The best laid plans of mice and men…..
Last night was to be Captain Tony’s at 8 for his 102nd birthday bash. Thought it would be fun. Locals and tourists combined.
Never made it.
I enjoy researching. Can be a trip! Occasionally, a drudge.
Began researching at 2 yesterday afternoon. I was right into it. It was quickly 7. I was enjoying myself. Decided to skip Captain Tony’s party. I was confident he would not miss me.
I worked till 2 am. Dead this morning.
Tomorrow morning from 10 to noon, Terri White sings! With Larry Baeder at Hard Rock Cafe. Brunch time. Terri will be appearing every sunday morning with Larry.
I plan on having brunch at Hard Rock tomorrow morning. My lady entertains!
David Wolkowsky is responsible for the Key West of today. No one had his vision when he opened the Pier House in 1968. Actually, on this day in 1968.
Called the operation the Pier House Motel-At-Duval-On-The-Gulf. Fifty rooms.
David a person who could see whether others could not. The Duval location was nothing but a mud pit when he decided to develop it.
David has had many accomplishments. One notable is Jimmy Buffett. Buffett will tell you David was the first person in Key West to pay him to sing. In the Pier House Chart Room, of course.
David not yet a 100. He has a ways to go. He will be 99 later this month. I received my invitation to his birthday party yesterday.
Mom’s Tea Room was a popular place back in the 1930’s and 1940’s. A bar with ladies of the night. Even in the day time. A house of ill repute. A whore house.
If my recollection is correct, she operated at different times at 3 locations. Two in Key West and one on Stock Island. The authorities kept closing her down. The local police were not concerned. The federal government was. The Navy base was large in those days. The Navy did not feel it proper for their men to frequent a place like Mom’s.
On this day in 1941, Mom’s Tea Room was located near Fort Zachery Taylor. The constabularies raided the place. Three of Mom’s ladies were arrested.
Recall the power outage I reported this week. The one that occurred thursday night while I was at the Blue Macaw. The power outage was caused by a sailboat that struck a transmission line at the north end of the Seven Mile Bridge.
Irma beat up the Key West Shipwreck Museum. Located at 1 Whitehead. Recently reopened. The Museum has a 65 foot tower. The view spectacular. The island and Key West Harbor.
The Museum and tower are free to locals through September 30. Take advantage!
The U.S. Navy and Coast Guard are friends. We have lived together since way before World War II.
Friends take care of each other.
This past week, a fishing boat was out 63 miles northwest of Key West. A man on board was thought to have had a heart attack. The Naval Air Station was called. A Coast Guard boat arrived swiftly.
The crew recognized the man required immediate attention. A helicopter was called. The helicopter arrived in 9 minutes.
A medic was lowered from the helicopter. Arranged for the man to be lifted to the helicopter. He was flown to Lower Keys Medical Center. He is in stable condition.
Today and tomorrow tumultuous ones. Our country’s dark side will be exposed. Today, Charlottesville. Tomorrow, Washington, D.C.
Today is the one year anniversary of what could be described as the Charlottesville race riot. A wound opened. Exposed. A President who indicated support for the bad guys. By so doing, blatantly evidencing his racism.
White nationalists were on the march. Persons of color and those supporting them in opposition.
The vermin came out of the woodwork.
White nationalists are pro-white. Supportive of those who have come to America from European countries. They are white. Nazis at heart. Supportive of Hitler and his beliefs. Anti-Semitic.
An advanced U.S. group consists of those with extreme far right leanings. They are known as the alt-right. Whether extreme, all are white supremacists.
They Heil Hitler! Use the Nazi verbiage, Sieg Heil!
Primarily young. Difficult to distinguish or be aware of their political leanings. Your next door neighbor.
They believe white people are a race unto themselves. Whites presently are a majority in the U.S. They want to maintain that majority. They believe non-whites are on a mission of genocide to destroy whites. They seek to protect their own.
They are anti-immigration. Immigration allows additional non-whites to enter the country.
Trump supports them. They support Trump. They are part of the hard-core Republican conservative base that supports Trump.
They claim history supports their position.
The Naturalization Act of 1790 set forth the rules for granting naturalized citizenship. Immigration was limited to those who were “free white persons” of “good moral character.”
The law remained such till the adoption of the 14th Amendment in 1868. Did not blanket cover everyone, however. Granted citizenship only to black people born in the U.S.
The issue as to other non-whites was resolved in U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark in 1898. Allowed for naturalization to be available to everyone.
John C. Calhoun is a respected historical figure. Never the less, he was pro white and anti all other persuasions. He said, “We have never dreamt of incorporating into our Union any but the Caucasian race – the free white race…..Ours, sir, is the Government of a white people.”
I took the time this morning to spell out in some detail the background, etc. re the white nationalists. They are the enemy of our democracy. They seek to change it. By so doing, destroy it.
You will hear much on the media today and tomorrow re Charlottesville and Washington happenings. Our country may bleed a little.
Understand what is going on.
Enjoy your day!
