Johnny Cash!

One of the world’s greatest singers, writer of music, and lyricists. He began life as a bad guy. Spent years in prison. Came out redeemed and went on to make the world a better and more understanding place to live.

Cash did 2 concerts venued in a jail. Not as a prisoner. His time done.

The first was in 1956. His concert performance at Folsom Prison. His Folsom Prison Blues made the top ten.

He wrote and sang Walk the Line for the first time in 1968.

His second concert was performed at San Quentin Prison on New Year’s Day 1968. Cash had spent his longest term of confinement at San Quentin. He returned to be with “his people.”

Merle Haggard was a prisoner at San Quentin at the time. His starring days to come later.

Haggard was 20 years old when sentenced to 15 years. He served only 2 years.

He watched the Cash’s San Quentinn concert. He credits Cash with giving him the inspiration to launch a career after prison. That career included 38 #1 hits. Songs like Sing Me Back Home, Okie From Muskogee, and Today I Started Loving You Again.

Regarding Cash’s San Quentin performance, Haggard said, “He had the right attitude. He chewed gum, looked arrogant, and flipped the bird to the guards – he did everything the prisoners wanted to do. He was a mean mother from the South who was there because he loved us. When he walked away, everyone in that place had become a Johnny Cash fan.”

JustSaying brought to my attention a Linda Ronstadt interview conducted over CNN by Anderson Cooper.

Cooper asked her about Trump. Her response direct and to the point. She said Hitler had destroyed Germany and centuries of intellectual history. He made people afraid to speak out. She also believes Mexicans are the new Jews.

Pretty good from my perspective. She calls things as she sees them!

Anderson Cooper another story. He is a CNN star. Fifty years old. Purportedly knowledgeable about everything.

He disappointed me and probably Ronstadt when he said her comments surprised him. The comparisons between Trump and Hitler. Like it was the first time he was hearing it. He thought most people did not think of such a comparison.

Something is wrong with Anderson! I have been saying for 3 years to BEWARE!. Trump is in effect Hitler reincarnated. Everything he does is similar to what Hitler did in the 1930’s.

The blind cannot see. Some persons refuse to see.

This morning’s Key West Citizen has photos of Bourbon Street Pub and Sloppy Joe’s at midnight New Year’s eve. Sushi and the Conch Shell falling.

The crowds were comparable vision wise to Times Square.

Key West a great place to be New Year’s eve!

Florida’s anti-texting law in effect. Texting illegal.

A good law. I know from my own experience the times I almost caused an accident because I was driving and texting. One’s attention is automatically on the cell phone for a few seconds. That’s all it takes.

The Citizen began today publishing excerpts from the diary of a Key West resident from long ago. May L. Johnson. The first excerpt dated January 2, 1896. It will run every day til the diary runs out.

May was 19 at the time. Her first day experiences interesting. How a 19 year old lived back then.

I panicked yesterday. Someone messaged me that Facebook was going to start charging $39 a word for messages beginning today. Did not make sense. However, you never know.

I tossed the problem over to Sloan and asked she investigate it. Sloan’s response in effect don’t worry. A scam. She attached 2 e-mails from July last summer. One asking if the charge was true.

Facebook’s response: “…..a scam. We will always keep Facebook a free service for everyone.”

Time brings changes. Weed is in and plastic bags out.

On January 1, 1892, Ellis Island was opened as a U.S. Immigration site. Now long closed, it nevertheless became the gateway to the U.S. for more than 12 million people. Including my Mother, grandparents on both sides, and a number of aunts, uncles and cousins.

Each made a contribution. Some small, some large. Each was a value to their new country.

As will Mexicans, Latinos and others who seek entry today.

Maine’s Senator Sue Collins has decided any Senate impeachment should require a trial. Witnesses, questions, and answers. She stands in opposition to Majority McConnell in this regard. She believes “it is inappropriate for McConnell and even Democrats to pre-judge a trial itself.

Several days ago, Kim Jong Un spoke at a North Korean conference. He made it clear. He no longer felt bound by his self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and long range missile testing.

Kim has been cheating most of the time the moratorium was supposedly in effect. Trump did nothing, except talk about his “love affair” with one of the world’s most treacherous leaders.

Haircut today. With Lori. My barber/friend for 20 years.

She has been gone for 2 months. An extended vacation. She is back!

Enjoy your day!

The 1920’s were the roaring 20’s.

So named because of an exuberant, free wheeling popular culture at a time when many people defied Prohibition, indulged in new styles of dancing and dressing, and rejected many traditional moral standards.

The 10 years of the decade were like there was going to be no tomorrow. Everything up and up. Excitement wise and economically. Money and illicit alcohol flowing in abundance.

Why not? The U.S. had been on the winning side of World War I. The country was excited. Nothing was impossible.

All good things come to an end unfortunately. The Great Depression was born in late 1929. Everything downhill from that point till World War II.

A couple of things representing good and bad occurred early in the 1920’s. The 18th Amendment had been ratified. Prohibition the law of the day. Women benefited from the 19th Amendment. The right to vote.

Will the 2020’s in any way be similar to the 1920’s.

I think so. However, in reverse.

The U.S. already engaged in many wars. A major Middle East conflict threatens. Could easily become reality.

The economy said to be booming. I do not agree. The stock market riding high only because of the huge tax breaks Trump gave corporations. Everything good comes to an end. I see the market and the economy falling.

The U.S. is in a precarious position.

My goal last night was to watch the Pirate Wench come down the mast of a vessel at midnight. Never made it. Instead watched CNN and the ball dropping. A few minutes after, CNN switched to Key West 3 times for Sushi and activities in front of the Bourbon Street Pub.

Also saw some of Nashville and New Orleans.

Did not get to sleep till 2. It was like I had been out on the street all night.

The reason I stayed in had to do with traffic and parking. I was out during the day running several errands. Traffic horrendous! Creeping!

I stopped at Publix and bought all kinds of bad foods to enjoy at home in the evening. Why not?

