The un-social media since 2002 with 60,000 followers.
Published on Big Pine Key’s garbage pick-up days,
Tuesdays and Fridays.
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 [Close Call] I was breezing along between Key Lois and Little Palm over the shallow area in the middle, watching the shallow bottom instead of looking around the boat. I went over what I thought were two long grass patches worrying about running aground, and instantly was distracted to look forward at a dolphin’s fin breaking the surface and was distracted again on my left by a pod of about 10 dolphins surfacing. I almost ran over the two that looked like grass strips. I had to stop the boat and gather my nerves, I felt so bad that I almost hit them. Usually I see them well before nearing them. Pheew! |
| [Powerless] After tens of thousands of people woke up without power Thursday morning in South Florida and the Keys following storms that ripped through the region — causing heavy rains, flooding, strong winds and toppling trees — most customers saw their service restored by the evening. The power outrages were widespread and covered large swaths in South Florida, including Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Aventura, North Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach and West Palm Beach. Link |
| [Weight Loss] The unintended side effects of popular weight loss drugs. Know what you’re in for before taking the risk. Link |
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| [Friday Joke] Almost as funny as the time Grandma got her left one caught in the wringer and Grandpa kept on wringin’. |
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| [“Abortion cost”] The poster’s statement that “Abortion keeps poor people poor” is at odds with your entire post. It is the opposite of what you appear to be arguing. And what are you actually arguing, that people should not have children so they can travel more? |
 [Friday Joke] The guy at the furniture store told me the sofa would seat 5 people without any problems. then it occurred to me, I don’t think I know 5 people without any problems. |
| [Dumb and Dumber] 25 tell-tale signs of low intelligence in people. Slide Show |
 [Great White Shark] Red tide isn’t the only thing being tracked off the beach. A great white shark has been spotted off Southwest Florida in Gulf waters. Keji, a juvenile great white shark, has spent 2023 in the Gulf of Mexico, according to OCEARCH’s tracker. The location of the nine-foot-seven-inch, 578-pound male shark pinged off Longboat Key in late February. However, a z-ping for Keji occurred Thursday. OCEARCH scientists determine a ping when the shark breaks the surface of the water and a z-ping is a ping with no location data. The organization first tagged Keji in 2021 near Nova Scotia, Canada. Since then, Keji has migrated down the East Coast of the United States, circling the Florida Keys and reaching as far north as the waters off the Florida Panhandle. Link |
| I’m pretty sure the people who say ‘You can’t argue with that‘ are people who haven’t met my wife yet. |
[Repurposed Gravy Boat] The local old folks home had a garage sale, I got this cool gravy boat for just .25 cents! |
| [Friday Joke] Did you ever wonder why hemorrhoids aren’t called asteroids? |
 ChatGPT is a bullshit generator. To understand AI, we should think harder about bullshit. MIT Professor of AI Rodney Brooks summarises the working principle of ChatGPT as “it just makes up stuff that sounds good”. This is mathematically accurate, where “sounds good” is an algorithm to imitate text found on the internet, while “makes up” is the basic randomness of relying on predictive text rather than logic or facts. Other leading researchers and professors of AI say the same things, with more technical detail. “Godfather of AI” Geoff Hinton, in recent public talks, explains that one of the greatest risks is not that chatbots will become super-intelligent, but that they will generate text that is super-persuasive without being intelligent, in the manner of Donald Trump or Boris Johnson. In a world where evidence and logic are not respected in public debate, Hinton imagines that systems operating without evidence or logic could become our overlords by becoming superhumanly persuasive, imitating and supplanting the worst kinds of political leader. Link |
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| [AI] Some people think white AI-generated faces look more real than photographs. At least to other white people, thanks to what researchers are dubbing ‘AI hyperealism.’ Link |
