JIMMY HOFFA AND BUM FARTO…..WHERE ARE YOU?

On this day in 1975, Jimmy Hoffa disappeared. Five weeks later on September 9, 1975, Key West’s Bum Farto disappeared. No relationship between the two.

Hoffa had been a prominent union leader. It is thought organized crime had a hand in his disappearance.

Farto was Key West’s Fire Chief. He had been arrested for selling cocaine from fire stations under his jurisdiction.

Both have not been heard from since their disappearances. Safe to say, they probably never will be heard from. Some day if we are lucky, we may hear the how and why of their disappearances.

Yesterday afternoon was spent researching this week’s KONK Life column. I have not decided on the title yet. The subject matter is the treatment of homosexuals in Germany. For a period of 84 years. Beginning in 1871 and ending in 1985.

Special emphasis given to Hitler’s treatment of gays. Jews were gassed. Though in significantly lesser numbers, homosexuals maltreated also. Castrated.

I will write the column this afternoon.

Last night was dinner at the bar at Tavern ‘n Town. Bobby Nesbitt time, of course. Bobby waved me over. He laughingly told me how much he enjoyed the Bagel column.

I was looking for a change of pace article last week. Can’t write about heavy stuff all the time. Bagels were it. As opposed to this week’s column which will involve the horrendous treatment of homosexuals in Germany. Especially, Hitler’s Germany.

Terri still good. Actually as if nothing happened to her this past week. A heart attack last Tuesday. God love her!

Enjoy your Sunday!

DIXONS BACK IN TOWN

My years in Key West have brought me many new friends. Two are Tom and Fran Dixon. From Buffalo. They have business interests which bring them to Key West several times a year.

We have become very close. Fran makes homemade candy. Chocolate her specialty. Each trip she brings me a box. It was no different last night. We had dinner together. Fran gave me the candy. Two kinds. Told me one chocolate was made with something hot. The candy would have a tang.

I could not wait to get home to try the candy. Started while driving home. Good! Especially the peppery chocolate. It was a bit sharp.

The entire evening was fun. We met first at the Chart Room. Spent a couple of hours there with Jean and Sheila. Laughter prevailed.

Then Tom, Fran and I were off to the Hot Tin Roof for dinner. More fun!

Tom had a stroke a month ago. I was not aware till last night. You would never know it. He looked good and was his usual joyful self.

Tom and I are bonded in a special way. Both die hard Syracuse fans!

My friends are getting sick. Tom, who fortunately quickly recovered. Terri who is on her way to recovery. Terri returned to Key West yesterday. Spoke with her on the telephone. She was bubbly and cheerful.

It is saturday again. Comes fast each week. I have to research my KONK column today. Thought about a topic yesterday. Did a little digging. Came up with it! Not sure of the title yet. The topic concerns Hitler and homosexuals.

Hitler disliked homosexuals as well as Jews. His slogan for the Jews was: Exterminate them! For homosexuals: Castrate them!

My Bagels column is rerun in this morning’s KONK E-Blast. With the last eight paragraphs included. Bagels are American today. Not always, however. Bagels did not gain in national popularity till the 1950s.

Two social comments/observations.

It was announced yesterday that several more Flint and Michigan officials had been arrested re the Flint water crisis. The lead in the water story.

Obama immediately arranged for $5 million to help when the lead problem surfaced in January.. He also asked Congress to approve significantly more monies. Congress held hearings. The politicos could be seen on TV condemning what had occurred, enunciating clearly that something had to be done. Swiftly.

That was in January. The people of Flint are still waiting. The federal government sitting on its ass. Congress is on a seven week vacation not yet having approved funding. The people of Flint drinking bottled water and using faucet filters. Not even close to being enough.

2016 sometimes similar to centuries ago. Somtimes, thousands of years ago. Middle East beheadings one example.

Another is what is occurring in Turkey.