I finally was able to get to Popeyes with no trouble. Dion’s has nothing to worry about! Says it all. Popeyes was with me for several hours after consuming it.

Weather not normal yesterday. Eighty degrees and humid. A summer day.

The Casa Marina is without question one of Key West’s finest hotels. Always has been, always will be.

Proof of the pudding is 20 years ago I held my daughter Lori’s wedding there. I have 3 daughters. Hers was the best wedding! Cost me $100,000. Worth every penny! That good!

It was on this day in 1921 that the Casa Marina formally opened for its first season. It would remain open till April 1. Back then, few hotels remained open during the other months of the year. The heat/humidity difficult to handle. Doubt air conditioning existed back then.

“Death to America!” These Iraqis are nuts! As are those other Middle East countries who hate us. U.S. citizens do not run up and down streets shouting “Death to Iraqis!”

Blame Trump.

He was going to bring the troops home, end all the wars.

Instead, U.S. engagement with Middle East nations could be on the verge of all out hostilities. A full blown war with nuclear warheads flying. Even to U.S. shores.

Trump began to screw up when he “cancelled” the Iran Agreement and then to add fuel to the fire sanctioned Iran.

Iran is behind what is going on today in Iraq. Also in other countries in the Middle East over the past 2-3 years. Iran hates the U.S. Maybe properly so. I don’t know. What I do know is that everything seems to be getting out of hand.

No more diplomacy. In recent times, threats of war. One of these threats could easily be actuated. Don’t forget, mostly nuts are running the countries involved. Including the U.S.

Instead of bring troops home, the U.S. will now be sending more of its boys and girls into harm’s way. One hundred Marines have already been sent to Baghdad. Seven hundred fifty U.S. Army personnel are in the air.

The U.S. embassy in Baghdad the most recent example. As you read this blog, it is under siege by Iranian led Iraqi protesters. All because several days ago Trump took a retaliatory action. One U.S. contractor was killed and several U.S. soldiers wounded in an Iraqi attack.

Retaliation involved amongst other things the U.S. bombing of Iraq. Twenty seven Iraqis were killed.

Baghdad is protesting! Thousands in the streets. They are trying to take over the American embassy. Apache helicopters are doing their best. The few Marines present also. Protecting the wall surrounding the embassy.

U.S. tactics thus far have not worked. The embassy walls are on fire, the main gate and a security passage damaged and under constant attack. Flags of the Kataib Hezbollah hang on the walls of the embassy.

An interesting sidelight. Hadi al-Amiri is one of the Iran military leaders on the streets surrounding the embassy. He is leading the Iraqis in their violent protest and attempt to take over the embassy.

Al-Amiri visited the White House in 2011. He was Transportation Secretary in Iraq. He visited Obama with the then Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Malike.

Prominent Americans are comparing the Baghdad embassy attack as another Benghazi or Iran 1979. I see it as the attack on the U.S. Saigon embassy on April 29-30, 1975. The last day of the Vietnam War as far as the U.S. was concerned. The U.S. was a beaten foe.

The Vietcong were already in the embassy. Going up the stairs. A handful of Marines remained on the roof. Helicopters had been evacuating embassy personnel, loyal Vietnamese and Marines all day. All via helicopters on the rooftops. The evacuation has been described as the largest helicopter evacuation on record.

The last helicopter landed. The remaining Marines jumped inside. One delayed. He went to take the American flag down. He then ran to the helicopter with it.

You could see the Vietcong rushing to the roof. You could see the Marines rushing to get off the roof. Would they make it?

I watched in awe on TV. I doubted we could ever be beaten. The U.S.? The strongest nation in the world! Yet our asses were being handed to us that day and our remaining Americans were scurrying to safety.

From Saigon to Baghdad to Philadelphia.

The Betsy Ross story. The true one.

Betsy was born this day in 1752.

The story retold for years is that Betsy operated a flag store in Philadelphia. Actually, an upholstering shop. The story goes George Washington visited her in the shop and asked her to make a flag for the new nation. They had never met before.

It is claimed she made the flag. Our flag. The American flag.

Every historian will tell you the tale is not based on fact. It is a lie made up by Betsy’s grandson many years later to make a buck.

Betsy died in 1836. Some 50 years later, her grandsons was in need of money. He was not a good sort. Lived by lie and sly.

He went to Harper’s Monthly claiming family knowledge of the Betsy Ross flag and would be glad to write it up and sell it to Harper’s Monthly. He did.

The story was published June 1873. The “story” took hold and has since been thought to be factual by many.

It cannot be said that Betsy was of no use to Washington and his men. Her upholstery shop had a back room where the ladies sewed. The place was also a house of ill repute. Betsy ran a whore house. She was the madam.

The British soldiers who frequented her ladies had loose tongues. Valuable information was obtained by the ladies, provided to Betsy, who saw it got to American authorities.

Enjoy your first day of the New Year!

Today is New Year’s eve. Three hundred sixty five days gone by like that. Tomorrow back to the beginning. Day 1.

Key West in the 1970’s was the beginning of what is today. The town desolate and in effect abandoned. Some had remained. A few started dropping in. Then more. Key West was on a roll!

A few of the notables of the 1970’s are presented here. There are more. I will spell them out in subsequent blogs assuming I stay with this 1970’s kick.

A place first.

My beloved Chart Room. David Wolkowsky’s vision. It became well known as the hangout for politicians and business people. Every day  following work, they assembled in the Chart Room to make deals.

Someone said the deals were made “out of the sunshine.”

The Chart Room was a favorite of Jimmy Buffett and Mel Fisher.

Louie’s Backyard served as Jimmy Buffett’s backyard. His house was next door on Waddell Street.

Mel Fisher. Close friend with Jimmy Buffett. His headquarters were at the Galleon near the shrimp boats. Shrimp fishing significantly less today from then. The boats still engaged are docked on Stock Island now.

Fisher was the eternal optimist. He came to Key West looking for the Spanish galleon Atocha. Knew it was in Key West waters and loaded with gold, emeralds, and other valuables.