 [A Better Mousetrap?] Why I spent 3 years working on a coat hanger. Sounds like a great idea for apartments or small living spaces. If you’re wondering why it hasn’t previously existed, there are a few aspects that make it only suitable in very specific instances. For example, when folded, it no longer balances on the hook, and it’s only ‘upright’ when its against a wall; meaning it requires a whole new rod mounted to even use it. Even if you have mastered consistent friction in your hinge, it doesn’t appear to have any way to make sure it stays unfolded if you aren’t using it in the prescribed way (against a wall). Folding clothes on a hangar is still a pretty neat idea though! Video |
| These sea cucumbers glow. Scientists found that 10 species of these deep-sea dwelling invertebrates are actually bioluminescent. Link |
 The Florida Keys Southernmost Car Club (FKSCC) will hold its 2nd show of the season our “SHOW & SHINE” Sunday, Nov. 19th from Noon to 3pm. This event is for lovers of classic, custom, and street rod automobiles and trucks of all years and makes. If it’s cool and on wheels, it will be there. We will have a People’s Choice Award as always.The fun event as always is at the Sugarloaf Lodge, on Sugarloaf Key. MM17. The Club’s sound system will provide 50’s and 60’s music. The restrooms will be open. Bring the kids to enjoy these beautiful relics of the auto world. Robbie’s Food Truck “Loafin’ Around Café” will be there for your snack and beverage needs. This is a free event for everyone. The Club is seeking new members. Join Sunday and get a Club T-Shirt and car sticker. For more information contact Lance Stehman 305-797-6782 (pictured: check out the headlights on this cherry ’56 Chevy wagon) |
| You know you’re old when you start to pray and get responses. |
 Slow Cooker French Onion Soup2 pounds Vidalia onions, thinly sliced (about 8 cups sliced) ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted 1 ½ teaspoons granulated sugar 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt ½ teaspoon black pepper, plus more for garnish 6 thyme sprigs, tied with kitchen twine 1 dried bay leaf 5 cups lower-sodium beef broth 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar 12 (½-inch-thick) baguette slices 6 ounces Gruyère cheese, shredded (about 1 ½ cups) Fresh thyme leaves Stir together onions, melted butter, sugar, salt, and pepper in a 6-quart slow cooker until onions are fully coated. Place thyme and bay leaf on onion mixture. Cover and cook on HIGH, stirring once halfway through, until onions are deep golden brown and caramelized, 6 to 7 hours. Remove and discard thyme and bay leaf. Stir in broth and vinegar. Cover and cook on HIGH until thoroughly heated, about 30 minutes Preheat oven to broil, with oven rack about 6 inches from heat. Spoon soup into 6 ovenproof ramekins; place on a large rimmed baking sheet. Top each ramekin with 2 baguette slices; divide cheese evenly among ramekins (about ¼ cup each). |
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 [Big Pine Book Club] For November’s discussion the book is Grandma Gatewood’s Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail by Ben Montgomery. The eBook is also available from Amazon for only $2.99. Big Pine Library November 18 at 10am. For more information go to Full Menu > Ongoing Events> Book Club |
| When will Disney cruises start in Fort Lauderdale? Here are details on dates and ships. Disney is bringing its cruise ships to Fort Lauderdale. Port Everglades will be the second Florida home port for the company after Port Canaveral, on the state’s Space Coast. The first ship will set sail on Nov. 20 from Fort Lauderdale, the beginning of a minimum 15-year agreement between Disney Cruise Line and Florida’s second busiest port after Miami. The 4,000-passenger Disney Dream will sail a five-night trip to the Caribbean. Then it will do four-night and five-night trips until next spring when another ship, the Disney Magic, will replace it for three, four- and five-night cruises. Trips will also include stops at Disney’s private island on the Bahamas. Link |
 [Ethernet Still Going Strong] A networking technology that allows high-speed data transmission over coaxial cables. Ethernet has become the standard wired local area network around the world, and it is widely used in businesses and homes. Ethernet’s development began in 1973, when Charles P. Thacker—who was working on the design of the Alto computer—envisioned a network that would allow Altos to communicate with each other, as well as with laser printers and with PARC’s gateway to the ARPANET. PARC researcher Robert M. Metcalfe, an IEEE Fellow, took on the challenge of creating the technology. Metcalfe soon was joined by computer scientist David Boggs. Metcalfe and Boggs had two criteria: The network had to be fast enough to support their laser printer, and it had to connect hundreds of computers within the same building. Link |
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| The current Coconut Telegraph was published on 11/17/23 at 9:05 am. |