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Thursday October 9, 2008

[Filing an insurance claim and winning] Lessons learned from Katrina

Trees are blown down by wind, not floated against a house by a tidal surge. Structural collapse is caused by twisters, not by flooding. Mold is caused by rising rain after wind had blown out the windows. Lightning exploded the electrical system and curled the walls and split the foundation, not water.

The words “water,” “flood,” “tidal,” and “surge” do not exist. These four words can be the difference in your receiving money or your claim being denied. Copy this little paragraph and save it for when you need this information to deal with insurance adjusters. You won’t regret it.

[Screw the Old Folks] KW Senior Housing referendum we passed last year. We are looking at another sweetheart dollar a year lease deal like the KW Yacht Club. The only land that should be leased for $1 a year is that portion of land occupied by low income seniors, yet have you seen the details of rents and costs to live in this potential project?

Here is part of it: 40 assisted care units of which there would be 10 studios (400 sf) with monthly fees of $1000, prices on units go up to 10 one bedroom plus units (600 sf) with monthly fees of $4,800 a month!  The 95 Independent living units  (8 units) start at $1700 a month (600 sf) and go up to 1 bedroom with premium views (700 sf) for $2995/mo.  From original literature I got from this group and to my best understanding these fees are in addition to the cost of buying the unit which runs from $200,000 to $1.5 million. I believe half of the 40 assisted care units will be subsidized--to what extent I have no idea, and 8 of the 95 independent living units are subsidized.
 
This Coalition keeps throwing up to everyone that the referendum passed by an overwhelming 2/3 vote.  Though meetings were held by this group, I doubt many who voted for senior housing went to the forums or knew what this project entailed when they voted for senior housing.  It should also be pointed out that Ed Swift is a co-chair of this coalition. That should be a red flag in itself!
 
I am all for senior housing - housing like on Kennedy Dr, where I bet every resident voted for this referendum, not realizing this was not a place for them, that they would never be able to afford to live here.  What we need is affordable housing for seniors. This is not it.
 
The City Commission voted last night 5 to 2 (Commissioner Gibson and Commissioner Johnston voting against the $1/year lease.)  In 2 weeks they will vote again, one final time. We have to get the word out to educate the public and get them to call or email their Commissioners that this is not the senior housing we need.  You can email your Commission at their email that is their first name initial and last name@keywestcity.com eg: clopex@keywestcity.com or bverge@keywestcity.com
 
Please call or email your Commissioner or all the Commissioners now before they vote again Oct 21st, if this is not what you had intended when you voted for the senior housing referendum.

Yesterday a writer said there were three branches of government: Executive, Legislature and Judicial. According to that great constitutional scholar George W Bush, there are 4 branches. Bush thinks the Vice President is not in the Executive branch so it must be in a fourth branch as yet unnamed. Bush used this ploy to avoid having Cheney testify.

[Debates] Having only 30 people’s reactions monitored and televised for 30 million people to see is ridiculous. They give the false impression that the nation is agreeing with them.

[Comcast is a joke]  I had only their high speed internet (which is less than half of what I have now (6mps, I now have 15mps).  They charged me $63.18 a month.  I pay $40 now.  They charged me in advance and I had to explain that the previous resident kept his modem.  When I left I turned in the equipment with a full three weeks already paid for and today I get a collection notice for $37 for past service and $25 for equipment!  Can you say Direct TV, anyone?   I will pay you, Comcast, when the first two inches of snow accumulate by your Key West office. Kiss my a**!

[Real Deal] The other day I picked up two prescriptions at CVS and was surprised when the cashier said the cost was $8 ($4 each).  This was a significant difference in cost from what I've been paying.  When I asked her if there was some error, she said that CVS is doing what some of the other big pharmacies are doing -- charging $4 per prescription for commonly used medications.  What a nice surprise. With the cost of everything else going up, it's a shock to have something go down!  I don't know what meds are covered and I don't know if Winn-Dixie is doing the same, but it's worth checking out. 

I finally went to Kingston’s Clam Bar (who reportedly never has clams) yesterday at the old Sugarloaf Leisure Club and all I found was the old Sugarloaf Leisure Club and a stagnant pool. What happened to the Clam Bar that never had clams?

Governor Crist has endorsed Ken Davis for Sheriff!

[Smile for the camera] Big Pine Peace Rally at the traffic light every Sat. from 10-11a.m. Police think you’re terrorist if you want peace. Maryland Police Put Activists' Names On Terror Lists | CommonDreams.org 

Am I the only one that thinks John McCain is starting to resemble a pissed of Elmer Fudd?

