Comedy at its best! Classic comedy. From yesterday. Guaranteed to keep you laughing.

The show titled Classics of Comedy 2. The place The Studios of Key West. January 9-11.

The best of of the old hits includes Abbott and Costello’s Who’s On First. One of the best. From Abbott and Costello’s 1950’s repertoire.

If you enjoy laughing, a good show to see.

Key West City Fathers are about as bright as the Congress of the United States. The City Commission is seriously considering expanding the sidewalks on Duval to permit outdoor dining

I thought the several month experiment with closing off certain portions of Duval was a disaster and waste. I did not hear many favorable comments re the experiment.

Some Duval parking places will be lost. City Commissioners do not seem to care when parking spaces are removed. Haven’t we lost enough already?

Duval itself is too narrow to begin with. It is going to be hell for other than foot traffic. Cars, trucks, motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles, etc. all vying for space. A guaranteed invitation to more accidents.

As far as I am concerned, the idea is as good as Trump’s was to kill General Soleimani.

The 1970’s for Key West were the roaring 20’s. Except for the method of getting high. Drugs replaced booze.

Several writers organized an informal social club. Named it Club Mandible. Twenty to thirty members. Wore special club shirts and had different club names. Like General Chaos and Private Parts. They generally “boogied.”

The Club spearheaded its members’ efforts “toward the unconscious.” Or, a rather a “punishing form of conscious.” The “punishing form of conscious” was a state easily realized due to the availability of drugs.

When the comedian John Belushi died of a drug overdose in 1982, one of the members remarked that “he didn’t seem all that crazy by Key West standards.”

Michelle Goldberg is a New York Times opinion columnist. Her comments re Trump killing General Soleimani in yesterday’s Times right on: “There are no more adults in the room. After three harrowing years, we’ve reached the point many of us feared from the moment Donald Trump was elected. His decision to kill Maj. Gen. Qassim Soleimani…..made…..with little discernible deliberation, has brought the United States to the brink of a devastating new conflict in the Middle East.”

Iraq has said…..U.S. remove your troops from our land. A day or 2 before, the U.S. announced 4,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne had been deployed. Yesterday, it was announced 2,000 Marines were en route on the USS Bataan.

Don’t look like the U.S. is going anywhere.

Trump says the economy is good. I think not. Have not for quite a while. The stock market alone is not an accurate indication of the economical health of a nation.

The market also has the capacity as history tells us to drop suddenly and disastrously.

Businesses are hurting.

The most recent example is Pier 1 Imports. It was announced  by Pier 1 that it is closing close to 450 stores. The number representing half its stores.

The rumor is Pier 1 is nearing a bankruptcy filing.

Its stock has dropped. In 2015, $300 a share. Around $5 today.

The last quarter of 2019 found sales decreased 11.4 percent from the same period the previous year. Pier 1 lost $59 million last year.

Nationally in 2019, there were 9,302 retail store closings. The closings 59 percent greater in 2019 that 2018.

As Trump tells us, the economy is good, the best ever.

Puerto Rico can’t seem to win.

In a 24 hour period, it was hit with 2 major earthquakes. A 5.8 magnitude one monday morning at 5:32 am. A stronger one this morning at 3:24 am. A magnitude 6.4. The second one knocked out the electrical system for the entire island.

There may be more earthquakes in the next few days. The experts had predicted the second one. Fortunately, no predictions re tsunamis.

Beware of internet dating!

The incident only one in millions of contacts made. However, one is enough.

Grindr the dating site.

Kevin Bacon 25 found Mark Latunko on the internet. They met Christmas eve at Latunko’s apartment.

Three days later, Bacon was found hanging naked in Latunko’s apartment. He was hanging by his ankles, his throat cut, and parts of his body missing.

Latunko has admitted to cutting off Bacon’s testicles after he was dead. He later ate them.

Modern day cannibalism.

Syracuse/Virginia Tech at 9 tonight. Virginia Tech has the much better record. Syracuse has to begin a winning steak.

At 9 tonight also, my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. I will miss half of the first half of the game.

A ton of interesting topics tonight. Many which will cause me to rant and rave.

Please join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

Key West of the 1970’s continues.

A few days ago, I mentioned Poet Laureate Richard Wilbur as one who encouraged other writers to spend time residing in Key West. One a friend from their Harvard days together. John Malcolm Brinnin. A talented writer of poetry and biography.

He visited in 1975. Not his first time, however. His first visit a total disaster. Key West was lucky he even returned.

Brinnin briefly visited Key West in 1945. A trip to hell.

He took a Trailways bus to Key West from Miami. He had to stand the whole way. All seats were full with “booze sodden sailors returning to base.

La Concha was full. He was allowed to sleep on a sofa in the lobby.

The next morning, Brinnin walked about the town. He noted the dilapidated conditions of the then Key West. Included were “dead trees on ruptured sidewalks.” A local told him they stemmed from a hurricane some 15-20 years earlier.

He arrived at the ocean. Took his shoes off. He began to “feel out the contours of a buried mound of something” beneath his feet. Turned out to be “the swollen belly of a dead dog.”

So much for Key West. He returned to La Concha, picked up his bag, and was on the next bus out of Key West.

Brinnin returned again in 1975. He stayed at the Pier House. He partied with Truman Capote and David Wolkowsky. He continued visiting. By the 1980’s, he was a resident.

After he was settled in, Brinnin described Key West as “a perpetual paradise.”

Turtles receive extra special treatment in Key West. Due to the Keys’ Turtle Hospital. A big deal when a once again a healthy turtle is returned to the ocean.

Jack-O-Lantern was returned saturday. One thousand people shouting him good wishes as he clomped into the water at Sombrero Beach.

He was named Jack-O-Lantern by the Hospital staff. He was brought to the Hospital on Halloween.

Jack a 150 pound loggerhead. He had been found floating and entangled in trap line. When found, he was floating upside down.

The Turtle Hospital treated Jack for entanglement injuries and severe intestinal impaction.

The cold spell still with us. At 6:30 this morning when I began this blog, the temperature was 64 degrees. The high today projected at 72.

