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Archives of Old Kudos and Whiners
December 2004

 

Friday
New Year's Eve
2004
9:30am
31 Is there a charter transport for New Years Eve from Big Pine to K.W.?
31


I thought that they were going have public transportation services from Marathon and the lower keys to Key West on New Years Eve. What happened to that?  Does anyone know anything about it?

31
Judging by the things we bitch about in this forum, I'd say we have a pretty good community. When bad attitudes are the worst things we come across, it ain't all bad.
31
31
The Marine bank of the Florida Keys (Big Pine and Summerland Key Branches) have the best banking service I have ever seen. Anita and all her staff go out of their way to provide you with small town friendliness and big town professionalism. The smiles are always there regardless of how many hours they have been working, and some of them work other jobs just to keep pace here in the keys.  Oh by the way, they installed a user friendly ATM machine that does not take your card, you just insert it and pull it out. It seems like some of us would insert our card, take our money and leave. I know of one individual who was called twice to come back and get his card. What an idiot.
31
That story about the recent immigrant running the stop sign sounds like bull s**t. In nearly every country on the planet a red octagon or circle means stop.
31 Waste Management is just like Comcast & FKAA. They do all of Monroe Co. I think it is a monopoly!
31
I have no problem with the guys that work for Waste Management other than I never know when they are coming. One week they are there in the afternoon and the next week they come at 5:00am. Maybe if we all treated them like the human beings they are, they would treat you with the same respect. They even take my trash cans out of the cages I keep them in and return them near the same. All I ever do is say hello to them and wish them a good day when I see them. It isn't too hard a thing to do.
31

Waste Management. I don’t think they have a regular route. They come to my road anywhere from 8:30am to 1pm. It’s little wonder that they miss our street so often. It doesn’t take much thought to establish a route. Maybe that’s why their garbage men.

31



Mystery: If a person who plays the piano is called a pianist, why isn’t a person who drives a race car called a racist?

31

Waste Management has missed trash Pickups so much on my street that I can’t call there any more. They think I’m a crank. No, my neighbor has to call (until they deem him a crank). The last time I called they finally told me that they didn’t service my road. After five years of poor service they all of a sudden decide that they don’t service my road? They also frequently don’t take all the trash from the cans, especially packing worms which they leave all over the ground when they throw the “empty” cans wherever they land.

31 Garbage. I never had to call Blanding (I think that was the company's name) in the years when they picked up our trash. Only since Waste Management came on the scene did I start having problems. Blanding was just a nice local guy who did a good job not like the mega corporation Waste Management with it's reputed ties to organized crime.
31
This is just to let everyone know that Les Dingus is back in the Marathon Manor nursing home again. (he is the guy with "Jesus Saves" on his truck). He has had several strokes and now has Parkinson's. Les has been around for years and has always been a helping hand to anyone in need. He has a heart of gold. He would love to have visitors, so please stop and see him. Visits would greatly be appreciated. May God bless you all.
31

T
o the person that insists on picking on the Cracked EggGet a life and get on with it or get a closet and come out of it. Back off bubba. Name calling is slander.
31 I am a former employee of the Cracked Egg.  Let's not take two weeks to inform the general public that they do not deserve business.  Actually, it's the best portion and one of the best places to eat oBig Pine.  Kudos to Helen and Ricky.  They deserve better business than they have.  I agree that the woman who owns the business is a troll and if I ever want to confront her with this, I will go to her.  In fact, she should stop being such a troll and welcome her patrons, her cook should as well.  Rick, stop throwing temper tantrums unless it's really time to hire some help.  I love you two.  I miss you.  (My name is not Kelly.)
31 Now I know that the Cracked Egg is definitely run by a troll.  Yes, maybe two weeks or maybe not.  The point is the cracked egg is a good place to eat, but not a good place to work (unless you need the money).  The servers are still good people, but it is awful the way the owner of the business treats her employees. I am not saying the food potions are not awesome. Give the new employees a break.  The owner of the cracked egg is a troll.
31

Recipe:
I am shocked that people here shun King Mackerel.  It is a fine tasting fish.  Here is a recipe you will love. Steak the mackerel in 1" chunks. Push out 1" chunks with your fingers from the steaks (they come out easily) dip in pancake batter and deep fry for 2-3 minutes. Put the remainder in your chum bag.
31 Has anyone seen Wackin' Bob lately? It seems like he may be laying low.
31

 

Free puppy. Any takers?

31 Re: Brick house in Queens.  Single family, framed $425.000. Single family brick $700.000, but who wants to pay the real-estate tax of a New Yorker?  That is why all of us should appreciate living here. Our tax is high for Florida, but not for the rest of the country.  I work with the public and it's not only the N.Y. & N.J. visitors, but most tourist think of people in the keys as out of touch--not with it. Hey, we all came from the same areas that are visitors are from and are they surprised!
31
In my rant about Bush and how he's a simple man, I totally forgot to ask if there is someone that has set up a fund for the victims of the Tsunami?  I'm broke and barley able to pay my bills, however I'm willing to donate for this cause.
31
$35 million to help people in need. $100+ billion to kill innocent people for oil and leave a country in shambles. Bush is so compassionate (when it comes to oil). A deep thinker indeed. So deep it took this mentally challenged a** to speak out about the 70+ thousand people killed. Maybe he was trying to finish his favorite book "My Pet Goat" when the news came in. I can see it now, "Mr. President, a tsunami just hit, thousands have perished."  "Leave me alone, I need to sound this word out." They had to pull teeth to get $35 million to help the poor souls that lost everything. When they wanted money for the war for oil there was no problem getting Bush on board. I really hope all you people that voted for him saw this and said, "Damn, those arrogant liberals were right." This sent a message to the world. Get ready for the second wave my fellow Americans.
31 Mother Nature's devastations have a way of weeding out the population. Too bad Iraq & the surrounding areas were not hit with an earthquake. The reason Iraq was not destroyed instead of Sri Lanka is because too many Christian Americans are in Iraq right now.
31
I am stunned that all of the people who write in to this sight have not expressed any concern for the lives lost because of the tsunami.  All you people are doing is bitching about your petty lives and berating other people, when over 116,000 people have died in just a few hours.  That tsunami made 9/11 look like a drop in the bucket compared to what happened on Sunday.  I guess Americans are a selfish bunch of arrogant whiners. We don't care about anyone else unless something actually happens to us.  Guess what, I'm an American here in the Keys and I am ashamed of our government because they can spend BILLIONS of dollars to kill people in other countries, BUT we can only send $35 Million to help save people.  THAT is a prime example of how arrogant Americans are. That should be shocking to all of you Republicans who voted for our President.
31
31

Re:
"NYC is an inferior lifestyle to the south" You have obviously never lived in Manhattan. "True luxury" In Big Pine Key, you are joking?
31 Rob's back in the news: The Lower Keys has found a new Grinch, Rob from Rob's Island Grill. While he spends his time traveling around playing Mr. Big Spender he forgets that the people working for him make it possible for him to do this. Just think if he would have not taken that limo to watch the Patriots get beat by the Dolphins and took that money and divided it up among his employees for a little Christmas bonus how much that would have meant. Maybe not so much in the amount, but that maybe he did appreciate the hard work they do for him. Next time you take a trip, Rob, try not to brag how much you spent. Nobody really cares anyway.
31
Americans are overweight when compared to most Europeans. Did you know they are now making commodes bigger in the U.S. to accommodate the ever-expanding Americans? They have to put a special attachment on the seats so the Europeans won't fall through.
31
31
I just wish Captain Beefcake the best. He always made my day when I worked on the island. It makes a girl feel young and pretty when a cute guy winks her way. Thanks Captain.
31

 

A penny for your thoughts--twenty bucks to act them out!

31
We as Anglos. My friend, maybe you should check your facts before you talk or write. No Cuban gets $6,000 when they come here. They do get some help, but it is just enough to get them going. You might be the only Anglo that is here. You sound so much like a bigot. It seems that you have never been anywhere. A lot of America is made of a lot of people that have come from other places. Even the so called Anglos. It would be better to find a way of how to get together and work things out. I have a lot of friends from all over the world who live here in BPK, some of them legal and some not, but I see that a lot of them work hard and are very family oriented. Yes, they have very different customs and beliefs. Not because of that do we have to judge them. What we have to do is to tell them what is right. Why should we arrest them just for working?  You will be surprised how many problems this will cause. It has been done in Homestead and the trouble that it caused was a lot. Many businesses lost millions of dollars. Open your eyes my friend.
31
When my parents immigrated to the USA, they chose to learn the English language and raised my siblings and me to do the same. When they naturalized, they had to speak English. It was one of the USA requirements then. If a person tries to immigrate to Australia, there is a point system there where a person needs 100 points to immigrate. The only way to get 95 of those points is to either speak English or to donate a huge sum of money to the government. In 1991, the amount was $1,000,000. This system works so well there. Everybody speaks the English language. Immigration is such a wonderful thing for this country. The diversity enriches our lives so much. I just wish our country would learn from the Australians and require again that everybody use one language, and hopefully that would be English.
31
31 To the person who thinks the Muslims have a right to blow up other people. I'm so sorry you have such little regard for life. Have you ever lost anybody that was close to you. Life is so precious. I feel sad for you missing the richness that one is rewarded with when they realize the true value of life.
Thursday
December 30
2004
I meet immigrants while out shopping locally, usually working as cashiers.  If the place is not busy I like to ask where they came from and how they wound up here.  It's sad that they're usually very defensive at first, as if they expect a "go home" lecture.  Once they realize I really am interested and curious I hear a lot of fascinating stories.  I always wish them "good luck" when I leave.  It can't be easy to uproot your life and start over in a foreign country.
30

Kudos to the Tano Bobcat crew. They did a great job landscaping the Marshall building property, and they did it all in one day!

30 Many kudos to Jamie and Mike at M&M Motors.  They helped me out with a Jeep repair and I'm from way out of state.  Instead of taking advantage of the situation they were helpful and friendly. Many Thanks.  Happy New Year. A Marylander. 
30


The owner of the Cracked Egg is NOT a “troll.” She is a wonderful, caring person. She gave me a job when nobody else would, and treated me wonderfully for the entire time that I worked for her (over a year). The fact that she cannot find good, dependable help is not her fault. It’s a pretty common problem on Big Pine.
   

30 I got fired from The Cracked Egg on Monday morning. The place was PACKED! Go Figure. One week you are the manager & the next you are gone. To all my customers, I enjoyed serving you breakfast & lunch for these past 8 months. Take care & HAPPY NEW YEAR.
30 I have been reading all the comments on "Captain Lady Killer" at Little Palm Island and was going to refrain from commenting, but I can't hold back any longer.  I worked there many moons ago when he was a glorified bell boy.  I am embarrassed to admit I, also actually, dated the pig for about 2 weeks before I realized what he is all about. The final straw was when he was at my house and asked my niece for a date in front of me.  Keep in mind, my niece was just 16 at the time.  He was about 40.  I must give him his due: He is a good looking guy and looks very young for his age.  Unfortunately, he also acts very young for his age too.  I can see how his looks got him many first dates, but also saw first-hand why he doesn't get many second dates.  The only thing bigger than his collection of dirty pick-up lines is his ego and the only thing
smaller than his brain is his ***k. After all his nickname out at the island was "Boy Wonder".  Keep in mind it was 'boy', not Man Wonder.  I would have at least expected someone who talked about nothing but sex would been good at it.  Was I ever wrong.
30
With all the restaurant reviews it seems people forgot one of Big Pine's eateries that I have to say is great.  Co Co's right in Winn Dixi Plaza.  I have been eating breakfast there for about 7 years and it has been consistently good every time.  Nothing formal, nothing fancy just great food with great service at a fair price.  That is what keeps people coming back.
30
Brick house in Queens: First, let's look at the prices of mobile homes on Big Pine. The cheapest in the Avenues is $225,000 for a 1 bedroom, 1 bath mobile home. Two bedroom mobile homes on a canal are going for up to a half a million dollars. Go on line and tell me you can't find something in Queens for that kind of money.
30
The reason there are so many illegals is simple. WE HIRE THEM AND DO NOTHING ABOUT THEM.  If most people would do a little research they would see just how much money is being paid by our government to these people.  i.e. a Latin lady I know is paid $26,000 a year by the governmentthe only requirement is she must work one hour a week and not be living with her husband. She spends the rest of the time drinking and doing drugs. Her husband rents an apartment down the street so she can get the money. He filed bankruptcy and paid $3,500.00 on $260,000.00 of debts.
 
Our government subsidies the smuggling. Once a smuggled Cuban is immigrated to this country, legally they receive $6,000.00 which they then pay to the relatives that paid for them to be smuggled here in the first place. We need to jail the smuggled as well as the smugglers. We as Anglos need to stand up to the system that allows this to happen.
 
We need to boycott business that have illegal workers. A big example is the hospitality industry in Key West and the Florida Keys. I dare you to find out just how many illegal Polish, Russian and Latinos are in the hotels and motels. The other big employers of illegals is the lawn services. Check there ID'and make sure they have green cards. Ask. You have the right. If you find a business that employs illegals report them, tell everyone and call the authority's. 
 
If they kill animals next door call the sheriff if they are arrested they can be deported easer. 
30
Ego-maniac war games
: War games are training exercises to make sure we’re ready for the real thing. There’s nothing personal in those games at all. They are a very expensive necessity to have a military work. During a real war is not the time to work out “bugs” in the coordination of troops and equipment. Many lives are saved in this way.
30
I have dated women from N.Y. They are not all trolls. New Jersey people, on the other hand, grew up under bridges.
30

The idiot foreigner who couldn’t read English and went through a stop sign is a lousy example of language xenophobia. The idiot probably didn’t have a license because all countries have similar stop signs at intersections. What did he think that thing on the pole was for? Face it, he probably just ran a stop sign and used his language, or lack of it, as an excuse.

30

Re: International travel. I’ve noticed that Las Vegas and Orlando is where all the fat Americans go on vacation. On the other hand you seldom see fat tourists in Asia or Europe. If you do they are most certainly Americans. Is it because fat people are lazy and unimaginative and not adventurous? When in a foreign land I was with a group of Australians. Some fat people came down the street towards us and one of the Aussies said, “Here comes the Yanks.”

30 I heard a band called "Mudbutt and the Masked Marauders" is playing around the Keys. Has anybody heard them or know where they are playing? 
30
I have a question. Am I the only person who is not satisfied with Waste Management? The drivers and helpers on the trucks are rude, they have several times cut my bungee bands that I must put on the trash cans to keep the Key Deer out. They toss the trash cans around like basket balls at 6 AM, they sometimes even just leave them half full sitting in the middle of the street. And these are just some of my complaints, I will not even go into my problems with the recycling trucks. Oh, yes I have even called the Waste Management office and logged my complaints which I am sure have fallen of deaf ears. Isn't there another company here in Monroe County that is willing to bid on these contracts?
30

Re: Irate Muslims in Iraq went to Sri Lanka to help. 
Yes, it would be great and if this country's leaders & religious folks did the same...well, who knows, maybe there wouldn't be a reason to keep blowing the hell out of everyone/everything! Namaste.
30 I have traveled abroad, and use a private tour guide to translate the language. Duh! If I do not know the language, I certainly do not expect other countries to print road signs, menus or everything else in English to satisfy my needs. To expect to be coddled in your own language in other countries is self-serving and dumb.
30




Coca-Cola
was originally green. Not just the bottle.

30
Many women are blind in love. True. I see decent looking women with men so gross I would never even share a cup of coffee with them (I'm female). But men want a good looking woman no matter if she's illiterate, an ex-con or a bitch from hell. The exception is if she's a bankroll or homeowner. So women: start exercising, keep up your teeth, and pad your wallets & bras!
30

Q. Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year?
A. Father’s Day

Wednesday
December 29
2004

I jammed the other night with a guy whose style was good, but he played note after note never pausing, even once, all night long! In order to have music you have to have space between some notes; otherwise you just have an exercise in technique. It's like playing scales over and over--it's fast, but not music. Santana uses spaces more than anyone I can think of. He can hold a note for two days and make it sound interesting and musical.

29 I have lived all along the east coast states and believe me, NYC is an inferior lifestyle to the south. Any NY or NJ attitude is inbred, loud-mouthed and vulgar. The northerners age quicker, live in horrid winter weather over 7 months of the year, and look like stocky, weather-worn loud-mouth trolls from the hard lives that they live. They want to be pampered in the Keys so they can feel the TRUE luxury that only living in the south can bring--if only for a week.
29

 

"Love is blind" only to women; we fall in love with a fat, ugly guy as easily as a beautiful one. Men need props, i.e. lingerie.

29


Y
ou can not purchase a brick house in Queens, N.Y. for the same amount of money for a mobile home here on BP. If so, tell me where.
29 Ok, I'm way outnumbered, so I have to concede some points; many things would be a lot more convenient if we all spoke the same language.  Immigrants can progress faster in many ways here if they learn English.  I, too, have heard 9/11 stories made more tragic by language barriers.  That kind of thing can happen to an American traveling abroad, too, unless you learn some of their language before you go. 
29 In N.C., a Mexican truck driver ran a stop sign because he could not read English. He crashed into a small car carrying a family of four whose car burst into flames, and the innocent N.C. family burned alive--all four of them. True story.

THAT is only one example of why the people who move to the US need to learn English. The illiterate truck driver was arrested, but no news of his demise. I think he should serve life in prison for vehicular manslaughter. No parole.
29
Wouldn't it be nice if all the irate Muslims in Iraq went to Sri Lanka and the other devastated area's in the south Pacific that were affected by the tsunami and directed their religious energies towards helping their brothers and sisters who are in need of assistance instead of blowing themselves and innocent bystanders up with car and body bombs?
29

 

I washed, waxed and detailed my car for the first time in a year. It was so bad that it took four hours to clean. It looks so good now that I think it even goes faster.

