The East Palestine clean up will take years. And even then may not be totally cleaned up.

Expect 30 years or more.

So far in the one month since the spill, more than 200 tons of contaminated soil and nearly 2 million gallons of liquid have been collected from the derailment site.

A drop in the bucket.

Extent of the contamination will not be known for years, It takes time for the contamination to seep into the soil and into water streams.

My admonition continues: Remove the residents to a new city. Create one, if necessary. It will be far cheaper and healthier if done this way instead of letting residents stay, get severely sick, some dying.

Another problem: Where to dump the contaminants of the cleanup? The EPA has specified sites in various states for certain of the toxins. The problem is many states will refuse to accept the contaminants. The situation becomes a political as well as legal one.

COVID’s labeling being crystalized. Some referring to it as the “false epidemic.”

If so, why did so many die?

The claim is as valid as the “election fraud” theory.

Two new items re the Catholic Church.

The first involves San Diego Cardinal Robert McElroy. In a recent address at Notre Dame University, he said the Church must “redesign” its “just war” theory to favoring “non-violent action.”

The second is a concern of the FBI. The FBI is worried that violent extremists will exploit and recruit radical traditionalist Catholics.

Query: What has happened to the simple teachings of the Bible?

The Catholic Church began getting sucked into politics by the conservative right now turned radical right more than half a century ago. As a result, the Church has become politically contaminated.

Sir Roger Bannister, the first man to run a sub 4 minute mile, died this day in 2018.

He exercised the great feat on May 6, 1954. The whole world was excited in anticipation that he might. I and my friends were glued to the TV. He did it! In 3 minutes 59.4 seconds.

Syracuse plays the last game of its ACC season tomorrow at 5. The team plays Wake Forest.

The season has been less than spectacular. A mild statement. It stunk! Glad it’s over!

Enjoy your day!

BEWARE!

DeSantis is capable of anything.

Recent Bess Levin 3/1 Vanity Fair article explains it: Democrats Could Literally Be Banned From Elections Thanks To New, Batshit Florida Bill.

“Disenfranchising voters has long been one of the Republican Party’s many pet projects…..one Florida lawmaker has decided it’s high time the GOP drops the charade and just…..bans the Democratic Party from elections.”

“A new proposed bill…..titled SB 1248, calls for the State Division of Elections to cancel the ‘filings’ of a political party…..if that party’s platform had previously advocated for slavery, or involuntary servitude.”

“Although not explicitly listed, the Democratic Party, which were popular in the South during Reconstruction, would fit the description.”

Recall Lincoln was a Republican. The Republican Party was considered a northern one. The Democratic Party southern favored and supported slavery, etc.

Again, my admonition: Beware! Republicans control the Florida governorship and legislature.

Home sales have plummeted to the lowest levels in a year in South Florida. New data shows buyers and sellers growing wary of the housing market.

Completed home sales fell 30 percent in the tri-county area covering Broward Palm Beaches and St. Lucie areas.

What about Key West and the lower Keys? Silence re the issue. Something for the Key West Citizen to investigate and report concerning.

Key West and the lower Keys are unique. Things may be different, though I doubt it. Let’s hear what it is!

Spent a couple of delightful hours at the Chart Room last night. Drank diet Pepsi. My companions Fran and Tom Dixon. Their last night in Key West. Return to Buffalo this morning.

Willie Nelson came up in our discussions. They had seen a sign advertising Willie Nelson was in Key West and appearing at the Amphitheater last night. I was surprised. I had heard nothing about it.

Checked the news out on the internet. Willie Nelson and his family appeared last night at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater. Tickets first time around cheap, $69-$150. What they were after the promoters got a hold of them, I do not know. I am also unaware of the crowd size, etc. Nothing in this morning’s Citizen.

I am a long time old time fan of Willie Nelson. We are contemporaries. Nelson is 2 years older than me.

Another example of the Klu Klux Klan influence in Key West 100 years ago. On this day in 1923, United Daughters of the Confederacy representative Mrs. M.E. Bonds of Macon, Georgia, visited the Harris School in hope of establishing a chapter of the Children of the Confederacy there. I am unaware if she was successful.

A basketball record!

