We begin with Key West.

The Conch Shell Blowing Contest is today. A popular annual Key West event. Major figures participate.

It is being held at the Oldest House Museum, 322 Duval Street. Begins at noon.

Books & Books Key West is celebrating a decade of words and writers. The famed Judy Blume and her husband George Cooper brought Books & Books to Key West.

A major asset to our community. A major asset to the many Key West friends they made.

The Key West Fire Museum on Grinnell Street is free during the month of March. Worth a visit.

Now for Donald Trump and his war.

Trump is two-faced. He beat up Europe for a year. Now he wants their support in the War with Iran.

Gas prices are climbing fast. Upward! Will continue so. Gasoline prices can be expected to pass $4 a gallon for regular. Did Donald expect this when considering to wage war?

It is being suggested by many sources that the girls’ school was hit by a U.S. attack. A misguided one. The misguided aim was for an Iranian Naval Base.

Treasury Secretary Bessent forecasts an even larger bombing campaign.

The DOW lost 450 points yesterday. More than 1,000 the day before.

Beware of Iran! A long war ahead. Iran will have its turn at success. The U.S. and Israel will suffer at some point.

Iran is preparing to sink a U.S. aircraft carrier. Would be a major Iran hit should it occur.

Moving on. 

Retirees are forgetting Florida. They are moving to New York City. Hooking up with young neighbors at brunches, birthday parties and rimming clubs. At the same time, dealing with New York’s higher costs.

Americans are also leaving the U.S. all together. Most to  Europe. Why? The quality of life is more affordable. U.S. salaries and retirement incomes go much farther ahead. Americans can live better on less. Interestingly, many Americans have already made the move so there are other Americans to mingle with.

Winston Churchill: “However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.”

Monica Lewinsky at 52 still has the perfect figure.

On this day in 1876, Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone. 

Wendy’s is seeking a Chief Tasting Officer. Pay offered is $100,000. 

Roughly 600 Civil Rights activists were attacked by police while marching from Selma to Montgomery this day in 1965. Known as “Bloody Sunday.”

Enjoy your day!

Trump to begin.

What comes out of Trump’s mouth is generally disgusting.

All four of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s sons served in World War II. Lincoln’s son in the Civil War. None of Trump’s four sons have never served. Yesterday or today. Barron is eligible. In two weeks, he will be 20 years old.

Recall Trump’s words which struck hard and demeaned thousands of American war dead. He said soldiers who died in war were “suckers” and “losers.” I doubt Trump will ever have a sucker or loser in his immediate family.

Trump says he must be involved in picking Iran’s next leader. Is he crazy? Though things appear favorable for the U.S. at the moment, you never know who will be the winner in Iran. Iran could very well be another Ukraine.

Trump not only wants to be King of the U.S., it appears he must want to be King of the world. A bad man is he!

The War is doing well for the U.S. economically. A joke, of course. The DOW dropped more than 1,000 points yesterday. Oil prices are pushing higher. Both results of the Iranian War. Good job, Donald! 

Last year and into the beginning of this year, Trump periodically made it appear Putin was his friend. He could sit down with him and resolve any problems. Rarely was he successful.

Now his friend Putin is screwing him in the Iranian War. Russia is providing Iran with information re the U.S. Things like the location of U.S. warships and aircraft in the Middle East.

I reported yesterday China was providing information to Iran also.

Who needs friends like Xi and Putin.

Query: Did Trump and his staff consider what China and Russia would do in their pre-war discussions? Probably not. It was let’s invade….. Iran cannot withstand our overwhelming military force.

Trump fired Kristi L. Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security. Her deportation campaign one of the reasons.

I find her dismissal amusing. She probably did the job the way Trump wanted. Now is crucified for it.

She deserves to be dismissed. A liar at heart. Was she one before Trump hired her or did she become one thereafter?

Moving on.

A California status symbol was a wine cellar in a home. When California was a big drinking state it was understandable. No more, however. Drinking has diminished greatly in California.

Waste not, want not. Older homes have remodeled their wine cellars. Newer homes build a different facility. Todays it’s infrared saunas, cold plunge rooms, meditation spaces or dedicated fitness studios.

Michelangelo born this day in 1475.

Over 200 killed at the Battle of the Alamo this day in 1836.

Everyone takes aspirin on occasion. A bottle of aspirin is in everyone’s bathroom medicine cabinet. Aspirin was patented this day in 1899.

