Trump is beginning to make me sick. He talked of cleaning the swamp. He is the swamp. Dirty! Everyone he comes in contact with gets dirty.

The man has to go. Either by way of impeachment or defeat at the polls. Our country will not survive if he is reelected. We will have become the Trump’s United States.

The Biden attacks. First Ukraine. Now China. His attacks on Biden and son sickening. Revolting.

John 8:7 reads, “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.” Simply stated, do not criticize others when you personally are not perfect.

Then there is “Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.” Not Biblical in origin. A proverb.

Its meaning is that one should not criticize others, because everyone has faults of one kind or another.

The source of the proverb is multi-faceted. Historians give credit to Geoffrey Chaucer, George Herbert, an article in the William and Mary College Quarterly, and Benjamin Franklin.

Trump has embarked on a scorched earth approach. Leave none standing.

He calls Democrats “maniacs.” The pot calling the kettle black.

Joe Biden is a man of integrity. Slime has never attached to him. His life one of public service.

The proof of the pudding are his income tax returns. Biden is the poorest man in Congress. After so many years!

Check the financial records of his peers. They go into Congress poor and come out millionaires. Cannot be said of Biden.

It has constantly been reported Trump has had few if any personal friends over the years. Who would want to be friends with a person such as he?

The world of New York business and society have ignored Trump over the years. Fearful. Aware. They saw how he handled things. The Trump of today remains the Trump of yesterday. A leopard does not change his spots.

There is a saying which aptly fits the scenario: “He who goes to bed with a dog, wakes up with fleas.” A sound warning. Be cautious of those whose company you keep.

Biden has many friends. Trump has few to none.

Politics has become a sick profession. One of the reasons our candidates have checkered backgrounds is that people of character do not want to enter a public service that places them next to people like Trump.

An exception is Elizabeth Warren. Do not think I have made my choice. I still do not know who I support as the Democratic candidate. My early choice was Biden. Now I wonder if he is too old. My being 84 affects my judgment. I am not who I was.

Warren was accused of involvement in a sex scandal this past week. Claimed she was a cougar. An older woman who who used escort services to supply her with younger men.

Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman held a press conference. With them was a a 25 year old former Marine who claimed he was one of her frequent escorts.

There was a sign at the press conference: Elizabeth Warren Cougar. Those running the press conference had announced beforehand, “The charges will shock the conscience of the nation.”

The sign was correct. Warren was a cougar. Still is. Forever will be. She attended Houston University. Houston’s pet mascot is a cougar.

Wohl was involved in a similar false accusation regarding Mueller. Towards the end of Mueller’s work, he was responsible for making false sex accusations regarding Mueller.

My yesterday pleasant. Ran some errands around noon. Napped a couple of hours in the afternoon.

The Chart Room around 6. Tammy bartending. A personality!

Business continues to be slow. There were 3 people in the Chart Room besides me. A woman from North Carolina and a couple from Saratoga, N.Y.

Chatted an hour and then left. Not really hungry. Too early to go home. Not drinking screws up my evenings.

I stopped at the VFW on the Boulevard. A year at least since I wa last there. I recalled the VFW’s grilled cheese sandwich. It was delicious! I enjoyed another last night.

Chatted with the bartender. Got a bit of a beer education. Spent some time talking with 2 veterans seated near me.

On this day in 2002, the Coral Isle Bar on Stock Island closed. A dive. Remembered to this day because of a sign on the building: Free Beer Tomorrow!

The day never came.

I have been growing a beard. Fourth week. Moustache and chin have body. Hair on side of face taking a long time to grow out.

I am happy with it thus far. I hate shaving. A beard requires a trim once a week. A shave every day.

Enjoy your day!

Trump shamed himself yesterday. Though not for the first time. His mad man ranting and raving during the press conference with the President of Finland reflected a person who at this time is definitely incapable of leading.

I am pleased that the Democrats are finally performing in an efficient manner. The Mueller time was wasted time. A disappointment to us all.

The Republicans have yet to speak. Though their silence says much. Silence better than their previous comments in support of the President.

The next step is for the Republicans to step up and express themselves.

We are talking about saving the Constitution. More important than who is going to win the next election.

The Anglo-Irish statesman and philosopher Edmund Burke wrote in a letter to another statesman, “All evil needs to succeed is for good men to do nothing.”

Let Democrats and Republicans work together at the proper time to eliminate Trump from the Presidency.

Bernie Sanders a good man. Whether you agree with his philosophy is immaterial. He has always been a fighter for good.

There comes a time in each of our lives when we have to pack it in. Age and/or illness the cause.

Sanders was rushed to the hospital yesterday. Required 2 stents. Fifty years ago, he would have been dead.

I am familiar with stents, though fortunate not to have required one yet. Many I know have. Some 2 or 3 times.

Stents a great modern discovery. Removes the blockage and prepares the body to return to work or the golf course in a few days.

I do not believe Sanders should return to the campaign. His age has caught up with him. Seventy eight. The campaign still has more than a year to go assuming he gets the nomination. The strain heavy. Another attack could kill him.

His place for the next few years should be as a Presidential adviser or Cabinet official. If he is even smarter, sitting on an island beach somewhere explaining to his wife the mistakes the next President will be making.

Whatever, I wish him well.

Key West orchids are among the most beautiful in the world. They grow anywhere and everywhere in the keys.

When I bought my first Key West home, I relandscaped the entire property. Many new palm trees. The landscaper implanted on the trunks orchids which continued to grow every year. Beauty in every direction.

