Harpoon Harry’s Mexican cook prepares lasagna like a native born Sicilian. Harpoon Harry’s tuesday special is lasagna. I walked in at lunch time yesterday looking forward to a great lunch.

It was. Even better than expected. There sitting were Donna and Terri. I have seen either in close to 2 years. COVID and other physical problems had turned me into a recluse. It was great to run into my lesbian wives.

Both looked there usual great selves. Especially Terri. She has lost a ton of pounds. Diet, not illness.

We enjoyed a boisterous lunch.

This morning I received an e mail from Donna. We are going to have dinner some night next week.

Inflation figures for August were reported yesterday. Down slightly to 8.3 percent. That and some other numbers not considered good. The market dropped 1,200 points.

August inflation figures for food went up. The figures not good all. The increase the highest for a single month since 1979. 13.5 percent. Dining out 8 percent.

Eggs way up. Just short of 40 percent. 39.8 percent. Fruits and vegetables up 7.9 percent.

A railroad strike is being threatened. Food prices will go up even more dramatically. No one will be able to afford to eat.

Everyone is aware of the increases which have been occurring with food. The lower and middle class can only afford so much. Especially on top of rent.

I heard something last night . A brief comment on a late night talk show. I was half asleep. It involved food and its increasing cost. A term heard. Stuck in my head: Use now, pay later.

I tried researching the concept this morning. Difficult to do so. Some information available. Nothing etched in stone yet. However, the program is already in use with some supermarkets.

As I grasp what may be coming on a large scale involves the consumer setting a weekly budget for food. The same number to be used each week. The consumer can exceed that figure. No problem. At some point, the unpaid balance must be paid. No interest charged. If not paid, food cut off of course. Credit rating also affected.

Not a healthy program from my way of thinking. The consumer will be cut off from food. Who is going to finance a “food debtor” who has already failed to meet an initial commitment?

If America is on the brink of use now pay later re food, we are in deep shit trouble! A return of the company store. Modern day slavery.

Today is the birthday of The Star Spangled Banner. The year 1814. The War of 1812 in its second year.

Francis Scott Key was required to spend a night on a British vessel that was bombing the American Fort McHenry in Maryland. He watched the entire night. Bomb after bomb after bomb. In the morning, he was surprised o see the American flag still flying over the fort. He wrote a poem signifying the event: The Defense of Fort M’Henry. Within a week, Key’s words were put to music. One popular phrase: “…..the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air / Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.”

Following his defeat, Trump was threatening not to leave the White House. He was not the first White House resident to take the position.

Maggie Haberman in her new book Confidence Man wrote of Mary Todd Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln’s wife refused to leave the White House for almost a month following Lincoln’s assassination.

There is a follow up to Mrs. Lincoln’s refusal. History suggests she was a difficult wife. An arbitrary figure. Ten years following the President’s death, her son had her committed to a mental institution. Few are aware of this fact.

Enjoy your day!

Key Westers have enjoyed the Citizens’ Voice in the Key West Citizen as far back as can be remembered. The peoples’ complaint section.

The Citizens’ Voice has diminished in length. By roughly one third. Why? People are not more happy today than 10 years ago. If anything, more unhappy.

Can it be the Citizens’ readers have just given up? Have they come to believe no one listens? That theirs is a voice in wilderness? That no one cares?

Decided to get up and out yesterday. I had a craving for lobster bisque. The kind made at Hogfish.

Sat at the bar. My order simple. A bowl of lobster bisque and extra crackers.

I was not disappointed. Delicious!

The bartender introduced herself. Julia. She asked if I was Lou. Turns out she worked at the Casa Marina 20 years ago. Remembered giving me foot massages and manicures. Great memory! I did not recall her. Apologized. She noted I still got manicures. I told her of my foot massage friday.

Nice person.

Sat next to 2 fishermen. We ended up discussing Tom Brady.

Bobby Mongelli walked by. Stopped to say hello. I congratulated him on the sale of Geiger Key. He explained the sale was an emotional one for him. More than 20 years ago he bought a shack that only sold cheap beer and turned it into the success it is today.

Chief is a juvenile green sea turtle. He was rescued off Cudjoe Key in January. He was a mess. A heavy load of fibropapilloma tumors. He was immediately taken to the Marathon Turtle Hospital. Kind hands brought him to recovery. Chief has undergone a whole blood transfusion, tumor removal surgeries, an eye tumor removal, received broad spectrum antibodies, fluids, vitamins, and a healthy diet of greens and mixed seafood.

