Blacks are leaning against Biden. They have failed to learn that you do not bite the hand that feeds you. 

I find it hard to understand. Put aside that Trump is anti-Black. He lies to the contrary and many Black voters buy it.

Biden in 3 1/2 years has already installed more non-White federal judges than any Presidnet in history. Also, more female. More than 6 in 10 Biden appointments are women. 

Re the White appointments, Trump’s were 65 percent of those he appointed. Biden’s only 13 percent.

Number wise, Biden’s non-White appointments are 125, Trump’s were 37. Biden’s Whites 72, Trump’s 200.

The numbers speak for themselves. Black America should understand them.

Paul Pelosi’s attacker was sentenced to 30 years in jail. Well deserved!

A major unanswered question is why men’s shirts button on the right and women’s on the left.

No one knows for sure. Theories abound, however. Atlantic’s Megan Garber in 2015 described the buttoning as “a weird thing. The button differential is a relic of an old tradition that we have ported, rather unthinkingly, into the contemporary world.”

An old custom that has survived.

There are several theories. The one that has maintained the most credibility since the Middle Ages involves how middle and upper class European women used to dress. Their dresses were complicated and elaborate. More so than men’s attire. 

Wealthy women were dressed by servants. Servants were primarily right handed. It was easier for them to  button up their mistresses if the buttons were on the opposite left side. So buttons began being sewed on the opposite side.

Why has the tradition carried into the modern era? No special reason. No one noticed or complained.

One other reason involved breast feeding. Mothers were more likely to hold their babies with their left hand, leaving the right hand free for blouse opening.

Bottom line, women’s buttons on the left side is an old design quirk which has become just another sartorial custom.

As for men, sword drawing was a consideration. Sword on the left. Right hand remained free to draw the sword.

A final consideration is that 90 percent of the people in the world are right handed. They have been so for hundreds of years.

Somebody made a mistake. Mistake in selecting the person to make a college commencement address.

Benedictine College is operated by nuns. The Sisters of Mount St. Scholastics. Harrison Butler was the commencement speaker.

His words totally contrary to the beliefs of the nuns and institution. He railed against LGBTQ + pride, women in the work force, and abortion access. He told the women graduating that they “have had the most diabolical lies told to you.” He added, “Homemaker is one of the most important titles of all.”

Harrison Butker is an American Football kicker. Plays with the Kansas City Chiefs.. He is second in NFL history in career field goal percentages with 89.1.

How many Keys in Florida? Interesting question. Even I wanted to know.

The Florida Keys are made up of over 1700 small islands. Eight hundred are referred to as Keys. Forty three are connected by bridges.

The question arises as to what defines a Key as opposed to an island?

The answer: Keys do not generally have fresh water. Islands do. Also significantly, a key is a small, low-lying coral island. Like all coral islands, Keys are remnants of ancient coral reefs. Many of the Keys are still ringed by healthy reef ecosystems. Over time, the top of the coral reef is exposed to the surface.

The Preakness was won by Seize The Grey whose odds were 12-1. Kentucky Derby Winner Mystik Dan was favored, however finished second.

Seize the Grey is trained by D. Wayne Lucas. I view his victory with a hope springs eternal adage following his name. He is 88 years old. Is anything left for me?

Harvard has done what many other universities have not. They have taken the step of punishing some of those students involved in the protests by preventing 12 of them from graduating at Commencement.

In addition to the 12, 5 other students were suspended, 20 placed on probation.

I have been severely criticized by some for being opposed to the student protests. It is they that criticize me that are wrong.

They appear to be adults who see an intelligence level in the students qualifying them to not only verbally protest, but to disrupt classes, pitch tents, take over buildings, be anti-Semitic, etc. They view the students as “brilliant.” 

I cannot recall any adult commenting about non-students and Chinese motivating the students and the students buying what they were selling.

My belief is is that if the students were so smart, why did they let others use them. Did they know? If not, even worse.

Trump had trouble with the podium in St. Paul friday night. He leaned on it too hard and it tilted. He did, also. Called the workers who put up the stage “crappy.”

He acted in a very humorous fashion. Even I laughed. Not at him, with him.

Trump was an excellent comedian at the moment. Unfortunately for him, America is not looking for a comedian. It is looking for a leader.

I was viewing some photos of old Key West. One was taken around 1952. A photo of the “new” Dairy Queen on United Street.

Still the same!

An example of women being discriminated against in Key West. On this day in 1906, Key West Police Justice George G. Brooks fixed things for women in this respect.

