KEY WEST CEMETERY

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I find cemeteries a turn on. History has always intrigued me. I took to walking through cemeteries at an early age and reading tombstones. There was a lot of history to be learned.

The Key West Cemetery is interesting. From sailors who died when the USS Maine was blown up in Havana Harbor to the smart Key Wester who had inscribed on his tombstone: I told you I was sick.

This saturday, the Key West cemetery is offering escorted tours. The guides will explain the significance of certain graves. If you have not already, I suggest you take the tour. I have been through the cemetery twice with a guide and several times alone. Each time I discovered something new.

Call it global warming. Call it climate change. Whatever, it gets worse not year by year, but season by season. The abnormal amount of snow in the northeast. Now, this minus zero cold streak.

The freezing storm up north began to be felt in Key West last night. Temperature during the night about 60. Wind  blowing big time. The palm trees blowing one way. From north to south.

Today the high is 60. Tonight 50. Tonight, bocce. It will be in the mid 50s with a cold biting wind coming in off the Atlantic. I am tempted to stay home. However when I was a Key West golfer, I learned that “men” always show up to play regardless of the weather. I will be a man tonight.

Larry Smith, Christine Cordone and Kathleen Peace headed what I assume was a great show at the former Wine Galley last night. I had intended to go. Jenna was my date. I called her monday and cancelled. My excuse, I could see from the weather reports that it was going to be very cold. Social events do not have the same status as sporting ones. Manliness not an issue.

Missing Larry provided the opportunity to watch the Syracuse/Louisville game. Syracuse won 69-59. A good game all around. Syracuse pulled away in the last 5 minutes to win. The victory was the first time this season Syracuse has beat a top 25 team. Louisville was ranked #12.

My KONK Life column this week is titled What Recovery? It hit the stands yesterday. This morning, it was posted on my Key West Lou site. If KONK life is not available to you, you can find it there.

ISIS is sick! Beheadings, burying people alive and burning people to death. Now a new form of sickness. ISIS is a money making machine. The leaders are aware that big dollars are required to run their organization. ISIS is now selling body organs. Removed from captured men, women and children. Many times without anesthesia. Doctors are recruited to do the operations. If a doctor refuses, he is killed.

Body parts like hearts, livers and kidneys bring big dollars on the international black market. $100,000 to $150,000 is not uncommon.

I received two comments this morning relating what is happening to 1939. One was regarding economics. The other ISIS burnings. A relevant quote…..”It’s 1939 again. Hitler is back and he’s a  Muslim. From killing people in ovens to burning them in cages and trucks.”

Enjoy your day!

WHAT RECOVERY?

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I do not buy that we are in recovery. The 1 percent are. I question whether they actually suffered at any time. The 99 percent are not.
Last week, I wrote about the NFL not paying taxes. Taxes on $9.5 billion in revenue. An organization that pays its Commissioner Roger Goodell $44 million a year.
In the past, I have written about the U.S. corporations making billions and not paying taxes. General Electric being one example.
All the preceding made possible by Congressional action and Presidential approval. They make the laws. The laws which in most instances benefit the very rich.
There recently has been an exuberance, an excitement, a jubilation in Washington. We are told recession recovery has arrived…..look at the good job we have done.
Generally accepted indicators indicate it. I do not agree. In spite of the 321,000 jobs created in November, in spite of the 5 percent growth rate for the GDP in the third quarter, in spite of the Stock Market being at its highest levels ever, in spite of the 5 percent unemployment rate.
New jobs created are not of the quality pre-recession. They pay much less. The stock market primarily benefits only those who can afford to play, the 1 percent. A 5 percent unemployment rate does not take into account the millions who have fallen off the radar screen. Those no longer receiving unemployment benefits. They have become a shadow society.
I will concede the U.S. is getting out of the hole. However, not totally.. We are about half way. The rich have gotten richer, the poor remain where they were in 2008. For them, no recovery.
I say these things based contrary to the indicators the government relies upon.
When Reagan began his Presidency, corporations paid a $1.25 in taxes to the $1 the people paid. Today, American corporations pay twenty cents to every $1 the people pay.
It was recently reported that for the first time in U.S. history, a majority of public school children live in poverty. For the first time in 50 years. Again, the recovery has benefited the rich only. The poor are still waiting.
Sixteen million public school children are homeless. They live in the woods, cardboard boxes, abandoned cars, etc. They go to school each morning dirty, not well fed.
The organization No Child Held Back recently reported on the less than adequate conditions. The organization quoted Sonya Romero Smith, a veteran teacher at Lew Wallace Elementary School in Albuquerque. She said, “When they first come in my door in the morning, the first thing I do is take an inventory of immediate needs: Did you eat? Are you clean? A big part of my job is making them feel safe.”
Smith is a veteran kindergarten teacher. Her present class totals 18. Fourteen are eligible for free lunches. She helps them clean up with bathroom wipes and toothbrushes. Her desk drawers are stocked with clean socks, underwear, pants and shoes.
Something is seriously wrong when a nation does not take care of those least able to care for themselves.
The U.S. economy is divided into two parts. Big business and small business. The economy is good, if not great, for big business. Small businesses are still struggling. Small businesses pre-recession provided 2/3rds of American jobs. They are no where near that number today.
Small business is still in the doldrums. There can be no true recovery unless things get better for them and small business jobs become available.
Those who control government do not seem to care about poor children and small businesses. They are not concerned with the poor. They are more concerned with passing legislation that helps the rich. I am telling you nothing you do not already know.
Unless and until these and similar problems are corrected, the recovery will not be complete. Regardless of the indicators Washington has been throwing at us.