This friday October 4 beginning at 6 pm, the annual Orchids in Paradise event will be held. At the lovely Curry Mansion. Orchids of exceptional beauty will be auctioned.

Nature’s beauty is everywhere. Not just in Key West.

It is Autumn up north. In my hometown Utica, in the Adirondack Mountains next door. The trees are changing color. It is anticipated this weekend will be the peak. The colors the most glorious.

It is interesting why and from where the colors come. I recall reading once it is because the leaves are dying. A seasonal thing.

Key West is not the only community with traffic problems. A worldwide problem.

New York has begun dealing with one of its traffic problems. The famous 14th Street. One of New York’s busiest east-west arteries.

Beginning today, 14th street is closed, with certain exceptions, to vehicular traffic. No cars. Only buses, trucks, and emergency vehicles. From 6 am to 10 pm.

Other cities have already successfully designated one way streets at certain times to ease a traffic problem. Toronto, Paris, and Barcelona.

Does the concept provide Key West with some relief?

It was announced monday that the U.S. is in a manufacturing slump. The worst in 10 years.

The cause obvious. Experts blame the U.S./China tariff war. Another thank you Donald scheme that failed. The trade war is causing a manufacturing recession not just in the U.S. It is global.

Manufacturing not the only area suffering.

The stock market has been down badly the past 2 days. Roughly 500 points each day. Car sales took a dive in September.

It was predicted yesterday small dairy farmers will be a thing of the past soon. Small dairy farmers like mom and pop stores. Small dairy herds. More than the tariff war however, the small dairy farms are being killed by the bigger corporate farms. The two cannot compete.

Secretary of State Michael Pompeo is a beauty. He wants to be President. Makes no bones about it. Sees himself running in 2024.

I doubt it. All I see him running for is the hills. He is a little Trump. His participation and lack of truth in the present Ukraine problem is doing him no good. He is a liar same as his boss.

Enjoy your day!

Rats in the White House. Not what you expect. However, interesting.

There was an early morning press conference yesterday. The reporters were seated in the press room waiting.

Peter Alexander is known to most of us. An NBC and MSNBC reporter.

Suddenly a mouse fell onto Peter’s lap from the ceiling.

Panic ensued. Some running to get out of the room. Others trying to catch the mouse.

The mouse won. He found the door out. The last anyone saw of him he was running down a long hallway.

A rat/mouse expert I am not. Looked to see if a small mouse could possibly be a rat. Yes. Turns out there are several species of rat. One is small like a mouse.

Whatever, I give the White House a gold star for cleanliness and assume it was merely a mouse. A mouse who inadvertently found his way in and was now looking for a way out.

To those of you who tuned into my blog talk radio show Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou last night, as you found out there was no show. Irritated me!

There was a technical glitch at the studio’s end. When I tried to connect at 5 minutes to 9, things were not right. I was blocked.

Called Sloan. God’s gift to me. Within minutes, she had ascertained the problem. Ergo, I had a night off. Sorry. Not my fault however.

The reason for the irritation is that it takes about 4 hours for me to prepare for the one half hour show. If no show, the 4 hours are wasted. The material will be dated and of no value next week.

I became exercise conscious again yesterday. I am in and out of exercise. Mostly out.

It was lunch time. I was driving by the White Street Pier. Decided to stop and walk the Pier. The outside perimeter.

Took me 15 minutes. I walked slowly. It had been some time.

The water was moving. Tide high. At certain spots, it was coming over and onto the Pier. Pleasant to look at. Had to move my ass each time.

A slight bit of news. A Key West man was arrested for sending $87,000 to Nigeria. Part of a money laundering scheme.

No further details available this morning.

Key Westers are good people all! It is one month post Dorian hitting the Bahamas. A category 5. Did a number on Key West’s sister city Green Turtle Cay. Beside 4 days of hurricane wind, the Cay was deluged in a 20 foot surge.

Key Westers ae good and generous people.  Absolutely no question. I have seen them respond many times to someone else’s disaster.

Immediately following Dorian, a group of Key Westers formed a group to help. Called themselves Key West Cares.

Here is what Key West Cares has accomplished in one month. Fifty three thousand pounds of supplies shipped via charter cargo planes. Things like power generators, food, water, and clothing. The cost of the flights underwritten by Key West citizens and businesses.

The Star of the Sea Mission sent a shipment of food to the kitchen providing hot meals on Green Turtle Cay. The Conch Republic Navy has been collecting bicycles to be sent.

Kids on Big Pine (1st to 5th grade) raised more than $2,500 with 3 lemonade stand events. A group of local women founded heartpack.org. Purpose to send Bahamian children backpacks filled with educational materials, emergency supplies, and care kits with notes of love and support.

The City  of Key West sent 2 decommissioned fire trucks. A benefit at the Key West Theater raised $18,000. A Billy Currington concert $25,000.

Good people all!

How many recall drive-in theaters? A big deal back when.

It was announced on this day in 1952 that construction would soon begin on a drive-in theater which was to be located on Stock Island.

Drive-ins were part of our lives back when.

When courting, boys and girls would take Dad’s car and go to the drive-in to see a movie. Never saw much. The whole purpose was to have a place to park and neck.

Drive-ins continued to be an integral part of our lives as we got older. My wife and I would take the children, pillows and blankets and go to the drive-in. The kids were small. They slept on the back seat. Mom and Dad watched the movies. It was the only way we could get out.

