Saturday March 31, 2007

[I have something to say] I am Leigha Fox, host of Biz-Baz on US1 radio 104.1.  Recently someone made some comments on my radio show and in this forum that where derogatory toward my character. I believe that the person chose this forum, BigPineKey.com, to express their views of me instead of in a private forum for fear of physical conflict. This person said that my partner and I are insensitive and uncaring.

Let me say this; and don't make me repeat myself when I say,  “I care about lost and found dogs, cats, bunnies, turtles, lizards, snakes, rodents and birds.  I care about dolphins, whales, sea turtles, see grass, mangrove trees, beach erosion, water pollution, manatees, the MARC house, the Wesley house, AIDS help, The Conch Republic Foster Children's Program, global warming, war on my homeland, Habitat for Humanity, Monroe County Aquaduct Authority, giant power poles running up and down US1, waste water treatment facilities through Monroe County, the freedom to say whatever you want as long as you abide by FCC regulations, I care about maintaining a signal to our listeners when they really need us. I care about a roof over my head and wheels under my feet.  I believe the greatest gift I have ever been given is being able to live out my dream job in paradise.

So don't ever say that I don't care!

The city manager of Largo Florida had to quite because he wants a sex change and the citizens didn’t like that. Why doesn’t he come to the Keys and be the Key West City Manager? They are certainly looking for one. He ran Largo for 14 years and made it a profitable city. So what if he’s a little swish, it would be great publicity for the City of Key West and he’s a really good city manager.
 
The only candidates applying for that position now are high ranking Naval officers who don't know much about the real world.

Hey Pineys, we’ve been in Costa Rica almost three months now. I’m finding out it’s not all that its cracked up to be. If I were going to do it again, I’d go all inclusive. There is lots of poverty thus crime, and noise, car alarms whooping, horns blowing, but on the upside there are a lot of attractive women. You can rent them by the hour or day or week or month or lifetime I suppose. Prostitution is legal. I haven’t found that on Big Pine, but then again maybe I just didn’t go to the right street in the Avenues.

Have they put up the Gates in Key largo yet? Just wondering. I also heard that everyone in the keys now has their own personal police officer. Is that true? The third world has penetrated the first. Is that true also?  I guess by now your seeing all those big old worn out red and white J.R.G. buses fly by with those human spirits on board that the elitist class is so willing to exploit! Ah, I guess there is nothing quite as satisfying as exploiting a foreigner, is there? Is anyone installing iron bars over there windows yet like they do here? Or chaining and locking every conceivable thing? Somebody let me know, it might be a good business for the future when they open the flood gates.

[really tired of the snowbirds] Look out BPK! We have lost our minds. Today we will cast off our lines and start sailing south. I know we will be swimming against the tide of snow birds, but that's OK. I know it’s hurricane season, but I figure we have just as much chance of getting whacked by a hurricane here in Charleston SC as we do in the Keys. So look for us in Cudjoe bay next to the power lines, I'll be the one dinking threw the canals without registration numbers. Don't panic call me over with a cold beer and we'll talk. See y'all in June or whenever, we have no schedule.

[Phone book listing under “Lousy Neighbors”] Instead of asking what key that the lousy neighbors live on, why not look for yourself in the phone book? If you don't find who you were looking for, then post. Unfortunately, the map of the keys in the front of the BellSouth phone book does not include BPK for some reason, but the Yellow book has a map of BPK.

OK, now let's get a story in here for Sunday about the Pigeon Key Bridge and new railroad.

[Part 2 Moving to DÖMSÖD!] Dad was a mechanic by trade but didn't work at it since the end of the war. Instead he tried to start his own business. He found two or three abandoned shot-to-pieces and partially burned Skoda automobiles. He begged, borrowed, maybe even stole, to get the parts and patch them and get them into running condition. Finally he started his enterprise, and called it 'Gray Taxi'. It was grey because that's the only color paint he could get ahold of. If I remember correctly, it was the same shade of grey as the German military vehicles were, Wermacht grey. There wasn't many cars running around the streets of Budapest in those days, transportation was at a premium. From the start, dad and the other driver were working eighteen hour days, and they were raking in the money. The biggest problem was getting the fuel. Dad knew the Russians well, they were queer for wrist watches. Dad made sure that he always had two or three inexpensive models in his pocket. He wouldn't wear any on his arm because a Russian could demand it at gunpoint. He would walk up to the driver of a Ford or Chevy truck, show the driver the watch, and walk away with two five gallon cans of gasoline. He had to take the cans back, that was part of the deal.

The Gray Taxi finally caught the eye of the communist authorities. The ÁVÓ (acronym for state police made up from communist thugs) came calling. They asked dad for the papers...The Hungarian

The only thing I know about Pinewood Septic is that they will work their butts off for you in trying to solve problems with the health department.  The whole crew seems to be great and, although we have just signed a contract with them and do not know first hand about their work we asked over 6 business people and 3 neighbors who had nothing but Kudos for them.  They also have their own machinery and do not seem to sub anything out as far as we can tell.  Good Luck; and we also find it a good idea to ask. Most people will tell you the truth and this company batted 100%.

The plugged canals were not filled in accidentally, they were forced to plug the ends because the original developers either dug the canals without the proper permits or they were dug too deep for the permit.  Unless the homeowners can afford the many hundreds of thousands in clean fill to re-permit and refill the canals they will never be reopened.  Owners on several of the canals have been trying unsuccessfully for years to reopen their canals.  

