I am a bit late with my D-Day blog. Did not feel well for a few days so did nothing.

My D-Day story a special one. About a special person. Someone I knew well and respected. His name Marcus Curry.

Marcus’ roots were Boston. His grandfather a judge, his father an attorney. Marcus graduated from Harvard in time for World War II. The Army infantry. He was one of those who was trained for D-Day.  A sergeant at the time. 

It was Omaha Beach for Marcus. Not everything went as planned. Marcus was on one of the first landing larges.  It did not land timely. Due to poor weather and German bombing from the beach, his landing barge bounced around for hours before it headed inland as originally planned. Circled and circled in the weather. Everyone sick throwing up.

His barge headed in the second day.

Never made it. Got blown up on the way in. 

Marcus survived. However, he was way out in the water, a long distance from the beach. Somehow he had lost all his equipment and clothing.  He was able to finally make it to the beach where he crawled up bare ass. Marcus portrayed what happened next to me in simple terms. A colonel was standing on the beach. Saw Marcus unattired and without a weapon, shouted at him: “What are you doing? Don’t you know men are dying inland. Get some clothes and a weapon and get up there.”

Marcus told me he thought the colonel was a “dumb fuck.” He, Marcus, was lucky to have made it to the beach and be alive, and this asshole colonel was chastising him.

Marcus did his duty by God and country, found some clothes and a gun, and moved on.

A few days later, he was captured. For some unfathomable reason, the Germans thought he knew some secret information.  They tortured him to obtain it. They placed his balls in a metal vise and screwed away. Turned and turned.

At first Marcus screamed. Then laughed. Does not know why the laughs came. But they did. He just laughed and continued to laugh out loud big time instead of screaming.

To the day he died, Marcus claimed his balls in the vise was the worst experience of his life.

The Germans finally realized Marcus was either crazy or they had made a mistake and devised him. 

A few days later, Marcus escaped and continued the fight into Germany.

When the war ended, Marcus and thousands of other American troops were rather promptly released. Marcus decided to play golf for a while. He did so everyday for months. Then decided he wanted to go to law school. It was the early summer of 1946. Harvard accepted him. However cold not take him till January. Boston University would take him in September. It was Boston University for him.

Somehow Marcus became a New York City lawyer rather than a Boston one as his grandfather and father had been. He became an insurance company trial lawyer. Rode the subways daily from one courthouse to another.

He apparently did a good job. Judge Lockwood was a retired New York State Supreme Court Justice in Utica. He did not enjoy judging as much as being a trial lawyer so he retired and went back to work at his former firm. He hired Marcus to move to Utica and work with his firm. 

Marcus was a good 15 years older than me. We met when he came to Utica. Sometimes we were on the same side of a lawsuit, others on opposing sides. Marcus I soon discovered was an outstanding attorney. Quiet and sedate. Knew what he was doing all the time.

Marcus was with the Judge’s firm for several years. I was in need of another good trial man. A top gun. I thought of Marcus. Could I attract him away from the Judge’s firm? We talked. He agreed to join me. Acquiring him, one of the best moves I ever made.

Marcus was with me 22 years before he passed on. A lawyers’ lawyer. He handled many of the “big cases” for my firm. Made me a ton of money, as well as himself. I compensated him well. He was worth every penny.

I eulogized Marcus when he passed away. One of the things I shared was he and I in 22 years never had a bad word or disagreement between us. He understood his position and responsibility and performed accordingly. He was a mentor to me as well as a friend.

Enjoy your day!

Elijah Hogan is a New Orleans high school student who has lived in a homeless shelter since the Fall of 2022. He lived without family in the homeless shelter.

Elijah graduated recently as Valedictorian with a 3.96 GPA.

When he went homeless 2 years ago, he almost dropped out of school. However decided against it.

He has received a full tuition scholarship to Xavier University of Louisiana where he plans to study graphic design and art.

He has created a GoFundMe page to help cover the cost of housing, food and other basic needs. Make a small contribution if you can. Elijah is a winner and should be helped.

