How much stranger can the weather get? A pertinent question. Right on.

It has been predicted that dust from the Sahara Dessert will reach South Florida and Mexico between thursday and sunday this week. The huge mass of dust will cross the Atlantic before hitting us.

A shark visited Smathers Beach. Bit a man friday. Forty six year old Claude Michael Bazo received two bites to his arm while in 3 feet of water.

He refused to be flown to Miami for attention. Instead was transferred to the Lower Keys Medical Center. As of yesterday, no information was available as to his condition. 

Bazo was irritated by the police attention rendered. Used cuss words in refusing to be transported to Miami. He told police: “I have been dead before, I am a Jesus Christ.”

I wonder if the shark survived the bite.

There is a “subtle fear” on the part of the three liberal Supreme Court Justices that the conservative majority is going to begin chipping away at same sex marriage.

Time will tell.

Another suspected change to what has been involves motor vehicle operation. Banning left turns on busy American streets. It is believed such would increase traffic speed and eliminate a large number of left turn accidents on busy urban streets.

Railbiking. A new sport/exercise. Human powered.

The activity is catching on across the nation. Two components involved. Abandoned railroad tracks and a comfortable far out vehicle to bike.

Abandoned railroad tracks are self-explanatory. The “vehicle” is that which we have seen in many Old West movies. A flatbed with a manually operated crane. The new vehicles are more comfortable to operate. Four may sit. Most are foot operated.

The thrill of it all is being out in the sun and fresh air, sitting back, pedaling, and enjoying a different kind of ride. 

Began early morning yesterday with a session at Select Physical Therapy. Ashley working me.

Each session is more strenuous. I leave tired. However, I am told such is good. We are building up my heart.

Then a smoothie for breakfast. Followed by a walk around Winn-Dixie to buy a few items. Spent the rest of monday laying around.

I have no idea what today holds.

Enjoy your day!

What it took to feed Key Westers in 1886: Fifteen turtles and eleven cattle were butchered each day.

Businesses have changed in Key West over time. Cigar making was a big business in 1923. The cigars were sold in wood boxes. When completed, the boxes were referred to as “cigar boxes.”

On this day in 1923, the 700 ton four-masted schooner Marie J. Thompson arrived in Key West from Cuba with 50,000 feet of cedar logs for delivery to a Key West cigar box factory. The wood to be made into cigar boxes.

Key West resident Col. Floyd J. “Jim” Thompson was held captive by the Viet Cong for 3,278 days. The time involved represented the longest P.O.W. detainment in American history.

I ask again. What happened to the Sunshine Law in Key West? Does it apply to the “firing attempt” by 2-3 Commissioners of City Manager Albert Childress?

If the Commission members acted “in secret,” should the Commissioners be charged under the Sunshine Law?

No one talks about whether the Sunshine Law is applicable. The silence is stunning!

Moving on.

Scottie Scheffler won the Travelers Golf Championship yesterday. Beat Tom Kim in a one hole playoff.

The victory was Scheffler’s sixth win of the season. Phenomenal! The last time a professional golfer accomplished such a feat this early in the season was Arnold Palmer in 1962.

In 2012, French beekeepers in a certain area ran into a odd mystery. Besides yellow, honey portions of bee hives contained honey colored blue and green.

Strange.

Why?

Beekeepers finally discovered M&M candy containers were to blame. Bees were visiting a local M&M candy plant. The bees were sucking up the residue from containers in the M&M plant.

Is Donald Trump in cognitive decline? Renowned psychotherapist Dr. John Gartner believes Trump is a mental case. 

Gartner believes Trump’s threat to American democracy and national security is explicit and pressing. He views Trump as a Russian operative, a lifelong criminal, and a danger to the free world.

The French people are upset with the cost of cleaning up the River Seine for the Paris Olympics in July. After spending in excess of $1 billion to clean up the Seine, the river still shows the water too dirty to swim in. The Olympic triathlon and open water swimming events are scheduled to take place in the river. Two kinds of fecal bacteria, including e-coli, do not meet Olympic standards.

