Mark Twain was not his real name. It was his pen name. His real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens. For whatever reason, he began using Mark Twain for his writings in 1863.

His pen name came from his years of working  on the Mississippi River, where river boat men would cry out “mark twain” to indicate a depth of twelve fathoms. Twelve feet. Twelve feet was a safe depth for a steamboat to navigate.

Hurricane Beryl could be a big one! It reached hurricane strength yesterday. The Caribbean is bracing for Category 3 winds.

Spaghetti lines indicate the right side of Beryl brushing the southwestern edge of Cuba. Too soon however to determine accuracy. If a bit more right, could reach Key West. Too early to tell.

As poor a governor as DeSantis is, his personal value grew last year. His net worth grew by more than 50 percent.

His net worth on 12/31/23 was $1.7 million, up from $1.1 million the previous year. Two publishers paid him a total of $785,000.

Republicans, MAGAs and Trump want everyone to forget about January 6, 2021.

Don’t!

I was going to list the lies Trump spoke during the debate. Instead I am recommending Bess Levin’s June 28 article in Vanity Fair. Better than I could do. Also, she spells out Biden’s failures.

Read Levin’s short and to the point review of the debate: “Biden’s Debate Performance Was Objectively Terrible – And Trump’s Still Trump.”

The last portion of Levin’s closing sentence important: “…..let’s be clear about what the alternative to electing Biden will be.”

My suggestion what Democrats should do. Biden is our man. Good, bad or indifferent, we are stuck with him. I agree he was terrible in the debate. Thirty seconds into it and I knew he was in trouble.

My problem is he was fine afterwards and the next day. The campaign is on. Both candidates will be speaking somewhere almost daily. The media should cover Biden each time he speaks. If he’s ok, it will help clear the debate disaster. If not, Trump unfortunately will be our next Presidnet.

I believe Biden can remedy his debate problems. Go for it, Joe!

The President is Jill Biden’s second husband. She was married for 5 years from 1970-1975 to Bill Stevenson.

They have been divorced 49 years.

Stevenson got his 2 cents in re Jill’s comments following the debate. He slammed her for encouraging her husband to stay in the race.

Forty nine years late! Still has a “hard on” over the divorce. Stupid! It took 49 years to get even, assuming such was warranted?

In 1947, the the Monroe County Health Department, along with the Tuberculosis and Health Association, began giving chest x-rays to all residents of Key West and Boca Chica 15 years or older. The program was expected to take 3 weeks to complete.

I was 12 years old in 1947. Growing up in Utica, N.Y. Then and at that time, I knew how bad TB was. It was a constant in the news and discussions. Not as bad as COVID, but the worst disease at the time bar none. Scary.

Several school contemporaries became afflicted. All ended up living in the nearby Adirondack Mountains in special facilities for tubercular patients. The mountain weather was one of the remedies. All recovered and returned to join us in school.

God bless our Mosquito Control District. Always on top of things.

Due to the recent rains, the District has scheduled aerial larviciding missions over the western portion of Key West. Tomorrow from 6:30 am to 10:00 am.

The weather at the moment is interesting. It has been pouring big time the past 2 hours.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Watched on TV yesterday Biden meeting with supporters following the debate and again yesterday at 2 rallies. When Biden met with supporters following the debate, he looked terrific. Perfect. Spoke clearly and distinctly. Walked properly. He was a different man. One to two hours later. What happened?

Did he clutch for the debate.? I doubt it. Then, what?

Watched Biden again yesterday. Two rallies. Looked fantastic? Acted well! Beyond normal.

Again, what happened during the debate? Maybe he should have taken his cold medication before the debate and not after.

The Sahara Desert dust storm is late in arriving in the U.S. Supposedly was to arrive in South Florida wednesday night. We are still waiting. A recent article assured it is still coming.

Coffee is a wonderful thing. I am not a fan. Rarely imbibe. Prefer tea. Most others however love coffee. Cannot live without it. Especially that first cup in the morning.

The Colonists prior to the Boston Tea Party were tea drinkers. Following “the party” they ceased so being and became coffee drinkers.

Comes the Civil War, coffee was in poor supply. Northern soldiers were going without. A crisis.

Union General Benjamin Butler considered coffee a source of energy and morale. As vital as gun powder. He believed: “If your men get their coffee early in the morning, you can hold your position.”