Hello Sam! Forgot you! Truly sorry!

Recall I was with Steve and Cindy at the Chart Room friday night. Sam is Steve’s sister. We have never met. She must rarely visit Key West. However, Steve is always telling me how she daily reads the blog, loves it, and loves Louis!

How can I not like Sam!

Steve and Cindy were leaving saturday on a cruise out of Miami. Sam was joining them.

Sam, come visit. I would very much enjoy sitting and chatting with you at the Chart Room.

Trump is playing with dynamite. I hope he is a teflon person and avoids a “real” war he may already have initiated.

Trump continues to challenge Iraq and Iran. His words not those of peace. He promises horrendous U.S. sanctions if Iraq retaliates. He threatens to attack Iran if it carries out its promise of “severe consequences” if hostilities with the U.S. are escalated.

Iran has said in recent days that it has the capacity to respond on U.S. soil.

A Jewish solidarity march was held yesterday in New York City. The group marched across the Brooklyn Bridge. The march held in response to the rise of anti-Semitism in the greater New York area.

I was impressed with the march. An internet photo showed the march extending the bridge from one end to the other in length and width.

The march reminded me of the protests we have been seen in Iraq the past few days. Nowhere the same in number. However, the New York City police reported there were “tens of thousands.”

The New Yorker’s Evan Osnos lived 8 years in Beijing and the past 6 in Washington. He recently wrote an article covering China’s growth during the last 25 years.

Osnos says the 2 capitals he resided in are wrestling “to determine who will dominate the 21st century.”

To the point, he wrote: “When I started studying Mandarin, 25 years ago, China’s economy was smaller than Italy’s. It is now 24 times the size it was then, ranking second only to America’s, and the share of Chinese people in extreme poverty has shrunk to less than 1 percent. Growth has slowed sharply, but the country still has legions of citizens vying to enter the middle class. It is estimated that a million Chinese people have yet to board an airplane.”

A side note. Russia’s economy is in decline. China’s is still on the rise, though slowly. I am not sure where the U.S. stands. I believe we are in decline primarily because of most of Trump’s dumb moves.

Every time the U.S. offends, screws, pisses off a friend, the friend turns to Russia and/or China for security, love, and to do business.

We are running out of friends.

On this day in history, though in different years, 2 U.S. Presidents married their sweethearts.

In 1759, George Washington married Martha. They were married 40 years. Did not have children. However Martha brought to the marriage her 2 children from a previous marriage which George happily raised.

In 1945, George Herbert Walker Bush married Barbara. They were married 44 years. Barbara was 18 when they married. She grew to be America’s mother, loved and respected by all.

Enjoy your day!

Something amiss in the Trump administration when it comes to truth. Little to be found.

It begins at the top and runs down. Trump unquestionably a liar. His subordinates picking up on it. Pompeo a most recent example.

Re the Soleimani killing, Pompeo tweeted Iraqis were “dancing in the streets…..for freedom; thankful that General Soleimani is no more.”

He even offered a 22 second video to support his statement.

The video showed 20-30 persons running down a street. Their voices, if any, not audible.

The tweet went viral. More than 5 million have seen it.

Turns out the persons in the video were running down the street, not dancing. There was a voice. One voice. Of a man standing next to whoever was videoing the scene. He was praising the killing. His comment had nothing to do with the people in the street.

Why do they lie? It galls me. It further bothers me that half the people believe the lies.

War is a concern. Those who think not are fooling themselves.

My hope is that Trump’s decision will end short of war. “Short of” being the operable term.

Pompeo and Trump claim Americans are safe because of the killing. They are not. Anywhere on this earth, including U.S. soil.

This morning’s news tells us that Trump gave Israel advance notice of the plan to kill Solemani. Good going, Donald! Tell your buddy Netanyahu. Fail to tell Congress.

I have said in the past I think Netanyahu plays Trump as Putin does. Netanyahu for years has wanted Iran destroyed. He believes Iran is a constant danger to Israel.

The problem is Netanyahu is afraid Israel cannot conquer Iran alone. He therefore wants the U.S. to initiate an attack first. Israel would then join in the war.

Now for lighter matters. Involving Key West one way or another.

More to share re the Key West of the 1970’s.

Another author of prominence bought a home in Key West. James Kirkwood Jr. Co-author of A Chorus Line for which he won a Pulitizer Prize in 1976.

In the early 1970’s, Kirkwood became one of the first owners of a house in the Conch Grove Compound in Old Town. He was a frequent Key West visitor till his death in 1989. He was one of several gay writers who purchased homes in the 1970’s.

His thoughts re Key West interesting.

Key West is “not Florida, maybe even not America, but a city and a state of mind. It’s the end of the line, even the world.”

He was of the opinion that “Key West always had a great attraction for people who are a little tilted, a little crazy…..a little off center, even kinky.”

My yesterday began with breakfast at Harpoon Harry’s. Amazing the business the place does. Diner food. Good for the soul, sticks to the ribs.

Four o’clock found me at Jack Flats to watch the Syracuse /  Georgetown game. Syracuse lost again. By one point 88-87. The lead changed hands 18 times.

Watched the game with Syracuse area fans Don and Chris and Dan and Lisa. Ollie, too. Other than Ollie, I have not seen the others in roughly a year. It was good to be with them again.

Dan and Lisa have owned a restaurant in Skaneateles, N.Y. for many years. They sold November 1. Good for them.

Not easy running a restaurant. Dan the cook. Worked 7 days a week. Lisa the hostess. Retirement time! May they enjoy.

Stopped at my Lisa’s on the way home. Finished the family’s dinner left overs. Chatted a while. Then home.

Ollie mentioned yesterday a cold front was coming in. It came. It was here this morning. When I started doing this blog at 6, the temperature was 70 degrees. It will not hit 70 or better again today. The temperature will level out at 66.

Winds gusty. I can hear them as I work. Winds 20-30 mph.

Can’t complain. The weather the last 10 days has been fantastic. Hovered around 80.

Two significant events occurred this day. In different years, of course.