On this day in 1962, Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points for the Philadelphia Warriors in a game against the New York Knicks. An NBA record that still stands.

Busy day ahead. Haircut and pedicure followed by lunch somewhere.

Enjoy your day!

All the bad acts committed by FOX continue to come out. Yet Rupert Murdoch makes no noises/offers to settle.

This is a case FOX has t0 get behind it. The publicity will only get worse. Liability dollars will continue to grow.

One reason the case is not yet settled is it may not be Murdoch’s money that is going to change hands. It’s insurance money. FOX may have a policy to cover the wrongdoing alleged.

A couple of items come into play. The insurance company may need FOX’s permission to settle. Murdoch may believe any publicity is good so he is withholding permission till the last possible moment. Or, FOX’s insurance company may have filed a disclaimer refusing to pay because Fox’s actions were intentional. Intentional acts void coverage.

The insurance company may be providing a defense, at the same that it advises will not pay any monies. Such is customary and ordinary practice in cases of this nature. In the meantime, negotiations are ongoing on the side between FOX and its insurance company to see if a package can be put together to resolve Dominion’s claim. Again, the way the game is played in cases of this nature.

A big money war from all sides!

A bipartisan group of six Senators will introduce a bill today – The Railway Safety Act of 2023 – aimed at preventing a repeat of the toxic firestorm in East Palestine.

Typical government action. After the horse is out of the barn, after a tragedy has occurred.

The legislation is probably required. Too late however to help the residents of East Palestine. Their suffering not yet appreciated. Their fears today and tomorrow not yet understood.

The federal government must move its ass to limit the illnesses and deaths that can occur. Which probably will occur. Including plans to move a whole town if the same becomes necessary.

Today is Harry Belafonte’s birthday. The actor-singer is 96 years old.

Happy birthday, Mr. Belafonte! He is deserving of the “Mr.”

Pope Francis is marking his tenth year as Pope. Sitting in St. Peter’s chair has not been easy. His time has been marked by tenacious resistance from the conservative wing of the Church.

Even the Catholic Church has it Trump style/MAGA type group. They have lashed out at Francis in ways once thought unthinkable.

Beside those opposing him in the Vatican itself, half of American bishops are opposed to his teachings. Not really on religious grounds. Rather from a power perspective. They want to be in positions to run the Church themselves. Recall the many times I have written that persons like Steve Bannon and Newt Gingrich support and actively encourage them.

A study was released today re the price of gas for the past year. From 2/22-2/23.

One year ago, the average price of gas was $3.50 a gallon. At some point, rose to just under $5. Now, $3.40.

The numbers break down to 6 percent cheaper since last year at this time. However, note there has been a 2 percent increase just since January.

I always find these numbers amusing. They never apply to Key West. We are always $.30 to $.50 more expensive.

The Citizens’ Voice this morning: “Now that we are at record room rates that are so high visitors are cutting back on attractions, shopping and dining out, will we finally do something abut the TDC? Are we going to wait till businesses go broke since visitors spend their entire budget on hotel rooms? Enough advertising!”

An accurate observation. My personal observations support it.

From the Chart Room, I see Pier House guests returning to their rooms at dinner time carrying a pizza and six pack. Restaurant tables rarely turn over. The La Te Da inside bar is one of the finest such attractions on the island. Generally, music and entertainment. Dancing available. The room used to be crowded. A fun place to greet and meet. One of the hottest places in town. Now rarely crowded. Been a long time since I have seen a ton of people.

Syracuse beaten again last night. Decisively! By Georgia Tech 96-76.

The 3 pointers fell like flakes in a major snow storm. Georgia Tech made 18 out of 4o shots taken.

Things were so bad, Boeheim switched the team to man to man defense with 14 minutes to go in the second half. Made no difference.

The zone not working. Syracuse has lost its last 4 games. Winning teams in each instance hit 90 points. Boeheim understands. Assumes responsibility: “We have not been able to stop anybody four games in a row. And that’s on me. It’s my defense. We’re not able to stop anybody with it. That’s where we are.”

I meet Fran and Tom Dixon at 5 at the Chart Room.

Enjoy your day!

Tucker Carlson has come up with a new conspiracy theory. The train coming off the tracks in an area with a lot of white people was probably on purpose: “East Palestine is overwhelmingly white and it’s politically conservative and that shouldn’t be relevant, but it very much is.”

