Tomorrow is Mother’s Day. A very special day. Mothers are the best.

On May 9, 1914, Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Mother’s Day holiday.

I miss my Mother. Desperately. She died early in life. Around 75. A diabetic who did not take care of herself.

In my adult professional years, she became my best friend. I would stop on my way home from work several times a week. She would be waiting for me seated at the kitchen table. A bottle of Beefeaters on the table with a bucket of ice. For me alone. She did not drink. We would talk about everything.

She was a wise person. In everyday things. Her education was limited. She was born in Italy and only went to the third grade. Went to work full time thereafter.

Her wisest bit of advice was not to marry my wife. I should have listened. My Mother was correct in everything she told me. The two got along well during our marriage. Each treated the other with the utmost respect. Again my Mother’s advice re my wife were words of wisdom.

Both of my parents were good people. I was lucky.

Mark Twain: “Golf is a good walk spoiled.”

Delta is cutting snacks and drinks on short flights.

It was on this day in 1969 that the FDA approved “the pill.” The first commercially produced birth-control pill.

On this day in 1964, the Beatles stronghold on U.S. pop charts ended. Louis Armstrong took over #1 with “Hello Dolly.”

Hunter S. Thompson: “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.”

City-states that compromised ancient Greece numbered in excess of 1,000.

Ancient Greeks ate bread for breakfast big time. One problem, however. Sand got in the wheat and caused widespread dental problems.

Pyramids took many blocks to construct. Some took in excess of 2 million.

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a truce and prisoner exchange. I am not sure this means the end to the war.

Kash Patel gives to some FBI members and civilians he encounters in his everyday duties bottles of bourbon from his personal stash.

Iran is no match for the U.S. Why then has Washington not defeated Iran?

Grocery prices continue to rise. I spend more each week at Publix and receive less for my dollars.

Trump does not administer his power equally among the States. He fails to provide blue states with fire prevention monies.

The Trump/Leo conflict.

Vance told Pope Leo that he did not understand theology. Apparently Vance thought he did. Strange because he only converted to Catholicism 8 years earlier. Whereas, Leo wrote his thesis on the issue and has spent his adult life as a priest.

Trump got involved with Leo. Trump dislikes Leo because the Pope calls them as he sees them. Trump initiating a war with no basis for conflict, killed hundreds of children, caused much property damage, etc.

Trump does not like hearing the truth about himself, especially from a man of God.

Rubio has replaced Vance in attempts to resolve the conflict. Rubio and the Pope met Thursday. Rubio a lifetime Catholic and carries his rosary beads in his pocket everyday.

The outcome of the meeting not yet revealed.

Enjoy your day!

The share of men in the workforce has fallen sharply in 2026. Young and old alike. These men are either not working or are looking for a job. The number is at the lowest level since 1948, except for the time of the pandemic.

Golden Tempo will not run in the Preakness. It is in the best interest of the horse.

Gasoline prices ricochet from the Strait of Hormuz to our gas tanks.

Measles continues to roar back. Vaccines for everyone…..where are they?

U.S. schools facing a crisis as the number of children attending declines. Public schools suffering. Schools closing. The trend began in 2014 and continues.

“Fired from retirement” has become a common occurrence. Many retirees are looking to reenter the job market because of “financial need.”

Key West weather continues to be hot. In the mid 80s.

Rome’s Colosseum receives seven million visitors a year. I have visited several times. The place is huge and run down. Empty in modern times. Not put to any use.

The Colosseum seated 50,000 to 80,000 persons in its hey day.

Assisted suicide is sparking a national debate. Will the centuries old religious concept that “human life be saved and created in God’s image” continued to be adhered to? Life is a gift from God, not a consumer choice.

Mother’s Day was a reaction to the Civil War. An extremely bloody war, it was hoped Mother’s Day would make people gather in peace.

This day in 1945 is celebrated by Allied nations worldwide as V-E Day. These nations still rejoice in the defeat of the Nazi war machine on that day.

On this day in 1963, American movie goers got their first view of James Bond in “Dr. No.”

Today is the 75th National Day of Prayer. The Key West staff observed the occasion at 8 a.m. on the steps of City Hall. Traditionally, the President invokes the Day in Washington, D.C. I assume the new significantly religious Trump will do so together with his cohort Hegseth.

