SHOCKING NUMBERS

Tom Keller is a snow bird who owns a home in Key West. We are Chart Room friends.

He e-mailed me an article this morning from yesterday’s Wall Street Journal. The opinion/commentary had to do with raises in the minimum wage and robots. Written by former CEO of CKE Restaurants Andy Puzder.

The robot portion is interesting in itself. However, it is the job numbers set forth which motivate my comment here.

The numbers refer to entry level jobs.

A significant number of young people (20-24) are without work. Blacks lead. Forty percent in Chicago and 30 percent in New York and Los Angeles.

White men, 10 percent in all areas reported.

Nationally, black men 24.1 percent and whites 16-19 percent.

My question concerns 10 years from now. What will the numbers be? I suspect higher. How can they not be with the increasing wave of robots that will be replacing human employees.

Spent more time than normal yesterday fine tuning last night’s blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. New Trump news kept breaking. I was required to reset, rearrange and add topics for the show.

Trump had a big day. The gassing in Syria and the missile launching in North Korea. Tied in with Tillerson’s comments.

I added the preceding to my Trump comments which already included Trump seeking out bad guys as friends as opposed to countries that have been our friends for generations, Trump’s NAFTA reversal based on oil industry pressures, the Pentagon announcing the number of troops on the ground in Syria and Iraq henceforth secret, and young Kushner over his head and overloaded.

A lot of Trump.

Someone recently wrote a very negative comment about this blog. A free country. So be it. One of his items hit a soft spot. Harry Truman. The writer suggested I write too much about Truman.

I do. And I should. Truman is as much a part of Key West as Hemingway.

Truman loved Key West and Key West loves him to this day. He is remembered all over the island. From The Little White House to Truman Annex to the Harry Truman look a like who walks around certain public events to public discussions based on his life, etc.

Truman spent 175 days vacationing in Key West spread over 11 trips.

Which brings me to a today Truman observation. Truman and wife Bess left Key West this day in 1969. The end of a two week visit.

His last.

Bum Farto, where are you? Farto the Key West Fire Chief convicted of drug dealing.

He was due in court this day in 1976 for sentencing. Never showed up. Never seen since.

The suspicion is he was the victim of a Jimmy Hoffa ending.

The U.S. had a run of police shooting blacks. The U.S. Attorney’s Office under Obama got involved. Investigated the major cities having a frequency of such problems. After two years of investigation and discussion among the feds, mayors and police chiefs, solutions in writing are being arrived at. Called Consent Decrees. Federal officials will oversee actions by local police till the problem has worked itself out.

Till yesterday. Trump stuck his nose in.

Trump is pro-police. Does that make him anti-black? I don’t know. In any event, Attorney General Sessions’  people appeared in Federal Court in Baltimore yesterday asking the Court for a 90 day delay in signing the Consent Decree. The reason to be sure the Consent Decree did not work against Trump’s goal of promoting officers and morale while fighting violent crime.

I would assume shooting unarmed blacks a violent crime.

Sessions a bigot from day one. He as well as Trump not qualified for the positions they hold.

Enjoy your day!

BLACK ANGEL OF DEATH

 

Terror can strike anywhere. Everywhere. Even Key West.

A criminal trial began yesterday in Federal District Court in Key West. The defendant, Harlem Suarez. His goal was to leave a backpack bomb on a Key West beach. In due course, the bomb would blow. People injured and killed.

Suarez a terrorist. Lived on Stock island.

The FBI were on to Suarez. Two undercover agents sold him an inert backpack bomb. Then arrested him.

Suarez had a Facebook site. He spoke of the glories of ISIS on the site. Also, ran pics. One of a terrorist holding the head of a decapitated woman.

Suarez referred to himself as the Black Angel of Death.

Lisa, my grandchildren, my friends, Key Westers, tourists, use the beaches.

Suarez should die.

My blog talk radio show tonight. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. A quick half hour of interesting happenings. Some revealing. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

A multitude of topics. All exciting. Like Putin unhappy U.S. troops suddenly in Poland and Norway, police at Standing Rock had/have missile launchers, Trump to sign order today permitting Standing Rock and Keystone Pipeline to proceed, Chinese take lung cleansing vacations, affordable water a looming crisis.

Also, a Mexican TV channel being launched in the U.S., FDA approves a GMO pineapple for sale without testing, Chinese billionaire Jack Ma says U.S. priorities screwed up/wasted trillions on wars and Wall Street/not enough on its people, Mark Zuckerberg for President?, and more.

Only one place to be a 6 this evening. Aqua. For Aqua Idol. A several week singing contest. Great voices. Equally great planning by Lynda Frechette who spearheads the event.

