Michael Halpern, a distinguished Key West citizen. A man of many facets. Attorney, businessman, entrepreneur. He died yesterday at the age of 72. He was the owner of the Southernmost House Hotel and the initiator of the Willie Wonka Chocolate Festival.

Halpern’s impact on Key West will be missed. He was definitely a part of the community. May he rest in peace.

Tonight the night! New Year’s Eve!

I have done all the special places over the years. All exciting. 

My favorite became the Bourbon Street Pub. Sushi falling from the second floor while seated in the infamous Red Shoe. Sushi packed it in a few years ago after 25 years of riding the shoe down. He will be replaced this evening by the lovely Christopher Peterson.

The corner is the best place to be. Bourbon Street and 801 kitty corner each other. All kinds of play and activity taking place at the intersection leading up to Midnight. It will be crowded! Guaranteed fun!

I will not be there. I stopped going out on New Year’s Eve several years ago. Too old for all the hustle and bustle. Also, standing for a few hours became too much for me.

I will watch the New Year arrive in New York and Key West on TV at midnight. From the comfort of my bed.

President Biden named January 9 as National Day of Mourning in honor of Jimmy Carter. 

Carter was possessed of a moral compass. Religiously grounded.. His faith not for show as it has been with many Presidents.

Hard to believe. Carter helped to build, renovate and repair 4,390 homes in 14 countries while working with Habit for Humanity. Using his hands, hammer and tool belt. He had the time. He was done being President when he was 56 years old.

A federal appeals court upheld the $5 million sexual abuse decision against Trump. The appeals court involved was the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The Court’s holding does not surprise me. When I was a practitioner, I had many appeals before the 2nd Circuit which sat in New York City. A straight by the book Court.

My concern is what happens next with this case. An appeal may be available before the U.S. Supreme Court. A Court that has become perverted and biased. The Court has shown much favoritism to Trump. Improperly so. 

Trump announced he backs Johnson for reelection as Speaker. Many questioned whether he would.

Siberian peasant Rasputin was murdered December 30, 1916 by Russian nobles. Rasputin was a religious fanatic who influenced Czar Nicholas and his wife. He exhibited an ability to “cure” / “keep under control” the bleeding of their hemophilic son.

Some believe Rasputin’s influence, which screwed up the royal family’s life, contributed to the later Russian Revolution.

Syracuse basketball today.

Syracuse plays Wake Forest at 2 this afternoon. I hope to watch the game at Brady’s. My back will decide.

Wake Forest favored. Wake Forest is 9-4 while Syracuse is 6-6. 

Enjoy your day! Enjoy your evening! Happy New Year! 

Jimmy Carter has left us. The former President died yesterday at the age of 100. 

May he rest in peace. His life a religious and good one. I am confident the Lord welcomed him with open arms.

His Presidency only one term. He inherited a problem or two and problems arose during his time in office. The first major problem facing him was the energy crisis confronting the Nation. It was bad. To an extreme.  Two weeks after becoming President, Carter addressed the Nation. He had a cure. Not a welcomed one, however. He sat before the TV camera wearing a sweater. To save on energy, he suggested people wear sweaters. I thought…..Is this guy nuts?

He went on to suggest that thermostats be kept at 65 by day and 55 by night. It was the middle of winter!

During his Presidency, Iranians captured a number of Americans directly from an American embassy. He tried everything to gain their release. Even sent helicopters with troops to Iran to gain their release. The attempt failed. Carter looked bad again.

He did have some good results, however. An outstanding one involved the Camp David Accords. Involved Egypt and Israel. Brought the leaders of both countries to Camp David and had them sit and talk till they came to a resolution of their differences. They did and that resolution continues in effect to this day.

I always felt the Republicans played dirty pool in Carter’s campaign for reelection when he ran against Ronald Reagan. Within minutes of Reagan being sworn in, Iran announced the hostages were released. To me it meant a deal had been made between the Republicans and Iran to keep them hostage so Carter would not be able to claim success in obtaining their release.

Carter was a better post President than he had been President. He continued to be of service in many ways. Actually helped build homes for the poor and needy with his own hands, made sure elections in other countries were honest, etc.

His efforts were so good that they were recognized by his being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his efforts.

Few persons in public life reflect the same qualities which Carter did. The world needs more Jimmy Carters.

Fertility rates are dropping world wide. A serious problem. Fewer people means higher taxes, shrinking social security payments, and fewer workers. 

How bad is bad?

Japan an example. Japan is in horrible shape. Consistent decreasing birth rates since the 1990’s. The government doing everything to encourage baby making. Nothing has worked. Last year, Japan’s fertility rate was 1.2. In Tokyo. less than 1. The number of babies born this year has fallen to the lowest level since 1899.

Again, the problem a world wide one. A concern even for the U.S.