The French government has 5 weeks to complete a cleanup. Will it succeed? If not, where will the water sport competitions be held?

Have to hustle. An 8 o’clock physiotherapy appointment.

Enjoy your day!

Donald Trump accepts every popular position, new or old, as his own. As long as the position appears to be a vote getter among a certain group.

This week Trump endorsed the new Louisiana Ten Commandments Law. The law that requires the Ten Commandments to be hung in every public class room in Louisiana. He went even a step further. He claimed he would love the idea in private schools and other places also.

Trump also called for a “religious revival.”

The Devil himself speaking. Amazing! If he is elected, it will not be “God is in His Heaven, all is right with the world.” It will be the “Devil is in the White House, all is wrong with America!”

Trump’s rally speech last night promised immunity to police across the country and to build a “great Iron Dome” over the country. The Iron Dome would be a missile defense system, which would “create jobs.”

Trump also said he would cure the soap scarcity and insure there would be more bacon available for sale. I was unaware their was a problem buying soap. Trump said many places that sell bars of soap are keeping the product in glass receptacles under lock and key. I was unaware there was a bacon scarcity. I was aware bacon was more expensive, however.

Have police immunity and the Iron Dome replaced 2020’s  “I’m going to build a wall?”

In the same speech, Trump said he does not need votes. He already has them. He needs to be sure however that no one steals them.

This year’s Presidential campaign seems more desperate for Trump than his previous ones. He is shooting at everyone and everything and supporting every new issue that pops up. 

It’s Trump time for me this morning. I would be remiss if I failed to note Trump’s continuing to lie. Especially in his efforts to raise campaign funds. His latest fundraising email falsely suggested he could be executed. The email: “1 MONTH UNTIL ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE! THEY WANT TO SENTENCE ME TO DEATH.”

The reference re a death sentence is to his sentencing July 11 on his conviction of 34 charges of business fraud re hush money paid to Stormy Daniels.

A week ago, he emailed “GUILLOTINE.” 

Trump lies. The problem is a significant number of people believe him.

This type play has to stop! It has now been revealed that Caitlin Clark’s early leaving the June 2 game with New York Liberty because of an “ear slam” was more than a slight ear ache. Her ear drum had been ruptured. Following which there was intense pain and an inability to hear “screens.”

Clark says, “It’s still a little hard to hear, but I’m all good.”

The lady is a class act.

Jimmy Carter is amazing! Ninety nine years old. God willing, one hundred days from now he will be 100.

He has been in hospice for 16 months. Half the people in hospice die within 17 days.

October 1 is the day the former President will be 100!

Rained off and on all day yesterday. Poured all night. Pouring continuously this morning. 

Sexually transmitted infections are skyrocketing among the elderly. They fail to protect themselves. Great they are enjoying sex. Time to educate them however as the young have been educated. Practice safe sex!

How bad is bad among the elderly? Really bad!

Among those 65 and older, chlamydia has tripled, gonorrhea multiplied sixfold, and syphilis increased nearly tenfold.

Something is rotten about the Supreme Court Justices taking so long in Trump’s immunity case. Decision will probably come down this week. In a case the Supreme Court did not have to take. The answer appeared simple. The law clear. Accept the decision below. End of the case.

However the Court has been screwing around with it. Took forever to hear. Now forever to render a decision. 

Even if Trump loses, he has benefitted from the delay. It has made it impossible to timely try one of the federal cases pending against him.

Keep one thing in mind as you consider who your vote for President will go to. Biden is running for Presidnet, Trump for Dictator. The difference is important. It determines how you will live the following four years.

Still pouring.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Florida’s Government – in – the – Sunshine Law provides a right of access to governmental proceedings at both state and local levels. It applies to any gathering of 2 or more members of the same board or commission to discuss some matter which will in course come before that board or commission for action. In short, no discussion in private. Must be open. The public has a right to know at every step.

Violation can result in  fines or criminal charges.

Two or three Key West Commission members  have decided to fire City Manager Albert Childress. Certain or all of the three are scheduled for retirement at the end of the month. One or more called a meeting June 26 to fire Childress. 

Has the Sunshine Law been violated here? 

