Got to give Ukraine’s Zelensky credit. He knows how to stand up and fight.

He announced yesterday he was willing to make peace with Russia if Ukraine was admitted to NATO.

What balls!

Great move.

It would provide Ukraine with all kinds of military protections. Though Putin would hate such a move, it provides a means to end the war with a “save face” for Russia.

Trump will play a big part. On Putin’s behalf, he will probably threaten to pull the U.S. out of NATO if such  occurred. Some believe Trump may go for Zelensky’s proposal however on the theory that Trump’s support of it might lead to the Noble Peace Prize for Trump. Trump would agree to anything for such recognition.

Trump has major foreign leaders dancing to his tune already. He is not even President yet. Trump announced he would hit Mexico and Canada with 25 percent tariffs on day one of his Presidency. Mexico’s President telephoned him almost immediately saying she would retaliate.

They continue to fall.

Canada’s Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago for dinner with Trump.

Trump may stand tough and be in charge of getting things done his way. The bully in him. Not the way to do business, however. Trump has created ill wind with Mexico and Canada. At some point down the road, the tables will be turned and they will defecate on Trump. Which means the U.S. will be hurt.

Paris’ Folies Bergère opened for the first time this day in 1886 in Paris.

An outstanding hit for all time! Even to today!

Ralph Nader was a 32 year old lawyer. Young in the profession. On this day in 1965, he published “Unsafe at Any Speed: The Designed-In Dangers of the American Automobile.”

An immediate best seller. He exposed manufacturing defects in American cars. Especially the Chevy Corvair. His book led to the passage of the National Traffic and Motor Safety Vehicle Act of 1966, seat belt laws in 49 states, and a number of other road safety initiatives.

I was a young lawyer at the time.  Nader’s book was law changing when it came to negligence and design defects in the manufacture of automobiles.

Teddy Roosevelt was the first President to fly. He did so on October 11, 1910, in St. Louis. An inadvertent happening. A plane and Roosevelt at the same place at the same time.

Roosevelt decided to take a ride. With admitted trepidation. He flew in a Wright Company aircraft for 3 minutes 20 seconds. The flight’s height was 100 feet and covered 3 miles.

Roosevelt said afterwards, “That was the bulliest experience I ever had.” A reporter wrote in the United Press that Roosevelt had “defied death.”

There was no body to the plane as we know it today. It was “completely open.” The body structured with pipe and wires. Roosevelt sat shoulder to shoulder with the pilot holding on to a pipe and wire which comprised part of the plane.

Winston Churchill was born this day in 1874. Asked later in life about the circumstances of his birthing, Churchill replied with a smile in his usual witty fashion: “Although present at that occasion, I have no clear recollection of the events leading up to it.”

This blog draws some strange comments. Seven have appeared in past days about “screw worms.” I have no recollection of ever having written about them nor did I ever hear of them till the comments. Such is the life of blog writing!

Chilly last night. Turned the heat on. It is always a bit cold in Key West when cold up north. Heavy snow came in yesterday off the Great Lakes burying most of the Buffalo area.

Last night was a bad one at Black Rock! My back and side killed me all night!

Today a major football game for Miami and Syracuse. They play each other. Game time 3:30.

The game means a lot to each team. Miami is 10-1 and ranked #6 nationally. A Miami win would get it a better position in the new already fouled up 12 team playoff. Syracuse is 8-3. Unranked. Already certain to get a bowl bid, although not part of the 12 team playoff. A victory over Miami will get Syracuse a top bowl, however.

Miami is an 11.5 point favorite.

Go Syracuse! It would be one hell of an upset!

I would like to watch the game at Brady’s Irish Pub. I can get a normal seat table in a back room and watch the game. Bar stools wreak havoc on my back.

It depends how I feel as the day progresses.

Enjoy your day!

Lisa and family were spending Thanksgiving at Corey’s parent’s home in Cape Coral. An accommodation so that Robert and Ally could join in. Thanksgiving is a short college holiday. The drive from Tallahassee to Key West horrendous. Cape Coral sort of the mid point so Thanksgiving was to be spent there so Robert and Ally would not have to drive a long distance twice in a short period of time.

The best laid plans of mice and men…..It was not to be. Ally got sick several days ago. Not sure what. Seemed like a heavy bout of the flu to her. Doctors not sure what. She “died” for 5 days before her stomach somewhat settled.

So Robert and Ally remained alone in Florida State in Tallahassee while Lisa, Corey and Corey’s parents did the holiday in Cape Coral. Corey’s Dad is in a difficult way so the trip to Tallahassee would not have been in his best interests.