Some businesses are naturals! Think of the Dairy Queen on United. It has been there for 68 years. On this day in 1951, the Key West Planning Board approved a zoning change for the Dairy Queen to be built on United.

The Dairy Queen continues to be one of the most popular places on the island.

There is a second whistleblower. Another whistleblower complaint. Claims “inappropriate” steps taken to influence an audit of Trump and Pence’s tax returns. Apparently the law requires a President’s tax returns to be audited.

The charge involves “inappropriate efforts to influence.”

Trump’s nature is reflected by his actions. A mean, heartless man. Has to do with the wall.

Trump has suggested to staff several ways of keeping the “aliens” out.

One was a water filled trench stocked with snakes or alligators. He was serious. Even had cost estimates worked out.

Another was the electrification of the wall. Burn ’em! The top of the wall to be lined with spikes that would pierce human flesh.

How about soldiers shooting any migrants who threw stones at border guards. Told no. Illegal.

His alternative, just shoot them in the legs. Still illegal.

Key West normal. We do not subject people to snakes, electrification or shootings.

Enjoy your day!

Several months ago I had the good fortune to see a documentary at the Tropic Cinema involving the tenor Luciano Pavarotti. Impressive beyond words! Moving!

The Tropic Cinema is running another documentary this week involving Linda Ronstadt. Titled Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice.

I plan on seeing it. In fact, I am going to take Terri. She may be blind, but she can hear. And since it is music, appreciate it more than I.

Goombay is less than 3 weeks away. The beginning of Fantasy Fest. A festival recalling Key West’s Bahamian heritage. A family event.

October already. Time does fly. Especially the older one gets. I wish it would slow down.

From 10/5-10/20, the Custom House will be exhibiting 40 Years of Fantasy Fest. From its very beginning to today. Guaranteed to be interesting.

The beginnings will involve Joe Liskza and other prominent Key West figures. The time 1978-1979. Liskza was President of the Tourist Development Association.

There was no Fall business in Key West at the time. The season dead from Easter to the New Year. The merchants wanted to do something. After much discussion, they came up with the concept of a Fantasy Fest.

Little did they expect it to grow into the international event it is today.

Attorney General Barr. His ass is in the frying pan!

What is he doing flying to the other end of the Earth to Australia seeking the factual basis for the Russian interference referred to in the Mueller Report. Barr went to speak with Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Did Barr have the same type conversation with Morrison that Trump had with the Ukrainian President?

Oh, so many partners in crime. It was revealed a couple of days ago that Secretary of State Pompeo also was listening in on the telephone call Trump had with the Ukrainian President.

The House Intelligence Committee will secure and listen to similar telephone calls as the one with the Ukrainian President. Included will be the ones with Russia’s Putin.

Russia says wait! The U.S. cannot listen to the recordings without Russia’s permission.

Bullshit! No legal barrier involved. Dirty wash, if any, will all hang out.

Two years ago today, a gunman fired on a crowd of 22,000 country music fans at a concert at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Casino. Fifty killed, 800 plus wounded.

Considered the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the U.S.

What effect did the mass killings have on gun control in the U.S. Nothing to date. In addition, there have been other mass killings in the U.S. since.

Time for Republicans to move their asses. Do the right thing.

A significant day in U.S. history. On this day in 1971, Disney World opened near Orlando, Florida.

The best has been saved for last. Sex in a sea of tents.

The story involves Donald Trump’s grandfather Frederick Trump. The Trump family patriarch was born March 14, 1869 and died May 30, 1918. One of the first to die of what became the worldwide flu epidemic in 1918.

Trump was of German extraction having been born in Bavaria. He emigrated to the U.S. at 16 and first worked as a barber. Whenever he was “between jobs,” he resorted to barbering.

Several years later, he was in the northwest in a different line of work. The northwest being Seattle, the mining town of Monte Cristo, British Columbia and the Klondike. He owned and operated combination restaurants, bars, and prostitution dens in each place.

The work became the foundation of his fortune. He made a ton of money. Figures vary. However, they run from somewhere in the $20,000’s to in excess of $500,000 in today dollars.

After his days in the goldfields of the northwest, he returned east to live in Queens. where he began buying real estate.

His son was Fred Trump, Donald Trump’s father. The President would be Frederick Trump’s grandson.

Trump followed the gold. He would be with the first entering a newly discovered gold field. He immediately opened tent restaurants. Eventually turned into wood structures.

One of his operations involved the Arctic Restaurant and Hotel in Bennett, British Columbia. The Arctic provided fine dining, lodging, and “sex in a sea of tents.” The Arctic rapidly went from tents to a real 2 story wood structure.

Prostitution was big business. Few ladies available, except for ladies of the night.

Advertising the availability of prostitutes was by signs reading “Rooms for Ladies.” Such was the vernacular across the northwest in those days to advise feminine attention was available.

Another Trump venture involved the White Horse Restaurant and Inn. It was located on a railroad line between Skagway, Alaska and Whitehouse, Yukon.

The White House was Trump’s biggest operation. Served 3,000 meals a day. Provided gambling. And of course, the “Rooms for Ladies” upstairs.

Hotel services were generally paid with gold nuggets. Definitely the prostitution phase.

Bloomberg’s Business Week unearthed an 1899 advertisement for the Arctic Restaurant and Hotel. It included furnished private boxes “for ladies and parties.” The private boxes included a bed and a scale for weighing the gold nuggets used to pay for the services provided by the prostitutes.

