HARRY TRUMAN TIME

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Key West and Harry Truman have a special relationship. Truman made Key West his vacation spot. His place for rest and relaxation.

Yesterday was March 12. Two significant things occurred on that date involving the former beloved President.

By the way, the title of today’s blog is running through my head to the opening tune of the Howdy Doody Show…..It’s Howdy Doody time!

Truman made  eleven visits to Key West totaling 175 days. He arrived in Key West on March 12, 1964 for a 2 week vacation. Nineteen sixty four was well after Truman had left office. In between were eight years of Eisenhower and then three years of Kennedy. If I am correct, Johnson would have been President when Truman made the 1964 visit. If I am off by a year or so re one of the Presidents, I apologize.

The other March 12 was of historical significance. On March 12, 1947, the President introduced what became known as the Truman Doctrine. World War II was over. The Soviet Union was a menace. The free world was looking to the United States for help. The thrust of the Truman Doctrine that day was to give economic and military aid to Greece and Turkey. Truman was of the opinion, and properly so from my way of thinking, that to not help Greece and Turkey would cause them to fall under Communist domination.

I would have made a lousy junkie. The doctor put me on codeine and steroids for a week to get rid of a six week cough in my upper chest. The cure worked. I no longer cough. However, I feel like the patient about whom the doctor told the family the operation was a success, but the patient died.

I have been off the meds for three days. I am totally absolutely without question exhausted. All the time. No exaggeration involved. Not the slightest.

I talked with the Doctor this morning. I was advised I would be ok. It is the steroids, or the lack thereof at the moment, which are making me tired. Some sort of withdrawal. It will be a couple of days more before my body readjusts.

The only thing I can think of is how did athletes like Barry Bonds handle the situation. He had to be on steroids days at a time. When he went off, how long was he screwed up as I am? Was he screwed up? Perhaps there was another pill or shot to enable the body to escape what I am experiencing.

I am so tired at the moment that my arms have become heavy as I type.

I am in no mood to beat myself up. Good bye for today.

Enjoy your Thursday!

 

PETER AND HOLLY

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One of the reasons I enjoy grocery shopping at Publix is that I run into friends. Many whom I have not seen in a while.

I came around the corner of an aisle yesterday and there was Holly! Holly of Peter and Holly or Holly and Peter fame. Whichever you are more comfortable with.

Holly quickly brought me up to date. Either her mother or Peter’s is in rehab here in Key West. A bad fall at 88. Holly said her afternoons are spent with the mother. Said by Holly with a smile on her face, nary a complaint. You are a good person, Holly!

I reminded Holly that such a life might be around the corner for me. I was 78, a mere 10 years younger.

Holly jumped into my newspaper columns, the ones that have been running in KONK Life. Praise poured out of her. She told me she cuts out three columns each week and mails them to Connecticut to her sister who enjoys reading and sharing the columns.

Humbled and thrilled was I!

Holly is partnered with Peter Diamond. Technically, Peter Diamond Ilacqua. For more than 20 years. A terrific couple!

I run into Peter with more frequency than Holly. Each time he has seen me in recent years, he tells me how much he enjoys the column. Does not mean he always agrees with me. Such does not bother me. I am pleased he is reading the column and further pleased that I have aired an issue of sufficient merit which has resulted in discourse.

Back in my mind is the thought that Peter and I were some sort of neighbors back when. If my recollection is correct, Peter is either from Syracuse or has family there.

Peter is one of Key West’s premier entertainers. A singer. His style and voice remind me of Frank Sinatra.

Peter and Holly, love you both!

I walked till I was tired yesterday. Too long. Knocked me on my ass.

I am on a diet again. I have kept it secret. I am a yo yo. On and off diets all my life. This diet is different. I made it up myself. All I am sharing at the moment. Lets see how it works before I go further. Note however that my Key West Diet has resulted in me losing 11 pounds in 10 days. For real!

All it takes is a bit of starvation.

Did my blog talk radio show last night. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. An especially enjoyable experience last night. World events were so heavy this week, I opted to open the show with several lighter and distinctly happier happenings. Before getting into Ukraine.