More unprotected sex a solution. However, the cost of raising a child has become sufficiently prohibitive that most couples avoid child making.

Let me talk briefly about child birthing itself. In the Middle ages, horrendous. Women put to bed in a dark room one month before the due date. The woman’s stomach bound. The delivery lacking in most safeguards. The reason why many babies and mothers were lost in the process.

Today, better. Nevertheless, still horrendous. A clean room. Experienced nurses. A doctor who plays catch. Pain still pain, however.

I fathered four children. No problem for me. I was in a waiting room while my wife was laboring in another. I could not really appreciate what she was experiencing.

Then came Lisa’s two deliveries. She insisted I remain through the entire birth process. When Robert and Ally came out, I was holding up one of her legs, Cory the other. Both of us shouting “push!” Lisa screaming she couldn’t do it and whatever else came out of her mouth. Her pain was horrendous. It was during those times that I came to appreciate what a woman goes through in giving birth. Seeing is believing.

No fun.

Fortunately, women do not seem to remember. Perhaps that is why they return to future pregnancies. 

Trump threatens Denmark by saying the U.S. wants Greenland. Denmark owns Greenland. Trump has caused Denmark to react. The Danes have begun beefing up their military. Denmark takes Trump seriously. They should! Who knows when he is serious and when he is not. Remember Denmark had a threatening and then actualizing Hitler in 1940. Experience has taught them to take Trump type threats seriously.

Where is J.D. Vance? The Vice-President to be is little in the news.

News! Newt Gingrich announced he backs Speaker Johnson. Adds to Johnson’s adverse load from my perspective. Heaping one worse upon another.

Back in Gingrich’s day and even today, Gingrich is a person who wants to take down traditional things. Change things dramatically. For example, he is big on taking down Pope Francis and destroying the Vatican as it presently exists. He and Steve Bannon are birds of a feather in this regard and many others.

Houston area weather deadly last saturday. Photos show metal power poles laying across a major highway.

Electric air taxis. Small prop planes for small distances. They’re beginning. Can they succeed as a business?

The same warning once again. Getting more frequent. Yesterday’s Editorial in the Orlando Sentinel: Slowly Sinking Coastal Condos Warn of Florida’s Peril.

I was going to take a walk yesterday around noon. Felt better. Before I could leave, the rain began. Torrential. It continued. And continued. And continued. Poured!

So much for the walk.

I close with a comment re the Key West Cemetery. One of Key West’s best attractions. 

The Cemetery announced its first 2025 Cemetery Stroll. Scheduled for January 26. Three times: 9:30, 9:50 and 10:10. Reservations necessary.

Each trip will take 90 minutes.

Again, one of Key West’s finest attractions. History like you will not believe!

Enjoy your day!

Today is the last Sunday of 2024. The last Sunday of 2023 was only yesterday. Time moves too swiftly. Especially as one gets older.

The feeling of an empty Church. As I have gotten older, I have stopped going to Mass on Sunday. However, I did increase stopping into an empty Church. Churches at a time of the day when it is only me and God. Loved St. Patrick’s in New York City. It was so big, it always felt empty. Many the European Churches I visited in the quiet of the day. The Greek isle ones especially.

The Church did not necessarily have to be Catholic. The Greek Church on Oia in Santorini was different. Three reasons drew me to it. There were people. Many. Merely stopping in to say a short prayer. Greeks are extremely religious. And the gold! Never saw so much gold. Decorated everywhere and on everything in the Church. The third and perhaps most important reason, it was cool inside.

Italian Churches were mausoleums. Museums of old. A quiet seriousness to them.

New York City offered a variety. I came to enjoy the calmness of a Muslim museum which was church-like to me.

I never began the Church visits, regardless of religion, in Key West. Why, I cannot explain. Some day perhaps I will understand why.

I am a bit introspective today. I came across an article this morning titled: “Are You Too Young to Think About How You’re Aging?”

The question has to be approached two ways. The mind and the body.

At 89, my mind has never been better. As good as it was at 25, 35 and 45. I attribute it to the blog writing which I began when I retired. Had I not, I honestly believe I would be sitting in a wheel chair today in a nursing home with my tongue hanging out.

The body is a different story. Especially this year. A disaster. A heart attack, three heart surgeries and now lumbar disc problems difficult to believe. The body goes. At least mine seems to be.

I once was a runner. then a walker. Everyday. Big time. About 15 years ago, for no particular reason, I just stopped. Perhaps my physical problems this year have been self-inflicted as a result.

I now worry about my body. Too late perhaps.

An example how my adverse body conditions are affecting my daily life. Yesterday morning when I wrote the blog, I was excited I had slept well and had no back pain when I arose. I was going to watch a Syracuse basketball game at Brady’s in the afternoon. I never made it. Around noon and suddenly, my back went out, kicked in, whatever way it can be described. Spent the afternoon in bed. Could only get periodic scores re the game on TV.

