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The Coconut Telegraph
An Historical Diary of what Keyheads were talking about
Since 2002

Sunday January 31, 2010

[Change] I have talked this over with many people in the Keys and we ask, no we demand, the following changes to CT.

We want 3 separate sections.
1 for pertinent topics, both local and international
2 for totally useless and incoherent gibberish
3 a section for woman

Our President was amazing when he debated the Republicans a couple of days ago.  He is brilliant.  He answered all of their questions with facts and common sense.  He conducted himself with calm dignity.  It's about time that he put the Republicans in their place.  We are so lucky to have such a smart President in this time in our history.  Hopefully the Republicans will be able to think for themselves when casting votes in the future, instead of acting as obstructionists.  If you take any 41 people and ask them a question, there will never be an answer that everyone agrees on. Yet, all of the US Senators (and Congressmen) continually agree on everything and cast a no vote as a block.  Let's see, do you think this could possible be political? Ha!  What a bunch of Bozos.  Even the Democrats don't always agree.  The Blue Dog Democrats vote their own minds. This is what our elected officials are supposed to do.  The voters elect them to vote their minds.  The Republicans have let America down by playing a political game and obstructing America's ability to move forward in our ever changing society. 

Friday’s post castigating Obama for thanking his wife twice was the most petty criticism of Obama I’ve seen since his being criticized for reading from a teleprompter. Divided we stand is the appropriate slogan for our times.

Fundraiser to Protect Coral Reefs! Today, Sunday, Jan. 31,5-7 p.m. at Sunset Pier/Ocean Key House. Appetizers & Drinks $15, all-inclusive. Silent Auction with great prizes! Sponsored by Fury Water Adventures and Sanctuary Friends Foundation of the Florida Keys to benefit its FKNMS Mooring Buoy Program

Mooring Buoys are designed to protect the coral reef. Join us this evening.

ATT DSL cost the same as Comcast. It’s the ATT wireless that is $70 a month. Regular ATT DSL is only about twenty bucks.

[Corporations have same rights as people] Senators and congressmen will wear jackets bearing their sponsors’ logos.  That should have been made mandatory long ago.  Now at least the company can compete with the union, which has blown my dues in ways I don't approve for way too long.

Choose one: (A) Parenting, not for everybody. (B) More bleach in the gene pool.

All truth passes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Second it is violently opposed and third it is accepted as self-evident.  ~Authur C. Clarke

[Gays in the military] If you are so deep in the closet that you found next year's Christmas presents, why don't you and Tom Cruise just admit it and get on with your lives.

Haiti Relief Fund Raiser.  Saturday, February 27 at 11:00 am - 8:00 pm  21423 Overseas Highway (corner of Blimp Road and US1)  Cudjoe Key. Please show your support and come join us for an all-day event with full-line entertainment, food, crafts, fashion show, silent auction, door prizes, plus much more!  Volunteers are needed.  Artists and vendors are welcome to participate.  For more information please call Leah at 305-360-1123. Bulletin Board

[On the Road] From the Right guy’s on the road reporting is refreshing and a pleasure to read. I didn’t think he breathed any other subject besides hating his “Mr” Obama.

[No Name Electric] When I bought in the Keys I was told No Name Key would not get utilities and I wouldn’t have to pay for them (not really).

Parenting is not for everyone.

I find it amazing how uninformed the average American is and they don’t want to be informed. Someone wrote suggested watching LINK TV to get another opinion of the rest of the world and was vilified for the very notion of learning about others.

[Copper plumbing corrodes] I feel for that homeowner whose house is rotting. Many people paid extra to have their houses plumed in copper not knowing that it corrodes in the Keys. The much cheaper PVC piping last forever if you keep it out of the sun.

If No Name Key wants utilities they should have to put the total costs plus traditional cost overruns into an escrow account in advance.  If a utility says it will cost $600,000 to install utilities you can rest assured that by the time they are done it will cost $700,000. this is fact. No big job comes in within the budget. Why should us other taxpayers have to pay for their utilities?

Make sure they put the cost overrun into the escrow account so the rest of us don't get screwed when the final cost is totaled.

[Frugal] I lost a large portion of my income recently and have stopped buying. I was buying stuff online almost every day. It’s been almost a month since I stopped and I really don’t miss anything that I would have purchased. I hadn’t realized how wasteful I’d been. It’s been an eye opener for me.

[Actually overused] “Well” was the most popular word that was used to begin most sentences a couple of years ago. Then there was “absolutely” which permeated most sentences. This year the most popular word in any sentence is “actually”. No one “goes to the store” any more; they “actually” go to the store. I’ll not mention the over use of the word “like” by kids because they don’t have much of a vocabulary yet.

Recently I let Microsoft send me another update and on restart (must restart for changes to take effect or we'll nag you until you do) got the ol' Blue Screen Of Death (sigh).  With all the different programs made by all the different people they can't possibly all get along all the time.  Consider it another learning experience, sort it out and push on.

The tallest structure (includes signal towers, too) Its opening last week. Burj Dubai — Arabic for Dubai Tower — is over a half mile high 2,684 feet.

[What's that beep] Being educated doesn't mean you are smart. To my non pilot friends, the klaxon going off in this video is a warning to the pilots that the aircraft is in the landing configuration and the gear is not down and locked. These two pilots are having a wonderful social conversation instead of doing the pre-landing checklist.

The ending is a good look and sound of what a gear-up landing sounds like.

Being able to ignore that loud warning is amazing. The fact that someone was in the back seat with video and audio recording equipment running recording this magnificent performance of cockpit stupidity makes this a rare video indeed. Video

Pandora is my favorite music station on the internet. There's no registration or sign in unless you'd like to save your music shows. Just type in the artist or type of music you like. That's all.

I bought a $60 surround sound speaker set, plugged it in and started listening to the full sound. It's great. http://www.pandora.com/

[From the Right] It’s late and we just returned to the rock, it’s good to be home. A quick read of today’s (Saturday’s) CT revealed some postings that were quite interesting and quite well written. It is shame that the one pertaining to the IPCC and its Chair was riddled with factual errors.  If you’re interested in the evil machinations of Rajendra Pachauri, the chairman of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change you will find that Pachauri, like Al Gore, has become wealthy peddling the notion of AGW. You will learn that he was well aware of the astounding errors in the report that falsely alleged the immanent melting of Himalayan glaciers long before the Copenhagen summit. You will learn that he only grudgingly admitted error after being hounded and challenged by the media. There is sufficient information concerning Pachauri to cast strong doubt on his credibility, and vastly more important, the credibility of his scientific claims.  The issue of AGW most certainly is not settled science.   As to ACORN and the posters claim that it is a righteous organization. If you are naïve and have any notion that ACORN is indeed righteous, please take just a moment and run a search on the search term: acorn voter fraud convictions.  You will find many arrests, etc. We are all big boys and girls; we can all make up our own minds. The piece pertaining to the recent Supreme Court decision on campaign financing was well written, and it is obvious that the submitter sees the decision as radical. Further, it seems obvious that he/she is immersed in the mantra of the left. That mantra in this instance is his/her opinion, not fact. FTR holds a contrary view.  In my view, the decision is radical only in that it substantially remedies some of the 40 years of usurpation of freedom of speech, that usurpation imposed by our political class to ensure their own job protection.  The decision re-sets the cornerstone of The First Amendment to our Constitution: our government simply cannot be permitted to decide what constitutes an “appropriate” amount of political speech.

As to the issue of Mr. Obama’s status as a “silly SOB”. I was wrong; he did not use two Teleprompters when speaking with 6^th grade crumb crunchers. I apologize. Only late yesterday did I learn the actual facts.  Again, I apologize for my error of fact.   Nonetheless, I feel that his status as a silly SOB  is enhanced by the fact that he finds its necessary to use two teleprompters when meeting with 11 fawning reporters in a 6^th grade school room. I suppose that the Secret Service dude was there to throw himself in front of Mr. Obama in the unlikely event that a reporter tossed a tough question at him.

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Sunday January 31, 2010

Saturday January 30, 2010

(eD:  No edIT SatuRDAY!!!!!!......b-cuz u assd 4 iT!!!!!!!!!

No-Edit Saturday. For those of you visiting for the first time, don’t judge the Coconut Telegraph by today’s un-edited episode. This is the Editor's day off. Tune it tomorrow for the edited version. You’ll find its' format and graphics more pleasing.

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Saturday January 30, 2010

Friday January 29, 2010

[Insurgents have cheap software to watch the drone attacks]  Or with a few more bits from Radio Shack, turn the drone around to attack its masters.

The reason Africa is underdeveloped is a fascinating question answered by Jared Diamond in his book Guns Germs and Steel which discusses in some depth the reasons for human development around the world. Diamond, a UCLA professor suggests combinations of agriculture and availability of other resources including minerals and water helped certain cultures develop further and faster than others.

Of course if you are hunkered down on Big Pine Key blinking and trying to figure out where your life went you might find it easier to blame "welfare" for Africa's poverty. Just because you are American no one said you have to use your brain or learn to think for yourself.

What a great surprise last Saturday night. A brand new local band called Voodu Sol was advertised in the paper to be playing at Rob's. I haven't been to Rob's in years, but out of curiosity I went to check out this new band. They were awesome! This very high energy group rocked the house with everything from rock to blues even Santana and Sublime. I sure hope they play again soon. Be on the lookout for more showings of Voodu Sol. You have to hear this band, they rock.

I hope Rob’s continues to have live music. People don’t really associate Rob’s with music anymore.

Need a good laugh? Revenge of the Riverdance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1ilTln2El0

[Volunteer Needed] Florida Keys Wildlife Rescue on Big Pine Key is in desperate need of a volunteer to do data entry in Quickbooks.  This is a one-time job inputting 2009 expense information into the database.  Experience with the software is required.  Unfortunately, we do not have funds to pay anyone for this service.  If you can donate some time to this effort please call Maya Totman at 305-872-1982
Classified Ads > situation wanted

[Streaming recycling or whatever they call it] I think it means we throw everything in one can and they separate it. That is the only way I’ll ever recycle. When they make it easy for us to recycle then it will be a success. The way it is now it’s too much trouble for most of us, as shown by our dismal recycling effort.

[No Name Electric] Keys Energy Service is working on bringing power to No Name Key and they are still having a meeting of the minds.

To the lady who thinks the IKC is some kind of joke, guess what? It is not. I have seen these demons in action. Did you see the movie they posted the other day? We SIN(?) members have been following them for some time and we are making a documentary to send to PETA (but right now PETA is busy working on saving the groundhogs). We have one tape of the IKC planning to make a profit out of the slaughter. There they were, about ten of them, men (and women!!) sitting around a campfire. They were swilling kegs of beer and roasting dead Iguanas like s’mores over the fire. The leader was laughing and talking about making wallets, belts, bandanas, key chains and earrings out of the hides. The smell was hideous and the iguanas didn't smell very good either. The whole scene was barbaric.  We were going to wait until they passed out and riddle the pickup trucks with yellow paint balls, but we had to leave because of the disgusting sight; although we did let the air out of tires on one of their trucks.  We will have to remain low key for the time because we are scared of the IKC. Some of them remind us of movie Deliverance. We read on the IKC website they are having a rally or some kind of mullet head gathering the day before Valentines. What are they planning; some kind of iguana massacre or ritual? Be forewarned head IKC lizard licker, one of us has already been to the website and has gotten a membership and there will be more infiltration.

SIN is going to have its own rally soon; we’re still seeking a sponsor. We are kicking around the idea of transforming Fort Zachary Taylor beach into the Un-Indigenous Keys Park, where the iguanas can roam freely among the Australian Pines and possibly relocate some of the bunnies from Boca Chica and some Key Deer. Maybe we can call it SIN City?

[Containers Falling  Off Ships] They ought to put a small water activated time limited GPS transmitter beacon on every shipping container so they could be retrieved in situations like this.  Sometimes they float just under the surface and they don't push around if you hit one.  It is estimated that 10,000 containers are lost at sea each year.  Write your Congressmen to get them to put reusable  identifying beacons on all containers.

[Address book invasion] A friend just asked me if I received a strange email from him at 8:45 last nigh. I didn't. It seems someone tapped into his address book and is sending spam to the people listed.  One thing I know social networking sites like Twitter and FaceBook are bad with members dumping peoples data online. Anyone can get your info and screw over you.

Use your email client’s Block Sender, Block ISP and any other security measures you have to protect your system--now!

Reef Light Tackle’s “Yellowtail 101” was a big success last night. I learned a lot. I hope they have more free events where we fishing dummies can learn how. Thanks Reef light!

More Bar Wisdom
It's not whether you win or lose, but how you place the blame.
You are not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on.
We have enough youth. How about a fountain of Smart?
Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface.
A fool and his money can throw one hell of a party.
When blondes have more fun do they know it?
Five days a week my body is a temple. The other two it's an amusement park.
Money isn't everything, but it keeps the kids in touch.
Don't drink and drive, you might hit a bump and spill something.
If at first you don't succeed, quit skydiving.
Reality is only an illusion caused by a deficiency of alcohol.
Time's fun when you're having flies. ~Kermit the Frog
We are born naked, wet and hungry. Then things get worse.
Red meat is not bad for you, fuzzy pink meat is bad for you.
Ninety-nine percent of all lawyers give the rest a bad name.
One good thing about Alzheimer's is you get to meet a new lover every morning.
Alabama state motto: At least we're not Mississippi
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
Gun Control: using both hands
The more I learn about terrorism, the more I understand the bill collector.
Learn from your parents' mistakes, use birth control.

[Sea Level] Believe it or not, but we’re going to get wet. http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/climate/sea_level_rise.html

[Third party apps get made for this iPad tablet]  I think it was stated that it will run all the iPhone apps.  I'd still hate to haul that around in my purse.  How tough is that screen?

LIVE MUSIC
Rob’s Island Grill Presents
Moose
and the
Bulletproof Blues Band
Tonight Friday, January 29 at 8 pm

The traffic light on BPK, (the only one is out of sync. That's because the cop that was working it during the holiday rush was too stupid to return it to its regular cycle. When I called the Sheriffs Dept today to let them know about the light, the dispatcher told me it was not their problem. I guess I was just told to get f**ked.

[Summers in the Keys] What snowbirds don't realize is that the Keys are at their best in the summer.

For the recycling doubters.  If you doubt that Waste Management is recycling, call them (296-2825) and ask when the next Trash Tour is scheduled. There is a minimal charge for transportation and lunch.  The Van leaves Big Pine at 5:30 am. You will view the MRF (Materials Recovery Facility), the Waste to Energy Plant and the working landfill, all in action. 

[Big Pine Key Radio Shack Break-in] Wow Kevin, that sucks. Time to take security measures.  You can post a sign: "I wait here three nights a week with a loaded shotgun. Burglars, pick your night."

Use 2 3/4 inch, 12 gauge rounds packed with a half inch slug that's backed up with 6 number six shot (same cartridge). you'll only need one.

The alternative is to hire a guard dog service or get one of your own--Rott, Pit, Doberman, German Shepherd, Dalmatian, or any hunting hound. Leave them in the store at night.

Remind me to write an article on the compulsive reading of news. The theme will be that most neuroses can be traced to the unhealthy habit of wallowing in the troubles of five billion strangers.  ~ Robert Heinlein

Parenting is not for everyone. 

[Great funeral] Funny thing, when I click on the pictures yesterday I see a deer and a cat. (Ed: By God, you're right! I re did it. Try it now.)

[Great funeral reduex] This is at a real funeral home in Alabama. it must have been his favorite chair. "Uncle Leroy looks like he's just sleeping."

[Conspiracy] Type illuminati  backwards, add a dot com and paste it in the browser’s address window.  To save you some thinking it’s: WWW.ITANIMULLI.COM  I think we've had it!

The dirtiest hotels in America. TripAdvisor's 2010 Top 10 Dirtiest Hotels

[What to do with Gitmo people] I always thought a good idea would be to send them back on a really big ship.  Give them outside cabins so they could 'escape' out the portholes--a couple every 10 miles or so.  Would have been an even better idea had they done it on the inbound trip. 

I saw an ad for a Fax machine in the classifieds. Faxes are an obsolete technology. No wonder he’s selling it. With the popularity of email who uses faxes anymore?

[Haiti and Healthcare] Why do I find it disgusting that republicans are worrying about medical aid not being delivered fast enough to Haitians and the shortage on medicines, yet they are fighting tooth and nail to keep Americans from getting healthcare? Pay attention, folks, and see how they are jumping thru hoops for Haitians yet could care less if Americans, working hard every day, get care. I support President Obama’s healthcare reform. I don’t support republicans putting Americans last.

[Affordable Housing] It looks like the GOP is going to regain the lead in DC.  The first thing on their list will be tax cuts for the 2% who control 85% of the money.  Then they will try to finish off the last of the unions that made the middle class possible.  Then we who are left, will be competing for  jobs with the illegal immigrants that have been  enabled by our sainted business entrepreneurs  who  have been hiring them and undercutting the American worker.   Forget about owning a house or buying a new car, you won't make enough.  Most people will be living in affordable housing, whatever that will turn out to be.

