TRUMP A BULLY

When Trump had a successful TV show for years, I thought his facial images and You’re Fired! outbursts were acting.

Then came the Republican primaries. Trump was not the gentleman. Disrespectful of his opponents. He mocked and embarrassed them.

I realized during the debates Trump was a bully. A typical school yard bully. Mocking, threats, attempts to scare another. As written in Macbeth…..Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Trump is not the only bully out there. North Korea’s Jung Un another. One challenging the United States with his limited supply of nuclear weapons. The other wanting to increase the United States nuclear weapon supply ten fold.

They are not engaging in diplomatic talk. No, they are standing face to face throwing serious barbs at each other. Nuclear war a possibility.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. The purpose is to promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. Perhaps Trump and Jung Un should look into the Month and what it stands for.  They might temper down. Become gentlemen considerate of others.

The Chart Room first last night. Met up with Jean Thornton. Good to see her again. My savior during Irma when I evacuated to her Birmingham home for 12 days.

We went over to the Hot Tin Roof for dinner. Ann and Joanne joined us. Two more Irma evacuees who ended up at Jean’s home.

A reunion of sorts.

Ann is a manager at Coach. Joanne a manager at the Audubon House.

It was good to see the ladies again.

The Hot Tin Roof is located in the Ocean Key House. Parts of Ocean Key took a beating. The long dock into the ocean where people ate and drank. Tables last night were crowded around the tiki bar and also around the pool. A no no previously.

It was 9:45 and I was driving by Publix. The refrigerator empty again. Zip. Nothing. Publix closes at 10.

I made a quick trip up and down the aisles. Threw only necessities in the cart. Made it time wise. Spent only $31. Enough to get me into the weekend.

Another test at the hospital today. No big deal.

Post Irma help comes from varied places. Not help one might expect.

The Florida Keys Community College took a bit of an Irma beating. three sides of the College sit on open water. The school was closed for three weeks. Reopened October 2.

Broward College students and employees were concerned for their brethren at FKCC. They sent 50 lap top computers, 35 bicycles, academic supplies, and personal items.

God is good! Broward College is good!

Moving my ass on Irma and Me. Assembling photographs for the book. Everyone has many. Selection the issue. If you have any, send them to me. All of them. I will pick and choose.

Send now. To louispetrone@gmail.com. Provide me with your full name, also.

I thought the Key West Citizen had renewed daily publication from Monday through friday. Published monday, tuesday and wednesday this week. Nothing today. Hope whatever the problem, it can be corrected. As I repeatedly have stated, a community needs a daily newspaper.

Syracuse plays Clemson tomorrow night (friday) at 7. A David/Goliath battle. Except, I doubt Syracuse (David) will win. Clemson is #2 in the country at 6-0. Syracuse unranked at 3-3.

Clemson a 21 point favorite.

Hope springs eternal, however. One never knows.

Sometime in the 1980s or 1990s, Syracuse was playing Nebraska. Nebraska #1 in the country. Syracuse unranked. Syracuse won!

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

THE SILENCING OF ELIZABETH WARREN

We lose our freedoms a bit at a time. The cumulative effect at some point could be overwhelming.

America lost last night when Senator Elizabeth Warren was charged with impugning the character of a fellow member of the Senate. Jeff Sessions.

Does not make sense. Sessions the Senator was not the subject matter of the discussion. Sessions the nominee for Attorney Genera was. As such, he was fair game.

Especially since Warren was chastised and seated for wanting to read a letter by Coretta Scott Key re Sessions’ qualifications. Her letter of some 20 years ago when Sessions was a candidate for a federal judgeship. Read then, why not now?

The world’s greatest house for debate tainted itself last night by stifling fair comment.

My blog talk radio show last night interfered with watching the Syracuse/Clemson game.

Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou touched several Trump situations. Topped off with the Chicago Police Department’s unusually high suicide rate.

Syracuse, my Syracuse! Won again! By one point. 82-81. With a 3 pointer at the buzzer. God bless America! God bless Syracuse! Keep it up guys!

This morning finds the water level low. Tide out. Water calm.

A number of houses of prostitution existed in the Key West area in the 1930s and 1940s. The U.S. Naval Base provided most of the customers.

