Wednesday April 29, 2009

[Snake Attack!] (AP) BigPineKey.com’s Corporate Headquarter in the Heart of the Island—Dateline yesterday. A killer python-rattlesnake at least 20’ long invaded headquarters and slithered behind the computers. After the reptile devoured two cats and a small child and knocked over monitors and other computer stuff the “gloved one” captured the vicious serpent and threw it outside. In an interview with CNN, the editor said, “I fought it and I won. It was either it or me! Just another day in paradise”

[Contract Laborers] The person who wrote in yesterday saying the illegals at places like Subway and Winn-Dixie work for a contractor needs to get his facts straight.  Those contract laborers are very illegal.  They are here on a student visa and don't go to school.  They are paid an hourly rate and $1.50 per hour is taken by the contractor who gets the whole check for all of them and pays them less that $1.50 per hour.  They do not pay income tax, social security or any of the deduction we Americans pay.  I used to work in Accounting at Little Palm Island and one of my functions was to pay the contractor. 

The contractor who was in charge when I was at Little Palm is now in Federal Prison for tax evasion and failure to report income.  He went to jail for paying illegals under the table just like another posting today suggested the real estate brokers paying the illegal housekeepers and lawn boys should do.  I fully agree with the person who suggested reporting the real estate brokers at the Federal level where Monroe County politics don't come into play.  America needs to stop being so politically correct and deport these illegals and jail their employers.

[Sexual Discrimination] I would like to add a little bit about Rino’s recent “eviction” from US 1 Radio.  My name is Jennifer Klinger from Big Pine Shipping.  I believe that a terrible mistake has been made in regards to Rino being fired.  I, too, heard the comments from the co-worker to whom Rino is referring.  I have not only heard derogatory comments about Rino, I have heard other bigoted remarks about other people from this man as well.  i.e. “sand ni***er, fat mother f**ker, etc.

The reason why I am speaking out is because of my love of this community and I believe that if I allow my concern for possible bad publicity here on Big Pine to keep me quiet about something I feel so strongly about, I am just as bad as someone who makes those terrible statements about those in our community.  I am a firm believer in One Human Family and I am proud to let everyone know I do not condone the salesman’s behavior and I will tell him that when he comes back into my store. 

I love this place, too, and not having Rino around really sucks.  He was nothing but nice to me and I know he wanted the best for me and my business.  We weren’t terribly close friends, but I want him to know that I am one of the people who would stand up for him if he needed me to.  Thank you, Rino for always being so kind to me and I wish you the best of luck in your new ventures!  You are always welcome here and feel free to stop in anytime to say hello. 

[Winn Dixie] It’s been about a week with no complaints about W/D so in order to do my part I’ll complain.

They’ve had whole wheat hoagie rolls in the Bakery for several years. They sold out every day. I know, because if you got there after three in the afternoon they were always gone.  So they stopped carrying them.

They had some even better long rolls that were stone ground (or something like that) and dark and you could taste the grain. Yum. The bakery girl said they sold out before noon. So they stopped carrying them too.

They've been fixing US 1 in several places this year. If you read about it, they refer to it as our "road rehabilitation project". Does anyone else find this funny? Everywhere else they call it road repair. Only a place like the Keys would have their roads in rehab. I guess it's just a common word around here. I hope our roads do ok!

[Where's Rino] Good lord, if I had to listen to all the lame callers to the radio station day after day I'd have quit a long time ago, or put a bullet in my head. If it wasn't for Ms. Fox I wouldn't listen at all. There is no One human family, Rino, not even in paradise, but there certainly are a lot of snakes in paradise. Rino, you found that out sooner than most. Be glad you are no longer one of those so-called "personalities". Good luck and I will miss you keeping that show moving along. I hope you go to Clear Channel network!

The person defending the planning commissioner was doing a pretty good job right until the end of their defense when they showed their true colors with a personal insult.  Birds of a feather do flock together.

[From the Right] Is there any chance you were selling bomb shelters in the 60's and 70's.

[The Plan] Let men who want to marry men, marry men.  Let women who want to marry women, marry women.  Let those who want to abort, abort.  Let the Holy Rollers who want to die for Jesus, die.

In two generations, there will be no Democrats.  It's great when a plan makes sense!

[Steve Miller] I’m hoping you have a full and speedy recovery.  I miss your smiling face and wacky attitude.  You're an attribute to this community and we appreciate all you do. Get well soon.

[Sticks 'n Stones] My wise old Pappy used to say, "If you have to call someone names you have already lost the argument and look like a fool." Dear Poster who is writing and whining about President Obama using the term "The Chosen One" all of the time, read the first sentence of this post.

[Obama is Weak] If he was a strong president he would have fixed the problem the first day then sent the Marines ashore and cleaned out that rats nest. He never gave the order to fire personally. He gave permission for the commander of the special ops to shoot to save the captain. That’s who gave the real order. Do you think Obama was watching it from the safety of the White House and saw an opening and then made a call to the shooter?

I have decided to become a write-in candidate.  Here is my platform:
(1) 'Press 1 for English' is immediately banned. English is the official language; speak it or wait at the border until you can.
(2) We will immediately go into a two year isolationist posture to straighten out the country's attitude. No imports, no exports. We will use the 'Wal-Mart 's policy, 'If we ain't got it, you don't need it.'
(3) When imports are allowed, there will be a 100% import tax on it..
(4) All retired military personnel will be required to man one of our many observation towers on the southern border (six month tour). They will be under strict orders not to fire on southbound aliens.
(5) Social security will immediately return to its original state. If you didn't put nuttin in, you ain't getting nuttin out. The president nor any other politician will be able to touch it.
(6) Welfare - Checks will be handed out on Fridays at the end of the 40 hour school week and the successful completion of urinalysis and a passing grade.
(7) Professional Athletes--Steroids.. The FIRST time you check positive you're banned for life.
(8) Crime - We will adopt the Turkish method, the first time you steal, you lose your right hand. There is no more life sentences. If convicted of murder, you will be put to death by the same method you chose for your victim; gun, knife, strangulation, etc.
(9) One export will be allowed, Wheat. The world needs to eat. A bushel of wheat will be the exact price of a barrel of oil.
(10) All foreign aid using American taxpayer money will immediately cease, and the saved money will pay off the national debt and ultimately lower taxes. When disasters occur around the world, we'll ask the American people if they want to donate to a disaster fund, and each citizen can make the decision whether it's a worthy cause..
(11) The Pledge of Allegiance will be said every day at school and every day in Congress.
(12) The National Anthem will be played at all appropriate ceremonies, sporting events, outings, etc.

The country was founded on certain principals – let’s get back to them! God bless America.

[Shitty neighbors]  After several talks with no action, I would have had several Poop Pizza's delivered, hot with anchovies!

The latest Big Pine sports bar.

[Republicans' greed, short term outlook and lack of ideas] Boy, do you have a small closed mind or what? How about the 50% of Republicans in the Save the World Businesses that will suffer because of the other half who want it all in their wallets regardless of the world’s destruction? The same goes for the Democrats. Greed is greed, and those who are afflicted with it will never care about you, me or the rock as long as there is money to be made!

[Rino] If his story's true I smell a lawsuit or two or four! I'd start with a defamation suit against the bigoted saleshole; and at the same time file a discrimination suit against the station. The icing would be personal lawsuits against the station mismanagers.

Don't think about winning; think about putting them off balance and on the defensive--you'll win.

I'm a Florida native and have lived in Fort Lauderdale, Miami and the Florida Keys (I'm straight). One Human Family is nothing new and most major cities of any class and culture have diversity in the population. 

Kick ass and take names Rino, put the word out on the sales shmuck. Maybe somebody should tell the jagoff that his best sales season will be Fantasy Fest. As I remember, it started a long time ago with six "female impersonators" rolling down Duval on the back of a pink Cadillac.

[From the Right] Yesterday a poster tried to convince himself and us that Obama has not earned the international reputation of being an appeaser, indeed a weak appeaser. Think about this; recently Obama found it necessary to actually bow to a Muslim King. This a first in our history. Then he denied doing it. What a marvelous display of courage and moral fiber. Obama routinely goes out of his way to tell the world that the US was evil and arrogant but he promises that we would now “be good” while he is President. He couldn’t even get the Europeans to contribute any meaningful support in the war on terror.  China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea have taken great glee in offering our President a single digit salute in a whole host of issues. In Latin America he listened quietly and meekly to anti American tirades by a gaggle of chin jutting puffed out chest tin pot despots. These goons blustered and strutted like latter day Mussolini’s while they accused us of being responsible for all the failures of their socialist societies. Our champion, Obama the Brave, sat quietly and politely listened. As he listened,  they vowed retribution. Obama didn’t even try to rebut them. He was beyond courteous and diplomatic, he was cloyingly obsequious.  If you were to objectively judge his performances, you would have to say that he displayed tail tucking timidity. Yesterday’s poster tried to convince us that recent events show Obama’s courage and resolve. The recent rescue of Capt. Phillips from pirates was a marvelous performance by our Navy. Many wonder why did it take 5 days for the most powerful military on earth to bring 3 teen aged illiterates in a drifting 18’ foot to justice! There are thousands of terrorists and pirates that are really happy campers after Obama’s performance. There is evidence that the White House itself caused the delay. It has been reported that the WH dithered over rules of engagement and delayed the rescue. Ultimately the rescue itself was swift and professional, but it does nothing to bolster Obama’s rep for timidity, indeed, it brings his crisis handling ability into serious question. Yesterday’s poster offers armed Predator drone attacks on Taliban targets as proof that Obama has resolve.  If there were an award for irony and hypocrisy, the liberal poster would be a huge winner. I commend Obama for that decision, but it is precisely that tactic that was employed by the Bush administration. It is the tactic that drew furious objections from liberals. Remember the liberal’s and Obama’s campaign full throated and passionate objections to the “slaughter of civilians”. How many long tons of ink were used to  protest the exact policy during the previous administration. In retrospect, I’d like to thank the liberal protesting poster for his endorsement of the Bush policy, albeit tardy.

(Part II) So you think that European Socialism is a great idea, an answer to all of your woes? You figure that you don’t make a whole lot of money and that the rich bastards ought to be doing more.  You’re not sure what “doing more” really means, but you just want them to pay more and have less. And, you want to get more!  If you’re in the USA and single and make about $83K you’ll have to pay about 25% in income tax. Same income in France, you’ll pay about twice as much, you’ll pay 50% in income taxes. By the way, the French are in a worse recession than we are, their unemployment rate is higher than ours, inflation is now low, but their rate is higher than ours. I hope that you don’t expect all the goodies that Obama is promising you will cost you zip, because it’ll cost you and your kids, and your grandchildren plenty.

[Free Trees] Information with pictures about the types of Native Trees available this Saturday, May 2nd at 8:30 a.m. on Cudjoe Key and in Key West from the Free Tree Giveaway by Keys Energy. 2 free trees for every homeowner. Monroe County Master Gardener's on hand to help you with your selection. Please plant native. Tree Info

[Illegal Workers] I wrote a post on April 14, 2009 about how I fired two real estate companies because they brought a house cleaning service to my house that was run by someone illegal.  This girl didn't have insurance, workman's comp, wasn't bonded and wasn't paying taxes.  She was not paying social security.  All that time I was paying the realtor sales tax to have them manage my house.  How was it right that I pay taxes for them to pay someone who doesn't pay taxes?  I spoke my peace but both real estate firms didn't care.  They kept the illegal worker so I pulled my contract.  I ended up renting my house through Internet Realty who did a fine job and hired a house cleaner who was legal to work in America and paid taxes.
 
I was driving by my neighbor's house which is being rented and her realtor, I don't know which company, is using that same girl who is illegal.  I photographed her getting out of her car with her cleaning supplies.  Made sure I got her license plate in one of my photos and the house along with the address.  The DBPR, Florida Real Estate commission and Immigration will have copies of these photos.

[Obama 56% approval] This will chill some of our liberal friends. Today Gallup reported that Obama's approval numbers after three months in office rank 7th when stacked up against the last nine presidents. The Gallup poll shows Obama's 56 percent job approval rating trails that of George W. Bush's 62 percent approval for the same time in his presidency. Yet, the Obama Media continues to report that Obama is riding high in the polls. Why am I not shocked? So, my liberal pals, if buyer’s remorse is starting to creep in, you’re in good and plenty company; ain’t that sweet!

[Dead Joel] Never in my life have I seen such a public display of a non functional families’ emotions, spewed all over the media.  People pass on every day, its part of life.  Whether rich or poor, death brings out ugliness in the deceased’s family, if it is there to begin with.  It's seems that there is a quarter page of thank yous from the wife’s side and another quarter page from the family’s side; when in fact just one will do, not to mention the never ending posts (like this one). If I hear it or see it again my head will explode.

[If there was security aboard vessels piracy would become less prevalent] And that added expense would be passed along to the ending consumers.  This piracy is all about money, whether it's the pirates, shippers or retailers. Now American money is going to be spent dealing with piracy and pirates. Let's make sure they get taken to NYC, and get free legal representation paid for by Americans.

We're bigger and smarter than they are. All they have is home water advantage. Piracy is terrorism, and it's based in Somalia. We know what to do. No more federal money, no more trade, we can strangle them.  All we need is the will to solve this terrorism problem.

New Rule: catch a pirate; feed same to the ocean life.

[Financial Meltdown] I borrowed some money from a friend and went to Key West to do a few things. I spent all the money but realized I didn't get to do all the things I wanted to do. Now I owe my friend money. I borrowed even more, went back to Key West and tried to spend my way out of debt. I got that idea from our government but it didn't work very well.

[Rino’s Discrimination] To Mark Masca, If what you say is true you should get a good lawyer. Sue the bastards. You’ve got a good case!

[Subway shut down for a long time] So what? Big deal. Is that supposed to frighten me or something? They make crappy subs anyway. Maybe a Quiznos will open there instead with legal workers.

[BizBaz] I am sorry Rino lost his job. It does not sound like he was treated in a professional manner, although there are 2 sides to every story. I have to say that these last few days, BizBaz has reverted somewhat back to what it used to be.  To those who don't remember when Gene Michaels ran the show, it used to be enjoyable to listen and maybe pick up a bargain or two.  Real folks could actually get through, advertise their stuff and maybe play "name that tune".  It seems as though it has turned into a 2 person talk show with commercials that are interrupted by those pesky people needing to sell something. 

[Crappy Neighbors] There isn't anyone more than me that would like to deliver back to my neighbors what their pets have left in my yard and county right of way. The problem is this, if your neighbors call the sheriffs department after they have received the returned gift you will find what you are doing is against the law, it is called defacement. Also, by chance, if the homeowner that gets back the goods falls on the stairs it was placed on, guess who is going to get sued? My recommendation to the folks with the new neighbors that feel this occurrence is their dog fault; please approach them in a way you would want to be approached if a neighbor had an issue with you. Try to remember you may live near these people for a very, very long time. There is a chance that they do not realize what they are doing is wrong or they do not realize the dog is leaving the yard to do his chores (yeah, right). Anyway, start nicely; you can always get nasty later if nice does not work. You could always start with a note then the next step would be to call animal control. Hopefully they will be able to talk with the neighbor and keep peace in the neighborhood. Calling the sheriff's office after that might help just due to the uniformed person telling them the same thing animal control did.

In my situation, if I approached the neighbors or called animal control the only sufferer would be the dog! Because they cannot be bothered with keeping their eye on their dog for the few out-of-the-pen minutes it gets. I fear it would be confined to its pen all day, everyday. So I let it go for the dog’s sake, not to keep peace in the neighborhood.

[Land exchange between Big Pine Fishing Lodge and the Deer Refuge]  Here is what I believe to be true:  Four acres of ocean front property was traded to the Lodge for a much smaller parcel of land with the Coconut Farm building on it.  Even putting the difference in size aside, how can any oceanfront property be equal in value to property on US 1? 

The land was deemed so sensitive at one time that no one was allowed to use it.  It borders a hammock with many large endangered Tree Cactus.  It provides habitat for a variety of butterflies.  There are no deed restrictions on that property now. What I don't know is when the Lodge purchased the Coconut Farm property.  Why they purchased it (do you see where I'm going here?).  Why was it made public after the fact? 

If you are as outraged by this possibly illegal action and want to see what can be done about it email me and lets get our thoughts together and make an action plan.  It is an outrage.  I will answer you. lovethekeys@yahoo.com

[Homophobe Salesman] I wouldn’t buy any advertising time on US1 Radio from a homophobe salesman even though I’m straight. The point being that I just hate bigots.

[Flu] Do you suppose the Mexican drug cartel started the swine flu epidemic or terrorist?

[Looking for an electrician] Try Al at Sandal Electric.  He knows his stuff, is reliable, has great prices and is a nice guy. 

[No More Closures] The Seven Mile Bridge on the Overseas Highway has successfully opened and weight restrictions have been lifted.

[Rino Firing] No big surprise what happened to Rino. US 1 Radio does not represent the Keys the way they used to. The new owners are not from around here and don't care. I feel for you Rino. I never met you, but I quit listening to 104.1 about a year ago because the station has not been the same as it was when Laura and Gene did Biz Baz. Everyone listened to them.

I was a Biz Baz Bubba from way back and always thought the station had the community’s back. I have seen first hand how Vox has ruined its reputation here. I know many advertisers that have left them, and if your business advertises there I don't hear it. Kevin has dug a hole in a very small town and it is a shame; it was once a powerhouse in the Keys. It was once the place to get the word out. Now it is sadly just another radio station that has a tarnished reputation with salespeople who really only care about themselves. Gene and Laura where are you? ~turnkeyservices@comcast.net

[Offshore Drilling] Today when I drove over the Spanish Harbor Bridge, I saw an oil rig! Okay, so it really was only a spud barge, but what a sight. I can't wait to see real ones off the Keys. They are great for fishing, much better than the Vandenberg will be. Where those know-it-alls are going to sink it won't attract a tenth of the sea life and fish it would attract in the Gulf.

[Dead Joel] It's amazing to me to see all the comments that have come about this horrible situation. The good comments, the bad, and the ugly. I'm happy to see that the people of the community are actually really starting to doubt the type of people the grandparents are. As time goes on, everyday they prove to the community the type of person we all assumed them to be. As for the mother of Trey, I met her the other night at her place of work. I’m not going to give you my name but just remember me as the Bud Light Guy. Regardless of what everyone else has told me about you, you are a very kind person (although I could see you being bitchy). You showed me nothing but respect. I wish the best for you and your son in the future. It's sad to say but it looks and sounds like the grandparents have a lot of kissing ass to do before they lose two wonderful people in their lives.   ~ joschmo18@gmail.com

Sweatin’ With The Socialists Exercise Video

[Rino Firing] I am appalled at US 1 Radio. This is a radio station that is suppose to represent the Keys. If what Rino is saying is true I don't want them representing us. That is just awful; he really was a pleasure to listen to. Could they really be that stupid to fire an openly gay worker in this day and age? It’s a very bad mistake for them. Team Rino all the way!

