Iran gets more and more complicated. Blame Trump and Netanyahu.

Trump was in a hurry to avoid his horrendous claims as to what he was going to do to Iran, including nuclear destruction. He was thrilled to get a ceasefire. Obviously the document was not properly scrutinized. Israel and bombing Lebanon remains a problem not addressed. Confusion exists.

Israel says Lebanon not part of the ceasefire. Pakistan says it was. 

Iran was to open the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, it has mined the Strait.

The ceasefire shaky. Very much so. Will it hold? Would surprise me if it did.

Trump is reluctant for the war to continue. He is keeping the U.S. on the ready, but reluctantly so. He merely wants to declare victory and get out.

What next? Who knows!

In the meantime, I expect gasoline prices in Key West to hit $5 a gallon by the weekend.

Trump is back on an old kick. He is blaming NATO for the Iranian problems. Amazing how the U.S., until recently the most loved Allied nation in the world, is now the most disliked by its former friends. Trump has done a magnificent job! He must be removed from the Presidency before he does worse, if worse is possible.

Military registration a problem? I don’t know. May be.

All males and male immigrants 18-25 are required to register within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Registration has dwindled in recent years. A process is in the works “for automatic registration” which will begin in December. The government says the purpose is to strengthen the system. More plainly said, I suspect it is to increase the pool of men eligible for the draft. Warmonger Trump so inclined. He apparently wants to assure the U.S. is capable to wage war where ever and when ever.

Trump has become “military war crazy.”

In addition to China, Russia is sharing some of its U.S. military knowledge with Iran. Great friend Putin is of Trump! Who needs a friend like Putin!

Trump has announced a 50 percent tariff on any nation supplying weapons to Iran.

Barron Trump has started a drink company. He is one of five partners. The company is called Solos Yerba Mate Inc. Mom Melania is one of the five partners. The drink a coffee one. The company recently announced its first flavor. Pineapple-coconut. The brew is expected to be available in May.

On this day in 1865, Robert E. Lee surrendered his 28,000 troops at the Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia ending the Civil War.

A day and time of sorrow for U.S. and Filipino troops. On this day in 1942, 78,000 troops on Bataan surrendered to the Japanese. Twelve thousand Americans and sixty six thousand Filipinos.

Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs reached #1 in the U.S. as “best.” Exceeding even Harvard who was ranked #3. Syracuse tied with Indiana University for the #1 spot.

The Maxwell School was near the law school at Syracuse when I attended. We were permitted to take one or two courses at Maxwell which would count towards our law degree. Maxwell had an outstanding reputation even back in the late 1950s when I attended law school. I took two courses. I have no recollection what they were.

Fran and her two sisters are all over the place in Sicily. I can see them pointed out as “those American ladies.”

A well organized trip. Today they are in Trapani from which they will also visit Selinuinte and Arici. I have never heard of any of these cities. Probably because I never visited Sicily. Fran has opened the door for me.

The ladies have six days left in their trip. Then home. Fran not for long. She and husband Tom will be returning in 3-4 weeks to Key West.

Yesterday a visit with Dr. Norris. Merely a check-up. 

Enjoy your day!

Trump blinked. Fortunately. The annihilation he was claiming was inconceivable. Even to the extent of nuclear destruction.

Iranians not stupid. They had thousands of citizens on the bridges. Children included. Waving huge Iranian flags over them. I doubt even Trump would have bombed the bridges with them upon it.

Trump’s bravado and off the wall threats turned most of the world against him. Except Israel, of course. Netanyahu conned Trump into the war and is happy the U.S. is in it. Netanyahu’s war desires exceed even Trump’s. 

China and Russia had to be thrilled that Trump has worked his way into a corner with the 8 p.m./midnight end of the world existence for Iran.

I said in yesterday’s blog I expected Trump would back off. He always does. He did. Fortunately! The ceasefire a strategic victory for Iran. Trump makes it sound as if the U.S. won. No way. Before the war, Iran had no formal claim to the Strait of Hormuz. The ceasefire agreement gives Iran a sense formal control over the Strait to Iran.

I would be surprised if the ceasefire holds. Crazies in a sense on both sides. 

Trump’s threat to kill off 90 million people and 6,000 years of existence made no sense.