No one seems to be talking talking about it.

A Keys History comment in this morning’s Citizen. Concerns the make up of Key West people in 1893: “A very large number of the Key West people have no religion at all and are as vile and wicked as the devil wants them to be, there are others who have so much religion it is absolutely making them miserable.”

Thelma Strabel a famous authoress. In 1940, her work Reap the Wild Wind was run in the Saturday Evening Post.  Made into a major movie in 1942 starring John Wayne, Ray Milland, Raymond Massey, Paulette Goddard and Susan Hayward.

Strabel built a house in Key West at what is today in the area of the Southernmost Point. At 400 South Street. At the time, it was the southernmost house in Key West. Later torn down and replaced by a larger house.

On wealthy Martha’s Vineyard, costly housing is forcing  workers out and threatening public safety. Costly housing has caused a similar experience in Key West in recent years. Many Key West restaurants have had to limit seating because of a lack of help. Help who left because Key West housing had become too expensive.

Popular actor Donald Sutherland died yesterday at the age of 88. He starred in many films including Klute, Mash, The Dirty Dozen, and Ordinary People.

Dwight Eisenhower was the “Boss” of D-Day. Planning and execution. Numero Uno as the saying goes. He was the Supreme Commander.

A major thorn in his side was British General Bernard Montgomery. An arrogant man. Disappointed he was passed over for Eisenhower’s job. He was designated #2 in effect by being made Chief of Allied Ground Forces for the invasion. His experience qualified him for the position.

Montgomery’s problem was he considered himself “Jesus Christ reincarnated.” No one more better than he.

This made the Eisenhower/Montgomery relationship tense. So much so that in a 1944 incident Eisenhower had to remind Montgomery that he, Eisenhower, was his boss and Montgomery was not speak disrespectfully to him.

I am confused. First, Caitlin Clark was omitted from the Olympic team for some reason. However, it was reported at the time she was the first substitute if an opening occurred.

So much for the substitution report when she was passed over.

The unexpected has occurred. There is an opening due to the unfortunate injury to Cameron Brink. 

Rumor is Caitlin Clark is ineligible to play. The USA Ladies Basketball Team has specific requirements for eligibility. Complex rules. Clark has not participated in “certain competitions.” Too confusing for even me to understand.

There has been no announcement yet that she does not qualify. My sense is that it is crazy.

I hope I am wrong and she will swiftly be placed on the team.

The joke of it all is that Clark has caused professional ladies basketball to be reborn. Her presence has boosted the game. At one game this week, the best seats were going for $9,000.

Another example of what her participation has made possible is the Indiana/Atlanta game last night. Which, by the way, Indiana won 91-79. Indiana’s fourth consecutive victory.

The game was scheduled to be played at the Gateway City Arena which holds 3,500. It was moved instead to the State Farm Arena which has a 16,888 capacity. It superseded that number admitting 17,575 to watch the game.

Caitlin keeps drawing crowds. The best thing that has happened to ladies pro basketball!

The first Presidential Debate between Biden and Trump takes place next thursday June 27. Conducted by CNN, it will begin at 9 pm.

Alberto dissipated over Mexico. “Petering” out. Heavy rain remains. Texas saved. Will only experience more rain, though not tropical storm strength.

There is a lesson to be learned here. Did we overreact to Alberto? We have to be cautious. However should not exaggerate, expect the worst, unless we are certain it will be that bad. People panic, some leave. Safety important. However I have experienced enough to know that overreaction leads to people eventually not paying attention. Then when they should get out, they fail to do so.

The Tortugas were named by Ponce de Leon. A name learned by me in grammar school. He named the islands at the western end of the Florida Keys “Los Tortugas.”

My yesterday began at 9 in the morning at Select Physiotherapy. Steven worked me for an hour. An excellent therapist. 

He leaves tomorrow for 10 days in Italy. Rome, Florence, etc. Lucky guy! A great trip. We spent my hour discussing the trip. Made it easier for me to work out, though I was more tired at the end. He worked me hard.

Then it was off to Date & Thyme for my Monkey Smoothie fix. My breakfast.