[Rino's Departure] I never would have guessed that the reason he left was because of problems with his sexual orientation. Everyone at that station seems like your typical Keys person: laid back and open-minded. The manner in which he was terminated seemed really unprofessional too. What I am not surprised at is that the general manager was involved. I have had dealings with Kevin Leroux before and can say that without a doubt his is one of the biggest douche bags I have ever had had the misfortune of meeting. He is generally an unpleasant person. ~arthur_phrain@hotmail.com

[Get out of your house more often] I do. I'm in the service industry and I see you idiots all the time. Plus I get to read your moronic ramblings on the Coconut Telegraph.

[Water Controversies] I do believe we are at the very end of the tap. Water Controversies Boil Over | CommonDreams.org

US1 Radio's Chuck Thomas will be extending his 6 a.m. Sunday morning Jazz Flavors show from 2 to 5 hours. He is also celebrating his show's 2 year Anniversary on Mother's Day. Chuck is a Big Piner and a great local yokel. Congratulations Chuck!

[Air Force One] The people that actually believe the media and government's contention that Air Force One’s NYC fly-over was a  photo op are complete fools. It was for a psychological test. The people of NYC were the control group or guinea pigs.

If what Rino says is true, we can have some fun with US 1 Radio. Like a boycott and maybe suggest the advertisers stop for a few months. I stopped listening to BizBaz 2 years ago because it's boring and too full of dumb business ads.

US 1's web site still lists Rino on BizBaz. Maybe the sales guy can fix that or is he too busy gay bashing?

[Iguana Breeding Ground] I was riding around Sandy Circle East on the back side of the prison and looked through the fence and was amazed  at  all the Iguana on top of the concrete loading ramp. There were at least 15 of them sunning themselves. First the Inmates are not controlled, and now they can't control the Iguana either! The broken concrete ramp is in serious need of repair, but makes an excellent motel for little creatures.  Our gardens are raided daily by these prison escapees who return to the prison for the evening count.

[Torture is the American Way] Pouring water down a potential terrorist's nose is not politically correct.  Launching Hellfire missiles from C.I.A. flown drones into mud huts full of potential terrorists and their family members is. Get with the program!

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Wednesday April 29, 2009

Tuesday April 28, 2009

[Rino] My name is Mark Masca. I used the moniker Ryno on the air at US1 Radio. I moved to the Keys last May to accept a position with Vox Communications stations US1 Radio and Conch Country. I was hired as the Operations Manager of the stations and hosted a show with my friend Leigha called Biz Baz on US1 every day from 9-11am. It took me about 3 months before I started to get the keys. The more people I met, the more I fell in love. In January, I married my partner of 6 years, Leroy, at Smathers Beach. I was touched by the turn-out from my co-workers and new friends here. At almost 40 years old, I had finally found a place where it just didn’t matter that I was gay. I was surrounded by warmth and acceptance at work and in the community around the Keys.

After I was in place for about four months, a new sales person was hired that I felt right off the bat might not share the ideals of “One Human Family” which I am so proud to be a part of. It wasn’t long after he started working at the station that I realized we were at complete opposite sides of life. I didn’t mind though, I thought my company supported me. My co-workers supported me and I kept meeting new people all the time who re-energized my love for this wonderful place we call paradise.

It wasn’t long after this new hire, that people started to call me or come by the station to tell me he was talking badly about me out in public. I have a pretty thick skin, as most Rhino’s do, and I didn’t think much of it. When the calls and comments continued to come in, I started to ask more questions. “What did he say about me exactly”? What I heard in return shocked me. He was saying among other things that I was a big “fag”. Now, I sadly have to admit the big part is true, but I have never, ever thought of myself as a fag. I had never used the word and didn’t know of anyone that had used it about me.

I called my boss Kevin and shared my concern. He was upset and said he would talk to him. The calls kept coming though and the comments were getting worse. I continued to send emails and make phone calls to management about this.

On Monday April 20th, after months of hearing about this man calling me names in public, he and I had it out. I felt as though nothing had been done and he did not get the message that this place we all call home is not the kind of place to be using those hateful words.

The argument we had got back to my boss Kevin and he and I had a resulting argument as well. I gave Kevin an ultimatum to keep me or the bigot. Kevin told me that he and the sales manager Tom, the sales guy, and myself would all meet to discuss the issue and clear the air.

I worked late into the night on Tuesday preparing for my meeting. I pulled old emails where I voiced a concern. I contacted all the people who had called me and asked if I could use their names. I pulled out the employee handbook to show what should be happening as far as company policy goes. I felt good for my Wednesday meeting.

After a great Biz Baz, I was promptly called into my meeting with just Kevin and Tom and before I even sat down was told I was fired. I was shocked! I said, “But I have pages of documents and notes” I was told he didn’t want to see them and to get out. I was also told I would receive no severance and when I made a comment about collecting unemployment I was told “We’ll see about that”. Before I could clean out my personal items from a year on the job, Kevin called the cops on me to have me escorted off the property.

So here I sit. In paradise. Unemployed. Without much money to my name and not knowing where to turn. I know the rumor mill is already churning and I thought I should get my story out there as soon as I could.

The only thing that is keeping me positive is my friends and family around me. I feel obligated to tell this story because a few months ago I joined members of the gay community on the steps of old city hall in Key West to protest the hateful anti-gay legislation that was passed back in November. I was asked to speak and for the first time in my adult life, I announced to every one there I was gay. I also promised that I would use my position with US1 Radio to be their voice. I haven’t lived up to that promise. Maybe now that my microphone has been taken away from me I will just have to shout a little louder.

No one has to stand for this kind of hatred. No one! Especially here. This is paradise for everyone in our little human family. I refuse to leave here, ever. My eyes have seen so much beauty. My heart has felt so much love. How can I turn my back on this wonderful place? I know there is much more good out there than I am even aware of.

Maybe this horrible event in my life will start the conversation again. Maybe we can help someone who doesn’t have the ability to speak out. Maybe we can come together with a renewed stance against hatred in the workplace. I would love to be a soldier in this battle--if you’ll have me. I am far from perfect but as a dear friend told me recently: At the end of the day, there is only good people and bad people. I know I am closer to good than bad.  ~ Ryno[onyr95@yahoo.com]

[Jim Cameron] In response to Sunday’s blogger about Jim Cameron and Donna Windle, let me set the record (and that blogger) straight. Jim Cameron is not only an intelligent and thoughtful Commissioner, he is invaluable to this County as he is one of the few persons who has full understanding and detailed knowledge of the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), and its potential impacts on County decisions.  Jim's careful and thoughtful guidance and knowledge has helped this County to avoid many potential liability situations (lawsuits) brought on by this plan.  Jim has served this County well in making balanced decisions that are in the best interest of this County and its residents.

Jim Cameron is well respected and he most certainly represents the wishes of the people of our community and this County, and he does so thoughtfully, intelligently, and with ethics.  Had his position been that of an elected one, I believe Jim would have been elected by the voters of this County.

Jim Cameron comes to every Planning Commission meeting well prepared.  He not only thoroughly reads and digests the backup materials he was provided, he takes the initiative to research the issues and any potential conflicts, he asks questions of staff or residents, and vets (that means he actually verifies the facts, instead of basing decisions on who screams the loudest or lies the longest) the information provided.  Jim's integrity, dedication and service as a Planning Commissioner is a credit to this County and to each and every County Commissioner.

Sunday’s blogger should be particularly ashamed to call Donna Windle pro-development. Donna Windle has received commendations for her devotion to environmental issues, green building, affordable housing and elder concerns.  Her list of community involvement and volunteerism is a long one. 

When you, dear blogger, spend half the time Donna Windle does working for green building and eco-friendly solutions, when you spend half the time Donna does on affordable housing issues, when you spend half the time Donna does organizing functions for the elderly, and driving them to doctor’s appointments, grocery stores, pharmacies, etc, then you can say whatever you like.  Until then, you should go look in the mirror and ask what you can do to help, instead of hurling insulting and untrue comments at her or anyone else.

And you, dear blogger, seem to think that because Donna Windle is a real estate agent, she is itching to pave the Keys over.  How Absurd!  Donna sells houses (you know those already built, square boxes that people like you live in).  She does not sell raw speculative land to investor or developers.

By your own absurd standard of  who and what constitutes pro-development, then I guess that Ms Wigington’s new appointment of Denise Werling constitutes one of pro-development, as Mrs. Werling’s husband is in the construction and development business.

I hope that you take some time to think these things through and get your facts straight before you blog.  If you can’t bother with the facts, then just start signing your name as “Molly Moron".

A crewman from a ship captured by pirates is suing the ship’s owners for knowingly putting him in harm’s way. This is a good way for the war against pirates to start. If ship’s owners would pay for security aboard their vessels piracy would become less prevalent because the pirates would know in advance that they will be attacking an armed vessel. I say install cannon on ships and start issuing letters of marque once again. Arrrgh!

[Offshore Drilling] The Florida House passed a bill allowing oil drilling 3 miles off our shores. The interesting thing is that the Republicans (the me party) voted unanimously for it and the Democrats (the us party) voted to protect our beaches and find alternate energy sources.

Republicans are in denial about climate change or fissile fuels exacerbating it because if they admit to the facts it will cost them money. So it’s better for them if they stay in denial. Republicans make me sick with their greed and short term outlook and lack of ideas.

[Offshore Drilling] Rep. Ron Saunders, D-Key West, argues against an oil drilling bill, which passed along party lines. Saunders stands in front of a mural painted by Tarpon Springs artist Christopher Still that depicts coral reefs off the Florida Keys.

To all non-pet owners who visit and like to complain about our pets.
~They live here.  You don't.  
~If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.  That's why they call it fur-niture.  
~I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.  
~To you, they are animals.  To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't speak clearly.

[Poker Run] We have just created a WebPage that has Pictures and Video of the 2009 World’s Largest Poker Run, held in Winter Haven, Florida. This Event was Attended by the Guinness World Records. http://www.BlingMasterTV.com/worldslargestpokerrun 

[Subway’s foreign workers] Not all foreign workers you see are illegal. Most are legal and are brought here by companies that do just that. They provide them with visas, housing and anything they need to work in this country. In exchange the companies take a hefty chunk of their paycheck. That’s why at stores like Winn Dixie you see groups of employees from the same country work there for a fixed period of time and the next time you go in you see an entirely different nationality of workers.

I suggest you stop assuming any non-American worker is an illegal worker.

Redneck cell phone

[Don't call a realtor to complain about a short term renter. I hear they might slap you with a restraining order] I had to laugh when I saw this posting. Were they referring to the realtor who "slapped" a restraining order on her boyfriend, the realtor, who slapped her around?  Great choice of wording.  I love this site.  It's good for a laugh everyday.  Keep it up!

A poster said Obama is nothing but a weak appeaser. Let me get this straight, the man that gave the okay to blow away 3 pirates with 3 shots to the head because they held only 1 hostage is weak? Ask the terrorist who are seeing an increase in predator flights killing terrorists over Pakistan if they think he’s weak. Better ask them quick because the President isn’t blinking or hesitating to blow them away.

[Key Tree Cactus] This past September on the 15th of 2008 there was a cover page article in the Citizen about a state grant to purchase a piece of land in Upper Matecumbe Key where some endangered Tree Cactus were growing.  I’m glad to see at least the state cared enough about it to try and protect that site.

What I found amusing about the article though was the cover photo. It was a picture of the employee from our refuge, who works for Ecological Services squatting next to a giant Tree Cactus. Ecological Services is a specialized government agency whose job is to supposedly protect endangered species such as the Endangered Tree Cactus. 

His office is right next to our refuge manager's office in the same 3.5 million dollar building. Where do you suppose he was when our refuge manager was trading off over 4 acres of oceanfront land which served as an important protective border to our own endangered Tree Cactus hammock right here on Big Pine Key?

[Port Pine Feud] I think these folks have beat the record for trash talk on the Coconut Telegraph. They need to get more creative.

I do like the part where its nobody's business who got the benefit money. They gave me the idea to make up names and ailments and schedule benefits throughout the Keys. The first benefit I'm holding is for TARPville, a homeless shelter for former Wall Street brokers.  In order to save the donors' time, they can just go to First State and make a deposit. Sorry, it's not tax deductible.

[Shitty neighbors] I had a dog poop problem a while back.  My across the street neighbors had two animals inside all day while they were at work.  When they came home they let their dogs run loose and poop in my front yard every day while they retrieved their mail. 

After my several face to face discussion and complaints had absolutely no effect, I began scooping up the dog dump, pea rock and all, and putting it in a gallon bucket.  When the bucket was reasonably full, I left it on their bottom step with a note that I intended to "progress" up their stairs until they controlled their pets’ toilet location.  I didn't believe I needed permission to walk on their property as I was simply returning their personal property left on my yard.  On the 4th step I modified my note to explain I would likely perform some impromptu "palm frond" poop painting on their door if I was required to go all the way to the 14th step with the bucket of their dog poop before they controlled their pets.  Their response was to spin their tires in my yard as they backed out in the morning and left for work.

I never made the 14th step.  They are gone now - their landlord evicted them and my pea rock is once again clean. All is well in the world.

The moral to the story is be a responsible pet owner. If you can't or won't be, don't own one.

[Good Police] No one should put every officer in one pile. There are good and bad apples on every tree. We in Monroe County are lucky to have the great officers we have.

[I moved to the Keys and see stupid people] Just quit staring at yourself in the mirror!

[Foreign Worker] Newbies, you better stop and think over what you are doing if you want to continue eating at Subway.  Many years ago Subway and a few other places got fined for having illegal people working at their establishments. Nobody wanted to work those jobs, so Subway simply shut down, for a very long time. I suggest you get your kicks another way!  You are right in one sense, everyone in this country is dispensable, including you.

Surf’s up!

A word of wisdom to anyone who would speak ill of the dead:
Great minds discuss ideas.
Average minds discuss events.
Small minds discuss people.

House approves oil drilling bill | KeysNews.com

[Illegal Workers] Does anyone have the website address or email address for Sal?  I would like to get him on board to stop the Real Estate Companies who are hiring that illegal housekeeper and landscaper.  I know that the owners of both Century 21 and Coldwell Banker are so deep into the good old boy system in Monroe County that the local INS might not peruse them.  I plan to collect as much data as I can and go right to INS in Washington DC and to The IRS to see if they were paying these people and giving them a 1099 form.  I know the IRS will hang a company paying someone under the table.  It might be drastic measures but, we as Americans should get jobs over illegal workers.  We can form a group like a union and get rid of the illegals and the companies who hire them.  http://keylargokey.com/

[Monroe County Health Dept] At the present time, there are no reported cases of Swine Flu in Monroe County, or in the state of Florida. However, the situation is fluid and rapid changes are occurring; therefore, the Monroe County Health Department is on high alert status. Increased surveillance activities have been instituted. The department is in contact with the medical community and hospitals here in the Keys and is monitoring for any reports of the disease.

Because of the number of national and international travelers who visit or reside in the Keys, it is possible the illness may emerge here. In such an event, the Monroe County Health Department, in conjunction with the Florida Department of Health and Monroe County, will implement a pre-arranged plan to respond to the event. The public will be advised of the details at the time of activation.  

The practice of good personal hygiene cannot be over emphasized. The same good personal hygiene habits that help protect against seasonal flu are applicable for this strain as well.  For a list of the habits, please see the Surgeon General’s comments below. Additionally, it is strongly recommended that any individual with “flu-like” symptoms contact his or her health care provider and discuss whether he or she should to be seen in the provider’s office or an emergency department, or should stay home and minimize contact with others.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have established a website to provide the public with up-to-date information about Swine Flu and ways to minimize the chance of infection. The Webpage may be accessed at www.cdc.gov/swineflu .

Until further notice, for questions regarding Swine Flu in Monroe County, please contact Steve Mason, RN at telephone number 305-293-7521.

[The Swine Flu] Quarantining is the only way to curb this mess. Too bad they didn’t do it with HIV when they knew it was spreading. http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-politics/20090427/US.MED.Swine.Flu/

[From the Right] Harold Koh is Obama’s appointee to be the head lawyer at the State Department.  I’ll bet a beer that you’ve never heard of Harold Koh.  Until his appointment by Obama, Koh was the Dean at Yale Law School. The problem with Koh is that Koh is a globalist. He believes that that the laws and conventions of the USA should be subordinate to the laws and conventions of the rest of the world. As Yale Dean, Koh was reported to have been a "highly partisan Democrat" and many claim that he politically polarized Yale Law School during his tenure as dean.  Koh believes that foreign law and foreign decisions should be considered as precedent in American courts and that a trans national legal system is preferable to any sovereign nations legal system. Simply put Koh is convinced that our legal system is inferior to a meld of the legal systems of all the nations of the planet.

Koh would not have had the USA use it’s powers to bring the fundamentalist assassins of 9/11 to justice, but rather would have relied on the UN or some other sort of global authority to bring a halt to the terrorism and to deliver justice in the matter. Isn't that just freaking amazing? In Koh’s world the United States is an evil bully.   In Koh’s perfect world, international law such as  Sharia law would mitigate disputes involving Muslims in Pahokee, a Muslim Pahokee husband would shed himself of a worrisome wife number three by simply uttering  “I divorce thee” three times in a public place. Fornicating adults might learn first hand of the deadly Muslim term “getting stoned”. Now, I grant you that a great number of Big Piner's might think that would be just dandy.  But the Muslim prohibition against consumption of alcohol would trump that limited benefit.  Just imagine a room full of Big Pine males trying to agree which way is east and then kneeling to pray. According to Obama appointee Koh, the lessons and precedents of more than 225 years of American jurisprudence and precedent should be subject to the review of foreign law.

Obama is a globalist who believes that the interests of America should be subordinate to foreign interests. That sucks!

Injection Wells, House Bill 1053, sponsored by Representative Ron Saunders, which will save Monroe County tax payers over $4 million, passed the Florida House of Representatives this evening by a 117 to 1 vote. House Republican Leader Representative Adam Hasner was the only negative vote. 

Senate bill 1950 includes some provisions which may be good for Florida's consumers, and some which will be bad.  I strongly support Senator Fasano's amendment to implement a "glide path" that does not exceed 5% annually per policy for these reasons:

1. Because this is a compounding increase, the proposed 10% increase will equate to over 45% in just four years, again making wind insurance unaffordable.

2. There is no solid definition yet of "actuarially sound" rates which are the goal or the target towards which the glide path is heading.  Current insurance models do not accurately reflect local building codes or the distinction between damage from water vs. wind, thus there is not as yet an adequate definition or agreement about what an "actuarially sound" rate may be.  So, without agreement or definition of the target, the current legislation is an open-ended opportunity for increases in excess of inflation for an indeterminate future.  At least by limiting the increase to 5%, we will have time to incorporate these factors (building strength, wind vs. water) into the models and develop consensus on actuarial soundness before bankrupting consumers.

3. At the 5% annual increase, the potential assessments in the case of a 100-year event would be reduced by 40% within about 5 years.

Please support Senator Fasano's amendment for a 5% glide path. Conversely, I do not support Senator Fasano's measure to eliminate all coastal wind policies from Citizens Property Insurance Corporation simply because there is no viable alternative for many homeowners along the coast.  As windstorm insurance is required by most banks for anyone with a mortgage, this provision could cripple our already ailing real estate market and state economy.

Please do not support the amendment to eliminate coastal wind policies from Citizens Ins.

