Trouble in The Clouds

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Featured Story

The Day Alexa said “No!”

Monday, October 20th, seemed like any other day. I woke up, had my morning run, some mushroom coffee, then headed into the office to start working. “Alexa, play my news,” I called out. Her response, I’m paraphrasing here, was, “Actually, I’m gonna go with, No!” That string of words set off a downward spiral that ended in the world learning a $100 billion lesson about something called a single point of failure.

I’m out of practice, but in another life I worked as a network engineer, among other highly technical roles. So talk of load balancing, routing failures, and VMs (virtual machines) is second nature. But the idea of tossing your infrastructure into the “cloud” and singing “Amazon take the wheel” seems sacrilegious.

Millions of people were reminded Monday of why distributed systems are distributed. You centralize everything into one thing, and when that one thing goes down, well, you have Monday. Social media apps, airline check-ins, video games, and even banking systems stumbled into chaos all because a company that started by selling books from a garage had an oopsy.

As kids and adults alike stared at their phones in bewilderment, our dependence on Amazon was on full display. AWS isn’t just cloud storage anymore, it’s the invisible spine of our digital lives. From DoorDash deliveries to Disney+, Netflix, banking apps, smart thermostats, and half of your favorite websites, they all ride on the same rails.

The reality is, for better or worse, we’ve hitched our collective wagon to the Besos train, or however that idiom goes. And for a few hours on Monday, that train derailed. Businesses scrambled, developers cried, and somewhere in Seattle, a very expensive meeting was happening. Meanwhile, in Southshore, our locals were doing what locals do, taking a walk, sitting by the water, maybe realizing that not every connection needs Wi-Fi.

So yes, the world broke for a few hours, but it also served as a pretty good reminder that the most reliable system still starts with a good old-fashioned backup plan. Because in a world where your morning playlist depends on a server farm in Virginia, sometimes it pays to keep a paperback nearby, just in case the cloud forgets how to rain.

Your Insurance Tip of the Week

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Southshore Story Time

🏝 THE RIVER BENEATH US

Part 2: The Map

By morning, the story was everywhere. “Possible Pirate Chest Found in Apollo Beach.” Dr. Hensley, however, was nowhere to be found. He hadn’t returned home, and his car was found abandoned near the marina.

Lena went to the Southshore Historical Society, tucked behind a seafood shack in Ruskin. The curator, a bearded man named Cal Weaver, brought out brittle ledgers and a single map, with the edges scorched. It showed smuggling routes from the 1700s, when thieves ferried goods through hidden tributaries connecting the Alafia and the Bay.

Cal said locals once believed there was a passage under the Alafia, an ancient limestone tunnel widened by smugglers. No proof, only stories. Lena continued to study the map, her curiosity turning to obsession.

She completely unrolled it and leaned closer. The lower corner was blank—or had been. A dark stain crept outward across the page, glistening like wet ink. Letters formed slowly, curling up from the parchment itself.

“RUN.”

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

It’s Crabbing Time

Yup, it’s that time again. The weather is nipping ever-so-slightly, and down in our Southshore backyard, the mighty stone crabs are on their annual climb. If you’ve noticed big claws poking out of cooler bags or heard a salty “plink-plink” as traps are pulled at dawn, you’re not imagining it, you’re in the thick of crustacean season.

Here’s the scoop: Only the claws. That’s right, folks. You may harvest the claws of the stone crab, but the rest of its body? Nope. The system owes the crab a future. Which means every time you see one of those gnarly pincers, you’re also witnessing a comeback story. The claw grows back, but only if the critter gets to keep growing.

Rules: the claws must be at least 2 ⅞ inches wide. You’re limited to one gallon of claws per person, or two gallons per boat. Traps must be registered and marked. Daytime pulls only. If it sounds like you’re preparing for a full-on second job as a crab custodian, well… you’re basically right.

Around here, the crabs are part of our waterway rhythm. The boats launching at dawn, the “plunk” when a trap hits the deck, the cool cooler sealed shut with ice, and expectations. It’s part of what makes living near the water so uniquely Southshore. And it’s also a reminder that when nature sets the rules, we play.

Harvesting stone crabs isn’t just about dinner. It’s about tradition, patience, and those big claws reminding us that sometimes growth means giving back.

Southshore Spotlight

National Autobody Council (NABC)

The National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides® initiative refurbishes vehicles through industry partnerships. Since 2007, it has donated more than 3,500 vehicles to veterans, single mothers, and those in need.

The program not only restores cars, it restores opportunity, giving recipients reliable transportation, greater independence, and a fresh shot at stability.

Nominate your local hero by emailing us at [email protected]

We Know a Guy…or Girl

Southshore Services

Need a painter? A plumber? Someone brave enough to tackle that lightbulb orbiting 30 feet above your living room? We’ve got you. And the best part, they’re all right here in our community.

Interested in joining the list? Shoot us an email to [email protected]

“Keep it Local!”

Foodies Only

Roots Southern BBQ

Roots Southern BBQ in Apollo Beach brings authentic, soulful barbecue to the SouthShore area. Rooted in Southern hospitality, they blend family recipes with fresh ingredients to deliver dishes made with both tradition and heart. If your nose doesn’t lead you to them, you can track them down below.

If you’ve got a restaurant, food truck, or even a lemonade stand, it could be featured here. Email us at [email protected]

Local Sports

Battle of the Quarterbacks: Who Rules Southshore?

Voting ends this week!

It’s time to settle the score. You have until Friday to decide who’s the true throwing king of Southshore. Cast your vote, rally your team, and let’s see who takes the crown. The winner gets a full feature in The Southshore Circle and a gift card to one of our favorite local spots.

Football

Lennard vs Palmetto, Friday 10/24 @7:30 PM - Home

East Bay vs Spoto, Friday 10/24 @ 7:30 PM - Home

Sumner vs Alonso, Friday 10/24 @7:30 PM - Home

Riverview vs Bloomingdale, Friday 10/24, @ 7:30 PM - Away

Spoto vs East Bay, Friday 10/24, @7:30 PM - Away

News or Events you’d like to share? Email us at: [email protected] 

Until next time,

Keep It Local.