Milton did its thing. Bad, I’m sure. How bad, I am not yet sure. It’s still dark outside and TV also not able to show damage till the sun comes up. I therefor leave Milton to tomorrow.

I was a little foolish yesterday. It was windy. More than normal. No gusts, though. Heavy rain on and off. Overall, no concern about going out from my perspective.

I was anxious for a Goldman’s toasted cheese sandwich. Got there at 1:45 pm. Note on door said Closing at 2. Did not even go in. Did not want to be rushed even if I was able to be served.

At that point, I noticed most stores in the Overseas Shopping Center were closed. Winn-Dixie was open. Ergo decided to pick up a few things. The store was next to empty.

Now that I am supposedly properly eating, I decided to buy some meats, etc. A change in my diet expected. Timely. I could not do it. Amazing! My mind went one way, my hands another. I purchased all those things I have for the past 9 months. Soups, yogurt, chocolate drink, juices, puddings. etc.

I know. I have to work on “mind changing.”

I did buy one thing different, however. A package of Oreos. Had no intention of so doing. Hard to chew, etc. For whatever reason, I grabbed a package of the shelf as I walked by. Gave no thought to the selection.

Last night, I tried 3. Only 3 because they were so good, I saw myself consuming the whole package. No problem chewing or swallowing. The best of the best however was the taste. The most DELICIOUS thing I had tasted in 9 months!

I noticed an unusual thing as I was driving home. The heavy wind was coming in off the Atlantic. When I got home, I saw on TV the Southernmost Point. Winds and big waves throwing water off the Atlantic over the monument.

Strange! Guess it might have been Milton’s tail running in reverse early in the afternoon.

This morning Keys Citizen “thought” a tornado passed over/struck Key West at 11:30 last night. The article gave no further details.

There will be flooding. Always is in Key West. The same streets and intersections all the time. I have a manicure scheduled for noon. I will know then if I am correct. I am sure I will be. The water will be 2-3 feet deep in some areas. People swimming in the intersections. Tourists, of course. They think its fun. Reality wise, dangerous. Forget not the sewer germs, though little of the flooding is from the sewers.

A live and learn. I have been in Key West 30 years, Never knew one of the best places to park your car if flooding is expected is the Key West High School parking lot. Huge. It was already full wednesday morning, though not a school day.

A perfect question asked in this morning’s Citizens’ Voice. The question precise in view of today’s society: “Does the number of people who hate outnumber the ones who want to be kind?”

I close with a tale originating in my younger days.

As a young lawyer, much of my work involved representing persons injured in accidents.  The lawsuits in most instances were defended by insurance companies.  Allstate the worst! Ruthless in the defense of all cases, whether small or large. Allstate’s aim was to discourage lawyers from suing Allstate insureds.

I hated Allstate!

In later years, my practice developed to the point where my law firm was the major insurance company representative in Central New York. The insurance companies couldn’t beat me so they joined my flock of clients.

I always refused to do legal work for Allstate. Allstate’s volume was large and would have represented a significant increase in my cash flow. However, I could not bring myself to representing the interests of the whore.

There is a reason why I share this with you. Spiro Agnew was elected Vice President of the U.S. His legal career included being an Allstate adjuster. From day one, I considered him no good. I was correct.

On this day in 1973, Vice Presidnet Spiro Agnew, accused of accepting bribes, resigned his office and plead no contest to one count of federal income tax evasion. He was all done being Vice President and further a person deserving of respect.

Enjoy your day!

Big day yesterday! At 3 in the afternoon, I had teeth! All of them!

Took 9 months, but finally got there. My implant dentist was Dr. Mullins at Old Town Dental. The best! He did wonders.

For me, a major event. So long not being able to eat or bite. Lived on liquids. Lost 65 pounds. The only benefit from the disaster.

I had been dreaming what would be my first meal. A steak! A filet mignon! I had not eaten one or lamb chops in the 9 months. Bravado exceeded my dream, however. I went to The Grand and “chickened out.” No, I did not even order chicken. Went with conch fritters. Worked ok. Could not finish. Four pieces too much food. Amazing!

I am going to have to creep back into normal eating. Not sure why. However, that was my conclusion last night.

Lunch today a grilled cheese sandwich at Goldman’s. The best! I have not been able to eat bread. You can’t muck up bread enough with only your tongue and roof of the mouth to break the bread down sufficiently. I was choking, had to stop.

Sorry to bore you with my eating problems.  A big deal for me, however.

I felt like I had a mouth of teeth at The Garden. Thought it was impeding my talking. Chatted with Chris on one side of me and a hurricane escaper to Key West Kelly on the other. Both said I was speaking well. Hope they were not saying so to make me feel good.

Steve and Cindy were not there. They went to Orlando last week. Steve does his doctoring at the Vet’s Hospital up there. When they went to leave sunday, their car would not work.  Cause not certain. Garage “guessed” what it might be. $1,000 to fix with no guaranty of it working. In the meantime, Steve and Cindy rented a car.

Their car worked fine and they got home late last night.

Milton a strange duck. 

