Trump’s track record is consistent when it come to failing. Two of his most recent failures involve his trip to China and his Christian Prayer Festival scheduled for Sunday.

Trump’s China trip a massive failure. Could not have been worse. If his goal was to get his picture taken with Xi, he was successful. That is as far as it went. 

Xi treated Trump poorly. Embarrassingly so.

Planned that way.

When Trump arrived, his plane was met by a low echelon official and a large group of Chinese children. The children were waving small Chinese flags with a sprinkling of American ones interspersed.

Trump’s appearance during the entire trip was one of an “unhappy camper.” Rarely a smile.

Xi was clear as to what he wanted from Trump. A cessation of military support for Taiwan. China has wanted to take over Taiwan for decades. Only U.S. support has prevented it. Xi was strong in presenting China’s position.  Xi referred to it as a “most sensitive issue.” An “extremely dangerous situation. Could lead to conflict.” A “clash” between China and the U.S.

The best China could offer in return was no assistance/non-interference on Iran’s side.

The U.S. is not the strong entity it has been regarded for the past 60 years. Trump has emboldened world nations not to fear the U.S. as they once did. Such tied with Trump’s tariffs and the U.S. may be in a most dangerous position.

Trump anticipated bringing back from China numerous economic packages. He brought a large number of U.S. industrialists with him on the trip. So far the only item mentioned by Trump is one Boeing jet to be built in the U.S.

Good job, Donald! You screwed up again! Big time!

Trump lies consistently. Misrepresents. Constantly tries to change history.

What bothers me is that many Republican bigwigs lie along with him. Either they are stupid and not aware of America’s true history or just don’t care.

I am zeroing in on this Sunday’s religious celebration in Washington, D.C. A 9 hour event. Wow!

Titled “Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving.” Its purpose to return the U.S. to the time of its Founding Fathers. A “time” that Trump and his misrepresenting colleagues claim reflect the “Christian roots of the U.S.” and “rededicate” the U.S. to God. The event’s primary speakers will be Hegseth, Rubio and Johnson.

Only one problem. Our Founding Fathers went out of their way to prevent the establishment of religion. These wise men recognized how badly religion had affected history and were smart enough not to want anything to do with it. If it were possible, they would roll in their graves Sunday when Trump and his cohorts take a position they so dramatically avoided.

Note carefully that Sunday’s event is to “hijack” the U.S. into a Christian nationalist narrative.

“Freedom of conscience” was the thrust of the Founding Fathers. Separation of church and state. No religious test for elective office. Article VI and the First Amendment strictly prohibits Congress from establishing a national religion. 

Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Benjamin Franklin set reason and natural law over established religion dogmas. Most wanted to keep religious machinations out of law making.

George Washington was a strong Christian, a practicing Episcopalian. He was strong on the issue that the government have no part in religion. 

So Donald, where did you come up with the idea that the Founding Fathers or most persons of that time sought to and did establish a Christian government? You continue to speak with a twisted tongue!

Moving on.

The Trump Administration plans on withholding $1.3 billion in Medicaid payments to California. A Democratic state. Vance says California has not done enough to fight fraud when it comes to public health insurance programs.

A Singapore company has developed a “smartphone for pets.” For real. It is simply called a “pet phone.” It uses A1, motion sensors and GPS. Worn by the pet and connected to an app on the owner’s smart phone.

The Barbie Doll debuted at the American International Toy Fair this day in 1959.

George Burns: “I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate.”

This is National Stroke Awareness Month. I had a stroke some four months ago. Not funny. Serious business. Leaves residuals.

The blog requires me to research daily. I inadvertently discover some interesting things. For example, women have only been wearing underwear for roughly one hundred years. Panties to be specific. Prior to the early 1920s, ladies wore no undergarments.

A busy mid-day for me yesterday. A manicure with Tammy followed by a haircut with Lori. Then a stop at the beach to view the ladies in their much abbreviated bathing suits.

Thereafter, I decided to stop at the Casa Marina. Enjoyed lunch at its relatively new beach bar. A yellowtail fish sandwich. A huge roll, lots of lettuce, multiple slices of tomato and a very thin small piece of fish. Thirty seven dollars. Not worth it!