I suffered a stroke about four months ago. Recovered. However since then, I have not dreamed. Not even the tiniest bit till three days ago. In the last three nights, I have dreamed of my youth up through my high school years. Big time. I don’t understand. I will ask Dr. Norris  during my next visit.

I was speaking with Fran and Tom in Buffalo yesterday. They were going to see a live show of Hair in the evening. They had seen it years ago on Broadway also.

I told them of my first experiences with Hair. First off Broadway and then a couple of years later on Broadway. The years a long time ago. Nudity not common in Broadway shows. I was totally embarrassed when the last scene of the show played. The entire cast came out bare ass. Total nudity. Front and back. Nothing left to the imagination. Never saw it in a show before. 

Trump time.

Trump sent Rubio to visit with Pope Leo yesterday at the Vatican in Rome. Rubio was traveling Wednesday to Rome for the visit. While Rubio was in transit, Trump lashed out big time against the Pope.

Made no sense, except that it was typical Trump.

Surprisingly, there is little in the news today re the Rubio/Leo meeting of yesterday.

Polls find a broad rejection of religious related messages from Trump and Hegseth.

Trump lies again. He never fails to do so. One of his most recent mistruths involve the damage Iran has done to U.S. military assets. Images clearly show more damage of U.S. assets than reported.

Jimmy Kimmel: “The President should have gone there (Rome) to meet the Pope himself, but they decided it was too dangerous. When he enters a church, all Holy Water starts to boil.”

Some of the nasty things Trump said recently about Pope Leo included “he likes crime” and what reads like a threat to Catholics he is “endangering a lot of Catholics.” He also said Leo wears “dresses.”

Asshole!

Trump needs “gratitude” in D.C. He is not getting it. No problem. He is putting up banners thanking himself.

Trump wants to paint the Eisenhower Building white. Trump says its gray color is “ugly.” Also, that “gray is for funerals.” Cost figures not yet available, nor whether the white paint would damage the building’s exterior.

Enjoy your day!

Pope Leo truly a man of God. He stands in open defiance to Donald Trump. He fears not in speaking out against Trump’s evil ways. Leo said, “I cannot stay quiet anymore.” And with those words lashed out.

Trump fears not and respects not. He went after the Pope in typical Trump fashion. Respect not involved.

Leo is a peacemaker. Trump not. Blessed is the peacemaker. When the Pope speaks, God speaks. He is powered by Jesus.

The Gospel preaches to Leo “to not be afraid, God goes before you.”

Trump insulting Leo is in effect a badge of courage for the Pope.

Understandably Leo refused to sit with Vance. A convert to Catholicism who believed he knew more about Catholicism than the Pope.

Trump is sending Rubio to speak with the Pope in Vance’s place. Rubio sold his soul to Trump months ago. His willingness to speak for Trump to Leo is a reflection of such. Rubio wants the Republican nomination for President and Trump’s support in getting it. Vance wants the nomination also, but showed himself to be merely ignorant in the fashion he went after the Pope.

Leo fears not. He speaks truth. He speaks with the voice and strength of God. Trump and his minions cannot win against him.

Leo speaks for the people. All peoples. Trump speaks for Trump.

Trump wickedness reflected when he speaks. He speaks with both a lying and insulting tongue. A perfect example is Trump referring to the Obamas a few days ago as “Apes.” Bad, bad man! He deleted the terminology 12 hours later.

Enough for today!

I failed to write a blog for several days. I was not sick. It was the computer. An illness I had never seen before. Nor did my computer guru my son in law Corey Malcom.

Some wrote asking/thinking I had died. Not yet, folks!

To make it even worse, Corey was in Tallahassee for Robert’s graduation. Sloan Kelley who set up my blog system some 20 years ago was in Atlanta with her sister who may be dying. I was useless. I can write, but am not mechanically inclined. No way could I fix the computer.

Corey got back to Key West last night. Immediately came over. Normally, it takes Corey 2-3 minutes to adjust my machinery. This time it took 15 minutes. It was that bad!