Yesterday was beautiful in Key West. I learned last night today is the day we will have problems in Key West, if any. Winds and rain this morning so far.  Winds getting heavier. Around 50 mph.

I do not sense anything dramatic is going to occur.

Milton can’t make up his mind. Still over the water and goes back and forth between a Category 4 and Category 5. Still heading for Tampa area. Issue now is whether the north or south side of Tampa. The side determines the severity of the impact.

TV pictures of debris still remaining on roadsides due to Helene visible. Bad. Tall and huge. When Milton hits, each parcel, small or large will be a missile or bullet. Reason enough for people to get their asses out. Milton is going to be one of the worst hurricanes ever.

Impact later today or during the evening.

Florida Governor DeSantis continues to be an ass. He wouldn’t talk to Harris because “she had nothing to do with the hurricane.” He is happy now. Talking directly with Biden. What a pompous ass!

Florida under DeSantis has been a Trumpy/MAGA sort. He is no different than Trump. Both bad guys.

Helen reads this blog. She lives in northern Florida. She left a comment this morning. Words of wisdom: “For those of you attempting to evacuate the impending hurricane on I-75, in northern Florida, remember that the Congress persons in our district have steadfastly refused to vote for any FEMA funding.”

Bob Woodward is back with a new book…..WAR.

He always writes the truth. Nails Trump big in two instances.

The first is the information that Trump when President sent Putin COVID test kits for his personal use. This was at a time when we wee without any in the U.S. for our people. Even Putin knew Trump should not have done what he did. Told him to make sure no one would find out.

The other is Trump has spoken with Putin seven times since Trump has been out of office. Nothing wrong with that if rules are followed. The rules require Trump to first advise the U.S. government he was making the calls. Trump of course did not.

Germany and Greece were having political problems in 2012. The Greeks were hurting financially. They blamed Germany’s Prime Minister Angela Merkel for their austerity problems. 

Twenty five thousand Greeks gathered on several occasions to protest in Athens. On the grounds surrounding the Parliament.

I was concluding a two month Greece stay at the time. My last few days were at the Gran Bretagne Hotel in Athens which was located directly across the street from the Parliament located protest.

No way was I going to not experience the demonstration. I spent two days in the midst of it. Walking around. No one bothered me. I did not understand what the speakers were shouting. Greek was Greek to me.

One recollection was the name of Angela Merkel. Each time a speaker shouted her name, the crowd in unison spit on the ground.

On this day in 1855, inventor Isaac Singer patented the sewing machine motor. The name Singer attached. Most are unaware he had a partner. Edward Clark. 

The Clark family settled in Cooperstown, N.Y. Home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Some 40 mils from my home town Utica. Cooperstown is located on Otsego Lake. Beautiful country.

I was unaware of the Clark family nor their relationship to Singer. Soon found out. Needed a favor in Cooperstown. I was told the Clark family were the movers and controlled everything having to do with the community. It was a long time and difficult climb, but we finally got together and they were very cooperative in what I needed done.

In anticipation of the possibility that Milton might suddenly change course, Key West is hankering down. Schools and some government offices are closed today. Tomorrow will be decided after Milton passes us by today. Today’s garbage for example has been moved to tomorrow and thursday’s garbage to friday. I take the time to mention these miniscule Key West items since a number of people have stopped reading the Keys Citizen and only read me for the news.

Seattle’s Cathy Holka is a dear friend and frequent Key West visitor. I close with her story of a visit by Maria Gutsens. The ghost held her hand.

It is said Maria Gutsens still walks the rooms and hallways of the former Mercedes Hospital on Virginia Street. It is now an apartment house. Gutsens was the Matron of Mercedes Hospital for 23 years.

On this day in 1934, she received the Cross of the Order of Carla Manuel de Cespedes, an honor given by the Cuban government for “outstanding services rendered to Cuba and humanity.”

Many believe her “ghost” still resides at the former hospital on Virginia Street.  Periodically appearing, sometimes to help those sick.

My dear friend Cathy  lived in Key West for a time in the late 1980’s. She resided in the former hospital building. She claims she was under the weather one night, half asleep. Suddenly “someone” picked up her wrist as if to check her pulse. She saw “the figure” who then disappeared. Cathy claims she felt better thereafter.

I believe her and her story of meeting Maria.

Enjoy your day!

So many important things affecting the U.S. today. Each having a special importance unto itself.

I have decided that this day Hurricane Milton is the most important to our country. Ergo, my comments limited to Milton.

Projected already to be THE worst storm ever, or second worst storm, to hit the U.S.

The facts.

Still well out into the Gulf. Not expected to make landfall till early wednesday morning. Tampa projected as the bad luck area.

Milton turned from a Category 1 to a Category 5 yesterday in a period of hours. So unusual, it caused meteorologist John Morales to break down on TV while reporting Milton. He was visibly emotional as he reported. His words after advising how Milton had gone from a Category 1 to 5: “Incredible, incredible. Dropped 50 millibars in 10 hours.” Then his tears followed by an apology: “I apologize. This is just horrific.”

