Bess Levin referred to Ron DeSantis in a recent article as an “incredible jerk.”

So he is!

His 2024 prospects are rapidly dwindling. Anyone who is stupid enough to take on Mickey Mouse is not mentally equipped to be President.

On this day in 1960, the FDA approved the birth control pill. The U.S. was the first country to legalize the pill.

Beware! Banning the pill’s sale in the U.S. could be a “natural extension” of the overall banning of matters involving a woman’s reproductive rights. Don’t say oh! it couldn’t happen, the pill has been around for 60 years. Roe v. Wade was around for 50. It happened!

Some Texas observations.

The Allen mall shooting was saturday.

A retired police and military officer was first on the scene. The actual first responder. He was responding to a telephone call from his son who was working at a store in the mall. He was in his car nearby and immediately drove over.

His first observations mind blowing.

He saw what he thought was a woman hunched over. Went to help her. Turned her around. Her face was totally blown off. Only her brain exposed.

He saw a child lying under 2 adults. The adults were dead. The child was 4 or 5 years old. Totally covered in blood. He could not tell if it was a boy or girl.

I could not determine from the facts released if the child was dead or alive.

The shooter Mauricio Garcia, age 33. A Nazi at heart. A supporter of Nazi ideology. He used an AR-15 style rifle. What else? He had purchased it legally in Texas where it is extremally easy to buy all type guns. Multiple weapons were also found in his car. Also purchased legally, of course.

Texas governor Greg Abbott continues to avoid the “gun issue” in commenting on the Allen shooting. He claims the cause was “anger” and “mental health.”

 A distraction. An intentional one. When are human lives going to take on an importance over guns in Texas and the rest of the U.S.?

Repeating myself with a refrain I have been using frequently of late, the solution is to vote Republicans out of office. Crazy to return them to office. All they’re good for are prayers and sorrow. Not correcting the problem.

Sunday was more Texas killings. In Brownsville. Not with a gun, however. A motor vehicle. An SUV. The SUV ended up in an immigrant shelter. Eight persons killed, ten injured.

George Alvarez the operator of the vehicle, age 34. Alive. He has been charged with 8 counts of manslaughter and numerous counts of aggravated assault. Bail set at $3.6 million.

Alvarez had an extensive rap sheet including assault and driving while intoxicated.

Re the event, he ran a red light, lost control, the vehicle flipped on its side and hit 18 people. He tried to flee the scene, but was detained by bystanders.

Specific cause of the crash still under investigation.

How a great one became activated/motivated to do better. Ernest Hemingway: “For a long time now I have tried simply to write the best I can. Sometimes I have good luck and write better than I can.”

There was the Phantom of the Opera. Now, the Cockroach at the Met.

I suspect the cockroach will live as long as the Phantom has.

Many who have resided in Key West a few years will tell you the island rests on a bed of cockroaches.

The Met Gala was held recently. An exclusive event. Without a written invitation, no admission. A cockroach got in without invitation. Caused quite a stir. Screams followed by laughter could be heard on video.

The roach escaped. Without question, will return another day.

Received x-ray reports from Dr. Norris yesterday. X-rays were of both hands and upper right arm. All negative.

I continue to suspect the periodic extreme pain in my hands is arthritis. My right arm, I don’t know. Can only lift it 60 percent. No recent falls, so cause remains a mystery.

Enjoy your day!