No question, a day or two can make a difference in some instances.

I was out and about friday night. A bit of Duval and the Chart Room. Both dead.

Yesterday around 3, I was out again.

Drove down Duval. People falling off the sidewalks.

Drove to Harpoon Harry’s for a late lunch. Could not find a parking place. The streets and the huge parking lot across from Harpoon Harry’s full.

Key West loading up for Thanksgiving week.

No sense driving around to find a place to park and grab a sandwich. Drove to Publix instead.. Picked up a few things I needed and then proceeded home for lunch. One of the breasts from the broiled chicken I bought.

The cashier at Publix said the day had been busy from early morning. Thanksgiving shopping.

Remained in last night. Some reading, TV and then early to sleep.

Tonight will be my usual monday. Dueling Bartenders and La Trattoria. Not hard to take.

Flooding becoming a problem. Water flooding some Key West Streets even when no rain. Attributable I assume to King Tides and rising sea levels caused by climate change. Plus, the full moon where applicable.

Key West flooding at the usual places. Parts of Flagler, intersection of Eaton and White. Also the intersection of Front and Duval.

Front and Duval can get a bit deep. The water there was 5-6 inches friday night. I had to stop for the light. Volkswagens ride low. I was concerned water would get where it should not be in the car.

Key Largo has been experiencing flooding for a long time. One neighborhood for 82 days. Some have stopped driving their cars for fear the salt water will cause corrosion.

The water level is rising. Properly stated, has been rising. A little bit at a time. Which means beaches and oceanfront homes may be in danger sooner than anticipated. No one really seems to be concerned at this time. The problem a tomorrow one. The issue is when. It might be sooner than anyone thinks.

Came across a Hemingway line I believe might have some applicability to Trump: “You can wipe out your opponents. But if you do it unjustly you become eligible for being wiped out yourself.”

Enjoy your day!

This is a follow up to yesterday’s blog wherein I questioned whether ticket sales were a rip off where locals are concerned. A situation not benefiting locals whose tax dollars built the Amphitheater.

Tickets advertised for the Willie Nelson show at $69 and $99 a piece within minutes were only available from $244 for the cheapies and as much as $300 to $400 for reserved.

Comment responses were interesting. I refer you to them.

I believe this is a problem that has to be dealt with. Key West is not New York City or Nashville. Prices should be what locals can bear, not what money hungry scalpers seek.

My suggestions at the moment three fold.

First, on the date and at the time tickets first go on sale, locals may only purchase them during the first 4 hours on sale. Either by standing in line and proving residency or paying via the internet with a credit card having a Key West address.

Second, locals should be permitted to purchase only up to 4 tickets. Don’t want locals to turn into scalpers.

Finally, there has to be an arrangement between the city and whoever holds the contract to operate the Amphitheater to check following the show to determine if those operating the Amphitheater locally are benefitting in any way via a kick back from scalpers. I am not insinuating any wrongdoing by those holding the contract or operating the Amphitheater. However from a business perspective, a system of checks and balances is required.

Key West has had a history of getting stuck on construction jobs re overruns and paying a lot more more money in the end. Such has occurred too often in many other ways also. Elected officials…..It is your responsibility to protect residents and taxpayer dollars.

I was at the Chart Room friday night. John bartending. Steve and Cindy at the bar.

Steve and Cindy go back to the Key West of the 1970’s. Steve successfully ran several businesses. Cindy was Jimmy Buffett’s secretary.

Each knows much about the Key West of yesterday. Interesting people to chat with.

Syracuse sports yesterday!

Won one, lost one.

The basketball team beat Bucknell 97-46. Obviously, a good victory.

The football team as usual did not do well. Lost to Louisville 56-34. Now, 4-7. A lousy season!

I grew up in New York’s Mohawk Valley. Named after the Mohawk Indians. The Mohawks were part of the Iroquois Nation which consisted of six separate tribes.

During the Revolutionary War, the Iroquois generally fought on the side of Britain. They were unhappy with the colonial settlers who they considered to be encroaching on their ancestral lands.

Leading the Iroquois Nation was Mohawk Chief Joseph Brant. Brant was Indian by birth, though a white man in every other respect. Well educated. He studied with Eleazar Wheelock at Moor’s Indian Charity School. The parent institution of Dartmouth College.

Brant successfully led Indian troops against the colonials in many battles.

One battle proved not to be successful. The Battle of Oriskany. One of the bloodiest battles of the Revolution. The colonials were able to delay the Indian and British troops from reaching Saratoga in a timely fashion. As a result, the colonials beat the combined Indian and British forces at the Battle of Saratoga.

Saratoga was significant since it proved to certain European nations the colonials could win. Money poured in. Especially from France.

I mention Brant and the Battle of Oriskany since I grew up with both of them. Our grammar school history books spoke of Brant and the Iroquois Nation. It spoke loudly of the Battle of Oriskany.

Even more significant re the Battle itself, is that Oriskany where the battle was fought is a mere 12 miles from my hometown Utica.

A Washington monument type edifice stands in remembrance of the Battle. Though significantly lower than the Washington one. About 30 feet in height.

A small wrought iron fence surrounds the monument.

It always bothered me that no one stopped at the monument, except on the day commemorating the Battle. A handful that day to pay homage to those who died in assuring the United States would have a chance to be born.

President John Kennedy was killed on November 22, 1963. Lee Harvey Oswald was captured and charged with the shooting.

Oswald was being held in the Dallas jail. Two days after the shooting, Oswald was being moved to another location.

What occurred next, I recall specifically. It has remained in my mind since that day. I was sitting in my mother in law’s living room watching television.

It was announced Oswald was to be moved. A parking garage was beneath the Police Station. A concrete ramp led up from the garage to street level.

Oswald was being led up the concrete ramp on foot. Police surrounding him. Newsmen pressing in. Spectators all over the place.

I thought to myself how stupid! Someone could easily shoot Oswald. As the thought crossed my mind, Jack Ruby walked up to Oswald, put a gun  to his stomach, and killed him.

Ruby was a local nightclub owner. Later established a bit off mentally.