Milton is expected to drop to a category 3 or 4 as it hits Tampa. Still a major storm. Then Milton will cross Florida and exit somewhere around Orlando or Daytona Beach into the Atlantic Ocean. Still at a 3-4. Will drop to a Category 2 when in the Atlantic.

Less than 2 weeks ago, it was Helene that was the worst hurricane ever. No more. Milton replacing Helene. At a time when Helene’s cleanup is still at a minimal stage. Certain parts of Florida will be hard hit a second time. Oh, the woe coming!

An article in USA Today yesterday discussed Milton becoming a Category 6. The only problem, there is no Category 6. At least, not yet. The discussion at this stage hypothetical.

Key West and the Keys fortunate again. We have had heavy rains the past few days. Some of the storms with the rain coming down sideways. Sometimes as much as a 45 degree angle. Milton affects even though tons of miles off land and not yet having even reached a point opposite Key West.

There must be a heavy wind, though I have not heard it. Yet the streets and yards are replete in many Key West areas with downed leaves and palm tree branches.

Meteorologists advise the worst Key West will experience is a tropical storm. Late today probably. if at all. Flooding could be 2-3 feet.

Cape Coral is under emergency evacuation. Corey’s parents drove to Corey and Lisa’s home yesterday from Cape Coral. Spoke with Cheryl Yeast yesterday. She now lives in Cape Coral. She was leaving for Miami where she had already made hotel reservations.

It has been suggested Key West winds will reach 45 mph. Gusts will increase that number. Meteorologists have stated Key West winds could reach a “tropical stormforce.”

Scary difficult days ahead for those north of us. A prayer or two in order.

Today, a big one for me. I have a dental appointment at 3. I supposedly will leave the dentist’s office with a full set of teeth. Nine months and 65 pounds later!

I don’t care how heavy the rain or how badly the winds are blowing, I will keep the appointment. The teeth are an emotional thing for me. 

Those who can, enjoy your day! Those who cannot, evacuate or get to a safe place if you lack the fear you should be experiencing. No time for bravado.

Temperatures are rising. Trump and his people lying even more. Encouraging destruction of the America we know.

Violence encouraging words were spoken at Trump’s Butler rally saturday. Trump, his son Eric and Vance stated clearly Democrats planned the assassination attempts on Donald. Son Eric said, “They tried to kill him.”

Republican leaders are suggesting only a civil war will resolve what they view as the evil that is America these days. The suggestion even stronger when the idea is being floated that if Trump were to lose the election, a civil war is inevitable.

Provocative talk. Lies. Scary. Wrong.

I read on the internet yesterday re Donald Trump when he speaks: “If his lips are moving, he’s lying.” 

Trump’s fruit cake approach to problem solving is evidenced by his recent statement re shoplifters: Police should violently assault such Americans for “one rough hour.”

Hurricane Milton intensifying. Still over Gulf waters and is a Category 2. Expected to hit landfall in the Tampa area wednesday as a Category 3. Surges will be big again. Heavy flooding expected.

America being abused. FEMA will be strained. We’ll get through it all, however. Americans always do, one way or another.

The October edition of Vanity Fair carries an excellent article re the Catholic Church and its marriage with the Republican right. I recommend its reading to you. Detailed. Worth the time spent getting through it. The article is called Bad Faith. Its author Kathryn Joyce.

I searched for the article after reading at another place that the Knights of Columbus had in effect joined with the Catholic Church it supports in becoming MAGA thinkers.

I once knew the Knights of Columbus well. The KC to many. 

Utica had a magnificent building housing the KC. My Dad joined when I was very young. I never knew it to be political. I became a member myself. A Fourth Degree member. I started using the KC when I was 5 years old. I learned how to swim and play basketball there. Their gym housed my high school’s basketball games.

Members went to enjoy the edifice. Not think or talk politics. The pool tables, shuffleboards, friday fish fries, bowling alley, bar, swimming pool, showers, etc.

Every year for many years I recall a sunday set aside for a KC Communion Mass at a particular Church. Followed by several hundred members walking down Utica’s main street to a Communion Breakfast at a large hotel. A big deal! A proud Catholic sunday morning.

I have not been active with the KC for decades. From what I read, it is not the same. It has become a political arm and is in bed with the U.S. Congress of Catholic Bishops. The organizations are anti-Pope Francis.

The Catholic Church today is not what it was when I was growing up. Churches and schools have closed. Dissidents now control and are some kind of mongers. I support Francis. Those that do not, even if priests and bishops, are political hacks more than men of God on Earth to save souls.

I sensed the Catholic Church changing when I was in college. Interestingly, I attended Manhattan College. A Catholic institution. I began my separation from the Church while a student at Manhattan. Today, I am a fallen away Catholic. Does not make me happy. Hard not to be a Catholic when you grew up one.

Came across a list of historical oddities yesterday. Selected a few to share with you.

Hitler’s childhood doctor, Eduard Bloch, was a Jew. He was given special protection by the Gestapo. Hitler’s mother could not afford cancer treatment. Bloch reduced his prices. Teenage Adolf declared undying gratitude. When Austria was annexed, Hitler kept his word to the Jewish doctor.