Iran still has to get even. The conflict will continue one way or another till it does so. Iran will ultimately get the revenge it seeks. Trump wanted the war for two reasons. One to accommodate Netanyahu who bullshitted him. The other to remove U.S. attention from the Epstein files. No matter what Trump does, the files will be properly revealed in due course and I suspect to Trump’s detriment.

Trump is an evil psychopath. 

Christina Canterucci: “Trump is not only the most dangerous American President of the nuclear era. He is something terrifyingly new.”

The Iran War not the only dangerous thing Trump has gotten us into or is getting us into. Voting within the U.S. another. One where he is trying to bring control of voting under the veil of Washington. The Constitution says voting within States’ rights.

Trump wants to control voting. He continues to work on various phases to hopefully achieve that which he seeks.

The Department of Homeland Security is overpaying for warehouses. Intending to use them as jails to accommodate ICE and other special federal agent prison needs. As Rachel Maddow said: “Smells like corruption.”

Golf icon Butch Harmon says Trump will never be a member of Augusta National Golf Club. It has to do with Trump’s personality. Larger than life does not fly at Augusta. Trump does not align with the dignity and discretion expected. Harmon said: “He’s full of himself. His personality doesn’t fit the profile of an Augusta member.”

Trump’s personality continues to slide downward. Now at minus 17 points. The lowest of any President.

Key West temperature today will hit a high of 82 degrees.

I had a wonderful time yesterday at The Grand’s Happy Hour. My friends Theos and Dina arrived from Greece. They joined me. Nothing like Greek friends! Special people. I know from my many times in Greece and visiting friends like Theos and Dina.

I will see more of them during their week long visit here.

Today a big time visit with Dr. Norris. My concierge. He will straighten out one or two things for me.

I am feeling better. Not where I should be yet though.

Enjoy your day!

Religion the best of the best. Better to have God on your side than opposed. Most religious persons exercise their religious beliefs internally and quietly. Personal to themselves. Those who flaunt it another story.

Take Hegseth, for example. In recent weeks an open religious fanatic. Hard to believe. His boss Donald Trump likewise. As many others in the White House.

My sense over the years has been that those who suddenly go to God big time and publicly are frauds. They are in a pinch and need public help to support an erroneous deed. Iran in this instance.

Hegseth likens the Easter rescue of the U.S. airman to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Sick!

Hegseth and Trump are turning Iran into a “crusade” rather than a war.

Trump and his aids now bring God into the war on a major sale.  Trump said, “God supports the U.S. cause in Iran.” They invoke God’s support openly and publicly. Why not? When you have little or nothing going for you and seem to be losing when you should be winning, God is a safe choice to go to. Privately, fine. Publicly as Trump and Hegseth are doing, no!

Makes my stomach turn.

Epstein’s brother indicated recently that Trump had involvement in his brother’s murder. Hard to believe, if true.

The White House proposed new ballroom is causing Trump all kinds of problems. Now revealed that a hospital/medical facility will be part of it beneath the ballroom. Why when a President is minutes from the world’s finest medical facilities? Is it because Trump wants no one to know when he is sick? Sick the man is, in more ways than one. 

We would not know of the hospital portion were it not for the recent federal court decision.

Trump could not speak properly to the kids at the annual Easter Day Egg Roll on White House grounds. Donald stood with a huge Easter bunny by his side. He spoke to the children about the Iran War.

Makes no sense.

ICE keeps busy. Disgustingly so. ICE arrests in the D.C. region have reached nearly 20,000 in the first part of Trump’s second term.

Tonight at 8 p.m. a key time in the Iran war. If no sort of negotiation or compromise, Trump will rain “hell” on Iran. I do not believe it will happen. Trump always finds a way to avoid major sensitive conflicts, except for the initiation of the War itself.

A U.S. official described Trump as “most bloodthirsty, like a mad dog.” Another claimed him “unhinged.”

Trump referred to former President Joe Biden as “mentally retarded” two times yesterday. The label better fits Trump himself. 

Enough of the Donald. We move on to other things.

The Artemis II crew has flown farther from Earth than any humans before.

Final Four. NCAA Champion. Michigan. Michigan defeated Connecticut last night 69-63. Connecticut did not have it the whole game. Congrats to Michigan.