The coup failed. Some plotters arrested and executed. Others will follow. Turkey’s President refuses to permit funeral prayers and services for the plotters. A decent burial denied. Not even a casket. Dig a hole and drop the body in.

A stray dog facility is being erected. A place for dogs to run about and enjoy. In one corner, a cemetery is located for the bodies. It is called Traitors’ Cemetery. So marked with a small black metal sign. A place for the dogs to freely run about and do whatever.

The President sick! His actions reflective of something Hitler or Stalin might have done.

Enjoy your day!

 

ELECTRIC CART ACCIDENT

It was inevitable. I knew someday I would see an accident involving an electric cart. I did yesterday.

The carts are dangerous on the Boulevards and US 1. Their speed limited. Motor vehicles traveling at faster speeds. The carts frequently holding up traffic in one lane.

The accident was on US 1. Two hundred feet north of Cross Street in the northbound lanes.

It was about 7 pm. I was on my way home from Publix. Stopped for the light on US 1 at Cross Street. First in line in the passing lane.

I was not specifically watching anything. Merely sitting and waiting for the light to change. Suddenly, I saw it! Not the accident itself. Probably a split second after the accident occurred.

I could not tell from 200 feet that the cart was a cart. Looked like a big box broken and sitting in the road. Next to it a black car. It was only as I creeped up to the scene that I saw it was an electric cart. Two in the cart. Someone laying under the cart, head in a pool of blood. A woman trying to stand holding on to the cart roof. Both middle aged.

Cart and car were severely damaged.

Workers from the garages and other businesses came running out. I could hear the ambulance siren. Someone waved me past the accident scene and indicated to continue down US 1.

The bottom line…..Do whatever necessary to keep the electric carts off the roads. Especially US 1 and the Boulevards. The carts accidents in the making.

My day yesterday began with Tammy. A manicure.

Her place of business well air conditioned. Last week it was blazing hot. The air conditioning down. She and husband Rick had to replace the entire unit.

Decided to lunch at Harpoon Harry’s. A nice feeling about the place.

Parking was a problem. One o’clock in the afternoon in the summer and no parking places available in the large parking lot on Caroline Street. Three cars stopped in parking lot lanes waiting for a spot to open. I finally found one across the street.

The City Commission bears responsibility for insufficient parking. There and everywhere else in Key West. The City recently remodeled the lot. Put in shrubbery. Took out 3-4 parking spots to create another exit spot. One which I have yet to see anyone use.

It has also been announced that some part of the area is going to be used for the day buses coming in from Miami. A place for the buses to park. Taking away more vehicle parking places.

The ham and eggs were excellent. Read the newspapers and enjoyed.

Only a half dozen patrons in Harpoon Harry’s. Made me wonder where all the people with cars in the lot were.

The Chart Room last night.

Tom and Fran Dixon from Buffalo were to have arrived yesterday. Thought I would run into them. Did not.

Stayed about two hours listening to mini-lobster divers recount their experience of the day. Tourists. They enjoyed the experience.

Stopped at Publix on the way home to pick up a few things.

It was on my way home from Publix that I observed the accident scene.

The Florida Mosquito Control District has more problems. This morning’s Key West Citizen reports that Executive Director Michael Doyle resigned effective September 1. He is leaving for a position with the State of North Carolina.

The Mosquito board has experienced a number of foul ups since the first of the year. The Oxitec situation. The $4.4 million approval for a new building. Even Doyle’s salary was questioned as being excessive.

Doyle did a good job till this year. I never see a mosquito. Zeka and Oxitec proved his down fall. The way he handled it. The $4.4 million building did not help. It could have been built a year a year ago for $2.2 million. The 45 percent tax raise approved last week did not help either.

William Hackley’s 1855 diary runs daily in the Key West Citizen continues to garner my attention. It is history in Key West in 1855. A day by day story.

Today, Hackley reported Baby better. Good! I worry about the baby making it. Mother can’t supply enough milk. Goat bought in from Havana was dry.

William himself was sick during the night. Took 4 Wright VG pills.