In 1531, Pope Clement VII forbade Henry VIII from remarrying. Henry was anxious to dump Catherine and wed Anne Boleyn.

In 1920, the New York Yankees announced the purchase of Babe Ruth. One of the greatest acquisitions in all sport history.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Back to Key West in the 1970’s. A time of discovery. The beginning of rediscovery for this gem of an island.

Today, writers. So many have populated Key West. A bit of history re where they lived in the 1970’s.

Many ended up renting small cottages on Windsor Lane. Across from the cemetery. It became known as the Writers’ Compound.

The authors found it a good place write. Something about Key West made it conducive.

Most were winter residents. Lived elsewhere other times of the year . Generally in luxurious homes. The Writers’ Compound provided only small cottages. Their winters a different lifestyle.

Too many writers to list. A few will be named.

Richard Wilbur was a prime mover in bringing his compatriots to Key West. He was the U.S.’s 2nd Poet Laureate. A Pulitzer Prize winner.

Another Pulitzer Prize winner John Hersey. Most famous for A Bell for Adano. He also wrote Key West Tales, a series of short stories.

John Ciardi wrote poetry and prose. Frequently spoke on National Public Radio.

Famous movie actor Richard Burton’s foster father Philip Burton took up winter resident in Key West, also.

An interesting observation., Most of the early authors were not gay. They were straight and lived in the Writers’ Compound with their wives. It was not till the 1980’s that the gay community discovered Key West.

I was out and about last night. Felt good.

Fist stop of course was the Chart Room. John bartending. A bunch of Chart Room friends seated at the round table. Room was made for me.

Enjoyed being with them again. Steve and Cindy, Jean and Joe Thornton, and Sheila.

Steve and Cindy are experts when it comes to the 1970’s. They lived and worked in Key West those years and are still here.

I learn much about the old days when I chat with Steve. Last night was Richard Boone time. Paladin in Have Gun, Will Travel. A successful TV series back in those days.

Boone was visiting Key West. He discovered the Chart Room. Steve says he kept himself happily inebriated the whole trip.

Jean, Joe and I were off to the Hot Tin Roof afterwards for dinner. First time for me in quite a while. Food, help and atmosphere still the best.

New menu was terrific to choose from.

Jean and Joe were my benefactors during Irma. I was an escapee to their home in Birmingham. A close relationship developed from the experience.

We had a good time.

As I was leaving the Chart Room, I heard “Louis.” It was Bob from Pandora, Ohio. Bob and his charming wife Cathy. We had never met before. Bob told me the connection. He has been reading this blog for years.

Love you, Bob!

Bob and Cathy have visited before. The last time 5 years ago. They are staying at the Pier House. Bob is the owner of a window and door business. Cathy is retired. Became bored. Returned to work part time. At an Arby’s! Children grown and out on their own.

Nice people. Wish I had more time to chat with them. Jean and Joe were waiting outside for me, however.

This afternoon at 4 at Jack Flatts. Syracuse/Notre Dame with my friends, Syracuse fans Don and Chris and Dan and Lisa. I look forward to seeing them. It has been almost a year since their last visits.

New Year visitors still here.

I have said it before and I say it again, Key West is way overcrowded this time of year and during season. Even the tourists are complaining.

Traffic an abomination. Took me 15 minutes to travel U.S.1 to the Boulevard from the golf course.

Tourists pay no attention to cars. They walk in front of you without looking. Bicycle riders all over. Each an accident in the making. Key West has had the most bicycle accidents in the State of Florida 2 years running.

Duval too crowded to walk on.

The City fathers are killing the goose that lays the golden egg. Tourism will eventually cut back. Because even the visitors will be upset. They will go elsewhere to vacation.

Money talks. No question about it. The Hill.TV Democratic Presidential Poll came out yesterday. Bloomberg tied for third with Warren.

And he has only just begun!

The funeral for the Iranian general killed in Iraq a couple of days ago was yesterday. Mourners walking next to the car carrying his body and behind it chanting “Death to Americans!”

Yesterday, they wept. Today they will weep. Eventually the weeping will stop and be replaced with revenge. How and in what form will it come?

A world wide conflict could occur because of the general’s death. The Middle East is a hot bed. Muslims must have their revenge. Someone has to pay. The Americans first. It was a U.S. drone intentionally aimed at the general’s car that caused his death.

Trump, Pompeo or someone else in our government said, “The strike was aimed at deterring future Iran attack plans.”

Recognize that the death of one person can cause a major conflict. Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assassination in 1914 eventually led to World War I.

Enjoy your day!

Brief and to the point.

Was the killing of Qassem Soleinani intentional or accidental?

To hear Trump, it was planned. The U.S. had to get him. He was planning to do further harm to U.S. personnel and interests.

Trump however is not speaking about the incident with the same bravado he normally does. I think the death was part of an unusually harsh retaliatory action. The dead man had nothing to do with it.

U.S. responses proportional? I don’t know. Everyone shooting and killing. However, the U.S. doing most of the killing.

Khomenei promises “harsh retaliation.” It will come. Trump has unreasonably treated Iran since he “cancelled” the U.S./Iran 2015 agreement.

Are we at war? You tell me. Assume Vice President Pence  was intentionally or inadvertently killed at the Toronto Airport by Iranians. Would we then be in an open war with Iran? A declared one? Of course.

I am concerned Trump’s bombing which resulted in Soleinani’s death was not authorized or decided upon following consultation with Congress. Only Congress has the right to declare war. It’s in the Constitution. I forget. Trump pays no attention to the Constitution.

The Middle East has been a boiling cauldron for years. Wars everywhere. Not the “big one,” however. This could be the beginning. Iran has the capacity/influence to bring other Middle Eastern countries together in some sort of jihad against the U.S.

Nuclear bombs dropping all over the place.

An Apocalypse.

Found a parking place yesterday and was able to lunch at Harpoon Harry’s. Grabbed the only seat at the bar. Fortuitous. Sitting next to me was Devon Callahan.

Devon is my Chart Room friend. He is a snowbird. Owns a home here. Visits several months a year.