Ancient affluent Romans heated their homes by heating beneath the floors in other rooms. The warm air was blown to occupied rooms beneath the floors and kept the house occupants warm. These homes were large and on the outskirts of Rome. 

I visited them on one of my Rome trips. No question, the homes of the rich in their day. Even the road outside the homes. A large stoned roadway/highway. The road the same the ancient Romans built hundreds of years ago. Still used. The homes even had toilets. Somewhat similar to ours today, though made of concrete.

The homes are worthy of  visit the next time you may be fortunate to be in Rome.

Some Presidents were very prolific. John Tyler the most. He fathered 15 children. Thomas Jefferson 12. However not all my his wife. He had 6 by his wife and it is believed 6 by his Hemings girl friend.

The first dollar was called a “Continental.” It was issued by the Continental Congress in 1775. The U.S. stopped issuing them in 1777.

The first U.S. $1 note was printed in 1862. George Washington was not on it. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon Chase was. It was a vanity thing with Chase. He thought he looked good on the dollar bill and kept printing them.

Nurse Paige yesterday. She exercised me inside and then we walked two blocks outside. Recovery takes forever!

Enjoy your day!

We begin with Iran. An ill conceived Trump war.

Many believe China is waging war on the U.S. through Iran. China is providing Iran with American troop movements. Detailed information and pictures.

Great move Donald! Did he even consider China getting involved while he was planning the war? Did his generals like Chief of Staff Cane raise a possible China involvement…..even though indirect? Tons of American troops and equipment have been sent to the Middle East to wage this ill-conceived war. Tremendous lives and money at stake.  What are the U.S steps 2, 3, 4, etc. Iran is not Venezuela.

Trump’s Iranian War (it is his War) will affect the world globally. Oil! The Middle East is a high energy source. The oil is not moving in significant amounts. Very limitedly.

Good job again, Donald! You apparently failed to take into consideration all factors when planning the war.

The number of elementary girl school deaths fluctuating daily. Who is providing the numbers? First it was 800. Then 115. Now 180.

Trump wants a quick victory in Iran. After beginning, he said 4 weeks. Now claims it may take longer. Only 5 days into the war he conceived, planned and initiated! Trump will be like Putin in the Ukraine. He thought his war would be a quickie. He is now 4 years into it.

Where are Iran’s friends? Turkey, India, Russia and China? China helping minimally. The four nation support mostly rhetoric. Talk is cheap.

 The New York Times wrote Trump is following “his gut” in running the War. His national security advisers are trying to keep up.

Beware my friends when things start to go wrong for the U.S.!

Moving on.

Taxes, taxes, taxes. State taxes. The state with the highest tax rate is Illinois. The state with the lowest is Alaska. 

New York runs a close second with the highest tax rate. 

March is International Women’s Historical Month. The U.N. theme: “Rights, Justice, Action. For All Women and Girls.” Women’s Day internationally is March 8.

I have been of the opinion that we men have screwed up things enough and it was time for a female President. However for some reason it appears the U.S. will not elect one for many years to come.

My belief it is time for a woman to lead us was diminished by the goings on with the WNBA and Caitlin Clark. If this is how women behave, who needs them in an authoritative job! An absolute disgrace!

During the recent cold spell, it was raining iguanas. The cold too much for them. They fall from branches. Wiped out, but not necessarily dead.

In Florida, such falling iguanas generally survive. They enter a coma-like state called “torpor.” Occurs when temperatures drop into the 40s.  They lose muscle control and fall, but usually wake up and recover when the temperature rises. 

Under 40 degrees, smaller iguanas will die.

Proctor and Gamble retired Mr. Clean for two weeks. He is returning. Not as one, but five different cleaning items in separately labeled containers.

Mr. Clean has been a winner for 68 years. He is expanding/graduating at that age.

The number of American soldiers killed in Iran so far has been low. Five. A comparison to the American Revolution in order. On this day in 1770 in the Boston Massacre five colonists were killed.

Patsy Cline: “If you can’t do it with feeling – don’t.”

Nurse Sara doctored me yesterday. Removed scab from my butt. Still healing, but healing! The butt/but redundant.

Nurse Paige today. She will walk me. More aptly phrased…..She will push me to walk outside while walking with me.

I still need the cane. The Denny’s fall really screwed me up.

Enjoy your day!

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s wife was killed in the bombings that killed him. Also killed in the strikes were Khamenei’s daughter, grandchild, daughter in law and son in law.

