Key West is experimenting. A promenade on Duval. Away with cars, motorcycles, bicyclists, and golf cart like vehicles. The streets open solely to pedestrian traffic.

Somewhere this morning I read there were no chickens on Duval. Correct! I have walked the promenade the past 2 nights and saw not one. Never thought about it till this morning.

Why I do not know. Strange. Several yeas ago, Key West hired a “chicken catcher.” He gave up after 2 months. Could not get the job done, he said. Too many obstacles.

Perhaps if we eliminate all type traffic on Key West streets other than pedestrian, Key West might finally eliminate the chicken problem.

Spent last night at the Chart Room. John bartending. Cindy and Steve back after 3 weeks away. Good to see them. The bar was packed off and on. Met many interesting people.

Till much later today, I will be reading and writing.

One of the books I am presently into is Becoming Michelle Obama. About 3/4’s through. I like the lady described in the book. She is a today woman of color who moved up from nothing to something. She expresses her journey modestly.

An every day woman.

Five will find me with Tammy. Time for a pedicure. Followed by Dueling Bartenders. Dinner at La Trattoria afterwards.

What a way to spend a monday evening!

On this day in 1939, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was in Key West. He was driven down the Overseas Highway from Miami. Inspected the inactive Naval Station. Then boarded the USS Houston to sail to the Caribbean where he had a front seat to the war games of which the Houston was a part.

What follows might be described as “heavy stuff.” Especially for a Catholic.

The homosexuality and pedophilia involving priests and boys has been news now for several decades. Still being dealt with.

Last week, Pope Francis announced priests and nuns sexually engaging with each other on a world wide scale. Bishops, included.

In three days on February 21, a book will be published exploring the depth of sexual depravity within the Catholic Church. Especially at the Vatican level.

Titled In the Closet of the Vatican: Power, Homosexuality, Hypocrisy. The author, Frederic Martel.

I read a lengthy review this morning. Shocking, even if only partially true. I am giving the benefit of the doubt however and taking the book as true until indicated otherwise.

Some comments/descriptions in the book include the term “closet” when referring to those participating, the very special friendships existing in the Vatican, how Benedict XVI was forced to resign because of the blatant homosexuality.

Francis being rebuffed by most in the Church hierarchy because of his pushing for reform, Frances further being given a difficult time because of his exposure of Vatican homosexuals and his revealing the down and dirty of what is going on within its walls.

It is claimed a majority of Cardinals share “inclinations” and consider themselves “family.”

Pronouncements about celibacy and vows of chastity concealing a completely different reality. A do as I say, not as I do attitude. Francis believes such must be exposed. The good Pope is most troubled by the “dizzying hypocrisy” of those who advocate a rigid morality while at the same time having a companion or escort. Such the “innocent” description of the homosexual partner.

Though not directly involving nuns, the book makes the point that nunneries are the bastions of lesbianism.

All heavy stuff. Especially if true. I suspect it is. My 83 years have witnessed the rigid authoritarianism of the Church when it came to sex. Ruthless. Many dutiful members suffering unreasonably by the no compromise attitude of the Church. Follow my dictates or go to Hell, in effect.

I plan on reading the book.

From the religious to the lay. Paying federal income taxes.

Two years ago, Trump successfully signed into law the “tax bill.” The promise was no more tax breaks for the special interests and tax loopholes would be closed.

Has not worked out that way.

An example is Amazon.

Amazon reported $5.6 billion in profit for 2017. Paid $0 in federal income taxes. For the year 2018, $11 billion. Paid $0 in federal income taxes.

Note the Trump law reduced corporate taxes from 35 percent to 21 percent.

Amazon has done nothing wrong. They properly took advantage of the new tax law, in addition to any tax credits available.

As did many other corporations.

All Trump succeeded in doing with his new tax law was to lower the taxes on the rich to the detriment of the middle class and poor. As I have suggested in the past, it is taxes paid by the middle class and poor that carry the U.S. Pay its bills. Not the corporations and the rich.

Enjoy your day!

Love presents itself in many forms.

California recently has been devastated by wild fires. The worst ever. Whole communities destroyed. Lives disrupted. Death visiting some.

Paradise, California, is a small California town. Nearly wiped out by the wild fires.

A local girl’s volleyball team was still determined to play their final championship match – despite having no uniforms or equipment after evacuating with only the clothes on their backs.

The opposing team from Lake Forest High School in Auburn was waiting for them with a big surprise.

Within 24 hours, they had collected donations of $16,000. When the girls from Paradise Adventist Academy showed up, they were greeted with new custom uniforms, knee pads, and socks.

A whole lot of love!

Key West is experimenting. Turning Duval into a promenade on weekends. Only pedestrian traffic. Merchants free to set up tables for dining or retail sales in the street.

Last night the second such night. I walked the area to get a feeling for what was occurring.

Too soon to have a definite feeling. Merely the test’s second night. I will need a few weeks to make up my mind.

The test needs to develop into what it might be. Last night, nothing terrific. If anything, an experiment by the restaurateurs and shop keepers.