Grandfather Trump and grandson Donald share a similar experience. The grandfather Trump left Germany the first time to avoid the draft. Arrived in the U.S. illegally. Several years later when his illegal status was discovered, he was returned to Germany.

Some time thereafter, he returned to the U.S. He eventually became a U.S. citizen.

I admire Frederick Trump. He was an immigrant. Things always tough for immigrants. He had a family to support. He did what was necessary. Though some of his activities might have been illegal, he was never arrested.

Contrast him with grandson Donald. No excuse for anything.

Tuesday Talk with Key west Lou. Tonight at 9. Join me. Show exceptional. Not because of anything I do. It is what is going on in the world today. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

I have no idea what time this blog will publish today. I have to take Terri to the hospital for some tests. You may not be getting this till late afternoon.

Lisa is 55 today. Imagine, I have a daughter that age! She probably wonders the same having a father my age!

We celebrated last night. Dinner and cake at Lisa’s. Her in laws were in for the event.

Cameron in Washington.

Take out from El Siboney.

Blew out the candle. Only one. No one puts them all on anymore.

Reminisced a bit. I recalled distinctly Lisa’s birth. She was supposed to be a boy. We had a son first. Then 2 girls. Never thought the fourth would be anything but a boy. To be named Louis.

Ergo, we had no name for a girl. Took us 4 days to come up with a name. They kept maternity cases in the hospital 4 days back then. We finally came up with a name because they could not discharge my wife without a name for the birth certificate.

Lisa has always been the love of my life. A charmer. My charmer. Always a hug and kiss for Daddy, regardless of our ages.

Shana Tovah to my Jewish friends. It is Rosh Hashanna. Marks the new year 5780.

A 1906 photo in yesterday’s KONK Life of  the corner of Greene and Elizabeth Streets. Not today. Not one house! Actually a messy nothing.

A few wooden shacks. Lots of water. And some sort of warehouse.

What a 100 plus years will do.

Trump in an exceptional warring mood this morning. Attacking everyone!

He bothered me re his comments concerning House Intelligence Committee Chairman Alan Schiff (D-Calif.) He said Schiff should be arrested for treason, a crime punishable by  death or prison time, for exaggerating parts of the negative aspects of the President’s leadership.

The U.S. is not a third world country nor an authoritarian regime. Yet! If it were and Trump was eventually deposed, Trump could expect jail or worse.

He forgets whatever goes around, comes around.

Several months ago, Trump mentioned that if he lost the 2020 election the people would go to the streets. The people would not accept his defeat. It could only happen as a result of a rigged election

A commentator mentioned the possibility that if Trump was narrowly defeated, he might refuse to leave the White House.

I wrote I concurred. And that ICE would be the military force protecting him. I worry. Trump keeps building up ICE to act as his personal guard similar to Hitler’s Gestapo.

Robert Jeffress is a strong Trump supporter. A man of much influence with evangelicals. Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dallas.

He was a guest on FOX & Friends sunday.

Jeffress commented during the interview, “If the Democrats are successful in removing the President from office (which they never will be), it will cause a Civil War like fracture in this nation from which our Country will never heal.”

Later in the morning, Trump picked up on the comment and tweeted it to the world.

Jeffress is part of the silent majority. Supported big time. He holds sway over evangelical voters and the President.

Yet, he viciously attacks other faiths.

His words: “God sends people to Hell” who are Germans, Islamists, Jews, and Hindus. He claims, “They lead people away from God, they lead people to an eternity of separation from God in Hell.” He forgot not the Catholics: “The Catholic Church is an instrument of Satan.”

Donald knows how to pick his friends!

By the way, Trump had Jeffress speak at the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem on May 14. You figure that one.

Yesterday was a significant one in British and European history. The year 1938. Great Britain’s Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain was in Munich negotiating a peace treaty with Hitler. The Munich Agreement was signed which permitted Nazi annexation of Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland.

Chamberlain’s famous words will never be forgotten: “I believe it is peace for our time.”

Turned out to be the worst peace treaty in history.

Floating around the internet yesterday was “news” that Iran’s legislature had passed a bill permitting a father to marry an adopted daughter if she was 13 or older.

Sounded strange. Did a little searching. The statement was false. It was first reported 6 years ago when it was false also.

Moral of the story: Do not believe everything you read on the internet.

Enjoy your day!

I have always thought the Chart Room popcorn the best. Something about its taste. A step above.

Never gave any  attention as to why till recently.

I was at the Chart Room. Enjoying their popcorn when a lady from Ohio at the other end of the bar exclaimed how good the popcorn was. Another agreed.

Why so good?

Tammy said, tabasco sauce. Added into the mix.

Who would have thought!

The funny part is the popcorn is neither hot nor spicy. Just tastes good!

Spent yesterday afternoon reworking some pages in Growing Up Italian. While the TV was running on the wall. The Clemson game.

Clemson #1 in the nation won by 1 point. A great game. North Carolina had nothing to be ashamed of.

The best of the best Clemson seems to have one tough/bad game in them most years. Three years ago, Clemson was ranked #1. Till they played Syracuse. Syracuse was having its usual nothing special season. Syracuse won.

Two years ago, Clemson won by about 3 points. Won on a touchdown in the last minute of the game. Syracuse had a good team last year.

This season, Clemson whipped Syracuse’s ass.

The reason I watched the Clemson game was because I still cannot get a Syracuse game on Comcast. Comcast and the ACCN apparently still fighting over money or have walked away from the table not caring about fans like me.

