RIP

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Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine. Grant them eternal rest, oh Lord.

The season ended for Syracuse last night. The team lost to Dayton 55-53.

It was a game like most Syracuse games this season. If you saw one, you saw them all. Close. The last few seconds everything. Whether against a good team or bad, the games played out that way.

I am glad it is over. I did not enjoy the season. An emotional strain!

Never the less, I congratulate Coach Boeheim and the team for their 28-6 record. The numbers are good. The actuality not.

I watched the game at Lukas’ place with the lovely Stephanie Kaple. Second time in a row I have enjoyed her company. She was cheering for Dayton Her parents went to school  there or live in Dayton.

We both were emotional. At one point, she claimed I hit her. I had not! I pushed her. Anyhow, she text her mother re the abuse. Mom text back…..Hit him! She did.

Everything else that occurred yesterday was non-consequnetial in comparison to Syracuse’s defeat last night.

I am in mourning.

Enjoy your Sunday!

NEW KEYS TV SHOW / SISSY SPACEK

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Big time TV coming to the Florida Keys for filming!

Netflix announced yesterday that a new television series starring Sissy Spacek will be filmed in the Keys. Islamorada to be specific. It is an original series, yet untitled. A mystery. Sissy Spacek plays the mother of a some what dysfunctional family. An old hotel/motel is involved.

Filming starts next week. The series is sixteen weeks. A crew of 125 involved. Each episode will take nine days to film. The cost of each episode $8 million.

Most of the crew will stay in Islamorada, Tavernier, and Key Largo. Star Sissy Spacek at the Ocean Reef in Key Largo. President Obama and Michelle stayed there last week.

The show will be a boon for the Islamorada area. Good for them!  I doubt it will make a dollar impact here in Key West. Islamorada is a one hour forty five minute drive from Key West.

I can understand Islamorada being the site as an old hotel/motel was required. Islamorada is an old Keys vacation spot. Most of the lodgings go back to the 1950s and before. The place is nice, but very elderly. You will recall when I occasionally want to get away from Key West for a few days, I drive up to Islamorada.

An interesting dinner last night at Square One. Darling Jenna. She wanted me to meet Tamara. Jenna is doing a documentary regarding Tamara. The specific subject involves a psychopath. I have an interest in psychopaths and at some time down the road plan a major book involving the subject. Jenna asked me to dinner because of my interest. She also wanted my take on the victim Tamara and her story.

It was some evening!

Afterwards, I stopped at Don’s Place. Chatted with Jeff, Grant, and Angus. Dougie bartending.

Syracuse basketball this evening. 7:10. Against Dayton. Syracuse a 6.5 point favorite. Means nothing. Syracuse has lost several games where they were favored. Also, the mighty are falling in the tournament. Dougie told me last night Mercer beat Duke.

I shall be watching the game at Lukas’ Sports Pub.

Stephanie Kaple telephoned me yesterday. To give me a hard time. I sometimes think she has no one else to beat on. She is a Dayton grad. I invited her to join me tonight. She said she would call. I am still waiting.

Note that my enthusiasm for Syracuse’s chances at the moment are non-committal. I am taking each game as it comes.

A magnificent morning! Sun out. No wind. Absolutely none. The water still. The tide is out. Very much so. I can see the roots of the mangoes across the way. It is a silent time. Dead silent. Generally, the only noise is the moving water. It is one of those God’s in His Heaven, all’s right with the world times!

My book! If you like political, historical and social commentary, buy it. I guarantee you will enjoy the book. The World Upside Down is available on amazon.com and barnsandnoble.com.

Enjoy your day!

PATRICK “PATTY CAKES” HAYES

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I am alive and almost well. Blood pressure ok. My back has 20 per cent to go. However, the back is sufficiently better that I am able to move around experiencing only an occasional twinge of pain.

I am stir crazy. I have been confined to bed and home a few days. Have to get out! Tonight!