[Iguanacicles] Contrary to yesterday’s scientific explanation, I'm pretty sure that freezing cold blooded reptiles is a humane way to euthanize them. No pain whatsoever.

[Recycle] Clearly Sloan has never bothered to recycle.  Single stream recycling means you don’t have to separate your recyclables but can put glass, aluminum and plastic all in the same recycling bin.  It is separated at the mainland.  No you can’t put it in a plastic garbage bag and you certainly can’t mix it with household waste.  Maybe Sloan should do a little more homework before demanding people go check out his latest conspiracy theory.

A feel good story. Dog drifts 75 miles on ice, rescued in Baltic Sea

I’m so sorry to hear that the Big Pine Radio Shack was broken into again. Hang in there Kevin, many in our community are glad that your store is here.

I wish this country would try living without advertising; then we could get back to reality and live good again without all the unneeded junk.

$20 per month for Comcast cable internet service versus $70 per month for ATT DSL wireless is a no brainer.

"We face a deficit of trust". Yes sir, Mr. President you bet! You've lied and failed to produce on so many of your campaign promises you've become the poster boy for The Deficit of Trust. I don't believe a word that comes out of your mouth. Some will call this anger and hate. Anger yes, hate no. It's just addressing a liar who believes he can con everybody with arrogance, speeches and a smile. Video

[Unloved] Well it looks like I am blacklisted on the Coconut Telegraph. Edited on no edit Saturday and yesterday my entire post was judged unfit to publish. Such are the consequences of asking the wrong questions. Now I know how Rorshach felt.

[IKC Event] Valentine’s Day is only a couple of weeks away and this is just a reminder of the upcoming IKC’s1^st annual family fun filled event the Iguana Killers Tournament. Admittance is free to all comers and each person that attends will be given a free raffle ticket. The rifle prize is an IKC41 high power rifle signed by Sarah Palin. Numerous hunting suppliers have already committed to this great event.

The Miss Iguana beauty pageant will be held in the enclosed main tent and persons under the age of 18 will not be permitted inside. We should have seating for app. 375 persons. Photographs and video will be prohibited of the beauty pageant and this will be strictly enforced.

The weigh-in station will be located to the left of the main tent. This centrally located weigh station will be the only one for the entire Florida Keys. The weigh station will be open from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. Iguanas must be presented to the weigh master, fresh, dead, and free of mutilations by the hunter that did the take down. The decision of the weigh master will be final. Iguanas that have been spike clubbed will be disqualified.

All hunters must sign the official entry form and agree to take a polygraph test to make sure that the kill complied with the IKC rules of engagement. The only rule change to date is that Iguanas that have been frozen to death to end their suffering from the rifle shot wound will be eligible for entry.

As this is a fun family event alcoholic beverages will not be sold. This does not prohibit attendees from bringing their own favorite beverage on the site. Whereas whiskey seems to be the favorite beverage of devoted hunters the Jack Daniels distillery will have a representative there handing out promotional samples.

We have a total of almost 40 venders already signed up. We will have 12 interactive classes on skinning and cooking your kill. There will be rifle safety classes for all ages. Numerous food vendors and continuous live entertainment. Demonstrations of live Iguana take downs. The IKC will also be doing classes on how to handle yourself if find yourself being swallowed by a Burmese python.

To the left of the main tent will be a live display of numerous large pythons, rattle snakes, Key Deer, Gambian rats and numerous varieties of Iguanas. Interactive participation with the audience will be a lifetime experience on how to handle these creations.

Make this a family event and come out and meet a bunch of the great folks from Lunatics anonymous. We are still taking donations to offset the cost of the 1½ hour fireworks display which will start promptly at 8pm. You could be the lucky winner of the signed IKC41 rifle.

The inorganic planet Earth has a patina of organic matter. The cue ball on the pool at the Moose lodge has a thicker layer of organic matter, proportionally, than the planet earth. This organic matter includes viruses, bacteria, hockers, and other things transferred from the hands of the players. From the highest mountain top to the deepest trench in the ocean is about 10 miles. Divide that into the diameter of the earth and that number times 100 represents the percentage of life. Do the same thing for the cue ball and include the natural roughness of the ball and you’ll find life is thicker proportionally on the cue ball.

Do you suppose that the bacteria on the cue ball pray to Mother Ball? The life on the cue ball or the earth doesn’t make it organic. Rock isn’t alive. I’m going to study voting on the way to my college teaching job.

[Gitmo] I have an idea. Load them all into a big transport plane and drop them all off at about 10,000 feet over their prospective countries. Allah ought to be looking out for them so I figure the innocent ones will bounce and run home and the guilty ones, well I guess they get to go see their 27 virgins.

[Debt] How come when the Republicans do deficit spending it's okay, but when the Dems do it, it's the Original Sin?  The Republicans have done it also when in power.

[No Name electric] Life and things change. One of the great things about life and things changing is that as we learn we can make changes, we can make corrections, we can make things better.

Now that we've all learned that No Name Key is not green, we can and we will correct that and make it better.

[State of the Union] I watched the President's speech and all I heard was blah, blah, blah.

Domestic Terrorism Editorial on Political correctness. http://www.wtoc.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=4285612&h1=Editorial+-+11/09/09&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=186467&LaunchPageAdTag=News

[Healthcare] I recently read an open letter in a magazine for physicians. In summary, it argues for a rational approach to health care with the patient sharing responsibility for his health. It's so good I have to pass it on.

Healthcare is a responsibility, not a right. Healthcare is the responsibility of the patient, not the state or the physician. Health care is diet, exercise, temperance, no smoking, no doping, safe driving, safe sex, wanted progeny, and clean living.

Reform is the responsibility of the patient. Reform is ending unnecessary diseases caused by bar room brawls, addictions, unwanted pregnancy, obesity, accidents and violence.

I diagnose, treat, and prevent disease. I strive for constant, never-ending improvement, not reform, debate, duplicity, rationing, denials, and crisis. I am a medical doctor, physician and surgeon, not a health care giver, caretaker, or provider. No one can provide anyone with health, fitness, sobriety, peace, clarity, clear conscience, meaningful work and restful sleep.

Politics thrives on transposing rights an responsibilities, health and disease, givers and takers, high taxes and come-hither giveaways, citizens and non-citizens, physicians and staff, cost and quality, productivity and pen-pushing, privacy and Internet records. Politics thrives on crisis and conflict among patients, insurance, families and physicians.

Make insurance portable. Allow preexisting conditions. Provide socialized medicine for those who reach the maximum lifetime insurance benefit.

[Easily led] I've long enjoyed watching right-wingers squirm and I'm not alone.  It's very entertaining sport as evidenced by the popularity of such master squirmers as Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity, and now, Paul Shirley.  While providing some fascinating insight into human nature, they also offer a sad commentary on just how shallow, indifferent, and easily-led we truly are.   

From the right guy has been throwing off some palpable heat lately, or should I say hate?  Bush and all he stood for became anathema to the American people, yet FTR defends him like he was a righteous man.  He was and remains a villain that brought more ruin to this nation than a thousand Bin Ladens.  Obama reads from a teleprompter.  How pathetic the contrast.

I suggest that FTR find a good veterinarian as it seems his favorite ox is dying from a thousand Gores.

Obama gave a speech that was over an hour long and found the time to thank his wife twice. The shame was that he failed to thank the Ft Hood heroes who were sitting right next to her, yet he wonders why America has lost respect for him.

[What's in a name] I've had worse meals at Denny's.

[From the Right] At the very instant that you are reading this an industrial engineer named Dr. R.K. Pachauri is the Chairman, of the uber powerful U,N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of the United Nations., aka IPCC.  The “findings” of the IPCC are taken as dicta in the dizzy world of true believers of Anthropological Global Warming. One of the most important pillars of their castle of crap is a years old report that the glaciers of the Himalaya’s were melting like Dairy Queen in August.. Gasp, Groan, they told us that the damned things would disappear by 2035 thereby wreaking havoc on millions.  It has just been revealed that the whole story is just crap. The report is an utter, total falsehood. Incredibly the falsehood that Pachauri was peddling was based on a poorly crafted newspaper article dating to 1999. Pachauri is not a climatologist, but is one of the most highly respected “experts” in the AGW crowd. No one in the world exercised more influence on the events leading up to the Copenhagen conference on global warming than Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and mastermind of its latest report in 2007. Although Dr Pachauri is often presented as a scientist (he was even once described by the BBC as “the world’s top climate scientist”), as a former railway engineer with a PhD in economics he has no qualifications in climate science at all. Of note is the fact that like Al Gore, Pachuri has made a fortune from global warming. In his role as Chair of IPCC, he could take steps to sanction those who published the falsehood, but he declines. Go figure. http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/bios/pachauri..htm.

(Part II—on the road) America is a wondrous place. For the last week or so we’ve been on the road traveling through Arizona and now Nevada. We’ve seen snow and desert. In Flagstaff we were puzzled by seeing pickup truck after pickup truck with their beds heaped with snow 3-4’ deep. Then we learned that they had had 56” of snow two days earlier. The Grand Canyon is even more grand when the plain above is heaped with 2 feet of snow and the canyon sides are dusted with white. Off season is absolutely the best time to visit, only a few other tourists to trip over. The hotels are cheap--dirt cheap. The restaurants are anxious to have customers, and service is quick and very, very friendly. The roads are clear and traffic is very light. 

The drive from Tucson to Vegas is jam packed with some of the most impressive scenery that we’ve seen. It’s no BPK, but it’ll do.  Deserts, snow capped mountains, yawning cliffs adjacent to the highway, and high plains country mantled in knee deep snow made the drive really memorable. We’ve driven through dust storms and snow storms; it doesn’t get much better than that! The Hoover dam and the construction of a new bridge adjacent to it is a real jaw dropper. Then there’s Vegas.

If you like crowds, glitz, shoulder to shoulder nattering tourists cramming the sidewalks, and smoky casino’s, then Vegas is the place for you. On the other hand the Cirque du Soleil homage to the Beatles at the Mirage is worth the trip itself. In this old farts misspent youth, I actually saw the other side of the mountain, and one time I almost saw a naked lady, but I never did see anything like this show. It is a balls-out techno show with mind bending gee whiz effects, incredible choreography, and stunning athleticism. If you even remotely enjoyed Beatles music, this show is actually worth a trip to Vegas. Now that we’ve been there, done that, and bought the t-shirt, it’s about time to get back to the Rock. I’m ready.

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Friday January 29, 2010

Thursday January 28, 2010

[Living without air conditioning] We’ve lived here 30 years and never had air conditioning. We built our house with this in mind and incorporated features I’d seen while traveling the world and noting how others in hot climates designed their homes.

Some of the features we have are high ceilings, ten ceilings fans, very large windows in every place they would fit and large overhangs on our porches to block the sun from reaching the walls and windows. Serious insulation under the roof and in the walls is a biggie. I was very inspired by the old homesteader's house museum on Lignum Vitae Key (off Matecumbe Key). They really had their stuff together.

Our electric bill in the simmer is $85 a month. We used the money we saved on air condition (machinery, ductwork, electric and maintenance) to pay off our mortgage.

[Immigrant Freebees] The responder to Immigrants Treated Better then Citizens listed several laws and statements and said that illegals do not get the same benefits as US citizens. He also said in some cases they may get emergency help or benefits for a limited time only.

This is completely false. CA, AZ, NM, TX, states going broke because of illegals collecting benefits the poster says they don't get, have all had those laws overruled buy the Supreme Court. These states passed various laws to restrict State administered Federal and State benefits to US Citizens (excluding others) only to have been ruled unconstitutional on every occasion by every Federal Court including the US Supreme Court. The opinion of the court never changes. The court writes, "The Constitution does not differentiate between citizens and non-citizens and speaks only to persons, therefore eligibility can be denied or curtailed"

Remember these decisions when someone says that health care legislation will not cover illegals. Illegals will be covered because the court only sees people not their immigration status. No matter what the bill says the courts always will have the final say.

What is up with the new traffic light pattern on Big Pine? Now north-south traffic on US1 gets a long long, long green light while the rest of us locals have to wait trying to turn from Key Deer Blvd! Who can we call about changing it back? I have to turn north on US1 at the light and sometimes have to wait 3 light cycles (5 minutes of sitting there). It's usually quicker for me to turn right and then turn around in the NAPA parking lot. I'm angry!

[Listening While Driving Is Hard] A study finds that not only does talking interfere with driving skills, the act of driving makes listening a much harder task.

We all know that talking on a cell phone can impair our ability to drive (although too many of us do it anyway). Now a study in the journal Psychonomic Bulletin and Review shows that the reverse is also true: driving makes it hard to keep track of what we’re talking about.
Previous studies had found that motorists are able to converse just fine. But to Gary Dell of the University of Illinois that finding just didn’t make sense. Because comprehending speech requires attention, as does steering the family sedan. So Dell did a study in a driving simulator.

Ninety-six participants were paired up, with one taking the wheel while the other sat in the passenger seat or talked to the driver on a hands-free phone. Each participant listened to and was asked to repeat a handful of stories, and then to remember them after getting out of the car. As you can imagine, the drivers had a tougher time recalling the details than the passengers. And their conversational skills took the biggest nosedive while they were trying to navigate intersections or handle traffic.

Next, maybe the scientists will determine whether driving also impairs our ability to sing, eat breakfast, and put on makeup and, of course, text.

[Yahoo Problem] Is anyone else having problems sending email to people who use Yahoo as their ISP? All email is bouncing back.

Snowbirds can. That's why they go back up north in the summertime. As for the locals, that is their problem. 

[Help Wanted for Haiti] ACET, Inc. is looking for anyone interested in going to Haiti to help for a 3- 6 month period. Typical skill sets needed: Carpenters, Masons, Electricians, Medical Personnel, Communications, Builders, Heavy Equipment Operators, Plumbers, Logistics, Etc.

This is not a volunteer request – you will be paid for the work you do.

If you are seriously interested or know of someone who would be interested please email me back ASAP. Onekqua Beverly, Corporate Recruiter/Security Specialist ACET, Inc.  301-861-5023 (Office)  otbeverly@adamscomm.com See more at www.adamscomm.com

[Gitmo] Most Americans surveyed are in favor of leaving Guantanamo prison opened. It just might be that none of have a good idea what to do with those people.

Sloan B said “More to the point, I see no way for we the people to live in sync with Mother Nature while we rely on fossil fuels.”  

You started out well, Sloan, when you said, "More to the point", but then you immediately unravel.  Of course the way we use fossil fuel wreaks havoc on the planet. That's stating the obvious.  Your solutions?  Hydrogen. Helium. Dark matter. Anti-matter. Crystals?  You forgot about magnetic bracelets and "The Secret". Why not harness a few iguanas to a treadmill connected to a generator. That should solve that pesky "off the grid" issue right away.  I almost forgot about your best one: "draw energy from the sun".  What a novel idea! 

I'm as green as they come, but with people like you on our side we haven't got a chance. 

[Earth inorganic] That was about the dumbest post I have read in a long time (it ranks right next to the one about NNK being green). The earth is full of organic material and BS. Have another beer and think about it.

[Earth inorganic] Earth inorganic? Earth is the epitome of organic. And to think that this guy votes!

[Apple’s new iPad] Just wait until the third party apps get made for this revolutionary tablet. This should kill the Kindle market plus a lot of other markets. Only 1/2 in thick. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEiUlf9BAYU

Bus Schedule Key West to Marathon. Phone 305-809-3910. Business_Directory/Bus Schedule

View from ISS of Dubai's artificial islands.

[Earth inorganic] That was about the dumbest post I have read in a long time (it ranks right next to the one about NNK being green). The earth is full of organic material and so is BS. Have another beer and think about it.

CONTEST: Tweet to Win a Free Apple Tablet!

This is Mike Minski's Blue Grass band. Mike was a FWC officer down here for many years - one of the good guys. I bet a bunch of you folks that have some time down here will remember him. http://www.myspace.com/dixiehiway

Parenting is not for everyone.

[Free Fishing Seminar] Come on out to Reef Light Tackle (MM30)for our Free Fishing Seminar tonight, Thursday at 6:00 PM.  This week's topic is "Yellowtail 101".  We have free popcorn and soda.  Every week we raffle off a very nice rod and reel and store gift certificates.  Grab your friends and neighbors and come on out and join the fun.  New store specials and discounts every Thursday after the seminar.  Hope to see you there!

[Frozen to Death] Immobilization of reptiles by cooling or freezing is considered inappropriate and inhumane, even if combined with other physical or chemical methods of euthanasia. Snakes, turtles, and other reptiles, immobilized by cooling, have been killed by subsequent freezing.  This method is not recommended.  Formation of ice crystals on the skin and in tissues of an animal causes pain and distress.

I know these IKC posts are supposed to be someone's idea of a joke, but there are people out there that do believe what you're saying, just like the statement about freezing.  Please don't act like you're so concerned for the welfare of the Florida Keys' environment.  You are obviously some sick-o who likes to kill living things, so go ahead, knock yourself out (literally, I wish).  I do believe that there is a higher power out there that you will ultimately have to answer to.  Heck, if there is such a thing as reincarnation, I so hope that you come back as an iguana!

