One of the greatest and most successful military commanders of all time was Alexander the Great. Born in 356 B.C. He became King of the ancient Greek kingdom Macedon at 20 following his father’s assassination. Alexander died young at 32.

During those 12 years, conquered most of the known world. Such is why he is referred to as Alexander the Great.

His father King Philip II got his son the very best teacher. From 13 to near 20, he was tutored by Aristotle.

Alexander was never defeated in battle. Won 20 major battles. His soldiers were extremely loyal to him.

He founded 70 cities. Most were named Alexandria after him. The most notable Alexandria in Egypt, today Egypt’s second largest city.

Alexander had a fantastic horse. Bucephalus. He got him wild, broke him, trained him and rode him in all of his campaigns.

Alexander was extremely brave. Always at the front of his soldiers. The first into battle.

The cause of Alexander’s death a mystery to this day. He got a pain in his back and was dead 12 days later.

Even his burial place remains shrouded in mystery. No one knows where, not even close. Archaeologists still looking for his final resting place – anywhere from Egypt to Greece.

Names, names, names. Where do names come from, are they real or acquired, etc.?

Very few are aware of the name of Shakespeare’s wife. Anne Hathaway.

Born 1556 A.D., 426 years before her namesake the famous Hollywood star Anne Hathaway.

The movie star’s family name was Hathaway. Her father a labor attorney, her mother an actress. The movie star was actually named “Anne” after Shakespeare’s wife. At birth, not when she became an actress.

Some cartoon characters have middle names. Most, if not all, people are unaware.

Here goes! One you might not believe. For real, however.

Donald Duck’s middle name is Fauntleroy. Donald Fauntleroy Duck.

Wow!

The four most popular dog names in the U.S. are Bella, Luna, Charlie and Max.

Jimmy Buffett, the voice of Huckleberry Finn.

In November 2011, Buffett was the voice of Huckleberry Finn on Mark Twain’s Words & Music, a benefit for Mark Twain’s Boyhood Home and Museum. It was released on Mailboat Records.

In August 2013, Buffett released the album Songs From St. Somewhere. He recorded many of the songs at Eden Rock, St. Barth’s.

By 2020, Buffett also had a collection of songs he wrote that might be discarded as “lesser – known.” All recorded on various guitars. He released them in album form from songs no one knew by heart.

Buffett’s years were adding up. His health not the best. He performed his final full concert at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego on May 6, 2023. He made two final concert appearances, as an unannounced guest, at concerts by Coral Reefer Band members in Amagansett, New York on June 11 and Portsmouth, Rhode Island, on July 2.

The Portsmouth appearance was his final one before his death.

Equal Strain on All Parts was released posthumously in November 2023. Buffett got the idea for the album title from his grandfather’s description of a nap.

Buffett was posthumously selected for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024 in the musical excellence category.

This is not the end of Jimmy Buffett in my exploration of his life. Though gone, he will live on forever. His music will never die.

Tomorrow, I’ll touch on his musical style.

An historical fact. Old Faithful, the geyser, was used as a “laundromat.” In the later 1800’s, many travelers who made it to the land that would become Yellowstone didn’t need to carry further with dirty clothes. They just dropped them in Old Faithful’s bubbly pool. The clothes came out clean. Warm, too.

Key West’s Edward “Coto” Garcia  was selected to sing at the New York World’s Fair this day in 1939.

I recall my father taking me to the New York World’s Fair in 1940. The World’s Fair ran two seasons, 1939 and 1940.

I was 5 years old. I was impressed by all I saw! Overwhelming!

The sphere and ball. Think it was called the Trylon and Perisphere. All white.

I recall how tired I was. We walked all day. I recall flowers everywhere. Different colors. Jets of water shooting into the sky.

I cannot recall specifically any of the displays. I was too young. I do remember viewing the exhibits in awe, however. They all represented “tomorrow.”

On this day in 1999 after an $8 million restoration of the Key West Custom House, aka the Key West Museum of Art and History, the building was reopened. Lisa was a significant worker in the fund raising endeavor. Her first job in Key West was at the Custom House. I think her position was Development Director or something similar.

She also chaired a huge black tie banquet in the Custom House to celebrate the building’s reopening.

I attended with an overflow table of friends. I was proud of Lisa and the job she did that evening.

I was especially moved by the patriotic feeling that permeated the room. Key Westers expressing their American feelings. At one point and unplanned, a woman stood from her seat at her table and began singing The Star Spangle Banner. Everyone immediately stood and joined in. A chilling experience.

Another patriotic day forever to be recalled is this day in history in 1963. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech before 250,000 people in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

I close with Pepsi-Cola.

Pepsi-Cola weas invented by pharmacist Caleb Bradham of New Bern, North Carolina. He first called it “Brad’s Drink.” After 5 years and on this day in 1898, he changed the name to Pepsi-Cola.

Enjoy your day!

For most, you have to be my age to recall the early TV show Leave It To Beaver. A family sitcom, parents and two young sons.

Network TV censors were pretty tough back in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Rarely gave a show much slack.

Ward and June Cleaver were a “squeaky clean” family. Had nothing to do with naming their son “Beaver.” The censors had a problem involving Beaver, however.