However I am up and running again and pleased to be able to do the blog this morning. Thank you Corey and thank you Sloan who he was texting with in the recovery process.

Lets begin with the mundane. Trump can come later.

The Empire State Building was dedicated on May 1, 1931.

Henry Ford took care of his employees. Ford factory workers got a 40 hour work week in 1926.

Rudy Giuliani is in critical condition with pneumonia.

Oh, how many men participated in the Epstein sex shenanigans? It has been revealed that Bard College’s President Leon Botstein is about to retire over his Jeffrey Epstein comments. He ran Bard for 50 years. Turns out Botstein exchanged messages and visits with Epstein for years.

The Statue of Liberty is 305 feet high. I visited twice. My Father took me when I was young. Later, I took my four children. A must see by everyone, adults and children alike.

The Library of Congress receives 370,000 visitors a year. It is staffed by 3,172 employees.

Theodore Roosevelt was 42 years old when he became President. At that time, the youngest President ever.

Hard to believe: Archeologists have found 3,000 year old packs of honey that are still edible. Some scientists have scraped up portions of honey going as far back as 7000 BCE.

Ancient Egyptians used honey as a health remedy.

Obviously bees were involved. More than one species of bee exists. Actually 200 species.

Medicine eventually cures most diseases. Countries where polio was endemic in 1928 were 125. In 2023, the number had dropped to 2.

Snickers is a popular candy bar. Consumed big time. Fifteen million bars are manufactured every day to meet the demand.

Kool Aid was invented in 1927 in Hastings, Nebraska.

Interesting. Fred Astaire began dancing at the age of 4.

Re the moon: Six American flags are planted on the moon, twelve humans have actually walked on the moon, and eleven Apollo missions have actually landed on the moon.

I have demoted Vance to the mundane.

Vance is not bright. In recent years, he converted to Catholicism. Now constantly fights with Pope Leo. Vance recently asked the question: “Is the Pope Catholic?”

Is Vance nuts?

Leo now refuses to see him. Yet he will receive Rubio in a few days.

Vance is dead as Presidential timber!

Trump’s turn.

Trump’s popularity runs high! So he may think. If so, I do not know how.

The Doral Cadillac Championship Golf Tournament was played this week. Doral is owned by Trump. He arrived on the first day expecting huge crowds that would be supporting him. Did he get a surprise! As close to zip, nothing is what met him. Ho, ho, ho. An embarrassment he well deserved.

Doral has 3 or more courses. I recall playing them some 30 years ago. About 5 times. Stayed at the resort itself. Played the horribly difficult blue course twice. A humbling experience! The Doral Resort accommodations were the best. Spectacular! The very best accommodations I found in any course I played. And I played some of the major resort/courses.

Trump got what he deserved being ignored. He has to drive a car to a gas station and fill it up to understand. He and Melania have to go grocery shopping to understand why Donald is becoming increasingly disliked.

He couldn’t win for dog catcher were he to run again!

Eisenhower’s approval rating in December 1959 was 77 percent. Trump’s today is 34 percent. Another way of describing Trump’s rating is to indicate his disapproval is 64 percent.

The ongoing attacks in the Strait of Hormuz threatens to reignite the U.S./Iran conflict.

Trump continues downplaying the economic effects of the Iran War. He was bullshitting small business owners yesterday in Washington. He claimed an “extraordinary revival of Main Street under his America First agenda.” Claimed he was building up the economy. Also said the economy was “roaring.”

I am not sure he knows what country he lives in.

The New York times won 3 Pulitzer Prizes. One was awarded for the Times investigation into how Trump is profiting from his dealmaking. 

Enough for today.

Enjoy your day!

January 1 was just yesterday. Today, May 1. How swiftly the year is moving.

One thing I have noticed is that time moves faster as one gets older. Not a nice situation. Nothing can be done about it, however. Enjoy each day as it may be your last.

Trump lies consistently. Lying appears to be an intrinsic part of his nature.

His Wharton class standing has finally been revealed. Trump constantly reminds us how he graduated first in his class. A lie. His class graduated 363. Trump ranked 147. Nothing to be ashamed of in itself. The middle of the class at a school like Wharton commendable.

