Whacko speaks out again! Bess Levin reports it.

Got to love Bess Levin. Vanity Fair’s star investigative reporter isn’t afraid to call them as she sees them. And correct she always is!

Her recent 9/19 article: Trump Throws Important Shit Fit Over FBI Agents Not “Taking Off Their Shoes”” In His Bedroom. According to Trump, Mar-a-Lago will never be the same.

Things a little confusing. Trump facing 30 years in jail if indicted and convicted. Yet his primary concern is FBI shoes on his bedroom carpet.

Trump a recognized germaphobe.

Trump’s shoes on concern true. His words. On Sunday, he took to Truth Social to inform his followers: “…..they didn’t even take off their shoes in my bedroom. Nice!!!”

Truth Social is an all tech social media platform created by Trump Media & Technology Group, an American media and technology company founded in October 2021 by former President Donald Trump.

Trump spoke at a Youngstown, Ohio rally Saturday night. In effect, a QAnon rally. Trump appeared to openly embrace the group. One of its primary purposes to wipe out pedophilia worldwide. They believe Democrats and liberals are primarily engaged in the practice. Remember Hillary Clinton being involved in an alleged pedophilia ring operating out of the basement of a pizza establishment in Washington, D.C. several years ago.

Trump’s words similarly suggestive to those said January 6. Without being specific, he said he would lead them in whatever was to be done to make America what it had been. He would lead them.

Trump’s words had the ring of Jones’ as the Kool Aid was being passed out. Amazing how his followers buy his crap.

Queen Elizabeth II apparently had a unique relationship with South Africa’s Nelson Mandela. The relationship was mentioned on TV this past week. Whenever the two met, Mandela greeted the Queen with “Elizabeth!”

As the years move on, women seem to wear less and less clothing.

“A bra top is the new T-shirt,” says well known French fashion designer Eli Mizirahi. They are being worn today without any cover.

Last week was New York Fashion Show Week. Show after show featured at least one woman in a bra. Some, several.

The bra top trend began in 2019. Every year more and more designers utilized the concept. One designer said, “Can definitely raise eyebrows, but I don’t think that’s negative.”

Western Mexico suffered another major earthquake yesterday. A 7.6.

My former wife and I were in Acapulco when a large one hit years ago. A 6.4.

We were staying at the Acapulco Princess. A magnificent resort!

One of its features was a series of ponds. The water ran downward one pond to another. Trees and huge boulders in the water. The story was the original Tarzan movies were filmed where the ponds were located.

My wife and I were sitting chest high in the water on one of the boulders. All of a sudden, the boulder moved. Five to six inches sideways. I looked at my wife and quietly said, “The boulder moved.” She nodded in agreement. Then it moved back.

I looked around. Life was still going on. People walking and chatting. Laughing. No one seemed to have noticed what we had. I told my wife not to mention what we experienced to anyone. They would think we were crazy.

That evening we were having dinner with a couple we met at the hotel. The wife asked where we were when the earthquake struck. They had been downtown, saw the street open and a car disappearing in the hole.

My wife and I, as well as our friends, all had a good laugh as we relayed our experience and concern.

The earthquake’s center was south of Acapulco. The effect was felt in Acapulco.

Yesterday was day 3 of my massages. My feet are improved 75 percent. Not the 100 I had hoped for. Still a hell of a lot better!

Taking a day off today. The game plan is to continue tomorrow.

I feel like I am part of a voodoo experience.

Things seem to occur when they shouldn’t. Like a fire occurring when the fire fighting system was undergoing repairs resulting in a lack of water to fight the fire. Such exactly happened to St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church when it was located on Duval. It was destroyed by fire this day in 1901.

Shit happens. I reported yesterday that Key West had planted a British flag next to the Southernmost Point and wrapped a purple banner around the structure itself in respect for Queen Elizabeth.

In the middle of Sunday night, 3 men took down the flag and absconded with it. Stupid is as stupid does. Probably tourists. Drunken tourists. Unaware that Key West keeps a 24 hour video running on the structure. The 3 were captured on video. Their pictures. They have not been apprehended yet.