[Post of the living dead] As a disinterested 3rd party who never met Joel or his family I offer these observations:
 "no one’s concern what this family did with the money" If the benefit was advertised as the money going to one thing but then was spent on another then all the contributors have every right to question this. There may even be legal consequences from this deception.

"you have nothing better to do then publish asshole comments about someone who is dead?" From what I have read about him that comment would read more correctly like this: You have nothing better to do then publish comments about some asshole who is dead.

"people should just let Joel’s soul rest in peace" The majority of negative posts have not been about Joel at all, but rather the conduct of his family. And from their replies they have reinforced every one of those comments. His parents and their apologists come across sounding like real low-lifes.

And to the person who wrote that (sort of) poem about Rusty: Who was he and why did he catch on fire? Was he known to have a problem with spontaneous combustion? Could he ignite at will or did he need assistance?

[Rino at US1] Does anyone have the scoop on why he is no longer there? I listened to BizBaz this morning and he was not on and no mention was made of his absence. I always enjoyed his on-air personality and never heard him insult or mock any caller. Maybe I have a sense of humor.

[Dead Joel] The posts yesterday saying "let him rest in peace." When he used to run that damn bike up and down Key Deer at 60 - 70 miles an hour, he didn't let anyone nearby get any peace and quiet. So why should we care about his peace?

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them. Have you ever wondered if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, why do we have deficits? Have you ever wondered if all the politicians are against high taxes, why do we have high taxes?

[Registry Cleaner] So far the most thorough one I've found is called Registry Cure.  It also received good reviews on some sites I checked.  One thing it doesn't have is a registry defrag.  For that I use Registry Booster's defrag function.  CCleaner did a nice job too, it seems to work on other areas besides the registry.  They seem to overlap enough to each do some good.  I don't know if any of them does it all.

[Actually admit that she’s a bitch and not try to improve herself] Or else it's more your ignorance to assume that she does not want to improve herself.  Maybe being a bitch is not a problem for her -- only you.

[Rino] Will somebody please post the reason Rino was fired? There’s also a rumor going around he was escorted off the property by a sheriff deputy.

Where is Rino? I really enjoyed him on the radi. I think he had a great sense of humor. He didn't put up with anybody's crap. I really wish someone would let us know.

[Torture is the American Way] We won WW II by burning the flesh off innocent civilians while radiating the survivors to suffer horrible pain, disfigurement, terror and torture until they died. Causing innocent generations of people to be physically and mentally destroyed and left to live in a wasteland is not torture?

But somehow, pouring a bit of water up a terrorist's nose, who's on a jihad to destroy America, is extreme torture? Millions were horribly terrorized and tortured in 2 main cities of Japan. Trying to claim 'underwater Intel gathering contingency operations' are torture, while nuking millions of innocent victims is not, is just plain partisan ignorance.

America has always tortured and America will always continue to torture. Obama continues the torturing and killing of innocent civilians in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, while claiming it's all Bush's fault. Where's the lefties protesting Obama's killing of innocent civilians? FDR caged up millions of Japanese for being Japanese and Truman nuked millions of innocent people and families for that same crime. I guess Dems believe it's patriotic for Democratic presidents to do all the above, but Bush's water boarding of a few terrorists was the ultimate torture to trump all. Please revamp your false rhetoric and take a pill!

Apparently pythons have migrated down at least as far as Summerland Key and are thriving. Check out the article "Swamp Things" on page 80 of the April 20 New Yorker magazine.

[New York City Panic] Air Force One flyover photo op my butt! The folks in charge at all levels should be fired. Starting at the top and working its way down. All of the folks involved make good money and receive great benefits, for what? To think this is the best we have to offer is spooky. When will enough be enough? If nothing changes then nothing changes. Vote.

This is the Queen Bitch and I would like to thank you all for the wonderful things you had to say about me it shows I do my job of being a bitch very well and I have heard worst so don’t think you have hurt my feelings a matter of fact you all made my day. Keep on keeping on and I will keep on being a bitch.

Mayo Clinic atrium piano, charming older couple. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI-l0tK8Ok0

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Tuesday April 28, 2009

Monday April 27, 2009

An Italian cruise ship with 1,500 people on board fended off a pirate attack far off the coast of Somalia when its Israeli private security forces exchanged fire with the pirates and drove them away. The ship's commander told Italian state radio on Sunday that six men in a small white speed boat approached the Msc Melody and opened fire "like crazy" on Saturday night, but retreated after the Israeli security officers aboard the cruise ship returned fire. It's about damn time!

[Short Term Renters] Did you notice in the news story about an illegal short term rental operation on Long Key that nothing was done about the illegal renting of the property until it fell into such disrepair that it was unfit for habitation.  Then, C.E. got into it, only when the illegal renters bitched about it.  So much for Code Enforcement and Law Enforcement being able to enforce the existing law. Can you imagine the havoc if they rescind the existing ordinance and open it all up again? Short term rentals in residential neighborhoods bite.

[How come the Vandenberg has a Russian name on it] It was used in the movie “Virus” and was the abandoned Russian science ship Academician Vladislav Volkov. I think someone should notify homeland security; I heard rumors of some kind of a plot to sink it!

I found a Somali cruise package that departs from Sawakin (in the Sudan) and docks at Bagamoya (in Tanzania). The cost is a bit high, US$800 per person per day double occupancy but I didn't find that offensive.  What I found enticing is that the cruise company is encouraging people to bring their 'High powered weapons' along on the cruise. If you don't have weapons you can rent them right there on the boat. They claim to have a master gunsmith on board and will have reloading parties every afternoon. The cruise lasts from 4-8 days and nights and costs a maximum of $3200 per person double occupancy (4 days).  All the boat does is sail up and down the coast of Somalia waiting to get hijacked by pirates. Here are some of the costs and claims associated with the package..

$800.00 US/per day double occupancy (4 day max billing)

M-16 full auto rental $ 25.00/day ammo at 100 rounds of 5.56 armor piercing ammo at 15.95

Ak-47 riffle @ No charge. ammo at 100 rounds of 7.62 com block ball ammo at 14.95

Barrett M-107 .50 cal sniper riffle rental 55.00/day ammo at 25 rounds 50 cal armor piercing at 9.95

Crew members can double as spotters for 30.00 per hour (spotting scope included).

They even offer RPG's at 75 bucks and 200 dollars for 3 standard loads

"Everyone gets use of free complimentary night vision equipment and coffee and snacks on the top deck from 7pm-6am."

Meals are not included but seem reasonable.

Most cruises offer a mini-bar... these gung ho entrepreneurs offer, get this, mounted minigun available  $450 per 30 seconds of sustained fire. Sign my ars up! They advertise group rates and corporate discounts......and even claim "Fun for the whole family"

They even offer partial money back if not satisfied. Here's some text from the ad.

"We guarantee that you will experience at least two hijacking attempts by pirates or we will refund back half your money including gun rental charges and any unused ammo (mini gun charges not included).. How can we guarantee you will experience a hijacking? We operate at 5 knots within 12 miles of the coast of Somalia. If an attempted Hijacking does not occur we will turn the boat around and cruise by at 4 knots. We will repeat this for up to 8 days making three passes a day along the entire length of Somalia. At night the boat is fully lit and bottle rockets are shot off at intervals and loud disco music beamed shore side to attract attention. Cabin space is limited so respond quickly. Reserve your package before Feb 29 and get 100 rounds of free tracer ammo in the caliber of your choice."

As if all that isn't enough to whet your appetite, there were a few testimonials

"I got three confirmed kills on my last trip. I'll never hunt big game in Africa again. I felt like the Komandant in Schindlers list!"  ~Lars, Hamburg Germany

"Six attacks in 4 days was more than I expected. I bagged three pirates and my 12 yr old son sank two rowboats with the minigun. Pirates 0, Passengers 32! Well worth the trip. Just make sure your spotter speaks English" ~Ned, Salt Lake city, Utah USA

"I haven't had this much fun since flying choppers in Nam. Don't worry about getting shot by pirates as they never even got close to the ship with those weapons they use and their shitty aim--reminds me of a drunken 'juicer' door gunner we picked up from the motor pool back in Nam" ~"Chopper' Dan, Toledo USA.

"Like ducks in a barrel. They turned the ship around and we saw them bleed and cry in the water like little girls. Saw one wounded pirate eaten by sharks--what a laugh riot! This is a must do. ~Zeke-Minnahaw Springs Kentucky USA

(This whole cruise needs to be snopes-ed as it looks like a prank.)

Bagel Island will have new hours beginning May 4th 2009  We will be closed on Thursdays and opened Monday, Friday and Saturday from 7 am to 3 pm. Sundays from 8 am to 1pm.  Tuesday and Wednesday from 7 am until 2 pm.
Thanks to all for your support for these past 4 years. 

[Short Term Rental] Don't call a realtor to complain about a renter.  I hear they might slap you with a restraining order.

[Refuge Visitor Center--There is an existing structure on the Coconut Farms property that already exists that did away with habitat many years ago. This site will allow them to attract visitors to the Keys, hopefully to educate them about our environment] There is no land that cannot be restored to quality habitat. Even scarified land is still habitat for something.

How do you presume this site will allow "them" to attract visitors to the Keys? Would any person on this entire planet actually plan a trip to the Keys to visit a refuge visitor center? I think not. 

We have a perfectly reasonable visitor center in the Winn Dixie Plaza now. If the refuge hadn't run off most of their volunteers the visitor center might actually be open more then occasionally.

As for educating the public, I think that should be reversed. The visitor center should be used for our community to educate the refuge. Our present visitor center sends hundreds of tourists to the far north end of Big Pine Key right into the habitat of the Critically Endangered Marsh Rabbit. People feed the deer at the end of the road and when encountered they say they were not told by the visitor center that it is illegal. The refuge can't do the simplest thing like stop sending people into fragile areas or posting signs to educate people not to feed Key Deer. I suppose the signs are very costly and not in the budget this year, maybe we can apply for another $3 million bail out loan. don't feed the deer video

[Chamber of Commerce’s Private Meeting for Short Term Rentals] Do those of you who lived here in 2000 remember the incorporation debacle for Big Pine and the other lower Keys?   Of course, the Chamber was 100% behind incorporation and luckily the majority of the residents knew what one of the real motives was behind incorporation--short term rentals!  We voted incorporation down with a two-to-one majority, so don't try pushing the short term rentals back down our throats again.  Guess who was one of the main characters pushing incorporation for Big Pine Key?  Jim Cameron, Planning Commissioner!

[Swine Flu] With the recent outbreak of swine flu, it should be imperative that we shut down the current administration.  There are too many pigs and too much pork in Washington these days!

[I'm a Bitch] Imagine what a clueless asshole someone has to be to actually admit that she’s a bitch and not try to improve herself?

Swine Flu info  WHO declares international concern over swine flu.

[Shitty Neighbors] The County had such a law that a owner of any animal that defecated on your property is responsible, after asking your permission to trespass, to clean it up and dispose of it correctly else that owner is liable for a $100 fine.  No animal of any kind is allowed to run free and must be either on a 4 foot or shorter leash or fenced in. If any animal attacks or harms any human in any way, its owner is liable for damages up to and including man slaughter if death occurs. No home owner’s insurance covers and animal anywhere in Monroe County! http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?sid=9&pid=11270

[Refuge Visitor Center] Another joke on Big Pine and she said the community would be happy when she sold it. Ha ha, as she laughs to the bank! I hope it's a joke. Welcome to Big Pine, at least we don't have to give directions to No Name Key so they can see the Key Deer.

Les Metamorphoses by Octavio Ocampo. Slide Show

[Sunday Benefit] Let's end this now. It's no one’s concern what this family did with the money. Drop it now. Stop talking about Joel and his parents. Stop talking about Trey and Ashley until you deal with putting a family member with God--don't go there.  It cost a lot of love and feelings and if the community wanted to donate their time and money, let it be. It’s their choice. Drop it. Let the man rest in peace. Leave the family alone, they need to work it out, not us. I'm saying this as a friend to Joel. Although I only knew him for a very short time this is not what he would want! 

I too have wondered what happened to the Cyber Center. Since it is next door to my Real Estate Office people keep coming in and asking. I have no problem answering them, but I wished I had an answer for them.  ~Captain Ron Widmaier

[Dead Joel] It’s just like you were still here Joel. Drama, drama, drama. You just can’t get away from the shit-talking even though you are gone. I bet you are looking down and laughing about it anyway. I hope you are resting in peace.

We always say, damn, I can't believe he is really gone. We will miss you always. You were a good person. And everybody has demons in there closets. No one is perfect. Hell, we all do bad things that we look back on and say, damn, I really screwed up and wish I would have done it differently. But that’s what makes us people; and that’s how we learn from our mistakes. God forgives us for our mistakes. And people should just let Joel’s soul rest in peace.

Canadian Islands. Slide Show

[Shitty Neighbors] It's no big problem, just take a shovel and take it over and dump it in their driveway. It has always worked for me.

[Bitch on Board] This gave me a great idea for a new Key's contest. We hold a contest to see who is the biggest baddest meanest or funniest. I mean there could be different categories represented like even drag queens because if we excluded them we wouldn't be politically correct and we can't have that. The winner could wear a tiara and everything.

The Daily Democratic Pledge To Obama, aka The good morning Mr. president chant. Oooooooo-Baaaaaaaa-Maaaaaaaa we are here to serve and support you, not the American taxpayers. Spend what you want, meddle in any private businesses you want and fire who ever you choose. We support your use of governmental power to threaten the weak and overpower the mighty. Your have that right as president of the country you rule.

We are your staunchest supporters for taking away all parental rights, especially concerning the masses teenage girls. You, not the parents, shall decide what's best for their teenage girls! Children shall have access to the morning after pill, abortions and even abortions across state lines without any parental notification at all. That is the change you wanted, then that is how it shall be.

We have now begun to implement your use of governmental power and its right to control whatever you chose. Parents shall no longer have complete control of their children. You, the government will. Teenage boys shall be next to be liberated from the grim, oppressive family unit and nurtured under the wings of expanding governmental protection.

Do as you will Mr. President. We Democrats will never question, oppose or stand in your way. You and you alone are the 'chosen one' bringing change to America. We are only just followers, blinded by your presence, awaiting your call to vote yes for anything you want.

We will continue to ignore those faint voices in the street screaming, “Stop the spending!” There is nothing the taxpayer can do or say to keep us from serving your every wish, need and desire. We will follow you blindly, through thick and thin, all we ask is just point to the spot where we sign our vote “Yes”.

[Swine Flu] That does it, I’m selling my pigs.

[Cudjoe Sales’ Chris Decker]  As happens many times in business, managers and employees have differences of opinion on how things should be run or done. Chris Decker and the managers of Cudjoe Sales had a difference of opinion and Chris was let go (that is what Chris told me in person when I talked with him 2 weeks ago). There is another "Chris" at Cudjoe Sales and he is also very helpful and knowledgeable. He is not quite as outgoing as Chris Decker, but is a wealth of information. Stop in and talk to him, I'm sure he would be happy to assist you.

Our Secretary of State representing the interests of the United States.  No doubt she has the attention and respect of the world leaders.

[Pirates] Domenico Pellegrino, head of the Italian cruise line, said Msc Cruises hired the Israelis because they were the best trained security agents. FOXNews.com - Italian Cruise Ship Fires on Somali Pirates - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europ..

[Swine Flu Germ] http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20090426/US.Swine.Flu.Emergency/

[Foreign Workers] I went to Subway in Key West today with a friend.  We planned it so he went in first.  I walked in a minute later and we started talking like we hadn't seen each other in a while.  He asked loudly "Are you still with INS?' I said yes.  He asked how it was going.  I said great.  I just took on the duty of in investigations officer. 

You could have cut the air with a knife. The look or horror on the workers’ faces.  Think those Czech girls are legal?  My guess is no.  Let's send the real INS in there.

[Shitty Neighbor] My suggestion to the person whose neighbor’s dog is pooping on their rocks is to simply return their property to them.  The front step is a convenient place to put it initially. If that does not get the point across try their door knob. 

[Fools] The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools. ~Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)

[I'm a Bitch] To the bitch who openly admits she's a bitch.  You're not a bitch. You're an extremely horrible and cold-hearted person with no class.  Keep your ignorant comments to yourself. 

[Dead Joel]  Are you people really that lame that you have nothing better to do then publish asshole comments about someone who is dead?  Get a grip with reality.  Let him rest in peace.

[Police Citizen’s Review Board] I don't think the posters should clump all the officers into one pile.  Many are upstanding and do their job well.  As in any job, there are some that take advantage and misuse their position.  From what I have found, most of them do their job and do it well and deserve to be commended.  If these allegations are true it will be dealt with; if not, then all this is talk about nothing.

Best Reuben sandwich in the area is Bagel Island. They have a killer Reuben and it is priced right as well!

[I don’t talk about people. I say it to them and that sometimes gets me in trouble, but that’s me] Is this the lady who sat at the bar at the Moose Club?  I remember a poster being down on that one's case for speaking overly critically in person to other patrons.

[The pick up after your dog law] Yes, there is a law that all dog owners, and cat owners for that matter, have to pick up after their pets.  I don't say this as an anti-dog person.  I have two dogs and they are my life.  I care for them like a child, but I pick up after them just like you would change a child's diaper.  Owning a pet is a responsibility and you are responsible to pick up after your dog.  I would call the SPCA about the dog not being on a leash when you see it out and not even address the poop.  That will get more attention because it is a safety issue for the dog as well as the people in the neighborhood.  People like that shouldn't be allowed to have a dog.

I moved to the Keys and I see stupid people.

Cudjoe Sales has been firing people lately.  This Chris guy is not the only person they have let go.  They also let go a female employee who was one of the nicest people there.  If there's anyone that should be fired, it's that tall manager.  He's the one with the attitude problem. ~govwatch2007@yahoo.com

[Registry Cleaner] What do you think of those programs that fix your registry?  You download a 'free' program, & it scans your computer. It finds hundreds of problems which it will fix if you buy the full version. (CCleaner download http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/)

[Disgruntled Heir] To lilgoober24@aol.com.  Gee, you posted the same word for word comment on Joel's myspace page. The difference being I know who you are and I have control over his MySpace page. I said it on Joel's MySpace page and will repeat it here: Go away! You're continual talking trash about Joel and his family on this site is a lawsuit waiting to happen.  If anyone has any concerns about the validity of that benefit, or anything else, have the balls to talk to our faces.  Ashley knows our address and phone numbers.  

To bitch on board: Way to go! I also tell it like it is to your face.  And when it’s my turn, I hope everyone will also say, man, what a bitch.  You all can eat shit and die!

[Change] Most people focus on doing things as the way to make a difference. What they don't realize is that the most powerful way to make a difference doesn't require you to actually do anything at all. You start by changing your world; you end up changing the world. ~ Aman Motwane

[The Vandenberg] Key West’s folly. For the same $10,000,000 we could have built a new ship! http://www.bigshipwrecks.com/more.htm

[Famous Desk] Did you know that President Obama signed his stimulus package at the same desk where President Clinton got his package stimulated?