Brazil had been the main supplier of coffee to the U.S. However, the Union blockade of the South prevented most coffee imports from reaching the North.

Stephen Allen Benson was President of the relatively young Republic of Liberia. Liberia had 500,000 coffee trees planted. He wanted to supply the North with coffee.

Benson was Black. He was born in Maryland. Moved with his family when he was 6 to Liberia. 

He wanted to do his thing for the Union. He did. Union soldiers thereafter received an adequate coffee supply.

Benson was only charging the Union $.40 a pound for his coffee beans. The Confederate Army was paying $8 a pound from wherever they could get it.

The North gained a powerful edge over the South when it came to coffee. The coffee Union soldiers were drinking  was of “superior” quality, full of “strength, flavor and aroma.”

It became law thursday. Highway A1A from Key West to Georgia is now “Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway.”

A well deserved recognition!

Another U.S. Supreme Court screw up. The Court on friday limited a federal obstruction law that has been used to charge hundreds of January 6 Capitol riot defendants. Trump is included in those so charged.

The decision was 6-3. The charge has been used where an individual was obstructing an official proceeding. The Court said there must be  proof that a defendant tried to tamper with or destroy documents.

How many documents were tampered with or destroyed that day? Even more, the ultimate thrust of the attack was to prevent the vote that was to be taken that day. A vote to approve state delivered documents. 

The decision will result in many pleas and convictions being set aside. It also means those charged and not tried will have the charge automatically withdrawn.

The Republican Supreme Court majority continues  to decide cases awkwardly and to derive a political outcome. They have to go. Removed from the Court. Or, their power has to be diminished in some fashion. Otherwise properly arrived at decisions will slowly fade away.

A golf “it never happened before” occurrence. Frank Bensel Jr. made back to back holes-in-one during the 2020 U.S. Open yesterday. Rare. A first!

The Square Grouper is one one of the finest restaurants in the lower Keys. Located on Cudjoe Key. Its owners opened another on Islamorada. Another success.

A third is on its way. In downtown Key West. Soon to open.

Enjoy your day!

The Presidential Debate was last night. Biden stumbled. Trump lied.

No question, Trump won. Biden looked poorly.

The big thing that struck me was Biden appeared old. Looked and talked old. Sorry to say it. Love the guy! Knew him personally via Syracuse University back in the 1980’s. Have not seen him since. Whatever I observed last night does not change my mind as to his quality as President. He has been one of our finest Presidents. Near the top.

Last night his age stood out like a sore thumb. He has not aged well. Looked poorly, spoke poorly, appeared to think poorly. His responses not the best in the first half of the debate. They were excellent in the second half, however.

Age is a strange thing. I am one week short of 89. Biden is 80. My mind is till sharp. As good as it was 40 years ago. My appearance leaves something to be desired. I am told I look like I am in my 60’s. The mirror tells me 88. 

The President looked fatigued and stressed. His responses initially slow and not necessarily accurate. Some mumbling. Forgetful. Common to us oldies. I am forgetful. However, I am not running for President.

Such is my detailed description of Biden.

Trump is easy to describe. He lies. All the time. I think it is impossible for him to tell the truth. He does not know what truth is.

It was announced following the debate that Biden had a cold. He probably did. He talked as if he had.

Biden lost ground last night. Hope he picks it up and moves ahead of Trump by the next debate.

We cannot afford Trump as our Presidnet again! Keep in mind not what will happen to Biden should Trump win, but what will happen to us if Trump wins.

Biden had a bad debate last night. I’m sue the next one will be better. The stakes are too high for anything else. Can you imagine Trump as President again?

The coming election is not a reflection on Biden and Trump. Rather it is a reflection on us. The American people. What type government, what type of life do we want? Complaining is not going to help if we make the wrong decision.

Moving on.

Insanity continues. Religion being pushed where it does not belong. I grew up in the Catholic Church. Grammar school, high school and college. Separation of Church and State was a basic. No argument concerning the proposition.

Now evangelical nuts seeking political power are coming out of the woodwork. Like bugs and rodents. Oklahoma the latest place. Oklahoma State Superintendent Walters has issued a declaration requiring public schools to teach the Bible. He said, the Bible is a “necessary historical document” that must be taught in certain grades.