Another Trump lie. He proudly has advised many times his father was born in Germany. Now revealed he was born in the Bronx. Why is Germany more favorable to Trump? I find it difficult to understand.

Gasoline is most expensive in Wyoming. Where cheapest? You will be surprised. New York State! Florida runs in the middle.

Sears Bankruptcy confuses me. My research keeps coming up with a Chapter 11 filing in 2018. Five stores still operating. Two in Florida, 2 in California, 1 in Texas and 1 in Massachusetts. All on borrowed time.

The 2018 bankruptcy date I find difficult to comprehend. When I was practicing law, I did much of Sears legal work in upstate New York. My recollection suggests what I am about to share occurred in the late 1900s. I was defending a major lawsuit against Sears arising out of a shopping mall situation. Big bucks involved. 

It was one of those cases that takes forever to resolve. All kinds of big time legal issues. A lawyer’s dream.

We were into litigation about two years when I received notice of the Sears bankruptcy and request to surrender my file to the Bankruptcy trustee. Which I did forthwith. It would henceforth be the trustee’s responsibility to resolve.

Three moths later I received a telephone call from the trustee. Would I be willing to accept a return of the case and continue my defense of it? Of course! Nothing changed, except instead of reporting to Sears, I reported to the trustee. Again, big time complicated legal work. I spent 3 additional years diligently working the file till it was settled.

My point is there was a prior bankruptcy to the 2018 one. I might add it would have been impossible for me to have defended a Sears case in 2018 as I retired from the practice of law in 2006.

Elon Musk: “When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.”

Trump can only be described as too much. Revengeful. How he can play at getting even with a war going on is difficult for me to understand. He is now after Kimmel and ABC. He wasted no time. Announced his intent and immediately had the FCC go to work on ABC that afternoon.

A waste of time. Trump will merely be causing Kimmel and ABC aggravation. Trump’s claim appears to be without a valid legal basis.

My grandson Robert graduates Sunday from Florida State University. His last examination was yesterday. We spoke in the evening. He was tired from finals and excited about graduation. He still does not have a job. Things are much different than when I graduated from college in 1957.

I enjoyed King Charles Address to congress. An intelligent articulate man. His speech well developed. He subtly knocked Trump three times. I doubt Trump even understood. The two continued to be friends after the speech and continued to be the remainder of the King’s visit.

Did you notice how the King began wearing his jacket differently during the visit. The suit jacket called for two buttons to be buttoned. Suddenly, the King was only buttoning one. Turns out the King was wearing a bullet proof vest. Two buttons would have revealed such. One, not.

I was watching a very old rerun of the Johnny Carson Show. One of his guests was Rodney Dangerfield. On two separate trips to La Costa, I met Dangerfield. Once when I was hanging with William Holden. The other time alone.

My major recollection of Dangerfield. What you got of him in movies and on TV is what I saw at La Costa. That’s him! The same goofy guy. When dressed, he attired himself as you saw him in movies and on TV. Sloppy, even to his shirt collar.

A nice guy. Warm. We enjoyed Perrier evenings. Booze a no no since we all were at La Costa to lose weight.

Ever wonder where the Fourth of July came from? From the Founding Fathers when they met on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia.

Would you believe? California is importing a considerable amount of gasoline from Russian oil. Not one State cut back on gasoline consumption. We all continue driving and paying the bigger bucks at gas stations. If my recollection is correct, California has the most automobiles on the road of any State.

So much for today.

Enjoy your day!

Americans must learn that votes count. They must not be swayed by the bravado and bullshit spewed by a Trump and his ilk. When they are, and they have been for sure in two recent Presidential elections, then a Supreme Court decision as the recent one affecting the Voting Rights Act can be expected.

The Act has been on the books as law for some 60 years. Protected a person’s right to vote. Especially as far as race was concerned. The Supreme Court in a 6-3 vote struck down certain portions as “unconstitutional gerrymandering.” Love that verbiage! Bullshit at its best!

Black voting districts, especially in the South, will be redrawn. Some states are already reworking proposed districts to be voted upon by their respective state legislatures.

