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

Sunday October 31, 2010

Most unusual deaths of 21st Century. 25 Most Unusual Deaths of 21st Century!

I have a phony phone number and email address that I use when filling out forms, etc. I only use my real email address if I need a reply and I never, ever use my real phone number.

NATIONAL POLITICS

While the Iraq war was raging Vice President Cheney was on the Sunday spin shows touting a Zogby Report that he said showed the Iraqis liked having Americans invade their country. Well, not really in those words, but he was saying how they liked us so much. Last week, to promote his new book, Arab Voices and what they are saying to us and why it matters, Zagby was on TV and said Cheney made up those “facts” just like he made up the “facts” before the war. Zogby said the report Cheney was referring to, really said the Iraqis wanted us out 3 to 1 and would rather have almost any other country help them but the US. He also quoted other lies that Cheney made up to start a war.

We must not go back to the time of hopelessness that the Republicans Party signifies. Let's keep our country moving forward. We are on the right track. As a famous Republican once said, "Stay the course!"

[From the Right] I agree in part with the poster who wailed on the act of violence to a liberal woman at a campaign event of a candidate being supported by the Tea Party. The woman had come to the event in disguise with the intent of confronting the candidate. The woman attempted to rush the candidate. The candidate’s supporters took this as a threat and the woman was taken to the ground by a group of the candidates supporters. These folks were not guards; they were supporters of the candidate. One, repeat one, of the Tea Party members placed his foot on the shoulder of the woman who had been taken to the ground. His foot was in contact with the woman’s shoulder once, for a matter of scant seconds. The woman was not kicked. This was unconscionable. It should not have happened. If you take the time to watch the video you will see and hear the other Tea Party supporters pushing the woman’s assailant away and shouting: “No No, no, come on Stop” The man’s name is Tim Proffitt, he was a coordinator of the candidates campaign. He has been fired by the candidate and is under investigation by the police. That is as it should be. One wonders where the liberal progressive indignation was when Kenneth Gladney, a black conservative man attending a health care town hall meeting around labor day, was beaten and stomped by a gang of SEIU union goons wearing the union colors. Where was the liberal progressive outrage when Andy Stern, recent president of the SEIU said: “[W]e prefer to use the power of persuasion, but if that doesn’t work we use the persuasion of power.”

The liberal progressive poster was also partially correct when he/she said that the Tea Party is “out of control.” The Tea Party is beyond the control of the Democrats or the Republicans or the government. Tea Parties are personally committed to elect candidates who are fiscally responsible, who will cut government spending, who will cut government intrusion into our lives, and who knows that the government is the servant of the citizens of the United States and that the government serves only with the will of the governed. We will vote for candidates who will commit to being citizen legislators, not professional politicians.

(Part II) The 10/30/10 Tea Party is history. It was a lot of fun. A boat load of local folks and passel of strangers showed up, drank coffee, ate dogs and brauts, and just generally had a good time. There was a reasonable amount of flag and sign waving, and a horns-a-plenty on US 1 honking approval. We drank up quarts of coffee, ate pounds of pastry and cooked up dozens of dogs and brauts. This old fart had the great pleasure of meeting many new friends and enjoyed plenty of patriotic and just plain fun music. There were old folks, young folks, agnostics and Catholics. The mix of folks was astonishing. But they were all hard core patriotic Americans. Many thanks to the many folks who seriously busted butt to get it all done. The next one will be even better.

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Sunday October 31, 2010

Saturday October 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 almost the Editor's day off. Tune in tomorrow for the edited version. You’ll find its format and graphics more pleasing. (Note to friends of the Editor: I can get out of here a lot sooner on Saturday if you don't send in any photos, attachments or Classified Ads for Saturday publication. That's because it takes a lot of time to resize and re-format them. Please email them to us by 6am on Sunday  for Sunday's publication. I'll appreciate it a lot.)

NATIONAL POLITICS

“Until this awful blasphemy [the Incarnation] is got rid of, there never will be any liberal science in the world.”

— John Adams, letter, Jan. 22, 1825, Works of J. Adams

I think what I want from my congress is to follow the Constitution  Nothing more..Nothing... ...........Article 1 - The Legislative Branch
Section 8 - Powers of Congress

Freethought Radio This Weekend

Radio from the Secular Point of View

Topic: Keeping Religion Out of Public Schools
 

Guests: FFRF Attorney Rebecca Markert & Student Awardee Eric Workman

FFRF staff attorney Rebecca Markert reports on the prayer in school violation FFRF has contested that is turning Daisy Soddy School District and the rest of Tennessee upside down. This year's Thomas Jefferson Youth Activist Awardee Eric Workman talks about why, as class valedictorian, he sued his public school district over illegal commencement prayers, and how he won.

Freethought Radio, from the secular point of view, broadcasts weekly. The show offers programming for nonreligious listeners, as well as countering the religious-right domination of our public airwaves. Saturdays, 11 am - noon Central, on Progressive Talk   

Podcasts are usually available http://ffrf.org/news/radio/shows/ Mondays by midmorning (except on national holidays, when they go up on Tuesday).
Or listen to Freethought Radio on iTunes.

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Saturday October 30, 2010

Friday October 29, 2010

[Bum Bench Back] As of Wednesday afternoon 2 benches are in front of CVS. Did CVS realize Walgreens is about to open and now was not the time to tick people off?

Time will change back to standard time on the first Sunday in November.

[Amendment 5 and 6] In 2012, Florida lawmakers will redraw voting-district lines just as they do every 10 years.  But for decades, lawmakers have “gerrymandered” voting districts, making sure that election results favor incumbents even if it means splitting up communities and minimizing your ability to make your voice heard. 

AARP seldom takes positions on amendments, and it is only because we think Amendment 5 and 6 are so important to strengthening the power of voters that we are supporting them.  If you want to know more about other amendments on the ballot, you may want to consult with the League of Women Voters, who for many years has published informative guides on elections.  Click here to find their current version. 

It seems that although Sloan is allowed to say just about anything to anyone here regardless of how insulting and vulgar he gets, posts that might be offensive to Sloan are not published. I just wanted everyone to know how things work here. Ed has his favorites and they are "more equal" than the rest of us.

(Ed: Don’t be paranoid. Sloan is slandered here so often that I don’t post many of them as they get boring. We don’t publish the continual repetition of Obama’s birth certificate, his aunt’s life or the 1% transaction fee every day either, although they come in every day. Give it a rest.  Below is one post that sums up the Sloan hater’s feelings. I hope it pleases you.)

10/2/10 “Sloan is a vicious, malicious, cruel, drama junkie. The best thing that his victims can do is to hire legal counsel to deal with him. Do not respond to him directly because that feeds his sense of self importance. And any individual who feeds him information about the personal lives of others is just as dangerous and vile as he is.”  

I bet dinosaurs thought they ruled this planet just like we do now.

[Sloan] From time to time I mention The Résistance in my posts. The Résistance are people dedicated to preserving and improving the Keys and the way of life down here. The Résistance are people who heckle our local governments unceasing when they behave as if they have forgotten who they are and what they are supposed to do. The Résistance are your and my “last stand” amigos and amigas in the Keys. They do what they do because it is what they do. Last Stand comes to mind as an organization which itself is part of The Résistance. Yet when I speak of The Résistance, I speak not of organizations but of people. Some members of The Résistance show up regularly at county and city meetings. Others sometimes they show up at government meetings, but mostly they work out of public view. The Résistance is not a club, it is not an organization, it does not have a membership committee, it does not hold regular meetings, it does not have a membership list, it does not charge dues, it does not ask for donations. The Résistance is a state of being, a way of life. It is open to anyone who wishes to participate.
 
A well-known (to our county government) lower Keys female member of The Résistance asked me yesterday, what is it with George Neugent? Does he have trouble dealing with smart women? She meant by smart women, County Commissioner Kim Wigington, who has tried very hard to bring a higher ethical standard into our county government. Kim has met resistance to that effort from all four county commissioners, but George Nugent’s resistance, from what I have seen at county commission meetings, borders on and even crosses into irrationality and rude behavior. I had been scratching my head for months about George’s resistance to Kim’s efforts, which were in line with State Attorney Dennis Ward’s efforts, to bring ethics into our county government. Most poignant and recent, the late afternoon portion of the last county commission meeting.
 
I had wondered many times, why, after his experiences with successive Gangs of Three on the County Commission, George had not led the charge for ethics reform in our county government? Ethic laws and rules with teeth, which could be enforced locally. Why did George keep saying there are sufficient laws on the books in Tallahassee, state laws regulating elected officials and government employees, when he knew Tallahassee has demonstrated over and over again that it is a paper tiger; that it does not rigorously enforce its own laws against local governments, and, to the contrary, interprets its own laws in such ways that make Tallahassee look like the capitol of the bending of the rules cabal. The very opposite of The Résistance, the champion of business as usual – Tallahassee.
 
The résistance fighter said years ago, before my time in the Keys, George Neugent had taken out after a woman on the County Commission – her name now escapes me. This woman commissioner was smart, and George had made her life miserable. When later yesterday, I spoke with another well-known female résistance fighter, who lives down Key West way, and shared the question with her, “Does Geroge Neugent have trouble with smart women?”, this woman also brought up how George had treated the woman county commissioner who was before my time in the Keys. Darn, I wish I could recall her name; I had never heard of her before yesterday.

See the rest at this link: goodmorningfloridakeys.com

Both the School Board and the Bug Board need enemas. I’m not voting for any incumbent. I’m voting for Dombroski for Bug Board. Maybe he can reign in some of their excessive spending and pay raises.

FIRM Fundraiser Dinner Celebration and Key West Bicycle Fun Ride and Criterium Weekend November 5, 6 & 7.

Saturday Evening: A lively evening of music, dinner, silent auction, raffles, and friendship at the West Martello Garden Club. Music by Lenore Troia and Friends. Dinner tickets $25 ahead of time and $30 at the door. Party tickets $7 ahead of time and $10 at the door. Purchase tickets at Pearl’s Rainbow, 525 United Street.
Friday Evening race to a local bar.
Saturday Morning 40 mile and 15 mile bike ride, 9:30 A.M. at White St Pier. Family Bicycle Poker Run 10:15 AM. Fun Children’s Bike Races at White St Pier, 9 A.M. (fundraiser for Montessori Charter School ).
Sunday Morning Criterium Races around Higgs Beach 8:25-12:30

Bulletin Board

Hell of a Hail Storm in Phoenix, AZ. October 5. I cannot imagine being caught in the open in this! Video

[More bar wisdom] Cuban is the same as Spanish except that every other word doubles as "boat”.

Halloween Warning

Skepticism is the first step toward truth.  ~Dennis Diderot

Eden Pines is ready for Halloween. Come on Kids!

[Humane iguana killing]  Doesn't that constitute an oxymoron?  Or maybe it's just written by a moron?  Other than for living creatures that are incurably sick or mortally wounded, there is no such thing as humane killing or the often misused term "euthanasia", as in euthanizing a stray animal.  Look the term up in any dictionary of your choosing.  But be forewarned, some of the words in the definition are more than four letters long, so you may need a little help.  The tragedy is that these types of people find ways to justify killing living creatures for fun, convenience, or to make sure there's something between their legs other than empty space, which is certainly the case in the area between their ears.

Dizzy yet?

[Let's hope election will fix mosquito district] I attended the Mosquito Control Board meeting on Oct. 18 and was dismayed at the behavior of Chairman Steve Smith, Commissioner Joan Lord-Papy and Commissioner Charles Langstaff.

Commissioner Langstaff was calling from a vehicle or from an office in the building to see if the other commissioners would allow him to vote and conduct board business via phone. Was he afraid to face the public who pays his $23,000-plus salary?

A county website shows Commissioner Langstaff has not paid his property taxes since 2002, yet he collects his salary and still has his pension to collect. Does it seem Langstaff is stealing from the taxpayer? He is not running for re-election [and I] hope the alleged crimes do not disappear along with him up in Levy County.

I spoke before the board and requested all board meeting agendas (including all backups) and the previous months' minutes be made available to the public on the district's website. I asked Commissioner Langstaff if he had filed his financial statement, as required by the office he holds.

Commissioner Lord-Papy said my inquiry was a personal question and I had no right to ask such a question. Chairman Smith supported her, which muted any answers from Commissioner Langstaff.

I guess the $15,000 bonus and the $16,600 salary increase given to Superintendent Mike Spoto by Executive Director Ed Fussell is not public business, either?

If not for the [inspection of] Mr. Spoto's personnel file by Commissioner Shaw, the public would never have known about these increases, or the traffic ticket Mr. Spoto received and did not report -- as mandated by the rules of his employment.

The circling of wagons by Smith, Lord-Papy and Langstaff will soon be uncurled by new oversight on the board after this election.

Hopefully public business will be made more transparent -- more trust will be built about the budget, less wasteful spending, health care benefits for employees/retirees will be looked into, no new $8 million-dollar castle will be built, just to name a few changes this taxpayer would like to see. ~Kay Thacker Key Largo

I can't wait until CVS goes under. I think it would make a great Olive Garden.

[Pot Luck Dinner] Lower Keys Property Owners Association is having their first Pot Luck Dinner of the season Mon. Nov. 1st at their club house on Bogie Rd. (just before the No Name bridge) on Big Pine. All lower Keys residents and visitors are welcome. B.Y.O. with appetizers and set-ups furnished at 6:00 P.M.  Pot Luck Dinner at 6:45. Bulletin Board

[Bum Bench Reply From CVS]  Sent:  Thank you for removing the bum bench in front of your Big Pine Key store

Reply: Thank you for your recent comments regarding your experience with CVS.com. We are always so pleased to hear positive comments from our customers! We appreciate you taking the time to provide us with such valuable feedback. If you have further questions or require additional assistance, please contact us by email at customercare@cvs.com or by phone at (888) 607-4287.

As always, thank you for choosing CVS.com.
Sincerely,
Steven Smith
Customer Care Department

[Ultraviolet] This mosaic of M31 merges 330 individual images taken by the Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope aboard NASA's Swift spacecraft. It is the highest-resolution image of the galaxy ever recorded in the ultraviolet. Also known as the Andromeda Galaxy, M31 is more than 220,000 light-years across and lies 2.5 million light-years away. On a clear, dark night, the galaxy is faintly visible as a misty patch to the naked eye.

The irregular shape of the image results when the more than 300 images were assembled to make the final image.

[Truman Waterfront] For eight years we have been waiting on something to happen at the Truman Waterfront. Thanks to the Eco-Center and Bill Verge for bringing the Ingam and Mohawk ships for local families as well as tourists to the beautiful waterfront to do something. If you like the historic ships go to www.keysnews and vote in support of them. I think voting ends Friday.

Does Coconuts Lounge have food? Yes. Wendy has opened Coconuts kitchen with a late night menu. I am not sure what the hours are. Call the "NUT" 872-3795 or stop by.

[Restaurant Review] We had dinner last night at the Buon Appetito Restaurant (make a left at the Sheriff's sub station on Cudjoe). Wow, were we surprised, 2 gourmet entrees with salads and fresh baked bread for under $25 in a very nice atmosphere and a good selection of wines. On Wednesday and Thursday evenings, they have 2 for 1 dinner, which include salad and hot fresh baked bread. The prices are very reasonable, service is excellent and the food is terrific. We’ll be back.

Junk for babies.

[Vote No on 4] The 5 top candidates, Marco Rubio, Charlie Crist, Kendrick Meek for US Senate and Rick Scott and Alex Sink for Governor all support a No Vote on 4. Pretty much anyone that values jobs in Florida supports a No Vote on 4, and that list is way too long to include.

Have you ever heard the expression, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is? Amendment 4 is not designed to empower the voters; it's designed to hand power over to special interest lawyers and hand taxpayers the bill. As a matter of fact, the main financial supporter for getting this amendment on the ballot is a very wealthy attorney in West Palm Beach.

[New World Order] Nothing shows a lack of knowledge more than people that have no clue on how the political system really works. It seems a lot of political experts live in Big Pine. Nothing shows me a person’s lack of knowledge more than when someone uses the words, left, right, liberal or conservative. That’s a red flag and a reason to laugh my ass off at you for thinking you actually know what’s going on.

Both parties are 2 wings of the same bird and they are both controlled by the same brain. So while these 2 parties bicker back and forth and you blame the other party, they continue to ransack the country as planned. They both are equally to blame (as well as you are if you buy into this).

Until you understand this is how it really works you would be wise to avoid showing your lack of knowledge to us that do understand the truth. You look really silly and while you think you are helping your country you are really part of the problem. Educate yourself. Do your homework first if you want to try to debunk this.

If you really care about your country and truly want to help it, just take a little time with an open mind and you will see that we have been hijacked by the rich of the richest long ago. Our presidents are selected in advance by the rich people that have millions and billions at stake. They select people that will protect their interests. not the peoples’, unless it's convenient to their cause and/or doesn't cost them anything.

[No Fly List] Think only suspected terrorists and hardened criminals end up on the government's infamous No Fly List? Well you best mind your manners on your next flight - in these days of heightened airline security, all it takes is to end up in hot water is some seriously obnoxious passenger behavior and an iPad. Passenger put on No Fly List for using iPad | Gadling.com

Monte’s Restaurant, the good ol' days.  I always believed I was getting the freshest fish and shrimp anywhere in the Keys. I miss Monte's.