Looked up Wright VG pills. Best I could come up for the time was sleeping pills or vagina tightening tablets. Best bet is the tablets were sleeping pills.

Mini-lobster season has ended. Yesterday, no accidents. Authorities report a limited number of lobsters. Most boats returned with less than the 6 per person limit. Suggests a poor harvest season ahead.

My KONK Life column this week is Bagles. It was run in this morning’s E-Blast. The last 8 paragraphs were left out. It will be rerun tomorrow or sunday.

Watched the conclusion of the Democratic Convention last night. Thought it was excellent. Obviously. Made the Republican Convention come up poorly. Trump’s comments last night and this morning make him look poorly.

An ass! Incompetent! Dangerous!

Enjoy your day!

TERRI WHITE…..ILL

Terri White experienced a heart attack tuesday while at home here in Key West. She was helicoptered to Miami’s Mount Sinai Hospital.

A catheterization. Ninety percent blockage in one artery. A stent put in.

She was sitting up in bed last night eating a hospital roast beef dinner. Complaining about the beef and the rest of the food.

Terri will be home soon. If all ok, today.

Someone was looking over her shoulder. In addition to Donna. God.

My day yesterday began withe the anti-gravity treadmill. Whereas I took it easy monday and ended up tired, yesterday I went at it. I pushed hard. It is my way. I had to test myself. Went to a high speed fast and stayed there. I was not tired afterwards. You figure.

Then to Walgreens. Always going to Walgreens. Getting old means pills. Tons of them. Not complaining. Keeps me healthy. No question about it. My heart doctor says it is the pills for me.

Even for generics, prescriptions can be expensive. I pay $40 for one and $36 for another. Both reached those dramatic levels this year.

Stopped at Verizon. Still learning my cell phone. Nana my teacher not there. Had to cover the Marathon store. Will stop by again tomorrow.

I am becoming a regular at Aqua. Twice a week.

Last night, the Back Door. Expected to see Mark Watson. Not there. On Fire Island for a few days. Tom Luna covering for him.

Chatted quite a while with Tom. First time so long. Interesting background. An interesting person. He spent much time in New York. We compared notes.

Jeremy came in. Tom introduced us. Jeremy is Aqua’s general manager. Thirty seven. Enjoyed his company. He is knowledgeable. His ability obvious.

Start of mini-lobster season busy yesterday. Much busier than I thought. Guess I was outside watching for the boats too early.

A picture in this morning’s Key West Citizen shows the boats. Bumper to bumper, so to speak.

A 60 year old man became ill while diving off Cudjoe Key yesterday. Fortunately, a Navy helicopter was nearby. Within 15 minutes, he had been airlifted to the Lower Keys Medical Center. Unfortunately, he did not survive.

A boat with four persons went out tuesday. Not diving for lobsters yet. One day early. Merely diving. Intended to go out 7-8 miles. Boat became disabled. The Coast Guard was out looking for them. They were found yesterday 33 miles out. Everyone fine.

There were a number of boats that passed by my home this morning. All heading out to dive for lobsters. Some of the boats overloaded with people. Reminded me of the scene in Jaws when everyone was going out to catch the shark.

Then it rained. At 7:45 it poured. Typical tropical storm. Heavy for 10 minutes. Big time thunder. Water picking up. Then it stopped and everything returned to normal.

I would not have wanted to be out on a boat during those 10 minutes.

William Hackley reports today that Matilda’s milk is still not good. Baby not tolerating it. Baby has been sick for three days. Coughing up green stuff.

I am beginning to worry about Baby.

My Republican, conservative, far right friends, how can you support Trump? A man who invites Russia/Putin to admit and share e-mails hacked from our private files. Trump is crazy. Putin is crazy.

Trump said he would accept Putin’s word on anything he says. Trump forgets that Putin denied for months that it was Russian troops in disguise who invaded Crimea.

Trump makes himself sound like the patriot of patriots. He is going to save America!

The 18th century writer Samuel Johnson said: “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.”