In the meantime, it appears the flag was abandoned within a few blocks. It was found by a local who is in the process of returning it to the police.

Guy DeBoer. Not much new to report. Only item I am aware of is Guy met with salvagers yesterday morning. No report re the meeting itself or anything else at the moment.

Enjoy your day!

I have been up since 3 watching the final hours of Queen Elizabeth’s services. History and tradition. Love it! The heart of a nation exposed. Reverence, sensitivity, value. What it’s all about.

It is 7 am at the moment. I have one eye on the computer as I prepare today’s blog and the other on the TV screen.

Key West in its own way is honoring the Queen. On friday, city workers installed a British flag aside the Southernmost Point marker and wrapped the marker in a purple banner.

Lunched at Hogfish yesterday. Sat at the bar. Julia waited on me. Enjoyed a special. Peppered lemon shrimp. Delicious!

Veronica came by at 4 to massage my feet. Tough lady! Strong hands! She bring me close to tears.

Yesterday was my second consecutive day for Veronica to hopefully work what I will consider a miracle if it succeeds. Solving my now more than 2 month old foot and leg swelling problem which medical science has failed to accomplish. She is making headway. My ankles were smaller yesterday before she began. Even smaller afterward. Normal appearing this morning. Though they will enlarge as the day moves on.

The third and final massage this afternoon.

I suspect further success. Hope for it! Actually desperate for it! Believe it will take another 3 days next week.

A manicure at noon today. Followed by lunch somewhere.

Puerto Rico can’t win. Struck by another devastating hurricane. Fiona. A Category 1. Winds 85 miles per hour. Two hours of rain.

Flooding extensive. Power system totally gone. The entire island in blackout.

Biden has already declared an emergency. Assistance on its way. I am confident it will be more than the paper towels Trump threw around.

Puerto Rico never learns. I hold it responsible for its continuing problems. It needs to become a State. For some reason, the Puerto Rican people have an obstinacy in doing it. They must enjoy what I am beginning to view as self-abuse.

In the 1960’s and 1970’s, I vacationed in Puerto Rico several times. Every visit, I ran into the same thing. People on street corers making speeches about whether to become a State. Never amounted to anything more than talk, however. Years later when I spent 2 weeks on the island handling an environmental matter, it was the same. A lot of public talking with nothing coming out of it.

DeSantis is aggravating Trump. Love it!

Rolling Stones reports Trump is complaining in private DeSantis is stealing his thunder by sending immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard and elsewhere. Trump claims it is taking the spotlight away from him.

Two sick men vying for the same sick issue.

Enjoy your day!

Guy is fortunate. He’s in a hotel room in the Canary Islands. His boat on the rocks.

Available information limited. What occurred happened early this morning. While dark.

Guy’s ship hit rocks 50 meters from a Canary Island beach. Guy made mayday calls. Local Coast Guard responded. Guy was not sure where he was. Rescue Coordination of Spain got involved.

Guy was located. He refused to leave his ship Spirit.

Sprit began moving on its own. Towards the beach. The movement helped save Guy and hopefully will prove to make it possible to save Spirit.

Lifeguards helped Guy off the boat.

I know no more.

Thank God Guy is safe. Hopefully Spirit will be salvageable.

Appears the race is over for Guy.

Oh, what a game it was! Syracuse beat Purdue 32-29. In the final 7 seconds on a 25 yard touchdown pass by Garett Schrader.

Syracuse now 3-0.

Crazy game. Syracuse losing 9-3 at halftime. The second half was a BALL GAME!

The combined score of both teams in the last quarter was 42. Syracuse scored 22, Purdue 20. The scoring was like the last minute of a close basketball game. One touchdown after another. Each team going ahead only to soon fall behind.

Two observations.

I was at the Carrier Dome when it opened in 1981. Private box seating 16, with bar, etc. Spent many happy years there watching football and basketball.

The new Carrier Dome held around 55,000. When Syracuse was playing well, attendance at that or close to that number for football. When playing poorly, attendance 35,000-40,000.