George Eyser was an American gymnast who had a wooden leg. He competed in the 1904 Olympics. He won 6 medals: Three gold, two silver and one bronze. 

Uncle Sam was given a wife in the 1920’s. Named “Aunt Sammy.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture ran a radio show for farm owners which Aunt Sammy hosted. 

A Trump type ploy. Mao Zedong initiated a crack down on people with wrong opinions and free discussion. He asked for their opinions freely claiming no recourse against anyone. After receiving them, he cracked down on those who said the wrong things.

In the 17th century, coffee was thought to make men impotent. In an attempt to restore their husbands’ virility, a bunch of London women petitioned against coffee houses.

Bankers have always been considered whores. Even today. Nothing has changed concerning them. In the 18th century, the British Parliament actually debated a resolution for bankers to be sewn into sacks with snakes and dumped into the Thames River.

Supermarkets beware! One of the causes of the French Revolution was the price of bread. In the years preceding the Revolution, the price of bread rose to 88 percent of a laborer’s income. Prior thereto, the average worker spent half of his daily income on bread. In the 2 years prior to the Revolution, the grain crop failed. Such caused the cost of bread’s rise to 88 percent of wages.

The 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis was a “big day” for the USA. Two new items introduced. Carrier with the demonstration of his air conditioning invention. Visitors also experienced their first hamburger.

Enjoy your day!

I begin with a touch of humor this Sunday morning. Only because some unusually heavy stuff follows.

Napoleon had more than one Waterloo.

Actually, his won/loss record wasn’t bad. It was 53 wins, 7 losses. He lost a couple of significant ones, however. Russia and Waterloo the two most significant.

He also lost one not counted in the 53/7 record.  The reason simple. It involved rabbits, not humans. The rabbits caused his “retreat” as Russia did.

The skirmish occurred in 1807, right after the end of the fighting between Napoleon’s forces and Russia. The Treaty of Tilsit officially ended the fighting.

To celebrate the event, Napoleon ordered a rabbit hunt. He needed a victory. He could defeat rabbits, or so he thought. Ergo, Napoleon had thousands of rabbits collected and delivered to a battle site. Napoleon could not lose. So he thought.

The rabbits were released en masse. They charged Napoleon and his friends. It was a tsunami of rabbits. Napoleon and his friends turned, galloped and ran in the opposite direction. Napoleon found the safety of his carriage. He sat inside as the rabbits banged against the windows and carriage.

Napoleon was forced to retreat.

I never know where or how a topic is going to grab my attention. All of a sudden it’s there!

Publix a recent one. The cost of groceries nationally is excessive.. Unreasonable. Unaffordable. Whether your are feeding one, four, or six or seven.

No question in my mind, Publix is screwing the public. That was yesterday’s blog.

I received a comment almost immediately following its publication. From reader Randy. He wanted to know “if Publix was a huge Trump supporter financially, donating hundreds of millions to his campaign?”

I previously never gave it a thought. Always assumed major corporations and the affluent did contribute heavily to Republicans. Randy’s inquiry caused me to dig a bit. Understand, I would expect monied corporations and people to support Trump. They want their taxes cut. They are no different than average Americans who want to pay less also.

George Washington Jenkins Jr. founded Publix Super Markets in 1930. Today, it is the largest supermarket chain in Florida. Run differently than other supermarkets. It is employee owned. The Jenkins family share has been reduced to roughly 20 percent. The Jenkins family is affluent. Very rich today beyond their Publix holdings. Forbes ranked them recently as the 39th richest family in the U.S. Their earnings just over $11 billion each year.

Julie Jenkins Fancelli is a Publix heiress. She definitely is a Trump supporter. Big time.

Lets start with January 6. Julie provided the “lion’s share” of its funding. She contributed significant amounts from the George Jenkins Foundation. Three hundred thousand dollars here, four hundred thousand dollars there, etc. Note she denies any prior knowledge of the incidents that occurred on January 6.

It is also suggested Julie contributed to “dark money groups” sponsoring the January 6 rally. She was a witness before the January 6 Select Committee.

Julie donated through a tax exempt non-profit $3.1 million to Moms for America one year, $1.3 million another, $400,000 another, and $300,000 another. Julie’s contributions to January 6 groups was estimated by the January 6 Select Committee to have been at least $3 million based on the Select Committee’s December 22, 2022 report.

Julie appears to have been a Trump supporter directly or indirectly over the years in huge amounts.

Whether other Jenkins family members were contributors, I do not know. Too much involved to determine. I am not even sure I covered Julie’s contributions completely. I further am not able to comment whether Publix made any direct or indirect contributions to Trump.

The weather reports advise three hurricanes already are or in the process of becoming hurricanes out over the waters. One is expected to hit the Tampa Area Wednesday as a Category 3. The other two maneuvering around.

None of the three appear to be a danger to Key West or the Keys at the moment. You never know, however. Key West was to have heavy rains yesterday, especially between 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm. It did. Beginning at 12:30 and lasting one hour. Heavy, heavy. Winds also. The rain was coming down in a slant, not straight down.