Key West gasoline averaging $4.80 a gallon. I was with Corey last night when he had to gas up. Cost him $64. I expect Key West will be over $5 a gallon by the weekend.

Disgraceful!

Another 80 degree day ahead for Key West.

Key West officials have designated the month of April as “Conch Republic Month.”

On this day in 1935, Joseph “Sloppy Joe” Russell purchased the building on the corner of Duval and Greene Streets. He moved his Sloppy Joe’s Bar into it. Still in business today. Big time! Packed day and night.

South Pacific opened on Broadway this day in 1949. Popular. Ran almost 5 years. One of Oscar and Hammerstein’s best musicals.

Thomas Edison held 1,093 patents.

The price of the first Ford Model T was $850.

A recent study about the effects of pornography on the human brain. Not healthy!

Makes the viewer feel good. However the study’s conclusion stated pornography watching resembled opioid addiction and enhanced noticeable decline in cognitive function.

Wow!

My Greek friends Theos and Dina have arrived! We will be doing The Grand’s Happy Hour together later today.

Enjoy your day!

How much worse can Trump get? A valid question. To some he is losing it. To others he has already lost it.

His comments Easter Sunday morning a disgrace. They were as the wrath of God. However, he is not God. He vowed to invoke a wrath in God like fashion upon Iran if the Strait of Hormuz was not opened: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day and Bridge Day, all wrapped in one.” He claimed he would unleash “hell.” His comments strewn with strong swearing.

An interesting time for such comments. Easter Sunday morning while at the same time Pope Leo was preaching peace.

Trump was overnight in Walter Reed Hospital.

Many believe he has dementia. Profoundly so. Some arguing for Amendment 25 to be invoked. Many in U.S. and Congress describing Trump as a “deranged lunatic” and “unhinged madman.” 

Iranians are taking the position the recovery of the U.S. airman was not an easy task for the U.S. Two U.S. planes were shot down during the process. The Iranians believe they did well in opposing U.S. forces. 

The tenor of the U.S. and Iran much different. Iran’s position is Trump lied about the recovery and its ease for the U.S. One thing seems to be developing out of the war. Iran is not going to give up…..even easily. They have deep pride running back 6,000 years. Win, lose, or draw…..Iran is going to come out of this war a major respected power.

One thing I fail to understand are the threats going back and forth between the U.S. and Iran. Even to the extent of what damage will be caused by one against the other next.

A new way to fight a war from my perspective.

Dementia experts claim a complicated career is linked to a lower risk of dementia in later years. Roles like managers, lawyers and doctors are considered to be high complexity jobs. Trump’s career may have been varied, but not complex as described. No wonder he is now claimed to have dementia.

Religion a recent thing with Trump and Hegseth. Trump has had a portrait of Jesus hung in the Oval Office. All of a sudden, it is being advised Trump went to Church 2-3 times a week in his early formative years. “Convenient” we are told today and not in any of his previous years. The point being made is Trump grew up with God, assuming the representation is correct and not a lie.

I don’t buy it.

China is benefiting big time from the Iranian War. Sales of Chinese electric vehicles and solar panels have surged since the start of the war.

Trump’s attacks on CNN have resulted in uncertainty as to whether CNN will survive.

The relationship between Trump and Musk is being strained. Trump needs money and Musk is not paying him certain monies he owes him. Musk still owes Trump $100 million of a $300 million 2024 pledge.

Hegseth is getting pressure from officers and soldiers in Iran. He also is in fear of getting fired by Trump.

Artemis II makes its first lunar flyby today. Exciting!

Money seems to be wasted on the strangest scientific studies. How about one re farting? The issue studied was whether women or men farted more, etc. Smell and intensity the issues. It was determined women smelled worse and their farts were more intense. Has something to do with hydrogen sulfide in their bodies. Men more gas at one time, a larger volume.

I made a mistake re Fran’s travels. Solely Sicily. She will not be going into Italy.

Today Fran is in Arigento and the Valley of the Temples. Her latest favorite food is prickly pears. She also has had the opportunity to view the official book containing her grandfather’s birth and marriage records.

Pam Bondi will probably face disciplinary proceedings before the Florida Bar Association. She could be disbarred. Her track record on behalf of Trump contained many questionable activities.

Key West weather will hit 80 degrees this afternoon. A bit cloudy at the same time.

