Today is Armistice Day. A federal holiday. It was on this day in 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, that Germany signed an armistice agreement with the Allies.

The war to end all wars. Unfortunately, it did not. Such not surprising. I believe “war” is inherent in man and that is why we have had so many wars before and following World War I.

What I really want to share today is the story of Frank Buckles. A World War I veteran and the last surviving U.S. soldier of World War I.

Buckles enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1917. He was 16 years old. The Marines and Navy hd previously rejected him. He lied about his age in his Army application and got away with it. He was the last surviving U.S. veteran of World War I. He is remembered as America’s “last doughboy.” He served in England and France.

Buckles was working for a shipping company in the Philippines when the Japanese invaded. He could have left before they arrived. However he remined to help the people. As a result, he was captured and remained a prisoner of war in concentration camps for more than three years. After World War II, he initially raised cattle in Charles Town, West Virginia. Eventually became a full time farmer. He was still driving a tractor at 103.

His philosophy about getting so old and not dying was a simple one. He said that when you start dying and death is knocking at your door, don’t die. And he did not.

During his later years, Presidents, major government figures and retired service organizations looked to him for his advice and judgments. He became a national figure of sorts.

He died on February 27, 2011 at the age of 110. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Americans should always remember him.

Syracuse played basketball against Indiana earlier this week. Syracuse was up by 4 points at half. Lost 83-80. Both teams played excellent basketball. 

A move to impeach Hegseth failed by 4 votes in the House. Guaranteed Hegseth will be impeached when the Democrats control the House after the first of the year. Eleven Democrats could not timely reach the House to vote because of traffic and other concerns. Of course, the Republicans would not delay the vote to accommodate them. Only means Hegseth has gained a couple of months more in office. Hope he does little damage in that time.

Caitlin Clark has me confused at the moment. Has she left pro basketball to become a professional golfer? It would mean the end of the WNBA as a successful operation. Caitlin had made it a success in only two years. Clark played in a Pro-Am golf tournament recently. Shot 14 under par. Tiger Woods found her play fantastic.

Picasso is the highest grossing artist ever for all his paintings combined. However, he does not hold the title for having sold the most expensive painting ever. One painting. That recognition goes to da Vinci. Da Vinci’s ” “Salvator Munli” sold at auction for $450.3 million on November 15, 2017. The painting is referred to by some as the “Male Mona Lisa.”

The U.S. Navy’s first warships were launched in 1797. Six of them. One was the U.S.S. Constitution. The Constitution remains in service to this day. More as a show boat.  I saw the Constitution several times in Boston waters during Naval celebrations. I was on my daughter Beth and her husband Mark’s boat at the time.

The Great Lakes hold more than 20 percent of the world’s surface fresh water. The Great Lakes have been active as reflected by the number of ships sunk thereon over the years. The number estimated at 6,000.

On this day in 1921, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was dedicated at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia during Armistice Day ceremonies.

Elmer Davis: “The nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.”

Nat Turner was hung for organizing a rebellion of enslaved people this day in 1836.

Yesterday was a rough one for me. I can’t sleep! Three to four hours a night does not do it for the body. I went to see Dr. Norris. He has had me trying to turn my sleep pattern around which got screwed up with my 3 heart surgeries and 2 1/2 months in Mount Sinai Hospital as well as the 59 consecutive days in 4 different hospitals looking for an abdominal bleed. Hospitals screw up the normal sleep pattern. Never permit the patient to sleep all night unbothered.

I insisted Norris put me on a pill again. I needed one! He agreed. I will be picking up the prescription today. Last night, I got only 4 hours sleep. Bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enjoy Armistice Day! A cook out perhaps!

The human body is more prone to strokes and heart attacks in morning hours. Between 6 a.m. and noon. Greater emphasis in the hours between 6 a.m. and 9 a,m.

The reason involves the natural transition the body goes through on waking. Blood pressure surges, cortisol levels rise, melatonin drops, stress hormones increase, and dehydration is at its highest level since no one drinks water while sleeping. 

Roughly 85 percent of strokes are caused by blood clots. Fortunately today we have cbt busting medications which limit stroke deaths.

Strokes occur when a blood clot or broken vessel prevents blood from getting to the brain. Can be fatal. Immediate attention required. Strokes are the second leading cause of deaths world wide and the fifth in the U.S.

The three most popular dog breeds in the U.S.: French Bulldog, Labrador Retriever, and German Shepherd.

The first Thanksgiving took place in 1621. Indians and English Colonists joined together. The feast lasted three days. Turkey was not eaten. The menu consisted of wild fowl (not turkeys), venison, swan, pigeons, geese, and ducks. Fish also, of course. Plus corn, beans, pumpkins, and squash. Everyone ate well!

