Pence is fighting Justice’s Grand Jury subpoena. I am shocked and surprised!

I have always considered Pence a maladjusted Christian and weak sister. He was a loyal Trump supporter for 4 years till January 6. That day he stood tall by refusing to accede to Trump’s desire to have him lie. He stood honest and forthright. I thought my opinion of him was wrong. This was a good man.

No more.

Trump set him up on January 6. He rabble roused the mob to get Pence if he failed to come through for him. The mob had blood in their eyes as they yelled to get Pence, hang Pence. The rope stood tall outside ready to hang him. A lynch mob coming after him.

Pence is lucky he survived the day.

Pence’s conduct January 6 gave me a new admiration for the man.

Now he wants to be President. Maybe, I thought, he is qualified. I was wrong. He lacks something. The correct thing to do is testify. Instead, he is claiming a legal reason not to that will not hold up in court. In the end, Pence will be before that Grand Jury.

Many Americans must recognize as I do that Pence’s colors did not change. They remain the same. He is a weak sister. A true political hack.

Key West has a habit of passing asinine laws. Never complete. Something generally lacking.

One of the most recent was a local law prohibiting smoking cigarettes on Key West beaches. Hand guns are also prohibited.

A Citizens’ Voice comment this morning bears out my position: “Can’t smoke at the beach, but you can bring your rifle you haven’t been trained to use and smoke your cigar.”

Early sunday morning a shooting occurred in Key West. One which resulted in a death.

Lloyd Brewer III’s family own the Conch Liquor and Lounge on North Roosevelt Boulevard. They also own the building it is located in.

Garrett Hughes was outside in the back of the building. Its parking lot. He was urinating on the building.

Brewer shot Hughes one or more times. He died at the hospital.

Brewer called the police and reported the shooting.

Videos all over the place indicate both men were possibly drunk. The police claim the videos reflect Hughes’ actions did not justify lethal force and murder.

Brewer was arrested and charged with second degree murder. He was arraigned yesterday. The judge denied him bail. He must remain in jail pending trial.

Background affects a judge’s mind in arriving at a no bail decision. Brewer has a history of some violence. He was arrested 2 years ago for allegedly punching a girl friend in the face with his fist after drinking at the Stock Island Yacht Club. There is a 1985 gun incident. One or two other items.

On this day in 1898, the USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor. Two hundred sixty American seamen were killed.

The sinking of the Maine has become a significant part of Key West history.

The Custom House had recently been completed. The U.S. Court of Naval Inquiry held its hearing to determine the cause of the Maine’s explosion at the Custom House.

The Maine’s sinking eventually led to the Spanish-American War breaking out in April 1898. Within 3 months, the U.S. had decisively defeated Spain.

A number of Maine seaman are buried at the Key West Cemetery. Their graves surrounding a USS Maine Memorial.

The tragedy of the Turkey/Syria earthquake continues. As it will for years.

A 77 year old woman was rescued yesterday. She had been buried 9 days/212 hours. Experts indicate it is highly unusual to survive under such conditions more than 100 hours.

Cinderella one of Disney’s greatest movies. It opened in theaters this day in 1950. The film is frequently reshown permitting generations of Americans to enjoy Disney’s marvel.

How times have changed.

President-elect Franklin Roosevelt escaped assassination on February 15, 1933 in Miami. Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak was with him at the time. He was killed.

The gunman Giuseppe Zangara was executed some 4 weeks later. Not 20 years later as most U.S. executions take today.

Syracuse won a big one last night! Beat #23 ranked North Carolina State 75-72. It was Syracuse’s first win over a ranked team since 2021.

A sportswriter described Jesse Edwards and Judah Mintz’s play as Batman and Robin.

Edwards even sunk a 3 pointer.

Enjoy your day!

Words spoken at a Christian Conference in effect in July 2022 by Representative Lauren Boebert: If Jesus had an AR-15, He would not have been crucified. Boebert is member of the Republican radical fringe that now controls the House of Representatives.

The House as presently constituted is opposed to any gun control legislation.

Michigan State University was the scene of the latest mass killing in the U.S. yesterday. Three dead, 5 wounded. Certain of the 5 may die.

The shooter a 43 year old man who killed himself when confronted by the police.