Key West is scheduled for additional rains Monday and Tuesday. I assume caused by the hurricanes mentioned.

Rained heavy last night. Looked like rain at 8 this morning. Black skies. Nothing happened. The sun is trying to come out at the moment.

I watched Trump’s return rally at Butler, Pennsylvania yesterday. Butler was where he was shot in an attempted assassination 3 months ago to the day yesterday. Trump knows how to magnify things. Even to the day.

Trump was magnificent! He bled the crowd for every drop it was worth. Even brough tears to my eyes. Got every drop of sympathy from the attack on him,  the death of one person, and serious injury to two others. He and his new found friend and supporter Elon Musk with him. Musk spoke briefly. They’re in bed together. No question about it. In yesterday’s blog, I said Musk wanted to sit “at the table” in Washington. I was wrong. He wants a seat next to Trump in the Oval Office.

Musk sounded like a Democrat. As Trump is prone to do, Musk used Democratic verbiage as if such was a Republican position. No way, Jose! Statements like, “This is no ordinary election. The other side wants to take away your freedom of speech…..right to vote.”

I was watching the rally via the Jonathan Capehart Show on MSNBC. Capehart cut out the rally two minutes into Musk’s talk and never returned to Trump or Musk. I was upset he did not hear all Musk had to say. I am sure others felt as I did. I am curious as to why Musk is associating himself so openly and big bucks wise. Wanted to hear the reasons from his own mouth!

Trump and Musk are birds of a feather when to comes to lying. They are on the same wavelength when it comes to Helene’s impact. 

Trump accuses Biden and North Carolina’s Democratic Governor Roy Cooper of withholding or diverting relief funds from hardest hit Republican areas to the tune of “billions of dollars.” Claiming the funds were used for illegal immigrants. The Trump claim was quickly debunked as false.

Musk is similar to Trump when it comes to speaking with a forked tongue. He claimed in a post on X that FEMA is “actually blocking citizens who try to help.” Another lie.

Both men are using “conspiracy theory junk” to slam Biden and Harris. For shame! Falsehoods! The problem is people who are hurting tend to believe such lies.

Kamala Harris was back among Helene victims yesterday. Her second time.

I thought she spent too much time with “responders” opposed to actual victims of the hurricane. She should go back again for a third time and spend the new time with the victims themselves. A hug and a few warm words go a long way.

Tomorrow could be a very bad day in the Middle East. October 7 was was the day one year ago that Israel was attacked so violently. Iran bombed Israel a few days ago. Retribution time! Big time! Will Israel attack Iran’s nuclear facilities? Something a little less but extremely bad?

We shall see,

I close with a touch of Key West. One of Key West’s old but true stories.

On this day in 1940, Key West police arrested Carl Tanzler aka Count Carl von Cosel. Tanzler was a radiologist at a local Key West hospital. He was deeply in love with a younger women, Elena “Helen” Milagro. She died from some malady early in life. Two years after her death, he removed her body from her grave and took it home. She lay in his bed for seven years.

Tanzler was an eccentric romantic, to say the least.

He was finally discovered and arrested. Elena’s body was buried in a secret grave. Tanzler was charged but never tried. The Statute of Limitations had expired. He left Key West.

Though sickening, an interesting story. Part of Key West’s history. Tourists find it intriguing.

Enjoy your Sunday!

He’s the world champ! Donald Trump as a liar.

He has a system too many. He takes something he did wrong yesterday and accuses someone opposing him today of committing that wrong.

The most recent example. Trump claimed this past week that FEMA did not have sufficient funds to handle Helene problems. He blamed Biden for the shortfall. Claimed Biden had used FEMA funds to help migrants.

Terrible, if true! 

Not true, however.

In reality, it was Trump who used FEMA funds to deal with border wall and migrant problems in 2019. Nothing illegal about it. Presidents constantly move money around to get things done. It is called “redirecting.” Supposed to pay it back, however. Whether Trump did re the 2019 funds, I do not know.

Biden has never moved FEMA funds to cover other problems during his tenure as President.

The situation is borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. Common in everyday life where possible. Common in running a government. Must be done openly and paid back, however.

Trump’s statement was fact checked by Fact Checker Newsletter who issued the background re Trump’s lie.

I rarely get into sports early in the blog. Feel other items are more important. However a Syracuse item which occurred last night belongs near the top of today’s blog. Syracuse played Las Vegas in Las Vegas last night. Great football game! Las Vegas #25 in the country. Undefeated at 4-0. Syracuse with one loss at 3-1.

Syracuse won in overtime 44-41. Syracuse quarterback McCord threw 60 passes, made 43.

Next saturday, Syracuse plays North Carolina State at North Carolina State.

Why is Elon Musk giving so much money to Trump? The Wall Street Journal reports this morning Musk said he plans to commit around $45 million a month, notice the “a month,” to a new super political-action committee. The committee is called American PAC. Others will be participating with him also.