Syracuse won. Good! Beat Bucknell 75-63. Syracuse now 6-6.

The ACC season begins Tuesday. For two months, Syracuse will play Tuesday evenings and Saturdays. Hopefully, I will get to watch a number of games at Brady’s during that time.

Live and learn. Why are wedding bands worn on the fourth finger of the left hand?

The custom had its beginning way back in ancient Egypt. Even before the Roman Empire.

There is a vein in the fourth finger called the vena amoris. The vein of love. It is connected to the heart. For Egyptians, it was a symbol of eternity. Infinity. Ergo represented marriage – love forever.

Any truth to the following statement. Ronald Reagan said: “We don’t have inflation because the people are living too well, we have inflation because the government is living too well.”

Female authors had yet to “come a long way” in the 1800’s. Jane Austin wrote Sense and Sensibility in 1811, Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein in 1818. They were not listed as the authors. The names of female authors were left blank because the literary world refused to acknowledge them. Stupid women! Actually, stupid men!

An interesting piece in USA Today: “2024 Was a Bad Year for Basic Decency in America. You Can Thank Trump for That.”

A bit lengthy. Worth reading. I recommend it to you.

“E” is the most commonly used letter in the English language.

This tidbit of information is interesting, if nothing else. The longest word in the English language. Forty five letters. Before I share it with you, let me tell what it means. Easier to do than write or pronounce the word.

The word refers to a type of lung disorder caused by inhaling silica dust, usually used in the manufacture of glass, pottery, ceramics, bricks, and artificial stones.

The word: Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolsanoconiosis. Big! All 45 letters there. Count them if you suspect not.

A touch of Key West.

A reminder, recollection. Tennessee Williams and Jimmy Buffett read and researched at the Key West Library.

An example of Key West history and tradition. The Conch Republic has a Navy. Its Captain Finbar Gittelman. He died December 26 at age 82. The Conch Republic flag at City Hall is being flown at half mast in his honor.

I close with snowbird Fred Klein. He returned to Key West yesterday. I look forward to seeing him again.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Thirty years ago when I first visited Key West, it was a gay haven. Not so much anymore. Over the years, homosexual men have been drawn to Miami and Fort Lauderdale to live. Key West became too expensive. The Miami and Fort Lauderdale cost of living much less.

Along the way, the Key West Citizen, now KeysNews, changed. Covers all the Keys, provides less Key West news itself, its Key West staff next to nothing.

Today’s KeysNews features a lead article not representative of Key West, yet purports to be. Titled: “Keeping Key West Weird…..Eidschun Is a Catalyst for Change.”

Both the title and article not representative of today’s Key West nor even yesterday’s. It is about Joshua “Catalyst” Eidschun who “sells some of the cutest clothes made for gay men on the island as the assistant manager at Graffitti on Duval Street. Catalyst is a self-proclaimed radical faerie who can be found around the island wearing outfits that bend, mix and match, and buck gender norms. This sweet Mary is a free spirit on an island that nurtures the soul.”

The article is an insult to Key West and its significantly reduced gay population.

Texas has one of the Nation’s most restrictive abortion bans and near bottom rankings on women’s health care. It has become a “babies in a dumpster” location as a result. A sort of epidemic. Eighteen babies this year found abandoned in garbage facilities. Dumpster babies having replaced abortions.

Canadian investor and “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary says at least half of his country would support a merger of Canada and the U.S. For real? Are half of Canadians as crazy as half of Americans who support Trump? Or, is O’Leary a Trump plant?

A Rachel Maddow blog asked why Trump is still selling so much stuff SINCE the election. Close to 50 items. Includes guitars, boots, coins, fragrances and watches.

Where does the money being taken in go? It has been suggested to Trump’s controversial business operations.

Why do so many countries use bidets, but the U.S. does not? I discovered bidets in my early Italian trips. I have had one for the past 25 years in my Key West homes.

Cheaper also than toilet paper. Save money by using.

In my last two homes, I purchased mechanical toilet bidets and added them to the toilets in each. Cheap. Around $30-40 each. Easy to install.

When will Americans learn?

Some chain restaurants are scaling back in 2025. Note, not closing. Includes Subway, Pizza Hut, T.G.I. Friday’s, Ruby Tuesdays. Applebee’s, Sbarro, Red Lobster, Friendly’s, and more.

Are eating habits changing? Or, have fast food emporiums become more competitive?

COVID is still with us. Much less serious, however. 

A new pandemic threatens. Bird flu. Some say yes, some no. We’ll soon know.

We all recall Erin Brockovich. Famous environmentalist. A movie made starring her person.

The site Hinkley, California. She is credited with cleaning up the town. One problem. Years ahead, things till a mess.