Today’s KONK Life E News Blast features a picture of one of Key West’s most beloved persons. Patrick Hayes, aka Patty Cakes. Patrick was at a charity fundraiser yesterday afternoon at Square One and shed his dreds to help with the fund raising. They were almost down to his butt. I will not say Patrick looked good in them. From my perspective, he did not. He was like a wild man from Borneo. I am glad they are gone. The Patrick I knew has returned!

Patrick is a good friend. For more than 20 years. He is also Lisa’s friend. Her best friend after her husband. Patrick is also unofficial godfather to Robert and Lisa. They know him well and love him, also.

Patrick tells the story that he came to Key West straight and ended up gay. He lived with Les for many years. Les made Patrick an honest person two years ago. They ran off to Iowa and married. I attended their wedding reception on Shark Key when they returned.

Patrick seems to have worked forever as Square One’s bartender. He is pure goodness and always available to lend a helping hand.

I am having dinner tonight at Square One. I look forward to seeing the new Patrick with normal hair.

On this day in 1956, Italian actress Anna Magnani won the Academy Award for Best Actress. The movie was The Rose Tattoo. The screenplay and movie were written by Tennessee Williams when he lived in Key West.

The Tennessee Williams’ home is on Duncan Street. Two blocks from Lisa’s home. A lovely well maintained house presently owned by my friend Evan Roberts.

The Rose Tattoo was filmed in Key West. Probably at Tennessee Williams’ insistence. The house it was filmed in is on the same block as the Tennessee Williams home. Williams is at one end and The Rose Tattoo home the other. The filming  took place in Key West and on the same block as Williams’ home probably for Williams’ convenience. All he had to do was roll out of bed in the morning and walk less than 100 yards to his place of work.

I do not believe Key West had anything to do with the movie. Magnani played a Sicilian widow. Her co-star, the great Burt Lancaster, a lusty truck driver.

Williams insisted Magnani have the starring role. He said at the time she was “…..the most explosive emotional actress of her generation.”

Burt Lancaster was one of the outstanding male actors of his day. His day being in my life time. He was a contemporary of Kirk Douglas who is still alive. Lancaster was a man’s man and played such roles. He died about 15 years ago. I was disappointed that many younger than me were not aware of who he was. How soon  a great can be forgotten!

The Rose Tattoo house has not been well maintained at all. Run down. Someone started renovating it two years ago. However, it appears the renovations stopped in their early stages.

Syracuse won its first game in the big tournament yesterday. Easily defeated Western Michigan 77-53. Tomorrow at 7, Dayton.

Notice how calm I am.

Enjoy your day!

MENDING FISHING NETS AS IN THE TIME OF JESUS

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Enough said. Stay sober.

I am a weather man today. The wind is from the south this morning. Rare. Whenever from the south, it rains/storms. Lovely out at the moment. Sun shinning. Nary a cloud. However, palm trees bent north from the south wind. Ripples in the pool running north, also.

The weather report says only a 10% chance of rain today. I disagree. Let’s see if I am correct.

The Greek isle of Amorgos is my Shangri-la. When there, I live as the natives. A small apartment on the waterfront. Few amenities. No airport. The boat comes in with people and supplies once a week.

Saturday’s Keynoter had a picture on the editorial page of a fishing net and well attired gentleman who apparently had been mending the net. The net was hanging  from some sort of post in the picture. The picture a 1977 photo.

My Amorgos home was about a hundred yards from Adelphos’ home. Each time I walked into the heart of the village, I had to walk by Adelpho’s place.

Most afternoons, I would find Adelphos sitting on the ground in front of his abode. About 30 feet from the water. In his lap and surrounding him was a large fishing net. He was always mending the net. Daily. Otherwise, the net would fall apart in a few days. The mending involved looking for places to repair and untangling parts of the net that had twisted together. Adelphos worked primarily with his fingers. Adeptly. Sometimes with some sort of needle. About four inches long.

Mending nets is referred to in the Bible in several places. Four of Jesus’ disciples were fisherman who joined him while mending their nets. Mending nets probably goes back to the beginnings of man.