Oklahoma has blended the line between religious instruction and public education. Public schools are not Sunday schools.

What next?

This day in 1914 is considered the day that sparked World War I. Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie were shot to death in Sarajevo by a Serb nationalist.

On this date in 1838, Britain’s Queen Victoria was crowned in Westminster Abbey.

On one of my business trips to London, I snuck off one afternoon to visit Westminster Abbey. Huge! Awesome! Impressive!

This morning while searching the internet, came across an article  on my favorite Greek isle Amorgos. The island a small nothing. The article was by a traveler Gemma Knight who had visited 25 Greek islands and claimed Amorgos to be her favorite.

That makes two of us.

Years ago when I often traveled to Greece, I would spend 1-2 months on Amorgos. That’s how much I loved it!

Gemma Knight is a more recent visitor and spends similar amounts of time.

It was nice to read of the ferry rides to and from Amorgos. It stopped at Katapola on Amorgos where I stayed.

Amorogos’ most famous landmark is the Monastery Hozoviotissas. Built hundreds of feet up on the side of a tall cliff. White…..straight up!

The steps to the Monastery brutal. I did them. Toured the Monastery. Stayed and enjoyed a glass of wine and a baked good with one of the monks. Wrote my name in the guest book as I left.

Two years later, I received a call from a New York City friend. She had visited the Monastery and leafed through the guest book. Came across my name and home town.

Small world!

Started this morning early. Eight o’clock at Select Physical Therapy. Kathy my therapist. First time. Pleasant company. 

New to Key West. Forget where she came from. She is renting a small yellow house on Sugarloaf. Loves it!

She always wanted a yellow house on the water. She is not close to the water, happy nevertheless.

Then to Date & Thyme for my Monkey Smoothie breakfast. Always good!

I am still waiting for the Sahara dust to appear. Maybe it will not. Yesterday was terribly hot again. Today appears like it will be the same.

One o’clock as I am finishing this blog.

Enjoy your day!

Birth control has been around for hundreds of years.

Diaphragms and other barrier devices have existed since the time of ancient Egypt. 

The ancient Romans used a certain herb that proved to be effective nearly 100 percent of the time. The herb was silphium. The herb no longer exists. The reason being Romans used it so much. They used it to extinction.

I searched for governmental opposition to birth control back then. Found none. Which proves the ancients were smarter than we are in this regard.

Tonight, the Presidential Debate! A big deal!

A win, lose or draw! Could amount to being an important event or a nothing. Depending on how it goes.

Nine pm on CNN and other channels.

From my perspective, worthy of watching. My thoughts tomorrow as to who won if either and any other thoughts I may have.

First the Supreme Court bans abortion. Now 2 years later, it appears the Court may allow emergency abortions. So sayeth a short Idaho decision accidently leaked yesterday.

The decision says the Court will allow hospitals to perform emergency abortions to stabilize patients without being subject to prosecution under Idaho’s abortion ban.

No way to run a Court! Recognition of a mistake in only two years. Used to take forever for case law to be changed. Even if a recognition of error re Dobbs, the decision is only a small correction. Helpful, but not enough. Dobbs was a major error. A political decision. Not what the Supreme Court is supposed to do.

The Key West Commission runs itself in a worse fashion than the U.S. Supreme Court. 

A rebel faction of the Commission did it. Yesterday, they fired City Manager Childress. The vote 4-3.

A new City Commission takes place in a few days on July 1. Commissioner Kaufman asked that a meeting be scheduled for August 26 to vote on Childress again. At that time there will be 3 new Commissioners and a new Mayor voting.

The entire scenario a stupid one. An only in Key West situation.

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy announced yesterday re gun violence: “Firearm Violence: A Public Health Crisis in America.”

Florida Governor DeSantis was quick to respond. He said Florida will not go along with the directive.

Shot ’em up! It’s coming again! Bump guns will be used and Florida could very well be the location.

DeSantis had a second debacle yesterday. What’s wrong with the man?

His latest error is having cut state monies to deal with social services. Like $625,000 to Keys Area Health Centers and $150,000 to the Monroe Association for ReMarcable Citizens.

The cuts were made willy nilly, with no track record of wrong doing or lack of need by either entity.

On this day in 1950, a “police action” was born. Communist North Korea attacked South Korea. The U.N. immediately ordered U.N. forces to aid the South Koreans. President Truman agreed and sent our soldiers in with the same dispatch.

