Christmas in America has not always been as we know it. In the early days, Christmas was frowned upon. Considered pagan.

The Puritans did not celebrate Christmas. The earliest Scrooge of record.

The Puritans outlawed Christmas in Boston. From 1659-1681. Based on their belief that Christmas had pagan roots. It did.

Back in England, Cromwell also banned its celebration.

Came the American Revolution. No Christmas! It was only after the Revolution that Americans began to celebrate Christmas. Having won the War, the colonists were no longer under English influence re Christmas.

One observation. The post-Revolution Christmas first enjoyed in this country was not as we know it today. A story for another time, however.

Spent last night at the Blue Macaw. Terri singing. Chatted with Terri prior to her show and Joe Phillips.

On the way home, I was almost in an accident. A home on Duck Ave off Southern Boulevard was Christmas trimmed magnificently! The best I have seen this year.

My eyes were on the house and not the road.

A serious problem exists in Key West. Has for a couple of years now. The cosmetic shops on Duval. Tourist rip offs!

Customers get sweet talked into purchasing several thousand dollars worth of cosmetics. Or, a $100 purchase ends up a $1,000 one when a credit card is processed.

For some reason, the police do not feel they can crack down. A group of Key west Citizens do, however. Call themselves the Key West Rip Off Rapid Response Team.

The team already responsible for the return of thousands of dollars.

The Team picket with signs until the cosmetic shop returns money to the cheated customer. The Team believe the cosmetic shops give Key West a black eye.

The team is at it again. Tresor Rare on Duval has a $3,010 dispute with a former tourist. Tresor refuses to return the money. The Team will harass them till they do.

Someone has to protect the innocent.

A Trump screw up again. Syria. Trump announced yesterday he was withdrawing all American troops immediately based on his claim that ISIS had been defeated. ISIS not defeated. There are still 20,000-30,000 ISIS fighters wandering around.

Trump made the announcement without consulting with his defense, intelligence and military people. Nor the Senate. Everyone is furious at him.

The benefactors of his move are Russia and Turkey.

Once again, thank you Donald!

I am doing a guest appearance this afternoon on Laurie Thibaud’s new radio show Driving At 5. From 4-5. Radio station 105.7.

No format for the show. Laurie and I are just going to sit and chat.

Join us!

Enjoy your day!

Success takes time. It does not come overnight. It must be earned via hard work.

Mel Fisher was diligent. Lived in Key West while searching for the Atocha. A treasure laden Spanish galleon that went down in a hurricane in 1622.

Fisher’s attitude positive. He was confident he would find the Atocha. Each day as he left the dock in Key West, he would say to his men: “Today’s the day.”

It finally arrived on July 20, 1985. Sixteen years after Fisher’s search began.The mother lode. Valued at $450 million. Making up a portion of that amount was 40 tons of gold and silver.

His life changed. His family’s life changed. Obviously for the better.

Today marks the anniversary of Fisher’s death. He died this day in 1998.

Fisher as popular and well known today as when he struck riches in 1985.

The Syracuse/Buffalo game conflicted with my podcast last night. The game started at 8. My show, 9. Stopped watching the game for a half hour. Then hurried back to the TV set.

Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou went well. Love doing the show. My numbers increase weekly for which I am grateful. I beat the hell out of Russia and Trump. Deservedly so.

I was not happy with the outcome of the Syracuse/Buffalo game. Syracuse lost 71-59. Buffalo continues undefeated. The school has come a long way following its decision to be a big time college basketball team some 15 years ago. Buffalo’s improvement has been especially outstanding the past 3 years.

Syracuse was up by 4 at half. Lost because Buffalo outscored my beloved Syracuse by 16 points in the second half.

The game was tied with 7 minutes to go. Then it was Buffalo all the way out!

Buffalo now 12-0. A top 10 team. Syracuse, 7-4. Unranked. 

Buffalo definitely superior to Syracuse last night.

Syracuse for the second game in a row failed to make foul shots.

Terri White in a major performance the last 4 days of the year. December 27-31 she will be doing a Fringe Theater solo performance. At the Little Room Jazz Club. On Broadway! As only Terri can do it based on her many years on Broadway.

Show time 7 pm.

Opening night December 27 already sold out.

I watched on TV during the day every moment of the Michael Flynn court appearance. Drama at its finest.

I have considered Michael Flynn a fink. Slime might be a better description.

Smart, however. He cooperated with the Mueller team from day one.

He had lied to the FBI about 2 significant matters. His talks with the Russian ambassador during the transition. Then his having been retained by Turkey to take care of some matters in the U.S.

The Turkey situation occurred while Flynn was the National Security Adviser with an office in the White House. Steps from Trump’s office.

Flynn had been paid $600,000 for whatever he was to do for Turkey.

Because Flynn agreed to cooperate early and apparently had much to tell Mueller, he was to receive a break sentence wise. One to six months. Actually, both prosecution and defense recommended no jail time.

One problem. Flynn ran into a tough federal judge who was not to be bullshitted. Judge Sullivan. He was all over Flynn from the moment the proceeding began yesterday. He told Flynn “You sold out your country.” Pointing to the American flag behind him when he spoke those words. He also questioned whether treason might have been involved.