Jill Biden and certain family members have been in court for the first two day’s of Hunter’s trial.

Jill sits in the front row in a show of support for Hunter as her son. He is actually her step son. She raised him, however. At one point during a pause in the jury selection monday, she walked over to Hunter, gave him a long hug, then stroked his cheek. His wife Melissa Cohen Biden and his step sister Ashley are also with him.

Respected columnist Maureen Dowd wrote an “exciting” deep piece in yesterday’s New York Times: “The Verdict Is In on the Supreme Court.”

Re the Court, she wrote: “I don’t need a black robe to hand down a judgment on the Supreme Court. It’s corrupt, rotten and hurting America.”

No pussy footing around by Dowd.

She followed the statement with another a few paragraphs later: The Court “is in the hands of a cabal of religious and far-right zealots, including a couple of ethical scofflaws with MGA wives.”

Go Maureen, go!

A 74 year old woman was in hospice in Lincoln, Nebraska. She “died” monday and was sent to a funeral parlor. The funeral director noticed she was breathing. He had her transferred to a hospital immediately. She died tuesday at the hospital.

It happens. 

My first book was The World Upside Down. I recall writing in the book about two such incidents over the years. I’m sure there were more.

Caitlin Clark is getting beat on. Physically and orally. Terrible!

LeBron James had a similar experience when he began. He issued a statement protective of Caitlin. The statement destroys those against her in a few words: “If you don’t rock with Caitlin Clark, you’re just a FLAT OUT HATER.”

Doesn’t seem to be any question about it.

Evidence of crazy weather exists in Texas. Hail! Hail the size of cantaloupes. Some larger than 6 inches in diameter. A photo was run of one in a man’s hand. It was the size of a large grapefruit.

D-Day tomorrow. June 6th!

Almost did not occur on that date. Weather was horrible. Rain consistently. The invasion had already been delayed a couple of days. Could not delay beyond the 6th till a month later. Word came down there would be a 3 hour break in the weather on the 6th. Still not much time. Eisenhower had a heavy decision to make. He said, “We go!”

More about D-Day tomorrow.

Enjoy your day!

Congressional Republicans continue to waste time and money re COVID issues. Yesterday a Republican led Congressional Committee examined Anthony Fauci. They claim he orchestrated a coverup of COVID’s origins.

How stupid! Waste of time and money! Fauci helped save our asses. COVID was horrible, would have been far worse without his protecting us against Trump’s craziness and then moving forward under Biden.

Fauci has been retired since 2022.

Republicans also being critical of the 6 foot rule claiming “no science to support that!” Of course not. It’s called common sense.

If someone is ill or might be ill, you don’t want them standing near you or next to you or breathing on you.

Republicans have other issues at this time. Valid issues. Including health issues to pursue. Like remedying abortion problems. They fail to do so. Their agenda a “get even” one. The American people deserve better.

The origin of two famous comments. “Hit the hay” and “full of beans.”

In the 1800’s, mattresses were filled with hay. Ergo, the term.

The source of full of beans was born in horse racing in the 1800’s. Horses were fed beans before a race to make them gassy in the belief they would run faster.

There are fewer bugs on auto windshields these days. Why? A study concluded there are more cars on the roads and most have bigger windshields. Bugs have not increased. Ergo no reason to be concerned some ecological tragedy is occurring.

Janis Paige, comedic singing star of stage and screen, died yesterday at the age of 101. She starred on Broadway in Pajama Game, danced with Fred Astaire in Silk Stockings, and played a flirtish waitress who tempted Archie Bunker to stray from his marriage vows in All in the Family.

Two significant days in American history: June 4, 1940 and June 4, 1942.

On June 4, 1940, England was successful in removing 338,000 Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk. A major result following a terrible defeat. 

Winston Churchill inspiringly declared following their removal: “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills, we shall never surrender.”

On June 4, 1942, the war in the Pacific turned for the U.S. The Battle of Midway began resulting in a decisive American victory against Japan and marked the turning point in the war in the Pacific.

