The German people needed Hitler. Too bad he turned out to be the bad guy he was. The Versailles Treaty and World War I Allies denutted Germany. Stripped them economically and of their pride.  Hitler restored both in the 1930s. Hitler unfortunately carried everything too far.

Hitler learned a deserved lesson. Many of the free peoples of the world joined together to defeat him.

Hitler picked his enemies. Trump seems to be pissing everyone off. He is isolating the U.S. If he is successful, the U.S. will stand alone. Perhaps facing the rest of the world in a major conflict. Opposed by friend and foe alike. Trump continues to attack U.S. friends, sucks up to many of our enemies, while alienating even further others. A bright thinker he is not.

A couple of examples that Trump is moving along an erroneous path.

He threatened significant tariffs against two friends and neighbors. Mexico and Canada. His main reasons immigration and fentanyl. Mexico though trying, still has a heavy task to control both issues. Canada did not and does not. The facts speak for themselves. In 2024, Canada was responsible for .02 percent of the fentanyl entering the U.S.  Know what .02 percent amounted to? Forty three pounds. As opposed to Mexico’s 21,000 pounds.

Canada’s immigration number similarly insignificant. 

So why did Trump go after Canada? Does not make sense. Last week, he refused to return Trudeau’s call till monday. An insult to another national leader! Then the “deal” he made with Trudeau was basically things Canada was already doing. Recall also Trump’s statement last week that he would raise tariffs against Canada to 100 percent until such time as Canada was “annexed” to the U.S. Another insult to a long time friend and neighbor.

Trump played what is becoming his typical last minute move. Instead of imposing the tariffs on Canada and Mexico tuesday as he had threatened, he says he is giving them another month to get their houses in effect in order as far as he is concerned. Symbolically suggesting he, Trump, had won again and was showing mercy to an adversary.

In the meantime, Trump increases the tariff against China. Not very bright. China a formidable foe. The equal to or perhaps even stronger than the U.S. at the moment. Merely saying we are the strongest nation in the world does not make it so.

China is also the mainstay and major power in BRICS. China represents 70 percent of BRICS economy. It is fast becoming the banker of its member nations. Money talks. Not insults and bullshit. The world has begun laughing at the U.S. At a major sporting event this past weekend in Canada, the Canadians booed when the American National Anthem was played.

Musk is beginning to give me major concern. He has been given too much power by Trump in a situation where he legally has no power. Musk now has the capacity to affect all kinds of payments to the American public. Even to Social Security and Medicare. He now knows all the personal financial data of every American citizen.

Not right. Not legal. Are you aware that many of those working in or near the White House under Musk are as young as 19 years old.

The more I read about Musk, the more I suspect he may be so far right in his thinking so as to reflect Nazism. He is pushing his influence in Europe as well as the U.S. And to me, that was a Hitler salute he executed.

Some oddball items.

Do you know the world’s oldest written story? Its first written story. “Written” the key word.

It is the “Epic of Gilgamesh.” A poem. It tells the tale of King Gilgamesh, ruler of the ancient city of Urek, who battled terrible monsters.

The “writing” was published around 2200 BCE.

Beer and wine were the first alcoholic beverages. Which came first? No one knows for sure. Both developed because people enjoyed the getting high effect the two gave them.

I close with two Key West items.

A recent visitor who enjoyed Key West will not return soon: “We had a nice time in Key West, but won’t be back until the airport departures are expanded. What a zoo!”

The first Square Grouper Restaurant opened about 15 years ago in Summerland Key. An immediate hit. Great food! Great atmosphere! Later it expanded to a second site further north. This past week it opened a restaurant in Key West. On Eaton Street in the home of the old PT’s Late Night. You have to have been in Key West many years ago to recall PT’s. It will always be remembered as an integral part of early modern day Key West.

The Square Grouper totally remodeled the inside of the building. I have only seen photographs. Outstanding! Can’t wait to go. Guaranteed it will be a hit!

I finally went out last night. First time in four weeks. The Grand’s Happy Hour!

Enjoy your day!

A new topic for the blog. BRICS. First time I have mentioned it. I suspect it will be the first time many of you have even seen the name in print or know what it is. Time for all of us to know whatever we can about it and follow through with its activities.

Brics is the U.S.’s money competition world wide.

The world as we know it is divided politically into three groups for purposes of this discussion. The West, East and South. The West is the U.S. and most of Europe. The East is Russia, the Middle East, the Far East and Africa. The South is Central and South America.

Those outside the West have been pissed off for years that the U.S. controlled the West and as a result other areas of the world. Their areas.  The East and South wanted a piece of the pie. A big one.

In 2009, four nations met formally to create an organization/group to compete with the U.S. and become not as powerful as the U.S., but more powerful. The four nations Brazil, Russia, India, and China. The first letter of each nation’s name made up the title of the organization. Soon South Africa joined. S was added at the end of Bric so that the name of the group became Brics. 

The four became five. The five now ten, with many knocking on Brics’ doors to join. Brics is selective. The newest nations Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. The Brics a conglomerate of East and South nations.