Chief is going home this morning at 10 am. He is being released to the ocean at Sombrero Beach in Marathon. A crowd of 100-200 is expected to see him off.

Close to 2 months with my feet and ankles. Swelling and pain like you would not believe. Two doctors. Water and potassium pills at their limit. Relief minimal.

I decided to do a bit of self help. Went to the internet. Ordered 6 pairs of compression socks. Different brands. They all claim they are the one!

Only one pair arrived thus far. Yesterday at 2. Ankle length. Put the pair on immediately. Wore them till 9 when I went to bed. Left ankle skinny skinny. The bad right one 95 percent reduced. From larger than a softball to next to nothing in a matter of hours.

I also received Krill Oil yesterday. Took two pills with dinner. The claim is in 1-4 days swelling will be gone.

This morning right ankle thin thin. After 2 months!

I suspected the right ankle would get bigger as today progressed. It has. I understand why. My first 4-5 hours each morning are spent seated at the desk writing this blog. Automatic ankle size would increase.

Gets bigger swiftly. I have been at the blog 3 hours and it is already the size of half a soft ball.

I am not unhappy. Dr. Louis is making progress.

Two days ago I wrote how Switzerland had taken the bull by the horns and passed legislation limiting use of heating gas under penalty of fines and jail time.

Yesterday a viral poster began circulating on Swiss social media telling citizens to “rat out” neighbors heating their homes above the new legal limits.

The Swiss government immediately issued a statement advising it had nothing to do with the viral poster and to ignore it.

The government is conducting an investigation to determine its source.

Sound familiar? Things like that occur in the U.S. also. Perverted troublemakers exist worldwide.

The Ukraine is on a winning streak. Ukraine has driven Russian troops in northeastern Kharkiv to the Russian border itself. President Zelensky describes the situation: “The enemy is panicking.”

New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman in a forthcoming book writes of Trump telling his aides that following defeat he was “never leaving the White House…..I’m just not going to leave.”

The book soon to be published is titled “Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America.”

Enjoy your day!

Key West is a bright warm sunny sub tropical island…..most of the time. There are days, weeks, sometimes months, when it is cold. Though infrequent, some evenings in the winter in the high 40’s. Long pants time. Sweaters, sweat shirts and jackets.

Cold fronts pop in on occasion. Not necessarily during the winter season. Sometimes unexpectedly.

Steve Thompson describes a 1970’s cold front involving Mallory Square and a Jimmy Buffett concert.

So Jimmy gave a free concert at Mallory Square. The stage was up next to the brick building there.

Bobby Shrimper had his boat tied up to the dock. Everyone excited and ready to rock.

Then the wind picked up and a front came through. A record cold blast, nothing we could do.

Everyone really loved the show, even though it felt like snow.

Tom Brady returned last night! Led Tampa to a 19-3 victory over Dallas. He went 18 for 27 in racking up 212 passing yards.

Brady was in control throughout. At 45, he remains the greatest quarterback ever in professional football.

Brady shared the team’s success with the Buc’s defense. They played outstandingly well!

The report is in. Russian troops are retreating in the Ukraine’s northeast. Fleeing a better word to describe what is becoming a rout. The Russians are running from the Ukraines leaving tanks, trucks and other military equipment behind.

Brings to mind Napoleon’s departure from Moscow.

There is a danger involved. A danger to the good guys. Putin is losing face. This he cannot tolerate. He will I fear take worse steps, more severe than he has in the past, to show the world his “strength.” A phony façade.

Putin started the war with Ukraine. The Ukraines stood up to him. Many other nations also. Sanctions were imposed on Russia which have reached the point of severely handicapping Russia. Putin is hurting. Retaliation is all he knows. Meet pain with pain. Create suffering on a level not experienced in recent years.

Putin is wielding a sword of punishment. Riding his Apocalyptic horse. Cutting and threatening to cut Russian gas to European nations.

Russia has supplied cheap gas seemingly forever to Europe. Russian gas has flowed uninterrupted from the Cold War and other times of tension between Moscow and the West.

Since invading Ukraine, Putin has “weaponized” gas. Pushing Europe to the brink of recession. All businesses have been touched. From steel and aluminum to toilet paper. Factories are closing. Some may never reopen.