In all the centuries, nothing has changed for Adelphos or the fisherman of Amorgos who came before him. Though it has changed here in the United States and most of the modern world. The mending is more technical and machine driven.

I had to get out of the house early due to the open house. I was at the Plantation Coffee House at 11. Stayed till 3. Would have stayed longer. However, the place closes at 3 on Sunday. I did not know. While there, I did yesterday’s blog, read some Sunday papers, had a couple of cups of coffee and a toasted bagel. Chatted a bit with owner Diana. Yesterday’s blog was unusually long. The spread of European Nazism and the failure of the American media to keep us advised is bothersome from my perspective.

I could not return home till after 4. It was only 3. I was driving along the Atlantic and passed the Key West Airport. I turned around and headed to it. My goal was the Airport’s restaurant.

I am glad I decided to go there. Only when traveling would I normally stop.

It was old home week. Victor was bartending. Several years ago, Victor was the bartender one night a week at the Chart Room. Someone came up and hugged me as Victor and I were talking. It was Jana. I enjoyed seeing her again. Big time!

Jana immigrated from one of the eastern block countries to Key West. She is presently 32. Our connection goes back to the Paradise Cafe. My daily morning haunt of years ago. My favorite place for Cuban cheese toast with tomato. The best! Never that good again!

Jana was the enterprising sort. She opened her own restaurant on Bertha Street after Paradise closed. She had a hard time. The place did not take off. She took a financial beating. I used to go frequently because she was serving the same Cuban cheese toast with tomato that I had enjoyed for so many years at Paradise Cafe.

A few years have passed. Jana looked terrific. Happy. The pressure off her face. A bad business will do that to a person. She has been a waitress at the Airport for over a year. Married, also. A retired military man.

The twenty young men have left the MTV house across the way. Yesterday. Replaced by couples and children. When I went outside this morning, a mother carrying a baby waived at me..

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is in the process of purchasing Miami’s Channel 10. South Florida’s second largest TV station. Welcome Buffett and company. Anyplace/anything he decides to buy has to be good!

Syracuse is a #3 seed in the South Region. I am surprised. I thought it might be higher. That is all I have to say. We shall see how things go as the tournament progresses. Friday is the first game.

Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day!

MAILING CHILDREN / AN INFANT INDUSTRY

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Pay the postage, affix the stamps, put a name tag on ’em, and mail them out! Children!

There was a time. Like 1913. The U. S. Postal system was looking for new ways to make money. Someone came up with the idea of parcel posting children. Babies and small children. They had to weigh 11 pounds or less.

Not an expense. To ship a qualifying child from Stratford, Oklahoma to Wellington, Kansas cost 18 cents for postage. The child was delivered to the post office and arrangements made. Thereafter the child traveled with a postman to the final destination.

The system did not last long. Fortunately, it was stopped before one of the “child packages” got lost.

I have to thank Ryno for this interesting piece of information. Ryno posted it on FB this morning. Ryno grew up about 15 miles from my hometown and is now a local Key West radio announcer. One of the best. When I started internet broadcasting several years ago, Ryno taught me. He took me into the broadcasting studio, told me to punch this then that, etc, and left me. I knew from nothing what to do before I arrived and after he left!

I am glad that for all intents and purposes the Syracuse basketball season is over. I could not take much more. Yes, Syracuse will be in the Big Dance starting next week. As a 7 or 8 seed. Not a #1 seed as anticipated as recently as two weeks ago. Syracuse has lost 5 of its last 7 games. The team went 25-0 before disaster struck.

The season has exhausted me. Wiped me out. Too many emotional games. I do not give Syracuse much hope in the big tournament. If the team wins two games, it will be lucky. I am of little faith.

Last night, Syracuse lost to North Carolina State 68-63. Syracuse was a 9 point favorite.

I watched the game at Lukas’ Sports Pub with Don, Chris and Ed. Don flew in from Korea thursday. Spent friday in South Beach. Now winding down in Key West for a few days.

Met Nancy last night. She is the owner of Salsa Loca, John Lukas’ new partner in the Big Ten Sports Pub. Nancy is the food end of the operation. A nice lady. However, we did not start off well. She is a North Carolina State graduate. I told her I would eat elsewhere after Syracuse lost!