Enjoy your day!

I spend a considerable amount of time researching. Looking for anything and everything. When I come across something weird, I research it a bit more to determine its authenticity. 

The following induced some extra research on my part. I did not believe what I first read: “Nineteenth century doctors treated a lot of women for hysteria. They’d treat it by giving them a ‘hande.’ The symptoms of hysteria were moodiness, nervousness, irritability, and a tendency to cause trouble. The cure? A doctor-hand-induced orgasm. Their tired hands led to the invention of the vibrator.”

For real? Accurate? A today hand induced sex act a physician’s remedy of old?

I dug. It was easy. The paragraph set forth was correct. Even more so. I discovered that “external genital stimulation was a treatment for hysterias as early as 2,000 B.C.” The doctor’s hand was the tool used for centuries till the Industrial Revolution. At that time, a mechanically created instrument known as the vibrator was invented. Eliminating the doctor’s hand from treatment purposes.

No question involved. The Sahara dust will affect southeast parts of the U.S. This includes South Florida.

At 10:30 am tuesday as I was researching the issue again, I read that a layer of the Sahara phase was already moving over the Keys. I had two early morning stops and did not notice it. Nor did I notice it this morning when I left home for physiotherapy at 8. However, be warned! It’s coming. The next few days. Be prepared to stay inside if it’s bad.

There is one benefit. The Sahara plume consists of extremely dry air. The dry air cuts down on thunderstorms and tropical cyclones for nations. Which means the Sahara dust helps to derail the active hurricane season.

Came across a picture of Donald Trump on the internet yesterday. Dignified appearing. The caption on the bottom of the photo read: “HE WOULD HAVE THROWN ON A DRESS IF HE WAS ON THE TITANIC.”

Fits the man. Need more be said?

The Supreme Court has a basketball court.

Storage space above the courtroom was turned into a gym with a basketball court in the 1940’s. John Roberts used to play basketball with William Rehnquist there. Sandra Day O’Connor organized yoga classes in the gym every day.

Mount Rushmore was designed by a white supremacist. Gutzon Borglam, the man who sculpted Mount Rushmore, was a racist. He had ties to the Ku Klux Klan, was deeply involved in their politics. He said things like, “I would not trust an Indian” and referred to African Americans as a “mongrel horde.”

President John F. Kennedy spoke in West Berlin where he delivered his famous speech expressing solidarity with Berlin’s residents: “Ich bin ein Berliners.” In English, “I am a Berliner.”

Dengue is on the rise worldwide. Including the U.S. In the first six months of this year, countries in North and South America have broken records for dengue cases.

We are fortunate in the lower Florida Keys. We have a Mosquito Control District watching out for us. They do a top notch job! Dengue cases are rare and few. The exception being 2009 and 2010. The lower Keys in 2009 experienced 22 cases. In 2010, 66 cases. High numbers.

Gerber Baby Food has a new baby. Sonny from Phoenix. An unforgettable smile!

Gerber has had a connection with Key West for years. In the form of Gerber family persons who have settled or visited here. 

Primary is Holly Merrill. Known and loved by everyone. Her mother Dorothy Gerber was a frequent visitor. Mother Dorothy, together with her husband Daniel, founded Gerber Baby Foods.

The heat is hot! All over the United States!

One place it has impacted is Washington, D.C. A wax six foot tall state of Abraham Lincoln was erected last year at Camp Barker. Outside, of course.

The heat caused Lincoln’s wax head to totally melt. His legs to crumble.

The statue is already under repair.

Trump continues to play dirty. He has intimated in the past Biden uses drugs. Now he claims Biden will be on drugs for the debate.

I was up early this morning. An 8 o’clock appointment for physiotherapy. Ashley handling me again. Smart woman!

I told her monday how my back ached. Has nothing to do with the heart physios. Mentioned it to her again at the beginning of the session this morning. She gave me 15 minutes of lower back exercises to do first. I thought she was aggravating the situation. By the end of my hour, I had absolutely no pain in the lower back. Even after doing 45 minutes of other exercises.

Was I wrong!

It is now 11:30 am and my back still feels 100 percent!

God bless Ashley! My problem is an everyday one. I am waiting for the pain to return. Ashley gave me a few simple exercises to do for the back while I am home. I will. Hope it continues to work.