The flu season is upon us. Going to get worse. Anyone above 6 months recommended to get a flu shot.

So recommended by all federal health agencies.

One place flu shots are not being given. The Trump Administration again. No flu shots to those detained by the Border Patrol. Undocumented immigrants.

On any given day, there are 3,500 undocumented immigrants at undocumented immigrant detention facilities. Not a bad number. Down from 20,000 earlier in the year.

Trump’s people apparently don’t care about the health of these immigrants. Strange. Several years ago, the U.S.Supreme Court ruled jailed persons were entitled to the “best medical care.” Why not undocumented detainees?

Another thought crossing my mind is what if certain of these detainees come down with the flu and pass it on to other persons and eventually the flu germ spreads outside detention walls.

Typical Trump judgment re undocumented immigrants. Deny them. Make their lives hard. Cause them all kinds of pain and suffering.

Today, Sunday. Time for a treat. A shower and then to Harpoon Harry’s for eggs benedict.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Rip off? It would appear to be. The Key West Amphitheater aka Truman Waterfront Amphitheater.

The project was financed with Key West tax dollars. Initial cost estimated at $4 million. I do not know if it cost more when finished.

My complaint is with ticket prices. Especially for Key Westers who paid to build the amphitheater.

Willie Nelson is appearing February 17. We are contemporaries. I have enjoyed him my entire life.

Decided to get my tickets promptly. Tickets went on sale yesterday.

Tickets were advertised at $69 and $99. The $99 seats the reserved ones. I opted for the reserved seats. Two.

Good luck finding a reserved seat ticket for $99. The same with General Admission where you can sit on the lawn. I could find neither a reserved seat nor general admission ticket at the $99 and $69 advertised prices.

Instead, the reserved seating tickets ranged from roughly from $300 to $450, depending who was selling them. For 2, $600 to $900.

The sit on the lawn seats $122. $444 for 2.

I refuse to spend that kind of money. Perhaps I have become a tightwad in my old age. On the other hand, I would not have spent that amount of money 40 years ago.

A disgrace! A definite rip off! Why should we of Key West who paid to build the Amphitheater pay that kind of money?

Another consideration. Key West is primarily made up of working class persons. They can’t afford such high amounts.

Key West continues to kill the goose that lays the golden egg.

The Mall on Duval is dying a slow death. An excellent idea initially. It did not work out. Business persons claim they are losing money.

The City Commission voted to extend the pilot plan to 2/17. Two weekends a month. A close vote. 4-3. Then the idea will be dead.

I started coming to Key West 30 years ago. One of the finest businesses at the time was Key West Fragrances and Cosmetics. Popularly known as Key West Aloe.

The store was beautiful. The fragrances moving. The items to buy for the body special and generally not available anywhere else.

I began using the Key West Aloe aftershave 30 years ago. Use it to this day.

Frank Romano and Joe Liszka were the founders and developers of Key West Aloe. At some point in time, they sold the business. Today it only exists in Key West with 2 small sales stores. The large sales store and factory long ago moved to another aea by the new owners.

I never knew Joe. He had died when I met Frank. Met him at WeBeFit. A gym specializing in helping senior citizens.

Frank and I became friends. He lived on Key Haven as I did. I attended parties at his home.

One of the finest people I have met. Frank is now gone also. Our paths are all the same.

I mention Frank and Joe because it was on this day in 1971 that they opened Key West Fragrances and Cosmetics.

Syracuse/Louisville in football at 4 today. Louisville favored.

I can’t wait for the Syracuse football season to come to an end.

Bumble Bee Tuna. A famous American food. Filed for bankruptcy yesterday.

Technical name Bumble Bee Foods. Began business 120 years ago.

It is rumored that a Taiwan based company will purchase Bumble Bee in the bankruptcy proceeding for just under $1 billion. Bumble Bee will continue do business as a result.

A recent Princeton study did not speak well of the U.S. I agree with the study’s conclusions. Negative does not always hurt. It can serve as a wake up call.

The Study is titled: The U.S. Is Not Losing Its Democracy, It’s Already Gone.

The conclusion to the study is that America has become an oligarchy. Made possible by the Congress. The situation described in the Study as the “foxes remain in charge of the hen house.”

Comments re the Study were published in Collective-Evolution on 11/22/19.

I recommend it as a READ! Definitely!

I am setting forth 4 quotes from the Study. They have a way of saying it all.

“You would think that, with the rise of science and technology, we would have been able to bed a far more prosperous nation. Instead, we have seen a vast reduction in our standard of living, and are being forced to work longer and harder in increasingly menial and unfulfilling jobs across the land. We are ever more being subjected to the control-hungry vicissitudes of mega-corps that are swallowing up American entrepreneurship and prosperous self-employment.”

“…..our democracy is currently broken.”

“…..economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impact on U.S. government policy, while average citizens have little or no independent influence.”

“The foxes remain in charge of the hen house.”

Lindsay Graham and Joe Biden have been friends for years. No more. Graham has asked the House Intelligence Committee for all records re Hunter Biden and Joe Biden’s  involvement with the Ukraine government when he was Vice-President.

Something about bribery claimed. The charge has already  been investigated every each way with absolutely nothing coming up.

The charge by Graham is clear indication he has sold his soul to the company store. The company store in this instance being Trump.

Graham has an election next year. He does not want to alienate Trump for fear Trump would arrange for him to have a primary. A primary many believe Graham could lose.

Giuliani back in the news. He has indirectly come out of the hole he has been hiding in the past few weeks.

One of Giuliani’s associates in whatever went on in  the Ukraine is Lev Parnas. Parnas presently under indictment.

Parnas’ attorney said his client was willing to tell Congress that David Nunes met with an ex-Ukrainian official in the Ukraine to get dirt on Biden. There may have been more than one meeting.

Enjoy your day!

It was Camelot! America had a young President and wife. Two very young children. The whole world was excited!

The man, John Kennedy.

Unfortunately on this day in 1963, John Kennedy was assassinated. Shot while in Dallas.