The year 2023 is still in its infancy. Only 44 days old. In that short time, 72 persons have died as a result of mass shootings in the U.S. Impressive numbers. Rallying numbers for gun control. Not going to happen in the immediate future, however. Not as long as crazies like Boebert and her ilk are in power. Not as long as certain of them can twist the Bible and create aberrations in support of gun control opposition.

These same Republicans, as well as those at state levels, have time to ban books that contain what they consider not proper reading for students. Permissible for mass shootings to continue. No time to control guns. Time however to alter children’s educations by banning books that contain the truth about discriminatory and racial practices in the U.S. past. All part of keeping America “white.” Lies which will wipe blacks adversity from the face of American history.

DeSantis has been especially adept at doing so in Florida.

Roberto Clemente and Hank Aaron are two great American sport figures. Both black. Both outstanding baseball players.

A book about Robert Clemente’s life titled “Robert Clemente, The Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates” has been banned because of its contents concerning racism and segregation. His son Robert Clemente Jr. said, “His story is his story. He went through racism. It’s something that can’t be changed.”

A book on Hank Aaron’s life containing discrimination and racial references was likewise banned. The book: “Hank Aaron’s Dream.”

The next example as outrageous as what happened re Clemente and Aaron, but also humorous. Concerns Sonia Sotomayor, Justice of the Supreme Court. The book: “Women Who Broke The Rules: Sonia Sotomayor.” Recommended reading for ages 6-9, grades 1-4.

My point: Time should be spent passing gun control legislation rather than banning books.

Another live and learn item. Corporal punishment remains legal in 19 states. Teachers and school personnel can hit your children.

How to catch an 850 pound grouper (Jewfish): On this day in 1969, Jim Markette caught the largest goliath grouper ever to that date. Using a rope with an 8 pound fish for bait and a small tractor, he was able to land a Jewfish that weighed more than 850 pounds.

I have not spoken of my ankles in some time. The reason being they are in terrific shape. Back to normal. Finally!

My ankles swelled dramatically back in June. Seven months later, ok. Three doctors treated them during that time. With no success.

Two months ago, they reduced on their own by 50 percent. Still large. Shoes did not fit. I was wearing crocks 2 sizes too large in order to get about.

I bought a stationery bike 2 years ago to lose weight. Placed in next to my bed. Used it for 3 weeks. Then gave up. For some reason, six weeks ago I decided to ride the bike again. To lose weight. Withing 4 days, my ankles were back to normal. Still are. My heart doctor said it was merely the exercise. It has been 3 years that I do not really walk. Need the cane to be sure not to fall. Nevertheless, I am only good for one block walking. So I was not walking.

The lack of exercise caused the ankle swelling.

I am now up to 45 minutes a day on the bike. Ankles remain the same. Perfect! Still can’t walk more than a block, however. Leg pain terrific at that point.

Now for my hands. My palms swelled about 2 months ago. Thought the fluid no longer in my ankles had found a home in them. My primary care physician disagreed with my diagnosis. He said arthritis the cause. I should bend my fingers frequently to reduce the size and pain.

I have. Did not do much.

I ordered a small palm ball from Amazon to see if that would help. Used it for the first time today. While riding the bike. Not for long. Three to 4 minutes each hand, squeezing the ball in one hand. No pain afterwards.

Pain now returning as I type. Not as bad. Swelling back. Going to keep the ball with me everyday. I suspect my hands will go the way of my ankles in due course.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Love you all!

What a game! What a half time show! What the number of people who watched the game who will call in sick today!

This year’s Super Bowl outstanding! Two well matched teams. Kansas City beating Philadelphia 38-35 on a 3 point field goal kicked with 8 seconds left in the game.

The half time show staring Rihanna one of the best ever! The lady was impressive!

I could not understand her attire. She was wrapped in a bright red ensemble from neck to toe. As her performance progressed, she unzipped what appeared to be a large outer coat which was covering a jump suit. Her stomach seemed to protrude. She appeared a bit on the heavy side. Fat was my thought.

She also seemed to show her mid section off. Like she wanted the world to see she was overweight.

Following the game, an announcement was made. Rihanna was pregnant and proud of it! This was her way of revealing her condition to the world.

In good taste. Beautiful.

Good taste, beautiful? To everyone but Donald Trump, of course. Trump attacked Rihanna after the show in a bizarre roast. He wrote: “EPIC FAIL: Rihanna gave, without question, the single worst halftime show in Super Bowl history. This after insulting for more than half an hour our Nation, which is already in serious DECLINE, with her foul and insulting language. Also, so much for her ‘Stylist!'”