Enjoy your day!

Happy Easter!

A most religious Christian holiday. Yet bounding with fun. Easter egg hunt, Easter baskets, huge family dinners, great food, etc.

The key to the holiday found in Matthew 28:6: “He is not here, He has risen.” Christ rose from the dead!

A major Catholic holiday. Not only Easter Sunday, but the entire week preceding. Good Friday, the day Christ was crucified one of them. Many employers close down at 3 in the afternoon or all afternoon to permit persons to spend three hours in Church experiencing the Crucifixion religiously.

Not Hegseth. The Pentagon has a Friday afternoon religious service to commemorate Christ’s crucifixion. The newly religious Hegseth sent out a memo advising everyone welcome, except Catholics. He spelled out clearly no Catholics. Twenty five percent of Pentagon staff are Catholics.

Apparently Hegseth does not like Catholics.

Trump furious.

A whistleblower advised Hegseth has been drinking on the job. Recall he promised during his Congressional review prior to actually becoming Secretary that he would no longer drink.

Perhaps Trump should fire Hegseth during his current “firing mood.”

Seems more and more whackos are developing in the U.S. Would you believe there are women in the U.S. who believe women should give up the right to vote. Leave voting strictly to the men. The husband. One vote per household. The theory for such absurdity is based on “biblical patriarchy” where the husband is everything and the wife nothing. The ladies supporting and living the concept believe we would be better off if women did not vote.

Crazy!

The missing F-15 airman shot down in Iran has been recovered by U.S. forces. He has some injuries, but will be fine. Trump said it took “dozens of aircraft” to effect the recovery. Further details unavailable at the moment.

Fran and her two sisters still in Sicily. Nissoria today. I suspect Sicily will never be the same because of their visit. In a day or two, they should be in Italy proper.

My Greek friends Theos and Dina arrive Tuesday for a visit. Greeks are wonderful people. I look forward to seeing them again. 

I came across an article on what is to be seen by looking into a volcano. I did once. About 15 years ago. A Greek isle with a volcano. I took a boat trip to the island. Once there, I regretted it. The walk up the hill a killer. Thought I was going to die.

Made it to the top and front of the group, however. Looked in. Awesome. Impossible to describe. Scary. For some reason, I found walking down the hill more difficult than going up. The steepness was difficult for me to handle.

As part of the volcano package, there was the opportunity to swim in a pond at the base of the volcano. Water warmed by the volcano. I took a dip  like every one else. I was bare ass as most others.

One thing that concerned me was that I was the only one who seemed to have a difficult time walking up and down the volcano. I realized why when frolicking with every one else in the pond. I was 75 years old. Everyone else was a kid. Twentys to mid thirtys. 

Oh well, I made it in any event! I did not die. That is how the trip affected me. I laid flat on the boat for the return trip. I needed to.

Artemis II at the moment is closer to the moon than earth. I continue to wish the crew well. In my lifetime, I have seen two of the  ships blow up and the crews killed.

Trump is considering executing an Executive Order giving him control over the scheduling of college sports. God help us!

China having a field day teaching Iranians how to overcome our military equipment.

I repeat from yesterday’s blog. Trump “not taking” Cuba. He is “starving” it into submission. The Christian way of doing things.

My head finally stopped being painful from the cancer removal. I observed the wound when I changed the bandage. The thing is stitched.

Enjoy your day! The holiday also if it is yours!

My dear friend Fran Dixon is literally eating her way through Sicily. She and her two sisters. They have returned to their ancestral homeland. Food apparently a big time interest. Fran an exceptional cook. She would know good food when she sees and then tastes it.

Gelato big in Sicily. She has consumed orange, lemon and almond. Pistachio figs, ricotta cannoli, pizza with Buffalo mozzarella and olives (Fran a pizza freak), and pasta Norma with egg plant. Plus, I don’t know what else.

The ladies are moving fast. Soon will be into Italy itself. 

Continue enjoying the trip ladies!

From Sicily to O.K. Corral.

The gunfight at O.K. Corral did not take place at O.K. Corral. We live and learn!

It actually took place down the block behind a photography studio on Kennedy Street near Third Street.

Thirty shots were fired during the fight. The gunfight lasted all of 30 seconds. Shooters on both sides.

