Stupid is me!

I had a full day yesterday. So I was out before 8 in the morning grocery shopping. As luck would have it, it was pouring when I was ready to drive home. I waited like forever for the rain to stop. It did not. So I said screw it and went to my car with the groceries and got soaking wet.

Still pouring when I got home. Sat in the car for a while waiting for it to stop. Didn’t. Got soaking wet again. I was especially concerned with the frozen foods and ice cream.

Everything so far I would not describe as stupid. What follows was. I turned on the car lights driving home because of the rain. I forgot to turn them off after I got home. In my hurry to get into the house, I did not think abut the car lights.

Around noon the thought occurred that I had forgotten to turn the car lights off. I said no way to myself. I am not that stupid!

I was. Steve called me around 8 in the evening that my car lights were on. I went out. They were. But the battery was next to dead and would not turn over.

Finally got Corey and he and Robert came over around 9. Corey had jump cables. He got the battery to turn over. I then drove the car up and down U.S. 1 a couple of times to charge the battery further.

Stupid I had been! 

Almost every day for the past two months, the media reported Hegseth had screwed up again and was going to be fired. He still has not. Stupid likes stupid. Trump likes Hegseth.

Hegseth in a new fiery speech called for a new military base. One focused on religion and next generation weapons. He is as sick as his boss Donald.

There was a botched execution in Tennessee. A woman failed her execution. Her name Christa Pike. She received two shots of whatever was supposed to kill her. She would not die. Ended up sleeping and snoring. 

She had bad veins. She had asked to be shot by a firing squad because of the problem. What she did think might occur, did occur. She is presently hospitalized. The State is not sure what to do with her. Might try to execute her again today.

Lindsay Clancy’s lawyer is outstanding from my perspective. I am a retired trial attorney. I know what I am talking about. The woman admitted killing her 3 children. She was not found guilty. The trial resulted in an 11-1 hung jury.

It is questionable whether she will be retried.

In the meantime her attorney Kevin Reddington says the proof at the trial failed to prove she had committed a crime. He has asked the court to throw out the case against her. The man has talent!

Forget not that even though she admitted her guilt, the attorney representing her had a responsibility to do the best for her. To make the State prove they had a “legal case” against her. Every person charged is entitled to a lawyer and a fair trial. The attorney defending has the responsibility to see that such is received under the law. As I told people many times while I was practicing, a clergy man does not turn away a person who is too much a sinner, a doctor similarly does not turn away someone too sick. A lawyer’s responsibility is similar.

Pennsylvania announced its fifth measle death. The State’s total cases to date number 943.

Alaska has a Fat Bear Week. Just concluded. “Backpack” won. He received over 100,000 votes.

The world’s best employers have been announced. The top two in order: Microsoft and Delta Airlines.

Julie Andrews was born this day in 1935.

Walt Disney World opened this day in 1971.

The Post Office processes 3,684 pieces of mail per second.

Sears opened its first store in 1925. Sears operated 3,500 stores at its peak.

A big rain day again. It has already been pouring for about an hour.

I hope it stops at some point. I have a haircut appointment with Lori at noon. I’ll remember to turn my car lights off this time if it still is.

Enjoy your day!

I live and learn. Even at 91. 

I have been having difficulty sleeping. Monday night not one minute. The night before slept only 3 hours. 

I was complaining at the bar at The Grand last night about my sleeping problem. Cindy and Matt heard me and I heard from both at the same time “It’s the moon!” A statement I had never heard before. 

Did some research when I got home. Learned that the claim that people tend to sleep less and take longer to fall asleep in the days leading up to a full moon appears to be widely accepted. 

I shall pay attention to see if the moon is the problem causing my inability to sleep. I don’t think so because I go so many nights unable to sleep. 

The Reader’s Digest does the “Nicest Places in America.” The year 2026 is the tenth year it has done so. This year’s top spot is Liverpool, New York, a Syracuse suburb. Interesting!

When I was in law school at Syracuse University, I worked as a milk man early mornings before going to classes. I worked for Marble Farm Dairies. One place I delivered milk to homes in Liverpool. It was 67 years ago. I was 24 years old at the time. Liverpool was a nice small community back then also.

Yesterday was a bad day for bonds and stocks. Sales of each fell dramatically. Reflected one thing for sure. American consumer confidence plummeted!

