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2015 May

Friday May 8, 2015


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Since 2002. Published weekly since Spring of 2015

Submit anything of a positive nature, but no national politics or sewer stuff unless it’s breakthrough stuff to island@bigpinekey.com
(Ed: Although all advertisers’ contracts have expired I’m still going to display their ads for free until they get used to the new CT. Hopefully they will all want to keep advertising.)
happy mothers day tray
[Rich Folks Buying the Keys] Home buyers are showing a growing interest in high-end residences in the Florida Keys. From Marathon to Key Largo, million-dollar homes have started falling off the shelf, according to local real estate agents, who say the movement is picking up for the first time in years. Could this be another sign the Keys will become a playground for the rich?
1all-stbd-18k2003 Yamaha Four-Stroke 225 Hp Outboard Motor. Model F225TXRB. Extremely well maintained. Only 454 hours. Perfect working condition. Top performance. Good fuel economy, very quiet, powerful and clean. $8,000. REDUCED to $6950! Must sell to buy a bigger motor.
Extras: Yamaha gauges. Tachometer and multi-function gauge (new in 2012)
Helm control (new in 2012)
Control cables (new in 2012)
Key switch (new in 2012)
Wiring harness (new in 2012)
Clymer repair manual
The motor is on a 21.6′ bayboat and can be tested from the Little Torch Key boat ramp. Link
This Week at Springer’s Bar & Grill

Wednesday 7pm: Cornhole League starts. Come in and sign up for another season of fun.
Thursday  6pm: Bike Night with Live Blues Music by Myles Mancuso
Saturday  7pm: Cornhole Tournament.
Y’all come down and see us!
[Credit Card] Recently I wrote about the two months of hoops I had to jump through to apply for a credit card by mail, only to have them refuse my birth certificate because it was not computer generated. So I went online to the same bank, Chase, and in two minutes I was approved. I’m not kidding — two minutes! No identification was required, only my social security number, yearly income and address. There’s so much in life that I fail to understand. Banks are one of them.
rotten teeth[Prima Donna Dentist] I need a lot of major dental work and can afford it so I called Dr Troxel’s office here on Big Pine for an appointment. The girl who answered the phone proceeded to interview me. After about eight questions, only one of which had anything to do with teeth, I interrupted her and asked why the third degree? “Can’t I just make an appointment and get my teeth fixed?” The girl said that they wanted to be sure to get the right fit between dentist and patient. I replied that I don’t think I want to fit in with a snobby dentist, said goodbye and hung up.  “The right fit”? The customer just sits in a chair with his mouth opened. What right fit? We’re not dating or even talking.Dr Troxel should stop advertising if he’s not taking new patients. He is more expensive than any other dentist in the Keys and he doesn’t take insurance. Yet customers get the third degree before being allowed the ‘privilege’ of paying his exorbitant prices. I don’t get it. He’s just a dentist, a tooth mechanic, not an M.D. or brain surgeon.Don’t you dentist fans out there dare to tell me how good he is. I’m not writing about his skill, just his arrogance, snobbery and conceit.
I’m so glad you’re back. Everyone has missed you. Please don’t let FTR get everyone back fighting again. I don’t care if you post this or not, this is my personal message to you. Again I love your website, it’s a community service for all of us.

Cream – I’m so Glad

bar11
Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing
can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity
to every person you meet.To make all your friends feel
that there is something in them
To look at the sunny side of everything
and make your optimism come true.To think only the best, to work only for the best,
and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
as you are about your own.To forget the mistakes of the past
and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times
and give every living creature you meet a smile.To give so much time to the improvement of yourself
that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,
not in loud words but great deeds.
To live in faith that the whole world is on your side
so long as you are true to the best that is in you.No medicine cures what happiness cannot. Blessings my friends
superthanos
My superpower
is turning beer into pee.