I knew none of this till yesterday when Robert and Ally called to wish me a Happy Thanksgiving!

Robert rents a house in Tallahassee with some buddies. Ally rents an apartment with some other females. Robert and Ally were at Ally’s apartment. I got their story. Robert had been caring for Ally since she got sick. Drove her to the doctor’s, got drugs several times at Publix, commiserated and held her hand throughout.

Yesterday she was feeling better. Robert shopped and was cooking their Thanksgiving dinner at Ally’s apartment. At Ally’s because she had a dishwasher.

My grandson impressed me with his culinary efforts. He had a small butt ham in the oven. He was heating stuffings, mashed potatoes, green beans and rolls. They also had cranberry sauce.

Greater love hath no brother for a sister!!!

Caring for her, cooking for her.

Both indicated it appeared they were the only students left at Florida State. Lonely! Strange!

We talked of many things. Quite a while till it was interfering with Robert’s cooking.

Great kids! Love my grandchildren!

Some Key West items.

The name Michael Mulvaney ring a bell with you?

Mulvaney was Trump’s Director of the Office of Management and Budget in Trump’s first term. Then served Trump as acting White House Chief of Staff.

He’s back in Trump’s new administration. I cannot recall in what position. It was announced this past week.

I have mentioned Mulvaney several times over the years. He is a frequent visitor to Key West. His father or father in law owns a condominium here. He is a quiet visitor. Does what everyone else does when visiting. Walks, lays in the sun, naps and eats. Draws no attention to himself.

I am correcting some information about our 96 gallon garbage collection carts. I wrote a few days ago they were to be provided free of charge to unincorporated Monroe County. I noted no cities were included. New information made available today advises the 96 gallon carts will be provided the cities of Marathon, Key Colony Beach and Layton.

What about the rest of us? If I sound a bit pissed off, I am. Garbage collection is expensive and is part of real property taxes. Waste Management does a good job at garbage collection and is paid well for its efforts. It has one problem, however. The garbage carts are abused in the collection process. By Waste Management staff, not those of us who fill the pails. Sometimes someone as I needs a new pail as a result. Good luck! Not free! Sixty five dollars!

Should always be free!

Key West was a booming town in 1884. In one week alone beginning 11/22/1884, 645,000 cigars, 14 bales of sponges, and 112 hides were shipped from Key West to New York.

Soon you will have to be careful what you say while in a car. Your car will be listening.

Ford plans to turn its automobiles into eavesdroppers and ad-spewing smartphones.

Ford recently applied for a patent for what it calls their “In-Vehicle Advertisement Presentation System.” It will bombard us with texts, messages on your center server, and garbage emails. The technology also uses in-car microphones to listen to passenger conversations and display targeted advertisements. And more. Privacy concerns out the window.

The Taliban required women in Afghanistan to wear burkas or other head to toe covering.

Reminded me of a story told me by my friend Anna’s son at a birthday dinner party for me in Novara some years ago. Her son was an engineer with a highway construction company that did work all over Europe, Asia and Africa. His work and position both a big deal!

He was overseeing the construction of a highway in Morocco. Anna came to visit. As soon as she exited her plane on arrival, he went up to her with a burka and said, “Put it on.”

Anna was an opinionated educated individual prone to do what she wanted. No one told her what to do, not even her son. She told her son, “No.” He responded, “Put it on or you will be immediately arrested.” From the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes she understood. She immediately put it on.

Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral has been restored. The devastation of the 2019 fire which gutted the Cathedral has been corrected. The Cathedral is scheduled to open to the public December 7.

I have never been to Paris and doubt at my age I ever will. My loss I never visited one of the world’s greatest cities.

I recall having mentioned a portion of what follows a couple of months ago. The matter is in the news again, including some additional information. 

Denny’s announced it will be shutting down 150 of its restaurants in then next year. That I reported before. The new news is Denny’s will also be reducing its menu from 97 items to 46.

Enjoy your day!

Happy Thanksgiving one and all!

One of the great holidays!

Began the same each year. Noise waking me at 5 am. Coming from the kitchen. My wife preparing a 20 pound plus turkey for the oven. I did the husband’s thing. Turned over and went back to sleep.

The kids spent the morning watching Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The smells permeating the house on the rise. Great food cooking.

Always 20-30 for dinner. Dinner generally at 5. Partying began at 3 with cocktails. The house filling. My parents, children, grandchildren and friends who would drop in for a drink and a Happy Thanksgiving greeting.

The dinner always outstanding! Turkey, of course. Stuffing, different kinds of potatoes, stuffed artichokes and other vegetables. Pumpkin and other pies for desert. Bottles of wine devoured during dinner. Chef wife outdid herself each year.