We humans (those that are not a direct descendant to the Indians that lived here) are not indigenous to the Keys either, and have done more harm to the environment than the iguanas ever could, so please find another subject to joke about.  Maybe you can join the pro-electric folk on No Name with more lying and hate-filled posts towards Ms. Putney and those trying to protect the environment.  You sound like you fit right in with them.

Air conditioning Keys style.

Trying to follow the GOP agenda is like reading Alice in Wonderland again. This time with Palin, Beck, O’Riley, Cheney and the rest of the Republican leaders taking the lead roles. 

[Responsibility] I am really getting tired of the bleeding hearts who think the Earth is holy and people are perfect. Get real folks. The lizards are eating everything, the cats are killing the birds, the fish are dying off and the Snowbirds are trampling our islands. Free housing for the less fortunate is also tearing us down to their level just so someone can make a few bucks and feel good about themselves. Enough already! It should be survival of the fittest not the weakest.

Manufacture everything to be recyclable, biodegradable or eatable. Go back to glass containers. Use convicts to recyclable instead of having them make license plates.

I'm waiting for From The Right to defend the credentials of his motley assortment of global warming deniers, especially the architect.  As far as I know, architects are involved in some rather fanciful creations, but I've never heard one weigh in on global warming before.  

While you're at it, FTR, you might want to try again to provide a definition of terrorism since your comments on terror leaves one to wonder. 

[Africans] What is hard to understand is why is the huge African continent the lowest mean, per capita, income place on the planet and why didn't the captured slaves escape back to it, regroup and build a mighty nation with all Africa’s riches and vast land? The answer is welfare!

[No Name Electric] Letter from City Electric stating that they are working with the County on the technical issues and were pleased to provide electricity to No Name Key.

I’d really be surprised if someone could produce a copy of that letter here! Even if it existed City Electric is not the authoritative entity -- the County is. Of course City Electric would be “pleased to provide electricity to No Name Key” -- that’s their business.

[No Name Electric] What a bunch of whiners. Green, not green, CO2, on the grid pass the grits. My lawyer can beat your lawyer.

Sue whoever you must, but stop the bitching. Just sue - everybody does it. When it's done many years from now, you win or lose. It will be done. I hate to say it but it was a kinder, gentler island before you all got here. You come down here to find the spot you always wanted and you found it. Then you want to change it. So you go to court, sue the pants off everyone to change the way it was. The way that it was that you liked so much that you moved here. Please stop your silly bitching. Most of you will be gone or dead way before this is settled.

[No Name Electric] I remember when people were coming to the area and found the fishing village atmosphere of the Keys so charming that they bought here. Then they went to court to change it and get rid of the fisherman and lobster trap storage and trap construction to make it more like they were used to back “home”.

[State of the Union] Divided we stand!

[State of the Union] Boy, did I sleep good last night after hearing Obama's state of our union address. I did not realize things were in such good shape.

[State of the Union] I had to move the TV to the bathroom so I could watch TV and puke and at the same time.

[State of the Union] My friend just called to tell me he was having so much fun holding the signs up for Obama's speech. “Clap, stand-up, sit, clap, stand-up” and if you sit directly behind the speaker, “look stupid”.

(Part II)  Mr. Obama is a certifiable silly SOB if he finds it necessary to use a teleprompter to talk to a group of 11 year old sixth graders. That is exactly what he did at the Graham Road Elementary School in Falls Church, Va., on Tuesday on Jan. 19, 2010. Any American President, who thinks that the use of a teleprompter while talking to little kids is a good idea is by definition a silly SOB. That goofy decision simply begs for ridicule, and I’m glad to oblige. It’s worth noting that yesterdays complainers don’t bother to deny his silly SOB status, they simply are pissed about him being accurately identified as a silly SOB. The photo showing the presence of a faithful and brave Secret Service agent at his right shoulder is comforting. I’ll betcha that the agent was trained to throw himself in front of any incoming spit balls. You’ve got to admire those Secret Service dudes. http://news.spreadit.org/obama-teleprompter-6th-grade/

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Thursday January 28, 2010

Tuesday January 26, 2010

[No Name Key request goes against the green] There is a curious contrariness in the growing support that No Name Key be granted electricity from the grid. While every other American community is being urged to go green, the Keys are considering de-greening a perfect example of a conservationist community.

All of us are busy changing light bulbs and insulating our homes to save every single pound of CO2 that we put into an already burdened atmosphere. Now we are being asked to allow 43 homes that are already green to add 500 tons of new CO2 to the problem.

It simply does not make sense. City, state and the federal agencies are spending billions of our tax dollars to do exactly the opposite of what No Name Key is requesting. The suggestion to de-green that community goes against the very spirit of the new laws and regulations that are being written. It would not surprise me if this illogical and contrary action were to attract the unwanted attention of one of the hundreds of conservationist organizations in the field. It would also not surprise me if a green group, or even some private taxpayers, became so incensed that they would be moved to mount a lawsuit. Another expensive lawsuit and an additional 500 tons of CO2 is not exactly what Monroe County needs just now.

Sneering at Haitians and blaming them for their predicament was a startling piece of hypocrisy from a serf of the US Corporate Republic who aired his contempt for Haiti on this web page yesterday. 

Haiti has suffered under corrupt leadership, US interference, and a drive by foreign corporations to switch their economy from agricultural to light industrial. Now the country has no agriculture, no industry and no hope. Their history is too long and complex to go into here, home of the short-attention-spanned-lesser-educated-white-American-peasant.
It might be a good idea to compare the US to Haiti and ask yourself: how are you to blame for the financial melt down, the rape of the Treasury by the banks and the inability of our President to stand up to them?

You don't realize it but you are the equivalent to the Haitian serf in the current corrupt impoverishment of the US. If you think you have more control over the way your country is run than a Haitian does over how Haiti is run you are delusional. Give it another year and you'll get to see delusion made real as Republicans and Democrats fall over themselves to increase the bonuses for bankers while you lose your job, your home and your health insurance (if you had any).

Amazingly beautiful cars built before the Second World War. Slide Show

From The Right said the following, when referring to our President and the "Democrat Politicos": (I have changed his words to reflect the first person instead of the third person so that the CT readers can see that From The Right was actually talking about himself.)  "My speeches and style are caricatures of an ego maniacal 5th grade teacher.  I don't talk with you, I talk at you.  My themes and choice of verbiage are disrespectful and strongly suggests that I consider my audience and its opposition to be my intellectual inferiors." 

It’s odd that he thinks he sees these characteristics in others but fails to recognize them in himself.

[Prying Eyes] Be sure to have clothes on when you call Tech Support.  A woman complained to Dell that a techie in India remotely switched on her webcam. Dell is investigating. 

[Immigrants Treated Better then Citizens] If the immigrant is over 65, they can apply for SSI and Medicaid and get more than a woman on Social Security, who worked from 1944 until 2004. She is only getting $791 per month because she was born in 1924 and there's a 'catch 22'.

It is interesting that the federal government provides a single refugee with a monthly allowance of $1,890.  Each can also obtain an additional $580 in social assistance, for a total of $2,470 a month. This compares to a single pensioner, who after contributing to the growth and development of America for 40 to 50 years, can only receive a monthly maximum of $1,012 in old age pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement.

Maybe our pensioners should apply as refugees!

[Conspiracy] By reading this blog for several years I am thoroughly convinced that the average American is about as smart as a rock or a potato. It amazes me how these people got to be the leaders of the free world. You elected a president that praises Islam and all it did for America, where as Islam is the sworn enemy of America and had pledged to destroy her. Barak Obama has stated that America will never go to war with Islam. Yet Islamic fighters kill American soldiers and civilians every day. Barak Obama is a Muslim through and through, he was put in office to destroy the United States from within. He should be impeached and eliminated as soon as possible. Does and Islamic nuclear device have to devastate an American city before you stupid people wake up to what you are facing?

[Sloan] Pollution. We the people really are the problem I see no way to resolve it in my lifetime, which hopefully will not last much longer because, among other reasons, I do not want to be here when the green slime we the people are manufacturing replaces kudzu as the number one ground cover in my home state Alabama.
 
More to the point, I see no way for we the people to live in sync with Mother Nature while we rely on fossil fuels. We need to figure out how to draw energy from the sun. Or from the hydrogen in water, which should release plenty of oxygen back into the atmosphere. Or maybe we learn how to draw energy out of helium. Or out of dark matter. Or out of anti-matter. Or out of crystals. As long as we use hydrocarbons for fuel, we are going to keep killing Mother Nature.
 
I leave no place in this conundrum for nuclear fuel. Not even the little green people use nuclear fuel to drive their space ships, or for anything. Nuclear power is something only we the people use, and that has a lot to do with why so many little green people are hanging around this planet. They want to make sure we the people don’t migrate to other worlds and spread our energy slime there.   More...goodmorningfloridakeys.com

Now this is a Hero Homeless veteran who saved 5 in fire laid to rest (AP)

Parenting is not for everyone.

From the right guy says, “disagree with my critique of the theory of Man Caused Global Warming (MCGW) by simply listing the credentials and findings of the same MCGW researchers that are in support of my argument”

I wasn't merely listing the credentials of your panel of experts.  A more astute reading would have revealed that I was calling them into question.  I'll bet you don't seek advice about your health from a plumber; why do you accept the musings of an architect about global warming?  I agree that what you think matters not at all; not unless you suddenly develop the power to make your delusion a reality.

The horror guide to Liberia. Are these animals the missing link? http://www.vbs.tv/watch/the-vice-guide-to-travel/the-vice-guide-to-liberia-4-of-8

Airport security in the time of terrorism. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6_Y91tReqE

Surf’s up!

[Death Threats] Oh brother, here we go with the real crazies posting this crap. Just don't vote for him, or you can sign an impeachment petition to evict him, but never get violent!

[Parking Spots] I asked a cop in Key West if they were going to have snowbird parking spots. He said they already do. The handicap are duel purpose!

Cafferty on Pelosi. http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=A6_xgKWzhRw

[Banks] Thomas Jefferson said in 1802, 'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.'

[Climate Change] In a statement released Wednesday, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said estimates relating to the rate of recession of the Himalayan glaciers in its Fourth Assessment Report were "poorly substantiated" adding that "well-established standards of evidence were not applied properly."

Despite the admission, the IPCC reiterated its concern about the dangers melting glaciers present in a region that is home to more than one-sixth of the world's population.

"Widespread mass losses from glaciers and reductions in snow cover over recent decades are projected to accelerate throughout the 21st century, reducing water availability, hydropower potential, and changing seasonality of flows in regions supplied by meltwater from major mountain ranges (e.g. Hindu-Kush, Himalaya, Andes)..."

"The chair, vice-chairs, and co-chairs of the IPCC," the statement continued, "regrets the poor application of IPCC procedures..."

The apology follows a growing storm of controversy which initially forced the IPCC to concede that data relating to the Himalayan glacier melt included in the 2007 report was not backed up by sufficient scientific data.

[Mars in Opposition] The big news in the sky this week is that Mars reaches opposition (on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun). This happens like clockwork, about every 26 months (the last was December 2007, the next is March 2012), and it means not only that Mars rises at sunset and is visible all night, but also that Mars is closer to Earth than it usually is, making it brighter and larger (at least in telescopes) as well. Also like clockwork, oppositions usually give rise to internet hoaxes claiming Mars will appear as big as the full Moon. Marvel at the Red Planet when you get a chance, in spite of the misinformation surrounding oppositions.

[Bought there knowing electricity was coming to No Name Key] I say bulls**t! When I looked at property on No Name 15 years ago, I was told electricity was coming soon by the realtor.  If I had been dumb enough to believe her and had bought the property, I would probably be screaming right along with you dummies.  You people are the laughing stock of the Keys.  

[Jobs] To Obama: How about a job; little something outside of the government? Americans need work. Focus on that.

Someday I'll grow a brain.

[Obama Bad] Over five thousand years ago, Moses said to the children of Israel" pick up your shovel, mount your asses and camels, and I will lead you  to the promised land".

Nearly 75 years ago, Roosevelt said, “Lay down your shovels, sit on  your asses, and light up a camel, this is the promised land".

Now Obama has stolen your shovel, taxed your asses, raised the price of camels and mortgaged the promised land.

I was so depressed last night thinking about Health Care Plans, the economy, the wars, lost jobs, Savings, Social Security, retirement funds, etc that I called Lifeline. I got a freakin' call center in Pakistan. I told them I was suicidal. They all got excited and asked if I could drive a truck.

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.

[No Name electric] Ms Putney is influential, but is she, really?  Not so much, really.   Both sides are being led by strong willed, determined, articulate women.  The difference is that the pro-electric side has facts to support them.  The anti-electric side seems to have only emotional rhetoric. I'm just an objective observer; except could this whole debacle please not cost the rest of us taxpayers any money - at all? 

Watch the big bright Moon cross Gemini on its way to Mars late this week.

[Even glass rots in the Keys] It sounds like you have Chinese drywall in your home, or had it built for $37 by the cheapest contractor you could find. 

[1960s]This is the one of the best presentations of the sixties that I have ever seen online. It is very well done. Just click on the link and sit back and enjoy the memories. the sixties 

Arguing with idiots make you an idiot.

The cardiologist's diet: If it tastes good spit it out.

[Pine Key Park] This is the third time I have seen kids on the roof. It's only a matter on time before one falls off the roof.  There is easy access to the roof from the balcony/porch. The designer of that building should have his or her crayons taken away permanently.

[No Name Electricity] We almost bought a converted garage in Key West in the 80s when we received confirmation that there would be a sewer connection permitted within a year. There still is no sewer to that building. Caveat emptor (let the buyer beware)

[Sweat Equity] If you were really serious about living in this tropical paradise you wouldn't need the AC.

Best Fisherman Bloopers Famous last words, “I thought I had it in reverse.”

[Senator Brown posing nude]  I don't get it.  First of all, he posed in 1982, for God's sake. That was 28 years ago. In the second place, the current governor of California has posed practically naked in magazines and in the movies for years (Actually he was naked in Terminator). Arnold was (is) a babe, and so was (is) Brown. Looks like people have to dig really dip to find things to dislike about him. I'd rather look at him than the typical dog-faced boys in Washington. 

Jeanne Robertson - Don't Bungee Jump Naked! YouTube - JEANNE ROBERTSON VIDEO! Don't Bungee Jump Naked!

Obama quietly defends Bush's terror policies. Obama Quietly Continues to Defend Bush's Terror Policies | CommonDreams.org

[From the Right] Our President and his merry band of sycophants truly are a wondrous bunch. Do you remember 9/13/01 when out progressive pals began to excoriate Mr. Bush for reading a story book to grade school kids on the day that the MFs killed 3000 of our friends, and relatives? Yessir, they should have checked with GWB first. Yep, it was a terrible thing that the President of the USA would have the temerity to read a book to school kiddies on such a day.  Just the other day, Mr. Obama decided to do a dog and pony show to school kiddies, a group of 5^th graders I think. The silly SOB actually had to use a teleprompter, not a freaking book. Can you imagine what little Jill and Johnnie must have though as Mr. Obama twisted his head first left, then right, then repeat, like some sort of smooth talking mechanical  metronome gone amok. I can just hear little Jerome giggling. Then there is the issue of Obamacare. As amazing as it seems, now Mr. Obama seems determined to pursue Obamacare. He says screw the 60% or so of us who say kill it.  Mr. Obama has actually said that he might have not communicated enough with the masses. That comes from the loquacious dude who has given over 150 “exclusive” interviews and well over 400 speeches in the last year. The most Presidential exposure ever! You’ve got to wonder when he has time to “Executive”.   Geesh, give us a freaking break! Whoaa, I don’t mean that, keep it up Mr. O.

(Part II) What follows is an apology to all readers of CT. I had no intent yesterday to bore you with personal stuff. Late Sunday evening I composed an e-mail that was to be sent to a family friend, describing some of our adventures in cactus land. By error, I addressed it to CT. Moments after I sent it, I realized the error. I then sent a note to Deer Ed and asked him to trash the document that I had sent, I asked him not to publish it. I had no intention of it being posted. Apparently Deer Ed failed to see that request and published my personal note. The contents of the note were somewhat distorted by Deer Ed. That’s not a criticism of Deer Ed; he’s got a lot on his plate and usually does a damn fine job.  The facts are that the person who is invited to the State of the Union address is my son-in-law, not my grandchild. It goes without saying I love them both and that that I’m very proud of both of them.  My grandson is 13 and very bright, but he’s a little young to be a heavy hitter in any industry. It is true that he is a great cleanup hitter in his league. The PV industry refers to the generation of electricity from sunlight, hence Photovoltaic. It is an industry that is the darling of the global warmers. By the way, the snow in Flagstaff is hip deep. I suppose it must be global warming. We’ve only seen two brass penguins, both female (I think).

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Tuesday January 26, 2010

Wednesday January 27, 2010

My Big Pine Key Radio Shack got broken into again last night. The lone thief smashed the door with a coral rock and grabbed what he could. The thief had a hood covering his face so my security cameras couldn’t identify him (It’s always a him). I never had a problem with crime in Key West and I’m surprised at the different situation here. It’s costing me money and sleep (I’ve been at the store since 1:30 this morning).