People Art

[Benches of the World] CVS, changing the World, one bench at a time. http://benchesoftheworld.com/

Does any one have a picture of Bench Bob? If so, please send it to the Editor so we can create a missing person poster. A picture of the missing bench would also be helpful.

The Vineyard is like Russia and Nazi Germany. Alters and denies its history and the facts. Even the USA, to a point. Too bad Lonnie Frisbee isn't here to set the record straight! Bunch of fried acid-heads(not that there's anything wrong with that) and gullible misfits! There is no god. Get real!  ~shewk2@gmail.com

[Tin Hat] For those times when you need fried okra and chicken strips so bad, that you just can’t wait for the bleach to set. It also helps keep out harmful rays from space.

Please accept this as your invitation to attend the upcoming fundraiser to benefit the Domestic Abuse Shelter, Inc. the Second Annual Poolside Prowl being held at the Islander Resort in Islamorada on Veteran's Day, Thursday November 11. The time of the event is 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm. There is no ticket price for the event. DAS is hopeful that you will bring with you any of the desired wish list items as your ticket for entry into the event (check our website for items).

Thanks for your consideration in attending and positioning DAS with the much needed items to assure that victims of domestic violence and sexual assault have the items they need. Community support is critical to the success of serving Monroe County domestic violence and sexual assault victims and their children.

We are working towards the elimination of violence against women, men, and children. Bulletin Board

Is Dan Dombroski related to Jarred from the Subway ads?  They look like brothers.

[Ron Saunders] I will be voting against him because he is responsible for the ecological harm he caused by keeping the horribly invasive exotic Australian pines at Ft. Zack State Park. He kowtowed to a small, but vocal group of selfish ignoramuses, changing the State Park's policy to stick with native plants. Not only that, but he is responsible for taxpayers spending $89,000 to clean the sand from around their trunks so the trees will be healthier. Did you know that each tree is now tagged and catalogued with it's GPS coordinates? Guess who pays for this slap in the face of Mother Nature? We do.

Engrish

[Needy woman] I’ve noticed that woman that call their pets “children”, name their cars, and call vegetables “veggies” are needy in one way or another.

AA destroying the social lives of thousands of once-fun Americans. I would like to make amends to all for being in AA, especially the AA Basher.  I did not realize the effect of me being sober had on the community, my old friends, and most strangers that I come across.  It should not take more than a week for me to get back to my old self.  Soon I'll be stealing from the community at large and making my (new) problems yours, once again.  It was wrong of me to live such a peaceful life, when, I could be miserable.  The AA Basher has reached me - Thank you.

http://www.theonion.com/video/aa-destroying-the-social-lives-of-thousands-of-onc,18349/

NATIONAL POLITICS

[Tea Party Members] FTR, you are absolutely correct on the membership of the Tea Party.  It is really sad that so many of our leftist friends choose to judge members without taking the time to find out for themselves. I suppose that is about par for the course for them. 

It's strange that they seem to think we want to go back to the era of GW Bush.  We don't.  I think most of us would say GW was way too liberal, and a big spender.  The misguided Republican congress he had was also of the progressive nature, increasing government intrusion in our businesses and personal lives, and over spending. They were a failure at best.  And, of course, it got worse when the dems took over in ‘06.  When our current president pushed through his extreme leftist/progressive agenda, that was the final straw.  We woke up.  It is not okay any longer.

I sure wish I could be there on Saturday, but I am out of town on business.  I will be with you all in spirit. 

[The Tea Party Not Hopeless] Are you happy with the unemployment rate in the US?  Are you happy with the possibility of losing your healthcare from your employer because of the Obama Care costs?  Are you happy with the property values being in the drink? .... Barney Franks helped that along.   Are you happy with government owning auto companies, banks?  Obama has been in the office close to 2 years now...tell me what he has done to make our Country work better since he has been elected? Obama “represents Socialistic and even Marxist principals that our founding fathers tried to avoid when setting out the capitalistic republican form of government represented by our Constitution”.

At the same time Pelosi/Reid/Obama helped to redistribute the wealth of others. Our system of a free market economy is being destroyed by the likes of Pelosi, Harry Reid, and sadly to say our President.  “They have added nothing to the economy of the United States; they have only subtracted from our great Country”.  What have the illegal immigrants or illegal workers contributed to this country who Obama is trying to protect?  What has Obama done for the workers of the USA to protect them and their jobs?  Him along with Pelosi, Reid, Frank, and Obama are truly a disgrace to most of the people who served this country. 

Yes, I am listening.  Are you? I hope you are listening. You and the likes of you are the ones that need to be afraid because we are going to the polls on Tuesday Nov. 2nd to shut off Obama's water.  You can have your Harry Reid's, Nancy Pelosi’s, Barney Frank's, and the President.

[1% transaction tax] I sure wish the clown who keeps posting the crap about the 1% transaction tax would just fold his silly tent and flee. I think that it’s very probable that the 1%er is in fact a liberal who thinks that CT fans are gullible enough to believe that he/she is a conservative. It just smells of a dirty trick. The 1%er is gaming us in order to try and discredit those who oppose Mr. Obama and his policies.

Tea Party Rally at the light in Big Pine Key at 10AM this Saturday. Free food and lots of fun.

Jon Stewart’s Rally for Sanity weekend is coming up. As Jon asked, "Why don’t we hear from the middle 70% of Americans on the political talk show circuit". Then he went on to say, "It’s because we have s**t to do everyday." I’ve never heard truer words.

It’s time to regain sanity in America and get off of silly subjects such as "The President read from a prompter to school kids" and the left whining about healthcare not being enough and the "GOD hates America" religious right need to regain their sanity. I hope the rally is on TV as it will be a great watch. Hatred and extremism is ruining this country and it’s a sad thing to watch.

FTR says, "the Tea Party people are a bunch of ultra-right wing bozos." Finally we agree.

Teabagger’s brain explained.

[Corporations are People Too] Is anyone worried about how different this election has been?  The reason is that the far Right wing of the Republican Party is attempting to buy the government--and they are probably going to succeed.

It's a result of the activist judges on the U.S. Supreme Court, the five conservatives led by Chief Justice Roberts who ignored precedent in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.  They stretched the law in a 5-4 ruling and held that corporations are "persons" under the campaign finance law and, therefore, their "speech" couldn't be limited under the First Amendment.  This ruling meant that there are no limits on what corporations can spend on political ads and political campaigns.

The repercussions are immediate.  The election Tuesday will be the first one purchased by corporate money.  It's the reason we are seeing so many odd attack commercials that conclude with "this commercial not authorized or approved by any political candidate."

In Iowa and Illinois, big insurance companies and medical providers are financing campaigns to get rid of state court judges who have ruled against them.

The danger in all this is that you and I can't finance campaigns to get rid of legislators or judges we don't like. Now we are at the mercy of the big corporate money that has taken over the Republican Party.  The average citizen has been trampled on by big money and its ability to control and run a massive propaganda campaign.

[Obama Ad] Remembering the chills, thrills, excitement and promises! Video

Obama on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart this Wednesday. http://www.fancast.com/tv/The-Daily-Show-With-Jon-Stewart/89142/1626816983/The-Daily-Show-10-27-2010/videos?cmpid=FCST_hero

Conch Rag interview with FTR: Part 2.

Conch Rag: Now, FTR. You seem mighty preoccupied with sharing "the truth" with people. Could you explain wh....

FTR: Why did you just put "the truth" in quotes?

CR: Will you stop looking over my shoulder while I'm conducting this interview?

FTR: Sorry.

CR: And while we're at it, will you stop rubbing my leg with your foot? 

FTR: I'm doing nothing of the sort! I just have a wide stance! 

CR: Sure. Heard that one before. Now you were asking...?

FTR: Why did you put "the truth" in quotes?

CR: Because your version of "the truth" is not necessarily everyone's version. Sort of like how they call a Garden burger a "burger". Just because it's in the shape of a burger and fits between two buns doesn't make it a burger. Or how just because a man dresses up as a woman doesn't mean he'll go to the women's prison for giving 3-dollar rub & tugs at the bus station bathroom.

FTR: Hey! Just what are you insinuating? 

CR: Nothing at all. I think 3 dollars is a fine price. 

FTR: I'm getting the feeling that this interview is made to distract and steal focus from the real issues.

CR: And what issue do you think we should focus on?

FTR: That Obama is leading us down a road to ruin. This administration is spending our nation into oblivion. 

CR: I've noticed you Tea Party folks like to complain about the fiscal state of our country, but often have no other solution to offer other than tax cuts. 

FTR: Tax cuts work!

CR: Sure. I think Bush proved that they work as well as a condom made of Kleenex. Now, your Tea Party she-bang is scheduled for this Saturday. The same day as Jon Stewart & Stephen Colbert's "Rally to Restore Sanity" and Fantasy Fest.

FTR: What does that have to do with anything?

CR: I just find it amusing that on the same day people of all cultures and creeds in DC and Key West will be gathering to have fun and celebrate, you will be on the roadside with your crusty, caucasian brigade, sipping convenience store coffee and grousing about the current administration.

FTR: I have stated previously that there are people of all stripes in our Tea Party. It's a literal melting pot!

CR: I've driven by your Tea Party before. It is indeed a melting pot. A big melting pot of sour, vanilla ice cream.

FTR: That is a crude, generalization! 

CR: Well, if anybody can recognize crude generalizations… 

Marxism in America http://www.morningstartv.com/oak-initiative/marxism-america

[Repeal the Affordable Health Care for America Act] Look anybody in the eye and say the following: Repeal because it's badly written legislation, without financial structure, and does not have public sustainability. In one form or another, the next Congress will fiddle and fuss with AHCAA.

I have an acquaintance in KW who loves this legislation because she can not afford her own health care bills. Her immediate response after it passed was "This is good. Now somebody else can pay my doctor bills. Us poor people need a break. This is great for people without insurance"  Sadly for both of us, all I could think was she will drag me down into the poorhouse with her.  Then she went out to dinner in KW, spending $42.00 after tip.  While she was dining, I was driving back to Marathon, and stopped at fast food, spending $4.97. 

When is it the government's job to provide for people, supersede their own responsibility, and at who's expense?

[From the Right] Does coffee and pastries sound like a good way to start a Saturday? Why not take a break tomorrow from your yard sale crawl and stop in for a cup'pa and a snack. You'll be welcomed by a lot of your BPK neighbors and enjoy some socializing and good conversation. Flash! We've just decided that we need to have bratwurst as well as hot dogs. What can be better than a charcoal grilled bratwurst, or hot dog and a cool beverage all the while enjoying good conversation with good people. Please come on out tomorrow to Key Deer Blvd and US 1 anytime after 10 AM. If you can't stop by, please do the right thing for our country next Tuesday and vote.

(Part II) When the new Congress convenes in January there will be fur flying everywhere. It’s nearly certain that the Reps will control the House and probably will be within 2 votes of controlling the Senate. It’s crystal clear that there will be many Dem Senators who will be running away from The Obama and will cast their lot with the Reps. The stampede has already started. I'm convinced that on January 2, 2011 the Reps will immediately begin wide ranging and serious slashing of spending. That painful process is absolutely necessary. You and I both know that. The cutting will take great courage because a lot of powerful and sacrosanct political oxen will be gored. Obamacare as it is now structured will be one of those oxen. It must be either repealed or defunded. No nation can afford its waste and expense. It will not decrease the cost of medicine; it will do the exact opposite. The cascade of unforeseen consequence has already begun with scores of companies seeking wavers, people losing health coverage, and increasing medical costs.  Even Germany, often touted as the darling of socialized medicine apparatchik, is suffering. They have come to the realization that they can’t afford their socialized system.  They are being forced to substantially raise health care taxes and premiums and to slash health care spending. I pray that Team Obama suddenly gets some serious sense and decided not to impose one of the biggest, if not the biggest tax increase in our history. All they need to do to avoid this huge increase is to extend the tax law that is currently in existence. It could be done in just days. If they did that, the day after the announcement of no tax increase, the economy would start improving

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Friday October 29, 2010

Thursday October 28, 2010

I took this picture on Wednesday October 27, 2010 in Canosia, MN. I wish I was in the Keys where it’s predicted to be 85º today.

The Islamorada mayor on Wednesday must go before a judge and give him a legal explanation as to why he is not cooperating with state prosecutors’ investigation into allegations that his wife assaulted him last month. Michael Reckwerdt could be held in contempt of court if Judge Reagan Ptomey finds the mayor does not have a valid legal reason to withhold a statement. ~KW Citizen

[Child Molester] A 61-yearold Big Pine Key man was arrested Tuesday on charges of fondling a 6-yearold girl at his house. Edwin Curtis Klabbatz, of 219 W. Sandy Circle, was charged with sexual battery on a child and lewd and lascivious acts on a child. ~KW Citizen

Does Coconuts Lounge have food? Their ad says eat, drink and be Meri

Imre, I'm sorry to hear you've been stuck in the hospital with an injury, that's always miserable, even over here.  Glad the cops busted the punk, hope he's greatly inconvenienced for a very long time.  Stay tough. I always enjoy your rants from Hungary.

[Four Years] Omar Brown is headed back to prison after a Key West jury found him guilty Wednesday of robbing a jewelry store four years ago. Four years ago! They’ve tied up our courts for four years! What happened to “speedy trial”?

[Bum Bench Reply] Thank you for contacting CVS/pharmacy. At CVS, we believe the best way to resolve our customers' questions and concerns about their experience with their local CVS store is by speaking with them.  Because of that, we ask that you contact us by phone at 800-SHOP-CVS (800-746-7287, option 3 from the main menu).  We are available Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Link to GoodMorningFloridaKeys.com

[Fashion Police] I have infinite admiration for the sheer strength of good quality denim.  Moreover, I will be eternally thankful if these jeans wait until she reaches the truck to explode.  Seriously, they should consider using denim on the next NASA space vehicle.

[Not Rob’s] It is nice to learn that Rob's has fried conch. I have not had good conch since Monte's on Summerland Key closed.

Coconuts Halloween Party Saturday night at Coconuts, Big Pine Key. Happy Hour prices for customers with Costumes. Food and fun. Come party with us or stop in after the FantasyFest parade and join the party!

Sunday continue the party from Noon on.  Wear your team colors or your costumes. Bring in your carved pumpkins for Pumpkin and Costume contests with prizes. There will be Food (bring a dish if you wish) and Jell-o shots.

Bengals vs. Dolphins Football game at 1 pm.    Coconuts-Lounge.com

[Crayola Artist]  Don Marco was born in Northern Minnesota in the late 1920's. His interest in art was evident even before starting school. As a young adult in the Army Air Corp, he began his life's career in Air Traffic Control, which continued until his retirement from Honolulu International Airport in 1973... Much of his spare time was spent as a professional artist.

Before retirement, Don started developing a technique to create fine art, using Crayola Crayons. Shortly after retiring, he published his first print. Living in Southern California, his work was in demand, including commissions from Burt Reynolds and a one-man show at his Dinner Theater in Florida.

AA’s Twelve-step program say an interesting thing; either you have a god, or you are God and you don't want the job.   ~James Taylor, interview, Rolling Stone (June 24, 1997)

Sexism in the 60s.

Scientology, The Vineyard? You must be out of your cotton pickin’ mind! Visit one of their many websites and make a decision based on facts (if you are capable). This is the finest place in the Keys to worship God in a relaxed, honest, down-to-earth manner.

[Balloon Boy’s A**hole Father] Now, he's selling "Bear Scratch," a post that attaches to an interior or exterior wall that allows humans to scratch an itchy back the same way bears do in the wild. Last month, the family moved to a neighborhood near Bradenton, Fla., where Richard Heene registered as a convicted felon, as required by state law, and listed his occupation as a general contractor, the St. Petersburg Times reported. But Heene still sees himself as a public personality. He's involved in a paranormal research group called "The Science Detectives" and recently video blogged about life on Mars. Balloon Boy Dad Richard Heene's Latest Scheme: The 'Bear Scratch' Back Scratcher

[Bum Bench Back] Thank you to whoever put the two benches in front of CVS. Was it you, Sloan? It made my day to see the benches but saddened me that the shy man who liked to sit there was missing. I hope he returns.  An empty bench just isn't right.

Engrish

[Political campaign ads] They all sound like a bunch of spoiled, bratty children blaming each other and saying nothing.

The number of Chinese characters is 47,035. All except 3 are banned by the Communist Party:
Communist Party
Happy People
WalMart

[Bum Bench] Why does it have to be called the bum bench? Who has a right to judge Bob? I have sat there myself a couple of times and my friend’s kids used to sit there after they got off the school bus. Does that make us bums? I sent an email straight to CVS corporate letting them know I wouldn't be doing business with them anymore until they replaced the “customer” bench.