The best smelling city in America this year is Boston.

Ted Williams served two times in the military. World War II and the Korean War. He returned to baseball after each. . He was a combat pilot.  Served as an instructor in World War II. Actually as a combat pilot during the Korean War where he flew 40 missions. He flew as  wingman to John Glenn during the Korean War.

His war participations caused him to miss 5 baseball seasons. 

An excellent baseball player. An excellent pilot.

A cataract refers to a medical condition in which the lens of the eyes become progressively opaque, resulting in blurred vision. A lesser known definition refers to a large waterfall. A sudden rush of water, a downpour.

Another word having dual meanings is rhubarb. Its primary definition refers to the thick leaf stalks on a cultivated plant of the stock family, which are reddish green and eaten as a fruit after cooking. Its lesser known definition refers to a heated dispute.

John D. Rockefeller was the world’s first billionaire. He became so in 1916. He said: “The secret to success is to do the common things uncommonly well.”

The first American woman to climb Mount Everest was Stacy Allison. She completed the climb this day in 1988.

An 11 year old girl is a child chess prodigy. Her name Balhana Sivananden. She has earned the title of “Grandmaster.”

The nor’easter proved strange in Surf City, New Jersey on Saturday. A shark was spotted swimming in one of its streets. A biggie.

A “Sound of Music” opened where it all started on September 20th sixty years ago in Salzburg, Austria. Julie Andrews sang atop the hills and the world fell in love with “The Sound of Music.” A museum under that name has now opened in Salzburg.

Interesting. Sea otters hold hands while sleeping. Not as a sign of affection. They do so for two reasons. It helps them from losing track of each other and it deters potential predators.

The Trump administration is back talking about reducing fuel efficiency standards in automobiles. They claim it will reduce the price of a new car $1,300. I believe it not. Another lie. However even if it does, the impact is slight. The cost of new cars so high that the impact would be minimal.

Gas prices pushing $5 in Key West. Not there yet. I am confident it will make and exceed $5 at some point.

Alaska is already $5. And more. One gallon costs $26 in the remote of road villages where the gasoline has to be flown in.

Gene Autry was born this day in 1907 in Texas. As a young boy, I went to the movies every Saturday afternoon. All us kids did. It cost all of 2 or 3 cents. 

There were two cowboy heroes at the time. Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. Every young person attached to one of those as their hero. Mine was Gene Autry!

The Chinese are requiring 9th graders to read “Jane Eyre.” They believe it shows independence and equality between women and men.

Yesterday The Grand for Happy Hour. Enjoyed it. However was sleepy sleepy. Recall no sleep the night before.

It rained heavy several times yesterday. Many intersections are flooded big time.

I slept 5 hours last night. I’ll take it! Better than nothing.

Enjoy your day!

An example of friendship between China and the U.S. occurred yesterday. Two giant pandas arrived in Atlanta. Gifts from China. They are on loan for ten years and will spend the ten years at Zoo Atlanta. 

Their names are Ping Ping and Fu Shuang. They flew to Atlanta on a Fed Ex 777 dubbed the “Panda Express.” 

Xi called the loan an example of “friendship between the Chinese and Americans.”

The nor’easter struck New York, Long Island, Boston , and other parts of the northeast. Bad, but not as bad as anticipated.

It even reached Central New York State and my home town of Utica. A glancing blow. Heavy showers and a dense fog.

A major fashion week ends today in Milan, Italy. Known as the Milano Fashion Week. It is held semi-annually. Part of the Top Four International Fashion Shows world wide. The other three are New York, London and Paris. 

I have visited Milan many times. One of my favorite places. Liked it even more than Rome. People and places top shelf.

It is probably the people that make it so special. Regardless of sex, all dressed to the T. Never saw so many persons dressed so well. Elegantly, whether day or night.

Spectacular places also. Da Vinci’s The Last Supper. A huge painting da Vinici did on a concrete wall in the cellar of what is now a Church above. In another area a large Cathedral, the Duomo di Milano. Not as sharp as Rome’s St. Peter’s. Nevertheless, magnificent! Then the buildings surrounding Milan’s key square. One from which Mussolini announced war on the United States. Clothing stores to blow you out. Restaurants the best.

I cannot speak to the hotels. I was fortunate to visit Milan each time with my friend Anna. She had a home in a Milan suburb where we stayed.

