From day one, Trump has been clear there would be no U.S. boots on the ground in Iran. We would win the war with planes and missiles.

Four weeks into the war and the scenario has changed. Trump ordered 2,200 Marines sent. They are in transit and will arrive Friday. He also has ordered 2,000 paratroopers. They are in transit.

Speaks well for the planning that went into the war. Also questions Trump’s very recent statements that the U.S. and Iran are into negotiations and the war would be over soon.

Yesterday Trump was telling the world he had received a “present” from Iran and was happy with it. However he would not publicly disclose what the present was.

Could it have been a large Chinese oil tanker that Iran permitted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz? Bloomberg says no tanker has been permitted through. A Trump lie?

Trump says negotiations to end the war ongoing and appearing favorable. He claims they are proceeding “perfectly.” Iran says no negotiations ongoing. Trump playing with the truth again?

An item which concerns me. Iran still governed by the same group who were in power prior to the war. Yes, the Ayatollah and other leaders are dead. Nevertheless, the basic group running Iran has not changed. So who is the U.S. beating as Trump claims? Trump claiming “victory” a meaningless statement. The U.S. will leave with the same people in charge in Iran that the U.S. went to war to throw out.

Money definitely does not grow on trees! Especially the money Trump is spending everyday in his failing effort to defeat Iran. $1 billion.

Trump appears to be losing it mentally. His Presidency may be in danger.

A Florida Democrat won an upset victory in Trump’s backyard in Florida. Trump had endorsed the Republican.

I can’t believe it. Trump appears to have become a religious fanatic! Trump told Republicans to pass a voting law “for Jesus.”

On Monday, Trump urged Republicans in Congress to pass the voter ID bill that Democrats strongly oppose. Re the vote bill he said, “Make this one for Jesus.” It appeared he was being influenced by Easter Sunday which is soon to be.

Trump claims Hegseth was the first person to think an Iran attack would be a good idea. True? Hard to know with Trump. Was he passing the buck?

So much for Donald today.

I remember when my blog was mostly Key West. Impossible at the moment. Trump too much. He must be discussed and exposed to be what he is.

The mundane.

George Orwell: “Telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”

Venice, Italy was founded this day in 421 AD. It is a well known city in northeastern Italy. Built on a group of 126 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and canals. Portions of the city are connected by 472 bridges.

Beside not being proper, drugging and raping a woman can be expensive. As Bill Cosby found out Monday when a California jury returned a verdict of $59.25 million to a woman he drugged and raped in 1972. The compensatory amount of the verdict was $19.25 million, the punitive $40 million. Respectfully stated, an expensive fuck! I’m sure Cosby does not believe it was worth it.

Coca Cola announced it was discontinuing Minute Maid frozen juices in the U.S. and Canada. Coca Cola will henceforth focus on fresh juices which Coke says is preferred by modern customers. Frozen juices have been sold since 1946. Change apparently has occurred and Coke saw it and reacted.

Female executions are a rarity in Tennessee. Christa Pike is scheduled to be executed September 30th. She will be the first female executed in Tennessee in more than 200 years.

Christa is now 50 years old. She committed the murder when she was 18. She was 20 when convicted. Appeals have kept her alive till 50.

Key West weather will continue to be mild today. The high will be 75 degrees.

The professional baseball season begins tonight. The New York Yankees/San Francisco Giants will meet each other. The season will begin big time tomorrow night with 11 games scheduled.

A flying snake! Yes. A “pit viper” discovered flying in Cambodia.

A study was made of the best places to work. Career type places. Top five: Sun Technologies, Fidelity Investments, Boeing, Mayo Clinic, and Proctor & Gamble.

What people will do! A driver was caught with a fake passenger in California in a carpool lane.

Saturn’s largest moon was found this day in 1655.

Ida B. Wells-Barnett: “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.”

A Dr. Blass visit this afternoon. He has been on vacation with his family for two weeks in Milan and Switzerland. His first day back today.

Before he left, he showed me how to treat my recovering cancer wound. Wash, treat with medicine and rebandage each day. It wasn’t hard, though I was scared the first time. The wound is healing well. I suspect I may even leave his office without a bandage today. Good job, Dr. Louis!

Enjoy your day!

What does Trump do on a day with war in Iran and airport terminals mobbed? He visits Elvis Presley’s Graceland home in Memphis. Occurred yesterday. I watched parts of his visit on the internet. The man was jovial.

The Graceland visit was part of an overall visit to Memphis to tout his crime remediation efforts in the City.

