My Gift to you. For the warmth with which you have welcomed my return.

Syracuse trounced Louisville last night 31-7. Oh, what a night it was! Syracuse has had very poor seasons in recent years. If last night is any indication, watch out world! Syracuse’s might of yesteryear has returned!

It was the opening game for both teams. Louisville was a 4.5 point favorite.

Syracuse has a quarterback and runner. No question. Garrett Schrader lead the team beautifully. He mixed the plays. Passes and runs. Went 18 for 25 pass wise. Ran when he had to.

Sean Tucker also distinguished himself. As he did last year. A dynamic runner. Already last night rumors began of his being a Heisman candidate.

Syracuse exhibited one weakness. Penalties. The offensive team had 18 penalties totaling 107 yards. Did not affect the team last night. Will in future games.

Why so many penalties? Syracuse has a new offensive coordinator. The team is still learning his plays. It was obvious. There was one instance when a backfield player was to run forward and turn right in front of Schrader. He turned left. The whole line collapsed.

Schrader took it well. Smiled and pointed to the right when the play was over.

The team was too good last night for it to have been an isolated victory. Lets hope the year turns into what a season it was! It has been a long time.

I was surprised Syracuse did not can Coach Dino Barbers following last season. The school gave him another year. I’m glad he was retained.

Go ‘Cuse!

Bobby Mongelli is one of the the nicest guys in the Keys. A hard worker. Until Thursday, owned 3 restaurants. Hogfish, Geiger Key and Roostica. Sold Geiger Key for apparently a big buck. He deserved it!

Geiger Key is 10.5 miles up U.S. 1. Bobby bought the restaurant when it was in foreclosure back in the 1970’s. A run down shack. Serving only beer at the time. He kept the shack flavor and turned it into a restaurant.

It has become one of my favorite haunts over the years.

The purchaser is Parakeet Communities out of Rockville, Maryland. Parakeet has advised it will run Geiger Key as Mongelli did.

Bobby had been asking $17.5 million. Actual sale price still secret. Understanding Key west values, I would not be surprised if he got close to that number.

A happy type blog today. The Three Tenors, Syracuse’s win, and Bobby’s sale of Geiger Key. Though infrequent, glad to be able to do one occasionally.

Enjoy your Sunday!

The more Trump pushes the Mar-a-Lago document search in Court, the worse his position gets. The hole he is digging gets deeper and deeper. Would not surprise me if he ends up in China.

The most recent revelation is that 48 folders marked “classified” are empty. An additional 42 marked return to staffers or a military aide likewise empty.

A total of 90 folders. Pray tell, where are the documents that were supposed to be in the folders?

When this mess began unraveling, I worried Trump might have sold or used for a benefit the materials. When has he perhaps not done something shady in his lifetime? Today, many are beginning to think that way. Persons in the media and the public themselves. The thinking being Trump sold or used the contents to gain favor with a foreign nation.

A President of the United States a treasonous traitor? Hopefully not. Time will tell.

Many speak with a forked tongue. Even a lawyer on occasion.

William Barr was the best. He could mangle truth like no other lawyer in my memory.

Now his ass is on the line. He appeared on FOX. He crucified Trump. It was obvious his goal was to save his own butt.

Barr said there was no legitimate reason for Trump to take classified documents to Mar-a-Lago. He was skeptical they had been “declassified.”

He rejected criticism that the search was wrong because it was an “unprecedented” search of a former President’s home. He followed the statement with it was unprecedented for a President to “take all this classified information and put them in a country club.”

Barr described Trump as having “jerked around” the government, leaving the government no alternative but to obtain and exercise a search warrant.

Additionally, from Barr’s perspective the Special Master request by Trump was a “red herring” and “waste of time.”

Artemis I will make its second attempt today. Flight is scheduled between 2:17 and 4:17 this afternoon.

Weather a prime concern. However at the moment it is expected all will be well and the flight will take off.

Weather includes lightning. Any lightning within 10 miles of Artemis will result in a further cancellation of the flight.

Four hundred thousand are expected to be in the area to watch ignition and take off.

Most have pools in Florida. Pools generally usable 12 months a year. Memorial Day Weekend reminds me of pools back in Utica, N.Y. from where I originate. Few had pools. They were only usable 2 months a year. Not worth it.

I didn’t care. I had a pool.

