CHEESEBURGER IN PARADISE

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I enjoyed a cheeseburger in paradise experience yesterday. Before elaborating, a conflict requires explanation.

I have always been under the impression Jimmy Buffett wrote Cheeseburger in Paradise at a drug store once located on the corner of Simonton and United. An old time drug store. A bar with stools that swiveled. Several tables with old time rubber checkered tablecloths.

Buffett enjoyed cheeseburger lunches there. I did, also. Years later, of course. The cheeseburgers were good. I went however for the Buffett memory.

Recently, I was advised that Buffett did not write the song at or about the drug store. Rather, Buffett was on a Caribbean cruise and only had canned vegetables and peanut butter to eat. He dreamed of a cheeseburger. The first island stopped at, Buffett got himself a cheeseburger. Cheeseburger in paradise!

I do not buy the Caribbean story. I have never heard any other than the drug store one for 25 years.

Which brings me to why I am writing about Cheeseburger in Paradise this morning.

I started my evening yesterday at Aqua’s back bar. Mark Watson and friends.

Then decided to take a walk on Duval. Just a couple of blocks. Walked past Margaritaville. Stopped. Why not go in? In 26 years in Key West, I have only been inside twice.

Sat at the bar. Ordered a cheeseburger, of course.

Seated next to me were Dan and Anna from Grand Rapids, Michigan. We chatted. About Flint water, Michigan’s governor, and many other things.

Dan and Anna are around 70. Retired. Children gone. Seeing the world now.

Dan was involved in the manufacture of furniture. I learned that Grand Rapids is known as the Furniture City. Anna, a retired kindergarten teacher.

A good time.

My morning began with the anti-gravity treadmill. I cut everything back another 50 percent. Even time. Only on the machine 15 minutes. Learned something. I went back to my big time speed too soon. I have to crawl before walking. I was not tired at all afterwards nor any time during the day.

Then a Cuban cheese toast and Cuban coffee at the Cuban Coffee Queen.

It took forever to place my order.

There were two couples placing their order in front of me. Probably my age. They only wanted coffee. They asked the counter girl every conceivable question about each of the coffees. Then the sweeteners. What would she recommend? Finally, one guy and one woman walked away and left the completion of the order to the other two.

Came time to pay. Counter girl gave them the check. Oh no, we want separate checks!

Fortunately, I was in good humor. Actually found the whole thing interesting.

I have to compliment the counter girl. Took it all in stride with a never ending smile.

Not the end of the story.

When all four were seated at their table, the ladies took four subs out of their bags. Subs they obviously had purchased elsewhere.

Several years ago, the DC Madam was arrested. Her list of 800 plus prominent Washington big wigs confiscated. Louisiana Senator David Vitter’s name was on the list. He was a candidate for the Republican nomination for President at the time.  That was the end of that. Though he was reelected to the Senate by Louisiana a couple of years later.

Recently, someone went to court to have the entire customer list released for public viewing. The reason being there were names thereon of persons possible candidates for the 2016 Presidential election.

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the request to release the names. Without opinion.

Greece, my Greece! I love Greece!

Greece has had and continues to have big time financial problems. Greece had to be bailed out by the Eurounion. What was unknown at the time was that the bailout dollars were required to meet bank obligations. Shades of the U.S. We bailed the banks out directly.

A study was released last week showing that 95 percent of the monies loaned went to pay off Greece’s bank obligations. Only 5 percent to help the Greek people in crisis.

I spoke to this in a blog last year. Also, on my blog talk radio show.

Many say Greece placed itself in the debt position. So screw them! All must agree with me however that the Eurounion arranging for the multi-billion dollar loans was only to save the European banks’ asses. Not help the Greek people.

Enjoy your day!

NOT ME

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My weekly KONK Life column is reprinted one morning a week in KONK E-Blast. This week’s column is Black Lives Matter / Play Tough. The title and my name appear in this morning’s E-Blast. The column is not mine. Someone else’s. A movie critique involving pop music. Not up my alley.

I already blasted Guy deBoer about today’s E-Blast. I assume it will be corrected tomorrow.

A tragedy? Just announced! Hogfish fishing is prohibited in Florida State waters from this coming monday to January 1. State says hogfish overfished.

The ban only in State waters. Not federal waters. Federal waters begin three miles out. The ban is limited to recreational fishers only. Not commercial.

The ban does not make sense to me. If there is a problem, the ban should apply in both waters. Correct the problem forthwith. To limit it to recreational fishers appears to me a drop in the bucket.

My yesterday was simple. A haircut in the morning with Lori. Bocce in the evening. Some writing in between.

Lori just returned from a Long Island/Maine trip visiting family. Looked healthy. A tan on top of her usual tan.