Progress takes time. Especially when a group wishes to become the most powerful economic political entity in the world. It has not done badly. Brics’ GDP is 35 percent. G7 which is basically the West group of which the U.S. is a member has fallen behind to 30 percent.

The new group is moving its ass! China the leader. China representing 70 percent of the wealth of the group.

It would appear that the West, of which the U.S. is the most important member, has fallen behind. Might be that the U.S. is in a phase of descendancy? Don’t know. Could be. Looks like it may be.

Why have American citizens not been made aware of what has been happening the past 20 years?

Again as heavy as my research has been the past 24 hours, nevertheless limited. Some believe our government, Democrat and Republican, did not wish to publicize what was happening. The media for some reason remained silent.

China is benefitting big time. Financing many activities in Brics nations.

Certain of Brics countries have been building railroads like crazy, Brics financing them, with China taking a large piece of the financing. U.S. banks bid, but could not compete with Brics’ numbers.

I have opened a door with this blog. Trust many of you will find it interesting and helpful. If I have erred anywhere in this blog, it is inadvertent. Bring it to my attention and I will be happy to correct.

We must know more about Brics. They seriously affect the economic well being of the West and the U.S. If more must be done at the West’s end, so be it. Do it! Lets not sit on our asses till it is too late.

Enjoy your day!

We live in strange times. No question about it.

Trump President a mere 13 days and already three economic wars declared that may have fruition. Trump announced yesterday tariff wars with Canada, Mexico and China will begin Tuesday.

Trump has also declared other tariff wars in the same 13 days. However those nations against which he directed tariff increases capitulated to the mighty U.S. and the tariff bombs never fell.

Trump attacks our friends economically. Killer economic threats tariff in nature. Friends will become foes and fight. Not all will capitulate. Expect Mexico and Canada to fight. Panama questionable. Retaliate economically first. Then militarily when Trump proceeds to use U.S. troops.

Will the economic retaliation at some point in fact turn military? Could be. Then who will be our friends, who will be our enemies? I suspect our friends will be Russia, Turkey, Iran, North Korea and China. Our enemies the friends we have today, but will have lost tomorrow. The European Nations, Canada, Mexico, and many of the American countries.

Crazy! Relationships of long standing destroyed to become friends with the worst of mankind.

Trump has already begun a war. Somalia. What the issue really was that required him to bomb Somalia this past week, I do not know. Impending doom to the U.S. not one. This past week Somalia. Some time down the line, it could be Canada, Mexico, Panama, Greenland or Denmark. Who knows?

You can’t trust a man who never backed off his representation that persons in Springfield were eating cats and dogs. Remember, enough Americans believed him to elect hm.

The tariff wars to begin Tuesday will have an immediate effect. Two weeks from now, the American people will be complaining. Many whom voted for Trump. You bought him, now suffer!!!

Grocery and oil prices will have begun shooting up. Other items, also. Again, within two weeks.

Trump does not want to be President. He wants to be King. He is well on his way. Congrats again to those of you who voted for him.

Musk now has access to the Treasury Department’s payment system. Treasury Secretary Bessent transferred the access to Musk’s group this past week. 

Covers $6 trillion in payments. Includes Social Security and Medicare. Imagine, Musk the man who views his responsibility to cut $2 trillion in his first year having Social Security and Medicare payouts knowledge accessible. Woe is we!

I have been opposed to RFK Jr. for years. Even when he was a mere lawyer and educator fighting vaccinations and environmental matters. A phony.

If Kennedy is successful in achieving the position sought, Trump will have placed the health of the Nation in the hands of a man who will make us all sick.

A touch of Key West.

Cell phones are amazing. Local and long distance calls quick and cheap.

It was 108 years ago when the first long distance connection from Key West was to Marathon. At 1:47 pm on the day in question. Later that same day, the connection was extended to Savannah.

Visit the Little White House soon for two separate events.

On February 15 at 4:30 pm, the Descendants Forum. Prominent Presidential descendants will share stories and historical perspectives re their relatives.

The next two days, February 16 and 17 at 4:30 also, Give ‘Em Hell, Harry! A dynamic one man show that celebrates Harry Truman’s unique persona. Harry Truman’s grandson Clifton Truman Daniels stars.

I close with Syracuse basketball.

Syracuse won last night! Defeated California 75-66. 

The best game Syracuse has played this season. Came out with a big lead. Played a hell of a first half. Slowed down a bit in the second half. Held on to win.

If Syracuse continues playing as it did last night, its season will conclude on a favorable note.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Yesterday was a good one for me. It may not sound so to you as I lay it out. Overall however, I was pleased.

I had a visit with physician assistant Julie at my local neurologist Dr. Schnapp’s office yesterday at noon. I had not seen her in 3 months. Dr. Schnapp has had me receiving two neurophysiotherapy sessions weekly during that time. My progress has been excellent, though I still have periodic disc and groin pain problems.

Julie and I had a beneficial 1 1/2 hours together. She knows her business. When finished, I got up from the chair I had been sitting in for 1 1/2 hours. A comfortable chair. Fell flat on my face. Went to get up and fell again.