Mounting medical bills and moving costs have left residents with nothing or next to nothing. The toxic substance Chromium-6 still exists. Cleanup has been exceptionally slow.

Today, Hinkley is a ghost town. Its water still contaminated.

Holiday Bowl last night. Syracuse vs. Washington State. As expected, Syracuse won 52-35.

Steve’s twin brother Rich and I had a bet. I spotted him 13.5 points. I came close to losing. Washington State had spurts of playing well under adverse conditions. I became concerned early on that Syracuse might lose. Washington State even scored the first touchdown.

I stayed home. My back bothering me big time. Two days of pain and little sleep. My neurologist doctor and neurophysiotheraphist closed down for two weeks. No relief available. 

Syracuse sports impossible to get free on TV. A war for years between Syracuse and the ACC the reason. So I was stuck periodically getting only the score at the moment.

Syracuse ends the season 10-3. A great football year! Finally! Been a long time!

Last night, I slept well, long and uninterrupted. No back pain at the moment. Which means I will be at Brady’s to watch the Syracuse/Bucknell basketball game at 2. Basketball only 2 hours as opposed 4 for football. I think I will be able to handle sitting in a chair for 2 hours. Let’s hope!

Both teams have sick records so far. Syracuse 5-6, Bucknell 4-8.

Syracuse will not be a winner unless it starts pressuring on defense, attacking the basket and simply playing basketball. There are times they do not seem to know how to play. Look like a grammar school team.

The ACC season begins next week. Syracuse will be playing every tuesday evening and saturdays. Hope I can make all the games.

I close with Fred Klein. He returns to Key West today for a few months. I look forward to his return and spending time with him.

Dan Reardon due next week.

Enjoy your day!

I watched Tom Homan on TV yesterday. He is Trump’s border czar to be. He explained how he was going to handle migrant families, including those with children born in the U.S. His entire presentation gave me the chills. My thoughts immediately went to pictures, presentations and movies where Nazis spoke of the Jewish “problem” and how they were going to resolve it. No sense of humanity in either dissertation.

Family detentions will be cruel, ugly, and wrenching.

The American way?

Medical insurance prices are high. Primarily because insurance companies view doctors and hospitals as the customers and not patients who pay the bills. Such has been the approach for years.

I recall some 50 years ago when I was helpful to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Utica. Sister Rose Vincent was the hospital’s Director. I worked closely with her. She always reminded me the doctors were the hospital’s customers, not the patients. The doctors decided what hospital they would associate with and direct their patients to.

Added costs are involved under the U.S. system. For example, five times per capita on health care paper work administration is involved. More than in any other developed country.

Trump’s Christmas message was not one expected from a national leader. No love and kisses. Rather a deranged shoutout lambasting this and that.

He shouted out compliments to Chinese soldiers who he claimed operated the Panama Canal, he spoke of the U.S. taking over the Canal, knocked Canada’s Trudeau and said re Canada it should be the U.S.’ 51st State and that he would cut the country’s taxes if it were. Added a “Go to Hell” to the 37 death row inmates who Biden had reduced their sentences t0 life imprisonment.

Trump may be built like Santa Claus. He is not a jolly old man!

Trump wants all federal employees to go back in house. Work from federal offices, not their homes. COVID had begun the system of home work. Union contracts and other agreements have continued the practice. It will not be easy for Trump to accomplish that which he seeks.

Congress stripped the IRS of another $20 billion in the recent government shutdown fight. To satisfy Republicans.

The money was specifically directed at going after “wealthy tax cheats.” A Republican tax cut.

It is estimated that the cut and others before it and the more expected when Trump takes office will add $140 billion to the national debt in the next 10 years based on the inability of the government to audit wealthy millionaires and large corporations.

Radio City Music Hall opened this day in 1932. In my younger day, I was a frequent visitor. M mother’s family lived in New York City. We were frequent visitors. Which meant taking the subway downtown and seeing shows at Radio City Music Hall. 

We did a lot. I recall my father when I was 7 years old taking me to the Paramount Theater where we saw Frank Sinatra perform.

Cruelty at an extreme! A mother canceled Christmas for her 5 year old daughter after getting an email from the child’s teacher. It came five days before Christmas, complained of her daughter’s “atrocious behavior.” Fifty pages long! Would you believe!

The mother stripped her daughter of any Christmas joy. For her, Christmas was not to be. Took her elf down, removed her stocking from the fireplace, no gifts from Santa Claus, etc. She had an 11 year old brother. He still got to enjoy Christmas…..in front of his younger sister’s eyes.

The teacher had to be a whack to send the mom a 50 page email and do so just before Christmas. The mother even more whacky to punish her daughter in the fashion she did.

It is that time of the year for Nostradamus predictions.

A strange one. He predicts England will suffer a devastating war and suffer the resurgence of a plague. Also, great new powers will emerge. A clash of powers will occur. Medical breakthroughs will take place. A protracted war will end. Russia/Ukraine? An asteroid will come close to the Earth.

