DEM DEBATE KUMBAYA

Posted on by

If the quality of the debate was the deciding factor between the Republicans and Democrats, the Democrats would win going away.

Last night was a for real political debate. Not dominated by showman Donald Trump. Issues actually discussed. Everyone at ease and kumbaya.

Hillary was great! I was impressed! She handled the debate well. Sounded and appeared Presidential.

Bernie Sanders likewise impressive. Bernie has a problem, however. Revolution. He speaks of it too much. Actual and political become mixed. His thoughts generally appealing. However, he is not Presidential timber from my perspective. Not even Vice-Presidential. His place is in the Senate where he would be capable of carrying on the fight.

Friend Howard Livingston and his Mile Marker 24 band out with a new CD. Sell Your Stuff Keep The Dog Live On An Island. I look forward to listening to it. Howard is the greatest! Personally and professionally.

Spent a bit of time yesterday afternoon fine tuning last night’s blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Confusion and chaos my opening theme. Confusion and chaos in the Republican Party and at the Synod in Rome.

Did some reading. Re the Catholic Church Bishops Synod and the issues and pressures involved. Interesting. Pope Francis has his hands full with the dogmatic old timers.

Per my usual tuesday custom, dinner at Roostica. Olga waited on me. Lovely. From one of the former Soviet Union countries.

Everyone going south! Not just people. Hawks and Monarch butterflies. In recent days, both have been seen over Key West in large numbers. The hawks going south, the butterflies to Mexico.

Beer is big money! Anheuser Busch and Miller #s 1 and 2 in beer sales. Two giants. They merged in effect. A friendly takeover. Anheuser Busch bought Miller for $106 billion.

Enjoy your day!

 

I FORGOT

Posted on by

I’ m losing it.

Yesterday was Larry Smith’s birthday. There was a party for Larry at The Little Jazz Room where he was playing. I planned on going. Never made it. I forgot.

Mea culpa, Larry. Happy birthday!

Instead bored and not certain what to do, I stopped at Schooner Wharf for a couple of drinks and then dinner at the bar at Pepe’s.

My day yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill. I have made a new friend. We both treadmill. His name is Dave.

Spent the afternoon working on tonight’s blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Great topics!

Today is National No Bra Day. An interesting topic for discussion.

Key West had a crocodile visitor at Smathers Beach recently for a week. I thought the croc’s visit dangerous. Some did not. Came up with an interesting article re crocodiles. Safe! In some parts of the world, people actually swim with them.

The EPA spends $75 million a year on military weapons. Why?

Male Americans went crazy in 1953 when Playboy printed its first nude center fold. Soon, no more. Playboy will shortly be dropping nudes.

Detroit is dying/dead. A well known fact. Ford has built ten plants in China and recently announced it will build three more there. Like turning your back on someone who raised you.

The Catholic Church Synod of Bishops in confusion and chaos. Much like the Republican Party. The Pope has his hands full.

These are some of the topics. All interesting.

Join me at 9 my time tonight. A quick half hour. Guaranteed you will enjoy. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

I enjoyed the sunrise this morning. I was up early and sat on the deck sipping a cup of tea. The sun came up behind me. Soon it shown on the MTV house across the way. The impact of the sun on the pastel yellow, pink and blue of the house magnificent. A joy to behold!

Enjoy your day!

 

COLUMBUS DAY

Posted on by

Happy Columbus Day!

Italian-Americans consider it their holiday. So do many other groups not Italian in any fashion.

Native Americans in recent years are claiming the day as theirs also. Properly so! Columbus promised to return with ships full of gold. He found no gold. To compensate, he took captured Indians back to Spain. The Indians were sold into slavery. He did this on two successive trips.

Columbus was not as nice a guy as thought.

This year, Columbus Day is October 12. Next year, October 10. In 2017, October 9. The reason is that Columbus Day by law is the second monday in October.

Oregon does not recognize Columbus Day. Why, I am not certain. A small Italian-American population perhaps? Or maybe they just do not like persons of Italian origin.

Speaking of Oregon, shame befell the state last friday. Obama visited to commiserate with the parents of the college students killed and to speak out against gun violence.