[The Terror Amongst Us] A 60 year old Big Pine Key resident was arrested Tuesday, charged with sexual battery on a child. According to detective's reports, a witness saw Edwin Klabbatz sitting on a lawn chair outside, fondling a 6 year old girl Saturday at his residence on West Sandy Circle, Big Pine Key. She reported what she saw to the girl's mother who called the Sheriff's Office. Detectives from the Crimes Against Women and Children's Unit went to the home Tuesday and, after a number of interviews, arrested Klabbatz charging him with sexual battery on a child and lewd and lascivious acts on a child. Klabbatz was booked into the Monroe County Detention Center.

People Art

[Bum Bench] Whom or what is missed more, the bum or the bench? If there is such a void, get Bob a folding chair and sit him in it, on your front porch. Thank you for giving us the CVS Customer Care email address. Now we can let Corporate know that we support their actions.

Great footage of Kilauea Volcano erupting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfEZQl9Y3RE&feature=player_embedded

Marathon's Dockside Bar is closed. I went by for a drink, or three, yesterday and was disappointed to see it closed. I always liked that place. Does anyone know the reason this time? It seems they change management like they change underwear.

[Iguana Killers Club] According to the web site posted yesterday there are several ways to terminated the invasive iguanas. The one that I found disgusting was the one that stated “stunning followed by decapitation”. Just how is this done? Do you take a baseball bat and club the iguana over the head. Maybe you have to do it several times as you’re not too good at beating its brains in with the first blow. This is reminiscent of hunters killing baby seals at the Arctic. One missed blow to the upper shoulders could damage a portion of the edible meat. Several blows later you’re to use some type of machete and whack off its head.

No member of the Iguana Killers Club would stoop this low. It is clearly written in the clubs by-laws on page 7, section 2 that clubbing any iguana to death is prohibited. The IKC is a registered professional organization and its entire membership (213) is expected to comply with high standards of humane iguana killing.

All members of the IKC have to show their proficiency using the high powered IKC47 air rifle. It is perfectly legal to hunt iguana in Monroe County as long as you have permission to be on the (killing fields) property. These air rifles are powerful enough to drop a full grown wild pig with one clean shot to the head. Thanks to the IKC as they have dropped over 2500 of these invasive iguanas in the Keys since the club was formed a year and a half ago. The IKC is a family fun organization and promotes protecting the habitat of the Keys with green hunting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy86MI3mmBc

Most babies measuring 5 ft would be considered big, but newborn giraffe, Margaret, at Chester Zoo, UK is seen as unusually small for her species. She is one of the smallest giraffes ever born at Chester Zoo but pint-sized Margaret will soon be an animal to look up to. Little Margaret, who is the first female Rothschild giraffe born at the zoo, is being hand-reared by her dedicated keepers. The first calf for six-year-old mum Fay, Margaret, who was born two weeks early, tipped the scales at just 34 kilos (75 lbs) and is a mere 5 ft tall.

Tim Rowland's, team leader of the Giraffes section, said: 'Margaret is one of the smallest giraffe calves we have ever seen. Fay isn't the largest of giraffes and Margaret was also early which might go some way to explaining her size. 'Margaret was having difficulty suckling so our keeping team are now hand-rearing her'.

Happy Halloween! Do it yourself pumpkin carving, without the mess. http://www.cubpack81.com/images/carve_pumpkin.swf

Things PMS Stands For 
1. Pass My Shotgun 
2. Psychotic Mood Shift 
3. Perpetual Munching Spree 
4. Puffy Mid-Section 
5. People Make me Sick 
6. Provide Me Sweets 
7. Pardon My Sobbing 
8. Pimples May Surface 
9. Pass My Sweatpants 
10. Pissy Mood Syndrome
11. Plainly; Men Suck
12. Pack My Stuff 
13. Potential Murder Suspect 

NATIONAL POLITICS

[Silent Treatment] Our Supreme Court says Citizens can't speak at Governmental meetings, eh? On the November 2nd ballot are lots of judicial retention questions. Vote no retention on any of them.  None. Zero Nada.

The Congress, our Florida Legislature and now the Judiciary is out of control and completely out of touch with us, the citizens. Remember the 1st District Court of Appeal's new $48 million building.  There is even a list of "heroes" that made this abomination at tax payers’ expense possible.  Marco Rubio is but one of them that squandered our tax dollars on marble urinals and 60 inch LCD TVs. Anyone need help with your sewer?  Sorry, those dollars are in a urinal in Tallahassee.

Remember all this when you vote.

[1% Transaction Fee] Some boob yesterday claimed that President Obama's finance team wants to put a 1% transaction fee on all financial transactions and claims the bill is HR-4646 introduced by Rep. Peter deFazio and Senator Tom Harkin.  That’s totally false! Here is what Snopes.com says about this Right-wing lie that is being spread around the internet.

Neither "President Obama's finance team" nor Nancy Pelosi is "recommending a 1% transaction tax."  The proposal was part of a bill filed by one congressman, Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.), which proposed abolishing the national income tax and substituting a transaction tax.  Fattah's bill, called the Debt Free America Act, has no sponsors other than himself, has been languishing in committee ever since it was introduced, and according to Snopes "has about as much chance of passing as a snowball does of surviving hell."

Neither Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon nor Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa introduced the Debt Free America Act, co-sponsored it, or has publicly supported it.

Rep. Fattah has been introducing bills to abolish the federal tax code practically every year since 2004 and none of them ever get out of committee or put to a vote. 

The post is another example of the anti-government crowd's attempts to further its agenda by distorting facts and passing the lies on to the unknowing citizenry. A Carl Rove political tactic—-instill fear.

What do you call a Bush groupie that gets a new pair of earrings and a new color of lipstick?

Answer: A new tea party member. New name, same old mentality. No change.

[Home Grown Terror] We have enough Americans plotting to commit terrorist attacks here, without foreign support. End the war today. When will we realize that it’s a useless waste of lives and money that accomplishes nothing to make our country safer.

[No Such 1% Transaction Tax] My god, how many times do I need to debunk this non-sense? You even listed snopes as your proof, but I guess you neglected to actually read it. Please stop making stuff up to try to discredit the present administration. Once again: http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/debtfree.asp

[1% Transaction Tax HR 4646]  Please stop wasting everybody's time with stupid crap like this. You know this is nonsense. Get a life and stop posting bulls**t like this.

I propose a new American movement, the Coffee Party. Coffee is the real American drink and it has a better buzz and aroma than tea. The Coffee Party would run on a non-confrontational platform that anyone who wants to run for a public office is automatically disqualified because they must be insane.

[1% Transaction Tax] The Right keeps this myth alive in order to regain power by instilling fear in voters. The Party of Fear.

The story on how the TARP bill was constructed can be found here. Read it and decide for yourself. There's a nice time line that tells how it unfolded, who drafted it and who signed it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troubled_Asset_Relief_Program

Jesus said (I think it was Him), "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than a Democrat to enter the kingdom of heaven".

[Healthcare] Instead of looking carefully and honestly at the benefits of the Affordable Health Care for America Act, those who oppose it are focusing on repealing it. They are running for office on that promise. They call it names, but never talk truthfully about what it really involves and about the ordinary people it is helping.

I invite any of these candidates to come out from behind the false ads and the inflammatory rhetoric and look a neighbor, a friend, a relative in the eye and say the following: “Your newfound security through the Affordable Health Care for America Act is a bad thing. You don’t deserve it. Repeal is the best option.

Depression Didn’t Cause Unemployment post from last Thursday had to be written by a Tea Partier or a Christian as both espouse fantasy to support their beliefs. Comparing the 1987 crash to the 1929 crash is ludicrous.

[Hopeless] The Tea Party, the party of the hopeless, want to return the country to how it was under George W Bush. His administration is responsible for the problems the Obama administration is trying to fix. The Tea Party wants us to send the same politicians back to Washington to continue Bush’s policies.

Be afraid, be very afraid.

[Just Say No] Being a Republican Congressman in Washington is got to be the easiest job in the world.   All you have to do is show up and vote no on everything President Obama proposes no matter how good it is for the nation.

[From the Right] Deer Friends, when this is available for you to read, there will be less than 48 hours until the TEA PARY Rally to be held at US1 and Key Deer Blvd on Saturday AM. Some folks will say “so what, the Tea Party people are a bunch of ultra right wing bozos.” That is just flat wrong. The Tea Party Rally at Big Pine Key has nothing to do with any of the off the rock Tea Party groups. We are local folks of all political and religious persuasions joining together to express our beliefs.

It’s really easy to lash out by mouthing liberal/progressive propaganda one liners. Yesterday a critic said that the Tea Party was a “Christian party”, it was meant as a pejorative. But, it's not true. The BPK Tea Party movement is strictly secular; it has no organization, no meetings, no secret rings, no oath of allegiance, no dues. It is a movement of and by your neighbors. I personally have no religious affiliation; in fact I believe that some of the man made organizations that are called religions have been at the root of much human misery and real evil.

Don’t get me wrong, there is commonality in the Tea Party. Every single supporter that I’ve spoken with believes that our nation is being victimized by our current leadership.  They know in their heart that we are spending our nation into oblivion. They are convinced that our government has grown too big and is too intrusive into our everyday lives. We believe that government cannot be the cure to our ills because it is the cause of our ills. We abhor racism and sexism. We believe in self reliance and we believe that we all have a right to pursue the goals of prosperity and happiness.  We know that not all of us will attain those goals.   We believe that in order for America to regain the prosperity that it once knew that we must create an environment in which business can prosper. We believe that business is not an enemy, nor is it evil. We believe that business is the engine that drives our nation. We believe that labor and business are partners, not enemies. One cannot prosper without the other.  We believe that the current leadership in DC has been proven to be an abysmal failure. Here on the rock, the Tea Party folks are Republicans, laborers, investors, Democrats,  mechanics, business owners, bankers, hospitality workers, Independents’,  retirees, airline pilots, fishermen, white and blue color workers, Christians and Jews and agnostics and Deists, and atheists. Most are conservative thinkers. We believe that we desperately need a new slate of leaders.

And so Deer Friends, that is a thumbnail of what the Big Pine Tea Party rally is about and a glimpse of some of the folks who will be attending. I’ve got a hunch that nearly every reader will find commonality in at least a couple of the points that I’ve listed.  So, please come on by on Saturday AM, look around, talk to your friends and neighbors, have a cup of coffee and pastry. In the afternoon we’ll have hot dogs, cool beverage, and we hope that whole bunch of musicians will show up and jam. We hope to see you there. 

(Part II) On June 23, 2009 while pushing one of his initiatives, Mr. Obama said: “we are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America.” Candidate Obama vowed to deliver “change” to America. His liberal and progressive base was wild with joy. On the other hand Mr. Obama has repeatedly assured us that he loves America. One must wonder why anyone would want to fundamentally change the object of their love. I acknowledge that everyone has faults, even my Mom. But I damned sure would not have wanted to fundamentally transform her.

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Thursday October 28, 2010

Wednesday October 27, 2010

[Silent Treatment] The Florida Supreme Court has re -fused to take an appeal from a lower court ruling that says citizens have no right to speak at meetings of government bodies. The decision is a setback for open government because city councils, county boards and other governmental bodies don’t have to give citizens “the time of day,” First Amendment Foundation director Jim Rhea said Tuesday.

[Never Ending School Board Mess] District auditors will investigate whether school district employees stole gasoline for their personal automobiles, pickup trucks or other vehicles.

[Mosquito TV] Why do people claim that nobody watches the Mosquito Control TV show?  I watch it always and enjoy it very much. I just wish that my next door neighbors were watching or anybody else for that matter.

[Vampires] You know if there really are vampires they will be in Key West for Fantasy Fest. They always seem to show up at Mardi Gras and Carnival, that way they don’t stand out. Be very careful this week in Key West. Beware of anyone drinking Bloody Mary's. Don’t get bit.

My suggestion for Deer Ed's Halloween costume. 

[Not Rob’s] Yesterday I went back after eight years of boycotting it.  It was a very nice experience and I will return again and bring my visiting friends and relatives as long as I know that Rob is physically and financially gone.

[Florida Keys Mosquito Control]  You don't need 5 boats. You’re not running a yacht club. Ed Fussell needs a new job. Most folks don't know that you make over $3,500 dollars a week. You Ed, are a waste of our money and will have to go.

 He's a little info about how Ed runs things. The useless TV show contract symbolizes a budget that's bloated and continues to grow, as reflected in the salary of the highest paid public agency administrator in the Florida Keys -- Ed Fussell's $184,600 salary. Along with mosquito control being the only local agency still paying health benefits for its retired employees. Last month, the board voted on a preliminary annual operating budget that raised spending from $9.4 million this year to $11.1 million for the 2010-11 budget -- an 18 percent increase.

Dear Mr. Fussell, get your resume in order. My assumptions are not entirely wrong and slanderous, they are just pointing out that you should not be running our  mosquito control district. Does it really cost five times as much to kill Florida Keys mosquitoes as it does those in the state's 29 largest programs? That’s $137 for each man, woman and child living in Monroe County.  

Superintendent Mike Spoto is awaiting trial on a felony theft charge. In 2007 he allegedly gave district cell phones to family members for their personal use. Executive Director Ed Fussell suspended Spoto for two weeks and made him repay $5,000, but then gave him a $15,000 bonus six months later! That, despite a salary cap that prohibited an annual raise.

Fussell, who at $184,600 a year is the highest paid agency administrator in the Florida Keys, simply ignored the salary cap the following year, giving Spoto another $16,600 boost to his annual salary.

Your fired Ed.  ~jcbsr@comcast.net

[Vote on 4--Yes] It seems to me this Amendment gives us exactly what we want -- to take control of the government and what the majority wants, not what a few elected officials think we need. Yet you people knock it as poison to the stability of the State. Is it that those who knock the idea of freedom to vote for what one wants must think it is some kind of Socialism? It is not, it is pure Democracy. It gives you the opportunity to control your future and your home.

The problem is, as always, those that vote have no idea of right and wrong, good and bad, up or down, but just vote on something because they are told to or their friends are buying a round. This is why Amendment 4 may not work, but I pray to God it does.

EcoWeek Events in Key West  Nov 1-7 Sanctuary Friends Foundation of the Florida Keys Presents: “Understanding and Action to Preserve What We Love - An Environmental Film Series”

Location: Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center
33 East Quay Road, Key West, FL (at the end of Southard Street in Truman Annex along the waterfront)
Dates: November 1 through 7, 2010
Time: Doors Open 6:00 p.m.; Movie Time 6:30 p.m. (except Nov 7, see below)
Cost: No charge – come early – limited to 74 seats
Monday, November 1. Blue Gold – World Water Wars http://www.bluegold-worldwaterwars.com/
Tuesday, November 2. A Sea Change http://www.aseachange.net/
Wednesday, November 3. Plastics In The Ocean http://www.youtube.com/007bmac
Thursday, November 4. Sharkwater http://www.sharkwater.com
Friday, November 5. Fuel http://thefuelfilm.com/
Saturday, November 6. The Great Squeeze http://www.thegreatsqueeze.com/
Sunday, November 7. The Age of Stupid 2 pm http://www.spannerfilms.net/films/ageofstupid
Sunday, November 7. A Crude Awakening – 4 pm http://www.oilcrashmovie.com/

Bulletin Board

Larry Sullivan, President, Big Pine Key Civic Association] Wasn't this the group that had their nose up Neugent's arse all the time?  Non-profits are supposed to be apolitical.

[CVS Bum Bench]  It sounds like the new hires at Walgreens are poo pooing CVS. Do they have a bench? I think not. What a spin.

[Bum Bench] Regarding Bob and the bench which was wrongfully removed from in front of the CVS pharmacy, take action! Send an email expressing your concern to customercare@cvs.com  Tell them what you think! I have already done so.

New camouflage suit for iguana hunters. Video

[IKC] To the writer complaining about hunting iguanas please post the links to the laws for hunting and firearms in the Keys. I doubt most people know anything that is correct.

[In celebration of Veterans Day 11 Nov] Outback Steakhouse - Free Blooming Onion and beverage.
Subway is showing its thanks with free six inch subs to all Veterans or Active Duty members.
Home Depot - Extra 10% off to active-duty military members, National Guard and reserve members, retirees, honorably discharged veterans and immediate family members.
Amazon.com - Free "Veterans Day Honor" MP3 album download. The album includes 12 songs by The Bands and Ensembles of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Cabela's Outdoor Store - Offers their employee discount to all veterans, active-duty military and reserves, law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel Nov. 11-12. Discounts vary from 5% to 50%, depending on the item.
National parks, forests and monuments - Admission is free to everyone on Veterans Day.
Burger King
Denny's
Dunkin' Donuts
Pizza Hut
Quizno's

[Canola Oil] No miracle oil. I am not a fan of canola oil. I call it the triumph of marketing over science. In order to make it palatable, it has to go through this complex chemical process; hence, the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 is not that great. And refined canola oil is no better than the stuff it replaced. The best oils are macadamia nut oil, virgin olive oil and peanut oil for frying. Flax seed oil is great for salad dressing but not great for cooking so it depends on what you are using it for. Coconut oil is another you should be buying. It is great for cooking and for mixing. I use it for everything from cooking up scrambled eggs to salads. It has high contents of fatty acids that are good for your immune system. It’s fat that's used for energy, not the kind that sits on your hips.

