New SPI City Manager: Bill Efting was selected, on October 29th, to be SPI's next City Manager. He will assume the position (?) on December 4th. Mr. Efting has served as Town Manager of Avon, Colorado for the past 5 years. Mr. Efting will be paid $90,000.00 per year, a $500.00 per month car allowance, and other perks. Mr. Efting has apparently performed well in Avon. He was able to solve a traffic problem in a sleepy community that has grown from 2,000 to about 10,000 people. He resolved the traffic problem with the implementation of roundabouts.  Unfortunately, these will not work on South Padre Island to alleviate our perennial traffic woes. (See http://www.cccnh.org/cccavoncolorado.htm). Below are other links concerning Avon, Colorado and Mr. Efting.

http://www.skimag.com/skimag/ski_towns/article/0,12795,326233,00.html http://www.msnbc.com/local/vail/VD20020724207240101.asp http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/census/article/0,1299,DRMN_429_1188947,00.html http://stacks.msnbc.com/local/vail/VD20020530205300103.asp
http://www.msnbc.com/local/vail/VD20020830208300102.asp?cp1=1

I hope that Mr. Efting is fair and firm. We need a strong leader who is capable of listening to all sides and not the few who yell the loudest. Lots of luck Mr. Efting, your success will be ours!

SPI: The Cameron County Milk Cow :-) The causeway disaster brought to light that SPI provides 80% of the county's tax base. One would think that SPI would get a little recognition from time to time from the county for providing the wealth that keeps all of their programs running. Not so! Consider this: the county decided to adopt a flag warning system for the beaches several months back. I have no issue here concerning public safety. The county approached our town's officials wanting the town of SPI to participate. My question is why must we pay for 80% of their flag program and 100% of ours? Isn't the town of SPI in Cameron County? Another example is the water tower located on the north end on county property. Why should we pay 1/2 of the cost to have South Padre Island painted on the side of the water tower? Assuming the painting project cost $5,000.00, technically SPI pays $4,500.00 of the total expenditure. In this example that is 90% of the total cost! The reality is that when the county extends a hand to SPI, it is seldom to shake hands, but for more money!

Who is Watching You? This report is very alarming concerning your Internet surfing. On October 20th, I elected to install a personal firewall. I did so because a hacker who is able to access a computer can drop a virus in your system. After using the firewall, for one week, the log revealed there had been over 4,000 attempts to gain access into this wonderful Cray IV computer! I initially thought this was because my Internet connection is high speed. Not so! I loaded the firewall on another computer that connects via a 56K modem, and the attempts to access it were astonishing. The most frequent attacker (659 attacks) is a  NameServer called BLACKHOLE-1.IANA.ORG. It traces back to http://www.jana.org at a source IP: 10 10 210 90. Come to find out, it is an Islamic group known as Jafria Association of North America. I do not know why they have a Jihad against me? I would appreciate everyone calling their toll free number 1-800-273-1201 and telling them to leave C. Weed alone; or, send them an email at res-ip@iana.org !!!! A firewall prevents such unauthorized users (from the outside) from gaining access to your computer while you are on the Internet. I would highly recommend that you get Norton Internet Security 2002. At a price of $18.97, it provides a firewall, virus protection, and some other great features. It is the best deal I've found on the Internet and it might be the best money you ever spent!

Is this your kind of politician? One of our readers sent a link for me to review at http://www.algorenomore.com. I wrote an email and got a reply. If you are an Al Gore fan don't go to the website and don't send them an email!

Editor's Note: The letter was edited to remove foul language, original is found at website: http://www.algorenomore.com 

If the man/woman who wrote this ran for OFFICE they would get my VOTE!