In the very first episode of the show, Beaver wanted to order an alligator from the back page of a comic book. He failed. So he found a dirt bag to sell him a baby one.

By the third episode of the new show, 7 year old Beaver and his brother Wally swiped from their father’s liquor chest a bottle of booze which they fed the alligator. Beaver decided to try it also. The alligator and Beaver got drunk.

The episode involved a bathroom scene in which Beaver stored the alligator in the toilet.

Censors said no way! It was not the use of the toilet being by anyone. Even a sick Beaver. It was the “showing of the toilet” itself. Toilets were not permitted to be shown on TV in those days.

A compromise was arrived at. The scenes were allowed to show the back of the toilet tank. Only the back. Nothing more. The toilet bowl was the offensive item. It could not be shown at all. The alligator in the bowl or Beaver being sick had nothing to do with it.

How stupid! All Americans use a toilet or toilets every day, even back then. Nothing secret about a toilet bowl. However that is how it was in those days.

The world has been a crazy place at different times. England in the 18th century for example.

Most decks of cards reflected the Ace of Spades larger in size than the Aces of Hearts, Clubs or Diamonds.  The picture size.

There is a reason for it. An historical one.

In England the Ace of Spades picture was not only larger, it was elaborate.

The reason being the government printed the Ace of Spades. No other card. The specific reason was taxing. The British government taxed playing cards for 400 years, If you sold cards, you were required to buy the Ace of Spades from the government. That is how the government collected the tax. Faking/counterfeiting the Ace of Spades was against the law.

In 1805, the government pursued Richard Harding. He sold a lot of cards and made his own Ace of Spades to avoid paying the tax.

The government chased his ass. Could not find any phony Ace of Spades anywhere under is control, even remotely.

The government finally got him. They found thousands of forged Aces of Spades at a daughter’s house in a basket under her dirty underwear.

The English never found Jack the Ripper. He only killed people. They executed Harding however because playing cards was a serious business. Collecting taxes more serious than catching a murderer.

Trump plays loosely with right and wrong.

Have you heard this one?

There is a fund raiser scheduled for January 6 defendants. It will be held at Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, on September 5. Just 2 months before Election Day.

The rally poster is beautiful. Magnificent! Portrays Trump’s picture on top in a prominent position. Just below him and to the left is a photo of Rudy Giuliani. 

The rally is sponsored by the non-profit group Stand in the Gap Foundation. The rally is billed as a J6 Awards Gala.

Tickets cost up to $50,000 for a table of 12. The money is being raised to pay legal fees for those being prosecuted for their roles on January 6 when a mob stormed the Capitol to protest Trump’s loss in the 2020 election.

Trump is listed as an “invited guest.” Word is he will not be attending. Giuliani is also listed as an “invited guest.” No word whether he will appear.

Trump is facing multiple conspiracy charges involving January 6.

Trump has not shied away from embracing the event or its participants. He describes the “terrorists” as “hostages” and “political prisoners.” He has also opened some rally events with a recording of some of the January 6 defendants singing the National Anthem from their jail cells. On top of which, Trump has promised to pardon people charged in connection with January 6.

The Stand in the Gap Foundation is run by Sarah McAbee. She is the wife of Ronald Colton McAbee, a former Tennessee deputy sheriff, who is serving 5 years in prison for “a prolonged multi-assailant attack on police officials” at the Capitol.

Ms. McAbee found the Stand in the Gap Foundation with January 6 defendant, Shane Jenkins.

Jenkins is a Texan now serving 7 years in prison for shattering a window in the Capitol with a tomahawk and then pelting officers defending the building with a wooden desk drawer, a flagpole, a metal walking stick and a broken wooden pole.

In the days following January 6, prosecutors say Jenkins sent a message to an associate saying he was “not over this election.” He added, “I have murder in my heart and head.”

The first three topics today are unusually long. As a result I am skipping Jimmy Buffett today. I will pick his story up tomorrow.

Let me say I am very impressed with what I am learning as I research Buffett. He was an unusual person. Entitled to all the respect the world is giving him. He accomplished so much. All good, healthy and happy.

I have to hustle. Some tests this morning of the two blood clots in my left arm as a result of the heart surgeries several months ago. The trauma never ends. Can’t complain, however. I am absolutely convinced the three heart surgeries and 5 1/2 weeks in Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami saved my life.

Enjoy your day!

Coney Island’s Cyclone Roller Coaster has been shut down since Thursday for repairs.

The Cyclone is 97 years old. Opened in 1927.

In my “youth,” even before school age, I was taken on it many times. Probably from 4 years of age till 12, we would visit my Uncle Gus in New York City. There were several Sundays during those years when he took us to Coney island. I probably rode the Cyclone with my Uncle Gus a dozen times over the years.

I was scared out of my mind each time. Uncle Gus thought the ride was terrific!

Life expectancy in the U.S. is measured by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Today the average life expectancy for women is 81 years 2 months. For men, 76 years 5 months.

An article in the internet this morning suggested that if you want a rough estimate of how many years you have left, subtract your current age from those numbers.

I am 89 years old. I should have died 13 years ago. Appears I am living on borrowed time. May I continue to do so for many years.