The question in the end will be what better suits Key West. Duval as it was or the new night time scenario described.

Time will tell.

Finished my walk and headed over to Donna and Terri’s for dinner. What a meal! Donna is one of the best cooks ever! She had prepared chicken soup with pieces of chicken, carrots, celery, and matzoh balls.

The chicken had been fresh killed. The carrots and celery boiled soft. The matzoh balls made from scratch by Donna herself.

Donna placed a huge bowl of her artistry before me. Delicious! Perhaps the best home made chicken soup ever!

After dinner, we chatted for 2 hours. Great give and take about everything. Terri is not merely a great performer. She is educated and knowledgeable. Donna has smarts. Knows everything.

Then there is me.

The interesting thing about our conversation is that rarely did the 3 of us agree. We each drew on our own experiences in countering the other(s).

A terrific evening.

Big weekend at The Little White House. The structure commemorates Harry Truman’s 11 visits covering 175 days to Key West. He stayed at what is now known at The Little White house.

This weekend descendants of 4 Presidents are at the Little White House. An annual event. They spend 2-3 days and tell personal stories about their Presidential fathers, grandfathers,and great great uncle.

Mingling and talking with visitors are Truman’s grandson Clifton Truman Daniel, Gerald Ford’s daughter Susan Ford Bales, Dwight Eisenhower’s granddaughter Mary Jean Eisenhower, and William McKinley’s great great nephew Jack Massee McKinley.

Worthy of a visit.

Seek out my friend Mary. She is an official guide at The Little White House. Historically knowledgeable, especially re Truman.

The Los Angeles Times yesterday ran an article concerning Trump’s declaration of a National Emergency. The LA Times described Trump and the claimed emergency to a T: President Trump is the national emergency.

The measles epidemic has caused the flu epidemic to take a back seat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the U.S. is suffering a “low severity season.”

From October to mid February, only 17.8 million flu cases reported. Whereas in the previous year covering October through May, 49 million cases reported.

Some interesting history. Eniwetok Atoll is part of the Marshall Islands. It was important for U.S. forces to capture the atoll during World War II. It would provide an air base sufficiently close to Japan so as U.S. B-29’s could bomb the Japanese homeland.

On this day in 1944, U.S. troops landed on Eniwetok Atoll. Six days later, the U.S. forces has secured the Atoll.

Casualties between the forces had different results. Japan had 2,677 troops guarding the island. Six days after the U.S. landing, only 64 remained alive. U.S. deaths were 195.

Eniwetok Atoll has a second significance. In 1952, the Atoll was used as the testing ground for the first U.S. hydrogen bomb.

Amazing! In war and peace, tiny Eniwetok Atoll got the hell knocked out of it!

Man is gifted with extreme optimism. Hope springs eternal, things will be better in the future, etc.

The best, most sensitive, and emotional in my opinion are the closing words in Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind: “…..tomorrow is another day.”

The words immediately cause one’s eyes to lift and look forward in anticipation of that day.

Enjoy your Sunday!

The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.

Happened to me yesterday.

I was supposed to have a cath scan yesterday morning. Did preparatory blood work last week. Fasted yesterday morning.

The cath scan could not be done. An iodine dye is injected for contrast purposes. I am allergic to intravenous dye. Could die.

A total foul up. There are some pills I have to take to avoid the possible consequences of the dye. Not arranged. Plus blood work results to check kidneys lost somewhere.

I was not upset. Especially re the preparatory prepping. Want to get it right!

I am being rescheduled for next week.

Hospital visit not totally wasted. One of the nurses a member of Sons and Daughters of Italy with me. Ran into a nurse who took care of me for 10 years when I was with a different primary. And met Tracy. Some sort of big shot in the cath scanning department. She was kind, thoughtful, explained everything in detail, etc.

All the preceding took 2 hours. The scan would have taken 20 minutes.

I did not waste the morning. Almost noon when I left the hospital. Went to Harpoon Harry’s and enjoyed eggs benedict.

Last night began with the Chart Room. John bartending. Met Cregg. Great guy!

Cregg was bartender at the Chart Room in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. He was there when Mel Fisher and David Wolkowsky were regulars. Mel Fisher would always tell him “…..today’s the day.” Today arrived to the tune of $400 million.

Cregg’s recollections informative as well as interesting.

Cregg on vacation. Staying at the Pier House with his wife. He now works out of Atlanta. Does major food and drink events.

Mary showed up. We had dinner at Pier 1. Pier 1 is part of the Pier House. The food outstanding. No real formal dining room. The weather was warm so we ate on the outside deck.

Stepping back a day, thursday evening at the Chart Room was one of the best I have experienced. Saw some old friends, made some new.

The evening began with Pittsburgh John. We met 2 year ago in the Chart Room. A big man physically. In the cement industry. Visits Key West 3 times a year. Ran into him again last night in the Chart Room.

Chatted with Sam a while. A new acquaintance. Retired. Lives in Key West off and on. Here this time a year already. A carpenter in his former life. Worked his way up and eventually became a business agent for the union. He was very proud of his career and union affiliation. Properly so.