I am still trying to get to see Prada 2. It would have been cheaper and more pleasurable had I done so instead of lunch at the Casa Marina.

Enjoy your day!

Switzerland is guinea pig heaven!

It is illegal to own only one guinea pig in Switzerland. The reason being guinea pigs are social creatures who grow lonesome without a friend. Ergo in 2008, Switzerland passed a law making it illegal to own only one guinea pig. 

Guinea pigs are treated especially well in Switzerland. Their life expectancy is 84.1 years.

I wish our social problems were as simple to consider and resolve.

Does cheating ruin marriages faster than any thing else? Psychologist John Gottman says no, though it does not help. The most taxing for a marriage and the one that leads to most divorces is contempt, treating your spouse with disrespect. It will ruin a marriage faster than any other behavior.

On this day in 1940, Winston Churchill announced as he took office: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.” He did. He gave it his all. The English people were lucky to have him as their leader during the days of World War II.

The tennis match of the ages. Between the sexes. The special match of all time played in 1973. Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King faced off in the first “Battle of the Sexes.” The tennis match of the century.

Bravado by Riggs was big time prior to the match. King was basically silent. King won. She whipped Riggs’ ass!

I watched the match on TV with my father.

Key West weather predicted to continue being hot and humid today. The heat best described as an abomination! High projected at 86 degrees.

I stopped at the beach yesterday to see how people were handling the weather. The beach between Salute’s and the Casa Marina. The people were not handling it. At best only about 40 people. Everyone laying in the shade. No one in the water. The temperature hit 91 degrees in the afternoon.

One of Key West’s outstanding citizens has been Ed Swift. I knew him well years ago when I lived in Key Haven across the water from him.

On this day in 1983, Old Town Trolley, owned by Ed Swift, Chris Beland,  and Moe Mosher, purchased the Conch Train from Miami’s Wometco Enterprises.

Churchill won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953. His work a six volume memoir titled The Second World War.

The fastest Lamborghini hit 221 miles per hour. The fastest Lamborghini tractor’s top speed was 26 miles per hour.

The Versailles Treaty imposed horrible conditions on Germany following World War I. Hitler would never have come to power were it not for the Treaty. He was able to rally the German people to him by knocking the abuses of the Treaty, the unreasonable conditions imposed on the German people. Many believe there would not have been a European World War II were it not for the Treaty.

U.S. schools districts are scoring their worst in 10 years. Why?

Pope Leo wears sneaks on occasion. Nikes! Why not? Though God-like, he is as human as the next person.

Eileen Wang resigned Monday as Mayor of Arcadia, California. It was discovered she was a Chinese agent.

Ninety percent of the Earth’s water is in the ocean.

Something I never knew. Humans breath roughly 20,000 times a day.

Two interesting things about Trump today.

The first is he’s in China selling his soul/our soul to the company store.

The other involves his night time ramblings. It is well recognized Trump does not sleep well. So he spends his night times writing multi-attacks on everyone and everything. The Daily Beast reported he is not alone during the dark hours when he does so. A young lady is alleged to help him.

It is suspected the young lady is White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Whether she or some other young lady, the person should be given credit for helping Trump with his Truth Social rampage.

Enjoy your day!

Panicville hit me big time yesterday. I thought I lost my cell phone. Think for a moment. Our whole lives depend on our cell phones. Lose yours and you are lost!

When I discovered the loss, I had just returned home from shopping at Publix. I had only been to two places so far. Publix and Denny’s Hideaway. Returned immediately to both. Staff at each extremely helpful. First stop was Denny’s. They did not have it. Second stop, Publix.

I began losing it – my mind – at Publix. I was asked my phone number. I could not remember it. That’s how screwed up I was getting.

Returned to my car. Checked everywhere inside. Under the front seat especially. No phone.

Returned home a wreck. Decided to check my apartment. There it was! The phone! On my desk! I never ever even took it out with me!

I know. I’m losing it. Call me names. What can I say. One thing is sure, I am glad I had left it home before I went out and had not lost it.

Such is life.

I suspect Trump may be as screwed up as I was yesterday. If so, we are in deep shit trouble.