Enjoy your day!

Donald Trump, liar of liars, the Pinocchio of politics, claims he never called for Hillary Clinton to be locked up. He denies ever calling for her to be jailed.

The “lock her up” issue came up during an interview yesterday on “Fox and Friends Weekend.”

Trump talking “stupid” in another vein yesterday. He said he will “accept” home confinement or jail time. “He would accept.” Who does he think he is? Whatever the sentence, he’s stuck with it unless an appellate court overturns it for some reason.

Trump followed up his asinine statement with another re if he were jailed: “I think it will be tough for the public to take…..there’s a breaking point.”

Some would protest. However as Trump’s battle has waged since 2020, his popularity has diminished a bit at a time. By the time he might be heading for jail, his following will not be anywhere as significant as it once was.

Many believe it is time to reign in the Supreme Court. Certain members are exceedingly out of line. Alito and Thomas to be specific.

The time is here. Now. What remains is the courage to proceed. Top legal theorists are suggesting ways. It is time to pay attention and move forward.

The Supreme Court is out of hand. No longer functions as was intended. People are losing faith in the institution as it has with the other two branches of government.

Alito and Thomas have actually done the U.S. people a favor. They have crystalized the issue of propriety and control as far as the Court is concerned. By the two attempting to be omnipotent, they have weakened the Court. They are cracks in the dyke.

Rupert Murdoch was married saturday. Murdoch the media mogul. Helped make his fortune with FOX and the Wall Street Journal. At 93, married for the fifth time.

He is estimated to be worth $10 billion. His new wife is Elena Zhukova, a 67 year old molecular biologist.

The rise of anti-Semitism is overwhelming.

Jesus was a Jew. Many anti-Semites are Christians. Something neither discussed nor considered. Jesus was born, lived and died a Jew.

Why is such ignored?

Faye Dunaway, a Hollywood great. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Bonnie and Clyde.

Back in my sailing days, her eastern U.S. home was located in Stamford, Connecticut. A lovely property near the Stamford Yacht Club.

I had put into the Yacht Club on two occasions while sailing off the north shore of Long Island. We would walk a bit each day. We would pass Dunaway’s home each time. Admired it!

The Yacht Club also provided the opportunity to meet Edward R. Murrow. I remained alone on the boat one afternoon while my friends were out and about. Our sail boat was slipped next to an even larger power boat. The gentleman on it was alone also. We began chatting. He invited me to come on board. We enjoyed a drink together. It was Edward R. Murrow.

An experience!

I sailed the north shore of Long Island several years in a row.  The Stamford Club was the finest yacht club we put into during those trips.

The reason I write about Faye Dunaway and the Stamford Yacht Club an inadvertent one. I came across a detailed article on the internet re Dunaway which kicked in my memory of her home and the Stamford Yacht Club.

An interesting question appeared on the internet yesterday: “Before we work on artificial intelligence, why don’t we do something about natural stupidity?”

A major killer in Medieval Times was dehydration from diarrhea.

For some reason, Da Vinci’s The Last Supper is on my mind this morning. It depicts the moment at the Last Supper when Jesus revealed that one of his disciples would betray him. The face of each disciple reflects their personal reaction to the revelation.

I have mentioned this great work several times over the years. I was fortunate to have viewed it. So moving. A rare experience. Thought provoking in many ways.

The painting is a mural. A mural is a large painting applied directly to a wall, a permanent surface. It becomes an integral part of the wall. The Last Super takes up a huge portion of a wall within the Santa Maria Delle Grazie Convent in Milan.

Its dimensions overwhelming. The Last Supper is 180 inches by 350 inches. It covers the end wall of the dining hall at the monastery portion of the Santa Maria delle Grazie. Its size better grasped when the inches are translated into feet. The work is 15 feet by 29.2 feet.

Imposing!

It took Da Vinci three years to complete.

Enjoy your day!

