VIETNAM LIVING MEMORIAL

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There are certain times in our lives that are heart warming and uplifting. Rare. Yesterday was one.

The Vietnam Living Memorial was dedicated. I missed the dedication in the morning. However made the party from 4-7 in the afternoon.

An experience.

There had to be a 1,000 people. Most seniors. Sixties and seventies. White haired, bald, bearded, paunchy. Smiling , laughing and high fiving each other.

The Vietnam War ripped our country apart. Most were opposed to it. President Johnson wanted it. I have always believed he wanted to be a great war time President as Roosevelt had been.

When the Vietnam veterans returned home, there were no welcoming parades, slaps on the back. No thank yous. They never received credit for having put their lives on the line for their country.

Today, the U.S. as a people have come around to recognizing the wrong done. The veterans are from the 1960 thru early 1970 era.

Key West said thank you, we love you, to the Vietnam veterans yesterday with the dedication and then party at Bayview Park.

Six black granite stones with the names of the 362  who served stand proudly. As proud as the veterans celebrating the event yesterday.

After the Vietnam party, I headed to the outside back bar at Aqua. Knew Mark Watson would be bartending. Mark was recently crowned Fantasy Fest King. Enjoyed chatting with him a while.

Then to Tavern ‘n Town for dinner.

The bar quiet. A lovely lady appeared and sat several seats away. We started chatting. When I had finished dinner, I asked if I could move over.

An interesting person. Her name, Anush. Sparkling eyes. Originally from Armenia, she now lives in London. Vacationing in Key West. She is a cyber security consultant.

We talked quite a while of many things. Agreed to meet for dinner friday evening.

It was back to book writing yesterday afternoon. Knocked out another Growing Up Italian chapter. Revised and edited it several times before I was satisfied.

It is about medical attention in the late 1930s. Home bred. Who went to a doctor? Who could afford a doctor? Someone in the family always knew what to do.

I was 4. We lived third floor front. Something like Clorox was bought by families to clean clothes and whatever else. It was called bouledine. An Italian word. I am not sure I am spelling the word correctly. I googled and could not find what I was looking for. If any of you know, please e-mail me.

In any event, the bouledine came in gallon jugs. My mother gave me an empty jug and told me to place it in the hall with the other empty ones.

The hall was long. I was running. I fell. The empty bouledine bottle cutting the palm of my right hand below the thumb. A large piece of glass sticking out of the wound.

My mother screamed. My Uncle Frank came running up from the second floor. Uncle Frank was carpenter. He took care of the problem

He took a large bread knife and worked the glass out. Cutting me a bit in the process. Then took a needle and thread and sewed the wound.  One inch long. Took four stitches. A scar remains today. The four stitches obvious.

Covered the area with mercure com. Everything was covered with mercure com in those days. I do not think it is sold anymore.  He wrapped my hand in a clean white cloth. I was the hero on the block the rest of the day.

Dracula in the Operating Room was linked to my Key West Lou website this morning. keywestlou.com.

I have an afternoon visit with the doctor. A follow up visit to my fall last week.

Bocce tonight. Big game! We are in 3rd place. We play the #1 ranked team. They are exceptionally good. Superior. Are first every year. If we win one of the three games, we will consider it a victory.

Enjoy your day!

 

DRACULA IN THE OPERATING ROOM

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Dracula in the operating room.

Dracula is the United States government. The operating room is the college student loan program.

A college education today is a costly thing. It has been for the last 30 years. Becoming increasingly more expensive each year. There was a time a young person eager for a college degree could work his/her way through school. A decent summer job and two to four part time jobs while in school. One or two small scholarships along the way helped.

I know. I and many like me did it. Of course back in 1953-57 when I was in college, the cost of room, board and tuition was $2,400 a year. A lot of money at the time. However, no where near the dollars involved today. A gallon of gasoline was 17 cents and a loaf of bread 10 cents.

The cost today of a higher education degree has gone through the roof. The cost of one year at a private college is $50,000 to $60,000 for room, board and tuition. The cost at a public university between $20,000 and $35,000 for room, board and tuition.

Public institutions of higher learning are obviously cheaper. Eighty percent of all American students attend publicly funded universities and colleges. The reason being that such schools are cheaper to attend.

As States have become squeezed economically, public assistance budgets have been cut dramatically. State schools receive less and less assistance each year. Public institutions have had no choice but to raise room, board and tuition charges. Administrators compelled to order increases across the board.