[From the Right] Just a few years ago nearly all Americans were very fearful that we would again soon be attacked by terrorists. Because of the herculean efforts of our elected officials and our public servants, that fear has now diminished.  We have avoided strikes from terrorists for 8 years. The fear has diminished because the ability of many of our enemies to harm us has been blunted by our efforts.   The world situation has changed but still presents us with grave danger, in many respects more deadly and immediate than prior to 9/11/01. Those who do not appreciate that danger are naifs. This Right winger has been and will continue to be very critical of the policies and direction this nation is heading under the thrall of Obama and the Democrats. This right winger will be critical of those issues that warrant criticism and will levy praise where praise is due. I for one believe that Obama is following the proper course in Iraq. Obama is not being sufficiently forceful in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He presents as a weak appeaser.  I feel that his decision concerning release of classified CIA photos of enhanced interrogation is horribly wrong and will cost American lives. I believe that his decision to even consider prosecution of the implementers or the fabricators our enhanced interrogation policy post 9/11 will open a Pandora’s box of travails that may well bring down the Democrat party and Obama.  The lid has been cracked open and we can already see and hear the fluttering of the demons being released. His policies will leave us with a disjointed, weak and dispirited intelligence gathering apparatus. In very short order we will become even more vulnerable to attack than we were prior to 9/11/01. The “scare time” is just coming upon us. Be ready. My liberal critic is correct, it scares me to see that the President and his party is dedicated to making our citizens into servants of our government. Our nation achieved greatness only because our government was subservient to its citizens.  I ask you to think about how Washington, Jefferson, or Lincoln would react to the changes that Obama and the Democrats champion. I’m convinced that they would be horrified.

Deer Refuge Visitor Center – a real head-scratcher

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Monday April 27, 2009

Sunday April 26, 2009

[Refuge Visitor Center] Does it surprise anyone that the Refuge is preparing to stamp out more of our native habitat with their new visitor center?  The Key Deer Refuge now specializes in development.

There is an existing structure on the Coconut Farms property that already did away with Habitat many years ago. This site will allow them to attract visitors to the Keys, hopefully to educate them about our environment.

And in defense of the F&W workers that have fences on their property, they purchased these properties already fenced. Fences are not illegal on Big Pine. In some area's you cannot get a permit for a new fence (tier 1) however on most of Big Pine (tier 2 & 3)  you can get a fence permit.

Believe me I do not agree with all of what F&W does, however I do understand that because of their influence on this island we are not just another city on the mainland. I like the Keys for all they have to offer, wildlife, protected waters and a quality of life unlike many other areas. If you want it all without the beauty of our flora, fauna and waters why don't you just leave and move to the mainland so you can sit in freeway traffic on your way to the shopping mall?

Ann Morekill’s explanation of the land swap is amazing! What you don't even mention or acknowledge is the fact that this 4 acres serves as an important protective boundary on the entire north side of the cactus hammock. The tree cactus is one of the most critically endangered federally listed plants in the country and the hammock, where the largest existing stand still survives, lies right against this 4 acre boundary that you just gave back to private ownership. Now Anne Morkill, thanks to you, your friend and owner of Big Pine Fishing Lodge now owns twice as much oceanfront commercial land as she did before. Sweet! Furthermore, this makes this 4 acres of "nonfunctioning native habitat which is nothing but scarified fill" as you lovingly referred to it, open to resale and future development. It will never be restored back to natural habitat. The most incredible thing which you failed to tell the public, you didn't include any deed restrictions in this under the table land swap. 

As for equal value, what appraiser on this earth would put equal value on 4 acres of oceanfront commercial property and a US1 lot with a run down old pizza parlor on it? Bet he was from Atlanta.

Your justification for all the spending is lame at best. Of course it is not all your fault. We know the system is flawed and if you don't spend every penny you are given this year you won't get the money to waste next year. That’s just the way our hemorrhaging financial artery of a government works. Whatever government agency your millions of dollars comes from, remember this, it all comes from tax payers’ dollars and we have the right to know what you do with our money. You said you got a "special appropriation by Congress that gave USFWS the capacity to repair federal facilities damaged in 04/05 hurricanes". How does the word "repair" equate to 3.5 million tax payer dollars to completely rebuild the headquarters building? This doesn't include the thousands it cost to demolish the solid stone building that was, by the way, completely refurbished prior to Wilma for many more thousands of dollars. It's hard for me to swallow that you actually filed for bailout money to build a visitor center. Thankfully you were turned down.

Since when does infrastructure supersede the importance of habitat by the USFWS?  

[Short Term Rental] Folks, we’ve got trouble brewing. There is no doubt now that there is a move afoot to reinstate short term rentals. I think it’s a rotten idea and I think that vast majority of you do too. I’ve been the victim of short term renter chaos and I’m annoyed at the continuing failure of Code Enforcement people to enforce the existing ordinance. Many realtors and private investors have been buying up currently cheap properties which they intend to put out for short term rental. These bottom feeders have no respect for your property values, your quality of life, and especially your peace and quiet. The properties are not in their own neighborhoods. The short term landlords ignore the disruption and the damage to our island and our environment that the short term renters deliver.

Essentially, they want you to subsidize their investment.  Don’t be suckered by claims that short termers will deliver dollars to our merchants. In more prosperous days the short termers brought their own groceries, their own gas, their own bait, they brought everything that they needed with them. They got here in a flurry of noise at midnight Friday and left at 5 am Monday in a clatter, leaving behind their clutter. 

Today, more than ever, the short termers are looking for the cheapest possible way to grab a few days off. The argument that they will deliver tax bucks to our county does not even rise to the level of bullshit. Does anyone reading this believe that the many illegal short term landlords are paying one cent of taxes to the county? Has Code Enforcement collected one cent in fines and back taxes from short term landlords? I’ll bet that most resident readers of this site know of more than one illegal rental operation in their own neighborhood. Yea, we’ve bitched to code enforcement, nothing happened.  It’s just plain wrong that you and I should subsidize the real estate pro's and the bottom feeders’ investment properties. These are properties that they will resell at a dandy profit when the market turns around. Do yourself a favor, pick out a few e-mail addresses from the site below, send them an email telling them how you feel. This full time Big Piner is not likely to be a patron of local establishments that support changing the ordinance. 

[Good Job Available] This probably belongs in the classifieds, but to help out the locals (and since the corrections Dept doesn't put these in the papers) there is a 24K a year job with state benefits at the Department of Corrections in Key West (parole) - typist supervisor position.  Check out https://peoplefirst.myflorida.com/logon.htm Monroe County for details and experience (couple of years of word processing will work).  Good luck.  

I wish I was friends with the Deer Refuge people. I could swap my old run down building on US1 for 4 acres of prime oceanfront property. What a sweet deal. How come this deal was so hush, hush? Has the Refuge people, once again, forgotten that they are the stewards of our land?

[Vacation Home Rentals Gone Bad] $40,000 for operating the house without a license. Possible 5 years in prison for failing to remit sales tax. Vacation home renter charged in theft | KeysNews.com

Michelle Obama's Organic garden is maddening the enormous pesticide companies. She has stated that she will use no chemical products to tackle pests or to give her plants a boost. Imagine if they stopped using pesticides on the 14 acres of lawns the White House has! BigAg Ticked at Michelle Obama's Organic Garden | CommonDreams.org

[Mexican Swine Flu] An outbreak of a new human-to-human transmitted disease is now upon us. The new viral strain is called "H1N1" and it's a combination of bird flu, swine flu and human flu. It's spreading rapidly from person to person. 60 deaths have so far been attributed to it in Mexico.

On the origins of this virus, it seems likely that birds infected the swine with bird flu. This mutated the swine flu virus which spread among pigs. This was then picked up by humans in contact with the pigs and mutated into a human-carrying component. Now, this triple-threat hybrid flu is killing people in Mexico City, and it has infected Americans in San Diego, California and San Antonio, Texas. It is suspected in an outbreak of schoolchildren in NYC (but not confirmed there yet).

Cure and prevention: Keep your bird away from pigs of Mexican decent!

[Chamber of Commerce will hold a forum regarding Short Term Rentals] Duh! Can anyone guess the outcome of that meeting of a group whose member’s only common bond is making as much money as they can?

[What has happened to BizBaz] It went from a call-in buy/sell show that everyone listened to, to a 2 hour commercial selling pools, beds, bugs, tile and auto sales and repair. I know these people pay good money, but this is only a 2 hour show. A lot of people call in and after a 10-20 minute wait, get laughed at or hung-up on. Please bring back the old Bizbaz!

[From the Right] The Party of No? I’m here to tell yesterday’s teary eyed poster that the Republican Party is the Party of no.  The Republican Party is saying “Hell no” to many of the Obama plans that are designed to scrap huge slices of American freedoms and to bury our nation in suffocating debt. The Obama brand is socialism.  His next push will be to impose “Cap and Trade” legislation on us. Even he says will be very expensive. Expensive,  geesh!    USNews and World report has reported that the cost per person of the Cap and Trade will exceed $3100 per year. It’s vital that you understand that Cap and Trade will give the Federal Government enormous powers. The Republican Party declares a resounding “No”. We don’t need Cap and Trade.  The fact is that even the Democrats no longer dare call any modification of earth’s temperature Global Warming. The new Democrat moniker is “Global Climate Change”, that’s simply because there is a huge body of evidence that the Earth is changing: it’s cooling, not warming. Just yesterday the Dems rescinded an invite to a scientist who was to testify at a Congressional hearing in rebuttal to a Gore presentation. Why do they fear any opposition, or are they just in fear of the truth?  Republicans proudly say “NO” to the Obama and Democrat mantra that blames the USA for all of the earth’s ills and foul ups. The Republicans say Hell “NO” to those who believe that we are an evil and noxious society. Republicans say “NO” to Obama’s relentless drive to kill capitalism, the engine that has made America the greatest nation on earth. Getting liberals to accept the truth is like pulling teeth, but you can bet that Billy Joe isn’t ready to surrender the pursuit of his livelihood to Socialism.  I pray that the Republicans will continue to say “Hell NO” to Obama’s pernicious policies.

By golly, here’s a Democrat you can believe: Rep. John Dingall, Dem, Mich, “Nobody in this country realizes that Cap and Trade is a tax, and it’s a great big one”.

[Benefit Discontent] Before you put anything in writing, you should know your facts. Clearly you do not. 

[Now illegals want to come here and keep their culture and language] I'm not a Native American. Nor am I a hypocrite. That's my point exactly. My blood is Italian, 100%. But I was born in America and that's where my allegiance is. I don't call myself Italian-American nor do I believe in that hyphenated crap. I'm American. Period. I speak English exclusively and support my country. I don't expect this country to try to accommodate me in any special way due to my blood line. In fact, it's the opposite. I accommodate this country for the privilege of living here. I believe if everyone did that, most of our problems would be solved. And Native Americans are the only one with a right to complain. Anyone else who isn't happy should return to the country of their choice.

[Rhino being fired from US1 Radio] We can only hope that this is true.  I can't listen to US 1 anymore because of the never ending insults and public humiliation that he has launched at callers.  He is an embarrassment to the station and should have been fired a very long time ago. ~k9luna@att.net

Predictions for the year 2000 from The Ladies Home Journal December 1900 issue.

Prediction #1: There will probably be from 350,000,000 to 500,000,000 people in America and its possessions by the lapse of another century. Nicaragua will ask for admission to our Union after the completion of the great canal. Mexico will be next. Europe, seeking more territory to the south of us, will cause many of the South and Central American republics to be voted into the Union by their own people.”

Prediction #2: The American will be taller by from one to two inches. His increase of stature will result from better health, due to vast reforms in medicine, sanitation, food and athletics. He will live fifty years instead of thirty-five as at present – for he will reside in the suburbs. The city house will practically be no more. Building in blocks will be illegal. The trip from suburban home to office will require a few minutes only. A penny will pay the fare.

Prediction #3: Gymnastics will begin in the nursery, where toys and games will be designed to strengthen the muscles. Exercise will be compulsory in the schools. Every school, college and community will have a complete gymnasium. All cities will have public gymnasiums. A man or woman unable to walk ten miles at a stretch will be regarded as a weakling.

More http://www.yorktownhistory.org/homepages/1900_predictions.htm

[Short Term Rental Conference] It looks like the Chamber of Commerce is readying an internal purge prior to launching their assault on our neighborhoods.

[Refuge Swap Deal] The Word of the day is: sciolism \SYE-uh-liz-um\ noun,  "Sciolism" comes from the Late Latin "sciolus," which means "smatterer" (or "one who speaks with spotty or superficial knowledge").

[For the person asking about Chris Decker] I had called Cudjoe Sales a few times and was told he was with someone, or had the day off. I always go to him with questions about products, and in general, he seems to be the only person there who knows what he is talking about. I couldn't figure out why I couldn't get a hold of him and I kept racking my brain wondering what I could have done to upset him or cause him to avoid me.
 
To make a long story short, I ran into Chris in Key West last week and asked him if everything was alright. He told me that he is no longer at Cudjoe Sales and hasn't been there for about a month. What I want to know is why is Cudjoe Sales is saying he is with a customer or has the day off when I called for him? What are they trying to hide or prove?

[From the Right] Don't you have anything good to say? If you think we are going to become a different country and can't stand it, leave it. We have 300 million different ideas in this country, but the scare time has ended. Lets try to be the way we were and not be afraid of everything because things will get better even if there are liberals and right, left and middle of the roaders. The fear president has left the building--let him go.

[Bitch on Board] I can’t understand all that crap about what people are saying about Joel. He was an asshole and I had told him that many times and there are lots of people out there who thought the same, but now that he is gone everyone says what a great guy he was; and the wonderful father he was to his son. I am a bitch and know it, so when I am gone I hope the people who knew me say “God, she was a bitch but she was a funny bitch.”  I don’t talk about people. I say it to them and that sometimes gets me in trouble, but that’s me. One last thing, the more people I meet the more I love my cats. Everyone have a great day. Yea, right, like I care if you have a good day or not. What a bitch!   ~fritzram@aol.com

[Benefit] To the grandparents: Joanne and Bob. Just for your information Ashley is a wonderful mother to your grandson Trey. She has never left his side since day one and has always put her son first no matter what the situation. You have no right to write crap on bigpinekey.com about how bad a person she is or how rude she was not showing up to the benefit. I wouldn't have gone at all.

You make is seem to the community that the money goes to Trey when I hear also that it’s going to Joel's bond and yourself. You cant fool anybody. Instead of benefiting your grandson’s future you'd rather take the money for yourself. I was there when your grandson was born and seen the way you treat this wonderful person who loved your son and the person who has raised your grandson. She has a hell of a lot more patience then I would have had with you. You put yourselves first. You never stop to think that maybe you’re not the only ones hurting from your sons death. Ashley did love Joel. She never stopped. She didn't love the drama and some of the stuff he did, but, hey, who's perfect? She's not a drama queen; she's real and tells it how it is.

I’m tired of reading all this crap about how she's trying to hide from you and your family. Let me tell you something, she knows where you live and she would have no problem coming over and talking to you or letting you know how it is. If you’re going to sit on the computer and write all kinds of childish crap then just leave her alone. For a single mother, raising a wonderful little boy, she's doing a damn good job at it. She always puts her son first and always will. She has bent over backwards to give her son the world and never once has she complained about anything. Leave her alone and let her raise her son. She doesn't need your advice. You've had your chance to raise your children. Trey is Ashley and Joel’s son and I know that she's going to give him the world. I promise you that!  ~ LilGooBer24@aol.com

I was shocked to read about the arrest of Jon, the Marine Patrol officer.  He was one of the nicest people on the water.  I hope that there was some kind of mistake made by the investigating agencies.  If not, it just goes to show that people are not always what they seem.

[War without torture] Bull s**t. In all wars all sides tortured the enemy and why not? If an enemy is trying to kill you, to destroy your family, destroy your country, why not? There are no rules to war except getting dead!  You bleeding heart pussies should all go to war and see reality just once, then you'll turn into a mad dog and kill too. WW1, WW2, Korea, Nam, Iraq and a thousand other wars, will humans ever be sane enough to not war?  No.

[Hot Tub Repair] I'm no expert and haven't seen your situation, but I suspect you need an electrician, and a possible upgrade to your electrical capacity.

[Florida Offshore Oil] "Over 180 million fish landed". That number made me curious. Would an oil spill kill that many fish? It kind of makes me wonder which is worse for our resources. Or is just about money and not the fishery at all?

I wonder if Jim Cameron has any feelings.  Does he know that the voters have already spoken when they voted out Spehar and McCoy?  What does that say to you Mr. Cameron?  We want you out too.  US Radio has let you go, now please remove your name so Mario can appoint someone that the citizens of Monroe County want to be seated on our Planning Commission.  We thank you for your time on the board, but now remove yourself and let the residents have a Commissioner that reflects how the residents envision the Florida Keys.  We do not want a Commissioner that all the developers think is their answer.  Commissioner Windle needs to remove herself also from the Planning Commission.  Commissioner Carruthers are you listening to the residents? ~ mollyhanson18@gmail.com

[Reuben sandwich] Annette's in Marathon. They also have a killer prime rib wrap.

[Really good Reuben sandwich] You bet.  Try Katz's Deli, 205 E. Houston St, New York City.  Or more locally Aroma's Deli on County Road next to the bike shop on Big Pine builds a great Reuben.

[Really good Reuben sandwich] Kelly's on Mole St in Philly.

The Reuben sandwich is great at the Big Pine Key Coffee Shop!

[Rubens] We like the Rubens at the Big Pine Restaurant. 

[Rubens] You can get a great Reuben at Don Archies Deli in KCB and Goldman's Deli in KW.  Yum-o!

Maude’s Bea Arthur is dead at 86.

The Citizens Review Board in KW is being challenged by the Police Union because they want to continue their illegal activities (planting guns, giving false testimony, harassment, etc) and not be held accountable. The CRB is the only thing that keeps cops honest and protects all citizens. The case in question is of a KW cop lying to get a search warrant. He refused the CRB’s subpoena and called on the union to protect him from having to incriminate himself. The CRB should have the ultimate power.

St Mary’s Church in KW is selling their soup kitchen building and land and moving their soup kitchen to Stock Island. I guess they think the homeless will take a taxi to Stock Island to get their daily bread.

I used to live next door to the foreign workers painting the Bahia Honda Bridge.  Every morning at 5 AM they would be outside honking their horn.  Loud music and Spanish was spoken at very high volume.  I complained to them but they didn't understand my English.  I called the realtor handling the rent and her answer was "They pay."

[Separation of Church and State] Yeah, except where religion is concerned! Florida is once again considering a Jesus license plate. What would you think if Florida was considering a Mohammed license plate? Oh, you say that’s different! That’s not our God.

Separation of Church and State is our only protection from the inevitable demand by Muslims to slowly institute Sharia Law around the World as they’ve done in England.

[In his campaign for School Superintendent, Fred Colvard kept talking about the district finances and lack of accountability.  How stupid we were to not listen to him] Speak for yourself. I campaigned and voted for Fred Colvard.  Little comfort that is now.

Our responsibility now to Monroe County kids is to petition the governor to remove Mr Acevado as superintendent. There is no way he can give his school district functions his full attention now.  He's fighting too many other distractions.  And the fact that he has not already voluntarily stepped down testifies to his colossal bad judgment.