Gas world wide is King. Prices higher. Nowhere and probably never again will gas prices equal the cost of cheap Russian gas.

Permit me to dramatize in Biblical terms what Putin has wrought. The Prophecy Revelations 6: 1-8.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are Conquest, War, Famine and Death. Putin is the rider of each. Conquest and War are already being experienced on a significant scale world wide. Putin responsible for the most dangerous presently. Though others are involved in many areas of the world.

Pestilence accompanies Conquest and War. Pandemics commonplace. Droughts and weather caused disasters on the rise.

The other two Apocalyptic horses are behind, though in the race. Famine and Death. Both could very well be equal with Conquest and War in short course.

Even here in the U.S. we are on the edge of experiencing famine. Food shortages prevalent. The problem a world one.

Death is being experienced. Kid stuff in the final analysis. Many more will die. Die more rapidly. From Conquest, War and Famine. Though rarely mentioned, the Bible indicates cannibalism will be experienced.

Why can the preceding occur?  Occur at this time in the life of the world? Because a nut named Vladimir Putin decided to invade Ukraine.

Perhaps hard to do after the thoughts spelled out above, nevertheless enjoy your day!

9/11 will never be forgotten. Seared in our memories. A December 7th.

The Twin World Trade Towers brought to the ground. Two thousand six hundred six killed. The Pentagon attacked. One hundred twenty five lost lives. The Pennsylvania field where hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into the ground with all 64 on board lost.

Yesterday a sad one for Papua, New Guinea. A massive 7.6 earthquake struck.

I have several subscribers from Papua. They have been with me from almost day one some 15 years ago when I began the blog. I pray they are safe.

Forgetfulness accompanies old age. Yesterday, September 10. A significant day in my life and hundreds of those living in the Keys at the time. Hurricane Irma struck on September 10, 2017.

I had escaped to Jean and Joe Thornton’s home in Birmingham, Alabama with 6 other Key Westers. Were it not for the photos some of my fellow escapees published on Facebook this morning, the memory would have escaped me.

None of us who shared the generosity and warmth of Jean, Joe and each other should ever forget. Sorry folks!

One of the Key West’s top restaurants is Louie’s Backyard. Steve Thompson shares his recollection of Louie’s back in the 1970’s.

Louie’s Backyard was hard to beat. Oceanfront, private, and really neat. One of the best restaurants in the Keys.

Everyone was served crudites. They had a business card I thought was funny. It said: “An inexpensive place for people with money.”

Chris and Sonya lived right next door. Chris had a leather G-string he wore. His dog, Ten-Speed hung out at the bar. Everyone knew him and the cat, Radar. They shared their beach with everyone.

Those afternoons were so much fun. Nobody ever had to go too far. And everybody stumbled next door to the bar.

I was crazy to think that beach would always be there. Now it’s a giant timeshare.

As expected, Syracuse crushed Connecticut 48-14 last night.

What a game!

Quarterback Garrett Schrader went 20 for 23 for 287 yards and 3 touchdowns. Offense and defense lines outstanding, except for the defense when it gave up 2 consecutive touchdowns. I suspect the defense were beat up on the sidelines by the Syracuse defensive coaches. The team had forgotten to “play hard ball” for every minute of the game. They heard the message. It was the end of Connecticut’s scoring punch.

Purdue next week. The first tough test for Syracuse. Purdue undefeated also.

Buckingham Palace is in the news every day due to the Queen’s death and Charles’ coronation. It was also in the news this day in 1940 when the Palace was damaged by German bombs.

During the bombing of London during World War II, the King and royal family continued to live in Buckingham Palace. They did not leave for a safer place. They remained with their people.

Putin continues playing hardball.

His decision to end the flow of gas through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline has caused an enormous derivatives crisis to erupt in Europe. Going to take a lot of money to fix it.

Authorities all over Europe are starting to freak out. The situation could result in a tsunami of financial panic sweeping across the entire globe, not just Europe.

The anticipated fuel shortage will make for an extremally cold winter.

Switzerland saw the handwriting on the wall. It recognized the anticipated fuel heating shortage and has taken steps to deal with it.

Switzerland has adopted new heating laws. House temperatures cannot be set above 19 degrees Centigrade/66.2 degrees Fahrenheit. Swimming pools and saunas cannot be heated.