Love speaking with Devon! A source of knowledge. Important information.

Devon and his brother operate a large farm in northwestern Illinois. Soybeans, wheat, corn and the like. All sold through brokers. Generally to China.

Devon has been getting killed the past 2 years. Trump’s sanctions. He told me things are getting a bit better. Corn is beginning to move. Not yet soybeans.

He and his brother are getting hurt. However they are large enough to sustain the downturn in cash flow. As compared to many smaller farmers who have gone under.

He continues to be patient and wait. Nothing he can do. Not a happy camper.

Syracuse fans are in town. Don and Chris from Syracuse, Dan and Lisa from Skaneateles. We are going to watch the Syracuse game tomorrow at 4. Against Notre Dame.

All die hard Syracuse fans. Love watching the games with them!

Paul Pasqualoni is one of the nicest guys I have met. Soft spoken, easy going, a gentleman.

I knew Paul when he was Syracuse football coach back in the 1990’s and early 2000’s.

Not the best, not the worst as a coach. Better than most in recent years. His Syracuse record was 107 wins, 4 Big East titles, and 7 AP top 25 finishes.

Pasqualoni announced his retirement from football recently. The past few years, he has been defense coordinator for the Detroit Lions.

I wish him well in retirement.

I noted somewhere that former Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey has been designated THE Syracuse Football Player of the Decade. He was. A great quarterback. He could run as well as pass.

Trump has mentioned on occasion he would like to be President forever. He admires world leaders who rule forever.

On this day in 1925, Benito Mussolini declared himself Dictator of Italy. He appointed himself Prime Minister forever. Forever lasted to 1943. Eventually his own Italian people shot him and his mistress, took them to a gas station, and hung their bodies upside down from a metal gas station pole.

Another “leader forever” was Mussolini’s friend Adolph Hitler. He was handed the Chancellorship of Germany on a civil platter. In effect begged to become Chancellor. One year later, he was designated Fuhrer.

Hitler did not waste time securing his position. He had the Reichstag pass the Enabling Act which gave Hitler’s cabinet power to enact laws without the consent of the Reichstag for 4 years and also the power to deviate from the German Constitution.

Hitler was Germany’s #1 from 1933 to 1945. In 1945, Hitler committed suicide and his body was burned together with Eva Braun’s outside the bunker in Berlin.

The Wright Brothers were the first to successfully fly. The year 1903.

Others previously tried. All failed.

One of the earlier attempts was by Leonardo da Vinci. He tried on January 3, 1496.

Everyone considers da Vinvi to have been only an artist. He had other talents. In addition to designing a plane of sorts, he worked on a tank, concentrated solar power, and an adding machine.

I frequently mention the blind cannot see. In those instances, I am making reference to people who refuse to understand what is real, what is truth.

My comment not original. I learned this morning that da Vinci is given credit for it. He wrote, ” There are three classes of people: Those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.”

A 30 year old English town counselor wanted all government owned facilities to be gender neutral. He was referring to gender neutral toilets. Campaigned on the issue.

He was recently arrested. Charged with 9 counts of sexually touching a child. He resigned his position immediately.

Some persons are fortunate to work in a field where everything they do creates/inspires happiness and joy. Such a person was Jerry Herman. The Broadway legend. The Broadway composer.

Hello Dolly one of his biggest hits.

Herman died December 26.

I mention him because he was once a Key West resident. Lived at 626 William Street. Composed music while residing there. Also had another source of income. He purchased dilapidated homes, renovated them, and then sold them.

May he rest in peace.

Jean and Joe Thornton have returned. I am meeting them at 5:30 at the Chart Room and then going to dinner with them later.

Enjoy your day!

Johnny Cash!

One of the world’s greatest singers, writer of music, and lyricists. He began life as a bad guy. Spent years in prison. Came out redeemed and went on to make the world a better and more understanding place to live.

Cash did 2 concerts venued in a jail. Not as a prisoner. His time done.

The first was in 1956. His concert performance at Folsom Prison. His Folsom Prison Blues made the top ten.

He wrote and sang Walk the Line for the first time in 1968.

His second concert was performed at San Quentin Prison on New Year’s Day 1968. Cash had spent his longest term of confinement at San Quentin. He returned to be with “his people.”

Merle Haggard was a prisoner at San Quentin at the time. His starring days to come later.

Haggard was 20 years old when sentenced to 15 years. He served only 2 years.

He watched the Cash’s San Quentinn concert. He credits Cash with giving him the inspiration to launch a career after prison. That career included 38 #1 hits. Songs like Sing Me Back Home, Okie From Muskogee, and Today I Started Loving You Again.

Regarding Cash’s San Quentin performance, Haggard said, “He had the right attitude. He chewed gum, looked arrogant, and flipped the bird to the guards – he did everything the prisoners wanted to do. He was a mean mother from the South who was there because he loved us. When he walked away, everyone in that place had become a Johnny Cash fan.”

JustSaying brought to my attention a Linda Ronstadt interview conducted over CNN by Anderson Cooper.

Cooper asked her about Trump. Her response direct and to the point. She said Hitler had destroyed Germany and centuries of intellectual history. He made people afraid to speak out. She also believes Mexicans are the new Jews.

Pretty good from my perspective. She calls things as she sees them!

Anderson Cooper another story. He is a CNN star. Fifty years old. Purportedly knowledgeable about everything.

He disappointed me and probably Ronstadt when he said her comments surprised him. The comparisons between Trump and Hitler. Like it was the first time he was hearing it. He thought most people did not think of such a comparison.

Something is wrong with Anderson! I have been saying for 3 years to BEWARE!. Trump is in effect Hitler reincarnated. Everything he does is similar to what Hitler did in the 1930’s.

The blind cannot see. Some persons refuse to see.

This morning’s Key West Citizen has photos of Bourbon Street Pub and Sloppy Joe’s at midnight New Year’s eve. Sushi and the Conch Shell falling.

The crowds were comparable vision wise to Times Square.

Key West a great place to be New Year’s eve!