I spent several hours yesterday editing some chapters from Growing Up Italian. Writing is easy. It is the editing that is a pain. Takes 3-4 times longer  than the writing. Necessary, however. Editing polishes the writing. Big time!

The MTV house sits across the water from me. In all its colorful glory.

There are college kids staying this week. It is Spring Break time. The MTV home and property are huge. A separate gym building, in addition. Tennis courts and a basketball court outside.

The college kids are all males. I counted 20 yesterday morning sitting on the deck, shoulder to shoulder. Who was fishing, who was chatting, who was sleeping, who appeared to be getting over a hangover, etc.

There is a large bus parked next to the gym. I assume the guys rented it for the trip to Key West.

One problem. No, they not noisy and rowdy. Actually, quiet quite. No girls. I have not seen one young lady since they arrived sunday. Highly unusual! I suspect the group may be part of a gay fraternity.

St. Patrick’s Day is monday. The Key West party started friday. Everyone doing the Duval Crawl. Wearing St. Patty Day tee shirts, green hats, and drinking green beer. Day and night. The party will continue through monday. The partiers having a good time. If it rains, guaranteed the sewers will overflow green.

I am perplexed by the loss of the Malaysian plane. In this day and age, how can a large jet with well over 200 passengers disappear. I read this morning that the Malaysian government has hired  a shaman to help locate the plane. A shaman is a person with extra mental and telepathy powers. They see, hear and feel where others cannot. Comparable to one who claims to be able to talk with the dead.

Modern science is amazing!

Enjoy your day!

 

DON AND CHRIS BACK

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Don and Chris hail from the Syracuse area. They visit Key West a half dozen times a year. They have returned! Came in last night. Friend Ed is with them.

Their favorite haunt is the Chart Room. I am sure they drank with Emily last night. We are meeting tonight at 7 at The Sports Pub to watch the Syracuse/North Carolina State game. Ed, also.

I am sure Don and Chris were shocked to hear JJ was no longer at the Chart Room. When I diet, I do not drink. I try to stay away from bars.  I fear succumbing to the near occasion of sin!

I do not know why JJ is no longer at one of my favorite drinking holes. He is now at the Tiki Galleon. I have never in all my Key West years drunk there. I will now, however.

Syracuse and North Carolina State met once during the season. Syracuse won by one point 56-55. A different time, however. Yersterday’s success does not guarantee today’s. What has gone before does not count. It is the post season and some teams have improved vastly. Some just get pure lucky. Tonight’s game will be interesting.

An example of getting lucky, etc. was last night’s game between Villanova and Seton Hall. Seton Hall won. Over a Villanova team ranked #3 nationally and considered a #1 seed in the Big Dance.

Enjoyed lunch wednesday with June Hudson at Geiger Key. Fun! Two old friends chatting away!

June leaves tomorrow for her home in Delaware. She is driving back alone. Does not seem to concern her.

June is going to Italy for 10 days in June. With her 14 year old granddaughter. The two alone. June is excited. She said her granddaughter is, also.

Bocce last night. I did not go. I would have passed out bending over to pick up the balls! My cell phone is on the blink this morning so I do not know if we won or lost.

Got a tweet from a voice from the past. Kurt Lubs. One of Key’s Wests most famous bartenders, he left more than a year ago to return home to Indiana. He will be in next week. Terrific! A friend!

Strange weather the past 24 hours. Temperature dropped to 64 last night. I could have used a body next to me. Presently, 68. Will reach mid 70s in the afternoon. Tonight, high 60s.

After the Syracuse game, I will be heading over to Don’s Place. Grant from Bad Boy Burritto will be on national TV at 10. The cooking channel.

My book, my book, my book! Buy it! People are. I should not complain. However, it would be nice if more did. Trust me, you will enjoy it. The World Upside Down is available as an e book or soft back cover on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. My picture on the cover alone is worth the price of the book!

Enjoy your day!