Since then, more than 40 movies have featured the fight. However each labeled the site where it occurred O.K. Corral. Perhaps a more sexy name for a big time gun fight than behind a photograph studio.

Gerry McNamara has been named Syracuse University’s new head coach. Hip, hip, hooray! I am thrilled!

He is “orange” through and through. Played on the NCAA Championship that Syracuse won. I was at the Final Four games when it happened. My recollection was they were played in New Orleans. He was the starting guard. Played terrific! They all did!

His recent coaching experience was at Siena. He brought them to the year end NCAA tournament, though they lost in the first round. It was a first for Siena however that they made it to the tournament.

Everyone expects big things again from McNamara. He learned under Jim Boeheim who coached him. I do not expect big things the first year. He has to build, etc. But I am confident it will happen sooner than later.

Staying with Syracuse, the Central Administration announced it was dropping 84 majors. All were involved in the classics, ceramics and Italian. Courses will continue in the subjects, however. Just no more major studies per se.

Why did a senior U.S. Senator, a war hawk at heart, bachelor and 70 years old, spend last weekend at Disney’s? He said because he liked Disney’s. He made the trip alone.

The Senator tough guy Lindsay Graham.

I enjoyed Disney’s several times. The last time 40 years ago. Then my grandchildren got too old and busy for Disney for a number of years. Not a trip I would have made alone.

Key West weather has been consistently good. Around 75 degrees each day.

However Key West gasoline prices not good. Increasingly bad. I thought we were knocking on the door of $4 a gallon. I may be wrong. Some say they have seen it as high as $4.40. Whatever, all the stations will be $4 plus next week. Soon thereafter, $5 a gallon. Inevitable.

The Lower Keys Medical Center issued its report for 2025. Overall, a good one.

Too many details to itemize each. Let me evaluate the hospital from my perspective. I have been an in bed and merely a test patient for 25 years. In my initial experiences, the hospital sucked. No more. Top shelf, first class. If your problem is one too sophisticated for them to handle, they ship you off to a bigger Miami hospital immediately.

I am pleased with the doctoring and nursing received. Even the lay staff.

One complaint which happened this year. I had a stroke. Required several cat scans of my head to determine if any bleeding. I had to take the third one about one week post stroke. I was an out patient. Dr. Norris was concerned and did not want me to wait. “STAT” I believe is the term used to make sure a patient was attended to immediately. I was a stat. Took me 3 hours before I was attended. Even after Norris or his staff called after 2 hours when I called and complained to Norris’ staff. Still took me another hour to get the cat scan.

Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated this day in 1968 while standing on a balcony outside a Memphis motel where he was staying.

On this day in 1960, Ben Hur won 11 Academy Awards.

Now to Trump. Very little. I am sick of writing about him. He is a major screw-up. I will be simple and brief today.

He is in deep shit trouble with the courts. Defies decisions, merely refuses to comply with them. If he did not have Executive Orders to sign at his desk, he would have little to do.

Two things specially bothering me today.

Two U.S. planes have been shot down in the Iran War the past few days. What happened to “air invulnerability” that both Trump and Hegseth have been proclaiming?

It was reported yesterday that China has begun helping Iran to handle certain U.S. jets. One was the first one shot down.

My other concern is Cuba. The people are reportedly starving. Trump always talks kindly about them, how he may take them over to help them, etc. Seems to me he is trying to starve them into submission.

Enough of Trump. Enough of everything for today.

Enjoy your day!

Pope Leo yesterday: God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war.”

Who better to listen to? Leo or Trump? Leo or Hegseth?

Trump and those of his adminstration who invoke God do so out of desperation. The war and most other things going badly for Trump. I agree the time to talk with the Lord, if not before, may be when things are going badly. However I cannot believe Trump and his cohorts have found Him. They are merely desperate to cover their asses, make people believe their decisions are correct.

Trump a loser. Many of his appointees the same. Immoral, also. Why has Trump not released the Epstein papers? The answer obvious to most Americans. He has a Cabinet person having an affair with an administration person. Her husband it now comes out may be a crossdresser. A President who claims he is a very rich person who cannot meet $400 millions plus in order to appeal a New York judgment. Obvious he does not have the money. A President who has no respect for the law and the Constitution.