Mickey Mantle hit 536 home runs. He was a “switch hitter.”

We write English from left to right. Most languages are written thusly. Italian included.

Leonardo da Vinci was Italian. Yet he wrote from right to left.

Writing from right to left is known as “mirror writing.” Some believe da Vinci wrote right to left to make it more difficult for people to read his notes and steal his ideas.

The internet listed the five greatest years to be alive. The place and time when exciting things were happening. Athens, Greece one of the top five places. The year 432 BCE. The year one when Athens was at the height of its cultural and political power. The Parthenon was completed, Propylaea was under construction, the City was teeming with wealth and ambition. Sophocles and Euripides were producing tragedies. Socrates was engaging in debate. Athens had a thriving comic theater. 

The citizens of Athens were an active people. The men only, however. Women were second class citizens. It was a golden age for male citizens. 

Some things are hard to believe. Like McDonald’s is the world’s largest toy distributor. It has to do with Happy Meal. McDonald’s provides toys with Happy Meals. The toys total 15 billion worldwide each year. More than Hasbro and Mattel.

Miles Davis: “Don’t play what’s there, play what’s not there.”

Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928.

Ted William is the last Major Baseball League player to end the batting season over .400. The year 1941. 

Maine is the State with the largest elderly population.

Trump is doing well. He was booed at the Tennessee/Texas football game. Texas a Republican state.

Thomas Jefferson was selected to be the author of the Declaration of Independence because of his reputation as a writer.

Samuel Morse invented the telegraph. He exhibited it on May 24, 1844. His first message was a Biblical one: “What had God wrought.”

One of the hydrogen bomb inventors was Edward Teller. He was obsessed with the development of the bomb of all bombs. On October 31, 1952 a secret test of the hydrogen bomb was underway in the Marshall Islands. Teller waited its results on a seismograph in a basement at the University of California. When noting how well the test had resulted, he announced the arrival of the most powerful weapon created by human hands by sending out the message: “It’s a boy.”

Homer is credited with being the legendary author of the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey.” Was Homer a real person? Questionable. The truth is we will never know.

A bird was trained to be a Cold War spy. The raven. The raven was trained to drop bugging devices on window sills.

A bad night sleep wise. I woke at 1 and could not get back to sleep. Today will be like digging ditches.

Enjoy your day!

The Library of Congress is the oldest federal cultural institution in the U.S. It was founded in 1800. Today it is the world’s largest library. It maintains 175 million items, with thousands more added every day.

The Library has roughly 400,000 visitors a year. It is managed by 3,172 permanent staff members.

Only one President had a child born in the White House. Grover Cleveland’s wife Frances gave birth to their daughter Esther in the Blue Room in 1886. 

The Eiffel Tower has been repainted twenty times in its 136 years of existence. It takes 66 tons of paint to coat the Tower.

Queen Elizabeth I never married. Yet she rarely slept alone in her 44 years of reign. Rarely did people sleep alone during her time whether married or not. The addition of company provided her company to talk with at the end of the day. And probably have sex with also. Something she was famous for.

A modern refrigerator is normally 40 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Mother Teresa, aka Saint Teresa, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. She died in 1997. Had Donald Trump been a Christian Brother or other religious, he too might have won the Nobel Peace Prize. Ho, ho!

Christopher Columbus may have been a bit off mentally. Or perhaps his vision was not the best. He claimed on January 9, 1493 to have seen three mermaids near what is now the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. Not the first time for such a vision. He also claimed to have earlier seen mermaids off the coast of West Africa.

On this day in 1960, Kennedy and Nixon squared off in what was the first televised Presidential debate.

MAGA is dying. Soon to be totally gone. One of the reasons is that MAGAs are also suffering under Trump’s economy and way of life.

Trump continues to believe he can act like a king.

Curse words were slow to appear in entertainment media. Especially the movies. Talking movies made it an issue. “Gone With the Wind’s” Clark Gabel’s “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn” was a major fight before the words could be uttered in the movie.

The first World’s Fair, known as the Great Exhibition, took place in London in 1851.

One of the bullets in President McKinley could not be located. McKinley was hospitalized in a Buffalo hospital after being shot.