Abbie and Joe from Vanvilt (sic), Illinois.Both retired school teachers. Visit Key West once a year.

I especially love Abbie. She reads this blog every day!

They have 3 children and 2 grandchildren.

Met Jeff and Beth. From Pittsburgh. Friends of Pittsburgh John.

Jeff a former police officer. In a shoot out. If memory proves correct, he was shot twice. Now retired, he is in security work.

Wife Beth in finance.

They visit Key West 1 or 2 times a year.

Last but not least, Cindy and Larry. From Ontario, Canada. Met them before. Cindy on my love list. She reads the blog everyday, also.

Cindy and Larry own a second home on the golf course. The same golf course I live on. Cindy insisted I come to dinner. Great! Don’t forget me Cindy!

Trump has had another phony moment. He declared the national emergency he has been threatening for a couple of months.

A guaranteed loser in the courts. It will find its way to the Supreme court. Even a conservative Supreme Court will not tolerate his flagrant abuse of power.

Ian Welsh, the Canadian blogger I admire. Though I do not always agree with what he writes. On February 2, 2019, his blog was titled Republic’s End: The National Emergency. His thoughts re Trump’s declaring a national emergency.

He believes Trump to be wrong. I have picked a few lines out of his blog to share. Edifying.

He began with the famous Benjamin Franklin quote re a Republic. Franklin was asked at the Constitutional Convention: “Well, Doctor, what have we got-a Republic or a Monarchy?” Franklin responded: “A Republic, if you can keep it.”

Some Welsh comments directly.

“If you have an abusable law or power, it will eventually be abused.”

“If you set up a law that allows someone to act as a dictator, someone will.”

“The U.S. is accelerating its slide towards depotism.”

“The Founders knew all Republics end.”

Welsh does not believe Trump will be the man to end the U.S. Claims Trump is too incompetent and petty. However, Welsh believes this act by Trump in declaring the national emergency moves the U.S. closer to that day.

I frequently comment that U.S. victims of natural disasters are forgotten. Those of hurricanes and fires. I am correct. The following supports my conclusion.

Rep. Neal Dunn, a Republican, represents the Panama City area of Florida. Part of the Panhandle. Destroyed by Hurricane Michael last October. A category 4 hurricane. Knocked everything flat.

Dunn is disappointed. Those he represents are disappointed, suffering, and angry.

The bill recently signed into law to avoid another governmental shutdown failed to include any relief for the Panhandle. Though the Senate and House had approved $12 billion and $14 billion respectively for disasters. The votes took place 3 weeks ago.

The “disasters” were left off the table in the final deal made.

Let me put this in perspective. One third of all peoples in Florida and Georgia are homeless because of Michael.

Indications are the disaster funding was left out of the law so as to be used in future negotiations re a further spending bill. Such would give Republicans leverage in negotiations with the Democrats.

How callous! How thoughtless! How unconcerned!

When Dunn arrives home to the Panhandle, no one will care about budget negotiations down the road. They need basics. Shelter, water, food, sewage facilities, etc.

The people of the Panhandle claim they have been forgotten. They have.

Representative Dunn says, “I am going home to a disaster.” He is. As well as the rage of those he represents.

Enjoy your day, if you can under the knowledge that others are suffering big time and that those who should care are not.

Morning Stew time once again! I got caught up in the Virginia race and sex items and wrote about racism and sexism 2 days in a row. Catch up time now.

Two days of notes shared in no particular order.

Squeaky Fromme. Remember that name? She was part of the Charles Manson cult/family back in the late 1960’s. She did not participate in the Sharon Tate murders, however.

Squeaky spent 34 years in jail for attempting to assassinate President Gerald Ford. She was released August 14, 2009.

Why is she of significance to my blog? When released, she went to live at 6772 Benton Road, Marcy, New York, with her boy friend Robert Valdner. He had pled guilty to a manslaughter charge in 1988.

Marcy is next door to my home town Utica. They actually adjoin.

I wonder how many know she lives there.

Marcy is a tiny town. Around 8,000 people. In a Wikipedia listing of Marcy under Notable People, 2 are named. One is Squeaky.

How a town gains fame!

A huge crowd sunday at Hot Dog Church. Close to 200, I would estimate. The crowd to celebrate Nancy’s 60th birthday. An Age of Aquarius party.

Many dressed for the occasion. In the hippy style of the day. Many men in attendance in honor of Nancy’s birthday. They too were dressed. What is good for the goose is good for the gander on such occasion.

The Back Bar, Side Bar and inside rooms were packed. People dancing in between people standing and talking. Everyone having a good time!

Donna and Terri in attendance. Terri sang a couple of songs. Blew everyone out! Donna was dressed as she probably did back when. Looked fantastic! Black pants and blouse. White bandanna around her forehead.

Nancy is very well liked. Helpful to all. All the time. This past year has been a bad one for her. A double mastectomy and then a fall resulting in a broken wrist. May all the bad things be behind her and her future years illness free.