I watched Rihanna’s whole show. Nothing foul or off color. Did some digging to determine what Donald was talking about. Discovered “foul and insulting” language is likely a reference to a photo taken in August 2020 in which Rihanna posed in front of a piece of art that featured a car with the words “Fuck Trump” printed on it.

The Kansas party after the game would have been outstanding! More so than any of the winning team parties I attended some 30 years ago.

A camera settled for a few seconds on a private box. Seated alone were Elon Musk and Rupert Murdoch with their ladies.

The ads were as outstanding as everything else. The cost to run a 30 second ad was $6.5 million. Plus naturally the cost of preparing the ad, paying the stars, etc.

The ad I enjoyed the most was the Ben Affleck/Jennifer Lopez/Dunkin’ Donuts one. Loved it! And I am not a Dunkin’ Donuts patron.

Records/stats are kept for everything today. They have been kept for a number of years re how many people who watched the game last night would call in sick today. The numbers this year varied depending the company which did the research. From a low of 18.8 million to 26.6 million. One expressed the numbers as 1 in 5.

Whatever the proper tabulation, a lot of people failed to show up for work today.

Yesterday was a big sports day. I spent the afternoon watching the Phoenix Open. An exciting final round.

Scottie Scheffler won by 3 strokes. His prize $3.6 million.

The top 10 included golfing stars Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Jason Day, Ricky Fowler, and Jordan Spieth.

Excellent golf!

I sleep with the TV on. Woke at 4 to hear a fourth “object” had been shot down over Lake Huron. Didn’t make sense. There were only 3 when I went to sleep and none were anywhere near Lake Huron. Figured someone made a mistake.

Went back to sleep.

Turns out no mistake involved. A smaller and 4th object was sighted and shot down sunday night. Our government says China responsible for the first one described as a “balloon.” Not sure as to the other 3. Still working on it.

I continue to believe North Korea involved.

Speaking of Korea, Don Chrisdon of Don and Chris fame is an officer with a a major South Korean company. He was in South Korea yesterday. He sent a photo during the Super Bowl game of his offices and people watching the game.. Later, a note: “Super Bowl in Korea 9:20 am.” Later another: “Go Eagles!” I responded after the game: “The Eagles went!”

The Turkish/Syrian tragedy continues. Discovered deaths now exceed 33,000.

Yesterday, a 4 year old girl was found buried under the debris. She had been there 177 hours.

We all live and learn. We never know even close to everything no matter how old we are.

My latest discovery is the source of fingerprints. Where do our fingerprints come from?

The womb!

Fingerprints are created during fetal development when fine ridges on the skin form and crash into each other. That is why no two sets of fingerprints are the same.

More yet to living and learning. The same process gives zebras their stripes and cheetahs their spots.

Winter in the Keys this year is a day or two here and there. We are into winter again.

A cold spell started coming in yesterday. It was cool all day in Key West. Cold last night. Cold this morning. The high today only 71. Summer returns tomorrow. High expected to hit 80.

Enjoy your day!

Super Bowl Sunday is a national party day. Wonderful! Spectacular! Exciting!

There was a time when I had a benefactor who made it possible for me to attend 11 consecutive Super Bowls. Free! The best seats in the stadium. Mid field 20 rows up. With the tickets went access to big time parties from wednesday night to after the game itself.

Each year I felt like the pregnant woman coming down the stairs in Auntie Mame who exclaimed in effect…..I lived!

Again, the tickets were free as were the parties.

I did a favor for someone who was in a position to provide the Super Bowl niceties. A Vice-President with one of the major professional football powers. Never expected anything in return. The matter was simple from my end. It was personal and important to the VP. It was a phone call by me.

My son and I made the 11 trips together. I stopped going once I bought my home in Key West 28 years ago. I was having enough fun in Key West that I did not need the Super Bowl parties. Long retired, the tickets still keep coming. My son uses them every year.

Key West was fun every night back in the 1990’s and into the early 2000’s. Other than summers in Europe, I did little traveling. Key West provided enough joys.

COVID really changed things. Big time. Today’s Key West is not even close to what Key West was before COVID. Not complaining. However,  I am unhappy about it. Few people left that I knew for years. Either left because they could not afford Key West any longer or died. Restaurant and bar attitudes different. Too many tourists and not enough residents make up the composition of Key West today.

