U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said alcoholic beverages should carry a prominent warning label about the link between alcohol and cancer. The Surgeon General said cancer is the third-leading preventable cause of cancer following tobacco and obesity.

How much alcohol is too much? Any amount. There is no safe level when it comes to alcohol being a significant cancer cause.

Wow! I knew too much drinking was bad. Nevertheless, I was bad. I was a drinker. Several gin on the rocks a day. Rarely missed a day. I did not drink till I was in my 40’s. A late start, but a fast finish. I continued drinking till my heart attack last January. Made 89. Lets hope I miss the problem. In thinking back, I can honestly say I only got drunk twice. I began thinking a drinker became accustomed to consuming a lot of booze and was immune to any problems because of it. Stupid me!

The heart attack came with doctor instructions to drink no more. I have listened.

Teen alcohol and drug consumption continues to decline. Reached a record low this past year.

Came across an inquiry from someone visiting Key West soon and wanted to do as much Jimmy Buffett as possible. He only discovered one tour so far. Asked if there was anything else. I do not believe so.

The best is to find someone who ran with Buffett in their early days – like the 1970’s. Great stories.

My friends Steve and Cindy knew him well. Steve goes back to the 1960’s with Buffett. Cindy worked with Buffett for 45 years.

There are still a few Steve and Cindys remaining in Key West. The Chart Room was a good place to find them. Don’t know now as I have not been a Chart Room fan for 3 years.

I wrote about my car and battery going dead yesterday. It was not the battery. When I went to use the car later yesterday, it was dead again. My repair person now says it’s the alternator. He ordered a new one. I will be without wheels for a few days. Fortunately, Steve has agreed to run me around. Today, it will be Publix. My cupboard is bare.

Judge Merchan in a written decision upheld Trump’s 34 felony convictions, but advised he would not sentence Trump to jail or probation on January 10  when he is scheduled to appear for sentencing. He wrote rather that he will order an “unconditional discharge” which in New York criminal courts carries no obligation sentence wise.

Ergo, Trump will walk, but will still be the first felon to serve as a U.S. President.

Many are currying favor with Trump. His allies have raised over $2 million since the election for his inauguration, political operations and Presidential library.

Government for sale?

Johnson was reelected Speaker on the first ballot.

I watched the Biden Citizens Awards. Liz Cheney received loud standing applause. Well deserved. She has become “loved.” By Democrats and still some Republicans today.

Cheney is Presidential timber. Although we are philosophically different, she is the most honest American politician since Jimmy Carter’s difficult Presidency.

Another article re condos and buildings sinking to an “unexpected extent” in Florida. Based on a University of Miami report which indicated luxury high rise buildings in places like Surfside, Bal Harbour, Miami Beach and Sleepy Isles in danger.

Elizabeth Ann Seton died this day in 1821 at age 46 of tuberculosis. She was born in New York City in 1774.

Her life was close to mine and many others. My Utica high school was the Utica Catholic Academy. Our teachers were Sisters of Charity. The nuns wore huge white wing appearing head coverings, dark blue robes and a waist band consisting of a long and heavy rosary bead.

Seton was known to us as Mother Seton. She was the foundress and first  superior of the Sisters of Charity in the U.S.

Her holiness was recognized by the Catholic Church. She was canonized by Pope Paul VI and was the first U.S. born saint.

One of the Sisters of Charity who taught me was Sister Gertrude. An elderly nun. She took a liking to me. She taught history and turned me on to the subject. She was also the reason I went to Manhattan College and got a partial scholarship there. Her cousin was a Christian Brother and Director of Athletics at Manhattan.

I close with a fall last night. Second time since my heart surgeries. The same way again.

I worked yesterday afternoon with the door to my apartment open. The breeze was comforting. Last night, I noticed a bug flying around. Good sized. About a nickel in size. Grabbed a magazine to swat at it. Don’t know if I got it or it got me. The bug went down and so did I.

I find in my old age I cannot control forward progress with my body when it is swift. My body does not stop when I want it to. The swing at the bug propelled me forward and I went down. Hard. Hit right where the pacemaker is set in. Aggravated my back problem also.

An associated problem is getting up. The elderly have a difficult time getting up. It took me a while. I have taken lessons on getting up at physiotherapy several ties. Did not help much.

One thing is certain however, the last bug I will go after!

Enjoy your day!

I went out to my car last night to go somewhere. The battery was dead. A pain! Didn’t know why. I had left nothing on.