Knew many. Including Laurie, Ingrid, Lynda and Bob. Pam, too. I had not seen Pam in a year. She had a heart attack near the time we last met. Everything fine now! God bless her!

John telephoned from the Chart Room. Someone wanted to see me. Would I come over? Eventually did. Glad I did. Met a terrific couple. Michael and Carolyn. Both extremely interesting.

Presently hail from New Mexico. Michael aka Michael Norviel an artist. His works locally show at the Art Gallery at 830 Caroline.

They have been visiting Key West for years. Michael actually lived in Key West in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. He was 8-14 years old at the time. His Dad a contractor working for the Navy.

Michael is 80 and Carolyn 75. Both young and vital.

Michael still paints. Carolyn is retired from a most interesting position. She worked years at the University of New Mexico. A fundraiser. Her job to bring in the big dollars. We shared many stories. I was a big donor at one time at Syracuse. She knew all the tricks surrounding fund raising. I learned many by being the one solicited.

Chatted with another couple sunday night after Michael and Carolyn left. I am ashamed. I failed to write their names in my note book. Whatever, another great couple. I had met them the night before, also.

Visiting From Syracuse.

The husband into Presidential libraries and the like. He had visited Hemingway House earlier in the day. He was the one who told me about Squeaky Fromme living in Marcy.

Last night was Dueling Bartenders. Terri guest performer. What a voice! Joined with Rick Dery, a volatile combination.

Liz, Josephina, Mary, Myra, and Donna enjoying the evening. As well as the other Mary.

I had never met Myra before. She came over to thank me for being so kind to Liz. Whenever I see Liz, I hurry over to her and give her a hug and kiss.

Liz  is moving on. Now in a wheel chair. They let her sit on a bar stool. However, she must be picked up and placed thereon as well as lifted when returning to the wheel chair.

I met Liz 3 years ago. She was vibrant. We hit it off immediately. She 2 years older than me. Her mind sharp. Liz in her other life had been Dean at 2 law schools and the head of the Law Boards for years. A big time legal career!

We dated for a while. Dinner at Berlin’s and the like. She would prepare lunch or dinner for me at least once a week. Her culinary skills outstanding. Knew her wines.

Always a good time!

Now, she barely talks. In and out of the hospital frequently.

Such is life.

Met Teresa and Sam from southern Illinois at the bar. Corn and soybean farmers. I got into China, the tariffs, cash flow, etc. Teresa surprised me. She said they were not hurting. Their production was selling. No change.

It was difficult for me to follow. I suspect how and who you sell to or through has something to do with it.

Teresa and Sam have been coming to Key West for 25 years. They are renting a condo at Truman Annex for a month.

They have a son and daughter. The son is in business with them. The daughter in investments with Edward Jones. Plus 4 grandchildren.

Mary and I had dinner afterwards at La Trattoria. Tiffany bartending. Tiffany and I have known each other for 25 years. Amazing!

I enjoyed spaghetti with oil and garlic. So much for love making afterwards. Mary went to Virgilio’s and I home.

A measles update.

Mother does NOT always know best. Measles were eliminated 20 years ago. But…..

The epidemic is world wide. In the U.S., in certain areas. Generally where a large number of parents exempted their children from inoculations.

Washington is one of the States experiencing an epidemic. A particular County a large number. Clark County. Fifty three infected. Mostly children. One in 4 overall. Forty percent of them kindergartners.

Clark County parents had gone to court and received exemptions from the law requiring children prior to beginning school to have certain inoculations. The grounds for exemption had to be religious or personal beliefs.

One physician said that letting a child go unvaccinated against measles is like dropping a lighted match into a can of gasoline. The explosion/fire spreads rapidly. How an epidemic begins.

Big time in El Paso last night! Trump and O’Rourke speaking at different places. Close however. At one point, Beto’s group marched across the street to where Trump was speaking.

Numbers in attendance important to Trump. He was in a building holding 6,500. He claimed 35,000 there to hear him.

O’Rourke in a park. Police estimated 7,000. Trump said 600. Even dropped the number to 15 at one point.

I give them a tie as to numbers. As to content, not even close. O’Rourke came out way ahead.

Bum Farto, where are you?

Farto was the Key West Fire Chief back in the mid 1970’s. Highly successful. Besides protecting the populace from fires, ran drugs and hookers.

He was arrested and tried in Federal Court. Found guilty of 3 drug violations.

On the day he was to be sentenced, he left home in his car. Never to be seen again. Disappeared! Did not make it to court. No one sure what happened to him.

Some believe he disappeared Jimmy Hoffa style. Others believe to this day he is lying on a beach somewhere with a beautiful young lady next to him having successfully avoided paying his debt to society.

I close with the lovely Judy Blume.

The world knows Judy Blume. Successful author. Wrote books for young ladies/teenagers initially. Many. Her books have sold in excess of 80 million world wide and have been translated into 30 languages.

She is up there with Hemingway and Tennessee Williams.

Judy now a Key West resident. She and her husband own Books & Books in Key West.