The federal government came to the rescue. A college student loan program. Every one could then afford to go to college. Borrow now and pay later.

Later became a problem. An unforeseeable one initially. A well known one today. Young people cannot afford to pay back the loans. The job market is down. Salaries for those college grads working much lower than anticipated. The where with all to pay non-existent.

The college student loan debt today is $1.1 trillion. Impressive. Any thing with a trillion dollars at the end is. Note that the U.S. debt to China is $1.3 trillion. The comparison made to show how extremely large the student loan debt has become. I read some where that it is even larger than all the credit card debt in the United States.

It has been recently discovered that the government gets a piece of the pay back dollars. A fee of some kind. There is a new statute in the works to help the student debtors. However, it will not eliminate the government receiving a piece of the action.

The government profited in 2012 $44 billion. In 2013, a bit of a slide. Only $41.3 billion.

Two corporations world wide made more profit in recent years. In 2012, Exxon Mobile profited $44.9 billion and Apple $41.7 billion.

If the government’s profit in either of the two years mentioned were to be paid out in Pell grants, maximum level payments of $5,645 would be paid to 7.3 million college students.

The government denies a profit is involved. It claims the accounting makes it appear to be a profit. I do not buy it, nor do many others. The $40 billion plus profit goes from a federal college loan fund account into the general fund. From the general fund, it is used to pay all sort of government bills. The government is running a for profit business which subsidizes other government activities.

It gets worse.

Federal legislation prevents a college student loan debt from being discharged in bankruptcy. A tough situation for the college graduate who cannot find a decent paying job in today’s society.

The government hires bill collectors. The government is under the impression that 76 to 84 cents will be recovered by pursuing those who have not or are not any longer paying. Good luck! The government will be lucky to recover 25 cents on the dollar.

The government has retained collection firms to pursue college loan debtors. They are referred to as collection specialists. One is NCO Group Inc. NCO is owned by JP Morgan. The same JP Morgan who helped give us the 2008 mortgage debacle and recession for several years.

The college student loan program is another example of how government takes care of its people when the weight of the economy causes them to  bend over.

 

 

VETERAN’S DAY

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A major holiday today. Veteran’s Day. To honor all military personnel who fought for their/our country.

November 11 is the official date for the holiday. The reason why November 11 is interesting. World War I ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. How about that!

The most important event today in Key West is the dedication of the new Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial at Bayview Park. Long in coming. Well deserved. Our Vietnam vets have long been forgotten. They never received their just due acclimation wise when they returned home.

The dedication is at 11. I was there for the groundbreaking. I hope to be there this morning for the dedication.

Cannot have a holiday without a parade. The parade on Duval and Truman is at 4 this afternoon.

My blog talk radio show interfered with my watching all of the Republican debate last night. Missed a half hour.

Love political debates! Trump still has me in a I don’t know place. He’s a bully. Question is whether he has the demeanor and intelligence to be President. My mind remains open.

H. L. Mencken was a famous American writer during the first half of the 20th century. He wrote something worthy of repetition on July 26, 1920 in the Baltimore Evening Sun.

“As democracy is perfected, the office of the President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people.

On some great and glorious day, the folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be occupied by a downright fool and complete narcissistic moron.”

Fits Trump. Trump is a fool and narcissistic. I disagree that he is a moron. Whether properly intelligent a question. Is he Presidential timber?

An article in today’s Key West Citizen indicates the hotels were not full for Fantasy Fest. Somewhere around 81 percent. However, the hotels did not get hurt. Room rates were higher this year.

Last year, the average cost of a room during Fantasy Fest was $238 a night. This year, $413.

Quite a hike!

I fear the hotels will kill the chicken that lays the golden egg. Restaurants and bars, also.

My ribs still bothering me. I cancelled the anti-gravity treadmill monday. The condition was aggravated by the treadmill friday. Still hurting. Cancelling the rest of the week on the treadmill. Wish the pain would go away.

This week’s KONK Life hits the stands at 5 this afternoon. My column this week is Dracula in the Operating Room. Love the title! The column is about the U.S. government and the student college loan program. The government Dracula and the loan program the operating room.

Why all the seaweed at Smathers Beach? Unusual.

Belly dancing. I remember a birthday party for a judge friend of mine back in Utica many years ago. At a point in the party, his wife came in dressed in belly dancing attire. She sat her husband in the middle of the couch. Then proceeded to dance for him. He alone. She had learned specially for him. Her birthday gift.