We won all three bocce games last night. We played a team of lesser quality. Beat them decisively the first two games. Eked out a three point win the last game. We are now 5-1 for the season.

Jared Fogle is going to jail. Fogle is the college student who lost over 200 pounds eating Subway sandwiches each day. Subway hired him immediately as their marketing guru. Fogle made a ton of money. His fortune is estimated at $15 million.

Fogle a pedophile also. Sex with underage girls. He got caught. Everything lost. Money, position and family. His wife said she is divorcing him.

Fogle was in Key West 7-8 years ago. I was having dinner on the porch at the Reach’s Strip House. He was dining two tables away. I had never heard of him. The waiter told me who he was and what he had accomplished. The ladies were constantly bothering him for his autograph.

He was thin. Very thin. Yet dining on steak and potatoes.

Airbnb a success. Unquestionably. They are world wide providers of  cheaper vacation and business lodgings. A relatively new kid on the block like Uber.

The hotel industry is in danger. Including the overpriced Key West hotels. Key West alone is threatening to kill the goose that lays the golden egg. A drop in hotel rates is inevitable over the next couple of years. Not because the hotels will have become more reasonable. Because the Airbnb competition will have forced it.

The new female Viagra will not be blue. It will be pink and marketed as “the little pink pill.”

Banks have gotten away with murder in recent years. Wall Street caused the 2008 mortgage disaster and recession.

Our government has not pursued the bankers for wrongdoing. Former Attorney General Holder told us first that banks were too big to fail and then that they were too big to prosecute.

Bankers got a free ride. Not indicted, tried and sent to jail. Bankers have continued to play similar games to those they played leading up 2008. Getting richer as a result.

There was a column by Darrell Delamaide in yesterday’s USA today. He lays the failure to hold the bankers responsible at Obama’s feet. An administrative decision.

His column contained an interesting few lines re bankers and their present state of mind: “Bankers used to take it on faith that they were immune to prosecution. Now they know it is a fact, and that will embolden them in the future to once again violate the law with impunity.”

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

MICHELLE OBAMA THRILLS MILANESE

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It was announced yesterday that Michelle Obama would be in Milan two days this week. She will be visiting the World’s Fair.

Before I was aware of the First Lady’s visit via the news, I received a series of e-mails from friends and blog readers in the Milan area. All thrilled that Michelle would be visiting. Appears she is extremely popular in the area.

Michelle is heading an American delegation. The message she hopes to convey is the need for a healthy world. The way to reach the goal wise eating.

The delegation is referred to as a Presidential Delegation. One of the group will be Alonzo Mourning. One of the truly great NBA basketball stars of years gone by.

I was fortunate in my other life to have attended many pro golf tournaments. Rare was the occasion when Alonzo Mourning was not there. He always followed players with the masses. Walked hole to hole. No special seating or attention for him. I admired his humility, his simplicity.

Last night was the big Bocce Party. The league party. Not to be confused with the one at Don’s Place last week. All 54 teams in attendance. Roughly 300 people.

A good time. Always a good time.

The event was held at the new Waterfront Restaurant. Not officially opened yet. Given a peek by our group last night. What a place! Huge! Three stories. Several bars. One long long.

The place is still under construction. In its final phase.

I am not sure what it is going to be. The size overwhelming. The cost of running the place equally overwhelming. I would hate to have to pay the rent cost alone.

The food was excellent. Catered by Mango’s.

Drinks cheap. Surprisingly so. A Beefeater and one Bud light beer $7. Better than Don’s prices! I doubt they will be able to keep the prices at that level when the place opens.

I wish the proprietors good luck! They have engaged in a major undertaking. Hopefully, a big hit in the making.

Met many friends. One was Nancy Weiner and her husband Bob. They have a home in Key West.

Nancy is a loyal blog follower. Thank you, Nancy. We talked of many things. An interesting lady. I hope I run into Nancy and her husband again.

Manicure yesterday with Tammy. Tammy cut her hair! A big deal. Asians generally wear their hair long. Tammy agreed that was the case. However, she wanted to try something new. Typical woman. Her hair now shoulder length.

She looked fantastic! She did with long hair, also. It is Tammy’s smile that makes her the beauty she is, regardless of her hair length.

I have to write this week’s KONK Life column today. I am in a quandary. I have not decided on a subject yet. Nothing considered so far thrilled me. I have two hours to decide the subject matter of the column.

I love Putin! The G7 ignored him. He was not invited. No big deal. He met with the Pope instead. Putin is an expert at one up manship.

It is thought he met with Silvio Berlusconi afterwards. They are close friends. For real friends. Putin built a place in Portofino near Berlusconi’s home. I wonder if Berlusconi threw one of his famous parties for Putin. I would not be surprised. The two are birds of a feather.