There is a saying to the effect that people remember where they were on a day when something of importance occurred.

I recall where I was the day Kennedy died.

I was a young lawyer. Twenty eight. The building where my office was located had a small cafeteria on the second floor. I stopped in for a cup of coffee.

Bill Goldbas came in at the same time. An elderly respected attorney. Somewhere in his 80’s. We sat together.

All of a sudden the radio announced Kennedy had been shot and was dead. Tears came to my eyes. Bill bawled like a baby.

As I recall the occasion even now, the tears return.

The U.S. lost a lot that day. Many wonder what the future of our country would have been had he lived.

Camelot died that day also. Kennedy was special.

The northeast enjoyed a special event last night. The Northern Lights. Something like 100 meteors flashing through the sky at roughly the same time.

Their path was to take them over Massachusetts. Sue lives on Cape Cod. She was able to watch. From 11 to 11:50.

Sue described the celestial show as “amazing!”

She e-mailed, “I saw 6 meteors in the sky.  At first glows they looked like the line that an airplane would make in the sky. Then they became brighter lines. A few of them seemed to sparkle. One meteor looked like it glowed red light. It was so calm and cold outside it was an amazing sight. I was watching something I had never seen before. I really enjoyed it. It wasn’t anything I could photograph it was too far away but clear at the same time.”

The House Intelligence Committee public hearings re Impeachment have concluded.

I was very impressed by most of the witnesses. The two that stood out without question were women. Don’t know if gender had anything to do with it. It was probably that they were honest, humble, knowledgeable, and did not take any abuse.

The ladies Fiona Hill and Marie Yavanovitch.

I repeat what I wrote yesterday. These 2 ladies as well as most of the other witnesses were civil servants or support staff to persons high in office.

Their honesty alone was compelling. so different from other witness that we have observed for years who generally were top level government officials. They came across as bullshitters. You had the feeling they could not be trusted.

The ladies were to the contrary. People such as they should sit in the highest levels of government rather than the hacks politically appointed.

Netanyahu faces indictment. Good!

He led Israel for 10 years. At the beginning, he was a shining light. A leader to be trusted, to be followed.

The longer he held office however, the more tyrannical he became. A bully, a know it all, pushed everyone around including leaders of other countries, a warmonger. Today, he and Trump are birds of a feather.

I don’t care how much Trump and the bankers tell us the economy is good because the stock market is high. They are not to be believed.

Many continue to suffer economically.

A most recent example is an article concerning “personal loans.”

More people are borrowing on a personal basis than ever before. Especially in the past year. Personal loans are up 10 percent.

Personal loans are in effect “quick cash.” Records indicate people are borrowing for a vacation or to pay off credit card debt.

Economists claim such borrowing is potentially a red flag for the economy.

The average personal debt is $16,259. Comparable to credit card debt. The figure up 10 percent from last year.

There is an old adage in banking…..If it’s growing like a weed, it probably is a weed.

The message to the effect that things may not be as good economically as they appear.

I continue to believe a recession is in the making. There is too much instability in the world. Much initiated/caused by Trump.

Measles were a calamity last year in the U.S. A major calamity this year in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Five thousand have died in a recent outbreak. The World Health Organization says the Congo measles problem is the “world’s largest and fastest growing epidemic.”

The Congo has already vaccinated 4 million on an emergency basis. Less than one half the population. One problem is not enough vaccine is available.

When a basketball game results in a very low score, it generally means the game was a defensive one. Especially in pro and college ball.

On this day in 1956, 2 professional teams played. The Fort Wayne Pistons and Minnesota Lakers. Fort Wayne won 19-18. A very low scoring game even for 1956.

The score I believe is the lowest NBA score ever.

The world never changes. A happening/a problem one day can still exist or return many years later.

An example involves the “Jewish State in Palestine.” In 1818, Russia’s Tsar Alexander I petitioned for a Jewish state in Palestine.

In 1906, China prohibited “opium treaties.”

Wars are costly. The U.S. has been in a “Forever War” since 9/11. The U.S. has constantly been involved militarily in several places at one time.

The cost to the U.S. for its forever war involvement has been $6.4 trillion.

A tidy sum.

Money spent on wars is money not spent on other national needs.

Two years ago, China’s President Xi said the U.S. was behind in 2 matters because of its indiscriminate involvement in wars.

One, is in improving its military. True. Trump has been trying to do so. He has accomplished some. However, he doesn’t always leave the money in the military budget. He “borrows” military dollars to pay for his wall.

The other is infrastructure. Even China is aware that our roads, transportation, schools, etc., are in desperate need of updating. Infrastructure has been forgotten in order to finance other items.

What did U.S. dollars “buy” in the Forever War? Eight hundred one thousand killed. Included in that number 335,000 civilians.

Enjoy your day!

On week from today Thanksgiving. The next day the start of Christmas shopping. The stores will be playing Christmas carols.

One of the carols that will be heard is Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Not written as a Christmas carol, however.

It was July 1945. The song writing team of Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn were in California. Styne wrote the music, Cahn the lyrics.

It was an unusually hot summer. I doubt there was air conditioning back then in homes and offices. Californians were sweltering.

Out of frustration, Styne and Cahn wrote a song to make themselves and others feel cool. The song Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Vaughn Monroe recorded it. Let It Snow! became an immediate hit. Its popularity did not die as Christmas approached. People began playing it as part of their Christmas repertoire.

Several years later, Frank Sinatra recorded the song. A while later, Dean Martin.

Let It Snow! is still with us. As a Christmas carol. We are sure to hear it beginning next week.

Lunched at Harpoon Harry’s yesterday. The wednesday special is a turkey dinner. Excellent!

I was seated at the bar. Soon a lovely young lady sat next to me.  We chatted.

From Toronto, she had arrived in Key West only 2 hours earlier. First time here. She was staying at a guest house near Harpoon Harry’s.

She is in Key West for 5 days. She is in the film business. Has a documentary entered in the Film Festival.

Yesterday was the first really cold day in several months. Cold in the day time! It was 74 degrees. With a brisk wind was coming in off the Gulf.