Engrish

If you are looking for a babysitter for your children Saturday evening so that you can attend Fantasy Fest please give me a call. We will be baking Halloween Cookies, having pizza, playing games and watching movies. 305-316-1907 for more info.

Sunday, November 14 is the 4th Annual FSO Support Our Troops celebrity bartending event hosted by Zane Grey Lounge, Islamorada from 2pm-7pm
Click Here for More information

[Facts] You know, the very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common, they don't alter their views to fit the facts, they alter the facts to fit their views, which can be uncomfortable, if you happen to be one of the facts that needs altering.  ~Doctor Who

People Art

NATIONAL POLITICS 

[The Economy] Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac did not, standing alone, cause the country's financial meltdown. However, having said that, I believe that it is universally recognized that the "creative" financing of home mortgages will forever stand out as a major component of the debacle. We all remember Maxine Waters, Barney Frank, Mr. Dodd, indeed the whole Clinton Admin and their heavy handed arm twisting of the financial institutions to modify mortgage terms to virtually include any one breathing to qualify. They even included food stamps as income. They said they wanted to let everyone have the “American Dream” of owning a home. They even marketed of financial securities based on American mortgages to countries around the world.

For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program

[Nasty Ads] Every time I turn around, I see political campaign ads getting more and more ridiculous. It's gotten to the point where the ads not only say nothing about the candidate's positions on the issues, they are often actually bizarre.

[Election Waste] I am disgusted with the way our country handles elections.  I am disgusted with all the millions/billions of dollars that are being spent on the elections when the money could be spent in so many other ways.  I am disgusted with all of the negative ads and lies and absurd exaggerations.  I am disgusted with people attending rallies wearing guns and holding insulting signs and I am disgusted with violence when people disagree with each other.  What has happened to civility?  As future elections get uglier and uglier, America looks uglier and uglier.  I prefer intelligent campaigns with a little respect.  We are better than this.

Jesus could never run for office if he ran as tea party candidate. He was one of those "help your fellow man" lunatics. Jesus would have insults thrown at him and be called a "Commie/Socialist" if he went to a tea party rally carrying a sign saying "Healthcare for all".  You folks know it’s true. Now tell me again how you’re such a wonderful Christian party.

“Tea Party -- American hypocrites in their lowest form”. Now that’s a tea-shirt I would buy. "Paved roads are socialism"

[1% Transaction Tax HR 4646] President Obama's finance team is recommending a transaction tax. His plan is to sneak it in after the November election to keep it  under the radar. This is a 1% tax on all transactions at any  financial institution

i. e. Banks, Credit Unions, extra. Any deposit you make, or move around within your account, i. e.  transfer to, will have a 1% tax charged. If your pay check or your social Security or whatever is direct deposit, 1% tax charged. If you hand carry a check in to deposit, 1% tax charged, If you take cash in to deposit, 1% tax charged.
The bill is HR-4646 introduced by US Rep Peter DeFazio D-Oregon and US  Senator Tom Harkin D-Iowa.  It is now in committee and will probably not be brought out until after the Nov. Elections.

Just  think, if you deposit $5,000 into your checking account or savings account the bank has to  take out 1% or $50 of that money and send it  to Washington. Then, any checks or cash you take out of your bank they will deduct 1% from what is still in the bank and send it to Washington. Everyone will pay the Government 1% of their  gross income. Page 9 states the House and Senate shall convene not later than November 23, 2010 and Page 11 states the vote on passage shall occur not  later than December 23, 2010. 

 Check this out at www.snopes.com

[TARP] The entire OFS, which is tasked with overseeing the Troubled Asset Relief Program, is trying to hire people who will withhold information from release to the public.

[From the Right] I appreciate my critic taking the time to post his/her beliefs. One of the wonderful things about our nation is that we are entitled to our beliefs and we’re free to express them. There were a few isolated grains of accuracy in the posting. One was that Fannie and Freddie were not the only reason for the melt down. But, they were the primary proximate cause. F/F’s growth into the doddering behemoth that it became was possible because of legislation and rules promulgated by Dems. One was that people had a “right” to a home even if they could not afford to pay for it. F/F, was a private Democrat club. It was wracked by scandal, but it and Democrats prospered. Under the wing of the Democrats F/F became the most important of cogs in the subpar loan industry. Without F/F's government deep pockets there would have been precious few poisonous loans. Fannie and Freddie did this by becoming a key enabler that provided the wherewithal of the subprime mortgage mess. Remember F/F doesn’t loan money to anyone, they “securitize” loans issued by lenders. If F/F were not there to “securitize” the subprime paper, the mortgages would not exist. They are the King Kong of the industry. By 2007 F/F they were responsible for about 90% of all mortgage loans. At that time an analysis of Fannie loans acquisitions’ showed: 62% were  negative amortization, 84% were interest only, 58% were subprime, and 62% had required less that 10% down payment. Freddie Mac was worse. They were the primary customer of all AAA-rated subprime-mortgage pools. In addition, they held an enormous portfolio of mortgages themselves. If real estate prices continued to rise they would prosper. Once the market began to fall, the entire house of cards came down and dragged our economy down with it.  Some might say the current mess couldn't have been foreseen. Not true; in 2005 Alan Greenspan told Congress how urgent it was for Congress to act in the clearest possible terms. He told them that if Fannie and Freddie continue to grow, to continue to be undercapitalized, continue to engage in the dynamic hedging of their portfolios, which they claimed they needed to do for interest rate risk aversion, that they were creating an ever-growing systemic risk. He said that they were placing the total financial system of the future at substantial risk.  After repeated attempts at regulatory reform by the Bush admin, in 2005, a serious Fannie and Freddie reform bill was passed by the Senate Banking Committee. The bill would have delivered regulatory power to crack down, and would have required the industry to eliminate their investments in risky assets. The bill was never passed. The bill was killed by raging Democrat opposition. Senators who were then outspoken protectors of F/F were then Senators Obama, and Hillary Clinton. And of course, Chris Dodd and Barney Frank. Frank is famous for his sharp tongued resistance. If that bill had become law, then the world today would be different. In 2005, 2006 and 2007, a blizzard of terrible mortgage paper fluttered out of the Fannie and Freddie clouds, burying many of our oldest and most venerable institutions.  Virtually no thinking person, nor any person with a memory can doubt that the failure of the subprime market and F/F's role in packing the snow ball that was the snow ball that started the fiscal avalanche that buries us today. Yesterday’s critic was way out in left field in his comment about TARP.  It is true that TARP was signed by Mr. Bush. When TARP was under construction, Mr. Bush conferred at length with President elect Obama on the structure and breadth of the bill. Mr. Obama participated in the building of the bill, and strongly urged Mr. Bush to sign it. The legislation was championed by Then Senator’s Obama, Clinton, and nearly every Democrat Senator supported it. The bill was passed by an overwhelmingly Democrat Congress. The argument over the impact or necessity of the bill will rage for decades. Personally, I think it was a huge mistake, I think it stalled our recovery. We should have taken our lumps, let the diseased companies die, and then simply move on. The economy would be stronger from it.

I didn't realize until just a few moments ago that Barney Frank himself has essentially acknowledged the roll Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac played in our fiscal melt down. Tuesday the ultra liberal Huffington Post has a fascinating story titled: BARNEY FRANK: Fannie, Freddy 'should be abolished'.  A quote in the article from Timothy Geithner says it all. Geithner told his audience that sunk costs are irrelevant -- Fannie and Freddie cost taxpayers roughly $150 billion in the two years since they were nationalized -- and that what's important is to focus on fixing the imbalances that led to financial meltdown. It should be required reading for all liberal CT fans.

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Wednesday October 27, 2010

Tuesday October 26, 2010

[Mosquito Flats Boat] The recent post regarding two mosquito control employees launching a bonefish skiff at the ramp of the Old Wooden Fishing Lodge was correct, but the assumption they were going fishing was, like so many assumptions, entirely wrong and was unnecessarily slanderous to those two employees and to the mosquito control district.

The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District has five skiffs,  but they are not used for fishing.  They provide the only means we have to transport our inspectors to the off-shore islands to survey for mosquito breeding sites.  Because of the shallow waters around the islands, a skiff is the only type of boat that will get the inspectors close enough to wade ashore.

For many years these islands had been producing mosquitoes by the billions that invaded Big Pine, No Name, and the Torch Keys.  Only about six years ago were we allowed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to access these islands to survey for and control the mosquitoes before they could migrate to the nearby inhabited islands.  The residents at Port Pine Heights and other communities on these islands no longer have to run from their house to their car to avoid being “eaten alive” by hungry mosquitoes. 

Anyone who has the time is invited to visit with us so we can show you more about the way we control mosquitoes that breed in the vast salt marsh areas of the Keys and those that breed in and around the homes of Keys residents and carry dengue and other important diseases that may find their way to the Keys.

Be thoughtful and seek an explanation if you see something that has the appearance of being improper by any of the District employees.                                           

~Ed Fussell, Director
Florida Keys Mosquito Control District

[Advertise Here] Hey Coconut Telegraph, Thanks for fine work and to all the folks that read your site. Our website has over 15,000 hits. CT is the most bang for your advertising dollar you can get. Just last week we received close to 1300 hit's. Keep up the good work. "The Nut" Hey Big Pine Key, thanks for all most 30 years of “Rock'n you Right at the Light".       http://www.thefloridakeysbar.com/

[Shorts] A 50-year-old Big Pine Key commercial fisherman was sentenced to nearly two years in jail last week and stripped of his fishing license for three years for possessing hundreds of undersized lobsters. County Judge Ruth Becker sentenced Angel Cancio to two consecutive 364-day sentences and ordered him to give up his commercial fishing license for three years after his release, said Assistant State Attorney LeRoy Costner. Cancio also was fined $3,000.

The second-degree misdemeanor charges of possession of wrung tails on the water and possession of undersized lobsters were bumped to firstdegree offenses because the case involved more than 100 illegal lobster tails, Costner said.  ~KW Citizen

I am the Anti-Christ; so named in the Barometer, the Citizen, the Florida Keys Keynoter and Key West: The Newspaper and on US 1 radio.  

So shut the hell up about Alicia Putney. There was no Internal Revenue investigation of the Big Pine Key Civic Association.  Do not make me angry or I will come back and make stupidity against the law in the Florida Keys. That means me, Jim Hendrick and Prtiam Singh will be all by our lonesome.

~Larry Sullivan, President, Big Pine Key Civic Association 2001-2003

[No Name Electric-Done Deal] Commercial power could arrive on No Name Key within a year now that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has given the OK to running overhead power lines to the barrier island.

[Not Rob’s] The only place I've found around here to have really good conch is the Island Grill. The cracked conch is the best. I love conch, they will even make you a conch pizza if you ask. It is really killer. They make it with pounded conch, garlic, olive oil, and cheese. Fee-nom-in-al!

[Cadillaco] Several new Caddy models are assembled in Mexico, including some Escalades. Two words that are leading to the downfall of the USA as we know it: Obamanation and outsourcing. I think I’ll keep my '66 Ambassador forever. I couldn't see me driving a metric Mexican car, or import car made in the USA (foreign owned, low wage factory) ever!

Artist Ray Villafane began carving pumpkins on a lark for his art students in a small rural school district in Michigan. The hobby changed his life as he gained a viral following online and unlocked his genuine love of sculpting. Here are images of pumpkin carvings Villafane created over the past five years.

[Iguanas] To the writer that keeps bringing up the IKC and killing iguanas for the fun of it. I know you do it just to rile people up, and bubba, you definitely hit a nerve with me.  I only hope you come around my place and try to kill the iguanas hanging around.  I would rather have them here than the likes of you anytime.

Let me set a few things straight with you.  Green iguanas are possibly native to the Keys, research is being done.  I know, I know someone will dispute this tomorrow.

The last time I checked, hunting is not allowed in the Florida Keys.  Discharging of firearms is also illegal.  Only pellet guns or air guns are allowed, but if you can't kill them with one shot, then that is also considered animal cruelty.

Probably the most important, freezing (without prior deep anesthesia) is a very cruel way to euthanize an iguana.  I don't know where you idiots come up with this stuff. My comments don't make me an iguana-hugger. Animal cruelty laws apply to exotic creatures as well as native.

The way I see it, we folk are also non-indigenous to the Florida Keys, and we have done more to destroy habitat than iguanas could ever succeed in doing.

Critter Freezing http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in528

[CVS Bench Warmer Bob; Big Piners all talk about pride in their community and have come together many times in the past to help others.  Is this not an opportunity to do just that?]I was thinking yesterday of writing into the CT to offer to replace Bob's bicycle, sleeping bag and tent, but I was busy and put it off. If anyone knows him and can make the arrangements for a meet somewhere on Big Pine, say at CVS or the Laundry Loft or Coco's, let me know the time and place and I will come in my vehicle and Bob and I will take care of this in a couple or three hours.
 
I also was puzzled that nobody had offered to step forward and help Bob replace some of what he had stolen, and I am just as puzzled why the writer of the comment above didn't do that? Maybe my having once lived as Bob lives explains it. I should have done this when I first learned of Bob's plight.    

~Sloan keysmyhome@hotmail.com 872-1705

[Bum Bench] There have been so many comments about Bob and the CVS bench, yet not one person has said that they bought him a new tent or sleeping bag or offered him money to buy new stuff.  All the posturing about CVS is useless.  What he needs is money to buy new stuff or for people to give him used stuff that he needs.

Could we please call it The Bench instead of bum bench? I enjoyed sitting on that bench and I am a 70 year old woman and not a bum. I also will no longer shop at CVS. I will show up with my chair to sit on CVS's front porch as another post suggested and/or I'll gladly chip in to help the gentle reader find peace and light where he can sit and read. I'll even supply books.

[Bench Bob] He can bring his own collapsible bench and do his own thing. I will donate for him to do just this.

For Bob from the bench at CVS.  I have a new two man tent and a men's 10 speed bike you can have to replace the one's that were stolen.  Where can I find him to give him these things?

[Bum Bench] Can you guys please buy the bum a bench and put it somewhere else? Maybe the guy would like a change of scenery. With all the community interest, perhaps the new Walgreens or Not Rob's would consider the project. Parrotdise would also make a fine location. Keb would have someone in common to preach his politics. There is also the Blue Hole. All things considered, permitting will be an issue. Apply for stimulus funding before the government printing presses run out of ink.
 

[Electronic Books] Maybe the community should buy Bench Bob a Kindle. Ask CVS if they will contribute.

[Sloan] So we have a double the measure, twice the pleasure offering today. On the one hand, we have a quite serious heavy weight rumble in the blackboard jungle sequel to yesterday's rumble in the school board races at this link: goodmorningfloridakeys.com. Not for the faint of heart.
 
On the other hand, we have a twisted sort of comic relief review of my last novel by a professional body painter, aided by a festive dream state attorney named Dennis Ward, with a few of my own looney two cents worths thrown in at this link: goodmorningkeywest.com.
 
Pervading both servings is a suggestion of the crying need for widespread human brain transplants - I would suggest donations from monkeys and apes, but I wouldn't recommend they receive the donnees' brains in return.
 
I am tempted to include here a few "teasers" from the double helpings, but I'm not going to succumb. Instead, I'm going to press "Send" and deliver this drivel to Deer Ed, who anxiously awaits each dumping out of the speckled bird of paradise's back door. Today, two dumpings.

Classified Ads > Miscellaneous

[Iguanas Gone Wild] Human “reptiles” gone mad. Iguana meat vs fecal meat. If I had to choose, I'll stick to veggies. If you want iguana, visit the Caribbean where you can sell as much as you want. Keep us posted, mate.

[FantasyFest Help] Deer readers, for the last 8 years I was able to avoid FantasyFest on a Saturday. This year I am not so lucky. Does anyone have any pointers or wisdom they would like to pass on so that I can survive this ordeal? I am a male if that helps.

Officer Chris Chancellor told The Oklahoman newspaper that police had received numerous complaints about Buddy Tough, who had been in the pound before. He says Fry had been told he could retrieve the dog and sort out the fine in court. Fry spent several days in jail and faces a municipal charge of allowing an animal to run at-large. Buddy Tough was euthanized while Fry was in jail.

 

Awww, how cute.

[To all of you bashing the AA Basher]  You just have to stop responding to this guy.  Every time you do it he gets little shivers of glee up and down his spine knowing that someone, anyone, is noticing him. I guess most of you feel sorry for him because he's a pathetic lush, but really he's just a jerk. Do what your mother told you and ignore the little freak.

I guess this post counts as a response, and for that I'm sorry. But it's the last one, I promise you.

Semper Fi! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_OiawVBUgI&feature=player_embedded

Gun control is a sharp eye and steady feet.

World’s unluckiest traveler. http://www.worldsunluckiesttraveler.com/index.asp?init_story=810

Top ten fly-bys (French and US) http://biertijd.com/mediaplayer/?itemid=19448

[Restaurant Review] Wow, what a nice surprise last Friday night at Bobulu's South next to the Green Parrot in Key West. We went to Goombay, but decided to skip the festival food and possible side effects for somewhere we could sit down and enjoy a cocktail and some food. We had friends that were already at Bobulu's, and waiting for the band to start while they enjoyed what they called the "Best pizza in the Keys". Being originally from the Delaware Coast, and very familiar with real good homemade pizza, and the lack thereof here, I was skeptical.