A Key West ordinance outlawed women from entering barrooms or buying liquor. The Justice declared the ordinance unconstitutional. 

The Southernmost Point Monument was dedicated September 10, 1983. Basically looks the same today as when dedicated.

Whoever thought it would become as popular as it has.

I close with Jimmy Buffett.

I came across a note written by Jimmy Buffett on October 22, 1989. The body handprinted. His signature handwritten.

In it he thanked Key West for its AIR CONDITIONED library. Spelled out the time he spent reading about old Key West. He complimented the quality and spread of reading materials. However pointed out it was the air conditioning that drew him to the library.

Enjoy your day!

Eco Lodges Anywhere featured an article listing the 15 hidden gem Greek islands. Islands people might want to visit to beat mass tourism.

One of the islands is Amorgos. My Amorgos. My favorite. A nothing. Which makes it “the best!”

The ferry boat comes in once a week. No airport. The ferry boat the only way on and off the island. On the island, transportation primarily by foot.

Everything one hundred years ago.

Dramatic sea views. Mysterious caves. A different kind of architecture. 

Laid back.

Crashing waves and blissful hiking trails.

Few people. Very few people. Even with visitors.

Fishermen go out in the morning in beat up old row boats with a motor on the back.

Everyone dresses in black.

The island small, but loaded with culture and tradition.

I love it!

Two former major nations that failed to live up to their predictions.

The Roman Empire would last forever. It lasted a thousand years. Nazi Germany was to last 1,000 years. It lasted 12 years.

I have complained of the heat for 7 days. So have my friends. It is a fact. Today is expected to be the worst. In certain parts of South Florida, “feels like” temperatures of 113 degrees or higher are expected. Palm and Broward Counties expected to reach that level.

Overall night temperature for the areas this time of year is 74 degrees. Last night was expected to hit around 80 degrees.

Key West will be abnormally hotter, though no temperature published.

The reason for the abnormal heat is the wind which is coming at us out of the south. Normally comes at us from the east.

Dangerous weather. Remain inside. Enjoy air conditioning.

Free speech is All-American. Unquestionably important.

Trump continues to claim he will deport “all American protesters.” He is the biggest enemy of free speech in the country.

And he wants to be Presidnet?

Preakness today. The race 6:50 pm. Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan favored. 

Republicans continue to knock the economy. They lie. And then lie some more. The sadness of it is that many Americans believe them.

The truth. The DOW closed yesterday above 40,000 for the first time. It briefly passed 40,000 thursday, but fell back before closing. Yesterday it crossed and closed over 40,000.

I was store shopping in the Winn-Dixie Shopping Center yesterday afternoon. Ran into a family of 2 parents and 5 children. The oldest child could not have been more than 6. Five children in six years.

The couple young. I asked the father if they were all his children. He proudly said, “Yes!”

Reminded me of our family. We had 4 children in 5 years. Would have been 5 in 5, but we lost the last one.

It takes a good woman to raise that size family who are so close in ages. We started our family when I was in law school. Pure insanity! Then they started coming, One after another. This was back in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. My wife was a “good  Catholic” and refused to practice birth control.

I was little help in raising the children in their early years. My responsibility was to feed them. I was working day and night and weekends to build a law practice. The responsibility fell on my wife. She did an excellent job.

Red Lobster bankruptcy news continues. The “successful” restaurant chain is going under because of the “endless shrimp.”

Enjoy your day!

Chickens abound in Key West. Tourists love them. Think they’re cute. Locals hate them. Dirty germ infested critters.

They are everywhere. Even at Date & Thyme where I enjoy my smoothie each day. Date & Thyme has two signs up advising customers to Please Do Not Feed The Chickens.

I have written about the chickens over the years. Key West has tried several times to rid the community of them. Failed in each instance.

One story I have mentioned several times is the rooster crowing. His cock a doodle do. Most believe it is the rooster’s call to awaken people. Not so. It is the rooster advising a hen he wants to get laid. His call announcing his desire for sex. Watch the next time you hear a rooster cock a doodle do. You will see a nearby hen perk up and run like hell in the opposite direction.

Can’t blame the hens. Gestation is a mere 29 days. They would be pregnant all the time and caring constantly for chickees.

Yesterday at Date & Thyme I observed a unique experience. Mother hen and 7 chickees were wandering about. The chickees in a straight line following Mom. A rooster was standing about 4 feet away observing them. Silent.