29

Is this the kind of country you immigrant bashers want? Whenever I read those types of remarks I think that the writer has not traveled overseas and is thus still intolerant of others. When people travel it becomes harder for them to hold small views of the world.

29

It is not important for the US or any other country to preserve a language. Languages evolve. That’s life. Look at all the dead languages. I agree that in the future Spanglish will probably be the common language, at least in this hemisphere. Why not? Note: I find it small thinking that people will automatically assume that I’m Hispanic for expressing an open opinion on Spanglish. I don’t think that Ebonics will ever be the language of business either. Yo!

29 America would have more emergency money available to help natural disaster victims if we did not create man-made disasters like ego-maniac war games.
29

This is a "kudos" to my mother, the Scorpion Queen.  The nickname is nothing close to how caring and loving a mother she is. How generous and dedicated a person she is to the many veterans she supports in her job. I wouldn't be the strong, resourceful, independent woman I am today if it wasn't because of her.  I love her dearly and only wish that she finds happiness and hope for 2005.
29
Time to pick on the Cracked Egg for a couple of weeks: The reason the Cracked Egg is having trouble is because the owner of the business is a troll and cannot find decent help anymore.
29

T
hat coffee shop(?)
was so rude for breakfast. I'll be glad when Kelly takes over she always gets what she wants and she has a plan. You go girl. Fire 'em all when you take over.
29 What hair color do they put on the driver’s licenses of bald men?
29 Having the cigarettes and stuff up front are for the co.(?) Hopefully, as you walk through you will see something you need and buy it. All that pharmacies are are big corporations.
Tuesday
December 28
2004
President Bush and Rumsfeld were sitting at the bar in Parrotdise this weekend. I asked Ken, is that Bush and Rummy? "Yep, that's them." So I walked over and said what an honor it was to see them in the Keys. I had to ask, what are you guys doing here? Bush says, "Planning WW III." "Really", I says, " what's going to happen?" "Well, we're going to kill 140 million Muslims this time - and, one blonde with big t**s." "Why would you want to kill a blonde with big t**s?" "Bush turns to Rumsfeld and says, "See, I told you no one would worry about the 140 million Muslims."
28 In the international business world, English is the preferred language. An English education is the high end, and therefore expected among those who move & shake the world. America may be suffering the expense of allowing the non-English to stay non-English. But to say America will officially devolve into a Spanish speaking nation in 200 years is delirium on the part of a foreign born immigrant.
28 Here is a good question. When is the Cracked Egg going to be a family restaurant again? The Cracked Egg has had Crack (Edited) for 2004. The sight of a server with their a** and their crack of their a** hanging out and bending over in front of customers does not belong at a family restaurant. Could the restaurant clean up their act for 2005.  The egg crack  should be all that we see. I can understand some people are hard-up and like to see that. We, who dine with our families would like to know if it can return to a family oriented place again.
Go Big Pine Restaurant & Coffee Shop for crack-free atmosphere! No Cracks Showing!
28 Accents are charming in many instances. Not speaking the language is an entirely different matter. My illegal, Spanish speaking neighbors had their three year old daughter wander away from home. They had no English skills to ask for help. She was found safe, four blocks away. This was luck! But tell me, what happens when their house is on fire and they cannot communicate? When someone in their home stops breathing? When they cannot read a STOP sign on the road and don't even want to?
28


Why
 are there so many big mouths out there? You people need to get a real life. You are sick. Do what you have to do and let other people alone. You people are nosey. That is way you have no real friends.
28
Ok, fellow Piners. We are, once again, asking for prayers for Perry McClain as he undergoes an angioplasty on Tuesday in Miami.  Keep the good thoughts.  He has been through so much lately.
28


Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury.  

28
Anyone who wants to get the attention of Little Palm Island: why not go public?  Anyone who was stared at, commented to, hit on, gawked at, undress be with the eyes, asked out, experienced low class sexual comments or anything off color at all by that dirty, vulgar pig of a boat captain should file a sexual harassment suit against the company.  One person filling the suit will be looked at as a trouble maker or disgruntled ex-employee but if the hundreds of women who experience this all complain in a court of law then maybe Little Palm Island and Noble House Resorts will see the light and screen their employees better.  Ladies, at $1,500.00 a night for a hotel or $500.00 for dinner you don't deserve to have some horny-overgrown-teenager-who-doesn't-realize-he-is-a-45-year-old-man stare at your genitals.
28

Unwelcome advances are irritating
; both to the target and observers.  Know when to holster your hormones and back off.  Anyone working a public contact position should just switch off during working hours.
28
How many regular people have been to Little Palm Island anyway? Moot subject.
28 I have lived in the keys for 10 years and as each year passes it gets harder to afford the cost of living, but I stay here for my children so they can enjoy the water and a safer community. It has become a rich mans place to live. What will those rich people do when they have driven all the blue collar workers out? Who will serve them their diner and clean their houses? I am glad for those people that have money. But remember the people who wait on you and stand behind the counters of the stores you shop in are just trying to make a living too.
28 Little Palm Island Updater. After reading your updates, a theme is becoming very obvious. Did you realize you have a hard on for the offensively flirtatious, now ex-captain. Sounds like maybe he flirted with everyone but you. Are you hurt? Or just in need of a life?
28 21,000 + dead and 250,000 homeless is South Asia. Let us count our blessings.
28

This is a request to all of you in the potential path of hurricanes to aim some prayers and well wishes toward the tsunami-affected parts of the world.  There's a lot of nice people there who normally take good care of lots of foreign tourists.  Personally, I have a cousin as-yet unaccounted for in the area and I am a bit worried.
28
Send a few dollars to our neighbors in south Asia.  What a tragedy.
28
Kudos to House Of Music. Just got back for the winter to my place on Ave. C. I'll have to wait a few more weeks to be sure, but it looks like the crackheads are gone. The whole corner is cleaned up. Maybe they can get the street lights to stay on. Could my property value go up? I had a great pizza and enjoyed the people around me. Not like the moochers that were there before; and the help was actually friendly.
28



W
hy are the cigarettes at the front of the drug store and the sick people have to walk all the way to the back to buy medicine?
28 Religion 101: Two men went in to the temple to pray, One a Pharisee the the other a tax- gatherer. The Pharisee stood and was praying to himself, saying, "God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people. Swindlers, unjust, adultors, or even like that tax-gatherer. I fast twice a week and I pay tithes on all I get." But the Tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift his eyes to heaven, was beating his breast, saying, "God be merciful to me the sinner." I tell you this man went home Justified rather then the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted.
28
Religion 101 Part II
:
  A Pharisee was a top religious leader of the time, and a tax-gatherer was the job most hated by others. Paul, who wrote most of the new testament, was himself a Pharisee before his encounter with a bright and blinding light on the road to Damascus.
28 Steeve sayIf it don't smell eat it. If it do then screw it.
28 To the guy with the attitude on Christmas eve about people knocking New Yorkers and New Jerseyites. Just read your own column and see why you are knocked. You have the "treat me special because I'm on vacation" smell (or should I say stink?) all over you. Many of us work full time, pay taxes, and live a real life. Can you believe this? Many of us even have children. Because you don't see us when you are on vacation here, doesn't mean we aren't here. Please be aware that not all of us are on vacation or retired.  When I go on vacation,  I certainly don't have the attitude that I should be treated special just because I go on vacation. I realize I'm not God's gift to your wallet and you aren't His gift to mine. If all visiting New Yorkers and New Jerseyites came here without the "greater than thou" attitude, they wouldn't be resented as they are here. You have the audacity to talk about our "rock bottom" property taxes here. I know for a fact that for the same money you can buy a 50 year old mobile home here in the fabulous Florida Keys that you can buy a brick house in Queens. AND... we pay hefty taxes here.  Maybe our millage rate is less than most cities, but we aren't a city. We are a small town.  Don't tell us about where you are from as if it is the best and we are just a bunch of ignorant low life's. Please.  We choose to live here. Not in a concrete jungle where you don't know your neighbors and haven't said hello to a stranger once in your life. And by the way, we would do just fine without the few dollars you spend in Key West or Key Largo. Most of you New Yorkers don't do Big Pine Key. We are too quiet and boring for you. By the way, I was raised in New York City. I never did think I was better than any other human just because I lived with 10,000,000 other people.
28

W
ould the person who answered my let's go fishing ad please contact me again?
28 Multi-Language. Yes, the announcements at the Tokyo airport are also in English, but as soon as you leave the airport you’re out of luck. The train system (which is the heart of Japan’s transportation) is all in Japanese. They are so xenophobic that I could find no other signs in English once I left the airport. It was a nightmare. I stood in the middle of the main train terminal in Tokyo for an hour until an expat took pity on me and put me on the correct train. No one else at the station would help me. Other Japanese travelers would ignore my humble request for directions because they didn’t speak English, or if they did they thought that I should speak Japanese. I’ve traveled the world over and never have had that kind of problem.
28




When someone asks you, "A penny for your thoughts," and
you put your two cents in, what happens to the other penny?

Monday
December 27
2004

You can speak normally about normal topics and views and everyone will understand you, but if you say profound things people just don’t understand you and are always going, "Say, what?".  It is a perfectly normal thing to do. People hear speech patterns and sub-consciencely hear your next word, but when your next word isn’t the one they expected--they’re confounded. I’ve had to try to learn to speak English correctly, lose my regional accent and enunciate because so many of the things I say are unexpected, strange and off the wall. In my youth people weren’t sure if what I said, I really said. It still happens, but not as much. This is just a thought about how and what people hear. I guess that extends to writing as well, but not as much because the written word is there to see, and hopefully, ponder. Punctuation is the key to writing clearly (which I haven’t got the hang of yet). I think that it does have to do with peoples’ set thought patterns. I’ve noticed, in this column, that one posting will be completely misunderstood by another reader. I can only imagine how those people misunderstand the spoken word.

27
Even inside our own borders we can bend English so far that one region laughs at the next!  Anyone who has watched "American Chopper" or "The Cajun Chef" on cable can witness that.  I hope we never become so homogenized that we lose those variations because they are great fun!
27

 

If the Communists ever turn the Chinese population loose to explore the rest of the world they can outnumber and overrun any country speaking English OR Spanish!

27 I know at least one large US city that has traffic signs in various languages to accommodate their multicultural population.  Thank heavens Tokyo airport also made their announcements in English or I'd still be there!  Enjoy the variety!
27

 

The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred and Wilma Flintstone.

27 Little Palm Island Updater. After reading your updates, a theme is becoming very obvious. Did you realize you have a hard on for the offensively flirtatious, now ex-captain. Sounds like maybe he flirted with everyone but you. Are you hurt? Or just in need of a life?
27
I was happy to see the Flirtatious Boat Captain at Little Palm Island was finally fired for his actions.  I am not an ex-employee, I never worked there but did go out there for lunch and dinner quite a bit before it got too corporate and lost it's ambiance.  I had the displeasure of riding on the boat with that jerk and am amazed he didn't get the place in legal trouble with his mouth.  He was a disgrace to the good place that Ben Woodson, God Rest His soul, started.  Little Palm used to be a great place when Ben ran it.  After he sold it, due to health issues and then passing on, it went way down hill.  They now care more about the dollar then the guest.  That filthy man who never grew up was typical of the corporate Seattle-Ass's who now own it.  I urge everyone who is unhappy with their experience at Little Palm Island to write to Noble House Resorts in Kirkland Washington, attention: Mr. Patrick Colee and let him know how they are looked at in The Florida Keys.  Maybe that dirty captain can go work for them in Washington State.
27
Christmas ball for your tree. Don't bother reaching for it... it's 406,700 km away!

Technically speaking, the moon isn't 100% full until Dec. 26th. But that's perfect timing for Christmas carolers and Santa. The practically-full moon on Dec. 24th and 25th rises early, lighting up streets and rooftops as soon as the sun goes down.

What makes this full moon small? Answer: The moon's lopsided orbit.

Although astronomers often say the moon "circles" the Earth, it doesn't, not exactly. The moon's orbit is really an ellipse. One side of the ellipse is 356,400 km from Earth; this is called perigee. The other side of the ellipse is 406,700 km from Earth; this is called apogee. Apogee is about 50,000 km farther from Earth than perigee.

see captionRight: The apparent size of the moon at perigee (top) and apogee (bottom).

When the moon is full and near apogee, we get an extra-small full moon. Such is the case this Christmas.

Even the smallest full moons are very bright. They outshine Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, by twenty-five thousand times. They cast shadows, and provide enough light to read by. Finding chimneys? It's easy!

If you get binoculars or a telescope for Christmas, take a look at the moon. It's absolutely beautiful--a world so close to Earth that you can see its craters and mountains and "seas" in exquisite detail.

 

27 Say someone is breaking into your home to kill your wife and children, rob then burn down your home. Do you have a better chance to protect your home & family if you are at home or at the office? HELLO!
Potential terrorists are already here in America, have been for years. So by sending the troops abroad, we are leaving our homes and country unprotected. Our troops should be protecting OUR borders, OUR cities and deporting foreign criminals OUT of America.
27
Reviews:
Went to Rob's; since it's ... that's all I'll say.
Went to Key Deer Bar and Grill; nice place, nice employees, nice owner, nice meal, kudos to them.
Went to Big Pine coffee Shop; kudos to them.
For late night; House of Music has it going on, no more reason to go to Key West or Marathon. Can't wait for the New Year's ball or the Romantics concert in January!
27
I really think this site is cool. I wish we had something like this in Fort Lauderdale.
I wrote about Angus yesterday & I want to thank you for publishing my remarks. But, I can't say enough. I wish he still worked with us. We used to have all the big time events, cool bands & stupid jokes, but now he's down there with you. Make sure you support him, don't let him leave; like I did. (No, I didn't lose a bet & have to write all this.) Sorry if this embarrasses you Angus. Kiss my butt if it does!
27



If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
27
Hi Nick, How are things there in the North? Hello to Erna and the family. I hope she is well enough to come home soon. Miss you.
27 Merry Christmas Teri, your X.
Sunday
December 26
2004
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard and put a wall around it and dug a wine press in it and built a tower, than rented it out and went on a journey. So when harvest time came he sent his employees to the vine-growers to collect his produce, but the vine-growers took his employees and beat one, and killed another, and stoned the third. So he sent a larger group of employees and they did the same to them. So he sent His Son, thinking, surely, they would respect him, but when the vine-growers saw the Son they said, "Here's the heir let's kill him and seize his inheritance. And they took him and cast him out of the vine-yard and killed him.
A true Christmas Story. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
26


People are always talking about our laid-back life style here. This is good. The only time I get upset by the laid-back style is with my food servers. I don’t want them laid-back. I want them slick, attentive and professional just like they have in the real cities. When the servers go home they can be laid-back there.

26
I want to thank the guys Jeff and Jerry at Ace Hardware in Big Pine. They are two of the nicest guys in retail. They always have a smile and always help me with my hardware problems. If you want to go to a place where they help you and make you feel special, go to Ace. (Where they treat you right) Thanks Guy's. Keep up the great work!
26



Many years ago, in  Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled "Gentlemen Only. Ladies Forbidden." And thus the word GOLF entered
into the English language. 

26 Friday was so warm, for a change, that I went boating to the reef. It was so calm I rekindled my love affair with the Keys. It's been so cold lately I forgot what boating was all about. The motor even started after two months of neglect. The only downside was that the water was a chilly 73°. "Paradise does not come easy."
26

Why are there so many different plugs on the back of a computer? The USB plug has made them all obsolete. Removing the plugs would lower the cost of the machine. They could be sold as an option for those who still need them. i read where Dell cut assembly time (and costs) by four seconds by removing one screw. How about removing all that other stuff in back?

26 Little Palm Island Update: They fired the flirtatiously offensive boat captain, so he won't be bothering anyone anymore. And whoever said that the postings belittling the resort are by former disgruntled employees couldn't be further from the truth. Why is it that whenever someone whines on this site that others write in with their preconceived ideas about who or why they wrote it. The best one is the, "you're not from around here" defense. Or, "I've lived here for a million years, so I know everything" defense.
26

Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?
26

I think in years to come Spanish and English will be the primary language of the planet; and in many centuries to come, Spanglish will have evolved as the planets primary language replacing English.

26 RACIST? What idiotic nerve! The objection is against forcing Spanish down the throats of Americans. If anyone wants to move here, learn ENGLISH. It's called respect toward America. Respect the country you are living in or leave. I have never seen American Indian road signs, nor German, Chinese, Polish, or any other. I have Cherokee heritage, so don't coddle the Spanish speaking people who have no desire nor motivation to learn English. Why should they learn English when they don't have to? Every other immigrant learned English, but Oh, no-o-o-o, not the Spanish speaking people. Gawd forbid they be treated like every other immigrant throughout American history.
26


It’s been so cold lately that the ice bin in my refrigerator has formed into one big ice lump from lack of use. I use so much ice, normally, that the icemaker has a hard time keeping up, but not lately.

