Surprising data regarding alcohol consumption and women. More women in the U.S. are drinking themselves to death. The number of women now exceeds men.

 In an analysis of the last two decades made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women’s alcohol related mortality rates rose by 14.7 percent, compared to 12.5 percent for men.

Female consumption has become more socially acceptable. A glass of wine has become Johnny Walker Black on the rocks. It is now ok for ladies to drink as men do.

Not healthy for women. Physically, women can’t metabolize alcohol as fast as men. Means simply alcohol remains in their systems longer. Women develop liver disease faster than men because the alcohol breaks down more slowly in their bodies.

On July 30, 1965, Presidnet Lyndon Johnson signed Medicare into law. For seniors. I obviously am a senior. I have been on Medicare for years. A great benefit! Pays 80 percent of most bills. If you can afford it, purchase a supplement plan to cover the balance.

Old people require doctoring big time. Make sure you are properly covered so you will not hesitate to seek medical assistance when you need it.

The Keys and Miami-Dade County are receiving a new area code: 645. Present 305 will not change. The new 645 area code will only apply to those requesting new phone numbers beginning friday.

The magic of words. Inspiring quotes from two Charles Dickens novels: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…..”  /  A Tale of Two Cities, “It is a far better thing that I do, than I have ever done…..” / A Tale of Two Cities, “Please, sir, I want more.” / Oliver Twist.

I am beginning to wonder if I’m getting cantankerous in my old age. Bugs me that Congress is on a 5 week vacation. Who gets a 5 week vacation? Not many of the taxpayers who pay their salaries. 

I don’t buy the bullshit that they spend that time at home working with constituents. 

When Congress returns in September, they will have only 12 working days left in the fiscal year. With a ton of money bills yet to pass. No way can they pass all of them in that short a time. Which means there very well may be a government shutdown at the end of September.

Warning: COVID is on the rise again in Florida. Exercise good judgment.

Senator Tuberville holds strong. GOP leaders can’t get him to budge. Amazing how one Senator can hold up hundreds of military promotions. Tuberville reminds me of Joe Manchin. Makes arbitrary hurtful moves to magnify his false importance.

Dr. John Norris is my primary care physician. Has been for several years. Key West is fortunate to have him. I feel secure in his medical hands.

Last year, Dr. Norris opted to go concierge. The extra dollars are well worth it. My medical care is the best ever at the primary care level.

I’ve never been to Switzerland. Got a good idea of it the several times I visited Courmayeur in northern Italy. Courmayeur is on one side of the Alps, Switzerland on the other.

Switzerland’s living style has migrated into Courmayeur over the years. Especially the Swiss chalets on the mountainside.

Hemingway best described them when he spoke of Switzerland: “Switzerland is a small steep country, much more up and down than sideways,” all stuck over with brown chalets built on the cuckoo style of architecture.

The man had a play with words!

Phoenix hit 30 consecutive 110 degree days as of yesterday.

Moving fast this morning. Manicure and pedicure at noon.

Enjoy your day!

Truth be told, he who pays the fiddler calls the tune.

Trump has two codefendants in the federal documents case. Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oleneira. Their testimony is helpful to Trump’s position. Better they are on his side rather than testifying against him. 

Their legal bills are being paid by Trump. It is assumed through Save America, Trump’s PAC. The funds originate via donations made by Trump supporters. Most in the $5 to $25 area.

Trump is a constant fund raising machine. Contributors know a percentage of their monies go to defend and otherwise assist him in indictments and cases against him and those he finds necessary to bring on his behalf in various matters.

The lawyers for Nauta and Oleneira are engaged and paid by Trump. The question arises as to the type of advice being given these two men. In their best interest, or in the best interest of Trump? The answer is obvious.

Recall Cassidy Hutchinson. Her initial testimony was before the January 6 House Committee. Her first lawyer was Trump recommended and paid. She testified one way. However, Cassidy was an honest woman to the bone. She was uncomfortable. Changed lawyers and then came back and testified anew. She and her truth were dynamite the second time around! The truth always is.

