BigPineKey.com

I returned today to pick them up and was told by another person (the owner’s son, I believe) that I owed $100 ($50 for each bike) for the tune-ups.  I told him (and was supported by my fiancé who also heard the original statement that we would receive free tune-ups within a year) that we thought the tune-ups were free in the first year.  I also told him I had a coupon at home for 50% off a tune-up, but did not bring it as we thought we were getting these for free as agreed.  The outcome was $100 on my credit card.  Not even an offer to reduce one tune-up by 50%.  I will be taking my bike business to Key West from now on.  <coralcreef23@yahoo.com>

Over the years, I had seen a lot of bone fish on that flat, but had never caught one there. The wind was blowing directly down the flat, so I eased the whaler to the upper end of the flat, cut the engine, baited up two spinning rods with live shrimp, laid the rods down with the butts on the rear seat and the middle of the rods angled across the gunnels so the shrimp could barely dangle in the water.

I picked up the push pole I had made, shorter than the push poles guides used because the whaler was shorter and lower to the water than the flats boats the guides were using, also affectionately called an idiot stick, and started trailing the pole behind the boat like a rudder.

The wind blew me down the flat fast, the water was milky white, opaque, no way to see fish under water. Maybe 50 yards above the flat’s lower edge, where the flat dropped off into maybe fifteen feet of water, a bone fish tale popped up into the air. A big bone fish tale. The tale of an insane bone fish. Bone fish didn’t go up on flats in that kind of weather.

I reached down and picked up the anchor and eased it into the water off the stern, because there was no way to stick the push pole into that rock hard bottom and in that way stop the boat from running over the still tailing bone fish. The anchor line came taught, somehow the anchor found purchase on the hard bottom.

I cinched the anchor line off on a cleat, the boat held its position. Waves slapped the transom, but the fish kept tailing maybe 20 yards below me. The water was so choppy, the fish must not have heard the waves slapping the transom; otherwise, the fish would have bolted to deep water.

I picked up the spinning rod to my right, I spin-fished right-handed, opened the bail and flipped the shrimp down wind right next, like a few inches from, the big tail waving in the wind. I closed the bail, felt the fish pick up the shrimp, watched the line go taught, set the hook – shazam! Off to the races that fish went, straight over the edge of the flat into deeper water. Close to a 100 yard run, before it stopped and I started working the fish slowly back toward the boat.

Maybe ten minutes and several shorter runs later, I had the fish in the landing net. It was by some measure the longest bone fish I’d ever caught, but it seemed thin, and it had a scar on its tale. I figured it was around 10 pounds, my largest bone fish by maybe 2 pounds. I unhooked it and put it on the bottom of the boat, pulled the boat back to the anchor, got the anchor off the bottom, drifted the boat off the edge of the flat into deep water, cranked the 18 Mercury and headed back to my father’s place to show off the miracle.

“Oh, that’s nice,” was the consensus reply. Not, “How’d you catch that fish in this howling wind?!” Not, “Great job!” Not, “Are you going to have it mounted?” Not, “Why’d you kill it?” Boy, what a blah hero’s welcome.

Undeterred, I carried the miracle back to the whaler, to take the miracle and the whaler up to Bud n’ Mary’s where my father kept the skiff in the boat barn when he was not down. We were leaving the next morning, and it was time to take the skiff back, and it was time to show the people who worked at Bud n’ Mary’s, and any flats guides hanging around, the miracle.

In that kind of wind, I had to be careful not to launch the whaler off a wave in such a way that the wind flipped the whaler over backward on top of me. The run up to Bud n’ Mary’s took longer than usual, therefore, but I arrived safely, making the last part of the run on the inside of US 1, using the little cut next to the rocks to ease into the main channel near the bridge, just above which is Bud n’ Mary’s.

A couple of flats guides I knew were there, and two men who ran Bud n’ Mary’s. They laughed when I said I’d caught the miracle tailing just above Channel Two Bridge. “You caught it nigger-fishing in a channel,” one of them said. My efforts to persuade that I indeed caught the miracle tailing met more laughter. I was flummoxed. I really wanted their recognition.

I told the men at Bud n’ Mary’s to put the miracle in their freezer and give it to the Al Pfleuger Taxidermy rep the next time he was by there. They said okay. I called my father’s house, arranged for someone to drive up and get me. I was really bummed out. , And, I was really proud, because caught that big bone fish tailing on a flat, when nobody else in the Keys was fishing the flats that day.