If anyone has any leads please notify the Sheriff or call me at 305-872-4267. Thanks for any help you may offer stopping crime in the Keys.  ~Kevin Gerard

Three weeks ago, the State of Florida deposited $8.85 million with the Clerk of Court for Monroe County to compensate the landowners in Florida DEP v. West for the condemnation of their North Key Largo properties in April 2004. When this eminent domain action was filed as a slow-take in 1995, the State offered a mere $160,000 for the subject properties. Our response to the slow-take was a regulatory taking counter-claim. That was our way to protect landowners from the State "walking away" from any jury verdict it did not like.

Land values began to rise in 2001 -- although not on these properties. In 2004 the State opted for a "quick-take." At that time, the State's estimated fair market value of the two parcels, based on the confiscatory regulatory scheme, was $630,000. But after executing the quick-take, the State could no longer walk away from a jury verdict that exceeded its budget. After all, nobody had been able to build on North Key Largo since February 8, 1982 (except at the Ocean Reef Club and a few existing subdivisions).

After the 2004 quick-takes we re-cast the “regulatory taking” counter-claim into a jury instruction on “condemnation blight”. Even though the Florida Supreme Court has embraced condemnation blight on at least two occasions, the State's in-house attorneys could not grasp the concept. Fortunately we had a trial judge, Luis Garcia, who understands government cannot prohibit a landowner from using his property, and then benefit from its own actions by driving down the property's acquisition cost. (In 2001, Judge Garcia ruled the same way in another case, Shadek v Monroe County, where White & Case attorney Doug Halsey raised the same issues and Monroe County settled by paying $6 million in temporary taking damages.)

I've changed myself to suit so many people’s whims I don't know who I am anymore.

30 shipping containers fell off a ship 30 miles south of Key West yesterday and all but one sunk to the bottom. I’ll bet there’s a whole bunch of booty to be had for some local salvager or diver.

[Beast falls of 2009] Ouch and double ouch!  This one is really funny. (Ed: That's one of the reasons we're late publishing today. We watched the whole thing.) YouTube - 2009 was the Year of Fail!

Refugees are entitled to apply for SSI if they are disabled, but they can only receive it for seven years. After that, they are cut off unless they become citizens.

The “facts” about the support payments that refugees get are totally false. Refugees do get some support payments for 8 months, and certain other benefits like food stamps. However, payments that refugees are given are not permanent. They are for a very limited time. The purpose of these payments is to help displaced refugees find their footing in a new country. These are not comparable to retirement payments.

Place your right hand over your heart.  There's no heart on your right side. I guess this could have been taken in a mirror which would screw it up, or maybe it is authentic.  I would not doubt it being authentic.  Note both have rings on their ring finger on their left hand.  I think they are truly clueless.

(Snopes: False, but great a Photoshoped photo. http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/photos/lefthand.asp)

Let's move the UN to Haiti.  They'd rebuild in the style to which they've become accustomed (NY lavish), the new jobs there would help out the rest of the population, tourism would follow, and it would get several boatloads of diplomats off our shores.  In fact, I think that would be a great new mission for the UN, since they haven't accomplished anything in decades.  They can be the international version of FEMA, Red Cross, Red Crescent, etc, and be the first responders in any disaster. 

Obama used a TelePrompTer while talking to school children.  This was all over FOX News, Drudge Report and Politico.  I suggest the From the Right Guy research other sources before making statements. I did read his posting correctly?  He did call the President of the United States of America a silly SOB?  I have seen an escalation of this hatred during the past months.

I believe in freedom of the press, but none of our presidents deserve to be disrespected.  He needs to stick to policy issues and stop with the nit-picking.  He is beginning to sound like a disgruntled middle school student.

[No Name Key is Green] Why do people ignore any fact contradicting their factious arguments? It’s now a matter of fact that CO2 hasn’t changed for at least 150 years. Declaring CO2 a pollutant doesn’t make it so. It is part of the Circle of Life. There are few houses on NNK that haven’t polluting diesel generators. This has been stated over and over, but now it’s ignored to make an argument.

Saying 500 tons of CO2 will be added per house is a lie of omission which doesn’t take into consideration the diesel generators being eliminated. Furthermore no one is forcing anyone to hook up, only someone dictating their decision on everyone whether or not to have electricity. If you don’t want to hook up, then don’t. If you feel everyone should pay more taxes, then send in extra. But, include me out.

[Plugged Canals Should be Opened] I wonder if the realtor who told you power was coming to No Name is the same one who, 25 years ago, tried to get me to buy a house on one of the plugged canals on Big Pine claiming they would be unplugged in a few months.

[Dear Editors] Please put a small marker on the CT page telling us which Ed is censoring the day’s postings. If it is the one without testicles, we can hold back the good stuff. If it is the real man, ED, then we can post all the no nonsense goodies. If it is the sissy, just cut that day’s posting altogether. Thank you.  ~Your constituents

[No Name Electric] "Ms. Putney is taking a hit by pro-electric activists" Yes, and it will continue until we get electricity. For twenty years Ms. Putney has repeated her false information that solar is green until those who can't, or won't think for themselves, keep repeating her misinformation.  Apparently this writer never watches the Science or PBS or History channels or reads anything on current science about solar technology.   Those who parrot Ms. Putney's line that "You knew when you bought there" don't know Jack and should verify that fact before repeating it. 

We purchased from a seller who had a. and installation time will be approximately three months."   YES, Ms. Putney knew electricity was coming when she built and even wrote the City Electric that "she objected" and we have City Electric's response letter that stated, "Yes, they are bring electricity to No Name Key and will provide it to those residents that have requested it."  Many residents are still on the island today who received those letter and many letters were kept -that is how important electricity was and still is on No Name Key.   Another idiot stated that "air conditioning isn't needed in paradise."  Yeah, have another beer and keep talking.  ~ecoplanetgirl@live.com

[Big Pine Park Office] How is the designer of the building responsible for kids getting on the roof?  Let's try having child services remove the children from the home of the parents who refused to instill proper thought processes in their children or keep them under control. I bet when they get hurt you'd support a nuisance lawsuit too.

It's time to go back to how I was raised:
Do nothing to embarrass the family name.
Behave properly.
Everyone older than you deserves respect.
If in their house they have the right to discipline you.
If it's not yours, it's someone else's.
Respect the property of others.
It's not "Okay ‘cuz someone else did it first”.
Lead; do not follow your friends.

I say we hire security from IKC and the next time those little bastards are up there we pick ‘em off.

There is no cause so wrong that one cannot find a fool following it.

[No Name Electric] Generators produce 300% more CO2 emissions that electricity produced from Fl Grid Elec. 39 of the 43 homes on No Name Key have and use generators. No Name Key produces way more CO2 than Keys homes on the grid.

During the course of the summer diesel generators use somewhere between 1,000 to 1,250 gallons.  Using these numbers, each summer an additional 6½ to 8 tons of CO2 is released into the atmosphere by each home running diesel generators. Multiply the numbers and you’ll see that No Name Key produces tons more CO2 than "normal" Keys homes do.

A 10 hp generator engine produces CO at rates of 450-1000 times that of modern idling cars. No Name Key produces emissions equal to thousands of cars each day!

Grid-tie is the only way to eliminate the generators, the banks of lead-acid batteries, and the enormous pollution which is No Name Key.

Take off the green colored glasses, take your head out of the sand and take a real and honest look at No Name Key and you will see just how “black” this whole No Name Key environmental sham really is.  

We are the largest polluting community in the Keys.

Sometimes, when I look at my children, I say to myself, Lillian, you should have remained a virgin.  ~Lillian Carter (mother of Jimmy Carter)

["Glued to that Phone"--literally] When Mr Gardner heard about a Darwin woman who made headlines for getting pulled over by police for a breath test wearing little but her undies, the 43-year-old had a big laugh -- but wasn't expecting he would be next in line to make the paper for a mishap.

"I hit my ear on the boom of my truck and broke the headset of my phone," Mr Gardner told the Northern Territory News.

"So I got some superglue and glued it back together and that was when my boss rang." The truck driver said he usually had the phone's headset in his ear most of the day.

"I guess I didn't think much of it when I put it back into my ear to talk to the boss. I drove from Casuarina to Rapid Creek when I realized I had done something kinda stupid."

After having the headset in his ear for more than five minutes the adhesive had hardened and Mr Gardner found himself with a earpiece glued into his ear. "Usually it's in my ear all day anyway. Friends suggested to leave it in there and just plug my ear into the power point at night to charge it. “But I did get a little worried and thought This is not good, this is really not good at all."

Mr Gardner told the Northern Territory News it crossed his mind to use his pocket knife to remove the unwanted gear from his ear. "I realized I didn't want to see myself going to a doctor to put my ear back on after I chopped it off. So I used a spoon."

The 43-year-old said he scraped the earpiece out of his ear with a spoon but several pieces of skin were still stuck to the headphone. "Yes, it did hurt, but I guess it hurt my pride much more than it hurt my ear."

Earthquake hits Haiti!  Damage estimated to be $45.53!

I must admit Quarter Truth Guy’s posting yesterday may have been the funniest thing I have ever read. I sure do hope he’s just in it for the laughs and isn’t really serious. If he really believes those things I apologize for laughing at him. If laughs are what he’s looking for, kudos my friend, you are brilliant in your comic prose.

[Iguanas Gone Wild] Iguana’s are non indigenous to the Florida Keys and therefore have no standing or protection and killing them is no more than sound pest control. The Florida Keys stock of iguanas has grown rapidly over the last decade. There are several varieties a feral iguana, but the green iguana is most common and the tastiest. It doesn’t taste like chicken, it’s more like pulled pork.

The Florida Keys has sufficient stocks of iguanas to allow avid sportsmen the opportunity to bag a few for the family cook out. The iguanas are called “Pollo Del Arbor” by local Hispanic groups, or chicken of the trees in English.  Iguana stew along with a bottle of red wine makes a great meal.

With the newness of iguana recreational harvesting, the Florida Wildlife Commission has yet to set bag limits, license fees, regulations or methods of legally taking the reptilian delicacy. The Iguana Killers Club (IKC) suggests a $5 “iguana tag” good for a month of air gun hunting that would not only help keep these dirty reptiles in check and it would probably get more young boys/girls to enjoy the thrill of the great sport of hunting. I’m working on procuring a Federal grant with local leaders for 1.8 million to be used as bounty payments for each iguana take down. Bounty payments will be based on the length, age, sex and weight of each iguana terminated. All freshly terminated iguanas will have to be presented by the terminator in person at an official weigh station for certification.

Looking down the rifle barrel, with your cheek against the gun stock, centering the intended victim in the crosshairs of the scope and gently squeezing the trigger can give the hunter, young, old, male or female a natural high. 

Concerns by various reptile rights groups “Iguana huggers” want you to call an animal rescue league so that these invasive reptiles can be euthanized humanely. Don’t waste your time. They do not respond. Freezing as a method of euthanasia is generally accepted as humane, just as is a direct head shot from your IKC41 rifle. In the field, a large cooler of heavily brined ice is sufficient. Drop your wounded iguana in and be sure to have a solid locking mechanism for the cooler lid. Once the cooler goes quite and still you know that you have humanly frozen the invasive reptile to death.

Iguana meat is considered a delicacy in the Caribbean Islands and with meat prices as high $28 per pound and with the economy in the tank and still going down, iguana is a good source of freshly killed meat for a family meal. With iguanas being feral game in South Florida, sale of iguana meat is lawful. Kill-and-grill does not constitute a crime. Once you have had a taste of fresh fried Iguana it is doubtful that you will wish to sell or give away any surplus meat. Iguana meat freezes well and keeps for up to six months. The tail tastes about like tender gator tail, and the legs and back strap are as tender as frog legs. Iguana eggs are great cooked as an omelet with fresh goat cheese and a mild salsa sauce.

Watch this video of two hunters enjoying a great day of iguana take downs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nOoG6ODJAQ

Parenting is not for everyone!

Conclusion: The best way to stimulate the economy is to go to a ball game with a prostitute that you met at a yard sale and drink beer all day until you're drunk enough to go get tattooed.

[White Line Fever] It sure would be nice if the City of Key West or someone would repaint the white lines marking the lanes on N. Roosevelt, at least from the split over to Kennedy Dr.   They about gone and traffic wanders all over, especially around the curve.

[No Name Electric] The naive writer from Key West who stated that we are “going “against the green” needs to check her facts. There is nothing green about No-Name Key as it currently exists. The writer clearly does not understand what constitutes a green community.

We all bought compact florescent bulbs back in the day when they were $10 a piece, and we are very conscious of our energy use here. The average full-time resident of No Name Key, however, will burn 1000 gallons of diesel fuel or gasoline over the course of a year (that translates into more than 10 tons of carbon dioxide). So where the writer comes up with the notion that bringing us grid power will add 500 tons of new CO2 to the problem is a mystery.  Grid power has a far smaller carbon footprint than locally produced generator power.

So-called solar homes are really battery-operated homes. We charge (very un-green) lead acid batteries with our solar panels, but only during the daytime. And no matter how hard we try, we cannot get solar power to run air conditioners in the summer. It simply doesn’t work, so we run (very un-green) generators.  Living without air conditioning is not an option.

Connecting No Name Key to the grid would do two things. It would take 35 generators off-line, and it would allow for the proper use of our solar panels. As things stand today, once our batteries are full, all of the clean, renewable solar energy that we produce goes completely to waste. When we have a grid connection, we can supply our excess solar power to Keys Energy who will turn around and sell it to its customers, making the whole county greener.

For too long, the citizens of Monroe County have been sold a bill of goods about our “perfect example of a conservationist community.” I invite the writer to come out and see what it’s really like on the ground, so she can understand how solar panels really work, and why a grid connection will bring No Name Key closer to the model green community.

700 year old village in Iran. And you wonder why they can't find Osama Bin Laden?

[Quotas] It must be the end of the month.  I went to the mainland today and saw eight people pulled over and getting tickets.

[Exotic Pet Amnesty Day] In an effort to keep unwanted exotic pets out of Florida’s native ecosystems, the FWC and Miami MetroZoo will host the sixth Nonnative Pet Amnesty Day March 21 at MetroZoo.  To help Keys residents unable to make the long drive, local shelters and wildlife organizations are teaming up to collect and deliver them to the Miami event. 

Part of the local “No Pets Left Behind” project, Amnesty Day volunteers consist of advocates for pets and wildlife. 

“Many exotic pets seem cool to own at first, but as they grow, or show off their wilder side, the pet owner often regrets their decision” explains Alison Higgins, Land Conservation Program Manager for the Nature Conservancy and chair of the Florida Keys Invasive Exotics Task Force.  “It is never a good idea to let your pet loose – they will either fare poorly, or live well off of other native species.  Neither of these options are beneficial.  This annual Amnesty Day option allows a humane and eco-friendly outcome.”

Exotic reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish and mammals will be accepted; domestic pets (dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, etc.) will not be accepted.

Saturday February 6
Big Pine Shelter: 9am-11am
Key West SPCA: Noon- 2pm   Bulletin Board

Who Dat? Good music. YouTube - Watch: Who Dat Roll Music Video

[Really Old Pictures] If you liked the 60s pictures yesterday, try these pictures from over a hundred years ago. Slide Show

[Gun Control] I seem to recall all the predictions of doom among right wingers talking about President Obama taking away people's guns which does not seem to have happened. Imagine that. However, one does not read anything about the judicial activists on the US Supreme Court, appointed by our right wing Presidents, who have now ruled that corporations are people and can donate as much cash as they want in order to subvert our democratic election process.

If I were President Hugo Chavez I would be forming a Delaware Corporation even as you struggle to understand what I am writing. With that corporation, now rated a human being, I would be buying lobbyists to have Congress do what is good for Venezuela.
 
Keep on hoarding guns and ammo because no one cares how well defended your double wide is. It's your 4th and 6th Amendment rights that are in danger and you haven't even noticed.

[Remotely switched on her webcam] Sure, I’ll bet Dell is investigating.

[Silly Right Guy] When guys like John Stewart made fun of Bush reading to children while the Twin Towers collapsed, I thought those and other critics like him were silly. Now the Right Guy is as silly for pointing out Obama's use of the TelePrompTer when speaking to elementary school children. I don't have much respect for silly people and don’t take their views seriously.

I don't care that I don't know anything about something I don't care about.  I do know plenty about the things about which I do care.  I care about my country, The United States of America.

Yes we are snowbirds. That’s because we choose not to live here when it’s hot. Sorry for you people that don’t own property in the north.

[Tuesday Special] A Slice of Paradise pizza parlor is a great deal anytime even on Tuesdays. They’re great guys. They say they deliver by land or sea (they are on the water on Summerland). How cool!

[No Name Key Grid Tie Electricity] Yesterday a writer wrote about No Name Key as a "perfect example of a conservationist community".  She couldn't be further from the truth.  That writer must have little, to no, knowledge of solar energy and its limitations, or I suspect, is trying to once again "muddy the water" so that the real truth about No Name is hidden. 