Opening remarks involved Jacob Barnett. Born with autism, a failure in early elementary school, a child who was receding into his mind and had become non-communicative, is today at age 15 studying for a Ph.d in physics. His mother had been told several years earlier he would never be able to tie his shoes. His mother saved him! It has been discovered Jacob’s IQ is higher than Einstein’s.

I plan on doing a Jacob Barnett column shortly.

The bottom half of the show had to do with quirky happenings in Ukraine the past two weeks. Interesting tidbits.

Remember my bartender friend Dougie from Burger Fi? I ran into him at Lukas’ Pub sunday He is bartending there, also.

The President and Michelle vacationed this past weekend in the Keys. The northern Keys. Key Largo. At the Ocean Reef Club. Ocean Reef is nothing like Key West. It is the vacation haven of the rich and famous. The one per cent.

The President is entitled to rest and relax where ever he desires. Ocean Reef has built in safety factors which are necessary to protect a visiting President. However, critical I must be. At a time when we are constantly referring to the 1 % and 99 %, it would have been better for the President and Michelle to have stayed at one of Key West’s fancier hotels and perhaps participated in the Duval crawl.

I am sure the previous paragraph is going to draw many comments. Most probably disagreeing with me.

A Bob Saraceno from Buffalo wrote yesterday. We do not know each other. However, Bob is of Italian extraction also.

Bob is aware from my many comments that I am working on book #2. Growing Up Italian. He sent me a list of 42 Italian things that are purported to have happened to those growing up during our time. The list was titled Things In the Life Of An Italian Child.

Number 19 stood out like a sore thumb: You were beaten at least once with a wooden spoon or broom. I was shocked! I thought it was only me who sustained an occasional beating thusly at the hands of my mother. Turns out not. One difference, however. I wrote back to Bob and told him I had never been beaten with a broom. Instead, spaghetti/macaroni bowls were broken over my head.

I always thought I was the only “bad boy” so disciplined. I was not aware my male contemporaries were suffering the same fate.

Enjoy your day!

THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE

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Into the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred

Theirs not to reason why;

Theirs but to do and die.

Crimea is in the news big time these days. As is Russia, other European nations and Ukraine. War threatens. In 1854, there was a war in Crimea. The Crimean War. Involved were Crimeans, Russians, Great Britain, certain other Euro nations, and many of the Muslim faith.

On October 25, the Battle of Balaklava took place. An ill fated event in British military history. The British calvary charging up the hill were decimated. Totally destroyed. Fire from each side and above. The attack was a mistake. A for real administrative error. The British troops should not have been riding up that hill.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson, was poet laureate at the time. After the battle, he wrote his famous The Charge of the Light Brigade. The opening quoted four lines of this blog represent four lines from the poem.

History appears to be repeating itself. Hopefully war will not ensue.

Live long enough and you get to meet everyone.

Jimmy Valvano was North Carolina State basketball coach. His team won the Final Four in 1983. Many will recall the film of Valvano immediately after the winning game. He was running up and down the court looking for some one to hug.

Valvano died of cancer at age 47.  Yesterday’s Key West Citizen carried a quote of his concerning cancer. “Cancer can take away all of my physical abilities, it cannot touch my heart, and it cannot touch my soul.”

A couple of years after the Final Four victory, I was in Italy for a one month family vacation. It was the last three days of the trip. My parents and son had already left for home. It was just my wife, two daughters and me. The night was late. They were tired. Left me wandering the Via Veneto as they returned to the pension.

The Via Veneto is Rome’s main street. Bustling with character and charm twenty four hours a day. Many outside cafes. Sitting at one alone was Jimmy Valvano. I immediately recognized him.

I went over, introduced myself, related my Syracuse affiliation and friendship with Jim Boeheim. Valvano and I became immediate friends.

His wife had gone back to the hotel tired. We sat, enjoyed Italian coffees and chatted for quite a while. A nice guy. A memorable evening for me.