The deaths sadden me. Nothing to be proud of. The war was not necessary. As much as I am anti-Trump, I would not want President Trump, Melania, Barron and other of the President’s family members similarly wiped out. 

We have yet to feel the pain of the Iranian War. Too soon. Few Americans killed, no attack on U.S. shores.

Trump: “I don’t care about polling showing the Iran strikes unpopular.”

Trump said he would not rule out sending ground troops into Iran. Boots on the ground were really not discussed publicly prior to the war. Were they discussed in private?

If American troops are on the ground fighting at some point, it will be another Ukraine. 

I doubt the war will then be over in 4 to 5 weeks as Trump predicts.

Trump says the Iranians want to talk. Trump says he is agreeable. Can Trump be believed? Or is he just saying this to make people believe Iran wants to end the war?

Oil prices are rising and will rise because of tanker traffic in the Persian Gulf slowing down ad even shutting down periodically as a precautionary measure.

Enough of the war for today. 

Moving on.

The median age of American home buyers has reached a record high of 40 years old. A disgrace!

Some studies place the age at 56-59. Some as low as 33-35.

All too high. Mortgages should be paid off in 20-30 years. If longer and yet unpaid, people will die not leaving an estate. They will die bearing debt. 

Everything is cause and effect. Life purchases are driven by high interest rates, elevated home prices, and limited home inventory.

People are “mermaiding” all over the world. Women yes, men also. In the Maldives, California, Taiwan and Japan. Huge fins. Mermaidens and their male counterparts feel like they are escaping from life as they play in the ocean. 

A new way to vacation and enjoy!

The Star Spangled Banner became the U.S. National Anthem this day in 1931.

Alexander Graham Bell: “There cannot be mental atrophy in any person who continues to observe, to remember what he observes, and to seek answers for his unceasing hows and whys about things.”

Another grand day ahead.

Lunch today at Salute’s with Fred and Reilley. Both interesting men.

Enjoy your day!

The Iranian War continues. Only 2 days old. Trump says it will last 4-5 weeks. Makes me think of Putin when he began the war on Ukraine. A quickie. Mighty Russia was to swiftly defeat Ukraine in a very short period of time. The Russia/Ukraine conflict is now in its fourth year.

Trump claims 1,000 targets hit. I distrust his numbers. I have learned to always so do when he throws them out in anything. He lies, exaggerates. He has done a commendable job from his perspective. He and/or Netanyahu bombed first day a girl’s elementary school. Eight hundred young girls killed. The number now reduced to 115. Whichever true, still too much. One death, especially of a child, is one too much.

Trump’s chest must be bursting with pride. He also killed Iran’s Supreme Leader. Like killing the President of the U.S. Although Iran is purported not to have the equipment to reach U.S. shores, you never know. They may have been working on a way to get here in anticipation of a war at some point or will swiftly develop a means now to get even. Donald should watch where he sleeps. The White House, Mar-a-Lago and his apartment in Trump Towers are now in serious jeopardy.

I was surprised by the Iran crowds in the streets of various Iranian cities protesting the bombings. Huge crowds. Impressive. Makes me think to not discount their retaliation. They’re pissed off!

Oil prices will rise because of the war. Much oil is imported from that area for our use. Already oil prices have climbed 13 percent in only 2 days.

I have supported Mark Kelly to be our next President. I am withdrawing that support. The withdrawal may be temporary or permanent. Time will tell. I am backing off from my Kelly support at this time because of the the position he took re the Iran War Sunday on Meet the Press. He facilitated. He should have condemned the War. He should have condemned Trump. He did neither. Instead he was a politician. I had seen more in him previously.

One of his primary comments was “we can’t allow Iran to get a nuclear weapon.” Precisely Trump’s words in his State of the Union Address and elsewhere since. Kelly’s position short and clear should have been to the effect the war was not required, Iran still several years away from having nuclear war power and Iran is incapable of reaching U.S. shores militarily. Again, no war required!

A significant Kelly comment was that Trump’s White House talk had not come up with an exit strategy. Kelly says you do not go to war without one. I agree. Kelly further suggested Trump dropped bombs/went to war without knowing what his next step would be. An excellent observation. Nevertheless, he still failed to condemn the war overall.

I may or may not return my support to Kelly. He has t speak less politically. I was very much disappointed re his Meet the Press comments.

Cursive handwriting is making a big comeback. New Jersey and Pennsylvania have recently mandated it.

As technical machinery took over, cursive was abandoned. Schools went to computers and keyboards. Even to providing computers to students.