The Wall Street Journal in an article revealed that over the long run the best investment is the stock market rather than the return on the price of a home.

Ninety percent of humans are right handed. Why? Other primates favor neither the right nor left hand or paw. The answer has stumped scientists. Most believe it is one choice or another. Simple. On the other hand, many believe it had to do with weapon holding in days of old. The heart being located on the left side of the body. Our ancestors held weapons in their right hands so not to suffer mortal wounds on the left.

On this day in 1799, Napoleon successfully led a coup and became Dictator of France.

“The Night of the Broken Glass.” Hitler began his campaign of terror against Jews , their homes and businesses on this day in 1938 in Germany and Austria. The terror continued through November 10.

You must pay your taxes! Nelson Eddy failed to do so for a number of years. His assets were seized by the IRS this day in 1990. Nelson owed $16.7 million to the IRS at the time.

The “Great National Blackout” occurred in the late afternoon/early evening this day in 1965. I recall it well.

I had just finished working out at the YMCA after work. I was combing my hair when the lights went out.

I drove home. No street lights on. No lights visible in homes or buildings. 

Of course, my home was pitch black also. The blackout continued in  New York State and Canada till the early morning hours.

My family and I confined ourselves to the living room. Similar to how we did in a snow storm when the heat went out. The living room floor and chairs. We had a ton of candles which we used. A “family time” event.

In New York City, 800,000 people were trapped on the subways, people stuck in elevators everywhere.

The cause of the blackout was a transmission line in Canada which tripped. Thirty million people in 8 States in the U.S and most of Canada were affected. Power was gradually returned over the night. 

Typical of dangers which were a common fear in those days, I suspected a Russian attack. Everyone worried back then whenever something strange or remote occurred. A Russian air attack was of special concern. Rome, N.Y. was a mere 14 miles away. The government had located a huge SAC base there. Ergo, my concern was well placed.

There are numerous active volcanoes world wide. One continent however is without an active volcano. It does have inactive ones. It is Australia.

When “sin city” is mentioned today, people think of Las Vegas. Before Las Vegas, it was Hot Springs, Arkansas. The U.S.’s most famous gangsters, like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano , frequented Hot Springs. Hot Springs died in 1967. The Arkansas governor at the time was Winthrop Rockefeller, a grandson of John D. Rockefeller. He cleaned Hot Springs up.

The top grossing artist of all time has been Pablo Picasso. His works brought in $532 million in 2021 alone. Six of his paintings have sold for in excess of $100 million each.

Trump will retaliate. He will get even. It is his nature. 

I continue to sleep poorly. I wish the problem would get resolved. My left eye continues to be big time bloodshot. Does not affect my vision. I am now seeing well out of it. Dr. Oppenheimer says that is the way it should be working now.

Enjoy your day!

A breath of fresh air. Younger U.S. Senators on the average will be arriving. Overall, the new group is 15 years younger.  The average drop slight however. Still too many oldies sitting. Some times we have to go even younger.

The present average age is 65.4. The new average will be 63. Small, but better than nothing. The new Senators will be more expressive than those they are replacing.

By Sunday night, the handwriting was on the wall. A Democratic blue wave was a few days away. Suddenly there was a hurry by the House and Senate re passage of a bill to release the Epstein files remaining unopened. It happened and reached Trump’s desk. Trump signed it.

Ok, now lets dig into it big time. Lets have a release of the good, bad and indifferent. Let those with dirty hands and whatever else be exposed.

Syracuse lost another football game. This one to Clemson 18-13. Syracuse’s record now 4-5. Next Saturday Syracuse plays Nort Carolina State.

I recall when Syracuse fielded great football teams. In 1959 when I was in law school, Syracuse ended the season ranked #3. 

Netanyahu’s opposition is seeking to form a coalition government in Israel.

Miami lost yesterday to Notre Dame. Score 31-24. Miami will say good-bye to the #1 ranking. Notre Dame will move up from #11.

One of our greatest movie stars thought he would be a nobody. Dustin Hoffman. The way it is with many successful persons. They keep working hard and hoping. Success does come to some.

Beware America! Steve Miller is ruthlessly ambitious!

“We the people” finally stomped on Trump!

There seems to be a consensus J.D. Vance is toast. I agree. I doubt he will be the Republican nominee for President in 2028.

One of the greatest sentences ever written: Shakespeare’s “To be , or not to be: that is the question.” He wrote the line in Hamlet in 1600.