It is now being mentioned that Trump may have faked his assassination attempts. Hard to believe! Especially the first one. Another quarter of an inch and his brains would have been blown out.

The last one could be a maybe. It was a “safe” attempt, of course. The alleged assassin never even made it to the ballroom. The event did give our “heroes” the attempt to act as such. Hegseth threw himself on his wife. Trump was concerned about Melania as he was being dragged out. She was under the table.

Truth has a way of coming out. Time will tell if the purported fake attempts were truth or fabrication.

Trump has been responsible for too many changes to Washington, D.C. Our history not a golden one nor to be changed as Trump proposes. He should leave well enough alone.

His most recent attention has been directed to the Reflection Pool. He wants it blue in color. He has already begun the changes to make it so. Initially said it would cost $1.8 million. Already pushing $4 million. Additionally, a lawsuit has been instituted by a non-profit group claiming he lacks the authority to make the change and has not taken the necessary steps if he has.

Trump will shortly be meeting with Xi in China. China’s major desire is for the U.S. to stop or slow down approval for military aid to Taiwan.

Taiwan is as the Ukraine is to Russia and Iran to the U.S. For different reasons, of course. China does not want to get bogged down as Russia and the U.S. have.

Will Trump agree with Xi? If so, how many golf courses and hotels will it take in China?

Doubt me not.

Xi will dazzle Trump with China’s military prowess. Trump will view a spectacular Chinese military parade. Trump will be moved.

China and many other nations view the U.S. as a nation in decline. Could be. If so, Trump’s fault. No question where the fault lies.

What now with the Iran cease fire since peace proposals have been rejected? Trump finds himself in a pickle. One of his own making.

Enough of Trump.

My dear Greek friend Theos telephoned me from Greece yesterday. Fortunately after I found my phone. Things are tough and getting worse in Greece. Trump and his tariffs the problem. Theos runs a business and would know.

I enjoy speaking with Theos by telephone and his twice yearly visits to visit me in Key West since we met via the blog several years ago. Love his lady Dina, also!

How the best New York City restaurants change. Their locations within the City also. Kabawa is now the number 1 ranked restaurant in New York. Not located in Manhattan proper. It is located in the East Village. Specializes in Caribbean food.

Key West weather continues to run warm. High today projected at 87 degrees. The humidity/heat is an abomination, however. It is like August and September.

I went to the beach yesterday that runs between Salute and the Casa Marina. Sat in the shade. Went to enjoy the ladies in their next to nothing bathing suits.

At 1 p.m., the beach was next to empty. The long stretch of beach had roughly 40 people lying in the shade. No one even going in the water.

There are more skyscrapers in New York City than all of Europe.

Denis Johnson: “What can be longer than trying to communicate?”

On this day in 1932, the kidnapped Lindbergh baby was found dead. A sad day for all America!

The only crop grown in all 50 States is corn.

Redheads generally require more anesthesia. Nineteen percent more. Even down to extra novocain at the dentist’s office.

Enough.

Enjoy your day!

He’s at it again! Vaccines weren’t enough. RFK Jr. wants to eliminate Jell-O, sodas and Cheerios from hospital menus. He refers to them as “junk food.” He threatens to withhold federal funding (Medicare, Medicaid) from hospitals that fail to improve their food standards.

The man is out of his mind! Obviously he has not spent enough time as a patient in hospitals.

I consider myself an expert. In the past four years, my hospital stays have been extended. It began at age 88. I spent 2 1/2 months at Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami where I had three heart surgeries. Less than a year later, I spent 58 consecutive days in four different hospitals where I underwent four surgeries to find an abdominal bleed. The surgeries failed. I was discharged from the last hospital and told to go home and get my affairs in order as I would be dead within one week. I was 89 at the time. I shortly will be 91.

I  have had two more lengthy hospital stays since.

I am an expert when it comes to hospital food. It sucks! The only salvation was Jell-O, soda and Cheerios.

Asshole wants to deny us these pleasurable basics! He’s incompetent, inept, and ignorant when it comes to the hospital food issue.

RFK Jr. should began preaching to Trump about good eating habits. We all know Trump consumes McDonald burgers for one of his meals daily. He even had the balls to serve his McDonald selection to King Charles and Queen Camilla during their recent visit.