 

WHAT RECOVERY?

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Last night was Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou, my blog talk radio show. My comments re the U.S.’s economic recovery initiated responsive comments.

The title of the segment was What Recovery? I also wrote this week’s KONK Life column on the subject. It publishes today.

The thrust of the comments and column is that the economy has only been good for the rich. The 1/99 percent thing again. A nation that has 16 million homeless public school children, 51 percent of public school children living in poverty, food stamps at an all time high, small businesses still struggling,  has a long way to go.

I spent a portion of yesterday fine tuning the show in preparation for last night.

I also did a couple of hours of pleasure reading. I am into a book on Italians. The Italian Americans by Maria Laurino. Published last month. I am learning things about my heritage I never knew.

The weather is crazy. Rain and thunder last night. This morning black. One blast of thunder woke me. I actually sat up.

The water is rough. Today definitely not a boating day.

A new cold spell is moving easterly. Big time cold. Arctic cold. Perhaps the lowest temperatures ever. As usual, bad weather up north affects Key West. Tonight, the temperature drops to 56 degrees. The high today 69. The high tomorrow 60. Yes, 60 degrees!

This morning’s Key West Citizen carries a picture of people waiting to get into the Hemingway House. I drive by the Hemingway House several times a week. I have noticed in the past several weeks more and more people waiting to get in. In the past if you had to wait in line, the line ended at the wall entrance. Now it runs almost to Truman.

The line tells me not so much an increased interest in Hemingway. Rather it evidences the fantastic early tourist season Key West is enjoying.

ISIS. What do we do? Above my pay scale. I hope however our government firms down on a procedure and goes after them. My fear is that we are only going to do it in a half hearted way. Time is not with us. It is almost a certainty that at some point ISIS will strike here in the U.S.

ISIS at it again. In Iraq, they placed 45 persons on the bed of an open truck, doused them with gasoline, and burned them to death. Videoed for the world’s watching, of course.

ISIS knows how to make money to support its endeavors and people. They are not a bunch of ragged fighters living in caves. The newest ISIS money maker is the sale of body parts. Body parts a very profitable item on the world market. Hearts, livers and kidneys in high demand.

Doctors are required to remove the body parts. From the living who end up not living. If a doctor refuses, he is killed.

Syracuse/Louisville tonight at 7. ESPN. At the moment, I plan on watching the game at Don’s Place. Louisville is a 5.5 point favorite.

Larry Smith with a major musical event this evening at the Pier House. Where the Wine Galley used to be. Christine Cardone and Kathleen Peace featured.

Enjoy your day!

FRIENDS OF KEY WEST LIBRARY

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The Friends of Key West Library present a lecture series each season. I attended my first such lecture last night. I am going to try to make it a monday night routine.

The lecture was at St. Paul’s Church at 6 pm. The lecturer a Jonathan Santlofer. Santlofer both an artist and writer. He occasionally combines both talents in one work.

I was impressed with the lecture. Enjoyed it. Plan on going next week. Definitely! Larry Smith is guest lecturer. His talk will concern music.