A great sentence originating in words spoken in a speech are those of Abraham Lincoln who said in 1858: “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

Between 1900 and 1920, the number of cars moved dramatically. From 8,000 to 8 million. By 1929, there were more than 23 million autos on the roads Half were Henry Ford’s Model Ts.

Twentieth Century  inventions that changed the world: The airplane, electric refrigerators, and the internet.

Two of da Vinci’s most famous paintings are the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. I viewed the Mona Lisa on two occasions. At the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and The Louvre in Paris. I viewed The Last Supper twice at its home in Venice. A non-movable work. da Vinci painted The Last Supper on an entre concrete wall. It is a huge work.

The Trump administration is interfering in a Texas Planned Parenthood lawsuit in Texas. The case has been ongoing already for 5 years claiming the Planned Parent Federation committed Medicaid fraud. Why did Trump and his people wait so long before joining the case? Trump needs new battles to fight in new places, especially Texas where if I recall correctly only one State elected Republican remains.

Alex Trebek: “My life has been a quest for knowledge and understanding, and I am nowhere near having achieved that. And it does not bother me in the least.”

Edward Brooke was the first African American since Reconstruction elected to the U.S. Senate. He was elected this day in 1966.

One of the most scenic images in fashion is Marilyn Monroe in a billowing blowing skirt shot. The “event” occurred this day in 1954. Remains famous. Examples everywhere. One a life size statue in front of the Tropic Cinema theater in Key West. Lovely and in good taste.

Despite winter darkness, people in Nordic countries are among the happiest. Difficult to understand because we have always learned that sunlight makes a person feel happy. Finland is claimed to be the happiest country.

This is something! An Australian police officer has donated his ultra rare blood 545 times. Each of Australia’s 85 different donation centers in Australia has his blood stored.

Gas stations are considered the riskiest places to use a debit card. Once on an auto trip back to Key West, I stopped at one of those mega gas stations to fill up. The pump was refusing to take my card. A fellow in a tan shirt and pants wearing a black bow tie came up and asked if I was having problems. I told him what. He said give me your card and I’ll get it fixed. I gave it to him.

He was back in less than 10 minutes. The card was now working fine. I thanked him. Offered him a buck in thanks. He refused.

I was back on the road less than 15 minutes when my cell hone rang. It was a fraud outfit attached to my credit card. He asked if my card had recently been used and how. He explained the “helpful guy” was a phony. He cancelled my card. Said a new temporary one would go out to me immediately.

Was I impressed!

Something read this morning re strawberries left me screwed up. Some articles said strawberries were not fruit. However did not specifically identify what. Explained the seeds on the outside of a strawberry were fruit, however. I am left not understandig. Check out what a strawberry is if not a fruit and please let me know. My thanks in advance.

People could see premature babies in incubators at Coney Island for 40 years. Sounds terrible. Not really so. There was an explanation that made sense The entrance fee covered life saving care for an estimated 6,500 infants.

I am exhausted already today. Got 6 consecutive hours sleep last night. Good! However from 8 p.m. to 2 in the morning. I have been awake since 2. I am shot! You say don’t go to bed that early. Please understand with my sleeping pattern so screwed up, I have no control over when I will be tired. When sleep hits, it hits! I must lie down and give in to it.

I wanted to go to Mass this morning. At 10:30. Need to shower and dress. Don’t know if I can handle it.

Enjoy your Sunday!

If you wondered which way Trump was going to go, his first appointment following Tuesday’s overwhelming Democratic victory was the elevation of Steve Miller to Chief of Staff. Miller a bad guy. One of the worst! Convinced Trump re immigration and ICE. ICE his brainchild.

Miller’s appointment reflects Trump learned nothing from the beating the U.S. gave him Tuesday. Expect more bad from advices Miller will give Trump in the next two years.

Bill Clinton took a beating in one of his mid terms similar to the one Trump took Tuesday. Not quite as bad, however. Clinton learned. He worked with Republicans and got things done even though he had been beaten badly in the mid term. Trump lacks the necessary good judgment to act as Clinton did.

Today’s New York Times published an article titled “JD Vance Is Probably Toast.” One error. He was toast before the Democratic tsunami. The U.S. never liked him. He got the shot for Vice President because of Donald Trump Jr. Another loser. Vance rode into office on Trump Sr.’s coat tails.

I’m sick of reading Trump will dump Hegseth. We have been reading those words for more than a year. Never happens. I question whether Trump will dump Hegseth. Probably because Hegseth knows how to suck up to Trump and even further probably because no one wants Hegseth’s job.

A Speaker has to have balls. Has to be tough. I hope Hakeem Jefferies is up for the job. He is honest and hard working. But not tough enough. He is too nice and conciliatory. Such attributes do not fit the position of Speaker.