Syracuse did win. Beat Holy Cross 41-3. Nothing to cheer about. Holy Cross not in the same league as Syracuse. Don’t understand why Holy Cross is on Syracuse’s schedule so late in the season. Normally an easy game is played first or second.

All alone last night. Decided on a quick trip to Hogfish for dinner. Glad I went. Occasionally, I luck out and get to sit next to fishermen who have worked the docks for years. Great stories, great conversations.

Last night, it was Adam and Oliver. Oliver preferred to be called Ollie.

Both appeared to be in their 50’s. Being on a boat for years in the blazing sun weathers a man’s face. Ages it. Throw in a couple of missing teeth and you have the Key West fisherman.

They had come back to dock because of the weather. The horrific rain storm in the morning.

I got an education. There are all kinds of shrimp. The ones I recall are pink, brown and rock. Key West famous for its pink shrimp. Referred to as “Key West pink.”

I asked about the shrimp season. Turns out there really isn’t a season per se. Shrimp can be fished all year. The type of shrimp decides which months. Combined, the months make for a year long season.

Hurricane Lorenzo still out there. Surprising everyone. Especially the meteorologists.

At the moment, Lorenzo is a category 5. Very much in the east Atlantic. Closer to Europe than the U.S. Will never reach the U.S. Has already turned and is heading northeast.

Meteorologist claim they have never seen a hurricane of this size so far north and so far east at this stage of the hurricane and at its present velocity. One meteorologist said Lorenzo is “out of place for such a large and intense hurricane.”

Did a lot yesterday. Even read the Whistleblower Complaint. No big deal time wise. Only 9 pages. Written in simple everyday language. Easy to understand.

I suggest you read it if you have not. It is all over the internet. Something that everyone should be conversant with. Unquestionably, it will form the basis for any impeachment proceeding against Trump.

One of the reasons our government and our lives are so screwed up are the laws being passed and court decisions being made.

Legislators no longer necessarily vote for what is right. Rather they vote for that which will assure them of reelection.

Many court decisions are off the wall. In the extreme. Made by conservative judges who see no other way than to the right.

Many new laws/decisions tend to divide. They contribute to the extremeness existing in society today.

An example are laws/decisions protecting police officers if they kill someone in the line of duty. An innocent person.

In the past 20 years, laws and decisions have been placed on the books in most states providing the police officer with the defense that he thought he was going to be killed. If an officer believes he is in danger of death, he is not responsible for the death of another even if the officer was wrong in killing the person.

An example supporting my thinking is a defense being asserted in a Mississippi case. Not one where the officer may get off if there is a law protecting him from responsibility if he thought he was in danger of death. This example a different legal issue. Represents an extreme stretch in the law being attempted.

The police went to the wrong house to make an arrest. Ismael and his wife were watching TV. Their dogs began barking. Ismael went to the door. He may or may not have had a gun. The door may never have been opened.

One of he police officers shot 6 bullets. The bullets went through the front door. The bullet that killed Ismael entered the back of his head.

Ismael and his wife married 16 years. Ismael self supporting. Worked, paid taxes. However, he was not a legal resident of the U.S. An alien.

His wife has sued because of his wrongful death. Those representing the police have come up with a unique defense. One I doubt has ever been tried before in the U.S.

The defense claims the lawsuit must be dismissed because Ismael was an illegal alien. As such, he had no Constitutional rights. No standing to have a suit brought by his wife.

Never heard of anything like this before!!! Wow!!! A stretch!!! Killing without responsibility. Same for repercussions. None.

The Donald has brass testicles. He keeps pushing people and nations around. At some point, people and nations may push back. Then war.

The tariff dispute with China is ongoing. Gets worse by the day, not better. Trump keeps defecating on China hoping to make China capitulate to what he wants.

China never will. They too are a power in the world. China is not going to take Trump’s shit.

The talk on Wall Street this past week is that Trump is reviewing options that would authorize him to limit American investment in Chinese markets.

He would in effect be trying to destroy China’s stock market.

Such things make me fear a shooting war is inevitable.

Trump’s people may have thought he was going a step too far. An announcement was made last night that Trump was not considering such action “at this time.”

Trump has to go. Either by impeachment or defeat at the polls. Otherwise, the world will be facing the Apocalypse. It will be Armageddon.

To my Jewish friends, Happy New Year!

Enjoy your Sunday!

I was out again last night. Two nights in a row! Returning to my dangerous lifestyle! The Chart Room of course was my first stop.

Few people. Maybe 5 in the hour I was there. As I left, 4 couples came in. I was concerned John wasn’t going to make any money.

Understand Key West is dead dead. Every September, every year. You can put money on it. I can’t complain of auto traffic. There is none. Nor people on the sidewalks. The merchants take a beating in September.

I decided to walk Duval a bit. I avoid the first 4 blocks generally. Not last night.

As I walked by Sloppy Joe’s, I heard a melody from days long gone by…..You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray…..please don’t take my sunshine away!

My music!

Easy to understand once I entered. Senior citizens night. Most younger than me. In their 60’s-70’s. They were playing to the crowd.

Sloppy Joe’s suffering business wise also. Sloppy’s maybe 75 percent occupied.

I grabbed a seat at the bar.

I generally eat the same thing at Sloppy Joe’s. Not a Sloppy Joe.

Sloppy’s serves a dish of french fries covered in melted mozzarella covered in a hot red sauce. Delicious! I ordered and enjoyed.

It is amazing. I spent a year eating high fat and low carbs in and lost 62 pounds. Doctors have changed my diet because of the pancreatitis. I now eat little fat and a lot of carbs. My weight remains the same.

