F5 on your keyboard to refresh the animations.

Tuesday July 1, 2008

[Low end computers burn out] I don’t think that’s true. Computers are all the same. Some have more features. Considering that most computer parts are manufactured by the same factories they all seem to be similar. The only difference I’ve found is that some are faster and quieter than the cheaper ones.

I went to Rhodesia to join the Army after I saw on the news what was happening there. I arrived at the end of June '76. It was a piece of cake signing a 3 year contract. The recruiting officer asked me which unit I would prefer. I only said, "A unit of paratroopers." he looked at me with skepticism, "That’s the S.A.S., but aren't you kind of old for that?" 
"I will be 33 in September, and I'm fit as a fiddle."
"Yes, but most of those guys are in their late teens, and early twenties. Plus the Squadron has a very tough selection course, you won't make the grade." 
"Let me worry about that Sir."
"OK, it's your funeral."
I wish he hadn't said that. After a check up at the hospital, I was taken to the paymaster where I was reimbursed my airfare and my hotel bill. I was taken to Cranborne Barracks to the 'C' Squadron S.A.S. HQ, issued my uniform and kit, an billeted. I waited around for two weeks until there were enough guys for the training to get started. There were guys from all over the world, I was the only one from Hungary. The training lasted 16 weeks--then came the selection. Out of 80 guys only 6 passed, I was one of those. I was put into 'A' Troop. Capt. McKenzie, a Californian, was my C.O. He was a Pfc. in the 101st Airborne, and got out of the US Army with 75% disability. He was wounded in Vietnam,. The guy didn't have any biceps, just the skin stretched over his left upper arm. From under his armpit down to his waist he was a mess of scar tissue on his left side. He has been in Rhodesia for four years. He took the Officers Training Course there. He called me in his office and said, "Imre, I'm in need of a store man real bad. How would you like the job?" He was a real personable guy, and handled his troops real well. Those guys would follow him through fire, and they did. I found that ex-enlisted men make the best officers. I told him, "Well, sir, I didn't come almost 4000 miles here to be a f**ken storekeeper. I'm a Hungarian and I came to kill communists. Maybe if I kill enough, one day I’ll get to go home." "Don't worry Imre you will get your share of action, I'll see to that." He was a couple years younger than me, but I never called him Bob, and we did put away a few beers together occasionally. What he told me, made the job more attractive, "Listen Imre, to fight I have to have beans and bullets. You will be the man who will make sure that we will have everything we need in the bush, so how about it?" There was nothing to think about, "I'll take the job sir." He could have ordered me to do it. His way was better.

I was shown my stores, they were in a separate building, but secure. It was full of dust, cobwebs, and lots and lots of gear. I had to clean this place up and inventory all the stuff to see what I actually had, and compare it to what the book said that I supposed to have. I ran a motorcycle shop before and this crap wasn't new to me. After Capt. McKenzie inspected the stores, he put me in for promotion to corporal. A week later I got the rank and things were easier from that point on. I could go to the troopie’s canteen, and steal guys from there if I needed some help. My pay was $365 Rhodesian. One Rhodesian dollar was worth $1.68 US. The Rhodesian government was paying me and I could increase my pay by getting promoted to a higher rank or earning more qualifications designated by stars. Each star meant an extra $15. With my base pay I was a qualified S.A.S Gunner--that is one star. I left the S.A.S. as a four star soldier, the other 3 stars were Parachutist, Medic and Mortarmen. I was also a full Corporal. My first promotion was to Lance corporal. For every day we spent in the bush or on operations there was extra pay. However, back at base I was charged for rations on a daily bases, and for my lodgings. I got permission from Capt. McKenzie to live off base. I rented a one bed room flat in town, not too far from base. I furnished it, and had a houseboy named Karafat who washed my clothes and uniforms, washed the dishes, and woke me at 0600 every morning with a cup of tea. If I had a lady friend with me, he’d make two cups. Of course on weekends, when I didn't have to be at base for the 0700 formation, then he didn't wake me. At first Karafat addressed me as Master. I didn't like that, and instructed him to call me Corporal Imre. http://rhodesian.net/pictures_of_war.htm