I make mention of Judy today because it is her birthday. She was born this day in 1938. Happy birthday, Judy!

Almost forgot. One last item. My podcast show this evening. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Join me at 9 for a quick interesting half hour. Listen to me rant and rave about this and that. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

Virginia has provided the opportunity to explore two today issues. Racism and sexism.

Yesterday, I covered certain perspectives of the racism issue. Today, sexism.

I am lifting portions of the Justice Building Blog of 2/9/19. Thoughts therein are worthy of consideration.

Before quoting, accept that sexual assault in and of itself is unforgivable.

We begin.

“Can we overlook certain moral failings in leaders who otherwise are historically good? Would today’s General Eisenhower be removed from command (and banished from public service) for the revelation of an affair with a young woman on his staff? #METOO would roar about the inequities of a young aide submitting to the sexual desires of a powerful older man who is her supervisor.

And what of General Eisenhower’s superior? Would Franklin Roosevelt’s Presidential campaign have survived the revelation of his long-time affair? Would President Johnson have been able…..to shepherd the first civil rights bill through the Senate if his philandering ways had been revealed? Who would have been President in 1962 and have had the courage to stand down his generals who were advocating bombing and invading Cuba–a certain prelude to nuclear war–if candidate John Kennedy’s multiple dalliances with young women who clearly were not on equal terms of power with him had been revealed and he was forced to withdraw from the race?

Do we diminish Martin Luther King’s accomplishments because he was not faithful to his wife? Do we discount Jeffersonian democracy because Jefferson owned and slept with his slaves?

In short, if we only accept leaders who are morally perfect in every way, are we defaulting to mediocrity?…..

Who do you want landing your plane in a storm? A mediocre pilot who is faithful to his wife, or the best damn aviator the airline has who sleeps around on her husband?

Which surgeon do you want operating on you? The barely competent one who spent her college years tucked away in her dorm room, or the arrogant college jock who mocked Hispanics but matured into the most talented, kind, and caring surgeon who deeply regrets his actions and donates his time to doctors without borders to atone for his actions in college?

…..what about the wise Judge who twenty years ago as a young lawyer struggled in business and ended up with a tax lien that took a few years to pay off? Should he be disqualified from holding office and instead should we have a wealthy, spoiled, and indifferent Judge with no tax liens but also no common sense?

None off us are perfect. ‘Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone.’

What worries us is not so much the leaders who we force to resign, as much as the future President Roosevelts and General Eisenhowers who never chose to serve because there is a picture of them at age 18 or 20 doing something offensive and stupid as 18-20 year olds are wont to do. Are we condemning ourselves to a future of mediocre but morally correct leaders? That is the worst tragedy of all.”

Enjoy your day!

Blackface.

A today issue. A hot potato.

A thought occurs. Are we condemning ourselves to a future of mediocre but politically correct leaders? Such might be a worse tragedy.

Another thought occurs. Where do we draw a line on a person’s youthful stupidity? Such stupidity commonplace.

Food for thought.

In the meantime, Al Jolson and Amos and Andy come to mind.

Al Jolson a great American entertainer. Vintage 1920’s-1930’s. Many times black faced. Mammy! Made the first talking movie.

Do we destroy his old films and recordings?

Amos and Andy a popular comedic radio show from 1928 to 1960. Its 2 stars were white men speaking the black dialect of the times.

When the show went on TV, they were no longer Amos and Andy. Black actors were hired to play Amos and Andy.

As with Al Jolson, Amos and Andy are part and parcel of America’s entertainment history. Shall we destroy the recordings of their radio shows?

What further causes concern is the propriety of applying the political correctness of today to actions which occurred 30-45 years ago.

There are additional thoughts to be shared. Left to another day.

Enjoyed yesterday afternoon. Watched Syracuse beat Boston College 67-56. Syracuse had a 20 point lead in the second half. Boston College whittled it down to 6. A bit nerve wracking.

Last night began with the Chart Room. Mary waiting for me. John bartending.

Two Pier House guests from Syracuse were seated next to me. They had arrived yesterday afternoon. A week’s vacation. First time in Key West.

Tim and Mary Beth. Nice people.

Tim’s historical interests impressive. He visits Presidential libraries, among other things. He asked about the Hemingway House. He did not know there was a Little White House. I am sure he will visit both.

Mary has been after me to join her on a Saturday evening for dinner at Harpoon Harry’s. To try the Saturday night special. Steak, potatoes and vegetables for $9.99.

You get what you pay for. I did. A piece of tough sirloin. The potatoes and veggies were good.

I enjoy Harpoon Harry’s for breakfast and lunch. Last time I probably will have dinner there, however.

Facebook friend Maryannbruno sends me daily Minion quotes. I have been ignoring them. Today, I took a look. Great stuff! Thank you, Mary Ann.

This morning’s Minion read: Two blondes were driving to Disneyland. The sign said: Disneyland Left. So they started crying and headed home.

Came across a recent study regarding high schoolers who are virgins. I would have thought the number astronomical. Not. Actually, there has been a significant reduction over the years.

