MEL FISHER…..THE INDIANA CHICKEN FARMER WHO MADE GOOD

Some persons become legends in their own time. Key Westers recall their legendary figures. Among others, Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Sloppy Joe, Captain Tony, Mel Fisher.

Mel Fisher concerns me today.

Key West annually celebrates Mel Fisher. Mel Fisher Days this year are July 12-14. Party time. All kind of activities befitting Mel Fisher.

Mel Fisher’s claim to fame is that he discovered a part of the Spanish galleon Atocha. Recovered $400 million in gold, emeralds and other jewelry.

His story.

Mel was a chicken farmer from Indiana. Eventually, he,  his wife Doe and family, ended up in Key West. Fisher was convinced there was gold in off shore waters. He spent 16 years looking for it. Lean years. Sacrificing time for the Fisher family.

Fisher would begin each day by telling his crew…..Today’s the day! For 16 years.

Finally, he scored.

The Atocha was ladened with gold, emeralds and other jewels. On their way to Spain. Atocha was one of a convoy of 28 ships. Some had problems. The convoy left 6 weeks late. Five weeks into the tropical storm season.

A hurricane hit the second day out. The Atocha went down.

On August 20, 1985, Fisher discovered a part of the Atocha. He was able to salvage $400 million in gold, emeralds and other jewelry.

Still not his. Spain made claim to the fortune. Fisher fought Spain and others all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Fisher won. The Court ruled in effect…..Finders keepers!

Obviously changed Fisher’s life and that of his family.

The man earned it.

My evening yesterday began with Liz Moody’s birthday party. Eighty four years and going strong!

A beautiful woman. A glowing face and personality.

Many friends in attendance.

Age is taking its toll. A broken hip that never mended properly. A diabetic whose problem frequently gets out of control. She was released two days ago from the hospital where the fight to stabilize her sugar took place for 15 days.

Liz parties well. She had a good time. I had a good time. Everyone had a good time.

Then to the Chart Room. Looking for Kevin. He had purchased tickets for a group of us to see Howie Mandell monday evening at the Key West Theater. Needed to pick up my ticket and pay $59. A bargain from my perspective.

I have always enjoyed Mandell. It will be good to laugh continuously monday evening.

David stopped by for a moment.

New friends Ray and Augusta at the bar. Enjoyed their company.

Stopped at Sandy’s Cafe on the way home for something to eat. Food at Liz’s party. I drank however instead of eating. Read the newspapers and enjoyed a Cuban cheese toast with tomato and a large Cuban coffee. The gin earlier was not enough to give me a bang. Needed the Cuban coffee.

Home early. In bed by 9:30. Slept well. Slept late this morning.

Trump, Brussels and the NATO Conference. Trump embarrassed us. His conduct disgraceful.

He beat the hell out of Germany’s Angela Merkel. Improperly so. He never has his facts right. Referred to Germany as “totally controlled” by and “captive” to Russia.

He deficated upon NATO as a whole for failing to keep up with individual payments to NATO. Implied clearly the U.S. was being forced to pay more than it should. He said the U.S. was paying 90 percent of NATO’s bills. Not correct. Sixty six percent. Note that payments are determined by how much money a nation earns per year.

A press conference this morning. Trump made it sound like everything was now kumbaya. Everyone happy. Claimed he made it so. He forced the others to agree to reach the 2 percent level by 2024.

The 40 minute press conference crowded with additional Trump lies. The English like me. He was headed to England following the press conference. The English hate him! Only 11 percent like him. The 2 percent going to 4 percent soon after 2024. No such promise made. Merely Trump’s idea.

He failed to explain some pertinent facts. Perhaps he did not know. He does not prepare for these meetings.

Trump claimed England buys 70 percent of its gas from Russia. Not true. Only 33 percent. Note most European countries buy gas from Russia. It’s cheap. The U.S. cannot compete with the Russian charges because of the distance and lack of a pipe line.

Trump was not aware that although most NATO nations were behind in the 2 percent contributions, they were far ahead of the United States in humanitarian aid. Eurounion countries provide such aid to the tune of $12 billion a year as opposed to  the U.S.’s $6 billion.

Trump can only see one way. He does not take into account peripheral items.

He forgets also that NATO troops have been fighting along side U.S. troops in Afghanistan for 16 years. Eleven thousand non U.S. NATO troops have died.

A question. The U.S. imports 43 percent of its imported oil from Canada. Does that make the U.S. “totally controlled” by and “captive” of Canada?

Paul Manafort was moved yesterday to another jail. It was discovered his jail time came with unique privileges. He had a larger than normal cell, a private bathroom and shower, a personal telephone (made 300 calls), separate work space to prepare for trial, and was permitted to have a lap top in his cell.

Not normal. Unusual. Reminded me of how Mafia bootleggers were treated when jailed back in the 1920’s.

Have to hustle. Haircut time.

Enjoy your day!

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON?

 

Trump sounds the drums of war. Bombs Syria and Afghanistan. Threatens North Korea with…..Everything is on the table!

Trump, Secretary of Defense Mathis and Press Secretary Spicer announce a carrier fleet is on its way to North Korea waters. Video is shown on TV of the USS Hornet and other ships steaming for North Korea.

A mistake big time! The Hornet fleet was 3,000 miles away and traveling in the opposite direction. On its way to the Indian Ocean for scheduled joint exercises with Australia.

Who the hell is running the shop? Who knows what is going on? If not the President and Secretary of Defense, who?

Who will be scared next when the cry to arms, to arms, the Yankees are coming, is heard?

Suppose North Korea had bombed Seoul in anticipation of the Hornet carrier fleet arriving?

Spent yesterday afternoon fine tuning last night’s podcast show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. One of my better shows. Initial four segments devoted to China.

An early dinner at Roostica.

Harlem Suarez, the Key West beach bomber, was sentenced yesterday in Federal Court. Life in prison. Suarez had planned to bury a backpack nail bomb at Smathers Beach.

A proper result. Many people would have been on the beach at the time the bomb blew. Possibly even Lisa and the grandkids.

Ozitec out. MosquitoMate in.

Yesterday killing ZIKA and dengue carrying mosquitoes began. On Stock Island.

Process referred to as Wolbachia mosquitoes. The male is infected with a bacterium that will screw up their semen. When the male mates with the female mosquito, the resulting eggs do not hatch.

It is claimed this process has been utilized for years, is safe, and works.

We shall see.

Big day in American history! The American Revolution began this day in 1775. The first shots at Lexington.

I reported yesterday re the Doolittle raid on April 18, 1942. Eighty American warriors bombed Tokyo and other Japanese cities. Their 16 bombers took off from a carrier 650 miles from the Japanese coast.

Of the 80 who participated in the raid, only one remains alive. Former Lt. Richard E. Cole. He is 101 years old. Cole was Doolittle’s co-pilot.

No question China is our number 1 competitor in every regard today.

China is significantly more populous than the U.S. As with all other countries.

Fourteen percent of the world’s population speak Mandarin Chinese. Only 5.5 percent speak English.

The John Calhoun College name change at Yale University eats at me. The student body forced it on central administration. African-Americans and their supporters at Yale and elsewhere want anyone connected with slavery to no longer be honored/revered.

Four Presidents were slave owners. A reflection of wealth in their times. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Andrew Jackson.

Punish one, punish all. One example, Washington. Takes his name off Washington DC, picture off the dollar bill, and rename the Washington Bridge in New York City. As to Jefferson, take down the magnificent statue honoring him in Washington.

As to Jackson, remove all things honoring him. Jackson is Trump’s hero. I would love to see Jackson’s reaction.

Enjoy your day!