Don't buy Pepsi in the new can!  Pepsi has a new 'patriotic' can coming out with pictures of the Empire State Building, and the Pledge of Allegiance on them. However, Pepsi left out two little words on the pledge, 'under God.' Pepsi said they didn't want to offend anyone.  In that case, we don't want to offend anyone at the Pepsi corporate office, either!  So if we don't buy any Pepsi product, they will not be offended when they don't receive our money that has the words 'in God we trust' on it. 

Make jobs, not war.

A person who lives in Monroe County wrote a letter to the editor in the Key West Citizen on 6-30-08 saying how "Commissioner Spehar has a logical approach to sewers".  This person needs to visit the Monroe County website.  Scroll down on the lower right hand side of the page under Administrator's Desk and read the Grand Jury Report: Stock Island 2004 if she thinks "Commissioner Spehar has a logical approach to sewers".  See what the Grand Jury had to say. http://monroecofl.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/index

[New Money Saving Idea] Marry the Mosquito Helicopter with the Sheriff Helicopter and the TramaStar Helicopters. Just having one helicopter would probably save us a million dollars a year. Everyone in those three groups will immediately shun this suggestion, but people usually do laugh at new ideas.

[To Rep Ron Saunders] About a year ago I approached you with an idea that you promised to look into and get back to me about. And like most political promises it became "Lip Service". Well now you face reelection and just maybe you will do the right thing for the electorate of Monroe County. I’m writing of a problem that can be resolved by a simple legislative act and a stroke of the pen by the governor.

As you are aware Monroe County is not a Charter County that requires approval by the voters to make changes in its structure but only an act of the legislature in Tallahassee. Monroe County being 113 miles long and a stone’s throw wide has long fought a civil war of politics of south versus north. Changing the elected players (County Commissioners) has never provided a solution. This process has not only caused poor government operations leading to the chartering of several cities, but cost millions of dollars expended in fighting the "battles". With all this, nothing has changed and soon, I believe with the current budget crisis, the silent majority will once again rise and the City of Key Largo will become a reality and Monroe County Government will become a Shell Government. The end result will be higher costs to the taxpayer because of multiple and repetitive staffs of bureaucrats.

My proposal just may provide a solution and certainly can be no worse than what has not worked. When Monroe County was created the legislative action provided for a maximum of seven commissioners of which only five were activated representing districts but elected county wide.

So if you really have the voters and taxpayers of Monroe County best interest at heart then please submit the following addendum to the enabling legislation:

"Monroe County Florida shall be represented by seven county commissioners. The existing districts will elect, by district vote a commissioner. Two additional Commissioners shall be elected at large by county wide vote." This will end the historically divisive three-two balance by requiring a four vote majority. I believe this will be a simple but effective solution to the Monroe County "Civil War".

[Nuclear waste] Forget about storing nuclear waste at Yucca Mt. Store it in New Jersey. They wouldn't notice the difference and mutations, if any, may improve the looks of the population.

[Black Tyrants] I know that Chaka and Dingane were not elected. They were hereditary kings who came to power by killing off their older bretheren. They met the same fate, done in by the younger brothers. Idi Amin took power by force, but promised to hold elections that never happened. But if they were, who do you think would have won? Kenyata was elected, and had elections every four

years. He was always the only candidate. The same holds true for Nyerere of Tanzania, Kaunda of Zambia, and Mugabe of Zimbabwe. Shall I go on? "Those who don't learn from the mistakes of the past, are condemned to repeat them"

An acquaintance of mine down here claims to be a Bounty Hunter and he thinks he has the authority to take my gun away from me while I carry it concealed in public gatherings.  I am not a felon nor have warrants and I have a Concealed Weapons Permit in the State of Florida.  He refused to listen as I tried to educate him on the laws and that it would take a police officer to take my gun away if I were caught carrying it in a Government Building, school or a bar.  It's funny how mis-informed some people are and they are so matter-of-fact on issues of which they know nothing.  Even if he was an ordained "Bounty Hunter" in the Sunshine State, wouldn't he be required to have a concealed weapons permit to carry a gun while on stake outs?

