Since 2002. Published Tuesdays and Fridays
Letters to the Editor with pictures
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 [Deer Poachers] Deer officials were forced to euthanize one of the three Key deer that were found hogtied in the back of a car early Monday morning. The other two are back in the woods. Meanwhile, Erik Yosany Damas Acosta, 18, of Miami Gardens, and Tumani Anthony Younge, 23, of Tamarac, both facing a litany of state wildlife violations — felonies and misdemeanors — were released from Monroe County Detention Center on Stock Island after posting $57,000 bail. |
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| [Mosquito Poison] Miami Beach doctor Michael Hall has filed for an injunction in federal court to stop Miami-Dade County local government from aerial spraying of the pesticide Naled. Hall’s legal action charges that plans to battle mosquitoes by spraying Naled from aircraft pose a significant health risk and the county has repeatedly failed to give residents enough notice to prepare or take the proper precautions. The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District has been spraying Naled by air for at least 30 years. The overwhelming majority of the 84 aerial mosquito control missions in the Keys since Jan. 1 have been spraying liquid larvicide, not pesticides though. Only 13 missions have involved Naled. |
 [Bull Shark] I spoke to a friend Wednesday afternoon who had been out fishing and diving earlier in the day. While on his first dive he returned to the boat and spotted a large bull shark he said was too close for comfort. He was only a few yards from the boat and made it to the swim platform when the shark made what he called a very aggressive move towards him. He got back into the boat and said that the shark circled the boat at least 5 or 6 times. He is sure that had he not been so close to the boat and able to get out of the water he would have been bitten. So, be careful out there. Bull sharks are a very aggressive species and will attack swimmers or divers. If you’ve been fishing/chumming in an area it’s best to move to another spot before getting into the water. Be careful out there. Link |
| The next meeting of our Big Pine Computer Club is coming up this Saturday, July 8, 10 am at the senior center. Hope to see you there. Full Menu > Ongoing Events |
[A cheap date in the Keys] Will sex robots become the new norm replacing inflatable dolls? This report looks at uses of life-like robots. While sex robots may have some positive uses, they may also reinforce far darker behaviors. Link |
| [Definition of Stupid] Knowing the truth, seeing evidence of the truth , but still believing the lie because it fits with your beliefs. |
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| [FTR on Healthcare] The histrionics that is the pillow fight concerning healthcare is great theater, but it is piss poor governance. The sick truth is that no one is really offering any real solutions to the real problem; the cost of health care! That’s the actual dollar amount it takes get you well. That’s the dollar cost of the medicines, the Docs, the devices, the tools, the administration, etc — the real cost of healthcare.
I trust that the Olde Farts among you readers will remember that health care costs have burgeoned at about the same rate that government has burgeoned. How many remember when a Doc visit cost about $10? In the ’60s consumer health care, out of pocket, spending accounted for about 50% of all medial spending. Today it is only about 10%. Surprise, surprise. Today about 50% of health care is paid for by your tax dollars, yep, government spending. Medical bills are massively inflated nearly totally because of the outrageous costs of delivering health care. Much, if not most, of that cost is directly related to all the various levels of regulation imposed by government. There is no doubt that at some level, government regulation is necessary for the public safety. Our government’s relentless march to control everything has become a major driver in the cost of the development of medicines and medical devices. It currently takes about 10 years and up to $3 billion to bring a new drug to market. A substantial part of that cost is because of current rules, regulations, and laws that control the development, marketing, and sale of the new medication.
I trust that the old times among the readers will remember that health care costs have burgeoned at about the same rate that government has burgeoned. |
| [Nice Chart] Latest fishing regulations. fishing regulations |
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| [Murder by Car – Video] I suppose this is real – gruesome! |
| [Friday Joke] I pulled into a local gas station to grab some fuel and I noticed these two cops in front of the store drinking coffees and watching this woman who was smoking while pumping gas. I saw her and thought, “You gotta be kidding me and with the cops right there!” Idiot. I finished fueling then went inside to get my receipt and as I was standing at the counter we all heard someone start screaming. We looked out the window and the woman’s arm was on fire! She was swinging her arm & running around going crazy. We ran outside and the officers had got her on the ground and were putting the fire out with their coffees. Then they put handcuffs on her and threw her in the police car. I was thinking… “What the hell?” So I walked over and asked the officers what they were arresting her for. One of the cops looked me square in the eyes and said, “Waving a firearm!” Only in South Carolina |
[Diver Down Flag Program] It’s easy to spot people who do not know what they are doing at our local reefs. They display the wrong flag, display their dive flag in the wrong place on their vessel and/or display it upside down and/or leave it up permanently while running back from the reef and/or leaving it displayed while tied off in their canal. Video |
| [Earthquake in Lincoln, Montana] The strongest earthquake to hit Montana in more than half a century. The 5.8 quake was probably the strongest in Montana since October 1964 and was located along the axis of the intermountain seismic belt. |
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| Right now the Everglades and Water Conservation Areas are flooded from so much rainfall. Plants and wildlife are being choked off with too much water. When south Florida receives high rainfall, the Everglades, just like Lake Okeechobee, are flooded and “sending the water south” only causes more harm to the Everglades. This water is being backpumped into Lake Okeechobee in order to save the Everglades.