Jesus is everywhere. Better stated, there are those that would have Him in places where it is inappropriate.

“He Got Us” is a Super Bowl commercial promoting Jesus. Funded in part by the family that owns the notably religious craft chain Hobby Lobby. Other evangelical groups have contributed also, including a foundation called The Signatory.

The price tag is $20 million.

What bothers me is how the money is being spent. My sense is Jesus would have spent it in another fashion. Like feeding and sheltering the poor and homeless.

Religious organizations are too deeply involved in politics. The word of God is better heard from a church pulpit than in a Super Bowl journal.

My yesterday was horrible! From start to finish. I was sick. What, I don’t know. Just felt like crap. Cancelled Sloan and spent the day in bed. Fell asleep around 8. Woke at 2 in the morning when my phone rang. Someone had hacked my credit card. The one I use to pay regular bills.  Card cancelled. I am without it for about a week.

My concern is having to change all the charge accounts. An aggravation!

Another strange item flying over certain U.S. states and Canada. Number 3 over the weekend. Not sure if a balloon, object or what have you.

Came over Alaska and into northwestern Canada. It was shot down by a U.S. plane via agreement between Biden and Trudeau. Canada to collect the debris.

Number 3 the smallest of the 3 items recently shot down.

The U.S. is certain China launched the first, a balloon. Source of the smaller #2 uncertain as yet. Source of the even smaller #3, also uncertain as yet.

In due course, we will know re #s 2 and 3. I doubt it is China. Not so stupid to follow up #1. Doubt it is Putin. He has enough aggravation to deal with. I put my money on North Korea. Kim Jung Un gets my vote.

“Certain cynical Republicans are trying to advance their own careers by whitewashing our nation’s past.” Example: Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Eugene Robinson in a 2/11 Washington Post column titled “It’s Not American History Without Black History” expertly reviewed the situation. Recommended reading.

Earthquake deaths skyrocketing in Turkey and Syria. Total now in excess of 28,000.

Everyday a small bit of good news. Yesterday involved a two month old baby who was rescued alive. The child had spent 128 hours under rubble.

I close with “Bum” Farto.

One of Key West’s most identifiable terms is “Where are you Bum Farto?”

On this day in 1976, former Fire Chief Joseph “Bum” Farto was found guilty of 3 drug felonies. He faced 31 years in prison.

Farto was never sentenced. Disappeared. Never found. Thought to have gone the way of Jimmy Hoffa.

Ergo, “Where are you Bum Farto” became a famous Key West saying and tee shirt slogan to this day.

Enjoy the game! Enjoy your Sunday!

There was a time in ancient history when naked young woman were beaten with animal hides by equally naked men and had sex with certain of them over a 3 day period from February 13-15. Both sexes drunk from alcohol consumption.

Their play pagan frolicking. Known as Lupercalia. Consider by some as the beginning of Valentine’s Day.

Then there was Roman Emperor Claudius II. He gets to claim a part of the supposed history of Valentine’s Day because he ordered the execution of two separate men by the name of Valentine during different eras of his reign. Both were later canonized and became St. Valentines.

The two considerations mentioned both valid considerations. However only peripheral.

The valid question is when and why did Valentine’s Day become the romantic lovey-dovey day it is.

The Valentine’s Day as we know it had its beginnings in the Middle Ages. We have the poet Geoffrey Chaucer to thank. Especially two of his 14th century works: The Parliament of Fowls and The Complaint of Mars.

In The Parliament of Fowls, he wrote: “Where every fowl comes there his mate to take.”

The basis for February 14 in Chaucer’s writings was the 14th was the first day of spring, the air in Britain was fresh, birds began to mate, it was the beginning of love season for birds. Stated in today’s vernacular, “It was the birds!”

Then came Shakespeare with amorous associations in his writings.

Love letter writing was next in line to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

The mid-1800’s marked the beginning of many of the commercialized Valentine’s Day traditions. Flower sending, one. Richard Cadbury created the first heart shaped box of chocolates. A confectionary company began stamping out an early version of Conversation Hearts.

By the early 1910’s, an American company that one day would become Hallmark began distributing “Valentine’s Day cards.”

The rest is history.

Cupid is important in the development process. Cupid is a symbol of the love filled holiday. Easy to understand why.

In Roman mythology, Cupid was the son of Venus, goddess of love and beauty. He was known to shoot arrows at both gods and humans, causing them to fall in love instantly with one another.