Pride Month is a time dedicated to the celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pride. It is generally celebrated during the entre month of June.

The concept of Pride Month had its beginnings with the Stonewall riots in late June 1969. The riots lasted several days. They began on June 28 at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City.

Pride marches began the following June.

The number of LGBT groups increased over the years. No longer a time of conflict, but one of pride and support. The support is not total, however. There remain religious and cultural  groups opposed to Pride Month on ideological grounds.

Key West celebrates Pride Month, the entire month of June, with PRIDE. 

Hurricane season began yesterday. Many experts believe it could be the worst in recorded history.

Two causation factors. One has been abnormally warm Atlantic Ocean waters. The other potentially strong winds formed by an emerging La Nina weather front. The two if combined, as expected they will, could create the worst of storms.

Donald Trump is a creature of New York City. Once considered his playground. No more. It has become his battleground. One where he keeps losing. His ego was tainted first. Then his bottom line. Now perhaps, his freedom.

Need to cut salt intake? Japan has the answer. A “battery operated spoon” which enhances the salty taste of low-sodium food without the need for extra salt.

It is called the “Electric Salt Spoon.”

USA Today’s 2024 Best Beach in Florida winner is Delray Beach. Spans two miles.

Congratulations! With all the beaches in Florida, it’s a big deal to be designated #1!

Trump’s attorney in the New York City hush money case, the trial which was  just lost, is Todd Blanche. A respected attorney. You can’t win them all, especially if Donald Trump is your client.

Be that as it may, Blanche is also Trump’s lead attorney in the Florida documents case. In a televised appearance Thursday evening, Blanche said, “We are going to start fighting every day in Florida.”

Hurray for his bravado!

I have to smile. Especially as an attorney. Trump has the judge in the documents case, Judge Cannon, in his pocket. Her conduct so far reflects it. She does not appear to be competent. In addition, she seems to bend over backwards to rule in Trump’s favor on pre-trial issues.

Chinese Checkers is not a Chinese game. Not born in China. Chinese Checkers was invented in Germany.

It has been a somewhat popular game in the U.S. since the late 1920’s.

Babe Ruth is considered the greatest baseball player ever. His career lasted 22 seasons. He participated in 10 World Series. Hit 714 home runs.

The beginning of greatness. On this day in 1835, P.T. Barnum and his circus began their first tour of the U.S.

I attended Manhattan College in New York City from 1953-1957. An excellent choice. It gave me the opportunity to explore New York City itself. To see and discover things I might not have.

52nd Street was a string of night clubs. Beyond anything I could afford. However, I made friends with one who ran one of the clubs. Such provided me with free access on occasion. My interest was to see certain top performers.

One was Ray Charles. I recall the evening vividly. I stood immediately to one side of Charles as he played the piano and sang. With a group of other standees. I stood in the first row about 5 feet from him.

Charles was blind from the age of 7. Glaucoma the supposed cause. His disability, if it was to be described as such, did not affect his talent.

He was one of the greats!

Enjoy your Sunday!

At 11 am yesterday, Trump spoke at a pre-arranged press conference at Trump Tower. The press was present. They never got to ask a question. Trump spoke ad infinitum. In his usual manner. Rambled on and on.

He left me with two impressions. One having to do with his appearance. The other his truthfulness.

His appearance was pathetic. Even I felt sorry for him. He looked tired and beat up. It’s still a long way to the election. Taking his age into account, his significant overweight, and the way he eats, he could be heading for a heart attack before the election. I know from experience what is involved. He should consider his health and his life.

Truthfulness. What truthfulness? He lies. If he were Pinocchio, his nose would have been touching the ground. His talk replete with misstatements. He expelled a gusher of falsehoods re the trial.

Maybe he does not know how to speak truth. It may not be part of his being. It’s impossible for him to speak the truth about anything.

In spite of  his poor appearance and lies, Trump claims he had a big night money wise following the verdict.