[Brazil is totally energy self-sufficient] I don't know or care anything about that, but I do know that Brazilian women are hot. We need to import lots of them, not sugar cane ethanol. 

No matter how much oil is found in the continental US, do you think that the price of oil will go down? Dream on you people, the oil companies will never give up their margin of profit, not until they can screw you with something else. Or if the Arabs realized that they are running out. They are building islands in the ocean, and moving skyscrapers, for Christ’s sake. They were making lots of bucks before, but not this much. I hope that they run out real soon, and then the only export the Middle East will have is Terrorists and egg timers.

I went to church with a friend yesterday, accepting the invitation to attend the Catholic service. I have been very involved in all kinds of services in non-denominational and high Episcopalian churches. I have never been a fundamentalist, but believe in goodness (God = good. God = love.) the simple path. The Irish- broughing priest was tall and impressive. The choir, fabulous and uplifting. The robes, lushly embroidered artworks. The sermon...eh? I mean why do we go to church? To do the right thing? To please our parents, who will eventually be making out their wills? or to be inspired? comforted? to be good Christians? What does that mean? We have to wonder, particularly in these changing times of widespread communication and subtle differences in definitions. well, I personally hope that it means to be a good servant of God to learn to live the teachings of perhaps the greatest master teacher to walk the earth.

I feel inspired to post a bit more on this. I know there are some angelic-influenced folks in the area. Of course Sloan Bashinsky is one of them. It takes courage to serve God no matter what people think of you and no matter if some harmless behaviors seem eccentric.

I also believe that oil drilling is a necessary evil and am all for it, here or anywhere else. I don't care if it ruins your view from your condo. I'd rather see oil rigs than your tourist crap any day.

I thought a comment might be in order concerning the new concrete power poles being installed by a Keys Energy contractor.  The new poles are much higher than the old wooden ones, and I imagine, are more resilient to storm winds.  However, has anyone other than me noticed the pole at the corner of Fern Avenue and Aster Lane?  It's brand new and is installed at about a 15 degree list to the West.  Now Eden Pines has its own "Leaning Pole of Fern".  Maybe it's been pre-leaned in the event another Georges stalls at Big Pine so it will already be blown toward Pine Channel?  Anyway, it's really noticeable, in comparison with the others pointing straight skyward.

[Iraq] Posters cited the tragic deaths of hordes of Christians; one poster claimed that a million had been killed.  They claimed that millions had fled the violence of the Iraq war and that “militias” controlled the countryside.  I’m reasonably sure that the poster citing the deaths of the Christians had been influenced by a CBS 60 Minute show that was most recently aired on June 26, 08.   The poster failed to tell us that the show had originally aired in December of 07, and had been in preparation for months prior to that. All of that occurring during the time that Al Qaeda was sowing terror in Iraq in a futile effort to convert that nation to fanatical Muslim stronghold. 

The poster did not tell us that now, right now, that Christians are returning to an Iraq where they are free to worship openly and safely and that they are not persecuted by the Constitutional Iraq government.  The Christians were the sad victims of Al Qaeda, not the US.  That poster did not acknowledge that the AQI terrorists have been virtually defeated by US and Iraq forces.  Al Qaeda were the killers, not the US.  Blaming the deaths of the Christians on the US is wrong and shameless; it illustrates the depth of loathing that this individual has for our nation and our troops. The poster who complained of militias failed to tell us that now almost all of these militias are an “arm” of the legally elected Iraq government, and that they are transforming the nation from terror to tranquility.  None of the posters bothered to tell us that hordes and hordes of refugees are returning to Iraq, because it’s now relatively safe, and that foreign industry and business is investing billions in their economy for the same reason.

