There is another Leaning Tower of Pisa. In New York City of all places. Rarely heard about. New York’s leaning tower is located in the Financial District at 161 Madison Lane. Its popular address 1 Seaport.

When planned and under construction it was intended to join the ranks of the World Trade Center, Empire State Building and Chrysler Building. However, when the developers discovered the building was leaning slightly north in 2020, construction came to an abrupt halt. The condo tower’s 60 stories were left unfinished. It was discovered the building had been tilting 3 inches to the north since 2018. 

The structure remains vacant and unfinished. Repair considered not viable.

The building has become known as the Leaning Tower of New York.

Because I was not feeling well yesterday, I did not write about Trump’s State of the Union Address. Left it for today.

May have done myself and you a favor. Many watched the Address and/or became aware via social media. Ad infinitum. To the point of sickness. Ergo, my thoughts re the Address will be short. I will bore neither you nor I.

One person did bore all of us, however. Trump himself. His Address boring, put many to sleep type. Too long also. The longest ever. One hour forty seven minutes. He loves to hear himself talk!

Lies galore. I have come to the conclusion Trump does not generally lie intentionally. He just lies. Does not know better. The lies in reality truth to him.

He knows not what he talks about. Affordability he does not understand. Claimed groceries prices down. It is obvious he does not shop. If anything, they go up constantly. Claimed wages up. If so, why do some persons have to decide between food and prescription medicines? Gasoline prices down to $1.85  gallon. Where? Not in Key West. I do not recall the last time it broke $3 a gallon into the $2 range. Always $3 here. Sometimes high $3s, sometimes lower. However, always in the $3 range.

There was a time most people could afford a new car. Trump claimed car prices down. I wrote the other day how hard it was to find a new car under $20,000. Reality is $50,000 for a new car on the cheap side. Which is why new cars are not selling.

He played tough with Iran. Going to beat them up. Would not stand for a terrorist nation having nuclear power. Trump always threatens. Assumes he is scaring the opposition with our military. Then generally backs off from the actual war.

May he back off with Iran. We do not need a war! Especially one that could get out of hand and involve other nations also.

Finally, Trump appeared sick to me. From the time he entered the Congressional Chamber. Also the way he conducted himself as he talked. Not the Trump of old. Again, I suspect he is sick.

Enough as to the Address itself.

One other point. After the Address, the channel I was watching interviewed Trump followers across the country. Not only as to the Address, but also did they still support him, etc. Each person remained strongly adamant in support. Disgustingly so. A few acknowledged his errors, but it made no difference. What is the matter with these people? It is obvious the blind cannot see.

Dr. Blass again yesterday. Two days in a row. Ross’s for two items I will need for wound care. Bank stop also. I am still without a car. Mine in the shop for repairs. Good people driving me around.

Today a good day. No doctor or nurse care. I am going to lay around. PERIOD!

Too tired to write further.

Remember Mark Kelly.

Enjoy your day!

No blog today. I am tired and shot. 

Yesterday Dr. Blass and my cancer ankle. Back to him again today for what appears will be a biggie procedure. Of all my medical procedures, it has been the most painful. I do not look forward to my visit with him today.

Tomorrow I will share my thoughts re Trump’s State of the Union Address. Long and boring.

Enjoy your day! I am not looking forward to mine.

Love this weather! It sucks! It will be in the high 50s all day. My heater broke. Does not help the situation. 

Tomorrow will be back in the 70s. All I have to do is survive today.

Yesterday at 3 it was in the 60s. I was outside waiting for a cab. A couple walked by. Smiling and happy. We catted for a bit. They were vacationing from Wisconsin. I apologized for our weather which had to be affecting their vacation. They smilingly said no. It was warm for them. They had snow in Wisconsin.

So much for trying to be a nice guy.

Don and Stephanie Manaher are in Key West for a visit. I have missed him. He owned and operated Don’s Place for many years till he got ill. I

believe he now lives in the Chicago area.

There is a party tonight at Larry Smith’s home, an old friends party. I look forward to it. The party is to give everyone an opportunity to see and greet Don.

Putin has diminished Russia economically because of the war with Ukraine. He has put Russia’s future at risk by remaking the economy for the war. Half of Russia’s budget goes towards the fight in Ukraine. Monies remaining do little to support Russia’s long term development.