The vote was along ideological lines. Six Republican Justices appointed by six Republican Presidents constituted the majority. The three Justices appointed by Democrat Presidents made up the dissent. The six “Republican Justices” were nominated as follows: Three by Trump, two by George W. Bush, and one by George H. W. Bush. The George H.W. Bush nominee is Justice Thomas. The oldest sitting Justice at the moment. I have always considered him the most inept person on the Bench. Incompetency fits him perfectly.

The three dissenting Justices are Democrats and were nominated by Democratic Presidents. Two by Obama, one by Biden.  

Ain’t no question about it, voters get what they vote for. Those that did vote for Trump, should smarten up. They should think “who” they voted for and the error in their judgment when buying gasoline and paying for groceries. Think fully in future elections. There are more Trump types out there.

An Editorial piece by the New York Times this morning: “The U.S. Military was losing its edge. After Iran, everyone knows it.”

The U.S. began the war with a massive show of military force. That was it! Iran is holding its own and in some instances exceeding U.S. efforts. In spite of the fact the U.S. spends $1 trillion a year on its military, more than one hundred times more than Iran does on its military.

Hegseth appeared before a Congressional Committee this week. 

He testified the Iran War has cost $25 billion so far and resulted in the loss of 14 American lives.

He said he needed Congress to authorize $1.45 trillion for the coming year.

He claimed the “biggest challenge, the biggest adversary are the reckless, feckless and defeatist words of Congressional Democrats and some Republicans.”

Trump does not give up when it goes to getting even or revenge with his perceived enemies. He has arranged through his appointees to have James Comey indicted again. The purest of the pure. For sea shells on a sandy beach”86 47.” The Justice Department claims it read in effect to assassinate Trump. Comey used Instagram to immediately delete it showing the deletion in a photo. Comey claims it was not so intended as Trump and the Justice Department “interpreted” it.

Trump did not stop with Comey alone. He has also gone after Comey’s daughter Maurene. She has been a “most highly regarded” federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York for years. She has been fired. Maurene claims  because of Trump’s enmity against her father and her perceived political affiliation.

Maurene tested her dismissal immediately. A federal judge said the claim against her had a basis in law and could proceed. The decision did not decide the merits of the claim against her.

One of Iran’s generals claims if the war continues, it could lead to a world war. 

I have mentioned the possibility in the past. If it does occur, blame Donald when the bombs and troops reach American soil and among other things,  some of our little girls die.

Note, Nixon released the Watergate tapes faster than Trump has the Epstein files. We want to know what is in the Epstein files. It is estimated there are 3 million more pages or files to be released.

Today was basically a Trump day. I ignored him yesterday.

Enjoy our day!

I enjoyed a wonderful new experience yesterday afternoon. The Ocean Keys second floor addition. Includes a new bar, the Sweet Bird Bar. Going to be a big time success! I predict it will out do the Chart Room once it takes hold. A fantastic welcoming place for tourists and locals to mingle and enjoy.

Sweet Bird is an inside and outside facility. Great seating accommodations in both areas. The help warm and cheerful.

I plan on visiting often. Suggest you do, also.

Before the Sweet Bird Bar, I did my usual Tuesday afternoon Happy Hour at The Grand with my guests Fran and Tom Dixon and Cindy and Steve Thompson. We gouged ourselves on appetizers. Excellent!

Hair premiered on Broadway this day in 1968. 

I saw Hair twice. The first time at a theater 40 blocks south in East Village. An off Broadway show. Rumored to be unusual. I had to see it.  The second time was on Broadway two years later where it ran more than 1,700 performances. Still something new.

Hair was a musical suggesting hope that the world was going to change. And soon. You sat and absorbed Hair’s music and words to “let the sunshine in.”

Nudity in 1968 was not as it is today on stage and in movies. A no no. Nevertheless, at the end of the show the entire cast, and it was a large one, came on stage entirely nude. Front and rear bodies exposed. I found it shocking the first time. Everyone had to. We were not accustomed to such.

The Kentucky Derby. This Saturday. The 152nd running. Reiley and Cricket will be there. Reiley’s profession is the raising and selling of race horses. Operates out of Saratoga. He presently is working with 40 horses.

At brunch at the Celi’s, the ladies wanted to know how the women dressed. Cricket laid their entire attire including hats. Hats required for women in the group Cricket would be attending with.