Nothing illegal in someone else paying someone’s legal bill. It is the advice given. Straightforward and honest or built slanted and deviated to make sure it is in the best interest of the one paying the bill?

As mentioned earlier, Trump’s legal bills are paid  by Save America, his PAC. Funded by contributions. It was recently announced Trump’s legal bills for himself and others named with him exceeded $40 million in the first half of 2023. Big time cash flow. No wonder he can fight to the extent he does in America’s courtrooms.

Rebooter and resetter Ron DeSantis. Will he ever get it right?

DeSantis is as deceitful as Trump, if not more. It has been discovered he is using public resources and public infrastructure to campaign.

An example: DeSantis is using State government vehicles for his 2024 run for President. This first came to public attention last Tuesday. A 4 vehicle accident occurred and DeSantis was in one of the cars. Reporter attempts to determine some facts re the vehicle DeSantis was in were barred by a new law passed by the Florida Legislature protecting the Governor’s travel records from public view.

DeSantis is using taxpayer dollars in his run for President and the people are barred from knowing! I thought it was wrong for an elected person to use public funds to run for reelection or another office.

Supreme Court Justice Alito just does not understand. He claims Supreme Court ethics cannot be regulated. The Justices are free to do what they want. Amazing! An authoritarian Supreme Court! It’s contagious. Where will it rear its ugly head next?

Albert Einstein said: “I know not what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”

Such brilliance!

If the heat continues, we’re all going to melt.

Enjoy your Sunday!

An elephant in the room! A sad story involving the tiny town of Erwin, Tennessee. The town hung Mary, an adult circus elephant.

The time the Fall. The year 1916. A circus came to Kingsport, Tennessee. The circus’ star attraction a 5 ton elephant named Mary. During the circus parade through town, Mary suddenly stopped to feast on a pile of watermelon rinds on the side of the street.

Riding on Mary was a new trainer who had been a hotel bellhop only a few days before. He hit Mary in the head with a large metal hook. Much to Mary’s dislike. She immediately wrapped her trunk around the man and threw him into a drink stand. Mary then stepped on his head.

So much for the trainer.

One man shot at Mary. The bullets would not penetrate her hide. People yelled, “Kill the elephant!”

The circus’ next stop was Erwin. Mary’s reputation preceded her. She was now known as “Murderous Mary.” The people wanted blood. Mary’s. It was decided to hang her in Erwin’s rail yard where there was a 100 ton derrick car with a crane strong enough to hang an elephant.

Thousands gathered to watch the execution. A chain was wrapped around her neck. Did not work. Snapped. Another chain used. Worked. Mary died hanging 15-16 feet off the ground.

Someone took a photo of the dead hanging Mary. The photo traveled far beyond Erwin. A town few had ever heard of became known as the town that hung an elephant.

As I sat down to write this blog, I turned on the TV set. While in the middle of Mary’s story, a 1933 Popeye cartoon came on. Title: Popeye and the Elephinks. Would you believe! Popeye and Olive Oyl were washed up on an island inhabited by wild animals. The power a group of elephants.

The cartoon only 8 minutes. One other interesting feature. Popeye and Olive Oyl were on a raft wind blown. The sail was Olive Oyl’s bloomers.

A tropical wave will continue to approach central Florida. It’s effects will be felt from late thursday through friday. Heavy rainfall. The rain will then pass to northeast Florida, eastern Georgia and eastern South Carolina..

Supreme Court Justice Alito is worrying about “massive resistance” to Supreme Court decisions. 

What else could be expected? He and some of his fellow Justices have brought shame on themselves by their contrary decisions on top of years of behaving poorly otherwise in their conduct of accepting gifts, trips and relationships with non Court persons who directly or indirectly had business before the Court.

In a nutshell, “the clean” have come up “dirty.” Their decisions and conduct non caring for the American people. No less than shitting in effect on the American public.