26
Angus (House of Music) used to work for me in Fort Lauderdale. It's no surprise that he's doing a great job. If you go to the House of music you'll have all sorts of fun. 10,000 Maniacs, Romantics, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Ana Popovic, no surprise. I may have to come down and see this ball drop on new year's eve. Go Angus!
26 Hey MoonDogs!  Merry Christmas from Hot Flash!  Look forward to hearing you New Year's Eve.
Saturday
Christmas Day
2004

 

 

 

 

 

The Lord is come

Christmas Day I would like to thank Chip at NAPA for helping me today with my car.  I've needed a part for a long time, but was putting off going back into that store because of the rude person I'd dealt with months before.  Chip came out to the car with me and found out what I needed and was very pleasant about the whole thing.  Thanks! Merry Christmas.
Christmas Day
 
After reading the Editor's comment about only nice things published I had to smile.  We can all have our fun bashing each other every day of the year, and I admit it is fun.  I must say it is better to have a neutral no bashing day.  Merry Christmas to all.
Christmas Day

Christmas Day Mery Christmas to you all. I love the Lower Keys and all of you. Well, maybe not one or two, but Merry Christmas anyway!
Christmas Day

Christmas Day Merry Christmas to All! Hugs and Kisses.
Christmas Day
Christmas Day
Merry Christmas!  Feliz Navidad!  Froliche Weinachten!  Forgive the spelling!  A few hundred years ago there were no English speakers on this continent and that may be the case again in a few hundred more.  No big deal..."change is the only constant".  Happiest New Year to All!
Christmas Day
Christmas Day Does anyone know if they will be doing the Dirty Sanchez atthe Looe Key Tiki Bar 
N
ew Years Eve?
Christmas Day

Christmas Day
Our band, The Moondogs WILL BE ROCKIN', the Tiki Hut New Years Eve. Lots of drink specials, Jell-O shots, and yes, Toga, Toga, Toga. Underdraws are optional as always in the Keys. Come join the party. Speaking of which The Dogs did a GREAT Christmas party last night in Port Pine. The Dogs had a blast! Merry Christmas all.
Christmas Day

Christmas Day
Thank heavens Santa came to Big Pine.  We know the tooth fairy won't need to visit.
Christmas Day If you want to see some good documentaries on Bush and even though to late on Kerry go to PBS website for info on one documentary on the lives of Bush and Kerry from childhood on.  It was very informative on the characteristics of both men.  They also aired a doc on Irag war, called Rumpfeld's War.  Very interesting.  Biggest mistake Pres. Bush did was give this guy full power with this and the first dumb thing Rumpsfeld did was take Colin Powell out of the loop.  Colin was the only man in the cabinet that had the experience to make a difference with how we handled Irag.  Now he has resigned and I'm sure it's over Irag.
Christmas Day

Christmas Day
Went to the House Of Music the other night & had a blast! Saw Brett playing & singing He was good & funny too. What a great place!  What's this about dropping a ball on New Year's Eve? Is this New York or Big Time Key? Who's this Angus guy I keep hearing about? He sounds good on the radio, but he wasn't anywhere to be found. He sounds too cool for the rest of us. Keep the House rockin'! I'm going to be there all the time.
Christmas Day

Christmas Day Merry CHRISTmas to all of God's creatures! May this coming year find good health, peace of mind, and prosperity to everyone in Christ's name. Amen. We in the south are especially blessed and always will be, praise the Lord!
Christmas Day Happy Holidays to all you Piners and everyone else!
Friday
Christmas Eve
2004





'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse...
 

(Ed: Christmas Day we will print only happy, lovey-dovey stuff. So, If there aren't too many, it's not our fault. Merry Christmas to you all.)

24
  Friday, December 24, 2004  
aol://1223:118281/http://aolsvc.aol.com/research/nowyouknow/nyk1.adp
Where's St. Nick?
aol://1223:115802/http://www.noradsanta.org/Skywatchers around the world may notice a sleigh-like formation in the night sky on Dec. 24. Thanks to the highly skilled satellite and radar technicians at NORAD, you can track Santa's ride throughout Christmas Eve.

Welcome to the official NORAD Tracks Santa Website (2004)

Christmas Eve



On Saturday, December 25th, the Big Pine Moose Lodge will again be hosting the Annual Christmas Day Dinner. We will be serving dinner between 1:00 and 4:00 pm.
There will be baked ham, roast turkey with all the fixin's, and some pretty tasty pies as well. We here at the lodge feel that no one should be alone or hungry at this the Holiday Season, so we welcome the community to come and join us for some great food and fellowship. as always there is no cost for this dinner, however you may make a donation if you so desire. Hope to see you all then.
Christmas Eve To the person who has a Statue of Liberty photo next to his or her comment(12/14), you are the light in a sea of racism, prejudice, and terrible misunderstanding. Many comments on this site are disgustingly racist and xenophobic and so far your comment is the only one that shows any kind of intelligence or reason. And as for those who are trashing New York and New Jersey, you should know that the Northeast is a much more educated, tolerant, affluent, accepting, and socially progressive area than Big Pine Key or any other Key in this area for that matter. Those people have real jobs, pay real taxes (unlike the rock-bottom property taxes in this area; our millage rate is less than half of that of most metropolitan areas in the United States) and deal with real weather so that they can come down here on vacation and spend their hard-earned money on a week or two in the beautiful Florida Keys. Citizens of Big Pine Key, please represent yourself well. After all, it is northerners' money that funds most of your service jobs.
Christmas Eve To the person who feels it is a "sad day in Miami" due to signs printed in both English and Spanish and workers speaking broken English. It is essential to remember that the Miami metropolitan area is both one of the most ethnically diverse areas in the United States and also the most affluent majority-Hispanic area; not only in this country, but in all the world. Because Miami-Dade county has more foreign-born citizens than any other county in the United States, many arrive here not knowing English and must face the difficulty of learning one of the world's most difficult languages only to face certain Americans who are too impatient and unwilling to weed out the idioms that litter their speech and slow their rapidly-spoken English. Please remember that unless your ancestors arrived from Great Britain, they most likely did not speak English at first either. I know that mine did not. The United States was, is, and always will be a country of immigrants: the most recent ones who don't speak our native tongue and that haven't yet assimilated completely to our culture deserve as much respect as any other person in this country.
Christmas Eve Hey, Handle lover. It's better to be a person who's never been introduced to classical music than a fan who doesn't even know how to honor him with the correct spelling.  Handel. Handel!
Christmas Eve
To the person that wrote about the bumper huggers. Do like I do, get a 2,000,000 candle power spotlight like they use on boats. Plug it into your cigarette  lighter, they are hand held. When someone puts their brights into your rear window, point the spotlight out your rear window, point it at the driver and turn it on and watch in your rear view mirror and most of the time they end up going off the side of the road into the bushes.
Christmas Eve
To the person complaining about cigarette butts in the WD parking lot Since it bothers you so much I suggest you come with broom in hand and sweep away until you fall on your butt face.
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve Wal-Mart........here's a little education on capitalism

To its supporters, Wal-Mart embodies American entrepreneurship. It's a folksy company built on old-fashioned virtues like industry, thrift and square deals. If the blessed free-market shall determine that Wal-Mart reign supreme, then so be it. We are, after all, a capitalist society.

Unfortunately, Wal-Mart is not a capitalist firm. Sure, it's owned by Arkansas Bible Belters who've amassed a fortune in cheap merchandise. Yes it's publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange. But the company is not moving capitalist goods. Wal-Mart is part of the communist supply chain. The Bentonville retailer leverages centralized planning to help stock its shelves with inexpensive goods. Analysts estimate that 80% of Wal-Mart's six thousands suppliers are located in China. The Communist Party plans its infrastructure to favor an export economy. Wages are pitifully low. Workers' needs are supplemented by a Nanny State at virtually no cost to Wal-Mart.

Thus a vicious cycle. American jobs are lost to communist China whose party operatives leverage the Wal-Mart supply chain to deliver goods to American shelves. American consumers are forced to spend suppressed wages at bargain retailers whose merchandise is manufactured by communists overseas. We could insist the American worker be put on an even playing field but Republican allegiance to free-market religion prevents the necessary policies. Hence we are beholden to managed-market Chinese.
 

http://blogdayafternoon.com/images/stories/1104/commie.png

Christmas Eve

Health insurance: I think that the reason we don’t have a national health care plan is because so many affluent people have insurance that is partially or wholly paid for by their employers. The lower classes, who don’t have insurance) usually don’t exercise their voting rights and usually aren’t involved in politics. It takes involvement to get things done and the affluent are mostly the ones who get involved in government, but seeing as the affluent are insured we don’t raise our voices loud enough to overcome the medical lobby in Washington.

Christmas Eve

I live on Big Pine and I am not toothless or dumb.  I am beginning to resent the references to "Piner's" being of a lower class.  I own my home, have a good job and I am college educated.  Let's be nice to our fellow citizens.  It's Christmas time, for goodness sake.
Christmas Eve

Clueless at Specs: I was at a bar the other night and a customer ordered Stolichnaya Vodka. The young bartender didn’t know what it was and went looking through all the bottles to find it. The customer, finally pointed it out to the kid. Later the kid asked me why the guy called it that? I said that was it’s name. He said he thought it was called ‘Stoli”. Ah, to be young and stupid again!

Christmas Eve
He's Coming!
Christmas Eve
Car scam; it is, for sure.  Local news covered it.  You get a certified check for the full amount, plus shipping, plus extra, which you happily cash and send the car on it's way.  Then the bank notifies you the check is no good, certified or not, and you're out the car and suddenly in debt to the bank for the amount of the check, which you've probably already spent.
Christmas Eve
FINALLY someone has come out with a 100% bipartisan political bumper sticker.  The hottest selling bumper sticker comes from New York State: "2008 - RUN HILLARY RUN" Democrats put it on the rear bumper and Republicans put it on the front bumper.
Christmas Eve America is going bankrupt over this war in Iraq. Osama is playing Bush's ego like a puppet. If we had the money that has been WASTED on Iraq, the US economy would not be going to the dogs. This is a bad sales season, malls are practically empty. People cannot spend what they don't make. Another four years of Bush will drain America into the greatest depression the world will ever see. Bush will never personally feel the pinch, so what does he care?
Christmas Eve




On Big Pine, Santa uses the little Key Deer.
Christmas Eve

Billie – get back to work!  Hey everybody, Merry Christmas to you all from Joss and Chris at CocoNet Key Internet “Café” & Wi-Fi Hotspot.   Thanks for your continued custom, we have the best customers on the planet!  If you’re a local Big Pine Key business come and put your business card on our billboard.  We have many new homeowners coming in to get online who are asking about local services, etc. and we’d love to pass your name on!

Christmas Eve


Ya, I'm afraid F9/11 has to be recategorized as "propaganda" and I don't think they've handed out awards for that since the Nazis were stifled.
Christmas Eve Thanks, Chop for putting together the boat parade.  At least someone is considering the fact that it is Christmas.  Maybe some people should go back a couple of weeks and read Jerry's poem Desiderada again, and again, and again.  This is a time to come together and celebrate the good things we all have in our lives.  I suggest a 48 hour "happy" time on this site.  Peace and love to all.  "and whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should"
Christmas Eve
Cool effects on the boat parade picture!  Thanks for sharing!
Thursday
December 23
2004





Picture (sorry so dark, but it was dark!) of this year's Lighted Boat Parade on Big Pine!  Chop, thanks for the good time!
23

Wal-Mart buys over $50,000,000 of merchandise from china EVERY day! It’s no wonder the mom and pop stores can’t compete. The good side of this is that we, the consumer, get stuff real cheep. For those of you that want to protect the little guy, I'll bet if Wal-Mart came here you'd shop there and not at the small stores you want to protect.

23
For the person talking about the Republicans being in denial and refusing to watch Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11", I've got news for you.  This is one Republican that did watch that piece of trash, which was filled with so many deceitful "quarter truths".  I am not a Bush fan, but I am no fan of the current Democratic party either.  I rented this movie with an open mind in hopes of a fair documentary on the war in Iraq...something that could possibly change my mind.  Ha!  To call this film a documentary is a pure stretch of the imagination!  He cherry-picked events and cut and pasted them together to make his own version of events.  This is spin at its best.  Michael Moore should stop trying to do the Democrats favors. I think he can personally be thanked for 4 more years of Bush.  If you're interested, check out the link to the "Fifty-nine Deceits of Fahrenheit 9/11", written by a Dave Kopel, Research Director of the "Independent Institute" (www.independenceinstitute.org/).
 
http://www.davekopel.com/Terror/Fiftysix-Deceits-in-Fahrenheit-911.htm
 
"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant:  It's just that they know so much that isn't so."  - Ronald Reagan
23 HEY, FREE FOOD MAN,  I also attended the last dinner for Julio and I beg to differ that there were only 6 regulars there.  There were many regulars in attendance who have supported Julio's business over the past few years.  A lot of people gave money and brought gifts.   It was nice to see everyone come out to say goodbye.  Perhaps you are upset you didn't shovel enough food into your stomach.  Happy Holidays.
23

Ex-employees of Little Palm Island should quit bashing the place on this website and move on; its becoming tiresome.

23
To the person who would rather be on Little Palm than on Big Pine Key. Stay off our home. All you can do is ridicule our piece of paradise and stand up for something that is nothing but another huge conglomerate take-over victim. Please have fun at Little Palm, but leave the rest of us real people alone. Nobody tears you apart for being 75 lbs overweight or for wearing the 'vacation apparel' that you feel is so wonderful.
23
What is with all the rude bumper-huggers-bright-lights-in-your-face in the morning on Key Deer Blvd. at 6:30 in the morning? I leave Eden Pines in the morning to go to work on Summerland Key and always get some a** on my bumper, almost tapping me to go faster. The speed limit is 30 and I go 35 and people are on my a** and will not pass. Then they turn on there bright lights in my face. Can people like you explain themselves, or do you just get off on being totally rude and ignorant?
23



Clueless at Spec's. I went into Specs Music and asked for Handle’s Messiah. The young clerk asked me what was the name of that group, ‘Messiah?’ I said that it wasn't a group, but the name of a musical piece by a composer. He then asked me if I knew the name of the album.

23
Here is an E mail I got this AM. I think that someone MAY be running a scam on the people here in Big Pine Key. Last time I advertised a vehicle on this great site I got a similar E mail. I know that there may be nothing that you can do but I thought you should see it just the same. Thanks and please keep this great site going.

My name charles taylorfrom Germany, i'm highly interested in buying
your :  98 Ford Mustang GT
>according to your discription and the price that you
> have given on your ads.its very ok to me.and i will instruct my client
> in US to
> send you a certified cashier check. You don't need to worry about the
> shipment. i have a shipping agent who will be coming for the pick up in your
> place as soon we are agree. >NB: If i may ask you is this your personal
> property? because i will not like to involve myself in stolen property.
> we accept direct wire transfer  only  phone cell 7723404333  call mer barrie
> pictures on net   of 1973 Chevrolet i want you to send your full name. cell phone number.address. i will be looking forward to your respond regard charles taylor

(Ed: These scams are not directed at Big Pine because we get them, almost daily, on our other sites as well. Whenever you see '>' to the left of any email it shows amateur mass mailing and email forwarding. That's a big indicator of something you don't want.)

23 Winter solstice. The sun passes the equator, next, in March.  Not January.  But, I could
be wrong.
23
I went to Miami the other day for some shopping. Oh, what a sad day in Miami. I went to Target and they had all the signs in English and Spanish. What a shame, I went deeper into Miami and the road signs were in Spanish. I got a Spanish lesson at Target and on the road. I have nothing against the Cubans, Mexicans, or anyone else of Latin origin. The thing that makes me angry is that I cannot communicate with people that are serving me at Target, Wendy's, and other places. If you come to America for a better life, well that's great, but learn the native tongue enough where you can take an order correctly. It's sad to see that at Wendy's in Key West during the nights the best people that applied for that job speak Haitian and very little, and barley understandable English. How do you get a job where you have to speak all the time with customers to serve them and barley speak English? Disturbing.
23


What's up with the Salvation Army chick screaming in front of Winn Dixie last night? That's not what the Salvation Army is supposed to be about.
23

Key Deer Boulevard’s three lighted decorations are soooo small town. I love it!

23

I’ve never really noticed the other stores’ decorations on Big Pine because Century 21 was always so spectacular. Now that they’re gone I see all the other wonderful displays of Christmas spirit. Kudos to Big Pine!

23
CHRISTMAS ORANGE
 
Virginia redneck for sure
bumper to bumper, door to door
 
mountain man, now a part of the keys
works hard for a living, but tries to please
 
brightly lit with season cheer
even the growed ups smile, ear to ear
 
all along the fire truck parade miles
children jump for glee
starry eyed and full of smiles
wow, Christmas truck, what a sight to see 
23

T
his is to the manager at the Winn Dixie store on Big Pine. Hey, Michael Jacobs, do you ever look over the railing of your store and notice what a trashy disgusting cigarette butt parking lot you have. you might take pride on the inside, but try looking on the outside. It's the most disgusting parking lot ever.
23
I have had nothing but bad service at CVS.  24-hours to get a prescription filled?  5 days for 1 hour photo?  I can't find what I need and no one who works there has a very helpful attitude.
23

Looe Key Tiki
is having super singles night New Years Eve. Wear a toga or come naked, you're going to end up that way regardless. And don't forget your body armor.
23 For the person looking for something to do New Years Eve. I heard the Looe Key Tiki Hut is having a huge open party with a kick-butt band called the Moondogs playing. I am going to check it out!
23

Somebody asked if anyone is doing anything special for New Year's Eve. The House Of Music is going to put a pole up on the roof & drop a lit ball at midnight. & we're honored to do it right here in Toothlessville.
23
For the one who wrote, Rob and Mike, you will be missed, your right they will be missed.  No more tantrums, no more a**-kissing to laugh at, no more boat crashes, no more cheep pick up sex lines, no more yelling fits on the radio.  The list could go on for years.  Those two clowns will be missed for sure.  Missed like a good case of The Clap.
Wednesday
December 22
2004
If yesterday was the shortest day of the year, don't the days start getting longer tomorrow (instead of in the middle of January)?
22

Health insurance: I think that the reason we don’t have a national health care plan is because so many affluent people have insurance that is partially or wholly paid for by their employers. The lower classes, who don’t have insurance) usually don’t exercise their voting rights and usually aren’t involved in politics. It takes involvement to get things done and the affluent are mostly the ones who get involved in government, but seeing as the affluent are insured we don’t raise our voices loud enough to overcome the medical lobby in Washington.