The men leaving the table soon after dinner to watch football games. Actually to sit in a comfortable chair and fall asleep from the heavy turkey meal.

At some  point early in adulthood, Lisa had watched a TV show indicating how to carve a turkey. There is an art involved. Lisa became the turkey cutter for years. The artist.

Our dining room was good sized. The table held 12 comfortably. Yet the number to be seated always exceeded 20. Reaching 30 and plus on occasion. A pecking order had been established early on for seating. It was based on seniority. Seniority determined by age. The elders got the dining room table. The next group the kitchen table which held ten. The remainders card tables which were set up in the center hall.

It took years to graduate to the dining room table itself. Daughter Lori was 24 when she made it. No one minded. It was a tradition.

As the elders got sleepy, etc. and left the main table, the younger family members moved to it. Generally at desert time. So it went.

Excess turkey and drink got to me early. Often I was in bed sound asleep by 9 while most others were still enjoying the holiday downstairs.

The remnants of the turkey made for good turkey sandwiches the next day. I enjoyed the cold stuffings and artichokes. So did our children and grandchildren. They popped in during the next day to glutton on the leftovers.

A nice day.

I especially enjoyed the conversations at the dinner table. Three and four generations involved. Stories about events which occurred while growing up shared. Some denied by the “culprits.” My mother was not one to deny sparing the rod and spoiling the child. However whenever I recalled that phase of my upbringing, my mother would deny it. Always an amusing situation to all seated at the table, even though they had heard it over and over for many years.

My mother and I had a special bond. A painting of her hangs before me as I write this blog. We still speak every day.

Enjoy your holiday!

Law school for me was 1957-1960. In the law of contracts we learned an engagement ring was a gift and if marriage did not occur, the finance got to keep the ring. A gift was a gift.

I thought the law unfair. Remained unfair through the years till recently in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts’ highest court reversed the long standing rule writing that an engagement ring must be returned if the wedding fails to occur. Even more important in the decision, the ring must be returned regardless of who’s at fault.

The ring in question was purchased at Tiffany and cost $70,000.

Trump is conducting himself as if he were President already. Still has a little less that two months to go. Yet he talks with foreign leaders and issues tariff threats.

The tariff threats are against Mexico, Canada and China.

Mexico and Canada are the U.S.’ two major trading partners. Mexico first, with Canada not far behind. Trump’s suggested move is down and dirty. Countries are much like people. You screw me, I will screw you in return.

Each country will suffer inflation and unemployment. Including the U.S. Inevitable.

Trump’s threatened tariff against Mexico and Canada is 25 percent which he says he will impose on day one of his administration. The tariff against China will be ten percent. China will retaliate also.

Trump claims drugs and migrants are the problem with Mexico and Canada. Drugs with China.

I’m not sure Trump sees things right and understands where the U.S. and Mexico and Canada stand in regard to drugs and migration.

I’m not sure why Trump even wants to piss off China at the moment. I’m not sure Trump even knows.

I suspect he may just be flexing his muscles.

The question arises as to whether Trump can impose tariffs without Congress.

Trump claims he is going to do it on Inauguration Day by Executive Orders. Laws have been passed over the past few decades giving Presidents plenty of authority re tariffs, especially to protect individuals harmed by global trade.

However, there is no authority for a President to do as Trump claims he will with blanket tariffs on all foreign goods.

“Campbell Soup Company” is changing its name to “Campbell’s.”

Reason: Not to shorten its name per se. Rather to make the brand relatable to today’s audience. Campbell does not wish to be known by soup alone, but to encompass its diversified portfolio of food products. Products such as Pepperidge Farm, Goldfish crackers, Snyder’s of Hanover pretzels, and Prego pasta sauces.

I suggest Campbell’s by whatever name work on better controlling its soup prices. Campbell’s is cheap no more! Ridiculously high for a small sized can of soup. People would love Campbell’s more if its basic canned soup product returned to being affordable.

The number one musical album in the year 1957 when I graduated from college was “My Fair Lady.” Based on the Broadway show. The movie starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison had not been made yet.

I came across an article relating to the Rome Opera House yesterday.

I have only seen three operas in my life. I am not an opera fan. Did not find operas enjoyable. Especially where I could not understand the verbiage being sung.

My first opera was a local presentation at a Utica high school. I fell asleep. My wife kept elbowing me in the ribs to wake me.

My next was in Rome some 35 years ago. Part of my one month long family trip. Many days we did our own thing. One particular day, whatever the others were doing did not appeal to me. I decided to see an opera. It was the structure I was interested in. Not the opera being performed. The opera however made it easy. It was Bizet’s “Carmen.” I was at least familiar with the story based on my earlier readings and the movie.