The no drinking is no fun. Excuse the redundancy. I miss the drinking. Three months thus far.

Interestingly, I thought the no smoking was going to be a problem. It was initially. Now don’t even think about it.

I was walking down the 100 block of Duval towards the Pier House. Saw this big brightly lit store across the street. For years, a huge sneaker store. Two floors.

The windows were covered in white paper. Could not see in. A small sign on the windows: OPEN FOR BUSINESS. A huge red sign over the entrance: MedMEN.

I can be a bit retarded. What are MedMEN?

I entered. A uniformed guard welcomed me. A lovely young lady came running up to greet me.

The place was beautiful. I knew instantly what it was. A pot store! A place to purchase medical cannabis.

I smiled and left. I had made the tour 2 months ago of the first to open in Key West. On Flagler, near Lee Nails. Same type operation. Except windows were not covered.

The young smiling lady at the Flagler operation greeted me. I asked if they sold marijuana. Yes. The whole place was marijuana packaged all different ways. Multiple flavors available.

All I could think was where was this stuff 50 years ago when I was into it a bit.

The young lady and I spent little time together. Actually, it did not take her long to decide she was going to make no money off me. In Florida, a physician’s prescription is required. She smilingly asked for my prescription. When I told her I had none, she turned and walked away.

MedMEN is a national chain operation. One of the biggies in the business.

The pot business is not turning out to be as lucrative as most thought. Two reasons. One is it costs big dollars to get in. The second is the illicit dealers charge far less.

MedMEN is feeling the squeeze. Needs an infusion of new money. Working on packaging a $250 million loan.

Such was my exciting evening. I was home in bed by 9.

Poured yesterday morning. All morning. Heavy. King tide time for Key West. Increased the overflow by about 6 inches.

The storm sewers could not handle it. Street flooding. More than usual. Northern Boulevard had some passing lanes unpassable. Flagler more flooding than normal. Several blocks in a row deep in water. Deep in water meaning 2 feet.

Other usual spots that flood were a bit higher, also. The intersection of Eaton and White. I Have twice seen people swimming in the intersection. The corner of Duval and Front. No swimming, but have observed people kayaking. Palm just over the bridge heading for Eaton. Residential streets liked United. Some really deep.

I saw none of this last night. I went downtown the long way. Knew what streets to take to avoid the flooding. My only problem would have been the intersection of Duval and Front. However the water had totally receded by the time I got there.

I did see “where” water had been when I entered the Pier House. The ramp entrance off the parking lot. It was obvious water found its way up and in the hallway.  Still wet. Leaves all over the place.

Happy New Year! Lest I forget. The Jewish New Year Rosh Hashanah begins sunday night at 7.

Time seems to change nothing. An edition of the Florida Motorist magazine in 1934 had a large spread advertising Key West as a tourist destination.

Key West advertises world wide today. Successfully. Too successfully sometimes I think. People from all over the world visit. Great for the merchants. Bring problems with them, however.

Look where Key West presnetly is today. Prices higher for everything. More honky tonk on Duval. Horrendous traffic. A parking problem like you would not believe.

I think someday because of the overabundance of visitors and what occurs as a result of their presence, our little island is going to quietly sink beneath the water.

Confucius. Confucius say…..

Today is Confucius’ birthday. He was born 551 B.C.

One of Trump’s goals involved the swamp. The one he was going to drain of corruption. The only thing he has succeeded in doing is increasing the vermin living in the swamp.

Enjoy your day!

I apparently gave up too soon yesterday morning. After watching Joseph Maguire testify for a while before a Congressional Committee, I gave up. Pure frustration. The questioning sucked. The answers non-responsive.

I quit too soon! One and one half hours after the hearing began.

From everything I saw on TV and read later in the day, things got better. Much better. The Committee did a good job, Maguire did a good job. Republicans sat with their tails between their legs and left quietly afterward.

Trump got nailed, but good! The truth came out! No games.

It would appear Trump is on his way to impeachment.

There are visitors who get excited when they see an iguana. Favorably excited. Think they’re cute. Green miniature dinosaurs.

Iguanas are bad. All should be eradicated. Shoot them, hit them over the head, but kill them. They are of no appreciable value to man or property in the Keys.

I have been in Key West for 30 years. The iguanas started showing up about 5 years after I arrived. First saw them on the golf course. A lot of big ones. Bothering no one. Sitting on tree branches or scooting on the ground.

The group first seen has propagated. It is crisis time. The State of Florida agrees. Finally.

Iguanas are everywhere. Always in huge numbers. Generally big ones and little ones together.

The do not bother humans. You can walk very near one and they will not move.

The problem is they destroy. Flowers and bushes. Eat ’em up! Defecate in pools. Happened to me 2 times. Had to remove and replace the water. They grind their way into seawalls and sidewalks.

I recall when pythons first invaded the Keys. Few in number. Now in the millions. Florida did not know what to do. Scientists and the State agree they have now reached a point where they can only be contained, not eradicated.

We may have reached that point with iguanas.

They are protected by animal cruelty laws. Kill and don’t kill. May only use guns where permitted. Generally approved method of killing is to shoot them in the head or bash their heads on a rock.

Otherwise, hands off! The law provides they may not be made to suffer during the eradication process.

The problem is now referred to as a “war.” However cannot go around “shooting willy nilly.” Key West is not the “wild west.”

Interestingly, iguanas are of no value to man. Except for food. A basic food in Central and South America. Supposedly tastes like chicken.