22 Clueless in Eden Pines. Check with the fishing shops on US 1 for where the best spots can be found. They know where to bottom fish or troll. 
22 RULES FOR FISHING IN THE KEYS. First and foremost is the 10 year ruleThat means that you have to find your own fishing spots just as everybody else has. It may take you ten years. You could look on the free charts and get the general area of spots, but good fishing spots are a well kept secret. Why do you think charter boat captains deserve the high fees they get for their charters? They and the rest of us have spent our time and money finding our honey holes.  Think about it. Why should all of us who have spent hundreds or thousands of hours and our own very hard earned money looking for and hopefully finding fishing spots give them away freely to somebody that comes here on vacation? Some of us do live here year around and have guarded our special spots longer than most people are married these days.  So good luck, and I hope you find your own spots. Remember this. All long term residents know exactly what we have here. If we/they don't, they would have been gone long before the cost of living went as high as it has. We cherish our paradise. It isn't just a vacation place or a winter home to us. When we refer to a place as home, it is here. Not New Jersey or Ohio or wherever. Would you give away a diamond mine in your back yard back home? Why are you asking us to do the same?
22

Fishing notes: Don’t fish on sandy or grassy bottoms. Fish around rocks and coral. That’s where they live.

22
The Pine channel boat parade consisted of 2 boats, so it is possible that you missed us.  The other boat went up and down every canal in Pine Channel estates.  I'm surprised you missed that.
22 WebCam. I'm sitting here in Lake City and had the need to see what's going on back home.  It's 10:06 P.M. and went to your web cam.  Answer me this, what was I looking at?  It looked like a flag and maybe a Christmas tree with lights on it.  I guess I'd better look at it during the day, my only problem is that I'm always too busy and the only time I turn on my computer is in the evening.
22 Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year from Billie at Sun Communications. Thanks for all your business and references.
22

 


Does anybody know of any businesses giving away 2005 full size calendars?

22

To the people downgrading Little Palm Island, you are probably toothless, old, fired employees. Don’t be disgruntled. The fact is that it is truly a remarkable place for the rich and famous. All you locals should be glad they offer such a high class resort so close to Toothlessville (Big Pine Key). To the person saying it’s an upgrade from McDonalds, maybe next time you should ask mommy for the money to go out to the island. It is very obvious that you will never get a good looking girl because you don’t know the meaning of wine & dine. Ladies, this guy is a keeper.

22 Little Palm Island is in a tailspin. I have been a beach club member for many years and very happy, but on a recent visit the service was not only markedly declined, but I was made to feel down right unwanted. The bartender at the pool was not only rude, but she seemed more interested in backstabbing her fellow employee's than pleasing their guests. I heard this gossiping go on for close to an hour. When asking for a drink, I was made to feel like I was bothering her. What happened to the good people? If their goal was to keep me from returning, they have succeeded. A true shame, as Little Palm used to be a special and wonderful place. I am now joining with the local boycott of that ugly, angry place.
22



Re: Holiday Attitude. I was shopping in CVS yesterday and I couldn't help but observe the other shoppers in the store. Their attitudes were so obviously displayed on their faces. Expressions of anger, resentment, , and just plain rudeness. Why is it that people subject themselves to what is so apparently a distasteful task? Isn't the Holiday Season supposed to be about caring and sharing of ones self with others? Instead it is about buying, buying and more buying. I think there are many people who need to sit down and re-evaluate the purpose of this season and be honest with themselves as well as others. How sad.
22 This is for the guy with the Winn-Dixie fetish. Let it go, man. If you are so offended stay the h**l out of there; it's not worth you getting so upset. The store does 3 million a week. If you think you are getting screwed, get the vice-president on the phone. He, too, is new and I hear he takes call from people like you. He is in the home office in Pompano. Merry Christmas and go have some free coffee and donuts across from WD. Ho, Ho, Ho.
22
To the person who wrote in saying "If you have something nasty to say put your name behind it," where was your name at the end of that comment?
22


What is going on around here for New Year's Eve? Are any of the local establishments, like the House of Music or the Looe Key Tiki Hut doing anything special? Somebody has got to be throwing a party at one of these places.
22 Re: Wal-Mart RFID chips:  That is just one of many reasons not to shop there.  They close the Mom and Pop shops in every town they show up in. They are bad to their employees, they censor the music and books they
sell. They are ugly. 
22


A
re you really surprised about the pig feed at Julios? Julio is going on to bigger and better things cause he is a good guy. Good luck my friend you will do well. The fields he leaves will burn behind him .
22
An old-fashioned "church key" works pretty well on most of those kid-proof medicine bottle caps.  It punches through the seal, too.  Then you can use the pointy bit to fork out the cotton ball, or a tweezers if it's too big.  Sometimes you have to find a similar sized standard bottle cap to replace it with if you go about this too enthusiastically.
22 Regarding the child proof bottles. I found an easy solution. I give
them to my kid to open.  She can do it.
22
As far as the pharmacy at CVS is concerned, let me point out something extremely obvious. They are the ONLY pharmacy from KW to MarathonAll of the people that work there are very nice. The pharmacists work from open to close 4-5 days a week. They have to deal with bitchy people who can only think of themselves (a side affect of being sick).  It is your responsibility to check your prescriptions before you leave.  If you don't, you have no one else to blame but yourself.  They fill 400-500 prescriptions per day during season.  A very impressive number.  My advice: order your prescriptions in advance, before you are running out, be a little nicer, and realize what those hard working people have to do everyday.
22


Before the last election the republicans were afraid to watch Farinhieght 9/11 because they are always in denial. The republicans will not admit a mistake. When they see visual evidence of a mistake they deny it; just listen to Bush.

22 We're all guilty of going a few miles or more over the limit sometimes, and there is usually no harm in this. Lately, however, heavy gravel trucks are speeding to and from the gravel pit on No Name Key and US 1 at 50 to 60 mph the entire way through the 25 mph zones. They also blow the stop signs along the way, barely slowing down enough to make the turn without crashing into something (they veer into the oncoming lane but usually manage to stay on the pavement). This creates a dangerous situation for all of us. If any officers are out there, please stop them.
22 Once upon a time, we had a strict speed enforcement (some say too strict) on Big Pine. For a while now, enforcement has been almost non-existent and speeding way too fast is rampant. It is especially bad on Friday afternoons and early evening when some of the weekend traffic from Miami begins to arrive. I must say, I worry more about getting hit by one of these maniacs than I do about getting a ticket for going a few miles over the limit.
22




Peace on Earth, well, at least Big Pine Key!
22
I drove by Bahama Jacks yesterday about lunch time.  There were about 8 flags waving saying "Open" but maybe 2 cars in the lot.  Flags might get someone to come in once, good food will make them return.  Judging from the two times I ate there I think the flag would taste better.  You might get an A for effort but an F in quality.
22
Merry Christmas to Laura and family -- we miss you. Love, the liquor elves
22 Hey, "Bigun" Mike, the truck looks great this year. Have a Merry Christmas.
Tuesday
December 21
2004


Winter Solstice
. This morning at 7:42am was the winter solstice. This is the shortest day of the year. The days will start getting longer again around the middle of January when the Sun, once more, passes over the equator.

21

Could we be constantly tracked through our clothes, shoes or even our cash in the future? Wal-Mart (don’t forget that they’re the largest retailer in the world) will require RFID tags (radio frequency identification) in or on all merchandise sold to them in a few years. These radio tracking chips will help them control inventory, but they can also tell who bought what and the chips will still be in the clothing when you wear it. I fear that will let them know too much about you even after the sale. It sounds like something Ashcroft or Big Brother would want.

21 Thank you Big Pine Fire Dept. Another great Christmas run.  Mike, your truck looked fantastic and the chilly night made it even more special. 
21
"FREE FOOD, MAN!" These are the only three words that mean anything in the Keys! Take the Last Supper at Julio's, at Looe Key Reef Resort, 19 Dec. It was a blood lust vulture gathering if ever I saw one. Some 100+ gaping holes, salivating for FOOD, FOOD, FOOOD! Setting up the buffet looked as dangerous as feeding starving sharks. One could lose a finger or two bringing out the food. The line formed in precisely 5.2 seconds, and the table of food was cleared off in ten minutes flat. People did complain that the paper plates could not hold enough if the food was stacked too high. Others had the testicular fortitude to doggie plate for home!
There was a lady passing around a Tip Jar for Julio's last night. She got some real nasty looks. "What, this is supposed to be FREE FOOD, MAN!  Go AWAY!" The food was very good and never did cool, because the speed of the shovelers kept it hot. Of the crowd, I think there were only about six Tiki Bar regulars and the rest, who knows where they crawled out from under. Julio is such a nice person, he just shook his head and laughed. God bless him. His REAL friends, wish him the best!
21
I live on Pine Channel (Gulf side) and waited for the Holiday boat parade.  It must not have came down this far.  I was really looking forward to it.  I would love to know where it went.
21 Hey MARIE-ISM. Maybe your wife actually means-- If you have a problem with the trash, take it out yourself! The time you took to complain about her, you could have taken all the trash out from all your neighbors as well as your own trash and all of us who read this column wouldn't be feeling sorry for your poor wife who has to put up with somebody that doesn't appreciate the fact that he doesn't have to take the trash out! Just think, she'd probably be shocked and amazed that you, even once, took out the trash. It might end up being a good thing for you.
21

Marie-ism. It sounds like your living with Gracie Allen.
21 Love the Marie-isms!  She sounds like she'd be a fun neighbor to have around
21
21 Have you ever been to the Winn Dixie web site( www.winndixie.com )There  are tens of thousands of complaints there. Who at Winn Dixie headquarters cares? Nobody. It's better to complain to the new manager at our local store. He can get whatever he wants delivered to this store. It's up to him to decide what to order. So lets go out there and become very squeeky wheels. There are too many products that aren't there any more. I am spending a lot LESS money there than I used to because of all the "Miami" changes.
21

Confucius say
: Man with one chopstick go hungry.
21 Clueless in Eden Pines:  Where, oh, where, do I take my Holiday guests FISHING this Christmas?  We're in Big Pine with a 21 footer and the guests will be packing very $erious fishing gear.  This will be my first time fishing, so any etiquette tips and good spots would be greatly appreciated.  Christmas in the Keys are great fun. We loved the boat AND the fire engine Parades plus the pretty orange truck!  What a great place to call home and it's fun to watch property values here go up, up, up, under the starry skies.  Thanks & Merry Christmas Big Pine!  
21 I've heard of FWC giving tickets for going 1 mph above the speed limit. I've also seen them turn around in the road and go after somebody that passed on the shoulder someone making a left turn and holding up traffic. All the agencies just love it when you give them an excuse to go into action.
21 I totally agree with the health insurance issue.  My husband and I paid a lot of money for health insurance in Indiana when we lived there and it's almost not even an option here.
21

If you take an Oriental person and spin him around several times, does he become disoriented?

21


It began with the Tylenol Murders in the 70’s.  Since that time I haven’t been able to open a new jar of anything without removing the safety cap and then removing the safety seal and then fidgeting with it until it opens. (not to mention the cotton ball that I can't get out.) What a drag.

21 (?) Rob and Mike, We are sorry this happened. You are, and will be, greatly missed. (?)
Monday
December 20
2004


Kudos to Chris Bergh who has been promoted to be the director of the Nature Conservancy’s Florida Keys Program. He’s a good man.

20




I think the tooth brush was invented at Key Deer Bar.  Any place else, it would have been called a Teeth Brush.

20
Re: Complaints about Big Pine Winn Dixie. Many of you are upset over  a large amount of products that were discontinued. Complaining to the store manager or the employees will not get your product back. You must call the main office in Jacksonville at 1 866 946 6349 or Email them at www.winndixie.com  Direct customer complaints work.
20
Marie-ism: My wife's to cheap to change the plastic garbage can liners until they're bursting because she say's, 'It's one less tree they'll have to chop down.
20
Thanks for the boat parade pics!  Looks like there was a lot of thought and effort put into the work done and the results are beautiful!
20 If you have something nasty to say about someone, why not put your name to it and not hide behind an  anonymous  gossip column. It does show weakness and frailty on the part of the accuser . "The pen is mightier than the sword."  Be aware of your writings and I hope they build up and support a community
20 I went to CVS to fill 3 scripts. When I opened the bag at home, one script that was for 90 pills only had 30. Another was for 10 mg., but they only gave me the 5 mg size. When I went back to CVS the woman was rude, inferring that I was wrong. Finally, after checking she admitted that they were wrong. No apology. While going through this 40 minute ordeal one female customer said to me, “Honey, they do it all the time.” I wonder how many people they kill each year? Maybe be could add the count of wrong scripts to the key deer killed sign.
20 Glad to see there was a posting saying Merry Christmas to Native Americans. I feel the Indians honored Mother Earth, took only what they needed and killed only what they ate. That is called respect for creation. I wish we could all have a little more of that in our lives.
20
Now you are making jokes about Jesus, at Christmas time no less! 
(?)
Who has a pool at their house that is a power to be on Big Pine Key? (?)
20 The comments have not been racist. Just tired of freeloading ILLEGALS living off of the hard working taxpayers. Many Americans don't even have health insurance, yet ILLEGALS get free medical care. I know a man with cancer who cannot get treatment because of no insurance even though his relatives have been here legally and paid taxes for many generations. This is wrong, wrong, wrong! 
Hey! Where is MY food stamp card? I want a food stamp card just like the ILLEGALS have!
20 Unwritten laws are as good as the paper they are written on.  Don't try the 5 over in front of my favorite deputy.
20
Don't be too sure about that 5 mph over the speed limit here in the Keys. You are guaranteed to get a ticket if the quota's haven't been met and they are out to get  the dollars up. We used to have a local sheriff that would ticket you on Key Deer Blvd for going 3 miles over the speed limit. If you don't think we have speed traps here, you haven't been driving on our roads long enough.
20



Jeeze, I'm so cold! Do you think it's going to be a white Christmas?

20
Re Stolen Bike:  No it was a ladies light green w/ a basket.  We found it at Winn Dixie but did not hang around to see who was riding it.  The bike was a gift from a dear departed friend, but I feel whoever took it must have needed it more than me.  Merry Christmas.  Next time you need something just ask.
20
I'm t
rying to find Dec. 12-18 kudos and whiners. Did not show in the archives. Is it still available? Happy holidays.
(Ed: There back. I though they were lost in cyberspace, but thanks to my new Maxtor 160 gigabyte backup I was able to retrieve them all.)
20 Parrotdise does look better. If you want people to come in and see, give them back the sunset boat trip. Everyone that came to visit us would take the trip and then eat. It was great advertisement. How much could it cost?
20



Lady Sings the Blues
. What a good movie. Did Diana Ross win an Oscar for her portrayal of Billy Holiday? She sure should have. They have the same tonal quality. It was amazing how close Ms. Ross got to Ms. Holiday’s voice. Happy Holiday!

20
Be sure to read this week's issue of the Key West Weekly or Marathon Weekly newspapers (12/19). Both carry a full page feature on our local Big Pine House of Music. It's about time! Congrats to all.
20

S
teeve say: Man who stand on toilet high on pot.
20 Confucius say:  Woman who sit on Brother-in-laws lap, make it hard for sister.
20

Kudos to Boat US Rescue. My husband went fishing yesterday and while being anchored his boat started sinking. He was able to call the Coast Guard who contacted Boat US. The boat finally sunk and my husband was hanging on to the anchor line when Boat US rescued him out of the drink.  God bless that man.  I got my Christmas present early!
20 To the Scorpion Lady: Have a great Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Years! I miss you. Love your son, Marco, in Philly.
Sunday
December 19
2004
The Pine Channel Lighted Boat Parade was a big success lat night here are a few pictures of the best boats. a big holiday Kudo to all those who put the effort into making this the best year yet!
 
19

 

I think it’s an unwritten law that you can go 5 miles over the speed limit even if there’s a cop behind you. It keeps traffic flowing.

19
Re: Fire truck parade stop by big pine fire house or look in one of the local papers
19

To the person who referred to the law suit, the Constitution and First Amendment.    Go back and check your first year law school books.  The right to free expression is not without responsibility.  (You can’t yell “FIRE” in a crowded theater when there’s no fire) That’s why the law provides recourse via the laws of libel and slander and provides consequences and remedy. 

"Every freeman has an undoubted right to lay what sentiments he
pleases before the public . . . but if he publishes what is improper, mis-
chievous, or illegal, he must take the consequences of his own temerity."

-- William Blackstone, legal interpreter ( 1769)

19 Law suit whodunit? The file name on the enlargement of the letter graphic gives it away.  Unless you name your files for something totally different than what they are.  You don't need to publish this, but you may want to change the file name if you don't want others to know.
(Ed: Whew! Thanks for telling us. We just changed the file name. We could've gotten sued.)
19
Parrotdise Bar & Grille's new sign looks great. A lot of new changes. The place looks great.
19




Why did we lose the only swimming hole on Big Pine? Is it because of whale poop? Or is it because the powers that be all have pools at their houses?

19
Re: Stolen bike was it a purple Diamondback?
19


Steve McCarthy could lick his elbow. He has a tongue like a chameleon.
19
To the divorced, single mom, don't let the jerk who wrote the last comment about you get you down.  Divorce is tough on anyone.  I am separated and heading to divorce.  I have no kids and it is tough, so I can only imagine what you went through.  Keep your head up.
19

Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.