Florida’s anti-texting law in effect. Texting illegal.

A good law. I know from my own experience the times I almost caused an accident because I was driving and texting. One’s attention is automatically on the cell phone for a few seconds. That’s all it takes.

The Citizen began today publishing excerpts from the diary of a Key West resident from long ago. May L. Johnson. The first excerpt dated January 2, 1896. It will run every day til the diary runs out.

May was 19 at the time. Her first day experiences interesting. How a 19 year old lived back then.

I panicked yesterday. Someone messaged me that Facebook was going to start charging $39 a word for messages beginning today. Did not make sense. However, you never know.

I tossed the problem over to Sloan and asked she investigate it. Sloan’s response in effect don’t worry. A scam. She attached 2 e-mails from July last summer. One asking if the charge was true.

Facebook’s response: “…..a scam. We will always keep Facebook a free service for everyone.”

Time brings changes. Weed is in and plastic bags out.

On January 1, 1892, Ellis Island was opened as a U.S. Immigration site. Now long closed, it nevertheless became the gateway to the U.S. for more than 12 million people. Including my Mother, grandparents on both sides, and a number of aunts, uncles and cousins.

Each made a contribution. Some small, some large. Each was a value to their new country.

As will Mexicans, Latinos and others who seek entry today.

Maine’s Senator Sue Collins has decided any Senate impeachment should require a trial. Witnesses, questions, and answers. She stands in opposition to Majority McConnell in this regard. She believes “it is inappropriate for McConnell and even Democrats to pre-judge a trial itself.

Several days ago, Kim Jong Un spoke at a North Korean conference. He made it clear. He no longer felt bound by his self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and long range missile testing.

Kim has been cheating most of the time the moratorium was supposedly in effect. Trump did nothing, except talk about his “love affair” with one of the world’s most treacherous leaders.

Haircut today. With Lori. My barber/friend for 20 years.

She has been gone for 2 months. An extended vacation. She is back!

Enjoy your day!

The 1920’s were the roaring 20’s.

So named because of an exuberant, free wheeling popular culture at a time when many people defied Prohibition, indulged in new styles of dancing and dressing, and rejected many traditional moral standards.

The 10 years of the decade were like there was going to be no tomorrow. Everything up and up. Excitement wise and economically. Money and illicit alcohol flowing in abundance.

Why not? The U.S. had been on the winning side of World War I. The country was excited. Nothing was impossible.

All good things come to an end unfortunately. The Great Depression was born in late 1929. Everything downhill from that point till World War II.

A couple of things representing good and bad occurred early in the 1920’s. The 18th Amendment had been ratified. Prohibition the law of the day. Women benefited from the 19th Amendment. The right to vote.

Will the 2020’s in any way be similar to the 1920’s.

I think so. However, in reverse.

The U.S. already engaged in many wars. A major Middle East conflict threatens. Could easily become reality.

The economy said to be booming. I do not agree. The stock market riding high only because of the huge tax breaks Trump gave corporations. Everything good comes to an end. I see the market and the economy falling.

The U.S. is in a precarious position.

My goal last night was to watch the Pirate Wench come down the mast of a vessel at midnight. Never made it. Instead watched CNN and the ball dropping. A few minutes after, CNN switched to Key West 3 times for Sushi and activities in front of the Bourbon Street Pub.

Also saw some of Nashville and New Orleans.

Did not get to sleep till 2. It was like I had been out on the street all night.

The reason I stayed in had to do with traffic and parking. I was out during the day running several errands. Traffic horrendous! Creeping!

I stopped at Publix and bought all kinds of bad foods to enjoy at home in the evening. Why not?

I finally was able to get to Popeyes with no trouble. Dion’s has nothing to worry about! Says it all. Popeyes was with me for several hours after consuming it.

Weather not normal yesterday. Eighty degrees and humid. A summer day.

The Casa Marina is without question one of Key West’s finest hotels. Always has been, always will be.

Proof of the pudding is 20 years ago I held my daughter Lori’s wedding there. I have 3 daughters. Hers was the best wedding! Cost me $100,000. Worth every penny! That good!

It was on this day in 1921 that the Casa Marina formally opened for its first season. It would remain open till April 1. Back then, few hotels remained open during the other months of the year. The heat/humidity difficult to handle. Doubt air conditioning existed back then.

“Death to America!” These Iraqis are nuts! As are those other Middle East countries who hate us. U.S. citizens do not run up and down streets shouting “Death to Iraqis!”

Blame Trump.

He was going to bring the troops home, end all the wars.

Instead, U.S. engagement with Middle East nations could be on the verge of all out hostilities. A full blown war with nuclear warheads flying. Even to U.S. shores.

Trump began to screw up when he “cancelled” the Iran Agreement and then to add fuel to the fire sanctioned Iran.

Iran is behind what is going on today in Iraq. Also in other countries in the Middle East over the past 2-3 years. Iran hates the U.S. Maybe properly so. I don’t know. What I do know is that everything seems to be getting out of hand.

No more diplomacy. In recent times, threats of war. One of these threats could easily be actuated. Don’t forget, mostly nuts are running the countries involved. Including the U.S.

Instead of bring troops home, the U.S. will now be sending more of its boys and girls into harm’s way. One hundred Marines have already been sent to Baghdad. Seven hundred fifty U.S. Army personnel are in the air.

The U.S. embassy in Baghdad the most recent example. As you read this blog, it is under siege by Iranian led Iraqi protesters. All because several days ago Trump took a retaliatory action. One U.S. contractor was killed and several U.S. soldiers wounded in an Iraqi attack.

Retaliation involved amongst other things the U.S. bombing of Iraq. Twenty seven Iraqis were killed.

Baghdad is protesting! Thousands in the streets. They are trying to take over the American embassy. Apache helicopters are doing their best. The few Marines present also. Protecting the wall surrounding the embassy.

U.S. tactics thus far have not worked. The embassy walls are on fire, the main gate and a security passage damaged and under constant attack. Flags of the Kataib Hezbollah hang on the walls of the embassy.