The movie “The Exorcist” opened in theaters on 12/26/1973. Scared me!

On July 16, 2024 a tornado swept through Rome, New York. Caused some destruction. The Zion Episcopal Church was heavily damaged. Still under repair.

A religious cohort, the First Presbyterian Church, opened its doors and heart. Zion Episcopal has been a welcomed guest in the use of First Presbyterian to this day and will continue till Zion Episcopal’s repairs are completed.

We are all one in God’s eyes!

A surprise for me! Something I was unaware of. Famous movie actor Richard Gere resided in Syracuse for a number of years. North Syracuse to be specific. He graduated from North Syracuse High School in 1967.

Gere’s father Homer lived most of his life in North Syracuse. He died last year at the age of 100. Son Richard is now 75.

Gere recalls his neighborhood, school and friends. Loved Italians, though not one himself. He said, “I love Italy, if I could I would be Italian. I grew up in Upstate New York. The cool kids were Italian, very elegant, wonderful shoes, they had this way of moving…..We all wanted to be Italians.”

Seems like everyone is in Key West this Christmas. I had to go to Publix yesterday. I had to wait for the traffic light to change four times at two  different intersections before I could pass through. A first! The weather was a comfortable 78. The breeze off the ocean kept things cool.

Publix was deserted. Next to empty. Never saw so few people. Understandable, however.

I close with my back. 

Began bothering me yesterday. A rough night. Difficult to sleep. Got up and began this blog at 3:30 as a result. Sitting while researching and writing tough. Glad I am at an end.

Tonight, I was to be at Brady’s watching the Syracuse/Washington State game with Steve. Called him last night and said we might not make it. I will call him in a bit to say I can’t do it. It will be impossible for me to sit 4 hours by tonight.

I must also call Carola this morning to tell her I will not be there. She was going to bring me Irish scones. She bakes them fresh the morning of the evening I will be at the bar.

Enjoy your day!

Harrison Ford is alive! Thank goodness!

I reported yesterday he had died. I was wrong. My apologies.

Let me explain how my faux pas occurred.

As I was completing my research, I skimmed YouTube to see if anything was new. There it was. It had been reported on 12/20: “With Deep Sympathy We Report the Passing of Actor Harrison Ford.” Several other articles re his death were posted also. Another was: “Minutes Ago Doctors Confirmed the Passing of Actor Harrison Ford.”

I simply reported it. My error was failing to note the subsequent articles bore dates significantly older. It would have raised my suspicion factor.

A moral is involved: Do not believe everything you read! Today it would extend to the printed and social media also.

Today is the calm after the holiday. Post Christmas! I appreciate another holiday is soon to be. New Year’s Eve. A different one. Fun! Christmas warmer, however. Two different flavors involved.

Syracuse vs. Washington State tomorrow night at 8 in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. Syracuse will win decisively. Due to the transfer portal, 22 Washington State players and 4 coaches will not be involved. In addition, Washington’s primary coach will not be involved. His contract  ran out without Washington State renewing it.

I will be watching the game at Brady’s Irish Pub with Steve Thompson.

Matt Gaetz a first class flub-a-dub. He could get indicted which would make his situation even worse.

The Congressional Ethics Committee issued its long awaited report. Gaetz was a bad guy. Did it all! Sex, sex with an underage girl, drugs, violated various state and federal laws. He may be lucky. If he is able to avoid indictment, the word is he may run for Governor or U.S. Senator for the State of Florida. 

He would probably get elected.

Latinos are a significant voting block in Florida. As are Blacks and the elderly. Latinos and Blacks supported Trump more heavily in the past election. Elderly are die hard Republicans. The three groups hope/believe things will be better under Trump the next 4 yeas. Good luck!

Reports continue to be issued re the U.S. Supreme Court re the wrongdoing of certain of the Justices. Especially Thomas and Alito.

The most significant report was recently issued by the Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Republican members refused to participate. The report claimed Thomas has accepted more than $30 million in his time on the bench in gifts, etc. Alito has his share of wrongdoings listed, though nowhere close to the number of Thomas’.

Both Thomas and Alito thereafter sat in judgment on cases involving those who had benefitted them.

The investigation took 20 months.

Harry Truman died this day in 1972. He loved Key West and Key West loved him. May he ever be remembered as an integral part of Key West.

Virginia O’Hanlon and the New York Sun are forever immortalized with Christmas.

There was a time that people of all ages believed if a newspaper wrote something, it had to be true.

Virginia was an 8 year old girl. On September 21, 1897 she wrote the New York Sun asking: “Is there a Santa Clause?”

The newspaper responded: “Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!”

Enjoy your day!

Merry Christmas!

I open today with in effect is a “new discovery” and wish to share it with you.