Gun supporters showed up. Hundreds or thousands depending which news release read. Signs and yells ridiculing the President. All an insult to the President. Signs like Go Back to Kenya, Obama Not welcome, Go Golf, and Go Home. Shouts of traitor and Benedict Arnold.

Respect, where have you gone?

The organizer of the gun supporters was Casey Runyan. A man with a checkered background. Not qualified to lead in any sense. Google him.

Needed Sloan in the afternoon. I could not tie together my KONK column. New material joined with a column I did two years ago. I am not computer literate. It took her all of 30 seconds.

This week’s KONK Life column is titled Worse Ever Congress. Can anyone argue with me?

Tavern ‘n Town last night. Since I never got out saturday night, I felt entitled to a good meal. I was not disappointed.

Judy bartending. A wonderful woman!

Michael Thomas entertaining. Three couples came in. Obviously on vacation. Sat at the corner of the bar near Michael. Ate and drank. Danced in between bites. A great sight, I thought. The six quietly enjoying their time away from home and responsibilities.

I was glad to see the U.S. win the President’s Cup. We have not been doing well in recent years against foreign competition. Close. 15 1/2 to 14 1/2.

Hillary came out for the Trans-Pacific-Partnership. Finally. She really is against it. Has supported the pact from day one. Politically unpopular for her to do so during a Presidential quest, however.

Obama supports the agreement, also. I do not understand why.

The agreement is nothing more than a license for other countries to steal from the U.S. It is next to impossible for the U.S. to compete. How can we against countries that pay workers significantly less per hour.

Bill Clinton got a similar type bill passed. Bush and Cheney supported the concept. Look at the results.

The pact is not good for America.

Volkswagen’s U.S. CEO appeared before a Congressional committee this past week. Apologetic. Eleven million cars involved. By his own testimony, it will take years to correct the problem.

The worst that will happen to Volkswagen is a stiff fine. A drop in the bucket compared to the profit they made over the years by failing to construct cars per the law.

The bad guys always seem to win.

Enjoy your day!

SATURDAY

Posted on by

My Saturday was easy and pleasurable. It was all day and night at home, however.

I slept late. Not a bad way to start a day.

Then got started researching this week’s KONK Life column. Worse Ever Congress. I did not decide on a topic till Saturday morning. Ergo, I had a lot to do.

I worked at it till 3:30.

The Syracuse/South Florida game. A disaster! Took me through 7:30. Grabbed some left overs out of the refrigerator. Then back to the column for a couple more hours. A little fine tuning and it will be done today.

The game was horrible! Syracuse lost 45-24. Syracuse was listless in the first half. Reminded me of many recent year Syracuse games. Syracuse looked better in the second half. Decidedly better. Like the team we have come to expect this year.

Victory was not to be. South Florida played exceptional football. Syracuse’s fabled defense non existent.

Too many Syracuse running plays in the first half. The ball should have been thrown more. When it was in the second half, Syracuse looked a hell of a lot better.

The Southernmost Marathon yesterday. 26.2 miles. Impressive. Never a desire of mine to do one.

Charlotte ran. Tried to figure where she came in. However, I started getting cross-eyed going down the columns.

Bocce rankings in the paper. Our team alone in second place with a 17-4 record. First place team has a 19-2 record. In third place is Balls To The Wall. 16-4. A half game behind us.

We play Balls To the Wall this Thursday. Serious bocce. Exciting!

Stone crab season begins Thursday. Love stone crabs! Look forward to enjoying them again.

Enjoy your Sunday!

YESTERDAY’S RECOLLECTIONS

Posted on by

Two of my dearest and long time friends were Jim and Sara Van Sickle. Some 20 plus years. Jim and Sara owned a small motel in New Hartford, NY, when first we met.

I remember them lucking out with the motel. A huge shopping center was to be built. The motel sat right in the middle of one of the two entrances to the shopping center. Later on, they operated a small neighborhood grocery store.

Solid people.

Both now gone.

Last night, I met their son Ron and his wife Betty. Strange as it may sound, I did not recall Ron. As soon as I saw him, I knew he could be no one else but Jim’s son. A dead ringer for his dad.