We sat down on the patio while the band was making their final preparations to rock the place down. Our server, Lisa, was quick to see what we wanted to drink, and had a great smile and laugh. This helped to put us at ease with the unknown. I have had past experiences with Bobulu's North, and have left feeling practically robbed for the night. It is way too expensive for the food and ambiance (if you can call it that) at Bobulu's North. To be fair however, I never tried their pizza, because I was there for a full meal with visiting family. Needless to say, I wasn't expecting much, but I did know that a Miller Lite can't be messed up, and that was a top priority for my TGIF night and the all important kick off Fantasy Fest week.

We decided on the seared tuna appetizer and a pizza with mozzarella and fresh ricotta cheese. The tuna arrived quickly, and was just as you would want it to be. I thought, "Well heck, everyone gets this right in the Keys how about that pizza?" The pizza arrived promptly also and was incredible! Perfect crust with just the right crunch and taste. Fresh quality cheeses, and a sauce to die for. I agree with my friends. This is the best pizza I have had in the Keys by far. No frozen dough here.

We were happy and had our bellies full, and swayed to the sounds of INJADE (Adrian). Wow they are awesome too. If you ever get the chance to try both out (hopefully at the same time) do so. Kudos to Bobulu's South. The jury is still out on the "northern" locale.

People Art

[Mosquito Control Flats Boat] Nice boat. Does the Mosquito control pay the ramp fee by the year or per-launch?  It's a much better deal by the year. Heck, I forgot you don't pay for it--we do. Have you thought about making a video for your Mosquito Control TV show nobody watches? I would. I would also start looking for a new line of work. The free lunch is just about over.

I want one of those BPK stickers to place on my car because I am proud to live on Big Pine Key. It is such a clean, beautiful, tropical island with pretty landscaped homes and everybody loves their neighbor. Right?

The ballot is big this year.  I thought I knew all the items on it until I sat down to do the sample in preparation for casting an early vote.  I had never seen all the candidates and referenda jammed on one sheet of paper.  Reading it all together revealed a human foible we all have. This is our tendency, when angry or frustrated, to over-react. They are separated on your ballot, but make no mistake—they are related.  This is about Amendments 4 and 8.  Before you decide about these two, think back (if you were here) to a class size amendment on the 2002 ballot.

I voted that year to limit the number of students per classroom. I am a strong believer in public education, and although I remember being in larger classes during my public school days, I was willing to be convinced that efforts to ramp up the quality of education justified this measure.  I voted “Yes”. Many joined me, and the amendment became law. Apparently we voters over-corrected the situation.  The amendment was enforced gradually over the years, and in 2010 it kicked in full strength. What a fiasco.  Odd class combos were devised to fit the letter of the law. Teachers and students were moved about so as not to lose funding. Attempts to retain advanced classes were difficult at best.  Late registrants found no room at the nearest school, and were placed anywhere there was an opening.  Local parents and administrators had no flexibility to take care of local issues. It took a month or more to straighten it out, and it is still messy.

Along comes Amendment 8, which will hand a smidgeon of control back to the school districts. If we don’t want the same rigmarole next year, we need to pass this. It changes from a “maximum class size” to an “average class size” allowing school administrators to exercise some judgment. Improvement next year is not guaranteed, but it certainly couldn’t be any worse. It should probably be loosened more, but reversing a voter decision is tough, even when the decision was flawed.

Now on to Amendment 4.  Developers in the Keys have been viewed as threats for years regardless of what they say or do. Every word in the Development Agreements they sign is studied by politicians and interested citizens.  I might add that there has been good reason to do so, and there is good reason to continue to do so. Developers often know our Comprehensive Plans better than we do.  They do try to manipulate them, and we rely on Planning Commissions, elected officials, public hearings, and the Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to keep discussions open and above board. It works pretty well.

There are other changes that occur to Comprehensive Plans that citizens could care less about. These constitute most of the changes that occur.  They correct housekeeping errors and inconsistencies discovered between the Plan and county and state laws; they clarify existing land use regulations by providing more details.  Often these changes are initiated as a result of real people doing real work in our own towns who point out the problems.  Public hearings address these in case they impact others.

Amendment 4 is a lazy response to excesses that occurred all over Florida during the boom years. It is an over-reaction pure and simple. Its passage will punish all of us in ways we can’t even imagine as Florida becomes less friendly to would-be residents and businesses. Voters should be careful what they vote for; they might get it. Amendment 8 is a reminder that removing overly restrictive regulations is a lot more challenging than not voting for them in the first place.   ~MarathonJournal

Either that lady has a tail or Barney is stuck where the sun doesn't shine.

The AA Basher found an article on the web to support his angry distorted view. What a web sleuth. Just the kind of gasbag of a bore I hated when I was drinking and the guy beside me wouldn’t shut up about the latest conspiracy theory. I’m glad he doesn’t give a rat’s ass about chemtrails or the “real” perpetrators of 9/11. I don’t know if he’s married or not, but I say a prayer for his wife and kids every day, just in case!  

Engrish

[Mosquito control flats boat] they should hire a flats guide for a few day a year. Ask Fish and Wildlife to take a mosquito sample. $25,000 + dollars for just the skiff. You’re fired, your all fired. Vote, stay mad. What a bunch of BS. There is no good answer for this kid of waste.

We’re looking for a babysitter for Fantasy Fest. $75 overnight, $50.00 half night. Fu, Games and movies for the kids. Pizza and breakfast served. Please call 305-316-1907 for more details. Classified Ads > Wanted

[Jobs] Looks like the Key Westers are really up in arms about the illegal's taking their jobs.  It seems a Tea Party is planned on Duval Street Thursday.  Check out all the posts on Craig's List. http://keys.craigslist.org/rnr/ 

[Vote No on 4] How would the "Vote on Everything" Amendment 4 affect Florida's economy in these tough times? If you like the recession, you’ll love Amendment 4! According to a study conducted by The Washington Economics Group, Amendment 4 will reduce Florida’s economic output by $34 billion annually. Given Florida’s precarious economic climate, that’s the last thing our state needs.

Maybe we can learn from the past.  Has this been tried anywhere else? Yes it has. The small town of St. Pete Beach implemented a local version of Amendment 4 in 2006. The measure has decimated their economy, created chaos at the polls, and caused a proliferation of special interest lawsuits. To date, the citizens of St. Pete Beach have seen nearly a dozen lawsuits that have cost local taxpayers almost three-quarters of a million dollars in legal fees. When St. Pete Beach voters approved four pro-economy changes to their comprehensive plan in 2008, Amendment 4 lawyers sued to overturn the results of the election. Nearly two years later, the people of St. Pete Beach are still defending their vote in court.

The St. Petersburg Times concluded that Amendment 4 “invites short-term thinking and frequent referendums that are even more susceptible to well-financed campaigns by powerful interests.”

If McDonalds sold hot dogs could you, with a straight face, order a McWiener and then ask them to super size it?

[Oops] Prosecutors acknowledged Monday that police made a huge mistake nearly a decade ago when they focused on then-Congressman Gary Condit in the disappearance of Washington intern Chandra Levy, but they told a jury they now have the right man. Ingmar Guandique, of El Salvador, is charged with the attempted sexual assault, kidnapping and killing of Levy in the city’s Rock Creek Park in May 2001. Levy was romantically linked to Condit, and the California Democrat was once a suspect. Police no longer believe he had anything to do with Levy’s death.

NATIONAL POLITICS

[Gypsy Terror and Socialized Medicine] I was walking home on Tuesday night about 6 pm. when I met up with a gypsy known in the village as Menyus. He is well known by the police as a thief and a burglar, but he has not been caught.

The Hungarian police force has to be the most ineffective in the history of the world. They know all the thieves and the robbers, but are unwilling to set up sting operations. Gypsies are selling fruits and vegetables right next to the farmers market and not one of them has a garden or an orchard. They sell way below the market price, but only tourists buy from them because the locals know it is  stolen goods. The cops turn a blind eye. 

Anyway, I met up with Menyus, I knew that it was him and another gypsy that robbed my house a few months earlier. He greeted me and I told him, "You are the one who poisoned my dog." He said, "You must be mistaking me with someone else." I replied, "No I’m not, I saw you." He looked agitated and said, "You didn't see s**t, you wasn't even  home."

Realizing his mistake, he was even more agitated and I said, "Then it was you after all." Being caught in a lie even made him angrier and he reached in his pocket with his left hand and pulled out a knife. There was no one around and I was unarmed (oh, how I wished I had my pistol with me). I was backing up (I hate to get stabbed or cut) when he lunged at me and popped me on the upper lip with his left hand while I kept in mind the right hand with the blade in it. Backing up and getting punched in the mouth made me lose my balance. As I was falling, I deflected his right hand with the blade. He fell on top of me and within a blink of an eye I gained my feet and Menyus ran away. He probably figured he gave his best shot and since I was getting up, he better make tracks.

I am a head taller and 30 lbs heavier, but he is about 25 yrs younger. I was glad that he was gone. When I shifted my weight to my left foot I felt intense pain and fell down. My foot was at a strange angle, I thought I dislocated my ankle.  While sitting on the ground the owner of the corner house, whom I knew, drove up and I asked him for help. I just wanted him to get a hold of my heel and put my foot back into place.  He would not do it and called an ambulance instead. He bought a chair from the house and helped me onto it. I waited on the street corner for one and a half hours for the ambulance to arrive.

The EMTs wouldn't touch my foot either and it was another half an hour ride to the hospital where I was told that I had a badly broken ankle that needed immediate surgery.  That was just great, 35 yrs earlier I broke my other ankle in a parachuting accident in Africa, now I will have a matching pair (I was in a cast for eight weeks that time). The doc asked how it happened and I told him. He notified the police right away and Menyus was picked up.  I was operated on in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. The operation was a success and I was taken to a second floor ward. There were six others in this smallish room.

Of what I have seen and experienced of socialized medicine I do not care for it. True, I didn't have to pay for the surgery, but I have been paying into the system every month for the past ten years. My bed was like laying on a waffle iron, the mattress was 4 inches of foam rubber. If I was a 55-60 lbs kid, it  might have been tolerable, but at 210 lbs I was suffering. Then breakfast arrived at about 8:30am.  The nurse brought it on a paper towel: a slice of boloney and a slice of bread that she put on my night stand.  "What is this?" I asked. "That is your breakfast." "You got to be s**tting me, I have not eaten since noon yesterday." "Sorry about that, you should have brought some food with you." was her reply. 

Get ready for social medicine America. At about 11:00am the doctors made their rounds and with them was the chief medico. All the anesthesia left me by then and I was hurting. I told the doc, "Doctor, my ankle is hurting." His reply was, "I know--it's broken." "I know that much you grey-headed fart." I wanted to say, but I kept my trap shut. I am home now after being in that so-called hospital for 10 days. I was almost bored to death. No TV, radio, newspapers, or magazines. The others didn't seem to mind, they didn't know any better. When I told them, that at Fisherman's Hospital the nurse came and asked me, what would I like for breakfast and I had my own TV. The other Hungarians probably thought that I was lying. Obama Care will be just like it is in Hungary now. I hope you all like it.  ~Imre

[The Family Guy] Meanwhile back at the tea party. Undecided voters.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YOh-rpvjYg

I saw a great T shirt in Key West; it read Tea Party = Bush Part Deux. I bought 3 for friends to wear at the Jon Stewart "Rally for Sanity" event. 

[Tea Party] It's pretty depressing to listen to people trash those who are involved in the Tea Party movement.  When I watch gatherings on the news, even the liberal left network news, I see a lot of middle-aged and older Americans who represent a responsible American society, having spent their lives working, serving in the armed forces, paying their taxes, and contributing to what was decent in this society.  What entitlements they receive are earned, not handed out freely to them.  I see Americans who are outraged at the emotional and financial looting of America and want to see it stopped before everything we stand for and believe in is destroyed.  I'm not even vaguely interested in a socialist state or membership in the European Union, another socialist state.  Our Constitution guarantees life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  Attaining that happiness becomes each individual's responsibility. 

The notion that a great many people don't want to be on the dole is ludicrous.  There are large segments of cultures out there who have spent their lives learning how to turn their palm up and claiming they've got the right.  I've got the right to leave that palm empty and to continue the pursuit of happiness in a manner of my own choosing.  A big step will be getting rid of the congressional eunuchs currently in office. That's change we can hope for, not a lot of empty promises and nonsensical political rhetoric.

Even if you don't support the War, support our troops. After all,  they are your brothers and sisters and  face death daily in the fight for all of our freedoms. Thank you just isn't enough. Video

This loathsome combination of Church and State.   ~Thomas Jefferson

[Foreclosure fraud] Congressman Alan Grayson explains the foreclosure frauds being perpetrated on people across this country.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqnHLDeedVg&feature=player_embedded

[U.S. sells debt with a negative yield for 1st time] The U.S. Treasury Department on Monday sold securities that fetched a negative yield for the first time, implying investors are willing to pay the government to own its debt. This is a milestone in the current rock-bottom interest rate environment, as the Federal Reserve is widely expected next week to announce it will buy more Treasuries to jump-start a sluggish economy. Typically, investors buy a new Treasury bond at "par" or $100. At Monday's $10 billion auction of five-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), they paid more than $105

We are not merely living in “interesting” times. We are living in historic times. And there is virtually no chance this will end well.

[Candidate Ads] When the candidate is done dumping on his opponent with lies he says he will create jobs. They all say they will create jobs. As yet no candidate has told us how.

Liberal Media’s Left-wing Agenda. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0CUcnRPSeg

[Enough] I appreciate the fact that there are Americans are sick and tired of the old Washington DC ways and are willing to stand up and say so.  None of my liberal friends believe this is a bad thing.  We all agree to get some of these losers out of there.  Our concern is that change for change’s sake is not what it's about.  Change, yes, but change has to be replaced and upgraded with the best we've got.  We are concerned that many of the candidates are unqualified and do not represent our best and brightest.  We need to raise the bar and not lower it. 

I demand intelligent, educated and ethical candidates.  I want it all.  We should demand the best.  With only 100 senators representing the most powerful country in the world, I certainly believe that we can come up with better candidates than are running in this election.  I heard a newscaster ask if being a mom is okay when running for an election.  I say, of course as long as the mom is well educated, intelligent and ethical.  Being a mom is as much of a non issue as being a dad.  Some will argue that education doesn't matter and that it's all about being "one of us".  I say, that's crazy.   

We expect our teachers to have Master's degrees and our Doctors to be Board Certified.  We should be expecting that the people who run our country should also be educated in economics, foreign policy, etc.  Be very careful when casting your vote.  Remember to vote for the whole package.  Do not vote for parrots who will say anything to get votes.  Vote for thinkers.  Vote for smart. Be smart.

[FTR's Fiscal Cancer] I've been away for a while, recovering, but I thought it was time to check in for Halloween.  I hear the Democrats are having somewhat of a resurgence (in leftist polls only, of course) at the 11th hour and was curious to see what FTR, that bastion of something or other, had to say.  After realizing his condition the only humane thing to do is to put politics aside and offer a word of comfort, however meager it might be.  So sad to hear that he's suffering grievously from "stage 4 of metastatic non small cell fiscal cancer".  It will pass, my friend, as all things must.  Be strong.

[How this Tea Party thing got all twisted into a political party]  If it were an actual party it would be much easier for the libs to attack and discredit, like they do the leaders of the Republican Party at every chance.  This is an idea, a movement, by large numbers of every segment of the population.  That makes it tougher to smear or dismiss, so they're trying their best to call it a party.  Tea partiers are too independent to be clumped into a party, they want less government over them and won't swear blind allegiance to any party.

[The Economy] Once again FTR spins it wrong. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac did not cause the financial meltdown. Although Freddie and Fannie are problematic institutions, they aren't responsible for the mess we're in. Their role in the scheme would not have been enough to stop the bubble from inflating in other parts of the financial sector and were only one element of the financial crisis.

The entire financial debacle was a product of greed by private sector’s huge investment banks like Bank of America, Morgan Stanley Chase, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, etc  loans in the form of subprime lending. Subprime lending gave high-cost loans to the weakest borrowers during the boom years from 2001-2007.

From the Federal Reserve Board: More than 84% of subprime loans in 2006 were issued by private lending institutions. Private firms made nearly 83% of the loans to low or moderate income people in 2006. Only 1 of the top 25 subprime lenders in 2006 was subject to the rules and regulations that would have prevented the financial crisis.

These same greedy bankers knew as early as 2004 that the game was getting dangerous, but persisted in their greedy rampage, only to be rewarded with a bailout (TARP) signed into law by GW Bush.

The world's about to crash, the weather is going nuts, the politicians are stealing everything, the people are breeding like rats and all CT posters worry about is a stupid park bench in front of a drug store! And people wonder why the Wal-Mat pictures are posted. God help those who still walk up-right.