There is a belly dancing event soon in Key West. On November 16 at 5:45. 1511 Truman.

Womankind is involved. Event titled: Belly Enhancing with Belly Dancing. Should be fun. Go. I would, except my belly is too large for correction.

Almost forgot. I have had for several years two ugly growths on the top of my head. The dermatologist never wanted to cut them out. Yesterday the big one was oozing. I went to his office. He cut them both out. I am walking around with three bandaids on the top of that portion of my head that is bald.

Enjoy your day!

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE BAR

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Last night was interesting. I ate at the bar at Hogfish. My View From The Terrace.

Four couples at the bar. The ladies  had to be fish women. Each a beauty. Each with tanned and weather beaten faces that only come from being out on a boat all the time.

One of the ladies had a tiny dog. Not the smallest of dogs. A step up. The dog quietly sitting in her lap. The dog then sat in her man’s lap. Seated on the other side and next to the man was another lady.

The dog had his nose in the side of the woman’s breast. She turned around suddenly. I knew what was coming. She thought the guy was feeling her up. She started to say something and then paused for a second. Then laughed when she realized it was the dog. She said to the man next to her…..I thought you were feeling me up!

The bartender was young. He knew one of the couples. They said they had not seen him around town in a long time. He said yes, two years. He spends his days with his two year old. Nights working. Another on the way. My life is different, he said. And I don’t mind it!

One of the couples 50ish. Must be a relatively new relationship. Hugging and kissing away.

Another couple came in. Two guys. One a woman, I suspect. No, I would put money on it. A woman trying to pass herself off as a man.

Blond short cropped hair. Discernible breasts. A white man’s shirt. Kaki pants. Shirt tucked in. Tight waist. Spread hips.

They enjoyed a couple of drinks. She then pulled out a cigar. A large thick one. Lite up and puffed away. Knew how to smoke it.

Spent my afternoon yesterday working on tonight’s blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. A quick half hour of interesting topics. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Topics tonight include six year old Jeremy Mardis and the court ordered gag on the case, the reason why the cost of food has soared the past three years, police organization planning to retaliate against Hollywood filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, the Catholic Church very similar to the U.S. Congress, Donald Trump and H.L. Mencken, and more.

This morning’s Key West History section had an interesting item. Bagatelle’s building was not always on Duval. Until 1974, the building was at 716 Fleming next to the library. It was moved at that time.

Weather very calm this morning. Nothing moving. A bit eerie.

Syracuse plays Clemson this saturday. Clemson is #1 in the country. Oh, well.

The Republican debates tonight 7-11. I will miss the first part of the first team’s responses. My blog talk radio show at the same time.

I cannot believe the debate by the #1 team will be any better than in the past.

We shall see.

Enjoy your day!

 

GARDENS HOTEL

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The Gardens Hotel is hidden behind walls and foliage on the corner of Angela and Simonton. One of the Key West’s leading citizens is proprietor. Kate Miano. Charming. Beautiful. An outstanding business person.

One of the events Kate sponsors is a sunday get together for locals and tourists inside the gardens. From 5-7. Musicians on the back porch of the main building. Seating all over. A small bar to the rear. Always everyone greeting and hugging.

There was a time I went every sunday. Then, stopped. Don’t know why. Decided to stop in yesterday. Glad I did.

Chatted with Lynda and Bob Frechette, two people I have not seen in a while. Ran into many other friends and acquaintances.

I had a good time.

Kate was not there. She is somewhere in France.

I went downtown a bit earlier to see the Power Boat Races Parade. As anticipated, magnificent! People standing on both sides of Duval watching. The boats long and sleek. People sitting top side. Locals, boat owners and crews.

There are 40 boats entered in the races.

Following the Gardens visit, I walked over to La Te Da for dinner. At the outside bar. Crispy duck, of course.

I spent my morning and early afternoon yesterday writing this week’s Konk Life column. Dracula in the Operating Room. How is that for a title!

The column has to do with the college student loan program and the government’s involvement money wise. The government makes $40 billion plus a year in profit.

The government is Dracula and the loan program the operating room.

The Key West History section mentioned Alben Barkley having visited Key West to visit with President Truman. Barley was Vice-President at the time.