The three of us sat and chatted at the round table in the Chart Room. Much of the Van Sickle family came to mind. Ron’s sister Joyce who I knew. She and I are now FB friends. Her husband Bill, who I also knew. Lisa. Not my Lisa. Their Lisa. Knew her through her college and early teaching years. Lisa was Jim and Sara’s granddaughter.

I especially miss Jim. We had a strong bond. We were always there for each other. At the very least, communicated with each other by phone daily.

Jim and Sara…..One of the special relationships in my life.

While we were chatting, in came Sheila and Charlotte. Two lovely ladies. Charlotte spending the weekend with Sheila. Charlotte is here to run the marathon.

Ran into Dave in the Pier House parking lot. He was nearing the end of his friday night bar crawl.

I ended up having dinner at SQ 1. At the bar.

A special article ran this past week in KONK Life re SQ 1. Pictures of some of their special dishes featured. One was Shanghai spicy calamari. It looked so good, I had to try it.

The photo did not lie. Outstanding taste! A bit spicy, but good.

Nodded a hello to Mandy as I entered. Never saw her the rest of the evening. David bartending.

A fellow sat near me. Was eyeing my calamari. Asked if it was good. Absolutely! He ordered it.

His name T.J. Federer. From Louisville. Works for Humana.

His last visit to Key West 25 years ago.

We talked of many things. Horses, obviously. We hit it off. I stayed a bit longer enjoying the conversation with him.

There was a third gentleman near us. He joined the conversation near the end. Turned out he is Mandy’s husband. Mandy, the manager of SQ 1.

My morning yesterday was the anti-gravity tread mill. I am feeling that fourth day recently added on. The fourth day makes it three days in a row. I will adjust in due course. And then go to five days a week! Probably around Thanksgiving.

Rushed to do my portion of the KONK News Hour on 104.9. I get 10 whole minutes to discuss my weekly column with Guy. No radio show. Mechanical problems.

Fantasy Fest two weeks away. Crazy time! Begins with Goombay October 23.

Congressman Paul Ryan is in the news. I hope he does not succumb and take the Speaker’s post. The man is quality. Presidential timber. Although a conservative Republican, I like him. The Speaker’s job could make him enough enemies that someday down the road he would not be able to get the Republican endorsement.

Syracuse football today! Syracuse and Southern Florida. Three thirty. I am assuming I will be able to get the game on television. Hope so.

Syracuse a 2.5 point underdog. Why, I do not know. Syracuse is 3-1 and Southern Florida 1-3.

Enjoy your day!

 

THE WORLD IS UPSIDE DOWN

Posted on by

Two years ago, I published my first book. The World Upside Down. If I thought things were screwed up then, they are worse now. The world IS upside down.

The past two days a perfect example.

The U.S. House of Representatives. Congress in chaos, turmoil. Congress not working.

Major powers screwing up.

It was reported yesterday that Russia was firing missiles from a vessel at Syria. Four of the missiles landed in Iran. Russia’s friend. Russia denies such occurred. Claims it is part of psychological warfare on the part of the United States.

If the missile event did occur, it fits into my representation that the world is upside down. If it did not occur and the U.S. made it up, it likewise fits.

I forgot to mention yesterday an experience at Don’s Place wednesday evening. When I walked in, several mentioned congratulations. I heard the word lottery mentioned. I paid no attention.

After chatting with Don and David a while, John and Jimmy congratulated me on winning the lottery. I should be so lucky! All of us should be so lucky!

Jimmy told me the word was I won $10,000 on a lottery scratch off card. Not so.

I knew a local businessman back home who won $1 million in the lottery. One year later, he won another $1 million.

He died six months after his second winning.

Yesterday so so and easy. The anti-gravity treadmill in the morning. Spent the afternoon researching. I have not yet decided what next week’s KONK Life column will be.

Last night, bocce. We won 2 out of 3 games. Trounced in the game we lost.

Our record now 17-4. Someone said last night left us tied for second place. First place had only two defeats.

It’s amazing! In any other season, a win of 2 out of 3 games was considered a win. Not this season. We want to win 3 out of 3 all the time. The only way we can maintain our position. We are in a place we have never been before.