A message for today’s Republicans: Please stop calling yourself Republicans, please stop calling yourself Christians. The appellations no longer fit.

Two Abraham Lincoln observation’s that are not well known.

Lincoln was a bartender at one point in his life. A for real one. Licensed. He owned a general store and drinking establishment called Berry and Lincoln in Near Salem, Illinois. The license was required in order to sell liquor.

Another rarely known Lincoln trait. He was a cat lover. Often seen playing with his cats Taby and Dixie in the White House.

His love of animals was well known. He permitted his sons to keep as many pets as they wished. Such resulted in a menagerie living in the White House with the Lincoln family. The group included in addition to the two cats, rabbits, turkeys, horses and two beloved goats called Nanny and Nanko.

Would you believe? With all this heat, California experienced an August snowfall in the Sierra Mountains. A dusting. At the mid to top of Mammoth Mountain, 11,503 feet high.

Buffett began slacking off a bit in 1999.

In 1999, Buffett decided to cut back on his work load a bit. He decided on a more relaxed concert schedule of around 20-30 performance dates per year. He began performing only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Typical of Buffett, most things he did he was able to turn into albums. His cut back in work resulted in his album Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

In 2003, he partnered in a duet with Alan Jackson for the song “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere.” The song spent a record eight weeks  on top of the Hot Country Song Charts and received the 2003 Country Music Association Award for Vocal Event of the Year. It was Buffett’s first award in his 30 year recording career.

His album License to Chill released in July 2004 sold 238,500 copies in its first week of release. Resulted in Buffett topping U.S. Popularity Albums List for the first time in his career.

May 2005 saw Buffett signing an agreement with Sirius Satellite Radio to broadcast Radio Margaritaville. Previously, it had only been broadcast online.

Buffett kept growing and succeeding. In 2010 he was named the tenth biggest recording artist of the decade, with 4.5 million ticket sales over the previous ten years.

He singled “Knee Deep” with the Zac Brown Band. The song was released on Brown’s 2010 album You Get What You Give. The single was certified platinum in September 2017.

Tomorrow, Jimmy Buffett voicing Huckleberry Finn.

I lost my upper plate and smashed my implants January 31 when I experienced my heart attack. Passed out face first on the concrete street.

I still do not have teeth. Been a long time. Affected my ability to eat. Very few things a toothless person can consume. A number of reasons involved. None money.

Today, the upper plate may be finished. A 2 o’clock appointment this afternoon. Took forever. Had to be complete before new bottom implants could be provided.

If I get the plate today, the implants will only take 3 weeks. So I have been told. I had the basic and initial implant work done back in 2008, so the procedure is considerably lees. The dentist told me 3 weeks. I hope so. 

I have lost 59 pounds. The weight has stabilized. Some days runs up to 62 pounds, but then goes back down. I cannot ever recall being this thin. I am all bones. The first thing people say to me who I have not seen in months…..You’ve lost weight! I have. Would like to keep most of it off. Want to go back to eating meat again, however and everything else I have not been able to consume.

Enjoy your day! 

Buffet beginning in 1998.

In April 1998, Buffett released an album of songs from a musical theatre production he co-created based on Herman Wouk’s novel Don’t Stop the Carnival. The album was certified gold.

Frank Sinatra died the following month. Buffett attended the funeral.

Buffett ran into “book banning.” In his case, “song banning.” His song “Math Suks” was released in May 1999. It was condemned by the U.S. Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the National Education Association for its alleged negative effect on children’s education.

What an insult! One of America’s great song writers has a tune banned by teachers. 

I never heard of “Math Suks” before researching for this article. I looked it up, read the lyrics. The nerve of the teachers and educators who insulted Buffett in this instance.

I disliked math and the sciences. All  were difficult for me. My brain was wired English and history. I assume Buffett’s was also.

Let me share a few passages of “Math Suks.” Right on as far as I am concerned. Typical Jimmy Buffett writing.

     “If necessity is the mother of invention / Then I’d like to kill the guy who invented this / The numbers come through in some kind of a           third dimension / A regular algebraic bliss.

     Let’s start with something simple, like one and one aren’t three / And two plus two will never get you five. / There are fractions in my    subtraction and x don’t equal why / But my homework is bound to multiply.

     Math suks math suks / I’d like to burn this textbook, I hate this stuff so much. / Math suks math suks / Sometimes I think I don’t know that much / But math suks…..

     Geometry, trigonometry and if that don’t tax your brain / There there are numbers too big to be named / Numerical precision is a science with a mission / And I think it’s gonna drive me insane……

     Math suks math suks…..”

What’s wrong with those words!

For shame Math teachers of America who supported this insult to Jimmy Buffett. I suspect at least half of all Americans found Math courses difficult and hated them. I never thought of the term “suks” at the time, but would have used it if I had.

Tomorrow 1999 and Buffett shifting to a more relaxed concert schedule.

A personal announcement.

I once painted. Yes, brush in one hand, pallet in the other. Gave in to what I thought was my artistic bent the first two years I practiced law. My clients were few and I filled my evenings painting. Even took formal lessons at the Munson Williams Proctor Institute in Utica at the time. Learned oils, graduated to acrylics. Oils took too long. Took a week to dry. Meant I had to wait a week to cover over my mistakes. Acrylics on the other hand dried instantly and hastened my completion of the work.