The 1901 Pan-American Exposition was being held in Buffalo at the same time. Thomas Edison’s new x-ray machine was on exhibit. It could have located the bullet. However McKinley’s doctors believed McKinley lacked the strength for the x-ray exploration. They rejected the procedure. McKinley died. He probably would not have had Edison’s x-ray invention been utilized.

The dishwasher was invented by Josephine Cochrane in 1883. She was an affluent woman who grew tired of washing her fine china. She got a patent in 1886. Her invention could wash and dry up to 240 dishes in two minutes. In short course, restaurants and hotels purchased her invention big time.

Frankenstein was published when its author Shelly was only 20 years old. Shelly said “she had a dream.” The dream gave birth to Frankenstein.

The nor’easter hit yesterday. Bad! Torrential rain, flooding, and strong winds. More expected today.

Trump cut $1 billion in federal spending Friday. He could do so on his own using the “pocket recession” process which allowed him to side step Congressional approval. 

Trump denies the severity of economic problems. Yet he used such as an excuse to cut the $1 billion. 

Pope Leo XIV visited Paris. The first Papal visit in 18 years. Seven hundred thousand persons appeared to hear him say Mass. Trump could not even draw a crowd that large!

Bank of America is doing well! The Bank announced it will hire 1,000 additional apprentices over the next two years as it invests $150 million in work force development programs.

Why are tires black? Tires are made from rubber. Rubber is white. Turned out the color white lacked durability. So tire manufacturers played around with color. Determined “carbon black” did the job. Such is why tires are black.

Zsa Zsa Gabor was a Hollywood socialite.  Hot headed. Thought her shit stunk not. She slapped a police officer during a traffic stop. At one point in her trial, she was displeased with the way they were describing her. She upped and stormed out of the court. The judge was not a happy camper with her attitude. After being found guilty, he sentenced her to 72 hours in jail and a $13,000 fine.

Enjoy your Sunday! 

Things have gotten even stranger in the Donald/Melania relationship.

First, they they have been split for a long time this year. Donald living in the White House, Melania in New York. Donald openly sporting girl friend Natalie. Now suddenly Melania back on scene.

When Donald spoke at the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, Melanie was in the audience. Donald acknowledged his wife several times in fond and rewarding terms. The camera on Melania showed her beaming.

Melania appeared a few days later at the State Dinner for Xi and his wife at the White House. Beaming again!

Formal attire to be worn of course. Xi in Chinese black formal. His wife in a bright red gown. Both reflecting Chinese formal. Donald in a black normal appearing U.S. tuxedo. Melania with Donald. surprising in itself. More surprising, Melania was wearing long pants, not a gown. Long pants a female first for a State Dinner.

What’s going on? My sense is Melania is doing her thing as and when she wants. If Trump wants her cooperation and/or appearance, she will do Such as SHE sees fit. Appearing Donald may not be able to control Melania. She is wearing the pants in the family.

Re Xi’s visit overall, I doubt anything was accomplished. The visit merely provided Trump with an opportunity to show off.

It was only two months ago that Trump was speaking in negative terms about Xi and China. He claimed China was guilty of “sinister election meddling” in the 2020 election which Trump lost. Now they are “buddies.” At least from Trump’s perspective. 

China is a rising power. The U.S. is purported even yet to be the world power. China wants the #1 spot. However Xi appears smarter than Trump when it comes to how the position is sought. Such a relationship can lead to war. So Xi admonished recently for the second time in four months. Xi urged that China and the U.S. avoid the so called “Thucydides Trop” – the historical theory that tensions between a rising power and an established one can lead to war.

An apt comment on the internet re Trump’s reaction to Xi’s visit: “Trump drools before dictators, communist or fascist. He needs a bib.”

Ranchers are accusing ICE of disrupting beef supply activities thereby shooting beef prices higher. ICE actions are causing significant delay in the shipment of thousands of cattle to processing plants.

The Reflective Pool not corrected yet. A new contractor on the scene. Trump fired the previous one.  The contractor says vandals not the cause. Whatever. When oh when will the pool be corrected? And at what exorbitant cost?

A powerful nor’easter hitting New York, Long Island and Boston. Going to be bad!

The Amish community in Pennsylvania a large one. Does not vaccinate. It is presently being devastated with a large scale measles epidemic.

Eight sailors on the USS Carrier Lincoln attempted suicide.