I am fond of my solar power.  I don't have a clothes dryer, a dishwasher, or a large screen TV and I consider myself, at a minimum, a conservationist.  I also consider myself a realist.  You have to face facts folks, solar and wind power need backups.  These backups are either batteries or generators or grid-tie electricity. 

Right now everyone on No Name relies on generators in times of need and most generators on the island need to be run on a daily basis. Many of them are on and off for several hours of the day and night.  Some actually run 24/7.  In the summer it is even worse due to the use of fans and A/Cs.   There is constant loud noise. Vibrations, toxic air pollutants, greenhouse gas emissions, and giant diesel fuel tanks are all part of daily life on No Name.  This is not a green solution.  It is not a model conservationist community.  Allowing No Name residents the option of hooking up to the electrical grid would be a big win for the environment and the quality of life for residents.  Everyone sees the Keys as an environmental paradise--little do they know our dirty little secret. Contrary to what yesterday's poster said, grid-tie would result in a complete reduction of noise and harmful emissions, not an increase.

Nobody on No Name wants any more development.  There are a multitude of laws preventing any more homes from being built out here.  Preventing homeowners from moving forward with modern environmental technologies is not only illegal but shows a complete lack of understanding of science, technology and environmental stewardship.

About 30 massive shipping containers fell off the deck of the 544-foot container ship Intrepid about 30 miles south of Key West on Monday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

How they just fell off remains a mystery. How could that be?

[Earthship Biotecture] Reduce and even eliminate your utility bills.  Get all of your electricity from the sun and the wind.  Catch water from the sky for drinking, bathing, cleaning, showering, washing, flushing, etc.  Contain and treat all of the sewage you produce in a healthy and beautiful way.  Maintain comfortable temperatures in your building all year long, in any climate. Reduce or even eliminate your heating and cooling bills.

So says the website of a proven lifestyle developed in New Mexico over 35 years ago and still in use today. They are the Earthships. http://www.earthship.net/systems.html

[From the Right] State of the Union Night It’s a big night tonight, folks. Mr. Obama takes to the airways to try to convince us that the State of the Union is just dandy. I'll spare us all several pages of single spaced listings of his failures and of his broken promises. With out a doubt he will try to convince you and me that a "Spending Freeze" will the magical Father John's potion that will cure our out of control debt accumulation. That is nothing but more noxious Donkey Dung. First of all in the last year our national debt has increased geometrically, it is now the highest it has ever been and only the second highest as a percent of GDP in our history while unemployment continues to grow to over 10%. Over two million jobs have gone south since the passage of the stimulus bill that he promised would cap it at 8%. Mr. Obama has been growing our government faster than maggots grow on a dead fish in August. A "freeze" won't reduce our spending one stinking penny. If we don't cut spending we can't reduce our debt, and we can't cure our economy. We desperately need to cut spending, big time.

Keeping spending at its current levels is like tossing an anchor to a drowning man. The only good outcome is that you will know where the corpse can be found.

(Part II--on the road) Greetings from the Grand Canyon. This is our second trip to the canyon, this time is the best. Everything is awash in snow. I spent a good part of my high school years in the Adirondacks, so snow I know. I had forgotten just how breathtaking it can be. We've seen lots of deer; they're huge by our standards. We had another rendezvous with other family members. One set has a retired ecology college professor, his wife is a social worker. Suffice to say that on occasion the conversations became "spirited". Natch’ they identify themselves as being very liberal. But amazingly, their views on the economy and terrorism mirror mine!  I was all in good spirit, reasonable people having reasonable disagreements. On to Hoover Dam, then Vegas, then back to the rock. I miss it. 

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Wednesday January 27, 2010

Monday January 25, 2010

[Death Threats] Obama is black and tried to reform healthcare and save our sick economy (that he inherited).

Bush started two unwinnable wars (one of them under false pretence), ran the economy down, allowed the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks, trashed our civil rights, kidnapped and tortured our enemies—to mention just a few—oh, and he’s white. But they want to kill Obama.

France is trying to outlaw the wearing of the burka in public. I agree with them. In our cultures we communicate by means of the face, host countries should not change their customs to suit their guests. Guests should change to suit their hosts.

[No Name Key Electric] I see no reason why the residents of No Name Key should not be allowed to have access to water and electricity.    Many years ago my father purchased property on Little Torch Key.  There was no water or electricity there and he knew it.  He purchased the property because of the scenic view and location.   He was also an electrician.  He literally put the electricity in himself.  The electrical inspector came out and inspected it, approved it, and City Electric turned the power on.   We spent several years on a cistern, and then he had a family friend put in water.   FKAA put in a water meter and we hooked up to water up on the highway.   

When a resident on No Name Key says his house is almost 90 degrees in the summer months, he doesn’t want electricity

to improve the value of his house, he wants electricity to stay cool in July, August, and September.   I can’t believe anyone would want to deny the residents water and electricity.     Even if they did want it to increase the value of their property, why would you care?  That’s the American way.   

My dad liked to buy property that no one else wanted and build on it and improve it.    In the 1980’s he bought property on the Big Island of Hawaii to build a vacation home.  There were only three other homes in the area.  He hooked up to electricity but there was no water.  The neighbors had been on cisterns for many, many years.   My dad found out he could install pipes and hook up to the water down the mountain.   He asked the neighbors if they’d like to hook up too.   Not only did no one try to stop him from bringing in water, they were so thrilled, they got several men from their Mormon Church to help my dad  with the manual labor.    That’s the way it should be--neighbors helping neighbors.  I see no reason why the residents on No Name Key shouldn’t have utilities.    The ones that don’t want it don’t have to hook up.  Good Luck NNK residents.

Why are the Tea Baggers for the new Senator Scott Brown?  Do they like US Senators who pose completely nude in Cosmo?  (can you imagine what would have happened if Obama would have done that?)  Do they know that he is for legalized abortion? (I thought Pro-life was one of the biggest concerns of the Tea Baggers?)  And, he supports licensing and background checks for buying guns.  I guess that means there must only be two reasons why the Tea Baggers support Sen. Brown:  1. He has Republican in front of his name   2. He is not Obama!

[Trauma Star’s cost was approved by 55% of the voters in a referendum vote county wide] Oh, get off your high horse.  If you want to quote accurate facts start with this one: That 55% you Trauma Star supporters keep ranting about represents less than 30% of all the people who voted.  Because the majority of the people who voted did not vote on the TS referendum because they knew it was non-binding, meaning the results of their vote did not matter, so why vote.  Your TS noise is just more job justification BS. Now go spin that fact!

[No monthly bill with the Sun producing all your power] It takes a lot of solar panels and batteries to power a 5 ton air conditioner. The No Name residents typically don't have enough room for that many panels, so they use generators. These generators pollute in the worse way, totally offsetting the benefits of "being green."  Are you getting the picture now?

If the No Namers can get utilities even though they knew they weren’t allowed when they bought their property, can we get rid of the Key deer too? I knew they were here when I bought my place in the Refuge, but I’d like to drive faster.

Let's credit these great quotes to whence they originate. This is dialog from Conan the Barbarian, spoken by Arnold Schwarzenegger and are his first spoken words in an American movie.

When asked, “Conan, what is best in life?"  

Arnold as Conan replied, "To crush your enemies, see them driven before you... and to hear the lamentation of their women!" 

He sounded like an Austrian barbarian, but he sure had a bunch of muscles. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V30tyaXv6EI

[Nasty Little Secret] Every dollar a company spends on a Microsoft product results in an additional $8 of tech support expenses. http://www.fool.com/newsletters/15/sfr/04/02.htm?vsaid=3337&iid=2501&email=paul2323827@aol.com&src=
erbitmbox0860004&repeatecap=n

[Sloan] I was notified by email of being nominated for a green living award by GLEE and was told I had to fill out an application stating my green achievements to enter the contest.
 
My first thought, if I was nominated for an award, why should I have to apply for anything? Did Barack Obama apply for the Nobel Peace Prize after he was nominated?

My next thought, I’ve made lots of suggestions about how to help Mother Nature in the Keys, and so far I haven’t seen GLEE or any other local organization or local government use any of them.

For examples:
I harped people who smoke tobacco regularly, pound for pound, put out as much air pollution as any car, truck, boat, airplane, factory.
I harped no new building permits in the Keys for structures that are not solar and cistern self-sufficent.
I harped putting solar collectors on all roofs in Key West.
I harped painting roofs white, to save air conditioning costs.
I harped mandatory recycling and no garbage pickup that is not separated.|
I harped treating Keys wastewater to bring it to potable and put it back into the Aqueduct.
I harped community gardens on local government land, irrigated with treated wastewater.
I harped putting a toll at the top of Key Largo, to raise money to install countywide sewerage collection and treatment.
I harped fixing the leaking sewer laterals in Key West, of which there still are many.
I harped against deep injection wells.
I harped stop killing the reef with human effluent.
I harped stop allowing cruise ships into Key West, which dump their raw effluent offshore instead of treating it.
I harped no more new development, period, the end; the Keys already are way overdeveloped, everyone knows this, no one can stand in front of a mirror and honestly deny it.
I harped leave No Name Key off the grid and not allow further development on Big Pine Key.
I harped Mother Nature’s rights supersede human rights.
I harped anyone living in the Keys who calls him/herself an environmentalist is delusional; there is no way to live in sync with Mother Nature in the Keys, unless you live like the Calusa Indians lived here.
I harped human beings are the invasive species in the Keys.
I harped the real environmental solution is a Category 5 hurricane, that comes in at Key West and runs up the Keys to the mainland at Category 5 force the entire transit.

The other night, I told a young man who had earlier approached me about his becoming a shaman, who said he was worried about “chemtrails” and the conspiracy theories around them, that human beings are the invasive species on this planet and any real environmentalist would kill him/herself to help Mother Nature. I didn’t say I would kill myself.

I don’t belong to GLEE and don’t want to belong. I don’t think it’s really serious about putting Mother Nature first. Nor, apparently, am I.

~Sloan Bashinsky, conscripted nominee.     More ... goodmorningfloridakeys.com

[Conspiracy Debunked] It is not true that Petro Express is owned by Hugo Chavez or Venezuela. Petro Express was an American-owned company that had been headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company was purchased in 2007 by Pantry Inc., the Kangaroo convenience store chain with headquarters in Sanford, North Carolina.  Prior to the Pantry Inc. acquisition Petro Express stores sold CITGO gasoline but according to an allbusiness.com report published October 18, 2006, the company decided to phase it out from its 45 locations in favor for their own brand.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has drawn the ire of Americans for his open opposition to the United States. His most dramatic display was during a fiery speech before the United Nations in September of 2006 in which he called President Bush "the devil" and suggested that the United Nations should move elsewhere, perhaps Jerusalem. Because of Chavez's hatred of the United States, many American motorists have called for a boycott of CITGO. CITGO was founded as an American company but is now owned by Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of Venezuela.

[No Name Key electric] In response to the blogger who wrote, "Why would anyone in their right mind spend any money on the utility so they could get an electric bill every month? There is no monthly bill with the Sun producing all your power."  I live on NNK and here's 10 reasons why.

1.  I have a legal right to electricity.  Period, end of story. Solar is not free.  Solar is one piece of a system...
2.  My house is run on lead acid batteries as well as every other house out here except one which is solely run on generator. 
3.  How I charge my toxic, lead acid batteries (which cost $6000.) is with solar panels which cost $8000.
4.  The solar panels run through a controller.  I have two, each of which costs $400-500.
5.  The power for my house comes directly from the toxic lead acid batteries and goes through an inverter ($1500-2000) of which I have two and changes the DC power to AC/DC.  All of this does not including the peripherals of the system. 
6.  I have a medium size system and cannot run AC so I have a generator which cost $10,000 and for which during the summer months have diesel fuel bills from $500-700.
7. We have two neighbors with large systems of about 8000W costing about $60,000 and still not enough for AC.
8. The generators emit large quantities of CO2.
9.  I knew (well documented) that electricity was going to NNK when I bought the property on which I built my house.
10.  I have a legal right to electricity and to spend my money on utilities however I wish as I live in a democracy. 

What is amazing to me is how uninformed most people are about alternative energy and believe the perpetrated myth that when I bought electricity was not coming.  I, and most of my neighbors, bought here knowing (again, well documented) electricity was coming including one or two folks who purchased property, not wanting electricity, even knowing electricity was coming. 

Why would anyone in their right mind talk about a topic without even a modicum of understanding on the topic and have any concern about how I spend my money or that I live in a democracy and someone, who is misinformed, tells me I can't have electricity.

In summary, 2-9 are irrelevant as I have the legal right to have utilities.

[Even glass rots in the Keys] My CBS stilt house was built new in 1991. Today it needs almost everything replaced. Some of the floor plywood is rotted, the copper plumbing is shot, my Jalousie windows are junk, the roof was already replaced twice, most of the wiring is corroded beyond salvaging, the stucco needs redoing, the wood stairs need replacement, all aluminum fixtures are half gone, even the glass in the windows is rotting. I should have bought an island, built a large Tiki Hut, wrapped it in heavy bug screen and lived like a native.

Welcome to Paradise!

[Se Habla Muslim] It would be impossible for President Obama to “speak in Muslim” during his State of the Union address. There is no such language. The language generally associated with Muslim people is Arabic.

And while we’re at it, the religion is Islam. There is one god, Allah. The main prophet is Mohammad. However, Mohammad is not considered to be Allah's son.

It is amazing how uninformed the average American is. I mean beyond Bud Lite and football on big screen TV.

How Blonde jokes got started. Video

Ms Putney seems to be taking a concerted hit by the pro-electricity activists on No Name Key. I imagine that the reason Ms Putney is influential is because she probably make a good point. The activists seem to be trying to slander anyone who is against their electric agenda.

[Article from 1956] I found this and thought it was interesting. Another Florida Keys first! http://as15-burninbush.com/USSCORPORAL.html

I just received my boat’s new windshield. Key West wanted $342 plus tax. I found a place in Arkansas that charged me $75. (Total cost, delivered, was $108.22) They even sent a special drill bit to bore the holes in the windshield for mounting. Custom Mould & Tint 870-367-7083.

[Chopped, channeled and lowered] I would like to see the guy who 'jumps' out of this.

You can change your mind (and hence your life) at any time. Please feel free to do it now!

After viewing the coverage of the Haiti earthquake I get the feeling that the response times there do not bode well for our own situation here after a major widespread disaster.  Apparently not much was learned from Katrina.

These are actual police photos. Just think about this for a second. Did you ever see anyone arrested wearing a Bush T-shirt?

The computer keyboard for old men posted here on Sunday is not for old men, it is for young men.  We don't care much for music--can't hear it!

[The Iguana Song animated] The next IKC meeting will include a showing of this cartoon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faC3XTInrgA

It looks like the GOP is going to come to power again which means, considering the mindset of the people they represent and the state of this country, we will begin the descent into a new Dark Age.

[Cold Spell Damage] I raked up a bunch of gumbo limbo and sea grape leaves today. I think the cold snap caused the leaves to drop. Fortunately everything, including me, survived that northerly blast a few weeks ago.

Really foreign places. Slide Show

[Haiti] Haiti is Haiti simply because of graft and corruption, their drug trade, their lazy stupid people, their lack of will power to make changes, their over breeding and how the French left them holding their bags!  I pity them not, I will help them not, and above all I will not hire them so they can be another burden on my wallet.  Let them get their heads out of their butts and do their own bidding.

[Space Twit] Expedition 22 Flight Engineer T.J. Creamer made first use of the new system Friday, when he posted the first unassisted update to his Twitter account, @Astro_TJ, from the space station. Previous tweets from space had to be e-mailed to the ground where support personnel posted them to the astronaut's Twitter account.

"Hello Twitterverse! We r now LIVE tweeting from the International Space Station -- the 1st live tweet from Space! :) More soon, send your ?s"

[Bush bad] At least you will never see Obama walking lovingly hand -n-hand with a Muslim only pausing to kiss each other in the Rose Garden like Bush did with the Saudis. That still sickens me.

I saw the From Das Reich guy on the road too and he sure didn't look like Conan, more like Mr. Magoo. His bumper sticker said "Let me tell you about my stupid liberal grand-children". He was having trouble getting to his early bird special because his car only makes right turns.

[No Name Electric] The amount of venom spewed by the pro-electric, pro-water, No Name crowd saddens me. It also turns me off their arguments.

When you have to get nasty and constantly resort to personal attacks on Alicia Putney to make a point, you are losing the battle of wits. It also saddens me to know that any member of the Ramsey family is responsible for the nasty tone. I always thought the world of Dick and Thea. ~epf@fuse.net

He's back! And I don't mean Sloan either. Bin Laden is back. Bin Laden Threatens More Attacks on US - Sphere News

[From the Right—on the road] High folks, nice trip so far except for having to veer off of I10 in a serious dust storm to avoid headlines. All the wedding festivities are finished, and we will leave here (Gold Canyon Golf Resort, near Mesa) early tomorrow and beat feet for the Grand Canyon. This area is remarkably beautiful. The contrast between the desert and the mountains, some snow capped, is breathtaking. There are reports of multi feet of snow in the area of the canyon, so we might have to divert. We had a grand time in Tucson, strenuously avoiding conversation about anything remotely resembling politics. The grand kids are an absolute joy, we’ll regale you late.  After we left, and were on the road toward Phoenix, we got a cell call from my kid who was button-busting proud of the fact that my grandson had been invited to attend the State of the Union message. I think that she was a little nonplussed by our rather subdued, “That’s nice dear”. It seems that my grandson is even more of a heavy hitter in the PV(?) industry than we had believed.