Penalties for failure to adhere to the new rules will result in fines from $30 to $3,050. Jail time possible in addition. Up to 3 years.

Enjoy your Sunday!

A forgotten fight. A U.S. war with Russia few knew happened. American soldiers sent to Russia to fight what was hoped to be a decisive war against communism.

Fantasy? Sounds like it. However, it did occur.

World War I was barely over. President Woodrow Wilson decided to send U.S. troops to intervene in the Russian civil war. The U.S. troops were part of an Allied Expeditionary Force. Thousands of Americans were sent to support the White Russians who were trying to overthrow Lenin’s new Bolshevik communist regime.

The Allied Expeditionary Force included Great Britain, France and Japan.

Not a cold war. A blood and guts for real war. Many ferocious battles fought against the Bolsheviks in northern Russia. Hundreds of Americans died. There was a second battlefront in Siberia where further American lives were lost.

The Allied effort was a half hearted one. Insufficient to prevent the communist takeover. U.S. and the other Allied forces withdrew in 1920.

The American participation was quickly forgotten in the U.S. Not in the Soviet Union, however. It cemented Soviet distrust for the U.S. Especially on Stalin’s part and is believed to continue even today in Putin’s mind. Many historians believe the U.S. participation played a significant role in helping fuel the Cold War.

Self help becoming a part of my swollen ankle/leg problem. I had a Guatemalan woman come in yesterday to massage my lower limbs and ankles. She spoke no English. I studied Spanish in college. A different dialect from hers apparently. However we were able to communicate with basics like turn over.

The woman not even 5 feet tall. What hands, however! I thought she was going to leave me with broken bones.

When she left, the swelling was significantly reduced. Still so this morning. One ankle looks good. The other though less so still visibly swollen.

I went to the internet. Diet wise, fruits and vegetables recommended. I have consumed a ton in the last 48 hours.

Sloan coming over later. I will be ordering compression socks.

Do not be critical of my self help approach which I am adding on top of what the doctor is prescribing. I have had the problem for 2 solid months with no relief. If anything, the problem getting worse.

Syracuse/Connecticut football at 4. I am excited. Syracuse a 22.5 point favorite. I cannot recall the last time Syracuse was in such a position.

Enjoy your day!

A sad day yesterday. A very sad one. Queen Elizabeth II died.

I cried as I did when Kennedy passed on.

My sense is the whole world cried for the wonderful women.

This morning I watched as the new King arrived at Buckingham Palace. Multitudes waiting for him. He was the King. Charles III left the limousine and walked the long line of those paying respect to his mother. He shook hands, shared a few words, smiling along the way. By the time he had finished this greeting phase, it was obvious they were now greeting their new King. The Rubicon had been crossed. They knew each other on a personal basis.

I could not help but think how difficult Charles’ job the next few days will be. His mother died yesterday. He should be sitting at home with family and close friends reminiscing about the Queen. Instead duty called and he conducted himself as his mother would have. Perhaps even more so.

I could write pages about the Queen. Not required. The media is burying us with the information and will continue to do so over the next ten days.

I live and learn. I was unaware there was a time when the 13 colonies were referred to as the “United Colonies.” The United Colonies of America. On this day in 1776, the Continental Congress formally named the 13 colonies the “United States.” The United States of America.

Key West has good and bad to offer.

The Miami Herald in an interesting article this morning titled: Restaurants in Miami, Miami Beach and Key West Named the Most Iconic in Florida paid honor to a Key West restaurant.

Iconic. Means influential, recognizable, revered, widely established.

Four “iconic” restaurants in the south Florida area were named. One Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami. I would not expect it not to have been.

Key West’s Blue Heaven was also recognized. Understandable. Though I believe Key West has a number of iconic restaurants.

Congratulations Blue Heaven for the iconic designation! You continue to do Key West proud year after year.

That was the good example of Key West. Now for the bad. Disgusting.

A comment in this morning’s Citizens’ Voice. Being a man, one I cannot attest to. However I buy it. At the same time saying for shame Key West Airport!

The comment best described as don’t use the ladies’ room: “I hope with all the money that’s going into improving and expanding the airport, they have the money to pay people to work there. I flew out Wednesday and not one sink worked in the women’s bathroom – it was dirty and messy and the toilet was difficult to flush. Also the water station was gross.”

I am not a fan of Joe Manchin’s. Except for Republicans, I doubt many are.