Yesterday included a meeting downtown, manicure, and time at Don’s Place. Tammy happily was relating to me her happiness with their new home. Love her! She and her husband deserve all the joys they are experiencing. Later, I chatted with David and Herschel at Don’s Place. We are going to be short handed thursday at bocce. Herschel, Erika and Jennifer will not be there.

Stopped to visit Lisa in between. Jake was sick. Had been up chucking. Poor Jake!

Blog talk radio tonight. I will be discussing how the economy is bad for some of the big guys, also. An interesting change in the Utah polygamy laws. It is now legal. Who would want five wives, however? A 70 year old father who discovered his son’s fiancée was in the escort business. Should he tell his son? U.S. combat aircraft having a superior readiness to all other nations. The looting of the Ukraine already by American and Euro nation banks. Obama and Putin playing chicken to the detriment of the world. The head of Ukraine’s neo-Nazi party running for President. Putin nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. And more.

Revealing information. A quick moving half hour.  www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. The show is archived. It is also available on You Tube following the actual broadcast. Enter the show’s title Tuesday Talk With Key West Lou and the date of the show in numbers. My pic and voice come up. Enjoy!

The You Tube version is not posted till 3-4 days after the show. Sorry. We are working on it getting posted sooner.

New college basketball rankings came out yesterday. Syracuse #11. How the mighty fall! Two weeks ago, Syracuse was #1. Unless Syracuse wins the ACC tournament this week, Syracuse will be a 3 or 4 seed in the big tournament.

Enjoy your day!

LOVERS WHO MET ON THE INTERNET

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I was sitting at the table in the Plantation Coffee House around noon yesterday researching. Two couples were seated nearby. Chatting. Eventually, I got involved in the conversation. Best as I could. It was difficult with so many people around.

One couple appeared to be 40ish. Both good looking. The lady was from Dubai, the man from New York City. The man had previously lived in India.

They had met initially on the of the couple matching sites on the internet. The email meetings led to their meeting in Key West this week. The face to face meeting was for the first time. Excitement was written all over their faces.

The couple they were talking with had a similar experience. The lady lives in Key West. The man from New York City. They now live together in Key West. They appeared to be in their 60s.

Wild!

I was unable to get names. Too many people again and little time. However, both heart warming stories.

Syracuse finally won and won decisively yesterday. Beat Florida State by 16 points. 74-58. Florida State was no slouch. My recollection is that their record was 18-11 going into the game.

This was the last season game for Syracuse. Next week the ACC tournament. Syracuse is the second seed, Virginia, first. Syracuse plays next this friday evening. Then the big tournament! Syracuse has to do well in the ACC tournament to be considered a #1 seed in the big one. Probably win the ACC tournament.

I watched the game at Lukas’ Sports Pub. I was the only Syracuse fan. John sat with me most of the game. My heart fluttered on occasion. Syracuse was up 11, then up 1 before they came back to go up 13 and then 16.

I am anxious to see the national rankings which come out later today. Syracuse dropped from 1 to 7 the past two weeks. However, everyone good lost this weekend. Syracuse won. I see Syracuse moving up to #5 or #6. Maybe even #4.

A concern has been developing in me since the Cuban earthquake of 2 months ago. It was felt a bit in Key West by some. Not me. There were three aftershocks till yesterday. Yesterday, the fourth occurred which was felt. It was a 4.7. Just after 7 yesterday morning. I did not feel it. Some at the Casa Marina did.

After the initial earthquake, I did a little research. Seems there were around 400 quakes last year off the north coast of Cuba. Small. Ergo, we did not hear of them. The article pointed out the quakes are increasing in frequency. Therein lies my concern.

My friend Grant is going to be on national television friday night at 10. On the Food Network Channel. Grant is a chef at Bad Boy Burrito. Cooking famer Guy Fieri chatted with him when his show covered the Bad Boy Burrito two months ago. Go Grant! Everyone will be at Don’s Place waiting for him to appear on the screen. He will receive a big applause.

Fantasy Fest nudity continues to waste the time of the Key West Commission. No one cares about bare breasts, except for a few old time politicians and ultra conservative church ministers. Sixty thousand other people who attend Fantasy Fest come to view the  breasts, amongst other things.