He had a saying: “Today’s the day.” He was the eternal optimist. Took 15 years. However, he finally discovered a portion of the Atocha which brought him $400 million.

Eugene Lyon was a Key West historian. He claims to have directed Fisher to the Atocha’s underwater location.

Lyon said, “Key West was Mel Fisher’s kind of town.” A “natural gathering place for eccentrics of every kind.”

Tony Tarracino an “eccentric.” With a history. Had to get out of New Jersey because he could not pay a debt to the Mafia. Came to Key West. Became a barkeeper, gambler, bookie, rum runner, pimp, politician, etc. He did it all!

At the same time, married 4 times. Fathered 13 children.

Everyone loved Tony.

He became the proprietor of Captain Tony’s Saloon on Greene Street. Still there with his name on the place. Looks just like it did when he ran it. Prior to his purchase in the 1960’s, it had been an ice house and mortuary. A hanging tree comes to mind. The hangings were done from a tree which might still be a part of the Captain Tony building.

Ran for Mayor many times. On one occasion, Jimmy Buffett was his campaign manager. Tony lost. However, he finally did win. Those still alive from those days recall him as a fine Mayor.

Tony credited his successes (especially with women) to his “healthy sex drive” and “strong ego.”

Buffet paid tribute to his friend Tony when he wrote Last Mango in Paris. The song was about Tony.

The women of Key West put on a show Sunday night. The Key West Women of Soul Concert. It is the talk of the town. Especially my dear friend Terri White’s rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

Can she sing it!

Midnight bringing in the New Year can be celebrated by most everywhere in the world. Television will spend several hours covering New Year’s eve in cities as they occur all over the world.

Even Key West. For years CNN has exhibited to the world Sushi coming down in a red stiletto shoe from the second floor of the Bourbon Street Pub.

Duval will be crowded for several blocks in each direction with revelers watching the event.

Be careful with the drinking tonight. Keep yourselves safe. In addition, avoid a DUI. Police will be everywhere.

The day would not be complete without a couple of political observations.

One involves Trump’s good friend Kim Jong Un. Trump is the only one who thinks they are friends.

Kim spoke at a political conference in North Korea yesterday. He spoke non-stop for 8 hours. Another Fidel Castro! Even Trump could not go that log. Even close to it.

Kim called for active “diplomatic and military countermeasures.”

Trump has to be getting nervous. He has recently bombed Iraq, Syria and Somali. A retaliatory measure. He has threatened retaliation against North Korea should it take military action of any kind against the U.S.

We are still waiting for Kim’s “Christmas gift.”

Trump and Kim are birds of a feather. Both crazy. Bullies. I fear one of them is going to start a war the likes of the world has never seen.

The U.S. bombed Iraq and Syria yesterday. Trump says Iran was behind the earlier military attacks in Iraq and Syria.

The U.S. retaliated because a U.S. military base in Iraq was bombed. One military contractor killed, several Americans wounded.

The Middle East could stand at some point united as one entity and in opposition to the U.S. Including “our friends.”

Turkey an opportunist. It will jump sides when it becomes advantageous to do so.

Saudi Arabia cannot be depended upon. Anyone who did what was done to Jamal Khashoggi is neither our friend nor anyone else’s. An opportunistic country also.

The U.S. claims the bombings were necessary to keep the outbreak of violence and extremism from metastasizing. I believe the U.S. retaliatory bombings contribute to and accelerate metastasization.

Wildfires are raging in Australia again. I am surprised Trump has not admonished Australia to begin sweeping the forest floors.

Enjoy your New Year’s Eve!

Jimmy Buffett discovered Key West in the 1970’s. He was poor, without work, played a guitar, and wrote songs.

He became enamored with Key West. Not the Key West of today. The Key West of the 1970’s.

In a 1980 interview he spoke of the time: “I was just footloose and fancy free and going crazy. We didn’t have much money and didn’t know much about cocaine so we stayed drunk a lot. Key West was the most wonderful, wonderful place I’d ever seen in my life.”

New Year’s Eve tomorrow night. What to do?

There are several places where someone is “dropped” to bring in the New Year. I have decided to do Schooner Wharf. A first time for me.

A “pirate wench” is dropped from the mast of the vessel America 2.0.

Key West is becoming an easy money town. Don’t even have to work for it. Steal!

The manager of the Key West Yacht Club was arrested last week. He had misappropriated some $70,000. For gambling and a call girl habit.

This morning’s Citizen reports the arrest of Sears’ former general manager. She embezzled $254,790 in cash receipts.

It was reported she had also been arrested earlier this month for stealing nearly $20,000 from a Parent-Teacher Association.

A confidence game? The Key West Citizen made a “deal” with the Library. It was late in 1935. The Citizen promised to pay the Library $5 for every day the sun did not shine in 1936.

Result: Only one day. The Library only received $5.

The bet should have been a bit different. For every day in rained. Many the rainy day in Key West. However, those same days at some point become bright and sunny.

An interesting fact many do not know. During the Civil War, the State of Florida joined the Confederacy. The City of Key West did not. An Army group immediately upon the War breaking out took control of Fort Zachery Taylor.

An important capture. Confederate trading ships had to pass by Key West in order to do business. Union control of the Fort in most instances prevented the South from so doing.

The water surrounding Key West and to its north were under Union blockade. During the course of the War, the Union captured 199 Confederate vessels.

Most of the captured vessels were transported to Key West where they remained till the War ended. At that time, the U.S. Federal Court sitting in Key West decided who got what, etc. as regards the captured Confederate vessels.

A different experience last night. Fireworks on the golf course. I suspect on the 18th fairway. About 500 yards from my home.

Noisy, but beautiful.

Today, monday. Tonight, Dueling Bartenders at Aqua. I will probably be out and about this evening. Dueling Bartenders will be my first stop.

The internet is a wonderful thing. Sit at your computer, play around a bit, and suddenly you discover something new.