19
Re: The best massage in the Keys is on Sugarloaf. Mary Ann Nelson. Give her a call at 745-8761. I've been going to her and Augusto (acupuncturist) for many years and she just gets better all the time. She's a wonderful lady as well as knowing her business. I can't say enough good about her.
19 If the Mexican illegals are all moving here for a better life, why not just start digging in their own back yards? No telling how much oil can be drilled out of that country.
19




Mom taught me when I was little that you have to treat ALL look-alikes as the real Santa, since a lot of Santa's helpers are out keeping an eye on things for him.
19
Nope, I wouldn't miss a word!  I haven't seen anything too offensive in here as yet, though a couple of posts have left me thinking, "hope I don't live next door to THEM!".
19
FYI: The Dutch word for pirate is NOT filibusterIt is closer to plagiarus or plunderenJust thought I'd let you know.
19 Confucius say: Man who run in front of car get tired.
19 Confucius say II:  Man who fight with wife all day have no peace at night
19
That KKK cartoon is a scream!  Coincidentally, I recently heard a near-death experience story and the person reported that St. Peter is a very large black man.  Gotta love it!
19

There were 3 good arguments that Jesus was Black: 1. He called everyone "brother." 2. He liked Gospel. 3. He couldn't get a fair trial.
19
I am getting sick of Dr. Greg pitching Cortislim on TV. For you folks considering it, read the fine print. 'Works in conjunction with diet and exercise'. In other words, skip the Cortislim and try a good diet and a little exercise. Save a few bucks. Avoid looking like Sally Struthers. Too many of those down here already.
Saturday
December 18
2004
Found: Dec 16. Male Golden Retriever mix on US1, Summerland Key,  Call 304-4590.
18
The property at the end of Ships Way is private property not public. It is not a dump. It is what's left of one of the founding fathers of Big Pine Key's dream. If it wasn't for him you people in Pine Channel Estates would not be here. If you want to talk to me personally about my fathers stuff I live at 29556 Flying Cloud Ave. I welcome your visit.
18

Little Palm Spa. I used their services which were about $50 more than Pier House Spa and I was told to leave as soon as it was over! They actually walked me to and from the boat and I wasn’t even allowed to get a drink at the bar or sit and relax for a little while. I must say that the service was excellent and very professional. I’ll guess that if I was paying $1400 a night I wouldn’t want Commoners hanging around either.

18

In regard to Little Palm Island spa prices: My husband gave me a certificate for my birthday to go to Little Palm. I could not wait to go there, however I was told I only can come during the week not on the weekend, which is fine. Upon arrival on the island somebody was supposed to be there to greet me and escort me to the spa (this, I was told on the phone), but nobody came so the Captain gave me the “tour to the spa.” It was truly beautiful, flowers, fruits and aromatic smells. Very peaceful and quiet. The massage was great and I met a very nice lady with an unusual name i can't remember, so when  the massage was finished, they told me I have to rush to the boat because the guest are waiting to leave the island. I don’t want to rush after a massage and the price was at least $50 more than any other place in Key West and  up the Keys. For instants at the Pier House I can use the gym, steam room, sauna, Jacuzzi and locker room. I can hang out as long as I want to and not be rushed or escorted. So  there is no comparison between the spas. I definatly will be back to the Pier House. (Nadine's on Cudjoe Key is beautiful too, but it’s a day spa. So whoever got the menu faxed  from Palm Island definatly got the wrong prices. I think if I had a lot of money, Palm Island is wonderful to stay there, but for a massage alone it's not worth it. Happy holidays.

18

 

 

 

Happy Holidays Native Americans.

18
I have heard that the fire trucks are going around on Sunday and Monday nights, with mike's truck in the rear, but have no idea just where they can be seen. If anyone finds out the routes, here would be a great place to let everyone know
18
I need the web address for yippitayyap.comI can't remember the correct spelling. I'm unable to search archives due to injury.  I'd appreciate any help.
18

The Dutch word for pirate is filibuster. Hello Congress!

18
Webcam: Looks like the new flagpole got a good test earlier this morning.  How's the sound & vibration levels?  The little tree looks great!  Saw it lit last night.
18


Iraq weather report: Temperature 80°, more Americans dead and beheadings are on the rise.

18
If you really need to work, there's always Winn Dixie. Start there then you work your way to other means of employment.
18
I don't think that was Sally Struthers. I think it was bubba low note.
18 If Sally Struthers gets any bigger, she could double as Jabba the Hut!  Whatever happened to her cute figure?
18 Editor: Your classifieds section is great for advertising sale items, used appliances, boats, etc but has too many categories on one page. If you're searching for something in particular, you have to scroll through a lot of postings, and even then, may not find what your looking for. Check out this site for it's page hierarchy and navigation style. I like his approach to linking the item to a more detailed description of the item on a separate page, along with a larger picture. Its clean and simple, and could attract more interest and more postings from people who have something to sell. Thanks for the great job you're doing with your website. If you ever need any server/database/web development related assistance, please don't hesitate to call DNA Technologies, Inc., a local Big Pine IT solutions provider serving Big Pine to Key West. We're in your Business Directory! <http://miami.craigslist.org/> Check out our website: www.dna-technologies.net and let me know what you think!
18

 

Confucius Say: Man who walk through airport turnstile sideways going to Bangkok.

18
What happens to the old comments? I would like to look back and read things that were posted months ago. Is that possible?
(Ed: Yes it is. Just click on the 'Archives' link on every page.)
18
To the person who describes the island's unfortunates as "burnouts". I'm sorry that you see someone whose gaze seems to look straight through you as annoying. I see it as sad. Even more sad, though, is your attitude towards them. You may move, if you like, to another place where there are no people lost and feeling hopeless.
18

Restaurant Review: A friend of ours took us for dinner at Big Pine Restaurant the other night.  It was fantastic.  We sat right next to a beautifully decorated Christmas Tree, had a wonderful waitress called Tracey and ate great food.  My husband and I were introduced to the lady owner who was extremely charming and made us feel very welcome.  All the staff were very presentable with manners to match.  I always enjoy going in there and would just like to say that we will be visiting again soon.  Only one gripe – who pinched our business card tray from there (CocoNet Key Internet “Café” & Wi-Fi Hotspot)?  We’ll be seeing you all again really soon and thank you for a super evening.

18

I was in a local dive last evening and a creep was being refused service by the owner. The drunk asked why he was being refused service and the owner said, “Why? Because you threatened to kill me!” The drunk replied contritely, “I didn’t mean it”. That didn’t make it alright with the owner.

18 Y'know, to those among us who love to take offense at the few inarticulate and perceived to be insulting posts, it strikes me as ironic that you also wouldn't miss a word of it. I can imagine that you're impatiently awaiting the next installment so you can painfully scrutinize, digest and then fervently pound out your condemning responses. I know I do. It's so much fun to get all righteously indignant isn't it? We would never think of just not reading it anymore and miss the opportunity to exercise all that judgment. To all our litigious, opportunistic friends the words of Cap'n Redlegs come to mind "Doin' good ain't got no end".
18
The next time you want to make a comment about a mother getting high with her son outside a bar don't knock the business for it. The owners can't control and baby sit everyone. Maybe the best thing for you to have done was to call the police or tell the owners. That way it doesn't happen because I'm positive that the owners had NO knowledge of what was going on.
18

 

 

Re: Mother getting high with her son. I think it's nice that the family is doing things together. Family values are very big this year.

18 If you want to sue someone.  Why not Winn Dixie for the million's of dollars they have stolen from this community with their mistakes at the register.
18
I just wanted to let the people of Big Pine Key and the rest of lower keys know that 2 for 20 is reopening. Yes, unfortunately, they are keeping the same name but there are new owners that know how pizza is supposed to be made. So before you call anywhere else give 2 for 20 one more chance and I promise you will be pleased. Have a wonderful Christmas.
18
To the divorced, single mom, waitressing at Mangroves:  If you think word doesn't get around, well cookie, it does.  You think wifey asked for a D.I.V.O.R.C.E. you gullible little thing you.  Do you honestly think you are the first?  I truly pity you and your wishful thinking.  Watch out, this too will come back to haunt you. 
18
Some of the comments lately seem on the raciest side?  Not characteristic of the Piners I've known.  I agree we should take care of our own first, but let's do it like other countries.  Such as Australia, they only give a job to  someone with a work visa if a citizen of the country can't do the job.  It's very hard to get a job there unless you are an Australian.  We need that kind of legislation, not stupid comments that classify a person based on their heritage.
18 Re: Illegals are CRIMINALS. I agree 1000%. If they want a better life, act civilized. Thanks to the Bushwack trio the border hinges were blown off the border doors years ago. I have NO desire to learn Spanish. How about if they start paying for the Spanish speaking staff & teachers everywhere?

The illegals have taken over my neighborhood, causing the property value to dramatically drop. I'm a woman and cannot even take a walk without the illegal men whistling and calling to me. Yes, I too see them use the yards & streets for urinals and garbage dumpsites. Disgusting.

The INS has done a piss-poor job. WHY do the illegal Mexicans have more rights than Americans whose families have legally been here for hundreds of years? Good question.
18

Merry Christmas to all our Big Pine Key family of dear friends.  We moved just 6 hours away and we have awful weather.  It was 38 degrees the other night and the news said 62 in the Keys!  Our problem, not yours. Happy holiday's, Laura, Mike, Michelle, and Breezy.
18
Re: Mike F's column. I would like to see this as an opportunity for a mass Santa-beard-wearing for the Christmas parade, and send a picture to his column.
18
18
A solar system family portrait. Rare Alignment

See Five Planets in the Sky at Once
From Dec. 18 to the first week of January, you can see five planets in the sky just before dawn. The planets -- Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn -- won't be so easy to see together again until 2016.

18


It is impossible to lick your elbow. At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow!

18
Let me guess. If the law suit filed wasn't from who we think, was it from daddy? (Ed: No, and no more guesses.)
 
Santa's Choir My fave! This is too cool! You must have Flash play installed to see it.
18 Most of the bikers around here look like Santa Claus. How could you tell if it was a costume, or just another fat guy with a red nose on a Harley?
Friday
December 17
2004


I saw Santa Claus with his red jacket on, riding a motorcycle through Big Pine yesterday.  This is the absolute truth. 
17
The "Pet Store" across from Bank of America on Overseas Highway sells all of the better dog and cat foods at reasonable prices and she was also NICE.  They stock some cute wind chimes and other pet/bird items alongside various plants out front.  No need to go to anywhere else with this Pet Store in Big Pine. Thank you for being nice, I will be your customer for life.
17
Mike Fitzgerald wrote the following in his column in the Citizen last Saturday. 
If you're in Big Pine Key, hook your bicycle up to the back of a sports car. Whee! That's how fast you'll scoot in a Category 4. It would be even faster without all that beard resistance, especially the women.
17
Whoever took the bicycle from the corner of Fern and Rose Drive please bring it back.  If you need a bike we'll fix one up for you.
17


Ana Popovich
at the House of Music. WOW!  Those spike heels were really hot. Also one of the best rhythm sections (bass, drums) I've ever heard, bar none.
17
Being a spa enthusiast, I requested a menu of services from the Little Palm Island Spa Terre.
Their prices were in line with Nadine's & The Pier House, to my surprise.  Have you ever experienced a Hot Stone Massage or had a Milk & Honey Body Wrap?  How about a Paraffin Manicure / Pedicure gift certificate for someone special who would love this one-time outing?  I cannot wait to go over for some pampering and will report back on my experiences.  We had brunch there and I can only gush about how perfectly beautiful, classy and romantic the Island is.  The rooms and the service seem better than The Four Seasons and The Breakers! 
I couldn't stop thinking about it for days!  My wealthy friends won't go there; this place is for the billionaire blue bloods.  Maybe that's why they don't appreciate some of us Big Piners crashing the joint.  Thinking about cranking up my credit card to bask in the beauty and eloquence of this dreamy island. 
17
Little Palm Island. I went there for Thanksgiving dinner & couldn't disagree more with the other posting.  We had an absolutely delightful evening. We spent 4 hours at the table enjoying ourselves.  The food was unbelievable, portions just fine and the service was impeccable. Such a nice treat.  It wasn't the first time nor will it be the last.  If I was rich I would go every week end.  I highly recommend it to everyone!  Oh, last year I went to a couple of their wine dinners too.  If you love wine & food pairings you'll have to check it out.  
17

 


Don’t get me started on Little Palm’s big plates and small portions.

17
I have to agree with the person who thinks all locals should boycott Little Palm Island.  I went there about a month ago when my mother was in town on her birthday.  The food was a small step above McDonalds.  I think in order to get a waiter's job there you have to show on your resume how arrogant you are.  The place was filthy.  The bathrooms smelled like a porta-potty on a construction site.  I walked outside to see my waiter standing in front of the restaurant smoking a cigar before coming back in to handle my food. 
 
Then the night was topped off on the ride back when the a** hole boat captain asked my sister for a date three times in front of her husband, who was ready to smack him one; then spent 10 minutes looking at her breasts.  This "Captain Pervert" was the only person more arrogant than the waiter.  There are so many fine dining restaurants in Key West we can go to for less money with better food and service.  Not only that, but our money is appreciated in Key West.
17
Glenn built the really hot bike (in parking lot at Big Pine Liquors). He spent 13 months crafting this bike and it shows.  Best seen during the day when the sun shines off the metal flake paint.  Kudos to Glenn.
17

 

Is it true that Sally Struthers was seen at Boondocks? Has she lost any of that "Save the Children" weight?

17 Sally Struthers is playing in a band at Boondocks? I had no idea. We loved her in "All in the Family."  Does anyone know the name of the band?
17 Boat parade. I'll participate if it gets warmer by tomorrow. I hate to wear gloves and a coat when boating in the tropics.
17

 


Webcam: Is that a Christmas Tree atop the flagpole? It just gets better and better!

17 Libel Suit: To the editors of BigPineKey.com. As a person who understands a little about the law, I am certain you have nothing to worry about. First of all, the letter you received is not a letter of intent. The person writing it is blowing hot air. Secondly, your site is a public forum. While you are responsible for the content, your liability extends only as far as what you report to be a fact. Third, your first amendment rights do extend to opinion. Even if there were cause to bring suit, the U.S. Supreme Court has an established police of "slippery slope". Because of the nature of the complaint, and the possibility for an affirmation in favor of the plaintiff to infringe on 1st amendment rights in the future, no court would touch it. Personally, I would contact the ACLU. They will not act unless a complaint is filed, but as soon as you receive notice of the complaint, Fax it to the ACLU. They would be more than happy to ensure your rights under the constitution are not violated. Let the fool, and yes fool we all know who you are, and you've lost my business, waste his money on litigation if he wishes. Me, personally, I'm advocating a boycott of said individual for all who are familiar with the situation. Finally, DO NOT LET THIS NONSENSE INTIMIDATE YOU. Keep posting, and by all means, post the name of the individual. He consulted a lawyer who told him all they can do is threat letters. No Attorney worth the price of law school would dare waste time filing this complaint.
(Ed: Thanks for the valuable advise. Please don't boycott anyone because the 'sewer' is not who everyone thinks it is. I would publish the name, but I gave my word [before we received the letter] to remove the offending posts and not to mention them again.)
17
Suing Bigpinekey.com: "It seems to me, a glistening, sterling character does not tarnish simply because the common herd throws mud at it." 
 
Great statement. I agree. Ignoring those untrue comments are the best way.  Court doesn't always help you when your feelings are hurt or you feel as if someone has attacked your person verbally.  It can be costly and in the long run, simply not worth it.  Is the person who made that attack being sued or just the web-site?  It seems as if the State Attorney may be able to subpoena the web-site to see who posted that message and from there see what needs to be done.  What will the punishment be in the case, an apology or money?  If the derogatory statement was made how does one truly recant it?  Will the writer admits it was a false statement and everyone moves on or is there more to the whole matter?
17 If they are talking about me than they aren't talking about you!
17

17
Wake up! Don't you have to be convicted by a jury of your peers? What local is going to convict this web site? You can't even get a jury to convict a DUI. Hello cry baby. If the truth hurts go home and stay there. You should not be out in public acting like a celebrity. I know who you are. It's your way or the highway, nice guys finish last, and rules are made to be broken is your motto not ours. But, when it gets a little sticky you run to Mama, oops, I mean lawyer. Every one send one dollar before Christmas to this site. Let's show them what we are here for I am sending mine Sat. AM. Merry Christmas Ed. We love you. xxx.
(Ed: We love you too, but save your dollars until the time arises. Thanks a lot.)
17 The lawyer who is filing the suit probably is from New York or New Jersey!
17 The best thing to do with this moronic lawsuit is COUNTER SUE. The suit is public record. Maybe one of you posters will go to the courthouse & find out the name of the sewer, er... I mean suer. Then we could all join in the fun. I think it's a restaurant owner, the one who fired the poor bartender & yells holy hell at everyone.
17 Does anyone know what the deal is with all the cop cars parked/deserted at the end of Ships Way?  They have been there for weeks, some marked, some unmarked.  are they up for auction or something?  It looks like a little 5-0 graveyard.
17
A big kudos to the person who is adding the graphics to the comments- obviously you have a great sense of humor.
17 Speaking of animal cruelty. My ILLEGAL neighbors tied a goat and a sheep to a tree in their yard and slit their throats. The poor animal's crying and bleating could be heard all over the neighborhood. Bled them out right there in the yard where their toddler's play. 
17 Illegals are criminals. They broke they law when they crossed the border
If you broke the law you would go to jail. What makes the illegals so special? I'm an old Piner, but I live in Dallas, Texas now. 20 years ago you could sleep on your front porch. Now that my neighborhood is 80% Mexicans you can't ever go out safely. They shot a guy 4 doors down a month ago.

They play music, loud, until  2 in the morning and the police can't do anything because they don't have time because of the major crime. They come into my yard and use it as a bath room. I have stepped in it more then once. If you go to the store and get out of your car you had better watch where you step; it could be on a dirty diaper or in a pee spot. They let there kids use the bathroom where ever they want. They have no manners. They are from a third world country and they act like it. My wife tried to get a job. She put in 176 applications and only got one call back and didn't get because she's not bilingual. No jobs here. There is huge unemployment here.

As for who would bag our groceries and do our yard work? Our kids and the older folks, like they always have. I had an illegal ask me who would do our construction work. We would. It used to be if you didn't finish high school you could get a trade in construction, but not anymore. What will we do? I say we take care of Americans first. All the signs in Dallas are in English and Spanish.  How much more does that cost us? They expect us to teach and learn Spanish. Every other immigrant has learned our language. Why are Mexicans so special?  I don't think you will print this, but I hope you will. God bless America.