I am on the radio just past noon today. 12:10. 104.9. KONK News Hour. Guy deBoer will be discussing with me this week’s column. The Doctors Killed The President.

Only 10 minutes. If possible, listen in.

Enjoy your day!

AVERAGE AMERICAN EARNINGS SUCK

Posted on by

The average American earns less today than 40 years ago. We need to be reminded of this occasionally. We get used to things. We accept what is.

Everything we buy has become more expensive over time. Gas, food, housing, clothing, college educations, etc. More money needs to be earned each year to maintain existing standards of living. Raises that are not stagnant. Raises that keep up with inflation.

Whatever way you look at it, the existing situation a pay cut for most.

Workers are making more than 40, 30, 20, 10 years ago. Inflation has wiped out the increases.

Workers do not share in gains made over the 40 years. Only the very wealthy. A small group. The 1 percent/99 percent thing.

I mentioned yesterday that Key West food sales might be down. Today another thing that is obvious. At least to me. Key West is quiet this week. Unusually so.

There was a time when the summer and early fall were dead ass. Over the years, it changed. People now generally visit Key West all year long. I cannot recall in recent years the town being so quiet the first week of October.

Yesterday was screw off day for me. I started with the anti-gravity treadmill. Then treated myself to a manicure and pedicure at Lee Nails. Love Tammy! Rested in the afternoon. Napped a bit.

Don’s Place first last night. Spent time chatting with Don, David, Keith, John and Jimmy. Bocce the #1 topic. Dinner at the bar at Outback. Ran into Frankie and Sandy and their grandson. Sandy a member of the bocce team that beat us one game last week.

Frankie and Sandy’s backyard sets against Lisa’s. Their grandson has been playing with Robert and Ally for years, even though a couple of years older.

The young man had just come from the high school javeee football game. He plays center. The team had won and he was excited. Frankie and Sandy were, also. Proud of their grandson a better way to say it.

This week’s KONK Life column The Doctors Killed The President was linked this morning with my Key West Lou website. keywestlou.com.

Syracuse football again this saturday. The team drew a bye last saturday. Syracuse now 3-1. Play South Florida saturday. Syracuse a 2 1/2 point underdog.

Enjoy the day!

 

 

 

WEATHER CHANGING

Posted on by

It was a tough summer weather wise. Humidity the culprit. Perspiration big time.

The weather is changing. Getting cooler. Means still warm. However, the humidity level diminishing. Temperature has dropped from low 90s to mid 80s by day. High 70s in the evening. Another month and we will not esquire air conditioning nights.

Spent some time yesterday afternoon fine tuning last night’s blog talk radio show. I opened with Ben Bernanke’s new book. The Courage To Act. Bernanke was Chairman of the Federal Reserve 2006-2014.

Bernanke makes mention of  something few prominent people have expressed. Especially some one was part of the banking world. He says that the financial and banking execs should have gone to jail. To jail because of their conduct leading up to and causing the 2008 recession.

His position is that fining companies does not make sense. Companies, Wall Street, banks, corporations…..are merely abstract firms. Entities. The illegalities were committed by individuals. People. CEOs and other hierarchy.

Dinner at Roostica before the show. A few words with Bobby Mongelli re the weather.

My KONK Life column this week is The Doctors Killed the President. The story of President James Garfield’s death. KONK Life hits the stands today.

Corruption exists at the highest levels. Not just in the United States. Everywhere.

John Ashe was President of the United Nations General Assembly 2013-2014. My recollection is he was U.N. representative for one or two Caribbean islands.

Ashe was criminally charged yesterday for taking $1.3 million in bribes from Chinese businessmen while he was U.N. President.

Is anyone to be trusted?

The saying is…..Thank God it’s friday! For me, it is…..Thank God it’s wednesday. My writing schedule makes friday through tuesday evening heavy research and writing days. Some call wednesday hump day. I refer to it as screw off time.

Enjoy your day!

THE JAZZ SINGER

Posted on by

How many movies have you watched over the course of your lifetime? How much pleasure have you derived because of motion pictures?

Today is significant in the history of the movies. On this day in 1927, The Jazz Singer starring Al Jolson made its debut. A talking movie! Revolutionary!.

Many thought talking movies would not last. How wrong they were. History was made that day.

Yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill. I keep upping the speed. A little at a time. Yesterday left me tired.

Drove to Cuban Queen for coffee and the newspapers.

Then home to work on tonight’s blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Great topics! Lots happening.

I will be discussing the recent New York Daily News article suggesting the government list the NRA as a terrorist organization, 16 Eurounion nations opting out of GMOs, Russian Navy on the way to Syria, Saudi Arabia hiring significantly more Washington lobbying and public relation firms, Denmark and sex, plus more.

Show time 9. Length one half hour. Fast moving. Enjoyable. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Tavern ‘n Town last night.

The place more and more becoming a locals hangout. Especially the bar. Last night, I ran into Charlie, Stevie, and Eduardo. Also Valerie from Vinos and Susie from Estate Sales.

I mentioned yesterday I thought Key West restaurant business was down re food sales. Comments received interesting. Everyone thought I was correct. Hotels and alcohol expensive. Choices have to be made. People are cutting back on food.

South Carolina rain scary. Up to two feet in some areas. The rain storm has been referred to as the 1,000 year storm.

Global warming?

Sex. A wonderful thing! Nothing better!

Not always available.

A new solution? I ask with a question mark.

Robots. A company has invented a humanoid machine. The humanoid machine is designed to understand feelings and emotions. Some think it has sexual possibilities. The manufacturer says no. With tongue in cheek? Time will tell.

Cost of a humanoid $2,000.

Today is local election day for the City of Key West. Three city commission and three utility board seats on the ballot.

Key West has early voting. The early voting numbers down roughly 50 percent from 2013. Only 529 as opposed to a little over 1,000 two years ago.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

CROCODILE GONE?????

Posted on by

This morning’s Key West Citizen carries another picture of the crocodile that has spent the past week lolling off Smathers Beach. A brief note under the photo suggests the croc is gone. It was not seen over the weekend. However, there was a sighting off Hilton Haven during that time.

Quite a trip from Smathers to Hilton Haven. Going straight across west, not too long a trip. However only land, no water. It would appear if it is the same croc, it had a very long trip around Key West’s perimeter to get to Hilton Haven.

My suspicion, another crocodile.

Interestingly, since the Smathers Beach crocodile story hit a week ago, there have been further articles and talk that there are more crocs in the area than most thought. An iguana type invasion in the making?

Congratulations to the Marquesa for standing up to the phony lawsuit against them. There is a disabled person and attorney who have brought over 1,400 lawsuits under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Toilets not proper, improper access, and now no lift for a disabled person to get in and out of a pool. Marquesa was sued re the pool thing.

Marquesa’s defense is that the pool is not public, all amenities are for use by registered hotel guests only, and the plaintiff in the case was never registered as a guest at the hotel.

A court appearance is scheduled for early December.

I have a sense of something that has happened or is happening in Key West. Tourists are not eating as much as they have in the past at restaurants. They are drinking. Eating appetizers or cheaper street foods rather than full meals. Paying top dollar at hotels.

After paying for the hotel room and average $10 drinks, tourists are forced to cut somewhere. It is with the food.

I could be wrong.

Spent yesterday afternoon writing this week’s KONK Life column. The Doctors Killed the President. The story of President James Garfield’s demise. The doctors screwed up.

Pope Francis opened the Synod yesterday in Rome. A convention of sorts of 270 bishops. To deal with Church problems. Serious business. Especially since the Pope is trying hard to open the doors of the Church and the bishops are opposing him.

A few interesting opening comments by the Pope. “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” The Church is a “field hospital” whose doors must be open to all who knock. “A Church with closed doors betrays herself and her mission, and instead of being a bridge, becomes a roadblock.”

Denmark has a problem. A falling birth rate. Of concern to the government. Who will care for the elderly one of the concerns. China has a similar problem. Not enough female births. Result not enough women for marriage and child bearing. Caused by China limiting the number of children each couple might have.

Denmark has had a liberal sex policy for years. Sex education begins early in the school years. Birth control one of the items pushed. A contributing factor. Having unprotected sex at an appropriate time in life now being pushed also. Do your duty the cry. Do it for Denmark!

Enjoy your day!