Letters to the editor with pictures since 2002.
Published on Big Pine Key’s garbage days, Tuesdays and Fridays.
The Un-social Media with 60,000 Followers
 [Hurricane Entry Stickers] Monroe County residents can pick up one reentry sticker for each registered vehicle by providing proof of residency at a Monroe County Tax Collector’s office. In past years the stickers were useless, they still wouldn’t let you back in the Keys, but it makes the bureaucrats feel like they’re doing something. If they really wanted to do something to help us they would buy a mobile WiFi trailer to place where it’s most needed after a storm. Verizon had one at the Flea Market area for its Verizon customers and they were greatly relieved to be able to contact the world. It made all the difference. No other wifi provider did. Monroe county never even thought of it, they are so behind the times. Sticker |
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| [Sign Of The Times] I saw a person yesterday riding a jet ski with a mask on! |
 [An Easter Hallelujah] A crown of thorns placed on His head He knew that He would soon be dead He said, “Did you forget me, Father did you?” They nailed Him to a wooden cross Soon all the world would feel the loss Of Christ the King before His Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah He hung His head and prepared to die Then lifted His face up to the sky Said, “I am coming home now Father, to you” A reed which held His final sip Was gently lifted to his lips He drank His last and gave His soul to glory Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah The soldier who had used his sword To pierce the body of our Lord Said, “Truly, this was Jesus Christ our Savior” He looked with fear upon his sword Then turned to face his Christ and Lord Fell to his knees crying Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Took from his head the thorny crown And wrapped him in a linen gown Then laid him down to rest inside the tomb The holes in his hands, his feet and side Now in our hearts we know he died To save us from ourselves, oh Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Three days went by, again they came To move the stone, to bless the slain With oil and spice anointing Hallelujah But as they went to move the stone They saw that they were not alone For Jesus Christ has risen, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah! Video |
[Soviet Union] Contrary to popular beliefs that everything in the former Soviet Union was made from concrete is not true. Here’s the Soviet space shuttle Buran, clearly made from wood. At one time it was covered in bathroom tiles, but those have been stripped off to go into the local oligarch’s Dacha bathroom. |
| [Good Ol’ Days] I yearn for the old days. Fish sandwiches from the original B.O.’s Fish Wagon, the cookie lady, the Conch Salad Man, tipping the performers with home-rolled joints. Key West’s only problem is too many people. Too many transplants and too many tourists wanting it to be like where they come from |
 Bad year for lobster harvest that closes April 1. So far this season, commercial lobster landings were near the lowest commercial landings reported. 2.6 million pounds this year down from the usual 5.2 million pounds a year. |
| [Covid Emergency] Some people are using the vaccine’s emergency use designation as an excuse not to protect themselves and others. They say the vaccine is only for emergency use. Duh! If this is not an emergency, I’d like to know their definition of what is? That’s why the FDA conditionally approved of these drugs—it’s an emergency! A BIG emergency! |
 A huge thank you to whoever restored the Eden Pines channel markers. We were constantly replacing the last marker after it was repeatedly knocked down. Hopefully, your reflective replacement will survive the carelessness of some boaters! |
| [Simple, But Impossible] America will never be great again unless we learn not to lie to each other. |
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The train station was at the old Big Pine Inn not where Paradise Burgers is. Full Menu > Big Pine Museum > Big Pine Inn |
| [Russian Poet’s Suicide] Vladimir Mayakovsky, the poet laureate of the Russian Revolution, delivered a poem while standing on his chair back in 1923 and in 1930 he shot himself through the heart with a prop revolver. No one knows if it was suicide or his enemies. Had Mayakovsky grown disillusioned with the new Russia he championed? |
[Suez Canal] They unloaded all the containers from the Ever Given in the manner of Egypt. |
| I got my shots in Marathon. They were very efficient. Minimal waiting (5 min) & I was in & out in under 45 min. Most people I know felt super tired the day after 2nd shot, even a bit of fever. I had none, so a reaction is not a given. |
 [Tropical Heat] Key West seeks new ideas for its sunset hotspot at Mallory Square. Shade options include sculptural shade structures, sun shades and additional shade trees. Potential lighting upgrades may include twinkling strings of tree lights, additional streetlamps and underwater lighting. Sign choices in the survey include artistic floor signs, directories and directional signs with arrows pointing to various attractions. Seating may include benches under new trees, movable seating areas or raised berms that allow for picnic blankets such as at an outdoor concert. |