 

LOVERS WHO MET ON THE INTERNET

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I was sitting at the table in the Plantation Coffee House around noon yesterday researching. Two couples were seated nearby. Chatting. Eventually, I got involved in the conversation. Best as I could. It was difficult with so many people around.

One couple appeared to be 40ish. Both good looking. The lady was from Dubai, the man from New York City. The man had previously lived in India.

They had met initially on the of the couple matching sites on the internet. The email meetings led to their meeting in Key West this week. The face to face meeting was for the first time. Excitement was written all over their faces.

The couple they were talking with had a similar experience. The lady lives in Key West. The man from New York City. They now live together in Key West. They appeared to be in their 60s.

Wild!

I was unable to get names. Too many people again and little time. However, both heart warming stories.

Syracuse finally won and won decisively yesterday. Beat Florida State by 16 points. 74-58. Florida State was no slouch. My recollection is that their record was 18-11 going into the game.

This was the last season game for Syracuse. Next week the ACC tournament. Syracuse is the second seed, Virginia, first. Syracuse plays next this friday evening. Then the big tournament! Syracuse has to do well in the ACC tournament to be considered a #1 seed in the big one. Probably win the ACC tournament.

I watched the game at Lukas’ Sports Pub. I was the only Syracuse fan. John sat with me most of the game. My heart fluttered on occasion. Syracuse was up 11, then up 1 before they came back to go up 13 and then 16.

I am anxious to see the national rankings which come out later today. Syracuse dropped from 1 to 7 the past two weeks. However, everyone good lost this weekend. Syracuse won. I see Syracuse moving up to #5 or #6. Maybe even #4.

A concern has been developing in me since the Cuban earthquake of 2 months ago. It was felt a bit in Key West by some. Not me. There were three aftershocks till yesterday. Yesterday, the fourth occurred which was felt. It was a 4.7. Just after 7 yesterday morning. I did not feel it. Some at the Casa Marina did.

After the initial earthquake, I did a little research. Seems there were around 400 quakes last year off the north coast of Cuba. Small. Ergo, we did not hear of them. The article pointed out the quakes are increasing in frequency. Therein lies my concern.

My friend Grant is going to be on national television friday night at 10. On the Food Network Channel. Grant is a chef at Bad Boy Burrito. Cooking famer Guy Fieri chatted with him when his show covered the Bad Boy Burrito two months ago. Go Grant! Everyone will be at Don’s Place waiting for him to appear on the screen. He will receive a big applause.

Fantasy Fest nudity continues to waste the time of the Key West Commission. No one cares about bare breasts, except for a few old time politicians and ultra conservative church ministers. Sixty thousand other people who attend Fantasy Fest come to view the  breasts, amongst other things.

A woman who was instrumental in the first Fantasy Fest some 30 odd years ago is one of the ones upset. She wrote “…..get rid of the PUBLIC debauchery, the vomitorium and the debacle.” She and I are not seeing the same Fantasy Fests. I am sure a minimal amount of what she describes occurs. However, I have never seen an orgy or vomiting. I cannot respond to debacle because I am not sure what she is specifically referring to.

Interestingly, the first Fantasy Fest parade she was instrumental in getting started had leading the parade a completely bare assed woman painted in silver riding on the hood of a car.

Tomorrow night at 9, my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. My cup runneth over with material. The story of the mother who knew best, Russia’s new terrorist law, China’s bubble bursting, Crimea, what Ukraine should do to set Russia on its ass, the head of the neo-Nazi party running for President of Ukraine, how the bank looting of Ukraine has begun, polygamy in Utah’s today, and more. Listen and enjoy. A stimulating and revealing half hour of dialogue.

Enjoy your day!

TONGUE IN CHEEK

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Yesterday’s blog was entitled Breasts Neither Genitals Nor A Sex organ. The article was concerned with Fantasy Fest and nudity. What a reaction! Based on comments received, many enjoyed the breast analysis by Key West officials. Which proves most people get a healthy laugh out of a bit of nonsensical sex talk.

Finally! Robert and I sat down at Lisa’s kitchen table to look at my photos of Greece. Ally joined us for a short while. She is a year behind Robert and not into Greece yet. Her attention span was limited.

Out of over 300 photos, I only shared a dozen with Robert. Ones having to do with the Parthenon, Acropolis and Hadrian’s Library. He already knew from school half of what I talked about. He enjoyed viewing those places. He further enjoyed the other half as I presented those with short side stories added. He was particularly taken with the first photo. Louis standing near the top of Acropolis with the Parthenon above my left shoulder. No question Poppa had been there!

Lets skip over to China for a moment. Three years ago, I started  warning in writing and on my TV show that China was on the bubble of a big bust. Though China’s problem had to do with  real estate, it was not exactly similar to the U.S. mortgage problem.

China does things in a strange way. China wanted a middle class. What they did was provide educations cheaply and then good paying jobs on a volume basis. The emerging middle class was earning unwarranted big bucks.

A middle class needs housing. China built tons of houses. There were not enough people to buy the houses. Many lay empty for years while the building never the less continued. They still lie empty. The same with office buildings. Huge ones constructed. Floor space never rented.

I predicted the bubble would burst and in a few years there was a good possibility China would be in trouble. The trouble has begun. China is cracking. As predicted, the bubble is bursting. I have a curious concern. The U.S. owes China lot of money. What happens if China demands payment? We do not have the resources to pay back. An interesting scenario in the making.

Keith went in the pool yesterday to remove the umbrella and ceramic jar. The weather was cold. The water freezing. The umbrella easy. The ceramic jar full of water and difficult to remove. He got it all done, however. Thank you Keith!

The same storm this past week that knocked the umbrella and chair into my pool, broke free from its mooring an unoccupied sailboat. The sailboat drifted into the waters off Key Haven Road and snapped and burned the electric cable.

Keys Energy spent $1,200 repairing the cable. They are now seeking the identity of the owner of the sailboat so they can recover the monies.

This morning’s Key West Citizen reports the Island House is for sale. Something in the $13 million area. Well worth it! I unfortunately have never visited the Island House. It is purportedly Key West’s premier gay guest house. Extremely well run I am told. The two men who own it have done an outstanding job creating a glamour spot for their guests. I will not be surprised if the Island House sells for the asking number or close to it.

Speaking of sales, there is an open house today from noon to 4 at my home in Key Haven. I am not leaving Key West. Merely wish to size down. I now live in 3,300 square feet alone. Too much house for one man. My intent is to move somewhere near downtown Key West into a small apartment. I want to walk or ride a bicycle  wherever I go.

Syracuse this afternoon at 2. Against Florida State. Florida State a one point favorite. I have no further comment to make. I will watch and cheer my team on.

I will be watching the game at Don’s Place.

Interestingly, the regular season ends today for the ACC and Syracuse. Wednesday is the start of the ACC tournament. Then the big tournament. Two weeks ago, Syracuse was touted as a #1 seed in the big show. After losing 4 of the last 5 games, sports writers are describing Syracuse as a hopeful #3 seed.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

WEEKEND IN HAVANA

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There once were round trip flights from Key West to Havana. Long ago. The last flight was in 1962.

Round trip air service between Key West and Havana began  again February 28. The next flight March 7 is already sold out. The flights will be three times a week and cost between $479 and $525 round trip. Expensive for a 30 minute 90 mile flight. However, a start.

The reestablishment of flights between Key West and Havana represents the door opening a crack. May it open even more!

Did the dermatologist thing yesterday. I have several holes in the head area and a couple on my arm. Nothing significant.

Did final prep work on last night’s blog talk radio show Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Except for a brief lament regarding Syracuse, the entire show involved the Ukraine. A tinderbox.

Putin reminds me of Hitler and the Sudetenland the way he is handling Ukraine. Hitler was an untrustworthy bully and so is Putin. We learn from history as history repeats itself. Hopefully, the situation will not result in another Munich.

Military wise, Russia only has one thing going for it. It still has nuclear weapons. Putin might decide he has to use them.