17 Confucius sayMan who masturbates over cash register come into money.
17
I went to Wal-Mart a week ago.  It was so horrible that it was past any words I could use to explain it.
It is not worth the trip to go there to get Christmas gifts. I went to use the bathroom. Three out of five had out of order signs. In the waiting line with me were the scariest, nice, local homestead folks. I was the only white girl. I felt like I was on vacation in the old Creole country. I left my cart of crap and just left the store.  I would rather just buy my stuff at the local stores and the flea market
17

Thursday
December 16
2004
I have never read anything on this site that is libelous, slanderous or actionable in any way. I've read a few cruel words maybe, but probably not even truly malicious. To post a derogatory epithet is not an actionable offense. "Purely and simply wrong"? Rubbish. There is nothing wrong or right about it. And what sort of character do YOU have? Do you sue people in order to defend it? What do YOU do for a living? GROW UP. For crying out loud, have you turned the stupid TV on this past year?  You don't like it? DON'T READ IT. Hell, who doesn't know that more than half of what's on here is drivel? How could you possibly take it seriously? (unless there is a thread of truth there, in which case...not actionable)  Regarding the editors, I'll bet they would post anything anyone wrote about them.  If this column simply confines the posts to nicey-nice blandness, it will fail. Sure, a few vicious misfits will be attracted, but let US sort them out. I wouldn't give a damn what ANYONE ever said about me because I have an idea of the person I am. Try to live an exemplary life, it seems to me, and it will never matter to anyone what terrible things get said about you. Rather easy, that tack, a hell of a lot easier than running around trying to shut everybody up. What kind of character does that speak to? It seems to me, a glistening, sterling character does not tarnish simply because the common herd throws mud at it.  Anyone want to say something horrible about me? You're invited. I guarantee you, I will not go to a g*ddamned lawyer. I might die laughing.  If my feelings were hurt, I wouldn't even admit it. For someone who wrote with such eloquence, it seems you should know what journalism is. This isn't it. THIS SITE IS NOT PURPORTING TO CONVEY TRUTH. It is a humor column. Go sue your mother.
16


How suite it is?
 Please! Folks, it is suit, suit, suit--not Suite.
16 I do love the sense of freedom you have with a completely open forum. You may have to slog through tons of effluvium before you find anything worthwhile, that is taking the chaff with the wheat, the dross with the gold, if there's any to be had. Also, if the editors/publishers would like to start a legal fund, I give them permission to hit me up. But for our sake, get an honest lawyer... if you can find one.
16
Re: Libel suit. I want to meet the two independent sources used to verify the story that Elvis flew off in a UFO...or that Bigfoot works nights as a bouncer at a local dive...or that the Russians have drilled a well into Hell...or that the Chupa-cobbra (sp?) is warping in from another dimension, etc.  These people would be fascinating conversationalists!
16 I do love the sense of freedom you have with a completely open forum. You may have to slog through tons of effluvium before you find anything worthwhile, that is taking the chaff with the wheat, the dross with the gold, if there's any to be had. Also, if the editors/publishers would like to start a legal fund, I give them permission to hit me up. But for our sake, get an honest lawyer... if you can find one.
16
What happened to long winded tomes? When I used to write in with to many words I always ended up there. Have the rules changed or are we playing favorites?
 
16 Medals of Shame!  Bush awarded the nation's highest civilian honor Tuesday to three men central to his Iraq policy, saying they had played "pivotal roles in great events."

Bush presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to retired Gen. Tommy Franks, who oversaw combat in Afghanistan and the initial invasion of Iraq, former CIA Director George Tenet and former Iraq administrator L. Paul Bremer. 
 

All three of these men failed at their jobs and the award of this medal is a slap in the face to the country's previous recipients.  What is Bush thinking?

16


There is a passage in the Koran that says that there is more truth in one sword than ten thousand words.

16 Guys turn gay?  I don't think homosexuality is a choice
16

Chef’s Salad. I like a good chef’s salad too. I never order them in a restaurant because the meat they all serve is always lunch meat. Why don’t restaurants cook whole hams and whole turkeys to use in their menus? And any restaurant that used iceberg lettuce must be trying to emulate Denny’s. Recently, I was in So. California and even the little food shops had three different kinds of lettuce in their dinner salads. Down with iceberg!

16
I want to say happy holidays to the group at True Value especially Blondie, she's great and knows her business. She can find anything you need just ask. Good job. Keep it up guys, and you too blonde bomb.
16 I too have felt like I was interrupting something when I go to the True Value, but their Christmas lights rock.
16
Restaurant Review. I went to eat at Little Palm Island Monday night for our 10th wedding anniversary.  What a joke.  No wonder they have been broken down to a three star restaurant.  The food sucked.  Portions were small.  Service was slow.  I over heard the manager and a server talking saying how they wish the locals would stay out of the place. They are locals who have to work there in order to get on the island.  Rest assured my next anniversary will be spent somewhere else where the local's money is appreciated.  Being a Keys resident for 19 years I know this is the time of year tourism is down and that dump version of Gillian's Island should be happy for the local business.  Fellow Locals: Let's boycott that place forever.
16
Are they having singles night at Looe Key Tiki Friday?  With everything going downhill there I was just wondering.  What time does it start if it is still happening?
16 Big Pine Liquor, wicked-awesome job on the Christmas lights. Does the young guy who drives the red truck have a girlfriend?  He's good looking.
16

 

 

 

Am I going to be the only lighted boat in the Big Pine Lower Keys Boat Parade this  Saturday (18th)? How about a show of hands?

16
Now, here is something to WHINE about:  Go to www.peta.com and click on the video.  We're going to eat a lot more seafood from now on!
16
How about a Big Pine Key Concierge?  A person / entity which hooks you up with things in the community.  Like, I need a person to string-up some boat lights for the Parade or I need a person to teach me how & where to fish.  Maybe this Website could do something with this idea and when you refer us to somebody, they pay you guys a commission.  Alongside the singles happy hour at the Tiki hut, I give this to you for free.  Cheers.
16


Slime. Watch out for those viscous attacks.
16 Regarding former Key West mayor Dennis Wardlow, he was never convicted of corruption.   The FBI charged him with accepting a bribe, but a federal jury acquitted him.
16
To the person who said that Big Pine is starting to look like Southpark. Well I got news for you Southpark can't hold a candle compared with the s**t that happens on this island!
16 Billy (Leopold) is getting better. He is home. He is not able to work and, no, they haven't caught the guys who did this.
16
Webcam: Did the flagpole break?
(Ed: The PVC pole we had creaked and groaned so much, in this wind, that our corporate headquarters vibrated--ruining the staff's sleep. We have a new steel pole that we'll try get up later today. Stay tuned.)
16

 

 

 

             Words of wisdom from Maxine.

16
Just a heads up on the music scene, The House of Music is hosting Ava Popovic, a pretty well known international  blues act tonight (Thursday the 16th) for a $5 cover, and that includes a free drink. What a deal folks! Check 'em out, the more support they get, the more & better acts will come! Show starts at 6 pm with the Angus Bangus (babes) opening.
16
Everyone that wasnt at the House of Music wednesday night missed a wild time with Open Mike Night backed by the Moondogs. Lots of locals and tourists took part and there was some real talent exposed. Thanks to Angus for bringing us the eclectic evening!!!
Wednesday
December 15
2004

I am not surprised that someone has filed a suit against this site.  Some of the recent viscous personal attacks on people are just simply wrong.  Purely and simply wrong and should never have been posted.  The editor can (and I hope will) be held responsible for some of the damaging remarks to persons that have been posted here.  I wonder how he or she would like it if some one called his/her daughter (if he or she has one) a whore and a crackhead without any proof whatsoever and posted it all over town with enough references to his personal life and/or local business so that everyone in this community knew who was being referred to..  Or maybe refer to his/her wife/husband with a bunch of defamatory and disparaging, mean, nasty names.  I’m willing to bet that if I wrote to this site and referred to his/her wife/husband the way some of the recent postings have been written editor would have deleted them instantly and never posted them  It is, however, apparently O.K. for the editor to disparage others by posting any trash that comes along.  You can’t write a letter to the editor of the Citizen or the Herald and call someone names and make accusations and expect it to be printed.  It’s called responsible editorial policy and papers don’t print things like that. 

This site is considered media.  It’s just electronic media as opposed to printed media but should have the editorial responsibility to not publish irresponsible things about people with no knowledge of the facts or persons involved.  Newspapers, magazines and other forms of media follow a standard of journalism that typically requires that any subject matter be verified by two independent sources before it ends up in print.  I found editors previous remarks defending the printing of this type of sleaze by saying that sleaze sells and the number of hits on this site increased with the sleaze factor. Irresponsible.  More hits, more exposure.  More exposure, more advertisers.  More ads, more money for editor/web master.  It speaks to his/her character that the editor thinks it’s O.K. to trash people by passing along viscous gossip for a few lousy dollars.  If I were an advertiser on this site I would have pulled my ads when the sleaze showed up. 

I support the person who filed the suit.  I hope it either gets the editors attention and causes him/her to clean up the site and stop the attacks on people or shuts him down.  Restaurant and local business reviews, local news and events, items of positive community interest? Great.  Mean spirited attacks need to stop! 

15
I am not sure who is the worse, the dope trying to file a law suite against BigPineKey.com or the lawyer who is actually going to file the suite on their behalf.  I guess this lawyer must have gone to a law school that does not offer Constitutional Law and cover Freedom of Speech.  It must be a lawyer desperate for cases so he will take this one knowing that any judge will laugh it out of court, but the lawyer still gets to collect a bill.  Maybe it is a lawyer who graduated from law school in another country because he is clearly not familiar with The United States Constitution.  I feel bad for all of the good attorneys who are getting a bad rap due to total idiots like this jerk that has the balls to call himself an officer of the court.  Mr. Lawyer, go to New Jersey or New York where jerks like you are accepted and take the ignorant person who hired you to file this suite with you.  This lawyer should be disbarred.
15

The threat of a libel suit against Bigpinekey.com is only a threat. In order to prove libel the lawyer has to prove malicious intent and this site doesn't look like it's intended to be malicious just informative. The internet is notoriously inaccurate.

15
Since we are all suing each other, I want to sue Boondocks for having the same fat band every Friday that is boring me to death. I also want to sue the Looe Key Tiki for making us choose between that Nasty Band they always have or the fat band across the street.  Maybe those two bands should get together and be the Sally Struthers Fat and Nasty Band.
15

Dennis Wardlow was the Mayor of Key West from 1991 to 1997 during it’s secession from the United States to form the Conch Republic. He was later arrested and convicted for corruption in a different matter.

15
15 There is a BIG difference between immigrants and illegals. Hello! Illegals pay no taxes. For each baby born on US soil, the baby is automatically a "citizen", and is entitled to the benefits all Americans have paid taxes to build up. That's why the illegals have so many babies, to collect more & more food stamps.

Illegals may buy three story new homes, new cars & trucks every year-- yet their children eat FREE lunches at school. Who do you think pays for the free lunch? Tax paying immigrants are welcome, NOT illegal freeloaders.
15 Restaurant Review. Bahama Jack's:  I have eaten there several times and it's very good.  The stuffed grouper is awesome!  The outside is almost done and is looking good.  Thumbs up.
15
(Is this true or mean?) To the person wondering about Joe selling the Tiki Bar.  He lost it in a divorce.  She got the bar, hotel, house and just about everything.  He got to keep the storage units across the highway.  She took him for all he had and then she was arrested after she tried to run him over in a drunken stupor one night outside of the bar.  One more example of a bartender/bar owner and an alcoholic spouse.  With women like her around it is no wonder that so many guys turn gay.  Sex and Drugs and Rock & Roll!
15
Restaurant Review. I had dinner at Square Grouper again tonight.  Great as usual.  Food was perfect.  Service was excellent.  Entire restaurant was immaculately clean.  One of the best wine selections in The Keys.  All the quality, atmosphere, charm and class of any restaurant in Key West without having to go into town or pay the Key West prices.  A true asset to our Lower Keys Community.  Great job guys.  Keep it up.
15
Merry Christmas to all our troops who have been Bushwacked into risking their lives for oil. The backdoor draft is alive and well. God save us all from this administration.
15 Anyone hiring illegals needs to be prosecuted, lose their business license, and be heavily fined. Before long, the road signs along with the US Constitution will be revised to Spanish.
15

Restaurant Review:  One of my very favorite lunch meals is a good chefs salad.  I had one at the Big Pine Restaurant with their homemade dressing and it was one of the best chefs salads I have ever had anywhere.  It was huge with all of the good stuff that this type of salad is supposed to have.  Plenty of meat, eggs cheese.  WOW.  I have a new favorite lunch place. 

15 Any news on Billy Leopold? How is he? Did they catch the idiots who done it?
15
15
Yes, Poisonwood is indeed endangered and protected under the law. Don't be caught cutting it or removing it. After years of not being reactive to it, I have found myself so severely allergic to it now that I get covered with the welts and bumps whenever I get anywhere near the tree. There is a product called ZANFEL that works wonderfully against the rash either before you break out with it or anytime after you first start to show signs of infection. The relief is so quick.
 
We live in a sanctuary here and have to play by "their" rules. We could have prevented that from happening in the middle 80's but didn't. The poisonwood tree is protected because of an endangered bird called the white crowned pigeon that visits us here in the Keys. The poisonwood tree provides food for this bird while it spends it's few months each year visiting us.  Bare in mind that this endangered bird is protected here and eaten in the Caribbean.
15


Yes, poisonwood trees are protected because the White Crown Pigeon feeds on their berries. I’m glad they are protected because I enjoy watching those large birds feed on the trees. They give me delight although the eight day itch doesn’t. Note: You can scratch the rash as much as you want because the poison is a blood stream poison as opposed to a skin poison (like poison ivy; that if you scratch—spreads the rash).

15

Twenty months ago we invaded Iraq. One year ago Tuesday we captured Saddam; and still there is not one safe place in that country for Iraqis and fewer safe places in the mid east for Americans. They say were making progress.

15 Hey Smiley at Big Pine Liquor. I love the bike you did a great job. Keep smiling and Merry Christmas.
Tuesday
December 14
2004
Why is it that only some of the emails sent in to this site get published?  Are the editors picking favorites?  I answered to the idiot wanting to file a suite but it didn't get published, however many others did.
(Ed: I might have deleted it by accident; it might not have said Kudos and Whiners in the subject line or it might have been typed in all capitals. I apologize. We need all your submissions and we hate to lose even one. Please resend it--especially since it concerns our legal trouble.)
14
Who is filing the law suit against Bigpinekey.com?  It could be one of thousands.  Rob's?  True Value?  Scotty's and their useless staff?  House of Music?  Key Deer joined by the toothless wonders?  Bahama Jack's?  The cheater and his 250 pound wife?  The list could go on forever.  Haven't the people filing this ridiculous suit ever heard of the Constitution and First Amendment?  The Kudos And Whiners is a funny column for people to express themselves.  It is the same as The Key West Citizen and the Citizen's voice column.  It is similar to Archie Bunker.  Archie, The Kudos And Whiners or The Citizen's Voice do not target any one person or group.  They hate everyone equally.
14

 

 

 

Kudos to the Big Pine Moose Lodge for once again, reaching out to the children in our community.  Santa arrived by fire truck, accompanied by his Elves with presents for all the children and Pizza and lots of extras.  Thanks once again.  Great job last Saturday!

14

Kudos to Big Pine True Value. I'm friendly to everyone, but I also understand people who aren't (for whatever reason that is their own).  When I go to BP True Value, I go for merchandise and rarely do I know what it looks like (I am the go-fer). If they wanted to talk I'd be happy to, but what matters to me is that they always find what I need without making me feel stupid or bothersome and I go home with the right items. They know their stuff and they have a lot of it. I say, "be who you are". I'd rather know what I'm dealing with rather than wonder how far the act goes.

14
Some of the places you complain about here have been in business here for many years because they fulfill needs. A few nasty comments can't take away the YEARS of public service they have provided for the long and short term residents.  Thanks John (BP True Value Hardware). There are many of us who appreciate you and yours.
14


Kudos to the guy at Big Pine Liquors (I don’t  know his name) who built the coolest looking Harley I’ve ever seen. Awesome Hog, dude!

14
Winter break for the schools begins Friday afternoon and report cards for the 2nd qtr will be done.  Here is my report card for Sugarloaf Middle School:
Language Arts:  6th grade - A,   7th Grade - A,  8th Grade - A
Reading:           6th Grade - A,  7th  Grade - C, 8th Grade - B
Math:               6th Grade - A,  7th Grade - C,  8th Grade - B
                     Science:           6th Grade - A,  7th Grade - C,  8th Grade - B
 I based this on what I hear from parents & teachers.  I wonder how others feel.
14 Illegals are ALREADY a thorn in the side of America! They pay no taxes, yet suck the welfare system dry. Why do you think our taxes are always increasing? Food stamps, free medical at any county hospital, etc. This is money the illegals have never put into the system in the first place. Illegal mothers keep their maiden names so medical maternity bills cannot be collected-- everything is in the husband's name. Twice as many teachers must be hired to teach ESL (English as a second language). If anyone wants to live in the USA, come here legally, pay taxes, and learn to speak ENGLISH. If the Native Americans had to learn English, so should everyone else.