Russia began its full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. How time flies! Putin thought he had a quick win. The contrary is proving true.

Trump should pay attention to Russia’s plight as he considers invading Iran. Already he is receiving noises from his Chief of Staff that perhaps it would be better if the U.S. did not invade Iran. I will comment further on the Chief of Staff’s concerns in the Trump section later in this blog.

Most common fields of study have changed from 1970 till now. College majors going in another direction.

Business has reached number one. Health professions and related programs shot up to number two.

I studied to be a lawyer and practiced my profession for 46 years. I was curious where the law placed. In the 29th position. Law classes may be a bit smaller today.

Phil Knight: “If you’re following your calling, the fatigue will be easier to bear, the disappointments will be few, the highs like nothing you ever felt.”

How true! I loved practicing law. Worked till I was 71. Could have retired years earlier. However, I could not walk away. It was my life. The blood that fueled my existence.

The Winter Olympics have ended. The tally. Norway first in total medals won with 41. Gold medals made up 18 of the 41. The U.S. was second with total wins of 33. Second in gold with 12.

The U.S. has had significant success in winning Summer Olympics. Nineteen times out of 29 appearances. The Winter Olympics another story. The U.S. has placed first only one time in 24 participations.

Norway is to be congratulated.

Marbury v. Madison was decided by the Supreme Court in 1803. A most significant decision. It established the principle of judicial review. In effect, made the Supreme Court the court of last resort.

Yesterday was a visit with Dr. Norris. Today, Dr. Blass. Later a visit by Nurse Sara. At my age, I am resolved. Doctoring in one fashion or another is now part of my everyday existence. 

Time for Trump. Last today, but not least. He creates too much news.

Trump’s State of the Union message tonight at 9. Are we in for a typical Trump ranting address? I suspect so.

Trump’s top General, Chief of Staff Chairman Dan Cane, foresees acute risk if the U.S. attacks Iran. The problem as he sees it is a lack of munitions and allied support. Both would create greater danger for the U.S. militarily. 

In spite of all the Navy forces sent by the U.S. to the area, the U.S. approach has been described as “sleepwalking.”

In a New York Times article this morning, the Times reported General Cane’s comments to the President were told to Trump at high level White House meetings concerning the invasion problems as the General saw them. Trump later claimed publicly Cane’s statements were in effect inaccurate. However, the Times article reported Trump was admitting their veracity in private in his office.

Trump says he has brought down inflation, but families are still struggling to pay bills and plan for the future. Many Americans are cash strapped. Basic living has become a burden.

I conclude as I have for some time now. If you want a for real President, one with the experience that qualifies him, vote for Mark Kelly as your next President. He presently is a U.S. Senator, formerly an astronaut and 25 year Navy veteran. One of his Naval functions was serving as Captain of a U.S. carrier. A Donald Trump he is not. Note also that Kelly worries Trump. He has been attacking and having him sued. 

Enjoy your day!

Wow! Has the weather changed!

Several days of warm delight. Overnight cold again. Temperature at 7 this morning as I am writing 61 degrees. Temperature will otherwise be consistent all day. Sixty degrees!

Sucks!

Besides which my heater broke during the night. I can’t win. No heater and no dear to delight me.

Lunch yesterday with my dear friends Fran and Tom Dixon. At the Key West Square Grouper. My first visit.

We arrived at Square Grouper at 11:30. The place packed. However, we were fortunate to get a table. Th place is beautiful inside. The menu expensive. How about stone crabs. Twenty five dollars EACH. Obviously we did not order stone crabs. I was not particularly impressed with the food. Merely ok. Fortunately none of us were drinking. If we were, I would have had to get a bank loan to pay the bill.

Tom was finally able to rent a car. At National Car Rental.

Some minimal Trump. He is worth less and less report wise each day.

What is the man up to? He is talking of sending a hospital ship to Greenland.

The Supreme Court with its tariff decision Friday is finally standing up to Trump. Till now the Supreme Court generally found a reason to side with Trump. I was beginning to fear that the strongest Court in the land was fearful of Trump also. 

Judges have been growing angry over Trump violating their orders. Especially federal judges.

An example involves 35 cases since August where a federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to explain why it should not be punished for violating their orders in immigration cases. Trump’s people ignored federal decisions.