I’m suspicious of people who don’t like dogs, but I trust a dog when it doesn’t like a person.
henry-peter
Painting by Henry Peter. Link
[My Song] Thought I would share this song with you as done by a duo in the Ocala Florida area.  The song is “My Island Home”. Meri-Lynn and I wrote it in another life. The players are brothers Brent & Doug. Doug was a band mate, both are excellent players. It’s a great feeling to have your song covered by to players that do such a nice job. Thanks Doug, Brent, let me know what i owe y’all in royalties. Video
cute20[Cute] A family in New York began visiting shelters to look for the perfect pup.  After a few weeks of searching local shelters, they found a puppy that they fell in love with, Theo.He craved human friendship and attention. Three days after coming home with them, he joined their son Beau for his daily nap.  Beau’s mother began taking “nap” pictures and now they are warming hearts around the world. Link
Jean-Luc Godard-Stones ‘Sympathy For The Devil’. Blast from the past. Trailer
semicolon happy emotion[“Why can’t computers recognize certain characters”] They do, but they’re recognized in ways that you’re probably not aware of. The underlying operating system reserves certain characters for the exclusive use of the OS itself: They’re called delimiters. While you can use all the characters available to you in text documents, messages, spreadsheets, etc., you cannot use them in terms of naming files, directories, etc.
[“Is it legal to flash your headlights to warn oncoming traffic to the presence of police”] In Florida, there is no law that prohibits this practice. Any tickets you might be issued are likely to be dismissed upon challenge. In this state that practice amounts to an “expression of free speech”. Link
eat dog food[Purina Diet] Yesterday I was at my local Publix to buy a large bag of Purina Dog Chow for my loyal pet, Jake, the Wonder Dog, and was in the check-out line when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog. What did she think? I had an elephant? So because I’m retired and have little to do, on impulse, I told her that no, I didn’t have a dog, I was starting the Purina Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn’t, because I ended up in the hospital last time, but that I’d lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms. I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is, to load your pants pockets with Purina Nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete so it works well and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.) Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I stopped to pee on a fire hydrant and a car hit me.I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard. Publix won’t let me shop there anymore, It’s all good.
[How I Lost My Marbles] Funny video. Redux
corvette drives middle road
There is your car and the open road, the fabled lure of random adventure. You stand at the verge, and you could become anything. Your future shifts and warps with your smallest step. It changes with every little whim. The man or woman you will become is at your mercy. Go — just do it!
It’s all about perspective. If you’re here to fish for a few days it’s windy and ruff. If you’re enjoying the beach, nightlife, shopping & sightseeing — it’s great weather.Some people grumble that roses have thorns. I am grateful that thorns have roses. No two persons ever read the same book, do they?
cheeseburger800w[Cheeseburger in Paradise] It doesn’t get any better than this! I’ve been using the 7% fat ground beef for years and just remembered that my mother used to use ground round (20% fat) for our hamburgers. The fat makes them juicy, tasty and sweet. The high priced 7% fat burgers are hard, dry, and lack flavor.Jimmy Buffett — Cheeseburger in Paradise
I was blind and heart broken and didn’t want to do anything and Gus burst into my room and shouted, “I have wonderful news!” And I was like, “I don’t really want to hear wonderful news right now,” and Gus said, “This is wonderful news you want to hear,” and I asked him, “Fine, what is it?” and he said, “You are going to live a good and long life filled with great and terrible moments that you cannot even imagine yet! Even though you may want to move forward in your life, you may have one foot on the brakes. In order to be free, we must learn how to let go. Release the hurt. Release the fear. Refuse to entertain your old pain. The energy it takes to hang onto the past is holding you back from a new life.”What is it you would let go of today?