I was cold. Most of the Key Westers in Harpoon Harry’s were dressed for it. Long pants, sweaters.

I have no long pants that fit since I lost all that weight last year. Nor did I think it was that cold when I left the house. I was in a T-shirt and shorts.

Did I feel the cold!!!

The film lady from Toronto mentioned how hot it was. She had left cold and snow. Her blood thick. Mine thin. She laughed when I said how cold I was. She was going to the beach after lunch.

An enjoyable lunch. She well traveled. We spoke of Greece. Cyprus her favorite island. She especially likes Turkey. We covered Italy and France, also. Our discussion primarily about the Alps.

I spent the afternoon watching the House Impeachment Inquiry. Trump buried again. Each day, the hole gets deeper. The Republican Committee members tried to salvage his ass. Only made them look ridiculous and emphasis Trump’s bad day.

I continue to admire the lower echelon bureaucrats who work in government. They are smart, know their jobs, and for most intents speak the truth. Contrary to what those in the higher echelons do.

Last night was the Democratic Debate. A lot of politics for one day. It was getting to me at the end of the evening.

I thought all the candidates did well. No one stood out.

I was especially impressed by the MSNBC moderators. All women. They were gentle, lady like and respectful. Finally! In the 4 previous debates, the moderators were bullies. Much like the Republicans on the House Impeachment Inquiry Committee.

Syracuse played Cornell last night. Syracuse won 72-53. A close game till the final 10 minutes.

Coach Boeheim and his wife have a difficult time in recent years when the 2 teams play. One son plays for Syracuse, the other Cornell.

Syracuse’s Buddy Boeheim scored 16 points. His brother Jim was Cornell’s high scorer with 25 points.

Boeheim says he does not enjoy the game when the 2 are playing against each other. Nor does their mother.

This morning’s Citizens’ Voice carried an interesting comment:  “The only non-breeding iguana is a dead iguana.” I agree. Iguanas are not a joke. They are destructive creatures. Kill them all!

In 3 different years, today had particular significance for Key West.

In 1946, Truman went down 440 feet in a captured German submarine manned by a U.S. crew. Part of Truman’s Key West vacation.

In 1954, the crew filming the “Rose Tattoo” completed the film’s final scenes at the Mardi Gras Club at 92 Duval Street. Then left en masse. The play The Rose Tattoo was written by Tennessee Williams. Filmed at a house 2 doors from his Key West home. Burt Lancaster stayed at Williams’ home during the filming.

In 1978, filming was started on a movie about the life of Captain Tony Tarracino.

Three to 5 years ago, there was a huge dispute re the Keystone Pipeline. Part was to be constructed in North Dakota. Local Indian tribes and environmentalists opposed the pipeline. Claimed it would spill and cause significant damage.

Pipeline developers and owners said no way would the pipeline leak.

Obama opposed the construction and prevented it from being built.

Trump was elected. During the first month of his Presidency, Trump signed an Executive Order permitting the project to go ahead.

The pipeline’s third spill occurred October 29. Not the first, not the second, the third.

Pipeline owners initially reported the spill/leak as a minimum one. Three hundred eighty three gallons, 2,500 square feet affected.

The preceding the result of “visual” testing.

Turns out the spill was much worse that initially reported. Eight thousand thirty seven barrels (not gallons). The leak impacted 23,232 square yards (4.8 acres).

The oil company people claim they were able to clean up most of the spill promptly. By November 9, 8,037 barrels.

The moral: If it can’t spill, it will. Those quick to ok such a construction (Trump) did so without knowing what he was doing. He was accommodating a major corporation and not the people in surrounding the area.

When next will Keystone experience another spill?

An example of negligence/malpractice. Goshen Hospital in Goshen, Indiana.

Staff failed to properly disinfect surgical tools. Used and reused in more than 1,000 operations from April 1 to September 30. Operations performed included hepatitis, HIV, and other infectious diseases.

Hospital has notified the 1,000 plus patients who were operated on with the “dirty” surgical tools. The hospital claims risk of infection low. The hospital willing to test free of charge any patients involved.

One of the patients a nurse. Says she is “scared!”

Ella Fitzgerald’s professional discovery an interesting one.

It was this day in 1934. Ella was a “nobody.” It was Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater. Names were put in a hat. A certain number were pulled out. Ella’s was.

She walked on the stage intending to do a dance number. At the last minute, changed her mind and decided to sing.

You know the rest. Her decision was one that not only changed her life, it changed musical history forever.

Enjoy your day!

George Washington died in 1799.

Ten years later, Parson Weems was in need of money. He was a bit of a writer. Actually not that good. He found a publisher to produce a book he had written about George Washington: The Life of Washington.

Many parts were fabrication. One a myth which has lived through the ages.

The years have resulted in many variations. The original by Weems was with reference to a cherry tree purportedly cut down by Washington when he was a 6 year old boy: “I cannot tell a lie…..I did cut it with my hatchet.”

The most popular variation: “I cannot tell a lie…..I cut down the cherry tree.”

An incident learned by all children in their earliest school years. Later in life some remember, others forget.

Two men who testified before the House Intelligence Committee yesterday forgot. They lied their asses off. Ambassador Volker and Tim Morrison.

What men will do to preserve a job. Educated, talented men. Supposedly men of honor.

Trump will give them 24 hours of honor. The nation will remember them for years as deceitful.

Another liar Gordon Sondland is testifying at this moment as I write the blog. Ambassador to the Euro Union. He is back befoe the Committee to recant to some the degree the many lies he told in an earlier performance.

Honor on the other hand knew no bounds during the testimony of Lt.Colonel Vindman.

Vindman came to the U.S. at the age of 3. He and his family had fled Russia.

Vindman served in Iraq, was wounded, and now serves in the White House.

It was a pleasure to watch him testify. Proud to be an American. Spoke only the truth.

The Republicans beat up on him. Insulted his service, insinuated he was seeking a high ranking job in the Ukraine, etc. Vidman was sensitive on occasion. Understandably so. He advised he had been threatened orally and by tweets. He and his family.