Not for me.

I went out last night. The Chart Room and Mary Ellen’s.

Tammy bartending at the Chart Room. One of the most charming persons in Key West.

Business slow. All of 4 people in the bar while I was there. The streets are quiet. Key West’s dead season. Things will pick up next month with Fantasy Fest. From no one to every one. As many as 70,000 the night of the parade.

I have always wondered where 70,000 sleep. In all the Keys there are not enough beds to handle 70,000 people. The beaches can only hold so many. Cars all over with people sleeping in them.

I had dinner at Mary Ellen’s. Good food. I have found the best to be a cup of tomato soup accompanied by a grilled cheese sandwich. Outstanding!

It has been a while since I have written about sex in Key West. Doubt Key Westers have been abstaining. However nothing unusual occurring.

Till monday. It was back to normal. A woman called the police. A bare assed couple were fornicating on her front lawn. They were arrested.

Came across an interesting occurrence in France.

A male employee was on a business trip. Met a strange woman. They were having sex in her hotel room. He had cardiac arrest. Died.

A French court said the dead man’s wife was entitled to recompense for his death. Money because he died on the job. The court equated sex on a business trip like “taking a shower or eating a meal.”

The fact the man was “cheating” was immaterial.

The employer had to pay.

Fantasy Fest less than a month away. A new event has been added. The Air Sex Championships.

Performed with clothes on, yet all about “fornication-adjunct actions.” Whatever that means.

Men are the performers. What they do involves song, courage, humor, and erotic imagination. The best description I could come up with is that it is like playing an invisible guitar, except the performer plays an invisible partner.

Things were apparently very competitive in 1955 in Key West. The motels were having a price war. On this day in 1955, 8 motels posted signs offering “free rooms to tourists.”

The City of Key West and the owners of the cruise ship Silver Spirit are in a pissing match. Over money.

Last year on November 24, the 608 passenger Silver Spirit hit a “mooring dolphin” near the Mallory Square hotel area as it was leaving.

Cost Key West $970,520 for repairs. The City did not put the repairs out for bidding because it thought it important to repair immediately so the businesses in the area would not lose money. The City also added on a 5 percent “administrative fee.” On top of which it also added loss of business because other ships could not moor till repaired.

The cruise line has offered $250,000 lees than the $970,520 the City claims it is owed.

The usual cries are emanating from City Hall. We are going to sue. We will not cut a penny. The lawyers will take care of it.

Not a wise approach.

These are relatively large dollars. $250,000 not that big a difference. The City will not recover every penny. That’s the way it is. The cruise line will have to pay more.

Throw the matter into some sort of binding arbitration and get it resolved that way.

Note also the City’s attorney’s fees will be out of sight if handled in the normal fashion.

There is nothing to be gained by either side in outright litigation. The parties should short cut the legal process with binding arbitration and get the matter resolved swiftly and cheaply.

I find hurricane Lorenzo interesting. In the process of making a loop back into the Atlantic.

At this time, it is a category 4. May go to a 5. May hit land in the Azores. No danger to the Caribbean or U.S.

My first “looping hurricane.”

I came across some quotes re lies and deceptions. Trump causes both to be in the background of the news daily.

The most well known lying quote is, “Oh, the web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” Another is, “When we with honeyed words but evil mind, persuade the mob great woes befall the state.”

Re deception, “People don’t change…..They just find new ways to lie.”

The southeast is in desperate need of water. Jean Thornton in Birmingham keeps telling me how dry it is and how long since it last rained.

It has rained in Key West for at least a month almost every morning. Today, I was up at 6. Raining. It is now noon. Still raining.

Enjoy your day!

My morning is screwed up. Out of bed early to get an early start on the blog. I wanted to watch the Congressional hearing at 9.

Completed my research. Went downstairs to watch. I intended to write the blog following the hearing.

I lasted 1 1/2 hours. I am back to the computer. Could not handle the hearing.

The Congresspersons and the witness left me upset. Disgusted. Most of the questions were not on the side of getting at the truth. Congresspeople are not trained to do so. Congressional hearings should have attorneys asking the questions.

I thought Joseph Maguire would be a good witness. He is involved in the telephone inquiry which was born of a talk between Trump and the President of the Ukraine.

Instead, another Robert Mueller.

These federal employees are unable to respond to questions simply and directly. Most seem to being covering their asses. Even if they did no wrong.

The hearings another example of our government being in bad shape.

My car. I am without wheels. Dropped the car off at the garage yesterday morning at 9. It was supposed to be returned at 5. Four new tires.

Received a call instead. Wrong tires shipped from Miami. Will receive correct shipment tomorrow. Which means today.  Car not driveable last night. Other things were being done.

So I spent the evening at home. Watched TV all night. Mostly news talk shows. Gearing up for this morning’s hearing. Maybe that is why I was disappointed. Too much prep!

This telephone inquiry has gotten me into the Ukraine. Many interesting stories reported. Yesteryear and today.

The present situation gets confusing. Trump, the Ukraine President. $400 million, Russia, etc. Putin is supposedly Trump’s friend.

We send money and/or military supplies to the Ukraine. To what is called the AZOV Battalion. The Azov uses both in their years long fight with Russia. Putin wants the Ukraine.

A new word has come into my vocabulary because of the Ukrainian situation. “Blowback.”

Trump must know of it and its consequences. I cannot believe he and others in the top level of government are unaware.