Decided to do a little more shopping at Winn-Dixie. I am now convinced it is overall cheaper than Publix. I spent $44 for what would have cost me close to $60 at Publix.

Two examples. Two 16 ounce bottle 6 packs of Diet Pepsi on sale. $8 and change at Publix. A mere $6 at Winn-Dixie. Packages of Sunkist Tuna $ .70 each. Well over $1 at Publix.

As I sat in my car ready to leave Winn-Dixie, a pretty lass came up to talk to me. If I recall correctly, her name was Cynthia. If not, I apologize. I enjoyed her company for about 15 minutes. 

Cynthia has to be 19-20 years old. Just finished her first ear at the University of Florida in Gainesville. She got a 3.8. Means all As and 1 B. 

Again, an absolute beauty. 

She was attracted not to me, but to my car. For some reason, women love the color of my Beetle convertible. It is blue and white. The car attracted her, not me. I complain not, however. I enjoyed, we enjoyed, our time together. Chatted about a lot of things.

Hope I run into her again. Meeting her alone reason enough to continue shopping at Winn-Dixie. 

Enjoy your day!

The split in the United States is not just politics/civil issues. Evangelicals are screwing things up. Presently big time Trump supporters.

Louisiana came up with a law that shows how religion is part of the splitting force. Louisiana adopted a law wednesday that requires all public classrooms to display the Ten Commandments.

Louisiana is the only state with such a mandate.

What happened to separation of Church and State?

Florida’s Senator Rubio is a pretty face. Nothing more. I have never been impressed with how he has conducted himself in any fashion. Presidential timber he is not.  Nevertheless, Trump is seriously considering him as his Vice President running mate.

Putin made a smart move with Kim Jung Un. If Russia is attacked, North Korea is technically committed to step in and defend Russia. The defense is “immediate.”

Again, a smart move on Putin’s part. He sold his soul (which he has sold in various fashions before) to the company store. In this instance, North Korea.

Will Kim Jung Un stand by the commitment he made? His name on a piece of paper is one thing. Actual activation of the agreement another. I am sure Kim Jung Un is happy being number one in North Korea and everything going his way all the time. Would not be the same if bombs started falling on North Korea and its people. Especially nuclear ones assuming Kim Jung Un drops one on the United States or its Allies.

Texans were “political whores” more than a 150 years ago and still are today. Their today political thrusts prove the “today point.”

It has been historically established that “Juneteenth” in 1865 did NOT as a practical matter end slavery in Texas. Enslavers were a cool group of businessmen. They would lose a ton of money if “their Blacks” were free. So they resisted the emancipation order and hid the news from enslaved Black people. They were never told they were free. They were kept working at forced labor for 50 plus years.

Black people were making inquiries in the early 1900’s as to whether slavery had ended.

DeSantis “gratuitous” to Florida residents. He is adding an extra day to harvest spiny lobster before mini-season. Sunday July 14. Only for Florida residents.

It would have been better had he done something to improve the financial position of Florida residents.

 A few extra lobsters in the freezer is not going to help the grocery bill.

Muhammed Ali refused to be drafted. As a result, he was sentenced to 5 years in prison. His conviction was later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Looks like Caitlin Clark will get to play in the Olympics. I am sure she is sorry how it came about.

The WBNA #2 pick this year was Cameron Brink. She was named to the Olympic team. She tore her ACL in her left knee in a game tuesday night. She’s done for the season.

Cameron and Caitlin are close friends. Have been so since their early years. None of the crap being heaped on Caitlin has come from Cameron. 

It hurts when a sports figure is set down forever or for a while due to an injury. It’s a sad role of the dice. Happens often however. A danger of participating in sports.

Alberto is the first tropical storm of the season. Already touching Mexico, Alberto is expected to hit Texas.

Key West is presently considered not to be at risk.

Part of my physiotherapy is to walk. Walk when I am not formally working out.

I have been walking Publix and Home Depot. Needed a change of scenery. Tried Winn-Dixie earlier this week. Just walk, not shop.