The Citizen’s Voice in today’s Key West Citizen has a Thomas Jefferson quote. It is one I have written about in the past and referred to on my TV and radio shows.

Jefferson was a great writer. A molder of words. However as to finances, he was a failure. The banks were on his ass his whole life. He died broke. His daughter had to sell his beloved Monticello to pay the debts.

The quote…..I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.

Banks and money lenders, nothing ever changes.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

WEDNESDAY SCREW OFF DAY

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Each week, sunday, monday and tuesday are consumed with writing. A pleasure. After tuesday night I need a break, however.

Wednesday has become my screw off day. The best way to describe it. The intent is to do nothing. What I end up doing are regular every day things. Like grocery shopping, now the anti-gravity treadmill, some sun, and a night out. Sometimes, even these activities are too much. I may do only some.

Two activities consume my sundays through tuesdays. First is the research and writing of the week’s KONK Life column. The other is the preparation and broadcasting of Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Each a pleasure. Each time consuming.

I finished research and preparation for Tuesday Talk at 5 yesterday. Show time not till 9. There was time to go out for dinner.

I have not been to Pepe’s in two years. The last time was lunch with Robert and Ally. Pepe’s was quiet. I sat alone at the bar. Enjoyed the barbecued chicken and mashed potatoes. Love the gravy covering the mashed potatoes!

A woman sat opposite me at the bar. She was harassed. Obviously so. Speaking rapidly. She had just arrived in Key West an hour before. First time. Staying at a guest house. Did not know what to do, where to go. Someone said eat at Pepe’s.

We talked. On different levels, however. I could not keep up with her. An odd conversation.

The show last night was a bit different. I devoted all but two minutes to banks. One of my favorite topics.

Banks/bankers are devious and conniving. No more one of the most respected members of a community. They seem to consistently come up with new games/procedures which work to their benefit and to the detriment of the customer.

New ones include negative interest, no cash in safety deposit boxes, and electronic banking. My column this week in KONK Life is titled Banks Hurt People and covers in detail the three items. KONK Life hits the stands today.

This morning’s E-News Blast included pictures of the Larry Smith Show at The Studios of Key West last week. A few were of my friend Jenna. A striking woman!

The Key West City Commission wastes hundreds of thousands and in some instances millions of dollars. Generally because they do not pay proper attention to projects they approve. It is in the details!

There is a plan under way to paint rainbow crosswalks at the intersection of Duval and Petronia. Total cost $4,000. Some one else paying half. The City’s end $2,000. Several Commissioners are up in arms. Who is going to pay for it?

Love their concern where pennies are involved. One Commissioner even expressed he was a taxpayer. Wow! Where was he and the others when major projects in Key West resulted in huge over runs?

Enjoy your day!

TWO DAYS/ONE BLOG

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I had a big morning yesterday. Out of the house at 6:30, returned at 1.00. Tired! Went to bed for a needed nap. The blog lost out.

My morning included a doctor visit, lengthy business meeting, and time on the anti-gravity treadmill.

I will try to catch up this morning.

Yesterday and today in one blog.

Re yesterday, the first thing I intended to discuss was desalination. Water is an increasing problem. Not everyone is aware that the lower keys have two desalination plants. One on Stock Island, the other in Marathon. Both have limited abilities as to volume. In an emergency, each can turn out 3 million gallons of potable water a day.

I am surprised that no one seems to be talking about desalinating sea water for drinking, etc. purposes. Rationing alone is not going to solve the problem.

Wrote this week’s KONK Life column. Banks Hurt People. Banks continue to play games. They have come up with new ideas which work to the detriment of their customers.

The Players Championship final day was golf at its best. Richie Fowler’s finish unique.

Tropical storm ANA has dissipated. Down to a tropical depression yesterday. No significant damage. A lot of rain.

Songwriters Festival ended sunday night. A rousing success! Two hundred twenty five performers.

That completes monday’s blog in an abbreviated fashion.

This morning’s blog as follows.

Decided to have a drink at Square One last night. The bar was three deep. Something was going on. I did not stay.

Decided to have a drink and dinner at La Te Da at the outside bar. No luck again! La Te Da closed to customers.

The reason was quickly apparent. The Queen Mother Pageant was kicking off. As in past years, staged on Duval in front of La Te Da. I stayed a while to watch the event. I have seen it many times in the past. Always a happy time.

The ladies participating are to be complimented. Fantasy Fest is not till late October. The ladies will be out campaigning and fund raising till then. Not easy.

Then to the Chart Room. Glad I stopped. The evening was fun.

I walked into three vacationing lawyers. I mostly listened. Guess I participated in too many lawyer conversations over the years.

Two of the participants were from Minnesota, the other from where I do not recall. They were discussing Florida licenses. All three had Florida licenses, though they did not practice in Florida.