[Big Pine library has a block on their computers for bigpinekey.com] BPK Library is owned and operated by Monroe County.  After the Lisa Druckmiller emails last year, the Monroe County attorney ordered the Monroe County IT dept to block bigpinekey.com on all County computers, and Monroe County servers.

That didn't slow the County employees down though. Now they just email bigpinekey.com from non-County computers.  Supposedly, at least they're not doing it on taxpayer time (except now a lot just use their Blackberries from their work desks).

[Shitty Neighbors] A new neighbor has moved in across the street with a dog which they don't walk; they just let it out saying, "Go poop, go poop."  I haven't actually seen it do it on my pea rock yet, but there are 3 dog dumps in my driveway in the last week. Is there a law making dog owners responsible like a leash law or pick-up-after-your-dog law here in Monroe County?  I need to know the facts for when I actually catch their dog in the act and I have to confront them.

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Sunday April 26, 2009

Today's Banner by BP 

Friday April 24, 2009 

[Refuge Land Swap] The recent article in the News Barometer titled "Refuge swaps waterfront for center site" has generated a few questions and comments, so I'd like to answer those here.

Q: Why did the Refuge sell off protected land that provides wildlife habitat?
A: The area that was exchanged does not include any functioning native habitat. The exchange parcel is scarified fill that has been in this condition for at least 25 years. The exchange parcel only includes that area that has been used by the Big Pine Fishing Lodge for several decades for tent camping and trailer storage. They were previously using this 4 acre area under lease from the former property owners when the Trust for Public Lands purchased the entire 40 acre "Ocean Bluff" property in a court settlement to avoid construction of a large development. The Trust for Public Land consequently transferred the property to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1986. The Cactus Hammock and adjacent salt marsh and beach berm habitats are still owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and will be protected as wildlife habitat in perpetuity.

Q: Why did the Refuge exchange 4 acres for only one acre?
A: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is required by law to offer fair market value to willing sellers for lands to be acquired. Thus the exchange was based on equal land value, not equal size. The market value for both properties (the exchange parcel and the former Coconut Farms parcel) were based on a professionally-prepared appraisal that was reviewed and approved by an experienced review appraiser, as per Service policy. The prices are reflective of the sales prices of comparable property sales in the Florida Keys, as would any other appraisal conducted on behalf of private buyers.

Q: If there's no money available to build a visitor center, how did you build the new headquarters and houses last year?
A: The re-construction of the old office building and 2 employee quarters were funded out of a special appropriation by Congress that gave the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service the capacity to repair federal facilities that were damaged by the 2004-2005 hurricanes. Those funds could not be spent on anything else, and they were in addition to regular annual refuge operations and maintenance budget. Furthermore, federal land acquisition funds are specifically allocated by Congress to National Wildlife Refuges under the Land and Water Conservation Fund and other revenue sources; whereas facility construction is funded through a separate appropriation altogether or through special grants that the Refuge would have to apply for. Construction of a visitor center or other refuge facilities does not compete against or reduce land acquisition funds or any other refuge management funds.

Attached photo shows property lines of the exchange parcel.  ~Anne_Morkill@fws.gov

[American Values] We decisively won the biggest war of all time without resorting to torture against enemies who did use it.

[Short Term Rentals] The lack of enforcement of the short term rental rule is the real problem.  I wanted to get into the short term rental business so I spent top dollar for a home that was properly zoned for short term rentals (less than 28 days).  When I started to advertise on the more popular rental sites (Vacation Rental by Owner, and Home Away) I found dozens of homes being offered for rent in neighborhoods that are not zoned for them. 

If there was greater occupancy in the legal hotels, motels or if the legal short term rentals were getting booked regularly it would not be so upsetting.  However the occupancy rates are down, meaning that the County is loosing out on an even greater amount of bed tax dollars because the illegal rentals are not by definition, collecting the 11.5% tax, and they are taking dollars out of our County coffers that have to be made up by the rest of us. 

I realize that the code enforcement office is under staffed; however it would take little time to shop these web sites and then send a letter to the owners of the properties involved to cease and desist or face the wrath of the County and State revenue departments.   

FDA to allow morning after pill for 17 year olds. This should put some people's underwear in a knot. FDA to allow 'morning-after' pill for 17-year-olds

Everyday is a Beach Party at Parrotdise Waterfront Bar & Grille! The Beach Party starts at 2pm daily and goes until sunset. Drink all the Bud, Bud Lite and Yeungling beer you like for just $10 on the Beach. Come and get your party mug and enjoy the Waterfront at Parrotdise.

Specialty cheeses daily, Shrimp cocktail and Shrimp cocktail wraps on Friday, Prime rib on Saturday, Grilled pork tenderloin on Sunday, Monday is martini 2 for 1, Mike Nite on Tuesdays, Maine lobster on Wednesdays and Super Mac and Cheese on Thursdays.

It's a Beach Party for $10 everyday at Parrotdise Waterfront Bar & Grille in paradise.

[From the Right--after Woodrow Wilson democratic pres. during the 1st world  war. we had republican presidents (and the country flourished) until 1929] 

The 1929 stock market crash is conventionally said to have occurred on Thursday the 24^th and Tuesday the 29^th of October. These two dates have been dubbed "Black Thursday" and "Black Tuesday," respectively. On September 3, 1929, the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached a record high of 381.2. At the end of the market day on Thursday, October 24, the market was at 299.5 — a 21 percent decline from the high. On this day the market fell 33 points — a drop of 9 percent — on trading that was approximately three times the normal daily volume for the first nine months of the year. By all accounts, there was a selling panic. By November 13, 1929, the market had fallen to 199. By the time the crash was completed in 1932, following an unprecedented large economic depression, stocks had lost nearly 90 percent of their value.

Then we elected another democrat, FDR and things got better. Then we had democrats and republican presidents. We had a recession under another republican and then things got better then another recession under another republican president then things got better. Then we got the all time Mr. Bankrupt, the big W. Every business he has been in he has ruined, so after 8 years of spending and running down the US I think you are really “right”; it's the democrats fault. I think you should blame Thomas Jefferson he started the Democratic Party.

[Trash Talking] Are you kidding me? There are plenty of establishments that are now hiring. Tom Thumb, your own Winn Dixie and CVS.  Get off your fat ass and put in an application. No, wait, you may have to take a drug test and actually pass it. Wouldn't that be a hoot? May I suggest buying the "condiments" the cops are selling as a way to by-pass the "crap" that is being said about a deceased loved one.  There are plenty of ways to occupy your mind other than hate. May I suggest the new park on Big Pine?

If not, I have some wonderful swamp-land just waiting for a person of your caliber!

Does anyone have anything to say about Mario DiGennaro appointing Jim Cameron as a Planning Commissioner?  Does anyone care?  As a voter I voted against Spehar who appointed Jim Cameron as a Planning Commissioner.  I can not believe Mario is ignoring the voters of Monroe County and re-appointing Cameron.  Does Mario live on the same islands as the rest of us who voted Spehar and McCoy out of office along with their appointments? 

[Illegal Workers] Recently because of dwindling business I was told that my 55 hour work week I’ve been doing for over 1 1/2 years was being cut back to only 2 days of work a week with almost zero chance of those hours being restored soon. I never missed a day and felt I was being paid fairly for the work I was doing. I actually loved that job. So this left me with two options. Continue working the 2 days a week with no chance of more hours or find other work.

Okay I hit the pavement and the newspapers and applied to quite a few businesses that still are in the paper today. I was used to making progress in my debt and didn’t want to stop my progress in its tracks. I applied for 2 County jobs only to find out later they were already taken and that they were only posted because of a law, I was told, that makes companies post them with the public. I was interviewing for jobs already filled!

After filling out 25 or so applications that I was more then qualified for I realized how hard it is for an all Americans to find employment that pays more then $12 an hour. Again, I was always on time and I’m not even close to being Keys Diseased. I have to believe it’s not how hard an American like myself works, it’s just plain cheaper to hire illegals. I did find work that is paying me $12 an hour (no benefits), but at least I’m working full time while I’m spending my off time looking for a better paying job. I keep working and I will eventually find a better job and I appreciate my last full time employer for letting me still work my 2 days off with them. They have been very gracious and I really believe that they will get me back to full time as soon as their business allows. I understood the term last hired first fired when they hired me but I didn’t see this one coming.

The point is, it’s not that Keys people won’t work and won’t work hard because I have and do. It’s just cheaper to hire illegals. Sad but true. I cannot believe that it’s nothing more then businesses in this down economy hiring cheaper workers and trying to keep their own businesses afloat. It’s actually understandable. (Here’s a plug for a hard working man  keyshipwrecker@yahoo.com)

Different strokes for different folks. What will Michael Phelps' new freestyle look like? - Fourth-Place Medal - Olympics - Yahoo! Sports

[Illegal Workers] I spoke with the Labor Board today regarding the illegal workers in the Keys and gave them the names of the businesses that were listed here.  I was told that they will look into the businesses named and assured me they will act quickly.  They also told me that if a house is being cleaned by someone I know is illegal or the grass being cut by someone illegal to photograph the person's car and tag in front of the house.  If I see them coming out of a business photograph it.  They assured me that any business hiring illegals and paying them will get an unpleasant visit from the IRS.  They said to hit them in their pocket book.  They told me hotels are the biggest abusers.  I told them that realtors taking free service at their own homes in exchange for hiring the illegal's is far worse.

Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.   ~ Ryunusuke Satoro

Tennis Anyone? Let's try out the new courts at the park on Big Pine Key. I'm a guy looking for one or more tennis players for singles or doubles. Just for fun, no pros please. I have ice cold beer. 849-3194. Classified Ads > Situations Wanted

[Short Term Rentals and County Commissioners] We put these bastards into a nice leather chair, give them all kinds of goodies then they stick it to us where the sun doesn't shine. There is a law of the survival of the fittest, which means my foot will fittest their sun portal too, if I get a short term slob renting next my million dollar home! Bet on it!

America was a melting pot. That's what I was taught in school as well. But here's the problem. The original melting pot was great. It was people from many cultures coming to our country to melt into one pot and become Americans. That's not the case anymore. Now foreign people want to come here, live on our soil, keep their language and culture, and try to change ours. That's not a melting pot, that's too many different pots crowded on to one stove. Try that in your own kitchen and you'll see it doesn't work very well.

"We will not have any more crashes in our time." - John Maynard Keynes, 1927

"I cannot help but raise a dissenting voice to statements that we are living in a fool's paradise, and that prosperity in this country must necessarily diminish and recede in the near future." - E. H. H. Simmons, President, New York Stock Exchange, January 12, 1928

"There will be no interruption of our permanent prosperity." - Myron E. Forbes, President, Pierce Arrow Motor Car Co., January 12, 1928

"No Congress of the United States ever assembled, on surveying the state of the Union, has met with a more pleasing prospect than that which appears at the present time. In the domestic field there is tranquility and contentment...and the highest record of years of prosperity. In the foreign field there is peace, the goodwill which comes from mutual understanding." - Calvin Coolidge December 4, 1928

"There may be a recession in stock prices, but not anything in the nature of a crash." - Irving Fisher, leading U.S. economist, New York Times, Sept. 5, 1929

"Stock prices have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau. I do not feel there will be soon if ever a 50 or 60 point break from present levels, such as (bears) have predicted. I expect to see the stock market a good deal higher within a few months." - Irving Fisher, Ph.D. in economics, Oct. 17, 1929

Black Thursday,24 October 1929: The market crashes, but rallies to close down 2%. Black Monday, 28 October 1929: The market closes down 13%.
Black Tuesday, 29 October 1929: The market closes down 12%.

Dis is gooden, yah? I think I had this guy on my crew. Nothing got done on that job, either! Video

[14 year old driver] I wouldn’t mind her running into me. That way I would wind up owning everything their family owns right down to their dog!

[Oil Drilling] I will vote for any politician who supports drilling here in the Keys and drilling now!

[Why didn't we shoot that pirate] Personally I feel sorry for him. I think we ought to release him and let him swim home post haste!

[Short Term Rental] For all of you that have gotten yours and think that others should not come here, sorry, but you are the self-serving ones. Weekly rental are how everyone learns that living here is very nice. Manage the problems through deposits and having the local police do something like stop by a problem late night party and issuing a report.  Have the person loose their deposit because they were a problem and they will not come back. Stopping everyone from coming here is just stupid. Did I say that, yes it is just stupid of you and costs everyone else their service jobs, tax basis, fishing charters, construction repairs, etc. It goes on and on as to how it hurts everyone and you who think in the short-term.

FKCC has now hooked up with some outfit calling itself a university that says you can earn a bachelor's degree in one year and only have to attend one class a week.  Man, did I waste a lot of time going fifteen hours a week for four years to get my degree.

Yeah, sure, I'll be hiring one of their “graduates” right away!

[Benefit] "Sunset Celebration" of Ballyhoo, a Gyotaku fish print will be on display in the window of the Artists in Paradise Gallery from May 2nd through the 15th.  This limited edition print by Kim and Ian Workman, well known Keys artists, (KIMIAN), is being offered as a special raffle prize to benefit Ian who is very sick.  We are trying to help with his mounting medical bills.  Tickets are available in the gallery or from any gallery artist.

Your help would be most appreciated.  For more information, please call the gallery at 305-872-1828.

Friendship, Yard, Bake and Art Sale, a benefit for Ian Workman’s medical expenses. All proceeds go to Ian, who is a local artist, working with his wife, Kim, as Kimian’s Art. They show their gyotaku fish prints from Key Largo to Key West and are well known throughout the Keys. May 2 from 8 am to 3pm at Out of the Blue, mm 30 Big Pine Key Raffle tickets for a fishing trip. On July 12 there will be a drawing for a limited edition Kimian Art print. For tickets, donations or questions call Artists in Paradise Gallery 872-1828.  Bulletin Board

The Holocaust was real no matter what they say. Slide Show

[Refuge Visitor Center] Does it surprise anyone that the Refuge is preparing to stamp out more of our native habitat with their new visitor center?  The Key Deer Refuge now specializes in development.  This is all that they do.  They don't care for injured deer, they don't take care of any wildlife, they build a building without obeying their own rules.  They draw huge paychecks and for what?  To keep the rest of us from putting up fences.  Not only is Fish and Wildlife, in general, not interested in following the rules or caring for animals, but specific staff are not concerned either.  Tom Wilmers' (deer biologist) entire yard is fenced.  Anne Morekill's (preserve manager) yard is fenced.  Russ Costa (game warden) feeds and waters key deer.  We need the Fish and Wildlife to care about fish and wildlife and not a government retirement on our dime.  ~alconbp@gmail.com

[Foreign Workers] Many foreign workers have come to America and made a success of themselves. It is the illegal worker that is the problem all over the country.  Companies are taking advantage of them and paying substandard wages. Here in the Keys, low wages are a problem and the illegal worker is more than happy to fill these positions. All business owners that are hiring illegals are subject to be prosecuted. Because of many complaints Dunkin' Donuts pulled their franchise out of Key West. There may be a few more job openings locally; as at the end of the month we may see some changes.

Hugo Chavez gave President Barack Obama a book by Uruguayan journalist Eduardo Galeano. The name of the book is "Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent".

The 1971 Anti-American book, available only in Spanish, documents how foreign interests have dominated and afflicted Latin America since the Spanish conquest. On Saturday the book was #54,295 on Amazon.com. It jumped to #2 by Monday thanks to that exchange & this photo.

Will Eduardo write a pro-American book now? No chance! I keep wondering if Chavez gave Obama a book in Spanish because he was playing off the wrong format DVD's Obama gave Brown of Britian. Some say he's a crazy guy! Video

[Inner Peace] Some doctor on the TV this morning said that the way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started. So I looked around my house to see things I'd started and hadn't finished and, before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of shhhardonay, a bodle of Baileys, abutle of vocka, a pockage of Pringlies, tha mainder of a botl Prozic and Valumscriptins, the res of the Chesescke an a box a chocolets. Yu haf no idr who fikin gud I fel. Peas sen dis orn to anyy yu fee ar in ned ov inr pece.

[If you hire foreign workers] You miss the point, which is that illegal foreign workers are being hired.

Saying short term rentals are good for our economy is like saying crime is good because it keeps the police employed.

[Tea Party] It looked like the TEA (Taxed Enough Already) party was really more of a TIT (Tempest In a Teapot) party.

[Short Term Rental] We all admit things have been done wrong in the past, but the fact is it works for our neighbors up the Keys, and if done right can help right what's wrong with our economy here on BP and the Lower Keys. Would you rather see the house boarded up or managed carefully and enforced? This county needs the money and it will stop the illegal weekly rentals that don't collect the tax. We are all losing, please give it a chance. I’m not trying to be ugly, just hoping to help our community that we love so dearly (I am not a Chamber member or a realtor).

[From the Right] Here’s the newest old scam by the bent nose crowd who have last names that end with a vowel, they call it “our thing”. Let’s say you have a business that you haven’t run real well and when the economy started to stink your business headed for the crapper. At that point, the dudes at “our thing” would get together a pile of money and offer you it to you to use in saving your business. You know that if you take the money, you might be able to hang on for a little longer and maybe things will get better.  Of course you know that there will be a few strings, but you do trust the “our thing” guys. So you take the money. It keeps you afloat for a while, then the “our thing” dudes tell you that they are now running your business, they tell you that you’re making too much money, so they take money away from you. Then they tell you that you’ve got to completely redesign everything that your business makes or does and that only they will make those decisions.  You get scared and pissed, you go to your accountant and take a loan from Aunt Frances, you find enough money to pay “our thing” back. You offer it to them, they say “no way, your business is now “our thing”. You can stay on, but you’ll have to do things “our way”. There’s not a freaking thing you can do about it. Every day “our thing” gets deeper and deeper into your business. They decide who must hire, what you must pay them, how and when they will work, you have to give them benefits that you can’t afford, and the “our thing” products are not wanted by your customers. You’re stuck! This scam is in operation right now, it’s not a Cosa Nostra scam, it’s not the Soprano’s. It’s the Democrat policy, the dude with the name ending in a vowel is Don Obama.

(Part II) Some folks moan and wail that we employed harsh interrogation techniques on terrorists. I’ve yet to hear anyone make note of the fact that every single one of these terrorists had a perfect way to avoid the discomfort that they received. Remember that they were because they were involved in killing every American that they possibly could kill. Most of them were involved in terrorizing our homeland. They could have avoided any discomfort; all they had to do was answer the questions. The questions were asked in order to save American lives. The answers that they ultimately gave saved hundreds if not thousands of American lives.  We have no way of knowing how many terrorists avoided harsh interrogation techniques by simply telling the truth to their captors.

The more we hear about who knew what and when about the enhanced interrogation issue and whether Bush staffers or anyone should be investigated and prosecuted, the more I think that a full investigation is necessary. This right winger believes that a real investigation would show that high ranking Democrat legislators knew about and urged the use of the techniques. There is strong evidence that Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden were a part of the decision making process.  I believe that any real investigation will prove that the Democrat leadership has been blindingly hypocritical on the issue and have used it as a cudgel to keep the eyes of our voters off of the economic chicanery that is being foisted on us now. I’ll bet a tootsie roll that the Obama administration moves quickly to shut it down.