The cancer medical offices on North Roosevelt Boulevard are being closed. Anyone know whether someone or group will be replacing the present operation? Could be a problem if no one does. People will have to go to Miami for treatment.

Beware of dead and dying sea birds! A beach warning.

In the United Kingdom, the government has warned people to avoid touching dead or infected birds. Also have recommended dogs should be kept from picking them up.

The danger: Asian flu.

In the U.S., infected birds include aquatic ones, commercial poultry and backyard hobby flocks. The degree of infection in the U.S. through mid July includes 47 states, 449 counties, 836 outbreaks. Total number of birds infected 58,789,501.

Human infections are rare. However, they can occur if there is contact with an infected bird. At present, risk to the general public is low.

Keys reefs are taking a beating from the heat. Most, if not all, could end up dead.

Citizens’ Voice today: “Those attempting to change the history of slavery are now arguing that the Holocaust and slavery are similar in that both provided ‘benefits’ derived from being  worked to exhaustion. This false contention is that endless labor will allow the incarcerated, if released, to become valuable members of society. Unbelievable!”

Another Citizens’ Voice comment re the slavery history issue: “There are 191 individual items in the Florida slavery curriculum. One says slaves sometimes learned skills they later used for personal benefit. That’s true and evidence of resilience, tenacity and fortitude. To say that people were sometimes able to utilize skills while enslaved does not justify or celebrate slavery.”

Enjoy your day!

Meatballs and polenta! A meal fit for a King!

I introduced Steve Thompson to polenta yesterday at Rosstica’s. He will return for more.

The meatballs and polentas were buried in the finest Italian meat sauce available in this area.

Polenta is a dish of boiled cornmeal. Soft and creamy. 

A northern Italian dish. I became enamored with it during my several summer trips to Courmayeur which is located in northern Italy some 15 miles from the French border. Every meal ordered when dining out came with a bowl of polenta. A large round bowl set in the center of the table.

I had never had polenta in the U.S. Took me time in Italy to become accustomed to it. Finally it got to me. Turned me on. I enjoy it frequently now at Bobby Mongelli’s Roostica. The taste is superb! Especially when buried in a good red sauce.

Steve loved it!

It has been announced the PGA Tour will compensate non-LIV defectors. I believe it is wrong.

Those who turned down the LIV made a dual judgment. A business and loyalty one. It does not require financial recognition. They made a decision, one to be respected in most instances. Nothing further is required.

There was an economic reward to those who did remain loyal, however. The PGA purses became significantly higher.

There is another viewpoint to be considered. We all have made “judgments” in our lives. Some right, some wrong. We live with them. That is how life is. One time or another, we all have let the “big fish” get away.

Another example of climate change: Typhoon hits China hard. Destroyed power lines, uprooted trees, and sparked fires.

The tropical wave in the Atlantic that the National Hurricane Center has been following has a good chance of developing into a tropical depression. Time span is next week..

Though hundreds of miles away, its effect is already being felt in the lower Keys. Key West has had unusual bursts of rain which have been attributed to the long distance rumblings of the tropical depression in the making.

The amended document indictment filed yesterday against Trump makes the case significantly more difficult for him to defeat. The original indictment placed him in deep shit. The additional charges bury him.

Tucker Carlson has published a new biography. In it, he denies being a “racist.” He claims however “being a racist is not a crime.” He refers to a “statutory crime.” He concedes racism could be a “moral crime.” He does not consider himself a racist even morally however.

I spent a month with my family in Rome some 35-40 years ago. Pickpockets were a problem. Apparently still are.

We were warned about them, how to protect against them, etc. The warning extended to jewelry also. On chains around the neck or wrist. A person would run by or on a bike and rip them off.

Based on recent news reports, the pickpocketing business in Rome is still good.

La Jolla, California is uniquely beautiful. I spent spent several days there once. It is located near San Diego.

The beach is outstanding. It was visited by two sea lions this past week. Huge ones. They charged the beachgoers who moved rapidly away. Lifeguards warned those on the beach to give “plenty of room” to them as “they were known to bite people.”