A late afternoon manicure with Tammy yesterday. What a business she and husband Rick have. Endless cash flow. God bless them!

Wanted to have a drink. Gave a call to Steve Thompson. He and Cindy agreed to meet me in the Chart Room at 5:30.

I arrived at 5:20. The Chart Room opens at 5. Normally empty till 6. Not last night. Packed like sardines when I arrived. Noisy as hell.

Called Cindy and told her to meet me at the Pier House Beach Bar.

I walked back and found it was no different. Not a chair at the bar empty. Only one table, which fortunately I grabbed.

Not normal. I suspect it was the early crowd for the Jimmy Buffett show at the Amphitheater.

I enjoyed 2 hours with Steve and Cindy. Wonderful people.

A Bob walked by. Stopped as he was passing. Said to Steve he knew him. Steve did not recall. Bob said they met a few years earlier in the Chart Room where he began reading some of Steve’s writings of the 1970’s Key West. Then Bob recalled me. We had never met. He used to watch my podcasts. I have not done one in several years. Nice of him to recall, however.

The three of us had an interesting chat. Bob is from Ohio. Some town where alcohol is prohibited.

The “object” shot down onto the ice off shore to Alaska. No certainty yet to whom it belongs. Smaller than the balloon shot down in the Atlantic a few days ago.

The big question is who does the “object” belong to. TV media says could be Russia or China. I do not agree. Putin has enough on his hands now. No way is he going to add to his aggravations. China would not have the “balls” to send out anther balloon/object.

My guess. North Korea. Kim Jung Un is stupid enough to pull such a stunt. Recall also, Biden and Kim Jung Un do not exchange “love letters” as Trump did with the North Korea leader.

Enjoy your day!

Open today with some Keys information.

Keys sense of humor as reflected in today’s Citizens’ Voice: “The Chinese balloon has now drifted over Cudjoe Key. It’s been up there all day spying on secret lobster pots. Where is the Conch Republic Air Force when needed?”

The Monroe County Sheriff operates an animal farm: The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm.

The Sheriff is having an open house Sunday 2/12 from 1-3 pm at 5525 College Road beneath the headquarters of the Sheriff’s Office. The event is free and open to the public.

Today a significant one in the history of North Roosevelt Boulevard development. On this day in 1964, ground was broken for the 20 acre $1 million Sears Shopping Town Center.

How time changes things! The Sears portion has been closed and empty for a couple of years. There is talk of adding a floor and turning that area of the shopping center into affordable housing.

At one time, Key West was a very busy point of entry in the U.S. Third busiest in 1930 with 38,391 passengers. Only New York and Boston had more arrivals.

A Ben Harrison play opens February 15 and will run through February 25 at the Fringe Theater on White Street. The play is titled El Isleno 1921, The Untold Key West Story. Rumored to be excellent.

Following is what could happen in the U.S. if Trump is President again or some one like DeSantis becomes President.

On this day in 1936, the German Nazi Reichstag passed a law investing the Gestapo secret police with absolute authority, exempt from any legal review.

Florida’s menstruation controversy did not last long. Shot down!!!

The Florida High School Athletic Association’s 16 member Board of Directors held an emergency meeting yesterday (2/9) to discuss the proposal requiring female high school athletes to disclose information about their menstrual history. The Board voted 14-2 to scrap the controversial proposal. The Board voted instead to require students to submit a one page doctor signed paper to indicate whether the young lady was healthy enough to compete.

This one page document is a joke! The Board is covering their ass in effect by saying we took something away, but are substituting the one page doctor’s report. For what? The doctor is going to require a physical before he writes even a minimal report. He will charge for it. Who pays? Mom and Pop?

I do not know if everyone is expected to have insurance or there is insurance for minors in Florida to cover the report.

A disgraceful conclusion to a stupid idea.

Again, the proposal did not last long. Everyone was up in arms. Students, parents, doctors and others buried the Board with their thoughts: “It is a gross and an extreme sexist invasion of privacy…..Hey, what in the world are you thinking?…..Get this off your agenda and issue a press release to say you’re sorry…..The question does not have any bearing on a female being able to perform tasks. Its simple purpose: To shame and degrade females from participating in sports…..The standards do not apply equally to when a boy begins to masturbate…..Information about male students’ ejaculations also should be collected.”

The Turkey/Syria earthquake deaths are reaching 23,000. Only 5 percent of areas involved have been searched for survivors/bodies so far. Means deaths will exceed 100,000.