On this day in 1944, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected to his fourth term as President.

A Super El Nino is here. It is expected to get even worse. It is already being described as a “Godzilla.” Expect it to bring whiter heavier snowfalls globally.

The northwest U.S., of course. Even the northeast U.S. Especially, upstate New York. The issue at the moment is whether it will be heavy rain or heavy snow.

It has been advised February and March will be the worst months everywhere for El Nino.

Elvis Presley was a natural blond. He dyed his hair black. He made 114 recordings that made the Top 40 Hits. He starred in 31 movies. He spent 6 years in the military.

A strange thing about Elvis. He never performed outside the U.S. and Canada.

Ervin “Magic” Johnson: “Talent is never enough. With few exceptions, the best players are the hardest workers.”

An “untrue history fact.” Of the 20 convicted during the Salem Witch Trials, none were burned at the stake. Nineteen were hung and one man was pressed to death with stones.

The Concorde was the world’s first supersonic passenger company. New York to London took only 3 1/2 hours. One problem, however. The ticket price was too expensive. In the late 1970s, $7,500 round trip.

I flew to Europe often in those days. Only twice on the Concorde. Too rich for my blood or my clint’s, depending on who was paying.

The Concorde ceased to exist in 2003. It was too expensive for people to use.

Marie Curie was born this day in 1867. She was a physicist and chemist. She won the Nobel Prize.

Jeanette Rankin was the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress. She was elected this day in 1916.

A recent study ranked Norway as the world’s Best City for Retirement in 2026. The U.S. was ranked 24th. The high cost of living was a negative for the U.S.

Sleep deprivation a killer for me. Until last night, I had five consecutive evenings of 3-4 hours of sleep. Leaves me dead during the day. Yesterday was the worst yet. However, things were better last night. I enjoyed seven hours of sleeping bliss. Fell asleep at 8 p.m. Could not keep my eyes open. Woke at 1 a.m. Fell asleep at 2 for two more hours. Seven hours big for me! I feel terrific at the moment. However Dr. Norris has to get me a sleeping pill that works and does not screw up my other many pills.

My computer screwed up yesterday afternoon. Corey saved me again. He came over after work and in 15 seconds had it working. The man is a genius! I am not mechanically inclined.

Thanksgiving cannot come soon enough. My dear friends Fran and Tom Dixon will be down for a week. I enjoy their company.

Enjoy your day!

When Trump began “fixing” the Reflecting Pool, he said it would cost $1 million. Already more than $15 million has gone into it and problems continue to remain.

A few days ago, Trump spoke beside the pool. People were able to get a look at it. Trump made it sound like the pool had been corrected, it was ok. No way! Algae remains in the corners and the liner was showing problems on the bottom.

Good repair job, Donald! The pool still a problem. I’m glad you know how to repair things.

The 250 foot arch is already a problem. In the courts at the moment. Actual construction has not yet begun. 

The arch was approved by a federal board of Trump lackeys . A board controlled by Trump. Construction was to begin the next day. A federal judge issued a “no for the moment” decision. He issued a 14 day stay to give both sides time to lawyer up. The judge said the arch required Congressional approval, could become costly to Virginia and D.C.,  and alter traffic into nearby Arlington Cemetery.

I doubt the arch will ever be constructed where Trump wants it to be.

Trump has made significant changes to the Oval Office and Cabinet Room. On Wednesday, Trump signed a Proclamation (whatever that is) that seeks to make each national monuments. He wants to be sure no one or entity will change his alterations. I predict his Proclamation won’t fly when tested by the Courts and/or Congress.

The mid-term vote suggests many Trump followers will jump ship. Jimmy Fallon said, “Wouldn’t it be interesting if the the only person who stuck by Trump was Melania?”

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: “A Blue Tsunami has swept the political landscape clean. It’s our responsibility to rebuild it better than before.”

New York City has “new best” type guest houses.  Religious guest houses. Five so far. Cheaper than regular hotels. 

Syracuse won another basketball game last night against a non-entity. It beat Central Connecticut Blue 102-49. Syracuse shot 64 percent. Syracuse plays Indiana next. Monday night. It will be Syracuse’s first real test game.

Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President of the United States this day in 1860.

Gene Tierney: “Jealousy is, I think, the worst of all faults because it makes you the victim of both parties.”

All cash buyers of homes becoming more common. Reaching record proportions. From July 2025 to June 2026, ten percent of “rookie” home buyers  paid cash rather than relying on financing. Twenty eight percent of all such buyers used inheritance funds.