As far as Bernie Sanders is concerned, it’s get even time. Many House Democrats agree with him. Somewhere in the 50’s.

Schumer wants a bill passed which involves a permitting process involving West Virginia and Virginia re the Mountain Valley Pipelines. Something Manchin wants. He wanted the bill passed when the Inflation Reduction Act was finally passed. One which required Manchin’s vote. After more than a year of screwing around with yes and no’s on various parts of the bill, Manchin finally agreed to support it.

Schumer at the time could not get the bill through if the permitting process issue continued as a part. A deal was made. Schumer promised Manchin he would get it approved later on. Biden apparently agreed to the deal. It appears no one else was aware of the arrangement.

The pissing match is on. A stopgap funding bill is required by the end of the month. All Democratic votes are required to get it passed. Republicans typically will be of no help. Sanders will not vote for the stopgap if the permitting process is passed or a part of it. Manchin similarly will not if “his” permitting bill has not or will not be passed.

The Democrats will lose face big time if the stopgap funding bill is not passed. Not healthy with the midterm election a mere 5 weeks away.

Enjoy your day!

How fortunate Steve Thompson is around to recall the Key West of earlier times. He shared a bit of Mel Fisher’s early days on the island.

Mel and Deo were always smiling. They were Chart Room regulars since arriving.

Mel was a real go-getter. Always working. He spent his whole life treasure searching. His office, a Spanish galleon, moored right off Front Street. If he could keep it afloat, it was really neat.

If you were a diver in the 70’s, likely you worked for Mel’s crew. If you weren’t, he would show you just what to do.

He was tall, had a low voice, and everyone loved him. He liked to talk, a natural born salesman.

It was another 10 years till they found the Atocha. I think everyone who knew him, could hear him say, “I told ya.”

Affordable housing an ongoing problem. Not just in Key West. All over the country. Greed the primary cause. Story for another day.

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has come up with what she believes is a solution. I do not agree with her. Government/taxes cannot support everything.

Her solution wants to provide $10 million in an effort to lower rents. She would subsidize landlords. If a rent was $3,000 per month, the City would pay a $2,000 a year subsidy to the landlord. Breaks down to $167 per month.

The proposal should be killed now, in its initial steps. It short due course, it will not really be a help to tenants. It would serve as a rip off benefitting landlords.

Key West has been home to many successful businesses over the years. They came, grew, succeeded and then for business reasons moved elsewhere. Cigar manufacturing an example. In 1906, there were 40 cigar factories staffed by 2,000 plus employees.

It’s Syracuse/Connecticut saturday. Kick off 4 pm at Connecticut.

Syracuse a 22.5 point favorite. Wow!

Putin does not care. He’ll inflict danger, pain and suffering everywhere and anywhere to achieve his goals.

He has renewed Russian bombing near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. The plant’s neighboring community is Enerhordor. It serves the nuclear plant. Already the communty is suffering from new fires and has lost its entire electrical supply.

Enjoy your day!

Key West belongs to the ladies this week. Womenfest 2022 officially begins today and runs through September 11.

Several thousand women will meet, great and party. The event is one the largest gatherings of lesbians and their friends in the United States.

The fun begins!

My ankle swelling continues. Seven weeks now. Where is the relief? When?

Saw the doctor late yesterday afternoon. I am pilled out. Water pills at capacity level. Potassium, also. Compression socks next. I’m going to look beautiful!

Stopped at Sally O’Brien’s for an early dinner. Women’s Wimbledon on TV. Chatted with bartender. She bartended in Dubai when major tennis tournaments were scheduled. She said, “Dubai went crazy!”

Two items of significant importance on the agenda this morning. Judge Aileen Cannon’s off the wall decision in the Mar-a-Lago case and Putin’s cruelty.

Bess Levin describes the whacked Judge’s decision in her 9/6/22 article in Vanity Fair: Trump’s Special Master Situation Is Shady As Fuck, say Legal Experts.

Levin claims Cannon “threw the ex-President an outrageous, legally-suspect bone.” She granted Trump’s request for a Special Master and blocked prosecutors from using the 11 thousand documents in their criminal investigation until a Special Master review was complete. Her order specifies “personal items and documents and potentially privileged material subject to claims of attorney-client and/or executive privilege.”