I have followed and been concerned with Venezuela President Nicolos Maduro for three years. Another President is added. He is President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines.

Drugs are a major problem in the Philippines. Duterte has authorized police and citizens to kill anyone on the spot who they discover using or selling drugs. He advises he will pardon anyone involved in the killings.

No due process involved. Kill them and throw them into the sea. Dtterte said the fish will get fat off their bodies.

Duterte is a nut. Like Maduro. And, Trump.  Duterte wants to retire with a reputation comparable to Idi Amin. So he says.

Ugh!

Enjoy your day!

 

 

BAGELS

Bagels! Bagels! Bagels!

Everyone eats bagels in the United States. Where did this roll with a hole in its center get its start? How did it get to be an American favorite? The story interesting.

There are three different stories as to the birth of the bagel. Each receives historical recognition. All agree only one of the three tales can be true.

One thing certain. Poland the place. The year and who not.

A German immigration to Poland occurred in the 14th century. The Germans brought with them pretzels. The pretzels morphed into a round roll with a hole in the center. They called it obwarzanek.

Obwarzaneks gained in popularity.

King Jadwiga was the first female monarch of Poland. A woman. She carried the title of King for political reasons. None having to do with obwarzaneks.

King Jadwiga was extremely religious. She had converted to Catholicism.

Lent is a time of deprivation for Catholics. Jadwiga ate obwarzaneks during Lent. Obwarzaneks were less rich than the usual flavored breads and sweet cakes eaten during the rest of the year.

Obwarzaneks were made from wheat. Not cheap. Only royalty and men and women of means could afford them.

Jadwiga ruled from 1384 to 1399. She was known as a pious woman who did much to help the poor. The Catholic Church canonized her in 1997.

The first written record of the bagel is found in 1610. The place, Krakow, Poland.

Bagels were given as a gift to women following child birth. It was thought the round shape had magical powers. The bagels would bring good luck to mother and child and signify their long lives.

The third version occurred in 1783. One hundred thousand Ottoman Turks layed siege to the walled city of Vienna. The Turks surrounded the city for months.

Polish King John III Sobieski put together a relief force of Poles and Austrians. John III reached Vienna and beat back the Turks. Thus saving Vienna.

John III was a skilled horseman. Vienna bakers wished to honor him. They created a roll with a hole in the center in the shape of a stirrup. The Austrian word for stirrup is bugel. Beugel in German. Eventually Americanized to bagel.

Of the three stories, the most interesting has the least credibility. The King John III Sobieski one.

Over the years, bagels became an everyday food associated with poverty. Things were tough in Poland. Jews sold bagels on street corners to earn a few pennies.

Around 1900, Jews immigrated to the United States in large numbers. They began street peddling bagels in New York’s lower east side.

 

Bagel makers formed a New York City Union. Bagel Bakers Local #338 in 1910. It continued in existence to 1950. Membership was limited to 300 bakers. Described as exclusive craftsmen. Men who had “bagels in their blood.”

Membership was limited to sons of members. At one time it was said that it was easier to get into medical school than get an apprenticeship in one of the 36 union bagel shops in New York City and New Jersey.

In the late 1950s and into the 1960s, bagel bakers began moving to other parts of the country.

Prepackaged bagels first became available in American grocery stores in the 1950s. Frozen bagels in the 1960s.

Whereas bagels were first made by hand, the 1960s saw them being made by machines.

Mass marketing of bagels came into being. The genius of the Lender family. First, the father Harry. Then the sons Murray and Marvin.

Harry Lender was a Polish immigrant. He settled in West Haven, Connecticut. In 1927, he opened Lender’s Bagel Bakery. The man had vision. His primary customers were the Jewish Delis in New York City.

His sons Murray and Marvin took mass sales to another level. Flash frozen bagels in 1958. Pre-sliced bagels in 1960. Lender’s bagels are available in frozen food counters in supermarkets today world wide.

