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2019 January

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Letters to the editor with pictures since 0202. Published on Big Pine Key’s garbage days, Tuesdays and Fridays.

[“Fluoride myth”] I never made any comments on whether or not water should be fluoridated in my post on the subject. The idea of the post was to point out that fluoride, good or bad, was not put in the water supply of concentration camps, as far as any reasonable researcher on the matter has found.  This myth and similar ones (1960’s -fluoride as communist plot to subdue us, etc) has deep roots. A version even found in Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove. The article someone linked about fluoride simply repeats the myth. True there are references cited in the article, just not any directly related to the Nazi fluoridation statements. Also, the article is full of mistakes and inconsistencies. Reference the statement made that mustard gas was modified into zyclon B and then the U.S. modified it into Agent Orange. No. Mustard gas is sulfur dichloride and ethylene. Zyclon B is hydrogen cyanide- a pesticide that cannot be converted or modified into the defoliant Agent Orange that is toxic to humans because it contains Dioxin.

I searched the Library of Congress’s searchable transcripts of the Nuremberg trails for fluoride and found nothing. Of course IG Farben shows up all over the transcripts but not ever in association with Fluoride, as there is no Fluoride mentioned. Strange how this persists.  Again, the thing was started by people that really, really, really hate fluoride and anything added to anything. Perhaps they’re right. But they also make stuff up to advance their agenda (fake news). Here is a link to a news piece that delves deeply into the myth and its origins. Link

[“Loose dogs”] The laws state all animals will be on a maximum 4-foot leash and restricted from entering certain businesses and public areas. Grow up or seek help from a mental help expert for your ‘needniess’.

 

[Smart TV v Dumb TVs] Geeks often ask for dumb TVs. But, as the CTO of Vizio recently explained, smart TVs are cheaper than dumb TVs. TVs are so cheap that manufacturers make their profit by tracking your viewing habits and selling ads. Link

The Toby Keith story posted in Friday’s CT was most interesting.  The words are great.
“Don’t let the old man in, I wanna leave this alone
Can’t leave it up to him, he’s knocking on my door
And I knew all of my life, that someday it would end
Get up and go outside, don’t let the old man in…”
Toby Keith – Don’t Let the Old Man In
[Most Dangerous Cruise Ports] The Bahamas and St Thomas top the list. Stay away or stay on board. Video

 

 

[Where Eagles Dare] French military using winged warriors to hunt down rogue drones. Link

[The Draft and the Deer] There is no military draft and there has not been any for years or decades. We have an all volunteer army and other services. Talking about Fluoride conspiracies? I guess there are still survivors from the John Birch Society and other right wing loonies. Then there are the Key Deer. The speed limit signs are stupid. Key Deer move around at dawn and dusk. They do NOT move around at night. How exactly do they get onto the highway with big tall fences and underpasses to go through?
I would be interested in finding out exactly where the deer get hit by vehicles. I think it is all a scam by FDOT. They are so incompetent it is beyond words. Even the Sheriff has to put on notice on their site that they are not responsible for traffic signals and signage. The morons at FDOT are responsible. Before Irma there were studies and public comment on traffic through the US1 triangle (the highway interchange in and out of Key West) and the traffic lights were synchronized which eliminated most traffic backups. After Irma they were all screwed up again and two years plus later have not been fixed. Some really crazy posters here.
Polar vortex, snow to chill area this week. Video

 

 

She asked her husband for an eighteen carat necklace.

[“Dogs in public places”] Ignorance is bliss and so are the idiotic responders who argued with the dog posts.  “Dogs with their owners was a key’s thing before the northern changers came” is just so stupid of a statement it doesn’t require a response – the smart people get it.  This person is the epitome of someone who is severely self-righteous and uneducated.  “Stay home?”  You stay home.  There you can wallow in your obvious misery and self-appreciating comments, you cranky old coot.  And the person who defended dogs versus human beings at the grocery – cray cray!