Cameras in the courtroom has developed into a major issue. Properly so. It’s time!

I spent 46 years in the courtroom. Never a camera. There should be. People should be aware on an intimate basis how the justice system works. Especially when it comes to judges who can be “tyrants.”

The reason for the sudden push for courtroom cameras are the Trump cases. People are interested, want to know, have a right to know. Trump loves notoriety. Loves being on TV. It would be a major opportunity for the world to see what a creepy bad guy he is.

The Mini-Lobster Season is two days. The first day was slower than most. The rough water, low visibility and high water temperatures responsible.

Some divers reported far less adult spiny lobsters in nearshore waters. Speculation is the rising sun temperatures have caused the mature lobsters to flee to deeper, cooler waters.

The potholes on Flagler are a problem. The sinking sewer covers on each and every block. An absolute problem without question. I use Flagler almost daily. I drive around the potholes fearing abuse to my car. Of course, every weave invites a possible accident.

We are into the turtle nesting season. Take care while walking on the beach. Keep lights near the beach out so hatchlings can find their way safely to the moon lit ocean.

DeSantis has been revealing his true self ever since announcing his candidacy for the Republican nomination. His colors change from bad to worse each week. His most recent on slavery and race. A bigot, to say the least. Prejudiced. A white supremacist. 

Enjoy your day!

I finished reading Maggie Haberman’s Confidence Man yesterday. Took me 7 months. Book long. Five hundred eight pages. With all the reading I do each day, I was fitting it in a page or two at a time. Brought me back to college when I had to read War and Peace for a course. My recollection over 1,100 pages. Thought I never would finish.

Haberman’s work excellent. A first hand insight into Trump.

I want to share one of Haberman’s descriptions of Trump: “A ‘Bad’ Trump always revealed himself. That was the man who made racist comments and then insisted people had misunderstood him, giving his allies cover by which to defend him. He was interested primarily in money, dominance, power, bullying, and himself. He treated rules and regulations as unnecessary obstacles rather than constraints on his behavior.”

Netanyahu is taking heat in polls as the judicial crisis deepens.

I admire the Israeli people. They are in the streets by the thousands. Refuse to take Netanyahu’s anti-democratic authoritarian crap. They recognize freedom is precious, smell the rat, and are not going to take it.

America’s evangelical church is in crisis. Gone far afield politically. The young are drifting away. There is only one solution. Simple. Stop lying and return to Jesus and the Bible. 

The Catholic Church has been drifting also. Though not as swiftly and as far yet. Pope Francis fights constantly to thwart the movement. A tough job.

MAGA Republicans fear babies born in the United States of non-citizen parents. Congressman Matt Gaetz introduced a bill yesterday to end “unqualified” birthright citizenship for children whose parents are not themselves U.S. citizens.

He and his fellow ultra right conservatives have an “imaginary fear” of what could come in 20 plus years.

Since 1866, the 14th Amendment has granted citizenship to all “born or naturalized in the United states, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.”

Gaetz’s bill is another example of MAGAs wanting to change long established law.

Gaetz is in the news in another regard. He and his wife saw the new movie Barbie. His wife has called for the movie to be boycotted. Her basic opposition is that it is anti-man. She says the movie is “useless” and “unintelligent. Some conservatives have described it as “man hating” and “feminist.”

Whoopie Goldberg mocked Mrs. Gaetz’s comments and those of conservatives on The View saying in effect what’s the big deal, “it’s a movie about a doll.”

Enjoyed Happy Hour yesterday at the Grand with Steve and Cindy Thompson and Cindy’s sister Christine. Met Steve’s friend Eddie again. Matt, the congenial bartender. A full bar. Food good. Company excellent.

Two oddities noted as I drove into Key West for Happy Hour. It was 94 degrees. Hot! Key West was packed. Highly unusual this time of year. Then it dawned on me. Lobster Mini-Season begins today. Tourists were in town ready to dive for lobsters for 2 days beginning today.