A listing of the top 50 best restaurants in the world had only one U.S. restaurant listed. The Atomix in New York City. Ranked #11. Strange.

A pink potato-like robot is walking the streets of Philadelphia.

On this day in 1917, Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Lenin led a revolution against Russia’s ineffectual Provisional Government.

Rutgers beat Princeton in the first college football game this day in 1869. Rutgers won 6-4. They played with a soccer ball. The game was played before 100 fans. Princeton at the time was named the College of New Jersey.

Saw Dr. Oppenheimer yesterday. My left eye totally bright red since Monday. He advised it had nothing to do with my inability to sleep. Probably I coughed too hard. It would go away in a month. He and Dr. Norris have consulted. He said Norris would advise a new sleeping pill for me. Last night was a disaster sleep wise again. I have been awake since midnight.

Enjoy your day! 

The Democratic victory Tuesday represented more than a Blue Tsunami. It was an American Tsunami! The people came back. Gathered their senses. Actually came to their senses. Finally realized the bullshit Trump had been handing them was just that.

Today is Thursday. I wrote an extensive blog yesterday on the Democratic victory. For only the second time in the 25 years I have been writing this blog, I lost it! Must have hit a wrong key. Could not find it. I was too tired to rewrite. Left my thoughts to today.

One lesson to be learned is for the American people not to be swayed again by a sweet talking positive speaker such as Trump. He sold the people shit and they bought it. Twice! We can’t afford it again.

The Democratic Party deserves a special note of success. They selected “good candidates” to run. Many fresh articulate faces. No question new blood was required.

Trump’s honeymoon is over. He has been decidedly rebuked. I doubt he will not hit back. It is his nature. I would hope and assume the Democrats are prepared for whatever skullduggery awaits and will defeat Trump’s moves effectively. The American people want change, not excuses. A Democratic failure will not be tolerated.

I am confident the U.S. will roar again. It is our nature.

Post election details not warranted from me this morning as they were yesterday. The media has significantly educated us on the election results and ramifications. My only admonition to the Democrats…..Go guys! Get the necessary jobs done!

Barack Obama: “Our job now is to live our politics with our best ideas.”

A bit more about Annette Funicello. A Utica born lassie who achieved fame and success.

She was 12 years old when offered the Mickey Mouse Club position by Disney. Her parents were not favorable to the idea. They could not understand how playing a mouse would be helpful to their daughter in any fashion. Disney persuaded them, however. Annette was the 24th and last “Mouse” selected. Sher turned out to be one of the best. Ultimately a movie and TV star. Earned millions.

Unfortunately later in life she came down with multiple sclerosis. Suffered greatly. Medicine to help those so afflicted was not as advanced as it is today. 

She died at age 70. Her body and appearance ravaged.

The most hated word in the English speaking language is “moist.” It is not because of how the word sounds. It is attributed to the word’s association with body functions. Such responsible for the negative reaction.

The following words reflect absolute truth: “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

Did King Arthur really exist? An issue of constant debate. No one knows for sure.

I read on the internet a popular job in the 1950s which no longer exists today. That of a milk man. Milk was delivered back then to people’s homes. Left by a door or in a special box built into homes to receive the milk bottles.

I knew the job well. I was a milk man while attending law school. At the dairy by 3:45 a.m. Truck filled with cases of milk, some chocolate milk, eggs and butter. On my way to my first delivery by 4:30. Drove the truck while standing.  Job done before 9. In time for my first class at 9.

There is one item of the job experience that I recall on occasion. One which gave me pride. I learned how to carry five bottles of milk in one hand. Just my hand and the bottles. No easy task. One every milk man knew well, however.

The thought occurs. Certain Republicans achieved a “MAGA-Geddon” on Tuesday.

Syracuse played its first official basketball game of the season Monday night. Destroyed New Haven 74-58. Syracuse plays Central Connecticut State tonight. I hate the beginning of college basketball season. Most of the “big teams” play little schools as part of their warm up.

It had to be a difficult game for Syracuse coach Gerry McNamara. His father died Friday.

Monroe County turned out 59 percent of its eligible voters to cast their ballots in the mid-terms. More Republicans than Democrats. Florida remains a Republican state.

I did not know. U.S. Presidents must officially organize their own funeral within the first two weeks of taking office.

I see my eye physician Dr. Oppenheimer at 11 this morning. I am anxious to see him. My left eye has been totally bloodshot since Monday. He and Dr. Norris are working on getting me to sleep normally. A sleep remedy is required which will not cause adversity with other pills I am required to take. At 91, I take a ton of pills daily. Till recently, 16. 

Enjoy your day!