egg22
[Eggstractor] Spend just $14.99 plus S&H to peel an egg, or do it by hand for free with nothing to clean up or store away. Link
[Veteran’s Group] Our Guest speaker for May 7th will be Mari-eta Stonner who is one of original speakers when we started this program and she will be speaking about, “Choices”May 14th will be Fr Tom Graf speaking about, “Relationships, Healthy and Unhealthy”Fr. Tom Graf is originally from The Bronx, NY.  Grew up in the South Bronx, in an apartment building overlooking Yankee Stadium.  Fr. Tom is currently the Rector at St. James the Fisherman Episcopal Church in Islamorada, Fl.  He is married to his beautiful wife Isabel and has three grown daughters,  3 grandchildren and a three year old Terrier Mix puppy.  Fr. Tom has background in the following: New York City Cab Driver 5 years, Special Education Teacher: 5 years, Roman Catholic Priest (10 years), Director of  Men’s Homeless Shelter 3 years, Director of Independent Living Program in Foster Care: 3 years, Director of Pastoral/Volunteer Services at Palmetto Hospital: 7 years, Chaplain in Hospital and Hospice: 10 years, Episcopal Priest; 3 years and Teacher of World Religion: 22 years.
dogg
Dog found
by Sea Center Tuesday morning, call 305-240-0639.
[Time Continuum] Sunday was the 3rd not 2d.
[Trailer For Rent] I have a friend, Capt Gene, who has a trailer in Gallaway Bay trailer park in Marathon.  He needs a new tenant. If you are a scammer or are on the arrest log (and I will search your name in the MCSO arrest search query on his behalf) disregard this post. Otherwise, please give him a call at (305) 289-1024.  Your questions regarding how many bedrooms, parking, dogs, cats, children, furnished/unfurnished, when available, how much deposit (yes, there is a deposit) will be answered by Capt Gene.   Housing for the middle class is at a premium.
battery21Tesla, the electric car pioneer, has unveiled a “home battery” which the US company’s founder Elon Musk said would help change the “entire energy infrastructure of the world”. The Tesla Powerwall can store power from solar panels, from the electricity grid at night when it is typically cheaper, and provide a secure back-up in the case of a power outage.In theory, the device, which typically would fit on the wall of a garage or inside a house, could make solar-powered homes completely independent of the traditional energy grid.”The goal is complete transformation of the entire energy infrastructure of the world, to completely sustainable zero carbon,” Musk told reporters shortly before unveiling the Powerwall at an event outside Los Angeles.Examples of the device were lined up along one side of a hall. “It looks like a beautiful sculpture on the wall,” said Musk. All the power for the evening demonstration, attended by several hundred media as well as technology world participants, came from his new batteries, hooked up to solar panels on the roof, he said. Link
pizza-crust8
[Pizza] The Delia’s are right, there is a difference between Jersey pizza and NY pizza and Philly pizza. Its the crust, its yeastier with more cells.
[Phishing Scam] I’m writing this with tears in my eyes, sorry I did not inform you about my trip. i came down here to Manila, Philippines for a short vacation to visit a resort and got mugged at gun point last night at the park of the hotel where i lodged.All cash,credit cards and cell were stolen off me. I’ve been to the embassy and the Police here but they’re not helping issues at all,my flight leaves today and I’m having problems settling the hotel bills.The hotel manager won’t let me leave until i settle the hotel bills which is ($2,450 USD) or anything you can afford now am freaked out. Please reply back and let me know if you will be able to loan me the cash so that i can give you the necessary details you will need to get the cash to me via Western Union Money Transfer, i promise to pay you back as soon as i get back Home.
rip toes
R.I.P. Mitch Hedberg 1968 – 2005. Comedian Mitch Hedberg’s Death Due To Drug Overdose. Link
[Help] I wish that the people who knew Terry & Linda- could help her now.Terrence Kevin Bradley June 27, 1950 – May 3, 2014 Passed away a Year ago. Terrence Bradley of West Taghkanic, formerly of Big Pine Key, Florida has passed away at St. Peters Hospital, Albany after bravely battling a long illness.Linda Bradley formerly of Big Pine Key needs help as she injured her back in their travels searching for medical care for Terry. She’s now “static” in a NY facility with only a desire to come back home to Big Pine Key & live here. I’ve known Linda to be a very hard-working tough woman, having done construction in her past to raise her family & had been cook for the Boca Chica soldiers here at the Naval station. She’s Not a slacker & I wish to get her story out there in the hope of finding some type of assistance. Even if its just in the form of a phone call or a letter written to her. She needs a motorized scooter or vehicle to get around & the finances have been terrible with our government forgetting about her welfare. She only gets (I think? she said) $16 in food stamps a month. Not at all enough to get by on. It’s a terrible fate that has come on her since Terry passed away. The government was supposed to have given him a transplant but that did not happen. He passed before they did anything to help them. Linda needs some type of help, but I’m not sure if anyone out there would know how to help. It’s been a year now since Terry has left us and Linda’s situation is not better.Perhaps the readers would know how to go about helping her. She’s been like a mom to me with her culinary & common sense advice in so many areas. I wish she could have a good Mother’s Day with her husband gone & she’s so alone at this time in her life.Her contact info’s here & she’s comfortable with this being posted. Linda Bradley, High Pointe At Chatham Senior Apt# 10, 45 Dardess Drive, Chatham, NY 12037. Phone (518) 392-6500She’s also on Facebook to now, listed as Linda Bradley (Naval Air Station Key West). Anything You could do, to help this situation in any way would be considered really awesome.