Always had my pool opened Memorial Day Weekend. Weather prohibited its use till July. However hope sprang eternal and as a family we always were hopefully excited that this year it could be used earlier.

Never was. The weather rarely made it possible till July 4th.

Note Utica is in the central part of New York. In the foothills to the Adirondack Mountains. Fall always came early. The leaves began changing August 15. Never failed. They began falling soon after. Clogged pools.

My home was like in the middle of a private forest. Without fail, the pool had to be closed the day after Labor Day every year.

We still enjoyed the experience, no matter how limited.

Syracuse/Louisville at 8 tonight. First game of the season for both teams. This morning the sports page has Louisville listed as a 4.5 point favorite.

Steve Thompson and an early Groovy story. This is back in the 70’s. I have no idea who Groovy was.

Groovy was sitting at Howie’s Bar. Jimmy was setting up tuning his guitar. Groovy hollered, “You don’t have to do that to play, nobody is going to listen to you anyway.”

They ended up best friends and sailed the Caribbean.

When Jimmy and Jane got married, he was best man.

Groovy flew to Europe and sailed a Swan back. I never knew anyone who did anything like that. He lived in St. Barts and owned Mango Air. He flew folks to St. Maarten to play golf there.

He stayed at our house in the 70’s when he was in town. Never a dull moment when he was around.

Bob Mayo, Phil Clark, and Groovy started Come Monday Construction. I guess Groovy needed a tax deduction. Bob did construction when he was living with me. Phil was a pirate looking at 50. I’m not sure if they ever built anything, but I sure enjoyed celebrating with them.

Enjoy your day!

I wrote of Mikhail Gorbachev’s death 2 days ago. My comments included Gorbachev was highly respected everywhere, except in Russia: “Gorbachev achieved hero status worldwide, except for Russia where he was despised and continued to be so till his death yesterday.”

Several responded questioning the correctness of the statement.

It was announced yesterday that Putin had denied Gorbachev a state funeral and further stated he would be staying away from any services.

Putin continues to add to his credentials as being an extremely despicable person. In this instance, I refer to a Russian based Putin critic. Ravil Maganov. Sixty seven, he died this week. He fell from a sixth floor hospital window in Moscow.

His death provides Putin with one less critic.

The Russian government says “suicide.” People who knew Maganov say “no way.”

Maganov was the Chief Executive of the private Russian oil giant Lukoil. He was an openly harsh critic of the Ukrainian war.

Trump continues his autocratic undemocratic anti-American statements. Yes, all of those adjectives. His more recent is that he would issue full pardons and a government apology to rioters who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Contingent on his running and winning the 2024 Presidential election.

President Biden delivered a forceful speech in Philadelphia last night. His words clearly indicating the political battle was one for the soul of the Nation.  His words were consistent with recent comments he has made. The gloves are off. A bare knuckle fight.

He spoke of the “extremism that threatens the very foundation of our Republic…..As I stand here tonight, equality and democracy are under assault. We do ourselves no favor to pretend otherwise…..MAGA Republicans are destroying American democracy.”

September 2 and no hurricane yet. Highly unusual. I bite my tongue as I make the statement. I fear calling the bad gods down upon us.

There is what could be the first hurricane forming out in the Atlantic. Danielle is presently a tropical storm. Scientists say it will become the season’s first hurricane. However, it will turn northeast even before coming close to land. Danielle will be no threat.

September 2 is significant in the history of hurricanes. One of the worst struck the Keys in 1935. The Hurricane of 1935. Hurricanes had no names back then.

The hurricane passed over Long Key and Lower Matecumbe Key. It was a Category 5. A big one! Two hundred miles per hour. Tides 18-20 feet high. Nearly 400 killed.

College football returns! First games yesterday.

Syracuse opens against Louisville at 8 pm saturday at Louisville. Supposed to be a close game.

A very few years ago, Syracuse’s star quarterback was Tony DeVito. He did not do well. From starter to benchwarmer.

He transferred to Illinois. DeVito now Illinois’ star quarterback. First game was thursday. Illinois beat Wyoming 38-6. DeVito made 27 of 37 passes attempted for 192 yards.

I wish DeVito well. For no other reason than he is finally proving he has the talent and ability to be successful. May he continue to have more Wyoming games.

Enjoy your day!

Where would man be without the “right” to discriminate against certain of his fellow man? Discrimination covers many areas. One of the most popular is religion.