| People over 70 face driving curfews, trackers and distance limits. In addition to night-time and distance restrictions, older drivers would, like black-box policyholders, have their braking, acceleration and cornering forces measured by the devices, with authorities being alerted if they exhibit worrying driving behavior. Combined, the restrictions would amount to ‘graduated driving licenses; an idea usually associated with younger drivers. Link[ |
[Color] This is a lovely picture of colorful plants at sunrise. Everything grows here. |
| [Small Town Love] I didn’t lose my girlfriend, I just lost my turn. |
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| [Litter] The only place litter belongs is in a garbage can, organics or recycling bin. If there isn’t a bin close by, take it with you. Don’t leave it for another person (or animal) to pick up. Video |
 [Smaller Cruise Ships] Captain Will Benson joins host Rick Flagg this morning on leading Florida politics podcast Sunrise, for a heart-poundingly powerful 10-minute interview about large cruise ship impacts on the Florida Keys fishery. Capt. Will explains what we’re fighting for and why we think Governor Ron DeSantis should step in and help. It’s about water. People come to the Florida Keys for our waters, for our coral reefs, for our great fishing. If we are willing to jeopardize that, for an industry that’s clearly violating that, I just think that’s bad business. I’m not anti-cruising. We think the future is in these smaller ships. That’s where the industry’s going and we want to be on the leading edge of that. We welcome them to Key West, we want them to come to Key West. We just don’t want the big ships that come with the environmental problems. The Keys are a gem in the state of Florida because of our environment. We don’t want to be used and abused to sell the state of Florida, if you’re not willing to protect us. And that’s why we’re calling on the Governor to step in here. Listen to the full interview or skip to 8:55 for the segment with Captain Benson. Audio |
| [“Get rid of the Electoral College”] Do you even know why we have it? If we didn’t, California would have more voting power than 37 states combined. All national elections would be determined by NY and California. Your vote would be completely overridden by more popular areas in the most popular states. God help us if California chose all of our future presidents. The horror! How is that useless? Majority rule is not representative in a Republic and we are a Republic, not a democracy. A democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding on what’s for dinner. |
 [“Button to show we’ve received our vaccine”] Maybe we should mark those who refuse! The Germans used yellow stars. The Puritans scarlet A’s. Go get a tattoo on your right hand or forehead – have them put the type of vaccine you got, the date you got it and the last four of your SSN. Anyone remember the Keys when locals were the outliers of society and not so quick to be one of the masses? |
| Paul McCartney surprises fans with Liverpool pub performance. Video |
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| The social media giants created platforms that are so large they can’t be controlled. That makes Zuckerberg, Bezos, Dorsey, et al responsible, doesn’t it. They say differently. |
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| [Termites Are Attracted To Light] If you have porch or backyard lights, then they should not be left on for extended periods of time. Only turn them on while you are outside, and then turn them off when you go back inside. As for your indoor lighting, try not to leave the bigger lights on for too long. If you have to, leave only the smaller lights on that are away from any windows or doors. This will be the best way in preventing termites from infesting those areas of your home. |
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[Ikea] Suddenly Father Schober was not sure whether he really should have bought the new crucifix at Ikea. |
| [Guns] Only a fool would give up weapons in favor of government protection. The government can’t even stop a telemarketer! |
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| [Ever Given Freed From Suez Canal] Shipping is getting back to normal. Video |
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 Deer Ed, WTF?Hope you are ok and this is just a hiccup. What gives? Should I worry? Your audience is missing you and hoping all is well. Is there anything we can do to help? (Ed: I was out of town yesterday and only found out we were offline this morning. I’m on tech support as I write this. [22 minute wait] GoDaddy refunded the $899 for services I don’t need that they talked me into buying that crashed the site. It’s always something.) |
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