One portion of Date & Thyme has a 6 inch step to a higher level. The mother hen and 5 of the chickees went up and over the top of the 6 inches to the higher level. Two could not make it. They kept falling back down.

The rooster, who I assume was the father, went over and picked each up separately with his beak by the neck and lifted them up and over the 6 inches.

I never knew roosters felt a continuing responsibility for those they sired. I have developed a new found respect for the roosters.

This day on May 17, 1954 was one where the Supreme Court operated as intended. An historic decision was rendered. Brown v. Board of Education. Unanimously held racially segregated public schools were unequal and unconstitutional. 

Harry Truman was one of our finest Presidents. Decisive. Made many difficult decisions swiftly and correctly.

On this day in 1946, he seized control of the nation’s railroads, delaying a threatened strike by engineers and trainmen.

Another Alito screwup exposed.

It occurred just after the 2020 election. Proof recently discovered and released by the New York Times in the form of a photo.

The facts simple. Following the 2020 Presidential election, Trump supporters were falsely claiming  Biden had stolen the election. Many displayed their position by flying outside their homes or on cars and posts an American flag flown upside down.

One of the houses flying the inverted flag was that of Supreme Court Justice Alito in Alexandria, Virginia. Proved by the photograph mentioned and interviews with neighbors.

The flag was aloft on January 17, 2021.

The January 6 riot had occurred a little over a week before.

Typical these days by Republican politicians, Alito emailed The Times  blaming his wife for doing it.

The flag being flown inverted…..A violation of ethics? Appearance of bias? Raises questions about the Justice’s impartiality in cases related to the election and Capitol insurrection.

Trump’s son Barron graduates at 10 this morning in South Florida. The Judge called a halt to the hush money trial today in New York City so Trump could attend.

Thereafter it was announced Trump would be attending a rally the same day (today) at a fund raiser in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Will Trump attend both? Will he skip his son’s graduation to do the fundraiser?

I would expect Trump to do both. Such is his nature. He’s a work horse.

We will see.

Give credit where credit is due. In this instance to Biden.

Biden advised in March the U.S. would build a pier and deliver much needed humanitarian supplies to Gaza. Supplies donated by a number of countries and organizations. He was criticized by many who claimed the pier was next to impossible to build and would take months, if not years, to complete if doable.

Two months later and the pier is a reality. Humanitarian goods being delivered today over the pier. Biden delivered! And did so with no U.S. troops setting foot in Gaza.

Scottie Scheffler was detained and arrested by police outside PGA Championship at 5:45 am this morning. He is scheduled to tee off at 8:48 am.

He was handcuffed and taken away.

He was later released by Louisville Metro Police. Further facts unavailable at this time.

Enjoy your day!

Ancient Rome and public baths. No matter where you went in the Roman Empire. you could always find a public bath.

Roman baths were called “thermae.” They were complex facilities with elaborate heating systems where Romans from all walks of life came together to relax, socialize, and, of course, get clean.

Not just a simple dip in the water. A whole process was involved. A visitor would begin by performing some light exercise, followed by a hot bath, then a warm bath, then a cold bath. Also, persons could spend time in a steam bath or get a massage.

Public baths were a central part of Roman culture. Some citizens considered them a symbol of Roman identity. So much so that baths were built in nearly every part of the Roman Empire. Even its remotest regions as far north as the British Isles and as far south as Egypt.

Measle cases are on a track this year to be the worst since the 2019 outbreak. And the year is not yet one third over.

Nevertheless, anti-vaccine activists are recklessly sowing doubts and encouraging vaccine hesitancy. They endanger not only their own health, but also that of the unvaccinated around them. According to the Centers for Disease and Prevention, one person infected can infect nine out of ten unvaccinated people they come in contact with.

Biden and Trump have agreed to two debates. Over CNN in June. The second ACC in September.

Michael Cohen is reported to be doing well before the jury. Many times when he responds to a question, he looks directly to the jury as he responds. They appear to be waiting for him to look.

As a former trial lawyer for 46 years,  it is a special and unique talent for a witness to accomplish such an exchange with a jury.

Former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Captain Harry Dunn defended the Capitol and lawmakers on January 6. He was in a Democratic primary in Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District tuesday.

He lost.

There were 22 candidates. Twenty one thousand votes won it. Dunn received 14,000.

He said he was going nowhere. Remaining and will run for office again.

There is a parade of Republican politicians visiting Trump’s trial in New York City. Spend a day or part thereof showing support for Trump.

One is Speaker Mike Johnson who appeared on tuesday.