A woman who was instrumental in the first Fantasy Fest some 30 odd years ago is one of the ones upset. She wrote “…..get rid of the PUBLIC debauchery, the vomitorium and the debacle.” She and I are not seeing the same Fantasy Fests. I am sure a minimal amount of what she describes occurs. However, I have never seen an orgy or vomiting. I cannot respond to debacle because I am not sure what she is specifically referring to.

Interestingly, the first Fantasy Fest parade she was instrumental in getting started had leading the parade a completely bare assed woman painted in silver riding on the hood of a car.

Tomorrow night at 9, my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. My cup runneth over with material. The story of the mother who knew best, Russia’s new terrorist law, China’s bubble bursting, Crimea, what Ukraine should do to set Russia on its ass, the head of the neo-Nazi party running for President of Ukraine, how the bank looting of Ukraine has begun, polygamy in Utah’s today, and more. Listen and enjoy. A stimulating and revealing half hour of dialogue.

Enjoy your day!

TONGUE IN CHEEK

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Yesterday’s blog was entitled Breasts Neither Genitals Nor A Sex organ. The article was concerned with Fantasy Fest and nudity. What a reaction! Based on comments received, many enjoyed the breast analysis by Key West officials. Which proves most people get a healthy laugh out of a bit of nonsensical sex talk.

Finally! Robert and I sat down at Lisa’s kitchen table to look at my photos of Greece. Ally joined us for a short while. She is a year behind Robert and not into Greece yet. Her attention span was limited.

Out of over 300 photos, I only shared a dozen with Robert. Ones having to do with the Parthenon, Acropolis and Hadrian’s Library. He already knew from school half of what I talked about. He enjoyed viewing those places. He further enjoyed the other half as I presented those with short side stories added. He was particularly taken with the first photo. Louis standing near the top of Acropolis with the Parthenon above my left shoulder. No question Poppa had been there!

Lets skip over to China for a moment. Three years ago, I started  warning in writing and on my TV show that China was on the bubble of a big bust. Though China’s problem had to do with  real estate, it was not exactly similar to the U.S. mortgage problem.

China does things in a strange way. China wanted a middle class. What they did was provide educations cheaply and then good paying jobs on a volume basis. The emerging middle class was earning unwarranted big bucks.

A middle class needs housing. China built tons of houses. There were not enough people to buy the houses. Many lay empty for years while the building never the less continued. They still lie empty. The same with office buildings. Huge ones constructed. Floor space never rented.

I predicted the bubble would burst and in a few years there was a good possibility China would be in trouble. The trouble has begun. China is cracking. As predicted, the bubble is bursting. I have a curious concern. The U.S. owes China lot of money. What happens if China demands payment? We do not have the resources to pay back. An interesting scenario in the making.

Keith went in the pool yesterday to remove the umbrella and ceramic jar. The weather was cold. The water freezing. The umbrella easy. The ceramic jar full of water and difficult to remove. He got it all done, however. Thank you Keith!

The same storm this past week that knocked the umbrella and chair into my pool, broke free from its mooring an unoccupied sailboat. The sailboat drifted into the waters off Key Haven Road and snapped and burned the electric cable.

Keys Energy spent $1,200 repairing the cable. They are now seeking the identity of the owner of the sailboat so they can recover the monies.

This morning’s Key West Citizen reports the Island House is for sale. Something in the $13 million area. Well worth it! I unfortunately have never visited the Island House. It is purportedly Key West’s premier gay guest house. Extremely well run I am told. The two men who own it have done an outstanding job creating a glamour spot for their guests. I will not be surprised if the Island House sells for the asking number or close to it.

Speaking of sales, there is an open house today from noon to 4 at my home in Key Haven. I am not leaving Key West. Merely wish to size down. I now live in 3,300 square feet alone. Too much house for one man. My intent is to move somewhere near downtown Key West into a small apartment. I want to walk or ride a bicycle  wherever I go.