dive in bucket
[Show Off] A man died in front of hundreds of people after jumping into the strong current of Key West Channel from Mallory Square during the daily Sunset Celebration event Sunday night. L a s t  m o n t h , Robert Barlow, 40, of Massachusetts, was paralyzed after he jumped headfirst into shallow water from a pier at the Sunset Tiki Bar and Grille at the Galleon Resort and Marina.
[“Warning of speed traps”] I’ve heard the police like people flashing their lights because it slows down speeders.
spell7
[Riots] A black man shot and killed a NYPD officer yesterday. How come police aren’t rioting and looting?
computer monkey laptop
The next meeting of our Big Pine Computer Club is coming up this Saturday, May 7, 10 am at the senior center.  (The wi-fi has been repaired)
[Un-holy priest] Suspended priest dubbed Monsignor Meth gets over 5-year term. Link
bb-king
[BB King Dying] Judge denies B.B. King’s children guardianship over singer’s medical care. Link
[The Long Walk Home Veterans Project] For those of you that are unable to come to our workshops here is the first video of what it is like.  We hope you are able to get something out of it and are encouraged to join us some night and experience it first hand.  Again we would like to thank all of our volunteers that make this possible. Video
moth-orchid[Orchid Sale] The next meeting of the Key West Orchid Society is this Sunday, May 10th, Mother’s Day. It’s also the cutoff date to pay in full for the bus trip to the Redland Orchid Festival. If you can’t come to the meeting call Marie:  305-509-7744 to make other arrangements. And if you haven’t signed up yet, call her to see if there is still any space. She might be able to squeeze you in. OFE wants me to tell you that they’re having a Mother’s Day Sale this Friday, May 8th. from 8:30 to 6:00, and Saturday 5/9 from 9:00 to 5:00. The May newsletter is here. Full Menu > Ongoing Events
[Good Sewer News–At Last!] I know this is on the border of the new rules, but I heard from a sewer connection contractor that the plant is going to start accepting hook–ups on May 17th  First to hook up is Cudjoe Key on the Spanish Main connection.  At long last!
[Bad Sewer News–As Usual] The Florida Department of Environmental Protection never required the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority to conduct an Environmental Impact Study before approving the old landfill on Cudjoe as the site for the Wastewater Treatment Plant. In the 70’s when the Cudjoe landfill site was used, it was not constructed with a liner to protect the surrounding environment, meaning that whatever was dumped there can leach unimpeded into the land and potentially into the water.At the urging of Dig Deep Cudjoe, FKAA engaged Dr. Henry Briceno, Florida International University and Dr. Eugene Shinn, University of South Florida to conduct a tracer dye study to determine whether fresh water injected into the shallow wells would end up in the near shore waters. Their discoveries are twofold: first, there is interconnectivity between the shallow wells and the surface waters as the dye migrated laterally, and secondly they discovered the presence of Fluorescein and Rhodamine, used to color automobile antifreeze. Imagine a daily flushing of the chemicals from the landfill into the near shore waters.Chris Bergh, Director of the Nature Conservancy for South Florida explained: “Putting these two facts together leads me to the conclusion that the groundwater under and surrounding the Cudjoe Key landfill is likely to contain substances other than Fluorescein and Rhodamine and that those other substances are likely to be mobilized into the surface environment by injection of treated wastewater at the depths of the existing shallow wells. This makes me extremely uneasy”.The solution is clear, don’t hook up residents to the plant without performing a thorough scientific study and risk assessment, including a baseline analysis of the water. FKAA plans to start up the plant in May and begin hooking up residents in June. FDEP has not been attentive to our environmental concerns. The Environmental Protection Agency only steps in after the fact, so no help there either. Here’s the irony: FKAA is spending millions of our tax dollars to bring us a “modern” sewer system that will foul our waters for the next 2 – 3 years while they take their sweet time permitting and constructing a deep well.