Forget crime, forget Presley. The Iran War should have been his business of the day…..all day! In Washington!

There was a time when the U.S. was the strongest nation in the world economically and politically. No longer, no more. The U.S. is diminishing in power in both respects. All because of Donald Trump. His two worst moves in the bit more than one year have been tariffs and the Iran War.

He has alienated the world. Good friends no longer so. They are seeking other friends. Russia and China seeking on various scales to maintain a U.S. friendship. Russia needs Trump. It is a failing entity. Russia seeks assistance from China also.

“Middle” sized nations are seeking to group together. Canada’s Carney doing an excellent job of moving the smaller countries to join together. No question he will succeed. He looks and acts like a leader. Thinks like a leader. He makes sense when he speaks. Trump again responsible for screwing things up for the U.S. He seems to have forgotten his responsibilities to the U.S., as well as the rest of the world.

Trump cannot expect nations he pissed off just a year ago with tariffs, etc., to stand with the U.S. this year when Trump asks for their help in Iranian waters.

Trump lies all the time. Most recently re peace talks with Iran. Iran immediately said no talks were underway. It came out there were minor discussions among underlings of both sides. Nothing substantive, however. Trump claimed “the talks very strong.” Like “15 points” agreed. Truth or falsity? I would assume false. Time will tell. Never forget Iran’s nature is to get even. They have not done so yet. 

One of Trump’s problems is that he was of the opinion that when he was elected, other world leaders would capitulate to whatever he wanted. So wrong was he! 

His first error was with Putin and settling the Ukrainian War in 24 hours. Trump still has not learned he did not and does not have the power he assumed. Nor the power with other nations. The world is fooling Trump, not Trump the world.

Trump calls mail in voting “cheating.” Yet he used mail in voting in a Florida special election recently. The actual election takes place today. Trump voted by mail in Palm Beach County, from his Mar-a-Lago Club.

Enough of Trump for today.

Moving on.

Bad news! Syracuse women’s basketball team took a “beating” from Connecticut in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Syracuse lost 98-45. A 53 point loss. Syracuse was down 65-12 at half time.

There’s always next year!

A study of boxing greats determined Muhammad Ali was number one.

Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Eugene Robinson is returning to Key West as the honored guest of Take Stock in Kids. He will be discussing his new memoir. I have had the privilege of hearing him talk on two occasions in the past in Key West.

Airlines are expanding economy class to make bigger bucks. Visualize 8 seats across. A solid row of 6 on one side of the aisle. Two seats on the other. Horrible!

Five Guys has done away with its plastic type french fry cups.  It has gone to paper bags. Most customers unhappy. A smaller portion for same price, grease expanding through the paper.

World famous magician Harry Houdini was born this day in 1874.

One of the biggest, if not the biggest, oil spills of all times, occurred this day in 1989 when an Exxon Valdez oil tanker ran aground spilling 11 million gallons of oil. I was involved in my environmental law days. The spillage ran into waterways everywhere. Even to Upstate New York. I handled the problem in the Upstate waterways.

Dorothy Height: “If time is not ripen, we have to ripen the time.”

Jake has a heart condition. Vet bills expensive. Out of pocket. No insurance. Jake doing well because of the vet care and medicines.

Fortunately!

Enjoy your day!

Hard to believe, but Iran is a Holy War for Trump. One of the world’s worst wrongdoers has found God! Something most Americans are not aware of.

The War has been described  as a “holy war” or “crusade” by certain countries, white American groups, and U.S. troops. Such is involved in the rhetoric used by certain U.S. military commanders and political allies who frame the attack on Iran as a divine mission aimed as causing “biblical end time” or “Armageddon.” Jesus will return!

Some military commanders are telling troops that Trump is “anointed by Jesus” to lead the war against Iran. 

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation has reported receiving hundreds of complaints from military personnel about leadership framing the conflict as a religious mission intended to trigger the “rapture” and the end of times.

Of all people, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appears to be a leader of a cult movement so involved. He is constantly utilizing Biblical ideology to describe the war against Iran.

The use of religious rhetoric has been condemned by some religious leaders as “dangerous” and a violation of the Constitution’s separation of church and state, Some describe it as “blasphemy.”

Shocking! Is it true Donald Trump has been divinely anointed and is about to cause Armageddon? If so, why is it not being discussed by news outlets?

Is Trump waging a holy war in Iran? Cool question.

Trump who has a “shady”  background, immoral on occasion, is not the one to be waging a war against a theocratic regime he considers a threat to American ideals.