The Judge suggested Flynn not plead yesterday as he was not sure if Flynn should do time. Indirectly suggesting that if Flynn were sentenced yesterday, he would be off to jail. Ergo, the matte was adjourned 90 days for whatever to occur. Whatever meaning Flynn has to do more cooperation wise to deserve a sentence shorter than 6 months.

Sullivan did not pussy foot around. A tough guy. His name is Irish, his ethnicity Mexican.

I wonder how the Mexican aspect will fly with Trump.

People enjoy telling lawyer jokes. None flattering. Lawyers enjoy telling judge jokes. Not flattering either.

The following is not intended to apply to Judge Sullivan.

The Judge: “Counsel if what you say is true, I will have to throw out all my legal books.”

The lawyer: “Judge, why don’t you try reading them first.”

People falling off cruise ships in voigue. Four fell and lost on Caribbean cruises in recent months.

One near the Keys. Thirty five miles south of Islamorada. Carnival’s Victory.

Friday, 26 year old passenger Thomas McElhory fell over board. Coast Guard searched diligently through yesterday when the search was called off.  McElhoury not found. 

I close with impeachment. It’s in the air. Talk of Trump’s possible impeachment.

The last Presidential impeachment was of Bill Clinton. The Monica Lewinsky affair.

On this day in 1998, Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives. Two charges. Lying under oath to a federal grand jury and obstructing justice.

Clinton was acquitted by the Senate. The vote was not even close.

An interesting point all should be aware of. The Lewinsky matter did not come up until Kenneth Starr was into the 18th month of his investigation.

Negates Giuliani’s argument that Trump can only be investigated for that which occurred up to the day of election and only involving Russia. Nothing thereafter. And nothing having to do with anything else that occurred before or after election day which did not involve Russia.

I sometimes wonder what law school Giuliani attended.

Enjoy your day!

Dueling Bartenders crowded last night. Locals and snowbirds packed Aqua. The reason…..Vicki Roush.

Vicki a popular entertainer and person when she lived in Key West. Moved away several years ago. Now resides in Orlando. In Key West visiting.

Vicki was described in her Key West days as Key West’s favorite Diva. Understandable. A glowing voice emanating from a warm personality.

Many friends. Lynda and Bob Frechette, Jean Thornton, Laurie Thibaud, Jean Thornton, Sheila, Randy Roberts, Joseph, Linda, and Mary among others.

Steve and Stacy stopped by to say hello. We had met last year at the Chart Room. Interesting people. Live in Holly Springs, North Carolina. Their 12th trip to Key West.

Love Key West!

Two children. A 22 year old daughter now a school teacher. A 19 year old son in college.

Steve has worked 28 years for General Electric. An information specialist. Stacy’s life good. Yesterday in nature. A home maker.

Kept herself busy outside the home with civic involvements.

Importantly, they read this blog every day. Thank you!

I look forward to seeing them again next year.

Then to La Trattoria for dinner with Mary. 

Dink seated at the end of the bar by the window. His spot.

Josefina enjoying dinner on the other side of the bar. Liz’s good friend. We chatted a while.

Tonight, Syracuse/Buffalo at 8.

Buffalo undefeated. Ranked 8th or 14th. Syracuse no longer ranked. Did not get one point in this week’s balloting. Understandable. Old Dominion beat the hell out of Syracuse. 

For whatever reason, Syracuse is a slight favorite. We shall see.

I will be able to watch the first half. Then to my podcast Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou at 9. Great show tonight! Much has occurred this past week for me to bellow at.

Join me. Guaranteed you will enjoy the half hour. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

I read this morning that in some parts of the country gasoline is less than $2 a gallon. Not in Key West! We are down to $2.89 a gallon.

The drop dramatic. Came swiftly. Expected to spread across the country.

Hope so. The good guys deserve a break!

Yesterday, I wrote re the imprinting on the arms of migrant parents and children at the border. Numbers. Like in Hitler’s concentration camps.

I also condemned Stephen Miller. Compared him to Joseph Goebbels.

Comments to the blog amazing! I read in excess of 150 this morning. Not all to my site alone. Out of the number, all agreed with me except 3. 

America is waking up!

The older one gets, the more he sees. The more he experiences. He begins to think he knows everything. Only because he has lived through much.

I have been predicting for over a year that a recession would occur at the end of this year or early in the new year.

It appears I may be correct.

The stock market dropped 508 points yesterday. World wide markets affected. A global depression is on the way. My time table I am sorry to say may be right.

Yesterday’s news makes one sit back and think. It was reported that without question Russia had interfered in the 2016 election. By use of the social media. Skillfully done. Impressive. Unquestionably, a new form of warfare.

The purpose initially was to elect Trump President. That accomplished, Russia now is working to destroy Robert Mueller.

The President continues to say he believes Putin’s denials. Republican legislators say nothing.

Retaliation is in order. Demanded! Russia alone does not have all the computer genius’s in the world. 

Robots continue to take jobs from the human work force. Quicker and cheaper. Understandable. However every time a robot goes to work, several humans lose their jobs.