1987 is the year bagels entered into the mainstream of American foodstuffs. It was 1987 that bagels were sold not only in grocery stores, but also listed on fast food menus.

Supermarket sales of bagels in the United States per a 2012 study, reflected astronomical sale dollars. The figures do not include Wal-Mart.

Fresh bagel sales totaled $626.9 million. Fresh frozen, $592.7 million.

Taste tells. Bagel eaters can identify a New York bagel from any other. As can those who favor Montreal bagels. The difference between New York and Montreal bagels is that

Montreal uses no salt, and uses eggs, sugar and/or sweetener.

A new bagel identifiable by city has arisen. Still in its infancy. Time will tell if it will make the big time.

It is the Cleveland bagel.

I doubt whether anyone ever heard of the Cleveland bagel outside Cleveland till last week. The Wall Street Journal ran a front page article about the new bagel.

The Cleveland Bagel Company. Begun two years ago by two neighbors living in the same apartment building. Neither had ever baked anything before. Not even brownies out of a box.

One a former warehouse employee out of work. The other involved with software.

They decided to make bagels. Experimented six months before they came up with a bagel they liked. They make bagels the old fashioned way. By hand. Boil them in water and maple syrup. Followed by baking in a convection oven.

They initially made the bagels in their apartments. Stored the dough in their refrigerators. Ran out of refrigerator space. A neighbor allowed them to use his.

One problem. They had to remove the bagels from the refrigerator at 4 am. The neighbor gave them a  key to his apartment with the admonition to be quiet.

When ready, the bagels are loaded in their cars and delivered around Cleveland between 6 and 7 am.

Production is up to 300 dozen bagels a week. The operation has been moved to the back room of a local pasta shop.

The two hope their bagels become known as Cleveland bagels. They want the bagels to be as popular as Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. They promote their bagel as being better than a New York one.

It is said that any business written up on the front page of the Wall Street Journal is guaranteed success. It makes the company. I am curious if it will ring true for the two guys from Cleveland. Time will tell.

A few cultural aspects of the bagel.

Many mothers still use bagels as teething rings for their children.

Bagel is also a Yeshivish term for sleeping 12 hours straight: “I slept a bagel last night.” Bagel dough has to rest for at least 12 hours between mixing and baking.

The term bagel is part of tennis. A 6-0 win of a set is referred to as a bagel. Winning a match 6-0, 6-0, 6-0 is called a triple bagel.

Food for thought herein. Bagel history. Something to think about every time you enjoy one.

NILE CROCS KILL HUMANS

We have had a crocodile sighting on a rock off Fort Zach Beach. Purportedly not a human biting one. There have been other croc and alligator sightings recently. Now we learn of Nile crocodiles.

Nile crocs are not native to Florida waters. They come from Africa. Big things. Grow to 20 feet. Eat humans.

So far three Nile croc sightings in Florida swamps. No one can explain how they got here.

As to native crocs and alligators, State authorities say we have shared Florida waters with them for centuries. The intimation being we should not be concerned. It is their territory as well as ours. We must learn to live together.

Hard to buy when one is discovered feet off For Zach Beach.

Today is day one of mini lobster season. It is off to a slow start.

I was up early this morning to sit on the deck and watch the boats rushing out. Fifty by my deck easily. For 16 years. not this year.

The water is choppy today. Cloudy and gray. Only two boats have gone by.

The weather is screwing up everyone’s fun.

My blog talk radio show last night. The topic I spent most time discussing involves protests at the Republican and Democratic Conventions. Outside protests. Little media reporting re same.

Black Lives Matter were out in the hundreds in Philadelphia yesterday. Marched to the fence of the convention center. Things a bit rowdy.

No comment from the media.  One TV reporter did comment last night that things were heating up a bit outside. He thought they were Sanders dissidents who had walked out.

I worry demonstration news is being kept from us intentionally.

The Mosquito Control Board members are an inept bunch. Their values misplaced. The Zika situation has removed their scab.