I was surprised that many items are priced cheaper than at Publix where I have shopped for a number of years. Some items decidedly so. Campbell’s Soup one example. Thirty cents cheaper a can!

To be fair, some items are more expensive. The number of cheaper far outweigh the more expensive, however.

I returned to Winn-Dixie yesterday to shop for the first time in 30 years. Did not buy much. The cheaper items mostly.

When I was checking out. the check out lady asked for my card. What card? Turns out Winn-Dixie has some sort of discount program. There was a long line behind me. I said forget about signing me up today. I will do it the next time I come.

She was appreciative. Pulled her own card out of her pocket and swiped it, thereby providing me with the discount.

It amounted to 7 percent. A good deal!

Needless to say, I was impressed with Winn-Dixie. Will get a card and continue shopping there. I will not be deserting Publix. They still have items they offer that are cheaper.

Enjoy your day!

For the first time in the 30 years I have been in Key West, I welcome the rain. I was always hungry for the sun. However after the heat spell we suffered, the rain is welcomed big time.

It is pouring at the moment as I write this blog. It is 6:30 am. Wonderful! Hope it continues all day.

I had a session yesterday at Select Physiotherapy. Tiffany worked me. Brutal. Left me tired. Good, however.

A discussion arose among some of the other therapists and people such as me who were being treated. We were in total unison that the rain was welcome!

Bess Levin has a terrific article regarding North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson in Vanity Fair. From my perspective, Robinson is another “flipped out” candidate this year. He wants to “go back to the America where women couldn’t vote.”

Among other things, Robinson says a number of additional bad things about women, feminism, the Holocaust, Muslims, and the LGBTQ+ community. He is a “conspiracy theorist” who says he “wouldn’t be surprised” if 9/11 turned out to be an inside job or the 1969 moon landing faked, and is “seriously skeptical ” John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

He is supported by Donald Trump. What else would you expect! Trump in March said re Robinson who is black: “I think you’re better than Martin Luther King. I think you are Martin Luther King times two.”

Robert F. Kennedy is an independent Presidential candidate. He is not his father Robert F. Kennedy nor his uncle John F. Kennedy. I have written such in the past.

His mind works differently. Consistently a bit off base. 

He has repeatedly claimed he has appeared on enough statewide ballots to qualify for the first Presidential Debate. Those in charge of the Debate say he has not met the number of state ballots required.

He threatens to sue CNN for preventing him from appearing on the stage.

Respectfully, Robert F. Kennedy is a loose cannon. His history proves the same. For example, he is anti-vaccine. Something I do not understand about those who are so.

I would describe Kennedy as a “disjointed Donald Trump.”

Baseball great Willie Mays died yesterday at 95. Considered by many to have been the greatest player in major league history. Even better than Babe Ruth.

Lefbeth the great white shark has returned to New England waters. Weighs 2,400 pounds, is 14 feet long.

Fishermen whose boats have been circled by Lefbeth claim the experience is “petrifying.”

How an epidemic can be brought to an area and spread. On this day in 1865, the bard Adventure arrived in Key West in distress. Four crewmen were sick with yellow fever. They were sent to Marine Hospital for treatment.

The disease spread to Army troops on the island and resulted in an epidemic that caused 331 cases. The 331 cases included 71 dying among military personnel. An unknown number of civilians also became infected with some dying.

Today marks “Juneteenth.” A day celebrated since 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news the Civil War was over and all remaining slaves in Texas were free.

Still pouring.

Enjoy your day!

Like doctors, more nurse practitioners are heading into specialty care. My experience says it works. 

April Gallagher is a nurse practitioner. A heart specialist. 

She has been my heart care person for three years. I swear by her. Earlier this year, she saved my life the way she handled my heart problems. Understand clearly, I would be dead today if she had not guided me during those times. She “beat me” into doing that which I did not want to. Had I not succumbed, I would not be here writing today. I would not be here period!

April is affiliated with the Keys Medical Group at 1111 12th Street in Key West. Her telephone number 305-294-5727.

Again, I swear by her!

Byron De Chambeau won the U.S. Open. Beat Rory McIlroy by one stroke. McIlroy missed a 3 foot 9 inch putt on 18 to tie, De Chambeau sunk a 4 footer to win.