My day started earlier. I sat out on the deck getting some sun for an hour. There was a cold breeze coming in off the ocean. If I can cut the wind, the cold has no effect. I was able to. There is a corner of the deck with the house on one side, the wall behind me and the tiki hut on the other.

The lecture was over at 7. I was walking down Duval heading for the Chart Room. I decided to stop and have a drink at one of the establishments on Duval before arriving at the Chart Room.

I opted for Coyote Ugly. The last time I was there was opening week about two years ago. I had not returned since. I did not like it then, I did not like it last night. The place is dreary and dark. Five young guys at the bar. Two young lovelies dancing on the bar clad in tight jeans. I did like the two girls dancing on the bar.

I did not even order a drink. Instead crossed the street to Irish Kevin’s. Love Irish Kevin’s! A long bar. An entertainer singing and playing the guitar.

The thing I like most about Irish Kevin’s is that some very attractive young ladies end up on the stage and expose their breasts. I am a dirty old man. I was not disappointed last night.

Then on to the Chart Room. One drink. No one I knew at the bar. I was not in a chatting mood. Drank up and left.

It was across the street to the Hot Tin Roof. I sat at the bar and had dinner. Risotto. Excellent! Watched some basketball at the same time.

Mary Lou and Charlie were at the end of the bar enjoying dinner with a lady friend. Chatted with them briefly. The friend extremely attractive. I paused for a second when introduced to her. After dinner she came to where I was seated and we exchanged a few words. I definitely would like to meet her again. I do not remember her name.

Key West is a dog friendly  town. Most bars and restaurants permit dogs. I discovered last night, the Hot Tin Roof does also. Seated two stools away was a young couple. The man holding a small dog on his lap. The dog neither moved nor made a sound.

I was getting in my car in the dark parking lot when I heard…..Louis, Louis. Looked up and there was this gentleman. 50ish. White hair. Introduced himself as Dan something. I believe he is a tourist. He is back to school to get a doctorate.  He is also a writer. He wanted to talk with me sometime this week. He suggested lunch and said he would call me.

Tonight my blog talk radio show Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. Join me at 9 my time for some interesting observations. Topics include what recovery?, keep your eye on Greece, the Venezuela coup stopped before it even started, a glaring government inconsistency, and more.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

KEY WEST WASTEFUL WITH MONEY

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We live in Paradise! No question about it. However even this heavenly place has its drawbacks. One is not natural. It is man caused. I refer to many Key West City Commission decisions.

Roof leaking water requires a new roof. Cost $194,000. My problem with the repair is that the Police Building is relatively new. Constructed in 2002. In 2013, the windows were leaking. They had to be replaced. $238,00. Such repairs a disgrace for a building  only 13 years old.

It is not just the Police Building. Many things the City Commission votes and approves, later need repair of some kind. Some bad decisions involve overruns. The City Commission is not properly watching out for taxpayer dollars.

Some things I do not understand. Obama is looking to Congress to authorize a declaration of war. At the same time that Congress is threatening to shut down the Department of Homeland Security. Politics many times does not make sense.

Both basically needed to deal with ISIS.

ISIS is on the move again. Beheaded 21 Italians on a beach in Libya. All 21 were Coptic Christians.

ISIS is a spreading cancer. The Atlantic Ocean is not protection from ISIS terrorist attacks in the United States. We should have learned that from 9/11 and al-Qaeda

Today is Presidents’ Day. Most people think it is to celebrate the birthdays of Washington and Lincoln. It is not. When in 1968 Congress authorized the day as a holiday, it was intended to celebrate only Washington’s birthday. The people assumed it was for both.

No day is set aside to celebrate Lincoln’s birthday. Prior to Congress screwing everything up, the birthdays were celebrated on the actual date of the birth of each. Lincoln on February 2 and Washington on February 22.

The legal holiday popularly known as Presidents’ Day is to be celebrated on the third monday in February.

We also lost a paid holiday on the way. Both holidays on each’s date of birth meant for two separate days off. As opposed to Washington’s birthday alone which permits one day.

We lost a day and did not even know it at the time. Even today. Lincoln has no specific date to celebrate his life.

Thank you Congress! Another example of not getting things right.

Enjoy your day!

COUCH POTATO

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Valentine’s Day and New Years Eve are much alike. Amateur night. Many out who normally are not. Restaurants and bars packed. Ergo, I decided to stay home. I was a couch potato most of the day.