The people of East Palestine must be heard. Tests coming up negative at this time meaningless where environmental problems involving escaping toxins are involved. The bad stuff is fermenting, germinating. Valid results not available for years.

In the meantime, people exposed and suffering.

Most East Palestinians believe they are “dying slowly.” Sudden bizarre health issues affecting some.

A man whose voice has dramatically changed. He now speaks in a high pitched tone making him sound like Mickey Mouse. Sore throats developing. Temporary loss of smell and taste by some. Eye infections. Out of breath.

People believe they are being “poisoned slowly.”

Recall “Love Canal.” I referred to Love Canal and compared it to East Palestine early on when no one else was so doing. Early persons were comparing East Palestine to Chernobyl. I said not Chernobyl, but Love Canal. East Palestine now being referred to as the “new Love Canal.”

A new love and learn. Involves movie actor Steven Seagal. Surprising!

Yesterday, Hollywood actor Steven Seagal had bestowed on him the Russian Order of Friendship by Putin.

Turns out Seagal has been a long time Kremlin apologist. He cheered Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. He became a Russian citizen 2 years later. Also, a Siberian citizen. He maintains “triple citizenship.”

He visited eastern Ukraine in August 2022.

He is close to Putin and considers him a special person: “One of the great living leaders.”

Now 70, he was prominent in U.S. films in the late 1980’s and through the 1990’s. Always portrayed as a protector of the poor and downtrodden. Always on the side of and working in some fashion for the U.S. government. In the 2000’s, he has continued in film and TV to a lesser degree.

How long can Putin put boots on the ground in Ukraine?

He is losing 600-1,000 troops a day. He is getting “troops” from any source. Russian jails an example.

How long can he continue in this fashion? He has to run out of troops and sources at some point.

When will the Russian people say no more to the war?

Syracuse plays Georgia Tech at 7 this evening. My recollection is Syracuse has lost 4 in a row. Only 3 games left in the season. May Syracuse win this one. May it win all 3!

Enjoy your day!

Majoring in the arts in a free fall in college since COVID. One reason, a significant one for students and the high cost of education, is which major will produce a decent paying job upon graduation.

Technical studies produce the most dollars. Those that develop a free for all thinking mind significantly less. The loss is more than in dollars. Art/humanities studies are sensitive and thoughtful in nature and produce similar conditions in the student. An arts major broadens a person’s soul as well as mind.

Man has to appreciate smelling the flowers as well as knowing how to grow them.

In the last six months, residential rents have fallen. The reason being the crush of a newly constructed supply of rentals has hit the market.

At one point during the COVID pandemic and following, rents increased 25 percent over a 2 year period.

I question whether the news will affect the Key West rental market. Remodeled residential properties are renting for $10,000 to $25,000 a month. Key West is a tourist community. The market is different. Key West’s ever increasing rents have dramatically affected seasonal and long term renters who cannot afford the present high rates – whether a house or apartment.

Such is one reason the bottom has fallen out of Key West’s labor force. Workers continue to leave Key West because they cannot afford the higher rents.

Home telephones have come a long way.

I can recall when no one had a telephone. The neighborhood grocer did and calls were filtered through him. Such was before and during World War II. Then came home phones. Party lines. Began with 4 parties (homes) each having a phone line they shared. Not always pleasant or convenient. Recall the movie Pillow Talk.

Four line phones went to two. Then homes were able to get their own line. No waiting for a neighbor to get done with their call.

The phones described to this point were dial ones.

Yes, we’ve graduated. Now most have a cell phone and use that for home and everything else. A home phone alone today is referred to as a land line. Most have done away with land lines. I still keep mine. Need it for certain things I do with the blog.

Which brings me to Key West and the dial phone. On this day in 1952, South Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company began installing a new dial telephone system in Key West. A big deal at the time!

Pence’s refusal to testify before a grand jury is doing him more harm than good. America will definitely never elect him President under the circumstances. Doubt the Republicans will even nominate him.

His pompous goody two shoes attitude is backfiring on him.

Frank Pavone once chaired Catholics for Trump. He is a defrocked Catholic priest. Now, women are coming forward accusing him of sexual misconduct.