Trump is 79 years old. He will be 80 in June. Appears ill. Perhaps he has found God. A “Nearer my God to Thee thing” in his old age. If so, nothing wrong with it. I question it, however. On the other hand, not my right to question a person’s religious views. Nevertheless, it must be conceded that this God and Iran thing is strange on Trump’s part. Very strange.

So much Trump to discuss these days. Even more today. However Donald, God and Armageddon enough for one day.

I move on.

The number one city in the world for longevity is Seoul, South Korea 83.5 years. Boulder, Colorado is the only U.S. city in the top ten. Ranked tenth 82.4 years.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is cracking. He may be losing it. The reason involves MAGA which is falling apart.

Two days ago, Trump called 8 NATO allies “cowards.” The 8 are left building a nuclear arsenal on their own. Does not appear to be bothering them. Trump has proven the U.S. unreliable. They know that henceforth they will have to defend themselves.

Trump has threatened to kill Dems. Insane! Trump in a panic mode because Iran War not working out as he anticipated. He is melting down.

Trump going to upset air travelers big time beginning this morning. He is sending ICE to help move the crowds. If ICE acts as it has elsewhere, chaos will prevail. This is another Trump error that will end in a fiasco.

Saturn has 285 moons.

Ninety percent of American people consider having an affair morally wrong. Nevertheless, significantly less than the 90 percent cheat.

Patrick Henry delivered his “Give me liberty or give me death!” speech this day in 1775 in Richmond, Virginia.

The first passenger elevator was installed in New York City this day in 1857.

Enough.

Enjoy your day!

Happy Sunday!

My neighbor and friend Rick Boettger in a recent KONK Life story titled “The New Dictatory” wrote the U.S. has invented a new political person: “We democratically elect our own dictators.” Well written. Right on. No argument with the claim. Trump’s elections prove it!

The Iranian War is costing the U.S. $1.3 million a minute.  A lot of money.  Another way of looking at the sum is it will cost taxpayers $1 trillion.

Worth it? 

The Iran War involves such recklessness that it will haunt us for a generation. Does Trump know what he is doing? His staff? He seems to shoot from the hip thoughtlessly. His most recent shot in the dark is giving Iran 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormoz or he will “obliterate” Iran’s power plants.

Robert Mueller a distinguished American. An exceptional attorney. Headed the FBI, worked in the Justice Department otherwise for years, lead the impeachment proceeding against Trump to determine if Trump had permitted Russia to be involved in some fashion in the U.S. election of 2016.

As good as he was, he disappointed me in his final determination in the impeachment proceeding. I, and I assume most of America, expected him to charge Trump. Nail him to the wall! He did not come up with a conclusion charge. Blew me out! Mueller went strictly by the book. He came up with “proof,” but sent his  findings to Congress to come up with the impeachment charge. Congress failed to do so.

When Trump was made aware Mueller had passed on, his response was what we have come to expect from him: “Good, I’m glad he’s dead.”

A sicko!

I don’t understand Trump. He is in a war of his choosing. Little if no basis for the U.S. to have attacked Iran other than Trump lies. The world, other than Israel, has abandoned him. He threatens everyone and every nation. Definitely knows how to make friends (a joke) and lose friends. The man is a danger!

What about the drones that flew over Fort McNair and Washington, D.C.? Trump claims we have the best military in the world. He should have been able to determine by now the source of the drones and where they landed. Unless of course they were self-inflicted to arouse the American people.

Will we ever be told where they came from, where they landed?

Trump has gotten the U.S. involved in Israeli conflicts by joining with Israel to attack Iran. Netanyahu conned Trump. The world’s purported greatest con artist got conned.

Time to move on to other things.

Today a significant one in American history. It was on this day in 1765 that the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act. The legislation helped ignite the American Revolution a decade later.

It was in 1872 that the Yellowstone National Park was established. America’s first such park dedicated to public enjoyment and recreation. Today there are 63 areas designated as National Parks covering 85 million acres of U.S. land.

It was this day in 1933 when Franklin Delano Roosevelt legalized the sale of beer and wine. America went high again!

Women’s professional basketball has gone big time because of Caitlin Clark. College basketball has been flourishing for years as have other lower level school games.  The first women’s college basketball game was played this day in 1893.

Florida tops the U.S. in ICE arrests. A shame! Many foreign born have been settled in Florida for years. Many have become citizens. Yet even many citizens fear leaving their homes to work for fear of being arrested. No way to live!