It was the last bone fish I would kill, but it was not the last bone fish I would catch. I was in love with bone fishing, and would catch and release quite a few more, most of which while I was wading the rock hard flat in front of my father’s home, or pushing his whaler with the idiot stick.

For example, If the total cost to sewer Little Palm is $3,150,000.00 and there were 90 EDU’s (rooms) then the per EDU would be $35,000. But there are actually only 40 rooms, so the per EDU would be $78,750 (way higher than the currently allotted per EDU amount, and they would have to have on-site system).

So back to my question of last week, what is the total cost of the Little Palm sewer project?

Several brands voluntarily pulled their jerkys last year but complaints have persisted. Always check the labels of whatever you feed your pets. Always be aware of what you’re buying and where it’s coming from. But even that is not foolproof.

The FDA says products that are stamped ‘Made in the USA’ could still contain ingredients sourced from China or other countries. Dogs may have specific signs of sickness including vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy. If your dog has any of those symptoms contact your vet right away.

Veterans Affairs officials warned the Obama-Biden transition team in the weeks after the 2008 presidential election that the department shouldn’t trust the wait times that its facilities were reporting. ‘This is not only a data integrity issue in which [Veterans Health Administration] reports unreliable performance data; it affects quality of care by delaying — and potentially denying — deserving veterans timely care. Team Obama was put on notice that the problem was long standing.  Team Obama failed to remedy the incredible mess. Now in a shameful attempt to appear to be taking action, Team Obama has “accepted” the resignation of Robert Petzel, the undersecretary for Health at the Veterans Affairs Department. But, it must be noted that he was scheduled to retire very soon anyway.  No disciplinary action of any nature has been forthcoming for these problems, there has been no accountability. Out vets are being victimized by Team Obama. Heads should roll. Why hasn’t Obama and the Democrats taken decisive action to fix the problems?  Please recall that for the first two years of Obama’s first term, the Democrats controlled the House and Senate, they could have conducted investigations or passed new legislation. They did not. Vets died.

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YESTERDAY A POSTER WROTE: “Nice summation… BUT as we used to say, I think you are “preaching to the choir.” Keep up the good work, Does Bill O’Reilly know you exist ? 🙂   Your local detractor’s must read your opines as they have to rail against you.

I am at a loss as to why so much of the America I knew, has not comprehended what is happening to the ol’e USA. I keep telling my kids, grandkids, and great grandkids that I am sorry that we allowed this to happen to America. My one grandson is convinced he will need his AR-15’s to defend his family within his lifetime. I have trouble arguing that he is wrong. I have begun to feel like the Jewish people in “Fiddler on the Roof”  as they leave their hometown.

All this greed, personal correctness, Islam (with not Islamic cry against terrorists), and if I do not work, I am entitled to a “free” living with NO STRINGS ATTACHED. Charles Krauthammer for president.

FTR’S RESPONSE:  Thanks for the note, no further comment needed. But I do have one question, who is Bill O’Reilly?

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A POSTER WROTE: “Did you ever, even for a little bit, consider the idea that just maybe Charlie Crist is right about things?”

FTR’S RESPONSE: That is an excellent question but it doesn’t go far enough. I urge the poster to submit his/her “take” on any issue put forward by Crist. Maybe Crist is correct, maybe not. Write back and we’ll think about it.

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A POSTER WROTE: “Colonel Phil “Hands” Handley is credited with the highest speed air-to-air gun kill in the history of aerial combat. He flew operationally for all but 11 months of a 26-year career, in aircraft such as the F-86 Sabre, F-15 Eagle, and the C-130A Hercules. Additionally, he flew 275 combat missions during two tours in Southeast Asia in the F-4D and F-4E. His awards include 21 Air Medals, 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses, and the Silver Star.

Here is what Col. Handley wrote in response to Panetta and Dempsey’s claims there was no time to send help to Benghazi.

Betrayal in Benghazi

Phil “Hands” Handley Colonel, USAF (Ret.)

The combat code of the US Military is that we don’t abandon our dead or wounded on the battlefield. In US Air Force lingo, fighter pilots don’t run off and leave their wingmen. If one of our own is shot down, still alive and not yet in enemy captivity, we will either come to get him or die trying.

Among America ‘s fighting forces, the calm, sure knowledge that such an irrevocable bond exists is priceless. Along with individual faith and personal grit, it is a sacred trust that has often sustained hope in the face of terribly long odds.

The disgraceful abandonment of our Ambassador and those brave ex-SEAL’s who fought to their deaths to save others in that compound is nothing short of dereliction-of-duty.