The President is fat. RFK Jr. should save his boss’ life by getting him on a weight reducing diet.

My recollection is the Iran War was going to be a quickie when Trump began it. Short term. Something like two weeks.

The War began February 26. Now 9 weeks long. No end in sight, except there is more “talking” and “less fighting” going on.

Trump expresses himself stupidly on occasion. He makes comments that can only be described as such. One involves the length of the Iran War. Trump recently bragged the Iran War has been shorter than World War II. 

The Iran War is “Trump’s War.” Expensive!  A billion dollars a day. Makes it difficult for Americans. From gasoline to groceries, etc. Not good!

As expected, oil prices are rising in the U.S.  because the “peace deal” has failed. I suspect gasoline prices in Key West may go over $5 a gallon this week. We’ve been pecking at that number this past week.

Trump and Xi meet this week. Trump will be on his way to China for the meeting. From China’s perspective “trade” is the big issue.

Trump claims he is a “negotiator” and has been such his whole life.

Xi will take advantage of him.

Trump has received Iran’s responses. He deems them “unacceptable.” Iran’s terms/demands include reparations, recognition of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and an end to American sanctions.

Trump is in a war he began and cannot seem to get out of. The Iranians are squeezing him. They should. 

In the end, Trump may merely “claim victory” and withdraw U.S. forces. A no win embarrassing ending for Trump. The penalty he may have to pay for starting this foolish war.

Moving on to non-Trump items.

Marie Curie dealt with radium. Her work was radioactive, though she might not have appreciated its dangers at the time. Experts claim her volumes of notes themselves will remain radioactive for 1,500 years.

It happens! A venomous cottonmouth snake showed up recently at the front door of a Daytona home. The police removed it.

The Titanic carried 3,500 life jackets. They would have been no good to help those on the sinking ship. The water was so cold it caused death in a very short time.

Many of the life jackets have been lost to history. One recently however was sold at an auction for nearly $1 million. It belonged to first class passenger Lara Mabel Francatelli, a secretary heading to Chicago with her employer. Her life jacket is the only one to have been offered at auction.

A Shakespearian home in London was lost to history. However, a scholar recently discovered a map that revealed the exact location. Shakespeare purchased the property three years before his death in 1616.

Operations are big time in the U.S. Generally healthy procedures. Save lives!

A study reveals 60,000 people per day have surgery under general anesthesia.

Enjoy your day!

Mother’s Day! One of the best holidays! If your Mother is still with you, enjoy the day with her. If not, think fond memories of her. 

I wrote in detail of Mother’s Day in my blog yesterday “Tomorrow Is Mother’s Day” and refer you to it.

Today also projected to be another magnificent day weatherwise in Key West. Mid 80s. What could be better!

Since today celebrates these two remarkable events, I shall intentionally refrain from discussing Trump in any fashion. Why spoil things!

Today a little bit of everything.

Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff has been standing up to campus bullies.

The mention of Cornell brings to memory the ten plus years I represented Cornell through their insurance company in liability cases. The time would be the mid 1970s through the mid 1980s. 

The nature of lawsuits against any institution vary depending on the time frame involved. Cases in my legal defense of Cornell did not involve rambunctious students. Students were more respectful back then.

Cornell’s problems in those days involved Cornell’s cliffs. A series of cliffs are in the area of the campus. Students and other people were always falling down the cliffs and becoming injured. Some seriously.

The nature of lawsuits change with time. 

I reflect on my representation of Cornell University with amusement. I applied to several law schools for admission in 1957. The only one to reject me was Cornell.

“Teen Takeovers.” In some of the largest U.S. cities and Washington, D.C., quickly organized gatherings are popping up in downtown areas, parks and certain neighborhoods. The issue arising presently is how to keep the youth under control in the summer  and how to deal with teenage misbehavior.

Bad behavior is becoming increasingly worse. A serious concern exists.

Winston Churchill: “Never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.”

Medicare does not pay foe GLP-1 for obesity. It is only covered under Medicaid in 13 States and that is only since January of this year. Coverage with private insurers is also limited.

Black cats got their frightening reputations in the Middle Ages. In the 13th century, religious and folklore Europeans drew connections between cats, Satan worshipers, and witches.