Other than watching the Syracuse/Duke game, writing next week’s KONK Life column What recovery?, and some reading, I did nothing.  Enjoyed every minute of it.

Duke defeated Syracuse 80-72. Both teams played well. Syracuse fell behind with about 10 minutes to go and never caught up. Syracuse and Duke meet in two weeks again. Crazy ACC scheduling!

I wrote next week’s KONK Life column. The recovery is not what Washington touts it to be. Which is what I wrote about. Hit certain areas of poverty that still exist. Like 16 million public school children homeless.

This morning’s Key West Citizen reports the Key West City Commission is working on a custom made parking lot for tour buses. Tour buses are those that bring people in generally for a day. They come from all over Florida. The passengers spend some money. I cannot believe it is much.

The City Commission has already authorized$18,220 for preliminary design plans.

Screw the tour buses! Take care first of the car parking problem. Those living outside Key West (as I do) find it extremely difficult to find a parking spot since the new parking ordinance went into effect. Typical of this City Commission that seems to lead with their asses rather than their heads.

Enjoy your Sunday!

VALENTINE’S DAY

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Valentine’s Day unquestionably a day of love. Key West restaurants will be overbooked. It is the evening lovers dress and are on the town.

The Day is thought to have been derived from several saints named Valentinus. Many believe only one saint was responsible. St. Valentine of Rome. The Middle Ages locked in the romantic aspect. Courtly love became the vogue.

Certain  countries decry Valentine’s Day. Muslim nations. The Day is considered anti-Islamic. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, and Malaysia. Criminal in certain of these countries. Illegal to sell candy or flowers or anything suggesting the Day. Even items colored red.

There is always a new twist to a special day. The Bronx Zoo came up with one in 2011. Still selling. Thousands have bought the item. Rather than candy and flowers, adopt for your love a cockroach. A Madagascar hissing cockroach.

The cost $10. The roach is not delivered. Rather a colorful certificate acknowledging the adoption.

In addition to loved ones, mothers in law and ex-wives are popular recipients.

I took two Civil War courses in college. Wrote two papers. One about the Presidential election of 1864 involving Lincoln and McClellan. The other, I cannot recall.

The courses turned me on to the Civil War. I have since read many books involving the subject.

Last night, the Key West Art and Historical Society opened a special exhibit involving the Civil War at the Custom House. I attended.

The exhibition was limited. Small. Informative, however. I was made aware of some things I had not seen before and/or did not have knowledge concerning.

My hometown Utica is in the Mohawk Valley. Many major battles of the Revolution were fought there. A U.S. Naval vessel served to blockade Key West waters during the Civil War. The U.S.S. Mohawk. I assume named after my home valley.

Fort Zach Taylor was the Union’s primary fortress in Key West. Equipped with ten inch cannons. I was surprised to learn the cannons had a range of 3 miles.

The front page of the New York Herald dated April 15, 1865 was displayed. The day after Lincoln’s assassination. Yellowed with brown edges. Glass enclosed for preservation purposes.

The newspaper reported that at the same time Lincoln was shot, Secretary of State Seward while in bed at home was stabbed twice in the neck and twice in the chest. Initially, a conspiracy was thought. Apparently there was no connection between the two attacks.

Seward was the leading Republican contender for the Presidential nomination heading into the 1860 convention. However, Lincon defeated him.

Seward grew up in Auburn, N.Y. Near Syracuse. I tried many cases in Auburn. An old city that never got made over. My friend Dan was born in Auburn. He opted not to be a politician. He is a restaurateur. His business sits on Skaneateles Lake.

Shirrel Rhoades is my publisher. He is also President of the Key West Art and Historical Society. I ran into him at the exhibit. We chatted a bit.

Then to the Chart Room. I had a terrific time! Two old friends and one new. Carol from New Hampshire, Ginger from Memphis, and Rosie who is from Memphis also. Carol and Ginger are actually snowbirds. They have been visiting Key West for many years two months at a time. Rosie visiting.

The ladies were good company. I enjoyed being with them. Rosie leaves today. Carol and Ginger are here into March. I hope I run into them again.

Sheila and David stopped in. Sheila is on the staff of the Custom House. She had spent some time there with me earlier in the evening. Rosie will have to wait till next year.

Syracuse/Duke at 6 this evening. Playing at Syracuse. Duke a 7 point favorite. I suspect Syracuse will lose by more. An upset is possible, however.