I like big cars, big boats, big motorcycles, big houses and big campfires. I believe the money I make belongs to me and my family, not some governmental stooge with a bad comb-over who wants to give it away to crack addicts for having babies. Guns do not make you a killer. I think killing makes you a killer. You can kill someone with a baseball bat or a car, but no one is trying to ban you from driving to the ball game. I believe they are called the Boy Scouts for a reason, that is why there are no girls allowed. Girls belong in the Girl Scouts! I think that if you feel homosexuality is wrong, it is not a phobia, it is an opinion. I don't think being a minority makes you a victim of anything except numbers. The only things I can think of that are truly discriminatory are things like the United Negro College Fund, Jet Magazine, Black Entertainment Television, and Miss Black America. Try to have things like the United Caucasian College Fund, Cloud Magazine, White Entertainment Television, or Miss White America and see what happens. Jesse Jackson will be knocking down your door. I have the right "NOT" to be tolerant of others because they are different, weird, or tick me off. When 70% of the people who get arrested are black, in cities where 70% of the population is black, that is not racial profiling, it is the law of statistics. I know what sex is, and there are not varying degrees of it. If I received sex from one of my subordinates in my office, it wouldn't be a private matter or my personal business. I would be "FIRED" immediately! I believe that if you are selling me a milk shake, a pack of cigarettes, a newspaper, or a hotel room, you must do it in English! As a matter of fact, if you want to be an American citizen you should have to speak English! My father and grandfather shouldn't have to die in vain so you can leave the countries you were born in to come over and disrespect ours. I think the police should have every right to shoot your sorry ass if you threaten them after they tell you to stop. If you can't understand the word "freeze" or "stop" in English, see the above lines. I feel much safer letting a machine with no political affiliation recount votes when needed. I know what the definition of lying is. I don't think that just because you were not born in this country, you are qualified for any special loan programs, government sponsored bank loans, or tax breaks, etc., so you can open a hotel, coffee shop, trinket store, or any other business. We did not go to the aid of certain foreign countries and risk our lives in wars to defend their freedoms so that decades later they could come over here and tell us our constitution is a living document and open to their interpretations. I don't hate the rich. I don't pity the poor. I know wrestling is fake, but so are movies and television, and that doesn't stop you from watching them. I believe a self-righteous liberal or conservative with a cause is more dangerous than a Hell's Angel with an attitude. I think Bill Gates has every right to keep every penny he made and continue to make more. If it ticks you off, go and invent the next operating system that's better and put your name on the building. Ask your buddy that invented the Internet to help you. It doesn't take a whole village to raise a child right, but it does take a parent to stand up to the kid and smack their little butts when necessary and say "NO." I think tattoos and piercing are fine if you want them, but please don't pretend they are a political statement. And, please stay home until that new lip ring heals, I don't want to look at your ugly infected mouth as you serve me my fries! I am sick of "Political Correctness" and of all the suck ups that go along with it. I know a lot of black people, and not a single one of them was born in Africa, so how can they be "African-Americans"? Besides, Africa is a continent. I don't go around saying I am a European-American because my great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather was from Europe. I am proud to be from America and nowhere else. And if you don't like my point of view, tough titty!

P.S. This doesn't make me racist, uncaring, unloving, unforgiving or unsympathetic, it makes me an American!

Author Unknown

Editor's Note: Edited letter content for language from website: http://www.algorenomore.com 

SPI or Port Isabel doesn't have a bowling alley! Who cares, play Brunswick's Virtual Bowling online for free. This one's for you Gary!  http://www.brunswickbowling.com/html/game.html

Editor's resource for answers: From time to time I am stumped concerning questions that I raise about things and questions that other people ask me. Please allow me to share my primary informational source that I use to resolve these matters. Click here to get an answer to any question.

Laugh of the Week! Funny Instruction Labels
These are actual instruction labels on consumer goods: 

On Sears hairdryer: Do not use while sleeping. (Probably shouldn't use it while you're in the shower either!) 

On a bar of Dial soap: Directions: Use like regular soap. (When will they start making left and right-handed bars of soap?) 

On some Swann frozen dinners: 
Serving suggestion: Defrost. (They take all of the fun out of it, how about a nice Salisbury Steak Popsicle?) 

On Tesco's Tiramisu dessert: (printed on bottom of the box) Do not turn upside down. (Oh no Mr. Bill!) 

On Marks & Spencer Bread Pudding: Product will be hot after heating. (And, cold if you don't heat it?) 

On packaging for a Rowenta iron: Do not iron clothes on body. (You would make an ash of yourself?) 

On Boot's Children's cough medicine: Do not drive car or operate machinery. (Take the kid's driver's license away if he/she does!) 

On Nytol sleep aid: Warning: May cause drowsiness. (If it doesn't cause drowsiness you bought a bad product!) 

On a string of Christmas lights: For indoor or outdoor use only. (As opposed to where else?) 

On an American Airlines packet of nuts: Instructions: open packet, eat nuts. (Duh, pour them in your lap!) 