The threats may be true. Whatever, the U.S. Army moved Vindman and his family to an Army base last night for protective purposes.

Earlier, Trump tweeted that Vindman and certain others who spoke “against” him should be “dismissed.” Retaliated against.

Such is what our country has become. Those that support the U.S. must be destroyed. Only those who follow the tyrant may remain.

The Republican members of the committee can best be described as “thugs” and “bullies.” Jim Jordan the worst.

Trump claims he and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un have a “love” relationship. Appears one sided. Trump gives, Kim takes, Kim gives nothing in return.

The annual U.S./South Korea military exercise was rescheduled. Kim upset again. Trump called off the military exercise again. Trump has consistently claimed such exercises are a waste of money.

In the past few months, North Korea has been firing missiles in every direction. Forty plus missiles. Trump not concerned. Says the missiles did not have nuclear warheads on them.

Trump thought calling off the military exercise again would placate Kim. They could continue to be friends, hold hands, maybe go to the movies together.

Didn’t work. Kim takes the position the U.S. continues to be “hostile.” He expects more from the U.S. to show the U.S.’s good faith.

Pompeo another with a screwed up mentality.

He graduated #1 in his class at West Point. A cum laude Harvard Law graduate. A former U.S. Congressman. Now, Secretary of State.

He has been Trump’s right hand in destroying the State Department. He refuses to stand up to Trump. He follows his Pied Piper and does everything Trump wants.

New York Times’ columnist Tom Friedman referred to Pompeo in an article over the weekend as a “coward.” Friedman says he “would not want to be in a foxhole with him,” nor depend on Trump to watch his back in a battle.

Pompeo has consistently failed to stand up for and support the members of the State Department he heads. He deserves Friedman’s comments.

Tonight the Democratic Debate. Should be interesting.

Jimmy Buffett first sang in the Chart Room. He needed a place to write during the day. He used the Key West Library. Refers to it as his “first office in Key West.”

Buffet claims the peacefulness of the Library inspired some of the songs he wrote there.

Willie Nelson has to be around my age. Old! Still going at it, however.

It was announced yesterday that Willie Nelson will appear at the Key West Amphitheater on February 17. Tickets go on sale in 2 days.

Got to admire the man. An American legend. Singing his songs for more than 60 years.

St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church stands in all its glory on Truman Ave. The feel inside and out of a tropical church.

It has so stood since 1904. On this date in that year, the Church was dedicated.

I thought Florida’s Governor DeSantis ran a stupid race. He was Trump, Trump, Trump. He won, however.

I believed Florida was going to be poorly led during his time in office.

I was wrong. He has turned out to be a terrific governor so far.

Not in every respect, however. He’s human.

I am upset with one provision in the budget he is proposing.

Pythons are out of control in Florida. Especially in the Everglades. More than 1 million. Experts have determined they cannot be eradicated. Too many. Only controlled.

The State has been trying to reduce their numbers the past several years. Always little, never enough.

DeSantis’ proposed budget provides for an additional $1 million to assist in disposing of pythons. Amounts to $1 per python. Will achieve nothing.

Joe Biden a friend. He would make a good President in my opinion. Today he is 77 years old. Happy birthday, Joe!

Enjoy your day!

An exceptional evening last night. A big day ahead. Followed by Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou this evening.

Joined Dueling Bartenders last night. Terri singing. Joined by Rick Dery.

Both exceptional.

Donna appeared. She looked terrific! Donna has been sick the past 2 months. Broken knee, some serious stomach problems, etc. She apparently has made a full recovery. It showed in her face and personality.

Lynda and Bob Frechette listening to Terri also. A great couple! We have become good friends over the years.

Enjoyed a diet soda with Mary. Stayed about an hour. All I could take. Not drinking still bothers me. It is hard to be in a bar and not drink, though I am doing good. It seems like everyone is having fun, but me.

Left early for dinner at La Trattoria with Mary. Carrie bartending.

Met an interesting young lady. Her name Fanny. She was seated next to Mary.

Fanny lovely. Young. No more than 25, if at all.

Fanny’s home is Marseille. She left France following graduation to take a position in San Francisco. She is involved with robots. A sale engineer with a firm that is in the commercial robot field.

She has to be a smart lady.

In Key West for vacation. From here to Montreal to visit her sister when she leaves. Then back to work in San Francisco. A lot of traveling.

I live and learn. I asked where she was staying. Turned out she is “couchsurfing.” A new term for me.

Couchsurfing is an international organization. Twelve million strong. Puts tourists/travelers together with a couch in someone’s home. No charge. Fanny sleeping on a couch in someone’s home in Key west.

While I was eating, someone tapped my shoulder. John from the Chart Room. He was with a lovely young lady. He always is. She goes by Downtown Julie Brown. Julie has lived in Key West quite a while. Involved in all kinds of business pursuits.

I started working on this blog at 5 this morning. Hopefully will be done or close to done by 9. I want to spend the day sitting leisurely before the TV set watching the Congressional Committee hearings.

I am a political junkie!

The President keeps digging a deeper hole for himself. His tweets are helping to bury him. His problem. He refuses to learn.

The hearings also are burying him. Staff people standing up. Not 2 bit politicians acting with bravado and saying nothing.

Trump’s 2 hour Walter Reed Hospital visit saturday leaves me with questions. An early start on his yearly physical? We are being bullshitted.

I assume he had chest pains. Understandable with the pressure he continues to be under.

A 2 hour hospital visit enough time to run necessary tests. I was in the hospital a couple of weeks ago with chest pains.

Blood work, urine, a chest x-ray and ekg.

He  must have passed and was sent home. Probably aggravation, stress, etc. We have all been there.

It bothers me how the doctors handle Trump. His doctor when he was running wrote a short letter saying the man was in the best of health. The Navy Captain or Admiral who was his White House doctor lied for him. Now, I suspect the Walter Reed people also.

The walls are closing in on  Trump. The noose getting tighter. He is Humpty Dumpty. Falling. Not yet completely down. When he does hit, it will be impossible to put him together. Just like Humpty Dumpty: “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall / Humpty Dumpty had a great fall / All the horses and all the king’s men could not put Humpty together again.”