One was Alice Reid’s aka Mom’s Tea Room. She once was found guilty of bringing women across state lines for purposes of prostitution in violation of the Mann Act. Sentenced to three years. Another time, one of her ladies committed suicide. Cecelia Thompson Trunks. An overdose.

Whore houses are no more. Replaced by the socially acceptable strip joints/gentlemen’s clubs.

As well as escort services provided via telephone and the internet. Menu services. Order what you want.

Whether houses of ill repute of old or today’s more modern ways of finding sexual companionship, all wrong. Most of the women young ladies working under adverse conditions. In many instances, the products of human slavery.

Trump’s executive orders becoming cumulative. The orders and proposed legislation empower corporate America. The people losing along the way. A step at a time.

Stephen Bannon not happy with merely changing America. He is out to change the Vatican, also.

Bannon a Catholic. He is not happy with Pope Francis. A liberal. Bannon at best can be described as a far to the right conservative.

Politics everywhere. Even in the Vatican. Bannon has joined with Cardinal Burke to undermine and replace somehow Pope Francis. Burke a conservatve Church leader who was demoted by Pope Francis.

Lenin hoped his communist philosophy would ultimately take over the whole world. Bannon I suspect is hopeful that his far right beliefs will bring down not only government as we know it, but also the Catholic Church. Each to be replaced by new and radically different governments.

Yemen and the United States today. A perfect example of the tail wagging the dog.

Trump’s first commando raid was into Yemen last week. A disaster. One American killed, one $75 million helicopter lost, 14 al Qaeda soldiers killed, several citizens killed. One an 8 year old girl.

Yemen might be described as a split country. The U.S. recently assisted the good guys with an anti-terror ground mission.

Yemen is unhappy. Citizens were killed. A no no in most Middle East countries. Yemen’s people are upset. They have been burning the American flag in the streets.

They have also said they want no further anti-terror ground missions. No Americans to fight on their behalf. However, they will permit American military drones to continue their attacks. Also, they will permit American military advisers to remain.

A sort of biting the hand that feeds you situation.

Enjoy your day!

HORSE MANURE…..FREE

Only in Key West…..Free horse manure. Composed. Fully cooked and garden ready.

The Police Department has two horses. Their waste collected, recycled, and offered free to the citizenry once a year.

The manure will be available this saturday at 10 am. The pink PAL gym near the entrance to the Fort Zachary Taylor State Park entrance.

My podcast show tonight. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

The show begins with several Trump hits. His wrongdoings from my perspective.

Followed by special interest groups lobbying against marijuana, Chicago Police Department’s high suicide rate, police prepared with missile launchers to oppose Sioux Indians at Standing Rock, Mark Zuckerberg wanting to be President, and more.

Last night, a Chart Room evening. Quiet. Met Mike. He joined Victor and me in interesting dialogue. A couple of hours worth. Covered a multitude of sins.

Mike is an owner of Gas Monkey on Duval. The 200 block. Right in the middle of the action.

Technically known as the Gas Monkey Bar & Grill. Drinks and barbecued foods.

Mike now a local.

The Gas Monkey is cognizant of local business. Want it. Locals receive a 15 percent discount. On thursdays, 25 percent.

I will shortly be trying the place.

When I first began visiting Key West more than 25 years ago, water vessels were small. Rarely, a big yacht. And then, not that big.

Things have changed. Huge yachts not uncommon.

The biggest so far sits moored off Sunset Key. The Super Yacht Venus. Two hundred fifty seven feet. Crew of 22. Built by Apple founder Steve Jobs.  Jobs died before its completion. His widow Laurese Powell now owner and master.

Tonight, Syracuse/Clemson. Clemson a 2 point favorite. Game at 8. Hopefully Syracuse can continue its recent winning ways.

In 1959, I was a senior in law school at Syracuse. Former President Harry Truman was visiting. The University set up a private luncheon for its purported 12 outstanding students. I was selected to represent the law school.

Two round tables. Seating cards. My seat was immediately to the right of Truman. The whole luncheon exciting! Especially, Truman!

Truman spoke of his unexpected victory over Dewey in 1948. No way Truman could win. Similar to no way could Trump win.

Truman won.

The media wanted to get out early with the election results. On radio and in the newspapers.

