Bar Stroll in Red, White and Blue

announcing the inaugural, "4th of July KEY WEST Benefit Blast"

A Bar Stroll in Red, White, and Blue! To benefit the Forgotten Soldiers Outreach

July 4th Key West Benefit Blast
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Jun 26, 2009 – 4th of July Key West Benefit Blast. A Bar Stroll in Red, White, and Blue!
Rick Dostal announces the inaugural, "4th of July Benefit Blast" along the Historic Key West Boardwalk, to benefit our military service members serving worldwide.

DETAILS

Key West Kermit's Key Lime Pie

Kermit is a familiar figure at the corner of Greene and Elizabeth streets, dressed in his chef uniform and holding up one his famous key lime pies for the tourists passing by on the Old Town Trolley. The video shows how you can make a key lime pie at home. Or 24 of them.

Cars of Key West

I went on the air at KONK AM with Jim Thomsen, on the program Spirit Talk. When I tuned in it was with the expectation that I'd be listening to Rev. Randy Becker from the UU church. Randy is traveling and Jim -- who I knew from our days at the Seekers Forum that met, and maybe still meets, at the church -- Jim was filling in for him.

Jim has a web site, Smiling Cloud, on which I found this great collection of pictures of Key West vehicles. Several are the works of Captain Outrageous.

See here.

Barefoot Bob

Barefoot Bob is dead. Robert Salamone, originally from Chelmsford, MA, a hop, skip and jump away from Tyngsboro, MA where I spent my high school years, passed on on June 22 in Key West. Robert -- Bob -- operated the bar known as Barefoot Bob's during the 1990s. If I have it right, the club was first at the Duval St. location of today's Willy T's. And I remember going just once to Barefoot Bob's on Telegraph Lane. It was a Deadhead hangout then, a dark place with black and strobe lights, walls painted in psychedelic scenes and colors, and a booming sound system playing stoner tunes.

I didn't know the gentleman, though I knew of him. You can't say that you know anyone from what is written in his or her obituary, but his reflected a caring person to me, someone in the business he was because he liked people, liked being around people having fun.

I kinda wish I had come to know him.

The rain in Spain ......

Heavy weather coming in from the north, but a strange force field seems to be keeping the island here in the dry.

We're in that circle in the center. Can't last much longer.

Bank Safety

What should a depositor DO on finding out that their bank was just dropped to zero star rating by Bauer Financial? The answer to that is, "it depends". Mainly it depends on how much money you have in the bank and what kind of account it is. And what does 'zero star' mean, anyway?

Bauer puts it this way:

All banks are subject to federal regulatory capital requirements, but those requirements vary among institutions and are dependent on many factors. In general, institutions are required to maintain a tangible capital ratio of at least 4%, a tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 4% and a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 8%.

In addition to the capital ratio, other criteria are used to determine Bauer Financial's Star Rating. Some of these include but are not limited to: profitability/loss trend, evaluating the level of delinquent loans and repossessed assets, the market versus book value of the investment portfolio, regulatory supervisory agreements, the community reinvestment rating (CRA), and liquidity. Potential losses on available-for-sale securities, delinquent loans and repossessed assets are forecasted in assigning our star rating. De Novo banks generally can not qualify for a 5-star rating for at least two years.

I worked on a project a few months ago that made it important for me to evaluate certain banking choices made by a client and recommend whether he should take any action based on the stability of one bank or another. Key West is a bank-rich town, out of proportion to its population. There are national (e.g., BankAmerica and Wachovia (Wells Fargo) and regional (TIB, Centennial, Orion, BB&T) banks headquartered elsewhere and a couple of local banks and three local Credit Unions.

The client moved some cash around to balance things out, but felt secure in retaining a relationship with all of the banks that he does business with. His decision was based in part on the FDIC protections in place that allow a failed bank to reopen immediately, on the next normal business day, with no losses and no delays in getting access to funds. 60 Minutes did a segment on the process of seizing banks and reopening them a few weeks ago. The process inspires confidence that the FDIC knows how to at least one thing well -- closing the barn door after the cow got away. His decision was also based on a desire not to punish any bank doing its best to regain its footing.

Not everyone knows that the FDIC increased the amount of insurance on deposits in interest-bearing accounts at FDIC-insured banks, raising the coverage from $100,000 to $250,000 for each individual account. Fewer people know that non-interest-bearing deposits are insured to an unlimited amount. Both of these actions are temporary, the action taken as part of the economic recovery program. Uninsured account coverage is scheduled to end in December 2009 unless Congress extends the duration. The increased coverage on interest-bearing account was recently extended until June 2013.

We keep our own money in the Keys Federal Credit Union, and have since coming here in 1999. KFCU went through a rough patch of management turmoil a couple of years ago, but they're back to being a smooth-running machine since. I haven't been able to find any ratings of this credit union [which is, I guess, a little odd], but the NCUA (same as the FDIC but for credit unions) guarantee is really all we need for our modest holdings.