No one fails to follow a federal court order. Unheard of in the legal profession. Trump’s people do, however.

Let’s move on. Enough of the Donald.

Antarctica is the largest desert in the world. Would you believe? The Sahara is not. The Antarctica desert is almost twice as large as the Sahara.

Confusing. All that ice and snow. The desert is actually below the ice and snow. Additionally, Antarctica has the largest body of fresh water in the world.

This whole concept of Antarctica having the largest desert, etc. is beyond me. I read and read and found it impossible to comprehend. The story does not make sense. Some of you may wish to research the issue on your own. Let me know what you figure out.

Historian WEB Du Bois was born this day in 1868. One of his special quotes: “There is but one coward on Earth, and that is the coward that dare not know.”

Rotary telephones became popularized in the 1950s. Most American homes got one. Today, they are no more. Replaced by the cell phone. The cell phone has the capacity to be “everything.” Better and more convenient. An example of the effectiveness of progress.

An outstanding article in today’s KONK Life re the Red Barn’s “And the World Goes ‘Round.” Why not! Joanne Celi does the Red Barn’s advertising. She has the touch!

Harry Truman loved Key West and Key West loves Harry Truman even to this day. On this day in 1957, a dinner was held at the Casa Marina Hotel honoring Truman. Proceeds to go to the Truman Presidential Library in Missouri. 

It was the first time Truman returned to Key West after leaving office. The event was a major success.

On this day in 1945, the famous raising of the American flag on Iwo Jima took place. Famous to today and in all likelihood will be famous throughout American history.

The U.S. does not need Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. I recall how bad polio was into 1954 when the polio vaccine was introduced. Many of my grammar and high school friends were struck and had to be sent to special hospitals in cool places. 

Children began receiving polio vaccines for the first time. The vaccine worked and polio slowly but surely was eradicated. Now Kennedy wants to do away with the vaccine. He’s crazy! He does not understand…..It is not wise to argue with success.

Abraham Lincoln arrived in Washington, D.C. this day in 1861 to take office as President of the U.S. A dangerous trip for him. He traveled in secrecy. Seven States had already seceded and the threat of civil war hung in the air.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a genius! During the Great Depression, he came up with a great idea as part of the New Deal. He made librarians out of certain of the unemployed. Librarians who delivered books in rural and desolate mountain areas on horseback.Technically referred to as “horsepacks.” Their delivery area primarily in the Appalachian Mountains.

Packhorse data: 63 percent of Kentucky residents were served, 75 percent of schools in 1937, 50,000 people overall. The monthly salary of a packhorse librarian was $28 a month. A tidy sum in those days.

A visit with Dr. Norris today. He and April Gallagher following up my most recent medical problem which developed three weeks ago.

Mark Kelly my candidate for our next President. Hopefully, he will be yours also. Presently a U.S. Senator, formerly an astronaut and 25 year Navy veteran. Captained a carrier.

Enjoy your day!

Key West has a car rental problem. Too few if any cars to rent.

The problem came to my attention the past two days. My Buffalo friend Tom Dixon is in Key West to visit sick Louis. He always rents a car. Not this trip. He tried all the rentals. None available.

The reason is Key West’s cold spell earlier this year. Many visitors could not fly back home because many plane flights were being cancelled. So they rented a car and drove north to their homes. The car rented in Key West was left with their home town rentals. To remain. Leaving Key West with a seriously depleted source of rental cars. And no car for my friend Tom.

I was not aware of the problem till Tom encountered it. I checked back editions of newspaper reports to see if any carried what has now become a serios problem. I could find none.

We cancelled dinner last night because Tom did not have a rental. We may do lunch today. Tom is considering renting a golf cart.

Two meritorious Lincoln quotes.

The first: “Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.” A phrase often remembered. Often stated. 

Another Abraham Lincoln quote. One of extreme truth: “Marriage is neither heaven nor hell, it is simply purgatory.” Lincoln had a rocky marriage. His wife Mary Todd Lincoln made her husband’s marital life not the best. Historians note they often quarreled.

Crotch enhancement at the Winter Olympics. It is rumored some skiers are injecting an acid serum into their genitals to artificially increase their genital size. The issue has been put to the World Anti-Doping Agency for review.

Crotch enhancement in the Olympics for real? Also dubbed “crotch cheat.” Bizarre. 