Bess Levin described his appearance in a column in Vanity Fair May 14 titled: “Devout Christian Mike Johnson Shows Up to Hush Money Trial to Defend a Guy Accused of Cheating on His Wife With a Porn Star.”

Levin is overall critical of Johnson. One of her references is to Johnson and Johnson’s son and how they handle computer porn: “He and his son use special software to ensure neither is looking at porn.” Why do they need it? They’re not kids. They should have enough will power to refrain.

Levin asks why Johnson even appeared in view Johnson and his wife’s feelings re adultery: “We (husband and wife) believe and the Bible teaches that any form of sexual immorality, such as adulltery…..is sinful and offensive to God.”

Johnson wrote in a 2015 Facebook post that “Trump lacks the character and the moral center we desperately need again in the world..” Levin followed Johnson’s Facebook comment with: “Since then, he has become a loyal footstool to Trump, that has included, among other things, helping Trump to overturn the 2020 election.”

Traffic congestion is a problem in Florida. Especially central Florida in the summer.

Florida’s central expressways will now let you drive on the shoulder. A first in Florida.

Purpose: To reduce traffic congestion during accidents and rush hour. Something I cannot recall even being permitted during hurricanes when it would have been especially warranted also.

It is absolutely amazing! How Ron DeSantis keeps legislating CONTRARY to the common good.

His most recent debacle was a bill he signed into law yesterday which effectively gives climate change a lesser priority in Florida. A kick in the ass! Under the new law, climate change will disappear over time from State statutes. The new law also bans power-generating wind turbines offshore or near Florida’s lengthy coastlines.

The net effect will be to increase reliance on natural gas to power electrical generation, move Florida’s energy goals away from efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gases.

He is rejecting the agenda of the “radical green zealots,” DeSantis proudly said.

How the hell did Floridians elect him Governor in the first place?

The number of Red Lobster closings now reaches near 100. Two days ago it was reported as 40, yesterday 50, now near 100.

This day in 2022 was a sad one in the U.S. The death toll from COVID-19 hit 1 million.

This heat is a killer!

Enjoy your day!

The Grand Happy Hour is one of the finest in Key West. Price wise and food wise. Limited to locals. Appetizers and drinks half price from 4-6 pm monday through friday. The appetizers meals in themselves. All delicious.

Tuesaday is my day to go. Matt bartends that day. The best! I attend with Steve and Cindy Thompson.

I was there again last night. Unfortunately, my meal is limited as it has been since the last day of January when my heart attack caused me to pass out on the street. Face first.  The impact screwed up my bottom implants. Later lost my upper denture in the ambulance as I was puking. I have been without teeth since. Which means I have not been eating properly. Cannot chew. Limits me to soup and very soft foods.

At The Grand, it is tomato soup. Their’s a thick delicious soup. Served in a large bowl.

Mount Sinai’s valve heart doctors said I could not have dental repair of the implants till May 22 at the earliest. Has something to do with blood being a part of the process and mouth germs could cause another heart attack.

I have only recently began prep work re new dentures. Non cutting procedures. I am excited. Not only the not eating part, also my mouth sinks in, I tend to slur a bit, and also inadvertently spit on occasion.  Not a nice situation.

The one benefit is I have lost weight. Fifty eight pounds!

Time to begin considering the replacement or conducting major repairs to the Seven Mile Bridge. The Keys bridge of bridges!

The bridge was completed 42 years ago in 1982. It took four years to complete.

Reconstruction, etc. is not imminent. A first meeting will be held tomorrow to discuss, etc. the project. The meeting will be chaired by the Florida Department of Transportation. Held at the Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas Highway, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. The meeting will be in person, virtual and broadcast on MCTV-76. The first step in planning the extremely large project.

Boating was less than safe in the early days of Key West. In 1843 for example, 3 large commercial vessels carrying valuable cargos  were wrecked on reefs near Key West on May 15.

Years ago, cargo was “strange” and “different” from today. On this day in 1893, the sloop Gregory arrived at Key West after a two week excursion to the Dog Rocks on the Cay Sal Bank. The crew brought 4,000 bird eggs and 2,600 whelks. All of which garnered a good sum when sold.

Memorable Key West street name changes. On this day in 1961, Thirteenth Street was changed to Kennedy Drive and Fifth Street to Macmillan Drive. Each to commemorate the meeting of Presidnet John Kennedy and British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in Key West.

The anti-Israel War began this day in 1948, within hours of the announcement of the new state of Israel. Israel was attacked by Transjordan, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon.