Kokomo Redux

Here's a follow-up to my recent Kokomo post:

Public Trust

For months now the Monroe County School District has been embroiled in controversy over who ought to be punished for mis-, non- and malfeasance that led to the theft of several hundred thousand dollars of public and private (kids) money, the arrest of the wife of the Superintendent of Schools, and then the Superintendent himself.

One way that it's all playing out is on the pages of the Key West Citizen web site. John Guerra, the Citizen reporter who is doggedly chronicling the scandal in almost daily revelations of newly-uncovered information is sure to earn multiple journalism awards for himself and the newspaper. But there's another dimension to the story. It's in the Citizen's recently added feature that allows readers to comment on news articles and editorials directly after the article is posted on-line. Each new revelation is thoroughly sliced and diced by readers of the article, who then are themselves sliced and diced by readers of the comments, and so on and so on. It makes for lively reading, some of it, and it can get pretty heated at times.

Below is a small sampling of the "conversations" that take place. This one appears to be between an anonymous reader and the Chairman of the Monroe County School Board, though there's no way to be certain of it is indeed him.

The Key West Citizen has a link on their front page (on the web) that gathers together virtually all of their coverage. It's a Key West story, right up there with Bum Farto, and the Bubba bust of the 1980s.

Board Attorney as a conduit
Submitted on Fri, 06/12/2009 - 11:24am
Mr Griffiths [Andy Griffith, chair of the Monroe County School Board] is well versed in the law and he is not reckless or reactionary. The board attorney cannot be used as a conduit and Mr. Griffiths did not attempt to contact the regular board attorney for such a purpose. This fact was incorrectly reported. The board is currently using a law firm in Tampa and that attorney is advising the board members individully as well as collectively.

Submitted on Sat, 06/13/2009 - 8:01am
Sounds like I got an attorney's response! I'm thrilled to know the Tampa attorney isn't acting as a conduit between board members individually OR collectively!

Submitted on Sat, 06/13/2009 - 11:18am
Thanks for the compliment.

Submitted on Fri, 06/12/2009 - 12:41pm
Andy that was a great answer, but we are all watching to see how you react to the changes Randy [Randy Acevedo, suspended Superintendent of Schools] planned before he left. Sometimes, actually a lot of times, you like to hide behind "POLICY", but we all know the school board has more control then that. As a matter of fact, everyone knows what you said about Pedro Fraga: "If he is in the budget, the whole budget will be voted down." Remember that! Do the right thing, way too many eyes watching!

Submitted on Sat, 06/13/2009 - 11:31am
I deal in reality. I try to deal in facts rather than emotional opinion. I do not like to speculate. How does one "hide" behind the law? Policy is the law. Some of us respect it. The school board's power is in policy and they collectively can change those policies. The budget is a significant policy. I hope to avoid a split vote on this budget. I will do what I think is right regardless of who or how many are watching.

Submitted on Sat, 06/13/2009 - 1:17pm
If policy is the law, does the MCSD have a nepotism policy (appears we don't)? Does the MCSD have a policy which allows people (Ordinary people)to apply for jobs before others are just appointed to positions (appears we don't)? Does the MCSD have a policy to protect those who report criminal activity (appears we don't)? And, finally are you going to stand behind those of us who report additional fraud or are you going to allow those who committed fraud to remove the rest of us (we will see I guess at the next school board meeting)? I am not sure if you are aware (I know you are, but I am giving you the benefit of the doubt), but there are still A LOT of bodies out there (I know you need facts, but they are there right under your nose), but when you see people like Cheryl Allen and John Welsh being removed from their positions (and no one has told them they still have a job), it kind of scares the rest of us. We (union, SRP, non union, general public) are closely watching how the board (Andy, Debra and Duncan) handles Cheryl and John and then we will know how the rest of us will proceed. Open you eyes to that, and I don't give three craps if it is on TV or not! Do the right thing and if you could say what you said about Pedro why couldn't you say the same for Ms. Booker and other who's job are not as important as school level teachers and administrators. You got your $$$ for the rest of your life and your kids lives, I don't, and I need my job to feed my kids. Finally, finally, not everything the school board does is on tv, but we know the deals which are being cut behind the doors.

I'm reminded of Mick Barnes' essay from a few years ago on how to get Great Government.

Stock Island

"Workers from the shrimp trawlers, crawfish boats and others who make their livelihood from the sea are also in this area [Stock Island]. It is now a big community. It continues to grow as people are moving their commercial estabishments from Key West to that locality, small merchants who can't pay the high rents being charged here and are forced to move.

Who know? Maybe, some day, the Stock Island merchants will have profitable business and many of the Key West locations will be closed due to lack of sales."

"The Key West Hemingway Loved and the Key West of 1998", Nilo Lopez, ©2000. Pg. 13

Apparently not, at least not yet.

Kokomo

Lyrics | Beach Boys lyrics

Thinking about how to find my own private Kokomo. It's a time of change for us. Where will we wind up?

Could the past ten years have been merely a Lunch Stop? (Look for the playable one in position 78.)