In 1980, 49.2 percent of females were virgins. In 2017, 62.3 percent.

As to males, in 1980 42.67 percent were virgins. In 2017, 58.6 percent.

The recent percentages impressive. May they continue upward. I am old school.

I close with further comment re American farm production.

Mentioned a few days ago that farmer bankruptcies were up 100 percent from those that took place in 2008. A major recession occurred in 2008.

I wish to portray the American farmer’s economic woes further.

If matters continue as they are, the farmers’ struggling will lead to a catastrophic food supply in the U.S. Simply stated, there will not be enough to eat.

Government interference in the agriculture industry will have been responsible. The problems three-fold: regulated low prices, tariffs, and inability to export.

It is crisis time for farmers. They cannot make enough money. First it was they could not sell, now it is they cannot afford to plant.

American farm income under Trump is the lowest in 15 years.

A slight raise in interest rates also affecting the situation. As well as low commodity prices affecting not only bottom line profitability, but also viability.

Farmers are reluctant to borrow if they cannot pay back. In that regard, banks are playing hard ass with farmers. Denying loans. Pushing foreclosures.

The Trump administration is destroying America’s food industry. Actually, it may already have.

Lack of food could reach apocalyptic levels. As occurred in Greece 10 years ago and in Venezuela in recent years.

Greek farmers could not afford to grow since the stores were not able to buy because customers did not have monies to purchase.

Several years go, Venezuela suffered similarly and still does. Things got so bad people first ate their pets. Then attacked the zoos and killed the animals for meat.

The United States could fall into a similar scenario if the trend which began under Trump continues.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Today, America recognizes one of its favorite foods. Pizza.

It is National Pizza Day.

Buy a piece and enjoy!

Yesterday bed day for me. Rose early. Did my blog. Back to bed for the rest of the day. Body and spirit required it. Needed. The previous week’s physical and dental problems and doctor visits had knocked me on my ass.

I feel rejuvenated this morning.

Ian Welsh is a Canadian blogger I read. He publishes about 3 times a week. I do not always agree with him. However his thoughts are interesting and challenging.

His most recent blog appeared February 7th. Titled: Abused People Usually Make Bad Decision. A blog I am in agreement with.

Quite lengthy. I have decided to pick and chose paragraphs and paraphrase best I can.

The blog deals with the rise of the political strongman. Authoritarian figures. People like Trump. Trump and similar type world authoritarian figures have a refined playbook for acquiring and consolidating power.

Austerity is involved. Think about it. Government functions weakened by tax cuts and privatizations given to the rich.

In the U.S., the media is being eviscerated by constant degrading badgering. Journalists being laid off. Necessary oversight by the media diminishing.

A trend as to fault. Not limited to a few bad apples and one bad President. It is instead something deep in the roots in the hegemonic power of the age. The United States.

The trend will continue as long as the American people are sheep. As long as the needs of the many are subordinate to the needs of a few. As long as large groups of the many are impoverished, they will remain demagogue bait willing to support authoritarians.

Most American people are quietly scared. Uncomfortable. Their leaders despise them and care not if they hurt them. Their leaders rarely think of them. They think only of themselves, their friends, and getting reelected the next time around.

Whenever Americans find someone they think is strong and on their side, they flock to that person. Wrong to do so. However, abused people make bad decisions.

Like Donald Trump.

Duval Street is going to have a promenade. A great idea! Should have been tried years ago.

A test/trial is involved. From February 15 to April 27, Duval blocks 500-700 will be closed to traffic. The three blocks in effect becoming a walking mall. The promenade will be permitted 2 nights a week. Friday and saturday from 5 pm to midnight.

Restaurants and shops will be permitted to set up tables and shops on the sidewalk and street. Within 17 feet of their storefronts. A middle lane must be left for emergency vehicles.

The purpose of the promenade experiment is to encourage foot traffic.

A brilliant idea!

It works effectively in Milan, Italy. I have visited Milan several times. On the most expensive high end street, dining and sales take place on the street if so desired. Loved it! Something different and exciting.

The Pebble Beach Golf tournament is this week. From February 7-10. Today the third day of the tournament.

A series of courses comprise Pebble Beach. The historic Pebble Beach course itself, Spanish Bay, Spyglass, and one other I cannot recall.

This year the U.S. Open is being played as part of the Pebble Beach event.

The courses are beautiful. Especially Pebble Beach itself.

Some 30 years ago, I went on a golf trip to California to play Pebble Beach. A WOW! to play the course.

Absolutely beautiful! Sits on Monterrey Peninsula. Half the holes on a thousand foot cliff running straight down into the Pacific.

There is the famous 17 mile drive. Along the cliffs as they extend beyond Pebble Beach. Thrilling! Daring!

The courses difficult. Especially Pebble Beach itself. There were 8 of us. Except for me, all normally shot in the 80’s. All except one shot over 100.

I was the worst golfer. Have always been. Normally shoot 135. On the days we played Pebble Beach, I shot around 150.