I like to remember the era in which I grew up as one of duck-hunting dawns and summer-afternoon crab boils in a shady pavilion and college dances on Spanish Lake under oak trees that were strung with Japanese lanterns. ~James Lee Burke, The Tin Roof Blowdown

[Health Care is a Right] Yea, Obama. Someone finally opened his eyes and realized we have no control over our health. Some people get sick some don’t. When you’re number’s up—it’s up! I think health care is more of a right than Social Security is. You know you’re going to get old and you should prepare for it, but you don’t know you’re going to get cancer, etc.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's home district includes San Francisco.  Star-Kist Tuna's headquarters are in San Francisco, Pelosi's home district.  Star-Kist is owned by Del Monte Foods and is a major contributor to Pelosi.  Star-Kist is the major employer in American Samoa employing 75% of the Samoan workforce.  Paul Pelosi, Nancy's husband, owns $17 million dollars of Star-Kist stock.  In January, 2007 when the minimum wage was increased from $5.15 to $7.25, Pelosi had American Samoa exempted from the increase so Del Monte would not have to pay the higher wage. This would make Del Monte products less expensive than their competition's.  Last week when the huge bailout bill was passed, Pelosi added an earmark to the final bill adding $33 million dollars for an "economic development credit in American Samoa".  Pelosi has called the Bush Administration "corrupt".  She should know.

[Obama’s Experience] We all have to start somewhere. The senate is a good start, but after 143 days, that's all it is--a start. Strangely, a large sector of the American public is okay with this and campaigning for him.  We wouldn't accept this in our own line of work, yet some are okay with this for the President of the United States of America?  Come on folks, we are not voting for the next American Idol!  

A blonde is showing off her new tattoo of a giant seashell on her inner thigh. Her friends ask her why she would get such a tattoo and in that location. She responds, "It's really cool. If you put your ear up against it, you can smell the ocean."

“Governor Sarah Palin a all American woman, will make a Super V.P. of the United States."
"That explains exactly why the Republicans should be in control "
"Bush is the greatest president ever"

Wait a minute. You mean these postings aren't meant to be funny? These people are serious? Oh crap, we are in worse shape than I realized!

Everyone is invited to visit the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 13-03 (Big Pine Key) at the Lower Keys Chamber Social on Tuesday, October 14th at MM 30.5 as they take registrations for their fall/winter boating skills & seamanship courses. The Flotilla’s Mobile Communications Trailer will be set up in the Habitat for Humanity parking lot, and officers will be on hand to answer questions and provide information.  Bulletin Board

[Obama Nazi Muslim] Has anyone bothered to look at Obama's web site?  It's kind of amazing that we have someone running for President of the United State of America and he doesn't have a single picture of an American Flag on his web site.  I hope that people understand what they are getting this country into by electing him for president.  You know, Hitler started with a group of blind followers too. 

[Lost Cell Phone]  Motorola RIZR and was left by mistake in the men's room at the Big Pine Winn Dixie.  It was around 11 a.m. Wednesday the 8th of October.  The phone is all black with a large screen that slides upward.  It is missing the central menu button in the front of the phone.  This phone is very important to me as it has my entire phonebook, and additionally has family photos of my grandmother who is now deceased.  It's very important that I get this phone back, so I'm offering a $50 reward.  If you can get this phone back to me I'd really appreciate it, as it has most of my life on it.  I hate to think that someone has taken it to sell for something else, please come to me first and I'll make it worth your while.  You can reach me at work 305-872-8836 during the day and 305-304-9097 after 6 pm.  I work most days of the week, including Saturdays and if not can be reached through the second number.  Please, if you read this, and have or know where my phone is, please get it back to me.  My name is James and I work at the First State Bank in the Big Pine Winn Dixie.  I've helped people in the past many times, and I'd like to see some good karma come my way.  Classified Ads > Lost & Found

[Dog Saver] Some guy went to Texas and lost his life trying to run across a highway in an attempt to capture some dogs.  My condolences to the family, but why is it that in all this reporting no one has mentioned what the condition of the motorcycle driver was? 

[GO BAMA Confused] You are obviously not familiar with the rivalry of the University of Tennessee and the University of Alabama.  A "Go Bama" sign in Tennessee is much worse than an "Obama" sign and depending on the area of the state, (Knoxville) could possibly get you hurt (wink wink).

[Fred Colvard] A letter today in the Free Press by some "concerned parents" blasts Fred Colvard, the candidate for School Superintendent about his time as principal of Marathon High School.  It's interesting that many of the signatories don't have kids currently attending school in Monroe County and that more than one of the them has a vested financial interest in having the current Superintendent re-elected.

One of their major criticisms was that he was an absentee principal.  I worked there at the time, and my recollection is that as a result of his respected stature in the U.S. educational establishment, he was asked to serve on such things as interview committees and national boards.  It seems to me that's something we should be proud of, not criticize.