Syracuse is having a good year so far. The new Dome should have been jam packed. Not. Vacant seats observable everywhere. Looked like a 35,000 crowd to me.

Forty plus years ago was when the crowds were as I recall them. Apparently less interest in the games today. Sad.

Vegas and its ability to predict scores amazes me. Syracuse was projected to win by 1.5 points. Won by 3. How does Vegas do it?

A video of a New York City MacDonald’s is running rampant on the internet. The scenario occurred yesterday. A customer went crazy inside swinging an ax.

A black man was attacked orally and physically by several Latinos. The black gent remained cool and covered his head with his arms to protect himself. What led to the situation, I do not know.

Finally, the Latinos walked away. Words were still being exchanged. The black gent went to his duffel bag and pulled out a hand axe.

He threatened, however hit no one. A lot of yelling continued. The axe was used to destroy a lot of MacDonald property.

While physical damage was being done, many were laughing at the gent with the axe. New Yorkers apparently tough people. Only time a person appeared afraid was when he had the axe in that person’s face.

Finally, he got on his bicycle and rode out.

I thought yesterday was going to be a bad one for me. Too much on my plate. Turned out to be nothing. Everything moved smoothly.

My leg and foot massage at 4. Oh, the pain! Is it working? I “think” so. Not sure. Less swelling today. The lady doing me returns today and tomorrow. She claims 3 consecutive days will help considerably. We shall see.

The Los Angeles School District issued a report concerning whether students had met established standards for Math and English during school year 2020-2021. Especially in Math. Only 28 percent met or exceeded the standards. Which meant 72 percent failed to do so.

English was another problem. Only 42 percent met the standards.

School official blamed school lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. The officials stated the results prove there is no substitute for in person instruction.

School officials claim COVID had wiped out decades of progress and it would take a number of years to catch up to pre COVID numbers.

Winston Churchill and the Ukraine’s Zelensky have much in common. Led their countries during the worst of war times.

A quote by Churchill fits Zelensky’s attitude: “Never, never, never give up.”

Enjoy your Sunday!

Since the Mar-a-Lago case broke, I have followed it diligently. Have accumulated a pile of notes. My intent was to write one detailed piece.

Such would be redundant at this point. The media has covered the matter with diligence.

There is one thing I do wish to do however. Such is to express my thoughts re Judge Aileen Cannon.

The jurist qualifies for one of two descriptions. She is either totally incompetent or is playing favorites.

Her errors and miscues are many. Too many. Cover the simplest of federal points. Especially those procedural. She took a federal procedure course in law school. She practiced law in the federal area on occasion. She has been a federal judge for two years. She can’t be that stupid to have made the made legal errors she has.

Which means her errors are intentional. They all favor Trump. He nominated her to the bench. Perhaps she owes a favor. Perhaps he is her god. Perhaps she looks up to him with undying adoration. Perhaps she aspires to a Supreme Court seat and believes Trump may once again be in a position to nominate Justices to that Bench.

Judge Cannon represents one of the many Republican judges Trump nominated to the federal bench. Federalist/MAGA types. He corrupted the system in so doing.

Is their justice to be had in this matter? The Circuit Court has six Republican appointees sitting. Some may hear the appeal(s). The Supreme Court already a lost cause.

The courts were generally the place where justice could be achieved. No more. I am greatly concerned.

Putin is losing his friends. One by one. India’s Prime Minister Modi told Putin face to face yesterday this “is not an era of war.”

Putin met with China’s Xi in February. They were 100 percent joined at the hip following the meeting. Putin met 2 days ago with Xi, the February warmth was not evident.

DeSantis and Abbott are birds of a feather. Both bad guys. Perverted in their thinking and actions.

DeSantis transporting immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard and Abbott doing the same to New York City and Washington, D.C. represents something so un-American it is difficult to precisely label. Kid stuff, not funny, a form of human trafficking?

A reader was quoted in this morning’s Citizens’ Voice: “To use human lives – men, women and children – as a political pawn is evil and inhumane. This state-sponsored stunt is one of the cruelest and heartless things I have seen in my lifetime.”