Unusual! Twenty three sets of twins graduated from the Pollard Middle School in Needham, Massachusetts on wednesday. The 23 sets made up approximately 10 percent of the eighth year group.

Typically twins amount to 3 percent of live births in the U.S. Ergo, this number of twins was “quite unusual.” The school is heavy student wise. It has approximately 450-500 children in each grade.

An American tourist was found dead on the Greek isle of Mathraki, just west of Corfu. Discovered dead on a beach.

Another American remains missing on my favorite Greek isle Amorgos. A 59 year old retired Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff. He went for a walk and has not returned. 

There are also two more missing on other islands.

Authorities believe extremely hot weather to blame for all persons dead or missing.

Though Columbus is considered to have discovered America in 1492, the truth is he was not the first. The Viking Leif Erikson arrived in 1021, nearly 500 years before Columbus.

The amusing incident to both “discoveries” is neither man was looking for America.

“ATM Jackpotting” a Syracuse success. A team of 3 people in two out of state cars hit 2 Syracuse ATMs. They hacked the machines so they dispensed cash continuously. They made off with more than $280,000 in one night.

France gave the United States the Statue of Liberty as a gift. The dismantled Statue arrived this day in 1887. It was delivered in 350 individual pieces packed in more than 200 cases. It took nearly one year to assemble.

The extent of love. The Taj Mahal.

On this day in 1631, Mumtaz Mahal died during childbirth. Her husband, Mughal Emperor Sheh Jahant, spent more than 20 years building her tomb, the Taj Mahal.

Netanyahu’s government continues to weaken and fall apart. Two key members of his War Cabinet quit. So Netanyahu disbanded the War Cabinet.

Netanyahu is disrupting much of the world with his continuing conflict. When will it stop? When will he be tossed from his Israeli leadership role?

The man is a troublemaker. He will add more fuel to the fire when he appears before a Joint Meeting of our Congress in July.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore will issue a mass pardon for more than 175,000 marijuana convictions this morning. A sweeping act of clemency for a drug now in widespread recreational use.

In 1856, the Republican Party opened its first national convention. Four years later at its second convention, Abraham Lincoln was nominated to run for Presidnet.

I close with Key West and the price of meat. A problem today. A problem in 1914. The price of meat got so high that Key West labor organizers called on their members to stop buying beef. As a result, cattle brought by boat from elsewhere ceased.

Enjoy your day!

The thrust of this blog is that Sam Alito and Clarence Thomas are dominated by their wives. The men pussies.

Marriage is a two person arrangement. Considered a partnership.

Not necessarily an equal  one. One partner can be dominant and rule the roost. In a male/female marriage, does not mean only the man. Women have become a dynamic force in the relationship. In some marriages, partners remain equal and dominant/submissive is not an issue.

Which leads to an exploration of the Alito and Thomas relationships.

Equal, or one partner dominant?

Let’s examine the Thomas marriage first since it has been “in the public eye” the longest.

I have always thought Clarence was a pussy. Dominated by his obviously strong wife Ginni. A man who spent his first 25 years on the Bench rarely asking a question suggesting a weak person. Lacking in “balls” to even engage from his high position with lowly counsel appearing before him. Lacking in self-confidence.

An indication to me his marriage was likewise. Ginni grew in public stature while Clarence remained static.

As to the Alitos, whoever heard of Martha-Ann till recently. It took two flag incidents to bring her to our attention. However she has hit public awareness big time in a short time. The way the flags and other items have been handled by the Alito husband and wife lead me to believe Martha-Ann is the dominant force in the marriage. Husband Sam the “Yes, Mam!”

Which means the two ladies are influencing their men on the Bench. Pillow talk with their husbands including Court matters. Their relationships influencing how their husbands think and decide. The ladies have become “silent Justices.”

Sam Alito is not the hard ass Justice he portrays. He is the individual his wife has molded/created over the years. The same with Clarence. Ginni has provided his brain and back bone, whatever they may be.

Surprising!

