Donald Trump is Pinocchio. He only lacks the growing nose. If it were possible, his would be 10 feet long by this time and require a crane to hold it up.

Trump’s problem is he has no Mr. Geppetto to counsel him, to guide him.

Trump loves notoriety. He seeks glorification. History will remember him. Not for a Noble Peace Price. Rather for being the biggest Presidential liar of all time. Perhaps simply the greatest liar of all time.

Ally’s birthday dinner last night.

As suspected, Ally was beat. The whole family was.

Ally had a total of 5 girl friends for a sleepover. They fell asleep around midnight. Robert said they were loud. I told him women generally are when they get together.

The family and the sleepovers were up at 6. The sleepovers left at 3:30. Lisa prepared breakfast and lunch. One of the young ladies was gluten free. Lisa had to be concerned with that factor. She was not  pre-warned.

The group to Higgs Beach early in the afternoon.

My family was beat. Everyone quiet by the time I arrived.

Lisa had not had time to shop. She threw together a carb dinner. Pasta! Great for my diet! I was not concerned. Figured it would shake up my diet a bit and cause me to lose a pound. It did not nor did it cause me to gain a pound.

A brother/sister discussion ensued while we were at the cake stage. Not an agreeable one. Adult, however. Robert wanted Ally to do something for him. Nothing of consequence. Ally said no. He should do it for himself.

The two went at it for a few minutes. I was enjoying the give and take. Excellent.

Then the parents got involved. Supported Ally’s position. I would have supported Robert’s. Kept quiet, however.

Robert was slowly getting hot under the collar. Finally told his family they could expect nothing from him in the future.

All amusing. Impressive on the part of Ally and Robert. They are growing up well.

Watched the Warriors/Cavaliers game last night. Warriors won big 122-103. The last quarter crucial. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 33 points.

I knew it was going to be the Warriors night when Curry, with the clock running down, threw a one handed shot at the basket while standing sideways. He never expected the ball to go in. No one did. It did. Clean.

It’s monday. Dueling Bartenders tonight.

Today an important one in American history. On this day in 1942, the Battle of Midway began. A 4 day encounter. A naval battle. The U.S. decisively defeated Japan.

It was the first American victory of the U.S./Japan conflict.

The Japanese lost 4 carriers, the U.S. 1. The Japanese lost 292 aircraft, the U.S. 145. The Japanese suffered 2,500 casualties, the U.S. 300.

Guadalcanal was next on the path to victory.

North Korea’s Kim a strange duck. A careful suspicious man.

Next week, he will be in Singapore for several days for the Summit. The farthest he has been from home ever. He fired his top 3 generals. Did not think he could trust them in his absence.

Drinking and driving not a wise combination. We know it!

Pot becoming popular in the U.S. Several states have legalized its use.

I have noticed the past couple of weeks TV ads decrying the use of marijuana while driving. Too soon, perhaps. Insufficient evidence.

I would agree in any event, people should not smoke pot and drive.

The TV ad decrying pot and driving was funded by the Governor’s Highway Safety Association. The Association has nothing to do with Governors. The organization is a front for the alcohol industry. Regarded as the alcohol industry’s voice.

Trump has become an expert in pissing off our Allies and sucking up to our enemies. The steel/aluminum tariff imposed on Canada, Mexico and the European Union the best example.

His numbers also wrong. The U.S. will lose significantly more jobs over the next two years from lay offs in the peripheral industries.

Recall that similar onerous type tariffs were imposed by the U.S. in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. Many economists believe such the cause of the great Depression and additionally an action giving impetus to Hitler’s rise.

Forty one million Americans live in poverty. One third or 14 million of them children.

Trump not responsible. The numbers calculated to the end of Obama’s time. No numbers yet re Trump. However, Trump is grossly aggravating the situation.

The UN issued a report recently claiming Trump was making life harder for the poor. He seems to be deliberately designing programs to remove basic protections for the poorest, to punish those not employed, and to make basic health care a privilege to be earned rather than a right of citizenship.

I agree with the UN observations.

Harvard’s recent report setting forth what it believes are the correct number of deaths in Puerto Rico mind blowing. Harvard says the actual number is 4,645. Contrast that with the U.S. government’s claim of 64 and the New York Times number of 1,052.

The Harvard study was a hands on, on the ground, doors knocked on, inquiry. Houses were randomly chosen. The deaths recorded began on the day of Maria September 20 and extended to December 31.

The New York Times arrived at its number by comparing previous deaths in certain areas, etc. A mathematically arrived at decision.

No one knows how ICE came up with 64.

Shame on Trump! He failed to help our fellow Americans. Our people. Why?

I suspect two reasons.

First, Puerto Ricans are tan. People of color. Trump is a racist.

Second, Trump years ago failed in an economic venture in Puerto Rico. He walked away with a pretty dollar. However, the project went nowhere.

Maybe Trump bears ill will because of his failed Puerto Rico efforts.

I was viewing TV yesterday. The Mayor of San Juan was interviewed. Pictures were shown of the devastation as it exists today. Horrible! Living conditions disgusting. No electricity and water in certain areas.

So much going on in the world. Trump the initiator of most of the events.

Enjoy your day!