Hole 7 sticks in my recollection. A par 3. Only 100 feet long. Tee sits on top of a wind blown hill. The green 100 foot dramatically downward to a green sitting in the ocean surrounded by sand traps, rocks, and then ocean.

My “friends” insisted I shoot first. They wanted to watch my ball in the wind. I never made the wind. Instead of hitting the ball up, I shanked it. The ball shot straight down, hit the rocks, ran into a sand trap, and then onto the green.

I had failed the group. They were quietly moaning.

After the others hit, mine was the only ball on the green. Two I think in sand traps. The rest in the ocean.

With a smile on my face, I thought…..Screw them!

Green fees were high. If we stayed at the resort which we had, $275 per day. Plus caddy. We wanted professional caddies and not carts. Another $50 without tip.

Today, $525 dollars to play. Caddie fee without tip around $100.

Pebble Beach was the hardest course I ever played. One hole, not the 7th, impossible to play. At least for me.

I enjoy watching the tournament each year. I can recall every hole as the pros move along.

Almost forgot. My Clint Eastwood moment.

We were playing atop the cliff and I hit my ball into someone’s yard on the edge of the cliff. The house was relatively small. The only home around as far as the eyes could see in either direction.

The yard was surrounded by a short fence.

Looked and saw no one in the house. Stepped over the fence and retrieved my ball. As I was so doing, a ranger came by to tell me I was in Clint Eastwood’s yard.

He was not home at the time. Never the less, I was excited.

I watched Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker before the House Judiciary Committee yesterday. An asshole! Fortunately, he is being replaced next week. I trust his replacement will merit being the Attorney General of the United States.

Whitaker was a joke. Not bright.

Each Representative had 5 minutes to question. Including Chairman Jerrold Nadler.

Nadler had run over the 5 minutes. Perhaps Whitaker did not like his question. In any event, Whitaker said to Nadler, in less than a polite tone, “Your 5 minutes is up.”

I came across an interesting article in Economic Collapse. Mind Blowing Facts About America. It listed 35 separate facts. I selected 10 to share with you.

1. In more than half the States, the highest paid public employee is a football coach.

2. One third of all American teenagers have not read a book in a year.

3. The suicide rate in the U.S. has risen 33 percent since 1999.

4. Women have earned 57 percent of all bachelor degrees in the U.S. 18 years in a row.

5. The U.S. does not have a single airport considered to be in the top 25 in the world.

6. More than 100 churches in the U.S. are dying each week.

7. More than 27 million acres of farmland in the U.S. is owned by foreigners.

8. One quarter of the world’s prison population is in the U.S.

9. 56,000 bridges in the U.S. are structurally deficient. Vehicles cross these bridges 125 million times a day.

10. One third of all millennials are living with their parents.

My day will be quiet. I will watch parts of the Pebble Beach tournament. I am meeting Mary at the Chart Room at 6. I am her guest at dinner afterwards.

Enjoy your day!

The measles outbreak getting out of hand. It has spread across the U.S. Only one State not affected. Louisiana. Eighty four cases total.

An epidemic. World wide also.

There was no vaccine to prevent measles when I was a child. Nor was there for my children. Then some one discovered a vaccine. Twenty years ago, the vaccine had eliminated measles.

Measles have returned.

It will be dealt with effectively in short course. The suspicion is that the failure to inoculate all children over the years is the cause. Some parents feared death or some other adverse effect to the child. The courts supported their position and waived the requirement that all children had to be inoculated for that particular child.

I have a personal story to share involving measles. A touching one.

My cousin Bob Lavallo lived in Stamford, Connecticut. At age 3, he came down with the measles. The attack caused him to become deaf.

He succeeded in school and business, never the less. He learned to read lips effectively. Eventually owning a plant making specialized furniture for the rich. He became rich.

I was visiting him. His home in the woods.

A new hearing aid had been developed. The doctors thought it might help him. He was in his 40’s at the time.

He said, “Let’s go for a walk.” As we got outside, he placed the hearing aids in his ears.

We were well into the woods. He stopped and asked, “What is that noise?” “What noise,” I asked. I heard nothing strange. He said, “That noise.”

I heard it. It was the wind in the trees. He had never heard it before.

Heart doctor time yesterday. Dr. McIvor. The best! I respect his ability.

I was there for my cholesterol blood test results. Everything ok. Down the middle.

He was concerned about my aortic valve stenosis. A while since the last test. He has scheduled me for a CT test next week.

My blood pressure had skyrocketed. Skyrocketed to me. One hundred fifty five on the topside. Eighty three on the bottom.

My blood pressure had been a problem for years. McIvor had me under control. I was running around 80 over 60.

Why the 155? Could be pain induced from the disc problem or the dental pain. Whatever, he was not concerned. I was. I am going back to taking my blood pressure every day.

It was 3 in the afternoon by the time McIvor was done with me. I had not eaten all day. Had my guest appearance on Laurie Thibaud’s radio show at 4.

Stopped at the Pier House Beach Bar. Fish and chips. Read the newspapers. A calming time.