Why so much? He wants favors from Trump as a President. Wrong! Musk wants more. Represents buying governmental influence. He wants to sit at the table with the big man. Not what our founding fathers had in mind when they formed our government. Not the way the U.S. should be run today. 

Helene’s death toll up to 225. Seventy five persons remain missing.

What I am about to report is sick! Wrong! Make up your own mind.

Oklahoma is buying its public schools 55,000 classroom Bibles. Certain requirements involved: Must be leather bound or close to it and contain U.S. founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence.

There is only one such Bible available today. The one backed by Donald Trump and retailing for $60. Trump gets a piece of the action via a licensing agreement he has re the Bibles.

Trump refers to the Bible as the “God Bless USA Bible.”

Every nation has tried successively to avoid nuclear war, either by starting one or retaliating so a nuclear war is inevitable. Leaders and governments know only too well what could occur. That is the reason why a nuclear event has been avoided since World War II.

Except for Donald Trump!

Yesterday, he said Israel should retaliate against Iran by hitting/taking out Iran’s nuclear facilities. Such could easily precipitate a nuclear war involving  more than Israel and Iran. Yet, Trump’s advice was in support of nuclear proliferation when he said re Israel bombing Iran’s nuclear capacity: “That’s the thing you want to hit.” Said by Trump after Biden had said: “As long as they don’t hit the nuclear stuff.”

What’s wrong with Trump? Doesn’t he realize one nuclear attack is the key to allowing others? No one will be safe. Even the U.S. Including himself, Melania and Barron.

None of us want to live in nuclear fear. Persons my age remember how it was back in the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s.

College students are not necessarily prepared for college. Book ready the issue. Colleges are complaining that “to read a book in college, it helps to have read a book in high school.”

The failure to have read earlier in high school contributes to the failure to be able to write. The basics. Like a sentence has a subject and a verb. Sometimes more.

I close with a shot at Publix’s high prices which continue to get even higher.

It appears Publix high costs are more so that most other supermarkets. The problem for consumers in the Keys is that Publix is the sole supermarket in most. Some will have the cheaper Winn-Dixie, also.

Publix prices keep rising. Slowly, but certainly. And frequently for the same item.

Prices skyrocketing! An internet article reflects it: Publix motto used to be “Where shopping is a pleasure.” Now it’s, “Bend over and pay up.”

Publix pricing policy simple: Up, up and away!

I complain and I buy only for one. Families have to be getting killed!

Enjoy your day!

Britain has ditched coal. Britain’s last operating coal power plant closed this week. Power primarily replaced by wind and solar.

Proves it can be done! Where there is a will, there is a way!

Wake up America! Britain is not the only country to rid itself of coal. Others include Iceland, Switzerland, Sweden and Norway. These countries have gone to hydroelectric dams, nuclear power plants and geothermal reservoirs.

A big day in American politics yesterday. The “marriage” of two opposing political powers representing different political parties. Kamala Harris and Liz Cheney appeared together at a Ripon College Rally in Wisconsin. Its purpose for Cheney to once again pledge her support and vote for Harris in the pending Presidential election.

Cheney anti-Trump. Considers him “depraved.” Added even her father the former Vice-President was going to vote for Harris.

Cheney’s move a class act. Reflects she stands for the Constitution and democracy. Two things absent with Trump.

I found their appearance together and the words spoken, especially by Cheney, to be moving.

Many prominent Republicans have spoken out in recent weeks they are supporting Harris. Adding they just can’t support Trump for the reasons we all know. I wish Mitt Romney would do the correct thing and come out for Harris. I suspect he is trying to hold the Republican Party together. Better he shows the courage it takes to do what Liz Cheney and other prominent Republicans have done. Hold the United States together!

One thing confused me. We are in an era where men hug women, women hug men, men hug each other, and women hug each other. Harris and Cheney never hugged. They shook hands several times. I found it strange.

The Longshoremen’s Dockworkers strike is ended for all intents and purposes. Biden has been given credit. The strike began a few day ago. The dockworkers are back to work to today.

I discussed the “strike” yesterday. My opinion was it was strange. Dockworkers were earning $39 an hour. Not chintzy. They wanted a $5 an hour raise spread over 6 years. The numbers did not make sense. The real reason for the strike was political in nature I thought. The head of the union is a good friend and Trump supporter. Additionally, the real reason dockworkers were concerned is that it is anticipated robotic automation is going to take over their jobs in five years.

Now, the strike is over. Not really. It is “suspended” for 90 days. Gets it beyond the election. The workers have to approve it within that time or they are back on strike.

Another thing I find strange is the report that a 62 percent pay raise is part of the deal.

Whatever is going on, at least it will not affect the election and I suspect there will be some resolution within the 90 days so there is no strike. 

The Helene death toll is at 215 and still rising. Hundreds of persons remain unaccounted for.

The insurance problem and its Florida impact came to light yesterday. Note the number is solely attributable to Florida. Insurance claims already total $657 million. Those are claims made. More will be forthcoming.

Trump continues to chant the economy stinks. He lies, of course. One proof of the pudding are the September new job numbers which came out yesterday.