[American Companies Rescue Trapped Chilean Miners] Far be it for an American President to publicly congratulate (let alone even mention) American ingenuity and American private enterprise for the rescue of the Chilean miners.
Schramm Inc. of West Chester, Pennsylvania built the drills and equipment used to reach the trapped miners.

Center Rock Company, also from Pennsylvania, built the drill bits used to reach the miners.

UPS, the US shipping company, delivered the 13-ton drilling equipment from Pennsylvania to Chile in less than 48 hours.

Crews from Layne Christensen Company of Wichita Kansas and its subsidiary Geotec Boyles Bros. worked the drills and machinery to locate and reach the miners and then enlarge the holes to ultimately rescue them.

Jeff Hart of Denver Colorado was called off his job drilling water wells for the U.S. Army's forward operating bases in Afghanistan to lead the drilling crew that reached the miners.

Atlas Copco Construction Mining Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin provided consulting on how to make drilling equipment from different sources work together under differing pressure specifications.

Aries Central California Video of Fresno California designed the special cameras that were lowered nearly a mile into the ground sending back video of the miners.

Zephyr Technologies of Annapolis Maryland, made the remote monitors of vital signs that miners wore during their ascent.

NASA Engineers designed the "Phoenix" capsule that miners were brought to the surface in, and provided medical consulting, special diets and spandex suits to maintain miners' blood pressure as they were brought back to the surface.

Oh, and Canadian-based Precision Drilling Corp. and South-African company Murray & Roberts, drilled a backup rescue shafts in case the American rig failed. Which it didn't.

[I got mine, where’s yours?]  Good for you! You busted your butt to get what you wanted and that is the way in this world. Only here do we bend over and let others demand we support them while they laugh.

[From the Right] My Deer Friends the Wall Street Journal had a very interesting article yesterday. It spoke of the Democrats preparing methods to reduce our massive debt. They intend to pay lip service to the idea of a balanced budget. Expect them to say it can be balanced by 2015. It has been decided that Mr. Obama must change his ways in the next few months or his Presidency is doomed. Team Obama has anointed a Deficit Reduction Panel. It is 18 people handpicked by Team Obama. You probably will not hear of anything about it until after the election. You might think that a major component of debt reduction would to massively cut spending. But, that is not the way of Team Obama nor is it the Democrat way, nor is the way of the Democrat Deficit Reduction Panel.  It appears that “freezing spending” is their biggest gun. That’s like an alcoholic vowing to kick the addiction by vowing not to drink any more than he/she is currently drinking. It seems that they intend to raise taxes as their primary way to cut the debt. They have your home mortgage interest deduction in their sights. Also on their hit list are child tax credits and the ability of employees to pay their portion of their health-insurance tab with pretax dollars. Get ready for a VAT tax in addition to our soon to be overblown income tax. The Democrats are getting ready to try and take more of your goods and money than any mugger you can imagine. It is rock solid certain that they intend to raise taxes on businesses. I guess that they are trying to make the USA number one in the world for highest business taxes. They say that the existence of these concepts of tax relief and other sacrosanct tax deductions costs the government about $1 trillion dollars a year. Think about that whole idea. Think about the Democrat notion that keeping what you have earned in your own pocket costs the government money. In their mind when you keep your money that money is lost to the government. That is Demo think. If you think that is rational thought, then you have to be convinced that there is no such thing as personal property, no such thing as money that is owned by you. You have to believe that you are there to serve the government. To buy into Demo think you must believe that everything is owned by the government and while your earnings are in your possession, those earnings are lost to the government. How on earth can the government lose what it never had? In Demo think, you are but a serf of the government. To this conservative, that is fundamentally wrong. That notion is foreign to all that is American.  

(Part II) When Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) gave her inaugural address as speaker of the House in 2007, she vowed there would be “no new deficit spending.” Since that day, the national debt has increased by $5 trillion, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. Is anyone interested in reading a posting listing broken Democrat promises?

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Tuesday October 26, 2010

Monday October 25, 2010

Today’s the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Wilma. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDgo1wJtQ78

[Bum Bench] What can we do to get the bench back at CVS? The store employees said, "It came from the higher ups." They wouldn't say who was responsible for removing the bench. CVS is just mean. I will drive to Walgreens in Key West unless the bench returns.

Karri Larson, the gal who was seriously injured by a fish while kayaking, is slowly recovering.  She is still in the hospital and has a long road ahead of her.  She also has no medical insurance.  An account has been set up to help defray medical bills.  Anyone interested in helping can stop by any T.I.B. branch.  The account is set up in her name.  You can also mail to Karri Larson c/o TIB Bank, PO Box 1907, Big Pine Key, FL  33043

[No one of any sexual inclination should openly flaunt their sexuality on the job]  That applies equally to the bimbo who sashays in the presence of any male.  Any expression of sexual interest is inappropriate in the workplace.  Take it off the property. I have never appreciated being the target of, or witness to, any workplace 'sexual tension'.  I will happily flirt and be teased after hours, but my time on the job has been contracted.

To the person posting beautiful pictures here everyday, please keep it up, I enjoy them very much.  Have a beautiful Monday everyone, and I really hope someone steps up and helps the nice man that lost his CVS bench. 

[Mosquito control flats boat] I am glad to have read in the Friday C.T. that someone saw a white mosquito control truck with a flats boat at a launch ramp in Big Pine. This is good news for the tax payers of Monroe County because the two men seen launching the Mosquito Control boat are doing the job the tax payers are paying them to do. It was implied that there was something wrong going on by the person that posted it on Friday. These people launching the Mosquito Control boat are off shore inspectors. It is a pretty cool job, but it also has a down side such as rain and wind storms that pop up, trudging through knee deep stinky mud to get to some of the islands. Not to mention the spiders and snakes and all the other nasties out there. These inspectors do a great job of keeping the mosquito problem down on these islands so they will not migrate to the Keys main islands.

If someone sees something that they think is not right, check it out first and get facts before you imply someone is doing something wrong. People read things and think it is true because they think the person saying it knows what they are talking about. In this case all they needed to do was to call Mosquito Control and ask what that truck and boat was doing at that boat ramp. Try to think and get facts before accusing someone of something.

Only 8 weeks to Christmas! The big stores already have the decorations for sale, which is a shame. They’re dragging the Christmas season out to two months.

To the AA basher: I read your entries from time to time only for the humor in it. This latest one I want to thank you for. That is, for the belly laugh that it caused me to have. It sounds like you went out on another bender and it pisses you off each time you do. It makes you realize that you can’t quit on your own but the AA's have managed to stay sober for years. Keep on keeping on, and we will save a seat for you. Your intellect doesn't impress me. Your profit issue with AA is astounding to me. Only because donating a dollar during a meeting is in no way required, so therefore the program is literally free to anyone that has the desire to stop drinking (of course, that excludes you). So keep getting angry at yourself and it's OK that you project the anger toward us sober ones. I did the same thing for a long time before surrendering to the program. Then, and only then, did my Higher Power, who I choose to call God, stepped into my life and keeps me sober today. 

[Bench Bob] I think we should stage a sit-in at CVS one evening. We can all bring our lawn chairs and sit on their porch. I'll bring Bob a good chair!

[Bum Bench] Mr CVS corporate decision maker, in case you haven't got it yet, I’ve filled my last prescription at your local store unless you put the bench back, make a public apology for your stupid knee jerk decision and make a sizeable contribution to the Keys homeless. I'm not homeless; in fact my home in Pine Channel Estates is paid off. Do this and I’ll continue to patronize your store otherwise Mr Walgreen just stole another one from you.

I think the AA Basher is just bitter because AA makes money. If they didn’t, maybe then he would quit drinking and complaining.

[CVS Bench Warmer Bob] There’s been a lot said about the person, history, and the recent hard luck Bob has experienced.  Is there anyone that will step up and help this poor fellow out?  Big Piners all talk about pride in their community and have come together many times in the past to help others.  Is this not an opportunity to do just that?

[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.

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 into enjoying the thrill of the great sport of hunting. 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 young hunter 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.” 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 $28.00 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.

Video of two hunters enjoying a great day of Iguana hunting in their golf cart. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nOoG6ODJAQ   

But AA Basher, how can you say that A.A. doesn't provide a plan to alleviate ones addictions? I was hopelessly addicted till A.A. showed me how to subdue my suicidal addiction and that was over 40 years ago. It even worked for cigarettes. Wow, what a program. All I had to do was believe in the plan and honestly give it a try. It worked really well for me.

Engrish

The new Mars rover is being constructed with a live webcam in the shop.  When the crew isn't working there's replays of recent activity.

Curiosity Cam, Ustream.TV: WATCH THE VIDEOS BELOW TO SEE HOW THE TEAM ATTACHED THE WHEELS ON FRIDAY, OCT. 22. ACTIVITY RESUMES

[Bum Convoy] Here is a picture of a bench bum convoy enroute from CVS to Walgreens. It will probably take them a month to travel the course.

[Bum Bench] I am so glad that there is a new target of derision on BPK, namely CVS. It is so nice to see Winn-Dixie catching a break. Pretty soon people will complain about Walgreens being too clean.

Body Art

The MajicJack will not work if your PC is on satellite.  You need a land line then you can use it.

Catch the waning gibbous Moon passing through Taurus in early dawn. How well do you know the waning Moon in your telescope? (The Moon is shown three times actual size for clarity.)

[Interviewing Rolling Stones] Matt Lauer: “Did you ever get any sense that the drugs were ruining the music?”

Keith Richard, “No, I didn’t get any of that.”

[Old Dogs--Old Tricks] Pictorial argument for not increasing the retirement age.

I called Sirius Radio to find out if their radio, that plugs into the car’s lighter thing, needed an external antenna.  The first call said no. The second call said it comes with an antenna kit, but didn’t know if it was necessary. The last call said I needed an antenna, but they didn’t know if it had to be external.

Frustrated, I  went to Amazon’s One-Click  and bought a 4GB MP3 player. I wonder how much business they lose because of uninformed phone answerers.

The Texas Rangers made it to the World Series? I didn't even know Chuck Norris had a baseball team

[Faithful reader from Tampa]  You can either stick it on your window or go to Office Depot or probably any craft store and buy a sheet magnet. Stick it to the sheet, cut around your BPK decal and stick it on your vehicle. BPK Decal Sticker

[How pumpkin pies are made] I will never look at pumpkin pie the same way again.

[AA Basher] While doing some web searching I found this great informative link about Alcoholics Anonymous. http://www.morerevealed.com/devin/skeptical.jsp

NATIONAL POLITICS

[Tea Party] I cannot understand how this Tea Party thing got all twisted into a political party. The original statement: We need another Tea Party was all about doing what the people did to get the bloody British out of our hair, and today meant the rats in government. A revolt was the definition.

[More benefits for the wealthy and less for the underprivileged]  Don't you mean -- those who earn will keep more of it and not have it taken away from them to be redistributed among those who professionally sit on their cans and collect.

To the person who posted the YouTube video of the Pledge of Allegiance, thank you.  A hundred, million thank yous!

[Offshore Labor] What makes me laugh is, big business is going to foreign countries for cheaper labor and supplies, but when the host country understands all about the new company and how to run it, how long do those American Executives have to live?

[Electronic Books] During many wars, the bad guys burned the books. The fires were big and the stench of burning paper lasted for days, but in the very near future wars, all that will be heard is a loud click and all of history will be gone in a nano second.

The Tea Party likes to think that all underprivileged Americans are underprivileged because they want to be. The TP (toilet paper) is the Party of no compassion, “I got mine, where’s yours?”

Biden getting cozy, but he fat dude doesn't know what to make of it.

[Saudis in Audis] Where your oil dollars go. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JWRbm0lCxM

[From the Right] The dude who said that the Tea Party wants to go back to the Bush admin is full of donkey dung. That poster should think for himself, not just parrot liberal/progressive talking points. Clichés are nearly always pure crap. Mr. Bush took us through a very difficult times, and for more than ¾ of tenure we enjoyed great prosperity and safety in our homeland. But, Mr. Bush did have a serious flaw. He was far too eager to avoid conflict with the Washington elite. He was a firm believer in “comity.” He was naïve. Mr. Bush’s default posture was trust. That trust nearly always bit him. Do you remember Mr. Bush’s outreach to Teddy Kennedy to help Kennedy pass his prized education bill, that happened very early in the Bush admin. Don’t believe me, check it out for yourself.  Kennedy’s prized bill did pass with the help of Mr. Bush in a Republican controlled Congress. That is what is called bi partisanship. Kennedy and the Democrat’s response was to heap scorn and crap on Mr. Bush for the balance of his terms. Don’t forget that Mr. Bush had the fewest Presidential vetoes in modern history? Mr. Bush trusted the Democrats. Mr. Bush’s biggest failing was that he was too nice a guy. All of that ultimately cost us dearly. His failure to reign in the spending that began to ramp up even during his first term resulted in diminution of his powers. The Dems capitalized on this and ran amok. By then Mr. Bush lacked the power or influence to pass the legislation that he had crafted to reign in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. He tried on 17 different occasions to tighten regulation of Fannie and Freddie. Barney Frank and Chris Dodd were the staunch protectors of Fannie and Freddie. The Dems successfully saved both FM/FM from meaningful regulations or oversight. That nasty fact led directly to our economic meltdown. America was properly furious at the tidal wave of spending even during the time when Republicans controlled Congress. The Dems pumped that anger to seize control of Congress in ’06. They immediately broke their promises to cut spending. Democrat spending metastasized, it has now grown to such an excess that no one could have imagined it. The result of that lunacy is our gargantuan national debt. That debt is the cancer that is now consuming us. Our nation is now at stage 4 of metastatic non small cell fiscal cancer and is being denied treatment by the Democrats. Had Mr. Bush shown the same resolve he demonstrated in his defense of our nation from Muslim fundamentalist terrorism, the terror of our moribund economy would not now plague us. The Obama regime does not want you to know that the recession has been dead for nearly two years. Ir died in June of ’09. The mess that we now have is the Democrat “recovery.” And still Democrat policies continue to strangle our recovery. It defies belief, but they want to spend even more money. The Tea Party is demanding an immediate stop to the wretched excesses of Democrat spending. The Tea Party movement does not seek to return to yesterday, we are not about yesterday, we’re about tomorrow. We seek legislators who will refuse to compromise on matters of principle and who are fiscally responsible. The Tea Party future is a future that has our nation, our economy, and our principled heritage on solid ground.

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Monday October 25, 2010

Sunday October 24, 2010

CVS bench warmer Bob had all of his things stolen a few weeks back. His tent, his clothes, his sleeping bag, two bicycles and his bible – all gone. Some lowlifes (it wasn’t the refuge people) took his stuff. Now CVS has moved his bench away so that he can not be where he wants to sit and read. It was the place (the bench) that he spent the night when his stuff was stolen.

Key Largo Fire Board - Seat 4: Cory Freeman withdrew, leaving candidates Tom Tharpe and Mike Edgerton. Tom Thorpe has been doing a good job, and would be running unopposed except for the controversy about hiring an administrator. Both Freeman and Edgerton said the only reason, the single issue, that prompted them to run was hiring an administrator. The administrator is a non-issue now because that plan is drastically reduced.

Mike Edgerton does not have any experience being on boards, or working as part of a group, or making decisions about millions of dollars, or listening to other people's opinions, or have any skill with, or use, for voters and constituents. Unlike all the other KL Fire Board members, Mike Edgeton will not be accessible to voters. Many of us at the candidate forum reflected after hearing Mike Edgerton was that all he said was “rah-rah firefighters, good stop on that fire last week, and I'm for the firefighters”. He did not talk about his qualifications for the board job, or why the voters should chose him. He did not, because he can not. He does not have any qualifications to tell the voters.  Worse yet, most troublesome, is Mike Edgerton's loyalty. He works full time for Monroe County Fire Rescue, and some of those MCFR folks (including him) advocate, and are actively pushing, that MCFR take over the KL fire contract (just like they tried in Key Colony Beach.)  

If Mike Edgeton gets in, just remember, he works for Monroe County and KL voters will have just let the chicken into their KL fire henhouse. Tom Tharpe would never vote to give the KL fire contract to Monroe County. But Mike Edgeton, besides being unqualified at every level, will sell Key Largo out to the county (his employer and co-workers) in a heartbeat. ~keysracer22@yahoo.com

[Cell phones] There are 7 billion people on the planet and 5 billion of them have cell phones. They might live under a tarp, but they have a phone. Nokia is the 500 pound gorilla of the cell phone industry. No other maker even comes close to their sales. We’re talking cell phones here, not “smart phones” which are a small part of the cell phone market in the world—so far.

[Amendment 4-Yes] The editorial in the News-Barometer on Amendment #4 was a thoughtful articulate article on the upcoming Nov 2nd election. If you haven't read the article by Steve Estes please take a couple of minutes and do so. It's clearly written, informative and every voter needs to read and consider it.

Please don't fall for the Board of Realtors or your county Builders Association opposition to this amendment to our State Constitution.  It needs to pass, and everyone needs to vote yes, unless you like vacant homes, deserted commercial space, overtaxed infrastructure, foreclosures, short sales and traffic jams from hell. 

Remember, no real Floridian ever said "Ya'll come on down and pave something".

