MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY, SNOOP DOGG, KENNY CHESNEY…..IN KEY WEST YESTERDAY

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Hollywood, Nashville and New York in Key West yesterday.

Matthew McConaughey, Snoop Dogg and Kenny Chesney.

Regarding McConaughey and Dogg, a movie being filmed in Key West. Actually, Miami and Key West. Four weeks in Miami, two in Key West.

Chesney just visiting.

The movie is The Beach Bum. McConaughey plays a rebellious stoner named Moondog. A loving rogue who lives life large. By his own rules.

A critic reported McConaughey was born to play the role.

Filming daytime yesterday at the Key West Golf Course and the Hemingway House. Last night, on Duval.

I got all this juicy information last night at the Chart Room.

Where else? All roads meet at the Chart Room.

It all started with Jean Thornton. She came in and mentioned the filming. Was on her way to Duval Street hoping to catch the evening filming. Not certain where it was. She was going to walk Duval.

Upon hearing Jean, John and Kevin piped up. They knew about McConaughey, the filming, etc. As did some others at the bar. I got an education.

Jimmy Buffett is in the movie, also. A portion of the story involves the Beach Bum getting on the stage at a Buffett concert and participating illicitly. My research suggests the Buffett portion was filmed in Miami November 29.

Word is McConaughey is staying in a private home. The balance of the cast and film makers at the Ocean Key House under assumed names.

Kenny Chesney has nothing to do with the movie. Not sure why he is in town. Perhaps hanging out. Key West one of his favorite places.

He reportedly was at Schooner Wharf in the afternoon. He also was on a boat with several lovelies. One of those at the bar had a pic on his cell phone showing Chesney and the ladies out on the water. One of the young ladies his daughter.

Anna came in to straighten out the house at 7 this morning. I told her about McConaughey and Chesney being in Key West. She knew all about McConaughey being here.

Anna’s husband is the Chef at Cafe Sole. McConaughey had dinner at Cafe Sole monday night.

NORMAL staying at the Pier House. The National Organization For The Reform of Marijuana Laws. The organizations annual on week convention.

NORMAL’s convention has been held at the Pier House for many years. Began back when pot smoking was not legal anywhere. The organization and legal pot smoking have come a long way.

Today, December 7. The day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. A day President Roosevelt described as one “that will live infamy.”

We live in dangerous times. May we not suffer a Pearl Harbor again.

I have to hustle. A doctor’s appointment at 10. My life…..doctoring.

Enjoy your day!

 

DECEMBER 7, 1941…..A DATE THAT WILL LIVE IN INFAMY

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December 7, 1941. The Japanese perpetrate a sneak attack on Pearl Harbor.  The beginning of World War II for the United States.

Two thousand four hundred were killed at Pearl harbor. The Nation was incensed. President Roosevelt immediately assumed the reins of a war time leader. He rekindled pride in country. Perhaps like never before.

Roosevelt was an orator. “A date which will live in infamy” his. He and Churchill equally gifted orators. Two great leaders for a dark time in the history of both countries. Immediately following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Churchill communicated with Roosevelt. He said, “We are all in the same boat now.”

I was 6-10 years old during World War II. Though young, the war had an impact on me.

I still distinctly remember the Utica Railroad Station. Soldiers and sailors coming and going. Wives and family hugging and crying. The crying especially moved me.

I lived in a six apartment building. All occupied by Petrone family members. My grandfather Louis the landlord. The older members would huddle around the radio each evening listening for war news reports. Trying to figure out where family members might be fighting.

Sunday mornings involved parades. Patriotic parades. From the Boy Scouts to World War I veterans. Bands and other groups. American flags waving.

Tiny blue and gold starred flags in windows. Blue meant a family member in the service. Gold, the family had lost a family member.

Air raid drills. Frequent. Everyone required to be at home or in a building. Shades drawn. No light from the inside permitted to show outside. Wardens walking the streets yelling at anyone violating the rules.

It did not take long for the U.S. to kick the Japanese in the ass big time. Six months after Pearl Harbor, the Japanese fleet was defeated in  a decisive battle by our Naval Forces at Midway.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is slated to meet with President Obama later this month at Pearl Harbor. The first high echelon Japanese official to do so since World War II.