An interesting sidelight. Hadi al-Amiri is one of the Iran military leaders on the streets surrounding the embassy. He is leading the Iraqis in their violent protest and attempt to take over the embassy.

Al-Amiri visited the White House in 2011. He was Transportation Secretary in Iraq. He visited Obama with the then Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Malike.

Prominent Americans are comparing the Baghdad embassy attack as another Benghazi or Iran 1979. I see it as the attack on the U.S. Saigon embassy on April 29-30, 1975. The last day of the Vietnam War as far as the U.S. was concerned. The U.S. was a beaten foe.

The Vietcong were already in the embassy. Going up the stairs. A handful of Marines remained on the roof. Helicopters had been evacuating embassy personnel, loyal Vietnamese and Marines all day. All via helicopters on the rooftops. The evacuation has been described as the largest helicopter evacuation on record.

The last helicopter landed. The remaining Marines jumped inside. One delayed. He went to take the American flag down. He then ran to the helicopter with it.

You could see the Vietcong rushing to the roof. You could see the Marines rushing to get off the roof. Would they make it?

I watched in awe on TV. I doubted we could ever be beaten. The U.S.? The strongest nation in the world! Yet our asses were being handed to us that day and our remaining Americans were scurrying to safety.

From Saigon to Baghdad to Philadelphia.

The Betsy Ross story. The true one.

Betsy was born this day in 1752.

The story retold for years is that Betsy operated a flag store in Philadelphia. Actually, an upholstering shop. The story goes George Washington visited her in the shop and asked her to make a flag for the new nation. They had never met before.

It is claimed she made the flag. Our flag. The American flag.

Every historian will tell you the tale is not based on fact. It is a lie made up by Betsy’s grandson many years later to make a buck.

Betsy died in 1836. Some 50 years later, her grandsons was in need of money. He was not a good sort. Lived by lie and sly.

He went to Harper’s Monthly claiming family knowledge of the Betsy Ross flag and would be glad to write it up and sell it to Harper’s Monthly. He did.

The story was published June 1873. The “story” took hold and has since been thought to be factual by many.

It cannot be said that Betsy was of no use to Washington and his men. Her upholstery shop had a back room where the ladies sewed. The place was also a house of ill repute. Betsy ran a whore house. She was the madam.

The British soldiers who frequented her ladies had loose tongues. Valuable information was obtained by the ladies, provided to Betsy, who saw it got to American authorities.

Enjoy your first day of the New Year!

Today is New Year’s eve. Three hundred sixty five days gone by like that. Tomorrow back to the beginning. Day 1.

Key West in the 1970’s was the beginning of what is today. The town desolate and in effect abandoned. Some had remained. A few started dropping in. Then more. Key West was on a roll!

A few of the notables of the 1970’s are presented here. There are more. I will spell them out in subsequent blogs assuming I stay with this 1970’s kick.

A place first.

My beloved Chart Room. David Wolkowsky’s vision. It became well known as the hangout for politicians and business people. Every day  following work, they assembled in the Chart Room to make deals.

Someone said the deals were made “out of the sunshine.”

The Chart Room was a favorite of Jimmy Buffett and Mel Fisher.

Louie’s Backyard served as Jimmy Buffett’s backyard. His house was next door on Waddell Street.

Mel Fisher. Close friend with Jimmy Buffett. His headquarters were at the Galleon near the shrimp boats. Shrimp fishing significantly less today from then. The boats still engaged are docked on Stock Island now.

Fisher was the eternal optimist. He came to Key West looking for the Spanish galleon Atocha. Knew it was in Key West waters and loaded with gold, emeralds, and other valuables.

He had a saying: “Today’s the day.” He was the eternal optimist. Took 15 years. However, he finally discovered a portion of the Atocha which brought him $400 million.

Eugene Lyon was a Key West historian. He claims to have directed Fisher to the Atocha’s underwater location.

Lyon said, “Key West was Mel Fisher’s kind of town.” A “natural gathering place for eccentrics of every kind.”

Tony Tarracino an “eccentric.” With a history. Had to get out of New Jersey because he could not pay a debt to the Mafia. Came to Key West. Became a barkeeper, gambler, bookie, rum runner, pimp, politician, etc. He did it all!

At the same time, married 4 times. Fathered 13 children.

Everyone loved Tony.

He became the proprietor of Captain Tony’s Saloon on Greene Street. Still there with his name on the place. Looks just like it did when he ran it. Prior to his purchase in the 1960’s, it had been an ice house and mortuary. A hanging tree comes to mind. The hangings were done from a tree which might still be a part of the Captain Tony building.

Ran for Mayor many times. On one occasion, Jimmy Buffett was his campaign manager. Tony lost. However, he finally did win. Those still alive from those days recall him as a fine Mayor.

Tony credited his successes (especially with women) to his “healthy sex drive” and “strong ego.”

Buffet paid tribute to his friend Tony when he wrote Last Mango in Paris. The song was about Tony.

The women of Key West put on a show Sunday night. The Key West Women of Soul Concert. It is the talk of the town. Especially my dear friend Terri White’s rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

Can she sing it!

Midnight bringing in the New Year can be celebrated by most everywhere in the world. Television will spend several hours covering New Year’s eve in cities as they occur all over the world.

Even Key West. For years CNN has exhibited to the world Sushi coming down in a red stiletto shoe from the second floor of the Bourbon Street Pub.

Duval will be crowded for several blocks in each direction with revelers watching the event.

Be careful with the drinking tonight. Keep yourselves safe. In addition, avoid a DUI. Police will be everywhere.

The day would not be complete without a couple of political observations.

One involves Trump’s good friend Kim Jong Un. Trump is the only one who thinks they are friends.

Kim spoke at a political conference in North Korea yesterday. He spoke non-stop for 8 hours. Another Fidel Castro! Even Trump could not go that log. Even close to it.

Kim called for active “diplomatic and military countermeasures.”

Trump has to be getting nervous. He has recently bombed Iraq, Syria and Somali. A retaliatory measure. He has threatened retaliation against North Korea should it take military action of any kind against the U.S.