Anti-Semitism is on the rise not only in the U.S., but also world wide. Anti-Catholicism likewise. However creeping when compared to the speed with which anti-Semitism is moving.

A most recent example of anti-Catholicism involves a public elementary school in Cos Cob, Connecticut.

Jeremy Bolandis an assistant Principal at the Cos Cob school. One of his responsibilities was the hiring of new teachers. He recently openly admitted to discriminating against Catholics in a video. He hung himself with the video.

Cos Cob is a small part of the the affluent Greenwich area.

Boland belongs to a group known as Project Veritas. Anti-Catholic. Boland openly took the position he would rather have progressive teachers under age 30 as faculty members. He believes they are “more savvy” about delivering a Democratic message. He also acknowledged discriminating against older teachers. His justification being older persons are too conservative.

Boland’s prejudices went viral with the video. His job acquired an uncertainty. He has been placed on administrative leave.

I enjoyed a late breakfast/early lunch with old friend Cheryl Keast yesterday at Harpoon Harry’s. Cheryl decided on Harpoon Harry’s for the meeting.

Cheryl and Roger were snowbirds. Met them 20 years ago. The second time I ran into them was breakfast at Square One. They were enjoying eggs and steak. I was in the process of losing weight. Turned out to be 60 pounds. Walked Key West every morning, ate nothing. I told them I hated them both for what they were devouring and the pleasure they obviously were enjoying from it. Every time we met after that, we jokingly exchanged the experience.

Roger died 3 months ago. Cheryl decided to visit every place they traveled over the years. Community by community. Beach, restaurant, etc. And leave Roger’s ashes at each place. She carries a small plastic bag in her purse with his ashes.

She is in Key West for 4 days to accomplish the Key West portion of her goal. She has already left Roger’s ashes at Dante’s, the Bull, Tree Bar, Chart Room, Boondocks, Geiger’s Key, Hogfish, Brad’s Campground, Hurricane Hole, the Green Parrott, Don’s Place, the Hot Tin Roof, and the Mile Marker O sign.

And she was not yet finished when we met yesterday! Such commitment! A serious endeavor on her part.

Where the ocean is part of a facility, Roger’s ashes became part of the ebbing tide. Where water not available, Cheryl has a system where and how Roger’s ashes may be permanently left.

We were sitting at the table for 4 in the rear of Harpoon Harry’s. Cheryl took out a bottle of nail polish and Roger’s ashes. A touch of the nail polish on her finger. Followed by a few ashes on the nail polish. She then took her finger and rubbed it under the table. Voila! Roger’s permanent home at Harpoon Harry’s!

When Steve Thompson first arrived in Key West in the 1970’s, he had to make a living. Decided to open a taco stand on Duval. No one knew what a taco was. Whatever, it became a success. Steve opened several more throughout south Florida. Made a chunk of money.

His first store on Duval opened in March ’74.

I got the store open in March of ’74. Seems like no one had heard of a taco before. My first customer asked, What is a taa-kos? He caught me off guard, I was at a loss.

It was Duval Street and I thought he was wasted. Then he said, “That was the best damn thing I ever tasted.”

The Le Mistral French restaurant was right next door. For the best gourmet food, you couldn’t ask for more. Rene would prepare dinner for his crew every day. I couldn’t believe it when he came over to say, “They all want burritos and tacos for dinner.” That’s when I knew I had a winner!

Today a bad day in history for the world. On this day in 1939, World War II began. Nazi Germany invaded Poland,

Enjoy your day!

Jesus was rejected in his hometown Nazareth. Which lead Him to say: “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown.” Luke 4:24.

Mikhail Gorbachev died yesterday at 91. The last leader of the Soviet Union.

It was 1991. The two great powers were the Soviet Union and the United States. The Soviet Union the recognized bad guy world wide. Possessor of nuclear and other weapons of destruction in large supply. The world had constantly been on the threshold of nuclear conflict since the end of World War II.

Gorbachev’s vision of the world was different from that of his predecessors. He had a concern for what would occur in the event of a nuclear conflict. His aim was to lessen the confrontation…..for every nation’s good.

The Soviet Union consisted of 15 separate nations. Except for Russia itself, all were quietly supportive of Gorbachev’s peaceful approach.

Gorbachev unleashed a breathtaking series of changes which led to the collapse of Communism, break up of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.