H. V. Kaltenborn, in his horsey voice, announced to all the world that Dewey had won. The Chicago Tribune’s headline was Dewey Wins!

Egg on both their faces.

Years later at the Syracuse luncheon, Truman was excited that Kaltenborn and the Chicago Tribune had screwed up. He got ’em!

The Boston Globe joined the ranks of media who came out early with an erroneous result. The Patriots/Falcons game. The front page article titled: A Bitter End. Referring to the defeat of the Boston Patriots.

Neither the Patriot victory nor the Boston Globe miscue ever to be forgotten.

An example of police brutality that should not have been.

It was March 17, 2013. Early morning. The place Los Angeles. Kim Nguyen a graduate student in an MBA program.

Kim apparently had too much to drink. Publicly drunk. She was arrested. Her hands cuffed behind her. She was placed in the back seat of a police car. A police officer with her.

The police officer did not seat belt her nor lock the door next to her. Both required procedures.

On the way to the police station, the officer tried to rape her. Nguyen fighting him off best she could. His hands were to her bare crotch and breasts. The bottom of her dress torn from her.

Nguyen moved back against the door to protect herself. The vehicle was doing 30 mph. The door opened. She fell out. Landed on her face. Broken jaw and lost all her teeth. Jaw wired shut. She spent 17 days in the hospital.

Nguyen settled her case against Los Angles last week for $3.5 million. A proper ending.

Go Live with Key West Lou on Facebook going well. Increasing numbers every day. Comments 100 a day, give or take a few either way. I have only been at this show since last thursday. I am thrilled.

Join me on Facebook’s Go Live. Enter Key West Lou. See and hear me pontificate on something for a few minutes. A very brief few minutes. Sometimes less than a minute. Several times a day.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN

A first for me yesterday. Marching in Steve Attis’ New Orleans type funeral procession.

A warm experience. Joyous an even better description.

Steve in the casket riding up front. The musicians behind him. Skipper Krippitz leading them. With a drum. Walking backwards the whole way. Impressive!

The rest of us behind the musicians. Some two hundred strong. Led by Steve’s wife Midge in a wheel chair.

We leisurely marched/danced to When the Saints Go Marching In. The American gospel hymn that became a jazz favorite.

The song expressing the wish to go to Heaven.

Religious services were at St. Mary Star of the Sea. Sad. The atmosphere had changed.

Steve’s family in attendance. Came from everywhere. The most touching moment when one of Steve’s sons was doing a reading. It was difficult for him. His sister came up and put her arm around his shoulder. He finished.

I walked with Don, Tom and Nicky.

Then to Publix. Needed only a few things. Basics.

Publix packed like it was Thanksgiving or Christmas. Everyone buying for Super Bowl parties tonight. Every check out counter was open. The lines long in each one.

It has not been my good fortune to view the last two Syracuse games. I forgot they were playing wednesday and missed a great victory. I was walking for Steve yesterday and missed an even better game.

Syracuse beat #9 Virginia 66-62. Syracuse was down 12 at half. Syracuse scored 73 percent from the field in the second half. Made 66 percent of their 3 point shots through out the entire game.

Big time basketball!

It also was Jim Boeheim’s 1,000th victory. Forty one years a Syracuse coach. I know Jim Boeheim. A good person deserving the success he has achieved.

Syracuse/Clemson tuesday evening at 8.

Super Bowl tonight. Not that I had to tell you. Everyone knows. I will be watching at a private party.

Trump respects Putin. He disrespects judges. Does not make sense to me.

The protests everywhere continue to concern me. They probably will turn into violence at some point. Trump’s hype adds fuel to the fire.

Not healthy.

Trump’s sense of responsibility lacking.

Enjoy Super Bowl! Enjoy your sunday!

 

CLEMSON 54 Syracuse 0…..OH, THE PAIN!

Syracuse had played well the two games before Clemson. Sure, Syracuse was 4-4. Clemson 9-0 and #3 in the country.

Just maybe…..I wrote yesterday. Hope springs eternal.

We took a beating. 54-0.

Syracuse basketball on the roll. An exhibition game played already. Colgate this coming weekend.