The best was meeting Bob and Carol from Dallas. Vacationers, also. Carol is English. They married in France.

Bob worked for an oil company. He negotiated contracts all over he world. With luminaries such as Khadafi.

Almost contemporaries, Bob and I got into a lengthy conversation regarding health problems. We both had enough to share.

Great people! I hope to run into Bob and Carol again.

My blog talk radio show tonight at 9. Join me for a fast moving eye opening half hour. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Topics include why I consider banks whores, the Hattiesburg police killings, George Zimmerman, militarization on a roll in South Carolina, Columbia throwing out glyphosate, IRS employees who have not paid their taxes and yet send SWAT teams and the like to collect from delinquent taxpayers, and more.

Such is two days in one. Worked out well. The blog as a whole no longer than usual.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

BEACH SEX

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A couple. Consensual sex. Bradenton Beach. Middle of the afternoon. Beach not crowded. A three year old girl nearby. Someone nearby videod.

An interesting issue. Sex on beach. Not wild. He on top, she under him. It has happened many times on beaches everywhere, though not common.

The Bradenton couple were arrested. Tried. Jury and all. The jury returned its verdict yesterday. Guilty. Lewd conduct the charge. Both facing up to 15 years in jail. Prosecutor insists and believes they will receive lengthy sentences.

My problem. Banking executives crashed our economy in 2008. Millions hurt. Tax payer dollars required to the bail banks out. No criminal charges ever brought. Banks too big to prosecute.

Where is the justice?

Wednesday has turned out to be my screw off day. I need a break after writing sunday, monday and tuesday. I try to do nothing.

I went to Body Owners in the morning. My half hour on the anti-gravity treadmill.

Later in the afternoon, I shaved. My beard a week old. I almost did not shave. I had the beginnings of a beard.

Stopped at Don’s Place around 6. Spent a couple of hours chatting with Don. Always enjoyable.

Then to Geiger Key for dinner. No empty seats at the bar. Tables all empty. I did not want to be the solitary customer at a table. Left.

Went to Hogfish. What a difference! Like day and night! Jam packed. A money maker!

I was able to get a seat at the bar. I enjoyed something different. Grouper sliders. Outstanding! Recommend them.

I have not mentioned the diet in a while. Still on it. Nothing happening. It has been well over a month. I hit 35 pounds lost and then stopped. In a month plus, I have neither gained nor loss. I have tried mixing up the foods a bit. Nothing seems to help. That is one reason I am thrilled with the anti-gravity treadmill. Maybe some exercise will help.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

UP EARLY

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Today’s blog a minimal one. I am up early. I will be driving to Miami for the Volkswagen’s 20,000 mile check up.

I am not looking forward to the trip. It is up to Miami and back in the same day.

Sunday by day was spent writing this week’s KONK Life column. Drought and Water Profiteering. It publishes wednesday. Very revealing.

Spent a couple of hours at Louie’s Backyard watching the view and chatting with those around me.

Dinner was at La Te Da’s outside bar. Duck.

Enjoy your day.

GREAT THEATER

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Netanyahu’s speech yesterday was great theater. Better than any State of the Union address. The content worthy of the Biblical expression…..Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

He indicated he knew the contents of the US/Iran deal. Does not surprise me. Israel has the best intelligence service in the world. My problem with the talk was that it offered no alternative. Merely that a better deal should be had.

I took what he said with a grain of salt. This is the same man who said authoritatively that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction back when Bush and Cheney were promoting an Iraqi invasion.

The Republicans beamed as never before. They had insulted the President.

While I am at it, a comment re Petraeus. The mighty shall fall. Unfortunate in his case. The man was an exceptional military leader. Similar to Eisenhower. Considered Presidential timber.

We have lost what might have been a great leader. He took a bite of the apple.

My blog talk radio show was last night. Love doing it! I talked about everything. It was that kind of evening. Actually, week. Many things happened.

The topic that garnered the most interest however was my advising a new type banking on the horizon. At some point, banks will pay you to take out a loan and charge you for holding your deposits. A reverse! Already being done in many European countries. So far in the U.S. only by J P Morgan Chase with big accounts.

My yesterday began with a manicure. Tammy always good company. Then a walk at Home Depot. Followed by a business meeting downtown.

The World Almanac section of this morning’s Key West Citizen set forth that there were 77,865 ready people in the U.S. waiting for body transplants. Makes it easy to understand why the black market in body parts is such a big business. Most body parts go for $100,000 to $150,000. Even ISIS is in the  business. They remove body parts from some captives. Men, women and children.

This week’s KONK Life hits the stands at 5 this afternoon. My column this week is on the light side. The Minnie Ball Pregnancy. I guarantee you will find it amusing.

Enjoy your day!