Vampire bats are the only mammals to feed exclusively on blood. Human or animal blood makes no difference. Noteworthy is a vampire bat can die without just two days of eating.

The Pew Research Center conducted a survey of religions all across the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Mississippi is the most religious state. The least surprisingly is Vermont.

The first American transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869.

On this day in 1938, a tornado with 100 mph winds hit Pirates Cove Fishing Camp on Sugarloaf Key. Cars were tossed around and small buildings destroyed.

A new American industrial revolution is brewing. Caused by robots.

On this day in 1924, J. Edgar Hoover began his 48 year tenure as FBI Director. He lasted that long because he “kept book” on everyone. People were afraid to oppose him since it was well known he had “secrets” recorded about everyone.

Enjoy your Mother’s Day and Sunday!

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day. A very special day. Mothers are the best.

On May 9, 1914, Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Mother’s Day holiday.

I miss my Mother. Desperately. She died early in life. Around 75. A diabetic who did not take care of herself.

In my adult professional years, she became my best friend. I would stop on my way home from work several times a week. She would be waiting for me seated at the kitchen table. A bottle of Beefeaters on the table with a bucket of ice. For me alone. She did not drink. We would talk about everything.

She was a wise person. In everyday things. Her education was limited. She was born in Italy and only went to the third grade. Went to work full time thereafter.

Her wisest bit of advice was not to marry my wife. I should have listened. My Mother was correct in everything she told me. The two got along well during our marriage. Each treated the other with the utmost respect. Again my Mother’s advice re my wife were words of wisdom.

Both of my parents were good people. I was lucky.

Mark Twain: “Golf is a good walk spoiled.”

Delta is cutting snacks and drinks on short flights.

It was on this day in 1969 that the FDA approved “the pill.” The first commercially produced birth-control pill.

On this day in 1964, the Beatles stronghold on U.S. pop charts ended. Louis Armstrong took over #1 with “Hello Dolly.”

Hunter S. Thompson: “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.”

City-states that compromised ancient Greece numbered in excess of 1,000.

Ancient Greeks ate bread for breakfast big time. One problem, however. Sand got in the wheat and caused widespread dental problems.

Pyramids took many blocks to construct. Some took in excess of 2 million.

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a truce and prisoner exchange. I am not sure this means the end to the war.

Kash Patel gives to some FBI members and civilians he encounters in his everyday duties bottles of bourbon from his personal stash.

Iran is no match for the U.S. Why then has Washington not defeated Iran?

Grocery prices continue to rise. I spend more each week at Publix and receive less for my dollars.

Trump does not administer his power equally among the States. He fails to provide blue states with fire prevention monies.

The Trump/Leo conflict.

Vance told Pope Leo that he did not understand theology. Apparently Vance thought he did. Strange because he only converted to Catholicism 8 years earlier. Whereas, Leo wrote his thesis on the issue and has spent his adult life as a priest.

Trump got involved with Leo. Trump dislikes Leo because the Pope calls them as he sees them. Trump initiating a war with no basis for conflict, killed hundreds of children, caused much property damage, etc.

Trump does not like hearing the truth about himself, especially from a man of God.

Rubio has replaced Vance in attempts to resolve the conflict. Rubio and the Pope met Thursday. Rubio a lifetime Catholic and carries his rosary beads in his pocket everyday.

The outcome of the meeting not yet revealed.

Enjoy your day!

The share of men in the workforce has fallen sharply in 2026. Young and old alike. These men are either not working or are looking for a job. The number is at the lowest level since 1948, except for the time of the pandemic.

Golden Tempo will not run in the Preakness. It is in the best interest of the horse.

Gasoline prices ricochet from the Strait of Hormuz to our gas tanks.

Measles continues to roar back. Vaccines for everyone…..where are they?

U.S. schools facing a crisis as the number of children attending declines. Public schools suffering. Schools closing. The trend began in 2014 and continues.

“Fired from retirement” has become a common occurrence. Many retirees are looking to reenter the job market because of “financial need.”

Key West weather continues to be hot. In the mid 80s.

Rome’s Colosseum receives seven million visitors a year. I have visited several times. The place is huge and run down. Empty in modern times. Not put to any use.