It’s amazing that it’s necessary to remind anyone that the Cuba is a dictatorship, solely owned and operated by the Brothers Castro.  Cuba has no political parties, no political dissent that can remain alive.  In contrast, Iraq has many political parties, and a genuine constitution that was approved by that nation’s electorate in a UN supervised election process.  Most importantly, Iraq has a vocal and active cadre of political dissent that operates within the structure of the Iraq constitution.  Failure to recognize all of that is either incredibly stubborn or incurably stupid.  I’ll confess to an un-civil thought; I hope that poster makes the same type of mistake by thinking that his tube of Bengay is just the same as his tube of Preparation H.  By the way, that poster claimed that Iraqi political candidates had to be approved by a “religious consul (sic)”.  Please note that the word “consul” is used improperly.  I challenge the poster to prove that claim.

Challenger British Soccer Camp. July 21-25. The camp is open to children ages 4-18.
Registration for this camp will close on July 10th. They will be coached by British Soccer coaches from the UK. Each child will receive a free soccer ball and t-shirt! Bulletin Board

I found myself wondering how come the Citizen didn’t also mention my other website, goodmorningkeywest.com? I found myself wondering if it was because there is an awful lot of stuff posted there about Sandy Downs and the sheriff’s race, and the Citizen’s Editor, Tom Tuell, is bosom buddies with sheriff candidate Capt. Bob Peryam and sheriff spokesperson Beck Herrin (former Citizen employee) and Sheriff Rick Roth. Note, no question mark. I found myself wondering yet again if the Citizen really is an independent newspaper. Note, no question mark there, either.
 
I found myself wondering if the only newspaper in Key West with the guts to publish anything about Bob Peryam that didn’t make him out to be a living saint is Key West the Newspaper. Note, no question mark here, either. But then, the Citizen does take out plenty after the Republican Gang of Three, prominently featured in yesterday’s Gang Control post, while Key West the Newspaper doesn’t go anywhere near that gang. Leaves me wondering if there is a truly independent newspaper in Key West. Note again, no question mark.
 
Note I did not even mention yet the Keynoter. Note, there is nothing to mention. It’s not a newspaper. It’s a house of ill repute.
 
I found myself wondering if I was going to tell the Gang-of-Three printing press pretty much what Sal tells the press on keylargokey.com. Don’t come to me about an interview. Whatever the public needs to know about me is posted on my websites: goodmorningfloridakeys.com and goodmorningkeywest.com. Refer your readers there. Or refer them to Republican Chair Carey Goodman. I’m sure she can steer them in the right general direction, since I’ve written so much about her and her upstanding law-abiding family.
 
Sloan Bashinsky, non-affiliated county commission candidate for Sonny McCoy’s seat. Political advertisement, in la la land, written, swiped, approve and paid for by moi. Today'sFloridaKeysDrivel

Dr. Grider has always been there for me. I also like the way he takes time with you and doesn't look at his watch while you’re asking him questions like your holding him up from a golf game.

Dubai architect acknowledges that he has never built a skyscraper before and hasn't practiced architecture regularly in decades. "I did not design skyscrapers, but I feel ready to do so," Fisher said. Architect Behind Dubai's Rotating Skyscraper A Fraud?

If the poster is correct and all it takes is elections to be considered a Democracy then congratulations to Cuba and Iran as the newest members of the Democracies club. Their Democracies may not be exactly like ours, but then it doesn’t have to be. Just because they don’t have purple fingers doesn’t mean they are any less of a Democracy. Even the Soviet Union has elections.

The most wonderful lover I ever had was of Lithuanian extraction.  What a man, what a man, what a mighty good man.  Nature really blew me a kiss!

Hipcat

With George Carlin's funeral coming up, let's remember a good one: John Cleese delivering a eulogy at Graham Chapman's funeral. (warning: bad language) FARK.com: Fark Video Player (3694608) With George Carlin's funeral coming up, let's remember a good one: John Cleese deliveri..