A very interesting item. Researchers have determined your brain works better from reading off paper as opposed to off a screen. The brain processes paper reading three times better than reading off a screen.

Americans pay four times more for some medications than persons in foreign countries. Prescription drugs. An American buys his drugs directly from India. Costs him 10 cents for what is one dollar in the U.S. The drug industry sets prices. Is Congress involved?

A screw job!

Key West is into its third day of warm weather. Seventy seven the projected high for today.

Enjoy your Sunday! 

Measles is back. Big time. Roaring back!

We are not ready. Not ready because we gave up on vaccines. Thanks to Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, and other Trump administration persons. They were erroneously of the opinion modern medical care and sanitation had proven vaccines were no longer required. 

Did they make a mistake!

The result of their actions outrageous. Thus far in 2026 alone, measles have been seen in 30 states. Ninety two percent of those infected had not been vaccinated. In 2025, 2,284 were infected. Previous to 2025, zero persons got measles in the U.S.  Vaccinations protected us. The numbers speak for themselves.

Trump is sending 2,200 Marines and 3 more warships to the Middle East. Who needs them if the U.S. is winning the war as Trump claims?

Obviously Trump did not view the Iran War properly when planning it. Not a “quick over.” 

Israel a poor partner, not required. A troublemaker, if anything. Iran is a Ukraine in the making. Putin thought Ukraine was a quickie. Did he get fooled. The Iran War has more problems than initially contemplated. Trump bought all the mistakes. From Israel to Iran fighting back to oil and gas problems. I fear the worst is yet to come.

It has become obvious the U.S. and Israel have different priorities in the Iran War. If Trump is as smart as he projects, he should have been aware of Netanyahu’s reasoning to be a partner. Trump also should not have been as accepting of the influence of U.S. Jews. He let politics get in the way of a war decision.

Iran is a monstrous mistake.

The newest gold coin has received approval from the Federal Coin Panel. The result expected. The Panel entirely Trump appointed.

Disgusting. Trump’s face and/or name is beginning to appear everywhere. Big time vanity!

The gold coin in effect is part of U.S. currency. As a result, I question the legality of what has been done. U.S. law states no President still living may appear on U.S. currency.

Another faux pas by Donald?

Moving on to the more mundane but equally important.

Chuck Norris died. He was 86. Sad. I enjoyed him as an actor and a person.

Albert Einstein: “Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.”

Professional women basketball players got a raise. The WNBA reached a collective bargaining agreement with a record increase to the salary and cap league minimums. The ladies landed 364 percent onto their salary cap. Big!

If approved, it means the average player will receive $584,000 per season. The lowest player $270,000. An average increase for all of $249,244.

Thanks goes to Caitlin Clark. She has done wonders for women’s’ pro basketball. Instead of knocking her around, other players should kiss her ass. Big time!

The most popular dog of 2025 is again the French Bulldog.

The State with the greatest life expectancy is Hawaii. Eighty years old. West Virginia the lowest at 72.2 years.

Lydia Darragh spied for George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Unusual since she was a pacifist Quaker. She would eavesdrop on British soldiers and report directly to Washington.

Pocahontas was buried this day in 1617.

The U.S. announced the boycott of the Summer Olympics in Moscow this day in 1980. 

Recovery from some surgeries and illnesses seems to take forever. “Seem not correct.” It does take forever!

When I was 89, I received four major abdominal surgeries. I was in the hospital 58 consecutive days.

Those of you who have spent considerable time bedridden in a hospital understand the problem that resulted. I had to lie flat on my back in bed in the hospital. Not on my side. When a person does this, ass cheek wounds develop. Butt cheeks split in certain places.

I am happy that yesterday I was declared free of the affliction. It hurt to move. I had to lie on my back for two years. Rub my cheeks with a special ointment 1 to 2 times a day. Bed sheets and underwear a mess each day.

No more! God bless America! 

Steve was good to me yesterday. He ate at Mac’s. Brought me an order of wings. I had a great dinner last night!

Enjoy your day!

A special afternoon yesterday. Mac’s for the food, Rus for the company. Only my second time to Mac’s. A restaurant at the Boulevard. The very beginning. On the left side driving out of Key West, on the right driving in.

Steve has been raving about it lately. He finally persuaded me to join he and Cindy and their guest Rus. I am not sure which was better. The food or company. Both excellent.

Let me share Mac’s with you first. Happy Hour 3-6. A $10 menu. Seven dollars for drinks. You drink whatever alcoholic beverage they are making. I drank Diet Coke. My alcohol days long gone.