The sex scandal is rocking the anti-abortion movement. Pavone is presently director of Priests for Life, a non profit that funnels millions of dollars a year into the anti-abortion movement.

I close with a comment by Ernest Hemingway that I came across. Words of wisdom: “When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.”

Enjoy your day!

What a night! A champagne reunion at La Te Da. Fran and Tom Dixon and Louis.

The champagne was Tom’s idea. The three of us have been dear friends for 15 years. Tom and Fran from Buffalo. Visit Key West at least 4 times a year. For a number of reasons, Fran and Tom missed a visit or two recently. It has been months since their last visit. We were celebrating getting together again, especially after the long time between recent visits.

The meal excellent. The fourth I have enjoyed at La Te Da in the past several weeks. Last night, snapper. The other three meatloaf, crispy duck and a pasta dish. Each superior.

A long fun evening among old friends. We meet again wednesday evening at the Chart Room. Fran and Tom leaving thursday. However, this time they plan to return in April.

Christopher and Tom Luna walking around chatting with their guests during the course of the evening. The personal touch nice.

One thing I have noticed everywhere I have enjoyed fine dining the past several months is that the tables are not turning over. Prior to COVID, turned over 1 or 2 times. Now, one seating. Strange since Key West itself is packed this season.

Spoke with Steve Thompson last night on the phone while I was waiting for Fran and Tom to arrive. Told  Steve I was at La Te Da.

He leaves for the mainland today. He is scheduled for hernia surgery tuesday. Ouch!

Steve told me that when he and Cindy married in 1981, they spent their first night at La Te Da. Larry Formica owned it back then. Steve says La Te Da had the same charm then that it does now.

Long time Key West resident Tennessee Williams was found dead this week in 1983 in a hotel room in Manhattan. His death was ruled accidental.

On this day in 1852, St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church was dedicated. St. Mary’s was located on Duval Street at the time.

Harry Truman loved Key West and Key West loves Harry Truman.

On February 25, 1948, Truman arrived in Key West from Guantanamo Bay. He spent 8 days in Key West before returning to Washington. It was one of 11 visits Truman made to Key West. He enjoyed a total of 175 days visiting Key West.

South California has been hit hard with a storm bringing rain, snow and cold. Thousands without power. Eighty five thousand in Los Angeles alone.

Disaster befell Syracuse again last night. Purdue beat the hell out of Syracuse 99-82.

The Orange defense collapsed in the second half. The zone failed Syracuse. Purdue made 3 point shots with ease.

This was Syracuse’s third straight loss. The team’s next opponent Georgia Tech tuesday at 7 o’clock.

I cannot wait for the season to end!

Boeheim will have to devise a zone that stops 3 pointers. Otherwise, next season will be as this one and last year’s also.

Enjoy your Sunday!

What makes a Vladimir Putin? His childhood. It gave birth to the man of today.

Putin’s childhood adversities created the man intent on destroying present day Ukraine.

Putin was born in 1952 in Leningrad. He was a street kid in a city devastated by a horrific three year siege by Nazis during World War II. Three million died, one million starving to death. His father badly injured in the war, his mother nearly dying of starvation.

He lived in a rat infested apartment with two other families, No hot water, no bathtub, a broken down toilet, little or no heat.

Small in size. Left to fend for himself, severely bullied by other children.

From his parents, he inherited their wartime trauma. Personified by Nazi forces that had threatened his parent’s’ existence. The Nazis affected his parents in every respect. They had little time to be attentive to their son. Grandparents and other close relatives were non-existent. Kindness and affection were not part of young Putin’s world.

He was a troublemaker in school. A sixth grade teacher befriended him. Her attention made some changes in his life. He became an excellent student in high school. Learned judo to defend himself, got a law degree, and was elected to the KGB.

Nevertheless, the damage to his psyche had been done by his earlier years. The man that developed was machismo, distrustful and unpredictable. An individual who cultivated disinformation to advance his own agenda at any cost.

History tells us that abused people without love in their childhood, are capable of severe damage. Hitler, Stalin and Mao Zedong all suffered years of merciless beatings and other unconscionable abuses in childhood and went on to be responsible for the deaths of millions of people.