One of my favorite Athens’ spots is Plaka. A neighborhood area. I visit it everyday when in Athens. A large explosion occurred this week. Gas suspected. Eight persons missing. Six thought to be Americans.

The 100 best TV shows of the 21st century released. Important not those listed so much as the one not listed. “The Sopranos.”

The U.S. has been pulling itself out of parts of the U.N. under Trump. The U.S. is also $5 billion behind in what it legitimately owes the U.N. in dues. Makes me laugh. Recall how upset Trump was when other countries were behind in their NATO payments. Now many of those same countries are waiting for Trump’s U.S. to pay up to the U.N. Most of the $5 billion debt began when Trump took office.

The U.S. owes more than any other nation. Something to be proud of?????

Xi did not stop at the U.N. on his U.S. visit. Reflects how unimportant the U.N. has become.

India is the third largest nation in the world. Its Prime Minister Modi did not appear either.

Lisbon is considered the happiest city in the world to visit.

Nurse visited Thursday. Paige will continue working with me walking ultimately to a straight back. We’re getting there! I suspect another 2-3 months.

Enjoy your day!

Yesterday morning was doctor visit time. Accordingly I did not write the blog. Today I begin with Trump’s Tuesday U.N. Address.

Typical Trump. A disgrace!

He began with spelling out what a man of peace he was. Followed it up with he would “annihilate” Iran if it failed to make peace with the U.S.

Says it all!

His standing in the General Assembly in front of the green marble background reminded me of the day I stood there. My work took me occasionally to the United Nations. After a meeting one day, I took a walk into the General Assembly. It was empty. Quiet. Only me and the gigantic room. I walked up and stood in front of the green marble wall and let my eyes scan the large room. I stood where Trump and all others have stood this week.

A moving experience. It was some 30 years ago. The U.N. was a powerhouse back then. It has lost much of that power today.

Federal Judge Timothy Kelly ordered the White House to “immediately return, reinstate, and restore CNN, MS NOW and Politico to access.” Judge Kelly wrote their power had been revoked without due process and was unconstitutional.

 The amusing thing involved is that Trump appointed Judge Kelly to the federal bench in 2017.

Following my doctoring yesterday, I took a drive around Key West. Amazing! I have never seen Key West so quiet. Dead actually. Smathers Beach had only 2 cars parked. And the people were not lying on the beach. They were walking the dock. Duval Street was embarrassingly quiet. A few people walking here and there. The huge parking lot across from Harpoon Harry’s had a mere 23 cars parked. So few, I had to count them.

It’s the money. Yes, this is Key West’s slow time. Never this slow, however. Trump has made everyone, except for his billionaire friends, broke. Very broke. No one has extra money to spend.

F. Scott Fitzgerald was born this day in 1896.

Apparently “peace treaties” began being required many years ago. The first was discovered in Turkey. It was signed in 1269 B.C. Known as the Treaty of Kadesls.

A study has been conducted re Math. How countries ranked in their Math ability. China was #1. The U.S. disappointingly #27.

On this day in 1789, the Supreme Court was established. George Washington signed a law creating the Supreme Court.

“60 Minutes” continues to be popular. Its first episode aired this day in 1968.

Florida fishing persons can catch red snapper in Atlantic Florida state and federal waters from October 9 to October 22. The limit is one fish per person per day. No minimum size.

The State with the longest coast line is Alaska.

The Guinness Book of  World Records was first published in 1955.

Irving Berlin wrote the song “Blue Skies” in 1926.

Thirty one percent of American people prefer the color blue more than any other.

Humans spend two hours a night dreaming.

Thirty two live twins are born every 1,000 births.

The heaviest baby born weighed 22 pounds.

African elephants have the longest gestation period. Thirty two months. Wowie!

An eagle can see 2.2 miles.

A whale’s tongue is heavy. Estimated at 5,400 pounds.

Chocolate syrup was once marketed as a health tonic. Cacao was first used to treat indigestion, fatigue, and some dental problems.

The letter “e” is contained in 11 percent of the words in the Oxford Dictionary.

Original Jello flavors were orange, lemon, strawberry, and raspberry.

There is a new group out there. Called “gooners.” A multitude of people! 

A gooner is someone who lives with excessive and prolonged masturbation. Also interested in pornography. Males and females included. Recently enjoyed a Las Vegas Convention. Participants claim it is cheaper than dating and generally less aggravating.