On a Swedish chainsaw: Do not attempt to stop chain with your hands. (If you do you might be nicknamed Stubby!) 

On a child's Superman costume: Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly. (Perhaps it allows you to swim?)

Thought for the Week: Does a crowded elevator smell different to a midget?

Teaser of the Week: Name an English word of more than 2 letters that both begins and ends with the letters 'he' (in that order). (And "hehe" is not an acceptable solution.)  There are at least two words that I know of. If you know the answer, send me an email: cweed@spisland.com (See the answer in next week's issue!)

Last Week's Teaser Answer: A cowboy rode into town on Friday and left three days later on Friday. How is that possible? The horse was named Friday. Mr. Williams, Ben Whitenberg, Arivas, and naturally Mr. Doyle Wells answered correctly! Not one woman provided an answer?

Please forward this newsletter to everyone in your address book. Your family and friends can subscribe by clicking on the email address at the bottom of the page. Hey, if you find a great web site, email me the link!

Wow! That was a fun edition! Until the next time, have a great week and enjoy another day in paradise where ever you are!

Yours truly,
C. Weed, Editor
cweed@spisland.com

GREAT LINKS:

Visitor's Guide to South Padre Island

Slideshow of 166 South Padre Island Pictures

PLEASE WELCOME THE NEW AD LISTINGS:

The Coral Reef

Osprey Fishing Charters

Events on the Horizon:

November 10th
The poor weather conditions caused this event to be postponed on November 3rd. However, that is not a problem, it just gives everyone another week to practice! The 9th Annual World Championship Texas Gulf Shrimp Cook-Off, sponsored by the Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce will be held at Port Isabel Baseball Fields. There will be amateur and professional divisions with cooking teams from all over. Starting time is 11:00 AM. Just follow the signs in Port Isabel. If you have an interest in entering, call (956) 943-2262 or (800) 527-6102.

November 11th-15th
SPI Golf Club & SPI Convention Bureau sponsor the The Texas Senior Open to be held at the South Padre Island Golf Course.  The Pro-Am is Nov.12 with Senior open to follow! Call (956) 943-4653 or see http://www.spigolf.com

November 16th
SPI Padre Island Golf Club is having a four-person golf scramble. Shotgun start at 12:30pm. Golf awards presentation with Luau dinner at Louie's Backyard at 7:00pm. Entry fee and dinner is $100.00 and dinner only $35.00. Sponsored by Laguna Madre Christian Academy. Call Rob Meyer (956) 761-4913 or (956) 371-5015, Ben Brooks (956) 943-5545, or Meagan Rossman (956) 761-3372.

November 22nd-24th
South Padre Island Roundball Invitational Tournament NCAA Men''s Division 1 Basketball Tournament. New Mexico State, Tulsa, and UT Pan Am will play in a 3 team ''round robin''! This event is sponsored by SPI Hoops, Inc., & SPI CVB and will be held at the South Padre Island Convention Centre.  Tickets go on sale October 14, 2002. Call 888-774-8587 for more information.

November 29th
The Lighting of the Island is sponsored by the SPI Convention & Visitors Bureau. Plan to join Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus for the official lighting of the Island, refreshments and Christmas carols will be served at SPI Visitor's Center, 600 Padre Blvd. beginning at 6:00 PM. The admission is free. Call (800) 657-2373 for more information.

December 13th
15th Annual Island of Lights Christmas Parade is sponsored by Club Padre. The parade will be held on Padre Boulevard starting at 6:30pm.  A total of $3000 in cash awards to the top three entrees in three categories! 
Phone (956) 761-2582 for more information.

Legal Stuff:
I am told this paragraph must always be a part of this newsletter, no matter how boring it is. Without it, somebody may interpret this newsletter as SPAM (South Padrians Against Me?). So, you are getting this Newsletter because you subscribed (in most instances) to it. VGSPI does not want to clutter anyone's email box with unsolicited email. If you do not want to continue your free subscription to this newsletter, please click on the email address located at the bottom of the page to have your name removed. If you decide to have your name removed from the list, please make sure and delete the newsletter from your email in-box and empty your trash! Please allow 3-5 business days to have your name removed from the list; and, then we will no longer be married!

ARCHIVE NEWSLETTERS CLICK HERE 

EMAIL: