I sometimes find it hard to understand my Key West community. We are basically a tough standing community. Sort of a don’t tread on us. However occasions arise when Key West government acts stupidly.

It has done so recently with the ICE situation.

Key West government first voted not to be compelled to provide police cooperation to ICE investigators. Good for the City Commission. 

Then it opted to reverse its position. Pressure from on high too much?

At a mass City Hall meeting opposing cooperation with ICE, the City Commission reversed itself and voted 4-2 to cooperate with ICE.

Shame on the Commission.

The reversal came after State government threatened to kill much assistance rendered to Key West.

The Commission capitulated. Showing it lacks the balls to do the correct thing. People are unhappy.

All this occurring while the matter is before a State court for decision. The Commission could not wait for the court decision. Cowards!

The U.S. Supreme Court has screwed up again. It has allowed Trump to launch more layoffs and restructuring plans while litigation continues. Evidence the Supreme Court belongs to Trump. Trump continues to add Congress to its bailiwick. Trump’s power increases…..to the detriment of the Nation.

Trump is mad at Putin. Took a long time for Trump to realize Putin was playing him for the fool.

Texas Governor Abbott needs to be replaced. One hundred sixty one Texans remain missing. The flood death toll is expected to exceed 200.

Trump’s 90 day tariff deadline is today. The program has failed. Ergo Trump is coming out with a new program. Basically the same. Hopes he looks like a winner this time.

Florida rewards Trump with an ego booster. Renamed a strip of road near his Mar-a-Lago home after him: President Donald J. Trump Highway.

Wendy’s has quietly returned chicken tenders to its menu. With no word or announcement.

Mercedes Benz announced that in the second quarter its sales for personal cars and vans dropped. Blame has been placed on Trump’s tariff program. Mercedes’ North American deliveries fell 14 percent while China’s deliveries declined 19 percent.

I close with something that has been more of a problem than aid over the years. A travel problem. Travelers will soon no longer be required to take off their shoes during security screenings at U.S. airports. The mandate has been in effect almost 20 years. The non-removable rule begins Sunday.

Enjoy your day!

Good morning!

Early. Five am.

Texas is paying the penalty for merely playing Washington politics. The flood deaths speak for themselves. One hundred four so far this year. Twenty seven children. The flooding a problem that has perplexed Texas for years and been ignored by Texas. Finally the time has arrived to pay the fiddler. Big time!

Two whores meet. Trump and Netanyahu. Dinner last night in Washington.

Netanyahu shared a copy of a letter he sent to the Nobel Peace Prize organization recommending Trump receive the Peace Prize.

Two nurses visited me yesterday. Nancy Brown and Lina Swift as part of my Medicare follow-up to my recent 58 days in the hospital. One to tend to my wounds. The other further exercise. Today a third. Bill. He draws my blood once a week to check my hemoglobin which has now reached 12.1. It was only a few weeks ago it was 6.1.

Nancy also responsible for caring for my head injury received saturday when I fell. Still bleeding a bit. Stitches in place. Will take a few days to heal.

Kolmar Abrego Garcia case. Justice the aim so Abrego will not suffer illegally and improperly a second time.

Trump wants to remove Garcia from the U.S. again. He refuses to let the normal judicial process work its way out. The federal judge involved says the government refuses to let the system play out. The government wants to now send Garcia to other than El Salvador.

Federal Judge Xinis said re the government’s plea: “It’s like trying to nail Jell-O to a wall to figure out what is going to happen next week.”

El Salvador finally spoke out on who controls the fate for jailed detainees. The U.S. A significant contradiction to the Trump administration’s repeated claims that it lacked authority to bring back migrants from the Salvadoran mega prison.

Used car prices are climbing again. Some nearly 20 percent. Reference especially to cars 1-5 years old.

Trump has issued new tariff letters on a slate of states. The tariffs to take effect August 1. Included are 25 percent tariffs on “our friends” Japan and South Korea. 

Most if not all of the tariff letters were the same or close to those issued several months ago. It appears Trump is merely seeking more notoriety. His follow throughs on these tariffs generally suck fortunately.

Measles cases up so far this year in the U.S. Reported cases have reached 1,277. The previous high was 1, 274 in 2019.

Texas is in the center of this outbreak. Seven hundred ninety cases so far.

Texas doing well. Flood deaths as high and going to be higher. A measles leader. Texas should have paid more attention to its other problems rather than playing a close Trump friend in recent times.

Truman’s great grandson, Arthur Wesley Truman Daniel, to lead a “truly amazing art” exhibition at the Truman Little White House soon. Date and time to follow.

I close with an observation re the New York City mayoral race. Democratic victor Zahran Mandeni will not win. His track record negates success.

His past has resurfaced to haunt him. He gave the “flipping the bird” finger at a speech in June, 2020 at Astoria calling for a statue of Christopher Columbus to be taken down. How he won the primary under the circumstances, I know not. I admit I take the finger personally because of my Italian heritage.

Enjoy your day!

The silence was deafening yesterday, The Fourth of July and oh so quiet.

Holidays are crowded walks and streets. Regardless of weather. Yesterday you could hear a pin drop.

Why, I know not. Cory and Robert drove me around town prior and subsequent to my breakfast birthday brunch. We all commented on the silence.

Fewer people? Appeared so. Are people heeding the voices and failing to travel to South Florida and the Keys because of Trump’s actions? The next long weekend will tell.

Still walking around with a major headache, though better.

With the number of Texas flooding deaths now exceeding 80, you would think floods a stranger to Texas. Not so. Common. Problem is Texas failed to get ready. Government officials were too busy playing national and Trumpism politics to be concerned. They knew floods were a concern. Failed to pay attention, to warn.

The State that considers itself to be the smartest failed its people! Proof in the flooding. Note the more than 80 dead contain 28 children.

U.S. measles cases reach 33. A one year record  high already. Thank you RFK Jr. and Donald. You play ball well together.

A rare copy of the 13th Amendment signed by Abraham Lincoln sold for a record $13 million recently.

The Corona beer owner raises struggles in recent months re attracting customers. Beer sales are down 2 percent int the first quarter. Wine and spirits down a whopping 28 percent.

Total sales down overall for the year thus far.

Why?

Owner says one reason are Hispanic and non-Hispanic consumers. Economics a concern. Especially inflation. Hispanics cutting back.

Words of wisdom by Walt Whitman: “Keep your face always toward the sunlight and shadows will fall behind you.”

On this day in 1912, Jim Thorpe began the Olympic penthalon.

Isis sex on the rise. Every 24 seconds a child is trafficked globally. An example of how horrible sex trafficking is in the Iraq region.

I still hurt. Big head. Left butt now also. A tumble it was!

Enjoy your day!

I made it! Ninety years old! Many times in the last 2 months plus I doubted it.

Celebrated the occasion with Lisa, Corey, Robert, Ally and Jake at a mammoth breakfast this morning at Lisa’s.

Yesterday foretell my not making 90…..almost! I had been in for 2 weeks in bed. Decided it was time to get out. Decided to have lunch with Steve. I stubbed my toe on the curb when I went out to get in Steve’s car. Down I went. Back of my head first. Hard! Bled big time. To the emergency rom. Stitches, brain scan, ekg, other tests. Everything ok. Home to bed with a head bigger than my room.

Did make 90, however. Enjoyed the breakfast mentioned. Lisa and Corey were quick to tell me they did not think because of the 58 days I was going to make 90. I agreed. Made it, however. Plan to continue making it to 91.

Age a significant factor in deciding whether one makes 90, 91 or what have you. All one can do is keep hoping and praying. I have been doing both recently.

Home now. Back to bed. I went out two weeks too early. 

Happy birthday calls from everywhere. Mentioned a few yesterday. One today from Jean Thornton. Joe having problems. Hope he continues recovering. 

Enjoy your day!

More wrongs than rights permeating our society.

Some examples.

The Supreme Court has given Trump immunity from nationwide injunctions. Congress is giving ground on spending and tariffs.

Each way too much.

Constitutional checks and balances are not working. The Supreme Court and Congress continue to give Trump a “blank check.”

Result: A too powerful Presidency.

Time for the Supreme Court and Congress to stand tall against the President and restore the type of government initiated by the Founding Fathers.

I fear a too powerful President.

Which leads to another issue. Can the U.S. survive a 2028 election when Trump and his cohorts will fight to retain power?

Trump is now taking on the banks big time. Refers to them as “shylocks.” Considered an antisemite term. Trump denies he uses it as such. Me thinks he lies. He has battled banks his entire economic career an has been known to have expressed antisemitic feelings.

Condo values are slipping. Across Miami-Dade County. More so outside Miami itself.

The Florida State Attorney General has authorized local police to support ICE. Local Key West residents met in mass to protest. Residents recognized the failure of due process involved.

A lot of Americans are going to die because of Robert Kennedy Jr. and Trump’s support of anti-vaccines.

A closing observation. My lengthy illness caused many to inquire re my illness. As far away as Greece, England and South Africa. Plus numerous others. Thank you!

Enjoy your day!

Tiny Key West is bombarded with ICE. People are being swept off the streets. Some by masked persons. What is happening all over the U.S. is happening here.

Shame!

Fear is permeating our streets.

Why can’t well enough be left alone. Key West needs workers.

This message is short. Its point well made.

Today is July 4th. Independence Day. No more. ICE has replaced the freedoms we once experienced. Time to return to the the days of yesteryear and the freedoms we then experienced.

Sick! Big time! Fifty eight days! Three hospitals and one recuperation facility!

Just coming out of it. Home now for two weeks.

It was towards the end of April. An old friend Cheryl Keast had driven to Key West from Cape Coral to have dinner with me at Antonia’s. She and her husband Roger had been friends for 15 years. Snowbird friends. Roger had died 3 years earlier. We decided to get together for dinner.

Parked on Simonton for a 1 1/2 block walk to Antonia’s.

Suddenly I was without energy. Totally wiped out. Sat on curb. Finally made it to Atonia’s.

It was Dr. Norris and the Key West Hospital the next day. For two days. I was shitting toilet bowl full of black blood those two days.

It was decided I needed better care. I was helicoptered to Mount Sinai in Miami. Spent one week at Mount Sinai. Sinai decided I required better care than they could provide. Ambulanced me over to Cleveland Clinic for upwards of three weeks. Toilet full of black liquid blood continued.

I had a stomach leak causing the blood problem. Two procedures to determine cause of the leak. One through the throat failed. A blockage. One through the rectum also failed. Scar tissue from a surgery 15 years earlier prevented it.

Then the “movie pill.” Size of a potassium tablet. Supposedly was to take 40,000 pictures over 4 hours. I would then pass it.

The tablet got lost. Dd not work. To this day is thought still be somewhere in my stomach.

The next step was big time surgery. Cut through the abdomen. Cleveland Clinic MDs were supposedly the best at it.

They were reluctant to do it because of its danger.

In the meantime, still shitting toilet full of liquid blood.

The leak had to be stopped!

Surgery was short timed. When portion of stomach was removed, it shuddered and shaked. I was closed immediately for fear of death. Never to be opened again.

Now I was really in trouble! Cure not available. Needed to find leak and close it.

The bleeding stopped. Turned to black turds. Represented drying blood. Needed brown turds.

I was not improving.

The doctor in charge of my procedure came in and talked with me. Told me to make arrangements to die. Talk to my family, get my affairs in order, etc.

Pissed me off no end! Death was the last thing on my mind! I was 89 and would move to 90 on July 6. Decided screw the docs and system. I was going to live!!!

I am still here. My attitude did not go over well.

I was transferred to Empress Recuperation. From my perspective, to die on someone else’s time.

The recup was terrific. I exercised big time. Pushed myself.

I was not making progress. The Doctor in charge paid me a visit. His people were not able to help me. Normally they sent people in my condition to hospice. However because I was working my ass off and was positive in the exercises, they were sending me home. Home to die was the message!

Hemoglobin is the key. An adult male should be 13.5. I was running up and down from low 6’s to 8’s. Needed lots of transfusions to keep blood stabilized.

My only hope was the leak might stop on its own. Not expectd, however.

In the two weeks home, my hemoglobin has steadily risen to 11. Wowie! Big time!

Hope it continues.

I have remained in bed. This my first blog. Will start walking soon. Lets hope the hemoglobin continues to rise. My life depends on it!

Pray for me!

The day begins with some Key West tidbits.

One of my favorite Key West sandwiches has gone up two times since Trump took office. One dollar each time. A lot!

I intentionally fail to name the restaurant. Maybe circumstances compelled such large increases, maybe the restaurant was merely being a pig taking advantage of circumstances. Not being sure, I intentionally fail to name it. However rest assured I shall avoid eating there for quite a while.

Key West gas prices have gone down this week. Second consecutive week. Twenty cents a gallon over the two weeks.

Prices will rise again. It has been that way the past few months.

Publix is not playing yo yo with prices in Key West. They only go one way: Up! A few pennies at a time. Nevertheless, always upward.

Key West’s City Attorney was indicted recently. He almost immediately tendered his resignation and received a buy out on his contract of $221,000…..before even a trial. The indictment remains standing.

Key West over the years has reflected a tendency to pay and run rather than stand and fight. The tendency goes back to a time when it opted to fight a second transit bus system and paid big time.

Trump time.

Trump is getting a “third tier” seat at Pope Francis’ funeral. The way things worked out. Deservedly so, however. He criticized Biden’s seating in the 14th row at the Queen of England’s funeral. Referred to Biden’s seat as a reflection of the U.S.’ poor position in the world.

Trump should stay home for this one. Though Francis’ position would be God loves everyone and Trump should be welcome. Unfortunately giving credit for an action he deserves not.

Who is lying? The U.S. or China? Trump claims negotiations with China re tariffs are ongoing and progress being made. China says no way! The two nations have not yet met and China will not engage in talks with Trump after tariffs have been levied. Should have been talks first! China takes Trump’s handling of the matter as an insult.

The New York Times has an interesting article this morning re Russian/Ukraine talks. The Times claims Putin keeps pummeling Ukraine, convinced Trump is on his side.

I would agree. Trump wants Ukraine to give everything away. Russia giving next to nothing. Such would amount to a total capitulation by Ukraine to Russia who started the war.

Natalism is in the air. Specifically in the Oval Office. Do not be surprised if a Trump Executive Order comes out on the issue.

Natalism concerns itself with fertilization. 

Since 2007, the U.S. birth numbers have gone down. Trump wants more babies. Especially with him pushing the issue. Most he assumes will be MAGA types when older.

Vance and Musk are pushing the issue also.

Discussions are underway on how to acknowledge and reward a woman who has more babies than normal. One reward could be a National Medal for Maternity. Six babies required to receive one.

Keep in mind friends the last authoritarian who pursued such an idea. Adolph Hitler. More babies today, more Nazis tomorrow!

Alaska Republican U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski is one tough woman. An equally tough legislator as well. Ran once as an Independent and won when her Republican Party rejected her.

Recently she admitted something we all have been feeling has been the case with federal elected officials: “We are all afraid.” Admitting the statement applied to her also. All afraid of Trump and retaliation.

A sad state of affairs!

James Baldwin was an American writer and civil rights activist. He died in 1987.

One of his famous quotes and one befitting the Donald Trump of today: “Ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have.”

Hegseth has to go. A Trump error. He should not have been nominated in the first place.

Pope Francis.

I will be up early tomorrow morning to watch Pope Francis’ funeral. Four am!

Pope Francis opted not to be buried in the splendor of St. Peter’s. Rather he selected the significantly less formal Basilica di Santos Maria Maggiore. His tombstone within will be equally less formal bearing only the name “Franciscus.” 

The Church of Santa Maria Maggiore appeared in my readings this morning. I assume the place where Francis will be buried.

On this day in 590 A.D., Pope elect, the future Gregory the Great, lead a litanic procession through Rome to the Church of Sante Maria Maggiore, to appease divisive anger during a plague epidemic.

I close with the preeminent singer Frank Sinatra. The Voice!

On this day in 1955, Sinatra released his ninth studio album “In The Wee Small Hours.” Arrangements were by Nelson Riddle.

Have to hustle. A manicure with Tammy at noon.

Enjoy your day!