Two hundred fifty four thousand. Clearly indicates the economy is doing well. Even gas prices are coming down. The major problem continues to be food. The cost of groceries. Off the wall!

I have been doing some reading on the issue. A lot has to do with who controls food growing, the supermarket chains that control sales, etc. It boils down to price gouging. Harris says she will do something about price gouging overall when she is elected. I believe her. She and Biden have handled the economy well. No one and nothing is perfect. Grocery prices stick out like a sore thumb. It hurts most Americans. Trump’s economic plan cannot be believed. His tariff plan is going to shove it up America’s ass! The only way it can be said.

Got a haircut yesterday with my friend of a quarter century Lori. My appointment was last thursday. she called wednesday and cancelled to this week. Gave no reason why. Not important. I have little hair in any event.

Yesterday, she mentioned why. She and her husband purchased a home up the Keys last year. I cannot recall which one. Lori does not like driving over the bridges when hurricane winds are predicted. Fifty to seventy mile per hour winds were predicted for last thursday. And we had them! 

I close with a Happy New Year to my Jewish friends. Rosh Hashanah! The New Year began at sundown Wednesday October 2 and ends after nightfall today October 4.

Enjoy your day!

Trump dislikes soldiers, veterans and now Jimmy Carter. He admires the likes of Putin, Erdogan and Kim Jung Un.

Jimmy Carter is still alive and kicking. God bless him! He recently celebrated his 100th birthday. Rather than congratulating him, Trump mocked Carter. A man who has spent the last 19 months of his life in hospice. Trump refused to label Carter the worst President in U.S. history. The title was Biden’s, he said.

Trump claimed by his labeling Biden the worst, he made Carter “the happiest man because Carter is considered a brilliant President by comparison.”

Carter has spoken out against Trump for several years. In 2018, Trump was “very careless with the truth.” In November 2023 just before his wife Rosalynn died, Carter said, “I think he’s a disaster…..In human rights and in treating people equally.” Carter’s words were followed by his wife Rosalynn’s who died that same month: “The worst is that he is not telling the truth, and lies about everything.”

Trump’s meanness is exposed at every turn of his life. In addition to his being known as a liar. The “qualities” that will reflect his life historically after his death.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s immunity decision was another pro-Trump decision in a recent batch of such by the no longer independent Court. It was thought to “kill” the January 6 case against Trump. The imposition of “official acts” versus “non-official acts.” It was thought by many to end any responsibility on Trump’s part for January 6.

Do not underestimate Special Counsel Jack Smith! He redid the government’s pleading against Trump to comply with the decision. One hundred sixty five pages. The Judge permitted its publication yesterday. Wow! Smith is earning his salary! A remarkable legal work. Trump is back in the case. All his down and dirty deeds spelled out consistent with the errant Supreme Court decision.

Especially Trump’s attitude and actions re Pence. Including not caring about his possible death. Smith spelled out the many persons involved in Trump’s scheme even in the days and planning leading up to January 6.

The important thing at the moment is the Judge’s permitting Smith’s response to be published. It should have been. But who knows what judges will do these days. The American people have a right to know how devious Trump and his friends were in trying to block the January Constitutional certification of the votes of each State.

The publication and truth it reveals in glaring detail will cost Donald a few votes.

Hurricane Helene a disaster. No question about it. The worst hurricane ever to hit the U.S. Ten states involved. The destruction unbelievable. Deaths now at 190, with hundreds of persons still unaccounted for. The number will rise significantly.

It appears Biden and Harris’ people are doing their best. Beyond their best. They have everyone moving their asses to get water and food to those in need, as well as making power repairs, etc. Some will complain. Can’t blame them. In such an horrific situation, help cannot come fast enough no matter how fast.

Biden and Harris toured some of the battered areas yesterday. Biden is returning today. People need to see their leaders in addition to getting the help required. People want to know their leaders care.

Trump visited first. Criticized Biden and Harris. Said places like Georgia were being ignored. Trump claimed Georgia’s Governor Kemp could not get to talk with Biden. Trump lying again. Both Kemp and Biden jumped in to challenge Trump. They had been talking. Kemp was satisfied with the help he was getting. Even so far as Biden telling him to call him directly for anything.

Which brings me to how “good” Trump was in helping Puerto Rico. Recall Hurricane Maria and the number it did on Puerto Rico in 2017. Whole neighborhoods are still waiting 7 years later for assistance. Trump ignored Puerto Rico. Apparently intentionally

Trump visited Puerto Rico. Remember the help he brought. He threw rolls of paper towels to people. When they needed water, food and money.

The Mayor of San Juan and others said there was no help forthcoming or very little. Trump disagreed and in effect referred to them as cry babies.

Turns out Puerto Ricans were speaking the truth. The island is still in need of massive assistance. Seven years later. It was revealed thursday by the U.S. Office of Inspector General that Trump blocked $20 billion initially and more of it still has not been sent to Puerto Rico. It was further reported that Trump back then told top White House officials “he did not want a single dollar going to Puerto Rico.”  This information has only recently been brought to Biden’s attention and he has ordered the money released.