I watched on TV a 5 year old boy who had ben buried for 100 hours being recovered. He was alive. Thank God. Others were dead. The sadness of it all.

Love Marjorie Taylor Greene! Everything she has done to rehabilitate her image has failed.

The woman is a born loser!

Enjoy your day!

Biden names Republicans seeking changes to Social Security and Medicare.

In the State of the Union Address, Biden said some Republicans wanted to target Social Security and Medicare. Republicans in the audience jeered and decried his statements.

Yesterday in Wisconsin, Biden identified specifically some of the Republicans he was talking about tuesday night.

Note Marjorie Taylor Greene, together with others, shouted: “Liar, liar” when Biden made the representation.

Biden yesterday named Senator Rick Scott who in a printed brochure said Social Security and Medicare were “sunset” and merely required votes every five years in order to continue the programs.

Senator Ron Johnson suggested in his reelection campaign last August that Social Security and Medicare be eliminated. He claimed the programs would require annual approval by Congress as discretionary spending.

Senator Mike Lee. Biden quoted from a 2020 video that his plan was to “phase out Social Security…..and that Medicare and Medicaid…..need to be pulled up” by the roots.

Lee also told a group of voters on 2/23/2010 that he was about to “tell you one thing you probably never heard from a politician. It will be my objective to phase out Social Security, to pull it up from the roots and get rid of it.”

Trump has begun taking DeSantis serious. He has resorted to name calling, lying. Trump has begun pushing “DeSantis is a pedophile” stuff.

As mush as I dislike DeSantis, Trump’s attack is sickening. Typical of the liar he is and has been.

If DeSantis had any pedophilic tendencies, the media would have been on it long ago.

The devastation continues to mount in Turkey and Syria. Deaths now exceed 17,000. Injuries 65,000. Property damage similar to that in a war zone.

Beside human and material help being needed, prayers are in order.

Dinner at La Te Da last night. Meal and company outstanding. Joined by Fred, David, Bunny and Guy. Guy of Guy deBoer fame. He will soon be returning to the Canary Islands to pick up his repaired boat and sail it back to the U.S. He is planning another world race to begin in the fall. I love Guy, but think he’s crazy. He survived one wreck. Now, he wants to place his life in harm’s way a second time.

Chatted with Tom Luna briefly. A Key West icon. He is managing La Te Da’s restaurant and two bars.

The time has finally arrived. Ukraine’s Zelensky has been hinting and even in a half assed fashion asked for fighter jets.

The U.S. has emphatically been saying “No!” Yesterday, Zelensky asked Euro Union leaders for fighter jets. His argument: To defend Europe from Russia.

Eventually, he will get the planes. Even from the U.S.

The problem is the concern Zelensky will use them in due course to attack Russia itself from the air. Tit for tat warfare.

It may be the only way to end the war. The Russian people themselves must suffer as the Ukraines have. Such will push them to force Putin to end the war or even overthrow him.

A Key West duel 1829 style.

The duel was fought between Charles Hawkins of the Mexican Navy and William McRea the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.

Four shots were exchanged. Hawkins was wounded in the wrist, McRea hit in the thigh.

Reason for the duel: Hawkins saw McRea leaving his wife’s bedroom via the window.

During dinner last night, Fred kept us up to date re the Syracuse/Florida State game. Fred, Bunny and I are Syracuse grads. The game had not ended when dinner was over. I caught the end on TV at home.

Syracuse won 76-67. Syracuse was behind at half time 35-29.

Need to move fast this morning. A noon haircut appointment with Lori.

Enjoy your day!

Biden was outstanding last night in his State of the Union Address. His performance proves once again he was and is the right person for President at this time. COVID and the Ukraine war adversely affected the U.S. and the world. Inflation one of the biggest, if not the biggest, negative.

The American people have to straighten out. Open their eyes and recognize what has happened. A significant number fail to see and understand what has occurred.

COVID and the Ukraine war, COVID especially, changed things. It is a different world today. We must accept and adapt.

I watch the American public being interviewed on TV. Young and old sing the same tune. They’re not happy with Biden. Biden for all his successes has an overall disapproval rating of 52 percent. His Democratic Party disapproval 64 percent. These people buy the MAGA lies. Criticize Biden incorrectly for failing to cross the line and try to be partisan. They insist they do not “feel” the successes of which he speaks, etc. Claim all they hear are numbers.

