot! 

In California, no less, your life is not your own. The junta stopped this woman from living a somewhat decent life by disallowing her something that stops her cancer pain. If it were me, I'd "politely" tell the judge and officials how to have self-inflected sexual intercourse, right in the court room. Then moon them!

Who the hell do those politico's think they are? What's next? Permission to take a dump? It is getting out of hand in this country, for sure!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17611941/wid/11915773?GT1=9145

[to the poster on the mangroves taking over the canals]  You’re responsible for keeping the waterway clear. Don’t cut neighbors’ trees which hang out in the canal because it’s private property. Sorry, but it does not look like anyone has time to enforce it!

[Hungarian protest] Sir, I'm not sure it's a good idea to announce plans for an armed rebellion.  I'm real sure it's not a good idea to threaten cops, in any society.  This is meant as friendly advice to our valued correspondent in the former Eastern Bloc.

[Some locals are just so jealous of us snowbirds]  How dare you say that you live better than any Keys local! You know what, here is news for you:  It is nowhere close to any of us being jealous of a snowbird.  I don’t care to be a snooty snowbird and I guarantee you that I work just as hard as you do and I enjoy being here year around.  I could purchase another home if I wanted to anywhere, but I choose not to because I love the Keys. 

[If we leave Vietnam the Commies will follow us back and destroy us] No one said the Commies would follow us back. They said more countries in SE Asia would fall—the Domino Theory.

I finally located a guy that I had a mad crush on about two years ago. He never knew it, out of respect (a classmate told me he was married). I doubted the source then; and now that I know he’s still in the Keys, I have to find out! He’s a boat captain with Last Cast Charters. Can anyone help?

[barking dogs]  There is an ordinance regarding nuisance barking.  It took a few phone calls, but apparently the complaints on BPK are run through the animal shelter.  She came right out and talked to the owners when I had a problem.  It was solved right away.

Saturday is the Wildlife Rescue Fundraiser and party. Don’t miss it. Bulletin Board

[Dear Citizen Editor] I recently read the letter from Ms. Cruciger, about Ms. Kay Thacker.  It seems that you have absolutely no idea what goes on within our county government.  Do you know the past history of Mayor DiGennaro?  Do you know that his past arrest history is greater than most of the citizens of this county?  I can't believe that someone would attack a member of our community that has donated so much of her time for causes that we all should benefit from.  Do you even know her?  Did you even see the tape from the session?  It looks like you are only going by what you have read.  Maybe you need to do better research before you make an ass out of yourself with the comments to the editor.

She did not get up and use profane language; she did not give the mayor the finger, or rudely speak out without permission.  Most of all Ms. Thacker does not do this for attention or some personal gain.  She has been one of the most active individuals for affordable housing, against the changing of the Tier system map for the benefit of the developers, and many other issues that I am sure you are not aware of.  She is not only an activist in the Upper Keys, but in the Lower Keys as well.  She has traveled numerous times south to Big Pine Key to help represent the citizens of Seahorse Trailer Park, defend the eviction from the developers, which are buying up all of the trailer parks, which is the only truly affordable housing left in the Keys.  She is concerned for all of the citizens of this county.  Maybe you need to do a little more research before you accuse someone of rude behavior.  Do you know that by taping these sessions it is the only defense for the citizens of this county on issues that are of concern?

If we do no have people like Ms. Thacker donating time to police our governmental officials, the entire Florida Keys will look like Marco Island, a concrete slab.  Is that what you would like to see? Everyone has the right to their own opinion.  Vulgar sign language does warrant someone to be thrown out, but not a thumb up or down.  -- Denis Bass

[Looking for a hair salon] I love Dee at Ginger Snips, she does a great job for me and everyone I've sent over.  Thanks Dee!

Oh What a scream!  Someone is talking about the cross connector road again.  Lets see the first time I heard this proposed was in the 70's.  Good Lord everyone with any sense has tried to get it done but, darling the Key Deer all ways win here.  God forbid that a mangrove would have to be disturbed or saints alive, a black super duper snake or a rabbit might have to move.  Sorry, and good luck on trying but, you've got one chance in hell of getting anything done! 

[barking dogs] Taken from the Eden Pines Association site: Discussed were barking and wandering dogs. Police said to call Animal Control 743.3779 who will give owners a written notice to quiet the animal. Additional disturbances will require three neighbors to sign a nuisance affidavit and then Animal Control will file complaint to States Attorney office.

[Cross Island Road] Just learn the dirt roads then you won’t have to use US1 if you stay on the north side of the pine.

If we can round up all the cats on the loose, why not the little yippy dogs and their owners as well as they seem to create more of a problem? 

I was mocking the submitter who spelled the word "know" as "no" while at the same time he was criticizing a generation for their lack of education. Something of a pot/kettle situation.

Thanks for posting the links to the County Commissioners. It made it easy for me to email them and urge them to support the trapping of free-roaming cats on public lands. You just don't get it, do you? They are removing the cats to save wildlife. Business Directory > Government

[Attorney general lied to Congress] Finally, with the new Democrat majority we’ll start having some butts kicked. Finally, the Bush gang will have to start obeying the law.

I look forward to reading your Coconut telegraph everyday. And someday, if I can ever afford it, I hope to be a resident of the Keys and will be able to whine about all the mundane topics that everyone else does.

I have friends with a herd of yap dogs and they don’t seem to hear them when they bark at nothing.

If the offending mangroves in your canal are growing on a lot owned by the county, it is the county's responsibility to trim them. Don't hold your breath. If on a private lot, it is the homeowner's task. Code enforcement should be called in either case. Maybe this will keep them busy, doing something constructive for a change.

In anticipation of St Patty's day I am offering my friends here a unique way of enjoying the indulgences and keeping a clear conscience. For a limited time, I am offering Sobriety Offsets, which, for a fee, based on the level of your consumption, allows you to indulge/abuse alcohol, reduce your etoh(?) footprint, and most importantly, lecture other drunks about their indulgences with complete moral authority. I am accepting all major credit cards and Paypal.

The deadline for publishing is 6am
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Friday March 16, 2007