A person. His name is Andre Rieu.

Rieu came to my attention two weeks ago by accident and yesterday in a Christmas telephone call from my dear friend Theos Markis in Greece. Rieu is a musician. Actually a conductor of a large symphony/band.

Lets begin with my first encounter with Rieu. Accidently came upon him on YouTube. Gave him all of five minutes. He disappointed me and I moved on. I found his music and presentation to be disjointed. Unconventional.

Yesterday, Theos telephoned to wish me a Merry Christmas. We have been friends for a number of years. He lives in Greece. Loves Key West. Visits 2-3 times a year. Reads my blog everyday. He has a business, children and a lady friend. I have only met Dina his lady friend. A typical Greek woman. I have spent enough time in Greece to recognize the type. Takes care of her man! Even to the point of periodically feeding food to him via fork and spoon.

Theos got into Rieu in our telephone conversation. I interrupted and told him I had watched the guy briefly a couple of weeks earlier and did not enjoy him. Theos pushed. Go back and watch one of his shows again. Especially the one he did in Sydney two weeks ago. Catch the last 40-50 minutes. You will enjoy! You will like! 

He kept pushing. I agreed. Returned to YouTube and found Rieu’s Sydney show. Watched it all! Glad I did! The man and his show were FANTASTIC! So much so, I will watch him the rest of my life as I do my favorite American performers.

Some background.

Rieu is 75 years old. Married 49 years. Born and raised in Maastricht in the Netherlands. Plays the violin. He began with a 12 person band in 1988. Today, 50-60. Performs world wide. He refers to his band as the Johann Strauss Orchestra. Based on his love for Strauss’ music. He plays everything, however.

He draws a full crowd with his performances. In Sydney, he was in a large auditorium. Seated a large number. I watched a second performance yesterday, also. One he did four years ago in his home town Maastricht. An outdoor concert. At least 3,000-4,000 in attendance. If I err re the number, it was more. That huge a crowd!

He provides all sorts of musical entertainment. His audience sings with his performers throughout. Even dance in the aisles. Frequently and many.

He covers all type music. Instruments, singers, dancers, etc. He provides everything!

The best however is that which follows his normal show. Most musicians will sing 1-3 songs following a show’s ending. He just keeps going. Went 40-50 minutes in Sydney. The crowd demands it. He provides it.

I do not know how to best describe what I saw. Please, watch his show. Start with the Sydney one. Keep a box of tissues nearby. Guaranteed you will need it!

Theos, we have a problem. You call me. I cannot call you as I do not have long distance ability outside the U.S. We have never emailed. Please email me at chairmansuls@gmail.com so I will have your email address.

From a goodie Andre Rieu to a baddie (?) Donald Trump. What the hell is going on?

The Versailles Treaty left Germany in bad shape economically. The Treaty a mistake re many of its conditions. Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, MacArthur, Churchill and most of the other Allied leaders recognized the error of the Versailles ways and treated Germany and Japan differently which is a major reason the two nations have not presented us with another Hitler or Tojo.

Now comes Trump. He is a bully and troublemaker. Cannot leave well enough alone. He has not yet even taken office and he has pissed off Mexico and Canada. Two of our best friends. And closest ones. Hitler had the same habit. Threatened and eventually went after Czechoslovakia and Poland. Then the rest of Europe.

Is Trump attempting the same thing?

This past week he went after Panama and Greenland. Both in our hemispheres. He wants “to take back” the Panama Canal and says it is “absolutely necessary to own Greenland.” Panama is a country unto itself. Greenland is owned by Denmark. Panama and Denmark have indicated no way! These nations are our friends. No question about it. Why alienate them? If Trump believes Panama should charge the U.S. less for use of the canal, negotiate! Not threaten!

There are enough problems facing the U.S. in the world. Trump should neither seek nor make more.

The esteemed actor Harrison Ford died on December 19. He had a stroke one year ago and all kinds of problems followed.

May he rest in peace!

Enjoy your Holiday!

EVERY FEW YEARS, I WRITE OF THE CHRISTMAS EVE ITALIAN SEVEN FISH MEAL. A SLIGHT VARIATION EACH YEAR. THIS IS THE LATEST. ONLY ONE YEAR OLD. PUBLISHED LAST YEAR ON DECEMBER 3. ENJOY!

I am of Italian extraction. My mother was born in Italy, my father of parents who immigrated from Italy. The seven fish meal Christmas Eve is an Italian-American tradition. From my perspective, the best meal of the year! No comparison!

I write about it today, Christmas Eve 2024. The meal preparation began three weeks ago for the meal this evening. A meal that fed 25-30 people. 

One of the seven dishes is baccala. Baccala is cod fish. That dry hard salted piece of fish. It needs to be softened and made tasty for the Christmas Eve feast. 