I ordered the mini subs. Two small width wise, about 4 inches in height however. Absolutely delicious!

Steve and Rus enjoyed 5 good sized wings. Looked good. They said good. Steve said he would save one for me. He forgot me. Devoured his five.

Next time I will try the wings.

The place was packed, inside and out. We sat inside.

I had one eye on the TV set. Caught parts of the Siena/Duke NCAA game. Siena 16th ranked, Duke number 1 overall. Siena winning till the middle of the second half. I could not believe it. Decisively on occasion. Then Duke’s quality surfaced. Duke was down by 11 points at half time. Continued to be down by about 7 points in the first half of the second half. Then Duke came alive! Outscored Siena 39-22 points overall in the second half. Duke won 71-65.

I was especially interested in the game because of Siena’s coach Gerry McNamara. He was part of the starting five in 2003 when Syracuse won the Final Four. A terrific player. Thereafter he was an assistant coach at Syracuse under Jim Boeheim. Yesterday head coach at little Siena.

Syracuse basketball has sucked in recent years. Adrian Autry coach the past three years. Fired recently. Rumor has it Gerry McNamara is under serious consideration by Syracuse to be the new basketball coach. I hope so. A great player and even outstanding as a college coach. Yesterday’s game was the firs time Siena ever made it to the NCAA Tournament. Reflects the quality of McNamara even though Siena lost.

Now for Rus. He lives in Bellingham, Washington. Lived in Key West years ago. Visits Steve and Cindy every few years. He is somewhat related to Steve. He is Linda’s brother.

Late 60s. A semi retired carpenter. Great personality. As Key West is the end of the U.S., so too is Bellingham. Washington is the far northwestern most State in the U.S. Just under 100,000 people. Bellingham some distance between Seattle and Vancouver. Twenty one miles south of Canada. It is given credit for “exceptional quality of life!. It has a reputation of being “vacation style.”

Rus leaves Saturday to return home. I am sure I will see him again. I look forward to it.

Forget Trump for today. I will bury you with him tomorrow. I have much to say.

Let’s talk about some other things. The miscellaneous in life.

For the ninth consecutive year, Finland has been named the world’s happiest country. Happy people, a social safety network, and a high life expectancy.

The U.S. a distant 23rd re “happiness.”

The fashion industry follows a “20 year rule.” Styles return every 20 years. Interesting.

The 20 year rule is based on a study done at Northwestern University. One hundred sixty years of women’s clothing was studied. The result showed fashion trends resurface every 20 years or so.

Sir Walter Raleigh was freed from the Tower of London after 13 years of imprisonment this day in 1616. A favorite of Queen Elizabeth, he was not so under her successor James I who imprisoned him the 13 years. Upon release, he went on to upset the Spanish. James was not happy with him again. Had Raleigh arrested and executed. Beheaded.

Fred “Mister” Rogers was born this day in 1928.

Key West weather. Cold yesterday in the morning, warm in the afternoon. Today will be relatively the same. High projected at 74 degrees.

Nurse Paige to visit me at noon today. She has been working on my lower back. I sense some progress. Looking forward to her visit.

Enjoy your day!

Has Iran succeeded in reaching U.S. soil?

Fort McNair is located in Washington, D.C. One night in the past 10 days, drones flew over Fort McNair. Our government claims it is uncertain as to their source. No deaths or damage reported. Nor was any explosion.

Concern great. For security reasons, Rubio and Hegseth had moved on the base to reside. Since the drone fly over, they have been advised to move again. They have refused.

The drones have been described as “multiple and unidentified.”

A concern. Why did Trump and the government wait some 10 days to tell the American public? Was it the government who released the information or some other source? Our people have a right to know. Good, bad or indifferent.

Did Trump fear the existence of the drones over American soil would make him look bad?

The drone information somehow became public for the first time this morning. Trump better advise the American people of the facts as he knows them by the end of this morning. Again, the American people have a right to know.

Another concern. If not Iran or an Iranian friend, who shot the drones over Fort McNair and Washington, D.C. Who? Trump? Trump to garner the American public to his side? The American people have a definite right to know if this is the case.

Trump’s alleged sex with young girls seems to be breaking. Some more yesterday. A bit. Not much, but more. The Epstein papers must be released!

Congressional Republicans seem to be weakening re the release of the Epstein documents. Rumor perhaps 100.

Trump’s affordability approval has crashed to 26 percent. Good job, Donald! 