I watched him on TV the other night. Expected “words of wisdom,” though I knew I would not agree with most or all. Hs address a short 20 minutes. He said nothing revealing. Respectfully, he looked like shit. Things appear to be getting to him.

He claims the war could be over in 2 or 3 weeks, then goes out and bombs a significant Iranian site. At the same time the Iranians say no negotiations are ongoing. A claim that has been basically consistent on their part.

Why more boots on the ground? He is sending even more.

U.S. prices out of whack and getting even worse. Gasoline going ever upward. Key West will be over $5 a gallon by next week. Hong Kong paying $15 a gallon. However they were doing so even before Trump’s ill fated war.

Groceries creep up daily. People don’t realize how bad things are in this regard till they reach the checkout counter. The bill higher each week. Way higher than 6 months ago.

Farmers will be bitching big time soon. The Iran oil problem is affecting the fertilizer they need to grow crops.

Trump now advising it is “not possible”  for the federal government to fund Medicare, Medicaid and child health care as they have. His reasoning: “We’re fighting wars.” Forget plural wars. The war doing Trump in is the Iran War. The ill advised and unwarranted one he brought. The one economic factor killing the American people today.

Lest I forget, Hegseth fired the Army Chief of Staff yesterday. Probably looking for someone to blame if the war is as I suspect “lost.” Even though Trump will yell in effect we won having achieved all our goals.

My beloved Fran Dixon in Sicily today. Her ancestral home country. She is visiting relatives, graves of family deceased, etc. Spoke with her by phone yesterday. She is having a wonderful time!

She left Buffalo a few days ago. Flew directly to Rome. Then to Siragusa followed by Catani. Today the ladies are in Ortigia. Tomorrow they will be in Leonforte. At some point Italy proper. A two or 3 week trip.

Fran returns home April 15. Within days, she and husband Tom leave for Key West. He has business to attend to here. Fran should be physically exhausted by all the traveling by that time.

I can’t wait to see her again. She and Tom two of the loveliest people I have met in my many years in Key West.

I have spoken frequently with Jean Thornton the past few days. She and Joe returned from Hawaii last week. Jean fell on the plane and broke her ankle.

Nevertheless, she and Joe leave for a 2 or 3 week trip this week. Some Viking cruises. Then stops in Milan and Switzerland. She has made reservations to see da Vinci’s The Last supper that I wrote about yesterday. She is also going to La Scala.

During Hurricane Irma, Jean and Joe put me up for 12 days in their Birmingham home. There were several of us escapees from Irma staying with them.

What a time we had! I can’t wait for another Irma!

Interestingly, Dr. Blass who has been taking care of my cancerous ankle for 3 months was in Milan and Switzerland less than a month ago with his family for 2 weeks. 

Milan and Switzerland the places to be. Blessed by the sky high Alps all around.

Speaking of Dr. Blass, he did a bit of surgery on my head yesterday. A possible cancer. Somewhat like the one on my ankle. I wanted to get it ahead of time. I waited 3 years before getting attention for the ankle. The head like 3 months.

The surgery done in the office. Bloody. Painful. Head still hurts today. Better safe than sorry, however.

My head is pounding. Time to stop.

Enjoy your day!

Holy Week is upon us. Today is Holy Thursday. The special religious event The Last Supper. Jesus and the Apostles dining.

One of the world’s most spectacular art works is Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper. It took him several years to paint. From 1494-1498.

The painting is located in the cellar of a convent in Milan, Italy.

Some 12 to 15 years ago, I was a frequent visitor to Milan. My friend Anna lived in Novara, some 30 miles distant from Milan. Milan was easily accessible by car or train. Each taking about 30 minutes to transverse. Anna also owned a log cabin even closer to Milan. Cut the trip to Milan to 15 minutes.

We visited Milan often.

Anna knew I was hooked on Italian art. Pure magnificence. Paintings everywhere. From  the smallest Church to the largest galleries.

On one of our trips to Milan, Anna told me she had a treat for me. A surprise. da Vinci’s The Last Supper.

I was excited, of course. Not as excited as I would become once I saw it. She kept its “secret” to herself.

The painting is located to today in the original place where it was painted. On the wall of the breakfast dining room of the former Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Two stories down in a cellar. Referred to as a refectory.