Pope Francis is now with God. Actually, most of his life has been spent with God in one fashion or another. It would be difficult to find one person more God like.

He died. At the age of 88. A common man who placed the common people of the world first. I believe it was President Biden who described him as The People’s Pope.

Francis a commoner himself. As a young Argentinian worked as a bouncer in a night club. In due course, became a Jesuit priest. In later years, the first Jesuit to become Pope. Also the first individual from the Americas to become Pope.

He might be described as one who was a strange Pope. He rejected/refused the pomposity and regalia that went with the position. Refused to live in the Pope’s Chambers. Instead opted for a small bed in a room in another building. Refused also to to replete himself in the robes and finery the Papacy called for. Instead, wore white robes and black shoes.

In death, he could lie in St. Peter’s. This too he has rejected. He has directed he be buried in the ground of a nearby Church. Not in the special coffin of Popes. Rather in a simple wooden coffin. No special name or print on his tombstone. Merely “Franciscus.”

His Papal life relegated by the name Frances which he took when he became Pope. He named himself after St. Frances, the Saint of the Poor who lived a relatively poor life.

In about two weeks, Cardinals will begin the voting process to select a new Pope. Recognize for years, Popes were of European extraction. They controlled the Catholic Church. Frances I suspect may have made such a process impossible in the election of his successor. Frances went out of his way to nominate Cardinals from Africa, Asia and small places that never had one in previous years.

Africa has become a garden spot for the Catholic Church in recent years. A blooming area for Catholicism. Two or three black Cardinals were made by Francis. The next Pope could be an African.

Trump announced he and Melania will attend the Pope’s funeral service in St. Peter’s saturday. A disgrace, a shame. Not only because he lacks the moral qualities to sit at such an event, but because he was decidedly anti-Francis during his first term. Trump appointed Newt Gingrich’s wife Callista as U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican. She so served from 2017-2021. This gave Gingrich, who was was radical right, a position of influence and power in the Vatican. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were rightist and many MAGA thinking in their midst. The organization and Gingrich gave Francis a very hard time. Their game plan to overthrow Francis.

Trump should be given a seat in the last row of St. Peter’s.

Word is Elon Musk may soon cut dramatically back on the number of hours he is helping Trump. Musk’s businesses are suffering. Tesla’s first quarter earnings were down 71 percent for the first quarter of this year.

Musk has been screwing the American public. The American public are not fools. They are getting back at hm.

Our government is sticking its nose again where it does not belong. The government is considering paying the public not to use Google Search.

We are all aware how measles has gotten out of hand. Now joined by whooping cough.

The reason for the increase in both is the failure of parents to make sure their children have been vaccinated against the diseases. A thank you to RFK Jr. and others. Two diseases almost totally eradicated in the U.S. have returned and are on the rise.

An example of Trump’s “brilliance.” On this day in 2020, then President Trump suggested studying if COVID-19 could be treated by introducing disinfectant or UV lights into a human body.

Some baseball highlights.

The New York Yankees were first known as the New York Highlanders. The Highlanders won their first game this day in 1903 by beating the Washington Senators 7-2.

Baseball great Ted Williams hit his first home run for Boston this day in 1939. He was an expert fisherman also. He owned for many years a home on Islamorada.

Hank Aaron hit his first home run this day in 1954. The first of 755.

William Shakespeare was born this day in 1564.

A big day in Florida Keys history. On this day in 1982, the Florida Keys seceded from the Union. Quickly capitulated and surrendered. However has continued as the Conch Republic through the years.

I close with a wine disaster. An expensive one.

On this day in 1989, wine merchant William Sokolin broke a bottle of 1787 Chateau Margauy, possibly having belonged to Thomas Jefferson, worth $500,000, at the Four Seasons Restaurant in New York City.

Enjoy your day!

“He has risen! He is not here!” Mark 16:6.

The Easter egg became popular following Christ having risen from the dead. The hard boiled egg came to symbolize Jesus’ empty tomb. Cracking the egg represented Christ leaving the tomb. The egg at the time was stained bright red. So colored in memory of the blood Christ shed at the time of His crucifixion.

May the Lord hold you in the palm of his hand.

Happy Easter!