Trump advised over the weekend he was considering testifying in person or by written answers before the Congressional Committee.

Don’t hold your breath!

Trump continues to change his mind, flip sides, etc. The most recent example is his position on flavored e-cigarettes. He came out opposed.

The New York Times and Washington Post announced over the weekend Trump was back pedaling and backing off from his initial position.

Trump was made aware by some that he could lose the vapor vote in key swing states.

At least Trump is consistent. He always does what is good for Donald, not the people he was elected to protect.

Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has many of Trump’s characteristics. Some even worse.

He is a total failure as far as working with and protecting State Department employees.

Tom Friedman noted it clearly in his New York Time’s column yesterday. Referred to Pompeo as “cowardly” and “self-serving.”

Pompeo was first in his class at West Point. Impressive! Apparently only as to true academic courses. Friedman says Pompeo “must have flunked all his courses on ethics and leadership.” He fails to look out for his “soldiers” in the State Department.

Friedman advises he would not want to be in a trench with Pompeo: “Watch your own backs because Pompeo won’t.”

Tonight Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. Join me for a quick moving interesting half hour. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

I love to rant and rave! Tuesday Talk gives me the opportunity.

Enjoy your day!

Syndicated columnist Walter Williams wrote an article titled Young People Are Ignorant of History. My initial reaction was yes. After thinking about it a bit, I realized my reaction was not correct.

Williams was referring to millenials. I go back even further in reference to the “young.” I have discovered that the “young” rarely know anything of an historical nature that occurred before they were born. Life for them and the world began at birth.

Makes me wonder if anyone pays attention to history in school any more.

To the other end of the spectrum. Many older people are ignorant of history, also. Trump an example.

A President without an awareness of history. Amazing! No wonder he knows nothing.

Came across an interesting ad over the weekend. Directed at senior citizens.  The ad was by a company promoting a drug for aged persons.

The quote…..There are only 2 types of people in the world. Senior citizens and those in training to be senior citizens.

Makes sense.

I have read many times that man has 2 great drives. Sex and food. The sex speaks for itself. Food on occasion qualifies as a “drive.” Not as often as sex.

I enjoyed my food drive yesterday.

I purchased fresh dates from Publix. Very seldom available. They were absolutely delicious! Sweet! Juicy! First time I have tasted them in years.

My Sunday got totally screwed up.

I research and write this blog in the morning. Start researching at 6. Generally finish the writing 5 hours later at 11.

Not yesterday.

My platform for the blog is WordPress. Love it! However, let me down yesterday. I could not open WordPress.

I needed Sloan to contact WordPress and get the problem corrected. We had been there before and she would know what to do.

Sloan was working at her other job. Her phone turned off while there. I did not hear from her till around 2. I had made her specifically aware of what was happening via e-mail and a phone message.

She called me after contacting WordPress. Voila! Problem corrected! Not totally, however. Time! It was around 5 by the time I got the blog done and out.

Took a shower and went out to dinner.

Roostica. Roostica has an “organic chicken” special Sundays. In addition to their spaghetti and gravy specialty. I enjoyed the organic chicken again. A tasteful dish. It has to be the “organic” factor in addition to spicing that makes the chicken so tasty.

I am Italo-American My people from the Naples region. Pasta was big in my home as I grew up. Twice a week. Wednesday night and Sunday.

We called it “sauce.” The first time I heard “sauce” was when Roostica opened. Since then I have learned many people are aware of it as sauce. Depends on the region of the U.S. they come from.

It is getting a bit cool in Key West. Days ok. In the mid 70’s. Nights not good. Last night, 69 degrees. I got the quilt out of the closet.

The media reports South Florida is “shivering” from below normal temperatures for mid November.

Not so much from the cold up north. More from a “disturbance” which has developed in the Atlantic. Could finally become a tropical storm or hurricane. Too soon for further accuracy. The projection is a 40-60 percent chance for a hurricane.

Or, it could be the disturbance will continue northwest and then turn northward in the Atlantic never reaching land.

Hurricane season technically ends November 30. There have been years however when we have experienced storms after that date.

Syracuse University is experiencing “racial” problems. Six racial incidents in 10 days. Anti-black, anti-Jew, anti-African Americans.

A problem at a fraternity. As result all fraternities have been prohibited from having any events for the rest of the semester.

The students are protesting on University grounds and inside buildings. They have delivered a set of 18 short and long term demands. The University is required to respond in 2 days by November 20. Otherwise, the Chancellor will be called upon to resign.

The University is concerned. It does not want a Kent State on their hands.

I was a student at Syracuse from 1957-1960. No one protested anything. Protests did not bloom till the mid to late 1960’s and were a result of the Vietnam War.

Those attending Syracuse during my era were there to get an education. Period. We concerned ourselves with nothing else.

Came the mid 1980’s and I was Chairman of the Law School Board of Visitors. We had a great Dean. He was Jewish, though I did not know it nor do I think anyone else did. And if anyone was aware, they did not care.

Till an episode occurred.

The Dean had a private bathroom. To get to it one had to go through his private office and lounge. To get to his office, one had to be admitted by anyone of several staff who faithfully guarded his office.

A person did get in. Determined later to have been a student. He wrote on the bathroom mirror “Jew go home.”

The Dean was irritated big time. Properly so. He resigned.

The Board did not want him to leave. He had already gone. We brought him back immediately to New York City. New York City rather than Syracuse itself because most of the Board members were from New York and it was easier to swiftly get everyone together.

One of the New Yorkers was CEO of a major bank. We met in the bank’s board room. On the top floor of a tall building. Glass window walls all around. I could not help thinking I had finally made it!

Anyhow, it was a battle. The Dean was adamant. He would not return.

The reason we wanted him back was that in our combined experiences as students, attorneys and Board members we had never had such a skilled and quality Dean.

After about 5 hours of beating the Dean up, he agreed to return.

The Jew go home thing was handled quietly. I have always wanted to write a story about it. It began in Belgium, money involved and federalism.

