Letters to the editor with pictures since 2002. Published on Big Pine Key’s garbage days, Tuesdays and Fridays.
 [Key deer hoof issue] Deer are ungulates, hoofed mammals, and their feet are not just beautiful – they are anatomical wonders that allow them to walk, run, leap, and even swim! Key deer need strong, healthy feet to have happy, healthy lives. A deer’s feet are two elongated toes, and the hooves are like thick toenails. Inside are bones connected to the hooves by laminae, connective tissue that contains blood supply and nerves, that holds the deer suspended in its hoof.
We have received reports of elongated, cracked, disfigured and infected hooves. (Attached are some old and new photos associated with those reports.) This is a very concerning issue because it means terrible pain, and even lameness for deer. Here’s what’s going on, and what you can do to help: Laminitis (also termed “founder”) is inflammation of the laminae of the foot resulting in: pain, instability of the coffin bone, hoof deformity, cracks, chips, sloughing of the hoof wall, and foot infection. It can affect one or all feet. Report Key deer health concerns to the FWC hotline 888-404-3922 ext.7 |
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| [West Nile Virus] Health officials in the two South Florida counties have confirmed more cases of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus. On Tuesday, two cases were confirmed in Miami-Dade County, bringing the total number of cases there to 26, the Florida Department of Health said. In neighboring Broward County, officials confirmed the first case in 2020. The latest Miami-Dade cases were in people who contracted the virus locally, the Miami Herald reported. The first cases this year were detected in May. In Broward, this was the first case of West Nile since 2012, Candy Sims, a spokesperson for county’s health department, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. To the south, officials in the Florida Keys are dealing with an outbreak of Dengue Fever, another mosquito-borne disease. Health officials said West Nile symptoms include fever, headache, pain and fatigue. The disease is rarely fatal |
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| [“Free seeds”] What should be done with these things from China? They are most likely some kind of invasive plants – It isn’t safe to throw in garbage as will end up in “land” fill and sprout and blow in wind. Can’t flush them as they may end up growing along our banks or in reefs as we don’t know what kind of plant life they may be. So maybe we should burn them up in our BBQ grills or stove top prior to getting rid of. Sounds crazy – but is something to seriously think about – I am sure the senders assumed we would do several things with them all of which could be problematic. Dispose of them carefully people! |
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| [Guerrilla Theater] In the US it was a form of guerrilla communication originated in 1965 by the San Francisco Mime Troupe, who, in spirit of the Che Guevara writings from which the term guerrilla is taken, engaged in performances in public places committed to “revolutionary sociopolitical change.” The group performances, aimed against the Vietnam war and capitalism, sometimes contained nudity, profanity and taboo subjects that were shocking to some members of the audiences of the time. Sometimes they would put on their little dramas in public and not tell the public who were usually aghast. |
Since we know that the United States Postal Service has been comprised by an agent of Vladimir Putin. We decided to hand deliver our applications for absentee ballots to the county election board, quick and easy. We’ll also hand deliver our ballots when we receive them. The ballots are expected to be delivered end of September, early October. I live in another state, so check with your local country election board. |
| [Leadership] One of the most significant weaknesses on the German side was the command structure. It was Hitler’s habit to meet his ministers and senior commanders individually. In consequence the Kriegsmarine had no knowledge of what Hitler had agreed with the Luftwaffe. When Donitz obtained Hitler’s agreement to an allocation of planes for air support of his submarines, he had no way of knowing whether Hitler had informed Goring to this effect. Instead of fostering cooperation between the three services, Hitler played one against the other, like a true meth-head. The U-boat War Log is littered with Donitz’s complaints about lack of support. |
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Pee on the electric fence they said … It will be fun they said … |
| [Poetry] Language is inadequate to describe life. So poetry just tries to bring up emotions. Just read it and see how you feel. If you feel something, then the poem worked. |
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| [Movies] “When the actor says “this is not a good time” the other actor always goes ahead with whatever he wanted to say anyway. |
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| It seems that FKAA is super special and they don’t have to be open to the public in any way, shape, or form. Their board meeting is not open to the public and unlike Monroe County, the City of Key West, and the state of Florida, all FKAA’s offices are shut down. The FKAA claims it is because of the Virus. So what makes them so special that they don’t have to be open to the public? The rest of Monroe County is open to the public but not FKAA. Does anyone want to reply to my question? Why isn’t the FKAA like the rest of the county? |
David Attenborough [whispering voice-over]: “Moving ever so silently through the water, the deadly Canadian shark stalks its unsuspecting prey.” Que “Jaws” soundtrack. |
| [Space Travel] Could humans ever travel to other galaxies within their lifetime? The immense scale of the Universe seems to prohibit such voyages, after all the nearest galaxy is so far away that it takes light itself – the fastest thing in the Universe – 2.5 million years to complete the trip. Video |
Night Vision goggles. Circa 1917 |
| (Editor: Today’s Coconut Telegraph is an abbreviated version because our roof leaks at corporate headquarters and I have to finish white-coating it before the sun kills me. If your post is missing , please look for it here on Friday’s edition.) |
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