I am 91 years old. I have voted many times. Doubt I ever missed a vote.

Today’s mid-term is the most important election of my life. True, not a Presidential one. However how much longer can the American people survive without standing up to Donald Trump?

Go get him folks! Everyone vote Democratic. One tme will not kill Republicans who do so. The pain Trump has caused has affected members of both political parties.

Simply stated, Trump is a bad man. Nothing further need be said. It is obvious. He has hit us square in our faces.

I was born in Utica, New York. My residence my entire life till I moved to Key West some 30 years ago.

My first home in Utica was on Jay Street. My grandparents owned the building. A six family three story edifice. Located in the Italian section. I lived there the first six years of my life. My parents bought a two family home in another neighborhood in 1941.

There were many similar structured buildings on Jay Street. The Funicello family lived in one across the street. A daughter Annette was born to them in 1941, one year after we moved away. Their daughter became the famous Annette Funicello. She lived there for four years till her family moved to the San Fernando Valley in California. Not to help what became a theatrical life for Annette. It was not even in her parents’ minds. It was so her father could obtain better employment.

I never met Annette nor do I recall her family. I was too young at the time.

Annette’s mother placed her in some type dancing show in California. Turned out Walt Disney was in the audience. Saw Annette, sensed something in her. He was starting the Mickey Mouse Club. There would be 24 performers. Annette was the 24th he selected.

She began singing and dancing for Disney for $50 a week. She turned out to be a major success. In her later years, she was a movie star, acting, singing and dancing. She earned millions.

Will Kellogg was an American food industrialist. He founded the Kellogg Company. He invented Corn Flakes.

Nurse Paige visited yesterday. We are both thrilled. My upper back is 99 percent better in her opinion. I think only 95 percent, but who am I to quibble over a few points.

The recovery took 4 years. A very long time. 

Paige solely responsible. She did it all. The number of years immaterial. The fact it has been accomplished is.

My lower back still a problem. Four years old also. Paige has me doing a set of exercises to resolve the problem. She is confident she will succeed. I am also.

When you get to be my age, infirmities of all sorts befall you. I still am not sleeping well. Three to four hours a night. Not much. I feel the sleep loss terribly as the day goes on. My left eye still screwed up. Yesterday it got totally blood shot again. I see Dr. Oppenheimer Thursday and he’ll continue working on it.

I am not complaining. Merely sharing. 

Today is National Sandwich Day. It honors John Montague who was born November 3, 1718. He became the Earl of Sandwich. He is credited with popularizing the idea of placing meat between two slices of bread.

Rained like hell in Key West yesterday. Rained even harder and longer in other parts of Florida. The Key Tides to the north in Florida bad!!! Videos shown on the internet not just of cars floating down streets. Whole houses also!

Trump gave his last political speech yesterday standing before the Reflecting Pool. I was surprised it did not swallow him.

In the last two days, gasoline prices have dropped 30 to 40 cents a gallon in Key West. Why so much so soon?

I am compelled to be repetitious. A terrible night awaits Trump and the GOP.

New York City reported its first measles associated death yesterday in more than 30 years. Thank you Trump and Kennedy. Continue to knock vaccines. Better to just let people die. Trump and Kennedy forget the old adage to the effect if something works, don’t screw with it.

Pants as we know them were not always worn by men. Even the earliest President did not wear what we call “pants.” George Washington wore “breeches.” A garment cut off at the knee. Such were considered a status symbol.

The first President to wear pants was John Quincy Adams.

Abraham Lincoln: “The ballot is stronger than the bullet.”

One World Trade Center officially opened this day in 2014.

The Grand first tonight. Then home to watch the election results. I am a political freak!

Enjoy your day!

One day more! And the people will have spoken!

I hope loud and clear. A Democratic sweep of both the House and Senate. The American people are deserving of a clean up beginning and beginning now!

If the vote is not there to begin correcting things, then we deserve the adversities Trump has heaped upon us. Complain then no more about high gas, groceries and the like. Enjoy the abuse Trump will continue heaping upon us.

Absolutely true! A statement by George Bernard Shaw: “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”

The day after Pearl Harbor, the U.S. had only 3 carriers. We needed many more. Japanese Naval air power was overwhelming.

The three carriers could not be used for training purposes. They were needed for fighting. What was sorely needed were pilots. The solution how to train them showed ingenuity. 

The government took two side wheeled steamships and erected flat tops on each. Then trained the pilots from the top of each. The steamships were off the Chicago coast. The first day 59 pilots qualified after only 9 hours of training. The were immediately shipped to carrier duty.