[McCoy Airport] Why on earth did they even consider the name McCoy for the new airport?   Don't they know that's the airport code  for the Orlando airport is MCO?   Why would you have two in the same state. It will just cause confusion even though Key West would probably keep their EYW code and Orlando tends to call itself Orlando International now.   It was a dumb idea in the first place.

Yes we do need medical reform,  but not socialize medicine.

[National Healthcare] Did you know we’re the only democracy in the free world that doesn’t have socialized medicine? Did you know the pharmaceutical companies spend twice as much on lobbyist as on research. Similar lobbying monies are spent by the American Medical Association and health insurers. It’s no wonder we don’t have national healthcare with the lies and disinformation and fear a billion dollars can buy.

I would like someone to call out Bob Peryam during the BPK forum for Sheriff. During the televised debate on Comcast, Bob was caught lying on television about his department’s internal extra-marital affairs investigations. Bob tried to say he was never investigated for anything until after he started running for office. Sandy Downs then pointed out the investigation of his affair with a 23 year old girl from Sept 2005. 

Bob thinks he can say anything and we're all dumb enough to believe it. Hey Bob, we aren't! Sooner or later you are going to have to answer the questions or lose votes.

Someone called  Biz-Baz Wednesday and mentioned a group called Celtic Thunder that he said you need to go see.  Ms. Fox made some comment about the Celtic dance groups. This is not a dance group.  It's five guys singing from Ireland and Scotland, ages 14 to 39.  They sound awesome to me.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D13Qv-gj-0s

A women's only resort is not sexual discrimination.  It's a resort for women only.  There are many places here in the keys that limit membership to one sex.  There are other resorts, too, that cater to the single sex.  Don't you think if women only businesses were discriminating sexually they'd have closed down a long time ago?  What about college dormitories that are male only or female only.  When was the last time a guy walked in a woman's restroom and declared the Constitution allows him to do so?  Get with the times and get educated before you go to the voting booth.  But if you truly think a female only business is discriminating because they don't allow men to stay, then take it to court.  Let the courts decide instead of a Webster's dictionary definition. 
 
And while we're at it and discussing the values of political figures....would you vote for someone who thought the miracles of the Bible were false and rewrote the new testament without them?  What if the same person was an advocate of intelligent design?  Well, I guess we wouldn't have had Thomas Jefferson as president. 

[Critters 4, Humans 0] A 17-year-old boy in Reno, Nev., accidentally set his family's house on fire trying to kill spiders. A woman in Santa Fe, N.M., accidentally caused severe fire damage to her home while trying to torch a rattlesnake. A 26-year-old man in Mobile, Ala., accidentally caused $80,000 damage to his home and a shed trying to kill a swarm of bees. A Buddhist monk accidentally burned down his temple in Ojiya City, Japan, trying to destroy a hornets' nest.

Comcast is shutting down its TV and Internet services from Thurs 10/9 noon until Fri 10/10 6 am, for installing and switching fiber optics equipment. I'm not looking forward to 18 non-electronic hours.  What will I do if CT is not up before noon?

[McCain looked old] McCain is old. That's what I like about him. At age 25 I realized how little I knew at age 15. At 35 I realized how little I knew at 25. And again at 45. It never stops. I respect older people and admire the amount of wisdom that comes with age and experience. I also know some extremely intelligent young people, but they tend to lack wisdom, experience, patience, and foresight. I believe there are some things that cannot be taught.

[Scheduled Meetings] Deer Administrator Gastesi, As you know, the October BOCC meeting was originally scheduled to be in Key Largo, but was then switched to Key West to accommodate to the Key West airport dedication. Now that the Key West airport dedication is canceled, please move the October BOCC meeting back to Key Largo, where it was supposed to be originally. The locations for rest of the 2008 BOCC meetings can be adjusted back to their original schedule also. Since no public newspaper notice announcing the change to Key West was ever done, then no public newspaper notice switching back to Key Largo should be required.

[Stock Market] Once upon a time in a village, a man appeared and announced to the villagers that he would buy monkeys for $10 each. The villagers seeing that there were many monkeys around, went out to the forest, and started catching them. The man bought thousands at $10 and as the supply started to diminish, the villagers stopped their effort. He then announced that he would now buy at $20. This renewed the efforts of the villagers and they started catching monkeys again.  Soon the supply diminished even further and people started going back to their farms. The offer increased to $25 each and the supply of monkeys became so little that it was an effort to even see a monkey, let alone catch it!