Hard to believe. However nothing is surprising these days. Time will tell.

Iran appears to be first on Trump’s present list for war. There may be another nation. Nigeria. A country where for a significant time Trump has been sending ground troops. More sent recently.

When the Supreme Court tariff decision came down Friday, Trump said he was going to levy a global 10 percent tariff. One day later, he raised the new global tariff he was considering to 15 percent. 

Stability is not one of Trump’s virtues. He changes things constantly. He makes it difficult for economics to operate on a sound basis.

One of history’s rarest baseball cards is the T206 Honus Wagner card. The same family has owned it for 116 years. They have decided to sell it.

The card will be offered for sale through Goldin Auctions. It is expected to sell for between $5 million and $7 million.

A recent poll found Trump had a 60 percent disapproval rating among Americans. I am surprised it is not more.

Japan has transparent public toilets. Transparent when not in use. Purpose is so users can see whether one is clean and safe before entering. When locked from the inside and in use, the transparent walls turn opaque for privacy.

I mentioned this some time ago. Worthy of repetition again. “Steamboat Willie” was the first film to feature Mickey Mouse.

George Washington was born this day in 1732.

Andy Warhol: “Making money is art and business is the best art.”

Did King Arthur really exist? Questionable. In spite of the fact he is claimed to have been King of Camelot, created the Knights of the Round Table, and fought against Saxon invaders, his existence remains questionable.

Barbara Jo Rubi became the first female jockey to win a U.S. thoroughbred race.

A Key West item of importance. On this day in 1906, Stock Island and Key West were joined for the first time by a new 12 foot roadway built for the Florida East Coast Railroad.

Mark Kelly out there hustling. Sharing truth with the American public. Keep him in mind when you vote for President in November 2027.

Enjoy your Sunday! 

Ho, ho Yogi Bear! Trump blew it again! And got called out big time for it!

Trump lashed out after the Supreme Court struck down most of his tariffs yesterday. The President slammed the Justices in unprecedented terms a few hours after the ruling and vowed to impose new levies. Forget not, Trump is President and believes he has almighty powers to do anything he wishes. From his perspective, how dare the Supreme Court rule against him as they did in the tariff decision.

The 6-3 result is expected to reverberate widely, affecting global trade, inflation and the pockets of every American.

The ruling results in Trump losing the negotiating tool he used to make peace and money.

Trump will retaliate. One is by ignoring the Supreme Court decision and continuing to impose tariffs in certain area. Trump in effect doubling down.

Trump continues to lose in the courts and in public exchanges. He is losing ground in many areas. He will continue to lose in greater proportions as time moves on. 

Following receipt of the decision, Trump referred to the six Justices who ruled against him as “fools and lap dogs.”

Trump’s respect factor for others continues lacking.

A loser thou art, Donald! You bought it! You made it! You created it!

Norway doing terrific in the Olympics. Presently in first place. Seventeen of its medals gold ones.

The U.S. running second. Several medals behind Norway.

Several sources believe the U.S. military could be ready to attack Iran as soon as this weekend. Such is based on a buildup in recent days of U.S. air and naval assets in the Middle East.

An upstate New York woman faces criminal charges after paying two minors for babysitting with marijuana. The arrested woman is 24 year old McKenzie L. Fisher of Perry, New York.

Foreign visitors to the US. were significantly less last year. Eleven million less. Things do not look good for this year either. The fewer number is expected to increase. The reasons the same: Increased scrutiny at the border, ICE violence and unpredictable policies.

On this day in 1965, Malcom X was assassinated. Only 39 years old at the time.

Karl Marx published the Communist Manifesto this day in 1848.  The Communist bible. Would change the world some 70 years later.

Theodore Roosevelt: “No man is above the law, and no man is below it.”

Stop signs have not always been red. At the beginning in 1915, a simple square sheet of metal with black lettering. In 1935, yellow. In the 1950s, the red we know today.

The number of vehicles in the U.S. staggering! In 2023, 284.6 million.

An interesting tidbit. William Phelps Eno is called the “father of traffic safety.” He helped invent the rules of the road. One interesting fact. Eno never learned how to drive! He preferred horses to cars.

My Buffalo friends Tom and Fran Dixon arrived in Key West yesterday for a short visit. Two reasons. One to celebrate Tom’s birthday. He turned 80 Thursday. The other to see me. They are aware I have not been feeling well.