[Suppository Bullets] I am exhausted from trying to find one of these. They are new on the market, so, everybody and their brother is buying them up as fast as they hit the shelves. CVS said they have been flooded with calls asking for them.

[Law Breakers] It seems that Bush and good old Dick sure did break a bunch of laws and just made others up as they wanted. Whatever happened to truth, justice and the American way? Boy, is Superman going to be pissed!

[Short Term Rental] Manage them properly, call the cops? That’s a bunch of crap. You can’t call the cops for the short termers being rude or for doing the many things they do to piss off the neighbors (unless they are illegal). Short timers can’t be managed properly. Realtors don’t want any trouble, that’s the last thing they want. There is just nothing they can do once the property is rented. To think otherwise is misinformed. The realtor is not going to be able to keep going over to the renter every time a neighbor calls to complain. They would be there every half hour. There’s nothing they can do to make classy people out of party people on vacation. That’s why we have these ordinances. Thank God!

[Chinese Drywall Scam] Attorney General Bill McCollum today issued a consumer advisory to Florida homeowners affected by Chinese drywall, encouraging them to avoid scams related to the situation. At least two types of fraudulent activity involving the defective drywall have been reported to the Attorney General’s Office by individuals in the building industry: bogus tests to determine the presence of the product and quick cure remedies which falsely claim to remove the corrosive properties of the product. The Attorney General cautioned homeowners not to fall victim to these scams and others which may develop.

[Eggs] If you think setting up dominoes takes talent, take a look at this.

[Conch Republic Days] What is all going on in Key West Sat. and Sun. for the Conch Republic Celebration?  My niece is visiting and would like to partake in the festivities.

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Friday April 24, 2009 

Wednesday April, 22, 2009

[Foreign Workers] I have another way to stop these foreign workers. The local work force can start to show up when they are suppose to, stay till they are suppose to, stay sober at work, don't do drugs at work, work while at work, do good work, be able to take criticism when their work is not up to par, and quit complaining all the time.

If this happened, there would be no jobs at all for those foreign workers.

[Mile Marker 24 Band] This Wednesday morning, April 22^nd the Vandenberg is arriving at the Outer Mole in Key West. If you are anywhere near the Keys you have to come down and see this magnificent ship. The Conch Republic Navy will be on hand to greet her as she arrives. Arrival is expected between 8-10 AM at the Outer Mole.  If you hear music playing, that will be us on the aft-deck of The Mohawk.  A special reception and viewing opportunity aboard the USS Mohawk, including a continental breakfast and an afternoon reception will be open to the public (for $10), which will benefit both Mohawk and Artificial Reefs of the Keys (The Vandenberg).

The morning reception is 9-11 and the afternoon reception is 4-7pm. The USS Mohawk CGC Memorial Museum is a not for profit museum and will be the welcoming vessel. The Outer Mole is open to the public, so come on down!

[Law Enforcement at its Worst] A Florida Keys-based marine enforcement officer and a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office corrections officer were arrested Friday in Key West on federal drug-trafficking charges. Deputy Shawn Hernandez and Jonathan Jacox, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer stationed in Marathon, were taken into custody by FBI agents. Charges are conspiracy to commit armed trafficking, and possession of a firearm in commission of a felony. Details of the case were not immediately available from the FBI.

"The acts of this individual have violated the public's trust and we are disappointed that this incident occurred," Col. Julie Jones, director of FWC law enforcement, said in a prepared statement. "This individual's behavior is not indicative of the character of our other FWC officers or the agency. Every single day our officers demonstrate professionalism, integrity and honesty," Jones said. "We will cooperate fully with our law enforcement partners in bringing this case to a complete conclusion.

Jacox has worked with the FWC since September 2006. Hernandez has been with the Sheriff’s Office since 2000, most recently working at the Stock Island jail. Said Sheriff Bob Peryam. “These criminal acts are serious and completely unacceptable no matter who is committing them; it is even more shocking and appalling that it would be two law enforcement officers taking part in this type of crime.”

Below is the 13^th Amendment of The Constitution of the United States, as well as the Titles of Nobility that was never a part of the Constitution

The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution officially abolished and continues to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. It was adopted on December 6, 1865, and was then declared in a proclamation of Secretary of State William H. Seward on December 18.

The Titles of Nobility Amendment (TONA) was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution dating from 1810. It was submitted to the state legislatures during the 2nd Session of the 11th Congress via a resolution offered by U.S. Senator Philip Reed of Maryland. It has not been ratified by three-fourths of the states and so has never become part of the Constitution.

If any citizen of the United States shall accept, claim, receive or retain, any title of nobility or honour, or shall, without the consent of Congress, accept and retain any present, pension, office or emolument of any kind whatever, from any emperor, king, prince or foreign power, such person shall cease to be a citizen of the United States, and shall be incapable of holding any office of trust or profit under them, or either of them.

Who can I call to complain about a white barking dog on Enterprise Ave in BPK?

[I see stupid people] Wow, so many ignorant people posting today.

1. under Guam law, it is expressly forbidden for virgins to marry - Bullshit. You copy and pasted this nonsense from a website without even trying to disguise its origins. There is no such law in Guam and you are an idiot.

2. Running out of water is a scam - The trillions of gallons of water in the Amazon isn't doing the citizens of California much good, is it? I'm sure that you also believe the earth is 6000 years and that Jesus rode a dinosaur.

2a. As for "Matter cannot be created or destroyed" you must have slept through the same high school physics class as the religious nutcase that posts on here. There is this thing called  and it comes in handy converting matter to energy. Just ask Fermilab if you want to reverse it and create matter from energy. The depth of your ignorance is frightening.

3. That bird dancing video was really cool.

George Bush says 'we are losing the war on drugs'. You know what that implies? There's a war going on, and people on drugs are winning it!   What does that tell you about drugs?   Some smart, creative motherf**kers on that side.   ~Bill Hicks

[Right Wing Wrong] I like to read Big Pine Key.com to hear what concerns the locals have. However, I become more and more frustrated to see that many of the right wingers just don't get it. They don't research their comments and if they do they do so from unreliable sources.

Example 1 [From the Right] says," When Clinton took office the national debt was about 4,000 billion dollars. When Clinton left office the national debt was about 5,600 billion." Please check your facts! Clinton actually left a surplus of 230 billion. Even when you go to the most conservative sites they say that he didn't leave a surplus but that he did reduce the deficit. 

Example 2 [Obama Bad Pirate] ramble, ramble, ramble, The fact is, the pirates were shot and the captain returned to his family. Mission accomplished. Not like when Bush claimed mission accomplished when referring to the Iraq war. A war of choice to avenge the disrespect of his daddy!

For the sake of this great nation, I am not asking anyone to totally agree with what is happening in our nation, just asking them to get there facts straight, have a little confidence and not discredit everything that Obama does because you have your head stuck to far in the sand or should I say stuck up Rush Limbaugh's big fat butt! Try to be patriotic instead of the blind follower of policies that just don't work. Nixon's Watergate and debacle on Health insurance, Regan's trickle down economics which was the start of this mess, GW 1's failed economics and GW 2's selling out of our nation and freedoms all are to blame for where we are now. If you don't think he sold us out, why is it that Halliburton made billions on no bid contracts, and then they moved their headquarters off shore to Dubai. Real patriotic? Where was your tea party then?

[Toilet Tax] With all the taxes we have in the Keys, why not a Toilet Tax for those that rent vacation homes, hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and where else the un-locals take dumps. Higgs beach too!

Today is Earth Day. Go out and hug your planet.

[Miss USA Competition] “Miss California, what are your views on same-sex marriage?”  Oops, wrong answer. Sorry about that, Miss California. You lose.

It appears that once again the fudge-packing, Hershey Highway-traveling proponents of tolerance are hard at work with their usual liberal crap.  When will you learn to be politically correct?  You must submit and bend over backwards (just beware of bending over forward) to please these dear ones.  They are those oppressed citizens who are evidently denied equal rights due to where and how they engage their genitalia. Don't you know these are the high and mighty hypocrites who have no tolerance though for those like yourself who find their alternative lifestyles repugnant and disgusting?  Sorry, Miss California, political correctness wins the crown. Next question please.

[Key Largo Student Wins Essay Contest] So we all know what the question was. What was the winning answer? Please print the essay.

[Ego] It's funny how some ugly old farts never go away.  People are legends in their own minds.

[Craigslist] For all of you who have written in about getting laid using Craigslist, perhaps you should rethink it. He or she could be a Thriller of a Killer.
Craigslist Murder

[Thirteenth Amendment] What that means is that titles of nobility, for example, Esquire, as in the title given to anyone holding a law degree or who has a license to practice law, was originally not allowed to hold office in the US.  Funny how fast they got rid of that amendment.

Three days later the waning Moon passes Venus.

[Key Deer Visitor Center] I think the site on US 1 for the Key Deer visitor center is a terrible place for it. It is so close to the bike path. This path is in continual use by walkers and bikers. Cars crossing this path will endanger the lives of all. Those entering from the traffic won't have time to be sure no one is crossing on the path. What will happen when they widen the road?

Naked men and balloons. Video

[Recently overheard at the Marathon DMV] DMV, “Sir we can't give you a Florida drivers license.” Man, “Well, why not?” DMV, “Because you have a DUI on your record.” Man, “Well, it ain't in this state!”

Earthrise as seen from Apollo 16. The special Earth views HD feed can be seen April 22 from 6 to 9 a.m., noon to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. EDT. NASA - NASA Airs HD Earth Views from Space Station for Earth Day

Illegal workers don't have to worry about being shipped back to the rat holes they squirmed from because the Fed, State, local and the companies who hire these people are too damn lazy to do anything anyway. Only when an illegal take the job from you and your kid gets hungry, will you do something.

Don't you people know about responsible drinking?  It's not rocket science to put some food in your stomach and to pace yourself accordingly.  Can't you stop at three drinks?  Being drunk is not even that much fun and it makes people look ridiculous.  Give yourself time to recover before putting the keys in the ignition.  You could hurt someone.  Thanks to the Police for trying to keep our streets safe from these morons.  Call for a designated driver or better yet, save your money and practice drinking responsibly and in moderation at home.  Happy probation, losers.  http://www.wikihow.com/Drink-Responsibly

[Benefit at Crazy Fish] So then that would mean the people who donated their time and talent, did so for people who used the death of someone else as an excuse to have a benefit and pocket the proceeds? Why does this not surprise me? That whole place has been nothing more than a dope hole dump since Capt. Dan, RIP, Died. The staff run around like blind mice bumping into each other not knowing what the hell they are doing, especially when they actually have customers, and that same attention to detail was put into planning that benefit.

The people I feel sorry for are the musicians who donated time/talent/equipment only to find out that the whole thing was a con. They have bills to pay and things to do, but find it in themselves to offer their services for free; yet a drunken opportunist can find a means to pimp someone else, even in death. I have remorse in my heart for the ones who have lost someone and have no ill will towards them. I hope you can find a way to carry on. To the opportunist scum: You’re a bunch of sorry drunk slimy f**kers and I hope karma bites you firmly in the ass.  ~7he6itch@gmail.com

Over the counter flea meds are risky if not used properly. Flea Medications Injure 44,000 Pets - Pawnation

[Benefit] In response to joschmo18@gmail.com aka Ashley. If you have something to say, why don’t you say it to the family's faces?  Arriving 2 1/2 hours into the event when your son should have been there from the beginning says a lot for the lack of respect you have for Joel and his family.  Everyone who was at the benefit saw the attitude you came in with. Everyone on Big Pine Key knows what you put Joel and his family thru the last 2 years of Joel's life.   You cried the weeping widow at the beginning so everyone would feel sorry for you.  Guess what? Not everyone fell for it.  Joel's memorial service, his spreading of his ashes on Easter Sunday and the Benefit at Crazy Fish was to help Joel's son. His family and friends celebrated his life, and raised a little money for Trey. You chose to think otherwise.  You’re not happy unless you are creating drama.  Get over being the drama queen.  This is not about you nor will you ever benefit from it.  ~ ratbpk@bellsouth.net

[Melting Pot] With all the people bitching on here about "illegal" this or that, how about America as a melting pot? That is what I was taught in school. Always has been; probably always will be. Smoke a doobie and try and to play well with others. Make it better. Accentuate the positive. Look outside perhaps.

[Poop Tax] An increase in sales tax hits the poorest people the hardest. The tax is a much greater percentage of their incomes that it is to a rich person. How about charging everyone the same as was charged the residents of Shark Key? Why isn’t that fair?

[Lionel Trains] What caused the decrease in popularity of electric train sets? They fell out of favor with kids long before computers became popular. When I was young, trains were real popular and every kid had a set. Some kids had their whole basement set up with elaborate train-scapes complete with downtowns, villages and mining areas. Lionel was the Mercedes of electric train sets.

[Key Deer Refuge Visitor Center] I wonder if the are going to have to use the same building and jump through all the hoops anyone else would have to? Probably not.

[Pirates] I’m confused; as I understand it we are going to bring the Somali pirate to the US to attend our court system? How many millions will we spend to find out that he's guilty? Why didn't we shoot that f**ker too?

I guess the left wing is okay with Bank of America increasing fees after all the bailouts. What else is next? Tea anyone?

[Best sex ever]  My kinky girlfriend told me she wanted to have sex.  She said she wanted 9 inches and to make her bleed. So, I did her 3 times and hit her in the nose. 

Clean coal is like healthy cigarettes--it does not exist. ~Al Gore    Clean coal is a dirty lie. ~Robert F.Kennedy Jr, RFK Jr. Blasts Obama as 'Indentured Servant' to Coal Industry | CommonDreams.org

Saddam had 500 tons of uranium ready to be easily processed into dirty bomb components. What alternate plan did the President have other than to ship it to Canada(?) Needing to invade Iraq as a perquisite?

[From the Right] Right wing kudos to our Deer Ed for reminding us about Ruby Ridge. In 1992 The Feds had identified Randy Weaver as being a dangerous right wing extremist. Weaver, alleged by the Secret Service to be a member of the Ayran nation, lived with his family in an extremely remote cabin in northern Idaho. The Feds decided to prosecute him for allegations of fire arms violations. Weaver despised Clinton and distrusted government. They said that he was right wing extremist. The Feds wound up slaughtering members of Weavers family including his son and his wife. A Federal officer was also killed. Weaver was ultimately acquitted of all charges except for failure to appear in court. The surviving members of the Weaver family filed a wrongful death suit and Randy Weaver received a $100,000 settlement while his daughters received $1 million each.

This shameful episode in US history occurred during the early years of the Clinton Administration, the Attorney General was who ordered the massacre was Janet Reno. Reno subsequently made Eric Holder one of her top assistants. It must be noted that there never was any allegation that Weaver actions had ever included any attempt to attack the Federal Government. Now the Obama administration wants all Americans and especially law enforcement to beware of our returning Vets because they might be right wing extremists. Obama will label anyone who champions Conservative beliefs or beliefs contrary to his as being extremists.

(Part II) Obama has declassified and ordered the release of documents that show chapter and verse on our methods of coerced interrogation. He’s done it over the grave objection of 4 current and past CIA directors and all of the military and intel community. He says the techniques were shameful and didn’t work. Remember that we’ve been told that the techniques broke several of the terrorists and they gave up information that saved hundreds of lives. Obama says that’s not true. Documents exist that would prove it one way or another Why, if the methods didn’t work, why does he refuse to release the results of the interrogations? If Obama is right, it would prove the Bush admin to be liars, if he’s wrong, it would prove that Obama is a liar! If Obama has the truth about him, he will release it all. You can be sure that he won’t because it will prove him to be a liar. Obama has said that he does not want any prosecutions in the matter, but when Dick Cheney urged release of all of the documents, Obama said that Attny General Holder "just might" consider prosecutions. What do you think, is that a threat or what? America we are in deep trouble.

[Police Day Care] How is it that a MCSO sergeant driving car #1378 can pick up his child, load the bike in the trunk and the child in the back seat--all while on duty? Tax dollar use at their best? Just think if he had an emergency call. Does the child provide him backup or become a liability?

[Foreign Workers]  Just read what you wrote: "When these Lazy realtors take a break from beating up their girlfriends and stop molesting their children" By the way, when you assume, you make an ass out of you and…well, just you.

I do not care to get into this any further with you. Ignorance and prejudice are paramount on this site.

[Poop Tax] I think that we should pay taxes based on our sewer usage and therefore women should pay more.

[Bad AA] The Alcoholics Anonymous meetings don’t close with the saying “what you see here, hear here, let it stay here.” They close with the Lord’s Prayer. But, you have to remember that the program is spiritual, not religious. That is total crap just like everything else that AA preaches. The meeting rooms are a gossip monger’s paradise. No one is sworn to privacy like a cleric, doctor or lawyer. Test it for yourself. Say something in a meeting really weird about yourself that no one knows but you. Then wait till you hear it on the street. It won’t take long.

[Toilet Tax] I agree with the tea-baggers when they say taxes are out of control. Whenever they try and stick another penny onto the sales tax for homeowner’s sewers is when we should have another tea party. The average person passing thru town that stops to by a drink shouldn’t have to pay an extra penny for a homeowner’s sewer system. No new taxes. It’s time we continue to take a stand against any tax increase. We can all try and justify one when it suits our needs, but let’s face it, the government wouldn’t use it for what its intent would be anyhow.

Not one red cent should be added to any taxes at all! No sewer tax, no gas tax, no increase of taxes for anything. Why should a person living here pay for a snowbird’s sewer hook up? A snowbird flies into town and stays three months a year and leaves. The other nine months of the year the rest of us would be paying a higher price on everything we purchase for that snowbird’s sewer charges. The snowbird could sit in New Jersey and laugh because he’s getting his vacation home’s sewer hookup paid for by people that live here all year. I’m tired of people expecting others to pay for their bills. Your hook up--your bill. Next time they try and add 1 penny of additional taxes for anything I will see you folks on US 1 and Key Deer again with my protest sign.

I went to a benefit on Sunday. The bands were great, but that was it! It was the worst benefit I have ever been to. I try to go to as many as I can, to help out the community, but this one was run really badly. If you missed it you were lucky.

[Gay Marriage is Wrong] Just send Miss California over to work at FOX News and get it over with.

So nice to see you go Randy and Richie(?) As we say here on Big Pine Key, if you don't like it here, please leave in the swiftest manner possible. This place was never meant for you. Anybody that makes threats that everybody hears about (including authorities) regarding fires, has no place here. Seasons change and most people look forward to seasonal changes. Narcissistic and megalomaniacs had their time when Ghengas Kahn was alive. 

On the other hand Lou will be missed by many. You deserve the very best life has to offer. I hope you find happiness and fulfill your life’s dreams. You have blessed many in your time here. Farewell and remember this place for the memories you found here.  ~ykfishslayer@bellsouth.net

[Short term rental] I don't know who the poison person is, but go away. I got my first taste of the Keys by being a short term renter and I know lots of other locals who did too. I loved the fact that my family could rent in a nice family neighborhood and not have to stay in a hotel.

Almost all of the houses in the two neighborhoods I stayed over a five year period, were short term rentals. We were all nice and well behaved people.