Words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty are losing their meaning. We must not let it happen. The words should be an integral part of what America is to those seeking refuge. Words that brought my grandparents here: “Give me your poor, / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, / The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. / Send these, the homeless, tempest, tempest-tost to me, / I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

My congratulations again to Bobby Mongelli on the sale of Geiger Key. What he purchased as a broken down shack selling beer for a pittance in the 1970’s he sold last month for $14.8 million. The sales figure was announced yesterday.

A lifetime of hard work paid off.

I had a bad night. Could not sleep. Don’t know why. Nothing bothering me. Watched old movies on TV all night.

Today full. The blog which I am now doing. A foot and ankle massage to follow. Sloan. The Syracuse/Purdue game. All before 5 pm.

Guaranteed, I will sleep well tonight.

One of the movies was Love Story. Touching. A tear jerker. The novel written in 1970. So popular, it was made into a film the same year. The film starred Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal.

The book was thin. Surprisingly short. Yet hit your heart.

Another great love story in years past was Bridges of Madison County. The novel published in 1992. The movie came out in 1995. Starred Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep.

The two books had a similarity. Both unusually short. Yet touched the hearts of all who read them.

Enjoy your day!

Big announcement! The Noble House Hotel chain has purchased 50 percent of one of Key West’s most elegant hotels and its fine restaurant. The Marquesa.

Noble owns some 30 plus hotels and spas world wide. I have stayed at several and always considered Noble a quality operation. Locally, Noble already owns Ocean Key and Little Palm Island Resort.

One thousand Australian school cafeterias are offering snacks for their students. Snacks containing bugs. Like Australian cockroaches, banded caterpillar parasite wasps, blue ants, Christmas beetles, daddy long leg spiders, and dragonflies.

Parents are furious. Especially since their kids love them. Probably because they’re reported to be delicious.

The bug snacks are healthy. Laced with proteins, vitamins and nutrients.

Bugs are a recommended food source. Famine threatens many parts of the world. Bugs are a food supplement requiring a very small portion of land and water to develop.

Two billion people from 130 countries already are consuming bugs as part of their diets. Thailand being one of the world’s leading consumers.

Iguanas are as much a part of Key West as chickens. In fact, there are significantly more.

Steve Thompson writes about the “Iguana Guy.”

The iguana man was a sight to see. At the bottom of Duval by the big shade tree. Iguanas all over him and I think he knew. He may have been part iguana, too.

A station wagon full of iguanas. And a body covered with tattoos. For a very small amount, he’d take a picture with you.

Queen Elizabeth II’s body lies in state in Westminster Hall. Till Monday. Twenty four hours a day.

The line waiting to pass by her casket is 4.9 miles long. The time to reach the Queen 14 hours.

Three words fit the feelings of those waiting to show their Monarch honor: Love, respect and pride.

Janis Paige was a movie, stage and television star in the 1940’s through 1970’s. Lovely. A talented voice. Most remembered for her role in The Pajama Game.

She graduated high school during World War II. She was “discovered” while helping in a Hollywood Canteen during the war.

Today is her birthday. One hundred years old. Impressive.

She is one of the last of the Stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Happy birthday, Janis! May you continue to be with us for years to come.

History will recall Vladimir Putin as one of the major governmental screw ups of our time. The Ukraine marks his downfall.

He is running out of soldiers. Grabbing 18-60 year olds to fight.

Russia employs a mercenary group. Named Wagner. Wagner is soliciting recruits from Russian prisons.

The deal simple. A get out of jail card available if the prisoner agrees to serve. Following 6 months of duty, the prisoner will receive a pardon. At no time thereafter will he be required to return to prison.

Somewhat like The Dirty Dozen.

Syracuse plays Purdue tomorrow. At Syracuse. Kickoff noon.

Syracuse is 2-0. Purdue 1-1.

Syracuse a 1.5 point favorite.

Enjoy your day!

Just before 6 this morning it was announced a tentative agreement had been reached to avoid a national rail strike. The event would have had a severe impact on the national economy. Especially on food availability and prices.