Should be a good season. Syracuse has a new 7′ 2″ center. He’s rough. In the learning stage. If Boeheim can bring him around, it could be a spectacular season.

Saw my heart doctor yesterday. Got the results of all the tests I have taken the past two weeks. All negative. Everything ok.

I still tire and gasp, however.

The only thing left is my weight. I have gained 30 pounds over the past 1.5 years. I start the diet tomorrow.

I intended to early vote today. Had a feeling the polls might be closed on Sunday. They are closed. In fact, early voting ended yesterday.

No problem, I will vote Tuesday.

The quality of the man. Trump showed what he is made of again yesterday. Note that I do not say Hillary is without sin.

There was an altercation in the audience at a Trump rally in Reno. Someone shouted “gun!” The secret Service jumped on Trump and pulled him off the stage. Trump returned a few minutes later.

There was no gun. There was yelling between a non Trump person and Trump supporters that appeared could get out of hand. No one was arrested.

At Trump’s next rally, Trump people claimed it was an assassination attempt…..that Trump had survived an assassination attempt.

Pure fantasy.

Trump many times reminds me of Hitler in the 1930s. With regard to the phoney assassination attempt, Joseph Goebbels. Goebbels was Hitler’s Propaganda Minister. Goebbels used to say if you tell a lie enough times, the people will believe it.

Back to the Key West Rotary History. What follows is installment 7.

My retelling of the Rotary’s history is a rendition of Key West history. Rotarians where community persons. Involved. The two histories run parallel.

Still 1925.

At the December 3 weekly Rotary meeting, developer Malcolm Meacham spoke. Meacham had recently purchased a large portion of Key West, including the airport.

Meacham developed Key West’s first airport. Meacham Field. Today, Key West International Airport.

Passenger service between Key West and Havana has been in the news recently. Pan American World Airways began passenger service from Meacham Field to Havana on January 16, 1928.

The next Rotary meeting was a week later on December 10. Guests were the Monroe County High School football team and their coach Peter Christiansen. Floyd “Diz” Roberts was team captain.

The team had only recently been organized. Rotary members George Perpall and Captain John Maher were leaders in organizing the team.

The Christmas Eve day meeting was not special. The regular meeting fell on that date. The smallest attendance ever at a meeting was noted. Understandably.

The primary topic discussed was the opening of the Overseas Highway. What we take for granted opened January 25, 1928.

Recall how the impact of the Overseas Highway was stressed in an earlier installment. The cry was plan for that which the highway would bring.

Florida was experiencing a land boom in the 1920s. The concept of a highway from Miami to Key West introduced. Since its 1928 formal opening, much has occurred. Including the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935.

Today’s U.S. 1 has been redeveloped and refurbished. Including the wood bridges left after Flagler’s Railroad failed which were replaced in the 1980s with modern bridges. Ferry connections eliminated.

The Christmas Eve meeting ended with the members exchanging Merry Christmas and Happy New Year greetings.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS

Today brings to mind three recollections. One well known. The other two personal.

The first not so long ago. On this date in 2008, Barack Obama was elected America’s first African-American President.

A history making date.

The second involves refugees and the Hungarian Revolution. The Revolution occurred in 1956. Hungary was Russian dominated. People unhappy. Protesting in the streets. Nothing violent.

After ten days, things heated up. Rocks and beer bottles being thrown at Russian soldiers and tanks. Days 11 and 12, the beer bottles turned into bullets.

On this date in 1956, the Russians said no more. They sent in the tanks. Blazing away. The so called Revolution was over. Two thousand five hundred killed, 2oo,ooo Hungarians fleeing the country.

Those who fled were refugees. A problem the world knows today.

Where to go?

Some ended up in the United States. How many I do not know. Many were college students. The students were taken in by various American colleges. Every college did its fair share.

I was a senior at Manhattan college. All of a sudden in the middle of a semester, we had a dozen Hungarian students in our midst.

One became a friend. Gergo. He spoke excellent English. We talked evenings after diner. Generally at a bench on campus.

Gergo told the story of the Revolution in simplistic terms. He said no one wanted a revolution. Especially the college students. He said that after drinking beer in the evenings, they would throw rocks and beer bottles at the Russian soldiers and tanks. For fun.

After a while, the Russians no longer consider the throwings a fun activity. They started shooting back.