The Soviet Union’s collapse was swift. Humiliating, also. A coup against Gorbachev occurred in August 1991. It failed. Simultaneously, the 15 nation Soviet bloc began to break up. Republic after republic withdrew. Four months following the coup attempt, Gorbachev resigned on December 25, 1991. The next day, the Soviet Union ceased to exist.

The Soviet nuclear and military arsenal ended up primarily in the hands of the republic of Russia.

Gorbachev’s primary motivation in how he handled things was to save the Soviet nation members, Europe, and the world from nuclear devastation. He succeeded.

Gorbachev received the Nobel Peace Prize for his successful effort.

Again, Gorbachev achieved hero status worldwide, except for Russia where he was despised and continued to be so till his death yesterday.

It took a long time of persons for color to achieve success in the U.S. modeling field. Nigeria had a similar problem.

Nigeria is an African nation with a primary black population. Whites however have been successful as models. Every white model took the place of what could have been a black one. A growing unhappiness by black models grew.

The situation recently reached its apex. Reverse discrimination. Nigeria banned white models from appearing in commercials in the name of “developing local talent” and supporting “inclusive growth.”

Artemis I’s launch has been rescheduled to saturday. Hopefully it will be able to be successfully launched at that time.

The Chart Room group of which I was a part had a good 20 year run. One of its members was Peter, aka English Peter, British Peter, Captain Peter. Peter was British born and raised. Came to the U.S. as a young man. Joined the U.S. Army and fought in Korea. Became a U.S. citizen.

Peter looked British. White hair, white mustache. Clearly spoken, his British accent obvious.

Steve Thompson wrote of Perter.

English Peter was a good friend to everyone. He sold sailboat rides and any waterfront fun.

His home was a classic Herreshoff and he lived there for years. We used to worry about him after too many beers so he sold the boat and moved into his van. Hung out at Fort Zach and just sat on his can.

He now lives in Melbourne. We saw him last week. He bought a nice little house and keeps it neat. He said tell everybody at the Chart Room to come. I have a guest room and they’re all welcome.

I normally get a pedicure every 2-3 weeks. Due to the right foot swelling, it has been well over 2 months since my last pedicure. I decided the swelling was down sufficiently so I could get one yesterday. My ankle was down to a size equivalent to 3/4s of a softball. Great progress! At the beginning, it was larger than 2 softballs.

So it was a pedicure and manicure with Tammy.

A foot and lower leg massage included in the process. When the pedicure was complete, I notice the croc slipped on easily. The massage had reduced the swelling about 1/4 of an inch. The quarter inch still gone this morning.

A big deal!

Treated myself to lunch at Harpoon Harry’s afterwards. Enjoyed the lasagna special. First time. Absolutely fantastic! I know good from bad. My Italian nature. So good I recommend it. The special every tuesday.

A special breakfast later this morning. At 11. With Cheryl Keast.

A 20 year friend. Cheryl and her husband Roger originally from Kankakee, Illinois. Roger an electrical contractor. Roger died several months ago.

They were snowbirds. Traveled the world in between Key West visits.

Due to Covid, I have not seen them for 3-4 years.

Cheryl is on a trip visiting places that she and Roger did. She carries with her his ashes.

She is only in Key West for 4 days. She has been stopping at all their haunts and leaving Roger’s ashes. Some in the ocean, some on land where water not available. She has already made the distribution in at least a dozen places.

We are breakfasting at Harpoon Harry’s. Her choice. One of Roger’s favorite places.

Enjoy your day!

Football and golf are daily news events. Both part of the American scene. College football begins this week. Professional football ready to go. Professional golf completed its 2021-2022 season sunday. The controversy involving the new Saudi league continues to be a daily news item.

There was a time when football and golf experienced what might be described as special newsworthy periods of time.

For football, it was 1905. Injuries a concern. As brain injuries are today.

College football the problem. The game had become so brutal that more than 100 student players  had died. College Presidents were disbanding teams. Several state legislatures were giving serious considerations to making football illegal.

In October 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt convened an urgent summit meeting at the White House. Roosevelt was a football fan. Nevertheless he had a harsh message for the men who ruled the game. If they didn’t change the rules to make football safer, he might have no choice but to ban it.