Yesterday was one of those times. I came upon Kurt Nimmo. Never heard of him before.

Nimmo is a blogger. Like Louis. His blog: Another Day in the Empire.

He has been doing the blog for years. Yesterday was his last blog. He is quitting. He has “concerns.”

Nimmo is far to the right. Diametrically opposed to me. We are opposite ends of the spectrum, though he is unquestionably farther out than I.

Nimmo  is one who sees conspiracies everywhere. Appears not to be well respected. Sad. My sense this is only so because he is so far right. I continue to believe contrary thoughts to mine are an “indispensable opposition.”

Nimmo for several years was Editor of Infowars, a conspiracy pedaling website. Now affiliated with Newsbud.

Nimmo is giving up the blog because he is concerned how the world will be if the Democrats win in 2020. Yes, the Democrats. Not Trump. He sees the same things happening to our society if the Democrats win that I do if Trump wins.

Strange.

In yesterday’s blog, Nimmo wrote, “I do fear many of us will be prosecuted – or at best have our internet resources curtailed – and this will be, as the endless wars, of only minimal passing concern to a majority of Americans. After all, the corporate media has maligned us as Nazis, white supremacists, and dangerous terrorists conspiracy theorists. It does not take a rocket scientist to see where this will lead.”

Anti-Semitism is on the rise. No question. It has been for several years. World wide.

In the past week alone, there have been 10 separate anti-Semitic attacks in the New York City area.

Trump wants everyone to think he loves the Jewish people. I do not see it. He is infatuated with Israel, not its people there or anywhere.

Trump’s Israel support activities have included his proclaiming that Israeli settlements on the West Bank are not illegal. He also has moved the American Embassy to Jerusalem.

His comments and actions have a secondary purpose. Trump hopes to pick off Jewish voters in the 2020 election.

Trump’s actions have given him a degree of popularity in Israel. Not in the U.S.

Trump spoke this week at a pro-Israel conference in Florida. Four thousand in attendance. All cheering him on.

Trump told the Jewish group that Jews would vote for him because they would “be out of business in about 15 minutes” if he were not reelected. He was speaking to the “wealth tax” that some Democratic candidates are proposing.

It galls me every time reference is made to Jewish wealth. Makes it sound like they are all rich. Jews are no different than any other ethnic or religious group. They have their rich. They also have their poor and a sizable middle class.

For some reason, the animosity against Jews going back to even before Christ continues.

Trump plays on it to get the Jewish vote.

The crowd was chanting “four more years.” Trump said people were talking about him staying on as President even after 8 years. He said it is something “we have to start thinking about” because “it’s not a bad idea!”

God help us!

It appears Trump is not aware of the 22nd Amendment.

Biden was speaking at a rally in Milford, New Hampshire saturday night. He was heckled. Called “creepy…..a pervert…..don’t touch kids, you pervert…..and quid pro Joe.”

I find it hard to believe the good people of New Hampshire would openly refer to Biden in such fashion. Even if they believed the comments to be true, their very nature would prohibit such public statements.

I have to wonder if those expressing such comments were “Trump plants.” His campaign has been suspected of doing so in the past.

Enjoy your day!

I have several days of notes that have not been shared. Today’s the day. Morning Stew #31 on Sunday!

In the Key West of the 1970’s a favorite bar was the Old Anchor Inn on Duval. Victor Lathum was a bar owner in Key West in those years. He told an interesting story involving the Old Anchor Inn.

The Anchor was “just as bizarre as it could be. It was the kind of place that one bartender would open the beer cooler to get a beer out and find the other bartender curled up asleep on top of the beer, because it wasn’t air conditioned in there and the beer coolers were cool. It was just total insanity.”

Gustave Eiffel’s name is familiar to all. A French engineer who designed and oversaw the construction of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

He is less well known for the Statue of Liberty that sits in the New York/New Jersey harbor.

The chief internal engineer died. Eiffel was hired to replace him. He designed a metallic skeleton for the statue. One that relied on the skeleton instead of weight to support the cooper skin which was was to become the Statue of Liberty.

The Statue was constructed totally in France. Then broken down and packed in marked boxes. Shipped to the U.S. where the Statue was reconstructed.

Years later, Eiffel became involved with the Eiffel Tower. He was the head honcho in its construction. Everything his responsibility, his judgment!

Construction began in 1887 for the 1889 Universal Exposition to be held in Paris. Twelve thousand components involved in the construction, not including rivets. Rivets numbered 2,5000,000.

The construction was a marvel in material economy. As tall and large as it is, if melted down the Tower would only fill its basin to a height of 2 1/2 inches.

Near the top of the Tower, Eiffel constructed a small apartment. For his private use after the Tower had been completed. It was elegantly furnished.

The apartment still exists. Can be viewed by tourists.

Great white sharks summer in Cape Cod waters and winter in Florida waters. They have been returning to Keys waters this past month.

We know because a tagging system has been implemented. The sharks are captured, named, tagged and returned to the ocean. Then, easy to follow.

Ironbound is the most recent Great White to be reported. A 12 foot long male. Weighing 998 pounds. This past week he was found traveling south of Key Biscayne, near Miami.

Ironbound was last traced in northern waters on October 3. He was off Nova Scotia. He has since traveled 1,473 miles.

Trump can’t get the whistleblower off his mind. This past week in 3 separate tweets he identified the whistleblower. He left the third up only a few hours before removing the name.

It is against the law to reveal the identity of a whistleblower. Trump however is protected. As President, he is not subject to arrest for a violation of federal law. The whistleblower statute involved is a federal law.

Trump was warned this week not to reveal the names by White House Counsel Phil Cipollone and Ivanka and Jared Kushner. He listened to no one.

Christmas has come and gone. No “Christmas gift” yet from Kim Jong Un. May he forget about it. Could be. He is like Trump in that regard. A lot of bluster followed by nothing.

Kim has achieved one thing. He has placed the U.S. on military alert. Better safe than sorry.