Biden said, “The tentative agreement reached tonight is an important win for our economy and the American people.”

Equity was with labor in this battle. Sick leave one of the important issues. Would you believe rail workers had no sick leave available to them?

Railroads have experienced big profits in recent years. Last year alone $20 billion. The CEO of CSX made over $20 million, while the CEOs of Union Pacific and Northern Southern made over $14 million each in total compensation.

Terrific paychecks! Again while workers were entitled to a “grand total of zero sick days!”

Armed customers are robbing banks in Lebanon to get their own money.

Lebanon’s banks locked most depositors out of their savings when an economic crisis took hold 3 years ago. As a result, many depositors have been unable to pay basic living expenses.

So they resorted to self help.

What the Lebanese banks did was legal under Lebanese law. What the depositors did, not.

Over the years, I have written several times advising a similar situation exists in the U.S. For real.

When one deposits money in their savings or checking account, title to the money immediately legally passes to the bank. Becomes the bank’s money, not the depositor’s.

The U.S. banks got their lobbyists to convince federal and state legislators to do this. Presidents and Governors signed the legislation into law. The purpose to enable banks to protect their asses. In the event of a severe economic crisis, banks in the U.S. can say to depositors my money, not yours.

Question: Who was protecting the depositors’ asses? Not their elected representatives.

On May 18, 1991, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited the Keys. Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas. They had been in Miami for several days and were traveling from Miami to New Orleans on the Royal Yacht Britannia. A stop over was scheduled for them to visit Fort Jefferson.

The Queen and Prince were greeted by another “Queen.” Wilhelmina Harvey. The moment had an historic relevance to it. Both ladies were already on in their years.

Queen Wilhelmina said the meeting was “one of the most beautiful things that ever happened in my life.”

On this date in 1959, Marilyn Monroe filmed the famous “skirt” scene. She was filmed standing over a sidewalk subway grate when a burst of air blew her white dress skirt up. A famous scene and subsequent photo.

Key West has its own Marilyn Monroe standing over a grate while her skirt blows upward. She has been standing in that position for years in front of the Tropic Cinema Theater. In good taste. She has become an integral part of Key West.

Marilyn was married to baseball Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio at the time. An old school conservative. He was upset that she had agreed to pose with her skirt flying. It was one of the issues in their divorce lawsuit that soon followed.

Gur DeBoer news!

Guy is still in the Golden Globe Race. Its 10th day. Expected to take 7-9 months. Guy doing well. In 4th place.

Participants in the race get to chat for 10 minutes once a week with those in charge of the race. Guy’s 10 minutes were made available to social media.

He had been downstairs doing something. Decided to go up. Fortunate he did. He and an 80 foot fishing boat were heading for each other. Apparently whoever was steering the fishing vessel thought it was funny. Guy recognized a disaster imminent. He rushed to steer his boat away. Gashed his knee in the process. Missed the fishing boat by 15 feet. A close call.

The event occurred tuesday. Guy said his knee was healing well.

Enjoy your day!

Harpoon Harry’s Mexican cook prepares lasagna like a native born Sicilian. Harpoon Harry’s tuesday special is lasagna. I walked in at lunch time yesterday looking forward to a great lunch.

It was. Even better than expected. There sitting were Donna and Terri. I have seen either in close to 2 years. COVID and other physical problems had turned me into a recluse. It was great to run into my lesbian wives.

Both looked there usual great selves. Especially Terri. She has lost a ton of pounds. Diet, not illness.

We enjoyed a boisterous lunch.

This morning I received an e mail from Donna. We are going to have dinner some night next week.

Inflation figures for August were reported yesterday. Down slightly to 8.3 percent. That and some other numbers not considered good. The market dropped 1,200 points.

August inflation figures for food went up. The figures not good all. The increase the highest for a single month since 1979. 13.5 percent. Dining out 8 percent.

Eggs way up. Just short of 40 percent. 39.8 percent. Fruits and vegetables up 7.9 percent.

A railroad strike is being threatened. Food prices will go up even more dramatically. No one will be able to afford to eat.