Working conditions differ for robots and humans. What is going on at Amazon a perfect example.

Amazon has a large warehouse on Staten Island. A fulfillment center.

No air conditioning. The humans claim working conditions inhuman. They can’t handle the lack of air conditioning.

Amazon refuses to add air conditioning to the warehouse. Claim robots cannot function optimally in the cold.

So Amazon’s human employees will continue to suffer. Though not for long. Eventually most if not all will lose their jobs to robots. 

Such is the plan. Such is the way it will be in most industries/businesses.

Instead of worrying about a wall no one deems feasible, our government should spend time working on plans as to how to retrain the working force that will be displaced by robots.

Enjoy your day!

A few years ago, it became politically incorrect to compare a person’s actions to those of Hitler. I am not certain whether this occurred before or after Trump’s election.

The time has come to call things what they are. To refer to and compare them to past happenings. Especially as they may relate to Hitler.

Yesterday, migrant parents and children in Mexico waiting admission to the U.S. began having numbers imprinted on their arms. By agreement of the U.S. and Mexico. 

As Hitler did with the Jews in the concentration camps.

What next? How far will history repeat itself? In what fashion?

Then there is Stephen Miller. A White House adviser to the President. Actually, Trump’s chief writer. Better described as a propagandist. 

Miller reminds me of Hitler’s Reich Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels. Even looks like him. Thin faced with hair combed straight back.

Miller has been a behind the scenes guy in the Trump administration. Unseen, rarely heard. Exercising however great influence on the President.

A hard line opponent of immigration.

Yesterday was an unusual one for Miller. He exposed himself to the world. Appeared on most of the Sunday talk shows. He was vehement that the wall had to be built! His sense was one of Armageddon if not.

America is waking up. The damage Trump has done in two years becoming obvious. Can the U.S. stand another 2 years? 

I worry. I am concerned.

The story of the 7 year old girl who died of sepsis. Her death would never have been. If U.S. asylum laws were followed.

Asylum seekers are permitted to reach a border office on U.S. soil. Application is made for asylum. They are then given a court date and released. Into the U.S.

Trump is playing by a different set of rules. The migrants are not permitted on U.S. soil. They are left on Mexican soil. Asylum requests made on Mexican soil. And there the migrants sit till a judgement can be made. 

The time factor could be forever.

Thousands of people pushed into gross unsanitary areas waiting and waiting and waiting.

No wonder this 7 year old was infected by E.coli which lead to sepsis and his death. E.coli is caused by ingestion in some fashion of human or animal defecation.

The end result was this 7 year old ended up with shit in her blood which lead to a swift and painful death. Immediate treatment required to avoid death.

I know. I had the problem. A prostrate test resulted in shit going through my colon wall via punctures made to get at my prostrate. The punctures permitted the shit entry. Antibiotics taken for 2 days prior to the test were insufficient in my case to avert the problem

Symptoms are many. Mine were a freezing cold from my waste to my toes and an inability to urinate. Came on me like that. I was smart enough to call my doctor.

The recovery required 7 days of hospitalization. The first 4 horrible. I actually thought I was going to die.

Think of what this 7 year old must have gone through.

Last night began with the Back Door. Wanted to visit with Laurie Thibaud.

Laurie started a radio show this past week. I am going to do a guest appearance thursday from 4-5. Should be fun.

Station 105.7. Laurie calls the show Drive at 5. Join us.

Sunday is generally Hot Dog Church at Back Door. A lesbian gathering. The ladies bring food.

Men are permitted on an invitation basis only. I am allowed because of my lesbian wives Terri and Donna.

A lucky man am I!

Hot Dog Church will be reopening this coming sunday at 4 at the Back Door.

Laurie Thibaud is in charge of the event.

This morning’s edition of KONK Life E-Blast ran a picture of the Gato Cigar Factory following a devastating fire on December 17, 1915. Burned to the ground! Five adjoining houses also.

The building loss $150,000. Construction cheaper back then. Five hundred men thrown out of work.

Another significant step back in history. December 17, 1903. Man flew for the first time.

Orville and Wilbur Wright. The plane a self-propelled heavier than air aircraft. Flew 12 seconds. Covered 120 feet.

Man has come a long way since that day. Think about it. Man already has flown to and walked on the moon. Soon, Mars.

I recall thinking after World War II the same thing. I was amazed at that time how far man had come with flying in less than 50 years.

Man’s genius will always amaze.

Dueling Bartenders at Aqua tonight.

Enjoy your day!

I am showing off. My high school French. Not sure how accurate it is. Translated: The Best of the Best Laurie Thibaud.

Laurie a Key West icon. Personable. Friend to all. Loved by all.

Laurie was born in Grasse, France. The reason for the French introduction. At age 4, she came to the U.S. Resided with her family in Westfield, N.J. 

Returned to France in her late teens. Attended 3 schools.  Never received a diploma. To this day, considers herself to have been a professional student.

Ended up in Key West.