The people who were screaming the loudest to “send the water south” – Everglades Trust, Bullsugar and Captains for Clean Water – are now SILENT. Ask them why they are not fighting to send this water south. They were wrong THEN and they’re wrong NOW. Slick slogans from these activists are not the solution to help the Everglades, Florida Bay or the estuaries. ~Floridians for Clean Water |
This edible pizza bikini takes National Bikini Day to another level. A New York restaurant is selling the edible bikini for one day—for $10,000! Video |
| [Marathon] Dear George Garrett, David Migit and Chuck Lindsey, Be advised that per City of Marathon building permit #P2017-0092 originally submitted on 1/27/2017 and initially approved on 1/31/2017 but not issued, later approved with conditions on 2/10/2017, then withdrawn due to an appeal by Ralph Lucignano of Vito of the Florida Keys, and then finally re-issued and permitted on 6/28/2017, be advised that First Florida Keys Properties, Inc has completed the demolition of the 10 X 24 foot elevated concrete pad as of 3:13 pm on 6/28/2017. While Vito of the Florida Keys did have the right to appeal your denial of its appeal by the Marathon Planning Commission to your Marathon City Council, it did not do so and thus failed to exhaust all its administrative remedies with the City of Marathon. Instead Ralph Lucignano/Vito of the Florida Keys applied for and obtained a Circuit Court Order Granting a Temporary Injunction based on false and misleading information. Unfortunately for Lucignano’s team of lawyers they obtained their Order on 6/29/2017, one day late, after the work was completed. This letter is to confirm that First Florida Keys Properties, Inc. did receive and post your permit #P2017-0093 on 6/28/2017 and did, in fact, complete the work on that same day of 6/28/2017. This letter is now questioning your permit condition #8 regarding the honest need for First Florida Keys Properties, Inc. to provide temporary exit access over these next 6 months based on the false and/or inaccurate information concerning the need for such egress. It is now well documented and known to the City of Marathon that Ralph Lucignano/Vito of the Florida Keys does have an existing rear exit access door which is blocked by a hurricane shuttered door that could and should be easily be made opened for full use and access. First Florida Keys Properties, Inc. does not wish to have the City of Marathon mandate a very possible liability issue upon us, nor do we believe that it is our responsibility to provide access to someone like Ralph Lucignano/Vito of the Florida Keys who chooses to not take responsibility for the health and safety of its own customers and employees. Be advised that I consider this issue to be between you and Ralph Lucignano and that it is appropriate that the two of you work this without further involving First Florida Keys Properties, Inc. in this stupid game. ~Bruce Schmitt |
NASCAR presents The Walmart 500! |
| [Wife] I was sitting on the porch enjoying a cold beer when my wife came out and said, “What a beautiful day. What do think I should do?” I said, “The laundry.” That’s when the fight started. |
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| Winn Dixie Weekly Ad. Link |
[Making Yogurt] Oddly enough, I was unable to make yogurt or buttermilk from Horizon Organic Milk. I quit buying it because something is very wrong about that. |
| [Groovy Music Single] Portugal. The Man – “Feel It Still“ |
| First invention. |
| [Shark History] Historical abundances of many large marine vertebrates were tremendously greater than today. However, while pelagic sharks are known to have declined rapidly in the northwest Atlantic in recent years, there, as elsewhere, little is known about the former natural abundances of these species. Here, we compare initial (1950s) and recent (late-1990s) standardized catch rates of pelagic sharks in the Gulf of Mexico, the area where methods of exploitation between these two periods were most comparable.