Everyone is aware of the increases which have been occurring with food. The lower and middle class can only afford so much. Especially on top of rent.

I heard something last night . A brief comment on a late night talk show. I was half asleep. It involved food and its increasing cost. A term heard. Stuck in my head: Use now, pay later.

I tried researching the concept this morning. Difficult to do so. Some information available. Nothing etched in stone yet. However, the program is already in use with some supermarkets.

As I grasp what may be coming on a large scale involves the consumer setting a weekly budget for food. The same number to be used each week. The consumer can exceed that figure. No problem. At some point, the unpaid balance must be paid. No interest charged. If not paid, food cut off of course. Credit rating also affected.

Not a healthy program from my way of thinking. The consumer will be cut off from food. Who is going to finance a “food debtor” who has already failed to meet an initial commitment?

If America is on the brink of use now pay later re food, we are in deep shit trouble! A return of the company store. Modern day slavery.

Today is the birthday of The Star Spangled Banner. The year 1814. The War of 1812 in its second year.

Francis Scott Key was required to spend a night on a British vessel that was bombing the American Fort McHenry in Maryland. He watched the entire night. Bomb after bomb after bomb. In the morning, he was surprised o see the American flag still flying over the fort. He wrote a poem signifying the event: The Defense of Fort M’Henry. Within a week, Key’s words were put to music. One popular phrase: “…..the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air / Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.”

Following his defeat, Trump was threatening not to leave the White House. He was not the first White House resident to take the position.

Maggie Haberman in her new book Confidence Man wrote of Mary Todd Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln’s wife refused to leave the White House for almost a month following Lincoln’s assassination.

There is a follow up to Mrs. Lincoln’s refusal. History suggests she was a difficult wife. An arbitrary figure. Ten years following the President’s death, her son had her committed to a mental institution. Few are aware of this fact.

Enjoy your day!

Key Westers have enjoyed the Citizens’ Voice in the Key West Citizen as far back as can be remembered. The peoples’ complaint section.

The Citizens’ Voice has diminished in length. By roughly one third. Why? People are not more happy today than 10 years ago. If anything, more unhappy.

Can it be the Citizens’ readers have just given up? Have they come to believe no one listens? That theirs is a voice in wilderness? That no one cares?

Decided to get up and out yesterday. I had a craving for lobster bisque. The kind made at Hogfish.

Sat at the bar. My order simple. A bowl of lobster bisque and extra crackers.

I was not disappointed. Delicious!

The bartender introduced herself. Julia. She asked if I was Lou. Turns out she worked at the Casa Marina 20 years ago. Remembered giving me foot massages and manicures. Great memory! I did not recall her. Apologized. She noted I still got manicures. I told her of my foot massage friday.

Nice person.

Sat next to 2 fishermen. We ended up discussing Tom Brady.

Bobby Mongelli walked by. Stopped to say hello. I congratulated him on the sale of Geiger Key. He explained the sale was an emotional one for him. More than 20 years ago he bought a shack that only sold cheap beer and turned it into the success it is today.

Chief is a juvenile green sea turtle. He was rescued off Cudjoe Key in January. He was a mess. A heavy load of fibropapilloma tumors. He was immediately taken to the Marathon Turtle Hospital. Kind hands brought him to recovery. Chief has undergone a whole blood transfusion, tumor removal surgeries, an eye tumor removal, received broad spectrum antibodies, fluids, vitamins, and a healthy diet of greens and mixed seafood.

Chief is going home this morning at 10 am. He is being released to the ocean at Sombrero Beach in Marathon. A crowd of 100-200 is expected to see him off.

Close to 2 months with my feet and ankles. Swelling and pain like you would not believe. Two doctors. Water and potassium pills at their limit. Relief minimal.

I decided to do a bit of self help. Went to the internet. Ordered 6 pairs of compression socks. Different brands. They all claim they are the one!

Only one pair arrived thus far. Yesterday at 2. Ankle length. Put the pair on immediately. Wore them till 9 when I went to bed. Left ankle skinny skinny. The bad right one 95 percent reduced. From larger than a softball to next to nothing in a matter of hours.