Levin pulls no punches. Claims the Judge’s decision is considered the worst of the worst by the best legal minds in the Nation: “If you’re wondering if Cannon’s decision was one…..the legal community would agree was well-founded, legitimate, and completely unimpeachable, the answer is no, no, and hell no…..the ruling is laughably bad, and the written justification is even flimsier.”

As stated, leading legal scholars and attorneys are in accord. The Judge’s decision the worst of the worst. Comments included “Trump is being privileged / ultimately lawless / Cannon has disgraced her position as an Article III judge / first year law students would have written a better opinion / Cannon giving special considerations to the former President that former ordinary, everyday citizens do not receive.”

The most galling observation was that “the argument by Cannon that Trump would suffer grave reputational harm” if  a Special Master was not allowed to intervene. Levin nailed that one to the wall: “A claim that most legal experts agreed was utter bullshit.”

Vladimir Putin is plain evil. He is my way or the highway. Revenge and retaliation the order of the day if he is thwarted.

He brought the Ukraine on himself. He now blames everyone else.

Two tools Putin is using to reek revenge and retaliation are the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and gas sales to European nations. Suffer and die from nuclear radiation and freeze to death in the winter.

The guy’s a real winner!

The nuclear plant. A UN watchdog agency completed its 5 day investigation of feared leakages from the plant. The agency released its report yesterday. The report calls for a safety zone around the power plant. A “nuclear safety and security protection zone” around what is Europe’s largest nuclear plant.

Ukraine and Russia have blamed each other for shelling dangerously close to the plant, prompting warning’s of a potential radiation disaster.

Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency: “We are playing with fire and something very, very catastrophic could take place.” He said shelling must stop around Zaporizhzhia and stop immediately.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres demanded that Ukraine and Russia establish a “demilitarized perimeter” around the plant.

Understand clearly any leak could in short course cover all of Europe. Chernobyl repeated on a much larger scale.

Russia is a major supplier of gas to European nations. Various sanctions are torturing Russia economically. Sanctions imposed because of Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine.

Putin is financially strapped. He has issued an ultimatum. Lift the sanctions or I will cut off gas deliveries to European nations.

Another example of the hard ball Putin plays. He caused the problem for himself by invading Ukraine. He can’t continue paying for his sin, however. He is a rat cornered. Expect anything and everything from him.

Winter is around the corner. If countries are without Russia’s gas, many will freeze, become ill, babies and elderly die.

Zaporizhzhia and Russian gas are Hitler’s gas chambers for Putin.

Enjoy your day!

What I am about to share may initially be received with no way! Louis is out of his mind! Could be. Though I doubt it. My thoughts are merely another step in  a progression that began with the repeal of Roe v. Wade

Republicans finally succeeded in destroying Roe. v. Wade. Within days, The American people realized there were other adverse impacts involved. States like Texas immediately legislated many. All making the life of women more difficult. Court decisions completely unreasonable came down where abortions were cried for and no local immediate relief was available. The 10 year old girl requiring an abortion comes to mind.

Treatises and other writings  tell us contraception is on the chopping block. Even talking to a doctor in some states about where to go for abortion relief.

So nothing is really insane when examining the fall out.

Fascism is on the rise in the U.S. The democratic process of voting in 2022 and 2024 may eliminate the danger. If not and even if democracy wins, blood on the ground may still be inevitable.

What is this “danger” that in most areas does not even rise to a whisper? Forced childbirth. There is a Republican undercurrent that believes increased childbirth among Republican white women is required to maintain and continue the victories achievable with the defeat of Roe. Legislating in various forms would make it possible.

Mussolini was a fascist. He is the historic hero of forced childbirth. The idea is force women to give birth under the cloak of pro-family citizenship.

At this point many may be thinking Mussolini/Italy are no way similar to persons in the U.S. today. A state legislator already tried to play the game. Delaware State Republican Representative Richard Collins in 2019 introduced legislation which would force women to give birth against their will. The bill went nowhere. Collins still a member of the Delaware House of Representatives.

Back to Mussolini’s motherhood factories. Referred to also as “industrial motherhood.” On 4/1/22 Matthew Wills wrote an article on the subject in JSTOR Daily: “In fascist Italy, childbirth, breastfeeding and motherhood were given a hybrid structure of industrial management and eugenicist biological essentialism.”

Mussolini began his battle for increased births in 1927 and promoted the same through 1943. His purpose to increase his military force. He realized his military was inadequate to achieve his goal of an Italian Empire to rival the Roman one. To achieve the goal, he had to increase Italy’s population from 40 million to 60 million.