He claims he took in $38.4 million. Hard to believe. Assuming he is telling the truth, the American people have lost their way. If he is elected, most will regret their poor judgment in voting for him within the first year. His path of ruin and destruction will be obvious. Adolph will have accomplished major steps in killing the U.S.A.

Trump’s supporters were calling for “riots and revolution.” Websites were flooded. 

His comments re Judge Merchan give me concern for the Judge’s safety. Serious concern.

Marian Robinson, mother of first lady Michelle Obama, died at 86. She lived in the White House and “worked” as grandmother to her granddaughters Sasha and Malia. She did it to assist Michelle in performing her duties as the President’s wife.

Marian raised a great daughter and helped in raising two great granddaughters.

May she rest in peace.

“King Alito’s” arrogance has reached frightening new levels. Beyond the flags. It is reflecting itself in his decisions.

Democrat Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia is no more a Democrat.  He announced yesterday he is leaving the party and will now be an Independent.

He claims U.S. politics are broken. Makes me laugh. He helped break them. He was a thorn in the side of whoever was President. He was responsible for some major significant deals failing because he did not provide his Democrat President with his vote.

He played God too many times. 

Manchin advised several months ago he would not be running for reelection to the Senate again. Rumor has it he may run for Governor.

Manchin and his family have grown rich over coal and pharmaceuticals. A typical today Washington politician. Got rich on the job!

A Papua, New Guinea update.

The massive landslide occurred on May 24 and buried villages and people. Estimated dead 2,000. Earth and debris 2 stories high. People still digging with spades, sticks and their hands. Only 6 bodies found so far. Officials say they do not expect finding many survivors.

Plymouth, Massachusetts a first in many respects. On this day in 1838, the first ever earthquake in the U.S. hit at Plymouth.

How many lives have been saved? The Heimlich maneuver for rescuing choking victims was published in the Journal of Emergency Medicine for the first time this day in 1974.

Busy yesterday running around. Date & Thyme, drug store, Publix and bank. Enough for me these days.

I parked my car where I normally do two nights ago. On the street under a tree. Yesterday when I went to begin my jaunts, it was covered in some sort of defecation. My car had been shit on. Tons of it. On the roof on the driver’s side, the front window and right fender. Tried to clean it. No way. Solid as rock. The car requires an expensive cleaning.

Darling Joan, contact me. I am concerned not having heard from you and unable to contact you.

Enjoy your day!

Trump was convicted on all 34 felony counts. The jury returned its verdict on its second day of deliberations.

Trump was convicted of falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal that threatened his ascent to the White House in 2016.

He is the first American President to be declared a felon, a stain he will carry as he seeks to regain the Presidency.

The 34 counts broke down as follows: 11 counts related to invoicing, 12 counts related to ledger entries, and 11 counts related to checks.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 11.

Trump was released on his own recognizance pending sentencing.

Without question, Trump will appeal. 

Trump’s sentencing date July 11 has another historical significance. It was on July 11, 1804, that Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr fought a duel. Pistols were used. Burr killed Hamilton.

The two had been political enemies for years. Came to a head and conclusion at the duel.

Trump will campaign as a martyr. He did it “for us.” He’s “fighting for our country.” Claims he is a “political prisoner.”

Don’t buy it folks.

A comment by a reader in this morning’s Washington Post: “I’m amused by the fact that the old racist and antisemitic was brought down by a woman, an Hispanic judge, Jewish attorneys, and a Black man. Truth, Justice, and the American Way.”

A federal judge has ruled Wisteria Island is owned by the United States. Losers in the case were the Bernstein family and other private parties.

The decision ends a 13 year battle. Appeals likely. So the decision is not the end.

The U.S. victory is a big deal only for the government. A hollow one, however. What will the U.S. do with Wisteria? Probably nothing, which is what it did for decades before the 13 year battle began.

A contrary resolution would have been better. Development would have occurred. Another Sunset Key. A hotel, homes, condominiums, a major restaurant, etc. Much better than a “bare ass” tiny island sitting out there like a sore thumb.