Barkley was Truman’s running mate in the 1948 election. The election where everyone gave Truman a hard time and no chance of winning. Barkley was Senate Majority leader. He stuck by Truman through out.

People were surprised when Truman selected Barkley. Barkley was 70 at the time. Back then, 70 was considered old for the man who might have to step in to serve as President.

The Citizen rang the bell twice this morning.

The World Almanac section made mention of the November 9, 1965 blackout. The blackout covered the entire northeast United States. 30 million were without power for a significant period of time.

My family and I were among those without power.

It was around 6 in the evening. I had worked out at the YMCA.  Just finished my shower when the lights went out. I looked out the window. The lights were out all over town. Attendants came by with flashlights and I was able to dress.

The streets were dark. No street lights working. No lights anywhere, except for the stars in the sky.

I got in my car and drove home. Radio would not work. I could not call my wife since cell phones did not exist at the time. Intersections were a problem. Traffic lights not working.

When I got home, my wife had candles out. Dinner had been prepared. I told the children we were going to have a party. It was cold. The oil burner had stopped operating.

We laid blanket on the living room floor. Lite the fire place. There we ate. There we slept.

As the night wore on, I was becoming concerned. Could this be the start of actual war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union? Don’t laugh. Serious business back then. We worry today about an ISIS attack. Nothing compared to the fear we had of a Russian attack back then. It would be nuclear war.

Utica was 14 miles from Rome. Rome had a SAC base. SAC would carry our nuclear bombs to Russia in the event of war. Rome would be one of the first places the Russians would hit.

Nuclear war was always in the forefront of our minds. Most of us were alive in 1945 when Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed.

Rockefeller was New York governor at the time. He had recommended people build shelters in their backyards. A concrete type bunker under the ground. Few did. We did not think they would help if a nuclear weapon were detonated.

The lights went back on the next day. Some non-consequential event occurred in another state that blew a generator or something. Parts of Canada were also affected.

Khrushchev was head of the Soviet Union at the time. A bully like Putin. Perhaps more so.

Khrushchev had attended a meeting of the UN General Assembly two years earlier in 1960. He took his shoe off, stood up, slammed his shoe on the desk before him, and lite into a tirade against the United States.

One of the things Khrushchev is remembered for is his threat to the United States: “…..history is on our side. We will bury you.”

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

RED BARN

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Key West is replete with live theater. One of the more notable is the Red Barn. It has been in existence more than 30 years. It sits in a small building in the back of the Key West Woman’s Club.

The Red Barn has done some upgrading this past summer. New chairs! Plush comfortable ones. The Red Barn claims the chairs are the most comfortable in Key West.

I look forward to trying one.

I spent considerable time yesterday researching this week’s KONK Life column. No title yet. I will write the column this afternoon.

The column concerns college loans. Loans that bury graduates for years. Loans they have difficulty paying. Some which graduates cannot pay in full.

The article covers many facets. One concerns the government making $40 billion plus dollars a year in pure profit off the loans. The graduates can’t pay, yet the government eats.

The government duns for payment in the event of delinquency. The loans cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. Collection agencies are used. One is a wholly owned subsidiary of JP Morgan.

Some things are simply too hard to understand.

I watched Syracuse/Louisville early in the afternoon. Louisville won 41-17. I thought we had a chance. I give up! I can wait till next year and the year thereafter for a good team.

I am at the point where I feel sorry for the Syracuse players. I can understand and sympathize.. When I was 13 and in the 8th grade, I captained the basketball team. The season was 18 games. We lost all 18 games.

Sq.1 first last night. Early. A few people at the bar. A new bartender. Jason. Dave went over to Rum Barrel where he is a daytime bartender.

Overheard some bar comments.

One discussion involved Fantasy Fest. Too much nudity. I was surprised. The other and more shocking was that the tourists were rude. A first.

The new Waterfront restaurant discussed also. Great food. Poor service.

I have not been to the Waterfront since it opened. I was there before its formal opening for the bocce party. I will have to stop by this week and see for myself.

Big parade today. On Duval. The power Boat Races Parade. Starts at 4. Go watch. Take the kiddies. Impressive.

Jeremy Madris, the six year old buckled in a car seat and shot by police officers. Two who have been charged with murder. I am not aware of all the details. They are still coming out.

Regardless of what occurred, there is no reason why Jeremy was shot in the head and chest several times killing him. No justification under any circumstances.