The students got some guns and returned the fire. At this point not yet a revolution in their minds. Merely tit for tat.

When the tanks came out big time firing, things got serious. One night only. That is all it took. The students retaliated with molotov cocktails. No competition for the tanks.

The students knew they were done and had to get out of Hungary quickly. Here it was two weeks after fleeing and Gergo and I were talking about what happened.

No one argued about taking refugees in at the time. Of course, the number of Hungarian refugees was significantly less than those that have come out of Syria in recent times.

Personal letters from Santa Claus a final recollection.

I came across on the internet an advertisement by Magical Xmas Letters. Send the company $17.94 and your child will receive a personally signed letter from Santa Claus and some North Pole information. The letter printed. The signature written.

Back in the 1960s, two Utica attorneys did the same thing at Xmas time. Pat Bernardi and Jim Zogby. Law partners. Both now long gone.

Pat and Jim were five years older than me. Young lawyers did not make much money in those days. They came up with the idea of sending Santa Claus letters out. Parents wrote. Pat and Jim’s operation returned a handwritten and signed letter from Santa Claus.

The cost was relatively cheap. The exact amount, I cannot recall. Two dollars sticks in my mind. A probable price some fifty years ago. I had the letters sent to my children.

Pat and Jim’s Xmas business took hold. Soon they had to rent space and hire a number of women to write the letters. Even Pat and Jim got into handwriting responses. Business boomed.

A tiring, but banner Xmas season for Pat and Jim. An experience that left them extremely tired came Xmas Eve.

Bocce last night. Don’s Place won 2-1. Not good enough. Needed all three games. Will remain in second place.

Syracuse/Clemson tomorrow. Clemson a top 10 team. Favored by 27 points.

Syracuse has played well the last two games. I see the game closer. Maybe an upset?????

Installment 5 of a Key West Rotary history.

The year 1925.

Nineteen twenty five was a busy year for the Rotary. Today only a partial report. The year will take 1 or 2 additional installments to complete.

Sloppy Joe’s was not Sloppy Joe’s in 1925. It was the Victoria Restaurant.

On October 15, a Cuban Boy Scout Troop visited Key West. The Rotary honored the group at a luncheon at Victoria’s. The Scoutmaster only spoke Spanish. His words were translated by Sebastian Cabrera.

Dr. J. Y. Porter, Sr. was a Key West charter Rotarian, local physician, and the first public health doctor for the State of Florida. A week after the Cuban boy scout event, Dr. Porter was 78 years old. The Rotary threw him a birthday party. Talk, singing, and birthday cake with 78 candles. Porter blew them all out!

Judge Jefferson B. Browne recalled how Dr. Porter had been instrumental in stemming the spread of yellow fever in Jacksonville.

Dr. Porter had returned to Key West after his State service to take charge of the Chamber of Commerce.

Captain Jack Maher was commander of the Key West Army Barracks. At the party, he sang When You Were Young Maggie and The Sunshine of Your Smile. The latter being Dr. Porter’s favorite tune.

The Key West Rotary was conservation minded. Late in October, the Club endorsed a proposal to ban the shooting and trapping of birds and protecting Key deer.

Time does not change some things. We are still protecting Key deer. Dr. Porter spoke in support of protecting birds. He viewed birds as eating disease carrying mosquitoes and insects.

More 1925 to follow tomorrow.

Enjoy your day!

 

IMMIGRANT RAPE IN GERMANY

Anna in Novara, Italy e-mailed me yesterday about New Year’s Eve in Cologne, Germany.

A thousand men surrounded and were in the Cologne railroad station. Immigrants from North Africa and the Middle East. Average ages 20-35.

They raped and fondled breasts, the vaginal area and butts of women. Tore clothes off women. Hugged and kissed them.

Authorities believe the attacks were staged/coordinated. Similar though smaller episodes occurred in Hamburg, Stuttgart and Düsseldorf.

Merkel’s opponents are calling for her resignation. I doubt it will happen.

What has happened however is what many predicted would occur. A crime increase, including rapes.

My yesterday began as usual with the anti-gravity treadmill.

Then to Walgreens. I share a personal aggravating story with you.