Called my handy garage man. George. He owns Zip Auto on Stock Island. He has been taking care of my cars for 15 years. Dependable, honest and reasonable. We agreed it was dark and he would get to me in the morning. Bright and early.

He was here at 6 am. Fortunately, I am up between 4 and 6.

He gave me a charge and told me to drive for a while. At 89, something I already knew. Drove the car 30 miles. To Sugarloaf and back.

I share this common misfortune with you to make you aware of George. If you need a good and dependable car fixer upper, he’s your person! His number 305-292-6915. 

E-bike safety a concern in Key West. Key West streets a dangerous place to drive…..if you only drive a car. Made dangerous by all the other “wanna be vehicles” on the road.

I have mentioned many times my favorite island in Greece. Amorgos. A place where I used to stay from one to two months every summer when I was a European traveler.

I came across this morning a listing of Greece’s “Underrated Islands.” There was my beloved Amorgos.

The article described Amorgos as tiny, having only 2,000 residents, a hidden gem, beautiful, and Greece’s best kept secret.”

It has been 15 years since I have been to Amorgos. One of the appealing factors was cost. I was able to sleep, eat and drink for roughly 17 euros a day. I am sure it is more today. Couldn’t beat it back then.

The FBI has provided more information re the driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that was blown up in front of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. The FBI says the driver acted alone. There was no connection between the Las Vegas and New Orleans incidents.

Additional information provided is that the driver of the truck who died did not die from the explosion. He shot himself in the head before the explosion. The dead man was a 37 year old veteran. He did several deployments. He was a decorated hero. He was awarded 5 bronze medals. He also was the father of a new born baby. Life is strange!

Today is the day. Congress elects its Speaker. Will it be Johnson again?

A Guest Essay in the New York Times dated 12/29 titled “Elon Musk Is a National Security Risk” claimed Musk’s relationship with Chinese leaders and reported contacts with Russian officials are cause for alarm.

With Trump and RFK Jr., we are entering an era of misinformation when it comes to vaccines. Beware. Pay attention.

Most of the power in Puerto Rico has been restored.

An interesting question raised in today’s Citizens’ Voice: “Sinking condos, sinking Flagler manholes. Typical Florida?”

Enjoy your day!

On January 1, 1892, Ellis Island opened as a U.S. immigration inspection station. It became the gateway to the U.S. for 12 million people. My family included in the 12 million: 4 grandparents, 12 uncles and my beloved mother.

Note 12 uncles and no aunts. Apparently Italian male semen was wanting. 

My mother was one of 8 children born to her parents. She was the last born. Her parents were so thrilled to have had a girl, they named her Fortunata. Italian for Fortune.

New Orleans a horrific event. Fifteen have died so far. More than 30 injured. Description of the scene following the incident by witnesses sickening. Bodies badly maimed, bodies flattened, blood everywhere.

The event is presently being investigated as a terrorist event. Every conceivable police agency investigating. Lead by the FBI.

Trump’s statement re the event typical of him. He stated: “When I said the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in our country, that statement was constantly refuted by Democrats and the Fake News Media, but it turned out to be true.”

Trump jumped the gun again. Misspoke. Trump must have seen the alleged perpetrator’s name and assumed he was a migrant. The person is reported to have been Shamsud Din Jabbar, an American citizen born and raised in Texas who served in the U.S. Army. He was honorably discharged a staff sergeant.

Another incident involving a truck yesterday. Around 8:40 in the morning, a Tesla Cybertruck burst into flames just outside the entrance to the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, killing one and injuring several others.

The deceased’s body was in the Cybertruck.

A statement from the Trump Organization, shared also by Eric Trump on X, claimed “a reported electric vehicle fire occurred in the porte cochere of Trump Las Vegas.

Authorities are investigating and have not issued a cause as yet.

The vote for House Speaker tomorrow. Trump has endorsed Johnson. Doubt it will help Johnson. Johnson can afford to lose one Republican vote to be reelected. Two and he is gone. This assumes all Democrats vote for him.

Let me stick my neck out. I suspect Trump endorsed Johnson only so he would not get blamed if Johnson loses. Trump counts numbers and knows Johnson could lose. Prior to Trump’s recent endorsement, he had knocked Johnson badly for several weeks.

Houston police. A strange one. A dead body was found in the back seat of a patrol car. It had been there as much as three days.  Houston police are trying to determine how long and why.

Someone screwed up! A real flub-a-dub! In 1962, an unknown group called the Beatles traveled to London for a recording contract audition with a major record label. They were rejected. The Beatles were told they had no future in show business.