At the end of two years, my practice had grown. No big cases. A ton of small ones. However, I took good care of the cases and my clients and my client base grew. I was working day and night. No time for the artist in me to go any further. Doubt it would have gone anywhere. I was not good. Did enjoy, however.

So I became a collector.

I only wanted to purchase “good stuff.” Did not have the financial capacity yet to spend big dollars on art work. I devised a system for deciding what “cheaply price stuff” I would buy.

It was 1962. In those days, the Sunday edition of the New York Times on the back page of its Arts and Leisure Section ran a series of small ads. Two or three lines. Recommended works by new artists. Cheap to purchase. The hope existed the pieces would increase in value.

Most did.

I ended up with over 50 works of art in this fashion over the years. Note I have not bought a painting in 25 years. Reached a point where enough was enough. My homes in Utica and Key West, as well as my law office building in Utica, were full of art. The public areas and my private office resembled an art gallery. 

I loved it!

I have never sold a piece over the years. Have gifted a few pieces to friends. It is now time to dispose of the rest. About 35 beautiful works of art.

My plan is to sell them over the internet via eBay and local art sale sources. In addition, I shall occasionally show a piece here on the blog and offer it for sale. If nothing more, you will enjoy viewing them. Sometime this next week, the first will appear. 

Trump and Kennedy are both incompetent. It is illegal, a federal crime, to offer a job in return for political support. If a job was offered, Trump at the very least should be indicted. Kennedy also if his conduct falls under the federal statute. Trump as a former President should have known better.

It was reported last week that Kennedy also approached the Harris camp seeking a deal. Harris ignored his request.

Enjoy your Sunday!

For centuries the Maya and Aztecs were the only ones enjoying the fruit of the cacao tree. Consumed during those times as a chocolate drink. The candy bar not yet in vogue back then.

In the 16th century, Spanish explorer Herman Cortez visited the Aztecs. He met their leader Montezuma who introduced him to the chocolate drink.

Cortez returned to Spain with the recipe for making the drink and several bags of cacao beans.

The chocolate drink quickly became a favorite of aristocrats.

Its delight spread throughout Europe and North America.

In 1847, an Englishman named Joseph Fry figured out how to create a chocolate paste to press into a mold thereby creating the candy bar.

We owe it all to Joseph Fry!

The chocolate bar was the basis for the subsequent candy bar.

In 1875, Henry Nestle added milk to the chocolate mixture. It made the chocolate bar taste better.

The next major discovery occurred in 1893 at the Chicago World’s Fair. The Fair featured chocolate making machines. Caught Milton Hershey’s eyes.. He was already rich from making caramel. One year later, Hershey was mass producing  the American candy bar.

The candy bar generally grew. Like so: Clark Bar (1916), Oh Henry! (1920), Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (1922), Baby Ruth and Milky Way (1923), Mr. Goodbar (1925), Snickers (1930), 3 Musketeers (1932), Kit Kat (1933) and Nestle’s Crunch (1938).

Candy bar production became mechanically big time in the 1940’s. The market was flooded with candy bar creations. To the tune of 40,000. Would you believe?

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. betrays the Kennedy legacy. By endorsing Trump. No Kennedy since the dynasty began to this day would have done so, except for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Were it not for his birth name, RFK Jr. would never have amounted to anything but a crackpot on the fringe. He has sullied the Kennedy name and disrupted the aura of Camelot by spreading and conveying misinformation. The most dangerous ones when he undermines public confidence in vaccines.

I have been critical of RFK Jr. for many years. I have spread my feelings about him several times in this blog.

He touted himself as an environmental expert when at Pace University. I had a run in with him indirectly at the time. Some 40 years ago, I considered him an ass and still do.

His father he is not. I knew his father. RFK Jr. turned out to be different from his father and other Kennedys. 

He can’t even campaign for the Presidency in “a wise fashion.” He put his “name” up for sale. Whoever would give him a job if elected. He wanted to work in the White House.

No way!

It appears he has finally made a deal with the Devil himself where he selling his “soul” to the “country store.” He announced yesterday he was “suspending his candidacy,” removing his name from the ballot in several states, leaving it on in others. He was “supporting” Trump. No public announcement of a job yet with Trump if Trump wins. However, I am sure a discussion was had. Whether promised, I would not bet on. Even if promised, I would not rely on Trump’s word.

Several of Kennedy’s brothers and sisters have come out opposing his candidacy and whatever else he is doing. They know he is a bad guy in this situation.

His sister Kerry Kennedy said on friday: “I’m outraged and disgusted by Bobby’s gaudy and obscene embrace of Donald Trump. I think if he were alive today, my father would have detested almost everything about Donald Trump.”

Picking up with Jimmy Buffett in 1977.

In January 1977, Buffett released Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes. “Margaritaville” was part of the album. An all time hit!

Interestingly, Buffett claimed he  wrote most of the song in six minutes. Buffett said the song actually had negative portions re Key West. The negativity never grabbed the public’s attention. The public loved “Margaritaville” and Key West. The song actually increased Key West tourism.