His call for reform resulted in the formation of a new rules committee. One committee member suggested an idea long advocated by legendary coach John Heisman: Legalize the forward pass. He thought such would open up the game, reducing mass collisions in the middle of the field.

The idea was not met with favor. The New York Times called the idea “radical.” However the concept was voted upon favorably to be tested in the 1906 season. Other rule changes outlawed holding, unnecessary roughness, and required a team to gain 10 yards instead of 5 for a first down.

The new rules, especially the pass, made the game safer and interestingly more popular.

Though permitting the forward pass, the new rules heavily restricted its use. The ball could not be passed within 5 yards of center, it could not be passed to a receiver in the end zone, and an incomplete pass automatically resulted in the other team gaining possession of the ball.

Way back in the 1300’s and 1400’s, golf and soccer were popular sports. British and Scottish kings were opposed. The sports were banned. English King Edward II banned soccer in 1314: “We command and forbid…..on pain of imprisonment, such game to be used. In 1491 Scottish King James IV issued this decree: “It is statute and ordained that in no place of the Realme there be use Fute-ball, Golf, or uther unprofitable sports.”

Why were golf , soccer and “uther” sports so unpopular with the Kings? It had to do with defense.

The Kings considered them “unprofitable” because they were distracting men from archery practice, which was essential to the defense of their countries. Without a populace of trained archers, the Kings could not raise effective armies in times of crisis.

The laws were as effective as modern day prohibition ones. The passion of men for the sports was so great the laws were ignored. Golf and soccer continued to thrive.

Enjoy your day!

America excited! Returning to space!

Artemis I was to launch from Cape Canaveral this morning. Mechanical problems caused the flight to be cancelled. The flight has been rescheduled to friday or monday. Which day yet to be decided.

No reason to be disappointed. Better safe than sorry. Artemis is a multi billion dollar undertaking. Thirty two stories high. Though crewless for this its initial flight, explosion damage could extend for miles. Who knows how many might be killed or injured.

Explosions always a possibility. I recall 36 years ago on January 28, 1986. Space Shuttle Challenger launched. Seventy three seconds into the flight, it exploded. All 7 crew members were killed.

Great golf yesterday! The final round of the Fed Ex Cup. The winner to receive $18 million.

Rory McIlroy beat Scottie Scheffler by one stroke. McIlroy was 6 strokes behind Scheffler at the start of the round. He bogied the first hole. Persevered, however. Went on to win in a dynamic match.

McIlroy’s play even more interesting. The coming from behind to win on the last day part of it. On the first hole the first day, McIlroy triple bogied the first hole. Bogied the second hole.

Treated myself to dinner afterwards. Hogfish. Crowd so so.

Steve Thompson wrote about the Thorntons and Hurricane Irma. The Thornton home in Birmingham became the safety haven for 5 Key Westers during Irma.

Jean and Joe Thornton live in Birmingham. They come to Key West whenever they can.

I heard a story about them I would like to share.

It was just before the hurricane Irma scare. The Keys issued a mandatory evacuation. Many old Conchs say that doesn’t apply to them.

A friend from the Chart Room said it came up so fast there was no time to prepare and he wouldn’t last. So he headed to the mainland and rented a room, hoping to be home soon. The phone almost immediately rang and once again…..mandatory evacuation.

He headed north with half of Florida and every place was packed. He had to keep driving, there was no turning back. He called Jean and she said come. We’re having a hurricane party and it will be fun.

He said he was welcomed with love and open arms. He will never forget their hospitality and charms. 

Jean was involved with Mel ‘s Treasure Salvors since the mother lode. She personally found some of the first gold.

Ernest Hemingway is often quoted. His words fit many present day persons and situations. Here is one that fits the Donald: “You can wipe out your opponents. But if you do it unjustly, you become eligible for being wiped out yourself.”

Enjoy your day!

The Reach is one of Key West’s outstanding hotels. It porch dining sits on the best hotel beach in Key West. A jewel unto itself.

Steve Thompson describes the area in the 1970’s when no hotel sat there. It was mere sand, a beach. Known to residents at the time as the Sands.

At the south end of Simonton was the perfect spot. Stored the hobie and sailboard and hung out there a lot. We had no idea how good we had it. We all just took it for granted. The Catholic Church owned it and beer was a buck. When they sold it, it really did suck. Everyone went to Sands Beach. Now it’s a huge hotel called the Reach.