Syracuse this afternoon at 2. Against Florida State. Florida State a one point favorite. I have no further comment to make. I will watch and cheer my team on.

I will be watching the game at Don’s Place.

Interestingly, the regular season ends today for the ACC and Syracuse. Wednesday is the start of the ACC tournament. Then the big tournament. Two weeks ago, Syracuse was touted as a #1 seed in the big show. After losing 4 of the last 5 games, sports writers are describing Syracuse as a hopeful #3 seed.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

BREASTS NEITHER GENITALS NOR A SEX ORGAN

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While events in the Ukraine could throw the world into upheaval, while Japan bullies China in the oceans surrounding them, while thousands are dying in genocides in Africa…..the Key West Commission debates whether a woman’s breasts are genitals, sexual organs or what.

Only in Key West!

This important dialogue took place at an official meeting of the Commission this week. The issue involved Fantasy Fest and nudity. A few citizen recalcitrants argue the spray painting of breasts is not sufficient during Key West’s most famous festival. More is required. Like pasties. At least one commission member has taken up the fight on their behalf.

Some astute comments were made by Commission members. One stated emphatically that “…..breasts are not a sexual organ.” Another knowledgeably that “…..breasts are not genitals.” A third, “I don’t think painted breasts constitute debauchery.” Another, “Fantasy fest is not a church festival.”

As the world turns.

I for one am happy that we speak of such mundane things in Key West rather than matters involving life and death. A little fun driven perversity never hurt anyone.

I enjoyed my dinner companion last night immensely. I have known June and Bill Hudson for more than 20 years. They hail from Delaware. Bill was one of Delaware’s outstanding divorce lawyers. Bill died last year. They had a second home in Sugarloaf. June recently returned to Sugarloaf for a six week stay.

We got together for dinner at Square One.

My beard took June by surprise. That is how long we have not seen each other. She said I should have prepared her for it.

We had a warm happy three hour plus dining experience. The laughs were plentiful, interrupted by an occasional solemn moment.

We both enjoyed and agreed to do it again. In fact, we are having lunch wednesday at Geiger Key.

Later this morning, it is Robert and me. The time has finally arrived for our Greece sit down and things like the Parthenon and Acropolis. I have already e-mailed him photos from my trips.

Enjoy your day!

 

16 YEAR OLD UMBRELLA DEAD IN THE POOL

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I bought and furnished my Key West home 16 years ago. Deck furniture was among the items purchased. Included was a round table with a blue shade umbrella. The umbrella survived all 16 years till yesterday. Let me say first that the enemy of anything on the ocean is sun and salt. Neither bothered the umbrella. I was impressed. It took strong winds to bring about its demise.

Yesterday was sunny and lovely. In the afternoon, a storm came upon us that quick. In a matter of minutes, it gets dark, the temperature drops 10-20 degrees and it begins raining like hell.

I worked for a while. Kept the glass sliding doors behind me shut. The rain would have gushed in. After a while, I was tired. Took a nap. Two hours later, I woke. Still raining, but not as bad. I went downstairs and opened the glass sliding doors.

The first thing that hit my eyes was the pool. The wind was was still strong. There were ripples on top of the pool which clouded the water. I saw what I thought was a body in the deep end. I hurried out to investigate. It was the umbrella. The metal parts I could see where broke. Lying on top of the umbrella was a large ceramic vase. It was the vase that gave the initial impression of a body.

The vase was purchased 16 years ago, also. I have two sitting at the shallow end of the pool by the steps for decorative purposes. The vases are heavy. Three feet tall, 1.5 feet wide and thick. It takes all I have to lift one one inch.

The metal umbrella post must have snapped.Then it hit one of the chairs at the table. The chair is destroyed. The umbrella must have then hurled sideways of the chair and picked up the ceramic vase on its way into the pool.

There is a 30 foot distance between the table and where the umbrella landed in the pool. Had to be a hell of a wind!

I already called Keith. Told him to come over saturday with Jennifer. Wear their bathing suits. Get the stuff out of the pool!

It is not going to be easy. It is about seven feet down. The vase has to be full of water. The umbrella will hold water in its pocket as it rises. Not a job for Louis. It would be heart attack time.