Trump is changing his tune re Kim. When the Christmas gift was threatened, he was not concerned. Said he and Kim were friends.

A few days ago, Trump advised that he was prepared to retaliate if necessary by the use of all type weapons. Including nuclear. Is Trump crazy? One nut dealing with another. Kim might think if Trump could do it to us, we better do it to the U.S. first.

A scary world we live in. Trump has made it worse. More volatile. He defecates on everyone. Plays the thug and bully. Never thinks first about that which he speaks. Never worries about the after effect.

Casablanca is rated the best film ever produced or very near the top of any listing. A great 1942 film starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.

The film ran on the Turner Classic Film Channel Friday afternoon. I watched it. Always magnificent! The best!

Two years ago when at the Thornton residence in Birmingham as escapees from Irma, we all watched Casablanca on TV one day. Most of the escapees were women. The ladies and Jean knew every line in the film. Uttered most before even said. And did they cry! I could not believe the affect the movie was having on them.

Syracuse/Niagara last night. Syracuse won 71-57.

Next week, the ACC season will be in full swing. The games Syracuse must win. Going to be an interesting season!

As one gets older, the mind begins to thing about death. Is there really an afterlife? Am I going to see my parents and grandparents? The Bible says I will. My extended Catholic education says I will.

I am beginning to doubt. I don’t know. I have been reading much concerning an afterlife. Such readings obviously include references to Catholic Church history and God.

Two interesting ones.

Charlemagne once “force converted” 10,000 pagans. Then executed them. The 10,000 died as Christians. Christians who had no time to sin. Such guaranteed their passage to Heaven.

How about this one.

Religious ideologies are always particularly dangerous. For the simple reason that one cannot admit God was wrong because God can’t be wrong.

I read in the Citizen yesterday that Jimmy Carter and his family spent New Year 1996 in Key West. His family entourage involved 32 persons.

I tried to determine if Carter or any of his party stayed at the Little White House. Could not.

I do know this. In later years, Jimmy Carter and wife could be found enjoying New Year’s eve on Summerland Key. Apparently at the home of a friend. I am aware of this because Howard Livingston’s first Summerland home was on the same block where Carter would stay.

The Atlantic carried a pointed article yesterday by David Frum: A Gangster in the White House.

If the shoe fits, wear it.

Frum was concerned that on 3 occasions Trump had tweeted the whistleblower’s name.

An interesting passage in the article: “Doubt Trump will not be bound by any rule, even after he has been caught. He is unrepentant and determined to break the rules again – in part by punishing those who try to enforce them. He is a President with the mind of a gangster, and as long as he is in office, he will head a gangster White House.”

Pleas note my blog talk radio show Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou will not air tomorrow night. New Year’s Eve. Everyone enjoy the evening!

Enjoy your today, also.

On June 17, 2018, I published in KONK Life a commentary titled Rudy Giuliani Sexcapades. At that time and even now, Giuliani is in the news almost every day. “Personal Attorney” to President Trump.

The talents that made him a force to be recognized are long gone. Dissipated. No more First Mayor, an outstanding prosecutor, a man of character, a man to be respected.

His present day attacks on former Vice President Biden lacking in respect and truthfulness.

Giuliani opted to sleep with a dog. He woke with fleas.

I am republishing last year’s Rudy Giuliani’s Sexcapades. The article continues to be timely.

And so it began…..

People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. John 8:7 says…..Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Matthew 7:1…..Judge not, that ye not be judged.

Rudy Giuliani has had a distinguished career. Till recently.

Giuliani attacked Stormy Daniels last week. He hit on her work career as a porn star, adult actress and porn movie director.

Giuliani’s adult life has had its moments of sleaziness. A Roman Catholic, he has been married three times.

He married his first wife Regina Peruggi in 1968. His second cousin. Second cousin marriages neither civilly nor religiously permitted. He met local TV personality Donna Hanover in 1982. Fell in love. Needed to divorce Regina so he could marry Donna.

Not simple. The civil divorce not much of a problem. Obtained in 1982. However being Catholic, he needed a Catholic Church annulment. Once difficult to obtain, no longer so in the 1980’s. Proper Church grounds and money made it possible. The days of Henry VIII long gone.

Giuliani’s grounds were he did not know Regina was his second cousin. Hard to believe. Italians know every cousin and their place in line to the nth degree. Whatever, the Church accepted he was unaware. That and a check resulted in a Church annulment one year later.

Rudy and Donna were married in a Catholic Church ceremony in 1984. They remained married till the early 2000’s. During those years, Giuliani had his affairs. One with his press secretary Cristyne Lategano. Donna became aware.

Father’s Day 1996 found the Mayor and Cristyne in a basement suite at Gracie Mansion. Donna went to the suite to confront Giuliani. His aides prevented her from entering the suite.

Still married to Donna, Giuliani became enamored with Judith “Judi” Nathan in May 1999. Cristyne abandoned.

The NYPD security detail assigned to the Mayor began chauffeuring Judi around. City provided chauffeur services. Buried in the books with convoluted bookkeeping.

The chauffeuring had its dangerous moments. On one occasion, Judi was being chauffeured into Gracie Mansion while Donna was being chauffeured out. Another occasion found Judi being chauffeured in with the Mayor’s mistress in a car following her. Giuliani had wife Donna, girl friend Judi and a mistress at the same time.

The year 2000 found Giuliani and Judi a public twosome. Southampton weekends included.

Giuliani called a press conference on May 10, 2000 and announced he intended to separate from Donna. He failed to tell Donna first. She learned of it from the television report.

Giuliani sued for divorce in October 2000. A major court battle ensued. Giuliani barred  from Gracie Mansion or seeing his children till a divorce was final. The issues were resolved and the two were divorced. Donna received a settlement of $6.8 million and custody of their two children.

Judi and the Mayor were married in 2003. On April 14, 2018, Judi filed for divorce after 18 years of marriage.

Giuliani recently claimed Stormy Daniels as a porn worker had no credibility. What credibility does a thrice married cheating husband have?