Blowback technically defined as the unintended adverse results of a political action or situation. Simply stated, unintended consequences.

A context in which I discovered it in operation this morning involves the U.S., Ukraine, neo-Nazis, and Russia.

Cerytain U.S. citizens are white supremacists. Ukraine has a military force known as the AZOV Battalion. A fascist group.

Americans are traveling to the Ukraine to join AZOV. They are learning military prowess from their Ukrainian fascists brothers in arms. They learn how to bomb and kill.

The kicker in all this is their training and military equipment is paid with American dollars. The AZOV Battalion has become the West Point of Ukrainian neo-Nazis.

While in the Ukraine, the Americans use social media to spread their poison to persons in America. Even how to make a bomb. At some point, most return home. When home, they become part of the neo-Nazi culture.

Some are the neo-Nazis who have participated in various demonstrations, clashed with for real Americans. They become part of the same group which Trump seemingly supports.

The blowback are the social media messages and then their return to the U.S. to participate in new-Nazi programs.

Every facet of their training, etc. paid for with American dollars.

Why doesn’t anyone talk about it? Why does Congress permit it? The President we understand. His mind frame would support them.

Hurricanes continue. The life of a Key Wester.

Something relatively new is occurring this year. Most are turning north before they reach land. Land would be southwest Florida. A new route occasionally appears. North and then northeast out into the Atlantic. Never to reach land.

Lorenzo the most recent doing it the new way. A category 3. Has already gone north and expected to turn northeast into the ocean.

Tropical storm Karen is still out there. Seems Karen has been around forever.

Karen really dancing to a new tune. She is presently heading for Florida, Puerto Rico, etc. She is expected to  slow down and make a complete loop.

The loop unusual. Back to an eastern track.

Again, no problem for the U.S.

Frank Bruni and Nicolas Kristoff are two of the world’s outstanding columnists. Both associated with the New York Times.

This past week Bruni wrote, “From the first moment Trump stepped into the office of the presidency, he has degraded it…..”

Kristof wrote, “Trump’s behavior is beyond the pale.” The five page telephone conference memorandum is “the worst, unbelievable, Mafia type content.”

Military suicides continue to rise. The numbers spiking. The primary cause thought to be repeated deployments.

This past week, 3 sailors killed themselves aboard the USS George H. W. Bush. The Bush was in dry dock in Norfolk, Virginia at the time.

Last year, 68 active duty Navy personnel committed suicide.

In 2014, the number of suicides per 100,000 was 13.1. In 2018, 20.7. The increase obvious. A crisis situation.

Enjoy your day!

Good morning!

Short blog this morning. Have to get the car to the garage. New tires and brakes.

Today’s title can be read 2 ways. One good, one bad. If you did not pick up on it, reread it slowly.

I won’t waste your time going over yesterday’s happenings. We are all aware. However, I would like to share some thoughts.

With the Impeachment Inquiry, the die is cast. The Rubicon has been crossed.

Trump’s UN presentation left much to be desired. He spoke of the U.S. as a national nation, not a global one. I do not buy it. Not a healthy way to go. Everyone needs friends!

Giuliani has lost it! Amazing! The man was a great U.S. Attorney and Mayor. His time has passed.  Trump would be better off without him. He is only going to get Trump into more trouble.

Republican talk will be that with the Impeachment Inquiry, the Democrats got Trump. Not true. Trump got himself.

Trump’s lack of truth is one of the things that has led to the Impeachment Inquiry. He apparently never read: “Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.”

Howdy Doody went over well! Glad I wrote it! Some day, I will do the Mickey Mouse Club. Nothing wrong with remembering/being reminded of that which was enjoyed in days earlier.

Jean Thornton called from Birmingham. Loved the Howdy Doody bit! Though much younger than I, she falls in an age bracket that would.

Kokomo Man often comments re the blog. He brought to my attention that I forgot Clarabell the Clown. I did. Sorry. Clarabell never crossed my mind. Must be age.

Clarabell was one of the regulars on Howdy Doody. He was mute.

Over the years, 3 different persons played Clarabell. One was Bob Keeshan. He had his own show in later years as Captain Kangaroo. As Clarabell, he communicated through mime and honked his horn for “yes” or “no.”

Even the Peanut Gallery got into the act with Clarabell. Howdy Doody was not the only one who had a dedicated song. Clarabell, also. The kids sang it every show. It began “Who’s the funniest clown we know? / Clarabell / …..And since the day that he was born / He’s honked and honked his horn.”

Clarabell only spoke once in the 13 years the show was on. At the end of the last show, the camera zoomed to his face. With tears running down his cheeks, he said “Good bye.”

The entire staff cried with him.

Climate change! Climate change! Climate change!

A priority today. Even though some such as Trump do not believe it is for real.

Today’s New York Times ran a column by Brad Plumer: Major Climate Report Warns Of Severe Damage To The World’s Oceans. The report referred to was one the UN published the day before as part its climate change program.

The report stated the Earth’s oceans were under severe strain from climate change “threatening everything from the ability of people to harvest seafood to the well being of hundreds of millions of people living along the coasts.”

Key Westers have a special concern. We live on the ocean. In due course, many of our homes will be washed waw. Foodwise, fish a big thing. Most Key Westers eat fish every night of the week for dinner. Why not? Definitely fresh and tasty. Cheap also. Many catch their own.

The marine biologist Hans-Otto Portner claims, “The oceans are sending us so many warning signals that we need to get emissions under control.”

The word is definitely out. Are a sufficient number listening?

Enjoy your day!