The problem is them, not Biden. They sound like they want everything for nothing. Babies needing to be spoon fed.

The Biden dissidents must grow up! We live in a new world. Biden saved our asses.

I ask a Reagan question in a bit of an inverted fashion: Are we better off under Biden than we would be under Trump?

The answer speaks for itself. No competition.

Deaths continue to mount in Turkey and Syria. The number of dead 11,000 plus and rising.

Horrible!

Jimmy Buffett showed his true colors when he opted to do a show for locals saturday and monday nights at the Key West Theater. The expensive Amphitheater shows are thursday and saturday.

Syracuse plays Florida State tonight at 7 at Florida State. Syracuse 14-10, Florida State 8-16. Syracuse a mere 2.5 point favorite. Understandable the way Syracuse has been playing.

I will miss most of the game. I am having dinner with some guys at 6 at La Te Da, several of whom are Syracuse grads. If Syracuse were having a great season, we would have been at Jack Flats watching the game. What a difference a season makes!

Enjoy your day!

There is sadness everywhere. Comes in small and large amounts. The saddest event I have read about in a long time involves Lian. A 6 year old boy.

His parents reported Lian has been diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called adrenoleukodsystophy. The doctors have given him 5 years to live. There is no cure. Lian will progressively lose all body functions and end up brain dead in 5 years.

His parents have asked for BOLD PRAYERS that God will perform a miracle and “heal our son completely.”

Parents ask for prayers, ask churches to pray, ask family and friends to pray.

“Lian needs all the prayers he can get!”

A picture of 6 year old Lian accompanied the plea. A typical beautiful/handsome 6 year old boy.

Pray for Lian!

Lian one sadness. A sole one. South Turkey and Syria unimaginable.

Six thousand dead. Fifteen thousand injured. The numbers representing only the beginning. There will me more. Considerably more. The pictures and videos are horrendous.

Prayers required here, also.

The opposite of sadness is joy. Certain supermarkets have discovered a way to provide a few moments of happiness to its customers.

Jumbo is a Dutch supermarket chain. Came up with a brilliant idea! Sounded far fetched initially. Worked so well however that Jumbo has extended the system to 200 stores.

The brilliant idea: Slow check outs!

Jumbo discovered people enjoy chatting while paying for their goods. Especially, the elderly. Helps deal with loneliness.

A Canadian supermarket Belmont Sobeys has introduced what it describes as a Social SLOW checkout. They also found people enjoy chatting while paying for groceries. Discovered the personal touch especially helps the elderly deal with loneliness.

Is the U.S next?

What follows may be hard to believe.

A New York woman was found breathing at the funeral home after being declared dead.

She was 82. She had been pronounced dead at a Long Island nursing home on Long Island. Discovered breathing 3 hours later at the funeral home.

No updates concerning her present condition available.

In January, a similar situation occurred in Iowa.

A 66 year old woman was in a Special Center for Alzheimer Patients and was receiving hospice care. Declared dead. Placed in a body bag and taken to the funeral home. Funeral home personnel were unzipping the bag and found the woman was alive and gasping for air. She was returned to hospice where she died 3 days later.

The State of Iowa fined the Alzheimer facility $10,000.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres addressed the General Assembly yesterday. He warned international security was in dire straights. He said, “The Doomsday Clock is now 90 seconds to midnight, or total catastrophe. This is the closest the clock has ever stood to humanity’s darkest hour – closer than even during the height of the Cold War.”

I heard the term the “Doomsday Clock, etc.” for the first time during the height of the Cold War. I was in Columbus, Ohio at a Nationwide Insurance Company function. I was seated at the head table next to Nationwide’s CEO Murray Lincoln. I was Chairman of Nationwide’s Policyholder Advisory Committee at the time.

Lincoln referred to the Doomsday Clock and minutes to midnight with regard to the U.S./Russia Cold War. His words had a chilling effect. Guterres words do not affect me the same way. Perhaps I have become accustomed to world wide problems. Don’t envision that final step to all out war.

Blog is late today. It is just after 4 in the afternoon. I had a lengthy appointment with the heart doctor this morning and another with my primary care physician this afternoon. Sorry for the delay in getting the blog out.

Enjoy your evening!

Valentine’s Day is 8 days away.