I have been taking a particular heart generic for several years. For some reason, the prescription got screwed up. Two weeks ago, I went to pick up the renewal which my doctor had called in. I was told there was a problem. I asked for and was given a 5 day supply till the problem was worked out.

Went back five days later. Problem still unresolved. Received another 5 day supply.

Returned yesterday. Still a problem. I very politely explained the background, my returning, etc. It took a bit of time, but the pharmacist worked it out. I thank her.

I was given the prescription. Note, it is a generic. Cost, $2 for a 30 day supply. All the running back and forth over a $2 item. No one seemed to care. The drug store, insurance company, medical profession, etc., except for the pharmacist at Walgreens yesterday.

I fine tuned my blog talk radio show. Two environmental issues hit me wrong.

One had to do with Flint, Michigan’s water supply which contained lead. Michigan’s Governor declared a State of Emergency yesterday and the U.S. Attorney’s office got involved.  The whole thing has to do with money.

I discussed the Flint/lead water problem four months ago on Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou.

The other with male bass experiencing sex changes in the waters of the northeast. Eighty five per cent of small mouth bass had developed eggs where previously testes had been located. The same with 47 percent of large mouth bass.

Dinner at Roostica.

Watched Chris Matthew’s interview of Hillary Clinton at 7. Did my blog talk radio show at 9.

I am being interviewed today on KONK News re last week’s KONK Life article Political Sexcapades. 104.9 at 12:30.

Tibetan monks visiting Key West this week. Visiting everything. Some spending afternoons at St. Paul’s meditating and other things.

Clemson beat Syracuse in overtime last night 74-73. Oh!!!!!!!! Hard to take. I never thought I would see a bad Syracuse basketball team. It happens, I guess.

Enjoy your day!

BLOG TALK RADIO TONIGHT

Tuesday means blog talk radio time. My show tonight. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou.

Biting issues.

I did a TV show five years ago re untested rape kits. They are back in the news. Florida. Thirteen thousand. Nothing has changed in five years.

The reasons given why Florida is so far behind are a crock. Listen to the real reasons tonight.

Another truth session involves Henry Ford. In 1914, Ford raised the minimum wage of his workers from somewhere around $2.25 per day to $5 per day. Let me tell you the real reason. The one no one talks about.

Other topics include whether the economy is really better, how a ton of garbage is hidden in the new highway bill that have nothing to do with highway construction, a shopping mall brawl involving 2,000 people, and more.

Join me. Nine my time. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

My yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill. Dave there. I admire Dave. Ninety six and still plugging away to keep his body healthy.

A doctor visit later in the afternoon. I keep the medical and pharmaceutical industries in business.

David Wilson, mentioned in the past few days, and I had drinks and appetizers last night at Sq.1. Turned out David is a snowbird. He has a second home in Bahama Village. A retired school teacher, he now operates an antique business back home.

An interesting guy. A good time.

Syracuse basketball tonight. Against Clemson. Syracuse a 5 point favorite. Hope it works out that way.

Enjoy your day!

LONG WRITING DAY

Yesterday was Sunday. Sunday is the day I write my KONK Life column.

I have wanted to write about the U.S. involvement in a war with Russia from 1917-1918. An interesting story. One few know about. The U.S. sent 13,000 troops.

The U.S. involvement was in a civil war. The Russian Civil War. The Reds/Whites battle.

We are involved in civil wars in the Middle East today. A lesson to be learned here. Ergo, I expanded the article to include civil wars and fighting wars to win. The Russian Civil War and today’s Middle East conflicts have much in common. Birds of a feather.

One problem. The longer the story, the longer it took to complete. Instead of finishing 3-4, I was at it till just after 6.

The time worth it. I was pleased with the final product. I hope you will be. The article publishes wednesday. The title: Stay Out of Civil Wars, Fight Wars To Win.

The extra time screwed up my sunday evening. I had intended to go to Kate Miano’s Gardens at 5. The sun broke late afternoon and it would have been perfect. There is always next week.

Rain. Heavy Rain. The last three days. Pours. Then stops. Only to return a couple of hours later.

The temperature is dropping also. The high today 71. 71 will be the highest all week. By weekend, the high will be down to 67. Long pants weather.

We have been lucky. December was terrific. We can handle a few weeks of cold.