We were to have gone out last night. Did not. The Dixons were tired. They had to rise at 3 a.m. in Buffalo to catch appropriate flights to Key West. They were shot and begged off re last night. We celebrate instead tonight.

I also begged off. Felt like shit all day yesterday.

I look forward to seeing them this evening.

Mark Kelly the person for President in the November 2027 election. He has the credentials. Presently a U.S. Senator, a former astronaut and a 25 year Navy veteran. He captained a U.S. carrier.

Enjoy your day!

Trump appears ready to attack Iran. A warmonger he is.

Why war? Why now?

His explanation to the American people is minimal. Public debate little.

Trump claims doing nothing is “the reckless of all options.” His war support is based on selective intelligence and in certain

instances outright false claims. 

Many historians believe that a today war with Iran would be one of the “greatest errors of modern times.”

If bombs and/or troops find a place on U.S. soil, woe is we. Sad time for having a President so war prone. Our children and grandchildren will be in danger. Many killed. American properties destroyed. Where Germany and Japan were unable to attack American soil proper, Iran may.

Kimmel released Trump’s grammar school IQ. A roaring 89! Not a genius rating. No where close. Trump was upset when he heard and yelled “I’m a genius!” 

The large military surge in Minnesota has ended. So reported Tom Homan, Trump’s Border Czar. Where will ICE and Trump’s military now go? What city and state will they ruin next?

You got great people, Donald!

Rubio disappoints me as Secretary of State. Many of his thoughts radical. A Trumpie at heart. He is selling his soul to Trump today in hopes of a more significant role on his own in future years. I doubt they will come. People will not forget.

Cocoa prices remain high. Popular candies suffering. Hershey has been changing some of its candy recipes. Reese has made adjustments to some of its products.

The latest coffee information is that drinking it will prevent dementia. True or false! Questionable. Test results will reveal whether the statement is accurate.

Anderson Cooper is leaving ’60 Minutes’ after two decades.

Gallons of sewage has been pouring int the Potomac. Spill began January 19. Several weeks or months yet required to correct the problem. Everyone from the President down upset. Age the cause. An old pipe broke.

An Illinois Judge has ruled that a “boneless wing” does not have to be meat from the wing bone itself. Any part of the chicken will do. The decision the result of a $10 million lawsuit by a chicken wing consumer who was upset the meat did not actually come from a wing bone. He lost.

I am still feeling under the weather. Lousy to be frank! My whole body!

Mark Kelly for President in 2028. Let’s not screw up in the next Presidential election!

Enjoy your day!

Prices going crazy! Upward and upward for many items. And as prices rise, wages do not. Buying power remains static.

Chickens and cars two examples.

I refer not to the chickens we purchase in the supermarket. Though their time will come. It is the cost of a chicken meal in a better restaurant in New York City and other major U.S. cities. Fifty dollars the average cost for a chicken entre.

The chicken problem spreading world wide. The better London restaurants charging $120 to $180 for a chicken meal for two.

A new automobile moving in a vein similar to the chicken. Ever upward.

There was a time when Americans purchased a new car every three years. Now, eight. There was a time also when something in the $20,000 area purchased a new vehicle. No more. Now $50,000.

Monthly payments have become a back breaker. Eight hundred to one thousand dollars a month. More and more people defaulting in these payments. Banks and finance companies taking the vehicles when default in payments occur.

New cars plentiful in dealership lots. Colors and options plentiful. People able to purchase what they want.

Chickens and car prices today a clear sign that affordability is out the window and will be getting worse with other products.

Woe is we!

Two prominent and respected public figures died recently. Jesse Jackson and Robert Duvall.

Jackson a civil rights icon. Stood with Martin Luther King. He died at the age of 84. Religiously and politically active. A true American.

He came on the scene in the 1960s. A time when I began practicing law. I followed his career in detail. He was a fighter for Black rights. Sought the Democratic nomination for President in 1988. Publicly cried when fellow Black Barack Obama was elected President.

Robert Duvall was a movie star extraordinaire. Passed on at the age of 95. His famous movies included The Godfather and Apocalypse Now. He was one of the more respected actors of his generation.

Presidents’ Day was Monday. Arranged so Americans would receive a three day weekend. Celebrates all U.S. Presidents, past and present.