Weather continues to be Key West cold. The high today 64. This evening in the mid 50s.

Enjoy your day!

 

ANOTHER MUNICH?

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A Ukraine cease fire was announced yesterday at the conclusion of the Minsk conference. I fear Minsk may be another Munich. Putin is not to be trusted. Merkle and her European friends fear war. If war occurs, the European economy will go down the tubes. It was anything to avoid war.

It is interesting. The thief steals and gets away with it. Right succumbs to might.

Another bocce season opened last night! We won all 3 games decidedly.

My evening was especially exciting. I made a shot difficult to achieve. One that I can never duplicate. It was the high point of my 15 years of playing bocce.

The polina was about an inch from the rear backboard. The length of the court. Blocked in front by other balls. Three things had to be taken into account. Distance, speed, and hitting the side board at the right spot.

I was standing ball in  hand thinking…..What to do? Don ran over to the side of the court at the far end. He pointed to the spot where I had to hit the side board. Mighty Casey did not strike out! Everything perfect. My ball ended up in front of and barely touching the polina. Wow!

Weather up north cold. I was speaking to a friend in upstate New York yesterday. The chill factor was minus 40.

The bocce courts were cold last night. Mid to high 60s. Everyone dressed for the cold weather. A cold cutting wind coming in off the Atlantic. I froze all evening even though appropriately dressed, including socks.

Key West weather today will be in the mid 60s. This evening in the mid 50s. If you are a Key Wester, not for the weak at heart.

Today is friday the 13th. If you are superstitious, stay home. In  Western civilization, the day is considered unlucky. Some countries refer to it as Black Friday.

Now for a big word. If you have a fear of friday the 13th, it is called paraskevidekatriaphobia.

Diana Nyad and Key West have bonded. Diana was the first woman to swim from Cuba to Florida without the aid of a shark cage. Actually, from Havana to Key West. It happened in 2013.

She came ashore on Smathers Beach. Key West has placed a plaque where she landed commemorating the event.

Diana has returned to Key West several times since. She is here once again this week. She has become more and more involved in the Key West community.

A love affair.

The Florida Keys have all sort of strange animals, reptiles, birds, etc. Pythons come to mind immediately. There is a new one. The black bear is back big time in southern Florida. The species is protected. In 1994, there were only 400 black bears. The rest had been killed off. Now, it is estimated there are over 3,000.

The bears are visiting residential areas. Four maulings have been reported thus far. There is a move underway to remove the protected species designation. Bears will then be fair game once again.

The proposed regulation also will permit persons to use sling shots and paint ball guns to keep the bears away from homes. I would suggest everyone be prepared to run like hell after hitting a bear.

It appears government has twinked the permissibles too closely/minutely once again.

Big time professional golf this weekend! Pebble Beach!

I was probably the worst golfer in the world. I stopped playing five years ago for medical reasons. Even though not talented, I traveled around the country playing big time golf courses. One was California’s Pebble Beach and its two neighbors Spyglass and Monterey Peninsula. An experience! Loved it!

I watch Pebble Beach on TV every year. I can recall every hole distinctly. It adds to the excitement.

Enjoy your day!