Additionally, the patently absurd cover-up scenario that was fabricated in the aftermath was an outright lie in an attempt to shield the President and the Secretary of State from responsibility.

The White House strategy, with the aid of a “lap dog” press has been to run out the clock before the truth is forthcoming.

The contention “that there were simply no military assets that could be brought to bear in time to make a difference” mainly due to the unavailability of tanker support for fighter aircraft is simply Bull Chit, regardless how many supposed “experts” the Administration trots out to make such an assertion.

The bottom line is that even if the closest asset capable of response was half-way around the world, you don’t just sit on your penguin ass and do nothing.

The fact is that the closest asset was not half-way around the world, but as near as Aviano Air Base, Italy where two squadrons of F-16Cs are based.

Consider the following scenario (all times Benghazi local): When Hicks in Tripoli receives a call at 9:40 PM from Ambassador Stevens informing him “Greg, we are under attack!” (his last words). Hicks immediately notifies all agencies and prepares for the immediate initiation of an existing “Emergency Response Plan.”

At AFRICON, General Carter Ham attempts to mount a rescue effort, but is told to “stand down”. By 10:30 PM an unarmed drone is overhead the compound and streaming live feed to various “Command and Control Agencies” so everyone watching that feed knew damn well what was going on.

At 11:30 PM Woods, Doherty and five others leave Tripoli, arriving in Benghazi at 1:30 AM on Wednesday morning, where they hold off the attacking mob from the roof of the compound until they are killed by a mortar direct hit at 4:00 AM.

So nothing could have been done, eh? Nonsense. If one assumes that tanker support really “was not available” what about this:

When at 10:00 PM AFRICON alerts the 31st TFW Command Post in Aviano Air Base, Italy of the attack, the Wing Commander orders preparation for the launch of two F-16s and advises the Command Post at NAS Sigonella to prepare for hot pit refueling and quick turn of the jets.

By 11:30 PM, two F-16Cs with drop tanks and each armed with five hundred 20 MM rounds are airborne. Flying at 0.92 mach they will cover the 522 nautical miles directly to NAS Sigonella in 1.08 hours. While in-route, the flight lead is informed of the tactical situation, rules of engagement, and radio frequencies to use.

The jets depart Sigonella at 1:10 AM with full fuel load and cover the 377 nautical miles directly to Benghazi in 0.8 hours, arriving at 1:50 AM which would be 20 minutes after the arrival of Woods, Doherty and their team.

Providing that the two F-16s initial pass over the mob, in full afterburner at 200 feet and 550 knots did not stop the attack in its tracks, a few well placed strafing runs on targets of opportunity would assuredly do the trick.

Were the F-16s fuel state insufficient to return to Sigonelli after jettisoning their external drop tanks, they could easily do so at Tripoli International Airport , only one-half hour away.

As for those hand-wringing naysayers who would worry about IFR clearances, border crossing authority, collateral damage, landing rights, political correctness and dozens of other reasons not to act — screw them. It is time our “leadership” get its priorities straight and put America ‘s interests first.

The end result would be that Woods and Doherty would be alive. Dozens in the attacking rabble would be rendezvousing with “72 virgins” and a clear message would have been sent to the next worthless P.O.S. terrorist contemplating an attack on Americans that it is not really a good idea to “tug” on Superman’s cape.

Of course all this depends upon a Commander In Chief more concerned with saving the lives of those he put in harm’s way than getting his crew rested for a campaign fund raising event in Las Vegas the next day. It also depends upon a Secretary of State who actually understood “What difference did it make?”, and a Secretary of Defense who was watching the feed from the drone and understood what the attack consisted of instead of making an immediate response that “One of the military tenants is that you don’t commit assets until you fully understand the tactical situation.”

YGBSM!( You Gotta Be Chittin’ Me)

Ultimately it comes down to the question of who gave that order to stand down? Whoever that coward turns out to be should be exposed, removed from office, and face criminal charges for dereliction of duty. The combat forces of the United States of America deserve leadership that really does “have their back” when the chips are down.

FOR THOSE OF YOU HAVE ACTUALLY TAKEN THE TIME TO READ THIS, DO ONE THING FOR ME AND FORWARD IT TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!! TO AVOID THIS HAPPENING AGAIN, WHOM EVER GAVE THE “STAND DOWN” ORDER NEEDS TO BE EXPOSED!”

FTR’S RESPONSE: None needed. The author has said it all.