The Rome Opera House was magnificent! As you would expect. Called in Rome and referred to world wide as the Teatro dell’Opera-Turismo Roma. Six stories high. The auditorium floor surrounded on three sides by floors of boxes.

I did not fall asleep.

My third and final opera was in the Milan Opera House known as the Teatro alla Scala-Milan. More than magnificent! The most famous opera house in the world. Seven stories. More modern. “Lush” the term used to describe it.

I do not recall the opera. Kept falling asleep. I was with Anna. She kept elbowing me to wake me.

Anna went to college in Milan. As an adult lived one hour away by train in Novara. She knew Milan well. Anna is the one who brought me to see da Vinci’s The Last Supper two times. Milan was her city.

From the best opera places in the world to garbage. Garbage cans to be specific.

New 96 gallon garbage carts (cans) will be provided to unincorporated Monroe County homes from Stock Island and north all the way up the Keys free. Neither residents of Key West nor any other municipality will receive them. Why not? If not, when?

Why do I make somewhat a big deal out of a garbage can? Because they are expensive if you have to purchase one.  Can only be purchased from Waste Management. Sixty five dollars! I had to purchase one once so I know. And so did others who had to purchase a new garbage can on occasion.

I close with a weather observation. 

Floridians be prepared! A brutal cold air mass is coming. Most of the U.S. will be affected.

Most of Florida will be 30-40 degrees. The Keys may not be affected.

Enjoy your day!

Bernie Sanders is correct. He tried to have a bill passed to block the U.S. from funding arms for Israel. The bill failed to pass. Did not even come close. Sanders only got 19 Democratic votes. No Republicans voted for it.

Sanders argument was simple. The U.S. is “funding the starvation of children in Gaza.”

I supported Israel’s retaliatory strikes at the beginning. Enough is enough, however. It must stop.

I doubt it will under Trump either. He supports Israel and Netanyahu. Always has. 

The U.S.’s support for its “good friend” Israel has gone on too long and too far. Netanyahu abuses the friendship. Biden abused it also by extending assistance as he has.

An anti-Semitic I am not!

War seems to have existed almost from the beginning of time. Men killing men. Century after century it grows without ceasing. There is no end in sight.

An Ernest Hemingway quote may have one of the answers why. His statement simple in nature: “There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”

Some Winston Churchill quotes.

Some may sound repetitious. He spoke with a golden tongue so repetition is acceptable where glowing words as his were spoken.

Perhaps the most famous: “We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills, we shall never surrender.”

How about: “The price of greatness is responsibility.” Wise words.

So true: “Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.”

One which could fit in today’s political climate: “An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.”

True: “History is written by the victors.”

A social media problem. 

In researching this morning’s blog, I came across a social media article that the movie actor Leonardo DiCaprio had died. Per my custom, I immediately checked other sites to verify the statement. No one else carried it. DiCaprio is alive, well and kicking.

While researching yesterday afternoon for today’s blog, I came across an article that Chile had prohibited women from wearing clothes. No way obviously! Nevertheless, researched it to see if it had veracity. Another lie. Ladies still clothe in Chile.

Why do social media outlets do this? We were buried during the campaign with lies. 

I recall when I was a kid. My Aunt Angie told me that if something was printed in the newspaper, it was true. There are those today who are stated such and such as fact and believe what is a bald faced lie.

A dangerous situation.

Two Florida problems.

One is that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Florida. Smoking the cause. Medical professionals and people are not swift to get a Cat Scan of their chests. They are quick however for colonoscopies.

Another Florida problem is referred to as a “silver tsunami.” Especially in South Florida. Seniors without pensions or sufficient savings and living longer on Social Security are increasingly impoverished. Their children are not responsive to their parents’ needs and fail to help them.

Two baseball players.

I met Joe DiMaggio several times. The first at a Utica Italian restaurant. Ventura’s. The owner had a day once a year when he invited certain customers to dine with his friend Joe DiMaggio. DiMaggio made the trip annually for years. A golf tournament was part of the event.

The other time was at a Miami golf course whose name escapes me. A private club and course. It is located in the center of Miami. Professional golf tournaments were periodically played there. I had a condominium at the Jockey Club in Miami for six years in the 1970’s and a good local friend who was a member of the golf club. He arranged for me to periodically play and use the golf and dining facilities without having to pay the exorbitant joining fee.

Joe DiMaggio was a member. This was during his retirement days. He remembered me each time he saw me. Always came over to say hello and chat a while. A first class gentleman.

The other story involves Ted Williams. Williams was declared the American League Most Valuable Player for 1949 on this day.

