| BigPineKey.com Since 2002 celebrating Big Pine Key’s garbage pick up days, Tuesdays & Fridays. Non-profit Non-social media General info for the over 50 crowd. Over 60,000 followers. |
                                              |
| Submit a post Contact Us |
 [Injection Wells] In a September 15, 2026 public meeting, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) voted unanimously to request the Sanctuary and other federal and state agencies to “expeditiously pursue corrective action to stop injectate from shallow wastewater injection wells on Stock Island from reaching surface waters.”
The SAC also voted unanimously that, “Friends of the Lower Keys (FOLKs) has produced evidence that wastewater from KW Resort Utilities Corp’s shallow disposal wells appears to be emerging in surface waters of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary off Stock Island.” The FOLKs’ evidence includes underwater videos of manatees drinking from seabed upwellings and from the base of mangrove trees within 300 feet of KWRU’s shallow wastewater wells, according to marine biologist Dr. Matthew Finn, who took the underwater videos. They can be seen on the FOLKs’ website at www.friendsofthelowerkeys.org |
 US bans $1B of Canadian imports: What will vanish from store shelves. About 87% of that total consists of alcoholic beverages—a sector singled out by Washington after several Canadian provinces pulled American liquor from retail shelves in reaction to Trump’s earlier moves. Link |
| [Friday Joke] If you’re not a “6” or a “7” urinate. |
 [Remains] What do you want to happen to your body after you die? Cremation? Casket? Space burial? Link |
| Amendment 3 on the midterm ballot would gut funds for local communities. Amendment 3 sounds good until you read the fine print. Then you realize the real costs to local communities. Now you can do the calculation for yourself. See why |
 |
| [AI Safety] The FTC confirmed it’s launched an investigation into the safety of Anthropic and OpenAI systems. The scope of the investigation was not immediately clear. |
 Lifelong Star Wars fan builds the droids of his childhood dreams. Kurt Zimmerman brought Star Wars from a galaxy far, far away to Michigan. Video |
| [Irony] In a perversion of justice, Christa Pike received a dose of lethal injection drugs Wednesday and lived. So they gave here another dose of lethal injection drugs—she still lived, but barely, so they rushed her to the hospital where they are trying desperately to save her life so they can kill her again. Sick. Link |
 [New Cellphone Carrier] Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite business, already competes with traditional telecom companies for home and business internet customers — and it’s now talking about a mobile phone business that would put it in more direct competition with wireless carriers. To become a true fourth U.S. mobile carrier, SpaceX would need more terrestrial infrastructure to provide the capacity of a traditional cellular network — an expensive endeavor. But SpaceX believes it has a more efficient option: install small cellular base stations alongside Starlink dishes on homes and businesses |
| [Conspiracy Theorist] Pennsylvania reported the 5th kid who died from measles. None of these kids were vaccinated as per RFK Jr. The mothers listened to RFK Jr’s conspiracies and denied their children the measles vaccine so they died. I hope RFK Jr is happy. |
 [Rain] I’ve gathered 2 iguanas, 2 key deer, 2 raccoons, 2 wineos, 2 developers, 2 realtors, and loaded them all on my arc hoping to recreate the Keys after the monsoons pass and this place dries out. |
| Mortgage rates spiked to their highest level in nearly three years, continuing their climb above the 7% threshold. Housing sales were already slow due to a lack of inventory and elevated rates, creating a risk that the market could further its freeze. The weekly average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 7.28% as of Thursday. |
 [October Skygazing] Two meteor showers and two planets at full opposition. The Draconids and Orionids will light up the October sky. Link |
| Book clubs can be fun, fulfilling and interesting – but many members have seen a meeting or group go down in flames. One mom wanted to be a dictator and pick every book,” Laura, who requested a pseudonym so as not to cause another blow-up, told me. “She only reads spice [romance fiction with sexual content] … and there’s different levels of comfortability. Some women clutch their pearls at [her] mere suggestions.” Every meeting started to devolve in the same way. The member would fight hard for her pick – always something spicy – and everyone would give in. But no one was reading the books, and finally, they decided to set some “content guidelines” going forward: no smut and no violence. This did not go well. Link |
 [Robot Rules] It seems that we’ve had the ground rules for AI since 1942. But as usual corporations have put profits over safety. The “Three Laws of Robotics” are a set of rules devised by science fiction author Isaac Asimov, which were to be followed by robots in several of his stories. The rules were introduced in his 1942 short storyFirst Law — A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. Second Law — A robot must obey orders given by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. Third Law — A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws. |
| [Crook] A jury convicted the former head of the Florida Keys’ helicopter ambulance program of covering up for the then-chief flight nurse, who is accused of stealing pain medication from Monroe County Fire Rescue’s supply to feed her drug addiction. Link |
 |
| [Blimps, Burlesque and Brass Bands] America takes flight – in pictures. A new book comprising 700 images from the National Geographic’s archives charts a dramatic century of dizzying change in the US. Link |
 [Cocaine Found] A kayaker found a half-kilogram brick of cocaine floating in the Florida Keys Monday off Summerland Key. This one was found around 2:15 p.m. off Summerland Key, in the Lower Keys. A kilogram, or 2.2-pound, brick of cocaine labeled with “333” was found almost two weeks ago in the same area. Link |
| [Arsehole] Kanye West’s sold-out Russia concerts cancelled. Russia’s foreign ministry had called planned shows unacceptable due to rapper’s ‘glorification’ of Adolf Hitler. Link |
 Frog and Toad book is a page turner online. Interactive |
| [Privacy] Your car is a smartphone on wheels. Here’s who’s listening. The first large-scale measurement study of the connected-vehicle ecosystem. It knows where you drive. It knows who you are. It can share this data and more with insurance companies, advertisers, etc… Link |
 At last, Key West is in the Cleaning Season, and the rains just might make it livable again! |
| “AI. Mid-terms. AI. Mid-terms. AI. Mid-terms. AI. Mid-terms. AI. Mid-terms. AI. Mid-terms…” There must be some other news in the world besides AI. Mid-terms! |
 Behold the pawpaw, the tropical-tasting ‘alien banana’ that grows in Canada. Pawpaws taste like a banana, mango and pineapple all rolled into one. |
| [Friday Joke] My Wife: How in the Hell can you use the same shower gel for body, hair, face, and cleaning your truck parts? Me: Say what you will about my 28-in-1 body wash, but it’s still the best damn BBQ sauce on the market today. |
| The current Coconut Telegraph was published on 10/2/26 at 8:47 am. |
 [For Sale] Pellet Gun Gamo Swarm Maxxim 10X GEN 2 Multi-Shot Air Rifle. Two 10-round .177 clips. 3 x 9 variable scope. Box of pellets. $200 new. Half price used $100. Text only: 305-942-4323 Video |
 [For Sale] Folding scaffold 30L x 12w x 20h. 4 scaffolds (not sold separately) New $200, Big Pine Key pick-up half-price: $100 for all 4. Excellent condition.Text only: 305-942-4323 Link |
 [For Sale] Crossman P1377 American Classic Variable-Pump .177-Caliber Pellet Air Pistol. New $70. For Sale $25. 800 feet per second. Pick up on Big Pine Key. Text only: 305-942-4323 Video |
| Snapshots taken from Big Pine Key looking North between Annette Key and Mayo Key every Friday evening since 2023. You may hover to view a photo, see the date of the photo, or use the left or right arrows on the images. |