Epstein files…..Not going to go away! Such being the case, every page should be released now. Those guilty of pedophilia should be exposed. It is a disgrace that governmental process is being utilized to shield them. 

Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s “Slaughterhouse Five” a best seller in 2019. Sold 125,000 copies. Impressive!

Thomas Edison popularized the phone greeting “hello.” It was a competition with Alexander Graham Bell who preferred and tried to popularize “ahoy.”

“Hello” sounds better to me.

Mary Twain published “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” February 18, 1885. It was well received in spite of many considering it controversial.

The weather is better. Key West afternoons now mid to high 70s.

Pizza Hut is trying out a new Pizza box in London. It is vertical in design and shape. Will the new box boost sales? Pizza Hut in economic trouble world wide and may go under this year.

I was supposed to have lunch yesterday at Salute’s with Riley and Fred. Started feeling lousy around 10 so bugged out. They are going to reschedule our luncheon for next week.

Note I have not mentioned Trump once today till now. He makes me sick. I am compelled to write about him because he IS the news every day. Not today, however. I am giving myself a day off from him.

Please remember Mark Kelly in November 2027 when you vote.

Enjoy your day!

Horrible day yesterday! My fault. Do to my ineptness. Some things I am not good at. Especially if mechanical in nature. No matter how simple.

My car is in a service station for much needed repairs. Doctor and hospital visits galore. Nothing unusual. My life style at 90. Two office visits and a nurse visit at my home yesterday. Everything scheduled to begin at 1:30 and end at 6.

I had to go to Uber. Never used before. I screwed up big time. Which screwed up my disposition.

Corey set up Uber on my phone Monday night. Made it simple. Not simple for me, however.

I went outside at 1 and called Uber for my 1:30 appointment. Twenty five minutes later it was 1:25 and no Uber. Either Corey or I had screwed up. Turned out to be me. Again, I am not good at anything in form mechanical.

I was getting ready to go inside and cancel my cancer and heart appointments. One thirty and three thirty respectively. Suddenly I was blessed. Joanne and Lou Celi drove by. They were on their way with their two dogs and a friend and his dog to Geiger Key so the dogs could swim. I explained my plight and they were kind enough to offer me a ride to my 1:30 appointment. 

When we arrived, I realized it was the building for my 3:30 appointment. So they had to drive me to another location.

Good people! Happy to help! Me inept and stupid.

Met with my cancer doctor and he did his thing….which always hurts. I told the nurses how I had screwed up with Uber. No sweat they said. One of them would help following my visit.

Later a nurse explained what I was to do. Then she set up my next visit to the heart facility. That is when I knew Corey did his job perfectly and I was the one screwing up. Uber was there to pick me up in 3 minutes.

I was 45 minutes early for my heart visit. Told the receptionist I was early and would read an old magazine while waiting. She told me I had no appointment. April Gallagher, my heart care giver, would call me. An argument ensued. I was already mentally aggravated because of my Uber ineptness. I had no time to dilly dally with a receptionist that was giving me improper information. I told to go talk with April personally re my appointment. She returned and told me I did have a 3:30 appointment. would I mind waiting?

I apologized for my earlier rudeness. Explained my Uber problem. She did as the cancer receptionist had. Offered to help me after my visit.

It was good to see April. I do not see her enough. She told me her son had married on Friday and how exciting it was. Also, how much she cried. I said don’t let it bother you. I had 4, 3 girls and a boy, and cried several times at each wedding.

True to her commitment, the receptionist set up my Uber to get me home. She explained how Uber worked. I understood nothing. 

Uber was there in 1 minute and was waiting for me.

Prior to seeing April, her nurse Patsy ran some tests on me and did an EKG. She had telephoned me earlier in the morning to go over in detail my meds. I take 16 pills a day. She told me to be on time for my 3:30 appointment. The one her receptionist said I did not have.

I liked Patsy. Good disposition. I look forward to her caring for me further in the future.

My third medical visit was at my home at 5:15. I walked through the door at precisely 5:15. Sara walked in a few minutes later. I explained my Uber plight to her. She explained how to use it. Over my head, of course. Then she took care of my butt. Due to the all the time I have spent down in hospitals in bed, I have developed ass cheek open wounds. Still correcting. Taking forever.