I wrote a few days ago that the Board paid its employees extremely well. They were in the process of beginning construction of a new $4.4 million building. And…..had approved a 45 percent tax hike

Now, I find out that being a Board member is a good deal. Each board member is paid $24,000 a year. Twelve meetings. Plus, they are part of the State retirement system and receive hospitalization.

Vote them all out!

Hillary officially nominated last night.

The Democratic Convention more enjoyable and better organized than the Republican one. Reflects how one would run the government.

Trump may be getting in trouble over his Putin relationship, if one exists. The rumor is he may have received financing for some of his enterprises via Russian banks.

Wikipedia causing many to sweat. Even Hillary. Money laundering the issue. Involving the Hillary Victory Fund and the DNC.

Today is wednesday. Screw off day for me. I spend saturday, sunday, monday and tuesday researching, writing, etc. Wednesday, thursday and friday are my days off. I even slept better last night.

Enjoy your day!

CROC AND SHARK RECLAIM WATERS

There is a sign this morning on Fort Zachary Taylor Beach: CAUTION and the picture of a crocodile. the picture taken yesterday. Shows a five foot croc lying on a rock just of the beach.

A hammerhead shark was sighted also. Friday. Again, just off the beach at Fort Zachary Taylor. The shark described as large. The shark was engaged in a battle with a large tarpon. Standing nearby in the water, two tourists. They got the hell out!

We are told crocs are shy and docile. Not dangerous. I don’t buy it! May be true, yet would scare me if I saw one.

I had a shark experience 15 years ago. In the waters off the Casa Marina Beach. Big shark! Brown. I am sure the water magnified it. But it still had to be huge. What I saw was monstrous.

Later that evening I was having drinks with some friends at the Square One bar. All locals, some Conchs. Told them of my shark experience. How frightened I was. They all laughed at me. Told me the shark I saw was a sand shark. Yes, big. No problem, however. Their teeth are set way back. All I would have felt was the shark gumming a leg or arm.

Maybe the gumming would not have hurt me. Guaranteed the heart attack would have!

Some Key West natives are not concerned about the water inhabitants. They say the water and land first belonged to the crocs and sharks. People the interlopers. It is their homes we have invaded.

I wonder what they would say if attacked or bitten by one.

Tonight, my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Part of yesterday spent preparing for the show. The topics interesting. Included are the political conventions, police killings, military gear for police, prostitution at the conventions, media coverage of protestors, Venezuela update, and more.

A fast moving half hour. Join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Watched the Democratic Convention on and off.

Stopped by Rich and Cindy Boettgers for drinks at 4. Good people. Cindy a beauty. Love her. Rich a genius. We talked politics and local problems. Not always agreeing.

Left them and headed to Aqua. Dueling bartenders time. David sitting at the bar. Enjoyed the singers and David.

Hungry. Not much, however. Headed to Roostica where I enjoyed an artichoke dip.

Then back home to watch more of the Democratic Convention. Loved Michelle Obama. One smart woman!

I wish Sanders would end it. He is reluctant to cut the umbilical cord. Take that final step. You would think he encouraged and supported the Revolutionary War.

He is taken with himself. Too much.

The Big Latch On saturday. I wrote about the event when it took place last year. Part of International World Breastfeeding Week. To encourage breast feeding and explain the value of it.

At a specified time, those meeting in Key West will breast feed their babies at the same time.

The police/black acts of brutality will continue till a resolution arrived at. Neither side should be proud. However, I continue to maintain that the police invited retaliation. Retaliation was inevitable.

Proof of the pudding that police are shooting/beating citizens improperly are in dollar pay outs. Figures released for Chicago. This year to date, the City of Chicago has paid out $18.6 million to resolve police brutality lawsuits. $500 million in the last 10 years.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

HEMINGWAY WINS HEMINGWAY LOOK A-LIKE CONTEST

Yes, Hemingway did win the Hemingway Look A-Like Contest. David Hemingway from Macon, North Carolina. Age 65. No relation to the original Hemingway.