[Moondogs at Picnic Island] it doesn’t get any better than that! I’ll be there.

Mr. Poophead. You called in sick to work today. Don’t forget that you need a doctor’s excuse when you come back to work. Maybe Dr. Grider will give you one. Good Luck.

[Vacation rental]  Maybe you should try talking to your neighbor in a respectable manner and as an adult of your concerns.  Most people do not want any issues with their neighbors or undesirable renters in their houses and are willing to work it out with you.  Calling Code Enforcement without trying to work it out first will cause even more problems overall.

Plugged canals. Chances are that’s just how it was dredged originally. There are lots of quarries around here that were dredged for fill. They may have started dredging then had to stop. In the 70s there were laws passed to stop dredging projects. They still do allow some dredging and filling. Key West Navy stuff is an example as well as the 18 mile stretch and Little Palm Island got permits to dredge their boat basin. Little Palm paid to put in the buoys and maintain them at the coral heads off Big Munson. They pay NOAA money for maintenance fees. In return they got permits to dredge.

There were tons of development plans for down here. Roads were built just about everywhere to nowhere. Mosquito ditches dug everywhere killing deer and other animals like rabbits. Just about all the keys including back county islands were divided up for development. Different islands out back have been dredged for different purposes. The most well know are the two canals on Tarpon Belly which were dredged to raise shrimp. This island is privately owned just like many other out islands.

The keys right now are more ecological preserved then they have been since the 50’s. The water quality and the coral is another story. Mainland farming and development everywhere, I believe, is the cause. Most forests down here are, at best, second growth. Most of the keys wood was cut down for different purposes. There are more mangroves down here now then ever.

The most destructive dredge and fill project and the biggest problem is the huge dike (US1) running the length of the keys not some stupid cats. US-1 is built up so high that it holds the water back in case of a surge until that water can breach that dike. If it is high tide on the Atlantic it’s low tide in the Gulf. Therefore, there is always a place for the water to go, but it has to build up to get there. When hurricanes come from the west and up into Florida bay pushing all that water into that shallow v-shaped estuary be prepared for a large surge especially if you live on the Gulf side.

[The UN is just about the only place where nations are actually talking to one another]  Fine by me, I just said it’s about time they did their tongue wagging out of the U.S. and without my money lining their pockets.  Oil for food? My, you know what!   

[Fourth of July Party with Moondogs] Hell, l yeah!

If Bush didn’t have a plan to win the war going on 5 years ago maybe its damn time the democrats do take over. If you think Iraq would break into violence if we left you have not been paying attention. It already is. There are about 100 people injured and dozens killed daily. Wake up, it’s a farce.

Euthanize, or shelter? Advocates say cats have nowhere to go except their death. (By Steve Estes, News Barometer Editor) Trapping of feral cats on federal lands on Big Pine is scheduled to commence in a few weeks, but animals rights groups say the project has no future for the cats other than to euthanize them once they’ve been captured.
And that’s not something they’re willing to live with… http://newsbarometer.com/

Coondogs are a great band.

Marathon should be proud of themselves. They have done a magnificent job with Sombrero Beach. It is well kept, no homeless people lurking about,  a safe place for  family fun  and it is beautifully designed.

Over twenty volunteers picked up trash last Saturday in Eden Pines Colony.  www.EdenPinesOwners.com Many thanks to them, the Association and Robert Keely from The National Marine Sanctuary for all their efforts!

[plugged canals] They were not plugged by hurricanes. They are canals that were never cut to completion by the contractor due to one reason or another. As far as dredging you need permits from Army Corp and DEP to do this. You can only remove silt sediment. They will not let you dredge rock for any reason.

I volunteer my pontoon boat to hold the keg of beer for the Fourth of July party with the Moondogs.

[Plug it up] The way I heard it from old timers was a lot of the site work completed down here in the 60’s was done with out a permit. It was not uncommon for the permit to be received during the work, or shortly after completion. Enter the plug huggers! Yep, environ-mentals required the canals to “settle” for one year after dredging and before the final “plug” at the mouth of the canal was removed. It wasn’t long before they were looking for any excuse to not allow the plug to be removed. I heard of a group of home owners on Big Pine, Oceanside on the way out to Sea Camp that got together in the 70’s and filed several law suits. The only thing they accomplished was making several attorneys a little wealthier.     

[Eagle Scout bleacher project] More power to this young man, but isn't Watson Field a county park?

The plugged canals were dug by ambitious developers who failed to secure the proper permits first.  The state made them put the plugs in so they would not benefit from the illegally created waterfront. Rumor has it that once all the lots in Coral Shores are owned by someone other than the original canal digging developers they will be allowed to open them.

The planning is in the works for the upcoming "Snowbirds be Gone" party to be held at an undisclosed location on BPK in May. There will be live music, contests  such as who can give the best imitation of a snowbird, most creative anonymous calls to Code Enforcement, proper rude etiquette for the WD, and lots of other great events. It is really too bad we can't go where the 'birds live in the summer and disrupt their lives, but no one that lives down here would ever venture up North because basically it sucks.

"I believe that sex is one of the most beautiful, natural, wholesome things that money can buy." --Tom Clancy

[Airline cabin announcement] “Thank you for flying Delta Business Express. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride.”

I had the occasion to visit San Pablo's Church in Marathon. It is the most beautiful and inspirational place here in the keys.