Enjoy your day!

How much stranger can the weather get? A pertinent question. Right on.

It has been predicted that dust from the Sahara Dessert will reach South Florida and Mexico between thursday and sunday this week. The huge mass of dust will cross the Atlantic before hitting us.

A shark visited Smathers Beach. Bit a man friday. Forty six year old Claude Michael Bazo received two bites to his arm while in 3 feet of water.

He refused to be flown to Miami for attention. Instead was transferred to the Lower Keys Medical Center. As of yesterday, no information was available as to his condition. 

Bazo was irritated by the police attention rendered. Used cuss words in refusing to be transported to Miami. He told police: “I have been dead before, I am a Jesus Christ.”

I wonder if the shark survived the bite.

There is a “subtle fear” on the part of the three liberal Supreme Court Justices that the conservative majority is going to begin chipping away at same sex marriage.

Time will tell.

Another suspected change to what has been involves motor vehicle operation. Banning left turns on busy American streets. It is believed such would increase traffic speed and eliminate a large number of left turn accidents on busy urban streets.

Railbiking. A new sport/exercise. Human powered.

The activity is catching on across the nation. Two components involved. Abandoned railroad tracks and a comfortable far out vehicle to bike.

Abandoned railroad tracks are self-explanatory. The “vehicle” is that which we have seen in many Old West movies. A flatbed with a manually operated crane. The new vehicles are more comfortable to operate. Four may sit. Most are foot operated.

The thrill of it all is being out in the sun and fresh air, sitting back, pedaling, and enjoying a different kind of ride. 

Began early morning yesterday with a session at Select Physical Therapy. Ashley working me.

Each session is more strenuous. I leave tired. However, I am told such is good. We are building up my heart.

Then a smoothie for breakfast. Followed by a walk around Winn-Dixie to buy a few items. Spent the rest of monday laying around.

I have no idea what today holds.

Enjoy your day!

What it took to feed Key Westers in 1886: Fifteen turtles and eleven cattle were butchered each day.

Businesses have changed in Key West over time. Cigar making was a big business in 1923. The cigars were sold in wood boxes. When completed, the boxes were referred to as “cigar boxes.”

On this day in 1923, the 700 ton four-masted schooner Marie J. Thompson arrived in Key West from Cuba with 50,000 feet of cedar logs for delivery to a Key West cigar box factory. The wood to be made into cigar boxes.

Key West resident Col. Floyd J. “Jim” Thompson was held captive by the Viet Cong for 3,278 days. The time involved represented the longest P.O.W. detainment in American history.

I ask again. What happened to the Sunshine Law in Key West? Does it apply to the “firing attempt” by 2-3 Commissioners of City Manager Albert Childress?

If the Commission members acted “in secret,” should the Commissioners be charged under the Sunshine Law?

No one talks about whether the Sunshine Law is applicable. The silence is stunning!

Moving on.

Scottie Scheffler won the Travelers Golf Championship yesterday. Beat Tom Kim in a one hole playoff.

The victory was Scheffler’s sixth win of the season. Phenomenal! The last time a professional golfer accomplished such a feat this early in the season was Arnold Palmer in 1962.

In 2012, French beekeepers in a certain area ran into a odd mystery. Besides yellow, honey portions of bee hives contained honey colored blue and green.

Strange.

Why?

Beekeepers finally discovered M&M candy containers were to blame. Bees were visiting a local M&M candy plant. The bees were sucking up the residue from containers in the M&M plant.

Is Donald Trump in cognitive decline? Renowned psychotherapist Dr. John Gartner believes Trump is a mental case. 

Gartner believes Trump’s threat to American democracy and national security is explicit and pressing. He views Trump as a Russian operative, a lifelong criminal, and a danger to the free world.

The French people are upset with the cost of cleaning up the River Seine for the Paris Olympics in July. After spending in excess of $1 billion to clean up the Seine, the river still shows the water too dirty to swim in. The Olympic triathlon and open water swimming events are scheduled to take place in the river. Two kinds of fecal bacteria, including e-coli, do not meet Olympic standards.

The French government has 5 weeks to complete a cleanup. Will it succeed? If not, where will the water sport competitions be held?

Have to hustle. An 8 o’clock physiotherapy appointment.

Enjoy your day!