One hundred forty Look A-Like contestants. Biggest participation yet!

Celebrity chef Paula Deen in the crowd. This was her husband’s seventh try at winning.

Never left the house yesterday. I was glued to the TV watching Democratic Convention news. Early morning and into the evening.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz should not even appear on the podium this evening. I understand she will now speak. I hope not. She will become an anchor around Hillary’s neck.

In between politics, I wrote this week’s KONK Life column. Bagels. A history of bagels. The article takes the reader from King Jadwiga to Krakow to 100,000 Ottoman Turks to King John III Sobieski to the Bagel Bakers Local #338 to the Lender family to Cleveland bagels. A trip covering several hundred years.

Mini lobster season this week! Wednesday and thursday. Thousands will come to Key West to dive for lobsters.

I remember the first time I dove for lobsters. About 20 years ago. I went down. Saw two sets of tentacles coming out from under a rock shelf. I rushed back up and yelled to my experienced friends on the boat that I had found two of the biggest lobsters ever. I could hear their laughs as I dove back to capture my prizes.

Brought them up. They looked awfully small. Measured them. Too small. Had to throw them back.

It was then I learned the water magnifies everything.

My friends laughed at me. I took it in stride. The best was yet to come.

At some point, the boat was driven about a 100 feet off some small key and the anchor dropped. No other boats or people than us. I jumped in the water with several others. The water was waist high. Others on the boat were cooking the lobsters on a small cook out grill.

Cooked lobster tails dripping in butter were handed over the side to those of us in the water. A beer in one hand and the lobster in the other, I feasted. When done, I dunked my entire body underwater to wash off the sweat and also the butter which had dripped on my torso.

The story tells the reason why thousands will be out during the mini lobster season. Everyone enjoys it as I did.

The hospital/community war ongoing. I sense progress. The Citizens Committee is doing a terrific job. I sense the hospital owners are concerned by some steps already taken to remedy problems.

This is not a war for politicians to get involved in. They screw things up and delay resolution.

Ward is a candidate for State Attorney. He wants present State Attorney Vogel to conduct a grand jury investigation, issue subpoenas, etc.

I know neither candidate. However, Ward’s position is reason enough not to vote for him. A prosecutor has to know when to exercise authority. Politics and law should not be mixed for political expediency.

Paul Krugman is a New York Times columnist. A far to the left liberal. He recently wrote  re Trump and Putin: “If elected, would Trump be Vladimir Putin’s man in the White House?”

I am off to Body Owners shortly to do the anti-gravity treadmill. The afternoon will be consumed with business matters. Until 4 when I will be at Rich and Cindy Boettger’s home for cocktails. Then to Aqua for the Dueling Bartenders.

Enjoy your day!

 

A BAGEL RESEARCH AFTERNOON

One week prostitution. The next bagels. Love it!

Bagels is the title of this week’s KONK Life column which publishes Wednesday. From whence they came, those responsible for their discovery/invention, leading types, dollar sales, etc.

Boring, not. Interesting, yes.

I spent yesterday afternoon researching. Took longer than anticipated. Sufficiently long that I missed the Running of the Bulls at 1 and Hemingway Look A-Likes at 5:30.

The game plan was to start researching earlier than normal. Which I did. then sneak downtown for the running of the bulls. Return home and work the rest of the afternoon on bagels. Assumed I would finish in time to get back into town for the Look A-Like contest. I attended neither event.

Watched Hillary introduce VP candidate Tim Kaine. A great choice! Straight forward, honest, caring, Spanish speaking, humorous, etc. Going to make a hell of a candidate!

Last night was Tavern ‘n Town. Looked forward to listening to Bobby Nesbitt sing.

I parked in the hotel garage. Nearby, the Marriott has four electric cables hooked up to charge electric vehicles. Seldom are any parked there.

Last night, four. Brand new. Shiny. No license plates.

I could not figure out the make. The emblems meant nothing to me.