I have enjoyed many major sporting events over the years. Never a horse race such as the Kentucky Derby. Though I did spend much time each year in August at Saratoga. Only because it was a close 2 hour drive from my Utica home. I did not go for the gambling. Not part of my forte. I went for the partying. Outstanding!

There was an article yesterday on the internet which spelled out the identities of the original Mouseketeers. One was Annette Funicello. Annette spent her early years living in Utica. We all were excited to see her on the Mickey Mouse Hour. Annette was one of the original stars.  Numero uno!

Interesting how we all watched Mickey Mouse. Even when I was in college. We all ran to the wreck room at 5 to watch the show and sing along…..Who’s the leader of the band…..M I C K E Y M O U S E, MICKEY MOUSE! It was part of the education process.

Federal employment for Blacks is down. Especially female Blacks.

Some things are difficult to understand. The following one. However Trump and his tariffs and other foolish activities obviously the cause. California uses a lot of gasoline. No one cutting back at the moment. I doubt anyone in the U.S. has.

California in its need for gasoline has begun importing more gasoline developed from Russian oil.

Oldsmobile died this day in 2004. The last one rolled off the assembly line in Michigan. Oldsmobile had lasted 106 years.

My first automobile following graduation from Law School was a blue and white Oldsmobile convertible. My last automobile purchased and which I am still driving is a blue and white Volkswagen convertible. 

In the last 65 years my only change in vehicles has been re size. Never thought about it till this morning.

I hope to spend some time with the Dixons this afternoon.

There is much to share regarding Trump. I leave it to tomorrow.

Enjoy your day!

Chocolate chips cookies better to open with this morning than Donald Trump.

Who invented the chocolate chip cookie?

The answer surprised me. The time of its invention also. I always thought chocolate chip cookies have been around forever. A multitude of years. Not so. Ruth Graves Wakefield invented the chocolate chip cookie in 1938 at a time when I was only 3 years old. History tells us she came up with the concept while on a flight from Egypt.

The actual hands on invention occurred at the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts. She added chopped Nestle semi-sweet chocolates to a cookie recipe to serve as a new variation to her customers. The cookie was originally known as the “Toll House Chocolate Crunch Cookie.” She first served it with ice cream.

The cookie was an immediate hit!

The Toll House Inn was located on the way to Cape Cod. Many celebrities were her customers even before the chocolate chip cookie introduction. Even more patronized the restaurant operated by Ruth and her husband following the introduction of the chocolate chip cookie. Some of her celebrity customers included Joseph Kennedy Sr., Cole Porter, Gloria Swanson, Joe Di Maggio, and Eleanor Roosevelt.

Key West high today projected at 83 degrees. No precipitation. The no rain bit makes me laugh. At 6 a.m. as I am writing this blog it is pouring big time!

On this day in 1898, the Red Cross Society’s ship, State of Texas, arrived in Key West from New York with medical personnel and supplies. Its personnel and cargo were needed in Key West and also in Cuba where the Spanish-American War was ongoing. The ship served as a floating base.

Trump time.

King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived. The purpose of the visit is to ease tensions between the U.S. and Britain over the Iran War. The King is to address Congress. I doubt his words will reduce tensions.

Trump is dissatisfied with Iran’s plan to open the Strait of Hormuz. Iran refuses to agree to Trump’s demands.

Oil prices are jumping again as U.S./Iran talks appear to be deadlocked.

The prospective assassin’s at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was arraigned yesterday in federal court. Charged among other things with attempting to assassinate the President.

Donald and Melania “demand” Disney and ABC fire Jimmy Kimmel over a “joke” he uttered Thursday night two days before the Saturday dinner. 

Trump says all kinds of things about all peoples whenever he chooses. Some really really bad! Yet the President and Melania consider it wrong to say bad things about them. They assume of course that anything bad said is false. Which of course they are not.

In his Thursday talk, Kimmel described Melania as “so beautiful” and then went on to say “Mrs. Trump you have a glow like an expectant widow.” He also made cracks about Trump’s age and health.

Melania said Kimmel’s words were “corrosive and deepen the political sickness within America.” She referred to Kimmel as “one who spreads hate.”