The loss of the umbrella is my fault. I know better than to leave it open during a storm.

ABC and Good Morning America did themselves proud this morning. Key West was featured on the show. ABC has been doing this show in Key West for several years. I always thought the show sucked. They did not show Key West as it truly is. From what I saw this morning, this year they did.

ABC’s Ginger was broadcasting. The first shot was of her and a crowd of shorts and tee shirted people at Mallory Square. Yes, the rain and wind are gone. It is sunny and warm once more.

The next segment showed two Key West favorites. Key Lime Pie and Stone crabs. A great last meal! The following segment were walkers at Smathers Beach. Then came the Westin Dock with a huge cruise ship in the background.

Ginger kept referring to Key West as Paradise. She was correct.

I could give the show no more time. I have a big morning. I believe my friend Howard Livingston is going to do a guest appearance at some point. The best of the best.

The only negative in the show was that I saw no locals during the time I watched. They were all tourists. I recognized no one.

Bocce obviously rained out last night. I did not have to call in and beg off due to my back.

Two Ukraine observations.

First, what is going on is not unlike our Civil War. The South seceded. They had no right to do so under the Constitution. Crimea is in effect seceding from the Ukraine. This matte can only be handled properly and honorably if there is an Abraham Lincoln in the Ukraine of today.

The other observation involves the pipelines. Russia’s income comes from its oil and gas exports. Seventy five per cent. The pipelines go through Ukraine. One of the reasons Ukraine is important to Putin. I think Ukrainian leaders should slowly start sabotaging some of those pipelines. With the added threat that if Russia interferes in any way, all the pipelines will immediately be blown up. Putin has to back off immediately. The opposition for once would have the upper hand. The problem will then be possible of immediate resolution. Fire must be met with fire. When dealing with a bully, you must hit harder back than he hit you.

So thinks Louis.

Enjoy your day!

SPRING BREAKERS ON BEST BEHAVIOR

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Parents of America! Be proud! Your children are well behaved while on spring break in Key West!

Key West set up a Spring Break Court to deal with the college students partying here. I wrote last week that I thought it was not needed. My perception was that the police could handle the situation. If not and some matters proceeded to the regular court, the Judge could deal with whatever occurred in a lenient manner so the student walked away with a clean record. I was also of the opinion the whole idea was a waste of money.

The Spring Break Court was open and operating for four days. Fourteen different people at different time assisting, one a Judge. In those four days, the Court had no business come before it. Not one college student was brought before the Court.

Spring Break Court is no more. The city closed it down.

Which says to me that (1) the police were doing their job and (2) the students were behaving.

I was in all day and night yesterday. My back still bothering me. I thought it was better. Apparently not. I am still getting spasms. Though not as bad.

I was supposed to meet with grandson Robert yesterday after school. Because of my back, I could not. Robert had telephoned me earlier in the week and asked if I knew what the Parthenon was. He is studying Greece.

I have put many of my Athens pics together. Robert and I are to sit down so I can relate my Parthenon/Acropolis/Athens experiences to him while showing him the pictures at the same time. We are now going to do it saturday. I am excited! Probably more so than Robert.

The weather continues to be outstanding. High 70s by day. Cool at night. Sleep with the window open. There is a touch of humidity. Some days heavier than others. Today is one of them. I am standing in the shade of the tiki hut near the water. I stand because my back hurts if I sit too long. The sweat is running off me as I compose this blog. From the humidity, not pain.

Bocce tonight. No way can I play. Bending over would kill me!

Putin continues to be in the news. He has the world balancing on the point of a pin. Two interesting things have come to light. Each occurred in the past few days.

Putin has been nominated for the Noble Peace Prize. By a Russian advocacy group. A proper nomination. His nomination is for his activities which are claimed to have brought about a peaceful resolution in the Syrian/United States dispute regarding chemical weapons.

He could win. To me it would be like Hitler receiving the award for his actions with regard to Austria and Czechoslovakia in 1938. The world is changing. Our European friends who presently are speaking out against Putin will not be there when the chips are down. They need Russia for their gas and oil.