What the hell was going on? Never fell like that before!

No one panicked, including me. Finally felt better balance wise and went home. My goal, my bed. All I wanted was to lie in bed for a few hours watching a movie on TV. My Petrone recovery period.

Came across the movie Mama Mia: Here We Go Again. It came out in 2018. I recalled having seen Mama Mia which debuted ten years earlier in 2008. Loved it! I have watched it several times since.

My selection as to what to watch was easy. I would watch the second Mama Mia film which I had never seen.

Glad I did. A terrific movie! Better than the first! Left me in tears at the end!

The second movie stars everyone from the original cast, except for its star Meryl Streep. She had died in the story before the second film and was only recalled in recollections during the film. Until the last 10-15 minutes. Then Meryl Streep appeared for real. Again she was only in everyone else’s thoughts, but you could actually see her singing and dancing.

The stars of the original cast were in the film. Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, and Colin Firth. Cher was also in the movie, though I do not recall her being in the original.

If you wish to feel good, watch the movie! A real joy flick!

In researching, I noted there is serious talk about doing a third Mama Mia. Shades of Rambo, Rocky and the Godfather. If you have a winner going, go with it again.

A bit of Key West directly and indirectly.

A new issue affecting condo associations and HOAs. Can they ban smoking in private individual units? No law directly on point at the moment. Guaranteed there will be. Much discussion already being had.

Present law only relates to “common areas.” Makes sense. Beware however. The next couple of years may see private units beginning with private balconies.

To celebrate the U.S. Navy’s 250th Anniversary, the Blue Angels will fly in the Key West area March 29 and 30.

The Bahama Village fire on January 23 involved only one unit in the First Village Apartments. The Apartments are a public housing complex operated by the Key West Housing Authority.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The next Key West Cemetery stroll is scheduled for sunday February 23. Make a reservation. The Cemetery is worthy of a tour. The Cemetery is unique. Especially the inscriptions on many of the stones. Like, “I Told You I Was Sick.”

Hope the weather on February 9 is warm. The ocean water as well. The day is time again for the Polar Bear Plunge. Higgs Beach at noon.

Today is the day! The day Trump claims he will impose a 25 percent tariff on Canada and Mexico and a 10 percent one on China. Trump seems to get his jollies off talking and threatening tariffs. He spoke during the campaign of retribution. The U.S. will receive retributions from nations it dares to impose significant tariffs on. Did he ever think of that?

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced yesterday today was the day.

Leavitt spoke proudly of what Trump has threatened re the tariffs: “Promises made and promises kept.” Nothing to be proud of in my opinion.

She also set forth figures re illegal drugs coming into the U.S. The numbers she quoted were horrendous. Fact finding afterwards indicated the figures were 2,000 percentage points out of line.

Trump’s claim specifically is that the three countries involved are facilitating the flow of illicit fentanyl into the U.S. Again, the figures claimed were significantly erroneous.

Note again Canada and Mexico will retaliate. They will not take this Trump imposed abuse quietly. I worry Trump has not considered the repercussions properly through.

The stock market dropped 200 points immediately following Leavitt’s press conference. Not much. Wonder what monday will bring if Trump imposes the tariffs today?

Americans continue to be upset with grocery costs. A 25 percent tariff of Canada and Mexico is guaranteed to drive up grocery costs even further.

Mexico is the largest supplier of fruits and vegetables to the U.S. Canada leads in grain, meat and poultry to the U.S. Both nations play vital roles in keeping U.S. grocery shelves stocked.

It is also thought the price of gasoline could go up $ .70 a gallon.

Trump issued a statement last night that the cost of goods could go up for a brief period of time if and when he imposes the tariffs. Why didn’t he say it before yesterday? Everyone else has. 

Note my friends, Trump has yet to have been President two weeks and look at the disarray he has been initiating.

Trump continues to invite chaos. Another of his latest moves involves the FBI. His message to certain top FBI officials is to retire or be fired. The FBI, as well as other top agencies and businesses, cannot be run without experienced people at the top.

Involved re the FBI are 8 top officials and approximately 1,0000 subordinate employees. All basically having been involved in the January 6 investigations.

Trump is also going directly after Senator Chuck Schumer. Interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin sent a “letter of inquiry” to Senator Schumer re a statement he made at a March 2020 rally that Supreme Court Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh would “pay the price” for a vote they made involving abortion rights.

Gun usage was expanded this past week. The law in the U.S. since 1968 has been that guns could not be sold to 18-20 year olds.

The conservative Fifth U.S. Court of Appeals ruled the banning unconstitutional, a violation of the Second Amendment.

Interestingly, the basis for the Fifth Circuit decision is the Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association vs. Baren decided in 2022 where gun rights were expanded in other areas. Guess who the “genius” was who wrote that decision? Justice Clarence Thomas. Honest Clarence!

Highly respected newscaster Chuck Todd is leaving NBC after 18 years. Nine of which were moderating NBC’s Sunday Meet the Press.

Enjoy your day!