Tag Archives: Tim W. Jackson

Never piss off a dolphin . . .

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Blacktip Island Weather

sunday june 5

Sunday, June 5, 2022

Temperature: 87

Humidity: 62%

Precipitation: Not today

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Blacktip Islanders Form Flat Earth Council Chapter

flat earth society

Blacktip Island’s Flat Earth Council members are using a modern version of a medieval T-and-O map—centered on Jerusalem, with east at the top as with the original T-and-Os— as evidence the Earth is not spherical. (infographic courtesy of Foobaz)

A pair of Blacktip Islanders this week founded a chapter of the Flat Earth Council, an international organization devoted to proving the planet is not spherical, in an effort to rebut comments made by scientists at a recent astrology lecture on the small Caribbean island.

“We’re tired of folks telling us we live on a giant ball, when we obviously don’t,” Blacktip Island FEC president B.C. Flote said. “FEC’s got chapters all around the globe, and it’s about time we got one here to combat the flat-out lies being spread. Shouldn’t have to prove something so obvious, but here we are.

“We’re clearly living on a giant flying pancake in space,” Flote said. “Ancient Greeks and Egyptians knew it— Herodotus and Balzac and all them. St. Augustine, too. Think about it—no matter how high up a mountain you climb, the horizon’s always at eye level. If that doesn’t prove it, I don’t know what does.”

The chapter’s other member was more conspiracy minded.

“All those photos from space showing a curvy Earth are part of the hoax,” Goldie Goby said. “Bill Gates and NASA and the global Illuminati all have a vested interest in the spherical Earth concept. That’s how they make their money. And keep us in line.

“And the Earth’s actually more of a bowl than a pancake,” Goby said. “The Arctic’s in the center, and the Antarctic’s a giant wall of ice around the outside, kind of like the salt on the rim of a margarita glass. Except it’s ice, not salt. NASA security folks guard the wall and keep people from falling off the other side.”

The island’s scientific community derided the idea.

“The idea of the Earth being flat is a relic of the Bronze age,” Tiperon University-Blacktip astrology professor Sally Port said. “Aristotle even calculated the circumference in the 3rd-Century BCE. This isn’t new stuff. Goldie and B.C. need to send their T-and-O maps back to the Middle Ages. But she’s an Aries and he’s a Scorpio, so what can you do?

“Every space agency in the world has photos of a nice, round Earth, just like all the other planets,” Port said. “And if that’s not proof enough, if the Earth were flat, cats would have knocked everything off the edges long before now. Think about it.”

Flote rebutted that criticism.

“Saying Aristotle proved the world’s round isn’t saying much,” he said. “You can’t trust Greeks using Arabic numerals. A giant snow globe dome’s the only thing keeping us safe, and Sally knows it.”

Island authorities are taking a wait-and-see approach to the group.

“So long as they’re not drunk-brawling or tearing anything up, I have no problem with them,” Island Police Constable Rafe Marquette said. “So far, they’re harmless. And if this keeps them out of the bars and off the roads, preferably both, I’m all for it.”

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T.G.I.W.

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Blacktip Island Weather

sunday may 29

Sunday, May 29, 2022

Temperature: 86

Humidity: 67%

Precipitation: Noooope

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Sarcasm Festival Kicks Off Blacktip Island’s Hurricane Season

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Blacktip Island will host its inaugural sarcasm festival this weekend at various locations across the island. (photo by Paloma Fairlead/BTT staff)


To mark the start of the 2022 hurricane season June 1, Blacktip Island community organizers will launch the small Caribbean island’s inaugural Hurricane Appreciation Sarcasm Festival at multiple venues this weekend.

“As ever, everybody was rolling their eyes and saying, ‘oh, yay, it’s almost hurricane season,’ so we figured we’d embrace that whole-hog,” festival organizer Jay Valve said. “Sarcasm’s this little rock’s favorite pastime anyway, why not own it?