Key West was cheated out of another Sunset Key. Wisteria will be a “squatters’ paradise.” A residence for the homeless.

Justice sometimes takes time. Adolph Eichmann’s execution an example.

Eichmann was a Nazi official who played a significant role in Hitler’s Holocaust. It took years to catch and punish him. He was hanged this day in Israel in 1962.

Clint Eastwood still enjoying life. Today is the actor’s 94th birthday.

Another famous individual is Joe Namath. The professional football player is 81 today.

Sister Joan: Telephone me. My phone got screwed up and I lost a lot of numbers. Yours one of them.

Enjoy your day folks! 

My beloved grandkids Allie and Robert are home from Florida State University for summer vacation.

I was walking at Winn-Dixie Shopping Center yesterday around noon and heard a loud “Poppa!” It was Allie with a girl friend. We spoke a while. It was good to see her. She is lovelier each time. She has her old job as hostess at The Reach for the summer.

Allie did well this past semester. Three As and 2 Bs. She volunteered the two Bs could have been As if she had worked harder in the two courses. I was impressed she saw the error of her ways and intended to be guided by it when she returns to school.

I have not seen Robert yet. 

The three of us will get together soon for lunch.

Justice Alito a misguided bag of wind.

He wrote a letter to Senators Durbin and Whitehouse that he will not recuse himself from January 6 related cases. The issue having to do with two flag issues. One at his Virginia home, the other at his wife’s New Jersey beach house.

He goes a step further in this letter when he advises that similar to the Virginia flag, the New Jersey one was his wife’s idea also and flown without his knowledge.

I think he lies.

Alito demeans the Supreme Court further with his decisions.  He must be removed from the Court. He and Thomas. Both thrown off. There must be a way.

The Louisville Police Department capitulated. Charges against Scheffler were withdrawn yesterday. The County Attorney filed a motion to dismiss all charges against Scheffler.

Police Officer Gillis is lucky. He would have had to perjure himself to make the charges stick. His own wrongdoing would have placed him in jeopardy.

Gillis is the type of police officer who should not serve. Louisville should dump him. He has a track record of wrongdoing. The Scheffler incident merely another. Will there be more? Absolutely. It’s the nature of the beast.

Florida received a title this week, one it has previously had: The Shark Capital of the World. The title the result of a study by the Florida Museum of National History’s International Shark Attack File. Its decision covers the U.S. and the world.

 Last year, Florida recorded 16 confirmed unprovoked shark bites. The number represents 44 percent of total cases in the U.S. and 23 percent worldwide.

Cause of Florida’s prominence:  Florida’s warm and clean water which has increased. Warm water attracts many type fish. The multitudinous variety call Florida home. Sharks feed off them and their abundance.

A $2.8 billion settlement is awaiting judicial approval. If approved, it will allow schools to pay college students directly for playing sports.

Wrong in my opinion. I have never approved of students being paid to play. Their “pay” is the free education they get. Generally covers tuition, room and board. Plus in many institutions, a side job to provide pocket money.

The settlement will result in big bucks being paid to many college athletes. In six figures and perhaps to the very best in the millions.

Not right. Bothers me. Even the way college athletes are being paid to play today. Who move from one school to another when attracted by bigger bucks.

Biden scrambling to win back Black voters. He better. He needs them!

Blacks are wrong to favor Trump over Biden. Trump will screw them royally in the final analysis. Biden has treated Blacks more than fairly. His record speaks for itself. From judicial appointments to other things. Trump will promise them everything and deliver nothing. Such is Trump’s record. His only interest is the rich.

There have been four Madison Square Gardens. Four different buildings.

The first a railroad station which through 4 different successive owners converted the facility and renamed it Madison Square Garden.

Eventually torn down, a larger facility erected in its place. Not profitable. Demolished.

The third Madison Square Garden was built in 1925 on Eighth Avenue. Many the game I watched there while in college.

In 1963, the original Penn Station was torn down. A group built the current Madison Square Garden in its place.

This day in 1431 was a bad one for Joan of Arc. Her good was debunked. She was burned at the stake.