Trump believes that networks whose hosts are critical of him should lose their right to broadcast. Fire the bums, in effect. Shouldn’t the President be held to the same standard? What’s good for the goose is good for the gander!

What happened to free speech, to the First Amendment?

What follows is something I heard only once on the internet. When I went back to find it, I could not. No one else ran it either.

The comment was that during the assassination attempt, Hegseth threw his wife down and threw his body on top of her for protection. If true, Hegseth has to be given credit. I say this in spite of the fact I consider him incompetent and inept.

I close.

Noting however I shall be doing The Grand during Happy Hour today with my dear friends Fran and Tom Dixon.

Enjoy your day!

Walt Disney went to Hollywood in 1923 with $40 in his pocket. A perfect example of how big oaks from little acorns grow.

The FBI has 38,000 employees. 

Michelangelo’s talents exceeded art. Actually he considered himself first and foremost a sculptor. A poet also. He wrote in excess of 3,000 poems.

Helen Keller met 13 Presidents, wrote 14 books , and was nominated for the Noble Peace Prize in 1953.

Eisenhower’s approval rating in December 1959 was 77 percent. Trump would love to have that number. Or even close to it! 

Russia is in the fifth year of the Ukraine War. Putin’s ratings at home are falling. The Russian people are voicing despair. 

Italy a complex nation. Every European country at one time or another sent its people to settle in Italy. Some remained, some left. Whatever, each established a piece of its culture within Italy’s borders. This settlement of Italy began some 4,000 years ago.

I have a clear memory of Woolworth’s. From my early youth till its demise. In 1979, Woolworth’s had five thousand stores world wide. Beginning in 1980, they began closing. The U.S. for example had changed. People were moving to the suburbs and shopping in shopping malls and centers. Woolworth’s continued to remain downtown, did not follow its customers.

A sad observation. John Wayne has always been America’s hero. One thing few today are aware of is that he was anti-black and anti-Semitic. Openly so. 

Jim Furyk has been named Captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup Team for the 2027 Tournament.

Anais Nin: “We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are.”

The first time President Truman was briefed on the Manhattan Project was soon after he took office in 1945. Truman eventually made the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan. Accelerated the end of the war and saved the lives of a multitude of American military. 

We live and learn. Benjamin Franklin only had two years of formal education. From 8-10 years of age. At 10, he had to quit school as his father required him to work in his printing business. How then did Franklin become so intelligent? He was self educated. He became a voracious reader.

John Archibald Wheeler: “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.”

On this day in 1990, the first McDonald’s opened in the Soviet Union.”

Octopuses have extraordinary intelligence.

It happens. In April 1942, the U.S.S. Sturtevant left Key West via the Northwest Channel. It “strayed” into the U.S. Navy’s minefield and was sunk. Seventeen Americans killed.

Lucille Ball: “Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.”

John Wilkes Booth was killed 12 days after assassinating President Lincoln.

One of the deadliest fires in history occurred during the wedding of Marie Antoinette and the subsequent King of France Louis XVI. Fireworks blew into spectators. Three thousand persons were killed.

In April 1805, U.S. Agent William Eaton led the U.S. Marines in battle “on the shores of Tripoli.”

King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. A total of 1,000 women. Turned his heart from God. 1 Kings 11:3.

Humans began drinking cow’s milk around 8,000 BCE.

A very short bit re Trump.

Both sides have walked away from the Pakistan peace talks. The situation cannot continue in a “stalemate.” Hopefully both sides can get together without a further shooting/bombing war. Especially the nuclear one Trump seems to want.

The prospective assassin at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner will be arraigned today.

I conclude with my dear friends Fran and Tom Dixon. Tom is well. We were supposed to go to dinner together last night. I had to beg out. Started feeling poorly around 2 in the afternoon and got increasingly sicker as the day progressed. I feel well this morning. We are rescheduled for tomorrow night.

Enjoy your day!

Trump better be careful. The third assassination attempt on his life occurred last night at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Failed again. How many times will he be lucky?

The culprit 31 year old Cole Tomas Allen. A Californian. He was captured in time. Only one person shot. A Secret Service agent. His vest protected him from serious damage fortunately. Allen will be arraigned tomorrow morning on I am sure a multitude of charges.