A mainstay at several bars/restaurants. A microphone host at several. Her longest gig Aqua. Seventeen years. Left for several months recently. Returned a couple of weeks ago. She is responsible for the Back Bar Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Laurie  additionally began a radio show on 105.7 last week. Her show. “Drive at 5.” Three nights a week.

Still speaks fluent French. I hope I did not embarrass myself with the blog’s title.

My first stop tonight the Back Bar to visit Laurie and her friends.

Then depending on the time, the Gardens, Mary Ellen’s for tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich, and finally the Chart Room. An ambitious list. Will be lucky to get two in.

Last night exciting! The Lighted Boat Parade. Each vessel trimmed for Christmas as if it were the outside of one’s home. Even a commemorative Jewish vessel in the mix. A well lit menorah. 

I went down to Schooner’s Wharf to watch. Too crowded. Tried the back of the Pier House. Worked better. Stayed only 10 minutes. Does not take long to see the boats in line and enjoy their beauty.

Finished the evening by stopping in the Chart Room to say hello to John and enjoy a drink.

Yesterday afternoon, a disaster. Syracuse beat by Old Dominion 68-62.

Syracuse had a 13 point lead at one point. A 10 point lead another. 

Syracuse played like it was their first time on a basketball court in the second half. Outscored by 16 points. Old Dominion was hot. Made 55 percent of their shots in the second half.

Did not help either that Syracuse missed 12 foul shots.

The game stressful for me. I bleed orange.

A piece of Hemingway’s life.

Hemingway was 19 and an ambulance driver in Italy during World War I. He was wounded. Ended up in a hospital.

His nurse was Agnes von Kurowski. Originally from Pennsylvania.

A heavy romance ensued.

Agnes was Hemingway’s model for Catherine Barkley in A Farewell To Arms.

Hemingway recovered. Returned to the U.S. He hoped to save enough money to bring Agnes back to the U.S. Agnes was transferred to another hospital in Italy.

In November 1919, Agnes wrote a letter to Hemingway. A Dear John letter. She had fallen in love with an Italian major who was also a Neapolitan Duke. She advised Hemingway she and the Duke would be married in the spring.

The marriage never was. The Duke’s mother did not like Agnes. Thought she was a social climber.

Hemingway was destroyed.

The day he received the letter, he wrote his close friend Bill Horne: “…..you make love to a girl and then you go away. She needs somebody to make love to her. If the right person turns up, you’re out of luck. That’s the way it goes.”

The emotional blow to Hemingway heavy.

Trump not the only one crazy. The Republican Party is also.

The conversation in recent weeks has considered heavily the U.S. getting out of Yemen. Bring the troops home! The get out of Yemen cry a popular one with U.S. citizens.

An issue for debate. It was contemplated such would take place soon after the first of the year. First by the House and then the Senate. Expected to pass both chambers.

The reasons for getting out of Yemen includes it is not our war. We have been there 3 years supporting “our friend” Saudi Arabia. In those 3 years, there has been wholesale slaughter and genocide by the Saudis upon the Yemen people. See the pics on the internet of the famished children. Skin and bones. I saw one photo of a 12 year old girl. Small compared to her age. Ribs visibly protruding. No semblance of breasts.

Four days ago, a farm bill was before the House for a procedural vote. Note, a farm bill.

Hidden within was a provision prohibiting any further debate or move by Congress to withdraw U.S. forces from Yemen.

The House still Republican.

Speaker Paul Ryan had the provision buried in the farm bill. What a disappointment he has turned into.

The bill passed.

Does anyone voting  on these bills read them?

In any event, I am confident the Democratic controlled House coming in on January 3 will do the necessary to correct the situation.

I raise another question. Was the provision added merely to accommodate Saudi Arabia or was another involved? Like the military-industrial complex.

Trump told the American people during the campaign he was going to clean the swamp that Washington had become. He’s done a good job. The swamp is bigger and dirtier than any previous time.

Most Trump appointees on the take in one fashion or another.

The most recent is former Interior Department Secretary Ryan Zinke. Former because he resigned yesterday. He had been told resign before the end of December or he would be fired.

The pressure on Zinke heavy. Many probes of his real estate dealings in his home state Montana. One probe is into his dealings with Halliburton regarding oil interests in Whitefish, Montana. 

Zinke has also eliminated or weakened many environmental regulations. At the behest of Trump, of course.

Then his and his wife’s personal conduct. His use of government planes for personal reasons. His wife the use of government vehicles.

Will Trump be able to fill Zinke’s position?

No one wants to go to work for Trump’s administration at the present time. Can’t blame them with the investigations ongoing and more to come.

Trump is having and will continue to have trouble filling key positions. No one wants to get dirty.

Enjoy your Sunday!

So many problems in the world. Some never get thought of. This particular one by men.

Female students have a pad and tampon problem. They can’t afford them. Their menstrual cycle occurs many times while in school. 

Initially, school nurses would decide whether a pad or tampon was to be provided. However a third degree was involved. Embarrassing.

Young ladies began missing classes/school because they were embarrassed. No protection. The best available stuffing toilet paper where the pad or tampon would be used.

A grammar school, middle school, high school, college problem.

A box of pads/tampons cost $8-$10. To some parents and students, the choice between food or menstrual aids.