Today, roughly half the States require cursive writing to be taught. Ten years ago, only 14 did.

There are benefits to learning cursive. Cursive helps students hone fine motor skills, forces them to take time writing and learning therefrom, helps them with reading, and to read handwritten materials.

I was taught cursive in grammar school. No computers back then. Never learned how to operate one via some type of formal education. Just sat down and began pecking away. Computers poorly learned and remain so for me to this day. Son in law Corey Malcom takes care of my mechanical problems, most of which I am too inept to handle.

But…..I write cursive well!

The Tooth Fairy gave kids a raise. Especially for the first lost tooth. Today, $5 to $6.

I find this amusing. In the early 1960s when our children were losing their first tooth, the value was generally 25 cents.

My wife and I were not being cheap. Twenty five cents was the going rate. In the late 1930s when I lost my first tooth, my recollection was I found a nickel or a dime under my pillow the next morning.

Wilt Chamberlain set an NBA single game scoring record at 100 points this day in 1962. A big deal!

Great weather. High today will be 78 degrees. Better than last week where one day never left the 50s and the next the low 60s.

Enjoy your day!

Trump has to be sitting and gloating with his immediate success in the war with Iran.

First a young girl’s school was bombed and roughly 800 young ladies killed. Nothing to be proud of. Nevertheless, a big hit. 

Soon the same day or next, Iran’s Supreme Leader’s home and capitol building are bombed. Ayatollah Ai Khamenei was killed.

Trump should beware how he gloats. What goes around, comes around. I suspect Iran will devise a plan for reaching the White House and/or Mar-a-Lago. They may very well get Trump.

This disastrous attack on Iran reminds me of Pearl Harbor. The U.S. Navy was wiped out that first day. Thousands killed. Yet some 6 months later the U.S. “came back” and basically destroyed the Japanese Navy in the Battle of the Coral Sea and then the Battle of Midway.

Iran has vowed “no leniency.” Revenge/retribution will be theirs.

Iran claims the U.S. and Israel violated U.N. Security Council Rules. Unusual. The U.S. generally follows U.N. Security Council Rules. Not surprising however that Trump may have violated the Rules. He has a track record for violating everything. 

Note also that peace negotiations were ongoing at the time the U.S. and Israel dropped the first bombs. The ones that killed the young girls. While Iran was talking peace with the U.S., no warning was given Iran that the U.S. considered the talks were a failure and was bombing Iran. Dirty pool of a sort. Not the U.S. way of doing things. Trump’s way apparently.

Trump’s attack on Iran unprovoked. The nuclear weapons Trump has been pontificating about are still roughly seven years away. The U.S. was facing no immediate danger. There was no legal basis for the strike. The attacks Hitleresque. 

Prior to Trump, the U.S. led the free world. Ninety nine percent of the time. Trump as eroded that recognition. The U.S. a mess. The world a mess. With one thing certain. Most countries, if not all, not following an American President’s dictates any longer. Thank you, Donald.

Iran faced with an even worse situation this year. Food inflation. Not because of the war. The food inflation for Iran in 2026 was predicted in a study late in 2025.

What follows is shocking. Iran was suggested to be the hardest hit re inflationary food prices in 2026 at 56 percent Would you believe? The war and food inflation at the same time. The war not a cause of the food inflation. However will surely cause it to rise.

Enough of the war. Necessary to comment on various phases, however. The war could be the bedrock for future adverse results globally.

Melania Trump led a U.N. Security Council meeting. Why? Is it because she is a Trump and can do anything she desires?

Kennedy Center “Honors” are getting a new name. The name finalized. The new name: “Trump Kennedy Center Honors.”

A disgrace to the Center and President Kennedy.

Immigration detention centers are basically void when it comes to spiritual care. Religious groups are suing for access. Others denied entry are waiting to see what happens with the lawsuits.

What did ancient Romans eat? Not bad. Appears healthy. Olives and olive oil big. A daily key essential. Grains like barley millet and spelt flour. Cherries, peaches and dates. Where meat was available, ox, pork, deer, lamb and pigeons. 

The Articles of Confederation were ratified and went into effect this day in 1781.

The Peace Corps was established this day in 1961. Highly popular. Did much good.

An excellent person for our next President is Mark Kelly. Presently a U.S. Senator, formerly an astronaut and 25 year Navy veteran, Captained a carrier. Please consider him as time moves on.

Enjoy your Sunday! A warm one!