Mickey Mouse arrives!

Mickey Mouse’s first appearance in front of a public audience was this day in 1928 in a test screening of the short “Plane Crazy.”

A compatriot of mine age wise enjoys her birthday today. Italian actor-singer Anna Maria Alberghetti is 88 years old.

Confusion has arisen re commemorating a special day to honor Jimmy Buffett. 

The State of Florida announced August 30, 2024 would be that day and August 30 each succeeding year. Jimmy Buffett Day!

Wonderful!

Suddenly someone has suggested December 25 be the day designated to honor Jimmy Buffett. The thought has caught hold with many people. A crazy idea!

December 25 belongs to one person alone. Jesus Christ. Let’s not confuse things. 

There is reason for the December 25 suggestion. However not explained. Jimmy Buffett was born on December 25. So was Humphrey Bogart, Anwar Sadat, Cab Calloway, Larry Csonka, and others.

Leave well enough alone! December 25 belongs to Jesus Christ. Others born that day can celebrate to a lesser degree. Buffett already has his day by Act of the Florida Legislature: August 30.

The winner of the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was not one of the favorites. Sage, a three year old coifed miniature poodle, won over favorites which included a German shepherd, Afghan hound, and a schnauzer. 

It doesn’t only happen in horse races!

I reported yesterday Red Lobster had closed “without notice” some 40 restaurants. Money problems. Reports later in the day advised the number of restaurants closed to at least 50 and that workers were “blindsided” by the abrupt closings. They had no prior warning of the possibility.

It was reported that one plane struck another after landing while taxing at Palm Beach International Airport just after 1 am sunday morning. Yesterday, it was further reported the private Boeing 757 that clipped a smaller parked plane was Donald Trump’s private jet Trump Force One.

Key West’s hot weather continues. Afternoons are heavy! Extremely hot!

Enjoy your day!

On this day in 1924, Key West’s Bayview Park was formally opened. Today marks its 100th anniversary.

Bayview is an item of pride even today. In fact, it gets better by the year.

Visit. Walk around. Bayview easy to appreciate.

Thelma Strebel authored “Reap the Wild Wind.” A story involving Key West wreckers. Her book was made into a film which was released in 1942. The film starred John Wayne, Paulette Goddard, Ray Milland, Susan Hayward and Raymond Massey.

Strebel lived in Key West for a time. On this day in 1940, she took out a building permit for $12,000 to build a house at 400 South Street,

Today’s Key West Citizen ran a lengthy article re yesterday’s  meeting concerning the Key West Hospital. A public meeting attended by 100 persons. Open participation.

The hospital is technically known as the Lower Keys Medical Center. Its lease with Community Health Systems ends in 5 years in 2029. A 30 year lease.

The Key West Commission arranged the meeting to get input from citizens in preparation to negotiate a new lease.

Concerns yesterday seemed to involve assuring that the lease be put out for bid rather than negotiated. The hospital is a money maker so should be attractive to many.

There will be more meetings.

One thing that may not be in the forefront of people’s minds is that the hospital serves a small group of people. Including suburban areas, I would assume 35,000 people. Whatever the number, it is small. I fear locals want the warranted small facility to provide all type services. Much more than now.

It does not work out economically. I am a frequent user of the hospital. For some things, it is Miami for service. No way could I have received the 5 weeks and 3 heart surgeries performed on me at Mount Sinai in Miami in Key West. We have to face up to it. We selected a small community to live in. We must be willing to accept limited medical services.

My concern is how the services provided locally are done. Waiting times are too long. Rarely are appointments kept by the hospital. You sit and sit. Also something should be done with the temperature. The place is an ice box. I once got a bronchial condition that lasted 3 weeks because of the delay in being timely serviced.

It is the small things that require attention. Anything more is unreasonable to expect from a small town hospital.

On this day in 1948, the independent state of Israel was proclaimed by David Ben-Gurion. President Truman immediately recognized the new nation.

Red Lobster has abruptly closed at least 48 of its locations in the U.S. Financial problems.

A mother died of cancer. Her 29 year old daughter was unaware how sick her mother was. Her Mom died 3 days after she became aware.

Cleaning up her mother’s apartment, she found a note her mother had hand written in 2010 which was stuck to the back of a pocket size black leather daily planner: “Life is not waiting for the storms to pass…..it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.”

Trump appears to be showing the stress he is experiencing at the hush money trial. The trial seems to be wearing him down. His nodding and appearances suggest he is falling asleep. Also, his mouth going slack and his head drooping into his chest, do not spell well he is handling the trial.