Wind still blowing big time day time  yesterday. I took a ride over to the White Street Pier. In the past, extremely windy days resulted in waves crashing over the pier. A sight to see.

I was not disappointed. Nature pissed off. Waves rising high before slamming down on the pier.

I did not walk on the pier. Some did. I feared I would fall/get knocked over. I don’t need nature’s assistance to fall. I do well enough on my own.

The winds were 50 mph.

A portion of the Westin’s dock gave way because of the winds and waves. A mistake. Not the Westin anymore. Now the Margaritaville.

My evening began at Aqua last night. Dueling Bartenders time.Tom Luna one of the dueling bartenders. Last night his birthday. Celebrated with cake for all.

Barbara was with me. As we arrived, Liz and friends were leaving for dinner.

Walked over to Antonia’s for dinner afterwards. No room at the bar. Decided to head home, stopping at Outback first.

Syracuse/Wake Forest tonight. Syracuse a 2.5 point favorite. I have no idea who will win. My team not doing well this season.

Enjoy your day!

 

TACO BELL

A new Taco Bell recently opened in Key West. On North Roosevelt Boulevard. In the same building where one was closed down several years ago due to lack of business.

I am not a Taco Bell expert. Have only been in one my whole life.

The building has been updated. The windows are enlarged. They go from floor to ceiling.

Why the big deal about a new Taco Bell?

I drove by last night at 9:30 on my way home. The parking lot was full. The restaurant was full. I could see in through the large windows. Very few people standing. Most sitting. They appeared to be having a good time.

A couple of days ago at lunch time, I drove past the new Taco Bell. The cars lined up on the Boulevard waiting to get in the driveway were longer than any I have ever seen for McDonald’s.

I suspect the newness of the Taco Bell attracts customers. I believe there may be another reason. Cost!

Eating out is extremely expensive these days in Key West. Add in a few drinks and the bill shots up wildly. A new Taco Bell may be getting a big play because it is a cheap evening out. I could be wrong. It may only be the newness. Time will tell.

I worked on my blog talk radio show yesterday which is scheduled to air this evening at 9. Interesting topics. Join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Topics include unwanted immigration a world wide problem, cucumber salmonella outbreak in the United States, only so much money available in Europe to help immigrants, an update on Yemen where violence is escalating, 1.5 million U.S. households living on $2 a day per person, Illinois not having the money to pay a $250,000 lottery winner, and more.

Turned out to be a Key West evening.

My destination last night was the Little Room Jazz Club on Duval to watch Larry Smith perform at 8. Wanted to make a dinner stop first. Tried Roostica. Closed, I assume because of the holiday. Several other restaurants also closed. I ended up at Tavern ‘n Town. Always a good place for dinner.

Tavern ‘n Town was like old home week.

Ran into Michael Schwartz first. Michael is a former owner of Square One. The flavor of his restaurant I doubt will ever return. Even though subsequent owners continue to use the name.

Then Jean Zimmerman. A woman I have loved for years. I rarely see Jean. She was having dinner with Michael. Jean was Michael’s hostess for years.

The bar was crowded. Found a seat. Next to me were friends from my Yacht Club days. The Toppino brothers and others. Good to see them.

Eventually, Lou and Rose sat next to me. Turns out they are members of the Yacht Club, also. I had not met them before. They must have become members after my time.

Chatted quite a while with Lou and Rose. They live in Key Haven as I do. Soon to be married 52 years. Good for them! Lou an occasional pilot in his other life. He may still be flying a bit.

Nice people. I would like to see them again.

I have known Larry Smith more than 15 years. He is one of Key West’s premier performers. A musician, he composes and sings.

I met Larry through Aaron. Fifteen years ago, he took me to La Te Da to meet his friend Larry. Aaron and his lady Karen were at the Little Room to enjoy Larry last night. Friendships last.

Writer Michael Dennis in attendance. He has authored a number of novels. We spoke briefly about writing. Michael in his other life was a professional gambler. He would travel to Vegas and other places to work. Today, a successful author.

Larry’s wife Christine Cordone present. She sang with Larry. An outstanding vocalist, she has become an artist of some prominence in her later years. Alec and his horn stopped by to say hello and then to play with Larry. Mary Deasy sang.

Last night brought me back to the days of the Wine Galley. It was Larry’s room for years. We all attended. It was good to see some of the Wine Galley group come together last night.

I did not get to watch the Ohio State/Virginia Tech game. Ohio State won. The school is anticipated to be #1 in the country this year. Ohio State beat Virginia Tech admirably 42-24.

What impressed me was that Ohio State averaged 10.2 yards per carry. Powerful football!

Friend David an Ohio State fan, booster, fanatic. Looks good for your team, David!

Enjoy your day!