The move is underway to have States legislate to provide public schools with pads and tampons free.

New York City schools are already doing it. Isolated schools in isolated states, also. Colleges are beginning to recognize the need. Brown. Barnard and Columbia providing free pads and tampons. 

Some countries. Scotland, an example. Prior to adopting the program, 45 percent of Scottish girls were using toilet paper or other ad hoc fixes because they could not afford menstrual protection products.

Many believe at stake is dignity and respect for young ladies.

Governmental changes to permit free products a long shot. Conservative America probably will not look favorably on it.

A sensitive group!

My yesterday began early. Blood work at 8:20. Coffee after at the Cuban Coffee Queen. A pedicure at noon with Tammy. Larry Smith’s Christmas show in the evening.

I enjoyed the evening with Mary.

A great show! Larry  and Christine at their best. Guest performers likewise. Larry took many of the old favorites and combined them with other songs. An expert play with music. Took genius and a special ability to accomplish the arrangements.

Stopped at La Concha for Happy Hour before Larry’s show. An excellent Happy Hour. Generally when I go to Tropic Cinema for a movie or the Studios for a show, I stop first at La Concha.

After the show, it as off to the Chart Room for a drink and visit with John.

Got home around midnight. Late for me.

Syracuse basketball at noon today. Playing Old Dominion. Syracuse 7-2, Old Dominion 7-3. Syracuse a 10 point favorite. Should be a good game. Both teams  defense minded.

Syracuse ranked again. Number 25. It’s a start.

I will be home watching the game. Home television for sports has come a long way. I can get just about any sporting event. Of course, I pay extra for it. But worth every penny! Better than running around seeking a bar that was carrying a game I wanted to see.

In the still of the night, like a thief in the dark of the night, a Texas federal court judge issued a ruling that the Affordable Care Act was unconstitutional. Obamacare no more. Assuming the Supreme Court eventually upholds the Judge’s decision.

The decision issued late last night. A friday night in addition. When the Judge was probably home in bed or at his club finishing off a great dinner. Appears the Court was trying to avoid significant publicity.

Not all judges are blind as the Statue of Justice would have us belief. Some are politically motivated. Because a person becomes a judge does not necessarily mean prejudices or political philosophies are left behind.

Based on recent election poll results, medical care is the most important issue in the country today. It will be in 2020, also.

My sense is friday’s late night decision will shot Medicare for All to the front as a part of that issue.

Trump and most of his Republican minions are cruel people.  They consistently try to kill voting rights and health care. Forgotten is we are all God’s children and have to care for each other.

My gut feeling is the U.S. Supreme Court will not uphold the recent decision. Obamacare will remain in force and effect. Five of the Justices presently sitting ruled the Affordable Care Act was constitutional when it was first before them.

No question Medicare for All would be expensive. Question is can we handle it. I believe so.

Look at 2 recent examples of government waste, poor judgement, etc.

Trump last year added $1 trillion onto the national debt. Wild! Crazy! Most for reducing big time taxes on the rich.

Most recently, it was announced that an outside audit of the Department of Defense/Pentagon could not be completed. Why? There was no documentation for $21 trillion.

Can you imagine! Twenty one trillion dollars with no receipts or other paper work to back it up. No knowledge where the money went.

Wake up America! We are getting screwed big time!

Hypocrisy common place in Washington.

Trump announced yesterday Mike Mulvaney was going to be his Acting Chief of Staff. He will do the job while still running Management and Budget as Director.

Six days before the 2016 Predidential election, Mulvaney said, “Trump is flawed.” However, he was still going to support him despite “the fact that I think he’s a terrible human being.”

Men forget character and swallow their pride for positions of glory.

Ah, the stock market! A roller coast ride.

It was reported yesterday that this past quarter was the darkest since 2011.

Friday the market dropped 497 points. China and Europe experiencing market problems also.

All evidence of a global slowdown. A global recession on the way.

I predicted last year that a recession would occur late this year or the beginning of next year. An economic genius I am not. However, I have lived 83 years and can spot similar economic problems in the past that led to recessions.

Professional economic experts are predicting such a recession for late next year or early 2020. I bet their prediction will gradually move back into my time frame. Things are moving rapidly.

Enjoy your day!

Starting late this morning. Had an early doctor visit to do fasting blood work.

A new nurse. My blood pressure 117/62. Pulse 64. She checked my age on the chart. 83! How do you do it?

My response: Eat, drink, and sex. Her eyes opened wide!

I laughed and said not really. I eat and drink less. Sex, what is that?

Her turn to laugh.

Dinner with Terri and Donna last night at Hogfish.

A blind organization in Miami visits persons newly blind to teach them how to cope. Terri received such assistance the past 2 saturdays. Three hours each time.

She should have done it sooner.

Time and modern science have made it easier for persons such as Terri to cope. You will be impressed.

Terri has been given a new walking cane/stick. This one has a ball a vibrating ball at the tip. It tells Terri when she is near a curb or wall. Also, how high whatever is.

She was wearing a new watch. Pressed the button on the watch. It spoke! Date, day of week, and time.