Williams was also a resident of Islamorada for many years. He bought early when there was little activity. He purchased in Islamorada because he was a fisherman. Islamorada then and even today is reputed to be the Fishing Capital of the World.

Williams sold his Islamorada house when traffic got heavy and he had to wait long times for it to subside so he could cross to the other side of U.S. 1.

The strange history of “Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer.” Songwriter Johnny Marks adapted a poem written by his brother in law Robert L. May for Montgomery Ward department stores. Cowboy star Gene Autry made a single of the song which was released this day in 1949. The rest is history.

Petroleum products were in limited supply in 1973. The U.S. government cut maximum speed to 55 mph as an energy conservation measure. Another conservation measure was permitting right turns on red lights.

Professional basketball player Caitlin Clark made her collegiate debut this day in 2020 for Iowa, scoring 27 points.

I close with a strange COVID story.

I discovered for the first time today that animals were also prone to being infected with the disease. Animals were a real problem in Denmark. Especially minks. Millions of animals were culled and buried. The dead bodies of the minks rose from the ground. Like rising from the dead. The cause was their bloated bodies.

Enjoy your day!

Key West weather screwed up. Sixty four degrees during the night. That’s January weather, not November’s.

I turned the heat on. 

As I am writing, it is 5:30 and still 64 degrees.

The high will be a bit better today. Seventy five degrees. The evening 72. Heat not required for either.

November 24, 1940 a bad one for England. The Luftwaffe bombed Bristol City Centre killing 200 people.

It was the first German raid on the city. Churchill said, “Hitler will have to break us or lose the war.”

Fred Astaire is noted as one of the greatest entertainers of all time. No question about it. His talents magical. His first movie “Dancing Lady” was released this day in 1933.

“Guys and Dolls” opened this day in 1950 on Broadway. Ran 1200 performances. Later made into a great movie starring Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra and Jean Simmons.

Received what was initially a strange call last night. From Ken Cummins. Who was he? I could not recall. I asked. Turns out I met he, his wife and grandson last November at Date and Thyme. Ken writes also. We had a long and interesting chat that morning. Exchanged phone numbers. Swore to call each other. Ken’s call last night was the first from either of us.

Ken lives in the Washington, D.C. area. In his 70’s. A retired private detective. Now spends his time writing short articles/stories for smaller publications. Has written some books.

We chatted about many things. I bored him with my heart attack and disc problems. He recalled my using a cane when we met. He was surprised I no longer needed it.

He is ordering Irma and Me from Amazon and promised to get back to me after reading it. I look forward to hearing from him again.

Did some grocery shopping yesterday. The cupboard was bare. Truly so. Nothing.

As I was walking past the frozen turkeys at Publix, a women I would assume was about my age was calling a Publix employee over to pick up a 20 pound frozen turkey and place it in her cart. She explained to him she could no longer lift that much weight as she pointed to her heart.

I smiled to myself. I understood. My medical limit is 10 pounds.

Syracuse won another football game yesterday. Beat Connecticut 31-24. 

Syracuse is now 8-3. Syracuse’s next game is Saturday against Miami. Miami ranked having lost only 1 game. I am sure Miami will be favored. Syracuse can win, however. Should be a great game. Saturday at 3:30 at the Dome in Syracuse.

There was a time Syracuse had a professional basketball team. Back in the late 1940’s and into the 1950’s.

My father used to take me to Syracuse to watch them play at the new Syracuse War Memorial. Sometimes the Syracuse team would come to Utica to play. The games were played at the new Utica Free Academy high school. It had a large lovely basketball facility.

While in high school, I played for Utica Catholic Academy. Never got beyond the jayvee team. The first time I got to play, I was a substitute. The game was at Utica Free Academy. I was thrilled! Excited! So much so that I tripped on my own feet at half court the first time I was running down it. I kept flaying the remaining half court all the way down trying to regain my balance. I finally ran off the court and fell flat on my face.

A distinguished beginning to my high school basketball career.

Enjoy your Sunday!

The U. S. is splitting at the seams. Yesterday’s constructive actions are fewer and fewer. The country is moving in an opposite direction. A wrong one.

A perfect example. Texas education officials have approved Bible-based lessons for K-5 schools. The program is optional. If a school district opts to provide the Bible-based lessons, it will receive $60 per student. Money talks. I suspect many school districts will go for teaching Christian beliefs to enrich their coffers.

The program is wrong. Ill bad. It teaches Christianity. What of other religious sects such as Judaism, Muslim, etc. Clearly, Texas is not promoting the religious program in a democratic fashion. It is favoring one religion over another in direct opposition to freedom of religion.