Dolly Parton won the first of her 11 Grammys in 1979.

A cow can drink 100 liters of water a day.

How long have “people” existed? Humans. Experts say 6,000 years.

India has surpassed China as the world’s most populous country.

Delegates to the U.S. Constitutional Convention numbered 55.  For some reason, only 39 signed it on September 17, 1787.

For all intents and purposes, the document had been completed three days earlier on September 14. The 55 decided to celebrate. They dined at the Philadelphia City Tavern. 

George Washington chaired the event.

The delegates got loaded.

They consumed 54 bottles of Madeira wine, 60 bottles of claret wine, 8 bottles of whiskey, 8 bottles of cider, 22 bottles of porter, 12 bottles of beer, and punch which may have contained alcohol.

I have a nurse visit at 11. An important one.

Enjoy your day!

Trump will be addressing the U.N. General Assembly today. It is suspected his speech will be a “peace one.” A renewal in effect of his attempt to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

It will not work Donald! You have screwed the world up so badly it will take years for it to recover.

Trump continues to refer to the news reporting of what he says from the White House as fake news.

The major news outlets are supporting those Trump has banned. ABC, CBS, FOX NEWS, and NBC said they would halt TV coverage of Presidential events. This includes Trump’s speech at the U.N. today.

Trump loves attention. How is Trump going to get out of the problem?

William Randolph Hearst: “News is something someone doesn’t want printed; all else is advertising.”

On this day in 1862, Abraham Lincoln issued his preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.

“I only regret I have but one life to lose for my country.” Nathan Hale’s famous words as he was about to be executed by the British for spying for the Colonists on this day in 1776.

A disgrace. All charges were dropped. A major shame by the top brass of the U.S. military. On this day in 1971, Capt. Ernest Medina lucked out. All charges against him were dropped regarding the My Lai Massacre which occurred during the Vietnam War in 1968. He walked free after having directed his battalion to kill over 200 Vietnamese citizens.

Yogi Berra: “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

The Peace Corps was formally authorized by Congress this day in 1961.

French Fries were not invented in France or the United States. They were invented in Belgium in the 17th century as a substitute to be eaten for fish at the time which could not be because of contamination. 

Barbie has a new beau: An official Lenny Kravitz Ken doll.

There has only been one fully bald U.S. President: Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Yom Kippur’s date changes every year. Why? It falls in September or October, depending on the year. The holiday’s date changes because the timing is dictated by the Jewish lunisolar calendar and not the Gregorian one. The calendar does not align with the dates on the Gregorian one. The Jewish holiday falls between September 14 and October 14.

Trump plans on militarizing the arch he proposes to build. Such has increased the furor opposing its construction.

Bear encounters are rising across the U.S. Drought and population growth are driving bears closer to people in search of food.

Republicans are beginning to make moves challenging Vance for the 2028 Presidential nomination. Senators Cruz and Scott and Congressman Massie are the first.

Is Trump playing trouble-maker? The U.S. Coast Guard is operating surveillance drives in the Great Lakes. Purporting to stop the flow of drugs and illegal crossings from Canada, none of which exist in any significant numbers. A stupid irresponsible move on Trump’s part.

Princeton has been #1 in college rankings for 15 years. No more. It is now #2. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is now #1.

I took a ride yesterday. Key West deserted. The beaches empty. Empty meaning no one at all. 

I treated myself to a chocolate milk shake. Delicious! As well as easy for me to consume.

Enjoy your day!

I wonder who is going to speak with Trump at the UN General Assembly Meeting this week. No one likes him. I am not sure who even talks with him. Xi will speak with him because of their meeting. It will be surprising who else. And if Trump makes the U.S. address and it is his usual type, rest assured no one will talk with him thereafter. He had no Allies before and will have none after.

Frank Bruni: “Enough about Trump’s looks. His Presidency is ugly.”

The German far right has been successful again in two German local elections yesterday. Not a good sign. Hitler based thinking. 

Why do we start letters with “Dear”? It derives from thousands of years ago. As far back as the Eighth Century and has endured. Indicates respect and something special. It apparently has no ending.