New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristoff had a tongue in cheek comment in a recent article. Something to the effect that if Trump wins, he will rename the White House Trump Palace.

Iran and Saudi Arabia are at each other’s throats. These Middle East wars are civil wars. Based on religion. It is the Sunni/Shia battle which has been ongoing since just after the Prophet Muhammad’s death. The issue is which sect will lead the Muslims. Over 300 hundred years and still not resolved.

We are crazy to be involved. We should get out. We have been involved steadily in the Middle East in one fashion or another for fifteen years. Not our war!

Read an interesting comment somewhere this week. Cannot recall which publication. I read constantly. In any event, the comment was to the effect that Americans should not fight each other so much. We are not enemies but Americans first. We help ISIS when we destroy each other.

Enjoy your day!

IMPREGNATION COSTLY

This morning’s Key West Citizen’s History section made brief mention of a 1993 court case where one dog owner sued another dog owner because his dog got pregnant. Cost the impregnating dog owner $2,567.50.

The bite sounded interesting. I researched it. Following is what I came up with.

Rocky is the male. A seven pound Chihuahua. Canella is the female. An eighty pound Rottweiler. Rocky a lover. Canella receptive to playing.

Rocky did it to Canella.

The dogs were neighbors. Rocky was fenced in. Canella leashed on her owner’s deck. Canella in heat.

Rocky was not to be denied. Somehow he got out of the fence and made it to Canella. The two then proceeded to have intercourse. Canella not objecting.

Picture little Rocky pumping away at Canella.

Canella’s owner saw what was happening. He rushed out and tried to pull them away. To no avail. Even hosed them.

An animal officer happened to be driving by. He saw it all. Photographed the scene because it was so funny. Little Rocky getting his.

Canella got pregnant.

Canella was pedigreed. Her owner wanted her to be impregnated by another pedigreed Rottweiler. Canella ended up carrying ten puppies by Rocky.

Rather than have her deliver, Canella was subjected to a hysterectomy. No viable puppies obviously. The hysterectomy left Canella sterile.

Canella’s owner sued. The judge awarded him $2,567.50. I am not sure for what specifically. Most likely, the cost of the hysterectomy. Perhaps that the owner would not have pedigreed Rottweilers to sell in the future.

I spent all of yesterday at home. Intentionally. A perfect day for it.

I researched this week’s KONK Life column. A change of pace article. The unknown sexually related exploits of historical figures. People like Julius Caesar, Christopher Columbus, and Betsy Ross.

I will write the column later today.

Watched Syracuse/Clemson in the late afternoon. A good game. Syracuse was always in the game till the final minutes. There was a chance. Hope was kept alive.

Syracuse lost 37-27.

The team played well again, in spite of losing. They played without #1 quarterback Eric Dungey who was out with a head injury from last week. Mahoney, #4 quarterback, lead the team and did a good job.

The game got screwed up early in the 4th quarter. Syracuse was penalized 45 yards in less than two minutes. This was after recovering the ball around mid field.

The third 15 yard penalty was because of the coach’s conduct. He went crazy regarding the second 15 yard penalty call. Gave Syracuse its third 15 yard loss.

Had none of this occurred, Syracuse might have won the game. There was the chance. The team still hung in. If my recollection is correct, Clemson was able to score as a result of the penalties.

Next year!

The game was followed by the Democratic Debate last night. I am a political junkie. Last night’s performance was unimpressive. I am getting bored with an appearing wild Sanders waving his arms and saying the same things. Hillary is no better. Her boiler plated responses have become boring. She is beginning to sound hollow. The third candidate reminds me of a cheerleader. One with a great smile.

Power boat races end today. Every thing is on the line.

The water is rough in front of my home. It will be rougher out where they will be racing.

An organization called SMART Kids rode their bicycles into Key West yesterday. Adults. Four hundred strong. A two day trip beginning in Miami. The purpose to raise money for AIDS.

I hope to get out later in the day. I am going to try Kate Miano’s Gardens again.

Bocce rankings in the paper. We still are in third place. Next week the last. We probably will end up third. Could be fourth. An outside chance it will be second place. Depends on who wins and loses their last three games Thursday.

Enjoy your Sunday!