The Convent adjoins a Church of the same name.

To reach the painting, one takes an outdoor elevator down two floors. The elevator large glass floor to ceiling on three sides. The trip down beautiful as the elevator moves through spectacular greenery. 

What my eyes viewed when we reached the site of The Last Supper literally blew my mind! Anna had left me to experience surprise and shock.

da Vinci’s The last Supper is not a 4 x 6 work of art hanging on a wall. da Vinci had painted it on a convent wall. On the “cement” itself. Its size mind boggling: 15 feet 1 inch tall, 28 feet 10 inches wide.

I was speechless. Overcome with emotion. I had to sit as I began softly crying.

Age, environmental factors and war have required numerous restorations over the years. The last in 1999.

An artist I am not. However, I understand da Vinci did the painting with tempos and oil on a gypsum preparation.

There is a woman to the right of Jesus in the painting. Perhaps holding a baby, hard to tell. Also unknown is who the woman is. Mary or Mary Magdalene? Unknown. Experts have not been able to determine.

Two problems over the years. One was Napoleon using the Convent wall for shooting practice. The other a World War II bombing which left the Convent roof open for several years.

The painting can be found some three blocks from the world famous Piazza del Duomo. Easy to find. Reservations required beforehand, however.

I have not seen Anna for many years. She may have passed on by now. However I am eternally grateful for her having exposed me to da Vinci’s The Last Supper.

If you are ever in Milan or near to Milan, I strongly suggest you see The Last Supper. An experience you will not forget.

Enjoy your day!

A judge has halted construction of the White House ballroom. His decision was that Congress must decide. Something I predicted when Trump decided to expand the ballroom.

Trump does not give up, however. I listened to him on the internet last night. He was jolly. He took the judge’s decision apart saying it spelled out he could proceed. Always the winner, never the loser. He is a definite loser in this case as time will spell out.

Trump has announced he will address the Nation this evening re the Iran War. Will he declare victory and get us out of the mess he created?

The U.S. gets more upset each day with Trump’s Iran antics. It is affecting Americans in every which way. Gasoline the most obvious. Los Angeles is at $6 a gallon. The war poor planning by Trump and his cohorts.

The U.S.’ European allies continue to refuse to get involved in the war…..in any fashion. Italy just refused the U.S. use of one of its air bases.

Trump is finding out Iran is no Venezuela.

Trump signed an order giving the federal government control of mail voting. His primary reason is fraud big time. Something which has been studied with each study showing mail voting fraud does not exist.

Trump fails to read or follow the Constitution. Voting clearly is under the control of States. He will definitely lose any court case re the issue. Arizona and Oregon have already advised they will test Trump’s order in court immediately.

Perverted sex seems to abound in the Trump Administration. The Epstein files big time.

Now comes former Homeland Security Chief Kristi Noem’s husband Bryon. It has been claimed he is a crossdresser. The Noem family are South Dakota farm people. Their neighbors do not believe Byron is a crossdresser.

Kristi has recently been exposed for having had a affair with Corey Lewandrowski.

Kristi claims her husband’s crossdressing “broadsided” her and her family.

Scott McConnell, a co-founder of The American Constitution, said “he felt ashamed and embarrassed ” for voting for President Donald Trump three times.

If the U.S. leaves the war without securing the Strait of Hormuz, it will result in a “big boon” for Iran.

Moving on to other things.

Only one country is named after a woman. St. Lucia aka St. Lucy of Syracuse.

A study reveals advanced graduate degrees have zero or negative return these days. Medicine, law and pharmacy exceptions. They still show a high return on investment.

John Adams: “Facts are stubborn things.”

One of the toughest battles the U.S. fought against Japan in World War II was the battle fought on Okinawa. The U.S. landed on Okinawa this day in 1945.

The first Major League Baseball strike began this day in 1972.

Final Four time in 1985. A major upset. Villanova defeated Georgetown and Patrick Ewing on April 1. Georgetown was ranked #1 in every respect. Season record 35-2. Villanova 19-10. Villanova played the perfect game. Made 22 of its 28 shots from the floor. The game score was 66-64.

On this day in 1970, President Nixon signed legislation officially banning cigarette ads on TV and radio.

Enough.

Enjoy your day!