The Texas program is another example of promoting one religion over another. Not the American way. Such will ultimately disrupt society. Think back in history. What motivated many to immigrate to pre-USA. Consider also what occurred in some of the new settlements thereafter.

Texas is the third state to incorporate Christianity into the public school curriculum. The first two were Louisiana and Oklahoma.

This weekend the beginning of a major holiday week! 79.9 million Americans are expected to travel.

Robert telephoned me last night from Tallahassee. He wanted to advise he had played golf. I was thrilled to hear it.

It was the first time Robert had played since he was 5 years old. For Christmas back then, I purchased golf clubs for Robert and Ally. Also signed them up for kids’ classes at the golf course. They each lasted 2 weeks. Golf did not turn them on.

Fifteen years later, Robert is turned on after playing only one round. He rented clubs, etc. Played with friends. All incompetent.

Robert loved it! Said he could not hit off the tee nor putt. The experience however convinced him he wanted to play and become good at the game.

Poppa’s happy!

Robert Dahl: “Somewhere inside all of us is the power to change the world.”

On this day in 1903, Enrico Caruso made his U.S. debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City in Giuseppi Verdi’s “Rigoletto.”

My grandfather after whom I am named was born in Italy. I recall when I was a young boy sitting with him in his living room and listening to records of Caruso singing. How we learn, come to appreciate!

One thing leads to another. Sometimes wealth. On this day in 1909, the Wright Brothers formed a million dollar corporation to manufacture airplanes.

College football’s Hail Mary pass! On this day in 1984, Boston College quarterback Doug Flute threw a last second pass 48 yards to end the game beating Miami 47-45. Flute’s pass will never be forgotten.

Trump must wear a President’s hat, not a crown. The Constitution does not make a President king.

When I was a working lawyer, I spent much time in New York City. The experience provided me the opportunity to dine in the finest restaurants.

I have been retired 18 years. That time has been spent in Key West and Europe. Not once in those years have I returned to New York.

In my day, one of New York’s finest restaurants was The Four Seasons. The best of the best.

I discovered this morning that the year I retired 2006 was also the year The Four Seasons closed. Sad. The Four Seasons had been opened 60 years. Sixty years of high end dining.

Many believe nothing is forever. Perhaps true. The end of The Four Seasons reflects it.

Syracuse lost another basketball game last night. Lost to Texas Tech in the  Legends Classic 79-74. Both losses in the Legends Classic close. A loss is a loss however, no matter how you look at it. Syracuse is now 3-2.

I close with my back.

Oh, my back! The pain! Will it ever cease?

This has been a poor year for me health wise. First the heart attack, 3 heart surgeries and 5 1/2 weeks in Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami. Not once did I experience any pain. Even with the heart attack itself. I passed out as I was having it.

Yet this disc problem is a gigantic pain! Prevents me from doing anything. A good night’s sleep included.

Enjoy your day!

Singapore is one of the world’s most “water starved” places. 

Need/necessity drives invention. Singapore has come up with NEWBrew. Canned beer made with waste water. Presently free. 

Nicknamed “sewagebeer.” Popular with those who have drunk it.

In recent days, I mentioned cable TV is taking a nose dive. Streaming is killing cable TV.

Such perhaps explains Joe and Mika’s Trump visit saturday.

Today, it was announced MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow has taken a “seven figure” pay cut “as her ratings plummeted. The cut a $5 million one.

How swiftly things change!

Not that bad for Maddow, however. Her contract was for $30 million a year. Reduced now to $25 million a year.

Trump has picked former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to be Attorney General in place of Matt Gaetz.

In 2019, she served on Trump’s impeachment defense team during Trump’s first term. She also was one of the State Attorneys General who unsuccessfully sued to strike down the Affordable Care Act.

Now that he has withdrawn his name from consideration as Attorney General, what will Matt Gaetz do next?

It appears he has two options.

One is to take the House seat he won reeelection to in January. I do not believe his  resignation recently from the House prohibits his so doing. In spite of anything he may have said in his resignation instrument.

The other option is for Trump to appoint Gaetz to a high government position that does not require approval by the Senate or other government body.

RFK Jr. told a bunch of people the government may have “planned” the COVID-19 pandemic which killed 1.2 million Americans. He claims the planning was part of a “sinister scheme.”

A statement to be expected from a whacko who also does not believe in vaccines. Another consideration in view of his nomination by Trump for Health and Human Services Secretary is that Trump was in office at the time of the pandemic. Does that make Trump part of the “plan” and “scheme?” 

Today marks the birth date of famous comedian Rodney Dangerfield. He died in 2004 at the age of 82.