Fahrenheit. A common name today for the system of working thermometers and the Fahrenheit temperature scale to read the thermometer. Invented in 1724 by glassblower Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit. On the basis of the discovery, Fahrenheit was elected as a fellow to the prestigious Royal Society of London.

On this day in 1881, Dr. John Watson was first introduced to Sherlock Holmes in a story written by Arthur Conan Doyle.

On January 1, 1985, the first mandatory seat belt law went into effect in New York State. I found it initially difficult to comply. Children of all ages were taught in school of the new law. My young grandchildren embarrassed me into wearing one. They would shout when they were in the car with me: “Poppa is not wearing his seat belt!”

My back kept me down again yesterday. I enjoyed a good part of the day listening to singing by people like The Three Tenors, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Kate Smith and Mickey Rooney.

Later this morning, I have an appointment with my neurophysiotheraphist. Her office has been closed down two weeks for the holidays. I will be thrilled to see her again!

Enjoy your day!

Happy New Year!

My best wishes to everyone for health, wealth and happiness in the New Year.

I am glad 2024 came to an end. Healthwise, it was a disaster for me. Never experienced anything like it before. The heart attack in January. Followed by 5 1/2 weeks at Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami and three heart surgeries.

The new heart valve surgery a wonder. No question, saved my life and changed my life energy wise. Stopped certain blood leaks. Now blood going where it is supposed to when it is supposed to.

I was beginning to feel terrific when my back problem struck. Like the heart attack, something new. Three lower lumbar discs moved out and were impinging on a nerve. Oh, the pain! 

Significant correction achieved with neurophysiotherapy. However not yet perfect. Problem goes away and then returns. Returning too often  yet. Is limiting my activities. Hopefully will resolve itself soon.

Yesterday afternoon an example of my back controlling my life. The game plan was to go to Brady’s to watch Syracuse play Wake Forest. Steve was going to join me. A two hour game mid afternoon. It was not to be. The back kicked in around noon and I had to cancel. No way was I going to be able to sit for two hours to watch the game. 

My day and evening spent in bed.

I watched the New Year come in on TV. What I would have done anyhow. New York, Atlanta, and Key West. Key West involved Bourbon Street Pub and Sloppy Joe’s. All exciting. Thought Bourbon Street and Christopher Peterson coming down in the red shoe the best of the evening. The crowd fantastic.

I “watched” the Syracuse game on TV. Only the scores as the game progressed. Cannot get Syracuse sports on TV in Key West.

Syracuse lost again. Wake Forest beat Syracuse 81-71.

It appears to have been a Wake Forest game all the way. The game began with Wake Forest taking an immediate 17-2 lead. The handwriting was on the wall.

The season is going to be a disaster.

Syracuse next plays Florida State saturday at 6 pm. I hope I will be able to watch the game at Brady’s.

In spite of Trump’s lies, the stock market gained 24 percent in 2024 under Biden. Except for grocery and gasoline prices, the economy did well. Biden brought it back from the disaster he found at the beginning of his term. Unfortunately, his success did not reach the two items most people rely on in evaluating a President’s economic success. Grocery and fuel costs. Can’t win them all.

Let’s see how Trump does.

Mar-a-Lago has become the Center of the Universe. It is beginning to be so described.

I watched one additional item around midnight. Mar-a-Lago. One terrific party Trump threw. Befitting the man at this point in his career.

Some Waymo self-driving cars are a problem in San Francisco. Not all of them are stopping for people in cross walks.

Ninety percent of Puerto Rico was without power yesterday. It is anticipated the problem will not be totally corrected till tomorrow.

The cause a failure of an underground power line.

Why did the Confederates wear gray in the Civil War? They had an abundance of gray material. It was on hand and so the clothing was easy to produce.

Sounds like why Picasso painted in blue a lot. Simple. He was able to purchase a lot of blue paint cheaply. He had it, so used it.

I close with the U.S. Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Roberts annual year end Report on the State of the Judiciary was issued yesterday. The Report was strong on threats to judges. Critical of the violence, intimidation and defiance aimed at judges.

The Report a poor one. It failed in any way to address the Court’s recent rulings or ethical problems. If anything, ethics warranted comment. Huge comment. 

Ergo, Robert’s Report inadequate. Grossly so. The people are concerned and upset. The Court’s rulings tied with ethical violations have placed Courts to their lowest ebb probably ever. Thomas’ $30 million in gifts, etc, Alito’s misdeeds and even Robert’s problems with his wife require addressing and correction. A significant branch of our government is eroding. Rotting at its base. It cannot go on forever.

Enjoy your day!