Perhaps the spouses of nominated Justices should be interviewed also. We should know what we are getting. On the other hand it may not be a worthwhile use of time. The spouses may be as adept, or even more so than the nominee,  in avoiding truthful responses.

I, for one, do not want a “secret Justice” sitting on the Supreme Court. I want a tough person, a thinker, to handle the responsibilities of the Nation.

Ginni and Martha-Ann are not the only spouses of concern. I have written in the past of another that gives me concern. Down the road, this individual and the individual’s spouse will become of public concern also.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Supreme Court screws up again! In a 6-3 decision, the Court threw out the ban on bump stocks for guns. The decision basically legalizes machine guns.

How do we protect school children and the public in general from guns if our highest court passes this type decision?

The decision a Republican one. All 6 Republicans on the Court voted to throw out the ban. Clarence Thomas wrote the decision. He had to write an extremist type decision to support the position the majority took. Something about the “trigger mechanism” not reengaging after each shot per the statute.

The 3 Democrats on the Court dissented. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote the dissenting opinion. Her reasoning simple: “When I see a bird that walks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, I call the bird a duck.”

Justice Sotomayor’s dissent explained that the supermajority flouted the “ordinary meaning” of the law, adopting an “artificially narrow” interpretation that will have “deadly consequences.”

The Supreme Court will be squarely at fault for the next mass shooting enabled by a legal bump stock.

Trump yesterday proposed one of the most “deranged” policies of all time. Behind closed doors to Republican legislators.

The policy eliminates the income tax and replaces it totally with tariffs. Such in effect a sales tax. One economist afterward said it would amount to 133 percent. It would give a huge benefit to the rich since the rich spend little money. It would impact greatly the rest of the population since they are the everyday spenders.

Trump had another meeting later in the day with CEOs. They left the meeting disappointed. They said Trump was “meandering” and “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

Trump’s “shit.” And his followers buy it! He wrote in a fundraising appeal wednesday that his beheading is “the Sick Dream of every Trump-Deranged lunatic out there!”

In a second email, he added: “THEY WANTED TO SENTENCE ME TO DEATH!” And warned he would be terminated if his supporters didn’t give him money immediately: “If we fail to have a MASSIVE outpouring of patriotic support – right here, right now – they’ll TAKE ME OUT and move on to their real target: YOU!!”

As I earlier wrote, his followers buy it!

What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. The Republicans wanted to get Hunter Biden. Took them several years, but they did. Technically, Hunter was wrong. The jury said he improperly signed a gun permit application.

Trump is consistent in telling us “retribution” will be at the head of his list of things to accomplish if he is elected Presidnet again.

Has the Hunter Biden thing come back to slap Trump in the face? His son in law is Jared Kushner. Kushner was deeply involved in White House business during Trump’s Presidency. Soon after Trump was out of office, Kushner got a $2 billion deal with a Middle East nation/bank.

Yesterday, it was announced the Senate Finance Committee officially opened an investigation into Kushner.

I have suggested several times in the past that Kushner’s activities deserved investigation. My recommendation had nothing to do with Hunter Biden. I just felt Kushner’s financial involvements warranted scrutiny.

Now the time has arrived. A time that might never have arrived if the thirst for Hunter Biden’s jugular had not motivated Republicans.

Governor DeSantis signed a new bill into law that will require homeowners to declare when making a sale if their homes are vulnerable to flooding.

Greece announced it will begin to cap the number of cruise ships to Santorini and Mykonos beginning next year.

Too many tourists! Not enough room for them! Both islands cannot handle the crowds.

I am familiar with both islands. Visited both for long periods several times. I have not visited in about 15 years, however. Crowded back then, but not badly.

I never liked Mykonos. Visited because my lady friend at the time loved it. Even back then, I was too old for Mykonos. It was a young peoples and late night place. Things did not get going till 11 pm.

Santorini was normal for me. Eleven in the evening and Oia was dead. My kind of place. I enjoyed the island all day and until 9-10 in the evening when I hit he sack. Everyone was in bed by that time.