The master of “I don’t get no respect!”

We became “fat farm” friends at La Costa in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. A Perrier water and cigar evening companion.

As I have written many times, what you saw is what you got. Dangerfield was as he appeared on TV and in movies. He became a success by being himself.

The ever popular “Santa Claus Is Comein’ to Town” was first heard on Eddie Cantor’s radio show this day in 1934.

One of America’s saddest days. On this day in 1963, President John F. Kennedy was shot to death in Dallas.

Tennis star Billie Jean King is 81 today. She did more for women’s professional tennis than any other person.

Key West weather. It was sunny and cold yesterday: 73 degrees. Today will be cloudy and cold also. High only 74. At the moment, it is overcast with a cold blowing wind.

I find below 74 degrees cold. Most Key West residents do. Long pants time. I have to search the closet and storage for a pair.

The weekend will be cold. The high saturday 72, sunday 74. Monday returns us to normal. Highs next week 78-80.

Syracuse played its fourth basketball game of the season last night in the Legend Classic in New York. Played Texas. It was Syracuse’s first game of the season against a significant opponent. Syracuse lost 70-66.

My back kept me home. I could not get the game on TV, only line by line scoring.

Syracuse looked lousy in the first half. Syracuse was down 41-30 at half time. Syracuse came back strong in the second half. Outscored Texas 36-29. Not enough, however. The game decided in the last minute with Texas pulling away by 4 points to win 70-66.

I could not make a judgment as to what kind of team Syracuse will floor this season. Need 2-3 more games.

I close with manatees. One of Florida’s most beloved residents. The warmth Floridians and visitors have for manatees is evident every time one is close enough to be petted and served fresh water.

A new study suggests manatees were not permanent residents of Florida until the 20h century. The study claims manatees were drawn to Florida by a warming climate and construction of power plants.

Enjoy your day!

The Wall Street Journal announced tuesday, with other media picking up on it yesterday, that Comcast is planning on selling most of its cable TV network, including MSNBC. Streaming appears to be dramatically affecting cable TV.

It would therefore appear that Joe and Mika’s recent visit to Trump saturday at Mar-a-Lago was in contemplation of a proposed sale. Not to Trump. Will Joe and Mika still have jobs if and when a sale becomes fact? Will they still earn $8 million each per year as they presently are paid?

I can understand their Trump visit under the circumstances.

A bit of politics next.

The last person determining our medical needs should be Robert F. Kennedy Jr. A medical expert he is not. He also is not his father, uncle or grandfather. He tends to be on the whacky side.

Vaccinations are an example. He is opposed to them. I believe in vaccinations. Get all the recommended shots. One of the things that probably have helped me reach 89.

The measles vaccination was not available when I was young. I got the measles. We all did. Some suffered bad reactions. One was a male 3 yar old cousin in Stamford, Connecticut. He got the measles and ended up totally deaf.

Kennedy is opposed to the measles vaccination.

The Matt Gaetz inquiry is getting more dangerous for him with each passing day. It appears he may have had sex with a minor. Seventeen years old is considered a minor. Referred to as statutory rape. Consent by the female no defense.

Now it comes out he may have paid roughly $10,000 to two young ladies, one of them the 17 yar old, to have sex and engage in drugs at parties. Parties where he did whatever was going on.

Attorney General quality he is not.

An interesting observation. Bob Woodward says Trump gave “the finger to the American people” with his Cabinet picks.

A Kareem Abdul-Jabbar observation: “Trump picks a fellow alleged sex predator to bring justice to the U.S.”

Trump has selected Dr. Oz to oversee Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. He will oversee benefits to 160 million Americans. Beware, he will cut benefits. Trump wrote Oz will “get the best results for every dollar we spend.”

A touch of Key West.

The Rose Tattoo was a 1955 movie filmed in Key West. Starred Burt Lancaster and Anna Magnani. Magnani was awarded the Academy Award for Best Performance by a Woman for her role.

The film’s final scenes were filmed this day in 1954 at the Mardi Gras Club on Duval Street.

The Rose Tattoo had many “contacts” with Key West. The house where most of the filming was done is located on Duncan Street. Two or three doors from the home of Tennessee Williams. Williams originally write The Rose Tattoo as a three act play which was performed on Broadway. He wrote the movie script also. Burt Lancaster stayed in Williams’ home while making the movie. The Rose Tattoo and Williams home are 2 blocks from Lisa’s Duncan Street home.

The issue of bikinis on Key West beaches appeared in this morning’s Citizens’ Voice. I do not understand it.

The commentor wrote: “Will the new city commission repeal their misogynistic public dress code?” Reference was to bikinis on our beaches.