I chanced upon a love comment yesterday I had not read in years. Soul searching food for thought: ‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

There is a sadness attached to the statement also. When love does not reoccur a second time, the loneliness is a never ending abyss.

Today a significant one in the annals of civil rights history. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I have A Dream” speech at the March in Washington while standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

When is the fetus a person? Today science, politics and religion clash over the issue. Answers many. Conception, fertilization (can be number of days or weeks issue), hint of a heart beat, and the ability of the fetus to survive outside the womb with the help of technology.

The law of a particular state depends on one of the answers.

How the law has changed!

When I began practicing law in New York in 1960, a fetus was not a person till born. Proof of birth was required. Like crying.

Abortion was a crime at the time. Not because abortion was the killing of a person. Rather because it was a dangerous physical assault on the body of the mother.

I enjoy Bess Levin’s writings. She calls them as she sees them without hesitation. Her 8/25 article in Vanity Fair re Biden’s Executive Order re college loans an example. The substance of the writing involved Donald Trump Jr.’s comments. The article appropriately titled: Don Jr., Born With a Silver Spoon in His Ass, Doesn’t Like Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Associate Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett is back in the news again. The Trump nominee who turned her back on American women by voting for the repeal of Roe v. Wade.

People of Praise is a whacked out far right religious group. Barrett and her husband have been members. May still be. Though Justice Amy conveniently formally withdrew from the organization when she was under scrutiny for her seat on the Circuit Court. She denied involvement in the group during her Senate confirmation hearing. Her questioning when seeking approval for the Supreme Court was limited in that regard.

People of Praise is celebrating its 50th anniversary. At a celebratory event, one of the attendees sneaked videoed a talk by Dorothy Ranaghan. Dorothy  is the wife of the group’s founder. Amy’s father had a leadership role in the group.

Yesterday’s The Guardian (8/26) revealed the video’s contents. The article was titled: “Revealed: Leaked Video shows Amy Coney Barrett’s Secret Faith Group Drove Women To Tears.”

The Guardian article spelled out People of Praise requires “complete obedience of women to their husbands…..roles of men and women…..men considered divinely ordained as the ‘head’ of the family and ‘dominant to woman.”’

Additionally, men “making all decisions about finances and dating relationships,” embracing “traditions like encouraging members to speak in tongues, and performing exorcisms.”

Barrett has never disclosed or discussed her membership in the Christian sect. She claims “she is a faithful Catholic whose religious beliefs would not bear in the the discharge of my duties as a judge.”

I merely share the bones of Barrett’s People of Praise involvement/leanings. There is much meat. I wrote a detailed specific blog 9/27/20 titled: “Wives Have To Obey Husband’s In Everything.” If you have further interest in Barrett and the group, I recommend the blog to you.

I wrote the blog at the time of Trump’s nomination of Barrett to the Supreme Court. One line reads: “With her nomination to the Supreme Court, Trump has set the Court on a path unhealthy for America. She will lead the Court in destroying the basic freedoms that have taken years to attain.”

Her vote to repeal Roe v. Wade supports my statement.

Putin is weakening Russia a step at a time. His invasion of Ukraine the beginning of what in due course may be the end of Putin.

Putin initiated the key elements of the invasion six months ago. Ukrainian leadership and the Ukrainian people have stood tall and are thwarting his efforts. Proof is three fold.

The first is announcement this week that Putin needs more soldiers. He has initiated recruiting for men 18-60 years of age. His desperation obvious when he will take into the military ranks men as old as 60. Recalls Hitler doing the same thing as World War II was ending. He took them young and old.

A food shortage is growing in Russia. The people will only experience such a condition so long.

Finally, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Located in Ukraine. It is Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. Putin has been shelling it. Threatens to disconnect it. Did briefly. He has reopened 2 of the 6 reactors.

The man is insane! Closing down the reactors will result in leaks. A plume will grow. It swiftly will cover most European countries, if not all. Including Russia.

The radiation will cause physical and other problems for at least a generation.

An example is a case I personally was involved in. A mother came to me with her one year old baby daughter. Beautiful curly haired blond. She was born with her left arm ending above where the elbow would be.

The baby’s father had been in Chernobyl at the time of the massive leak there. Nothing appeared to have happened to him. Years later, he met and married the baby’s mother. The little girl was their first born. The father refused to talk with me. He would not accept responsibility for the deformation.

