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2019 January

Friday, January 11, 2019

Letters to the editor with pictures since 0202. Published on Big Pine Key’s garbage days, Tuesdays and Fridays.

[Non-essential Government Workers] I saw an article that said 800,000 government employees are out of work, presumably from the partial shutdown.  Two things bothered me about this information.  First, if the shutdown only affects non-essential government workers, why do we have 800,000 “non-essential” people working for the government?  Is that just glorified welfare?  They should be employed in the private sector.And second, if there are 800,000 non-essential employees, how many people does the government employ totally? My guess is, far too many.

When AI starts replacing workers, they should start with government employees.  The savings to the tax payers will be huge. Also, I wouldn’t worry too much about these people being out of work.  This is just a paid vacation for them.  Once the government “re-opens”, they will get back pay for their time off. Hmmm, maybe I should get a government job.

Does anyone read all those extra junk mails that come with the water and electric bills? I never do. They seem such a waste of paper.
[Lead a Kayak Excursion] Free training: Intro to kayak guiding on the Refuge. Wednesday January 16th 10:00 am-Noon Big Pine Key. Have you ever wondered about leading a kayak excursion? Are you interested in learning to guide or just love being on the water and want to share that with others? Do you want an excuse to get out on the water once in a while?

The Florida Keys Wildlife Society is recruiting individuals to assist with their Full Moon Kayak Excursions. A free training session is being offered on Wednesday January 16th from 10:00 am to Noon. This fun, on-the-water training is for people ages 18 and over who are interested in learning new skills, want to refresh existing skills, and discover how to become one of our volunteer guides on the monthly Full Moon Kayak Excursions. Kayaks and gear are included. Meet at Big Pine Kayak Adventures, Bogey road, Big Pine Key. Unsure of your skills? Build your expertise with us and have fun doing it. Seasonal and full time residents welcome. Space is limited so reserve your spot today! For more information call or text Nancy 305 731 6362 or email fkws.bpk@gmail.com

The Florida Keys Wildlife Society is the non-profit friends’ group for the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges

The next meeting of our Big Pine Computer Club is coming up this Saturday, January 12, 10 am at the senior center.  There also will be smartphone assistance available. Hope to see you there. Full Menu > Ongoing Events
Totalitarianism rises out of a process, not a single event.
[Friday Joke] Adam was hanging around the garden of Eden feeling very lonely. So God asked him, “What’s wrong with you?” Adam said he didn’t have anyone to talk to. God said that He was going to make Adam a companion and that it would be a woman. He said, “This pretty lady will gather food for you, she will cook for you, and when you discover clothing, she will wash it for you. She will always agree with every decision you make, and she will not nag you, and will always be the first to admit she was wrong when you’ve had a disagreement. She will praise you. She will bear your children, and never ask you to get up in the middle of the night to take care of them. She will never have a headache and will freely give you love and passion whenever you need it.”

Adam asked God, “What will a woman like this cost?”
God replied, “An arm and a leg.”
Then Adam asked, “What can I get for just a rib?”
Of course, the rest is history.

Amid the turbulence and ignorance of the age of Roman decay all the intellectual elements at first found refuge in the Church, and afterwards exercised mastery from it. Here was the school of politicians. The virtual monopoly of learning and the art of writing made the Churchmen indispensable to the proud and violent chieftains of the day. The clerics became the civil servants, and often the statesmen, of every Court. They fell naturally, inevitably, into the place of the Roman magistrates whose garb they wore, and wear today. ~W. Churchill’s History of Great Britain
[Competing Woodstock Festivals] Woodstock creator announces competing 50th-anniversary festival. One of the promoters of the original Woodstock scheduled his 50th anniversary festival on the same weekend as a competing festival. How far the times they have a-chang-ed. Link

Using Oral-B Glide dental floss may be associated with higher levels of toxic PFAS chemicals in your body. Because of PFAS, don’t use microwave popcorn, non-stick frying pans and no flossing! Now that’s news. Oral-B Glide floss tied to potentially toxic PFAS chemicals, study suggests. Link

Nixon in China: The Week that Changed the World. Video
[“Popular manager leaving Big Pine Winn Dixie”] Kenny Lowe’s last day is today, Friday. Pensacola gains, Big Pine losses.