And I mean all of them. I currently have a neighbor doing illegal short term rentals, and all the people that have shown up are wonderful. I go out of my way to meet them and help them out with local things; tides, shopping, shallow water to avoid, keeping the fence closed to keep the deer out, places were they can launch their boat. What ever I think they need to know.

The funny thing is that the short termers are much quieter that the owners, when they come down. But I can live and let live and the owners aren't that bad. They like Latin music and it's not my favorite, but I don't feel that I'm better than them and should make them stop. The whole issue with these made up, horror stories, is that someone too lazy to be a landlord, or not smart enough to invest in anything, is jealous of people making a couple of dollars that they aren't.

Be nice to your neighbors short or long term or keep your lazy jealous mouth shut and all will be fine.

[Live and Let Live] Do whatever you want as long as you don't bother anyone else.  I know that takes away some of the fun for a lot of folks, but try anyway.

[Not Very Neighborly Neighbor] Just because your yard looks like a trashy junkyard doesn't mean I want mine to.  No, it is not okay for you to drive on my grass and park in my yard every darned day! Why would anyone think this is all right?  ~Your fed up neighbor at the other end of your tire tracks.

[Work Pit] Long ago auto mechanics used to use a pit in the ground to work under cars. Why can't I use my old septic tank, after sterilizing it, to do the same?

Legalizing drugs will take away much of the thrill factor of doing them which is why the punks start in the first place.

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Wednesday April, 22, 2009

Tuesday April 21, 2009

[Jail Break] The escapee from the Big Pine Road Prison was captured in Pompano Beach yesterday with stolen property. This 45 times loser gets caught every time he commits a crime. He must be retarded or likes living with men in close quarters.

[Former Local Boy Makes Good] I was notified today by Capt Bill (he used to own Paladin Magic Shop, next to Capt Tony's Saloon) that I have been approved for commission as Full Commander in Conch Republic Navy, in charge of communications and good will. Far out! Conch Republic Days are in full swing, and my commission will be read into the record at Friday's ceremony.   ~RoyBoy

[Foreign Workers] Here is one other thing we can all do to help put an end to the problem of illegal immigrants taking our jobs.  Report the illegal, the employer and the addresses worked to http://www.ice.gov/investigations/index.htm   It seems clear that numerous phone calls to the company who hires these people doesn't work.  Let a Federal Officer walk into the local real estate office who hires illegal housekeepers and see how fast they get rid of them.  Imagine the local real estate broker in the headlines for being under Federal Investigation.  Threaten the employer's lively hood and you will get action. 

A car full of Mexicans carrying gasoline cans to a lawn job and none of them having a driver's license will get noticed.  Polish housekeepers with a trunk full of chemicals will stop people.  Bleach mixed with ammonia is a dangerous chemical.  Add in a bogus Nevada driver's license and you have a big Pandora's Box.

[Kindness] As the economic depression of the 1930s worsened, friends quietly kept Mrs. Bellingrath aware of families in need.  She would appear, checkbook in hand, begging for an azalea, camellia or whatever bloom she saw in the family yard.  She would convince the stunned homeowner that Bellingrath Gardens had been unable to locate one and then offer hundreds of dollars in an era when $25 a week was a comfortable income.  She told a flower shop owner that her crocheted afghans were the most handsome she'd seen and offered her $100 each for a dozen, knowing the money would put the woman's niece in college, which it did. 

After her sudden death in 1943, the Catholic Bishop called Mr. Bellingrath and asked permission for a group of nuns to say a prayer as a way of thanks for all she had done for them.  As the couple was Presbyterian, this surprised Mr. Bellingrath, who asked, "Why?"  Without his knowledge, she had been sending flowers to the Catholic Providence infirmary every week.  The staff was instructed to place flowers in anyone's room who did not have flowers sent by family or friends.

I say triple the money in the war on drugs! Quadruple it. Take the money out of welfare handouts, food stamps and such. Not for those who really need it of course. I’m a compassionate conservative after all. But anyone who can swing a pick on a highway work gang should be able to pull down minimum wage and not welfare. While we’re at it, triple the fines and jail times for anyone in this drug business. Even stores that sell rolling papers should be singled out in their local newspapers.

Yeah, right, some magical government is going to legalize drugs. In what century? And where? In Oz? No, my simple-minded friend, no government wants to touch this nonsense approach with a ten foot pole. It’s not good politics. It’s a non-starter so get off your hash pipe and start contributing better ideas into the mix, or is this all your generation can offer “Make it legal and tax it, man!”  Do you stink like a hippie too? Honest to God, I can’t wait until I get old enough to crap in a diaper and you and your generation are my caregivers. I will laugh out load with every load.

Society is losing the war on drugs because society doesn’t have the will or human resources to fight savage organized crime cartels and narco-governments. Probably because all the sensible western democracies are busy fighting, God knows who, in Iraq (it’s hard to tell who the enemy is there; killing Sadaam was good though) and Obama’s Taliban buddies in Afghanistan. So why don’t you suit up, grab an Uzi and kill the guy selling rock on the corner. Do something!

“I don’t know anyone who stopped smoking pot because it was illegal, hard to find or too expensive.” How about a few years in solitary confinement? That would stop them.

“Legalizing” drugs will have no affect on the criminal element.” They will still have the market cornered and control the prices and the guns. Do you honestly think “the government” will set itself up in The Galleria in a store where you can go in and shop for Oxycontin and crystal meth; even your blessed pot, after you’ve had a few lattes? The best we can do is put users and traffickers in jail for a long, long time and shoot the distributors on site. Who would care? I sure as hell wouldn’t.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage is for you and your passengers if you are involved in an accident with someone and they are at fault, and they are either uninsured or underinsured.  So if they cause the accident and don’t have enough liability insurance to cover you, your insurance will pick up the difference up to the limits you choose.  It is optional coverage for you to buy.  Yes, it is illegal to drive without insurance, but there are people that do, some because they unintentionally allowed their coverage to lapse.  It happens. ~Isaksen Ins Co.

[Legalize Drugs] It’s not as simplistic as the writer proposes, but that idea does have merit. Americans get into stupid mind-sets and it’s terribly hard to get us to see the other side. We’ve had a senseless embargo on Cuba for sixty years that has accomplished absolutely nothing. The war on drugs is just as futile. It has accomplishes absolutely nothing except to enrich lawyers, law enforcement and the prison system while draining our taxes. We have to stop warehousing pot offenders for the victimless crime of getting high. We have to stop kidding ourselves that our drug enforcement efforts are doing any good at all.

I’m an old person and most of my connections have moved or passed away, but I still can get any drug on Big Pine right now. Can you imagine the connections younger people must have?

The new Key Deer Refuge Visitor Center will be built at the site of the old coconut Farms on US1. What a great location for them.

[Military] I love half truth man. He did however admit Bush increased America’s debt by over 70% in his first term. That was a time when the republicans had control of the entire government--House, Presidency and Senate. Then the poster went on to say after 9/11 the president had to rebuild the military. Huh? Let’s look back a bit. When Clinton took over, the country had just finished the 1st Gulf war and still had Iraqis under the control with the no-fly zones. Clinton’s inherited military was depleted from the war and had to be rebuilt. By the time Clinton left office he handed Bush a military so strong that it was able to completely take over 2 countries, Afghanistan and Iraq, in 2 years. Say what you want, but you don’t invade 2 countries without a great military. Thanks, Bill Clinton.

We know that Bush, by the end of his first term, had increased the national debt by over 70%. Now after 4 more years look at what the deficit was. The democrats barely had a majority in Congress to the point where if the Congress had a vote and everyone voted strictly along party lines the Republican agenda was put forward.

Thanks to the poster for admitting Bush started us down the road to America’s financial destruction. It’s not fixed yet, but the signs are pointing to a better America and a regaining of America’s leadership in the world.

[Hang Up and Drive or Shut Up and Drive] New campaign messages for cell phone users. Spread the 'Hang up and drive' message | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press

[Foreign Workers. Who do you think is going to serve you and put up with you? Surely not the majority of lazy US citizens] This wins the award for ignorant people. Please tell me this is a joke.  Thousands of unemployed natural born Americans will disagree with you there.  I am going to assume this is either one of the illegal's writing or one of the low life employers hiring them to avoid paying overtime, insurance, unemployment and workman's comp.  Perhaps one of the realtors who hires them in exchange for free cleaning of their house?  Can't these lazy realtors take a break from beating up their girlfriends at a party or molesting their daughter among the other heinous acts they commit and clean their own house?

Why can’t I get a job? I’m a good dresser!

My grandparents are funny, when they bend over; you hear gas leaks, and they blame their dog.

Tea party signs.

We have been very busy accommodating the Monroe County's Sheriffs Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, State Attorney's Office, the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation and our newest visitor, the FBI.

 The brilliantly written articles appearing in the Coconut Telegraph and in many of our newspapers on this expanding investigation have comforted many residents with the facts; as we are forced to proceed through this ugly, tragic, and all to familiar episode of alleged public corruption. Please keep us updated with all the occurrences and findings uncovered by these investigative agencies. 

[How the Internet Began] In ancient Israel, it came to pass that a trader by the name of Abraham Com did take unto himself a young wife by the name of Dot.  And Dot Com was a comely woman, broad of shoulder and long of leg.  Indeed, she had been called "Amazon" Dot Com.
 
And Dot said unto Abraham, her husband, "Why doth thou travel far from town to town with thy goods when thou can trade without ever leaving thy tent?"   And Abraham did look at her as though she were several saddle bags short of a camel load, but simply said, "How, Dear?"  
 
And Dot replied, "I will place drums in all the towns, and drums in between, to send messages saying what you have for sale, and they will reply telling you which hath the best price.  And the sale can be made on the drums and delivery made by Uriah's Pony Stable (UPS)."  
 
Abraham thought long and decided he would let Dot have her way with the drums. The drums rang out and were an immediate success. Abraham sold all the goods he had at the top price, without ever moving from his tent. 
 
But this success did arouse envy.  A man named Maccabia did secret himself inside Abraham's drum and was accused of insider trading.  And the young men did take to Dot Com's trading as doth the greedy horsefly take to camel dung. They were called Nomadic Ecclesiastical Rich Dominican Siderites, or NERDS for short.  
 
And lo, the land was so feverish with joy at the new riches and the deafening sound of drums that no one noticed that the real riches were going to the drum maker, one Brother William of Gates, who bought up every drum company in the land.  And indeed did insist on making drums that would work only with Brother Gates' drumheads and drumsticks.  
 
Dot did say, "Oh, Abraham, what we have started is being taken over by others."  And as Abraham looked out over the Bay of Ezekiel, or as it came to be known, "eBay", he said, "We need a name that reflects what we are, which will set us apart from the others." And Dot replied, "Young Ambitious Hebrew Owner Operators."   "YAHOO!", said Abraham.
 
And that is how it all began.  It wasn't Al Gore after all.

[Virgins] There are men in Guam whose full-time job is to travel the countryside and deflower young virgins, who pay them for the privilege of having sex for the first time because under Guam law, it is expressly forbidden for virgins to marry. 

Let's just think for a minute; is there any job anywhere else in the world that even comes close to this? How much is a plane ticket to Guam?

[Paddleboats] I very much enjoyed all the great pictures of the paddleboats.  They cheered up a fairly glum weekend here, thanks!  I wish I could have got in on the fun, but it was good to see all the good times going on anyway.

[Thirteenth Amendment To The Constitution] If any citizen of the United States shall accept, claim, receive, or retain any title of nobility or honor, or shall without the consent of Congress, accept and retain any present, pension, office, or emolument of any kind whatever, from any emperor, king, prince, or foreign power, such person shall cease to be a citizen of the United States, and shall be incapable of holding any office of trust or profit under them, or either of them.

[What is Libertarian] How much liberty is good for the individual? How much government do we need? The libertarian, or classical liberal, perspective is that individual well-being, prosperity, and social harmony are fostered by as much liberty as possible and as little government as necessary.  These are open-ended answers that leave a lot to explore: What's possible? What's necessary? What are the practical implications? The unsolved problems?

[Key Largo Student Wins Essay Contest] “You are on a school bus and one of the kids is kicked out of their seat and made fun of by another student. What would you do?”

That’s the question Monroe County 8th Graders were asked in an essay contest sponsored by the Monroe County Community Safety Task Force. Designed as preparatory work for those 8th graders taking the FCAT this year, the contest was open to all 8th grade students in public, private, and home-schooled settings.

Stefana Valpotic of Key Largo School was the overall winner of the contest, receiving $100.00 donated by the Interfaith Ministerial Alliance. Entries were judged by the Marathon Business and Professional Women and the Key West Women’s Club.

“We received essays from Key Largo School, Sugarloaf School and Mary Immaculate Star of the Sea School”, said Task Force Chair Cynthia Rubenstein, “which we thought was a pretty good showing for our first year. We hope to make this an annual event and get more schools involved.”

Other school winners were Rachael Norquoy of Mary Immaculate Star of the Sea School, Shelbi Swanson of Sugarloaf School, and Jackie Lara of Key Largo School Each school winner received two movie passes donated by Regal Cinemas in Key West, the Marathon Community Theatre and Tavernier Towne Cinemas.

The mission of the contest was the same as that of the Task Force: Creating Healthy and Non-Violent Community Environments (CHANCE). The goal of the Task Force is to reduce the overall likelihood that anyone in Monroe County will become a victim or perpetrator of domestic violence by creating conditions that make violence less likely to ever occur through implementing a wide range of primary prevention activities. Primary prevention focuses on stopping violence before it occurs using a comprehensive, community based approach to changing the societal factors that allow violence to occur. The group is made up of representatives from the Domestic Abuse Shelter, Florida Keys Outreach Coalition, Florida Department of Children & Families, Interfaith Ministerial Alliance, MYCP, Children’s Medical Services, Monroe County School District, NAS Key West, and Legal Services of the Florida Keys.

For more information, contact Cynthia Rubenstein at (305) 743-4440.

[I've had short term rentals and never had a problem] When are you going to turn yourself in, pay the income tax on your profits, and go to jail voluntarily for breaking the law?

[Dragon Boat] We had 20 paddlers aboard the Florida Keys Dragon Boat yesterday at 6 pm paddling on Newfound Harbor.  If you see us on the causeway honk your horn. We had 7 new participants from the United States Coast Guard Key West. The Dragon Boat flew across Newfound Harbor. We go out Sundays and Wednesdays at 6 pm. Give us a call and have some fun. 305-304-5100

[Water, water everywhere and not a drop to spare] Every time I hear this crap, I want to puke. With all the junk community projects wasting out tax money, nobody cares about the most important item, fresh water. Look around, we live on islands, so build some new sea water treatment plants now!

[Saunders Named to Budget Committee] State Representative Ron Saunders is one of nine House members named as an at-large member on the State budget conference committee.  The conference committee will be meeting to resolve differences between the budgets passed in the Florida Senate and House and produce a conference report that will be the final state budget.

As an at-large conferee, Saunders is a voting member on all budget conference committees dealing with various areas of the budget.  Saunders is a former chair of the House budget committee.

[Happy] My husband came home with a tube of KY Jelly and said, "This will make you happy tonight." He was right. When he went out of the bedroom, I squirted it all over the doorknobs. He couldn't get back in.

[Running out of water] Where did it go? Too many trees? Matter cannot be created or destroyed.  Aren’t there trillions of gallons of water running into the Gulf from the Mississippi, the St. Johns, the Columbia, the Amazon, etc. Isn’t there flooding in Huston, in Fargo? Running out of water is a scam!

[Benefit at Crazy Fish] This goes out to all the locals who attended the benefit. The family who hosted it aren’t a real class act. It definitely showed Sunday. If they really wanted it to be a big turnout maybe they should start respecting people in the community including the mother of their grandson. And to think all of us who went actually thought it was for the grandson and the father not just for the grandparents and their debt.  Hah, ha, yea, they sure made it a fact as to who it was for on Sunday—themselves! ~joschmo18@gmail.com

[Paddleboat] The employees of All Keys Gas, aka Gasbusters, send their appreciation to all entries in the Rotary's Paddle boat race on Saturday, and appreciate the stiff completion.  Rest assured we will be back next year to defend our title as champions! 

Who you gonna call?  GASBUSTERS!

[Fshing off Bridges] I notice that the legislature is considering requiring a fishing license for people who fish from shore unless they are a participant in one of Florida's "safety net" programs such as welfare or unemployment.

If you're on welfare or unemployment, shouldn't you be looking for a job rather than fishing?

[Short term rentals and electricity for No Name Key] The previous writer lamented like it was a bad thing that short term rentals and electricity for No Name Key keep re-emerging every couple years. Of course, the masses will continue to revolt until the enviro-cult groups stop taking away our property rights.  Give No Name Key electricity like everybody else (or disconnect yours if it is not so great) and stay out of my house and my business. The writer also encourages us to spy and report our neighbors to code enforcement. I'm sure this person has lots of friends, but that is not the way most of us treat our neighbors. We live happy and peaceful lives.  Who I have visit my home is my business. I must have missed the announcement that God had died and appointed this person to run the universe? 

I used Perfect Choice Fine Carpentry to re-trim my new office on Big Pine Key.  Let me tell you, Matt's crown molding cuts are perfect!  ~Dr Paul

[Legalize Drugs] One of the key arguments for legalizing drugs is that so doing will generate revenue from taxes and save the money now spent on drug enforcement. It won’t. Legalizing it will only drive up the costs of drugs because of the brand new taxes that government will immediately put in place. The costs of production and delivery to our shores would remain the same. The costs of marketing would increase. The high cost of the legal, but highly taxed, drug will result in a black market operated by the very same folks who currently distribute illegal drugs. The Feds just jumped the tax on a pack of cigs by $.62, cigarette smuggling to avoid taxes is out of control.

The government would then immediately begin draconian enforcement of tax collections and the arrest of violators. The intoxication laws and laws regulating driving etc could not change. The usage of drugs would probably increase if it were to become socially acceptable. There is no need to talk about the wildly destructive effect that would have on our already screwed up society.

[From the Right] We’ve heard a lot of jabber about the Obama administration release of a document that claimed that right wing extremism was spreading among our vets. I just read it this morning, you should too. It is really chilling. It can be found at: hsa-rightwing-extremism-09-04-07-2.pdf. 
The document was released to coincide with the recent anti tax and anti debt rallies called tea parties. It’s crystal clear that Obama et al were attempting to demonize those who had the temerity to demonstrate against his policies.

Most of the rhetoric, without specifically naming it, spoke of the activities of the Ayran Nation. Look them up on the web and learn of their scabrous membership and themes, it will disgust you. The organization had its birth in prison. It is a whites only group that is at war with all who are not white. The Obama administration’s release of this document is designed to promote the notion that Republicans and Conservatives are linked to Ayran nation types. They are not! The document expressed concern about alleged acts of right wing extremism. I believe that the 90s saw but one act of terrorism committed by any person or group who might be considered right wing, that was McVeigh’s bombing of the Murrah building. In fact, after the Murrah bombing membership and activity of the extremists precipitously declined.

The document purposefully avoided any mention of the deadly terrorist activities of left wing extremists such as the UniBomber, PETA, ALF/ELF or EMETIC, murderous environmental terrorist all. These are all self-avowed left wing terrorists, whose murderous firebombing, bombings, and sundry acts of eco terrorism rocked the ‘90s and more recent years. The document provides its own cover because it specifically says that there is no information that suggests that the right wing extremists currently offer any threat of violence whatsoever.