The Russian army consists basically of Russian draftees. Eighty per cent of those drafted never show up for induction. Those that do are only in for one year. Morale is low.

Russia’s army is already engaged in the Caucasus and Far Eastern Siberia. Russia is lacking in man power to conduct a third war.

Most Russian military equipment is out dated. Armored units and air assault helicopters are not up to snuff. Fuel consumption is high. As is the frequency of breakdowns.

A Ukrainian war would disrupt Russia’s sales in oil and gas to other countries. Oil and gas sales amount to 75 per cent of Russia’s income.

The bottom line is Russia is not equipped to go to war over the Ukraine. If not for Putin being off the wall and out of control at the moment, many would say he is bluffing.

Who knows? Who can be certain? Whatever, let there be no Munich resulting in another give away to a ruthless dictator.

I am subdued and calm re Syracuse. It is like a bomb has been dropped on me  and I lay in the middle of the rubble. Syracuse has lost 4 of its last 5 games. 25-0 is yesterday. Today, a horror story!

I did not see last night’s game. My blog talk radio show interfered. Syracuse lost to Georgia Tech 67-62.

I hope Syracuse comes back and I get to watch the team play in the Final Four. That is all I can say. I say it with a shocking calm.

Enjoy you day!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHEILA

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One of Key West’s most loved persons is Sheila. Today, she celebrates her birthday. Happy birthday, Sheila! I am sure you will be well honored tonight at the Chart Room. I am sorry I cannot be there. I have prep time and then my blog talk radio show itself. We shall drink together another night.

Kim Novak was a presenter at the Oscars Sunday night. She was a beauty in the 1950s. One of the biggest stars of the time. Her face alone took your breath away.

Kim disappeared in the 1960s. Actually retired from show business. Except for a few brief forays back in, she lived first on Big Sur and now in Oregon. Oregon was initially her home.

Now 81, Kim’s years showed. Unfortunately. Physically and a bit mentally. She is 81. She was well received by the audience.

I am 78. Is this what I am to expect in three years?

Tonight, my blog talk radio show Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Please join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. Nine o’clock.

I suspect I will spend quite a bit of time on Ukraine. Not what is already known. Not what is in the papers. Rather some of the things not known by many. Like we have to be careful that whatever happens, it is not another Munich. The seeds are all in place for one. Most are unaware of the neo-Nazi party’s influence in the good guy group. The group the United States has already given in excess of $5 billion to. The stupidity of downsizing the military when we have hot spots all over the world, including Ukraine and Afghanistan. My displeasure with Kerry always talking on television about what he is going to do, who is good and bad, etc. Diplomacy is quiet and behind doors. How Europe will not stand tall. They depend on Russia for gas. Finally, how Ukraine banks have clamped down on depositor accounts this week. Some are limiting withdrawals to $100 a day.

Good stuff! Interesting! Revealing!

Good Morning America is coming to Key West. Friday morning. Live from Mallory Square. Go down and be part of the event.

There was a note in this morning’s Key West Citizen. It said there are 77,271 eligible Americans waiting for transplants. That number and the lack of organs is why there is a thriving black market in human organs world wide.

I remain down trodden re Syracuse. Syracuse plays again tonight. Against Georgia Tech at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse is 25 or 26-3. Georgia Tech 13-16. Syracuse dropped in the weekly rankings to #7.

Unfortunately, I will not be watching the game. Maybe for the good. Each game this year beats me up. I will be doing my blog talk radio show. Syracuse will be my first topic. World events have taken second place to Syracuse basketball this season. I have been talking about the team at the start of each show.

When I get sick, it seems to run in spurts. One type illness after another. The weekend was food poisoning. I saw Dr. Jackie Lefferts yesterday for a persistent cough. I had x-rays also. Somehow during the day, I threw my back out. When spasms hit, intolerable is the only way to describe them. This afternoon I see the dermatologist. I have had a small growth on my upper arm for years. It has grown the past two weeks and is sore.

I am doing good!

Enjoy your day!