His comments outside the courtroom indicate the same. He rants, has made juvenile comments about Gettysburg, and occasionally slurred while speaking.

All of which raise the question whether Trump is ready to resume the Presidency.

Michael Cohen testified yesterday. He continues today.

The report is he did not sound like a jerk. He did well. His testimony a coup de grace to his ex-boss.

His testimony came off as calm.

He testified Trump approved the deals made on his behalf. He further testified Trump was worried about the impact of the Daniels story on voters, not his wife.

I believe Trump overall failed as President. Now he seeks to return. Are the people of the U.S. going to permit him to return to fail again?

My heart appears to be mended. Now, my teeth. 

When I had the heart attack the last day of January, I passed out face first on the street. Lost my upper plate in the ambulance, smashed my lower implants from the impact. Working on both uppers and lowers now. Taking a long time. Valve replacement heart doctor said no implant work till May 22. Something about teeth work can lead to another heart attack. Primarily responsible for the delay. 

I have not been eating. Cannot chew. Have lost tons of weight. Not complaining about that. Would like to be able to bite into a steak again, however.

Tonight, Happy Hour at the The Grand. I will enjoy a bowl of tomato soup. Add onto it a diet soda. Doctors have told me no more drinking. My new life! Sort of sucks!

Enjoy your day!

The python update a simple one. The pythons continue to win. Florida continues to fail to eradicate them.

The Florida problem involves Burmese pythons. They are not native to Florida. Nor any part of the U.S. for that matter. Their natural habitat is South Asia and China.

The first Burmese pythons were discovered in Florida in 1979 in the Everglades. Thought to have been “escapees” from capture. Pythons that were kept as pets and decided to abandon their human abode.

The first Burmese pythons were discovered in the Keys in 2007. One in Key Largo and one in Key West. The Key West one resting near a landing strip at the airport. It is not anticipated Burmese pythons will make it into the Keys in any significant numbers. They are fresh water beings, not salt.

The Florida problem occurred in 1992. Hurricane Andrew the culprit. Andrew was a Category 5. Wiped out Homestead. Pet pythons kept in the homes destroyed were blown helter skelter. Most homes were leveled. Ninety nine percent plus. I drove through Homestead 3 weeks post Andrew. You would have thought a nuclear bomb had fallen on the community.

The pet pythons were blown everywhere, though primarily into the Everglades.

They settled in. Became comfortable. Promiscuous by nature, screwed their brains out. Florida failed to pay attention. The number now exceeds one million. They will never be eradicated. Too many.

Florida failed to timely deal with the problem. Now that it is trying, it deals with it the same way it does with most other problems. Ass upside down.

The Burmese python is a sort of protected species in Florida. Cannot be shot. Cannot be frozen. Cannot be run over by a car. They must be “humanly euthanized.” A two step process. The first is the python must be rendered unconscious by a shot to the head. Not by a real gun. Rather by a captive bolt or air gun. The second step is to disable the python’s brain by jamming a screwdriver, pick or spike into the python’s head to smash its brain.

The python must be killed where it is captured. It is prohibited to transport live pythons.

Florida puts money into the capture and killing of Burmese pythons. For several years now, the State has conducted a Python Challenge. Last year’s brought 1,000 participants out for the hunt. Dollar prices awarded. The 1,000 captured a total of 209. A losing proposition.

The 2024 Python Challenge will be during the summer. The exact date has not been scheduled yet.

Go Florida!

Enjoy your day!

Mother’s Day.

Generally celebrated world wide, though on different days. In the U.S., the second Sunday in May each year.

Anna Jarvis is  responsible for organizing the celebration of a Mother’s Day. In 1907, at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia. The Church serves as the International Mother’s Day Shrine today.

Note that “Mother’s” is singularly written and pronounced. Intended for each family to honor its own mother.

The holiday is widely celebrated in the U.S. Considered by many to have become too commercialized. In the U.S., Mother’s Day remains one of the biggest days for the sending of flowers and greeting cards. Church going popular also. The day yields the highest church attendance after Christmas Eve and Easter. It is also the biggest holiday for long-distance telephone calls.

God bless each Mother, a person’s best friend. My Mother was.

Trump may have another large tax bill. A government audit reveals Trump may have “double-dipped” on tax losses tied to a Chicago skyscraper. If he loses the audit, the tax bill will be in excess of $100 million.

Everything seems to be catching up with Trump at one time. Sort of a…..If you live by the sword, you die by the sword thing.