A childhood similar to Putin’s, with abuse and/or neglect and not enough love, were ingredients to becoming the abusive dictator and autocrat he is.

Putin’s statements following 2/22 one year ago reveal his childhood influence affecting his thought operation. Phony, of course. Putin was out to save Ukraine from the humiliation and genocide being perpetrated by the Ukrainian government. Ukrainian Nazis. Also, his goal was to bring to justice those Ukrainians who had committed bloody crimes on upon the Ukrainian people.

What Nazis? What bloody crimes? The experiences of his youth had radically warped his judgment.

Today marks the one year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Zelensky is the Winston Churchill of the 21st century. He said earlier this morning: “We will defeat everyone…..the longest day of the war lives…..we woke up early and haven’t slept since…..we will do everything to win this year.”

All types of natural disasters worldwide. The canals of Venice one of the most recent.

The canals are running dry. The smaller ones already bone dry.

Recall Venice is carless. The canals ae everything when it comes to moving about.

Drought the cause. A severe drought. Of historic proportions.

It has become a challenge to move around. In many cases impossible. Emergency boats, water taxis and delivery persons cannot get about.

A new study reveals shocking information. In 2020, there were 287,000 maternal deaths globally. That is equivalent to a woman dying every 2 minutes. Nearly 800 deaths a day.

There has been no progress in reducing the number of deaths in years. Health officials call the numbers “unacceptable” and encourage new studies as to causes be initiated.

Massive winter storms continue to batter much of the U.S. Nearly 950,000 households nationwide were without power last night.

A Citizens’ Voice comment this morning re Key West and change: “I, too, wish we could remember the past while promoting it to the next generation, but that is only a pipe dream. The island is changing fast.”

Too fast! Speed kills.

Enjoy your day!

I love Key West. That love gives me the right to share my observation that Key West has become greedy. Exceptionally so. From the cost of homes and rents to hotel and restaurant charges.

An example. high end restaurants now charge for ice cubes. Anywhere from $3 to $4 per drink. And they are not ashamed to let you know. Menus specifically show the “rocks” charge next to the mixed drink.

I have written and otherwise commented on the greed that has over taken Key West in the past. It cannot keep up! It will not continue!

However the time frame between now and when it ceases even I cannot say. It has to reach a point where locals and tourists alike say no more! Such is a built in self destruct mechanism.

It has happened in the past. Key West was once a significant gay community. No longer. Things got expensive. The gays turned to Miami and Fort Lauderdale where everything was 50 percent cheaper.

A comment in this morning’s Citizens’ Voice addressed the issue: “For the love of God, please stop the slow, painful death of Key West! Greed is hell bent on running the town. Government officials where are you? Do something to stop the carnage before it’s too late.”

Another comment in this morning’s Citizens’ Voice provides food for thought: “If guns don’t kill people, then drugs don’t kill people.”

The Georgia grand jury foreperson has been on a “full blown” media tear. I am concerned. Discussing grand jury minutes has always been a no no.

Bess Levin succinctly discussed the situation in her 2/22 Vanity Fair article: What The Hell Is The Trump Grand Jury Forewoman Thinking?

She described Emily Kohrs’ “media” as “bizarre.”

I agree. Kohrs’ conduct not responsible citizenship.

Since Trump’s visit to East Palestine yesterday, many media persons have “mocked” his gift of “Trump Water.”

By so doing, Trump played into concerns about the local water. Trump said the bottles were mostly of his own brand, plus some of lesser quality.

Pictures showed pallets of bottled water labeled “Trump” on their face. Trump standing beside the pallets of water, of course.

I found his delivery generous. In any amount.  Yet concerning. Eighteen thousand bottles of water not that much. I was unaware Trump has been selling “Trump” bottled water. Researched a bit to find out more about it. Found nothing! Which raises the question in my mind whether Trump had the 18,000 bottles specially put together to make a Trump type impression on the people of East Palestine.

The other thought that occurred was something I recall from Trump’s past when he was President. Trump’s administration repealed safety rules for “high hazard cargo trains.”

On this day in 1861, President-Elect Abraham Lincoln arrived “secretly” in Washington to take office, following word of a possible assassination plot in Baltimore.

“Secretly” is the key word.