Over the years, I have written several times of the Day. The reason being the event is of such importance to many. I am sharing one of my earlier articles today as a prelude to another which I will write and publish in a few days. The for real and honest truth of the source of today’s Valentine’s Day. Not the one I share today and have in several other articles over the years. Not the one that everyone believes.

First the one that everyone believes. Reflected in a blog I published on February 14, 2019 titled: Valentine’s Day…..Debauchery And Two Saints.

Today, one of love. Romance in the air. You feel it everywhere.

Not always the case, however. Valentine’s Day at its beginnings was one of debauchery. Down and dirty. Pain and sex.

The time well before the birth of Christ.

Known as the Feast of Lupercalia. Roman in origin. Some consider it to have been religious in nature. Its activities considered a purification of women.

An annual event. Held from 2/13 to 2/15 each year.

Men and women engaging physically. The women considerably younger than the men.

It began with the men bare assed. They sacrificed goats and dogs. Then removed the hides from the dead animals.

The ladies came into play at this point. Bare assed also. The men beating the women with the hides of the goats and dogs. Men and women alike drunk at this point.

The purpose of the beatings with the skins was to make the young women fertile. So it was thought.

Following the beatings, the names of the women were thrown in a jar. The men picked. Coupled with the woman whose name had been selected from the jar. Coupled for the rest of the feast. Longer if the match worked out.

Years later came the time of Caesar. Year wise around 40 B.C. The feast had become more sensitive. A time of genuine love and concern. The goats and dogs still killed. The women beaten with the hides, though not severely.

Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar begins during a Lupercalia.

Caesar’s wife Calpurnia had not been able to conceive. Marc Anthony is instructed by Caesar to strike his wife Calpurnia, in the hope she would be able to conceive.

Some three hundred years later in the third century A.D., 2 religious men named Valentine lived. One in Rome. The other somewhere in Italy.

Claudius emperor at the time. He had both men executed on February 14, though in different years. The two Valentines eventually were canonized. Two St. Valentines. It is their day of death that we celebrate today as Valentine’s Day.

Both Valentines were beheaded. Their lives and deaths had nothing to do with love. The surprise. A story I shall write about in the next few days.

Mother Nature is in a constant state of rebellion in recent years. The most recent yesterday’s earthquake in South Turkey and Syria. A big one. A 7.8 on the Richter scale. More than 1,000 killed, 1,700 buildings collapsed. Its effects felt hundreds of miles from the quake’s epicenter. As far away as Lebanon, Israel and Egypt.

I have experienced several earthquakes in my lifetime. The worst at the beginning of my first trip to Greece some 12 or 13 years ago.

I was spending the first few days with Anna in Novara in northern Italy. I was writing my blog when the earthquake hit. Never felt anything so severe before. There were 2 or 3 earthquakes over a period of several hours, with after shocks almost as strong.

I was in a building 1,500 years old. How it survived, I do not know. Many buildings around collapsed into heaps of stone.

A major earthquake is no fun. As Anna ran around the apartment screaming like a maniac, I sat there thinking I was going to die.

Another Supreme Court shortcoming has been discovered.

Justices each have two computer operations. Two emails, in effect. One for personal matters. The other a secure transmitter for sensitive data regarding cases.

Turns out some of the Justices have pushed back on using the secure email providers. New technology. They have been reluctant to learn. A source of case materials being leaked.

Bess Levin wrote an interesting article about Trump in the 2/3 edition of Vanity Fair: Donald Trump Says He Knows How To “Immediately” End The War In Ukraine But Must Keep It To Himself.

Her article is based on a Trump interview thursday night on the Right Side Broadcasting Network. Trump said, peace “can be negotiated within 24 hours” by saying “things” that “will guarantee that this war will end immediately.”

What an ass! If he was being truthful, which is always questionable when he speaks, he should reveal his “secret” in the interests  of stopping the war and saving lives. Trump’s duty is immediate to speak under the circumstances.

The Keys are composed of hundreds of islands. Many have names. The source of the names are interesting in certain instances. Like that of Looe Key.

Looe Key is at mile marker 27 going north on U.S. 1. Pass through it on the way to Big Pine.

Looe Key’s naming goes back to 1744. The HMS Looe struck and got stuck on the Florida Reef that now bears its name. The ship’s commander Captain Utting saw there was no way to save the Looe. He ordered it set afire and blown up. The crew was safely carried to Jamaica in a Spanish sloop.

That’s it for now.

Enjoy your day!