One of the Naval persons learning to fly on and off carriers this way was a man who subsequently became a President of the U.S. George H.W. Bush.

As I view them, Christian Nationalists are lacking in religion. They are make believe wannabes. Men like Trump and Hegseth.

Although I expect Trump to be crushed tomorrow, he will cause all kinds of problems, difficulties and lawsuits for a long time thereafter. He never learned that when a decent politician loses, he congratulates immediately his winning opponent and moves on.

I am going to repeat myself in another fashion. Trump’s time is up!

Trump had a Halloween Party at Mar-a-Lago. He went as Donald Trump. For real! Merely wore a blue suit, white shirt and red tie.

Dragonfly will in due course fly to Saturn. I and many others will be a part of the flight. The government has provided “boarding passes” and “spots on the Dragonfly passenger list” for those interested to sign up. Their names will make the trip. I signed up. Saturn, here I come!

A San Francisco tech start up company has posted a job listing offering $20 an hour to be earned by people willing to walk its robot dogs 4-6 hours a day in the San Francisco area. Promised they won’t bite and no poop to clean up thereafter. A good way to earn a few extra dollars!

Marie Antoinette had a terrific life as the Queen of France…..till she lost her head!

What Holly Stevens did in Michigan was just plain wrong! Better if she just had kept her mouth shut!

All royal Egyptian mummies received miliary honors at the time of their burial.

Three persons and their boat have been missing in Key West waters since Friday. The Coast Guard is searching following receipt of a distress call from the boat. The boat was 50 miles off shore at the time of the call.

Syracuse basketball coach Gerry McNamara’s Father died Friday from cancer. An unusual man. He had several children when he volunteered for the military in the 1960s-70s. He fought in Vietnam. Gerry asked his Dad why he volunteered when he did not have to. His response: “To protect you.”

The weather the past few days has sucked. Rain and more rain followed by more rain! Not simple rainfalls. Poured heavy each time. All night also. I would not be surprised if my car floated away overnight. I live and park it one block from one of those bad Key Tide intersections.

Enjoy your day!

Oh, to be one of the world’s greatest artistic talents! Michelangelo was one. And a talent such as his could do what he wanted. Even where a Pope was involved.

Michelangelo initially did not consider himself an artist. He believed his primary talent was as a sculpturer. 

It was the early 1500s. Pope Julius II wanted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel painted. By no less than Michelangelo. Julius was in a hurry to leave Rome and lead a Crusade to liberate the Holy Land. He called Michelangelo to Rome and told him he would like Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Ceiling. Michelangelo initially refused. He argued a painter he was not. A sculpturer, yes. Thinks got hot between them. Michelangelo finally succumbed and agreed.

While the Pope was off fighting the Crusade, Michelangelo got even with him for having forced him to paint something he did not want to. The Ceiling as painted was a huge representation titled The Creation of Adam.

Michelangelo got even with Pope Julius in a most interesting way. There were approximately 400 males in the work. He painted all of them with their male genitals’ exhibited. Bare penis’s one and all!

Such cannot be viewed while looking up at the ceiling while standing on the Sistine Chapel floor. Too tiny from that distance. However numerous books containing pictures of the bare cocks are available to show how Michelangelo got even.

On this day in 1512, the Sistine Chapel and its ceiling were open to the public.

The Pope was initially pissed at Michelangelo. However somehow their differences were resolved. Michelangelo returned several years later to paint the Ceiling further. A new Pope at the time. Pope Paul III. Michelangelo completed the Chapel by painting The Last Judgment.

Diesel fuel will not operate a car created to use gasoline. Absolute disaster awaits anyone who uses diesel where gasoline is required.

I learned the hard way.

I was in Rome many years ago. Driving a rented car. Needed gasoline. Went to a self service station. I could not read the Italian directions. However arranged to pump the gas myself. I filled the tank with diesel instead of gasoline. It took only two blocks for the car to sputter dead.

I had been in Rome for roughly one month with the whole family. Including my parents. The last four days my lease on the rented house ran out and I had to move elsewhere. My parents and son returned to Utica. They had other matters to attend to. My wife and daughters remained.

We rented rooms at a nunnery. The head nun was a Utican I knew. In fact her brother was a doctor and lived across the street from me at the time in Utica.

I called my nun friend. She and her nuns took great care of me and the car. They had a man who worked full time taking care of the nunnery. The nuns also had a car. They gave me the use of their car for the remainder of my trip and had their handyman clean up the mess I had made with the rented one. It was to save me money. My nun fried said the car rental people would have ripped be off big time had I returned the car with the diesel fuel in it.