Colors. Specially related to clothes. Works with everything, however. She has a scanner. Brushes it across a blouse, shorts, etc. and it sings out the color. If a print, describes the print. Like palm trees.

Terri wears rings. Different colored stones. Works with the rings, also.

How about weighing herself? No problem. She steps on the scale, it says hello, ready, tells her her weight, and then says good bye.

If she has to sign her signature on a document or piece of paper, she has a card. It is placed over the page. There is a vertical opening for her signature. She finds it by feel.

Money. How to distinguish paper money amounts. $1, $5, $10, etc. Terri now has an app in her cell phone. Runs the cell phone over the bill(s). Tells her the amount.

Re something hot, Terri wears arm coverings from wrist to elbow. Gets near something hot, before she would know it is hot, and the covering tells her “hot.”

This is the best. She can read! Not braille. She has a special scanner. She swipes it over the page and it reads the material back to her.

More to Come! Terri is all excited!

A reminder. Larry Smith Christmas Show tonight at the Studios. 8 pm. Terrific show! I have been watching Larry’s Christmas shows for years. Would not miss one. I will be there. You should be, also.

The Custom House as we know it was completed in 1891. The cost $107,955.96.

There was a Custom House before the new one was constructed. I understand somewhere in the 100 block of Duval. I will try to find it and let you know what it might have looked like.

Florida has some strange laws. Especially when it comes to sex. All of the following still the law. Why, I do not know.

Sex may only be done in the missionary position. Oral, illegal.

Illegal for an unmarried couple to live together. Doubly illegal if the couple commit “lewd acts.”

Unnatural and lascivious acts illegal. Whatever they may be. An exception. Breast feeding.

Destined to have occurred. A 7 year old migrant girl died after having been taken into custody at the border. New Mexico area.

A group of about 160 quietly came over the border and surrendered to authorities. She was with her father. The child fell ill almost immediately. Rushed to a hospital. Temperature 105.7. She had neither eaten nor had water for several days. Went into cardiac failure. Revived. Then died.

This all happened on December 6. It took one week for border personnel to report it.

The matter is being investigated.

I have to hustle. Pedicure scheduled for noon.

I lead a tough life.

Enjoy your day!

Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen was sentenced to 3 years in jail yesterday. Deservedly so. 

The Good Book tells us “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6-7.

Three years is a relatively light sentence. Consider the millions the man made while associated with Trump. His lifestyle, what he provided his family.

Time to pay the fiddler.

The Cuban Missile Crisis and the Monroe Doctrine are coming back into play.

When the Russians were placing missiles in Cuba, Kennedy had to confront the situation and get the Russians out. He did. 

A sensitive encounter. Brought the U.S. to the brink of war with Russia. Were it not for Kennedy’s state of mind and that of his closest advisers, a nuclear war might have occurred.

The Monroe Doctrine came into being in 1823. President at the time was James Monroe. Interestingly, he did not father the document. It was his Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams.

Basically, the Monroe Doctrine was notice to European nations to stay out of the Americas. Invoked by many Presidents since. Not just Kennedy.

Time again.

On monday, 2 Russian bombers capable of carrying nuclear  missiles landed in Venezuela. To the welcoming arms of Maduro. This is Putin testing American waters. He recognizes Trump is in trouble and believes this might be the time to take advantage.

My concern is Trump. He is not presently stable. The noose is tightening, the walls are closing in. Not the time for a confrontation. Nor are most of his advisers capable to handle such a situation.

Amazing that Putin is making such a move. After all, we have been led to believe Putin is Trump’s friend. Never has Trump poorly spoken of his “friend.” Even though Putin has been sticking it to Trump every chance he gets.

Difficult times ahead. The bombers have to go.

Never made the Sons and Daughters of Italy Christmas Party last night. When the time came to get ready, the body was not. I stayed home.

Harpoon Harry’s a delightful place to dine. Especially breakfast and lunch. Good solid diner type food.

The restaurant is located on Caroline. A lovely 2 story pink building.

This morning’s edition of KONK Life E-Blast carries a photo of the building from another time. Then Fishermen’s Cafe. No date accompanied the photo.

A shack! Aged weathered wood in a state of disrepair.

Unquestionably, the Key West of old.

How things change! For the better in this instance.

Banana Bay gone. Yesterday’s news. Officially closed monday. A new resort under construction. Should be outstanding considering the magnificent bay view available.

Key West weather. As mentioned yesterday, fluctuating like the stock market. Yesterday weather in the 60’s. Today high 81, low 77.

Everyone needs money. governments included. Their money comes from taxes. Sometimes a governmental entity will overreach. California may be attempting to do so at this time.

Serious consideration is being given to taxing text messages. A one time flat tax per year. Not a per call tax. Anticipated the tax will raise $44.5 million.

Nothing is sacred!

Comments to this blog are many. One struck my attention this morning. By JustSaying. I would title it America Lost: Trump…..”found the pulse of his base. The Wall, lock her up, the swamp all grade school level–school yard offerings by a con artist and, guess what, the world. It speaks more to the quality and maturity of Americans than it does Trump. America lost.”