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE TAX EXEMPT

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The National Football League’s league office generates $9.5 billion annually in revenues. Commissioner Roger Goodell last year was paid $44 million.
The NFL does not pay taxes on the $9.5 billion. The NFL does pay taxes on its merchandising revenues and in other inconsequential areas. None of which are included in the $9.5 billion in revenue.
The NFL is not a corporation. It is a non profit trade organization. Non profit and trade organization are to be viewed separately.
Non profits are viewed as doing useful unprofitable work. Work which corporations normally will not. The Chamber of Commerce and the American Red Cross are examples of not for profit organizations. Because non profits perform useful unprofitable activities, they are afforded special treatment under the U.S.Tax Code. They are tax exempt.
For whatever reason, professional football leadership since 1942 has been viewed as non profitable. They are recognized as trade organizations. An inexplicable designation.
In 1966, serious consideration was given to the merger of the National Football League and the American Football League. Washington was involved. As was horse trading. Congress agreed to give the merged professional football league favorable tax treatment in return for the promise that a franchise would be awarded to New Orleans. One year later, the New Orleans Saints played its first professional football game..
An example of how our government works. You grease my hand, I grease yours.
Congress passed appropriate legislation in 1966 by which Section 501(c)(6) of the U.S. Tax Code was amended to specifically add professional football and trade associations as entitled to tax exempt status.
The NFL, NHL and PGA are treated alike under the 501(c)(6) provision. Major League Baseball was also until 2007. In the 2007 time frame, a regulation came out that non profits had to disclose by annual report a form 990 setting forth the salaries of top executives.
Major League Baseball was against the salary disclosures. They put knowledgeable and well paid tax attorneys to work. Major League Baseball gave up its tax exempt status after professional assurances that they would not have to pay income taxes. And they have not.
The NFL’s tax exempt status is under attack/scrutiny at the present time in Washington. The cry is that the NFL should not be accorded suchstatus. Several Congressional members have introduced legislation to deny the NFL the tax exempt status they have statutorily enjoyed since 1966.
The NFL has never been known to be generous to politicians. Additionally, their lobbying efforts over the years have been minimal. However in the last 18 months, things have changed. Significant dollars have been spent supporting political candidates and paying lobbyists.
Why all of a sudden after years of not caring? The reason is Daniel Snyder, the owner of the Washington Redskins. Native American groups for 8 years have been trying to get Snyder to stop using the term Redskins. They consider the name and also the team’s logo disparaging. Snyder has adamantly refused.
North American groups are now driving Congress crazy with the demand. Congress is reacting. Congress has reached the point of being sick and tired of the lambasting they are getting because Snyder will not change the name and logo.
As a result, horse trading time has returned between the NFL and Congress. This time it is….. Get Snyder to cooperate or your tax exemption status is gone..
It is thought that any favorable efforts to persuade Snyder and the NFL to cooperate, would effectively kill a vote on the tax exempt status. The bill introductions and clamor by Congress to get rid of the NFL’s tax status is considered by many to be more symbolic than anything else.
Other reasons come into play why any legislation to deny the NFL tax exempt status would fail.
In Washington’s present political climate, it would be difficult to get anything of substance passed. The NFL remains incredibly popular. As mentioned, the NFL is donating millions in  campaign contributions to political leaders, plus throwing an army of lobbyists at them.
The big thing however is the NFL convincing Snyder to back off and change the name and logo. The pressure is there.
An example of how government works.
I believe that any major sport does not deserve tax exempt status. Not with the kind of money involved. The NFL is no different than any highly profitable corporation. We get upset that large corporations pay little or no tax. The NFL is no different.
Everyone should pay their fair share of taxes. No person or group should be given special consideration. As Professor Lloyd used to say in Constitutional law class….. What is good for the goose, is good for the gander.

BOCCE RETURNS

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Tonight is the night! The start of a new bocce season. I am excited!

It will be cold. Last night the temperature fell into the high 50s. While playing tonight, it will be in the mid to high 60s. The bocce courts are across the street from the Atlantic Ocean. A cold biting wind will be coming off the Atlantic. Long pants and sweatshirt time. Some players will even wear gloves.

I was chatting with someone who plays last night. He described bocce night as a cocktail party for 120 people. He is correct.

This week’s KONK Life is on the stands. Pick up a copy. My column this week is titled NFL Tax Exempt. You will find interesting how the NFL received the tax exemption by law back in 1966.

I watched Syracuse beat Boston college last night. 70-56. Watched the game at Don’s Place with Dan. Last night was not a test. Boston College is in last place in the ACC. Saturday’s game will be a test. Duke.

Kankakee, Illinois. Who ever heard of Kankakee? A little town south of Chicago. I heard of it for the first time when I met Cheryl and Roger here in Key West. Their home town is Kankakee.

E-Blast has an interesting article this morning mentioning Kankakee. There is a song about the New Orleans train which started its trip south from Kankakee. The song was made famous by Arlo Guthrie.

Mick Kilgos is an off and on Key Wester and famous musician in his own right. He is familiar with the song, Guthrie and Key West musical lore. He is in Key West at the present time.

Yesterday was the 25th anniversary of the Tyson/Douglas heavyweight championship fight in Tokyo. Tyson was undefeated. Douglas a nothing. The odds were 42-1. Douglas knocked Tyson out to become the heavyweight champion. The first time Tyson was defeated, the first time he was knocked out.

Douglas was Rocky. Except that he lost the title in his very next fight.

Haircut this morning. Have to hustle. It is amazing. My hair cuts seem to have become more frequent as my hair becomes less and less.

Enjoy your day!