A President accused of infidelity and paying thousands to cover it up could have picked a lawyer with a better track record morally to represent him.

Birds of a feather do flock together.

Epilogue.

Giuliani acts more and more like Trump’s consigliere. Not surprising. Trump acts more and more like a Mafia boss.

Giuliani may be heading for deep trouble personally. The Southern District of New York has him under investigation.

Giuliani’s divorce case with third wife Judi is still pending. The fight over money. Makes the 1980’s movie War of the Roses look like kids’ stuff.

No children involved. The Judge admonished them to settle their differences and in effect stop hanging their dirty wash out.

I feel sorry for Giuliani. A distinguished lawyer and distinguished public servant. He seems to have lost it mentally.

TUESDAY TALK WITH KEY WEST LOU WILL NOT BE BROADCAST TOMORROW EVENING. NEW YEAR’S EVE. GIVING MYSELF AND EVERYONE ELSE A NIGHT OFF.

Happy New Year!

The legal process of eminent domain is increasing in awareness. It all has to do with Trump’ border wall.

My concern is that few understand what is involved. Many get their information from TV new shows. The political pundits rarely understand the issues. False information is given. Not intentionally. Rather from ignorance or poor preparation.

Eminent domain is a legal term. Defined it is the right of the government to take private property for public use, while requiring “just” compensation being paid the owner.

Eminent domain is the taking now and paying later owners reluctant to sell. Owners are reluctant to sell for one of two reasons. The property has been in the family for generations. Or, the owner’s attitude becomes if the government wants it, let them pay for it.

The government, at least under Trump, has a tendency to act before it is time to do so. The cart is put before the horse. An example is Texas. One hundred seventy two miles of land is intended to be walled. One hundred forty miles of that land has yet to be determined. In other words, no decision has been made yet where specifically the wall will run which obviously will control which properties are to be taken in that 140 mile stretch.

Already noises are coming out of Washington that the wall is being held up because of the reluctance of owners to sell. Not true. Cannot be true. If the majority of properties to be taken for example in Texas have not yet been designated, those owners are not saying no to the government. They have not even been approached since no determination has been made if their property will be needed.

The government makes an offer. Generally, the government low balls the offer. Hoping to purchase the property cheaply. Assume the homeowner is reluctant to sell for any reason. The government can obtain a court order rather swiftly permitting the government to acquire title.

The home owner goes to court. The homeowner is required to show that the amount offered is insufficient. Not based on fair market value.

A trial can be long. All kinds of real estate experts testifying. Thorough cross examinations detailed.

In my experience, I have never seen a property owner come out of such a court fight with less than that the government offered. Always more. In most cases, significantly more.

The cry oh the poor homeowner will be required to assume heavy legal costs. No way. At least not out of pocket. Attorneys generally take these cases on a contingency basis. Twenty five or thirty three percent of the difference between the offer and what a court has determined as fair value.

Everyone comes out ahead! I never had an unhappy client, even after paying me.

My day yesterday began with a 2:30 manicure with Tammy. Her operation busy. It’s that time of the year.

I had missed lunch. Drove down to the seaport intending to stop into Harpoon Harry’s. Good luck! I could not find a parking place within 3 blocks. It is that time of the year! Tourists galore!

Opted to drive over to the other side of town. To the Shana Key Irish Pub and Grill on Flagler. My first time. In 30 years, never stopped in.

Parking was easy. The bar huge. A very long bar. Most stools taken.

The crowd local. I doubt any tourists. Most 50-60 years old. I sensed most probably of Irish descent.

I intended to order a corned beef sandwich. A fellow nearby was eating liver and onions. Looked good. Been years since I enjoyed the dish.

I order the liver and onions. Outstanding!

I plan on returning.

I am not sure if liver and onions are an Irish dish. The menu said: “We serve traditional Celtic grub.” Whatever that means. All I know is the meal was delicious.

The College of the Florida Keys is sponsoring what should be an interesting evening. An historian speaking about “Florida’s Female Pioneers.”

The lecture is thursday January 9 at 7 pm. Admission $5 to be paid at the door.

I hope to attend.

What is the saying? As ye sow so shall ye reap. A biblical term. Appears many times in the Bible. Each time described slightly different. For example, Galatians 6:7 reads: “A man reaps what he sows.”

Trump is reaping what he has sowed. He is not a happy camper at Mar-a-Lago this holiday season. He is feeling the sting of impeachment and Pelosi. News reports indicate “his anger is boiling.” He is in a “slow burn.” The President is being deprived of “peace of mind.”

What goes around, comes around. How many people has he made unhappy!

Comments to this blog are many. Politics has increased the number dramatically. The Republicans and Democrats take each other on. You can always spot the Independent. Quiet and sane of mind.

Two interesting comments the past 2 days.

One by Jack Dorsey. A rhyme involving tweeting and the President: “He’ll tweet while you are sleeping / He’ll tweet when you’re awake / He’ll tweet when things are bad or good / He’ll tweet till things break.”

JustSaying comments frequently. I am not sure of his political affiliation. He appears to swing both ways. Comments intelligent.

Yesterday’s: Trump “soft gloved corporations, in taxes and regulations.” The result a “sugar rush economy.”

Whether I agree with a comment is immaterial. I love the exchanges that take place! We are a thinking society. At least my commentors are.

There is a new class of “disposable Americans.” Immigration judges. They are leaving the bench in increasing numbers. The primary reason is the number of Trump policy changes has “chipped” at their authority. A better reason might be they are persons of character.

So far this year, 45 have departed. That is more than double the number in 2018 and 2017 when 24 and 21 respectively left.

A joke involved. A serious one. The backlog of immigration cases is in excess of 1 million. Cases are being scheduled into future years. Which as a practical matter helps those seeking to immigrate. Most get to stay in the U.S. till their cases are resolved.

Enjoy your day!

Historians all agree that the Key West of the 1970’s was the best ever! Normality non-existent.