We estimate that oceanic whitetip and silky sharks, formerly the most commonly caught shark species, have declined by over 99 and 90%, respectively. That the former prevalence of oceanic whitetip sharks in this ecosystem is unrecognized today is clear evidence of shifting baselines. Our analysis provides the missing baseline for pelagic sharks in the Gulf of Mexico that is needed for the rational management and restoration of these species. Link] Historical abundances of many large marine vertebrates were tremendously greater than today. However, while pelagic sharks are known to have declined rapidly in the northwest Atlantic in recent years, there, as elsewhere, little is known about the former natural abundances of these species. Here, we compare initial (1950s) and recent (late-1990s) standardized catch rates of pelagic sharks in the Gulf of Mexico, the area where methods of exploitation between these two periods were most comparable. We estimate that oceanic whitetip and silky sharks, formerly the most commonly caught shark species, have declined by over 99 and 90%, respectively. That the former prevalence of oceanic whitetip sharks in this ecosystem is unrecognized today is clear evidence of shifting baselines. Our analysis provides the missing baseline for pelagic sharks in the Gulf of Mexico that is needed for the rational management and restoration of these species. Link |
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| [Is this your stuff] List of property Sheriff is holding. Link |
[Sunscreen May Kill Reef] If you think that people are going to stop wearing sunscreen because of reef decline you are out of your mind. The chemical that’s in sunscreen that may be contributing to the destruction of the reefs as swimmers try to protect their skin will have to removed by the major sunscreen producers. Good luck with that. Reef or skin cancer? Hmmm? |
| [Leash Law] I’m very worried! I haven’t seen a dog chasing a car like they used to in a long, long time, and it troubles me. Anyone know why? |
 [Extreme heat of the Sudan desert] During our march the simoom (desert wind) was fearful, and the heat so intense that it was impossible to draw the gun cases out of their leather covers, which it was necessary to cut open. All woodwork was warped; ivory knife-handles were split; paper broke when crunched in the hand, and the very marrow seemed to be dried out of the bones. The extreme dryness of the air induced an extraordinary amount of electricity in the hair and in all woolen materials. A Scotch plaid laid upon a blanket for a few hours adhered to it, and upon being withdrawn at night a sheet of flame was produced, accompanied by tolerably loud reports (static electricity) |
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| A small diesel spill was reported to DEP Monday and a DEP officer looked at the site and informed the refuge that they need to remove it down to at least one foot. They will inspect again. |
Shark populations may be increasing due to protections put in place because of the historic decline in shark populations. Link |
| [Wife Abuse] What adds to the mystery is that most of the women are themselves mystified by their own choice to stay. When pressed, however, many respond by saying “Because I love him”; emotional attachment to the abuser is one of the primary reasons battered women give for why they choose to stay. She chooses to stay. |
Does anyone know who funds the fireworks show off Little Palm Island. We’ve been told its funded by locals — others have said it was Little Palm. Either way, thanks, it was a great show! |
| [Spanglish Word of The Day] Chicken. My wife wanted me to go to the store with her but chicken can go by herself. |
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| [Fish with Heroes Event] Fishwithme.net hosted the event. Video |
[Jersey Girl] Well it’s almost the middle of summer and you’re missing your Jersey girlfriend. Here’s a little video to ease the pain. Video |
| [Orchid Society] It’s officially Summer. As I write this it’s Independence Day & I hope everyone is having glorious, safes & sane 4th. Throw one on the barbie for me.
Hope to see you at Naomi Van Steeland’s next Sunday. Just in case you can’t open the .pdf it’s Sunday, July 9th, 11 am to 1 pm at 916 Center St, KW. Center is off Truman, between Duval & Simonton. Turn at ‘Better Than Sex’. Full Menu > Ongoing Events |
 [Mystic Faith] Calvinists believed, that after the consecration of the bread and wine at the sacramental table, the body and blood of Christ were spiritually present with that bread and wine. This doctrine, which they called consubstantiation, they adopted in antagonism to the Catholic papal doctrine of transubstantiation, which was that the bread and wine were actually transformed into, and became the real body and blood of Christ. The difference between the Calvinists and the Lutherans was that, while the former considered the bread and wine in the sacraments as representing the body and the blood of Christ, the latter considered the body and the blood as spiritually present in the consecrated elements. This trivial difference divided brethren who were agreed upon all the great points of Christian faith, duty and obligation. |
| United Way of the Florida Keys. This month. Link |
 [Bumpy Road] I remember when you could drive down Key Deer Blvd and not get your teeth rattled out. Hopefully the County will repave it when all the sewer hookups are finished. Maybe the TDC will pitch in some money |
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