Donald Trump accepts every popular position, new or old, as his own. As long as the position appears to be a vote getter among a certain group.

This week Trump endorsed the new Louisiana Ten Commandments Law. The law that requires the Ten Commandments to be hung in every public class room in Louisiana. He went even a step further. He claimed he would love the idea in private schools and other places also.

Trump also called for a “religious revival.”

The Devil himself speaking. Amazing! If he is elected, it will not be “God is in His Heaven, all is right with the world.” It will be the “Devil is in the White House, all is wrong with America!”

Trump’s rally speech last night promised immunity to police across the country and to build a “great Iron Dome” over the country. The Iron Dome would be a missile defense system, which would “create jobs.”

Trump also said he would cure the soap scarcity and insure there would be more bacon available for sale. I was unaware their was a problem buying soap. Trump said many places that sell bars of soap are keeping the product in glass receptacles under lock and key. I was unaware there was a bacon scarcity. I was aware bacon was more expensive, however.

Have police immunity and the Iron Dome replaced 2020’s  “I’m going to build a wall?”

In the same speech, Trump said he does not need votes. He already has them. He needs to be sure however that no one steals them.

This year’s Presidential campaign seems more desperate for Trump than his previous ones. He is shooting at everyone and everything and supporting every new issue that pops up. 

It’s Trump time for me this morning. I would be remiss if I failed to note Trump’s continuing to lie. Especially in his efforts to raise campaign funds. His latest fundraising email falsely suggested he could be executed. The email: “1 MONTH UNTIL ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE! THEY WANT TO SENTENCE ME TO DEATH.”

The reference re a death sentence is to his sentencing July 11 on his conviction of 34 charges of business fraud re hush money paid to Stormy Daniels.

A week ago, he emailed “GUILLOTINE.” 

Trump lies. The problem is a significant number of people believe him.

This type play has to stop! It has now been revealed that Caitlin Clark’s early leaving the June 2 game with New York Liberty because of an “ear slam” was more than a slight ear ache. Her ear drum had been ruptured. Following which there was intense pain and an inability to hear “screens.”

Clark says, “It’s still a little hard to hear, but I’m all good.”

The lady is a class act.

Jimmy Carter is amazing! Ninety nine years old. God willing, one hundred days from now he will be 100.

He has been in hospice for 16 months. Half the people in hospice die within 17 days.

October 1 is the day the former President will be 100!

Rained off and on all day yesterday. Poured all night. Pouring continuously this morning. 

Sexually transmitted infections are skyrocketing among the elderly. They fail to protect themselves. Great they are enjoying sex. Time to educate them however as the young have been educated. Practice safe sex!

How bad is bad among the elderly? Really bad!

Among those 65 and older, chlamydia has tripled, gonorrhea multiplied sixfold, and syphilis increased nearly tenfold.

Something is rotten about the Supreme Court Justices taking so long in Trump’s immunity case. Decision will probably come down this week. In a case the Supreme Court did not have to take. The answer appeared simple. The law clear. Accept the decision below. End of the case.

However the Court has been screwing around with it. Took forever to hear. Now forever to render a decision. 

Even if Trump loses, he has benefitted from the delay. It has made it impossible to timely try one of the federal cases pending against him.

Keep one thing in mind as you consider who your vote for President will go to. Biden is running for Presidnet, Trump for Dictator. The difference is important. It determines how you will live the following four years.

Still pouring.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Florida’s Government – in – the – Sunshine Law provides a right of access to governmental proceedings at both state and local levels. It applies to any gathering of 2 or more members of the same board or commission to discuss some matter which will in course come before that board or commission for action. In short, no discussion in private. Must be open. The public has a right to know at every step.

Violation can result in  fines or criminal charges.

Two or three Key West Commission members  have decided to fire City Manager Albert Childress. Certain or all of the three are scheduled for retirement at the end of the month. One or more called a meeting June 26 to fire Childress. 

Has the Sunshine Law been violated here? 

No one seems to be talking talking about it.

A Keys History comment in this morning’s Citizen. Concerns the make up of Key West people in 1893: “A very large number of the Key West people have no religion at all and are as vile and wicked as the devil wants them to be, there are others who have so much religion it is absolutely making them miserable.”