I mentioned the other day Biden’s trip to Kyiv. “Secret” and involved a 10 hour train ride.

The word was out of a possible assassination on his life. Lincoln dressed not in his usual attire. Also wore a strange hat. All so he would not be recognized. His trip of course was by train.

Two great Presidents!

Turkey has 900,000 persons living in tents. Nowhere near enough.

The tents are set up in orderly fashion. Food, water and clothing still in dire need.

Total deaths in Turkey/Syria combined now in excess of 49,000 and growing each day.

Clemson decimated Syracuse last night 91-73.

Two observations.

The season can’t be over too soon for me. And, Biden has to come up with a way for his sacred zone defense to stop 3 pointers.

Enjoy your day!

Key West mourned saturday at the funeral service for 21 year old Garrett Hughes at The Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church.

Garrett had been shot in a parking lot incident last week behind a building on North Roosevelt Boulevard.

Garrett was much loved. Such was obvious by the crowd at St. Mary’s. More than 700 attended the service. The huge overflow crowd extended outside and onto Truman Avenue.

Former school administrator Amber Acevedo said, “There are some that bring a light so bright to the world that even after they are gone, the light remains…..Garrett was one of those special people.”

Georgia grand jury revelations by a chairwoman confuse me. Grand jury proceedings are “secret.” No disclosures, except as provided by law. What the chairwoman of the Trump grand jury did, definitely outside legal boundaries.

The Georgia grand jury system appears to be different from that of other states. The grand jury in question merely recommends who should be indicted, if anyone. Then it is up to the District Attorney to decide if indictment(s) should be sought. If so, another grand jury is convened for that purpose.

Fulton County is where the purported crime was committed. The District Attorney of that county Fani Willis would take the grand jury inquiries to the next step. She has done a good job so far with the first grand jury. Now time to move swiftly and indict. Trump’s indictment long overdue. Trump is no different than anyone else. He must be treated as all persons are under the law. No special consideration.

There is an old saying in the law to the effect that justice delayed is justice denied. I fear time works in Trump’s favor. Willis should nail him without further delay.

The East Palestine train derailment/toxic contamination matter continues to cause me grave concern. I am not impressed with government follow up to date. The EPA Director visits and offers words of condolences. Even had himself photographed drinking local water. Keeps advising responsible parties will be held responsible.

All does no good. The immediate concern to the East Palestine residents is safety. They feel insecure. They are afraid. All properly so.

I am disappointed for the first time with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. He is doing a lousy job on this problem. It is obvious he does not understand the nature of the problem. Just as the EPA Director does not.

This is a different environmental problem. The government is lucky it has been involved since day one, not years later. Therein lies the problem. Environmental  agencies are unaccustomed to handling a problem of huge proportions from day one.

New investigative approaches are required. What, I don’t know. The government does not either. What the government must do is begin thinking outside the box and put on board persons who can think that way.

Some economic insights.

U.S. home sales have fallen for the 12th consecutive month. Down 37 percent over January 2022.

The average American tenant is rent-burdened. Now pays more than 30 percent of income. Wages have failed to keep up with rent hikes. Affordable units remain scarce.

Real estate property taxes dramatically different when states compared one to the other. Cheapest state is Hawaii. Most expensive, New Jersey. Florida in the middle. Ranked #24.

January found grocery prices creeping back up. Rose 0.7 percent as compared to December.

Step back 5 years to when Trump first became President. He wanted the U.S. out of NATO. He spoke of Putin in the most friendly terms. He knocked U.S. intelligence for decrying Putin and Russia.

Syracuse/Clemson tonight at 7. Clemson a 4.5 point favorite.

I had a most enjoyable 2 hour luncheon with Don Manaher yesterday. At Harpoon Harry’s.

The first time in years we have been together. It was wonderful for the both of us!

Don has survived two cancers, both affecting him at he same time. A brain tumor now gone and lung cancr which is now in remission. He  now lives in Chicago to be near family and all the doctors he has needed and continues to need.

We talked about everything. We laughed about most.

His one month visit ends next week. We both assured each other we would have lunch together next year at this time.

I have said it before and repeat it again. Don is one of the nicest guys I have known in my lifetime.

Enjoy your day!