Drugs appear to be on the rise attempting to enter the U.S. Not for use in Key West. For national distribution.

They are being found packaged floating in waters off the lower Keys. Seventy pounds were found  by a recreational boater recently. The packages had a butterfly picture on them. Cocaine. Its estimated street value $1.1 million.

The Coast Guard and Border Patrol are being kept busy.

A summer of strikes and warned strikes to come in the U.S. The Key West Golf Course experienced a strike in 1923. Laborers went on strike. Demanded their wages be increased from $2.50 to $3.00 per day. 

Citizens’ Voice this morning: “I live on United Street, where I used to be able to park my vehicle outside my house. Now the new 15-foot sidewalk, which we don’t need, prevents me from parking on the road which I do need. Who the hell approved this?”

An upset citizen who got it right.

Enjoy your day!

Joke of the day: Why did Santa Claus get a parking ticket? He parked his sleigh in a snow parking zone.

The heat this month caused me to share this “joke” I came across this morning. The heat affects all of us one way or another.

I recently came across a listing of the ten greatest artworks in the world. 

I have been fortunate to have seen five of them. The experience comparable to quietly sitting in Church talking to God.

Those I have seen and where: Pieta / St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, Van Gogh’s Starry Night / Museum of Modern Art New York City, The Creation of Adam / Part of Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, The Last Supper / Santa Maria Della Grazie Covenant Milan / and The Mona Lisa / while on loan in Rome or New York City.

The world has been dramatically f–king up the past 10 years. Netanyahu and Trump 2 reasons why.

The World Weather Attribution (WWA) initiative released an analysis today re the “heat hell” searing parts of the U.S., southern Europe and China. The WWA is a group of international scientists who assess climate change. Their conclusion: The heat waves would have been “virtually impossible” without climate change. The role of climate change has been “absolutely overwhelming.” The blame man’s burning of fossil fuels.

Are we learning? Are we becoming more accepting of the cause? Can the nations of the world get together to resolve the problem before it becomes dramatically worse?

Gerrit Marshall is a retired broadcast engineer from Madison, Wisconsin. Saturday was his 68th birthday. A very big day for him. In more ways than one.

On his 11th try, he won the Hemingway Look-Alike Contest. Beat out some 140 other contestants.

Congratulations!

Florida was very anti-black in the early 1920’s. Much worse than DeSantis’ Florida of today.

Key West was the second largest city in Florida. The Grand Dragon of Florida’s Ku Klux Klan was Key Wester Charles H. Ketchum. Key West was the headquarters of Florida’s Ku Klux Klan and maintained an office on Eaton Street.

Under Ketchum, the Florida Klan became more violent. Conducted more lynchings per capita than any other state. Ketchum also organized the notorious Rosewood Massacre of 1923. Rosewood was a mostly black community. The Klan burned it to the ground.

Key West’s Klan included the Monroe County Sheriff, the Key West Police Chief, the Key West Tax Collector, the Key West Fire Chief, and the head of the criminal courts.

Key West blacks had no recourse to justice under the circumstances.

History has a habit of repeating itself. We must be on our guard nationally, statewide and locally. Racism is breeding nationally and statewide. Locally, Key West is still safe.

I recommend “The Rise and Fall of the Ku Klux Klan in Key West” to you. It was written by Tiffany Duong in Keys History 2/25/21. It is the source of much of my writing re the issue in today’s blog.

Citizens’ Voice today: “If Key West doesn’t fix the potholes on United Street soon, I’m going to start planting trees in them.”

The potholes have existed for years, getting worse each year.

Enjoy your day!

A Ukrainian retaliatory strike?

Russia claims Ukraine hit two non-resident buildings in Moscow with drones at the same time Russia was bombing port infrastructure in southern Ukraine. If true re Ukraine bombing Moscow, good! Russian people have to experience some of the pain and suffering the Ukraine has been undergoing the past one and half years. Otherwise, the Russian people will not appreciate what Putin has imposed on the Ukraines.