There is a similarity here between Mussolini and Trump. Both liars. At the time, Italy’s population was 47.5 million. Mussolini was giving himself an edge to guarantee later success.

First step was to ban abortion. Then to provide incentives encouraging large families. Loans to married couples. Part of principal cancelled with the birth of each new child. Any married man with 6 or more children was exempt from taxation.

Mussolini was a cult figure as Donald Trump is. The Italian people began to believe they had a duty to produce as many children as possible.

Those persons less productive than the numbers set forth were penalized. Examples included bachelors being increasingly taxed, civil service recruiting only men fertile and married.

Women were also encouraged. Five children and a woman received a medal. Another medal for each subsequent child. Hopefully the medals would make the woman feel proud. As would walking around with an extended pot belly.

Mussolini constantly preached to the Italian women: “It’s up to you to create a generation of soldiers and pioneers for the defense of the Empire.”

The forced childbirth program was not a success. Failed big time.

Mussolini was executed in 1945. A study was done in 1950 to determine the success of the program. Whereas the population actually was  47.5 million when started, it was 47.5 million years later in 1950. Marriage rates had remained the same.

In the early 1940’s, Mussolini recognized the program’s failure. He felt the lack of enthusiasm had cost him 15 army divisions.

Would a child factory program succeed in the U.S.? I don’t know. If post Roe legislation similar to those recently passed and off the wall court decisions are rendered, we are in trouble. Again voting becomes important in the next two national elections.

Let me admonish the courts will be no help. There was a time, courts were the last bastion of freedom. No more. Roe is proof the Supreme Court is lost. The U.S. Magistrate and District Court Judges in the Mar-a-Lago search warrant case are proof many Trump appointees are either loyal cultists he nominated or incompetent or both. The recent decisions in the Mar-a-Lago search case proof a poison has stigmatized the entire federal court system.

I repeat again, VOTE!

Yesterday was the day! After 3 years of preparation, Key West’s Guy De Boer began his epic journey.

Guy is one of 16 participants in the Golden Globe Race. The event began yesterday from Les Sables d’Olonnois, France. It is anticipated the trip will take 7 months to complete.

An onerous trip. A solitary one. It is Guy and his boat. That’s it. Considered one of the most difficult in the world. A challenge. Participants have no regular access to modern communication or navigation. Pure isolation.

The trip will take Guy over some of the the most dangerous waters in the world, through some of the fiercest capes.

I admire Guy’s courage. I also think he’s crazy. However the experience is one he wanted to attempt and one he believes he can win. So good luck, my friend. God be with you.

I stopped at Geiger Key for lunch yesterday. Wanted to see if anything was different under the new ownership.

Nothing. The crowd a usual holiday one. Packed. Actually, there was one difference. A new manager or what I assumed was a new manager. He was all over the place assisting. A smile for everyone. A kind word here and there.

I enjoyed hogfish fingers and chatted with two lovely matronly woman sitting to my side at the bar.

Sheila Cullen and Vicky Shields had an interesting post this morning on Facebook: “Our granddaughters should not have to fight the battles their grandmothers already won.”

Truer words never written.

Sunsets worldwide are God’s in His Heaven, all’s right with the world. Key West’s sunsets are best reflected from Mallory Square. Steve Thompson recalls Mallory Square Sunsets in the 1970’s.

Sunset on Mallory Square was the thing to do. It was laid back and not much a zoo. When the sun went down, there was a slow applaud. Like worshiping some kind of God. Everyone was smiling, everyone was cool. You felt euphoric like some happy fool.

It got a little busier everyday. Now it’s a three ring circus and you pay.

Artemis I did not get of the ground for a second time. A hydrogen fuel problem. New date not certain. Could be into October.

I recall clearly the U.S.’s first attempts into space in the 1960’s. Each trip successfully made it off each time. There may have been a day or two delay on occasion. However our space ships were off and flying basically as scheduled. Soon with humans. Eventually to the moon. The first serious problem years latter when one of the ships carrying 6 or 7 persons exploded on take off.

With all the money, companies and people involved today, why the problems? Inadvertent? Accidental? The way it is?  A harsh criticism on my part. However the reputation of the U.S. is on the line with every flight. We should do better. We did do better when we were novices.

Enjoy the end of the holiday weekend!