Joe Liszka. The best of Key West. Joe died October 14. His full obituary appears in today’s Key West Citizen. You might want to read it. He was a contributor to and maker of what Key West is today. Includes Fantasy Fest. He and his partner Frank Romano began and developed Key West Aloe into a world wide enterprise.

Joe was also a nice guy.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

 

 

DEMOCRAT FORUM LAST NIGHT A WINNER

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A time when Republicans are screwing up. In just about  everything. One being the Presidential debates. Terrible. A disgrace. The candidates in revolt.

Last night was a Democrat debate. Described as a forum. I can understand. All three candidates not on the stage at the same time. Each had his/her own time seated directly opposite moderator Rachel Maddow.

I learned more last night regarding Clinton’s and Sander’s positions and thoughts than I had before. The debate/forum a success from my perspective. Assuming of course that the purpose of these things is to make people aware of policy positions.

Maddow deserves credit for the success. She handled the entire event skillfully. No gotcha attempts. Previous moderators from debates by both sides could learn a lesson from Maddow.

Martin O’Malley for the first time got a chance to show his stuff. He is around 2 per cent in the polls. Made no difference. He was a candidate and got equal time. As a result, for the fist time people are aware of his positions and learned he is an intelligent personality.

Lunch with Jennifer yesterday at Roostica. We had business to discuss.

I ordered also a Sicilian deep dish pizza to go. My dinner last night. I stayed in to watch the Democrat forum.

Syracuse/Louisville at 12:30. I plan on watching. Hope I can get it on TV down here. So far every game has been available. Though none ever listed. I believe the game will be shown on CBS itself. Whatever, I look froward to watching.

Syracuse a 14 point underdog. Three key defensive players did not make the trip. Injuries. Not mentioned as an excuse. Merely for information purposes..

Syracuse is 3-5. Louisville 4-4. Just maybe Syracuse might win.

Howard Livingston tonight. At Casa Marina. He is entertaining the Parrot Heads. I believe the public is welcome.

Sick minds on the island. Nothing new. Still commenting negatively about Fantasy Fest. Specifically, this time the Zombie Bike Ride. A “drunken sexually charged, skin and leather affair…..madness.” As set forth in this morning’s Key West  Citizen’s Voice.

I have never participated in the Zombie Bike Ride. Just about everyone I know doses, however. Ingenious costumes. Bikes decorated. Faces skillfully disguised. Many families. Tons. Entire business offices.

I cannot believe drunken, sexual, etc. Most of the riders not the type who would do such things publically.

We live in a crazy world. I say it every week on my blog talk radio show. Another shooting. Marksville, Louisiana.

Six year old Jeremy Mardis buckled via a seat belt in the front passenger seat. His step father driving. Six year old Jeremy shot to death. His stepfather hospitalized with bullets lodged in his brain and a lung. The shots fired by police officers.

Two police officers arrested and charged with murder yesterday. The police chief on TV said the “…..most disturbing thing I’ve seen.” Meager details so far. Vague. I hope they come out today.

Today in the year 1917. The first free Russia government was overthrown. The White Bolsheviks headed by Alexander Kerensky were deposed by the Red Bolsheviks led by Lenin. Kerensky had been the first President of free Russia.

Alexander Kerensky taught me Russian history when I was in college. Exciting courses. Learning from a man who was there for the revolution and played a big part in it.

He had to escape Russia immediately when deposed. He escaped through European countries and then into South America. Eventually, he made his way to the United States.

Enjoy your day!

I FELL AGAIN

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I fell again. Last night. At bocce.

A step involved again.

I had just made a great bocce shot. I was excited. I turned around swiftly and stepped up out of the court. A six inch rise. Moved too fast. Did not lift my right foot enough. Stubbed my right foot on the rise/step.

Little damage. A one inch in diameter scrape. Bit of bleeding. Washed it off and someone gave me a large band aid.

Why do I mention these falls?

This blog is, amongst other things, my Life in Key West. Falling has become a part of that life.

We won all three bocce games. Wowie! Next week we play the #1 team. The best of the best! They are miles ahead of every other team in the league. Including ours. Not a negative observation. A factual one. We will be up for the match, however.

My yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill. Impossible to fall on it. I am locked in from the waist down.

Then to 5 Guys for a cheeseburger. I have tried to avoid meat for a week. I had a sudden desire for beef. Enjoyed the cheeseburger!