Vandenberg goes down

Video footage thanks to the Monroe County Tourist Development Council

Apple Customer Support

At 5 o'clock this afternoon I called Apple Support merely to inquire if I might be eligible for a replacement battery for my black MacBook. The battery began to lose capacity a few months ago. When I first got the computer in February 2007, I was able to use it for 4-5 hours on a fully-charged battery. Lately it's been lasting between an hour and 90 minutes.

I take good care of this computer. It was a gift from Captain Outrageous shortly before he died. I maintain it according to Apple's recommendations, install software updates when offered, and back it up regularly. I neglected to buy AppleCare, Apple's extended warranty, in February 2008, but (thankfully) I haven't needed it.

I went to the local Apple-authorized reseller on Saturday to buy a new battery for it. When I found out that they wanted $159 for the same battery that Apple charges $129 for, I decided instead to order one on-line, avoid the sales tax, and maybe get free shipping too. I tried Amazon first, but they didn't have any of the black batteries in stock. Neither did Small Dog in Vermont, another of my favored resellers, and neither did MacConnection.

At that point, I was ready to go ahead and order one from the Apple Store, but I said (to myself), "self, let's give Apple Support a call and see what happens."

I had previously done the research on "MacBook, battery, bulging" and found a notice from Apple of a warranty extension on MacBook batteries with problems identical to my own:

• Battery exhibits low charge capacity/runtime when using a fully charged battery with a battery cycle count (as shown in System Profiler) of less than 300 (Mine was 260).

• Battery pack is visibly deformed.

I also knew that the warranty extension for Intel-based MacBooks was limited to two years from the date of purchase.

Long story short, after ten minutes on the phone, first with a support person, then a product specialist, they offered to replace the battery at no charge. Wow, thought I, that's teriffic, I just saved myself $129 + shipping + sales tax with a ten-minute phone call, not bad.

At ten o'clock tonight, I was reading e-mail and spotted one from Apple. It was about the battery, confirmed the no-cost replacement, and had a link to the Fed Ex tracking number for the shipment. It had already gone out and was promised for delivery before noon tomorrow, Tuesday, less than 19 hours from the time I placed the call.

Now I'm blown away. Maybe I shouldn't be, it's always been my experience that Apple absolutely offers the best customer support available anywhere, for any product. This incident reconfirms that for me once again.

Am I a satisfied Apple customer? Damn straight I am.

Breakfast at the Deli

It's back, after a fashion. There's a new restaurant in place at the location of the late, lamented Deli Restaurant at the corner of Truman Avenue and Simonton Street, right across the street from the plaza where CVS is located, downtown.

It's now called Eat n' Grinn at the Deli, and it isn't the Deli we all remember. John and Barbara, co-owners and mates, opened the Eat 'n Grinn Barbecue store at the corner of Eaton Street (#930) and Grinnell Street (EATon 'n GRINNel, get it) last October.
Last month, they leased a portion of the Deli building and began serving barbecue there as well. Last week, they began serving breakfast. It's not the same as the old Deli, but it's a decent place to have an inexpensive breakfast. Overlook the styrofoam plates and cups, the plastic utensils, and the bench style tables, and focus on eggs and toast for under $4, or breakfast with meat for under $7. you can also order oatmeal (homemade), cold cereals, and a variety of pastries. There are plans to upgrade the tabeware and to enlarge the menu.

Here's what a visitor had to say after a recent visit to the original Eat 'n Grinn:

We found a great little Bar-B-Que place named Eat 'n Grinn and, of course, Barb's smile caused us to come back a few times during our visit here.

There wasn't anyone eating when we arrived at around 8 AM. The greeting was prompt and friendly. Our server (Gen?) looked familiar but we couldn't peg where we know her from. She works or worked at Blue Heaven and other places around. Both John and Barbara came by to say hi and thanked us for coming in. He said that they did great business yesterday with lots of former Deli customers coming by to see what's going on. They seem like nice people, real friendly.

Barbara said that Bobby, the long-time owner of the Deli, gave her the recipe for their biscuits and gravy, and for his grits. The rest is pretty much standard fare, though limited to many fewer choices than the Deli. She said that the whole thing is a work in progress and that they expect to enlarge the menu once they figure out how it's all going to work.

We promised to come back from time to time to see how it's coming along. And to have a heaping plate of the sausage, biscuits and gravy some day, when our cholesterol numbers allow for it.

To See Ourselves As Others See Us

A vacationer's eye view of a successful four-day visit to our island.

There are, of course, other perspectives. This from a Twitterer:

No one mentioned that Key West / Duval St is kinda dirty. It's TJ for 50 year oldes in straw cowboy hats.

Conficker Worm

I was reading about the Conficker worm just now and this sentence jumped out at me:

"He adds that Windows users who have made sure their systems have been scanned, and Mac users (who are unaffected), have nothing to worry about."

It's about one of the most valuable reasons I own and use a MacBook. It isn't that Macs are impervious to malware, but they are affected much, much much less often by the rogues who write these worms, viruses and other forms of annoying-to-malicious-to-outright-evil pieces of software.

Gentlemen -- and ladies -- start your scanners!