I also received Krill Oil yesterday. Took two pills with dinner. The claim is in 1-4 days swelling will be gone.

This morning right ankle thin thin. After 2 months!

I suspected the right ankle would get bigger as today progressed. It has. I understand why. My first 4-5 hours each morning are spent seated at the desk writing this blog. Automatic ankle size would increase.

Gets bigger swiftly. I have been at the blog 3 hours and it is already the size of half a soft ball.

I am not unhappy. Dr. Louis is making progress.

Two days ago I wrote how Switzerland had taken the bull by the horns and passed legislation limiting use of heating gas under penalty of fines and jail time.

Yesterday a viral poster began circulating on Swiss social media telling citizens to “rat out” neighbors heating their homes above the new legal limits.

The Swiss government immediately issued a statement advising it had nothing to do with the viral poster and to ignore it.

The government is conducting an investigation to determine its source.

Sound familiar? Things like that occur in the U.S. also. Perverted troublemakers exist worldwide.

The Ukraine is on a winning streak. Ukraine has driven Russian troops in northeastern Kharkiv to the Russian border itself. President Zelensky describes the situation: “The enemy is panicking.”

New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman in a forthcoming book writes of Trump telling his aides that following defeat he was “never leaving the White House…..I’m just not going to leave.”

The book soon to be published is titled “Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America.”

Enjoy your day!

Key West is a bright warm sunny sub tropical island…..most of the time. There are days, weeks, sometimes months, when it is cold. Though infrequent, some evenings in the winter in the high 40’s. Long pants time. Sweaters, sweat shirts and jackets.

Cold fronts pop in on occasion. Not necessarily during the winter season. Sometimes unexpectedly.

Steve Thompson describes a 1970’s cold front involving Mallory Square and a Jimmy Buffett concert.

So Jimmy gave a free concert at Mallory Square. The stage was up next to the brick building there.

Bobby Shrimper had his boat tied up to the dock. Everyone excited and ready to rock.

Then the wind picked up and a front came through. A record cold blast, nothing we could do.

Everyone really loved the show, even though it felt like snow.

Tom Brady returned last night! Led Tampa to a 19-3 victory over Dallas. He went 18 for 27 in racking up 212 passing yards.

Brady was in control throughout. At 45, he remains the greatest quarterback ever in professional football.

Brady shared the team’s success with the Buc’s defense. They played outstandingly well!

The report is in. Russian troops are retreating in the Ukraine’s northeast. Fleeing a better word to describe what is becoming a rout. The Russians are running from the Ukraines leaving tanks, trucks and other military equipment behind.

Brings to mind Napoleon’s departure from Moscow.

There is a danger involved. A danger to the good guys. Putin is losing face. This he cannot tolerate. He will I fear take worse steps, more severe than he has in the past, to show the world his “strength.” A phony façade.

Putin started the war with Ukraine. The Ukraines stood up to him. Many other nations also. Sanctions were imposed on Russia which have reached the point of severely handicapping Russia. Putin is hurting. Retaliation is all he knows. Meet pain with pain. Create suffering on a level not experienced in recent years.

Putin is wielding a sword of punishment. Riding his Apocalyptic horse. Cutting and threatening to cut Russian gas to European nations.

Russia has supplied cheap gas seemingly forever to Europe. Russian gas has flowed uninterrupted from the Cold War and other times of tension between Moscow and the West.

Since invading Ukraine, Putin has “weaponized” gas. Pushing Europe to the brink of recession. All businesses have been touched. From steel and aluminum to toilet paper. Factories are closing. Some may never reopen.

Gas world wide is King. Prices higher. Nowhere and probably never again will gas prices equal the cost of cheap Russian gas.

Permit me to dramatize in Biblical terms what Putin has wrought. The Prophecy Revelations 6: 1-8.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are Conquest, War, Famine and Death. Putin is the rider of each. Conquest and War are already being experienced on a significant scale world wide. Putin responsible for the most dangerous presently. Though others are involved in many areas of the world.