The Colosseum seated 50,000 to 80,000 persons in its hey day.

Assisted suicide is sparking a national debate. Will the centuries old religious concept that “human life be saved and created in God’s image” continued to be adhered to? Life is a gift from God, not a consumer choice.

Mother’s Day was a reaction to the Civil War. An extremely bloody war, it was hoped Mother’s Day would make people gather in peace.

This day in 1945 is celebrated by Allied nations worldwide as V-E Day. These nations still rejoice in the defeat of the Nazi war machine on that day.

On this day in 1963, American movie goers got their first view of James Bond in “Dr. No.”

Today is the 75th National Day of Prayer. The Key West staff observed the occasion at 8 a.m. on the steps of City Hall. Traditionally, the President invokes the Day in Washington, D.C. I assume the new significantly religious Trump will do so together with his cohort Hegseth.

I suffered a stroke about four months ago. Recovered. However since then, I have not dreamed. Not even the tiniest bit till three days ago. In the last three nights, I have dreamed of my youth up through my high school years. Big time. I don’t understand. I will ask Dr. Norris  during my next visit.

I was speaking with Fran and Tom in Buffalo yesterday. They were going to see a live show of Hair in the evening. They had seen it years ago on Broadway also.

I told them of my first experiences with Hair. First off Broadway and then a couple of years later on Broadway. The years a long time ago. Nudity not common in Broadway shows. I was totally embarrassed when the last scene of the show played. The entire cast came out bare ass. Total nudity. Front and back. Nothing left to the imagination. Never saw it in a show before. 

Trump time.

Trump sent Rubio to visit with Pope Leo yesterday at the Vatican in Rome. Rubio was traveling Wednesday to Rome for the visit. While Rubio was in transit, Trump lashed out big time against the Pope.

Made no sense, except that it was typical Trump.

Surprisingly, there is little in the news today re the Rubio/Leo meeting of yesterday.

Polls find a broad rejection of religious related messages from Trump and Hegseth.

Trump lies again. He never fails to do so. One of his most recent mistruths involve the damage Iran has done to U.S. military assets. Images clearly show more damage of U.S. assets than reported.

Jimmy Kimmel: “The President should have gone there (Rome) to meet the Pope himself, but they decided it was too dangerous. When he enters a church, all Holy Water starts to boil.”

Some of the nasty things Trump said recently about Pope Leo included “he likes crime” and what reads like a threat to Catholics he is “endangering a lot of Catholics.” He also said Leo wears “dresses.”

Asshole!

Trump needs “gratitude” in D.C. He is not getting it. No problem. He is putting up banners thanking himself.

Trump wants to paint the Eisenhower Building white. Trump says its gray color is “ugly.” Also, that “gray is for funerals.” Cost figures not yet available, nor whether the white paint would damage the building’s exterior.

Enjoy your day!

Pope Leo truly a man of God. He stands in open defiance to Donald Trump. He fears not in speaking out against Trump’s evil ways. Leo said, “I cannot stay quiet anymore.” And with those words lashed out.

Trump fears not and respects not. He went after the Pope in typical Trump fashion. Respect not involved.

Leo is a peacemaker. Trump not. Blessed is the peacemaker. When the Pope speaks, God speaks. He is powered by Jesus.

The Gospel preaches to Leo “to not be afraid, God goes before you.”

Trump insulting Leo is in effect a badge of courage for the Pope.

Understandably Leo refused to sit with Vance. A convert to Catholicism who believed he knew more about Catholicism than the Pope.

Trump is sending Rubio to speak with the Pope in Vance’s place. Rubio sold his soul to Trump months ago. His willingness to speak for Trump to Leo is a reflection of such. Rubio wants the Republican nomination for President and Trump’s support in getting it. Vance wants the nomination also, but showed himself to be merely ignorant in the fashion he went after the Pope.

Leo fears not. He speaks truth. He speaks with the voice and strength of God. Trump and his minions cannot win against him.

Leo speaks for the people. All peoples. Trump speaks for Trump.

Trump wickedness reflected when he speaks. He speaks with both a lying and insulting tongue. A perfect example is Trump referring to the Obamas a few days ago as “Apes.” Bad, bad man! He deleted the terminology 12 hours later.