 

I like Dogs.
I like animals.
I like nature.
I like the Keys.
I don’t like putting up with a slobbering, barking, ball licking dog, five feet away from me while I am eating.
If you do, please eat at home with your hound at the table.

[“Student v Indian”] Let’s let the man speak for himself. The truth always prevails. Peace! Nathan Phillips on ‘Today’ show: Student’s explanation felt insincere. The Native American activist spoke on the ‘Today’ show about Covington Catholic student Nick Sandmann’s appearance a day earlier. Link

 

 

[“No white spatulas”] There are plenty of white spatulas.

[Cow Key Channel Bridge] They say traffic will be messed up severely for two years while they repair the only access to Key West. Can’t they get one of the Navy’s portable bridges to span that gap temporarily? Alexander and the Romans both did it.
[“The hard-working public servants”] That’s a good example of an oxymoron.  As for protecting endangered and threatened species, I’m pretty sure all wildlife fares far better without government protection.

 

Here’s Jerry Seinfeld‘s take on awards and I couldn’t agree more. Video

[Worshiping Differently] A dear friend left our church when it changed synods and joined with another denomination.  She told me, “I didn’t leave the church; the church left me.”

 

 

[Duct Tape] “Crap. Give me your chewing gum, Jim.”

Big Pine Key AARP February 2019 Calendar. Full Menu > Ongoing Events

 

 

A bouquet of cupcakes.

[The Great Economy] At the very core of American greatness is our economy. It was our economy that rescued the world in WW2.  It’s our economy that permits us to be grantor of more foreign aid than any other nation. It is our economy that is the magnet that draws so many immigrants both legal and illegal.  Trump is not personally responsible for the fact that our current economy has never been better.  The reason for our boom is that business people and people like you and I made the decision, after his election, to again reinvest and to spend. They believed that the governments strangle hold on commerce had been broken.  They were right.  It shows.  ~FTR

 

[Democrats Eat Trump ‘s Shut Down for Lunch] I know this is national politics but the image is just too good to pass commenting on. (Ed: This image was sent by a devout conservative, so devotees, don’t get your pants in a bunch)

Not having any clue at to what the hell I’m doing has never stopped me from trying anything!
Those who attack the person and not his argument have no argument.

 

 

Ark Encounter themed park is a creationist theme park that opened in Grant County, Kentucky on July 7, 2016. The centerpiece of the park is a large representation of Noah’s Ark. Link

Things you should never throw out and how to reuse them. Slide Show

 

A 1770’s doll that is the distant ancestor of the modern programmable computer.   The doll still works.  Your computer is lucky to last 10 years. Video

[“Name the skull”] Jersey girl?

 

 

 

 

Car pool.

[What’s In A Word] Homographs are words of like spelling but with more than one meaning. A homograph that is also pronounced differently is a heteronym. You think English is easy?
1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse4) We must polish the Polish furniture..

5) He could lead if he would get the lead out. Link

 

I  know you’re angry at life but that’s no excuse to stop using turn signals.

[“Name that skull”] It is the upper half of a a Key Deer skull.
[“Propaganda”] “The receptivity of the masses is very limited and their intelligence is small.” This was the only statement I agree with in the entire post last Friday. God, are locals thickheaded.

[Good Luck With That Department] Politicians are too expensive in this country. I’m for the reduction of their salary and removal of their benefits and privileges. Our taxes should no longer serve to make these people millionaires at the expense of the people.

Don’t fret over those non-essential NOAA workers.  They are non-essential. Ultimately, it’s up to each federal agency to determine which of their employees are essential. So, if your favorite NOAA employee is not working and collecting their paycheck, their bosses have decided they are not essential. Get it? It appears that the country can do without the remaining 17% of federal employees.  Supposedly people employed in jobs are that crucial to our health and safety such as gatekeepers to the national parks and monuments, census counters and occupations that might not cause life threatening ramifications are now living off their savings.  If they didn’t save, oh well.  They are learning a lesson now, aren’t they?