Chief Osceola was captured while displaying a white flag of truce given him by US forces during the Second Seminole War. He was told to use the white flag if he want to parley with the Army in complete safety. The Army took him in to custody and he died in their prison. Never trust any Government because like religious people they will change anything to suit their beliefs.

[Sloan] Today's double helping from the CT's lunatic focuses, on the one hand, on the School Board races, at this link goodmorningfloridakeys.com. A serious, no-spoofing post.
 
On the other hand, the focus at this link  goodmorningkeywest.com  is on the big insane asylum down at the end of US 1, where the annual gathering of lunatics from all over everywhere - Fantasy Fest - is officially getting started. They call it "Habitat for Insanity" this year.
 
I lived just off of Duval Street from March 2007-March 2010, and while I know you aren't going to believe it, I found Fantasy Fest more than slightly too wacko for me. My limited participation consisted of strolling Duval Street between the 800 and 500 blocks two or three times per annual lunatic gathering, just to reassure myself that I was not necessarily the craziest person in the Keys. Actually, I didn't even get honorable mention.
 
Of course, I stick out a lot more up here in the boonies, where the men are men and the doe Key deer are afraid, and where the women are women, and the buck Key deer have all left for parts unknown.
 
What keeps me glued together is my predator cat, Miss Kitty, who is spayed and has all of her shots, and pound for pound kills and eats as many varmints and other critters as any of the feral cats hanging around my trailer; the wild Key West chickens that migrated up to Big Pine Key somehow and hang around the Winn-Dixie shopping center, who sing to me when I pass by and keep the varmint and critter population there in check,; the lovely variety of lunatics who patronize Coco's Kitchen in the same shopping center; the honky tonk angels and demons who hang out at Looe Key Tiki Bar; the multitude of wackos who keep posting stuff to the CT; the whacked-out people I run into here and there, or they send me their ravings by email, who egg me on to greater and greater absurdities; and, yep, the angels you darn well better hope never decide to take a personal interest in you. 

Sure, you want to go on a cruise, but do some research first. http://www.cruisecritic.com/ 

[Stuck on the Runway] The government is declaring its rule barring lengthy airport tarmac delays a success after four months of data show few instances of flights getting stuck for more than three hours. Since the rule went into effect on April 29, there have been only eight planes stuck on the tarmac for more than three hours — down from 529 in 2009.

1.6 million deer collide with vehicles every year. I guess everywhere else doesn’t have a 30 mph speed limit.

[The Movies] How come in every drama movie when they’re out at night the streets are always slick with rain? Don’t they realize that it doesn’t rain every night everywhere?

Most all Ford engines from 1999 to 2004 used only 4 threads on its spark plugs often causing the engine pressure to blow the plugs out of the engine, stripping the threads along the way. A proper repair for all of them cost over four grand! And Ford’s guaranteed didn’t cover it. The cab had to be removed for this repair. In 2005 Ford fixed the problem by using 8 threads on the spark plugs.

Wife: I noticed when I call your cell the caller ID says "Bitch." Why's that?

Me: Must be a software glitch with the phone's contact list.

[One Star People in a Four Star Hotel] Ah, the return of tourist and snowbirds to the Keys. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os5SZ0F88i0

Two rambunctious dogs try to get adopted. http://www.break.com/index/dogs-attack-two-female-reporters.html

The Tea Party post should have read: Tea Party on Big Pine Key. Bring your signs and join us in efforts to restore America to how it was under George W Bush.

[Comcast attached a phone to my computer] You could have saved a whole bunch of money with the MagicJack. It attaches to your computer too, and does everything the Comcast phone does (and probably more), but only costs $1.70 a month. I’ve had mine for a year and a half and love it.

[CVS Bum Bench] All those threatening to take their business to the new Walgreens are blowing smoke. When Walgreens opens everyone will take their business there. They will undercut CVS’s prices until CVS closes that store, which will probably be a long time as the CVS/Rite-Aid chain has the same 7,000 stores that Walgreen has. It’s going to be a great battle and we will benefit from the low prices and selection.

Stupid idea for a shirt. Music and Sons - MP3 MUSIC-ED T-shirts and Accessories

Society Pecking order.
1. The poor: he works
2. The rich: he exploits the poor
3. The soldier: he defends both
4. The taxpayer: he pays for the three
5. The vagabond: he rests for the four
6. The drunkard: he drinks for the five
7. The banker: he swindles the six
8. The lawyer: he deceives the seven
9. The doctor: he kills the eight
10. The undertaker: he buries the nine
11. And the politician: he lives off of the ten

Deer Editor, I want to thank you for keeping the CT alive and well - I like having somewhere I can express my opinion freely. You provide something for us here that we can get nowhere else.

Mosquitoes live two weeks.

[ATT U-verse] I’ve found that those bundled deals aren’t really deals at all once the introductory rate expires. You have all your eggs in one basket and if you aren’t satisfied you are locked into them for two years or so. They only benefit AT&T. This big companies never do anything for their customers. Don't get fooled again.

[If the bum had been this cute…] Oh, yea, she's a real cutie and has the toothless look down pat. As far as the man on the bench: he wasn't bothering anyone. He can read and I bet he can form a better sentence than all those people wearing out their thumbs on useless drivel texting and tweeting. Goodbye CVS

[AA Basher] The fundamental deception of AA is that it is an organization devoted to helping people defeat addictions. AA is not about recovery, AA is about AA and it's multi billion money machine. The First Tradition, which values the welfare of the group over its totally dependent members, is a red flag that is carefully shielded from public scrutiny. The steps themselves deceive the observer, seeming to convey an antidote for the degeneracy of addicted people. Ominously, the 12 steps of AA contain not even a hint on how an individual might cease and desist from the use of alcohol or drugs, but only instruct the member to stop trying to quit and shift that responsibility onto the cult and its deity-of-convenience, any Higher Power of one’s conception. This amorphous Higher Power, although called God, is entirely unique to AA, as it is intended to metamorphose into an Alcoholic’s God that intervenes at the level of voluntary motor control. “At times, there is no human defense against the desire to drink,” they explain, “but your Higher Power will protect you. Let go and let God.” Submission to the will of the Alcoholic’s God is the benchmark of working a good program, and is the antithesis of free-will, self-determination, self-will, i.e., denial. Since members are a self-selected group in the long-term grip of pleasure, continued intermittent drinking or using is the actual group norm, even though the stated norm is complete abstinence. Drinking bouts are then integrated as “relapses,” “slips,” or innocent symptoms of the group disease as this is what alcoholics do. This seductive, deceptive arrangement allows members to continue drinking, which they are impassioned to do, while appearing to be committed to abstinence. Essentially, AA is a drug-cult which holds various substances to be “desecrating sacraments” which are necessary for eventual cleansing of the soul. It is clearly not an organization devoted to teaching people any means to end substance addictions.

NATIONAL POLITICS

[Don’t ask, don’t tell] No one of any inclination should openly flaunt their sexuality on the job.

No one has implied that removing the prohibition would encourage anyone to flaunt their sexuality. That is not the intention. The writer, like many Americans, has a skewered opinion of what it is to be gay.

Fun with Islam Video

Protestors in France and other European countries are taking to the streets to demand change. However in the US there has not been a mass protests by its citizens. Even though most people in the United States believe that the government has too much control. According to a Gallup poll it’s as much as 59% of Americans who are dissatisfied with their government. United States citizens are beginning to wake up to the tyrannical government and are beginning to arm themselves with guns and other means.

Sen. Boxer ad. You are not going to believe this ad! http://vimeo.com/16072732

[United Corporation of America] Has anyone else noticed that not one person has gone to jail for the crimes they committed against homeowners in the housing/mortgage scam in the US? There have been a lot of fines paid, but no criminal charges like RICO for their organized crime.

The “if you cross the US border illegally you get...” post assumes that things will change if the Tea Party gets elected this November. How naive. The Tea Party is all negativity, like the rest of the Right, but if elected nothing will change except more benefits for the wealthy and less for the underprivileged.

After 9/11, Fort Hood, Times Square, Detroit, the Olympics, Bali, Madrid, London and the Mumbai bombings/shootings, liberals are in shock that people still make a connection between Islam and terrorism. How many times do Muslims have to blow things up to prove they're peaceful?

[From the Right] The other day I sent an e-mail to Deer Ed. The intent of the e-mail was to purchase advertising space in CT to promote the Tea Party Rally. The e-mail was not intended to be a posting. But, nonetheless, it did get posted. At the time I wrote the e-mail I was of the false belief that there had been little or no real promotion of the event. I had formed that faulty conclusion based on conversations with some of the folks involved in the rally. Then, yesterday, I found out that some devoted folks have been working very hard at promoting the event. There has been several hundred e-mails generated and the rally has been strongly promoted at several meetings. If I were one of the many Tea Party and other local folks who have been busting butt to put this Tea Party Rally together, I would be really pissed at the author of the e-mail. That’s me. The e-mail was written the same day, hours after I had decided to take on the job of generating as much publicity about the Rally as possible. At that time there was only a week to get it done. Publicity is paramount to a good turnout. If folks don’t know about it, they won’t be there. So, the criticism that “not sh*** had been done” was criticism aimed at myself for not getting involved much earlier. The comment about “government work” was absolutely accurate. I know, I was a government worker for my entire career. I know government screw ups when I see them. The e-mail was poorly drafted, but I did not intend any criticism of anyone but myself. I hope that I did not offend too many hard working folks involved in this effort. I am sorry.

(Part II) Has anyone been paying attention to the goings on in Europe? France is nearly paralyzed by riots led by unions demanding all sorts of economy killing entitlements. Greece is nearly ready to fold. Britain is laying off about a half million government workers.  A solid mantle of economic horror shrouds much of Europe.  The root of the problem in the troubled nations is the costs of entitlements. In France, union leadership has paralyzed the nation in strikes because the unions refuse all efforts to trim even tiny bits of fat from their failing retirement program so as to save it. They even refuse to accept a 2 year delay in access to their government’s equivalent of our Social Security. They are on strike so that folks can retire at 60 instead of 62.  Bear in mind that their retirement system is in worse shape than our deeply troubled Social Security system.  They demand that the Mommy government raise their allowance.  So in the spirit of “give me more”, they shut the country down. The government of Britain has demonstrated great wisdom and guts in it's attack on their fiscal horror. The Brits are in process of raising their retirement age to 62, slashing their welfare and cutting a half million government jobs. Portugal and Spain are suffering great resistance to austerity measures. At the heart of each and every mass protest are unions. The unrelenting drive of unions to get more for less has turned what arguably were once necessary and reasonable entitlement programs into a giant millstone that is drowning economies worldwide. You should know that our debt as a percentage of our gross domestic product is skyrocketing! It is now at the cusp of 100%.  I suppose that you might say, “so what?” Well, what will happen to you if you insist on spending more than you make?  From 2001-2007 the deb/gdp ratio averaged about 62%. In 2007 it was about 64% today it is very near to 100%. The Democrats took control of the American purse strings in January of 2007, four years ago. The National Bureau of Economic Research reports that our recession began in December of 2007 and was over in June of 2009, 16 or so months ago. And still in spite of, or more likely as a result of, gargantuan government spending we are flat lining. Are you content with the near 10% unemployment rate? Soon, very soon, as a nation we will owe more than we make. It is time to take the wallet, the purse,  and all of the credit cards away from the Democrats. I wonder if the Betty Ford clinic has room for Team Obama and the Democrats to treat their compulsive spending disorder.

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Sunday October 24, 2010

Saturday October 23, 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 almost the Editor's day off. Tune in tomorrow for the edited version. You’ll find its format and graphics more pleasing. (Note to friends of the Editor: I can get out of here a lot sooner on Saturday if you don't send in any photos, attachments or Classified Ads for Saturday publication. That's because it takes a lot of time to resize and re-format them. Please email them to us by 6am on Sunday  for Sunday's publication. I'll appreciate it a lot.)

Latest News from Habitat for Humanity of Key West

Habitat for Humanity of Key West and Lower Florida Keys has launched a nationwide search for leadership service to the community as Executive Director beginning in 2011. The five year tenure of current Executive Director Bob Calhoun will be completed at the end of the year. Calhoun will be relocating to Wilmington, NC where he will assume the leadership of that local Habitat organization and be launching a new Habitat for Humanity International program, the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative. During Calhoun’s tenure affordable homes have been preserved through new construction and the renovation of existing homes, as well as the extensive renovation of area homes and community facilities following Hurricane Wilma. Reflecting on his tenure Calhoun observed, “This Habitat team has done much to create and preserve affordable workforce homes. Many additional opportunities are coming to fruition and the organization is strong, capable, and secure in continuing its service to the community.”

In December, long time Key West resident Mark Moss will add his strengths to the Habitat team as Construction Coordinator. Moss’s professional experiences as a municipal planner, and many years in construction and property management will be of great value to Habitat’s work. Additionally he has been an avid and dedicated Habitat volunteer for over a decade with service ranging from construction volunteer to a term as Board President.

NATIONAL POLITICS

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Saturday October 23, 2010

Friday October 22, 2010

[Smile, you’re on candid camera] Traffic light cameras on Big Pine! What a mind blower. I never thought Id see the day. We the people, by the people, for the people (get it?) Funny, I don’t remember being asked if we want or need that Orwellian tactic in our little town.  That just goes to show that we the people have really very little say.  Just follow sheepies, just follow. Its all for your own good, your own well being, your own protection, they are your friends, they are just here to help you. Sleep well little sheepies, sleep well.

[Bum Bench] I was there at CVS 8:30 Wednesday evening and the gentle old fellow that sits there on the bench and reads and doesn’t bother a soul was leaning up against the wall because the C V S-holes removed the bench. An employee told me that it was a corporate decision and was executed while the manager was away. Allegedly, there was a complaint that he was bothering people. That is total bulls**t. The guy barely says hello. He is gentle and quiet. CVS should be working diligently on customer retention, not inviting thoughts a boycott.

I am disgusted with CVS on Big Pine Key. I like the individuals working there, but I’m done. I won’t set foot back inside there, and it has nothing to do with Walgreens.

[Benefit Concert] Low Key Skate and Music is hosting a benefit concert Sunday October 24th for Dani Van Hoven. Dani is a single mother of four who was in a horrible car accident last Tuesday on Big Pine Key. We are trying to raise money to help her get back on her feet. We will have live music from Voodu Sol, The Billy Brown Band, Dead in Bed, The Ray West Band and more. We are located at MM 30.3 next to Two for Twenty Pizza. Please come out and show your support. Bulletin Board

[Yes to Amendment 4] This crap someone keeps putting on here about why you should vote no to Amendment 4 is just that -- bull crap!  It's time the people have a right to say whether these types of changes can affect their area's well being.  It’s obvious we can't depend on our elected officials to do it.

Intelligent voters will see the smoke screen you naysayers are trying to throw at us.  Everyone should vote yes to Amendment 4.

Capt JT (James Taylor whose girlfriend’s name, coincidentally, is Carly) caught this 46 pound Wahoo.

[No to Amendment 4] Florida TaxWatch released a new report this morning on the potential outcome of Amendment 4 passage on Nov. 2. According to the report, passage would severely harm the state’s economic recovery, future job creation, and dampen personal income.

The new report follows on the heels of an earlier briefing by Florida TaxWatch.   This report estimates the fiscal impact of voter approval for all changes to comprehensive land use plans. It found that passage of Amendment 4 would result in hundreds, if not thousands, of elections, which would incur millions of dollars in costs at the taxpayers’ expense. The Florida TaxWatch analysis estimates that the direct cost to the taxpayers throughout Florida for these special elections would be $44.6 million to $83.4 million annually. That analysis further estimates that litigation resulting from the additional and expanded elections required under Amendment 4 could result in legal costs to local governments of more than $1 billion annually – or more than $135 per Florida household annually.

Florida TaxWatch is a statewide, non-profit, non-partisan taxpayer research institute and goverment watchdog that over its 29 year history has become widely recognized as the watchdog of citizens' hard-earned tax dollar.

Happy Halloween (it does take a bit of time to load, almost as long as the link)

http://ak.imgag.com/imgag/product/
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[Another bill from the EMS] I am in the same boat and refuse to accept that I must pay for the usage/transportation fee. This sounds like the county is double-dipping and as any resident knows, its time to stop this garbage. It is free to fly the medi-vac helicopter to Miami, but you can't ride in an ambulance, that our taxes paid for, for 20 miles. That’s absurd.  Before I start typing more of this nonsense I will give you the e-mail of the person taking charge of this.  Dubroff-Camille@MonroeCounty-FL.Gov

[Amendment 4] On Oct. 18th, I tuned in to the candidate forum at the Marathon Government Center prepared to listen with full attention to the courageous individuals that have stepped forward to run for public office.  I have participated on the dais in the past, and have a visceral sense of what happens up there. The Marathon Chamber of Commerce and the Weekly Newspapers co-hosted the event.

State candidates, Morgan McPherson and Ron Saunders acquitted themselves well.  Candidates for County Commissioner, Sloan Bashinsky, Mike Forster, George Neugent, David Rice, and Don Vasil did the same.  There were cordial disagreements on some issues.  It was informative and entertaining. At this point in the proceedings, I decided residents would be well represented regardless of the Election Day results.