“There’ll be all kinds of sarcasm contests and demonstrations, like sideways compliments, muttering under your breath, smirking, eye rolling, and humble brags,” Valve said. “There’ll be ironic and non-ironic categories as well. We’re hoping for lots of good, old-fashioned passive aggression here. The only worry is if anyone will notice.”

Some in the community were dismissive of the idea.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Alison Diesel said. “Everyone will love it. In Jay’s dreams. A sarcasm festival? Seriously? Like that’ll ever work.”

Others focused on positive aspects.

“On Blacktip, sarcasm’s not just a maladaptive coping mechanism,” social anthropologist Catalina Luxfer said. “Here, it’s an art form to get you through your day. Something you really have to work at. I mean, a person can be unintentionally ironic, but sarcasm requires consciousness, intent. And constant practice.

“I’m especially excited about the delineation between ironic and non-ironic contest categories,” Luxfer said. “It’s a distinction most people miss, but it’s an important one. I’m surprised Jay came up with it, though. He couldn’t find his ass if he used both hands.”

Live music will be played at various venues by island-favorite bands, including The Social Morays, Young Jacques and the Double Hose, Duck on a Junebug, TURTLE!!!, and Schrödinger’s Merkin.

“The musical offerings are as diverse as the island’s population,” Valve said. “From traditional island country to death metal, there’ll be something for everyone. Young and old alike.”

Proceeds from the event will go fund the island’s planned hurricane supply shed.

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Dolphin Time!

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Blacktip Island Weather

sunday may 22

Sunday, May 22, 2022

Temperature: 84

Humidity: 64%

Precipitation: Not today

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Blacktip Island Applies For NATO Membership

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Amid concerns about a possible Russian invasion, Blacktip Island may be accepted as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s newest member as early as this weekend. (photo by Wendy Beaufort/BTT staff)

Blacktip Island leaders this week submitted a formal request to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization amid worries about Russian aggression on the small Caribbean island.

“Russia’s a long way away, but it’s got long arms,” island mayor Jack Cobia said. “Wouldn’t take much for them to take over Blacktip, declare a victory to distract from what’s going on in Ukraine. A handful of Spetsnaz dressed up as scuba divers could take this place inside three hours.

“Folks say we’re overreacting, but there were some Russian tourists here last week, and they were pretty damn aggressive,” Cobia said. “I’m pretty sure they were Russian, anyway. Had that look about them. And they talked funny. Scoping us out, near as we could tell. That’s what set off the alarm bells.”

Many on the island say the fears are well founded.

“Blacktip’s a tempting target,” Ernestine Bass said. “No defense forces here to speak of. A plane full of faux tourists flies in, seizes the power plant, and, voila, we’re the newest Russian outpost. They’ve always wanted a warm-weather port, and with Blacktip, they’d have one.

“Now, it’s true we’re not in the Atlantic Ocean, but we’re pretty damn close,” Bass said. “Closer than Poland. And we are northern. With us in NATO, guarding the southern flank, Russia’d think twice before messing with us.”

Others were focused on repelling a possible invasion.

“We’re eyeballing everybody who gets off the Islander when it lands,” Linford Blenny said. “Also setting up teams of coast watchers in case the Russkies try to attack by boat. Or subs—we seen them periscopes watching us at night. Got us a good stockpile of machetes and big sticks, too. Dermott Bottoms, he’s collecting beer bottles to chuck at ‘em.

“Building ambush points, too,” Blenny said. “And we’re making a fake runway so they crash when they try to land. Think Ukrainians are badasses? Wait ‘til Boris and company run into a bunch of riled up Blacktip Island drunks. A tactical nuke wouldn’t even slow them down. Russians invade here, they won’t know what hit ‘em.”

Officials said they expect a quick acceptance from NATO.

“Sent the request first-class airmail, with a tracking number, so we know they got it,” Cobia said. “Blacktip may be small, but we bring a lot to the table. We’re not just some sleepy backwater. No Russians ever landed here we couldn’t chase away. I reckon we’ll be approved in a matter of days now.”

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Exhale. It’s Wednesday.

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