[George Carlin's Solution to save gasoline] Bush wants us to cut the amount of gas we use. The best way to stop using so much gas is to deport 11 million illegal immigrants! That would be 11 million less people using our gas. The price of gas would come down. Bring our troops home from Iraq to guard the border. When they catch an illegal immigrant crossing the border, hand him a canteen, rifle and some ammo and ship him to Iraq. Tell him if he wants to come to America then he must serve a tour in the military. Give him a soldier's pay while he's there and tax him on it. After his tour, he will be allowed to become a citizen since he defended this country. He will also be registered to be taxed and be a legal patriot. This option will probably deter illegal immigration and provide a solution for the troops in Iraq and the aliens trying to make a better life for themselves. If they refuse to serve, ship them to Iraq anyway, without the canteen, rifle or ammo. Problem solved.

[“…the dance of love”] Wasn't there a song out in the 60's called " Blame it on the Bossa Nova?"  Just checking.

I have seen "Keys Disease" many times. Can some one provide a definition for this term?

[I hope Cay Clubs buys the Sugarloaf Lodge] Is it even for sale. Ick, no more money from big corporations. How did radio shack make it in so quickly?

Think we will skip Bon Apetito after reading your comments. They seemed pricey, but we figured the ambiance, food and service may be worth it. I guess not.

Decided to try the new Twisted Noodle in KW instead. We had been thinking about it and after reading the good review in the Blue paper we were on our way. Needless to say the review was right on. Great service, great atmosphere and more than enough good food! Two adults and two kids were stuffed to the gills and we went home with enough leftovers for dinner tonight. All for under $40 not including tip. We'll be going back!

Thanks to the bad attitude of my (would be) date, I decided to go out to dinner alone tonight. Out of the ordinary, I picked up a freebee paper from the stack near the front door of the restaurant and was seated immediately. Thumbing thru the first few pages, I nearly choked on my drink, there he was:  Andrew Tipler!  And what a lovely smile. Thanks for making my night, Capt. (I guess I can also thank my date for being an ass. Had I not gone alone, the paper would still be sitting in the stack. whew!)

The deadline for publishing is 6am
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Saturday March 31, 2007

Friday March 30, 2007

[No more UN] I agree that the UN is a goofy organization and for a large part useless, but getting rid or it? That is just about the only place where nations are actually talking to one another. We need more of that not less.

Looking around at property for sale I noticed several homes for sale on plugged canals.  How did they get plugged (hurricanes?) and how is it they are not reopened as they are again dredging in Key West.  Its ok to get the water churned up for cruise ships but these folks cannot reopen their canal?  Thank goodness they allow it in Key West or we would have to relocate the Navy. If anyone has any history on this some of us would love to hear it.  Does this mean that the rest of us can look forward to moving (or moving our boats) if our canal exit fills in?

First of all I want to thank everyone for making Blame It On The Margaritas our biggest CD release ever. To continue the party we’re heading to Dante’s in Key West (formally Monty’s) this Sunday at 1:00 PM as part of their grand opening. We’ll be having our first annual Mile Marker 24/ Dante’s bikini contest with the winner taking home a cruse to the Bahamas for two. In addition there will be all sorts of give-aways, drink specials and of coarse we’ll fire up the old Johnson outboard margarita maker. The party starts at 1:30 in the afternoon with the Mile Marker 24 Big Band so come early, sit by the pool and have a Keys Sunday. If you are not in the Keys we will toast one to you and look forward to seeing you down here or on the road this summer. Take care and may the tide keep pulling you back.

I too had a bad experience at Bon Appetito. The waiter was condescending and rude. I will not go there again. I also know someone who double-tipped because they didn’t know the gratuity was automatically added. Of course, they didn’t point it out to them. I think they should tell people that the gratuity is added on. They are probably hoping people won’t notice it on the bill. I wonder how many people have double tipped.  --michellelanderson@hotmail.com

[Let’s see how South Florida and the Keys react when the ecology shoe is on the other foot]. The reaction is the idiots that pushed the ecology rules way too far down here are now having to live with it and guess what?  They are leaving in droves because of too much too fast and only the rich can survive.   Cay Clubs etc. is moving in and the ecology shoe will be pushed the other way or ignored.  I can understand saving all the "special" trees in the refuge and on government property, but not allowing homeowners to do on their own property what they wish is un American.  The perfect example is the mangroves clogging the canals and owners scared to go out on their own property and trim them because of (Hitler like) neighbors who will turn them in. The funny part is that it is legal to trim them.  Yes; Mangroves have their place and do a lot of good, but the 5 or 6 on some lots would not be missed especially if the "powers" would allow one way canals a culvert (less erosion) for a clean out. 

The mandated sewer system could also solve the majority of people caused problems, but unfortunately "they" don't seem to be able to produce that when Tallahassee gave them a 10 year window to accomplish the sewer.  I never liked the soaps, but life in general down here is worth watching and reading the goings on and the feeling one gets is “what's next?”  The sad part is that the mainland and America are calling the Keys not a paradise but a third world country.  A couple of years ago I scoffed when I first heard it, now I believe they are right.

I hate to admit it, but I’m stunned. I’m in absolute awe at the antics ongoing in D.C.  The House and the Senate have passed legislation that the majority party touts as being “Troop Support”.  Do you hear any legislators bragging about the absolute fact that each bill contains hundreds of millions of dollars earmarked for such things as shrimp farmers, spinach farmers, peanut storage and a whole gut bucket caravan of huge bundles of cash for delivery to the home districts of those venal elected whores who voted for the bills? 

Maybe, just maybe, there may have been merit in some or all of the earmarks.  If so, why were these mountains of pork dollars hidden in the bills?  The House and Senate versions require assigning dates certain for the cessation of direct involvement of U.S. troops in the Iraq conflict.  Pure, utter, enemy-hugging, give-away-the-house, the kids, and the future insanity!  Why in the name of anything that’s holy would any sane person give their deadly enemy such a huge advantage?  Without a doubt there are some souls who purely believe that getting out of Iraq, now, at all costs is a righteous cause.  I must respectfully disagree with these persons.  If you disagree, review history and you’ll find that any display of weakness, timidity, or lack of resolve is a guarantor of ramped up aggression on the part of your foe.  The Bush haters have worked themselves into a blood frenzy, “W” can do no right.  I’m convinced that their animus toward “W” is so white hot that it has burned out their eyes. They’ve denied themselves the ability to see the consequences of their acts.  God forgive them.  Veto the damned bill "W"!

[Fundraiser for Zack Gilroy’s Eagle Scout Project] Zack Gilroy, Senior Patrol Leader of Boy Scout Troop 573 here on Big Pine Key will be seeking cash donations this Saturday at Winn Dixie from 9-3pm to provide a set of 3^rd base bleachers and other improvements for  Watson Field, a local recreation park used by the area youth.

On average, only 1 in 20 Scouts have advanced to this rank since its inception in 1912.  To earn the Eagle Scout rank, the highest advancement rank in Scouting, a Boy Scout must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service, and outdoor skills. In addition to this, their Eagle Scout Project must provide a benefit to their community.

Donations can also be made by check made out to Zack’s Eagle Scout Project and dropped off or mailed to the First State Bank of the Florida Keys branch in the Winn-Dixie, given to any Boy Scout of Troop 573.  Also by calling 305-684-9369 arrangements for a pick-up can be made.

Come join The Moondogs Friday night at the Looe Key Tiki Hut for fun and dancing. It will be an almost full moon party! Dogs please bring your owners along for tail-wagin' good time.

[Thinning the Herd] California Highway Patrol officers at the scene near Yuba City, Nev., said the 28-year-old driver that crossed into oncoming traffic and fatally crashed into a Hummer in February was, perhaps, working at his laptop computer while driving. Though the screen was shattered in the crash, the computer was open in the seat beside him and plugged into his car's cigarette lighter.

Monroe County Art in Public Places (AIPP) has issued a Request for Proposals for pre-qualified artists for the Monroe County Fire Rescue Station #22, also known as the Tavernier Volunteer Fire Station. The art budget is $9,000.  visit www.keysarts.com

Royboy, I didn't threaten you in that personal E-mail, pay more attention to what you read. What I said was that I would be willing to confront you face to face if I could. Why don't stop with the lies already. I hope you upgraded your glasses since the Pub clean up, because you should have seen me on my hands and knees in the kitchen scraping up the 1.5 inch crud from the floor. And helping to clean the pizza dough machine that was full of weevils, there were some other chores that I shared in with Rebel, John, and Rose. I remember being there!

You will see in the ensuing months, and perhaps couple of years, the global warming propaganda machine exposed for what it is; political bunk, simple, easy to swallow, (if you're a lemming), with no basis in real science, a crude, sloppy, socialistic presentation. It will crumble and become forgotten drivel. Youtube has the British presentation called "The Great Global Warming Swindle" Do yourself a favor and give it a viddy.

[The Hungarian] I have sent the end part of my story, now here is some of the beginning. I have not decided on the title.

The name of the village is Dömsöd it is only fifthly kilometers from Budapest, but it could be two hundred. It wouldn't make any difference.  A collection of peasant houses, all of them almost the same. Same color white wash, same lay out, facing the same way on the side of the road. Most of them constructed the same way too. Mud bricks and thatched roofs. It was a well-to-do farmer or a tradesman who had a tile roof on his house. The sharp spires of two churches dominate the skyline. The third church doesn't have a spire--the catholic church. All three are on the same street just about equal distance from each other. I don't think it was planned that way it just happened. Nothing was planned about Dömsöd, it's really two villages that kind of grew together, Dömsöd to the north and Dab to the south. That’s why there are two reformist churches, it makes you think that the catholic church was just an afterthought.

The people who live in Dab talk about the people in Dömsöd as if they were from a foreign country and visa versa. Many a fight has been fought between young men just because they tried to chat up a girl on the wrong end of the village. The two churches have large clock faces on the towers and huge bells in the belfry. I was told that during the revolution of 1948, the bells were melted down and made into canons (then they played a different tune). The bells are rung in all three churches every day at noon, or to call the villagers to services and mass. In times of danger, flood or fire the bells are rung by beating the clapper against the bell rapidly.

Rout 51 is the main road that runs thru the village, north to south. If you leave Budapest and head south on Rt. 51 you cant miss it. It has been there for ever, the first time I saw it was in the spring of 1948, it was old then. I was only five years old, my parents along with my kid brother moved here from Budapest. Dad had a house here, it was some house! Built of red fired bricks, it was four walls and a roof--a tile roof! It had gaping holes in the walls where the doors and windows should nave been. The unfinished building hummed from hundreds of pigeons nesting under the roof. Dad told me there was a grain mill nearby that was where the pigeons went to feed. They ate up all the spilled grain. I asked dad to take me to see the mill, I didn't even know what a mill was, but I wanted to see one. My mother walked me thru the unfinished building, pointing out where the kitchen, living room and bath would be. The house ended up never having a bathroom. Mom washed Steve and me in a large enameled pan called a Vájling.  There wasn't any running water either. We shared a well with a neighbor, a sweet rotund old woman that I got to know as Nanah. She was as wide as she was tall, had long snow white hair that she wore in a bun, and the kindest face you ever wanted to see. She could have been the wife of Santa Clause himself!

 If you liked this part, I will send another.

[Vacation rental] I too have a neighbor who rents short term. Personally, I think he should be able to. Fortunately, he only rents to well behaved people. I feel for you if his renters trash the neighborhood, but as long as the renters know enough to say they are just friends or relatives, there's little that can be done. If I had your problem, I'd call the owners by phone and report any trashing- no matter what time of day or night. You can imply that you don't want to report them, but maybe after enough calls, he will screen his renters better.

[Cats and Chicks] If anyone is a reader (even you Avenues people) follow at this link.  It should tell you enough about those cats to make you want to go out and get rid of them yourselves. www.abcbirds.org/cats/states/index.htm

[This goes out to Nicole and Chris Ricker] Wow, someone sure is mad at their neighbors.  If you don't mind me asking, what key do these two live on?

[Cats with bells] The smart animals will live and breed another day not the dumb ones. The raccoons do more destruction then the cats. As for birds, most were killed by past pesticide spraying. Cats are the scapegoat for mans’ destruction. I bet the storm surge didn't help the survival of any of these animals including the cats. As for cats having an instinct to kill, I have four cats only the one female cat kills anything and only kills the good stuff like lying snakes and rats. Over time you will see how fruitless all this is. Adapt or die. Only the strong will survive in South Central Pinerland.

Is there anyone out there that has a comment about Pinewood for septic tank problems?  I have heard both good and bad. The good mostly coming from the folks who work there.

I am one of those rednecks somebody wrote in about. I like NASCAR, big dogs, C&W music, loud Harleys and keeping my wife fat and pregnant. Got a problem with that? I didn't think so. Buy American, amigo.

What I find to be truly funny is that the people who moved here feel they need to justify their opinions by telling people how long or not long they have lived here. The true locals that were born here only say it when asked. They feel content with their place in society and their opinions.

It is too bad that the cats out there aren't large enough to stalk the people who dislike them. It would be an incredible irony if the big pussies ate them.

How do you hire a contractor? Here’s a place to start. Home Improvement | Residential Contractors | Home Contractors at ServiceMagic

[Fee file conversion] Do you have a file that you can’t open? Uses this handy online tool to convert it to a file type that you can open.
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All girls love Harleys because of all that vibration between our legs.

I hope Cay Clubs Inc. smartens up and buys out the Sugarloaf Lodge. Its got a private airport, plenty of waterfront, marina, restaurant/bar W/ liquor, a golf course and comm. store fronts.

Three men in history have walked on water.  The 1st one was Jesus Christ. The 2nd one was Peter (the apostle). Then there was this guy, Jose!

Shopping in Philly Video

Jack Schitt had a cousin, a priest, named Holy.

[Cats with bells] Please take your managed cat colony with you when you leave.  If you have a dog walk it and if you have a cat walk it and if you cannot keep it at home get rid of it.  The state is doing the right thing by protecting us from wild cats; and if your domestic cat is rounded up what the heck was it doing outside your property without you?

[Inherited the strongest military from the democrats] Comrade Clinton did everything he could to emasculate the military while in office, including selling our military technology to China. (who is not really our friend) If the democrats would shut up and let the military do what they are supposed to, we would have won in Viet Nam and we would be out of Iraq by now. If the liberals had their way we would be subjects of the U.N. and be paying tribute to Osama Bin Laden.

[Bet you can't] Without anyone watching you (they will think you are goofy) and while sitting where you are at your desk in front of your computer, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise Circles.

Now, while doing this, draw the number "6" in the air with your right Hand.  Your foot will change direction.

I told you so! And there's nothing you can do about it! You and I both know how stupid it is, but before the day is done you are going to try it again, if you've not already done so.

[Illegal Vacation Rental] Call code enforcement.  The problem is proving that the people are not just friends, family, or friends of friends.  You can loan your house out to anyone for as long, or as short as you like.  That makes proving short term rentals very hard.  The law just keeps the honest people honest.  

The same turd that snivels about snowbirds is probably the same one that snivels that they don’t have any money. They probably don’t want to work, can’t get a better paying job and are otherwise worthless.  Last time I checked the economy in the Keys is service industry dominant.

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Friday March 30, 2007

Wednesday March 28, 2007

[Fire Danger this week of March 26th - 31^st is Very High] With fire season underway, many of us that live in the lower keys are faced with the danger of wildfires. Please be conscious of where you flick the cigarettes and keep and eye on your kids this spring/summer vacation. Many fires are started by carelessness, bored children, and cooking fires from vagrants living in the woods. If we all work together and be observant of things in our neighborhoods, we should make it through another year with only minor fires. As much as I would like to take credit for the tree thinning/ fire break project, Anne Morkill from NKDR, her employees, and the "Jackson Mississippi Hotshot Crew" are the hard workers keeping lives and property a top priority on fire safety. Thanks Anne! If you have any questions about proper set backs for burning please visit our website for Florida open burning rules and regulations.