Though I rarely agree wit him, I read the Canadian blogger Ian Welsh. Just as I watch FOX News on occasion. Always curious what the other side are saying.

Stephen Jay Gould was a well read scientist. Died 2002 at the age of 60. Welsh quoted this morning something Gould wrote: “I am, somehow, less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein’s brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops.”

Welsh added his comment at the end: “These days, McDonald’s, Walmarts and Amazon warehouses.”

Anti-Semetism continues to be on the rise. World wide. Joseph Goebbels was Hitler’s facilitator when it came to the Jews.

Goebbels was not pleased with how Jews were treated by the Italians. Lax, he thought: “The Italians are extremely lax in their treatment of Jews. They protect Italian Jews both in Tunis and occupied France and won’t permit their being drafted for work or compelled to wear the Star of David.”

The Italians might not have been the greatest warriors in World War II. However, their treatment of the Jews was humane and proper. I am proud my ancestry stood up for them.

I close with the middle class. A diminishing breed.

A recent study indicated 2/3’s of Americans consider themselves middle class. They are not. 

One half of American workers make less than $30,533 a year. A middle class lifestyle for a family of 4 cannot be sustained on that kind of money.

Enjoy your day!

The stock market in recent days up and down. Dramatically. So too Key West weather. Mid 70’s by day, low 60’s in the evening. A couple of nights as low as 60 degrees.

Then days and evenings in the 70’s. The weather “adjusting.”

Evenings in the 60’s cold! Outside and in bed!

The Turtle Hospital in Marathon continues to be savior to ailing turtles from everywhere.

Cold up north. Cape Cod waters freezing. Turtles can’t take it. Many washing up on shore. Stunned by the cold.

Thirty two sick Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles afflicted.

The turtles were flown to the Turtle Hospital. They will survive. Guaranteed. Best turtle care in the world!

Irma occurred September 10, 2017. Fifteen months ago. Recovery still ongoing. Much yet to be done.

The Matecumbe Sandy Cove Condominiums in Islamorada went down. Needs to be removed, not rebuilt. Finally ready to start now. Problem: Bureaucracy. Took this long to get the necessary permits.

Three Big Pine Parks took a beating. Directly in the path of Irma when it hit as a category 4. Money finally available to repair. $579,000.

There is much more yet to be done.

Money the problem. Primary failure falls on the shoulders of the federal government. Not remitting funds timely. I suspect broke because of all the natural disasters the federal government presently is funding.

Trying to move my ass. I have a dental appointment this morning. Per custom, because I am in a hurry everything going wrong. The platform people changed how I do things here completely. I am not adjusting well. Just lost 1.5 hours because I must have hit a wrong button. Thank God Sloan was at home!

Looking forward to tonight. Sons and Daughters of Italy Christmas Party. Always fun! At La Trattoria Beachside. 

Watched the meeting involving the President, Pelosi and Schumer in the Oval Office yesterday. Trump is losing it. Pelosi’s experience and ability evident.

Trump insists he will close the government down if he does not get the monies for the wall.

He further claims most of the wall already built. Can’t be so. Needed $25 billion. Only $1.3 billion appropriated in the past. How did he build it? 

Fact Check says wall not built. Trump was referring to fencing, not a wall, erected decades ago.

Trump keeps screwing around with countries all over the world. The Russians benefit. Venezuela an example.

Putin’s genius evident. Friendship with Trump, also.

Six months ago, Trump threatened to invade Venezuela. He was concerned for the poor there. Who was he trying to kid? Trump wants Venezuela’s oil reserves. The largest in the world.

Maduro responded strongly.

A couple of days later threatened to move from the petro-dollar-to petro-currency. Such would hurt the U.S. economy, weaken the U.S. dollar.

Russia and China are pushing the petro-currency.

Two days ago, Venezuela announced it was moving into petro-currency. 

Yesterday, 2 Russian bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons landed in Venezuela.

Trump and Pompeo upset. Putin assuredly smiling in the background.

Another job well done, Donald!

On December 10, a Climate Change Conference was held in Poland. The largest climate conference ever. Purpose to find ways to resolve global warming.

Trump’s handpicked man at the meeting representing the U.S. Wells Griffith. He spoke and said the U.S. supports fossil fuels. He was mocked with laughter by those present.

The U.S. is having its problems. Certain European counties dramatically worse. France on the verge of revolution. Germany replacing Merkle. Theresa May may not survive a confidence vote later this afternoon.

I am the product of a Catholic education. Grammar school, high school and college. My Church has disappointed me over the years. Especially with the pedophilia problem.

Nuns taught me in grammar and high school. Lovely women. Even at this age, I think fondly of them.

Appears the Church’s contamination has inculcated the nuns.

Not sexually. Thievery the problem.

Two nuns at the St. James Catholic School in Redono Beach, California, embezzled $500,000 in school funds. Took the money from tuition payments, school fees and donations.

The good ladies used the funds for trips and casino gambling.

Parents are shocked. The nuns over the years made the parents believe the school was operating on a shoestring budget.

Is everything screwed up?

Enjoy your day!

Key West is killing the goose that lays the golden egg.