Enough for today!

I failed to write a blog for several days. I was not sick. It was the computer. An illness I had never seen before. Nor did my computer guru my son in law Corey Malcom.

Some wrote asking/thinking I had died. Not yet, folks!

To make it even worse, Corey was in Tallahassee for Robert’s graduation. Sloan Kelley who set up my blog system some 20 years ago was in Atlanta with her sister who may be dying. I was useless. I can write, but am not mechanically inclined. No way could I fix the computer.

Corey got back to Key West last night. Immediately came over. Normally, it takes Corey 2-3 minutes to adjust my machinery. This time it took 15 minutes. It was that bad!

However I am up and running again and pleased to be able to do the blog this morning. Thank you Corey and thank you Sloan who he was texting with in the recovery process.

Lets begin with the mundane. Trump can come later.

The Empire State Building was dedicated on May 1, 1931.

Henry Ford took care of his employees. Ford factory workers got a 40 hour work week in 1926.

Rudy Giuliani is in critical condition with pneumonia.

Oh, how many men participated in the Epstein sex shenanigans? It has been revealed that Bard College’s President Leon Botstein is about to retire over his Jeffrey Epstein comments. He ran Bard for 50 years. Turns out Botstein exchanged messages and visits with Epstein for years.

The Statue of Liberty is 305 feet high. I visited twice. My Father took me when I was young. Later, I took my four children. A must see by everyone, adults and children alike.

The Library of Congress receives 370,000 visitors a year. It is staffed by 3,172 employees.

Theodore Roosevelt was 42 years old when he became President. At that time, the youngest President ever.

Hard to believe: Archeologists have found 3,000 year old packs of honey that are still edible. Some scientists have scraped up portions of honey going as far back as 7000 BCE.

Ancient Egyptians used honey as a health remedy.

Obviously bees were involved. More than one species of bee exists. Actually 200 species.

Medicine eventually cures most diseases. Countries where polio was endemic in 1928 were 125. In 2023, the number had dropped to 2.

Snickers is a popular candy bar. Consumed big time. Fifteen million bars are manufactured every day to meet the demand.

Kool Aid was invented in 1927 in Hastings, Nebraska.

Interesting. Fred Astaire began dancing at the age of 4.

Re the moon: Six American flags are planted on the moon, twelve humans have actually walked on the moon, and eleven Apollo missions have actually landed on the moon.

I have demoted Vance to the mundane.

Vance is not bright. In recent years, he converted to Catholicism. Now constantly fights with Pope Leo. Vance recently asked the question: “Is the Pope Catholic?”

Is Vance nuts?

Leo now refuses to see him. Yet he will receive Rubio in a few days.

Vance is dead as Presidential timber!

Trump’s turn.

Trump’s popularity runs high! So he may think. If so, I do not know how.

The Doral Cadillac Championship Golf Tournament was played this week. Doral is owned by Trump. He arrived on the first day expecting huge crowds that would be supporting him. Did he get a surprise! As close to zip, nothing is what met him. Ho, ho, ho. An embarrassment he well deserved.

Doral has 3 or more courses. I recall playing them some 30 years ago. About 5 times. Stayed at the resort itself. Played the horribly difficult blue course twice. A humbling experience! The Doral Resort accommodations were the best. Spectacular! The very best accommodations I found in any course I played. And I played some of the major resort/courses.

Trump got what he deserved being ignored. He has to drive a car to a gas station and fill it up to understand. He and Melania have to go grocery shopping to understand why Donald is becoming increasingly disliked.

He couldn’t win for dog catcher were he to run again!

Eisenhower’s approval rating in December 1959 was 77 percent. Trump’s today is 34 percent. Another way of describing Trump’s rating is to indicate his disapproval is 64 percent.

The ongoing attacks in the Strait of Hormuz threatens to reignite the U.S./Iran conflict.

Trump continues downplaying the economic effects of the Iran War. He was bullshitting small business owners yesterday in Washington. He claimed an “extraordinary revival of Main Street under his America First agenda.” Claimed he was building up the economy. Also said the economy was “roaring.”