Some day.

Another politically exciting week ahead. More Congressional hearings. They begin at 9 tomorrow morning. Eight witnesses covering the week.

As good as it gets. I love politics. I will be glued to the TV all day.

What better way to end today’s blog than with Mickey Mouse!

It was this day in 1928. Mickey Mouse made his film debut in the “Steamboat Willie” cartoon. Had sound and music.

It was a success! Walt Disney’s first cartoon success!

Sound was new at the time.

Something I did not know and perhaps many of you were unaware, Mickey’s voice was that of Walt Disney.

Enjoy your day!

There is something unique about Key West. Everyone who craves to write ends up here at one time or another. Not just the Ernest Hemingways and Tennessee Williams. Even those who aspire though may be of little talent.

Like me. A Hemingway or Williams I am not. However I enjoy the experience of writing. It gives me pleasure. That is what it is all about.

Met a writer and his wife last night at the Chart Room. Charles and Sherry from Tampa. They visit Key West often.

Charles is in the final stages of his first book. Approximately 450 pages. Has had an editor help him. He believes in his work. He aspires to literary greatness. Seeks an agent. Hopes to have a major publisher.

I admire Charles and his enthusiasm. He may have a best seller. I wish him well.

Some write for success. I write for me. Nothing more satisfying than having a book published. Like the birth of a child.

The next step in the process is the book selling. Hopefully. My first The World Upside Down did not sell 100 copies. Irma and me did better. Sold 800 copies. A big difference!

I should break a thousand with the next one.

Charles’ book is venued in Key West. The title Climbing the Divide Line. He will be publishing under a fictitious name: Arthur Meadows. I do not know why.

Charles and Sherry nice people. I enjoyed my time with them, especially Charles. I hope his novel makes the New York Times Top Ten Seller List.

John bartending. Good to see him again.

The Chart Room filled up quickly. It seems to have become more popular than ever.

Captain Tony. Tony Tarracino. His bar lives on even years after his death. Captain Tony’s Saloon.

Captain Tony opened his world famous establishment on Greene Street in 1964. The previous owner had operated the establishment under the name the Oldest Bar.

Before World War II, during World War II, following World War II, the U.S. Navy frowned on certain bars in Key West. Those that allowed B-girls and prostitutes. The Oldest Bart had the problem. The Navy issued an order the bar was “off limits.” Morality and the medical bills for syphilis the motivating reasons.

When Captain Tony took over, the Navy lifted the prohibition and the new orders made Captain Tony’s Saloon an “on limits” establishment.

Syracuse won a double header yesterday. Beat Bucknell in football 40 something to 7. In the evening, Seattle 89-67 in basketball.

About time. I am happy for me and the guys playing. The season so far has not been the greatest in either sport.

One of the frequent commenters to this blog is Kokomo Man. We do not always agree. Nothing wrong with that.

I mentioned Hair yesterday. Pointed out a couple of songs that came out of the musical. One was Aquarius. “The dawning of the age of Aquarius…..”

I know nothing about the moon and the stars and how such things affect our lives. Kokomo apparently does. He wrote that the dawning of Aquarius was 3/22/1968. I could find nothing to say the date was accurate.

Kokomo further wrote that the Age of Aquarius will last 2,160 years. Much written in support of that number of years.

Which means we are still in the Age of Aquarius. Something I did not know.

The U.S. national debt hit $23 trillion this past week. The highest ever. Most economists believe the U.S. is moving towards “financial oblivion.”

The esteemed and highly respected Canadian columnist Michael Snyder published an article on the U.S. debt issue this past week. He believes the U.S. march into debt cannot be viewed as “normal” growth and should be “feared.” The U.S. is committing “financial suicide.”

He fears that if a major economic turndown hits the U.S., government intervention to bail certain companies out would be extremely limited.

Trump is spending money like no tomorrow. He controls the printing press. What he is doing is not healthy.

The one month deficit for October this year was $134.5 billion. Higher by 34 percent from October of last year.

Snyder describes the Trump/Republican spending as “negligence” and “mind blowing.” He further wrote, “The U.S. is in the final stages of the biggest debt bubble in history.” Not only in the U.S. World wide, also.

He sees a meltdown coming. A crash that will be bigger than the 2008 one.

Let me interject my feeling re the stock market. The highest ever. Trump sounding off about it. He should. It is the only thing he has going for himself.

Respected world wide banker Jamie Dimon says based on the stock market, the economy is terrific. No reason not to believe it will continue.

He bullshits us. Corporations and the rich have great balance sheets because of Trump’s tax cut. It is still reflecting to their benefit. The tax cut did nothing for the middle class or poor people.

The non-profit Financial Health Network recently came out with an interesting article re how tough it is for the American people. The article stated 70 percent of Americans are struggling financially.

Yet the market is the highest ever. Makes no difference the article stated. Seven out of 10 people are hurting paying bills or saving money. Financial stability lacking.

The article further went on to reflect 1.5 million middle class workers are spending more than they earn. Finally, 20 percent of women are stressed by money compared to 13 percent of men.

It was announced this past week that Trump had pardoned 3 military persons who had been convicted of war crimes.

Two questions arise in my mind.

Is Trump practicing for the pardons he is going to issue at some point to Paul Manafort, Roger Stone and if need be members of his family?

There are procedures to follow in making a Presidential pardon. Did Trump follow the procedures in each of the cases? I ask because he has issued pardons in the past without following the procedures.

On this day in 1973, Nixon appeared before a group of newspaper editors at a meeting in Disney World. He was questioned re the Watergate investigation which was still ongoing. His involvement.

Nixon responded, “…..people have got to know whether or not their President is a crook. Well, I’m not a crook.”

Sound familiar? Sort of the way Trump speaks today. The words may not be precisely the same. The thought is, however.

Which brings me to the issue of “truth.” Truth as it may apply/reflect re Trump.

Two truth quotes.

The first, “The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attach it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.” Winston Churchill.

The other, “Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” Buddha.

Enjoy your Sunday!

For years now, the America I knew and loved has been eroding. The hole got bigger when Trump became President.