Moscow suffered no casualties in this instance.

Netanyahu and his cohorts are destroying Israeli democracy. Netanyahu and Trump birds of a feather.

Why is this type power so important? The Israeli people will not stand for it. Their demonstrations speak to it. There will be blood in the streets.

The Israeli Army has said it will not oppose the people. Its Air Force said planes will remain on the ground. Legislators have threatened to quit.

American Brian Harman won the British Open. Ran away with it by 6 strokes.

Harman a 36 year old Georgian. His first win in years. 

His wife and 3 children are with her parents in Syracuse while he was playing in Scotland. His parents live in the Keys.

His putter was his best friend for 4 days. He won $3 million. 

A happier person could not have been on TV afterwards.

Good for him!

DeSantis spews religious talk to support his radical positions. Quotes the Bible occasionally. Not necessarily correctly. He is trying to create a new path, his path, to right and wrong.

Re the actors Strike, George Clooney had this to say: “Actors and writers in large numbers have lost their ability to make a living. This is an inflection point in our industry. For our industry to survive that has to change. For actors, that journey starts now.”

State Farm is now Florida’s second largest home insurer. Vows to stay in Florida.

Let’s hope so. Insurance companies are running away at a rapid speed from Florida. Can’t blame them. As cash rich as they are, even insurance companies have limits. Hurricanes and flooding can endanger their existence.

There has to be a solution. DeSantis should spend more time figuring out how to retain insurance companies instead of suing Disney, contemplating suing Bud Lite, and burying us with stupid MAGA laws a majority of the people don’t want.

J. Robert Oppenheimer is often credited with being the “father of the atomic bomb.” He is noted to have said: “I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.”

A heavy understanding for a man to know of himself. A mental weight to carry for life.

Today is National Tequila Day. A hell of a drink. I know. There was once a time when I enjoyed a shot or two.

Enjoy your day!

Wild fires in Canada, wild fires on the island of Rhodes, Italy and Greece real hot, rain in the U.S. northeast, extremely hot portions of the U.S., tornadoes in the U.S., etc. Tell me there is no global warming! Those that deny global warming contribute to the end of life itself. 

Pamplona, Spain replicated on Duval Street in front of Sloppy Joe’s yesterday. More than 100 Hemingway Look-Alikes and a special breed of bulls on wheels made the run.

Keys coral reefs losing color. Reason: Record high water temperatures.. Which means they are under stress and their health is potentially endangered.

The reefs should be vibrant and colorful this time of year. Instead, are swiftly going white.

I commented two days ago re the trial taking place in Texas brought by 13 women who could not obtain abortions and the pain and suffering they were forced to endure as a result. The article in Vice News moved me. Especially the testimony of one woman who vomited while testifying in the courtroom. One of the impacts of her experience. The article is titled: No Mercy: Women Denied Abortions, Testify, Cry and Vomit In Texas Court.

One of the women is named Casiano. Her problems multiple. One involved the fetus itself. Anencephaly. Anencephaly is a lethal condition where a fetus does not have a fully formed skull or brain. Impossible for the baby to survive when born with such a condition.

A portion of her testimony follows.

Casiano, who returned to the stand after she threw up, was the third and final patient to share her story on the stand on Wednesday. A 29-year-old mother of four, Casiano learned that her fetus also had anencephaly. She wanted to get an abortion and release her baby to heaven, as she put it in court. But she didn’t have the money or resources to travel out of state, so she and her family started to prepare, instead, to bury her baby—a girl who they named Halo, “because she’s always going to be above us,” Casiano said. 

They tried to raise money by selling soup, among other things.

After she gave birth, Casiano recalled, she had to watch her daughter struggle and gasp for air. As she testified, Casiano rocked back and forth as well as looked up and away, as if reliving the memory. She recalled watching her baby turn from pink to blue, from warm to cold, as she died over the course of four hours.

