Letters to the editor with pictures since 0202. Published on Big Pine Key’s garbage days, Tuesdays and Fridays.
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Sunday’s Big Pine Fire. Video |
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| Foreign travel is good because you can be whoever you’d like to be. No one will know besides you. It’s even gooder when you want to be yourself. |
 [Courtesy] I twice called the number that Manley deBoer gave me for nail gun repair. The guy named Chris never called back. Then I texted him once and didn’t get a response either. What is so troubling for Chris to text back “sorry, no can do”?
It’s the lack of simple courtesies that trouble me in this modern age. Does anyone know where I can get a Senco S1 repaired? |
| [Gun Control] Only when politicians start to lose elections will they start to listen to our youth. It was the same process with the Vietnam war protesters. It took a lot of lost elections before the old people started to listen to the youth. In the case of gun control, kids know more than the older 2d Amendment folks do. They see clearly, we don’t. Don’t get me wrong, no one is taking away my guns. I won’t let them. But I do think no one needs a military type weapon except the military of America. And I think that is what the kids are saying. Crazies will always get weapons; let’s just not let them get military weapons. And the “crazy test ” to buy a weapon is just… crazy. Crazy people can act normal, enough to pass a test anyway. |
[Two Fires] There was another fire at the same time about a mile away on Chickasaw Lane. The neighbor had just returned home to find the woods across the street burning. Could an ember have drifted that far? |
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| I want to make a brief shout out to thank Popa Jim’s Pizza and Subs. When the fire shut down the grocery store and other area restaurants, they stayed open extra late. We got to eat some great pizza as well as the cinnamon stix with their new homemade icing. Probably should have bought an extra cup of icing, guess that will happen next time. |
[Big Pine Fire] This photo is near Xioria in Sands sub-division. That’s where another fire was about ten or fifteen years ago. I wonder why the fire trucks left a hose and left the trees burning and went up the street to schmooze with the other fire trucks. |
| [Funny Air Tower Instructions] Tower: “Delta 351, you have traffic at 10 o’clock, 6 miles!” Delta 351: “Give us another hint! We have digital watches!”Tower: “TWA 2341, for noise abatement turn right 45 Degrees.” TWA 2341: “Center, we are at 35,000 feet. How much noise can we make up here?” Tower: “Sir, have you ever heard the noise a 747 makes when it hits a 727?” O’Hare Approach Control to a 747: “United 329 heavy, your traffic is a Fokker, one o’clock, three miles, Eastbound.” United 329: “Approach, I’ve always wanted to say this…I’ve got the little Fokker in sight.” A student became lost during a solo cross-country flight. While attempting to locate the aircraft on radar, ATC asked, “What was your last known position?” A DC-10 had come in a little hot and thus had an exceedingly long roll out after touching down. San Jose Tower Noted: “American 751, make a hard right turn at the end of the runway, if you are able. If you are not able, take the Guadeloupe exit off Highway 101, make a right at the lights and return to the airport.” A Pan Am 727 flight, waiting for start clearance in Munich, overheard the following: |
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| [First Iron] 1035. They found iron in mount Ida in Crete, and work it into armor and iron tools, and thereby give a beginning to the trades of smiths and armorers in Europe. |
[Sleep] A sleep scientists said that human beings are the only species that deliberately deprives themselves of sleep for no apparent gain. |
| [Truth(s)] Objective truths are established by evidence. Personal truths by faith. Political truths by incessant repetition. ~Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson |
 [Coral Doomed] Sorry to hear about the Keys Diseased Reef. Very sad. It was so beautiful and the fishies so abundant and colorful. What a crying shame. R.I.P. Florida Keys. A mysterious disease spreading across Florida’s reef tract, the third largest barrier reef in the world, has now spread to the Lower Keys. The outbreak is now the longest and largest infectious disease outbreak for any coral. Link |
| I wonder about controlled burn versus uncontrolled burn. Maybe we should ask the folks that live between Wilder Rd. and Key Deer Blvd. |
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| [BPK Shell Gas Station] Does the rebuilt station on BPK have regular gas yet? or do they still have only diesel? |
[Big Pine Fire] Sunday was the first day in over six months that my wife and I weren’t doing hurricane crap. It started off so well, then about noon the electric went off and Big Pine burnt away! what’s next? an earth quake? tsunami? |
| [Breast feeding in Congress] What happened to professionalism? Next will be a parking lot full of house trailers and pick-up trucks. How about casual cloths like short-shorts, mini skirts, and halter tops; and the women can dress down too! |
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| I’ve asked myself recently what’s changed about the Keys. It’s lost something in the last couple of years. Aside from the Irma damage which is expected, there seems to be a bump in the heartbeat missing. I’m finding I’m not the only one who senses it. “To find the truth, seek out the lie.” We should ask ourselves what is the lie? Are we lying to ourselves or are we being lied to?