The stay in the nunnery was exceptional. I had to do something to reciprocate. I took all the nuns out to a fancy dinner. I also gave my nun friend a few hundred dollars for her goodness. I don’t recall how much.

Several years later, I returned to Rome. Visited my nun friends of course. They took me to their Chapel. There was a new statue of the Blessed Mother. Below it, a plaque reading….Through the Goodness of Louis Petrone.

I would be remiss if I did not add the following.  My wife thought I was nuts. I thought it was fantastic that I was able to have sex in the nunnery with her. 

It has been raining big time all night and this morning. The rain had been predicted as well as the increased King tides Key West and other areas of Florida would experience today. Key West not hit as bad as I initially thought. Internet shows other parts of Florida actually buried in certain areas. Miami and Fort Lauderdale two. Whole cars actually floating down streets with only their roofs evident.

 Syracuse won a big football game yesterday. Syracuse beat #19 ranked SMU 30-27 on a touchdown Syracuse made with only 17 seconds left in the game. Syracuse now 4-4 for the season. Syracuse plays Clemson next week.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Pope Leo XIV exercised his right to vote in the mid-terms as a U.S. citizen living outside U.S. borders by voting by mail in ballot. A right he has exercised for years in other elections.

He is the first Pope to vote in a U.S. election. He did so via a mail in ballot to his native Chicago area.

Pope Leo is legally allowed to vote in the U.S. Even though he is the leader of Vatican City and the Vatican is considered a foreign country.

The Pope was born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago on September 14, 1955. 

He is an American citizen living abroad. He did not lose his voting rights when he moved to the Vatican. He is registered to vote at his older brother John’s address in suburban New Lenox.

The Uniform and Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 1986 spells out the process for Americans to vote who live outside U.S. borders. The law requires States to allow “oversea voters to use absentee registration procedures and to vote by absentee ballot.”

I bet no one had to remind Pope Leo to vote.

I had the good fortune to visit Rome on two occasions. Once for a whole month. One of my nurses is Debbie. She mentioned during her last visit she was going to Rome and some other Italian cities next year. She had already made her reservation to tour the Vatican.

I suggested some other places she should visit also. One was the home and studio of poet and fiction writer John Keats. Keats was an exceptional writer. Unfortunately he died at a young age. He was a mere 25. He was born on 1795 in London and died in 1821 in Rome.

He studied first to be a doctor. Found he did not enjoy doctoring and began wring. Poetry and then fiction.

He acquired TB. His doctor recommended a warmer climate. He moved to Rome. Purchased a 3 or 4 story building immediately next to the Spanish Steps. I accidently came upon the building on a day I was sitting on the Spanish Steps recovering from too much sight seeing. I noticed a small brass plaque on the front of the building. Something to the effect…..Residence of John Keats.

I entered. Glad I did. 

The top floor consisted of the bedroom where he died and a larger room where he did his writings. Little of his works were formally printed at the time of his death. What the writing room contained were primarily hand written notes and phrases on pieces of paper. All under glass of course.

I had read some Keats in my lifetime. Not much, however. I came across a scrap of paper with words I immediately recalled. And which many of you will also: “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” I was moved.

I recommend Keats’ building to everyone I discover will be visiting Rome.

Disgusting. An ICE agent running down and over a fleeing man. The photographs prove the deliberateness of the ICE act. He will be charged criminally.

 Time changes tomorrow. Don’t forget to change your watch and clocks.

Martin Luther pasted his 95 revolutionary theses on a Church door on this day in 1517. Something you and I learned in grammar school.

I sort of met Ed Sullivan two times. When I was in college in New York City in the mid 1950s, I had a job making deliveries. Many were to the building where Sullivan had his studio and offices. We were on the same elevator those two times. In addition to several other persons. Each time Sullivan was the perfect gentleman and acted as if our host with his kind hellos.

An article on the internet this morning listed the seven most dirty places in a home. Toilets did not make the list.

Halloween expensive and busy. It is estimated the people of the U.S. will spend $13.5 billion this year. Must be the increased cost of candy. Busy a big time concern. I refer specifically to the many kids who will be roaming the streets tonight tricking and treating. Be careful! We have to think for them!

Christmas 2026 on sale already. Publix has red Santa hats for sale. Home Depot and Ross’s a multitude of items.

The Mount Rushmore National Shrine was completed this day in 1941. Trump wants his face thereon. No way, Jose! No way like he will never receive a Nobel Prize for Peace either.

Peanut and jelly is America’s favorite sandwich. For young and old alike. We acquire the taste in our youth and go for it as adults.

I again admonish care tonight while driving because of the multitude of children that will be out and about.

Enjoy your day!