The Pentagon is seeking more than $200 billion for the Iran War. Doubtful Congress will approve that amount.

Trump floating “finishing off” Iran. I doubt Trump’s capacity to do so. He killed some of Iran’s top people. He bombed the hell out of the Iranian people. Yet the Iranians continue to hang in there. Another Ukraine!

Iran will continue in the war till they have “retribution.” It is part of their nature. Some top U.S. people must die first. Perhaps the U.S. must also experience significant property damage also.

The Iran War has caused oil prices to spike, leading gasoline prices to their highest level since 2023. No ceiling on gasoline prices till the Iran War is resolved.

Didn’t Trump and his administration take into account how the war would affect oil and gas prices? Obviously not, or if they knew they did not care. Trump expected a quick victory. Another mistake on his part.

Trump now wants his face on a U.S. gold coin. An American gold coin group has rejected it. Trump will pursue it further.

My Greek friend Theo telephoned me from Greece. He and his lady friend Tina will be visiting Key West for one week beginning April 7. Good people!

Spring officially begins tomorrow at 10:46 a.m. ET.

Texas Western, now known as UTEP, was the first basketball team to win the NCAA Championship with an all Black starting lineup. The year was 1966. My Dad and I watched the Championship game together on TV from his living room.

Packages processed and delivered everyday by USPS total on the average 23.5 million.

Combat in the air common place today. Planes attacking each other. The first U.S. air combat mission occurred this day in 1916.

Key West weather will remain on the cool side today. Temperature 69-73. For me, warm begins at 74. Everyone has a different level.

A study reveals love makes an injury heal twice as fast.

I have a haircut with Lori at noon. Later lunch with Steve and a house guest visiting him. Lunch should be fun.

Enjoy your day!

Two of my favorite water spots include the lower Keys and Cape Cod. Both frequented by sharks. 

A surprise. The shark population overall everywhere has plummeted by 71 percent over the last 50 years. Reason: Overfishing based on a demand for fins and meat. 

I was not aware. Were you?

Nevertheless, practice caution when you swim. One shark bite could do you in.

Today’s blog a mix and match. A little bit of everything.

Interesting Washington Post article this morning. Subject matter: Middle of the night insomnia has become common. Waking around 3 a.m. Not able to return to sleep. I know. Happens to me about three times a week.

Trump did good in attacking Iran. Not for the U.S. Good for other countries. The primary benefactor may be China, with Russia a distant second. The U.S. could win in name only. Trump personally will come out a loser.

Epstein documents must be released. Trump doing everything to keep them under control and secret. Makes him look suspicious. More than suspicious. The truth will come out at some point.

My sense is Trump is renewing and/or exposing his true relationship with Putin. The Iran War is doing it. Some say the relationship goes back in time to Trump, Putin and Epstein.

It is coming out that Putin and Russia are big into pedophilia and sex slavery. Goes back years ago to Epstein. Epstein was more powerful than most were aware. He was into arms sales and major money transfers. And, promoting young ladies.

Trump says he can “take” Cuba. Adds “I can do anything I want with it.”

A false bravado. No big deal. Cuba is experiencing poverty on a large scale. Electrical power gone. Anyone could walk in and take the island over.

Cold last night in Key West! Had to sleep under a heavy blanket. The high today only 71 degrees.

A bad disease infected a man in Key West. He died this day in 1909 of leprosy in a house on Virginia Street. The house and all contents were destroyed by fire under the direction of Fire Chief Fulferd.

Grover Cleveland: “Men and times change – but principles – never.”

Actress and first Black Miss America Vanessa Williams was born this day in 1963.

The first person to walk in space was Cosmonaut Alexi Leonov. He did so this day in 1963.

Trump says he wants to replace the Trump Kennedy Center floor with a marble one. Italy recently recreated the footprints of the long columns at Rome’s Colosseum in marble. Is Trump playing copy cat?

The marble used by Rome the same travertine marble of ancient Rome. The original marble columns were built 2,000 years ago.

A woman activist and supporter of women’s rights, Susan B. Anthony, died this day in 1906. One of the phrases for which she is remembered: “Organize, agitate, educate, must be our war cry.”

The length of my blogs is interesting. Yesterday around 1,000 words. Today 500. Length of the blog depends on quality and length of the news. Long blog, great and lengthy news. Short, a blah news day. Or maybe it is me and how I feel? This morning I feel terrific. Blog should be long. The news sucked today. So it is the news and not me. 