Joined Laurie at 4 on Party Time. Station 107.5 FM, WGAY FM.

Laurie’s doing a great job! Fist time as a radio announcer. She’s a natural.

We bantered back and forth till 5:30 about everything.

A good show. Join us next thursday. You will enjoy.

The radio station is across the street from the Pier House. It was an easy walk to the Chart Room.

Doug at the bar. See him very infrequently. It was good to chat with him. He works as a guide at the Hemingway House.

His Friend Dan came in.

Soon after, Mary arrived. We had planned to do dinner together. She was dressed for an elegant dinner.

Told her immediately…..No dinner! I ate at 3. I was a party pooper.

Mary handled it well. Then I added I was exhausted. I would be  going home early. A real party pooper!

Enjoyed a drink together and I was off to home. She and Doug are good friends so I did not feel guilty.

The Sheriff maintains an animal farm. Has for years. A big deal. An officer is in charge. The inmates help.

The farm continues to expand. Two armadillos were added this week. Hank and Cricket. Nine-banded. Common to the Americas.

Hank and Cricket previously had been someone’s pets. They had to be given up. The Sheriff took them. The word is they have adjusted well.

Tariff wars are good! So spoke Trump when he was getting the U.S. into them.

They are no good in most instances. Middle America’s farmers are hurting. Big time! They cannot sell the soybeans, wheat and corn grown. China their biggest customer. The tariffs imposed are too high.

Farmers cannot meet their bills. Especially their mortgages.

As a result, farmer bankruptcies are 2 times higher than 10 years ago. Ten years ago being 2008, the beginning of the recession.

Russia and Brazil are benefiting. They are grabbing China and other U.S. farmer customers. The business lost will take years to return.

Trump did a good job. He is destroying a major U.S. industry. A group that supported him in 2016. I doubt they will be there for him in 2020.

A massive Harvard study has been published. Concerning marijuana and its affect on a male’s testosterone. For decades, the public has been told smoking pot decreased the ability to produce sperm. No sperm, no conception, no children.

Such was the indication of previous studies.

The recent study took 17 years. Clearly showed an increase in testosterone level.

The word is for males to smoke pot if they want to impregnate their mate.

As good and as long as the most recent study was, the clinicians are uncertain if their conclusion is correct. The earlier studies were thought good, also. They say more studies are required.

They further suggest that the newest study might be the Bible and so see nothing wrong with smoking marijuana.

Enjoy your day!

I was curious. How did Tennessee Williams get the Tennessee first name? Research proved interesting.

Tennessee Williams real name was Thomas Lanier Williams. He changed his name to Tennessee Williams when he moved to New Orleans at age 28. He selected Tennessee because his father had been born in Tennessee.

A strange decision. Tennessee and his Dad did not get along. His father overbearing, demanding, more concerned with work than being a father.

Tennessee in later years would create Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin  Roof based on his father. Interesting in how Big Daddy’s relationship with his son was portrayed in the film. The son’s homosexuality quietly existing in the background.

Williams subtly combined his father and himself into main characters in the story.

A dentist visit began my day yesterday. I have implants. I suspected a screw change required. So too did the dentist.

Such was not the case.

Spent an hour in the chair while the dentist tried to match the screws up. They would not click. Pain and discomfort. Not supposed to be a problem when one has implants. Turned out not to be the case.

Problem hopefully resolved. Everything fits at the moment.

Last week, the disc problem came upon me. Much better. A shot of pain infrequently. I hope to avoid surgery.

I feel like I am falling apart all at once. Hell, I’m only 83. These things should not be happening!

The Chart Room first last night. Tammy bartending.

Tammy works at the Bull. Generally, the second floor. Occasionally, the roof top Garden of Eden. Clothing optional for customers at the Garden.

Tammy’s girl friend who also works at the Bull was at the bar. Chatted with her a while. Her regular job is tending bar at the Garden.

Our chit-chat was interesting.

Stopped next at Blue Macaw. Terri singing. Donna and Sally at the bar. Sat with them.

Sally a terrific woman! Friendly. Kind. When Donna recently was in New York for several days, Sally walked Bear, took Terri out, etc.

A good friend.

Mary showed up. Enjoyed a drink with her.

On the way home, stopped at Publix. Needed cold cuts. I had stopped the day before. Five ahead of me at the deli counter. I hate the waiting. Left without cold cuts.

Nine thirty in the evening a better time for deli shopping. No one at the deli. Prompt assistance.

A busy day ahead. Haircut at noon. A quick lunch. Heart doctor at 1:30. Radio show with Laurie at 4.

Trump in for an MRI. Of his finances. By Congressman Schiff’s House Committee.

Seems that in the 10 years prior to becoming President, Trump spent $400 million in “cash” transactions in purchasing real estate. Fourteen of the transactions were paid in full.

Realtors such as Trump rarely use their own money to buy or build. Borrow. Use the bank’s money. Why cash here and where did the cash come from?

Money laundering?

Son Eric said their company had good cash flow and used their own assets to complete the transactions.

Enjoy your day!