All hope for my America was gone. Not only Trump, but also his minions. The elected officials in the Republican Party who follow him blindly for whatever reason.

Congresspersons, non-Congressional Washington people, candidates for the Supreme Court, etc. The Corey Lewandowskis, Jim Jordans, Chairman Nunes, Ambassador Sonlands, Mitch McConnells, William Barrs, etc.

Trump’s Cabinet and appointees prove the point. They are inept smart asses who serve as the President does. For his and their own selfish ends.

Now come the public Impeachment Inquiry examinations.

Three people this week impressed me no end. I did not think such people still existed. I refer to William Taylor, George Kent, and Marie Yovanovitch. My neighbors, friends, and even locally elected officials.

They were me, my parents, etc. Normal. Not self seeking.

I thought what I perceived as the good people of America were gone forever, no longer existed. Therefore America was on its way out. Sliding into an abyss from which there was no return.

What happened to the people who did serve in higher positions? Honorable God fearing persons. Doing good for the sake of good. Doing good because that is what is expected of a person.

There was a time I thought the underlings, the bureaucrats, the civil servants, were the cause of government going downhill. I was wrong. Yovanovitch, Taylor and Kent prove it. It is those they work under and report to that are screwed up.

Any of the three could be President.

Trump did it again! Stuck his foot in his mouth. His tweet where he knocked Yovanovitch while she was testifying. Chairman Schiff interrupted her testimony and read the President’s words to her. She felt intimidated by them.

Laurent Simons lives in Belgium. He is 9 years old. A genius. He graduates from college in December. A bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He will then attend a university to earn his PhD. He wants to take some medical courses along the way.

Laurent already knows what he wants to do with his life. He wants to develop artificial organs.

His professors say he is “simply extraordinary” and the “fastest student we have ever had.” They say he is like a “sponge.” “Absorbs” easily.

His parents do not know why their son a child prodigy. His mother believes it might be because “she ate a lot of fish when she was pregnant.”

His parents work at keeping him “normal.” At 9, he attends college with 18-21 year olds. Difficult socially. His mother says he enjoys play. However she describes “play” as fooling around with his dog Sammy. He also is on his cellphone all the time. No mention is made of playing with other 9 year olds.

I admire and worry about Laurent at the same time. Normality is no part of his life. I hope that which is and will be will provide him with a healthy existence mentally and physically.

I have been mentioning the past 2-3 years my concern for Key West. Everything is changing swiftly. Too swiftly. Not normal.

The better hotels are getting $700-$1000 a night in season. However, their rooms and those of the lesser priced are never full anymore. The restaurants and bars are doing a business. Though not as good as before.

The cruise ships come in. However they bring visitors at the lowest economic level.

My bar of choice is the Chart Room. In the Pier House. A top of the shelf hotel. I wander in the area of the Pier House. Many of the guests can be seen early evening returning to their rooms with a six pack and a pizza. They can’t afford the night life.

The tourists themselves have changed. No longer primarily the affluent. Rather those from a lower economic scale who have made it to Key West for the vacation of their lifetime.

You probably wonder why the tirade. Fodor’s Travel is an intentional travel guide. Key West has always been at the top of their recommendation list. No more.

Fodor’s has a “No” and “Yes” list. This year Key West is listed on the “No” list. Not recommended.

Fodor’s says it wants to give the reefs a break. There has to be more. It is found in my words here.

Tied into my observation that things are not continuing as they should has been the admonition that if Key West was not careful, the community would kill the chicken that laid the golden egg.

It is well on its way.

The Key West Film Festival is next weekend 11/20-11/24.

Actor Tom Skerritt will be in Key West. He is being awarded the Golden Key Award for his 40 movies and hundreds of TV shows.

The man is now 89. Still appears on TV. You would never know his age!

Skerritt has a Key West connection. Kelly McGillis was a Key West resident for years. She starred in Top Gun with Tom Cruise and Tom Skerritt.

The Waterfront Playhouse is featuring Hair next weekend.

A WOW 1960’s Broadway musical. I saw it in New York City its first month. Off Broadway at the time. Had not made it yet to Broadway.

The hippie culture on stage. Portrayed the sexual revolution of the late 1960’s.

The music outstanding! Like Aquarius and Let the Light Shine In.

I hope to see it again next weekend.

Tino Gonzalez and his wife Maria were snowbirds for many years. A home in Chicago and one in Key West. Sold because they wanted to be near their grandchildren in Chicago.

Tino’s real name Fausto. He is a retired federal agent.

I mentioned a week or 2 ago that he was performing as an extra in movies and TV shows being filmed in Chicago. He has graduated. He has his own spot(s) now. He is appearing tomorrow night in Chicago PD. He sent a picture of himself outfitted for his part. A mailman in the wintertime in Chicago.

Don’t think he has any words. Whatever, he continues on his way. Down the road, an Academy Award.

Harry Truman loved Key West and Key West loves Harry Truman.

Truman arrived in Key West on November 17, 1946 to begin a one week vacation at The Little White House.

The bubonic plague is back. The Black Death of medieval times.

Two cases have been reported in Beijing. A married couple from inner Mongolia.

There is no cure for bubonic plague.

The medical people involved claim the chance of an outbreak is “extremely low.”

There are 3 types of plague. The couple in Beijing have pneumonic. Respiratory. Caught as a result of being near a coughing person who is infected. The other 2 caused by fleas and animals.

Ten years ago, I wrote a lengthy article for KONK Life on the bubonic plague of medieval times. The plague lasted more than 200 years. The cause a Pope who stupidly thought cats were inhabited by the Devil.

The Pope ordered all cats killed.

The cats had been the peoples’ savior re the plague. The cats would eat the mice who carried the fleas causing the bubonic plague.

The mice burdened fleas then had no enemy and went their merry way infecting the world.

Syracuse football and basketball today. Football against Duke this afternoon. Basketball tonight against Bucknell.

If I am able to get the games on TV, I will have a rewarding day. I don’t now however. The Comcast/ACCN war is still on.

Enjoy your day!