In March 1978, Buffett released Son of a Son of a Sailor. It featured “Cheeseburger in Paradise” which reached number 32 on the Hot 100.

Margaritaville became so popular as a “name” that Chi-Chi’s stole the trademark to use as a drink special. In 1983, Buffett filed a lawsuit against Chi-Chi’s for so doing. Buffett won the lawsuit.

In October 1985, Buffett released the compilation album which included all of the “Big Eight” songs. It turned out to be Buffett’s best selling album. Sold over seven million copies by 2005.

In 1994, Buffett dueted with Frank Sinatra on a cover of “Mack the Knife” on Sinatra’s final studio album, Duet II.

Next, the album Banana Wind. Buffett wrote it in 1996 following his plane being shot at by Jamaican police who believed the plane was smuggling marijuana. With Buffett on the plane were his wife, Bono of U2, his wife and 2 children, and others.

The Jamaican government later apologized to Buffett realizing it had made a mistake. He was not carrying marijuana.

Tomorrow more of Buffett’s growth musically and otherwise.

I close with some Keys items.

Amazing how over the years, Key West’s big businesses have changed. For example, in 1894 one of Key West’s major industries was canning pineapples. The pineapples were grown in the Upper Keys and brought to Key West for processing.

On this day in 1894, the Wagner Canning Company of Key West closed its plant for the season after packing 50,000 cases of canned pineapples.

On this day in 1992, Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida. Destroyed the Upper Keys.

Homestead was wiped out.

I drove through Homestead 3 weeks after Andrew struck. Nothing was left standing. Zip! Absolutely nothing! It was as if an atomic bomb had been dropped on the community.

Andrew was a Category 5.

The Citizens’ Voice this day: “Why is the Catholic Church calling me and telling me how to vote?”

The Catholic Church should not be so doing. Separation of Church and State a lost commodity in recent years.

Enjoy your day!

The Democratic Convention left you feeling clean, the Republican one dirty. Can’t express it any simpler.

An outstanding Democratic Convention. Deeply rooted in family. All American.

As for Kamal Harris personally, she looked and sounded Presidential last night. She’s got it!

To show the difference between Harris and Trump, while Harris was speaking Trump was on social media. His three major blasts: “Where is Hunter Biden?…..Walz was an assistant coach, not a coach…..Crime is up all over the U.S.”

Harris spelled out clearly who she was: “I am you.” She was us. She then proceeded to destroy Trump. Followed by…..”We can do better!”

She left everyone charged up with…..”Let’s go out and win this one!”

Sharpton brought the Bible into play…..”There is joy in the morning!”

The battle now moves forward. In the trenches to be fought every day for the next 2 1/2 months.

Exceptionally well received last night were Elizabeth Warren and the Central Park Five. Long standing ovations. Warren cried at the reception given her. The Conventioneers cried for the Central Park Five.

A side observation re Trump. We all know he thinks he knows everything. The newest issue…..Who is a good Jew? He knows who is and who is not. Not for the Jewish community to decide, nor the Jewish religion hierarchy, not anyone but himself. What an ass!

Trump claims he is the best friend Israel ever had.

The man is sick! Demented! Continues to fabricate the truth!

Louis DeJoy is Postmaster General. He was appointed by Donald Trump. He is as good a Postmaster as Trump is in identifying who is a good Jew.

A strange position. Politically protected. A Postmaster General cannot be fired by a President. Only the Post Office’s Board of Governors can do it.

DeJoy has proven incompetent for the position. Democrats and Republicans alike want to see him removed. The Board for whatever reason continues protecting him.

DeJoy is a major screw up. Biden tried several times to remove him and failed. Hopefully, Kamala Harris will be more successful.

DeJoy recently announced a new postal plan that will go into effect after the election. It will intentionally slow down deliveries. DeJoy claims it is a money problem.

The man is a disaster!

When I began practicing law in 1960, it cost 4 cents to mail a letter. Today either 64 cents or 73 cents, depending on the process used. I quickly found out back then as my practice grew that stamps were costly and burdened my cash flow. Still does apparently. Fortunately, many businesses today use email and the internet to communicate. Cheaper in the long run.

The new coronavirus vaccines are now approved. The new vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna  are tailored for the  KP.2 variant. It is expected to be available within a week.

Buffett time! His musical career from 1973 forward.

It was 1973.  Buffett signed a recording contract with ABC/Dunhill Records. After Jim Croce died in a plane crash in September 1973, Dunhill promoted Buffett as his replacement.

Soon Buffett’s first release on ABC/Dunhill Records was A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean. The album featured the hit single “Grapefruit – Juicy Fruit” and “Why Why Don’t We Get Drunk,” as well as “I Have Found Me a Home” written about his experiences in Key West.

Buffett used the money he made from the album to buy his first boat.

In late 1973 and early 1974, Buffett recorded Living and Dying in 3/4 Time. It included “Come Monday” which he wrote for his girl friend soon to be his wife. “Come Monday” was Buffett’s first single to play on Billboard Hot 100.

Another late 1974 album was A1A which involved “A Pirate Looks at Forty” about a drug smuggler.

In1975, Buffett found the Coral Reef Band. He credits his future wife for cleaning up their looks, replacing their ripped Levi jeans and collarless shirts. The band was the opening act for the Eagles in August 1975.