Trump’s game playing with finances reached a new level Thursday in the Stormy Daniels hush money trial in New York City. A Trump organization bookkeeper Rebecca Manochio testified that some Trump checks he was meant to sign to Michael Cohen while Trump was in the White House were sent to the Washington address of Trump’s bodyguard Keith Schiller. Manochio was not sure why.

Horse racing update. Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan will run in the Preakness. The Belmont will be run at Saratoga this year and next while the Belmont race track in Elmont, New York, is under repair.

A significant day in history. This day in 1215. It was on this day that English barons served demands on King John which lead to the creation and signing of the Magna Carta.

A special television show took place on this day in 1960 involving Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. The show a Frank Sinatra Special. Presley sang Sinatra’s 1957 hit “Witchcraft” and Sinatra performed Presley’s 1956 classic “Love Me Tender.”

The show was hopefully recorded. If so, should be found and run again. A classic!

The weather is HOT! Oppressively so. 

In Key West, high 80’s every day. Some days into the 90’s. Yesterday, Fort Lauderdale hit 97 degrees.

For the first time in years, I feel the effect of the heat. I’m beginning to wonder if my “new” heart makes me more susceptible. Does not make sense.

Wednesday night, Cathy and I had dinner at Antonia’s followed by a walk down Duval.

There was a time when the season was January through Easter Sunday. Off season thereafter. A few months very slow business wise. It used to be said that in July, August and September, you could throw a bowling ball down Duval Street and not hit anyone.

No more. Off season disappeared with COVID. People came in droves to Key West. They kept coming. Query: Are they still coming?

This is May. A new busy month. Not Wednesday night.

Antonia’s is one of Key West’s top restaurants. We arrived at 6. Ate at the bar. TK bartending. Nine seated at the bar. Four tables occupied. When we left at 7:30, there were 4 persons less at the bar and table occupancy remained the same.

We took a leisurely walk down Duval. Not crowded at all. No walking into other people. La Trattoria shocked me. Looked in the bar window. At 7;30 there were only 5 persons at the bar. The other smaller restaurants along the way were similarly not crowded.

I have been here 30 years. I have seen prices shoot up several times. Saw them fall each time. Is this the beginning of the anticipated fall? Nothing is forever. It is inevitable. Will occur. The only question is when. High home prices, rents, hotel prices, restaurant costs, etc. cannot remain as exorbitant as they have been the past few years. Eventually people will stop buying, renting, visiting, relocating here, etc. It is the law of nature.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Plenty of older adults are enjoying sex and getting venereal diseases as a result thereof. Doctors are neither questioning nor testing the elderly for such diseases.

The elderly do have sex. Why not. Rightfully so. Such pleasure is not limited to the young. They need however to test for and practice safe sex. Proof is in the numbers. Gonorrhea among the 55 plus group, grew 600 percent since 2010. Chlamydia cases have quadrupled, while syphilis cases are now 700 percent higher than in 2010.

I have been fortunate to visit Italy many times. One of the things that impressed me were the food items available at gas station stops  on major highways. Especially the Autogrill chain.

Sandwiches hot and cold. Hot the most popular. All kinds of non-alcoholic drinks.

An experience! I have spoken of the sandwich pleasure many times. I write about it today because of an article in the Washington Post yesterday titled “The Case For Eating At Italian Gas Stations.”

Another Italian experience I have spoken and written about is Milan. What a city! The “best” of everything.

Unfortunately, I have not visited Milan in 15 years. Things have changed a bit.

Outdoor dining, daytime and nighttime, was the best. Not only the food. The ambiance also! It has changed. Dramatically.  Noise and overcrowding a huge bother. Even past midnight. Milan is passing ordinances to limit the out of control behavior.

Many American universities are having graduations today. Disruptions are anticipated. I hope not too badly. College graduations are a proud day for students and family. It should not be disrupted.

The U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. is Linda Thomas-Greenfield. An intelligent black woman. She has reported Biden’s positions before the world government as she should.

Now she pays the penalty.

Thomas-Greenfield was scheduled to speak at Xavier University of Louisiana’s commencement ceremony today. She was scheduled to speak at the University of Vermont last week.

Both schools cancelled her visits. She became persona non grata because of her Gaza stances in the U.N.

Both universities claim she was cancelled to avoid “disruption.”

The U.S. continues to be out of control as a result of recent campus disruptions. I hope the scenario will calm down and cease with the summer season upon us. I continue to disapprove with that which has occurred in recent months.