(Part II) I’m fascinated at the “speechifing” styles of so many of the leading Democrat politicos. They share common traits; their speeches and style are caricatures of an egomaniacal 5th grade teacher. They don’t talk with you, they talk at you. Their themes and choice of verbiage are disrespectful and strongly suggest that they consider their audience and their opposition to be their intellectual inferiors. Their sniffing elitism is always as evident as the donkey dung aroma of their message. An example was the Dem packaged dig line against Mr. Brown, Senator elect from Mass. The message was that he is a clod, not worth a vote, simply because he drives a truck. A subtext of that message is that only an elite deserves your vote, and elites would never drive a truck. That message was an important part of the Democrat campaign tactics.  Even the President of the United States stooped low enough to toss that kind of crap. We all know that only a fraction of the Billions allocated for economic stimulus have been spent. It is an absolute sure bet that the money will gushing out the various states within the next few months. You can be sure that the lion’s share of the moneys will be allocated to those states wherein there is a strong Republican Congressional candidate snapping at the heels of an incumbent Dem. In those state the incumbent Dem will have waves of bucks to spread around his/her state so that he/she can brag. Look for Mr. Obama to give yet another Rah Rah, I, I, I, campaign speech wherein he speaks more of his personal prowess and the problems that he has had to personally endure, than he does of the USA.. Do you suppose that he will speak of his failure to close Gitmo, of his failure to pass Obamacare, of his failure to drive down unemployment, of his failure win the Olympic Games for the US, of his failure to prevail at Copenhagen? Do you suppose he will speak of his failure to influence the elections in NJ, Mass, or Virginia? I doubt any of those will be discussed unless it is in the context of Mr. Obama being the victim.

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Monday January 25, 2010

Sunday January 24, 2010

[Trauma Star’s cost] Get your stories straight. Rocky Mountain Holdings LLC is a holding company for Life Net – Life Methods a-for-profit service provider. It is not Trauma Star.

If you are a Monroe County Resident you could have demanded Trauma Star to LKMC and flown for free if you were a Monroe County resident, in that you are a Monroe County resident tax payer.

Trauma Star is an absolute, irrefutable life saver and was approved by 55% of the voters in a referendum vote county wide.

[Sloan on No Name Electric] This was the second Sloan clobber from this writer. His name, Jim, and his email address keysconcerns@gmail.com.
 
Yep, I touted my residential real estate law credentials in another life, earned in the trenches, to show Jim and others who read that post that at one time I was a T-Rex when it came to defending home buyers. This was well known in Birmingham, Alabama, where I practiced law, and well known in the National Association of Realtors nationally. Yet and despite having been a home buyers’ champion, I can not now bring myself to sympathize with Jim and the other No Name Key homeowners who want public electricity and water, because they could could have bought/built homes anywhere else in the Keys. They knew what they were doing, and I hate to think there might be a judge in Florida who will sympathize with them.
 
Jim held forth in yesterday’s clobber that he is bigger than being just concerned about No Name Key. He said he is concerned about the welfare of all of the Keys. Alas, I have yet to see one word he has written since he made my acquaintance that indicated he has any concern for any part of the Keys but his own back yard: No Name Key.
 
Maybe Jim woke up, became a born-again environmentalist. But then, maybe he had in mind all along acquiring on the cheap (compared to other Keys residential real estate opportunities) a home on No Name Key, so he could launch this very war to get power and electricity out to No Name Key, so he could make a tidy profit.
 
From having practiced law too many years for my own good, people law mostly, and from having been in worse trenches since then, I know people shade their words in the light most favorable to them, and it is really dumb not to keep that ever in mind when they speak of something in which they have a personal interest, especially a pecuniary interest. Pecuniary means money.

Even if you had never seen a turnip truck to fall off of, you would know this is pure business for Jim and has nothing to with the environment. I don’t blame him for trying to get his way, but I am not going to roll over for him. I hope the County Commission, Fish & Wildlife, DCA, and whatever other agency might be involved don’t either.
 
The County Commission, Fish & Wildlife, Department of Community Affairs are not bound by the same laws homeowners are bound by. The County Commission, Fish & Wildlife, DCA could jimmy this around and give Jim and his cohorts what they want. And No Name Key property owners who sold at distressed prices because they could not get public electricity and water could then sue all of the above agencies for changing their tune. Those former No Name Key property owners probably would receive a great deal of sympathy in the courts.
 
Jim and his cohorts on No Name Key don’t care about that or the financial condition of Monroe County, which such a lawsuit would certainly worsen. All Jim and his No Name Key cohorts care about is changing their spots and making a bundle doing it. More ... goodmorningfloridakeys.com

Mighty mouse.  Video

[Jobs] Obama has created at least 3 jobs that we know of. The Virginia Governor is now republican, also the New Jersey Governor and now Ted Kennedy’s most liberal Senator seat when to a Republican.

[Haiti] I can't believe that anyone would say such horrible things about a poor country like Haiti; a country that has gone through generations of misery and catastrophic devastation.  Yesterday's poster does not represent the caring and generous people of America who have always showed their support for people in need.  The telethon broadcast on CNN and MSNBC was the most amazing event that I have seen in a long time.  The soulful artistry of the singers was amazing and the generosity of the American people was heartwarming.  

Although we all love our country, at some point we have to recognize the common bond that connects us all as human beings. We are all citizens of the planet Earth.  We are not better than those people, we are just luckier.  Did the poster actually call those starving, thirsty, homeless and desperate people "dumb bastards"?  These people are trying to survive. I think most of us would do whatever we could to grab food to feed our children. He's worried about his tax dollars when hundreds of thousands of people are suffering and need help?  The New York Times stated that every American has contributed, through tax dollars, 80 cents per year for the last three years to help Haiti. I wonder if the poster can afford 80 cents. 

For God’s sake, does this person have a heart?  I hope he's not one of my neighbors because I consider him to be the "dumb bastard"! 

[AOL blocked 28 tracking cookies.  I wonder where they came from]
“A, Oh, Hell”

Boy, oh boy, blaming the CT for your scary Oreos and Chips Ahoy cookies. My first solution, Cyber-Wizard, is talk with a 9^th or 10^th grader about the internet and browser portals. The first thing they will tell you is get rid of AOL and get grown-up AV(?) and AS(?) programs. Next, they will explain to you all cookies are not bad things and there is a reason for them. I would recommend reading about them to ease your paranoid mind and stay off the shopping and porno sites. My guess is it must be time for you to upgrade your free AOL software. Learn to clear your temporary internet files and cookies yourself. But, if you get rid of your morsels you may find it difficult and slow when you return to your favorite sites. AOL is the king of spam, junk mail and the likes. Basically, they are the dinosaur of the sore-asses. If you completely uninstall everything AOL on your PC or laptop, you will notice a significant increase in your speed – online and offline. Help is out there and it’s free,  just ask. If you ever go to a site that takes that long to load, get off of it ASAP!

(P.S. – please don’t tell us you have Norton guarding your fortress of knowledge).

[Back in 1941] Your father was an idiot. WW II had nothing to do with religion. Instead of taking the, oh so risqué, stance of bashing religion try using your own head to figure out the difference between God and the God industry.

Finally a keyboard for old men!

[No Name Electric] The Monroe County Comp Plan Policy being used against No Name Key has been misquoted and misused. The Comp Plan does not prohibit utilities to No Name Key, it prohibits utilities to CBRS units.

Here’s exactly what that Comp Plan policy (102.8.5) says:

“Upon adoption of the Comprehensive Plan, Monroe County shall initiate efforts to discourage the extension of facilities and services provided by the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority and private providers of electricity and telephone service to CBRS units.”

I do live on No Name Key, but my subdivision (consisting of 2/3rds of the NNK homes) is not located in a CBRS unit area. So what is the County’s justification for interfering with, or attempting to deny me the electricity I am allowed by both State law, and the County Comp Plan?

[Bar Wisdom Answered] Learn the difference between “prostate” and “prostrate” unless coming off like a hick is part of the joke.

[Winners] The Lower Keys Artists Network 15th Annual Judged Show awards were given on Friday evening at the The Artists in Paradise Gallery in the Winn-Dixie Shopping Center on Big Pine Key.WATERCOLOR:
1st Place~Carrie Penny~Scottish Thistle
2nd Place~Rose Maree Ogle~Lost Cargo Trading Post
3rd Place~VeEtta Baldwin~Seaside Treasures
Honorable Mention~Carrie Penny~Pretty Pots on Palettes
Honorable Mention~Dale Malone~Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
OIL/ACRYLIC
1st Place~Malcom Ross~Approaching Front
2nd Place~Malcolm Ross~Big Pine Moonrise
3rd Place~Michele Zewadski/Jones~Blue China Vase
Honorable Mention~Carol Cox~Birds of a Feather
Honorable Mention~Jane Gilbert~Forest
PHOTOGRAPHY
1st Place~Beti Duke~Tropical Clothesline
2nd Place~Shirley Wagner~Blue Flash at Sunset
3rd Place~Valerie Fecher~On the Edge of Light
Honorable Mention~Doris Klippen~Fantasy Fest Doll
Honorable Mention~Valerie Fecher~Transparent Leaves
GRAPHICS
1st Place~Paul Shetrompf~Four Seasons
2nd Place~Chuck Ivester~Ghosts in the Machine II
3rd Place~VeEtta Baldwin~Move Over
Honorable Mention~Weldon G. Corney~Wild Life of the Keys
MIXED MEDIA
1st Place~Kim Workman~In the Slipstream
2nd Place~Ann Schroeder~Blue Crabs
3rd Place~Ann Schroeder~Relics
Honorable Mention~Gale Upmal~Twins
Honorable Mention~Connie Hauk~Tapestry #1
3 DIMENSIONAL
1st Place~Chuck Ivester~Deer Foot Table
2nd Place~August Powers~The Reef
3rd Place~Tom Avery~Mahogany Bowl
Honorable Mention~Paul Shetrompf~Parrot Fish & Friends
Honorable Mention~Weldon G. Corney~Heron
2010 BEST IN SHOW~Mary Blackman~Secluded Hideaway

[Building Code] I don't need no stinking code! When you’re in “get’er-done” mode, you don’t always consider the long term ramifications. Who needs those pesky Code Enforcement guys anyway?

[Fish Kill, 79° one day, 51° the next] Thanks for that info.  I'm amazed that a large volume of water could change temp so fast, but I can see where fish used to tropical temps would be knocked out.

The President will be making his State of the Union address soon. If it doesn't start with something like this I am turning it off: I am sorry, I misread the American People and there wants. I will seek guidance from a the best and brightest business leaders in America of both parties .This is being done as I speak. Give me one more chance to bring to you a change you can believe in.

It will not be necessary from him to bow or speak in Muslim, just a simple, I am sorry, I will do better.

[What’s in a Name] CITGO is now in the process of changing its name to Petro Express due to the loss of gasoline sales in the USA due to the recent publicity of ownership by Chavez of Venezuela.

Every dollar you spend with 'CITGO or Petro Express gasoline will be used against you, your basic human rights, and your freedoms. He will start wars here in the Americas that will probably be the death of millions. This is very important because Chavez is starting to feel the loss of revenue from his gasoline holdings.

Hot as Hell? I had heard that this is Heaven; then you go to Hell. Last Decade Warmest Ever: NASA | CommonDreams.org

The world gained an angel on Thursday. When you’re smiling Scott!  We love you and you will be in our hearts forever.

The IKC members test a new nuclear gun. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_XX2lIT1tQ

F-111C Aardvark Sump and burnout.

The From Das Riech guy is on the road again. I know it was him because he had this bumper-sticker, "What is the meaning of life." To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of the women!

Deer Abby, How do I know when blue cheese goes bad?

One quarter of U.S. crops used to feed cars. We'll be back to horse and buggy in no time. One Quarter of US Grain Crops Fed to Cars - Not People, New Figures Show | CommonDreams.org

This 13 foot female egg bearing Burmese python was recently dispatched using a IKC41 high powered air rifle in the mangroves next to a local ball field. It took 2 shots at point blank range. The second shot took out the windshield.

[International Space Station]  This link will take you to a NASA page.  Look on the left top area for "Sighting Opportunities".  "United States" is in the box under that unless you pick a different country, so click on "go to country", then pick your state, then choose from a list of cities to find a location nearest you.  A chart will come up listing every satellite visible for the next several days from the location you selected.  It lists satellite name (in this case the ISS), date and time it will be visible, how long it will be visible, how many degrees above the horizon it will be seen, and where it will come from and go to in degrees of direction.  It looks a bit techy, but once you try it and actually spot the ISS you can see how it translates fairly easily.  I keep this site on my 'favorites', obviously! http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/

[No Name Electric] I heard that the folks on No Name Key wanted an upgrade to grid power that would cost about $50k to every person on the island. Why would anyone in their right mind spend any money on the utility so they could get an electric bill every month? There is no monthly bill with the Sun producing all your power.

You don’t have to sell it to me. You tell the KKK they are not a right-wing conservative organization and tell them they shouldn’t hate Obama. You tell them and I promise to tell the moderate Democrats they are not liberals. There, now everybody’s happy. If all Dems are liberals all Repubs are of the same sort as the Klan. See fair and balanced. Just lumping everyone together means you are not bright enough to see the differences.

[Katrina] These pictures were made by a man in Magee, MS where the eye of the storm passed thru. What an experience.  Magee is 150 miles North of Waveland, Mississippi where the Hurricane made landfall.

[House flippers] While at a friend’s house that was being looked at by a potential buyer, I was amazed how arrogant people can be. The wife of the buyer started in on, she wants this fixed, that replaced, this added and that modified. I said to my friend, what do these people what, a new freaking house? He said he had gone through this several times with people looking for an easy house flip. He just lets them ramp and rave and waits until they try to reduce the price. Then he laughs and tells them the last bunch of flippers did the same thing and he suggested they give him 25 percent down and he'll think about it. This is guaranteed to create a stampede out the door. There ought to be a law against flippers where you have to own and live in a home for five years before you can sell it. Sure would stop the flocks of snowbirds from defecating on our Keys.

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Sunday January 24, 2010

Saturday January 23, 2010

(eD:  No edIT SatuRDAY!!!!!!......b-cuz u assd 4 iT!!!!!!!!!

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Saturday January 23, 2010

Friday January 22, 2010

[Trama Star] Here is what you can expect if you get sick and cannot be treated in Key West. This is my actual bill. Your insurance or Medicaid will only cover a small portion of this bill and the patient will be billed the balance. How can our County government allow these greedy, opportunistic, parasites to turn a tragedy into tragedy, plus financial devastation? Try to justify $24,000 for a 50 minute ride to Miami.

[No Name Key Electric] Over the past couple days I have read several quotes about No Name Key that I find almost amusing.  In Tim O'Hara's last Citizen article he begins with this, "NNK has become a model community for off-grid living",  and just yesterday in the Coco Tele "why would anyone want to ruin an environmental paradise".  I have to ask myself over and over, do these people just not get it?

Dear Tim, Are you kidding me?  Model community?  Have you researched the implications for off grid living in Florida?  Do you not hear that there are 30+ diesel generators running on a daily basis there?  That you listen to generators 24/7, smell their fumes, feel their vibrations, see them emitting toxic air pollutants.  That on cloudy or rainy days, at night, you are left with whatever is in your batteries to power your homes and that this supply dwindles the minute the sun goes down.  That you can't realistically run A/C on solar, you need the generators or a grid back up or you pack up and head north for 6 months of the year.

If Tim was a real journalist, he would do research that would show that off grid living in Florida and in many parts of the US is completely unrealistic.  Just try to find an off-grid community anywhere.  The fact of the matter is that if solar power is to go big-time, the only realistic means will be in a grid-tie setting.  It is more energy efficient, cleaner and greener than having the island laden with dirty, CO2 emitting generators that people use daily.  Unfortunately it is clear to most that Tim's problem is that he is so closely linked to the anti-electricity group that he refuses to look at and present the real facts of the solar energy story.

All the islands in the Keys are beautiful.  Get off US1 and drive to upper Sugarloaf, Cudjoe, Torches, etc.  Get out of your car and walk around, ride your bikes down the trails.  They all rival No Name in beauty.  What you won't see on these other islands are two active quarries that are dynamiting and hauling away NNK by the truckload every day.  Go sit by the bridge at 6am when they start rumbling by and count them.  What I don't understand is how you can call someplace a paradise when the people have been forced (illegally, I might add) to generate electricity in possibly the most polluting manner possible.  You people need to do some research on what grid-tie electricity is and how environmentally beneficial it could be to this "island paradise". 

Open your minds to the fact that grid-tie is the future of solar power in the US, in Florida and in the Keys.  To attempt to keep NNK trapped in 1970's solar technology is to prevent this island from ever becoming the island paradise that you are seeking.