Jimmy Buffett arrived in late 1971. He thought “living in Key West in the early 1970’s was not like living in America.” The community was different. Off the wall!

Buffett said, “He was glad the gay community benefited from the fact that the Puritans had never made it this far south.”

Steve and Cindy arrived in Key West in the 1970’s. My Chart Room friends. Still here. The stories they tell. Especially Steve. He ran several small businesses in Key West over the years. Cindy was Jimmy Buffett’s personal secretary for more than 20 years.

They would know.

Christmas day found me back at Lisa’s. Lunch with the family. Left overs from Christmas eve dinner. Always better the next day.

Pythons have not been in the news of late. Fortunately! Made it however this past week. A 9 foot python was found in a Key Largo backyard.

Would you believe! Heart attack time! Took 3 animal officers to catch the beast. A job well done!

Harry Truman loved Key West and Key West loves Harry Truman.

Truman died on this day in 1972 at the age of 88. Key West was very sad at the time.

Sand is gold! Few seem to realize it.

I wrote an article for KONK Life on 6/28/18 titled: “Key West Lou COMMENTARY: WORLD IS RUNNING OUT OF SAND. Covered the issue well.

Recommend you read it. konklife.com/key-west-lou-commentary-world-running-out of sand. Not that long. You will be an expert when finished.

I am back into sand today because of a brief news article concerning sand and the Mekong River. The river banks are collapsing. Half a million people are at risk of losing their homes. All because of the world’s insatiable demand for sand.

One of the most respected men in the past is now one of the least respected. Rudy Giuliani. He has lost it. His mind is going. Perhaps already gone.

He apparently wants to be Trump. He insults people easily as the President does. People not deserving of insult.

The most recent example George Soros.

You may not like his politics. He is a Democrat. However the man is deserving of great respect, even in his old age. Somewhere in his 80’s.

Giuliani appears to be on an anti-Semitic kick as regards Soros. In a recent interview, he referred to Soros as “hardly a Jew” and an “enemy of Israel.”

Soros is a Holocaust survivor. Giuliani had the gall to say, “I’m more of a Jew than Soros is.”

Anti-Semitic comments directed at Soros are not new. They have been repeated by Trump, Republican lawmakers, and by FOX News.

California has significant homeless problems. One hundred thirty thousand have no where to live.

A war of words has developed between California Governor Gavin Newsom and Trump.

In early December, the Governor blasted HUD for cutting back on assistance under Trump. He claimed Trump ws playing politics with the homeless issue.

Note, California is solidly Democratic.

The California homeless situation arose in the Democratic debate last week.

The Governor spoke to the issue once more in the days following the debate. He insists what is needed are “housing and supportive services” to solve the situation. Not “shelters” alone. Shelters only solve the “sleep” problem.

He accused Trump again of “playing politics.”

Trump’s Christmas gift to the Governor came on Christmas Day in the form of a tweet. Trump wrote the Governor was to blame for California’s homeless problem. He accused the Governor of having “done a really bad job.” Further adding, “If he can’t fix the problem, the Federal Government will get involved.”

If Trump were to carry out the threat, things would only get worse. Trump always makes things worse.

If Trump is truly interested in the homeless, he should look in his own back yard. Night time in Washington has the homeless sleeping everywhere but in a home or a bed. On the streets, in doorways, on benches, etc. Even across the street from the famed Trump Towers.

Christmas has come and gone. Kim failed to provide his promised “Christmas gift.” If a boast, may it continue to be so.

Trump today referred to Kim as a “wise guy.” To Trump such indicating he had successfully called Kim’s bluff.

Beware! Kim is crazier than Trump! Anything can set him off! Which would mean missile(s) being set off.

Enjoy your day!

‘Tis the season to be jolly! No question about it. My favorite holiday.

Christmas greetings to one and all!

Christmas eve with Lisa and family last night.

Lisa out did herself. Her best Christmas eve meal so far!

A Christmas eve as one should be. Warm and happy.

I wrote last week how college enrollments are significantly down. Fewer applications. Proof is what is happening with Robert. Only a sophomore in high school. Yet he is receiving letters and e-mails from colleges asking that he consider them when it comes time to apply. Two years from now for Robert.

The story of Christmas was first written in the Bible. By certain disciples and other men of religion. Following are several Biblical quotes that convey some of the feelings of the day.

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son…..” Isiah 7:14

“A Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:11

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in clothes and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” Luke 2:6-7

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:20

A Christmas tree sitting in the middle of Duval in front of what is now CVS and previously Fast Buck Freddie’s. What before, I do not know. A photo of the tree in this morning’s KONK E-Blast. Time sometime in the 1940’s.

Strange experiences occur during war time.

It was 1914. World War I. Christmas eve.

A No Man’s Land existed between the German and Allied forces. With no prior agreement, both sides stopped shooting at midnight, came out of their trenches and shared the next 24 hours celebrating the holiday.

Then back to killing each other.

History provides us with 2 Englebert Humperdincks.

The first was the composer of the opera Hansel and Gretel. A Christmas favorite. He composed it in 1893 in Weimar.

It took many years for Hansel and Gretel to reach American shores. It was first performed on American radio on December 25, 1931.

Years later came the popular English pop singer. Same name. Englebert Humperdinck. No relation. He just took the name. Englebert #2 “adopted” the name early in his professional career.

Englebert #2 is still with us. Now, 83.

I remember his appearance, voice and songs he made popular well. He reached his highest popularity in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Songs he made famous include Release Me, The Last Waltz, After the Lovein, and This Moment in Time.

I danced to his tunes many times.

Paul Krugman is the famous New York Times columnist. In a recent column titled Trying to Endure the Cruelty of a Donald Trump Christmas he wrote, “By Trump-era standards, Ebenezer Scrooge was a nice guy.”

A MAGA double header.

Yesterday, I reported the story of Nicole Marie Poole Franklin driving her SUV on a sidewalk to hit a 14 year old Mexican girl. She admitted to the police she did it because the girl was “Mexican.”