You never know. Marilyn Birch, now 76, lost her engagement ring while feeding hay to cattle on the family farm in 1970. A “detectorist,” while searching for other things, found the ring recently. Fifty four years after it was lost. It had been buried on the farm 8 inches down in one of the fields.

Husband and wife are both thrilled.

I close with a poor and shameful American. Clarence Thomas, Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

He pushed back yesterday after facing harsh questions about his Justice decisions and accepting lavish gifts from a millionaire. He said he and his wife Ginni have endured “nastiness” and “lies.”

He claimed Washington is a “hideous place.” He further added he “had no interest in public life,” but  felt called to it by God. He deceives himself by so thinking.

Thomas is one of the worst Justices to ever sit on the Supreme Court. Decision wise and personally with regard to accepting “freebies” in his personal life. He is an insult to his profession and race. He is not worthy of  the seat he holds and the “honors” it bestows upon him.

My yesterday activities were limited to a manicure and some grocery shopping.

Tammy is back. She returned from three weeks in Vietnam. Her grandmother is not well. 

My grocery shopping is limited. I cannot carry heavy things any longer. Want to personally shop, however. About 30 percent cheaper than ordering and having delivered. Plus, I enjoy the experience of being able to walk Publix aisles.

I cannot carry heavy things from my car to my apartment. Six packs of soda, water bottles, gallon jugs of diet iced tea, etc. I learned my lesson two weeks ago. I called Jackie and she stopped by to take them from my car to refrigerator. I am fortunate to have friends like her.

Cathy left for home in Seattle thursday morning. She had a bad wednesday night. Apparently a touch of food poisoning. Horrible! Too nice a person to have suffered as she did.

Enjoy your day!

College campus protests have aroused pro and con opinions. I believe the protests have been too much and abusive. Many have disagreed with me. I have received some heavy adverse comments to the effect.

On May 8, the New York Post published an article setting forth that Columbia Law students wanted their final exams called off. Basically in the name of Palestine. The protests took up too much of their time and they are not ready for final exams.

The students wish automatic passing grades based not on their final exams, but on work through the semester. Preferably, a simple pass or fail grade.

The students argue they are tired and distressed from their protestations and those of their fellow students. They describe the police actions as “violence” that “has irrevocably shaken many of them” and “the majority of their classmates.”

A letter supporting their position was prepared by the Law Review Board. The Board is compromised of the best and brightest law students of a law school. They claim they and their fellow students have been rendered “unable to focus” and “are highly emotional” due to recent campus events.

The bottom line is they want one of the most elite law schools to go easy on them.

Again, Law Review Editors are the elegante of the student body. The most intelligent. They will be the A students on final exams. However because most protested rather than going to class, doing their homework and preparing for final exams opted to hopefully resolve the Israeli/Palestinian problem, they are in a bind re approaching final exams. Their protests have failed. Many will fail their final exams also.

The student demand is absurd.

Nothing about exams is easy or equitable. The whole purpose of a final exam is to determine who retained knowledge and understood concepts and who did not. Egalitarian grades are no grades at all.

University colleges and schools have coddled students for nearly a generation. Easy work, pass them all, provide good grades even where not warranted, keep parents and students happy. Universities became huge business corporations. The bottom line economically became more important than educating the students.

Students expect to be coddled.

There is a danger to all this. Especially where law students are concerned. The day will come when they will be representing clients. Their abilities will be less than what they should be and the client will get screwed in the process. Guaranteed!

Columbia Law School should stand tall and refuse to give grades and dole out degrees to “feeble, flunking” Hamas supporters.

Bear with me a bit further.

Law school is not easy. A tough experience. Three arduous years. The law student studies 8 days a week, 25 hours a day. It is no easy task. Many times leaving the student feeling overwhelmed. The feeling exists for all law students. The As as well as the Cs.

A semester consists of 4-5 courses. A mix of two and three credit ones. The law student must read cases assigned, attend class, take diligent notes, work with a study team, prepare outlines and begin getting ready for final exams 2-3 months before they are given. Otherwise, failure is the ultimate achievement. The Columbia students let down the last two months of the present semester. Impossible to catch up and be ready for final examinations. Want a break, a favor.

No way. Jose!

These pseudo-adults made a decision. The wrong one it appears. Many will fail their final exams. Many will not timely graduate. They will have to do another semester or year. Some will not do it and never receive a legal degree.

Choices have consequences. A legal degree is not a free lunch situation.

Enjoy your day!