spiderI saw the movie with the giant spiders already. It looks like they’re working on a sequel.
Two-hundred years of Cuban coral arrives in Santa Cruz. Link
hummingbird branch
Hummingbird vine
. Will it grow here? Link
[Animal Control] SHARK, the organization that took over animal control in Marathon and (ostensibly) on Big Pine is already on their third Director in the short time they’ve been in business.  This one will probably be kept on, though, no matter what since she’s part of the “Conch Mafia”, being the sheriff’s niece.
[Giving FKAA Your Land] “Should you decide not to provide an easement to FKAA for system cost credits and operation, you will be responsible for all costs of installation, including labor and materials. The pumping system will be required to meet FKAA standards. You will need a permit and clearance prior to tapping into the central system, and you will be responsible for maintaining your grinder system.You will be responsible for the remainder of the installation cost. The materials and equipment have already been purchased and will be provided to a contractor you hire to install the system. Your contractor will be responsible for submitting a permit application to FKAA for installation of a grinder station. Inspection and acceptance of construction will be required by FKAA.”
jaws22Listening to the morning TV news I hear that another sure sign of summer is here again. “Mary Lee” a transmitter-tagged 3500lb/16ft female Great White Shark is about 10 miles off the coast of Brigantine,N.J. as I type this and she’s headed North after spending the winter in Florida. Mary Lee is a bit unusual. Where most Great White Sharks will stay miles offshore,she comes in closeYou can track her (and others) here: Link
1999 200 hp Evinrude outboard motor. Low hours. Big Pine Key . 305-923-1862
dutch man clogs
[Holland Solves Homeless Problem]The Dutch pay alcoholics in beer to clean streets: 5 cans of beer for a day’s work, plus €10 and tobacco.
[Crows] Researchers for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority found over 200 dead crows near greater Boston recently, and there was concern that they may have died from Avian Flu. A Bird Pathologist examined the remains of all the crows, and, to everyone’s relief, confirmed the problem was definitely not Avian Flu. The cause of death appeared to be vehicular impacts. However, during the detailed analysis it was noted that varying colors of paints appeared on the bird’s beaks and claws. By analyzing these paint residues it was determined that 98% of the crows had been killed by impact with trucks, while only 2% were killed by an impact with a car. MTA then hired an Ornithological Behaviorist to determine if there was a cause for the disproportionate percentages of truck kills versus car kills. He very quickly concluded the cause: When crows eat road kill, they always have a look-out crow in a nearby tree to warn of impending danger. They discovered that while all the lookout crows could shout “Cah” (sic ‘car’), not a single one could shout “Truck.”
61-Pontiac
[Cherry Restoration] 1961 Pontiac in cherry red.
The Orchid Society ‘s May 10 meeting will feature Pres. Jay Pfahl speaking on the orchids of Columbia from his recent trip there; Jay specializes in species and will present a slide show with plants on display, for sale and raffle; the public is welcome , starting at 1:00 pm Sunday, at W. Martello Gardens, Higgs Beach, KW. for info, Masrie, 305 509-7744, keywestmarie@yahoo.com
rip-van-winkleu
Beards
loaded with bacteria found in toilets. Link
Submit anything of a positive nature, but no national politics or sewer stuff unless it’s breakthrough stuff to island@bigpinekey.com