We pick up more tunes by Buffett tomorrow, together with some additional successes. 

Enjoy your day!

It was an emotional night again at the Democratic National Convention. Two tear jerker episodes definitely! Each proper in every respect.

One involved Tim Walz’s 17 year old son Gus. As his father was speaking, the camera settled on Gus in the audience. He was crying and shouting “That’s my Dad!” The boy has some deficiency problems. His reaction understandable regardless. The camera showed him to the other conventioneers. Gus’ reaction brought tears to their eyes.

The other involved the parents of 23 year old Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Jon and Rachel. Hersh is one of the 8 remaining American hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. He has been in Hamas’s custody for 320 days so far. During his capture, he lost part of his left arm.

His parents want him back. Like yesterday. Their emotion a subdued one. Their pain obvious. At one point, Hersh’s mother doubled over in tears.

There was not a dry eye in the audience. Even I was crying as I watched. The crowd began chanting “Bring them home!”

What a Convention! Well planned. USA all the way. Hope and joy obvious. Patriotic. Very American.

Tons of great speakers. Including Bill Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Pete Buttigieg and Oprah Winfrey. And of course, Tim Walz.

Clinton was his usual self. An orator. A spellbinder. He was allotted 12 minutes in the program. Typical Bill Clinton, he took 27. America loved every minute of it!

Pelosi was short and subdued. She always has been as a speaker, however. Her brilliance was in running the House of Representatives, knowing how to get the votes, etc.

I was amazed at the reaction Pete Buttigieg received when he walked on the stage. Outstanding! Loud! They were saying…..We love you Pete!

He may very well some day be the first gay President of the United States.

Oprah Winfrey was Oprah Winfrey. Brilliant! Right on! The first time she has spoken at a political convention. 

I would like to say I enjoyed Tim Walz immensely. Cannot. I fell asleep again. Never heard a word he spoke. Any reference I would make would be from news reports read this morning. That is where I learned of his son Gus’ reaction.

Can’t help it folks. I am generally in bed about 9 and fall asleep soon after hitting the pillow. Eleven o’clock or later is too late for me. I tried to stay awake. Did not work. I hope Harris speaks earlier tonight.

Moving on to Key West.

The State Attorney has subpoenaed Key West City texts, emails and phone records of the entire City Commission, City Attorney and the City’s Chief Building official in regards to the firing of City Manager Al Childress in June.

Good! About time! It has been approximately two months since his discharge. I described the discharge in my 6/27/24 blog as a typical “Key West situation.” Let’s get to the bottom of it!

From the Citizens’ Voice yesterday: “Before you cite George Washington your ultimate moral authority, remember he was the largest slave owner among the first five Presidents with 317 in 1799.”

As a young man, Washington accepted slavery. However after the Revolutionary War, he began to question it. He avoided discussing slavery however fearful the bitter debate over the issue would tear the fragile nation apart.

Washington made his first anti-slavery statement upon his death. He ordered in his Will that his enslaved workers be freed at his wife’s death.

A postcard arrived a bit late.

In Wales. The post mark on the card is 8/3/1903. It arrived 121 years late. The person who sent it obviously dead. The house address no longer a home. Today, a bank.

No one knows why late.

The Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris. It was recovered two years later on this day in 1911.

It was stolen by an Italian Louvre employee Vincenzo Peruggia. He wanted to return the painting to Italy for viewing. Napoleon had stolen it from Italy years earlier when he plundered many Italian works.

There is no Buffett portion to today’s blog. My apologies. There is only so much time in a day between the Convention last night and some other matters that took my time during the day. There was no time to research and do a Jimmy Buffett portion.

Today a haircut. It has been five weeks. I have more hair than usual. Normally go bald. Lori will take care of it at noon.

Enjoy your day!

This year’s choice politically is simple. The difference between good and evil. The Democrats the good, the Republicans evil. 

Trump is rot. Everything he touches. We do not want him to finish the job he has begun on our country and us.

Who the Democratic Party is this year was clear by those who spoke for Kamala Harris last night and the Democratic Party. Doug Emhoff, Bernie Sanders, Michelle Obama and Barack Obama. They know and recognize the evil that Trump is. They spoke clearly of it and its danger. They spoke equally clearly about the goodness Harris returns to national politics.

A clearly sink or swim situation.

The Democratic National Convention on its first night drew 20 million viewers. Numbers are important to Trump. Ok, Donald. Twenty million surpassed the 18.3 million the Republican National Convention attracted its first evening.

Another significant number favoring the Democrats. Donald, you’re big on numbers. The Dems beat you again on this one.

Harris and the Democratic National Committee raised three times as much money in July as Trump.

Ho, ho!

Most of the money came in after Biden withdrew and it was clear Harris was going to be the candidate.

A bit of Buffet at the moment. 

Buffett’s music career begins…..He discovers Key West.

After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1969, Buffett moved to New Orleans. There he often did street performances for tourists on Decatur Street and played for drunken crowds in the former Bayou Rum night club on Bourbon Street.