Not many people in 5 Guys. Strange. Three when I entered at 12:30. Three more came in while I was there.

The Parrot Heads Convention this week. The Parrot Heads are holding their convention at Casa Marina. They were joined last night by Jimmy Buffett! The Parrot Heads have been Jimmy Buffett followers for 24 years.

Buffett announced he will be playing in Havana saturday night. Wonderful! An example the US/Cuba reconciliation is working.

I will be on the radio today. KONK News. 104.9. Sometime between noon and one o’clock. I will be interviewed concerning this week’s KONK Life column The Looting of Social Security.

Democrat debate tonight. Rachel Maddow the moderator. Her questions will be right on in comparison to what the Republican candidates have been subjected to.

I will be watching. Friday night home in Key West watching a political debate! Love it!

Power Boat Races start this weekend. Exciting and dangerous! US 1 will be crowded today with boats being towed in for the races.

Syracuse plays Louisville tomorrow. Louisville a two touchdown favorite. Does not bother me. I hope we win. Not important at this point in the season, however. Next year we will be much better. The following year in the mix. Syracuse is heavy with freshmen  and sophomore players. Most of whom are starting this season.

Ben Carson is starting to worry me. Joseph built the pyramids to store wheat? If so, where did all the jewelry and mummies come from that I have spent years viewing in various museums? Why does the Old Testament fail to mention Joseph’s feat? The answer simple. It did not happen as Carson portrays.

Carson wanted to or did hit his mother in the head and wanted to stab or did stab a friend in his early years. Tied in with the Joseph belief, I am beginning to question his state of mind to be President.

Enjoy your day!

 

NO COMPROMISE WITH LIFE

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The crosswalks on Northern Boulevard are a disaster waiting to happen. Local officials not responsible. It was a State job. The State made the decisions.

Lights are needed at the crosswalks. The State is considering yellow lights. Key West leaders red lights. Louis, red lights.

It appears the State is pushing a compromise. You do not compromise with life. The need for the lights and the color of them is a life and death situation.

The Boulevard is a race track. Do the right thing!

Got a manicure yesterday at noon. Love Tammy!

Two ladies getting pedicures. Sharing a bottle of champagne. Flutes and all. The ladies knew how to live!

A fish sandwich at Hogfish last night. Fair sized crowd. Sat at an uncrowded bar and read the newspapers.

Super Boat Races start saturday. A whole week. End the following saturday. A major event!

This marks the 35th year the event has been held.

The big boats have started coming in. Long and sleek. Beauties. They will be parked everywhere.

Nothing like watching the races. The sound of the boats combined with the roar of the low flying helicopters exciting. Keeps you on edge.

“I’m Just Wild About Harry.” It is two days in a row I am writing about Harry Truman and the 1948 Presidential election. The song intro is not because I like Harry. It is what the crowd sang on November 5 when Truman returned to Washington after election.

Remember, Truman was supposed to lose. Not even a close election.

Reports indicate two-thirds of Washington turned out to welcome him. Described also as hundreds of thousands. They lined the streets the motorcade followed from Union Station to the White House.

The Washington Post predicted Dewey would win. As the parade passed by the Washington Post building, a large banner was visible on the building. “Welcome Home from the Crow Eaters.”

The National Catholic Reporter ran a featured article November 2. It had to do with pedophile priests. The article stated that in any area where a sex abuse situation occurred, people left the Church. Such resulted in a loss of cash flow. Not enough people putting money in the basket on sunday.

The numbers are interesting. The article says legal payments via settlement or otherwise to victims was $3 billion. I have read elsewhere, $4 billion. Whatever. Contrasted against the loss of Church collections, the claim is the Church has and is losing $2.3 billion per year.

I somewhat disagree with pedophilia being the reason many Catholics walked away. Many had left earlier. For me, it was birth control in the 1960s. My generation was unhappy with the Church’s position.

The decline in Church attendance obviously started long before the pedophilia discoveries. The Church was not paying attention.

After the recent Synod which closed last month, I fear the Church has failed to learn its lessons. Except for Pope Francis and a handful of bishops, the remaining bishops are not in accord with his changes to attract back Catholics who left.

This week’s KONK Life is on the streets. My column this week is The Looting of Social Security. One of the best I have written. Read it, if you have the chance.

The article was linked to my Key West Lou website this morning. keywestlou.com.

Bocce tonight. We could use three wins. I am a pig!

Enjoy your day!