And then it happened.  There was a break while Marathon City Council candidates gathered at the dais, and Chamber of Commerce president, Ms. Kate Koler came to the podium to speak.  She said she would read a statement on behalf of the Chamber with regard to Amendment # 4, which is about adoptions of and amendments to local government comprehensive land use plans.

I had thought to use the break to take the dog out, but I reversed track immediately. Amendment # 4 is important, and I wanted to hear the pros and cons. The Chamber is against the Amendment and presented the case for a “No” vote.  I expected to hear a spokesman for the other side of the issue, but there was noone. 

During Ms. Koler’s remarks, County Candidate Bashinsky shouted his displeasure from the back of the room.  He supports Amendment # 4. His exact words were not audible to the TV audience, but I later learned they were angry and rude. The political statement and the candidate outburst changed the essence of the meeting from neutral to something else.

If I were a candidate in support of Amendment # 4, I would have been unhappy appearing at a forum used to promote a position opposed to my own, unless my view was presented too. Yes, the government center had been leased for this event, and yes, the lessees have certain rights to use it for their own purposes. But I was uncomfortable with a political ad, in the middle of a candidate forum, broadcast from a county building.

The City Council candidate Q & A followed, but it was a letdown after the fireworks.  Incumbents Ramsay, Snead, and Worthington spoke knowledgeably about government issues.  Ex-Planning Commission Chair Shaffer also handled the questions easily.  Perennial candidate Nelson did not do well, failing to give credible answers.

But my mind was no longer on it. I was thinking about what I had just seen and heard. The Chamber of Commerce and the Weekly Newspapers both work hard in Marathon. They speak with clear and fervent voices on behalf of business owners in the Middle Keys. They support the community in countless ways.

Chamber members have every right to ask their leadership to speak for them on issues.  It is up to the Chamber to choose venues for such messages, and this was not the right venue.  It angered at least one candidate, embarrassed the County, and made this citizen feel queasy.  It was bad politics.

 I happen to agree with the Chamber’s “Vote No” position on Amendment # 4. I hope this flap doesn’t hurt the effort to defeat it.  However, there needs to be an “equal time” opportunity for the other side. Take care of it quickly, please, so that this distraction is no longer news.   ~editor@marathonjournal.us

[More bar wisdom] Officer, I'm not slurring my words. I'm speaking in Braille.

[Mosquito Control] I was on my way out of town Tuesday and went by the Old Wooden Fishing Lodge close to 8 am. I watched a white Mosquito Control truck pulling a bone-fish skiff with 2 men launch at the ramp. Wow, what a great job. I can't think of any reason why I should have seen that. Not one reason, so don't even try to explain it.

[Need Law For Everything] People will not act decently or care for others without being scared of breaking a law. The point of any law is to make the gnomes like you remove that overly extended trailer hitch from your pick-up truck so people cannot hurt themselves, or return the cart so people do not run into it and sue the store, for the parkers who abuse the right for those that need to be closer to a market. All people like you see is their blind self and that is why America is failing!

15 squatters took advantage of his short absence to occupy the £700,000 property.  The jobless Italians changed the locks and have taken up residence along with their three dogs and two cats. They claim the fact they cannot afford to rent gives them the right to take over the Victorian property in Camberwell, South-East London. Police are powerless to intervene because squatting is a civil rather than criminal offence.

The next meeting of our computer club is coming up this Saturday, October 23. 10 am at the Senior Center. Hope to see you there. Bulletin Board

[Sanctuary Advisory Council] I hate to blow your bubble, but it's really not a big deal (no kudos warranted, therefore) to be appointed to Sanctuary Advisory Council.  All they do is sit down once a month and shoot the breeze. They have no affect.

~marathon journal

[Sloan] David Rice told me at the Finnegan’s Wake candidate forum yesterday evening that I am really bright, perhaps one of the smartest people around, or something like that, but sometimes I get in my own way. We were the only two county commission candidates there, and I tried to get Sheldon Davidson, of Hometown! PAC, to let David and I speak together: David offering the psychologist’s perspective on the one hand, I offering the lunatic’s view on the other hand. It might have been a howl, but as I said to the audience when I went first, the producers were too tight-assed to let us do it. Even so, David and I went one after the other, and a good time was had with lots of laughs.

Before and after that segment of the forum, I was told by a number of people, some I knew, others I didn’t, that they really liked what I had done at the Marathon Chamber forum and what I had written about it. Jean Star Dillon, who works at Finnegan’s Wake and hosted and arranged the forum, and the forums they held previously, said she also used to practice law. I was astounded, for I had no idea she had done that. Her husband is still a lawyer. She told of scraps they had gotten into arguing arcane legal principles. I figured she would have gone along with my suggestion for the psychologist’s and the lunatic’s dog and pony show, if she had not brought Hometown! PAC into it. A former US Attorney, Sheldon Davidson probably is still too tied to the FBI to let a lunatic take over a candidate forum. Maybe another time.

The positive feedback last night about the Marathon Chamber caper repeats everywhere I go. Other than the See Sloan Run poet on bigpinekey.com’s Coconut Telegraph, the only person since the Marathon caper to criticize me is John Bartus, who hosted the Marathon Auchwitz Amendmennt 4 pogrom. Last night, David Rice again told me that he was troubled by what the Chamber had done. School Board candidate Robin Smith-Martin told me that John Bartus and Jason Koler, the Weekly Newspaper’s publisher, and co-conspirator in the Chamber’s sneak attack on Amendment 4, had gotten roasted good at the Marathon Rotary Club luncheon. A county commissioner told me the Chamber might not get to use the Marathon Government Center again.

To see the full Monty, go to this link: goodmorningfloridakeys.com

A friend asked if I'd recommend Seahorse Trailer Park. All I know is that it looks overcrowded.

The Monroe County Commission rejected a proposal that would have limited some employee raises, brought greater transparency about who was receiving them and increased punishments for commissioners who sexually harass or discriminate against their aides or other county workers.

Don’t re-elect anyone, they’re all corrupt.

Short safari picture story.

[Yes to Amendment 4] I’m voting yes because the Chamber of Commerce supports it. The Chamber is very pro growth. I am and have been in good standing, own and run a small business on Big Pine Key for over 27 years. Vote no on 4. Let the folks you vote be responsible for zoning and growth. You have DCA, Army Corp of Eng and local zoning to name a few. Amendment 4 will, and can, over rule all of those folks. The Chamber doesn't all have your best interests in mind. Trust me on this one.

Do the drug makers behind naming the medicine Aciphex have a clue that we may not buy something that sounds like ass effects?

[EMS Service Too Expensive]  That 4,000 bucks won’t even cover one of the employees, let alone the cost of the ambulance, insurance, maintenance and on and on. Put your big boy pants on. Nothing is for free. I hope you are doing better and no longer require such special service.

Engrish

I'm putting together a collection of photos where I've been. Check it out (beware of spamming as you must register) http://gowalla.com/users/GigFlorida

[Intolerance] The front-page newspaper story featured a list of Uganda's 100 top homosexuals, with a bright yellow banner across it that read: "Hang Them." Alongside their photos were the men's names and addresses. 'Hang them': Uganda paper publishes photos of gays

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, among the largest fish able to grow the size of a Volkswagen Beetle, come to the Gulf yearly from January to June. Their peak spawning time in the Gulf is April and May - just when some 10 million litres of oil a day was pouring into the water following the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig on 20 April. Bluefin Tuna Hit Hard By Deepwater Horizon Disaster

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory observed its first lunar transit when the new moon passed directly between the spacecraft (in its geosynchronous orbit) and the sun. With SDO watching the sun in a wavelength of extreme ultraviolet light, the dark moon created a partial eclipse of the sun.

[Woe is Toyota] Less than a year after it was tarnished by reports of runaway cars, the automaker recalled 1.5 million vehicles Thursday to address brake-fluid and fuel pump troubles, drawing new attention to safety issues that have festered inside the company for years. Toyota has now recalled more than 11 million cars and trucks around the world over the past year for problems including faulty gas pedals, floor mats that can trap accelerators, braking problems and stalling engines.

Don't make old people mad. We don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to set us off.

[Topless hair cutters] What Key West needs, but legal. http://www.zigonet.com/coiffure/hot-cuts-le-salon-de-coiffure-aux-coiffeuses-en-topless_art16717.html

Sexism in the 50s was when men had casta'nuts' and women had respect for men. Not anymore, women are the bosses now and the fuse it lit.

[EMS] You’re fired. We'll hire a sub-contractor to do your job a hell of a lot cheaper than the County’s EMS.

This weekend is the Pirate Adventure.  I hope to have some interesting pictures to share later. Texas Renaissance Festival - Themed Weekends

[Yes Amendment 4] The Chambers, in their misguided money driven motives, are against Amendment 4. I'm voting yes. 

[Killer Celery] San Antonio, Texas health officials have shut down a processing plant linked to contaminated celery that sickened at least six people this year, four of whom died, and ordered the recall of all of the produce that passed through the plant since January.

People Art

[Words] This is one for all the English speaking pickers of nits. YouTube - Stephen Fry Kinetic Typography - Language

NATIONAL POLITICS

[Bacon Power] Has the world gone crazy? Cafe owner ordered to remove extractor fan in case smell of frying bacon offends passing Muslims | Mail Online

Only 39 percent of Americans now believe Mr Obama deserves to be reelected, according to a Gallup poll conducted Oct. 14-17.

Hooray, a day without FTR is like a day without a spit shower.

The Rent’s Too Damn High Party. Finally someone who makes sense. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4o-TeMHys0

[Iraq not following USA advice] Wow, what a shocker. Iraqi leaders not following US advice on gov't (AP)

[Good News] Obama made the TV networks lower the volume of commercials so you don’t jump out of your chair when one comes on!

[FTR Guy is missing] I think I saw him in a U-Haul truck headed to Sloan's trailer. And after only one date!

[New Flag] Military-ruled Myanmar unveiled a new national flag on Thursday, just two weeks before an election that the government calls a major step in a transition to democracy but critics say is a sham.

[From the Right]  Deer Friends and Deer Ed: Sorry that I missed yesterday's party, no slight was intended. I simply forgot to send the draft of my posting.  A huge tip of the Right Wing hat to yesterday' poster who kicked the crap out of some of the liberal-progressive fairy tales about FDR. It was a great read, I hope that the poster will regularly give us his/her views.  What follows is  the posting that I had prepared  but forgot to send. Part one was for  publication yesterday. Tomorrow I'll respond further to the Obama follower who claims that unions are not a major influence on governance. The item about the so called Consumer Protection act will follow in a day or so. “FTR out of words?” Never! 

(Part II) Yesterday an Obama/union myrmidon made a couple of wrong headed false statements that require comment. One of the statements was that there is no merit to any claim that the unions and those who foment a socialist agenda have any power in the 21^st century. In May, Andy Stern, close friend/advisor, to Mr. Obama, frequent visitor to the White House----and President of the wildly influential Service Workers Union said: "We spent a fortune to elect Barack Obama -- $60.7 million to be exact -- and we're proud of it'" Boastful Andy Stern is an uber union power broker. Stern is president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The two-million-member union, which represents both government and private service employees, proudly claimed that its workers "knocked on 1.87 million doors, made 4.4 million phone calls and sent more than 2.5 million pieces of mail in support of Obama." Mr. Stern and followers dispatched SEIU leaders to seven states in the final weekend before the election to get out the vote for Obama and other Democrats. Do you suppose that kind of fealty earns any quid pro quo? Consider this. In just the first 6 months of the Obama regime, Stern visited the White House more than any other visitor, 22 times. The payback for union support sweetened considerably when the unions were granted two union sycophants to be Obama cabinet members.  Mr. Obama’s hand picked Labor Secretary Hilda Solis is a handmaiden of the SEIU. The union was her single biggest supporter during her earlier successful Congressional campaigns. "I wouldn't be here, were it not for my friends in the labor movement," she gushed after her first election. Indeed, over four terms in Congress, Solis has pocketed more than $900,000 in union campaign contributions. How much union power does that union money buy? A lot. How about that for power?  Our Secretary of Labor is hugely beholden to the unions, and admits it. Does that seem right to you? Only the constrictions of space stop me from expanding on this. Then there is Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Ms. Sebelius is also a union fellow traveler. Politico characterized Sebelius as being a Secretary of HHS “who would be a high-profile friend of labor” Then Kansas Governor S., helped the AFSCME unionize public employees in Kansas. Then in ’07 she ordered that a specific union be the sole bargaining agent for as many as 7000 family child care providers in Kansas. Her executive order declared that: “AFSCME/CCPT {is} the exclusive majority representative of all registered, licensed, and group family day care homes” (in Kansas}.”  Then there is this: Did you know that many unions have been exempted from many provisions of Obamacare? Why? Because Obama care sucks, unions know that. They want no part of it. It is a fact that Ms. Sebelius  has granted waivers to unions from the requirements of Obamacare. Further, similar waivers have been sought and granted. The Obama admin is riddled with union flaks. If you like, just ask and I’ll post a list. If unions have no clout, why are non union folks having to pay to save the union pension funds? One of the biggest reasons for the GM/Chrysler bail outs was to rescue the unions and their pension funds. Even with that, the union greed has no bounds. During the run up to the auto bail out, the UAW union refused to sacrifice its privileged position to help save the company. They demanded excessive wages and benefits that are much higher than most Americans get.  The Obama Administration caved, he bowed and kissed the union ring and surrendered to union demands. He saddled GM with high labor costs that may doom the company in the long run. But that’s just the start. Union pension funds are about $3 Trillion underwater. There is now a major push by union influenced Democrat Legislators to further bail the unions out. Dems want to take money  from your pocket and groceries from your table that Mr. Obama will use to pay for union perfidy. Watch for it in the lame duck session.  What ever else you do, never forget that Mr. Obama promised to strip union members and putative union member of the bedrock American right to the secret ballot. In Miami during winter 2009 Mr. Obama promised : “We will pass the Employee Free Choice Act,” President Obama told that to more than 100 top labor officials in a closed-door meeting at the labor federation’s winter gathering in Miami, according to people at the meeting. The nonsensically named “Employee Free Choice Act” would strip union members and potential union members of their historic American right to a secret ballot during unionization proceedings for businesses targeted for union takeover.  On February 26, 2010, President Obama named SEIU Chairman and BMF and SEIU Chairman Andrew Stern to his deficit panel. Good Lord, foxes and hen houses abound. If you can deny that unions have outrageously excessive power in the Obama admin and in the halls of Congress, you can deny dawn. The Obama faithful follower made several other statements that are contrary to fact and reason, some of those will be discussed tomorrow.  

(Part III)  Obama Great President? For the last couple of days I’ve been responding to an avid supporter of Mr. Obama. The poster is convinced that Mr. Obama is one our greatest Presidents, ever. I thoroughly disagree. In support of his conviction he offered a number of Mr. Obama’s signature “accomplishments”. One he/she cited was The Dodd-Frank Wall Street and Consumer Protection Reform Act. (Pub.L. 111-203, H.R. 4173).  The poster suggested that each was a separate initiative. That was error. First of all please note that the authors of this bill are Dodd & Frank. These two individuals are the two people to whom the most blame for our current situation must be levied. These two humans set the stage for our debacle, they killed legislation that could have prevented it, and then they poured gushers of money back into Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac. That government/private enterprise mortgage leviathan was the golden goose for a host of Dem politicos. Many Dems l/p insiders including Obama inner circle types got rich. Ask me for the names. The massive failure of Dodd-Frank pet policies led unerringly to the failure of our economy. If you doubt it, demand that I prove it. The bill has the same people who failed to appropriately regulate Fannie and Freddie in the cat bird’s seat of regulation of the way nearly all of America does business. The bill gives the party in power at any given moment the power to decide which businesses can succeed and which businesses must fail. Just imagine what you will be able to accomplish with just the right political contribution. Absolutely contrary to Team Obama’s promise, the bill sets the prospect of government bailout of troubled enterprises in stone and in perpetuity.   On July 2, Mr. Obama declared while bragging about the bill: “And finally, because of this law, the American people will never again be asked to foot the bill for Wall Street’s mistakes.  There will be no more tax-funded bailouts — period.  If a large financial institution should ever fail, this reform gives us the ability to wind it down without endangering the broader economy.”  Bull shit, pure bull shit. Less than two weeks later Fannie Mae requested $1.5 billion more in bail out bucks from the U.S. Treasury. This request came after the 12th quarterly loss by Fannie, and with this money Fannie’s take from the taxpayers’ wallet will grow to a whopping $86.1 billion for one company. There is no government push to “wind down” F/F, the Dems and their fiefdom F/F are demanding a bailout. Together with its twin Freddie Mac, the bailout package is over $200 billion. This latest bail out is in progress and it will probably pass immediately after the election. The Dems are pushing hard to give F/F the big bucks, the Reps are pushing back, hard. That’s plenty for today. Tomorrow, we’ll consider the back side of the Dodd-Frank bill, that’s the Consumer Protection Reform portion of the act. Some parts of that are good, but most bite

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