No Kings’ Day Protest a success! A massive exhibit of political force against Trump. The war in Iran a galvanizing force. There was a second motivating force surprisingly. Immigration.

It is estimated 8 million persons participated in the protest in the U.S.

Youth were active and alive! Galvanized by the war, also. Young Americans who grew up with Middle East wars and wanted no more. Especially another endless one. 

Immigration an issue also. Trump’s crackdown on immigrants a rallying cry. Federal agents and ICE the basis of the protests against Trump’s immigration tactics.

The “invasion” of cities not the American way.

Protests were held near Mar-a-Lago. Within 15 minutes of Trump’s home club. Pro-Trumpers came out to face the anti-Trumpers.

Weather was not a factor. Protesters did their thing regardless of the weather. The freezing northeast did not keep them away.

It was not Trump’s day! Ordinary Americans spoke out!

Another Trump screw-up. The White House ballroom. A vanity project Trump is being forced to defend in many respects. How about a staircase leading to nowhere? Also Trump’s top secret military base underneath it. A court forced its disclosure.

Republicans are discovering God everywhere. A prominent pastor in Texas called for James Talarico to be crucified with Christ.

Trump continues to state he is exceptionally smart. He stated at a Cabinet meeting, he took the ten minute cognitive test three times and “aced” it each time.

Retail grocery great Albertson’s is 87 years old and having difficulties. It is laying off hundreds in Texas. Albertson’s has 2,200 stores.

Energy and fuel companies are feeling the pressure. Chevron is warning it may close down its California refineries. Chevron claims heavy regulations and taxes are driving up costs at the same time global supply stocks are diminishing because of the Middle East disruption of oil flows. It is feared California may feel real fuel shortages from gasoline to jet fuel.

Trump is setting the world on fire so to speak with the war. It is only going to get worse before it gets better.

Some things make no sense to me. Like Trump using Elon Musk to help him profligate, increase recklessness, and corrupt federal spending via the new Department of Government Efficiency. Trump and Musk are birds of a feather. Their relationship makes me uncomfortable.

Iran is making Trump look poorly with its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump has wanted to break with Europe. A stupid move. Unfortunately, he is accomplishing it.

Israel is guilty of brutality. It is waging the “Iran War” everywhere and needlessly.

Hegseth is becoming known as “Pentagon Pete.” His war talk is freaking out the troops.

If Trump uses “boots on the ground” to expand the war, it means the U.S. may lose the war. The boots will increase significantly and U.S. boats will be decimated simultaneously.

Trump claims he knows how to make money. One country may have outfoxed him. Iran. The war is turning into a financial bonanza for Iran. Iran is now earning double the amount in daily oil sales than it did before the war. 

Trump is demeaning our Nation. He has had a ten foot gold toilet erected near the Lincoln Memorial. The man is a sicko!

The cost of gasoline is averaging $4 a gallon throughout the U.S. In Pasadena, California it is over $5 a gallon. Key West has moved up to $4.60 at one of its stations.

Trump’s plans for his Presidential Library include two gold statues of himself.

The airport near West Palm Beach will be renamed “President Donald J. Trump International Airport” on July 1.

Moving on.

Nations differ in certain activities. What is commonplace in one country, doe not exist in another.

Certain portions of India an example.

Kerosene was the fuel of the poor. Used however by all for certain functions. It was the fuel of choice in “bride burnings.” Women were immolated by their husbands or in-laws for failing to bring a large enough diary, produce male heirs or simply talking back. 

The custom was generally followed till 2014 with kerosene used as the fuel. It still exists. However discouraged by the government. The result is fewer dead brides. 

On this day in 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot in the chest outside a Washington, D.C. hotel.

Some political/governmental leaders are blind. U.S. Secretary of State Seward pushed the purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7 million. The sale was ridiculed in Congress as “Seward’s Folly” and “Seward’s Iceberg.” Even President Johnson took a beating. The acquisition was noted as “Johnson’s polar bear garden.”

Some people just lack vision.

On this day in 1971, Starbucks opened its first store in Settle. Staffed by only one employee. 

Reminds me of the old time proverb: “Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.”

Thieves broke into the Magnani-Rocco Foundation outside Pomeroy, Italy and made off with Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse paintings in three minutes worth millions.

Enough.

Enjoy your day!