When Sara left, it was after 6. I had no car. Did not understand Uber. If I had my wheels, I would have gone to a restaurant for dinner. Instead I was stuck home eating this and that.

My attitude sucked from 1 on. I became loud and boisterous. Badly. I was out of control.

A bad day over all.

Today will be better. I am having lunch with Riley and Fred. Two Boys’ Night friends. At Salute’s. They are picking me up with Uber. Their headache! Both are proficient.

I have tons of things to share today. However my practical problems from yesterday appeared more interesting so they constitute today’s blog. Note again it irritated the hell out of me I could not grasp how to use Uber.

I will let you know how it works for me the next time I try.

Forget not Mark Kelly for President in 2028.

Enjoy your day!

There is a push to have us stop eating beef. The push is to have us eat bugs and food created in laboratories. Do away with cows. The claim presently being made, and intended to be made with imagined greater veracity, is that cows are killing the climate. A whisper today, a furor tomorrow.  

Who are those behind this move. All being said is not necessarily true. The advocates to do away with beef are the industrial giants who will benefit by making the bugs edible and manufacturing phony foods. Includes all who will benefit from the industry’s success. Banks, public relation entities, law firms, those who manufacture the products an industrial giant would need, etc.

A food crisis is already in the works. Phony in nature. Being created to “show” a need to do away with the cows and replace them with the bugs and phony food.

The food crisis is man made. Corporate America and their cohorts working together to make more money ripping off working Americans who presently are already finding it difficult to pay grocery bills.

Economists are predicting as a general proposition that the price of food in the U.S. will spike in the Fall. Consumer bank accounts will be stretched even further! 

The higher cost of food brings to mind a childhood experience. My grandfather on my father’s side immigrated to the U.S. from Italy. He had eight children. I assume the cost of food became a burden. He had a huge back yard. He planted a garden of vegetables and fruits. Even a pear tree that grew in giant proportions. I have a specific recollection involving the pear tree and me. As I grew, the pear tree grew.

My grandfather cared for different portions of his garden daily. When his boys became adults, he would periodically call them to come over on a weekend day and further help care for the garden.

Perhaps we all should plant gardens.

The Department of Homeland Security is shut down to a large degree. Certain portions operating minimally. Another government shutdown in any event. A shitty way to do business. If the private sector operated this way, those companies that did would be out of business.

The new Wuthering Heights movie topped the Valentine’s Day weekend box office with $34.8 million in domestic ticket sales. The year’s biggest opening so far. No wonder. The new Wuthering Heights purported to be “hot.” Heavy sex allegedly.

Trump can’t get off Obama’s back. Even described Obama and his wife as “apes.” Eventually withdrew the comment, but has refused to apologize for having written it.

In a recent talk, he described former President Obama as ineffective, judgment weak, his accomplishments overblown, and Obama’s time in office as wasted time. Doesn’t Trump have anything better to do than degrading someone who I consider was one of our greater Presidents?

For whatever reason, photos and snippets of Tony Bennett’s  life appeared all over the internet in recent days. As I have mentioned in earlier blogs, I knew Tony Bennett. A class act. We met for dinner in New York City several times.  I liked the man. His death in 2023 saddened me greatly. 

Lunar New Year celebrations kick off tomorrow, ushering in the Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese zodiac. Fifteen days of festivities will follow.

Wendy’s sales have been down. As a result, Wendy’s will close 5 to6 percent of its U.S. restaurants in the first half of this year. Roughly 298 – 358 locations.

Gun purchasing in the U.S. is on the rise. Especially among conservatives. A major contributing factor Trump and his ICE and military groups. Trump has everyone scared. Americans do not want a Minneapolis in their cities. They are preparing even though it will place them in opposition to their “leader” Trump.

Trump must be stopped. Too many years till the next Presidential election. The move has to begin with this year’s midterms. The Democrats must end up in control and when in office impeach Trump.

Fidel Castro assumed formal power in Cuba this day in 1959. I recall the event. I was a senior in law school at the time. Everyone, and I mean everyone in the U.S., believed Castro’s ascendency to power was a great thing. We soon learned to the contrary.

A new man in power brings to mind Mark Kelly. My recommendation to be the next President of the U.S. No Castro surprises from him. No Trump type governing either. Keep Kelly in mind as time progresses.

Enjoy your day!