“I kept telling my baby, ‘I’m so sorry this had to happen to you,’” Casiano said. “There was no mercy for her and I couldn’t do anything.”

Afterwards, Casiano had a simple funeral service for Halo. When the funeral tried to charge her an extra $1,100 because the funeral was set for Good Friday, she cried. “I felt like there was always something,” Casiano testified. 

She still hasn’t picked up Halo’s death certificate. She’s also had her tubes removed and has started to throw up whenever something happens that triggers her body to “remember” what it’s gone through.

Slate ran a similar article on 7/22 titled: The Kind of Life That Texas Really Values. The article’s opening line: “A woman saw her infant’s death a needless torture. To the State, it’s a necessary sacrifice.”

Sick!

A haunted Key West cemetery? St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Graveyard.

Tortured souls living there?

Some reported having seen: A man who appears as a vaporous apparition wearing 19th century attire, an old sea Captain, children gathering around a statue of an angel in the center, children’s voices heard but the children not seen, floating orbs of light and inexplicable sounds.

Best description for what DeSantis is trying to do with slavery in the curriculum of Florida schools: WHITEWASH it.

Won’t work. History is history. Cannot change what was. Good, bad or indifferent. DeSantis will in due course go, history will remain.

Enjoy your Sunday!

My cell phone went off at 5 this morning. A severe weather alert. The alert was running from then to 8 tomorrow night.

The warning: Heat will feel like 109 degrees, though temperatures will be in mid 90’s. Where: Monroe County. Monroe County covers all of the Keys. Heavy humidity, also.

Greece is hot! The heat abusive. Acropolis is closing at noon each day in order to protect visitors and employees.

Athens’ Mayor was interviewed on a TV talk show last night. Athens and Greece suffering greatly from the heat as is most of the northern hemisphere. 

He was asked what to do for the heat. His immediate response: “Plant trees.”

My curiosity piqued. I knew shade is cooler. Nevertheless, I researched the issue. Shade the answer. Trees provide shade. Shade cools. The cooling effect can be as much as 20-45 degrees cooler.

Plant trees! May not help this season, but will in subsequent ones.

To my friend Theos, stay cool!

Ain’t no breath like hog’s breath! Hog’s Breath has been sold. Purchased by timeshare giant Westgate Resorts.

Lobster Mini-Season in a few days. July 26 & 27. Key West and lower Keys will be flooded with lobster fishermen.

Boats galore will go out. 

I lived on the water in Key Haven for 23 years. I used to sit early mornings on my deck watching the boats go out. All size boats. Many overloaded with divers. Reminded me of the scene in Jaws where boats all sizes and overloaded went out looking for the Great White.

Unfortunately, accidents happen, injuries occur, a few die occasionally. The divers. The lobsters are expected goners. 

Hemingway Days Run of the Bulls at 1 today. Begins at Sloppy Joe’s. Fun to watch.

In the summer of 1990, the movie Criss Cross was being filmed in Key West. Starred Goldie Hawn.

Monroe County proposes a 28 percent budget increase. The $147 million increase is 28 percent of the current $519 million budget.

Why not? Keep bleeding property owners. Affect rental levels. Force more people to move.

A “jeer” on the Key West Citizen editorial page this morning: “To the proposal to consolidate Monroe County and Dade circuit courts. What is being presented as a cost-cutting measure is merely another example of gerrymandering and a continuation of a power grab by certain political factions.”

Judge Aileen Cannon did no favor to Justice this week when she decided Trump’s document trial would begin in May 2024. Never will. Trump will come up with some excuse (like too close to election) and be granted another extension of the trial date. This one after the election.

Fortunately, the Department of Justice may be able to get the January 6 case (once indicted) tried earlier. The January 6 matter is simpler to prove and should move forward forthwith.

DeSantis wants to sue Bud Lite now. Disney was not enough. Florida has enough “people problems.” The State and its Presidnet seeking Governor should pay attention to those problems rather than stretching out with wild theories to sue corporate giants.