Enjoy your day.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

I find the day uniquely interesting. Everyone is Irish, regardless of color or ethnic background. Too bad the whole world cannot behave that way every day.

Ever hear of an “Irish goodbye?” Leaving a party or social event without saying goodbye. Considered impolite. Considered a thing Americans do on occasion. In Ireland, perfectly ok. England calls it the “French leave.” France, “Filer a l’anglaise.”

In modern slang, it’s “ghosting” or merely “ducking out.” 

Chicago turns its Chicago River green on St. Patrick’s Day. Bright green. The event began in 1962 under Chicago’s Mayor Richard Daley. 

I was in Chicago in the 1980s for several days on business. One of the days was St. Patrick’s Day when at 10 a.m. the water turned green. Bright green. Tons of dye were dumped into the River to cause the green effect. People lining the bridges and river banks. Everyone cheering. A crazy happy event!

The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held in what eventually became St. Augustine, Florida. At the time it was merely a Spanish settlement. The colony had an Irish Vicar, Ricardo Artur.

Moving on to Donald Trump. A must to write a bit of him, the Iran War, and whatever else.

Trump is disparaging U.S. Allies for rebuffing his requests for military assistance. Trump says now that he has been rejected: “We don’t need anybody.” At the same time claiming several countries had agreed to help reopen and keep reopened the Strait of Hormuz. I do not believe the representations made in the previous sentence.

Trump pissed on these countries with tariffs and whatever other indignities. Now he comes hat in hand expecting their help.

Europe and the U.K. pushed back with a loud “no.” Their position: “This not our war!”

Trump started the war. The U.S. was not attacked. A big difference. A war without reason. In many instances without consultation with the countries he now seeks help from. A war having no basis. Trump went to war with grossly inadequate preparation. Did not prepare the American public. Did not seek U.N. approval. Respectfully, he was thinking with his head up his ass.

Trump is leading the Iran War standing alone. His generals warned him. Recall General Cane’s trying to dissuade him. Trump now screwed as is the U.S. and most other countries. Good job, Donald!

In the last Presidential election, Trump sold young voters with his “vision.” One that sucked, but the young did not see it. Now many are having buyer’s remorse. 

The Iran War is roughly 3 weeks old. Things already going bad for the U.S. If the war continues three more weeks, things will be even worse for the U.S. Considerably so.

Trump continues to work at screwing up American structural institutions. He fails to understand history is what it is and should not be changed.

Trump working on the Kennedy Center again. Wants to close down the Center for two years to correct what he claims are structural and internal deficiencies.

He went to the Center’s Board for permission. He got it last night. Of course. The Board’s members all appointed by him.

A shame in the making! The man does not understand leaving well enough alone is the best route to take with many things.

Credit must be given for food items which dropped in price the past year. Only two stand out. Better than nothing. Trump appears responsible. Eggs the biggie. Down 42.1 percent. Butter a far second having come down 7.6 percent.

Moving on. There is another world not involving Trump.

The University of Florida has a chapter of College Republicans. A photo was taken of one of its leaders at a chapter meeting giving the Nazi salute. The University deactivated the club till a new leader could be elected. Joke or serious, the Nazi salute bespeaks of sick days which should not be recalled today whether seriously or jokingly. I thought the University was lenient in the way it treated the organization.

It was supposed to be a good day weather wise, though the high would be a mere 73 degrees. Rain was predicted at 18 percent. Poured like hell all night. Now 8 a.m. and still pouring.

Big time college basketball begins tonight. It will eventually lead to the Final Four. The NCAA College Basketball Tournament. Exciting!

I was into college basketball big time in the 1980s and 1990s.Follwed Syracuse all the way to its Championship victory in 2003. Even more than exciting! I cannot describe the thrill of being at the Final Four game and Syracuse winning! I was a basketball freak in those days.

Jim Boeheim was a great coach. Won around 1,000 games while coaching Syracuse. He became a personal friend over the years.

Boeheim took Syracuse to 35 NCAA tournament appearances, 20 Sweet 16s, 5 Final Fours, as well as the 2003 National Championship.

The U.S crawling with releasing significant information re the Epstein files. Congress seems to be covering a multitude of asses. Europe way ahead of us with disclosures. No question, it appears the U.S. is hiding something. 

A U.S. court and a handful of the women abused as young girls have proven otherwise. The ladies sued Bank of America for facilitating Epstein’s activities. Bank of America settled with them. The specific amount not yet disclosed.

Doctors did not always wear white. Till the late 1800s, they wore black.