Release of the document was yet another shameful example of the propagandizing of the Obama administration that is designed to demonize its opposition. It is beyond shameful that the Obama administration would target veterans for this smear. I guess Obama does not believe that a vet could be seduced by left wing mantra. This Obama document language is carefully crafted to deliver the impression that right wing extremism presents a clear and present danger to our nation. It is utter nonsense and beyond shameful that they included our vets in their diatribe. Top Obama advisor, David Axelrod labels dissent to Obama dicta as being unhealthy. Folks, Team Obama are sounding a great deal like despots under construction.

(Part II) It’s starting to look like even the Obama media is finally catching on to  his BS, here’s an AP headline from yesterday “WASHINGTON -- Cut a latte or two out of your annual budget and you've just done as much belt-tightening as President Barack Obama asked of his Cabinet on Monday.”

When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects.  Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, "It's no use Grandpa. Now the mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights."

[Budget Cut] Obama did a wonderful thing when he ordered his cabinet to cut their budgets! Good job Obama! Shame on you right wing extremist for pointing out that the cuts he demanded amounted to 1/20^th of one percent.

This illegal worker was caught stealing the bacon Dion's where she was employed. They couldn't figure out where all the bacon was disappearing to and how it was getting out of the store. It kind of gives a new meaning to the saying “bringing home the bacon.”

Plant a dream. Dream big! Marijuana Advocates Point to Signs of Change | CommonDreams.org

[People ask for trouble] I have a neighbor who allows her fourteen year old unlicensed daughter to drive the family car around the neighborhood. When I mentioned this to the mother, she responded, "Oh. Well, she’s a good driver!"

[Legalization of drugs] I don't care what you do in the privacy of your own home on your own time. However, I do object to your driving "high" and endangering me and my family. And while we're at it, get off the cell phone and stop text messaging behind the wheel.

This bird dances better than half the people I know. Bird Loves Ray Charles - Video

[Cut Back on Land-Buying] I can't believe the Ed missed putting in a picture of Charles Bronson, the actor, by this posting(?)

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Tuesday April 21, 2009

Monday  April 20, 2009

[War on Drugs] For 50 or 60 years we’ve waged war on drugs clogging our legal system and accomplishing nothing but big bucks for the lawyers and sending many users to the poor house or jail. Nothing we’ve done yet has helped. There are more people using dope now than ever. Why are we waging this war?

Legalization is a better answer. With legalization there will be taxes to collect. The revenue could be used for rehabilitation and education instead of jails.

I don’t know anyone who stopped smoking pot because it was illegal, hard to find or too expensive. It’s the same with hard drugs too. Criminalizing drugs has never worked or even slowed down the supply. It’s time we recognize that fact. It’s a waste of time and money. We need a better way to get rid of drug gangs and cartels. Legalization would do just that. All gangs finance themselves from drugs. Why can't you see that and insist that the government change direction from incarceration to legalization and education?

Our drug policy has always been run by clueless, shiny-faced men in suits who can’t admit that their policy has failed for sixty years; or how much money is wasted on enforcement and incarceration.

Most violent crime is committed by people under the influence of alcohol not dope. The war on drugs is lost--I surrender.

[Short term Rentals] Less than 28 days rentals in an Improved subdivision is against the law, period. This short term disease seems to keep re-emerging every couple of years like the electricity for No Name Key. The ban on short term rentals was passed by referendum over twelve years ago. If you are a resident in unincorporated Monroe County be alert and aware of your neighborhood, and report any short term rental violation to Code Enforcement immediately. There are many excuses, but so far I've not met anyone with 13 different sets of "cousins" that just want to "visit" for a weekly Saturday to Saturday vacation from June through August.

Don't fall for any hype. No short term rentals, period, in an improved subdivision. If an investor wants to have weekly rentals let them go to one of the new "cities" created solely for the purpose of issuing building permits and allowing weekly rentals. If we wanted that type of lifestyle we'd live there. Keep your short term rentals out of our neighborhoods.

[Public Input] Don’t go to any public meetings. They are just held to pay lip service to democracy. All decisions are pre-ordained and if you are a concerned citizen and go to too many of these meetings you get labeled as a trouble maker or a nut.

[Navy noise] Once again an uninformed citizen griping about Navy jets and the noise it produces.  The commission is doing their job, as futile as it is, and even they know they will get nowhere.  They are only making a stink because they don't want you paying attention to the blatant misuse of your tax dollars and poor management skills that have the State thinking of taking over the whole county. 

Nobody complained about the noise until the new AICUZ came out and prevented developers from bulldozing a few trailer parks and building million dollar condos that nobody is going to buy anyway.  These Jets have been flying out of Boca Chica for a decade.  As far as these houses being built in the 60s (before the AICUZ or the F-18's), the airfield has been there much longer than that, and in the 60s there were loud, inefficient, dangerous jet aircraft flying from NASKW. Get over it already.

[Control short term renters] There is an oxymoron if there ever was one.

[Bush Kept Us Safe]  Bush lost about 3000 citizens in a terrorist attack almost nine months into his presidency after having been forewarned by the previous administration.  If you don't believe me check your favorite website, snopes.

I've had short term rentals and never had a problem. There have been short term rentals next door with no problems. I have heard of other people having problems, however. Not all short term renters are irresponsible. You just have to have the right type of renter, I guess.

[Airbus] Here's how an Airbus is put together in 346 seconds!  Hit the Play button!http://blog.imagesdoc.com/2008/12/un-airbus-en-346-secondes/#more-660

[Cut Back on Land-Buying]  Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Bronson offered a contrarian view this week of the state's $300 million a year environmental land-buying program. Bronson, who may run for governor next year, had the audacity to suggest Florida may be acquiring too much land and it could be hurting the state's economy. By his estimate, the state has bought some 3.8 million acres, while the federal government may control about 4 million acres out of the roughly 33 million acres that are usable in the state.

Free tree giveaway May 2 from Keys Energy.  Plant native. Annual Tree Giveaway Update 

I guess everybody got their Uninsured Motorist Coverage from their carrier.  Isn't it against the law in Florida to drive without insurance? If so then why do we need to buy extra Uninsured Motorist Coverage insurance or is it to cover the illegals and criminals driving on our roads? Another scare tactic for profit ploy or what?

Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to spare. We’re running dry. Across the United States, Waters in Crisis | CommonDreams.org.

[Foreign Workers] A few more businesses to add for the person writing the letter regarding the illegal workers an local businesses.  Holliday Inn, Key West.  Southernmost House Guest House.  Doubletree.  Kmart, Marathon.  Shell in Key West.  Edward Jones Insurance office cleaning crew.  GFS.  Best Western Hibiscus.

[From the Right] Hang onto your hats boys and girls, it looks like the manure is about to collide with the air circulation device.  While Obama was engaging in an exercise of prostrating himself before a whole slew of South American despots, the Israelis have gone to the brink of taking out Iran’s nuke capability. The big red button that gets pushed won't be a "reset" button. You can be locked on sure that when it happens Iran will strike back big time. You can be sure that the Muslim terrorists will redouble their efforts to hit us, hard. The only thing that we can’t be sure of is how Obama will handle it. I am truly worried.  It’s a damned shame, but it’s just not possible to be seen as a figure to respect when your shoes have been pissed on all over Europe and now your shoes are soaked in South American urine.

(Part II] Lets look at debt. When Clinton took office the national debt was about 4,000 billion dollars. When Clinton left office the national debt was about 5,600 billion dollars. That’s an increase of about 40%. Clinton had a Republican Congress. Clinton stripped the military and cut government spending on national security by many billions of Dollars. Clinton had a Republican Congress. When Bush took office the national debt was about 5,600 Billion Dollars and the military and intel gathering were in shambles. When he left office the national debt was about 10,000 Billion Dollars. That’s an increase of about 78%. After 9/11 Bush had to rebuild our military, our intelligence gathering facilities, and invent and implement an entirely new national security apparatus. Bush dealt with several wildly expensive catastrophes on US soil and he began the prosecution of a worldwide war on terror. Nonetheless, Bush was wrong when he did not try to stop the proliferate spending of his Democrat Congress. As a result of the wild Democrat Congressional spending, when Obama took office the national debt was about 10,000 Billion Dollars. Today, the national debt is about 11,200 billion Dollars. That’s an increase of about 12% in about 100 days. It is estimated that Obama will at least quadruple (+400%) the national debt in the next 4 years. That’s a whale of a lot of tea.

[Short Term Rental] Had the victory margin by those against the short term vacation rentals been in a presidential election it would have been called a landslide.

[Monopoly] Fannie May, Freddie Mac and lets not leave out the US Postal Service are all owed and run by the Federal government. They are true monopolies and they are a mess. State, local and federal government are and have never been able to run any business. Less is best. Let’s not forget that the IRS took over a brothel in Nevada for back taxes and they could not make it work. Just think about that! Selling booze and sex and can’t make it work. I know we are going to do just fine because of us--not the government.

[Big Pine Key, The entire island is a slum] Huh? Maybe it seems that way if an outing to Tom Thumb is your idea of a cultural experience. Have you ever been down Long Beach Road? At any rate, I’d take BPK over Key West any day. The whole pot-smoking-screaming-gay-oriented-cheap-tee-shirt-wearing-Jimmy Buffet-impersonator-thing is getting really tiresome. On the other hand, there may be no place on earth more overrated than Bahia Honda. “Award winning beach”? Who was on that committee, Somali pirates?

[Mariel Revisited] Great, we'll get some more of Cuba's dregs.  Obama suggests Cuba release political prisoners 

[Paddleboat Race]  Thanks Ed, for all the great pictures of the race. It looks like you all had a blast. That was some fine marine engineering.

[Sony Reader has a half million free books] Amazon's Kindle has many free books.  They also have older books that are very reasonable.

The right wing cons and half truth guys were sure busy yesterday after what must have been a lonely and boring Saturday night.  If you knew about the Bushies being the first to fear returning vets joining right wing extremist groups, why didn't you say so in your original post that made our President Obama look like the goat.  Maybe you were just living up to your reputation as the half truth guy.

A few questions for the tea party whiners.
1. The Iraq war turned out to be a bill of goods sold to us based on lies that cost America billions a month that the Iraqis we were told would repay us for. The entire bill was then switched to the American taxpayer—a v very expensive Bush lie. Why no tea party?
2. Bush had put in place an "ownership program" that allowed low income Americans to get state subsidized loans for housing with no down payments-- no tea parties.
3. President Bush never ever vetoed a spending bill and you guessed it--no tea parties.
4. The republican party removed government oversight meant to keep banks honest when dealing with home ownership/Banking, yet no tea parties.
5. While Bush was saber rattling back and forth with North Korea (whose missile program was allowed to gain speed and led to the largest increase of their missile activity in history because of) fuel prices went thru the roof because oil companies were fearful of the possibility of fuel interruptions. Yet again no tea parties

Did you guys just switch from coffee? May I suggest decaf instead.

Tree carving like you’ve not seen before. Slide Show

[Foreign Workers] Some of you people are just too much.  Who do you think is going to serve you and put up with you if foreigners are not working down here?  Surely not the majority of lazy US citizens!

[Cyber Crime] The Oprah Winfrey Show featuring my CyberCrime Unit. The show will now air today, April 20 and the Unit will be featured in the second half of the show titled "Release from Prison: A Mom of 3 Goes Home. I encourage you to tune in and learn more about how you can join the fight to protect our kids. Check Oprah.com for local listings and as always, you can get more information about my CyberCrime initiative by visiting http://www.safeflorida.net .

[Short Term Rentals] The lower the rent and shorter the term, the lower the quality of occupants!

The Voca People. A capella with hoods. Video

[Taxes] I bet a dollar to a doughnut that if you asked the tea party group if we should raise our sales taxes to pay for the sewers instead of them paying their own sewage hookup cost (on their own houses) they would be screaming for that tax increase. But I agree. No new taxes. If it’s your house that’s mandated for the sewer hook-up you should pay the bill. Let’s see if the hypocrites stand by their "foot your own bill" rhetoric.

Does Mike Hentz, photographer for the KW Citizen spend all his time in bars? I reckon nine out of ten Citizen of The Day photos are of bartenders, bouncers or servers. Isn’t there anywhere else he goes?

Enjoy the ride! enjoytheride

[Telecommunication Bill] Thank you to all of you who called your legislator to voice your concerns about SB 2626/HB1465 that could raise your phone rates for basic telephone service annually. This bill is not about economic recovery. It is not about jobs. It is not about funding essential services, and it's certainly not going to cut your taxes. This bill is about greedy phone companies wanting to take more of your money while delivering less. Call now before it's too late at 1-888-222-4121.

[Unruly Dog] Wouldn't it be nice to be attacked by a lose dog in a tiki bar, then sue the bar, the dogs owner, the local government and anybody else involved for not obeying the law. Gee, a free home in the Keys with an instant business and free taxes forever!

[Southern Hospitality] A Mississippi woman who was shot in the head not only survived but made herself tea and offered an astonished deputy something to drink. Tammy Sexton, 47, remained hospitalized three days after being wounded by her husband, who killed himself after he shot his wife. A bullet struck her squarely in the forehead, passed through her skull and exited through the back of her head, authorities said. She is expected to fully recover.

[Obama Bad Pirate] Captain Philips’ first leap into the warm, dark water of the Indian Ocean hadn’t worked out as well. With the Bainbridge in range and a rescue by his country’s Navy possible, Philips threw himself off of his lifeboat prison,  enabling Navy shooters onboard the destroyer a clear  shot at his captors — and none was taken.

The guidance from National Command Authority 'The President of the United States' Barack Obama had been clear: a peaceful solution was the only acceptable outcome to this standoff unless the  hostage’s life was in clear, extreme danger.

The next day, a small Navy boat approaching the  floating raft was fired on by the Somali pirates —  and again no fire was returned and no pirates killed.  This was again due to the cautious stance assumed by Navy personnel thanks to the combination of a lack of clear guidance from Washington and a mandate from the commander in chief’s staff not to act until Obama, a man with no background of dealing with such issues and no track record of decisiveness,  decided that any outcome other than a “Peaceful Solution” would be acceptable.

After taking fire from the Somali kidnappers again Saturday night, the On Scene Commander decided he’d had enough. Keeping his authority to act in the case of a clear and present danger to the hostage’s life and having heard  nothing from Washington since yet another request to  mount a rescue operation had been denied the day before,  the Navy Officer — unnamed in all media reports to date —  decided the AK-47 that one captor had leveled at Philips’  back was a threat to the hostage’s life and ordered the NSWC team to take their shots.

Three rounds down range later, all three terrorists became enemy statistics, Killed in Action and Philips was safe.

There is an upside, downside, and spin side to the series of events over the last week that culminated in yesterday’s dramatic rescue of an American hostage. Almost immediately following word of the rescue, the Obama administration and its supporters claimed victory against  pirates in the Indian Ocean and [1] declared that the dramatic  end to the standoff putan end to questions of the inexperienced  President’s toughness and decisiveness.

Despite the Obama administration’s (and its servile flatterers)  attempt to spin yesterday’s success as a result of bold, decisive  leadership by the inexperienced President, the reality is nothing  of the sort. What should have been a standoff lasting only hours; as long as it took the USS Bainbridge and its team of NSWC  operators to steam to the location; became an embarrassing four day and counting standoff between a ragtag handful of  criminals with rifles and a U.S. Navy warship.

Some really unusual modes of transport. Slide Show

[Mile Marker 24 Band] We were honored when Jimmy Buffett’s MySpace sent out a bulletin about us and put us in his Top Friends. In case you didn’t see it, here is what he said. Thanks Jimmy and all your wonderful organization. You are the best.

Whats up Parrotheads? Hope everyone out there is doing well and getting excited about Summerzcool 2009. Just wanted to send out a quick note about this awesome, trop-rock band called Howard Livingston & Mile Marker 24 Band. They have an amazing sound and are huge Parrotheads. Stop by their site, listen to their tunes and dont forget to add them on MySpace. Fins up everyone!
www.myspace.com/milemarker24

[Sewers] Come on, if you cannot figure it out by now, it's all about financially depleting our (locals) bank accounts through over taxing, overly expensive "Community Projects", and pre paying for the onslaught of the high rise land developers. The money people want these Keys so they can build their plastic play grounds and they will get them, sadly!

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Monday  April 20, 2009

Sunday April 19, 2009

[Short term vacation rental] Anyone who is for this terrible idea either is a snowbird or has never had a short-term rental in their neighborhood. Any commissioner who supports this will be in my sights come next election. We moved from Key West because of the short term rentals in our neighborhood. We couldn’t bear short term rentals here.

Sewers will be done, but only after they spend millions on repaving the three new lanes. Then they’ll dig up everything to do it again. It's called job security and how to make money selling asphalt while keeping illegals employed.

Buddy, buddy.

[Sewers] Does this make anyone other than me wonder about the fiduciary responsibility to citizens about the contracts between Monroe County and the FKAA?  Why has the majority of the unincorporated areas in the county not received central sewers in the past 10 years? Who decided on sewers for the rich communities (Shark Key) and leaving the Lower Keys (particularly Big Pine and No Name Key to the last)? Why does the county and FKAA not have any money for the Lower Keys sewer project? Why did FKAA refuse EPA grant monies? Why did our Congress person vote against stimulus money for wastewater in the Florida Keys? Why has the FKAA been installing the most expensive systems in the entire county? Why hasn't the County looked out for the citizen's interest and challenged FKAA non-performance and delay?  There are so many questions with no answers.

[Remote Amazon tribe probably takes powerful, natural hallucinogens to ease their hunger and mask the futility of their existence] That may be so, but have you ever heard anything remotely bad about them?  They live with themselves bothering not a soul in our world or the land on which they live. If you ask me, what could be better than that?  The rest of the world is responsible for destroying them and their land.

[Academic example of socialism] The failure of an entire college class as evidence of the wrongness of socialism is sad. Students who understood the material, but got a failing grade because the whole class's grades were averaged, deserved to fail. The reason is because they failed to help (by tutoring) their fellow students that had trouble with the course work. Learning requires effort and it is easier for some than others, but all are capable.

I was a tutor in college and it was such a great feeling to see a smile begin to form on the student's face when they started to understand. For example, is it a chore (or handout) to teach your child to ride a bike? Once you let go, they're on their own and you've done your job. Your encouragement and tutelage helped them succeed.

In the early days of the University, the students were in charge of their education. Grades (judgment) meant nothing compared to gained knowledge. What I'm saying is that offering your expertise to help someone else succeed is a component of individual success. I don't care about socialism or capitalism. Somewhere between being dragged down by "deadweight" and trampling on friends is where Americans are. Neither end of this spectrum is any good.

[Little Havana] In the 1970s I vacationed every year in the Keys. Each year we ventured a little further down the island chain.  The first couple of years we stayed in the upper Keys where we decided we were in the English speaking minority on the weekends, so we ventured further down the islands. In the Middle Keys the weekend Miami Spanish speakers caught up to us in a couple of seasons, so we kept going.  In 1979 we spent our vacation on Bougainvillea Dr on Big Pine.  There was practically nothing here on BPK.