Thanks to everyone who helps out in keeping our community firewise! Senior Forest Ranger, Joe Cangemi, Florida Division of Forestry http://www.fl-dof.com/wildfire/index.html

I was very surprised at yesterday’s post by Roy Boy, all thru the years he let me believe that he was my friend! I got to know him thru Jim Womack.

When he took on the No Name Pub I was out there with many others and helped him clean the place up. From that time on he made like he was a buddy. Not all, but most of the things he said about me are lies. Yes, I worked in the army of a foreign country, but not as a killer. I was a soldier and wore a uniform. I only had a problem with one person in the Keys for all the years I lived on BPK. That was taken care of in the parking lot at Coconuts and it was done face to face.  There weren’t any live grenades. I never dealt in illegal weapons. I like firearms, always have, always had some. I never evicted my family from my house. When my second wife, Cathy, and I got divorced I gave her the house in Miami. She didn't even have to ask for it! I don' know where Roy Boy gets this crap from. It's not in my nature to put up a front, what you see is what you get. I’ve been told that I'm too blunt; if I don't like you I'll tell it to your face who ever you are. I’d like to ask Roy Boy if he can name me just five persons who are glad that I was busted and deported, however they can't be people who owed me money!

[Allies did not use anything stronger that Mustard Gas in WWI]  The Germans used VX which killed, not just left blisters.  There's a huge difference.  The Germans and Saddam Hussein were the only ones to have used the WMD gas on the battle field.  Please do not embellish the truth to make it sound as though we used poison gas.  Plus, who ever said that gassing the Kurds was the reason for going to war?  I don't recall reading that.  Someone inaccurately used Hussein's gas as a way to insult Bush Sr, and indirectly Bush Jr.  But the truth is, they were wrong in their statement. 

[Harley costume] Over the years I have had a bunch of scoots. My last was a H/D. I rode it for about 10 years. I now have a BMW, a very nice scoot.

By the way, I never, ever wore black anything. It’s hot. I have been riding since I was 14 (Yamaha 125cc) You could get your scooter license at 14 in Florida back in1964.

Be safe, it's not that they don’t like you; they just don’t see you and they will kill you. I guess what I am saying is that there are a lot of nice bikes out there; H/D's are just one of them. Be nice to everyone even if it hurts.

If you've found no credible record of Iraq using gas on the battlefield, you didn't look.  They used it against Iran in the Iraq-Iran War.  Afterwards, Iran went to the U.N. requesting assistance.  The request was denied due to Iran's own history.  Plus, it isn't a matter of using gas.  It's a matter of what kind of gas was used.  Comparing VX and Serin to Mustard and other irritants and inflammatory gases is like comparing a nuclear bomb to a hand grenade.  Come on folks, this is historic fact.  Don't let your partisan minds cloud what actually happened.

48 Iraqis were killed and 103 more were injured in bomb blasts yesterday. The religious civil war continues. Gee, we better not let them fight it out among themselves or it might get bad. Here’s your sign Bush apologists.

[Harley Davidson] You can’t explain the reason better then "You wont understand"?  You make it sound like "I don’t want to think I paid way to much for an average bike." If you want a good American motorcycle that out performs a Harley ride a Victory made in the good old USA and designed by Arlen Ness.

Gee, Royboy, I didn’t know you and (The Hungarian) Imre had such bad blood. Tell the truth, do you owe him any money? You know, for, er…services rendered? I have also know Imre for many, many years. He did sell dope, he did get caught. He is paying a much higher price than a whole lot of folks that did much worse. Let me say one thing, he is a man of his word and loves this country. I don’t believe he's whining about his fate. I think he's just allowing us to look at America from the outside in and letting us know what a great place this is to live. Royboy, I hope you are doing well out west and life is kind to you.

I think it's wrong that only one company makes the game "Monopoly"

[situation in Iraq] Iran just hijacked 15 British hostages from their boat—in Iraqi waters. Do you think Congress's vote to end the Iraq war before US elections encouraged the world's largest Terror State?

This is an experience I like to relate and it has to do with Harley Davidsons. I’ve been touring around Hungary, going to all the places that I didn't get to see when I was a kid. Where I live is centrally located and Hungary is so small that there is not any place that you can't visit and not be in your bed the same night. I do not like to motor when it's cold; I do my touring in the summer. Early in the spring I got a notice from the H-D dealer that the first week in June there will be a 4 day international Harley Jamboree on the north shore of lake Balaton in the town of Alsóörs . The brochure promised 12 Rock 'N' Roll bands, trick riding shows, beautiful girls modeling the latest bike wear, antique motorcycles, great food, free camping and a lot more. I’d have been to Daytona Bike week many times. I thought that some Harley people saw a video or pictures of Daytona or Sturgis and had an idea how to put on one of these things. My friend Gyula and I talked and decided to go.

Gyula left a day earlier and I was to meet him there. The distance that I had to ride was like riding from Miami to Key West; most of it on country lanes. I only had to go on a four lane for about five miles when I approached the Balaton I turned north and headed for Alsóörs. When I rolled into town there wasn't a banner across the road saying WELCOME BIKERS. There were a few bikers at the gas station and at McDonalds. I finally had to ask a fellow H-D rider where the hell the Jamboree was. He told me to follow the purple signs posted at intersections. I did that and arrived to a thing built out of wood that looked like a toll booth and the toll was 9000.00 Forints, thats like $45.00. For that money I got a bracelet on my bike and one on my wrist, just like in hospitals. Also I got a chit for a cup of beer and a T-Shirt commemorating the event.