Turns out the 14 year old was not the first “hate” event of her day.  She was on a roll.

It was reported this morning that less than 2 hours earlier, she struck a 12 year old black boy as he was walking home from school.

I came across a note indicating the Klu Klux Klan had its beginnings on December 24, 1865.

Several veterans of the Confederate Army formed a private “social club” in Pulaski, Tennessee.

The hatred continues.

I will be spending the day with Lisa. Christmas in our family a 2 day event.

Enjoy your day!

I know. Christmas eve. Stay with God and country. Today a slew of Christmas stories. Tomorrow from Jesus’ perspective.

Today also some nutty items. Reflective of the insanity that prevails in some areas of our lives.

Robert Browning wrote “God’s in His heaven / All’s right with the world!”

Blasphemous I am not. God is in His heaven. However all is not right with the world. Lunacy prevails in many areas.

A perfect example concerns the ACLU. The ACLU has started a campaign to make tampons available in all men’s restrooms across America. The reason: To prevent discrimination.

From tampons to how some “modern day” Christmas traditions originated. A giant leap.

Decorated Christmas Trees.

The huge trees in German forests around which pagans  celebrated what was their Christmas holiday were decorated. Not as today, however.

Decorating Christmas trees became popular in the early 19th century in the U.S. New York woodsman Mark Carr opened the first Christmas tree lot in 1851. Today, 77 percent of households will have trees. Eighty one percent artificial, 19 percent real.

The artificial/real percentages surprised me.

The Rockettes.

First Rockette show 1925 at New York’s Radio City Music Hall. A dance group from Missouri. A hit! Became The Radio City Music Hall Rockettes.

A biggie with my parents. Several times we traveled to New York City to see the annual Rockette’s Christmas show.

A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Inspired by the Charles Schulz Peanuts comic strip. When first proposed, it was rejected by CBS executives.  Finally aired 12/9/1965. One half of America’s TV sets were tuned in. The show became an American tradition.

Linus’ famous line a forever one: “I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It’s not bad at all. Maybe it just needs a little love.”

Something we could all use.

Gingerbread House.

Queen Elizabeth I gets credit for the early decorating oi gingerbread cookies. However Germans insist the credit is theirs. They lay claim to starting the gingerbread house tradition. They refer to the German Grimm Brothers who wrote Hansel and Gretel. The gingerbread house part of the story.

The Nutcracker.

For many a “must” to see. Ballet. Premiered 12/18/1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Performed for the first time outside Russia in 1934 in England. First time in U.S. in 1944 in San Francisco.

Captured America. Became a must see event in the U.S. in the late 1960’s.

Cookies and Milk for Santa.

Leaving treats for Santa and his reindeer dates back to ancient Norse mythology. America got into the tradition in the 1930’s during the Great Depression. The cookies and milk were left for Santa as a sign of showing gratitude during a time of struggle.

Boozy Eggnog.

Spiked eggnog makes a person happy. Originally started in medieval England as a posset, a drink made with hot curdled milk and ale or wine.

American colonists get credit for making it popular in the new world and adding rum to the drink. Even George Washington had a special recipe for eggnog.

Christmas Cards.

The first official Christmas card made its debut in 1843 in England. The idea of a mailed winter holiday greeting caught on in both Britain and the U.S. In the U.S., the Kansas City based Hall Brothers (now Hallmark) created a folded card and sold it in an envelope in 1915.

Today, more than 1.6 billion holiday cards are sold annually.

Department Store Santa.

Today mall kids throughout the U.S. sit on Santa’s lap. The tradition had its beginnings in 1890 in Brockton, Massachusetts. James Edgar owned a dry goods store. He had a Santa suit made, wore it to work, and permitted children to sit on his lap.

Within one year, the activity caught on. Santa’s were in stores all over the U.S.

New York City claims it had the first department store Santa. The City claims Macy had one since 1862.

Cookie Swaps.

Women always exchange dishes of Christmas cookies. I thought until I researched the issue last night that it was an Italian tradition. My mother and then my wife cooked tons of Christmas cookies. Buried plates with them. Visited other women exchanging cookies.

Never made sense to me. Italian women all made the same cookies. The exchange brought nothing new to the cookies.

The American tradition (not the Italian one) began in the late 1800’s. American women had parties where they exhibited their cookies. Did not necessarily exchange.

By the 1930’s, actual swapping began. The parties became known as “cookie exchanges.” By the 1950’s, “cookie swaps.”

Whatever, the exchanges, swaps, etc. are considered a “ladies only” event.

M. Venema is a reader/commentator to my blog. She published an interesting comment yesterday: “Nicole Marie Poole Franklin is what MAGA has created for us.”

Truer words never written.

On December 9, a 14 year old Mexican girl was walking on a sidewalk in Des Moines. Franklin an adult woman. She drove her SUV up on the sidewalk and struck the 14 year old.

She later admitted to the police that she did so because the girl was “Mexican.”

She further admitted she had smoked methamphetamine hours before.

The world has know many genocides, mass killings. Ethnic or religious driven. The Holocaust one of the worst ever. Six million Jews killed.

India is next in line. Indians dislike Muslims for religious reasons. Especially in the State of Assam where 1.9 million reside.

The Indian government has taken their citizenships away. Some from persons whose Indian family residence goes back 4 generations. The Indian government is constructing “camps” to hold Muslims.

The hate trend is moving forward. Shortly there will be an ethnic cleansing and genocide.

It is man’s innate nature to kill.

The Saudi resolution of Jamal Khashoggi’s killing is complete. Five found guilty and will be executed.

A sham.

The “hit men” have been found guilty and sentenced to death. The “masterminds” walk free. A mockery of justice.

There will be no Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou this evening. I will be at Lisa’s celebrating the holiday. Probably in the middle of a gigantic dinner at show time.

For those of you who celebrate Christmas eve, enjoy! A Merry Christmas to you! To my Jewish friends, enjoy your Hanukkah celebration.

For those of my friends who are agnostics or atheists, and I have many, enjoy your evening!