I am not sure he knows what country he lives in.

The New York times won 3 Pulitzer Prizes. One was awarded for the Times investigation into how Trump is profiting from his dealmaking. 

Enough for today.

Enjoy your day!

January 1 was just yesterday. Today, May 1. How swiftly the year is moving.

One thing I have noticed is that time moves faster as one gets older. Not a nice situation. Nothing can be done about it, however. Enjoy each day as it may be your last.

Trump lies consistently. Lying appears to be an intrinsic part of his nature.

His Wharton class standing has finally been revealed. Trump constantly reminds us how he graduated first in his class. A lie. His class graduated 363. Trump ranked 147. Nothing to be ashamed of in itself. The middle of the class at a school like Wharton commendable.

Another Trump lie. He proudly has advised many times his father was born in Germany. Now revealed he was born in the Bronx. Why is Germany more favorable to Trump? I find it difficult to understand.

Gasoline is most expensive in Wyoming. Where cheapest? You will be surprised. New York State! Florida runs in the middle.

Sears Bankruptcy confuses me. My research keeps coming up with a Chapter 11 filing in 2018. Five stores still operating. Two in Florida, 2 in California, 1 in Texas and 1 in Massachusetts. All on borrowed time.

The 2018 bankruptcy date I find difficult to comprehend. When I was practicing law, I did much of Sears legal work in upstate New York. My recollection suggests what I am about to share occurred in the late 1900s. I was defending a major lawsuit against Sears arising out of a shopping mall situation. Big bucks involved. 

It was one of those cases that takes forever to resolve. All kinds of big time legal issues. A lawyer’s dream.

We were into litigation about two years when I received notice of the Sears bankruptcy and request to surrender my file to the Bankruptcy trustee. Which I did forthwith. It would henceforth be the trustee’s responsibility to resolve.

Three moths later I received a telephone call from the trustee. Would I be willing to accept a return of the case and continue my defense of it? Of course! Nothing changed, except instead of reporting to Sears, I reported to the trustee. Again, big time complicated legal work. I spent 3 additional years diligently working the file till it was settled.

My point is there was a prior bankruptcy to the 2018 one. I might add it would have been impossible for me to have defended a Sears case in 2018 as I retired from the practice of law in 2006.

Elon Musk: “When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.”

Trump can only be described as too much. Revengeful. How he can play at getting even with a war going on is difficult for me to understand. He is now after Kimmel and ABC. He wasted no time. Announced his intent and immediately had the FCC go to work on ABC that afternoon.

A waste of time. Trump will merely be causing Kimmel and ABC aggravation. Trump’s claim appears to be without a valid legal basis.

My grandson Robert graduates Sunday from Florida State University. His last examination was yesterday. We spoke in the evening. He was tired from finals and excited about graduation. He still does not have a job. Things are much different than when I graduated from college in 1957.

I enjoyed King Charles Address to congress. An intelligent articulate man. His speech well developed. He subtly knocked Trump three times. I doubt Trump even understood. The two continued to be friends after the speech and continued to be the remainder of the King’s visit.

Did you notice how the King began wearing his jacket differently during the visit. The suit jacket called for two buttons to be buttoned. Suddenly, the King was only buttoning one. Turns out the King was wearing a bullet proof vest. Two buttons would have revealed such. One, not.

I was watching a very old rerun of the Johnny Carson Show. One of his guests was Rodney Dangerfield. On two separate trips to La Costa, I met Dangerfield. Once when I was hanging with William Holden. The other time alone.

My major recollection of Dangerfield. What you got of him in movies and on TV is what I saw at La Costa. That’s him! The same goofy guy. When dressed, he attired himself as you saw him in movies and on TV. Sloppy, even to his shirt collar.

A nice guy. Warm. We enjoyed Perrier evenings. Booze a no no since we all were at La Costa to lose weight.

Ever wonder where the Fourth of July came from? From the Founding Fathers when they met on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia.

Would you believe? California is importing a considerable amount of gasoline from Russian oil. Not one State cut back on gasoline consumption. We all continue driving and paying the bigger bucks at gas stations. If my recollection is correct, California has the most automobiles on the road of any State.

So much for today.

Enjoy your day!