I was watching the event on TV. Trump was seated at the head table. All of a sudden a group of Secret Service and perhaps some other federal agents swamped across the head table pulling everyone off. A number of Agents grabbed Trump and shoved him down with their bodies covering him as they dragged him off the stage.

Trump was typical Trump. He listens to no one. Trump tried to rise up 2 or 3 times as the Agents were shouting “get down.”

Trump was returned to the White House and made some comments. Among other things, Trump said the attack was a sign of “his historical significance.” He claimed, “I’ve studied assassinations, and I must tell you the most impacted people, the people who do the most…..they’re the ones they go after. And I have to say I’m honored by that, but I’ve done a lot.”

Trump called off the Witkoff and Kushner trip to the Pakistan peace talks. A waste of time from his perspective. Noteworthy is that the Iranian representatives had left Pakistan Saturday after downplaying U.S. involvement in the negotiations. 

Trump added, “We have all the cards.” If so, why then is the war not ended?

Many believe, and I agree, that the Iran War is draining the U.S. of critical weapons. Especially bombs and missiles. A high price to pay. China and Russia must be drooling in anticipation of what it might mean in the future for them in an altercation with the U.S. Our military is reported to be concerned.

Something unusual occurred April 18 in the Oval Office. Trump asked for the nuclear codes. Chief of Staff General Caine refused to provide them. He had no authority to refuse, but he did so. He then walked out of the Oval Office with head bowed.

Trump is crazy. I believe he would drop a nuclear bomb on Iran. Caine did the correct thing, even though he was without the power to do so. Took balls.

To the better things.

Brunch yesterday at the Celi’s. Third time. Guests all interesting. Intelligent. Includes me I guess, though I was actually referring to the others. 

Joanne Celi prepared the main items consumed. Her Italian heritage obvious. The main course was a breakfast casserole. Like my grandmother, mother and former wife made. Her husband Lou a consultant. For the big companies. Knows everything.

Fred and Joanne Klein present. Wonderful people! Especially Fred. A retired New York attorney.

Reiley and Cricket. I knew Reiley. First time meeting Cricket. 

Reiley raises and sells horses in Saratoga. He and Cricket will be off to the Kentucky Derby soon. Understandable. Reiley’s business involves racing horses. Cricket is a producer of shows. Exactly what I did not grasp. Will the next time. Involves TV, movies, shows, I assume. How exciting!

And finally Louis and his cane.

All leaving the next week to return to New York for the Summer. They will be back in the  Fall. With the exception of Reiley and Cricket. They will be back in June for a while when the three of us will have dinner together.

Chernobyl was 40 years ago. A nuclear plant. Exploded followed by a huge meltdown. At the time located in what was Russia. Subsequently became a part of Ukraine.

A mother came to visit me in my Utica office. She had her one year old child with her. Beautiful! One problem. She was born with one of her arms only half grown. It ended at the elbow.

The mother was single at the time. Nowhere near Chernobyl, though at the time she lived somewhere in Europe. She married some time following the Chernobyl nuclear explosion. Her husband had been working in Chernobyl, though not at the plant itself, at the time of the explosion.

Could I help, she asked. I told her I knew nothing about nuclear problems. She had seen a number of attorneys in Europe and the U.S. No one could help.

The little girl’s half an arm intrigued me from a legal perspective.

I spent two years working on the case. With an outstanding Italian lawyer who had unsuccessfully worked on the problem and a Russian attorney who was not able to make a viable legal case out of the girl’s arm.

The three of us together failed. We gave it our best, however. Russian law controlled and was an absolute block to our succeeding legally.

Everything is cause and effect in the law. We determined the husband was the problem. By the time we were in the case, it had been determined most males working near the explosion ended up with semen years later that bore whatever was necessary to shorten the little girl’s arm beginning in the fetus.

The case was hard enough. The husband/father was no help. He refused to mentally accept he was the problem. His semen. Uncooperative does not describe how bad he was.

Such was my Chernobyl experience. The wife/mother accepted my judgment after two years that nothing could be done.

Enjoy your day!