The life expectancy for males is 76.5 years. I’m 90. Already way beyond the average. God is good! Hope He continues to bear with me. My mind is great. My body falling apart, however. One can’t have everything!

It is thought most wives do not like their husbands. A reason given is because so many women wanted to be a bride and never gave thought to being a wife. I don’t know. Husband/wife relationships are beyond me.

Enough for today. 

Enjoy your day! Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day! Indulge in a green beer or two!

Are Americans being denied information re damage to two American carriers? The USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald Ford.

It was announced a couple of nights ago that the Lincoln which had been protecting oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz had been struck by Iranian missiles and drones. Photos were splashed over the internet. The first time an American carrier had received enemy fire in more than 50 years. Despite the photos, Trump denied any damage to the Lincoln. His typical fashion, of course.

The next day a comment that the Ford had received damage. Terminology uncertain. Appeared first to have occurred somewhere in or near the Strait of Hormuz. The next day represented as merely a relatively small fire while the Ford was in the Mediterranean. 

Since that time, no further mention of the two carriers. Note a few days before the Lincoln had been struck, Trump’s people announced news releases re the Iran war would be scrutinized before being released. The press was claimed to have been “distorting” news releases.

It was mentioned the USS Harry Truman was needed in Iranian waters. However it was not available since undergoing repairs in the U.S.

Carriers are important. Especially since we have them and Iran not. However, Iran achieved some success with the Lincoln. Totally unexpected success.

Why no more news? I went through tons of newspapers looking for further comment. Found nothing. I am uncomfortable if Trump or his people are intentionally withholding information re the Lincoln and Ford. You should be also if such is the case.

Trump claims Iran is about to surrender. Good luck! No peace talks while Iran can bomb the Lincoln and until Iran gets even for the Ayatollah’s death.

The Dow Jones went over $100 a gallon for oil again. Caused the stock market to drop. The Dow Jones largest single day point drop was this day in 2020. It dropped 2,997 points.

Oil hit $106 a barrel as nations worry about supply. I doubt Trump and his “brilliant staff” considered after affects of the War’s initiation. 

Bangladesh is 2,000 miles away. It is having an energy problem. Electricity big. Schools closed till the end of the month. Its garment industry in trouble. Garment work a major industry that ships world wide.  And so it goes.

Trump wants help protecting the Strait of Hormuz. Otherwise, many of the world’s nations will not have enough energy to continue with their productions.

Yes, everyone’s problem. However, Trump created it and he should resolve it. He expects Britain, France, South Korea and China to help. Warships from them to the Strait of Hormuz to begin if they decide to do so.

Is Trump crazy? Sure everyone has a need. But again it is Trump’s problem to resolve. What I fear would occur if these nations were to help as Trump suggests would eventually be World War III.

Barron does not have an Achilles heel problem as his father does. Age wise he is eligible for the military. Should he join and do his part?

Turns out he does have a physical problem. He is too tall at 6 feet 9 inches. The military’s height limit is 6 foot 8 inches.

There is no draft. Could he nevertheless volunteer for certain jobs?

Trump fund raising off Iranian dead. An e-mail under Never Surrender with an official photo of his. The baseball cap one at Dover Air Force Base. Any contributions will receive “classified information” from him. 

Trump is crazy! Never lets the opportunity to make a buck pass him by. Shameful!

Trump wants to change everything of historical significance. I think he is too  much! Now it is the columns of the White House’s front entrance. They are roughly 200 years old. He wishes to replace them with more ornate Corinthian styled ones.

Mr. President, leave my White House alone! You have already screwed up enough of it.

So much of Trump for today.

Moving on. 

One third of Americans skip meals or other needs to afford health care. Another thank you, Donald.

A Swiftly Survey in December showed 68 percent of Americans struggling to afford groceries. I believe it! I shop too!

Another warm Key West day. Low 80s.

The Ides of March. Julius Caesar assassinated by Brutus and others this day in 44 BCE.

McDonald’s sales down because of customer “uncertainty.” The lower class purchasers feeling the economic impact imposed by Trump’s actions. The lowest economic drop in McDonald’s history since 2020.

Earth’s days are getting longer at a rate unprecedented in 3.6 million years. The reason multi-faceted. Experts say nothing to worry about.

Interesting question. Why are waiting rooms filled with old magazines? Where are the new ones? Researchers say the answer is simple. Patients, customers, etc. walk off with the new ones.

Boston is frequently listed as the happiest city in the U.S. Boston also tops the list of the best city to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

Enough.

Enjoy your day!