Further word is Trump said at the time he wanted money sent to Texas and Florida rather than Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico’s hurricane not kid stuff. Almost 3,000 died.

Trump…..Everyone’s President?

Trump still at it with Springfield. He said yesterday, “They have to be removed.” The cats and dogs? No, I assume he was referring to the Haitians.

The Longshoremen’s strike not what it appears. Politics involved. A bad time to strike. But, get what you an at the best possible time I guess.

It is not salary which motivated the strike. The dock workers make $39 an hour. They are seeking a $5 an hour raise over the next 6 years. The issue from their perspective is automation. It’s coming. Around the corner. Humans required to work the docks will be few. Robotic machinery will do it. What happens then to today’s employees. A proper issue. However lets be upfront about it. Automation and  not wages the issue. Biden’s team and the Union make it look like wages.

“The shot heard around he world.” Historically the first shot of the Revolution at Lexington and Concord. Verbalized in an 1837 poem titled Concord Hymn.

To baseball fans, Bobby Thompson’s home run in the 9th inning of a National League playoff title game played this day in 1951. The New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers had ended the season tied. A three game playoff was ordered to decide who would represent the National League in the World Series. There were no play offs back then as today.

The Giants and Dodgers each won a game. The third was for everything.

It was the bottom of the 9th. The Dodgers were winning 4-1. This was it for the Giants.

The Giants got it to 4-2 by scoring one run. The Giant’s Thompson came to the plate. Two men on base. He hit a home run thrown on a pitch by Ralph Branca. The Giants won 5-4. Everyone went crazy! Those at the game, the radio announcer, no TV at the time, everyone listening on the radio around the world. Thompson’s home run became “the shot heard around the world!”

I recall it distinctly. Everything was baseball back then! I was working at my after high school job at the McHarris Super Market at the time stacking canned goods. The game was being played on the radio for everyone to hear. When the home run was hit, everyone yelled and screamed, including me, at McHarris’, the ball park and over the radio.

A game not to be forgotten. Thompson and Branca recalled also.

Interestingly, two days earlier Branca had given up a home run to Thompson also.

I close with a bit of O. J. Simpson.

October 3 the key day.

On that day in 1995, Simpson was found not guilty by the jury in the criminal case against him for the murder of his wife Nicole and her boy friend.

On the same day 13 years later in 2008, Simpson was found guilty of holding up two sports memorabilia dealers in Las Vegas with a gun and sentenced to from 9 to 33 years in jail He was paroled in 2017. Many thought the guilty finding in this case was poetic justice for the not guilty decision in the death cases. Many in the U.S. considered Simpson guilty re the killings.

Enjoy your day!

The Vice Presidential debate was last night. 

My thoughts.

Walz started off slowly. I feared it was going to be another Biden evening. He was not himself. He was stiff. His eyes looked like they were going to pop out of his head. His lips like they were not going to open. His note taking drove me crazy. Neither needed nor time for it when you are working with a 2 minute/1 minute situation. You remember what has to be said without jotting things down. It’s automatic. Walz looked like he feared he would not recall that which he had to.

I do not know what it is. Debates before millions scare the shit out of many. Also, a newbie to it like Walz might tend to be over trained for the event.

However, Walz came back about half way through the debate. He started being himself. Shortly, he was and did an extremely admirable job the rest of the way out.

He exposed a conciliatory side of himself. Vance would lie or be offensive or whatever. Walz would then try in his special fashion to soft talk the opposition to his way of seeing things. Such is how it should be in government. Politics is the art of negotiation! Compromise! Walz had it down to a science and brought Vance around to considering his way of thinking on occasion.

Vance is an excellent speaker, debater. He is also a terrific liar. Better than Trump. He is also skillful at failing to respond to a question or issue. 

A lot of issues were not even entertained. The cats and dogs issue. I would have buried Vance with it. Where was the Ukraine? Perhaps the moderators were to blame for not zeroing in on these issues. Walz could have gotten into Springfield more one way or another.

The winner? Neither. In the end, they had balanced each other out.

The Middle East is getting more messy. Iran may have made a major error yesterday in trying to dump 180 ballistic missiles on Israel.

The two nations are balanced in a sense. Iran has some 80 million people to Israel’s 10 million. On the other hand, Israel’s military capacity so far outweighs the population edge Iran has to balance it out.

Iran may have made a mistake in directly attacking Israel. Normally Iran has others do it and finances the situation. Israel will retaliate. Sooner than later. I would make it a heavy one. A lesson to Iran to fuck off and pay for going as far as it did. Perhaps to also warn Iran to begin backing off in financing other groups against them. A land attack is not required.

A dentist visit yesterday. I an finally getting to the end of my goal. I have been without teeth since late January. Lost 65 pounds since my eating has been limited to liquids. Dr. Mullen told me yesterday next week my mouth will be finished. I will leave with a full set of teeth! He is completing the caps portion.

I am excited! Thrilled! I have to share my joy.

Enjoy your day!