Now I realized that this whole event will take place here, in this enclosed place, on the shore of the lake. I had my pup tent and sleeping bag, the next order of business was to find the camp ground.

I saw this woman on a scooter; she looked like she had something to do with the Jamboree and asked her about the campground. She asked me to follow her. She led me down close to the lake’s shore. Knee high weeds covered everything and clouds of mosquitoes took flight as we passed. The ground got mushy too, and the woman on the scooter got stuck. As soon as I saw that I turned my Harley and with a very gentle throttle I got the hell out of there. I met up with Gyula and when I told him where the campground was he said that we will camp behind a friend of his who was a vendor. From this point on things went down hill.

The quality of the rock bands were such that the bands that I heard at Coconuts are superstars compared to these guys. They tried to scream in English, but they didn't speak English, they faked it! The lead singer in one band was built like Fat Jack and half way thru his screaming had the audacity to remove his shirt. This guy’s gut hung over his belt like a grotesque apron and had stretch marks all over his body--it was gross! The food, well, just let me say this, I took a piece of sausage home and gave it to my dog, she sniffed it and left it. The trick riding was one of the mechanics from the H-D dealer. He did a few wheelies on a BUELL.

The antique motorcycles were a dozen Russian Pollak, Hunky, and Chek communist junk, not classic antiques. If I wasn't with some good people I would have left that day. The fashion show wasn't bad, most of the girls walked around as if they had a carrot up their butt, and they were unfriendly. The next day we went into the hospitality tent of a tire dealer. At the bar I asked the girl for a Jack and Ginger, she said they don't have that (the Jack Daniels bottle was right behind her). I met a guy in there who was obviously a biker from the way he was dressed. I asked him what kind of ride he had and he didn't even have a bike. When I asked him how he got there, he said he came on the bus!

There were riders from Germany, Italy, Holland, Belgium, France, Croatia, Bosnia, and Poland. The Jap clones outnumbered the Harleys 3 to 1. The one thing that pissed me off the most was Jap Crap with Harley badges. I went; I saw, and will never go again.

Seacamp Cat with Key deer.

[what’s so great about a Harley Davidson] It used to be an American way of life to own a Hog, but since the company was sold to AMC and then bought back, with most all the parts being sourced out of the country, and no really good engineering up grades to any of the models, I say it's time to make a real USA bike that will stomp the shit out the foreign crap, look American and growl in English!

[This goes out to Nicole & Chris Ricker] I can not wait till the day you freaking a-holes leave! All you do is cause problems for everyone in our neighborhood, calling the police when you hear our kids riding their motorcycles, causing problems with little kids only because you are not man enough to do it to a man. We will all have a big party the day you leave! You are a sorry pieces of crap.
-- JESSYNJAVI@aol.com

[Lucky rabbit’s foot] It has to be a marsh rabbit’s foot to be really lucky.

Glad to see somebody else was not snowed by the Hungarian’s words. Some of us don't forget things from the past.

The prefect husband Video.

In an ideal world we all would have enough money to buy land and food to house nuisance animals, but we simply never will. The best solution, I'm afraid, is for everyone to set traps for free-roaming cats, and euthanize them as humanely as possible. And never release one after trapping, because it is pretty rare to be able to re-catch it. If you are considering buying a trap, www.Cabelas.com has one for $53, item #DH-22-2984-296, called a raccoon/skunk trap. There are better designed traps out there, but probably more expensive.  I took a feral cat that was killing all the birds, snakes, anoles, etc. around my house to the shelter and without a rear door to release them into the shelter's holding cage, it was difficult - even dangerous.

There will be an important meeting today, Wednesday concerning the future of the pine rocklands of Big Pine Key. It will be held at the Lord of the Seas Church on Key Deer Blvd at 6:30 PM. There will be a number of speakers, and the public is invited.

Tipping is a American custom that has been rammed down our throats. Who said  10% is a bad tip and 20 % is a good tip? I bet it was thought up hundreds of years ago by restaurant owners who paid their employees chicken feed. If illegal alien produce pickers were paid the chicken feed wages paid to waiters, bartenders, etc (about $2 an hour) there would be a massive strike by the illegal aliens and product boycott by Americans. I'm tired of supporting every waiter and bartender in America. I’m poor too. Most restaurant owners have more money than I do. I tip 0% for bad service,10% for efficient service and no more. If it ain’t worth $5 to bring me my $50 meal get another job where your boss will pay you--not me.

[Bon Appetito] I have never eaten there, so I won't discuss the food, the ambiance, the staff, management or anything else about the place except for the following: As someone who spent over twenty years in restaurant management, I would never go to place that told me how much I was going to tip before I walked in.

If that assertion is true, don't count me as being a customer. When I go out to eat, I always tip better than 18% (sometimes far better) for even average service, but I don't want to be told I have to. I also have the right to tip far less if the circumstances warrant. Before you service employees get your bloomers in a wad, I understand that improperly cooked or slow food out of the kitchen is not your fault and I will tip on the service I receive. When that happens to me, I take it up with management. 