Thelma Strabel a famous authoress. In 1940, her work Reap the Wild Wind was run in the Saturday Evening Post.  Made into a major movie in 1942 starring John Wayne, Ray Milland, Raymond Massey, Paulette Goddard and Susan Hayward.

Strabel built a house in Key West at what is today in the area of the Southernmost Point. At 400 South Street. At the time, it was the southernmost house in Key West. Later torn down and replaced by a larger house.

On wealthy Martha’s Vineyard, costly housing is forcing  workers out and threatening public safety. Costly housing has caused a similar experience in Key West in recent years. Many Key West restaurants have had to limit seating because of a lack of help. Help who left because Key West housing had become too expensive.

Popular actor Donald Sutherland died yesterday at the age of 88. He starred in many films including Klute, Mash, The Dirty Dozen, and Ordinary People.

Dwight Eisenhower was the “Boss” of D-Day. Planning and execution. Numero Uno as the saying goes. He was the Supreme Commander.

A major thorn in his side was British General Bernard Montgomery. An arrogant man. Disappointed he was passed over for Eisenhower’s job. He was designated #2 in effect by being made Chief of Allied Ground Forces for the invasion. His experience qualified him for the position.

Montgomery’s problem was he considered himself “Jesus Christ reincarnated.” No one more better than he.

This made the Eisenhower/Montgomery relationship tense. So much so that in a 1944 incident Eisenhower had to remind Montgomery that he, Eisenhower, was his boss and Montgomery was not speak disrespectfully to him.

I am confused. First, Caitlin Clark was omitted from the Olympic team for some reason. However, it was reported at the time she was the first substitute if an opening occurred.

So much for the substitution report when she was passed over.

The unexpected has occurred. There is an opening due to the unfortunate injury to Cameron Brink. 

Rumor is Caitlin Clark is ineligible to play. The USA Ladies Basketball Team has specific requirements for eligibility. Complex rules. Clark has not participated in “certain competitions.” Too confusing for even me to understand.

There has been no announcement yet that she does not qualify. My sense is that it is crazy.

I hope I am wrong and she will swiftly be placed on the team.

The joke of it all is that Clark has caused professional ladies basketball to be reborn. Her presence has boosted the game. At one game this week, the best seats were going for $9,000.

Another example of what her participation has made possible is the Indiana/Atlanta game last night. Which, by the way, Indiana won 91-79. Indiana’s fourth consecutive victory.

The game was scheduled to be played at the Gateway City Arena which holds 3,500. It was moved instead to the State Farm Arena which has a 16,888 capacity. It superseded that number admitting 17,575 to watch the game.

Caitlin keeps drawing crowds. The best thing that has happened to ladies pro basketball!

The first Presidential Debate between Biden and Trump takes place next thursday June 27. Conducted by CNN, it will begin at 9 pm.

Alberto dissipated over Mexico. “Petering” out. Heavy rain remains. Texas saved. Will only experience more rain, though not tropical storm strength.

There is a lesson to be learned here. Did we overreact to Alberto? We have to be cautious. However should not exaggerate, expect the worst, unless we are certain it will be that bad. People panic, some leave. Safety important. However I have experienced enough to know that overreaction leads to people eventually not paying attention. Then when they should get out, they fail to do so.

The Tortugas were named by Ponce de Leon. A name learned by me in grammar school. He named the islands at the western end of the Florida Keys “Los Tortugas.”

My yesterday began at 9 in the morning at Select Physiotherapy. Steven worked me for an hour. An excellent therapist. 

He leaves tomorrow for 10 days in Italy. Rome, Florence, etc. Lucky guy! A great trip. We spent my hour discussing the trip. Made it easier for me to work out, though I was more tired at the end. He worked me hard.

Then it was off to Date & Thyme for my Monkey Smoothie fix. My breakfast.

Decided to do a little more shopping at Winn-Dixie. I am now convinced it is overall cheaper than Publix. I spent $44 for what would have cost me close to $60 at Publix.

Two examples. Two 16 ounce bottle 6 packs of Diet Pepsi on sale. $8 and change at Publix. A mere $6 at Winn-Dixie. Packages of Sunkist Tuna $ .70 each. Well over $1 at Publix.

As I sat in my car ready to leave Winn-Dixie, a pretty lass came up to talk to me. If I recall correctly, her name was Cynthia. If not, I apologize. I enjoyed her company for about 15 minutes. 