We are still waiting for Kim’s “Christmas gift.”

Trump and Kim are birds of a feather. Both crazy. Bullies. I fear one of them is going to start a war the likes of the world has never seen.

The U.S. bombed Iraq and Syria yesterday. Trump says Iran was behind the earlier military attacks in Iraq and Syria.

The U.S. retaliated because a U.S. military base in Iraq was bombed. One military contractor killed, several Americans wounded.

The Middle East could stand at some point united as one entity and in opposition to the U.S. Including “our friends.”

Turkey an opportunist. It will jump sides when it becomes advantageous to do so.

Saudi Arabia cannot be depended upon. Anyone who did what was done to Jamal Khashoggi is neither our friend nor anyone else’s. An opportunistic country also.

The U.S. claims the bombings were necessary to keep the outbreak of violence and extremism from metastasizing. I believe the U.S. retaliatory bombings contribute to and accelerate metastasization.

Wildfires are raging in Australia again. I am surprised Trump has not admonished Australia to begin sweeping the forest floors.

Enjoy your New Year’s Eve!

Jimmy Buffett discovered Key West in the 1970’s. He was poor, without work, played a guitar, and wrote songs.

He became enamored with Key West. Not the Key West of today. The Key West of the 1970’s.

In a 1980 interview he spoke of the time: “I was just footloose and fancy free and going crazy. We didn’t have much money and didn’t know much about cocaine so we stayed drunk a lot. Key West was the most wonderful, wonderful place I’d ever seen in my life.”

New Year’s Eve tomorrow night. What to do?

There are several places where someone is “dropped” to bring in the New Year. I have decided to do Schooner Wharf. A first time for me.

A “pirate wench” is dropped from the mast of the vessel America 2.0.

Key West is becoming an easy money town. Don’t even have to work for it. Steal!

The manager of the Key West Yacht Club was arrested last week. He had misappropriated some $70,000. For gambling and a call girl habit.

This morning’s Citizen reports the arrest of Sears’ former general manager. She embezzled $254,790 in cash receipts.

It was reported she had also been arrested earlier this month for stealing nearly $20,000 from a Parent-Teacher Association.

A confidence game? The Key West Citizen made a “deal” with the Library. It was late in 1935. The Citizen promised to pay the Library $5 for every day the sun did not shine in 1936.

Result: Only one day. The Library only received $5.

The bet should have been a bit different. For every day in rained. Many the rainy day in Key West. However, those same days at some point become bright and sunny.

An interesting fact many do not know. During the Civil War, the State of Florida joined the Confederacy. The City of Key West did not. An Army group immediately upon the War breaking out took control of Fort Zachery Taylor.

An important capture. Confederate trading ships had to pass by Key West in order to do business. Union control of the Fort in most instances prevented the South from so doing.

The water surrounding Key West and to its north were under Union blockade. During the course of the War, the Union captured 199 Confederate vessels.

Most of the captured vessels were transported to Key West where they remained till the War ended. At that time, the U.S. Federal Court sitting in Key West decided who got what, etc. as regards the captured Confederate vessels.

A different experience last night. Fireworks on the golf course. I suspect on the 18th fairway. About 500 yards from my home.

Noisy, but beautiful.

Today, monday. Tonight, Dueling Bartenders at Aqua. I will probably be out and about this evening. Dueling Bartenders will be my first stop.

The internet is a wonderful thing. Sit at your computer, play around a bit, and suddenly you discover something new.

Yesterday was one of those times. I came upon Kurt Nimmo. Never heard of him before.

Nimmo is a blogger. Like Louis. His blog: Another Day in the Empire.

He has been doing the blog for years. Yesterday was his last blog. He is quitting. He has “concerns.”

Nimmo is far to the right. Diametrically opposed to me. We are opposite ends of the spectrum, though he is unquestionably farther out than I.

Nimmo  is one who sees conspiracies everywhere. Appears not to be well respected. Sad. My sense this is only so because he is so far right. I continue to believe contrary thoughts to mine are an “indispensable opposition.”

Nimmo for several years was Editor of Infowars, a conspiracy pedaling website. Now affiliated with Newsbud.

Nimmo is giving up the blog because he is concerned how the world will be if the Democrats win in 2020. Yes, the Democrats. Not Trump. He sees the same things happening to our society if the Democrats win that I do if Trump wins.

Strange.

In yesterday’s blog, Nimmo wrote, “I do fear many of us will be prosecuted – or at best have our internet resources curtailed – and this will be, as the endless wars, of only minimal passing concern to a majority of Americans. After all, the corporate media has maligned us as Nazis, white supremacists, and dangerous terrorists conspiracy theorists. It does not take a rocket scientist to see where this will lead.”

Anti-Semitism is on the rise. No question. It has been for several years. World wide.

In the past week alone, there have been 10 separate anti-Semitic attacks in the New York City area.

Trump wants everyone to think he loves the Jewish people. I do not see it. He is infatuated with Israel, not its people there or anywhere.

Trump’s Israel support activities have included his proclaiming that Israeli settlements on the West Bank are not illegal. He also has moved the American Embassy to Jerusalem.

His comments and actions have a secondary purpose. Trump hopes to pick off Jewish voters in the 2020 election.

Trump’s actions have given him a degree of popularity in Israel. Not in the U.S.

Trump spoke this week at a pro-Israel conference in Florida. Four thousand in attendance. All cheering him on.

Trump told the Jewish group that Jews would vote for him because they would “be out of business in about 15 minutes” if he were not reelected. He was speaking to the “wealth tax” that some Democratic candidates are proposing.

It galls me every time reference is made to Jewish wealth. Makes it sound like they are all rich. Jews are no different than any other ethnic or religious group. They have their rich. They also have their poor and a sizable middle class.

For some reason, the animosity against Jews going back to even before Christ continues.

Trump plays on it to get the Jewish vote.

The crowd was chanting “four more years.” Trump said people were talking about him staying on as President even after 8 years. He said it is something “we have to start thinking about” because “it’s not a bad idea!”

God help us!

It appears Trump is not aware of the 22nd Amendment.