Bob Frechette having dinner with friends. Exchanged hellos and a brief conversation. He and Lynda are in Cleveland for the summer. He is back for a few days to take care of some business matters. We agreed to get together for dinner this week.

Two political observations.

Again, Tim Kaine impressed me. He will be a great asset to the campaign. His values and Spence’s are diametrically opposed. Will make for an interesting campaign.

The Wikileak of 20,000 DNC e-mails evidenced shocking information. The DNC was working in Hillary’s best interests and not Sanders. Disgusting!

I listened to Sanders this morning re the revelation. He basically says I told you so several months ago. He went on to add he supports Clinton and will be working to defeat Trump.

Sanders could cause all kinds of trouble for Hillary at the moment. He has opted not to be a Ted Cruz.  He is a class act.

Experts are saying Russia is behind the hacking. Putin in the past has said kind words about Trump. Perhaps Putin is working behind the scenes to help Trump win. Probably because he believes he can handle Trump easily.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

MOSQUITO CONTROL BOARD OUT OF CONTROL

The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District. A pompous sounding name. Most refer to it as the Mosquito Control Board. I will.

Pomposity is not in name alone. I am beginning to think it applies to Board members. All elected to their positions. Ergo, directly answerable to the people. Something they seem to have forgotten.

I say VOTE THEM OUT! All of them.

The board recently passed a new policy. Any information re Zeka, dengue fever and other tropical diseases are not to be discussed by Board members till the State Health Department has confirmed a case first. Even then, the Board’s attorney has approval/disapproval power.

Stupid!

People have a right to know. Especially where health issues are involved. What happened to transparency.

The Zeka battle has left Board members shell shocked. Their own fault. They have been handling the Zeka problem in a ridiculous fashion.

Top employees are well paid. The Executive Director receives $135,000 a year. My admonition: Don’t screw with the public. You are placing your job on the line.

The Board decided it needed a new building. Last year at this time, the Board was advised the building would cost $2.4 million. Not making a decision, the price has jumped $2 million in one year to $4.4 million. Not understandable in itself.

Yesterday, the Board approved a 45 percent increase in property taxes to pay for the new building. Forty five percent!!!

My yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill. Jenny encouraging. Body Owners helpful. I stayed at a lower speed for 30 minutes. A slight step backward. However, it was all I thought I could handle.

Then to Verizon wireless. The Verizon store in the Winn Dixie Shopping Plaza.

Lesson #2 in learning how to use my new telephone. Got it six months ago. A total disaster for me!

I visited the store recently and told the young lady behind the counter that I had the new phone, bought it from them six months ago, could not use it. Needed help. Could they help? I was willing to pay. Or direct me to someone I could hire to teach me.

Her name, Nana Hernandez. Her title, Wireless Professional. She said I will teach you and it will cost you nothing. Yesterday was help/lesson #2. A step at a time. She is patient. We have a schedule. Three times a week. In a month, I will be a terror!

Dinner last night at Hot Tin Roof with Frances and Chris. Interesting people. Fun. They return up north today and will not be back till the Fall.

This afternoon research for this week’s KONK Life column. Research will be completed today. I will write the column tomorrow.

About bagels. For real. An interesting history yesterday and today.

What a change in subject matter! Last week’s article was about the new prostitution.

Four more people approached me yesterday about the Prostitution column. All women. Forty to 60 years in age. Probably mothers and grandmothers. Without deviation, all consider the new prostitution deplorable.

Big day for Hemingway Days! Running of the Bulls and the Hemingway Look A-Like Contest. Makes for a great afternoon.

Immigration a problem almost everywhere. Great Britain hit over the years big time with hordes of immigrants.

A recent study indicates the British people are becoming a minority in their own country. 2015 birth rates show 3.2 immigrant babies born for every 1.8 British babies. Just a question of time.

The five leading immigrant groups in order of their numbers are the Polish, Pakistanis, Indians, Bangladeshis, and Nigerians.

Enjoy your day!