Forced me to do some research. I was unaware of the prohibition.

All I could come up with was that in 1990 the State of Florida adopted a law prohibiting bikinis. Except for a 30 mile stretch of beach, no one pays attention to it. Key West could care less.

This old man enjoys sitting on a beach chair and watching the thonged and bikinied ladies walk by. I am a bit of a pervert. A voyeur at heart.

I recall many years ago renting chairs for my wife and I to sun ourselves on Smathers Beach. As I was walking to a spot, we passed two bare assed women laying on towels. Total nudity! My eyes were glued on them as we approached, reached and then passed them. I kept my eyes on the ladies and not where I was going.

My head and a bent over palm tree came into contact. I ended up in the hospital. My wife thought it was funny. I did, too.

Syracuse plays Texas in basketball tonight in the Legends Classic at Barclays in Brooklyn. I planned on watching at Brady’s Irish Pub. Will not. Spent most of last night awake again with my back bothering me. Don’t think I could stand the sitting or standing at Brady’s.

I did neurophysiotherapy again yesterday morning. Left the table hurting more than when I first got on. Beginning to wonder.

Enjoy your day!

Two great TV evenings about Leonardo da Vinci provided by PBS. Last night the second. Titled: Leonardo Da Vinci, “Painter-God.”

I had always considered Leonardo merely a great painter. One of the greatest. He was so much more, however. His mind and talents were into everything: “Leonardo da Vinci designs fanciful flying machines, studies light and shadow, investigates gravity, dissects cadavers and paints the most famous portrait on earth.”

Loved throughout Italy. He was the most courted artist, a “hero” wherever he went.

The “new” I learned last night. Leonardo was born a bastard. His father a man of influence, his mother a chamber maid of sorts. Leonardo the result of a meretricious relationship. Basically ignored by his father who married four times and had a slew of children. Leonardo had to fight his half siblings in court for his share of his father’s estate following the man’s death. Leonardo won.

He did not paint as other artists did. Artists in his day painted portrait style. Still figures. Leonardo brought human body, animal and physical movements into his works. The Last Supper for example shows the 12 Apostles as they actually looked in the 3-4 seconds when Jesus told said one of them would deny him that evening. Each portraying separate and distinct emotions!

He was not an artist alone. He became an expert as to the internal portions of the human body and their workings. He cut up one cadaver after another for years. When he started, the world believed the liver controlled blood, its creation and movement. He said no way. It was the heart. He did one drawing/design after another showing vein, artery and muscle. He said the heart controlled blood flow, etc. He noted the congestion that developed in veins and arteries as one aged which caused death.

He understood flying. Conceptualized how man would one day fly. Understood how a bird’s wings and air caused the bird to fly. 

His favorite was mathematics. He was into heavy math big time. For months at a time, disregarding everything else.

Leonardo was more scientist than artist. The scientist him reflected itself in his paintings.

Another great painting was his Battle of Anghiari. A painting I was totally unaware of till last night. The bodies of the men and horses reflecting muscles and movement.

Sometimes a person has to read a book several times to appreciate the work. So it is with the two evenings of da Vinci provided by PBS. The TV presentation has also motivated me to read more of his life. I realize I know so little of him. There is more to da Vinci than The Last Supper.

Some Key West.

Tomorrow night at 6 pm the Monroe County Library will celebrate its 65th birthday. The event will take place in the Palm Garden of the Library Building at 700 Fleming Street. A concert and refreshments will be available. Attendance is free.

One of the hosts will be my son-in-law Corey Malcom who is the Monroe County Librarian.

The way things were in Key West in 1899. A white woman and a black man were convicted in criminal court for having married. The white woman was sentenced to 5 years in prison, the black man 1 year.

In this morning’s Citizens’ Voice: “I know of a drag queen who was verbally assaulted by drunk tourists and told “Trump’s coming for you.”

Another Voice item this morning: “A black resident told to go pick cotton, and a Cuban local born here told to go back where he belongs.”

Both comments made here in Key West. Are things changing?

Seems Key Tides are more frequent. Especially at some Flagler intersections.

Today is Joe Biden’s 82nd birthday. Happy birthday Mr. President!

Actress Bo Derek is 68 today. I remember her in the movie “10” which was made in 1979. She was a knockout! Hot! Everyone was talking about her following the movie’s release.

Remained in last night. Intended to join Steve and Cindy at The Grand. Turns out Don and Chris were there also probably expecting to run into me.

I skipped. My back hurting like hell. My special lumbar brace which was to arrive monday has not yet. This morning at 10 it is neurophysiotherapy again.

Enjoy your day!