Actions taken over the years motivated by greed have resulted in leaks in the dike. One piece of evidence is the difficulty restaurant and bar owners are experiencing in finding/keeping help.

Waiters, waitresses, bartenders, are the mainstay of a tourist environment. The lowest paid also. Forgotten as the rest of the community has pocketed bigger and bigger dollars over the years.

Those making the least are finding it harder to make ends meet. To survive. The cost of living in Paradise too high. Rents out of sight. Two to four persons sharing a small apartment for $3,000 a month. Food costs continually on the rise. Many without health insurance.

The solution for these people simple. They move away. To places cheaper to live. Especially when it comes to rent.

Which means the restaurants and bars are quietly competing for help. Not in the newspapers. Personal telephone calls encouraging people to come to work for them.

Some restaurants have begun limiting the number of reservations they take. They can only handle so many customers because of the lack of help.

Eventually, the restaurant and bar owners will suffer.  Their lifestyles and operating expenses are based on a certain level of business. As fewer customers are accepted, the dollar intake goes down. The employers feel the pinch.

Further evidence that things are tough are the number of empty stores on Duval.  Scary. Understandable. Commercial rents out of sight.

How wise are the money makers in Key West? Can they see beyond their noises? Nothing is forever. Things of value must be operated properly to remain successful. Failure a silent killer. It comes as swiftly as death in the night. 

Which brings me to another Key West problem. One that could be a gigantic problem if not handled properly.

Key West has a habit of buying a pig in a poke. Everything the City does ends up costing significantly more dollars. Tax dollars. Yours and mine.

One of the issues discussed at the December 4 meeting of the City Commission was the possible redevelopment of Mount Trashmore. The landfill remediated many years ago. Now a hill near the golf course. Beautiful. Grass covered.

The talk is to remove the hill in its entirety. Take it down and build on it. Construct affordable housing.

Sounds like a good idea to help the housing crisis.

Beware! All that glitters is not gold. 

If Trashmore is not handled properly, the additional cost to Key West will be in the millions of dollars.

The talk I understand is to take the hill down. Why? Not necessary. It can be built upon.

A whole world exists beneath the grass. Running hundreds of feet into the ground. All kinds of hazardous substances. Living together. Blending together over the years. More potent today than the time years ago when the landfill was remediated.

Solids and liquids. Screw around with them and they move. Find pathways through their environment to the outside world. All of a sudden, what had been a safe landfill is now leaching. Hazardous fluids moving out. The water table affected. Properties nearby polluted. 

The EPA and Florida environmental people will be on Key West’s ass immediately to fix. A fix so costly it will blow people’s minds.

The landfill is not dormant. It lives. Waiting to break out.

I understand the remediatd landfill does not have a liner. Agreed to and done by the City to save money back when. Touch the landfill and the first thing the government will require today is for a liner to be placed underneath. Big bucks!

Pseudo experts a dime a dozen. Extreme caution to be exercised in selecting those to guide Key West if the job is done.

Time a factor. Taking down the hill not a one or two year thing. Must be done to the satisfaction of governmental agencies embodied to protect the environment. Affordable housing will not come into being for a number of years. A 5-10 year job start to finish.

Read an article yesterday that reported the Keys to be the warmest place in the country at the present time. Even warmer than Hawaii.

I share this with you this morning when it is 67 degrees. The high today projected at 69. Fell to 60 during the night. I had the heat on and a quilt over me.

Larry Smith performs friday evening. Eight at the Studios of Key West. The Larry Smith Holiday Jazz Concert.

I have seen every one of Larry’s Christmas specials for 20 years. Each year better than the preceding one. Do yourself a favor and go! He and those ensembled will leave you feeling warm and Christmassy at the end of the evening.

I close with some Hemingway. His youth.

Hemingway and his sister Marcelline were one year apart. Hemingway older by one year.

Their mother Grace had this fixation on them being twins. She held Marcelline back one year so she and her brother could enter school in the first grade as twins.

Mother Hemingway had problems.

Hemingway used to sing songs of little rhymes. Enjoyed performing. Short performances where he recited passages of poetry (like Longfellow’s Hiawatha), told tales he made up.

He enjoyed nature. His father responsible for that part of his upbringing. Enjoyed fishing especially. In those days, fresh water. At 3, he was recognized as some sort of fishing expert. He had a natural talent. He knew when he had a bite.

Boxing already. Mother Grace had a music room. Hemingway would take his friends in the room and box with them. Generally box against them. No matter how many. One at a time, of course.

He played the cello. Unhappily. His mother forced it upon him. He disliked the instrument itself and the one hour a day of practice. He finally was able to give up the cello while in high school. 

Hemingway an avid reader. Books at home, books from the public library. He read Robinson Caruso, Ivanhoe, Dicken’s Christmas stories, the Red Badge of Courage. He read everything!

While in high school, discovered sex. Enjoyed a sexual relationship with a Prudence Boulton.

Hemingway was an excellent student. Except for Latin. He required tutoring.

Tonight, my podcast. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. A quick moving interesting half hour. I vent about everything and anything. Guaranteed you will enjoy. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!