My former wife made the very best seven fish meal. Must give her credit. Her work three weeks early. She would cut the cod fish into small pieces and place it in a large bowl buried in olive oil, salt, pepper, parsley, and other herbs. Cover the bowl and place it on top of the refrigerator, not in it. Every day for the next three weeks she would take the bowl down, mix the contents and add whatever she thought was required. At the end of 3 weeks and on Christmas Eve, the bacccala would melt in your mouth.

Baked clams were another fish dish. We would enjoy them in a two hour cocktail fest prior to dinner. Together with shrimp. Shrimp two ways. One cold as in shrimp cocktail. The other battered in bread crumbs and eggs and fried in oil.

The shrimp was a substitute for mussels. I never saw a mussel till I began traveling to Florida. I doubt they even could be purchased in Utica back then.

Smelts another fish dish. Smelts fried in oil till crisp. The whole piece, head included, then eaten. Smelts were tiny and thin. About the size of a person’s little finger but thinner. I loved smelts! One of my absolute favorites!

Scungilli. The Italian way of saying snails.

Calamari. Like you wouldn’t believe. My wife would buy the tentacles already cleaned. Being fastidious, she would reclean each piece. She would stuff them with bread crumbs and egg and what have you. Sew each end with needle and thread. Cook them first by boiling. Then place them in a red meat sauce to further cook. Finally, the contents poured over a huge dish of macaroni. Pasta a term never heard back then in an Italian house. The stuffed calamari was to die for!

The final and seventh dish were lobster tails. Maine lobster tails. Big ones. Boiled and then broiled. Served covered with heaping portions of melted butter.

Desert consisted of Italian cookies which my wife started baking about the same time as she began preparing the baccala. She refrigerated them till Christmas Eve.

The meal took a good 5-6 hours to consume from cocktail hour through dessert. Everything slow and leisurely. Family time. Much laughter and recollections of earlier days in all our lives. Recollections especially of parents and relatives dead.

A meal to remember! I have not enjoyed one since 2006. Hopefully will enjoy one more before I pass on.

Enjoy your Christmas Eve! And have a very Merry Christmas holiday!

Can anyone argue? Prices have obscenely shot up at the same time as quality has declined. Simultaneously in the same period of time, the number of millionaires has tripled.

Addressing quality first, luxury is in a death spiral. Price hikes have been steeper than inflation. What’s worse? You decide. It’s your money.

Re new millionaires, the rich have gotten richer in the U.S. There were 7.64 million millionaires in 2,000. By 2023, that number had tripled.

There will even be a trillionaire sitting at the right hand of President Trump come January 20.

Are we in trouble? You better believe it!

I am an American who loves guacamole. Many do. It soon will be a luxury item. Trump’s immigration and tariff plans will raise the prices you see at stores.

Syracuse graduate and great college and professional basketball player Carmelo Anthony is on the candidate list for the Basketball Hall of Fame.

He will make it!

Syracuse needs another Carmelo Anthony. Even another Jim Boeheim.

The basketball team sucks. Simply stated. Needs to be said. It begins with the coaching. I was against Adrian Autry succeeding Boeheim. Did not think he had it. I was correct. He does not. He has some good players, but cannot get the team to work together effectively. Each week a disaster.

Yesterday the proof of the pudding. Maryland buried, embarrassed and excuse me, crapped all over Syracuse. National TV. The game played at Barclays in New York City. Syracuse was down 43-17 at half time. Lost 87-60.

Syracuse had 21 turnovers. Six in the first 7 minutes. The handwriting was on the wall.

I cannot share one redeeming Syracuse factor. There were none.

Lets switch to the football team.

Syracuse had an excellent year. A 9-3 record. Ranked #21 nationally. Selected for a decent bowl. The Holiday Bowl on December 27. Its opponent though unranked ended the season 8-4. A good game in the making. Expected to be close. Syracuse a mere 2.5 point favorite. Till a day or two ago. Now a 13.5 point favorite.

What disaster befell Washington State? The transfer portal. Twenty two players and five coaches have opted to move on and signed onto the transfer portal. To be precise, only 4 coaches. The head coach’s contract ran out and Washington State did not wish to renew it. Washington State can withdraw from the game. It will have to pay a penalty. If it stays in and lets the bench take a beating, it will receive a hefty payment from the Holiday Bowl.

So far Washington State appears to have decided to play. Money talks!

As I was opposed to Autry, I was and am opposed to the transfer portal. College players get paid for playing now. Not a mere college expense free ride. The transfer portal is a money maker for the players.

The U.S. Supreme Court in 2021 in another screwed up decision said college players could be compensated for the use of their names, images, likeness, and endorse products. Almost like professional players! That is why these college kids jump from one school to another. They make big bucks! Room, board and tuition chicken feed. The money paid through booster gifts and contracts with companies significant. Six figures in many instances.