Bess Levin does it again. Dramatically describes Trump’s reaction to Judge Cannon’s setting a trial date  well before the 2024 election and word heard that racketeering charges are likely to come out of the Fulton County probe. Her article in Vanity Fair covering Trump’s frame of mind is titled: That Sound You Hear Is Donald Trump Screaming, Crying, and Throwing Up in a Mar-a-Lago Bathroom.

Enjoy your day! Walk the Hemingway Duval Street Fair and watch the Running of the Bulls.

Tony Bennett died. He made it to 96. God looked with favor upon him.

A great vocalist. An American legend. “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” one of his top recordings.

Frank Sinatra said of him: “For my money, Tony Bennett is the best singer in the business. He excites me…..moves me.”

My life has been full with meeting interesting people. Tony Bennett one of them.

It was sometime in the 1970’s. I was in New York on business. Finished a bit late. Noticed a steak house nearby. Decided to try it. Not one of the famous ones.

I was eating at the bar. A fellow came in and sat next to me. Looked familiar. I could not place him, however. Tastefully casually dressed. Blue blazer, shirt open at collar, kaki slacks and white tennis shoes. No socks.

We began chatting. Continued doing so for about 3 hours. Talked about nothing and everything. In the midst of the conversation, it dawned on me who the man was. Tony Bennett! I politely said, you’re Tony Bennett. He modestly said yes and we continued talking as we had before.

Turned out his arranger was from my hometown Utica. I did not know the family name.

The steak house was on the first floor of a hotel. Bennett lived in the hotel.

A memorable meeting for me.

As predicted, the coral reefs are suffering from the excessive heat. Warm water is impacting the reefs. Bleaching and other diseases occurring big time.

Though none of us want one, a hurricane would help the reefs by knocking down the water temperature. Unfortunate that one horrible event is required to eliminate another. I do not favor a hurricane. 

Hemingway Days have arrived. Tonight, the second preliminary round of the Hemingway Look-Alike Contest. Finals tomorrow night. Sloppy Joe’s the locale. Running of the Bulls tomorrow at 1.

Fun time!

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has the backing of Jim Jordan re Kennedy’s bogus Hank Aaron COVID conspiracy.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is not his father. He has never been at any time during his adult career. He’s a whacko job!

DeSantis is not qualified to be Presidnet. He has already proven he is not qualified to be Governor.

Among Florida’s new standards for teaching American history which were approved wednesday, one of them claims African Americans received some “personal benefit” from slavery. They “developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their present benefit.”

Like what? Slavery is slavery!

History is history and should not be changed. Even in the slightest.

Abe Lincoln is turning over in his grave.

The British Open Royal Liverpool Course is tough. Tough, tough. Almost to the point of being unfair. Bunkers ridiculous. Deep and straight up. Rough horrible.

Holes 17 and 18 described as “monstrous.”

Courses today are getting tougher and tougher. Is this the way golf is to be played? Is this golf’s future?

Finally, a $1 billion winner! A Powerball ticket sold at a Los Angeles shop near skid row. I’m curious to learn who purchased the winning ticket.

This day in 1925, the “monkey trial” ended in Dayton, Tennessee. John T. Scopes was found guilty of violating state law for teaching Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. Years later, it was determined Scopes’ arrest and trial were a fraud. Even Scopes was in on it.

City fathers got together and arranged the whole thing hoping it would bring notoriety and business to Dayton. It did.

I have written about the falsity of the Scopes trial several times over the years.

An anti-abortion lawsuit in Austin, Texas is in the news. Brought by women who were denied abortions in medical emergency situations. They testified, cried and one vomited while testifying.

I strongly suggest you read the detailed article in Vice News 7/20 re their testimony. Some of it will cause you to tear up.

The heat the U.S. is experiencing is even more so in Europe. The summer’s heat wave is the third extreme one in 20 years.

In August 2003, more than 35,000 died. Last year, 61,000. This year more than that number expected. A contributing factor is most European homes are not air conditioned.

Enjoy your day!