Biden was speaking at a rally in Milford, New Hampshire saturday night. He was heckled. Called “creepy…..a pervert…..don’t touch kids, you pervert…..and quid pro Joe.”

I find it hard to believe the good people of New Hampshire would openly refer to Biden in such fashion. Even if they believed the comments to be true, their very nature would prohibit such public statements.

I have to wonder if those expressing such comments were “Trump plants.” His campaign has been suspected of doing so in the past.

Enjoy your day!

I have several days of notes that have not been shared. Today’s the day. Morning Stew #31 on Sunday!

In the Key West of the 1970’s a favorite bar was the Old Anchor Inn on Duval. Victor Lathum was a bar owner in Key West in those years. He told an interesting story involving the Old Anchor Inn.

The Anchor was “just as bizarre as it could be. It was the kind of place that one bartender would open the beer cooler to get a beer out and find the other bartender curled up asleep on top of the beer, because it wasn’t air conditioned in there and the beer coolers were cool. It was just total insanity.”

Gustave Eiffel’s name is familiar to all. A French engineer who designed and oversaw the construction of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

He is less well known for the Statue of Liberty that sits in the New York/New Jersey harbor.

The chief internal engineer died. Eiffel was hired to replace him. He designed a metallic skeleton for the statue. One that relied on the skeleton instead of weight to support the cooper skin which was was to become the Statue of Liberty.

The Statue was constructed totally in France. Then broken down and packed in marked boxes. Shipped to the U.S. where the Statue was reconstructed.

Years later, Eiffel became involved with the Eiffel Tower. He was the head honcho in its construction. Everything his responsibility, his judgment!

Construction began in 1887 for the 1889 Universal Exposition to be held in Paris. Twelve thousand components involved in the construction, not including rivets. Rivets numbered 2,5000,000.

The construction was a marvel in material economy. As tall and large as it is, if melted down the Tower would only fill its basin to a height of 2 1/2 inches.

Near the top of the Tower, Eiffel constructed a small apartment. For his private use after the Tower had been completed. It was elegantly furnished.

The apartment still exists. Can be viewed by tourists.

Great white sharks summer in Cape Cod waters and winter in Florida waters. They have been returning to Keys waters this past month.

We know because a tagging system has been implemented. The sharks are captured, named, tagged and returned to the ocean. Then, easy to follow.

Ironbound is the most recent Great White to be reported. A 12 foot long male. Weighing 998 pounds. This past week he was found traveling south of Key Biscayne, near Miami.

Ironbound was last traced in northern waters on October 3. He was off Nova Scotia. He has since traveled 1,473 miles.

Trump can’t get the whistleblower off his mind. This past week in 3 separate tweets he identified the whistleblower. He left the third up only a few hours before removing the name.

It is against the law to reveal the identity of a whistleblower. Trump however is protected. As President, he is not subject to arrest for a violation of federal law. The whistleblower statute involved is a federal law.

Trump was warned this week not to reveal the names by White House Counsel Phil Cipollone and Ivanka and Jared Kushner. He listened to no one.

Christmas has come and gone. No “Christmas gift” yet from Kim Jong Un. May he forget about it. Could be. He is like Trump in that regard. A lot of bluster followed by nothing.

Kim has achieved one thing. He has placed the U.S. on military alert. Better safe than sorry.

Trump is changing his tune re Kim. When the Christmas gift was threatened, he was not concerned. Said he and Kim were friends.

A few days ago, Trump advised that he was prepared to retaliate if necessary by the use of all type weapons. Including nuclear. Is Trump crazy? One nut dealing with another. Kim might think if Trump could do it to us, we better do it to the U.S. first.

A scary world we live in. Trump has made it worse. More volatile. He defecates on everyone. Plays the thug and bully. Never thinks first about that which he speaks. Never worries about the after effect.

Casablanca is rated the best film ever produced or very near the top of any listing. A great 1942 film starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.

The film ran on the Turner Classic Film Channel Friday afternoon. I watched it. Always magnificent! The best!

Two years ago when at the Thornton residence in Birmingham as escapees from Irma, we all watched Casablanca on TV one day. Most of the escapees were women. The ladies and Jean knew every line in the film. Uttered most before even said. And did they cry! I could not believe the affect the movie was having on them.

Syracuse/Niagara last night. Syracuse won 71-57.

Next week, the ACC season will be in full swing. The games Syracuse must win. Going to be an interesting season!

As one gets older, the mind begins to thing about death. Is there really an afterlife? Am I going to see my parents and grandparents? The Bible says I will. My extended Catholic education says I will.

I am beginning to doubt. I don’t know. I have been reading much concerning an afterlife. Such readings obviously include references to Catholic Church history and God.

Two interesting ones.

Charlemagne once “force converted” 10,000 pagans. Then executed them. The 10,000 died as Christians. Christians who had no time to sin. Such guaranteed their passage to Heaven.

How about this one.

Religious ideologies are always particularly dangerous. For the simple reason that one cannot admit God was wrong because God can’t be wrong.

I read in the Citizen yesterday that Jimmy Carter and his family spent New Year 1996 in Key West. His family entourage involved 32 persons.

I tried to determine if Carter or any of his party stayed at the Little White House. Could not.

I do know this. In later years, Jimmy Carter and wife could be found enjoying New Year’s eve on Summerland Key. Apparently at the home of a friend. I am aware of this because Howard Livingston’s first Summerland home was on the same block where Carter would stay.

The Atlantic carried a pointed article yesterday by David Frum: A Gangster in the White House.

If the shoe fits, wear it.

Frum was concerned that on 3 occasions Trump had tweeted the whistleblower’s name.

An interesting passage in the article: “Doubt Trump will not be bound by any rule, even after he has been caught. He is unrepentant and determined to break the rules again – in part by punishing those who try to enforce them. He is a President with the mind of a gangster, and as long as he is in office, he will head a gangster White House.”

Pleas note my blog talk radio show Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou will not air tomorrow night. New Year’s Eve. Everyone enjoy the evening!

Enjoy your today, also.