It hit Washington State the wrong way this week. Player loyalty and school spirit means nothing. I can’t blame the players and coaches, however. The opportunity to make big bucks is available quickly and easily. All legal. I oppose the concept of transfer portal and believe it should be abolished. However as long as it is there, the players should take advantage of it.

I have a bet on the game. Places me in a quandary. The bet is with Steve’s twin brother who is an Alaskan salmon fisherman and Washington State supporter. He suggested we bet the game. We don’t have the money these kids are getting today to participate in a transfer portal so our bet is a mere $1.

How can I lose? Washington State will be fielding its third string team. I want to be fair about it. I have decide to give points. The spread has gone from Syracuse favored by 2.5 points to 13.5. Fisherman brother you just got 13.5 points from me. If Washington State wins, I will be happy to pay the buck to you!

Enjoy your Sunday!

It is that time of the year. Santa Claus time!

What is Santa Claus’ history? From whence did he come?

The story begins December 6, 343 A.D. The man Saint Nicholas of Bari, Bishop of Myra. The inspiration for Santa Claus. Saint Nicholas died on December 6.

His legend did not die with him. As every child knows, Saint Nicholas, also known as Santa Claus, is hauled by reindeer every year to millions of homes which he enters via the chimney to deliver gifts.

It was the Middle Ages. Nicholas was born in Patara, a town in southern Turkey. In due course, he received a large inheritance which as a devout Catholic he helped to use to help the sick, poor and others in need.

He heard of three sisters of marriageable age who faced prostitution because their father could not afford doweries. He opted to help the three sisters by dropping bags of gold down their chimney. One bag landed in a stocking that had been hung by the fireplace to dry. This eventually led to the custom of children hanging stockings, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas.

Stories abound re Nicholas. How a young boy was kidnapped by pirates who made him a slave. He was chosen by the pirate ruler to be his personal cup bearer and spent the next year waiting on the ruler. He brought him wine in a gold cup.

The parents asked Nicholas to obtain the return of their son. Saint Nicholas appeared to the boy, blessed him, and transfixed him back to his parents’ home, gold cup in hand.

Another story involves Nicholas traveling by ship to the Holy Land. A storm almost wrecked the vessel. However as soon as Nicholas admonished the waves, the storm abated.

He became the Bishop of Myra. All the bishops joined to elect him. Myra was the seat of the primary Bishop.

It was not the time to be a prominent Christian, however. Fourth century persecutions by the Roman Empire were rampant. Christians were arrested and tortured. In due course, Nicholas became one. He was kept in chains in prison for years until freed by Emperor Constantine.

It became customary to give gifts to young children on Nicholas’ feast day, December 6. The trend grew in Europe. Children would leave socks or shoes on a chair, or next to the fireplace, and go to sleep on the feast day eve trusting that the next morning they would be filled with gifts.

Over the years, Churches were built named after him. In Belgium 300, Rome 34, the Netherlands 23, and in England more than 400.

Nicholas’ reputation as Saint Nicholas grew, especially in Holland. He was called “Saint Nickolass” or “Sinterklass.” Dutch immigrants took his legend as a gift giver to the U.S. in 1700. There he eventually became known as Santa Claus. A jolly man who brought gifts during the Christmas holiday. The name “Santa Claus” is an American accented version of the Dutch “Sinterklass.”

Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus became one and the same person.

Saint Nicholas Day and Santa Claus Day were left hanging out there on December 6. When Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church in the 16th century, he moved the feast day of Saint Nicholas to December 25 to coincide with Christmas Day.

During the time of Henry VIII, Father Christmas was depicted as a bulky man in fur lined scarlet or green robes. His clothing endorsing the spirit of seasonal good cheer, bringing peace, joy, good food, wine and revelry. An image which has lived on.

Saint Nicholas died at the age of 73 in Myra where he had been Bishop for many years.

Unfortunately, can’t keep all of the people happy with the obvious happy do good life style personified by Saint Nicholas. Pope Paul VI questioned Saint Nichols’ good deeds. He had the Feast of Saint Nicholas dropped from the Catholic calendar in 1969 on the grounds there was insufficient documentary evidence about his life and deeds. Saint Nicholas paid a price for not having a Matthew, Mark, Luke and John walking with him.

Makes no difference. We love Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus and care not what even a Pope has to say about him!

My yesterday simple. A manicure by Tammy. Lucky me…..Carolla was there. My love from Brady’s Irish Pub. The bartender who bakes me Irish scones.

I have not seen her in a long while. My health has limited me to day time basketball games. Carolla works evenings.

We briefly chatted. Told her I would be at Brady’s today at noon for the Syracuse/Maryland basketball game. She said she will stop in to see me.

Bet she brings me Irish scone cookies!

Last night was special. The Three Tenors.

Need I say more. 

Enjoy your day!