Pestilence accompanies Conquest and War. Pandemics commonplace. Droughts and weather caused disasters on the rise.

The other two Apocalyptic horses are behind, though in the race. Famine and Death. Both could very well be equal with Conquest and War in short course.

Even here in the U.S. we are on the edge of experiencing famine. Food shortages prevalent. The problem a world one.

Death is being experienced. Kid stuff in the final analysis. Many more will die. Die more rapidly. From Conquest, War and Famine. Though rarely mentioned, the Bible indicates cannibalism will be experienced.

Why can the preceding occur?  Occur at this time in the life of the world? Because a nut named Vladimir Putin decided to invade Ukraine.

Perhaps hard to do after the thoughts spelled out above, nevertheless enjoy your day!

9/11 will never be forgotten. Seared in our memories. A December 7th.

The Twin World Trade Towers brought to the ground. Two thousand six hundred six killed. The Pentagon attacked. One hundred twenty five lost lives. The Pennsylvania field where hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into the ground with all 64 on board lost.

Yesterday a sad one for Papua, New Guinea. A massive 7.6 earthquake struck.

I have several subscribers from Papua. They have been with me from almost day one some 15 years ago when I began the blog. I pray they are safe.

Forgetfulness accompanies old age. Yesterday, September 10. A significant day in my life and hundreds of those living in the Keys at the time. Hurricane Irma struck on September 10, 2017.

I had escaped to Jean and Joe Thornton’s home in Birmingham, Alabama with 6 other Key Westers. Were it not for the photos some of my fellow escapees published on Facebook this morning, the memory would have escaped me.

None of us who shared the generosity and warmth of Jean, Joe and each other should ever forget. Sorry folks!

One of the Key West’s top restaurants is Louie’s Backyard. Steve Thompson shares his recollection of Louie’s back in the 1970’s.

Louie’s Backyard was hard to beat. Oceanfront, private, and really neat. One of the best restaurants in the Keys.

Everyone was served crudites. They had a business card I thought was funny. It said: “An inexpensive place for people with money.”

Chris and Sonya lived right next door. Chris had a leather G-string he wore. His dog, Ten-Speed hung out at the bar. Everyone knew him and the cat, Radar. They shared their beach with everyone.

Those afternoons were so much fun. Nobody ever had to go too far. And everybody stumbled next door to the bar.

I was crazy to think that beach would always be there. Now it’s a giant timeshare.

As expected, Syracuse crushed Connecticut 48-14 last night.

What a game!

Quarterback Garrett Schrader went 20 for 23 for 287 yards and 3 touchdowns. Offense and defense lines outstanding, except for the defense when it gave up 2 consecutive touchdowns. I suspect the defense were beat up on the sidelines by the Syracuse defensive coaches. The team had forgotten to “play hard ball” for every minute of the game. They heard the message. It was the end of Connecticut’s scoring punch.

Purdue next week. The first tough test for Syracuse. Purdue undefeated also.

Buckingham Palace is in the news every day due to the Queen’s death and Charles’ coronation. It was also in the news this day in 1940 when the Palace was damaged by German bombs.

During the bombing of London during World War II, the King and royal family continued to live in Buckingham Palace. They did not leave for a safer place. They remained with their people.

Putin continues playing hardball.

His decision to end the flow of gas through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline has caused an enormous derivatives crisis to erupt in Europe. Going to take a lot of money to fix it.

Authorities all over Europe are starting to freak out. The situation could result in a tsunami of financial panic sweeping across the entire globe, not just Europe.

The anticipated fuel shortage will make for an extremally cold winter.

Switzerland saw the handwriting on the wall. It recognized the anticipated fuel heating shortage and has taken steps to deal with it.

Switzerland has adopted new heating laws. House temperatures cannot be set above 19 degrees Centigrade/66.2 degrees Fahrenheit. Swimming pools and saunas cannot be heated.

Penalties for failure to adhere to the new rules will result in fines from $30 to $3,050. Jail time possible in addition. Up to 3 years.

Enjoy your Sunday!