President Clinton made an interesting observation regarding Putin. He said Putin can be trusted. “He kept his word in all deals we made.”

A few days later, Hillary blasted Putin. She said he was tough but thin skinned.

The happy couple obviously do not agree 100 per cent on all things. Which to me is a good sign if Hillary is to be President. I want our President to make the decisions, not her husband.

For the past two years, I have in effect been knocking the courts. Here, on television, on the radio and in my newspaper column. You do not have to be a former attorney to understand. The courts have changed. The people sitting as Judges have changed. Many decisions are far out and generally to the detriment of the majority of the citizenry.

On this day in history in 1857, the United States Supreme Court said slaves were property in the Dred Scott decision. It took the Civil War which started four years later to turn the decision around.

Why did it take a four year war with over a half million dead to accomplish what nine men could have done?

The Dred Scott scenario is representative of the type of wayward decisions being decided by today’s courts.

Enjoy your day!

 

Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou March 5th

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I spend quite a bit of time on Ukraine. Not what is already known. Not what is in the papers. Rather some of the things not known by many. Like we have to be careful that whatever happens, it is not another Munich. The seeds are all in place for one. Most are unaware of the neo-Nazi party’s influence in the good guy group. The group the United States has already given in excess of $5 billion to. The stupidity of downsizing the military when we have hot spots all over the world, including Ukraine and Afghanistan. My displeasure with Kerry always talking on television about what he is going to do, who is good and bad, etc. Diplomacy is quiet and behind doors. How Europe will not stand tall. They depend on Russia for gas. Finally, how Ukraine banks have clamped down on depositor accounts this week. Some are limiting withdrawals to $100 a day.

Good stuff! Interesting! Revealing!

Interesting prospective on everyday issues

WEEKEND IN HAVANA

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There once were round trip flights from Key West to Havana. Long ago. The last flight was in 1962.

Round trip air service between Key West and Havana began  again February 28. The next flight March 7 is already sold out. The flights will be three times a week and cost between $479 and $525 round trip. Expensive for a 30 minute 90 mile flight. However, a start.

The reestablishment of flights between Key West and Havana represents the door opening a crack. May it open even more!

Did the dermatologist thing yesterday. I have several holes in the head area and a couple on my arm. Nothing significant.

Did final prep work on last night’s blog talk radio show Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Except for a brief lament regarding Syracuse, the entire show involved the Ukraine. A tinderbox.

Putin reminds me of Hitler and the Sudetenland the way he is handling Ukraine. Hitler was an untrustworthy bully and so is Putin. We learn from history as history repeats itself. Hopefully, the situation will not result in another Munich.

Military wise, Russia only has one thing going for it. It still has nuclear weapons. Putin might decide he has to use them.

The Russian army consists basically of Russian draftees. Eighty per cent of those drafted never show up for induction. Those that do are only in for one year. Morale is low.

Russia’s army is already engaged in the Caucasus and Far Eastern Siberia. Russia is lacking in man power to conduct a third war.

Most Russian military equipment is out dated. Armored units and air assault helicopters are not up to snuff. Fuel consumption is high. As is the frequency of breakdowns.

A Ukrainian war would disrupt Russia’s sales in oil and gas to other countries. Oil and gas sales amount to 75 per cent of Russia’s income.

The bottom line is Russia is not equipped to go to war over the Ukraine. If not for Putin being off the wall and out of control at the moment, many would say he is bluffing.

Who knows? Who can be certain? Whatever, let there be no Munich resulting in another give away to a ruthless dictator.

I am subdued and calm re Syracuse. It is like a bomb has been dropped on me  and I lay in the middle of the rubble. Syracuse has lost 4 of its last 5 games. 25-0 is yesterday. Today, a horror story!

I did not see last night’s game. My blog talk radio show interfered. Syracuse lost to Georgia Tech 67-62.

I hope Syracuse comes back and I get to watch the team play in the Final Four. That is all I can say. I say it with a shocking calm.

Enjoy you day!