On this day in 1780, Benedict Arnold committed treason. He was in charge of Fort West Point. It was not yet the U.S. Military Academy. The Revolution was ongoing. He offered to turn the Fort over to the British and join the British side. The turn over of the Fort failed. Nevertheless Arnold join the British side in the War.

The French monarchy was abolished this day in 1792.

The year 1955 involved an era when most homosexual people were still closeted. However on this day in 1955, four lesbian couples met and opted to come out of the closet. They launched the first lesbian rights group. It was known as the “Daughters of Bilitis.”

George Clooney was little known on this day in 1985 when he made his debut on “The Facts of Life.”

The U.S. Revolutionary War lasted 8 years. Americans who died numbered 25,534. A significant number for a new country of only 13 states.

Bruises appear easily after age 50. Even where a person is unaware a part of the body had banged itself somewhere. Such is referred to as a “collagen crisis.” It happens because as we age, our bodies decrease in protein. The less protein makes it easier to bruise.

Anton Chekhov: “He who doesn’t know how to be a servant should never be allowed to be a master.”

Ukraine launched over 1,000 drones at Moscow Sunday. Four killed, twenty injured. Amazing how Ukraine has stood up for itself. The war some 5 years old and the Ukraine not defeated. I doubt it ever will be.

Man has natural time machines. Memories that take us back, dreams that carry us forward.

Sandra Day O’Connor was confirmed by the Senate as the first female Supreme Court Justice this day in 1981.

Shaquille O’Neal has been named an honorary FBI Agent.

I was born in 1935. A gallon of gasoline cost $ .19

During World War I, France started to build a fake Paris to confuse German bombers. The war ended before the false city was completed however.

The human brain is actually two organs. The thinking part and the brain stem grow from different cells and have evolved over hundreds of millions of years.

Storms cancelled the Chicago River Swim yesterday. Lightning and sewage runoff the problem. Sidelined 750 swimmers.

Spent yesterday inside laying about. Must get out today.

Enjoy your day!

Happy Sunday!

China’s Xi arrives in the U.S. Wednesday. It will be the first visit by a Chinese leader to the U.S. in more than a decade.

A bullshit meeting between Trump and Xi or one which will do some good? Will Xi outfox Trump? Could be.

The UN General Assembly will be meeting in New York at the same time. Xi will probably speak at it and figured what the hell might as well hold an official visit at the White House with Trump.

I question the value of the meeting. I suspect it is one where Trump wants to show off his gold Washington and influence American voters in the coming mid terms.

The Dow Jones fell close to 100 points on Friday. Closed a volatile economic week.

Cuba’s power grid collapsed for the sixth time this year on Friday. Left millions without electricity. Only five percent had service by dusk.

Sometimes a human, animal or fish find themself out of place. A humpback whale surfaced in the Sacramento River in California some 60 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Boaters were warned to be careful.

Fall brings with it the wave of cooler weather. We need it! In Key West, the U.S. and most of the world, the Summer was unusually warm.

In my 80s and 90s I have found it more difficult to get out of a chair. Getting out of a car even worse. The reason is referred to as “joint drought.” It results from an underlying condition that dries out our joints from within.

The “Battle of the Sexes” took place on this day in 1973. Female vs. male in tennis. Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs. She buried him! Proving once again the strength of women over men in many instances.

Billie Jean King: “The difference between a champion and the rest of the field is having the ability to lift your game when you’re under pressure.”

Sophia Loren was born this day in 1934.

Key West extremely quiet. Not unusual this time of the year. However, more so this year. Much more so. Quiet. Day and night. Traffic slight. Parking available everywhere. The reason more so this year is the economy. People are watching their money. The little they have.

A study was conducted as to the intellectual capacity of American cities. It was found Boston, Massachusetts is the most intellectual. Riverside, California the least.

Trump and his family are heavily invested in AI. Obviously so. Trump continues to shout AI’s praises. He even wants the government to control it. Wants to make sure its value rises big time.

Caroline Maguire is a 13 year old American citizen who already is recognized as the world pickleball champion. She is considering going professional. That good!

Vehicular traffic is going to be a madhouse in New York City 9/21-9/25. The U.N. General Assembly is meeting. Close to 200 countries will be represented. 

Germans appear to be voting “right.” As they did for Hitler when he first ran. Two significant elections in Germany today will tell whether the trend is continuing.

Buffalo Bills fans are singing the Canadian National Anthem.