The man then announced that he had to go to the city on business and when he returned, he would buy monkeys for $50 each.  He left his assistant in charge and departed for the city. In the absence of the man, the assistant told the villagers, “Look at all these monkeys the man has collected and put in the big cage. I will sell them to you at $35 each and when the man returns from the city, you can sell them to him for $50 each.” The villagers rounded up all their savings and bought all the monkeys. They never saw the man or his assistant again, only monkeys everywhere! 

There, now you have a better understanding of how the stock market works.

[ Obamastan?] What will the new name of our country be after November?

[Conspiracy] How's this sound? The Republicans know the Dems are going to be running things soon, so in order to grab all they can while they can, they orchestrate this meltdown knowing two things.  One thing is that the Government will pour in a ton of cash to try and stabilize things, and the other thing is that the stock market will dive creating terrific stock bargains for anyone with a ton of cash. Guess who is going to be in charge of the cash?

John McCain lost me when he went on 60 minutes and told the world American troops are torturing terrorists. Look it up on youTube its there. I also agree with Obama when he says that if they get a verified shot at Osama he will, without a doubt say, "Do it" even if we have to cross national boundaries. The Republicans said Osama doesn’t matter anymore, but I agree with Obama, I want him toasted.

Coconut Telegraph news flash. They’re good for more than we think. Stem cells from testicles an option to embryos - Yahoo! News

[Healthcare a Right] I believe Sen. Obama's answer that health care is a "right" is enough to disqualify him as a serious consideration for the President of the United States.  I believe it shows a fundamental misunderstanding of rights.  Rights are not contingent upon the confiscation of other citizens property and treasure by the threat of force or imprisonment.  My rights to life, liberty, and my pursuit of happiness do not infringe upon your you right to the same.

However, I believe Sen. McCain had it correct when he said that we have a responsibility to help others in our nation that are less fortunate. It may simply sound as nit- picking to some of you, but if you think about it, there is a huge difference.

I would like to find someone who can teach the 5-string banjo.  Please call 872-5024. Classified Ads > Music

[McCain] The Town Hall debate gave us an close-up of John McCain.  McCain is a doddering old man.  But why shouldn't he be in his dotage.  He is 72 years old and not in good health.  The sad thing is that McCain has always been an honorable man.  His honor has been taken from him by the former Bush advisers (Steve Schmidt et al) who have hijacked his campaign and turned it into a negative rant.  Johnny we hardly know ya. 

Imagine getting drunk with McCain? That old foggy would be reminiscing about his Vietnam experience after his second beer. The guy’s still fighting the war. He’s locked in the past. After his tribulations, understandably, he can’t get passed it. I don’t want him for president. That old dog can’t learn new tricks.

[Sloan's Q & A's] Tim O’Hara at the Key West Citizen, who said he is doing another article on the county commission candidates. And asked me some questions.

What qualities or skills do you have that make you feel you could be a sound county commissioner?

I have a radar that detects scams, cons, shell games, spoofs and other human viruses, and what my radar doesn’t catch, the angels who delight in tormenting me detect and show it to me. I have practiced law and know how to deal with lawyers and crooks on their own terms. I am committed to looking out for what is best for Mother Nature and the little people of the Keys, who need a lot more help than the rich, the politicians and the developers, and the crooks they seem to tend to run with.

What experience do you have with either elected or appointed boards or in elected office? Please elaborate on what duties or experience came with the elected or appointed position that you could use as a county commissioner?

I have enormous experience with elected and appointed officials you do not seem to have the ability to see, hear, feel or recognize. On this world, I once was a member of the Board of Directors of my father’s publicly-held company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. I have never served in an elected office on this world. However, I have learned quite a bit about local elected and appointed offices and officials by attending government meetings and interacting and wrangling with elected and appointed officials. It has taught me to trust no one but the angels who tell me what to do and what not to do.

How familiar are you with budgets, government or business? Do you have any experience working on budgets for a business or non-profit or government agency? If so, what kind of experience?

I am very familiar with God’s version of budgets, government and business. As for this world’s version, I once worked in a fairly large Alabama corporation, in which I was an officer and director. I participated in some of that firm’s budget discussions and decisions. I later practiced law, in a small law firm in which I was a partner, and then as a solo practitioner. I have no experience inside a human non-profit or government agency, and based on what I often have seen going on in the Monroe County, City of Key West and City of Marathon governments, I’m not exactly persuaded that having such experience should be viewed as a plus.

Have you ever run your own company or business that was responsible for employing people? If so, what type of business and how many employees? The rest...Today'sFloridaKeysDrivel

The only thing louder than Jersey Girl would be that CEO from Crack o' Noon construction. Especially when he has his beer and a brownie. The guy has a million in rain checks for a dance going on!  ~skildpadder@yahoo.com

I'll bet what McCain and his Cronies would really like to do is finish off what's left of the Unions.

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Thursday October 9, 2008