This day in 1917, the jazz standard “Dark Town Strutters Ball” by  Shelton Brooks was recorded by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.

The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. One of the U.S.’ outstanding memorial statues was dedicated this day in 1922.

If the opportunity presents itself, visit Washington and view it. Moving!

On May 30, 1967, American motorcycle daredevil “Evel” Knievel’s motorcycle jumped 16 automobiles in Gardena, California.

I knew Evel. We met at La Costa outside San Diego sometime in the late 1970’s or early 1980’s. Became friends.

He was in the area with his 165 foot yacht. He invited me to join him for a few days on it and we traveled South California Pacific waters.

A fun experience!

Enjoy your day!

Many important things occurring world wide. So much to report. This morning a local problem has significant importance. Hurricane season is scheduled to begin monday. Will last several months.

As with most things, you must have experienced a hurricane or two to appreciate the seriousness. I have several. Life changing for a period of time. Scary. Dangerous. Unbelievable.

Experts predict a dangerous season. They generally do. Sometimes right, sometimes wrong. Hope they are wrong this season.

Summations were completed yesterday in Trump’s trial. The Judge will charge the jury as to the law this morning and the case will be in their hands from that point forward.

Judgment time finally reached!

Closing statements occurred outside and inside the court house yesterday. Citizens spoke. One was actor Robert DeNiro. Not a Trump fan, He described Trump as a “clown…..bullshitter and liar…..one who wants to eliminate the Constitution.” DeNiro wants Trump convicted and out of American politics once and for all.

I am not sure it will work that way even if Trump is convicted.

Inside the court room, the defense summed up first. Trump’s attorney described Trump as a “victim.” He attacked Cohen viciously as expected. He said Cohen was “the greatest liar of all time…..the human embodiment of reasonable doubt…..the MVP of liars…..guilty of perjury…..Stormy Daniels called as a witness only to embarrass Trump.”

The prosecution main points were “Trump sought the subversion of democracy……the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels was part of an illegal effort to inflict the 2016 election.” The prosecutor used texts and phone calls to create a paper trail. He went over the items in detail.

He also said “the hush money payment was paid in October 2016, two weeks before the election to influence the election…..the payment was fueled by political panic that he was going to lose. “

The key he said was a tape of Trump telling Cohen to “pay cash.” He further accused Trump of trying to “hoodwink the American voter.”

An indication Trump’s popularity is diminishing is that his family was heckled outside the court house.

Trump is making sweeping promises to big donors. Anything and everything. His recent meetings with them have Trump telling each group what they wanted to hear. Promised them whatever he thought they needed and wanted.

One to two million dollars usually got  a donor a private lunch with Trump. The past week has Trump telling his donors the number now is a $25 million contribution. To one group, he said $25-50 million or he would not be “very happy.”

He’s bold. Tells donors to their faces it is in their interest to cut large checks.

Individual contributions are limited to $3,300. per person. However Trump can appear at his Super Pac where the price of admission is higher. As long as Trump does not ask for their money directly.

Trump may have gone over the line in asking for the millions in some instances. However nothing will come of it and he knows it. The Federal Election Bureau is gridlocked with 3 Republicans and 3 Democrats and is unlikely to investigate any of Trump’s fundraising in an election year.

Another example of how our government is f–ked up.

This day in 1937, Sloppy Joe’s held its grand opening at its new location on the corner of Duval and Greene Streets.

Big news this day in 1953. Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay became the first climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

Disgusting! What occurred “in the name of God.” The Washington post published a detailed article this morning describing how for decades, Catholic priests, brothers and sisters raped or molested Native American children who were taken from their homes by the U.S. government and forced to live at remote boarding schools.

The Washington Post investigation revealed pervasive sexual abuse endured by Native American children at Catholic run schools in the Mideast to the Pacific Northwest, including Alaska. Most of the documented abuse occurred in the 1950s and 1960s. Involved were more than 1,000 children.