He was searching. In 1970, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee to further his country music career. He did not get many music jobs. Ended up working as an editorial assistant for Billboard. Next he signed a two album record contract with Barnaby Records. His first album Down to Earth sold 324 copies. In 1971, he recorded his second album, High Cumberland Jamboree. Barnaby claimed the label was lost before it was released. Found however in 1976 when Buffett became popular.

In 1971, Buffett worked a Nashville night club as an opening act. At the time, his first marriage was falling apart and he was heading for a divorce.

Buffett needed a change of scenery. His friend fellow country singer Roger Jeffrey Walker offered him a place to stay at his home in Coconut Grove.

That same year, the two went on a busking expedition to Key West. Busking another phrase for street performance.

Turned out to be a wise move for Buffett.

He liked Key West so much he moved there in the spring of 1972. He got involved in the literary scene. Met writer Thomas McGuire, who married one of Buffett’s sisters. He also began running with Jim Harrison, Tom Cochoran and Truman Capote.

It was a time when sex and drugs were plentiful in Key West.

Buffett was hired by David Wolkowsky to play for drinks at the Chart Room Bar in the Pier House Motel. It was there that Buffett met his second wife, Jane.

From a connection he made in the Chart Room, he was hired as first mate on a yacht owned by Foster Talge, heir to The Rival Company. It became Buffett’s day job.

Tomorrow brings us to 1973 and more of Buffett’s musical growth.

The first electric light switches were installed in the White House in 1891 when Benjamin Harrison was President. The President was so afraid of getting electrocuted, he ordered his staff to turn the lights on and off for him.

Key West had its problems over the years in accepting Blacks. I have written often of Key West’s experiences with Blacks in the 1920’s when the Ku Klux Klan was a dominant force in the community.

There was another time. The year 1906. 

On this day in 1906, conductors and motormen of the Key West Streetcar were on strike after a white motorman named Pinder was fired for refusing to carry a group of African American patrons. The striking men wanted Pinder reinstated, that Blacks not be allowed as customers, and wages be increased as well as overtime pay.

St. Mary’s of the Sea Catholic Church on Truman Ave. is a a well attended religious facility. Always has been. Gays and straights welcome all the time.

St. Mary’s was dedicated this day in 1904.

Enjoy your day!

The Democratic Convention last night was a winner. Suggestive of the beginning of a new era. One of joy and happiness. Contrary to Trump and the Republican Party’s spewing of hatred and negativity.

One shortcoming re last night from my perspective. The time was not well organized. Ran too long. I was asleep before Biden came on. Missed what everyone this morning says was a great speech.

What I did see was a clear sign that Trump is being pushed to the edge of the cliff. 

Two significant presentations were by Ocasio-Cortez and Shawn Fain.

Ocasio-Cortez hit Trump and Republicans hard. A well done accurate attack. She has graduated from a loud mouth Congressperson last night to a statesman. Her speech rousing.

Shawn Fain is President of the UAW. He wore a tee shirt boldly lettered: Trump’s a Scab. At some point the crowd picked up on the writing as a chant and it is one that will remain during the campaign as Jail Her for Hillary did for Trump.

Jesse Jackson was a Black leader of yesteryear. One of the first openly politically unafraid Black Democratic leaders.

I have not seen nor heard about him in years. He appeared at the Convention last night. In a wheel chair. Did not speak. Happy to be there. The crowd gave him a standing rousing cheer. Well deserved! He fought political battles for his people when it was hard to do so as a Black.

A comment to yesterday’s blog. Hit me right between the eyes. It’s author may be correct: “I’m beginning to think that Trump is the ‘False Prophet’ the Bible warns us about.”

Phil Donahue died yesterday at the age of 88. He was one of the early great talk show hosts. His show ran 28 years from 1968 to 1996. Our lives sort of ran parallel time wise.

He was married to the charming Marlo Thomas, daughter of Danny Thomas. Supporters and promoters of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Some things are just down right disgusting. One involves problems women have had over the years with contraception. The Colonial era a perfect example. One of the most popular forms of contraception was the use of crocodile excrement. Ugh!

It was rolled into a ball and then inserted into the woman before any physical act took place. 

Caused all kinds of problems, medical and otherwise. Plus, did not always prevent pregnancy.

Jimmy Buffett time.

Jimmy Buffett’s early life.

Buffett was born December 25, 1946 in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Spent portions of his childhood in Mobile and Fairhope, Alabama. His parents Mary Lorraine and James Delaney Buffett Jr. died at different times in 2003. His father worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He had two younger sisters, Laurie and Lucie.

In his childhood, Buffett was exposed to sailing by his grandfather James Delaney Buffett and his father James Delaney Buffett Jr.

Buffett was educated by Jesuits (tough teachers!) as a Catholic. He served as an altar boy.

He decided in 1961 he wanted to be a musician after viewing a folk music ensemble. His first performance was a month later at a hootenanny, where he played a Stella guitar.

In the 1950’s at the age of 8 while attending St. Ignatius School, he played the trombone.

He graduated from McGill Institute in 1964.

Buffett enrolled at Auburn University. While there, he was taught how to play guitar by a Sigma Pi fraternity brother to “garner attention from girls.”

He flunked out of Auburn after one year. It was the playboy in him that caused his failure. It was 1966 and Buffett was “unable to balance his newfound interests in music and girls with his college classes.”