Attended a local event yesterday at 5:30 at The Tennessee Williams Theatre. Sponsored by Hometown Key West. Hometown is a non-partisan group of informed voters whose purpose is to promote good government.

It was a “Meet the Candidates Night.” This year’s ballot for all offices was set at noon yesterday. Candidates attended last night and had 3 minutes each to say why they were running and should be supported.

Being a political freak, I loved it!

The parking lot was full. Two to three hundred people attended.

A strange occurrence for me in one respect. All those people and I only knew one. Struck me as unusual. Whenever and wherever I go, I know people and people know me.

Ninety percent were my people. Senior citizens. Did not recognize one face nor did anyone recognize mine. The only person who jumped from her chair to say hello to me was a much younger person.

Whatever, I enjoyed the event. A healthy thing for Hometown to sponsor. I walked away knowing many of the candidates a bit better.

Enjoy your day!

A good friday morning!

I was up at 5 to research today’s blog. To be saved to write after my physiotherapy appointment at 9.

My second appointment at Select Physiotherapy. A satisfactory hour. My therapist was Steven again. Very knowledgeable. Adept. We chatted and got to know each other better. He has a Doctorate in Physiotherapy. 

He worked me well and hard. This physio thing is going to be good for me.

Met Jan again. Met her monday also. She overheard me mentioning to Steven that I wrote a blog. Keywestlou.com. She commented across the room how she read it on occasion.

A new love of my life!

Got her name this morning. We are going to be friends.

After physio, I drove to Stock Island to see George. George owns Zip Auto. Has taken care of my car for years. He needed to put back a tire I had left with him when it became flat. Checked the oil and water and everything else. Added air as needed to my tires.

George has been responsible care of my cars for more than 20 years. The best! Fair, also. I highly recommend him.

Made a quick stop on the way home at Date & Thyme for my Monkey Smoothie hit. Always enjoyable as is the entire staff at Date & Thyme. They are like a second family.

I try to get a smoothie every day. Good for my health sayeth my primary care physician Dr. Norris. Taste good too!

One type of abortion still alive.

The Supreme Court came down with a surprise decision yesterday. Recall, the Court eliminated the right to abortion in 2022 in the Dobbs case. That left the pill mifepristone out there. The drug is used in 60 percent of U.S. abortions. 

Two antiabortion doctors who refused because of their antiabortion belief to prescribe mifepristone brought a lawsuit to bar other doctors from prescribing the pill. The Supreme Court basically held that non-abortionist doctors do not have the standing to sue under the facts of the case.

The decision was unanimous. Does not mean another case will not be forthcoming by persons who have standing. The present case is not the end.

Yesterday in 1940 was a big day for Adolph Hitler. He and his thugs celebrated two events. One was German troops entered Paris. The other and more vile was it was the first day Nazis began transporting prisoners to Auschwitz concentration camp in occupied Poland.

Thurgood Marshall became the first African American to be nominated to the Supreme Court. This day in 1967. Too bad Clarence Thomas lacks Marshall’s character and ethics.

The Supreme Court established Miranda rights in 1966. Included in those rights were the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. 

South Florida got a break from the rain yesterday. Key West included. However, it poured all night.

Rainstorms, lightening and 35 mph wind gusts expected over the weekend. Key West not in danger. The storms will strike Miami and north.

Peter Kalvel is a construction worker who was on a project tuesday at La Te Da. He was injured when a wall collapsed on him. His injuries serious. Open skull fractures and bleeding from his ears.

Adverse weather made helicopter and ambulance service unavailable. Helicopters could not fly. The rain also delayed the critical care ambulance from arriving.

Kalvel was stabilized at the Lower Keys Medical Center till transportation became available. 

He is now in a Kendall hospital. Information as to his present condition is unavailable.

My yesterday included a haircut at Blown Away with Lori. She has been cutting my hair for 25 years.

I was surprised when I arrived for my appointment. There are 8 chairs. All empty. I laughingly asked Lori if she was going out of business. She sighed, “All my customers have gone home up north.”

Followed my time with Lori with a visit to Date & Thyme for a Monkey Smoothie fix. Got two. Why not!

Enjoy your day!