However, what I’ve noticed is all the people passing my drive lately are not my neighbors. I don’t know who they are or where they are coming from, but they are definitely not my neighbors. I’m weary of putting on the gracious smile and minding my southern manners. Enough is enough. It’s time we take our way of life and our neighborhoods back. The TDC keeps selling out the Keys and we keep allowing it. No longer will I choose to be a minion of theirs. You come into my neighborhood and you are not my neighbor you will not find me neighborly. If we want to stop the TDC the first thing we should do is stop being pawns for them and acting like we live in their stupid commercials. We are not a tourist trap. We are people who work hard and stay strong. When I first started coming to the Keys the locals were quirky and sometimes just downright mean and I loved it. They didn’t put up with fake crap. If you did something idiotic you were called an idiot. There wasn’t any of this “just be nice to the visitors because we need their money” nonsense. The residents who made the Keys the Keys were authentic. If they liked you it was because they liked you and not because they wanted your money. If they didn’t like you you usually knew why in no uncertain terms. We’ve been hoodwinked. We’ve been used and abused as propaganda. If we want to save the very nature of the Keys we need to address our own natures first. Money doesn’t really talk and I’ve never seen bullshit walk. We need to stop giving away our truth and speak up. Be who you are and the heck with the old fart or spoiled brat who doesn’t appreciate it. The TDC and the tourists don’t own us and I for one am taking back my self respect! |
First coconut since Irma. The water was so sweet. Yeah! |
| [Funny Weatherman on Aging] Weatherman Fritz Coleman should be a stand-up comic. Video |
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| [Controlled Burn] Was Sunday’s fire another controlled burn? Hohoho. |
[The Good Word] “In the beginning was the word.” What does that mean? Is there an actual word they’re talking about? or is ‘word’ a metaphor for something else? Does it mean that there was nothing, and then, puff, there was this group of letters hanging out there in space that meant something big? If so, what was the word? |
| Soon we’ll be able to use the Winn Dixie card to buy Shell gas once again. Link |
Stain removers already in your cabinet. |
| [Mark Robinson at Greensboro NC City Council on Gun Show] Here’s to you, Mr. Robinson! Video |
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| The final solution is to legalize prostitution then over-population, wars, drugs, crimes and all the bad things would stop happening. |
[Pickup Truck Tool Box] Aluminum diamond plate with two soft-opening lids. You can open lids from the sides without having to climb into truck to open the box. One large compartment. Sliding tray inside for small items. No-drill mounting hardware included. Same key locks both sides; two keys included. Waterproof, heavy canvas cover rolls over cargo to protect cargo from rain or prying eyes. $150. Link |
| [Affordable Housing] The BPK fire will clear 40+ acres for the developers, right? |
[Two Fires] I noticed the fire on the right first. While watching it the fire on the left broke out. |
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| Don’t piss off old people. The older we get, the less “life in prison” is a deterrent. |
Big Ass Balloon. I think I know her. |
| [Architecture] I look at their new project on Big Coppitt and can’t help but wonder if Habitat For Humanity thinks that painting their new cracker box houses bright colors will disguise the total lack of style and how ugly they really are. |
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| [Zika] New York Aerial Sprays Altosid and VectoBac Pesticides to Combat Zika. Link |
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| Sunday, when the electricity went out during the fire we listened to a battery radio and 107.1 for fire news between the music. My wife knows I never listen to that station and asked me why. I told her they play Cat Stevens and Billy Joel. Damn, if they didn’t play both of them back to back just then, more than proving my case. We laughed. |
 (Ed: The Benefit for Jules and Chaz at Coconuts has been postponed but I’m posting it anyway so we can get ready in our minds.) Coconuts Bar & Liquor Store will be hosting a fund raiser for Jules Silver & Chaz Stefano on –to be announced–. They lost their home & belongings–everything to a fire. It’s time to get them back into the game. We need some bucks. A really fine dinner of pulled pork (thank you W/D for your help) and all the fix’in’s. Live music, silent auction, 50/50 raffles, and drink specials at the “NUT” Come join us from 2:00 to 6:00 pm. Be part of a win/win. You will have a great time, good food & music, and Jules & Chaz will get a few bucks to help them put their lives in order. Come join us as we all enjoy giving at the “NUT”
No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another. ~Charles Dickens |
| When is Rob coming back to take over Springers? I didn’t like the man, but he ran it the best although I haven’t been over to see it lately. |
 [Volunteers Needed] Habitat for Humanity of Key West and Lower Florida Keys is seeking volunteers to assist homeowners who need assistance with repairs following Hurricane Irma in Big Pine Key area. Habitat has recently hired additional construction staff in an effort to expedite hurricane recovery efforts in the Lower Florida Keys and is scheduling volunteers daily Tuesday – Saturday. Habitat needs your help to get people back into their homes. Both individuals and groups are encouraged to volunteer. Volunteer Coordinator Susan Kent states “The need for volunteers is greater than ever; more than 30 families have applied for assistance with critical repairs. We were fortunate to have a great response from both local volunteers and visiting groups immediately following the storm, and we want to remind everyone that there are still folks who need help.” Funding for the program, called “Habitat Hammers Back” was provided by Habitat for Humanity International. For more information visit habitatlowerkeys.org or contact Susan at volunteer@habitatlowerkeys.org |
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I think we all know what it is and to just say it or admit it is too heartbreaking. We’re being sold out and the horrendous truth is that those of us who have found peace here in the Keys have no idea how to play the money game because we simply don’t find it interesting. We just go about our business and try to not get too upset by the jerk in the BMW flashing his lights in our rear view mirror. The dark sedans driving by peering at our homes looking for an opportunity are just a petty annoyance. The people riding their beach cruisers through our neighborhoods dressed in polo shirts and tennis skirts chattering loudly oblivious to the fact that they are even in a neighborhood are aggravating, to say the least, but we tell ourselves they will be going home soon.