Don’t sign up for anything. Just ask for the results. When you click on the link, a series of about 15 pictures will come up. Click on a photo in that category that appeals to you. Again, 15 different pictures will come up, click the one for you and move on. Just continue to keep picking. At the end it will give you a profile of yourself. It's called a visual DNA. Your choices dictate your profile. Http://DNA.imagini.net/friends

[Google Alerts] Put one up for your full name and they e-mail you with as-it-happens big alerts.  You know right away that someone is poking around. 

Wesley (call me General) Clark has come out in support of Obama.  I guess he feels that Obama’s tenure as a community organizer, Chicago politician, and rookie Senator, trumps McCain’s Annapolis education, War College graduate, heroic military service and years of public service since 1982 wherein the House and Senate he has served on a slew of different  committees, and don’t forget his maverick reputation for bipartisan activism.  Clark’s comments about McCain’s military service are so far out in left field that even left wing types like Bob Beckel and Obama have told him to shut up.  I’ll give Obama one quick Kudo for that.  Why do the Democrats so often pick the pretty faces, Clark, Edwards, Clinton, Clinton, Carter, Richardson, Landreiu, Obama?  Pretty faces all, but seriously lacking in character and wisdom.  Maybe they're stuck in High School mentality mode.  "We demand change, we demand ice cream not Jell-o for lunch desert"! or "Mr McCain is mean, he makes us do too much homework, we demand change".

Thank you, Sloan. Maybe you don't realize it, or didn't intend it, and you were writing in pure innocence, but your 6/29/08 Coconut Telegraph post gave us our rallying cry, and the lead campaign slogan for whoever runs against Mario in 2 years: "He seemed to be all output and no input." Talk about classic truisms!

The awning looks great on the Pool Store, but who raped and clear-cut the lot behind it?

[Mr. petro poster] A couple of days ago I suggested some of us come clean about our gasoline usage. You were the only one who did. Thank you. I expected a better turn out. I guess some people just aren't willing to admit how much fuel they use. It must be hard for them to complain about drilling when they're part of the problem.

Wetstock 4 is coming-and it's going to be big! Bulletin Board

When I read the bashing post on Dr. Grider, I could only think of all the good he has done and could not believe someone could blame him for all their problems. What a load of crap. That man has been there for us when we needed him. He is a very necessary part of our lives here. I hope he knows how the rest of us feel about him. Thank you Dr. Grider for being there when I needed you!

[It’s true] In the west there is over 68 million acres of oil fields that are going undrilled. Why drill in ANWR? These are proven oil laden resources. See the video concerning oil. It will wake you up. America actually has more oil reserves then at any other time in American history. Obama is right, why destroy a National Park/Reserve when the oil companies already have known oil fields? He does need to wise up though and seriously start considering more nuclear energy, countries in Europe such as France are mainly using Nuclear power. http://glumbert.com/media/oilsresearch

A group wedding: Muslim style. Can you imagine the reception and the group honeymoon? How do they know they got the right woman?

I have to agree with Bwitched53. I've have friends that have been getting pain killers for many years from Dr Grider. The addiction, if you do your research, is called a white collar addiction because of the ability to get drugs from your Dr. I think he is a good doctor for other things, but a doctor has to stop handing out pain killers and start looking at the big picture and why this person keeps coming back every 3 weeks for pain killer and hasn't cured the problem especially if this has been going on for many years. Even with Dr Grider being a DO and not an MD he should know better as he has the higher training of preventive medicine. I'm almost guessing that there is at least one out of 4 people in Big Pine getting a regular script of pain pills from Dr Grider. And maybe the reason you people are angry at bwitch53 might just be because this person might take away your local legal drug dealer. ~richsun@live.com

The deadline for publishing is 6am
Include Coconut Telegraph in the subject line of your email or our spam filters will
delete it and we can't publish it.
More...

Tuesday July 1, 2008

Fall 2002

Jan-Mar 2003

April 2003

Contact us:  info@bigpinekey.com

Bigpinekey.com nor Safari Inc. are responsible for the accuracy of any published items.
We reserve the right to edit any submission.