Cynthia has to be 19-20 years old. Just finished her first ear at the University of Florida in Gainesville. She got a 3.8. Means all As and 1 B. 

Again, an absolute beauty. 

She was attracted not to me, but to my car. For some reason, women love the color of my Beetle convertible. It is blue and white. The car attracted her, not me. I complain not, however. I enjoyed, we enjoyed, our time together. Chatted about a lot of things.

Hope I run into her again. Meeting her alone reason enough to continue shopping at Winn-Dixie. 

Enjoy your day!

The split in the United States is not just politics/civil issues. Evangelicals are screwing things up. Presently big time Trump supporters.

Louisiana came up with a law that shows how religion is part of the splitting force. Louisiana adopted a law wednesday that requires all public classrooms to display the Ten Commandments.

Louisiana is the only state with such a mandate.

What happened to separation of Church and State?

Florida’s Senator Rubio is a pretty face. Nothing more. I have never been impressed with how he has conducted himself in any fashion. Presidential timber he is not.  Nevertheless, Trump is seriously considering him as his Vice President running mate.

Putin made a smart move with Kim Jung Un. If Russia is attacked, North Korea is technically committed to step in and defend Russia. The defense is “immediate.”

Again, a smart move on Putin’s part. He sold his soul (which he has sold in various fashions before) to the company store. In this instance, North Korea.

Will Kim Jung Un stand by the commitment he made? His name on a piece of paper is one thing. Actual activation of the agreement another. I am sure Kim Jung Un is happy being number one in North Korea and everything going his way all the time. Would not be the same if bombs started falling on North Korea and its people. Especially nuclear ones assuming Kim Jung Un drops one on the United States or its Allies.

Texans were “political whores” more than a 150 years ago and still are today. Their today political thrusts prove the “today point.”

It has been historically established that “Juneteenth” in 1865 did NOT as a practical matter end slavery in Texas. Enslavers were a cool group of businessmen. They would lose a ton of money if “their Blacks” were free. So they resisted the emancipation order and hid the news from enslaved Black people. They were never told they were free. They were kept working at forced labor for 50 plus years.

Black people were making inquiries in the early 1900’s as to whether slavery had ended.

DeSantis “gratuitous” to Florida residents. He is adding an extra day to harvest spiny lobster before mini-season. Sunday July 14. Only for Florida residents.

It would have been better had he done something to improve the financial position of Florida residents.

 A few extra lobsters in the freezer is not going to help the grocery bill.

Muhammed Ali refused to be drafted. As a result, he was sentenced to 5 years in prison. His conviction was later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Looks like Caitlin Clark will get to play in the Olympics. I am sure she is sorry how it came about.

The WBNA #2 pick this year was Cameron Brink. She was named to the Olympic team. She tore her ACL in her left knee in a game tuesday night. She’s done for the season.

Cameron and Caitlin are close friends. Have been so since their early years. None of the crap being heaped on Caitlin has come from Cameron. 

It hurts when a sports figure is set down forever or for a while due to an injury. It’s a sad role of the dice. Happens often however. A danger of participating in sports.

Alberto is the first tropical storm of the season. Already touching Mexico, Alberto is expected to hit Texas.

Key West is presently considered not to be at risk.

Part of my physiotherapy is to walk. Walk when I am not formally working out.

I have been walking Publix and Home Depot. Needed a change of scenery. Tried Winn-Dixie earlier this week. Just walk, not shop.

I was surprised that many items are priced cheaper than at Publix where I have shopped for a number of years. Some items decidedly so. Campbell’s Soup one example. Thirty cents cheaper a can!

To be fair, some items are more expensive. The number of cheaper far outweigh the more expensive, however.

I returned to Winn-Dixie yesterday to shop for the first time in 30 years. Did not buy much. The cheaper items mostly.

When I was checking out. the check out lady asked for my card. What card? Turns out Winn-Dixie has some sort of discount program. There was a long line behind me. I said forget about signing me up today. I will do it the next time I come.

She was appreciative. Pulled her own card out of her pocket and swiped it, thereby providing me with the discount.

It amounted to 7 percent. A good deal!

Needless to say, I was impressed with Winn-Dixie. Will get a card and continue shopping there. I will not be deserting Publix. They still have items they offer that are cheaper.

Enjoy your day!