The same year he played “acid rock” in a band called Upstairs Alliance that was trying to sound like Jefferson Airplane.

Buffett continued college at Pearl River Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in history in 1969.

While in college, Buffett had to work to subsist. He worked in a ship yard as an electrician and welder.

The Vietnam War was ongoing at the time. He avoided serving due to a college deferment and a failed physical exam.

Tomorrow, the beginnings of Buffett’s music career.

Enjoy your day!

The first anniversary of Jimmy Buffett’s death is close at hand. Key West is preparing a major celebration in honor of the man.

I have decided to share a few words each day about Buffett. A history of the major American musical figure. A son of Key West. 

I begin today.

A general introduction to Buffett.

He was born on Christmas Day December 25, 1946. Perhaps God selected that day knowing the pleasure and joy Buffett would provide. He was God’s gift to us on His Son’s birthday.

Buffett died last September 1.

He was an American singer-songwriter. Known for creating tropical rock sound and persona. Often described as “island escapism.” An approach that promoted enjoying life and following passions.

Buffett recorded many songs. Great ones! Easy to recall and sing. Like Margaritaville, Come Monday, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Don’t We Get Drunk, and It’s Five O’clock Somewhere.

He found the Coral Reef Band in 1975.

Buffett recorded 30 albums. Eight gold and nine platinum. He sold over 20 million records worldwide. Received two Grammy nominations. He will be posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame shortly.

He parlayed his songs, “island escapism,” and lifestyle into several business ventures, including the Margaritaville Restaurant chain, now defunct Cheeseburger in Paradise chain, hotels and other ventures.

His net worth was $1 billion. Extremely commendable. From rags to riches. From playing at the Chart Room for drinks to being a presence everywhere in the world.

Buffett’s fans number in the millions. Many known as Parrot Heads.

Tomorrow, more re Buffett’s life.

Trump has recently been claiming his and/or Vance’s campaign is being hacked. For the first time, I question the veracity of his statement.

Yesterday’s news advised Trump had failed to report the alleged “hacking” of its email system to law enforcement authorities till recently.

Taking into account Trump’s general lack of veracity, it dawns on me…..Is the man speaking truth? The FBI is now investigating the matter. Perhaps the FBI will be able to tell us truth or lie.

Hacking by foreign nations does occur and has occurred in previous elections. I’m curious if Trump’s is a valid accusation in this instance. Especially since the hacking at issue was purportedly of campaign vetting papers of the increasingly non-consequential JD Vance.

The Democratic Convention begins today in Chicago. Should be good. Harris/Walz are on an upward climb. I would anticipate their coming out of the Convention a few additional points above the Trump/Vance ticket.

The “birth” of the diamond engagement ring tradition began this day in 1477. It was the first full day of Mary of Burgundy and Archduke Maximillian of Austria’s marriage. Maximillian was thrilled with his new bride! He gave her a diamond ring.

Diamond rings were not worn by ladies up to that time. It was a male thing. Shuffling the days around a bit,  it was the beginning of the tradition of the diamond engagement ring.

Insanity prevailed in early America. The Salem Witch Trials. On this day in 1692, five more people were hanged for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. Nineteen total when all was said and done in that mentally deranged period.

Yellow fever was the epidemic of the times. Lasted more than 100 years in the U.S. 

On this day in 1793, Philadelphia was the capital of the U.S. Suffered fatally from yellow fever. The epidemic lasted some 3 months till November killing around 5,000 people.

As a young boy, I recall Blue Laws. Blue Laws prohibited businesses from operating on Sundays. The day was truly the Lord’s Day.

An example of the operation of Blue Laws was a Sunday benefit baseball game at New York City’s Polo Grounds. It resulted in John McGraw and Christy Mathewson’s arrest.

Today, Blue Laws no longer exist. Sunday is “open house” for businesses.

Bill Veeck was the owner of the St. Louis Browns professional baseball team in 1951. A promoter as well. Win games and bring the fans in!

He made Eddie Gaedel a member of the team. Eddie was a midget, only 3 feet 7 inches tall. In a particular game where he needed a man on first, Veeck sent Eddie in to pitch hit. He walked on four pitches.

Everyone then understood why Veeck had Eddie on the team.

On this day in 1993, the DOW hit a record high of 3,612. Today, it is over 40,000 on a fairly consistent basis. Closed Friday at 40,500.

Amazing!

On this day in 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the female Viagra pill Addyi. I wondered if it was still around. Have not heard of it in years whereas the male Viagra pill is constantly within one’s attention.

Addyi is still available. By prescription. Does not work as Viagra does. Viagra pushes blood into the man’s penis to gain erectability. Addyi works on a woman’s mind rather than anything vaginal. The pill is for women with a decreased libido. Addyi increases a woman’s desire.

I close with an interesting fact about a Key West physician, Dr. Enrique Rodriguez. In 1954, he was 87 years old. In an interview, he advised he had practiced medicine in Key West for 55 years and estimated he had delivered almost 10,000 babies during that time. He further advised for a number of years he was the only obstetrician on the island.

He had bag and would travel any time of the day or night! The baby decided the appointment time. 

Enjoy your day!