Sure, the illegals work all over construction sites or other jobs for a lesser wage because they don't pay taxes. DUH! The government will be drained dry by feeding, housing & keeping up illegals. You want 'em
here- YOU take them into your home & support them! 
14

People out there... remember where and how this country was made. We are either all immigrants or the descendants of immigrants or the descendants of many nations of people who were slaughtered by some of our descendants. Why should the current generation of persecuted people not be allowed the same thing our ancestors were allowed?
14
To Julio, my friend. Whatsssup? You cannot leave the Tiki Bar.  We will miss the best wings in town, best burgers in town at a reasonable price and always consistently good.  Looe Key will not be the same without you.  Everyone is not replaceable.  You must let us know where you will be going so we can spend our hard earned money there.  Happy holidays!
14
Is it true that poisonwood trees are “protected”/”endangered” etc. and therefore cannot be removed from one’s property?  I have several that I want to get rid of, but I don’t want to get into trouble.  I have had a couple of encounters with its leaves, sap or whatever and still have the scars.
14
Are you talking about the heavy drinking and wet t shirt contests that used to be an almost daily occurrence at the Gang Plank? Yes, I do remember. I am the one that used to draw on people who passed out in front of the gang plank with a sharpie marker. Those were the days.
14
Why are we complaining about a couple of dead Key Deer? Aren't dogs naturally predators? Aren't deer naturally prey?  I'm glad I got your attention. Don't get me wrong, I love the Key Deer. I remember when there actually were so few that you never saw them. At the same time, when one was in the road and heard a car approaching, it actually ran away as deer do everywhere else (except now on Big Pine Key). Here, we actually teach them to come to us when they hear a car approaching.  There are so many more deer now than there were then. I believe there are more here now than this island can feed without the help of all you American cheese feeding individuals; or maybe your choice for food for the deer is white bread or marshmallows or anything else that you hand feed them; or leave out for them to eat with your human smell on it. Just as you all used to feed the old alligator that used to reside in the Blue Hole. How many of you remember that guy? You know, the one without any teeth that Leanora's dad brought there over 20 years ago. If you all could quit feeding the deer and treating them like they were pets, they would possibly become afraid of humans again, as they are supposed to be. Maybe then, they  wouldn't come to our cars when they hear us pass. Maybe they wouldn't think our dogs are their friends either. Yes, they are beautiful. They are so friendly, but we are killing more and more of them by our actions and now we want to get rid of the police dogs here because we have taught the deer just how harmless we are.  
14
Wasn't the Mayor of Key West Dennis Wheatley then?
14 Anybody else notice that those who complain about established businesses are the ones who write to this website from the library because they can't afford their own computer?
14

 

To all of you Piners: Dental floss and toothpaste!

14
One thing is appearing very true after spending 16 years here. Natural selection is gone for the human species. All these critters that would have been eliminated by nature are now safe to carry on and breed . Watching a 19 year old step outside a bar with her mother to get high just doesn't seem to be what we need. Is this their way of saying, "if I can make you fail, I will feel better about myself"? Yes, we are so lucky that we live now, because in another 100 years, nature will take care of us.
14
Did Joe sell the Tiki Bar or just hire someone to manage it?
14

Has anyone noticed that Big Pine is starting to resemble South Park--characters and all? I swear I saw a larger version of Cartman the other day in the House of Music, and there is a cop here who is a clone of Officer Barbrady. When are we going to celebrate Cow Days?
14 To the guy trying to buy a boat locallyLook in the papers and buy one from somebody who is selling one privately instead of going for the money hungry import who is here with dollar signs reflecting in his eyes. A lot of those guys are only selling because they can't afford to keep it with the economy going as it is here.
14

I tried to buy a motor locally. I received a price quote, I went back the next day with my checkbook and the dealer said there weren’t any more engines at that price, but he has the same engine at a higher price. I left and went home to stew. His second price was still good so I went back the next day to buy it at the second price and he had the nerve to pull the same stunt again. Raising the price. I then went to Marathon where I was treated lousy because I didn’t want to pay list price. We finally made a deal, but latter I received a phone call saying he forgot the tax (on $16,000). I gave up and went to Miami.

14
To the person looking for a boat.  Have you tried Turnkey Marine in Marathon?  I have dealt with John and his crew for years and have been quite pleased.  You might give them a try.
14 I just noticed the entry by the 'hey Brit do not be envious contributor'. Thank you for your observation, but I must point out, you are a prime example of the point I was making.

Firstly, we do not make a specific royalty tax, like all other layabouts, they get social security, but to save their sensitive feelings, it is called the civil list.  Unlike your president, who is subsidized by the American taxpayers, our parasites do have some income of their own.

As for Diana, if she was the best thing that we had, we would be in a perilous condition indeed.  She was a paranoid, delusional, depressive, nymphomaniac, with delusions on a grand scale.  A bit like you as a matter
of fact. There was much made of the fact that sixty thousand people attended her funeral procession, this ignores the  fifty eight million , plus who did not.  I rest my case.
14 Thank you for the 'Brit is back'. Although I would plead with you to call me English, for that is what I am and very, very proud of it.  Loved the reply from your correspondent who suggested that Queen Victoria started it. If that is true, then I congratulate you Americans for taking it a step further, but with the admonitory reminder that the US tourist is fleeced just as fervently in this country. Apart from that, I would like to wish you and all your readers/contributors, a very merry Christmas and prosperous and happy new year. With love and affection to my American cousins.
14

I can’t get over the store clerk who wrote in yesterday blaming their store’s bad attitude towards all customers on a drug addict. What a cop-out for being jerks.

14

 

For your information: I clean houses and make more money at it than most of you

14
The poem Jerry chose for his own memorial service is called "Desiderada" by Max ErhmannLook it up on the internet or get it somewhere. It is important. This is something we SHOULD  all use as a guide to live by as Jerry obviously did. We would all be much better for it and this would be a better world. In fact, if we all read and lived by this poem, there wouldn't be such negativity displayed in this column towards others.  
14
 
 
 
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
 
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
 
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and ignorant;
they too have their story.

 
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexations to the spirit.
 
If you compare yourselves with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater
and lesser persons than yourself.
 
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble,
it's a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
 

Poem requested by

Jerry Steven McClain
Dec. 12, 1946 - Dec. 4, 2004
 
DESIDERADA
Written by Max Erhmann

 

 
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many person strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life of full of heroism.
 
Be yourself.
Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
 
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
 
Nurture strength of spirit
to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have the right to be here.
 
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
 
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
 
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
14 (?) Hello friend.  My money is really good.  It brought up the value on your tiny Tiki hut.  So when you’re out of schemes and little fishies you can mosey on back up to the mainland with your profits.  Don’t let the door hit you in your big ass.  Our money is so good, that you and your drunken mates should be bowing down to those who are buying properties, businesses & feeding the economy, instead of bad-mouthing and circulating slander on people who do not flaunt their success.  You don’t do a darn thing in this community except TAKE. You, who doesn’t have to do any sort of exercise for that great-big-bisexual heart of yours.  Guess I'll enjoy the best revenge while you’re off shoplifting.  Yes, my money is very, very, VERY good and your pathetic jealousy is so obvious and sad that my friend seems to be green with envy. (?)
Monday
December 13
2004

 

Libel suit?  Good grief, take your lumps and live with them, like every other target in here.  If you're worth bothering about, your friends will rise to your defense.  Evidently they didn't, or you wouldn't feel the need for a lawyer.

13 To the people suing this site. Take it easy, man. The truth hurts, but we should learn from our mistakes. Think about it. What satisfaction will you get from it? nothing. The only one that will be happy is that vampire liar that you hired. I mean the lawyer. Don't worry. Be happy.
13
Libel, Smiebel it's all a bunch of horses**t.  Freedom of Speech.
13 Suit threat: What about freedom of speech?  A message board is slanderous?  What if it's the truth?  Lawyers and the bad guys always win.  I have been to court and it seems that the liars win all the time.  There appears to be many criminals down here doing a great business alongside their lawyers. Buyer beware.  Don't trust strangers.  Red flag.  Live and let live, but watch your back! 
13

Good Towelhead Bad Towelhead.
I don’t know about “sheetheads”, but as to help all good citizens who are on the lookout for “towelheads”, here are two pictures so that you can tell the difference between a “good” towelhead and a “bad” towelhead.

13 Why should we ship all the illegals back home? Have you ever looked around? Have you been to Winn Dixie, Key West, the construction companies, the people planting the the beautiful plants down on US-1? The people who clean your house wash your plates, pick your vegetables, baby sit your kids? You might be surprised. These people give us the manpower to have so that we can go and protect our nation. I can go on and on and on. Yes, they did cross our borders without permission, but why? So that they can try to have a better life and to provide for their families and so on. These people are not Mohammed Attas and those guys who caused 9/11. No, they love America. People like them think of America as a big  brother to help them. America has always ignored this side of the world. Only in time of need he looks onto them and either you are with me or against me. Look what America did to the Mexicans during the Mexican war--she just took Colorado, New Mexico, California and Texas .That was surely a big chunk. Look at all the jobs that America is sending to  China. Why doesn't America give all these jobs to the people in Central and South America? By doing this we can keep them busy and keep them home. If America had listened to Fidel Castro when he was asking for help we probably would not have a communist Cuba right now. We should help our neighbors more than we help  China and all the other nations that pretend to like us and do not. If we do not keep on taking care of our backyard these people will become a problem for us in the future. America has everything she needs on this side of the world and more. To all those illegals I WISH YOU a  Merry Christmas and a Happy New year. Wishing also the best today and tomorrow. 
13

 

Confucius Say:  Most Woman like old shoe.  Everything worn out but tongue.

13
Why, by shipping all our illegals, will that be a good Christmas? A lot of these people are here because, yes, they are looking for a better life, they did break the law by coming here without permission. A lot of these people have no grudges or hatred against the US. If you send them all, right now your groceries will not be bagged and placed on the shelves. Your produce will not be harvested. Have you ever drove through Homestead on a weekday? How would you like to be bending over for 8 hours/five days or more a week. Look around you. Illegals are all around you working hard. These people aren't terrorists. Hell, probably if the US would make something like the Foreign Legion, they probably would be the first to join. We have a lot of illegals from everywhere. We have white, brown, black, red--you name it. Canada, England, Nepal, and, yes, a lot of Mexicans and people from this side of our world. I think that the US should give all these people a chance. After all, we are on the same continent. The US has been ignoring Central and South America for a long time. We should remember that these people are in our backyard. If we are not careful they can be a thorn in our side. Instead of sending all the jobs to China we should give them to Central and South America. That will keep then home as they will be financially secure and that is what makes people happy. To all the illegals Merry Christmas and wishing you all the best today and tomorrow. 
13
Year's Best Meteor Shower Peaks Monday night. Grab a lawn chair and bundle up because what experts believe will be this year's best meteor shower peaks on Monday night (December 13). In the hours around midnight the Geminids will streak across the night sky at rates of a meteor per minute or more.
The Geminids should be the best shower this year. There's no moon so conditions will be perfect—as long as you don't mind freezing a bit. While most meteor showers are at their best only in the early morning hours, the Geminids aid the sleepy by appearing in good numbers before midnight.
13
kudos to the fire dept. I was just wondering if the lighted travels of the trucks will follow the same paths they went last year? Does any one know when they will be doing the Christmas runs?
13
This is a whine, but I feel it is justified. I have been trying to buy a boat down here for the last three months. I have dealt with new and used boat dealers from Marathon to Key West and I am beginning to believe they don't want to sell boats. The Key West place quoted an out the door price and when I was ready to purchase they said they forgot to add sales tax! The Marathon dealer has quoted me a boat with three different prices--each higher than the one before. And they never return phone calls.  A place on Big Pine sells used boats with undisclosed major mechanical and/or structural problems. I always thought I would like to buy locally, but this lack of integrity by the dealers is going to force me to go elsewhere-perhaps the dreaded Miami. Any suggestions out there?
13 Does anyone out there know any good bartender jokes?
13
The People who have businesses here would all be a little nicer to everyone if they didn't have to deal with the 5% of this community that is so burned out on pot, PCP, coke, crack, or alcohol everyday.  (Forgive me if I left out your favorite drug.)  I'm talking about all these old farts with long scruffy/wild white/gray hair who are still living in the 60's. There are a few of those guys who are ok and act normally, but way too few.  How about the ones who, when they talk to you, seem as if they're staring past you at a hallucination from their past (See drug reference above). If ever an intelligent remark came out of their mouths it would be followed by drool.  Finally, there's that, oh, so loved, segment of the public that asks you for help/where to find something/which store has what and when you tell them your answer they either agree and head on their way, say what(?) because they're hard of hearing (we forgive that), or the ones who after you give the answer stammer a little bit and ask you their question again (see drug reference above).  Seeing these people everyday brings you down.  They take the desire to be helpful away that even when that 95% of the community that actually gives a care about it and provides an actual benefit to others comes in, you're burned out and you appear non-caring.
13 Hold on to the bar, 'Julios', at Looe Key Tiki, is closing. Julio tells me he is going out into the big bad world to work for someone else. Said the changes that came with new management are just too great for him to continue. So, if you want to see him or have one more great burger he is done on the 23rd. Here is the worst part the cook that has been cooking up all that great food at Bahama Jacks is taking over.  I guess he is going to spread the garbage. This cook is so well know in the area. His awful reputation follows him. One more great move for this new management at Looe Key. If anyone sees Joe tell him to grab on to the reins and take that baby back. The kid, Chippy, is too young to run that bar and besides he has not lived here long enough. You know how that goes.
13
Thanks for the picture of the orange truck in daylight.  That's quite an attention grabber, day or night.
13

13

100 year old cat: Maybe your cat’s eating again because it’s feeling better. Maybe it was sick for the past 99 years. I’d wait before taking it to the vet unless it falls over or something.

13
Disgusting habits:  People that crack their knuckles.
13 Gum chewing is definitely an eye roller, especially the places people discard their gum. How about people who suck their teeth, don't brush their teeth & use double negatives? Oh, oh, oh- how about those people who blow their noses or hack in a restaurant? Gawd, I'd love to bomb them with skunk.
13 As regards Summerland Hardware: The proprietor caught me in his parking lot and gladly opened his doors  at 7:30 on a Sunday morning. An hour and a half earlier than usual to sell me one lousy hose connector. Would that happen at Big Pine Ace? How about ANYWHERE else? How about by noon on a Sunday? (Home Depot not withstanding). That's called service. It's called a merchant trying to take care of his people and community, and when one is desperate for some sundry item on a Sunday, one would gladly pay a premium for it. Oh, and by the way,  I didn't pay anymore there than anywhere else on a G.D. weekday. Also, just a word of appreciation for all the rest of us schlepping grunts who hit it seven days.
13
Kudos Chapter 1; Kudos to Eric, Erin, Tina, Tammy, Jeanne, Gabriel, Roy, Megan, Jena, Justin, Matt, Darien, Al, Kevin, Bruce, Hurricane Dave, Melody, Sherry, Jimmy, Neal, & Mike. All Great Employees.
Chapter 2.  Kudos to Ant, Mike & Tony, all great musicians.
Chapter 3.  Kudos to The Moondogs, a great band.
Chapter 4.  Kudos to Slap Happy Pappy, Bill Cerney & Friends, 10,000 Maniacs, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Dan Sullivan, Kenny Mac, DJ Rebecca
Chapter 5.  Kudos to Frank from Future Antiques & the great job he did with Presents In Paradise (raising money for underprivileged kid's Christmas presents).
Chapter 6.  Kudos to Donnie Zimmerman
Chapter 7.  Kudos to BigPineKey.com!; Big Pine Pizza, Captain Dan & Key Deer Bar & Grill, Tom Thumb, 2 for 20 Pizza, Boondocks, Ace Hardware, True Value Hardware, Coconuts
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy New Year, I know there's more but, the heck with it, Happy Holidays.
13
From a non-resident; I would like to read Jerry McLain's chosen poem.  Any person so obviously well-thought-of by so many has a point of view worth considering.  I'm sorry Big Pine Key lost such a person, but I'm glad you enjoyed and appreciated him.
13
Please do share Jerry's Poem with the world.
13
To the Kind soul that realized the goodness, the generosity, the overall karma from Jerry (McClain).  Beware: It's INFECTIOUS.
13

 

Thanks for the story behind the Conch Republic.  That's priceless.  I love it!

13
Appropriate Jerry (McClain) tunes: Try Abbey Road, # 14 Golden Slumbers, and all others. Jerry and the Beatles like peanut butter and jelly.
13 Happy Birthday Perry. Like Papa said, 'you should have been a racehorse.' You are a racehorse. You are loved. 
Sunday
December 12
2004
Here are some Kudos: Big Pine Coffee Shop - Great. Ace Hardware - Great. Square Grouper - Great. The Sunday morning newspaper kid at the light on Big Pine - GREAT. Reef Light & Tackle - Great. How's that for some Kudos?
12


Kudos to the Police
in this town. Thank you.
12
How many of you out there remember the Gangplank and Jack's Sub Shack?
12
I love it. I wish I had thought of it. Little sheet heads. Beautiful.
12
Re: Conch Republic flag. During the Mariel boatlift in '80-'81 the US Border Patrol set up a roadblock in Florida City. Essentially it was a border stop and we felt like we were being treated like a  foreign country. The local government at the time (KW Mayor Dennis Wordlow) told the federal govt. that if they didn't remove it we (Monroe county) would succeed from the union and become the Conch Republic. They didn't and we did and,  voila!  There's the story behind the flag. P.S. We finally straighted it out, sort of.
12 The best Christmas gift we can give ourselves is to ship all the illegals back to their homeland.
12


Bigpinekey.com threatened with Libel Suit. Oh, oh!
12
Here's to the person that complained about no blue cheese dressing from Robs. I've got my match for you from The House of music. I ordered a pizza and a burrito for us and an order of chicken tenders that I always get for my dog. The girl on the phone asked what kind of sauce I wanted.  I told her the dog doesn't like sauce so she didn't write it down. When our order was delivered 30 minutes later the cook added a pretty piece of lettuce and mustard sauce. Well, our dog was pissed. She hates mustard we had to remove that before she was going to eat it.  It was a good thing that it was in a nice little container with a lid. Oh, the food was really good.
12
The best hardware store to go shopping is Ace hardware in Big Pine. The one in Summerland has the prices are all jacked up. You pay 25 percent more there than any other place. John and company (BP True Value) are always mean. I'd rather deal with Leslie and Monkey they are only mean once a month.
12
Good thought SWF.  If he, at least, did the right thing with the marriage he has one good quality.  You sound like a great gal so he has good taste too.  Don't give up on all men because of one dirt bag.
12

BP True Value is not mentioned because the vibes in there are too weird for comment. I always feel like I’m interrupting someone when I have to shop there.