 

 

Keys Star Party is open to registrants only.  We are fortunate to live here so we can watch the night sky without light pollution in our own backyard! Link

A bicycle was stolen from a Walmart parking lot in Eagle Point Oregon.  Turns out for the best.  Bike returned, bad guy caught in a most unusual way.  All is well in the world. It happened no where near here, but real Americans are the same where ever they are. Link
[Holy Crows] Cows form the shape of a cross while eating at North Dakota field. A group of cows forming a cross in North Dakota on Christmas Day doesn’t appear to be a sign from God, but more of a clever feeding line from a livestock company. Either way, it created an impressive video on Facebook. “Merry Christmas from us to all of you! Hope you all are enjoying the holiday season with your family and friends,” Laura Duscherer wrote in a Facebook post. “We are so blessed to live the life we do with the cattle in the open beautiful country.” Duscherer said workers at the company fed the cows in the shape of a cross, and used a drone to capture the scene from above.
[Venice Toll Booth] With more tourists than residents, Venice will start charging an entry fee. Pigs will fly before that happens in Key West, although I can see upper, middle and lower keys residents salivating for such a tariff, hoping it will reduce motor traffic on US 1. I heard several times that Islamorada residents are at their wits’ end over the motor traffic there. I recall a Saturday when traffic above the stoplight on Big Pine Key was backed up onto Bahia Honda Bridge, which I figured to be 3 miles above the light. A flying pig to mount and ride al la flying carpet would have been handy. Link

 

 

 

Win Free Groceries for a Year! Winn Dixie weekly ad. Link

As I watch this generation try to rewrite history, one thing I’m sure of is it will be misspelled and have no punctuation.
[Rescue at Sea] Coast Guard rescues three men off Sugarloaf Key. The U.S. Coast Guard rescued three men off the Lower Florida Keys as they clung to their vessel, which capsized about six miles offshore. Link

 

 

 

[Grilled Biker] Almost everyone knows it is risky to ride your bicycle in Key West. Here is a photo of a truck I found parked on a Stock Island side street. The owner obviously has not washed the grill in a long while.

[“Winn Dixie”] Yes, Kenny Lowe is a great manager. He will be missed for sure. There were other past great managers such as Robert and Mike. Winn Dixie is still a nice grocery store. It remains an asset to our island. We will continue to shop there.

 

Marathon Community Theater presents “Drinking Habits” by Tom Smith, January 10 to February 2. Video

[Friday Joke] Therapist, “How would you describe your relationship with your wife?”
Me, “She told me to tell you it’s fine.”

 

 

[For Sale]  New 6′ long. Pick up only at 4th Street in KCB. $150.  (305) 395-0588

A short history of Detroit and the word motherf**ker. Tlaib is right, profanity has a rich heritage in Detroit politics.  Link
The canal cleaning of Port Pine Heights is on schedule and was started on Monday. I have seen 3 barges working for the past 2 days on several canals off the northern main canal. Whoopee!

 

The Florida Keys Southernmost Car Club holds its first 2019 monthly Show & Shine car show Sunday, January 20th, Noon to 3pm. This event is for the lovers of classic, custom, and street rod automobiles of all years and makes. Fords, Chevys, trucks, ratrods, lowriders, and chrome loaded motorcycles. If it’s cool and on wheels it will be here. This fun afternoon event is free to all at the Sugarloaf Lodge, on Sugarloaf Key, MM17. Prizes, good food and cold beverages are available. The Club’s sound system will provide 50’s and 60’s music. Bring the kids to enjoy these beautiful relics of the auto world. Club members are seeking new members. Join Sunday and get the club shirt and sticker. For more information and a full schedule of shows & events contact Dick Moody 305-942-1758

[Cruise Ships Bad For Health] Norovirus outbreak forces one of the world’s biggest cruise ships to cut trip short. Video
[New Dust Bowl] A dust storm warning (in January) for SD. Link

Video of an Arab trying to open a can.

Perhaps a positive message for us to begin 2019.