The medical side was easy. The baby was born 14 years after Chernobyl had occurred. Doctors were aware that male exposure could result in a male’s sperm being affected years later and causing what had occurred to the child.

My problem was imposing legal responsibility of someone or entity that had money to compensate the baby. I put a lot of time into the case. Worked with legal authorities in London and Rome. All to no success.

I had been taught in law school that for every wrong there was a right. This was an instance where such was not true.

I want to stay with Putin and the job he is doing.

Russia was in Afghanistan for a number of years. When Reagan became President, he decided on a path to cause Russia’s defeat in Afghanistan. He increased financial aid and military equipment to the Afghans. He also provided CIA to train Afghans. Though not the sole reason Russia was forced to pull out, Reagan’s assistance was a contributing factor to Russia’s defeat.

Biden is doing the same as regards Ukraine. Biden’s assistance parallels what Reagan did in Afghanistan.

The Department of Justice Affidavit was released yesterday. Redacted big time. Redactions approved by the Court.

The news was replete yesterday and continues today. The only observation I wish to make involves the delay in the Affidavit being published. It was due by Court order yesterday no later than noon. Noon came and went. No redacted affidavit. Turns out the demand to DOJ for a copy so overwhelming that the computer involved failed.

Enjoy your day!

Republicans are going crazy over Biden’s Executive Order re student loans. Vanity Fair’s Bess Levin squarely nails their hypocrisy.

Levin’s 8/24 article is titled: The GOP Throws A Hysterical Shit Fit Over Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan Targeted At Middle Class. Her opening line says it all: “Yes, the same Republicans who’ve never met a billionaire or corporate entity whose taxes they didn’t want to cut.”

I was out and about a bit yesterday. Foot on the mend. Right ankle less than a soft ball now. Still a ways to go.

At noon, a haircut with Lori. She has been cutting my hair for more than a quarter century. Began when she was a young lady working at the Casa Marina. Now owns her own shop Blown Away on White Street across from Fausto’s.

She mentioned Sally Barnett had died. Like I knew Sally. The name did not ring a bell.

Sally apparently had read about Lori in this blog. Years ago. She became Lori’s customer mentioning that she had heard of Lori in the blog. Sadly, Sally and I never met.

It is amazing how many people became customers of places I mentioned. The Chart Room being another. Many I met. Some became good friends. Sorry I missed Sally. May she rest in peace.

Went out for dinner last night. The new Sally O’Brien’s on Flagler. First time for me.

An Irish restaurant. Same as its Irish predecessor. Cleaned up inside. A total white paint job. Outside the same. The crowd inside the same. Working class locals. Menu the same, though shorter. Corned beef and Irish breakfast basics.

I ordered liver and onions. That is why I went last night. I had a craving. My mother use to occasionally cook liver and onions. I developed a taste for it.

The meal absolutely delicious! Everything I expected. The liver juicy and tasty. For those who enjoy liver occasionally, order it. For those who dislike, go for the corned beef and cabbage.

The more I read Steve Thompson’s writings, the more I realize the Key West I missed. The ’70’s were the real Key West. Its memory continues to attract people to our island.

Steve wrote about Vaughan. Never met him and probably never will. I share Vaughan’s story with you.

As Steve began, Vaughan Cochran was one of the first people he met. And probably the most talented. Helped open the Lantern Inn on Stock Island in ’73. He was an artist, a musician, and made first class pottery.

They had the best music at Lantern by far. From Jimmy Buffett to Gove on guitar. They were open till four every night. Everyone was there, what a sight.

Vaughan played the banjo, washboard and the ukulele at the Chart Room. Met Jerry Jeff Walker and Jimmy there in ’72. Fingers Taylor and Vaughan were the original Coral Reefers band. I sure wish I was at the Chart Room when those guys jammed.

I started to think there was nothing this guy couldn’t do. He and Don Beebe built my back steps too.

Vaughan was a master fly fisherman and guide in the Keys. He opened fishing stores in Mexico, the Bahamas, Costa Rica, and Belize. Vaughan excelled in more professions than anyone I’ve ever seen. He now owns “Blackfly,” one of the best restaurants in St. Augustine.

An exciting day ahead. The release of the redacted affidavit in the Mar-a-Lago search. I am anxious to read it. Will it provide substance or merely in its redacted form be of little present value?

Enjoy your day!