To be told I have to tip a certain percentage is ridiculous. Count me as a perpetual "no-show" at the Bon Appetito. I will go to La Trattoria. They provide great food, great service, great ambience, and I can tip accordingly. (which is my answer to another post here: "where is there a good Italian restaurant in Key West") Cheers and bon appetitio!

"Sandals" by Jim Doherty

[Hungarian] Thank you for your posts, look forward to reading them.

[Bon Appetito]  My experience was somewhat similar to other comments posted here.  The food was very good but the server was almost snobbish.  And while I certainly enjoyed the quality of my meal, the service was painfully slow and somewhat irregular.  While they may have an impressive wine list, it is terribly overpriced and they seem to want to push a more expensive selection on you than the one you choose. I was also offended by the automatic 18% tip added to my bill.  And while I always tip generously for service and often exceed 20% I don’t want it shoved down my throat. 

I have a suggestion for the feral cat problem.  Maybe the agency in charge of the cat roundup should buy a big load of that recalled pet food.  They could get it really cheap and make little kitty burgers and spread them around for all the furry felines to find.  They could call it Operation Puss and Boots.  Problem solved!

[Re: the Photo Gallery]  Rocky, you’ve got a great smile, man!

Well, now it’s official. According to experts published on The Drudge Report (the article was pulled after ½ hour.) one of the largest contributors to global warming is the tourist industry. Now we can do our part by closing the Keys to tourists who fly or drive in. Trains, busses and bicycles are still ok, though. No more cruse ships more mean water for all.

Let’s see how South Florida and the Keys react when the ecology shoe is on the other foot. Don’t worry though; Al Gore will get around to everyone (except himself).

Win a HDTV HP "I want an HP TV" contest overview page

[the Hungarian] Imre, himself, concedes that he deserves what he got.  He has interesting things to say, and I enjoy reading them.  If he's that dangerous maybe the Hungarian gov’t has an actual reason to worry.  There should be more interesting episodes as he progresses in his new role as "freedom fighter".

A good way to catch those feral cats is with a have-a-heart trap. Use some cat food and when you catch one, drop the whole trap into the canal one minute and presto. problem solved!

This is in reference to Mr. Poophead’s comments about Dr. Grider. I am Mr Poophead’s wife and let me just say my husband’s opinions aren't necessarily mine! After ignoring a medical condition for a few weeks, I knew this morning, I couldn't ignore it any longer. So I called Dr. Grider’s office at 8:50am and they had me in at 9:15am. I was treated, as always, with total professionalism. Thanks to Dr. Grider and his staff. I really appreciate you all.

The Harley Davidson motorcycle has a mystique all its own. It has fought in wars, aided law enforcement and served ice cream. Yes, there are faster, more comfortable motorcycles. Harleys are for the people who understand them, and if we have to explain it, you would not understand it! After all, look at many of your imported motorcycles they are all trying to imitate the Harley look. Nothing else on earth sounds like a Harley, looks like a Harley, or rides like a Harley. They are truly the steed for the modern cowboy. Like the song says "…on a steel horse I ride. Wanted dead or alive." P.S. Marlon Brando rode a Triumph in the Wild One movie!

[cats and chicks] Seriously dude, if the few chickens and cats running around are putting a damper on your happiness you might as well just cash it in. Better yet, why don't you move to that “well furnished island 1.5 miles out” and bring a webcam. We'll tune in to that!

Have you ever noticed that the majority of Harley Davidson riders are so out of shape that they pant when lifting a beer?

I had a friend tell me that I wouldn't understand why they drive an overpriced hybrid. This sounds like the same argument the HD folks are using. I don't understand it because is makes no sense. Following the crowd is not necessarily cool unless you have zero going for you and need to fit in somewhere.

[more farting] I don't know anything about mustard gas, but my wife has a bad case of burrito gas from eating at a Mexican restaurant in Key West. I told her not to order the Tijuana Special, but she would not listen. The wall paper is peeling in the bathroom, the dog refuses to go inside, and I have to sleep on the porch.

Yesterday's poster says that her cat kills rattlesnakes, like that's a good thing. That's exactly why we need the free-roaming cats removed. How stupid you are. Please move back North.

Win a trip Rome. HMNS Presents Imperial Rome 

This kind of sounds like our cat problem: A non-native species disrupting Nature. Some Aussies actually feed these animals, even though it is widely accepted that they are harming the environment (Sound familiar?)  A 15-inch-long cane toad has been captured by an environmental group dedicated to wiping out the toxic amphibian, which has killed countless animals since being introduced to Australia in the 1930s.

The volunteer-run organization, Frogwatch, picked up the cane toad during a raid on a pond outside the northern city of Darwin late Monday. With a body the size of a football and weighing nearly 2 pounds, the "monster toad" is among the largest specimens ever captured in Australia. Cane toads were imported from South America during the 1930s in a failed attempt to control beetles on Australia's northern sugar cane plantations. The poisonous toads have proven fatal to Australia's delicate ecosystems, killing millions of native animals from snakes, small marsupial mice, and even the small crocodiles that eat them.  I think that their government had better get involved before these critters actually cause something irreplaceable to go extinct.

[The Hungarian] Four to two by my count.

The problem with people is they have a tendency to believe anything they see in print as if no one would ever publish an untruth. Be very careful who you put on a pedestal because of what they write. Some of the best authors have very wicked skeletons in their closets. My dad once said, "Don't believe anything you read, and only half of what you see."

If what you say abou