[Sloan on No Name Electric] Although you use a "keysconcerns" email handle, it looks to me that your concerns are isolated to No Name Key homeowners, including yourself, who bought off the grid with eyes wide open, and now want on the grid.
 
The $900,000 above ground estimate for electricity to No Name Key homes was reported in KW Citizen. Sylvia Murphy was not the original source for me, but she had heard the same number. Of course, the final cost estimates are what they are. The lower the cost, the better for No Name Key residents who want power. And water. If it happens.
 
I was not aware there were 30 homeowners on No Name Key who wanted power and water run out there. I picked 30 out of the air in my earlier post, for the sake of having a number to work with.
 
I was not aware those 30 want to pay the entire cost. Nor, from what I've heard, does the County Commission know that.
 
If there are 30 homeowners who have agreed to pay the entire cost, is there something in writing from them, signed by each of them, agreeing to pay the cost?
 
If so, do they agree in writing to pay the entire cost up front? Are they willing and able to put the cost into escrow, to guarantee past and future work done by the Aqueduct Authority, Keys Energy and County staff on their behalf is fully reimbursed?
 
People who built/ purchased homes on No Name Key have the same legal rights now that they had when the homes were built/purchased. Won't surprise me if a local court decides what those rights are. Won't surprise me that whatever the court decides, there is an appeal. Maybe a few years later we will have a final legal ruling. And it won't surprise me if the loser has to pay the winner's litigation costs.
 
Please do not take any of the above as my consent to electricity and water being run out to No Name Key. I oppose it totally. You and the other 29 knew there was no electricity or water on No Name Key, when you made it your home. You knew the restrictions in effect. Either you later had a change of heart, or you had an agenda all along to speculate that you could get power and water out there and profit from your speculation. Either way, I don't feel sympathetic. http://goodmorningfloridakeys.com/?cat=3 

The Hitler dubbed video-thing was kind of funny the first time it was posted here about a year ago. The last two or three times, not so much.

If its okay to lump all Democrats under the flag of Liberals, is it okay to lump all Republicans under the Klu Klux Klan banner because, let’s face reality, they do consider themselves to be a very religious, white, right-wing organization that absolutely hates Obama?

1. Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not.  ~Thomas Jefferson 
2.  Those who trade liberty for security have neither. ~John Adams 
3.  Free men do not ask permission to bear arms.
4.  An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.
5.  Only a government that is afraid of its citizens tries to control them.
6.  Gun control is not about guns; it's about control. 
7.  You only have the rights you are willing to fight for. 
8.  Know guns, know peace, know safety.  No guns, no peace, no safety. 
9.  You don't shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive. 
10. Assault is a behavior, not a device. 
11.  64,999,987 firearms owners killed no one yesterday. 
12.  You give up your guns, you give up.
13.  The Second Amendment is in place in case the politicians ignore the others. 
14.  What part of 'shall not be infringed' do you not understand? 
15.  Guns have only two enemies; rust and politicians.  
16.  When you remove the people's right to bear arms, you create slaves. 
17.  The American Revolution would never have happened with gun control. 

[Frozen" Fish] I'm a complete rookie about anything to do with salt water stuff.  Is this for real?  How can fish die from cold?  Is the water temperature subject to change that quickly, at depth, from surface temperatures?  Can't the fish just dive to a temperature that's good for them?

[Obama's Poll Numbers] If you think he is doing well you are holding the charts upside down!

[I will practice my freedom of religion and speech anywhere I go]   If you are monopolizing the clerk when they are supposed to be working you will be interfering with the duties of a government employee and taking up time supposed to be shared with other customers.  If you want to stand in the lobby and preach, I'd suggest those who don't wish to listen come prepared with headphones.  You can exercise your freedoms; only please don't be rude or selfish when doing so.

Welcome to TPA (Terrorist-Proof Airlines). We can absolutely guarantee no walk-on guns, knives, box cutters, shoe-bombs or other weapons will ever be carried onto our flights. Book your next flight with TPA, the safest airline in the industry. If a Muslim sees a naked woman he is obliged to commit suicide, so fly TPA!

Ted Kennedy was not a very nice person. He was a cheater at Harvard and a cheater at Chappaquiddick (but a fairly good swimmer; poor Mary Jo).

Big Pine Bark Park needs your help.  BPBP is going to be Big Pine's very own dog park. Yeah! We are having our very first fundraising event tomorrow at the Nautical Flea Market. We need baked goodies for canine and humans.   We are also accepting money donations, goods, services, laborers, volunteers, etc.  Come see us on Saturday and get the scoop.  If you want to help please contact Michele at 305.849.1270.

[Cell Phone Crime] Whipping and sentenced to two months in jail by a court in the eastern city of Jubail. Saudi girl, 13, sentenced to 90 lashes after she took a mobile phone to school | Mail Online

Government Flow Chart

[Party Crashers] The dynamic Salahi duo, aka The White House party crashers, faced down a Congressional investigation. They invoked their Fifth Amendment right more than 25 times frustrating, upsetting and pissing off some angry lawmakers. Now the bastards know how we feel trying to get answers to questions about their stupid legislative actions. All was not lost as a picture was shown of the President meeting the couple as they entered the party.

[Burmese Python] According to the FWC there is a low risk of a human being attacked by a Burmese python. They mostly feed on mammals, birds and reptiles--most of the time. The FWC recommends that if you do locate one of these deadly alien snakes that you contact them to have it “relocated?” Does this low risk also apply to the aggressive African rock python that’s hanging around your back yard watching your cat, dog or kid? Pythons are constrictors, killing their prey by suffocation rather than with venom. They do this by first biting the victim to establish a grip, then wrapping several coils around its body and squeezing tighter and tighter each time the victim exhales until the victim can no longer breathe. The snake then swallows the meal whole, usually headfirst.

I’m not exactly sure how they measure low risk as compared to high risk. Is that 2 out of 10? Most of the documented human attacks by pythons involve the snake's owner or immediate family. If you’re not a python owner I guess this is more good news. They don’t say anything about the undocumented attacks. How would they know how many undocumented attacks there were? Low risk, high risk, documented or undocumented, this all seems like a lot of double talk from over paid, under worked government employees. If your child or pet is found inside the belly of a 16 foot, 155 pound python will the FWC then raise the risk level from low to medium or high? It is only a matter of time for something tragic like this to happen in the Keys.

I recently read that it is recommended that you should keep your garage door closed to stop these deadly constricting snakes from entering. I would have to add that you should probably keep your bedroom sliding glass doors closed. If I encounter one of these giant deadly snakes I’ll probably shit my pants and then I’ll either shoot it dead on the spot or decapitate it with a machete. Then I’ll call the FWC to have it “relocated” or maybe just turn it into a nice pair of snake skin boots.

The situation in Haiti is heartbreaking.  So sad that these humans are in the shape they are in, even before the earthquake.  Anyone who is not touched is not human.

[The Real Miss America] This 19 year old ex-cheerleader (now an Air Force Security Forces Sniper) was watching a road that led to a NATO military base when she observed a man digging by the road. She engaged the target (i.e., she shot him). It turned out he was a bomb maker for the Taliban, and he was burying an IED that was to be detonated when a US patrol walked by 30 minutes later. It would have certainly killed and wounded several soldiers.

The interesting fact of this story is the shot was measured at 725 yards. She shot him as he was bent over burying the bomb. The shot went through his butt and into the bomb which detonated; he was blown to pieces.

NASA warns super solar flare to hit earth in 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_TzIUlaQok

Computer workshop tomorrow from 10 am to noon. Free tech support and lessons. Bulletin Board

Yesterday the Supreme Court handed down its ruling in Citizens United vs FEC. In a testament to the right-wing activism of the Roberts Court, the conservative bloc of Justices ruled 5-4 against previous Court precedent and the long-established principle that the government can act in the interest of democracy to prevent corporations from pouring in billions of dollars to unduly influence elections.

37 year anniversary of Roe vs Wade. Marking 37 Years of Roe v. Wade: A Year Marked With Tragedy and Restrictions on Abortion Care | CommonDreams.org 

[No Name Key Electric] It amazes me that no one, that I can remember, has mentioned that people moving to No Name Key knew that there was no electricity except what they created.  I lived on BPK for 9 years and I knew it.

Save the endangered Hillbilly. Colbert Report Takes Down Big Coal: Save the Endangered Hillbilly | CommonDreams.orgV

[Auto assembly] The new system provides a novel solution to synchronize the manipulators with the car. It combines a live camera feed with software for object recognition, derived from spacecraft docking systems, to make sure the manipulator and the car go at exactly the same speed and are in the same position with respect to each other at all times. It works like ATV docking with the ISS. http://www.spacemart.com/reports/Spacecraft_
Dockings_Improve_Car_Assembly_999.html

Lost Cat from Journeys End Road, BPK.  He is a long hair Siamese-Burmese mix, bright blue eyes and very lovey. His name Jinxy.  He looks just like the cat from the movie, Meet the Parents.  He was a Christmas gift from Santa to my 8 year old daughter and she is heartbroken!  Please call Julie 393-3321 Classified Ads > Lost & Found

[Panda Bears] It is no wonder the world has fallen in love with these animals.

[Utah in 3D] Click on one of the pictures’ arrows then move your cursor around on the big picture to see the whole area.  Use your mouse wheel to xoom. Go up and down, too, especially when you get to the arches. Utah3D.Net 360 Degree Spherical Panoramas by Martin van Hemert

Scenic Sunset, Full Moon Kayak Trip to No Name Key. Join Friends And Volunteers of Refuges (FAVOR) on the only charity kayak event on the islands. Capt. Bill Keogh, a noted local guide and photographer, and his crew at Big Pine Kayak Adventures have donated a sunset/moonrise scenic paddle through the sponge flats, grass beds and mangrove forests of the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge. The two-hour trip will cost $25 per person and all proceeds will be used for outreach, education, and volunteer projects on behalf of the four Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges. It's the perfect way to explore and enjoy nature while directly benefiting it. Bulletin Board

[Death Threats] Deer Ed, please help me with and answer. A republican poster yesterday was talking about how horrible the Democrats were on President Bush. At the end of that post you mentioned that 3 people on here have already posted death threats against the President and that is only one year into his term. In the 8 years of Bush being President how many death threats did you receive on here?

Let’s see who’s playing the crowd with BS. (Ed: None)

Hanging Buddhist monastery, China Slide Show

Wal-Mart is building in Big Pine after all. Just look next to CVS the next time you go through Big Pine.

[No Name Key Electric] All of the homes on No Name Key actually run off of lead-acid batteries, not solar:  In reality, we are “battery homes”, or the “battery island”. The only question then becomes how one charges these lead-acid batteries which run and operate each and every home: The batteries are charge by either solar or generators.

The sun doesn't shine every day, nor does it shine 24 hours a day, and power requirements (loads on the house) differ throughout the year.  I do not, repeat not have central a/c.  I live here year-round (this is my only home), I have one small window unit in my bedroom in which to take refuge from the summer heat.  I have the 5th largest solar system on this island, yet I still rely heavily on generators to charge the lead-acid batteries that run my home, and I cannot run central a/c from my system. 

The two homes here that probably have the largest solar system do run central a/c, but they do so from their generators.  –You see, to run central a/c solar doesn’t cut it, not even for these homes with their extraordinarily large ($60,000.00!!) solar arrays.  Neighbors report diesel or gasoline fuel bills in the $500.00 - $700.00 range all summer long.  That's a lot of fossil fuels burning out here!

My home usually produces more energy than I need during the winter months, and not enough in the summer (remember, the angle of the sun changes throughout the year, but my house does not).   Also, solar panels do not like excessive heat; they are less effective in the summer.  Even without the luxury of central a/c (again, I don't have that), my house requires more power in the summer (appliances such as fridge/freezer work harder in the heat, and the temp. inside my home is often in the upper 80’s – low 90’s throughout the summer). My power requirements in the summer are also increased by other things such as my need to run fans (which draw a lot of power, even my "energy star" fans). 

The reality of solar is that it is either “feast or famine”.  I either have too much energy, and without grid-tie, no place to send my excess; or I can’t produce enough and must run generators to keep my house functioning.

Generators produce 300% more CO2 emissions that electricity produced from Florida grid electric.

Either way you look at it: Pollution or waste is not green. No Name Key is not green. One cannot run generators, and waste energy, and call themselves "green". Grid-tie is the only true sustainable green solution.

[Robert E Lee a secessionist traitor]  Bless your heart, you poor ignorant Yankee. You think the whole thing was about slaves, it was not. It was about states’ rights (to have slaves, being only one of them). Here are a few words from fellow South Carolinian, Jack Hunter: "What is significant about the Confederacy is not the racial attitudes it shared with the rest of the Western world, but its resistance to the centralization of power.

Big cougar problem in New Zealand, no doubt it will hit the Keys. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zG7LejcRm4

[From the Right] The UN’s top climate researcher has revealed that he/she is a hermaphrodite who has had repeated sexual liaisons with Tiger Woods. None of that is true, but if it were, it sure would be one hell of a story. There is even a bigger story that you probably haven’t yet seen. And this story is true!  One of the very biggest building blocks of the man-caused-global-warming myth has been the forecast of the total melt of the Himalaya glaciers by 2035. If that were to come to pass, it would be a catastrophic problem for the world. Thank God, that it is not true. Yesterday the UN’s top climate change prophet issued a reluctant and unprecedented apology over its own much ballyhooed but false, prediction that Himalayan glaciers were doomed.  The report containing the dire (but false) forecast won a Nobel Prize, the same prize won by Mr. Obama and Mr. Gore.  That is a whole other story. The Cap and Trade crowd has relied on the melting glacier falsehood as a critical selling point to push its globalist agenda.  Preaching the gospel of glacier melting has become one of the sacraments of the MCGW tea and toast crowd. It’s absolutely incredible, but the UN now tells us that the whole stinking mess stems from a false newspaper story published 11 years ago. So we have had 11 years of false information influencing our decision makers and impacting our lives.  Yesterday’s blockbuster has not yet made it to US news outlets, and it’s possible that they will choose not to air it because it reveals their deep prejudices. It shows them to be bozos, and it wreaks havoc on their agenda.. Our media has again been shown to be institutional Henny Penney’s that are scurrying about screeching “The sky is falling, the sky is falling.”  This is only the latest blow to the credibility of the man-caused-global-warming brigands.  Nope, this story isn’t about Tiger getting screwed; it’s about you getting screwed.

(Part II-On the road) Tucson is a very comfortable city. Its people are warm and friendly and the ring of peaks that rises around the city is breathtaking. The community is neat and clean, and the people are very friendly.  But it’s cold, really cold. Of special interest are public works projects, they are head and shoulder above what I’ve seen elsewhere.  The steep sides of cuts into hills for roadways are finished with a concrete wall that is carefully constructed to mimic the nearby surroundings. They even inset rocks and what appear to be soils in order to replicate layers of sediment. The drive from Tucson to Phoenix was pretty boring until the truck ahead suddenly disappears into the leading edge of a sand storm kicked up by 50 mph winds. It was really bizarre, the rear of the semi was fairly visible from my following distance of about 100 feet, but the rest of the truck was gone, it was swallowed up by a wall of tan sand and dust. We had been cautioned that if that were to occur, we should immediately drive off the road and to get onto the desert floor, pull away as far as possible from the road, then immediately turn off the lights so as not to be a magnet for other cars. I turned right about 30 degrees and headed into the pucker brush. I immediately saw at least 15 other cars within a few feet of us, all shut down, all without lights. The leading edge of the storm is truly like an opaque tan blanket, the loss of visibility is sudden. The storm lasted for about 30 minutes then it let up enough to be able to head back onto the road.  

Before getting on the road again we talked to one of the locals. He said that he had heard from a local prospector that in the high reaches of the Santa Catalina Mountains, north of Tucson, they have found a colony of little brass Arctic penguins that the University folks claim have migrated in so as to avoid having their little brass nads frozen off by global warming.

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Friday January 22, 2010

Thursday January 21, 2010

To the person railing on about the Key Deer Protection Alliance, its activities, and its members. All I can say is that the level of your ignorance is encyclopedic.

[Buy American] When it comes to cars you have to do some research. A lot of “foreign” products are actually far more American than many “American” cars. For example, the Toyota Sienna is the second most American vehicle made/assembled in the USA with 85% American made parts. Only one car does better than that; the Ford Taurus.  Many products from Chrysler, Ford and GM are made in other countries with substantial portions of their parts also made elsewhere. Buying one of them may make you think you’re buying American, but the only Americans you’re helping may be the senior executives of the company. I’m far more concerned about employing American workers than worrying about which CEO gets the bonus.

[The First Amendment] I have a right as a citizen of this Country to express my religious beliefs in the United States Post Office. Jesus still loves all of you and I will be back to the Post Office in Big Pine Key and I will talk about Jesus if I want to. I was told to go to another Post Office if I was going to "Push religion" or talk about God and Jesus. It is my right to do so whether you like it or not. God be with you!