The sexual abuse was described as “a national crime scene…..They did it in the name of God.”

Lawsuits and settlements followed.

Pope Francis traveled to Alaska in 2022 to apologize for the Church’s role.

Rome is crowded big time during the summer season. Horribly so!

Steve and Cindy recently visited Rome. Their stories and photos of the crowds unbelievable. 

I spent a month in Rome 35-40 years ago in May and June. Only one place was crowded. The Sistine Chapel. Shoulder to shoulder. Really crowded. Worth the experience and inconvenience, however. Michelangelo’s beauty above on the ceiling. The fingers reaching out to touch.

Don’t miss the Sistine Chapel if you visit Rome.

Enjoy your day!

I wrote yesterday of Memorial Day’s significance. Briefly, but pointedly.

A quote from an Opinion piece in today’s Washington Post speaks to Memorial Day better. Better than I expressed: “Arlington National Cemetery’s headstones speak with silent eloquence of the price paid for what we have.” Silent eloquence…..

Netanyahu caught with his pants down. What he claims to have been an inadvertent error. The deaths of 45 persons and 240 wounded. Netanyahu describes it as a “tragic accident.”

An Israeli air strike. A horrific scene. Charred bodies and screams. The airstrike near a Lebanese hospital.

Pope Francis spoke a “bad word” in Italian. Did so before an audience in attendance for his blessing sunday at the Vatican. The misspoken word a ‘lapus lingua.” A slip of the tongue.

Francis used the word “cazzo.” Equivalent to “penis, prick, pecker and dick.” LGBT people ae upset that the Pope would use such a “vulgar word.” He meant to say “caso” which means “case.”

He quickly corrected himself.

The Italian press wrote the blunder was unlikely to hurt the Pope’s image among Italian people. Francis is already considered to be a bit of a “bad boy,” having owned a pair of Harley-Davidson motorcycles for a short time.

Closing statements begin today in Trump’s hush money case in New York City.

Closing statements can have a value. Generally however a jury has made up its mind and the summation is merely a perfunctory act when it comes to right and wrong. However, there are instances where the closing statement can move a jury to an opposite decision they had already formulated. Rare, however.

It happened for me and against me. I recall one case that was a clear win for my client. The proof went in easily and it was clear he was in the right.

Opposing counsel was an excellent attorney. Did his job well. Not an eloquent convincing speaker, however.  Except for that day. He over excelled in summation. Even I was impressed.

My client who had the winning side got hit with a $300,000 verdict.

It happens. That’s why it is said you can never know what a jury will do.

This is 2024. Racism rules established. Even though not always followed.

Arthur Grand Technologies is an IT firm based in Ashburn, Virginia. The Justice Department fined the company for a “whites only” job posting. The company was fined $38,000 for posting the discriminatory job advertisement.

The ad also included “only U.S. born.”

Global warning. A new report advised that since May of last year, the average person has experienced 26 more days of abnormal warmth than they would have without global warming.

It is obvious Donald Trump must have financial problems. Lawyer fees alone consuming him. He has to pay some of them.

It was reported in Newsweek that Trump has sold one of his private jets “amid spiraling” legal costs.”

Trump has to win the Presidential election for a number of reasons. The position to do favors. The position to manipulate situations. He will find a way.

On this day in 1934, the Dionne quintuplets – Annette, Cecile, Emilie, Marie and Yvonne were born to Elijire Dionne at the family farm in Ontario, Canada. The girls were identical. “Identical” means created from a single egg. 

They are the first quintuplets known to have survived infancy. All made it to adulthood.

Today is their birthday. Two have survived to 89. Annette and Cecile.

Their total weight at birth was 13 pounds 6 ounces. The highest weight was 3 pounds 4 ounces, the lowest 2 pounds 4 ounces.

Their mother Elijire went into immediate shock during the delivery, but recovered in 2 hours.

An interesting story. Their lives even more so. Not what you might have expected. I plan on sharing it in bits and pieces over the next few days.

Enjoy your day!