Yesterday a quiet one for me. Felt a bit under the weather. Better this morning.

Enjoy your Sunday!

It is believed U.S. military deaths in Iran are being under reported. The number reported thus far are 18. The number suspected 22 or more. The matter under serious investigation. Responsible? Trump, Hegseth, the Pentagon, all of the preceding?

If Trump has any federal judge in his back pocket, it may be Judge Cannon. Her name back in the limelight. She released an order permanently banning the release of Volume II of former Counsel Jack Smith’s final report concerning the classified documents investigation.

Rat Catcher” was a big time job in the Middle Ages. 

A phony Time Magazine cover on the internet contains Trump’s photo with the verbiage “Asshole of the Year” beneath it. No way to speak of a President, no matter how true. It is what happens when a person becomes as unpopular as Trump world wide.

The federal government appears to have insufficient funds for cancer research, healthcare, and feeding the hungry. But the U.S. does have money for a ballroom project, golf trips, tax cuts for the rich, ICE construction camps, and fighter jet fly overs.

Some hotels are claimed to be haunted. I have been a guest at two. Never saw or felt a ghost at either. I have spent many times at the Don Caesar in St. Petersburg. A magnificent hotel! And the Bourbon Street Hotel in New Orleans on two occasions. A great hotel well located.

Theater seats are generally red. Never thought about it till I read concerning it this morning. The trend goes back several hundred years. Initially to represent the rich who were the ones who could afford live theater back then. The trend merely continues for all to utilize today, representing no particular economic class.

Beer soon may be in short supply in Germany. Sad with Oktoberfest around the corner. The cause is the heat and drought experienced this  year. Besides the water problem, beer malt is made with spring barley. Also in short supply. Beer producers switching to winter barley hoping it will work.

Speaking of Oktoberfest, it has developed into a September tradition in recent years. A Munich event. Six million will attend. Six and a half million  liters of beer will be devoured.

Hurricanes in recent years have dramatically increased the number of lizards. No one sure specifically why.

The three top U.S. airports as rated by tourists are Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Being 91, so many things have occurred in my lifetime. Rarely a day goes by that I read about something and say to myself I remember that! Today it is the nuclear underground test that took place in Nevada this day in 1957. I was in the first year of law school at the time.

James Garfield: “If wrinkles must be written on the brow, let them not be written on the heart.”

The federal ban on licensed dealers selling handguns to adults 18-20 was declared unconstitutional by the Justice Department yesterday. The Justice department believed it violated the Second Amendment.

Expect a federal case to follow.

Asshole creep! Donald Trump! He does not understand free speech and the public’s right to know. He has banned CNN and MS Now (formerly MSNBC) from the White House. He accuses them of “constant” false reporting.

LeBron James to receive even bigger bucks! He will be paid $3.9 million by the Philadelphia 76ers. It has been reported he signed an endorsement deal with the Polymarket that will pay him $15 million a year in addition.

Toys R Us is opening 120 new stand alone stores in the U.S. ahead of the holiday season.

Weather experts predict the Fall’s unusually strange El Nino will bring a wetter winter to the southern U.S.

Great saying. Sense the humor in it: “So many people these days are too judgmental. I can tell just by looking at them.”

Some products are manufactured to have a short life. referred to as “planned obsolescence.”

I recall a major one in the 1950s. Automobiles had a life of 2-3 years. Yes, they were basically obsolete after that time. People were forced to buy new cars.

People are not stupid. Their protest was loud and clear. After a very few years, Detroit got off the kick.

Bees were once used as “weapons of war.” As far back as the 11th century. England’s Henry I took bees to battle  and rammed bags of them on the horses of opponents. Victory was his!

Sea battles were also fought with bees, one ship to another in the Third Crusade. Containers of bees were catapulted one ship to another.

Yesterday grocery shopped first. Seems like everything going up. Anywhere from 2 to 20 cents. Pisses me off! The overall bill gets larger each week!

Then lunch at Denny’s. Between being sick and my car under repair, it has been a while since I have been there. A year ago, Denny’s served a $5 breakfast. A good deal! Then went to $5.99. Still a good deal! Yesterday it was $6.99. The consumer cannot win.

Car driving like new! Love it! Need a good auto repair, call Steve at Shifting Gears Automotive. 305-453-6247.

Enjoy your day!