If you read the Holy Bible with an open mind and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and come into your life, he will do so. It is Jesus that will give you peace and help to subdue your anger. From what I have read, the United States Postal Service has anger management classes for employees who have issues with anger. I have forgiven this person for not handling anger appropriately, but I am also concerned for the well being of this person. You are forgiven, but I will continue to express myself and my beliefs. When someone approaches me with anger, I respond with Jesus. That does not make me a hypocrite. It makes me a witness for Christ and his Kingdom.

Next time I come to the Post Office, I will be singing Jesus loves me. If someone is angry for this, they are not angry with me, but angry with God. God is happy with me and I bring glory to him for standing up for him and being his witness. I will never back down and I will stand firm on solid ground. Solid as a rock and I will practice my freedom of religion and speech anywhere and everywhere I go.

[Windows 7] You can drag the taskbar to the left or right of the monitor giving you more “real estate” on the bottom. This works well for those with wide screen monitors.

A republican won in Massachusetts?

[No Name Electric] Sloan finally had a dream that makes a lot of sense. He is right-on in his comments about power to No Name Key. This is the first posting that has made any sense about what the "power people" are doing. I don't understand why the power people are trying to ruin an environmental paradise.

There is a destiny that makes us brothers; none goes his way alone. All that we send into the lives of others comes back into our own.

[Buy American]  It is a great sentiment; however when you are talking about an item as complicated as a car the buy American sentiment gets a little clouded.  There are no cars in this country that have all of their components made in this country.  There are also many foreign cars that are largely assembled here by American workers.  Just because the car belongs to a Detroit based company does not mean that the majority of the profits are staying here. I say buy what suits you best and do your home work.  I own three GM cars, while two are predominantly of US origin one is almost all of foreign origin. Who are the foreign car companies and who are the American ones?

News from Monroe County Democratic Executive Committee: Celebration of Henry Woods life will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, January 29th, 2010, at the Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Center in Key West.

Conspiracy Person has convinced me to start making preparations for The New World Order.  (Ha!) 

["Frozen" Fish] I have been here, on, or close to the sea for over 50 years. Never have I seen a fish kill of this size. I am sure the birds did well and the bottom feeders and crabs will do good and we will have a very big hatch of everything to fill the gap. It sure looks sad right now. The upside is that Scott Brown won in Mass.

[Music Review] There was a great guitar player at Rob’s last night. Mike Zito played solo and rocked. I can’t remember when I saw a solo guitar guy that didn’t have a drum machine of some other electronic crap. Zito just had his guitar and amp. That’s real and you have to be real good to pull it off. If you like rocking blues he’ll be there tonight and Saturday too. RobsIslandGrill.com

[Democrats lumped together as Liberals] You bet they are! During 8 years of vile Bush policy and personal attacks including outrageous anti Bush protests, your party clearly defined itself. As mass demonstrations openly called for the president's death, all Democrats bathed in his dropping poles, national chaos and said nothing to stop the hate. Nothing!

No Democrat lawmakers were outraged, opposed or spoke out against their left's psycho rhetoric and actions. Democrats became The Party of Hate. The left, middle and right became united in a common cause. A no-holds-bared party cause and suicide mission to destroy Bush. Any and all methods to accomplish that objective were on the table. The continuing BS story about "Oh the left of our party doesn't really represent all Democrats" was proven to be one big lie.

The left will always be to the Democratic party - what the hit man is to the mob. The failure of any Democrats to speak up and condemn the left's actions sent a very clear message to America. Democrats will never ridicule or challenge anything the left does. They continually fail to see any problem with the left's methods or actions because they are afraid of them. The multi branch party of double standards became united under one just cause: Destroy GW Bush by any means necessary, including calling for his death.

The fact Democrats would never stay silent if Republican protesters openly demanded Obama's death, while hanging him in effigy than setting it on fire, seals the case on their double standard. Democrats are a party of One. No amount of spin can ever undue that! (Ed: We’ve received three death threats for Obama. The most recent was on Monday.)

Regarding No Name Key being uninhabited.  The 1870 census lists a population of 44 for No Name Key and a population of one for Big Pine.  If you do research online,  Jerry Wilkinson even lists the name of each family and it’s members in an article he wrote.  By 1910, the population was 22 on NNK, and 17 on BBK.    I’ve always heard there was a school on NNK, and there is one mentioned online and that in 1919 there were 28 children enrolled in a school there.    Between 1928 and 1938 there was a ferry service between No Name Key and Lower Matecumbe Key.  The 40 mile trip took four hours.   If you missed the ferry, it says you could spend the night at the No Name Lodge.  Mr. Wilkinson even includes numerous black and white photos.   Back in the

1970’s, the Audubon Society used to give free, informative talks.  I remember them discussing the families, the school, and the ferry landing.   Since a great deal of time has passed, I’d checked out the No Name Key information before posting here.  There’s a lot of great information at:  http://bigpinekey.com/History/history_page1.htm

[Big snakes poised to change U.S. ecosystems by Michael Tennesen] Brought to the U.S. as pets, Burmese pythons have made headlines with their uncontrolled spread in the Florida Everglades and willingness to challenge alligators for the position of top predator. A report released by the U.S. Geological Survey last fall delivered more bad news: two other constrictor species, also former pets, are thriving in the area, and six others could pose similar threats. Researchers fear that reproductive populations could spread and eat native animals into extinction.

The new interlopers—northern and southern African pythons, reticulated pythons, boa constrictors and four species of anacondas—have "ecological similarities," explains Robert Reed, a USGS biologist and one of the authors of the report. "They are large invasive predators that native birds and mammals aren’t adapted to, and they are highly fecund, capable of producing up to 100 hatchlings in one nest." They’re also big; some grow up to 20 feet and 200 pounds. They seize prey with their teeth and then wrap around the prey’s body, squeezing it to death.

Biologists first noticed the slithering invasion in the late 1990s. Snake numbers have risen dramatically: in 2000 two Burmese pythons were captured in the Everglades National Park; in 2008 the number captured hit 343. Biologists believe that tens of thousands now live in the park. Other constrictors have begun appearing beyond the Everglades: boa constrictors south of Miami and African pythons just west of the city.

Cryptic by nature, constrictors are extremely difficult to capture. "We know how they move and what they look like," says USGS biologist Kristen Hart. "We had a radio-tagged snake in a fenced-off area the other day, right in the middle of six of us, and yet we couldn’t even see it. They are often underground or underwater or in a tree. They blend in so well here in the Everglades."

When they move, however, they can move far. Relocated pythons have demonstrated a homing ability, returning up to 48 miles to the place where they were captured. Biologists worry that the reptiles may populate the Florida Keys, perhaps by riding on floating logs or even swimming the distance.

Without native predators, the snakes could really thrive. In fact, Burmese pythons may do better in Florida than in their home ranges in Southeast Asia, where jackals, monitor lizards, disease and parasites limit their numbers. "By the time they reach two years of age, not much can eat them in the Everglades," Hart states. She describes one python she captured that "threw up four feet of an alligator." Although biologists have recovered 10 alligators in python stomachs, for the most part the constrictors prey on small mammals and birds.

The new interlopers—northern and southern African pythons, reticulated pythons, boa constrictors and four species of anacondas—have "ecological similarities," explains Robert Reed, a USGS biologist and one of the authors of the report. "They are large invasive predators that native birds and mammals aren’t adapted to, and they are highly fecund, capable of producing up to 100 hatchlings in one nest." They’re also big; some grow up to 20 feet and 200 pounds. They seize prey with their teeth and then wrap around the prey’s body, squeezing it to death.

Biologists first noticed the slithering invasion in the late 1990s. Snake numbers have risen dramatically: in 2000 two Burmese pythons were captured in the Everglades National Park; in 2008 the number captured hit 343. Biologists believe that through this comprehensive restoration program here in the Everglades, trying to restore a number of wading and water-dependent birds, yet at the same time we have this big new predator in our midst." Hallac and others do not want a repeat of what happened on the American island of Guam. There the nonnative brown tree snake invaded shortly after World War II and devastated native wildlife. Since the snake’s arrival, most likely as stowaways on cargo vessels, Guam has lost 10 of its 12 native forest bird species, most of its bats and about half of its lizards.

Given the number of constrictors imported to the U.S. as pets (Reed pegs the figure at just under one million) some species appear poised to take up permanent residence. (Florida law stipulates jail terms up to one year for anyone releasing a pet constrictor, which can grow from a 20- inch-long juvenile to an eight-foot-long monster in a year.) Still, wildlife biologists hope to keep the invasion contained. Although much of the southern U.S. offers a hospitable climate, the availability of prey, habitat and other factors will affect the snakes’ success.

Hart and others are working with different traps, transmitters and "Judas snakes"—radio-tagged pythons that lead them to other snakes—in an attempt to understand and control the creatures. She laments the fact that Florida didn’t take a more aggressive stance against these snakes years ago, when the reptiles were first sighted and might have been eradicated quickly. Says Hart: "We’ve gone beyond the point where they’re easily controllable."

[Scott Brown Wins] To paraphrase  Michelle Obama: For the first time in my life, I am proud of Massachusetts!

Robert E Lee is a hero to some, a secessionist traitor who was dealt with to the rest.

Hope and change. Senator Scott Brown 1-19-2010

Hitler finds out Scott Brown won Massachusetts Senate seat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4aQCiRjvZY

[The Great Recession] There was the dust bowl going on then also. Give it time; we haven't seen the depth of this recession yet.

Great news for President Obama. Obama’s approval ratings are increasing. Don’t believe me? Go to realclearpolitics and check for yourself. As the whining continues his numbers are rising. Say what you want about our President he shrugs off the daily bashing in the cable news and keeps seeing his numbers increase. I guess now I know why the President’s rising poll numbers haven’t been posted by the person that just loves poll numbers. You may read about the 1 or 2 that have him in the negative, but check out the positive numbers going up.

Ted Kennedy Maybe Massachusetts voted for the Republican because they, and the rest of the country, don't want this crap healthcare rammed down their throats. 
 
It's not a slap in the face of Ted Kennedy, it's a response to the slap in the face that the Dems have given the country. Who cares what Ted Kennedy wanted.  It's what the country wants that is important.

[Responsibility] After numerous angry phone calls at the Maroochydore High School in Queensland, Australia, faculty decided to record this answering machine message.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JjbJrFeJA0

Once again the From Das Reich guy ignores the facts and continues blathering on with his senility induced ramblings about ice sheets growing thicker and pathetic attempts at satire. Even after I spelled things out step by step the old geezer puts his fingers in his ears and yells "Lalalalalalalala" to prevent any other voices but his own to rattle around in that fossilized cranium. Too bad this forum doesn't provide for live submissions. I watched Inherit the Wind last night and he reminds me so much of Matthew Harrison Brady, the pompous old wind-bag.

The Iguana Killers Club will be holding their first annual Iguana Roundup Tournament on the day before Valentine’s Day, 2/13/10. Hopefully this will become the annual signature event for the IKC. The IKC wants to make this a yearly family fun event and hopes to attract hunters of all ages and visitors from all over the country. The IKC is currently in the process of applying to the TDC, Tourist Development Council for $35,000 in funding for this great event. There will be a $13 registration fee per entrant, junior hunters will be free. There will be no refunds once the hunt begins. The total amount of the money collected will be donated to a local animal rescue league to help offset the high costs of euthanasia at the shelter.

The IKC is still working on the schedule of events which will include an iguana cook-off contest, Miss Teen Iguana beauty pageant, Gun and Knife Show, iguana sighting bus tour, Guided Iguana hunt with engagement, iguana skinning, deboning and cooking demonstrations, deep fried iguana tastings, closing awards and ceremonies with a spectacular fireworks display. Numerous hunting equipment suppliers have already signed up to display and sell their quality products at reduced prices to card carrying members of the IKC. Dr. Ludwig Will Scrape will be on site to sign copies of his newly published Road Kill cook book.

Any home owner or renter that wants to have the IKC stop by and eradicate the evasive iguanas from their property only needs to tie an inflated black balloon to their mail box on the day of the event. The IKC rules of iguana engagement, humane termination and carcass disposal will be strictly enforced.

First place prize will be based on the combined weight and the total number of iguanas killed per hunter. The decision of the weigh master will be final. As Valentine’s Day is not that far off, now would be a good time to purchase an IKC-41MM high powered air rifle for that special someone in your life. Check the IKC web page for location, driving directions and events schedule. You can also fill out your free life time membership application on the site. Numerous new photos of (DID) Dead Iguanas Departed have been added. Mark this on your schedule so that you don’t miss this great family fun event.

More pitfalls of full body scanning.

[No Name Electric] Sloan, my friend, I had high hopes for you here on the CT until I read your last post about No Name Key. Now I think the only thing high are not my hopes but you. Are you serious? Writing about what you heard from someone who heard something from another? Getting 'answers' from Mayor Murphy? Please! Your dates are wrong and none of your facts are, well, factually correct.

Let's start with the numbers. So you say Mayor Murphy has explained that power will cost $900,000. Sorry, wrong answer. The current quoted cost is $690,000 and is dropping. Just to bring you up to speed since you have been gone a bit, those that oppose power on NNK broker in misinformation and lies. They also like to trump up the numbers every chance possible, $1,000,000 being the often quoted figure this last year. The Mayor's figure of $900k works nicely to continue the deception and lies but the cost is under $700k and likely to go down. 

Not that the cost matters, or should, to you or the lawyer you interviewed. No Name has 43 homes. 30 of those homeowners have agreed to pay the entire cost--all of it, my friend. We have not asked or demanded that the County pay for this service. If the County attacks us and tries to stop us from bringing something so unremarkable as power to our homes then your lawyer friend and you might want to worry. But first, if I were you, I'd worry about the type of government that would do what this one has done, dating back decades, to the island’s residents.

You say you don't like that some on No Name want power to increase the value of their home. This morning I woke up in the United States of America and in my America my fellow citizens thankfully have the right to think and feel however they want. Sloan, are you writing from Cuba? Sure, some want power to increase their home's value, so what? Some want it for life safety reasons. Some (many, most even) for environmental reasons. Some want it because they just want it and don't want to be told that you can have it and they can't. Some want it for all of these reasons. Sloan, why do you want and have commercial power, air and such evil luxuries?

[Sweet Deal] Kraft Foods is taking over England’s Cadbury Chocolate, making Kraft the largest confectioner on the planet. Now they’re too big to fail.

[Conspiracy] Wow, over 1500 words, now that's a post! Please tell me that he paid for that space and he knew both the Kennedy boys personally. This guy had so much inside info I bet CIA, FBI and South State Mental Hospital will all be looking for him.

[From the Right] Have you every heard of the High Value Interrogation Group? No? Well, you’re not alone. HVIG was created by Attorney General Holder as one of his very first actions as AG. The HVIG special task force was created on 1/22/09 by Executive order 13491, signed by Mr. Obama. It was to bring together law enforcement, the military, and the intelligence community to conduct the interrogations on terror related matters “in a manner that will strengthen national security consistent with the rule of law.” When the Ft. Hood Muslim Fundamentalist Major was arrested, he was not interrogated by HVIG.  When the Christmas crotch bomber was arrested, he was not interrogated HVIG. No one seems to know why.  Its mind blowing, it’s incredible, yet it figures. Mr. Obama and Holder consider these attacks by a foreign enemy on Americans on American soil to be criminal acts, not acts of war. Holder and his subordinates never even thought to activate HVIG. In testimony yesterday it was revealed that they had not even considered the issue of terrorist interrogations in America an option when the HVIG guidelines were drawn. The crotch bomber was interrogated by the FBI for only 30 hours, that’s not a typo, only 30 hours, before they lawyered him up. No other Federal intell agency had a crack at him. With class hubris, the FBI said “We got everything that we wanted”. That, Deer Friends, is utter absolute nonsense. Even in a simple homicide case, the suspect is never fully drained of information. Remember in those 30 short hours they had learned of the tie between the Crotch bomber and the Ft. Hood murders. The failure not to use HVIG and to investigate the matter as a crime robbed us of priceless info. It is sure to cost the lives of Americans. Holder should be canned if not cained. Three years.

(Part II) We can only hope that Mr. Obama’s all consuming ego will blind him to the lessons of Massachusetts, Virginia, and New Jersey. We can only hope that he will relentlessly pursue his dream of socializing our nation.. Our national interests will best be served if Mr. Obama makes no changes in his policies or his agenda. Mr. Reid and Ms. Pelosi will make an historic contribution to the national weal if they stay their course. In just the next few days, we will learn if Obama, Reid and Pelosi are true to their claimed beliefs and principles. Or are they the nothing more than craven apparatchik quislings. If they have honor and the courage of their claimed convictions, they will not seek compromise or accommodation by abandoning their beliefs for the sake of remaining in power. It is a Hobson’s choice of their own construct.  To even appear to yield to the Right will trigger a stampede of their base fleeing them. To continue on their current path will simply stoke the wrath of most of the American public. That wrath will make New Jersey, Virginia and Mass a mere preamble.  If they fold, and just try to “get along”, it will be proof positive of their lack of resolve and honor.  These people do not have the hearts of patriots, I’ll bet they fold. When they do, the sound of the pounding feet of their base fleeing them