12


No credit for True Value because when you go there both the dad and son are pissed with the world. It's like when you go in there you're there to beg. Just because things are not going your way doesn't mean that you have to be a self-centered person. Change your attitude and we will give you kudos. Just be nice.
12




Tower on BP
. I think, by law, that towers over so many feet high have to have a flashing white light so aliens won’t hit it when they land.

12
Can you believe that there are people that want to take Christ out of Christmas? What has happened to our country? We don't knock other peoples religion and try to make them change there holidays here. We have the freedom of expression and the right to celebrate Christmas and all other holidays. You don't see the ones that don't celebrate Christmas or whatever else holiday, working on those days when their company gives them the day off. They take that day off. Can you imagine what would happen with no Christ in CHRISTmas? Think of all the things that they would have to change, Christmas songs, etc. Help keep our rights, for all religions we all deserve to have our own holidays and not have anyone mess that up. If you don't like Christmas or any other holiday you should move to a place that does not celebrate anything.
Keep Christ in Christmas! Merry Christmas to all and Happy holidays to those who do not celebrate Christmas.
12


I have a pet peeve. People that chew, pop and crack gum.  I think it is a disgusting habit.  Does anyone else agree?
12 I just got back from Jerry's (McClain) Remembrance Ceremony.  The reason I call it this is because it was in no way a typical funeral.  We laughed, we cried, we remembered and some shared.  I would have liked to have told everyone about my experiences with Jerry, but I am not the public speaking type.  The picture slide show was phenomenal. The poem Jerry picked out was truly awakening.  If we were to all live by it Big Pine would be an even better place. If anyone would like to read it let "Kudos and Whiners" know and I would be honored to type it up here. I would like to thank the McClain's for the opportunity to have shared this day with them even though it was the hardest day of their lives.  I absolutely respect, appreciate, and envy the love throughout their family. And now to Jerry: Now that the pain is gone and you are in a better place what does the Loch Ness Monster really look like?  We will miss you everyday for the rest of our lives.
12 Re: 100 year old cat A big change in eating habits is a good reason to have the vet check her out. 
12 The graphics and photos added to this site look great. It gives the site more interest. Keep up the good work. (The visual about the 250 lb wife never came up though) I'm sure that image will be hysterical.
12 Hey Brit! Don't be envious of your superior Americans. We don't bow to a haggard queen. We are equals here. We built America up to be the best country on this planet by hard work, intelligence, and innovation. We don't pay "Royalty" taxes so that a single family can live in an opulent palace, vacation in another palace, etc. generation after generation. Meanwhile, the general English population live hard, poor lives in a cold, wet land. Princess Diana was the best thing that ever happened to the royal family. Enjoy your vacation in the land of plenty. America the beautiful.
 
12


A
nd you foolish Brits are still stupid enough to fall for our pirate tricks and lies and besides it was your queen that started it (Victoria I believe).
12
Merry Christmas, Brit!  Yea, tourism is piracy under more subtle colors, or should I say 'colours'?  Spell check is pure hell on one of your computers.
12



Happy Birthday Perry
! We love you. Hugs & Kisses. Paradise.
12
Happy Birthday Perry! I Love You from your little sister Susan.

 

Saturday
December 11
2004


Did you see the Christmas decorations on Coldwell Banker next to the post office? Wow! Merry Christmas. Eat your heart out Century 21.

11

I don’t think that they’ve used lead or mercury in dental fillings for over 20 years.

11


I'm still looking for any information that might help me locate Amber S.  She moved away a few months ago and I'm trying to find her. Thanks for any help!
11

My cat’s a hundred years old and all of a sudden she’s eating us out of house and home. What’s up?

11
There's finally enough wind today that I could get a good look at the Conch Republic flag and it really looks great!  That's a beautiful blue!  I can make out the words, but I'm not sure of the symbol.  Is that a conch shell in a sunburst in the middle?   Is there some history to this?
11
Is the tower on Big Pine with the red flashing light a new cell site?  Or is it for radio?  Any chance it can get a steady light instead of flashing?

I have all my Christmas shopping done. I'm so proud of myself. Ho, Ho,Ho!
11 I have been feeding my dog beer and pizza for a long time It is no wonder he has a touch of gas. The only thing that scares me is that he has taking up smoking.
11

Restaurant Review:
I ate at A Slice Of Paradise today for the first time.  It was excellent.  Good food, friendly staff, fresh veggies on the pizza.  The prices are very reasonable.  Clean well kept setting.  Just an all around pleasure for lunch.  Maybe the staff at Bahama Jack's might desire some good food.  I recommend they walk across the street and see what a decent restaurant is.
11
To: Jerry McClain, the man who could tame wild pigs with a pack of lifesavers. I Love You, your little sister Possum Trot.
11 Talk about lack of Christmas spirit. Would you all just take a minute and read what you are writing? I'm sorry that friends recommended this site. Where are the Kudos. All I see are the whiners.
11
Kudos. I looked it up: Acclaim or praise for exceptional achievement.
11
How come nobody gives credit to True Value hardware on Big Pine Key?  They have a lot more selection that Ace does. Have we forgotten about them because they're hidden behind a couple of gas pumps?
11
Law Enforcement do follow the law as well as other citizens.  My husband is with FWC and has never poached lobster!  Get to know some of your officers before you bad mouth them!
11



Deputy Dawg kills Key deer
. Where is the Key Deer Protection Alliance on all this? Are they just concerned with exporting our herd to Cudjoe and Sugarloaf?

11 It looks like the blue wall of silence has struck again. I heard about the first deer killing, but the second time is just too much. If our dog killed a deer he would be killed and our name would be plastered in the newspapers and on the internet. To protect and to serve. Irony.
11

The county should evict the deer killing dogs if not the owner too.  For the low, all-included, rent of $400 a month, the deputy is supposed to provide security for the park and he can't even keep the gate shut after his dogs killed the first deer. There are also cheaper solutions like a running lead, but, then again, why should County monies be used for something that the dog owner should be responsible for? Isn't there a leash law that I'm sure the rest of us would get nailed for (at least)? Is there anything the citizens can do about this?

11 The Brit is back. Hello all you whiners. This email is coming from one of your superiors in the UK.  As you are probably aware, if it was not for the civilizing influence of your English benefactors you would still be earning a living by
ransacking ships in distress, mostly caused by your ancestors waving false signals to poor mariners to lure them onto the reefs in the vicinity of your islands.
However, you do not do this any more, instead, you fleece the tourists with every kind of swindle you can pass off as trade or commerce. In your own way you are the ancestors of the scavengers who robbed the dead of previous years.
Sorry for the above, but I just could not resist taking the micky out of my American cousins, love you really, all the best and a merry Christmas to all the people of the US and especially to Big Pine Residents.
11

Big Pine Restaurant Gang. To all of the gang here: We love you!  Tray Dawg you're the number one. Keep putting smiles on our face. We love you and keep being you.  Stacy. Ms. Arkansas. We love you too. You light us up every time we come in there. Pocahontas (Tahnee). Keep up the good work on the register and counter. We love you too.  Jr. and Sam. You rock in the kitchen. Keep  the grill burnin' and keep it hot in the kitchen.  As far as Sam and John go. Love the visor and we love the company we get every time we come there. Thank you for being here in Big Pine. This place is the most hospitable. Merry Christmas to everyone.

11 This is SWF- I don't want revenge. The poor married man said he was trapped into marriage by an "accidental" pregnancy. He was stand-up to marry her, he now needs to stand up and divorce if he wants freedom. The wife is over 250 pounds- moooooooo!  She gained 100 lbs with the pregnancy 17 years ago & never lost the extra ton. A train wreck from both directions. I don't know who to pity more- the 2-ton wife or cheating hubby. Glad it's not me!
11 I am joining the list of people who complain about Rob's.  I got take-out from Rob's last night as I do many times (It's to awful to eat-in when Rob is there), got home and there was no blue cheese dressing with my buffalo sandwich.  I was very annoyed.  It's a simple thing and they can't get it right.  Also you do not get cole slaw with you sandwiches anymore.  Cheap!
11
As for NAPA'S arch, the owner told me what it will be, and it will be the farthest thing from an arch, give him time.  More than likely our good(?) friends at the building department are slowing...I mean, helping him out as quickly as they can to finish the project.
11

That's a good idea calling the Muslim Arabs "sheet heads". I always called them rag heads. I thought they needed to keep a rag handy since they don't have toilet paper.
11 Way to go with the "little sheet heads" comment on those rag heads  Funny. 
11
I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas(I hope I offended someone.)
Friday
December 10
2004

To the person who said Bill Becker never mentioned Pearl Harbor, please get you facts straight.  Not only did he mention it, he had the commander of NAS Key West on the Morning Magazine to talk about it.  He also had it on his news cast at noon.
10
F.Y.I. Re:  Bill Becker and Pearl Harbor.  Bill did talk about Pearl Harbor with the Navy commander that morning (12/7).  He also carried a very appropriate story on it later in the day.  Whoever made that nasty comment should get their facts straight.  I think you owe him an apology.
10 Bill Becker: I heard him talking about Pearl Harbor. The Whiner writer evidently has a grudge against Mr. Becker or the station. That's the price of celebrity, I guess.
10
I heard Bill Becker's story on Pearl Harbor.  What station were you listening to?
10

10

Key deer killed by dogs at the site for the big pine park. What a horrible ending for harmless little key deer to be attacked and killed by dogs. This never should have happened a second time and it is due to the negligence of the owner of the dogs.  I have seen these dogs running around the neighborhood because the Monroe County Deputy leaves the gates open.  The dogs have the taste for blood and I am afraid that a small child could be next.  The county is in the process of getting a price quote for a temporary 300'-350' fence to be installed within the existing park fence. Both will be removed when the park is constructed.  Why waste money on something temporary instead of finding a deputy without untrained dogs to reside in a public park?

10
As for the Deputy's dog killing deer, one must remember, if you are law enforcement, the rules aren't for you. Sheriffs can speed, FWC can poach lobster and Key West police can beat you up. So just forget about solving this and hope you aren't the next victim in their sights.
10 Oh, do you want to start on the old Mariner Resort? I can just say that I have a great view of the property, and have for many years. Since the County has owned it, it is nothing but an "eyesore". Overgrown yard, and dilapidated buildings, and mountains of dirt and debris everywhere! As far as the dogs go on the property, maybe the county should fix the fence so the deer can't get in, or the dogs can't get out. If my dogs mauled a deer, let alone two (if that is true??), where would they be now? Death Row?
10 Giving credit to the U.S. Service men and women this holiday season.?  Did you see Rumsfeld's disrespectful response to the soldiers in Kuwait yesterday? In one of his glib "Nothing's perfect," "Freedom's untidy" and "Stuff happens" maxims, Rummy told the soldier: "As you know, you go to war with the Army you have."
10
Hoooo-rah! Rummy finally got called on the carpet. Not by the president, of course, but by troops fighting in Iraq. Some of them are finally fed up enough to rumble about his back-door draft and failure to provide them with the proper armor for their Humvees, leaving them scrambling to improvise with what they call "hillbilly armor." See more from Maureen Dowd today (Dec 9 www.nytimes.com ). Too bad we've got at least four more years of this crap.
10

Rumsfield was asked by a soldier why they had to scavenge scrape metal to improvise their own armor for the bottoms of their vehicles. He answered that “You go to war with what you have.” No, Mr. Rumsfield, you go to war with what your leaders give you.

10


TOWEL HEADS
.
Recently I received a warning about the use of this politically incorrect term, so please try to pay attention. We have been informed that the Islamic terrorists who hate our guts do not like to be called "Towel Heads," since the item they wear on their heads is actually a small, folded sheet. Therefore, from this point forward, please refer to them as: "Little Sheet Heads." Thank you for your support and compliance on this delicate matter.

10
I can relate to the person who was disappointed with Scotty's.  I gave up on them a long time ago.  It is the only hardware store I know of that has a better selection of green beans or canned corn then they have nails or screws.  Ace Hardware in Big Pine is the way to go.  In the event that Ace does not have what you need they will order it or tell you somewhere else you can find it.
10

Hitch King Woes. Next time go to JC Whitney. They have hitches for about a hundred dollars and hitch balls for six. Thanks for telling us about your ordeal.

10


What do you think that ruin of a Roman arch on the front of the new Napa store? Is that supposed to be some architectural detail reflecting our Roman history? Tacky and brainless.

10

I’d like to be in the Christmas boat parade on the 18th, but I don’t want to pull my 20’ boat out of the water at night. Is there some kind soul out there with a free convenient dock for one night that I could use?

10

I like the Christmas decorations (all three of them) along Key Deer Blvd. Why aren’t more businesses decorated? Where’s their spirits. The most notable missing decoration is Century 21 with their sparse showing after all these years

10
The owner of Century 21 Keysearch on Big Pine is Scott Nyman and he is a tight wad.  Call him and complain at 451-4321.
10
Karma confirmed. (to the SWF awaiting revenge) A good friend of mine recently got married.  Although a good friend, he made a lousy boyfriend; never dating the same gal more than 3 times, occasionally making a dash to Guatemala or Belize to hire 2 hookers at once, etc.  This gal is revenge for every one of those wronged ladies.  She is physical perfection with no soul.  She's already a suspected black widow and has spent months wringing every gift and bit of financial info she can out of my friend.  I think he's a dead man, but there's not a thing to be done at this point but wait to see if she cleans him out in a messy divorce or kills him before it comes to that.  It's sad, but there will be a lot of cheering women looking on.
10 Go to www.HBO.com  to see when your favorite shows are coming back.
10 I've been here for over 30 years and never heard of a secret local's discount.
10
If you haven't been here long enough to know about local discounts, you haven't been here all that long.
10
My poor old Granny has a bad case of the walking farts. She almost got arrested for shoplifting at K-Mart. They thought she was stealing duck calls and stink baits.
10
Gassy dog. So what makes you windy? Something that doesn't quite sit well in your stomach, right? Maybe you need to try a different food for your dog. Maybe you should stop feeding him people food. I've been lucky enough to have had my share of four legged friends and most of them didn't do "people food well". Good luck.
10 Lucky's owner - this is a sign of appreciation to the master. (Cat do the same thing). Is he catching the fish? if so Kudo's to your dog.
10
Anal ventingThe added benefit of having this done is that your male dog won't smell bad anymore.
10

Maybe the reason you only see older people on Hogs has something to do with the cost factor. They aren't cheap. When was the last time you saw a 20 year old with a spare $40,000 to spend on two wheels?
10 To the 19 year old punk. Hi, from st33v3
Thursday
December 9
2004
The holiday season is here and we should give credit to our U.S. servicemen and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let us all try in some small way to pay tribute and show respect to them all. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.
 
"May the wings of angels surround and protect you from all the worries and fears as you walk into the fog of reality."
9
Best small hardware store: Summerland Ace Hardware. Closely followed by Specialty Hardware in Marathon.  Best on Big Pine Key is, of course, Ace.
9


I heard that the deputy’s dogs at the Mariner Resort-park-thing killed another Key deer. That’s two so far--two too many. If the deputy would close his gate and keep his dogs in and the deer out that wouldn’t happen.

9
About Steeve over at 2 for $20. Steeve was a great guy, always had a smile on, always made us laugh to no end. He was a great worker. All around a great person. I don't know where Steeve is these days. I'm not sure if he will make it back to 2 for $20. I'm glad to hear Steeve put a smile on your face. I miss the ol guy.
9


I think the computer market will really take off again when they can get the available wireless download speed so fast that you can download a movie anywhere at anytime like at the airport or laundromat, etc.

9 RE: Singles happy hour.  I was talking about the Looe Key Tiki Hut.
9
Looe Key Tiki has the best singles Friday night AND draft beers are only $1!
9
I just got a sneak preview of the Christmas truck with the Jerry memorial.  That is so nice Mike and Danielle.  Thanks. God bless you and yours.
9 Bill Becker, our illustrious morning newscaster, did not mention Pearl HarborTypical of Bill.
9 Re: Dead fish. Squeeze his ass.
9
Fact of life: Dogs love dead things.  Even if their diet is nutritionally perfect, they aren't going to pass up a stinking dead thing.
9
Since everyone seems to help with dog problems here, I have one, maybe, someone could help me with. My dog Boomer continually passes gas. At first I thought it was the sewage treatment plant at Venture Out, but I was wrong. It's embarrassing when people are over as he's a house dog. I've tried different dog foods to no avail. Any tips people?
9
Bar Review: To the person asking about Coconuts. Good place from around 11 PM to about 1 AM.  That is when all the bar staff from other places meet up.  Day time and late night crowd is kind of shady.  Lots of drugs, lots of women with more tattoos then teeth, but a cool place to go after 11.  Just don't stay too late.  Low-life-city later on at night.
9


Coconuts Bar & Package Store
.   Best pool table equipment in Keys: 4 or 5 four and a half by nine Brunswick tables, Centennial balls, Simonis 860 cloth, new cues. It is indeed a late night spot. Often it doesn't get busy until 10 at night. Owners Joe and Meri-Lynn are nice folks.
9 When Angellotti's was open you also could go to the meat market next to Island Jims or go to No Name Pub for the Roy Boy Show and have a great pizza or some of granddads chili. It was a nice place, if you could find it. And let's