We have been advised in advance that he will not apologize for the Pearl Harbor attack or war. He is attending solely to show respect for the World War II dead from both sides.

He should apologize. The attack was a sneak one. The Japanese treated U.S. captives terribly. As with ISIS, head chopping common.

Following the war, Japan was devastated. Were it not for the manner the U.S. treated them and the help given to get them on their feet, I doubt Japan would be the economic giant it is today.

Since the war, the Japanese have sworn off war. Military war. The U.S. is required by treaty to defend Japan if it is attacked.

Japan decided to wage conflict since World War II in the economic field. Business is war. Japan has done well in that arena.

My blog talk radio show last night. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Two main topics. Standing Rock and Pearl Harbor. Enjoyed discussing them. Hope those listening enjoyed also.

Enjoy your day!

MAINE LOBSTER

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Years since I had a Maine Lobster. Once you live full time in the Florida keys, you gravitate to Florida lobster.

Last night, it was a steamed lobster at Duffy’s. Outstanding! I enjoyed every morsel.

Maine lobster is priced outrageously in Key West. Most places, in the $50-$70 range. Duffy’s, only $38.

Do yourself a favor. Try the Maine lobster at Duffy’s.

I was at the Chart Room before Duffy’s. Enjoyed heavy conversation with Che. Finally saw David. Enjoyed his company, also.

Bill and Kate at the bar. We had met some time ago at Louie’s Back Yard. They apparently know Lisa. Also, Lee Garrison. I have neither seen nor heard of Lee in a couple of years. He is alive and kicking, though a bit ill. Residing at Truman Annex.

Bill is a federal firefighter at Boca Chica.

Kate, I liked. Her work, I did not. Said respectfully. She does clinical trials for the pharmaceutical industry.

Bill and Kate live at the presently infamous Peary Court. They are not concerned with the furor Peary Court has been experiencing.

My morning yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill. I am doing better. Got the speed almost up to where it was before I had to stop. My time still lagging.

After the treadmill, I had almost two hours to kill. Before a haircut appointment. Stopped at Cuban Coffee Queen for lunch and Cuban coffee. Around the corner from Lori’s Blown away. Killed the time reading the newspapers.

There is a new employee working the counter at Cuban Coffee Queen. Ruby. Somewhere in her 20s. A smart girl. Swift and efficient. Remembers customer’s names. She took care of me two times and now says Hi, Louis when I walk up.

Ruby has talent. She will go far in life. She is thrilled at the moment to have a job at the Cuban Coffee Queen. Even in busy Key West, things are not that good.

The humidity was heavy while I was sitting reading the newspapers. Did not realize how heavy. Felt it when I went to get up. Wow! Could not wait to get to Lori’s air conditioned shop.

Lori always good company.

I laid in bed this morning instead of getting up to do this blog. I was going to report Bubbles was going to go home to the ocean at 10 at Sombrero Beach. She is already gone. It is 11:30 at the moment.

Pride Week a success! As usual! Today, the Street Fair at the 700-900 blocks of Duval. Tomorrow, the Pride Parade at 5. Always a big deal!

On and off yesterday, I watched the Muhammad Ali services on TV. One of the finest services I have seen. Warm. The best way to describe it. His wife touching. They say the fruit does not fall far from the tree. It was evident when Ali’s children spoke.

The man was loved.

A couple of years ago, I wrote a KONK column about Jeanette Rankin. She was born this date in 1880. A few comments.

She was elected to Congress in 1916. The first woman ever to be elected to Congress. She could not be sworn in. It took two months for her fellow Congressional people to decide if a woman should be admitted to the Congress.

Times have changed. One hundred years later, a woman is running for President as the nominee of a major party.

Rankin voted against entry into World War I. She was one of 50 Congressional persons doing so. She left Congress in 1919.

She ran for Congress again in 1940. Won. December 7 occurred. President Roosevelt asked for a declaration of war against Japan the next day. Rankin was the only member of Congress to vote against the war. Made her very unpopular throughout the country. She did not run for reelection.

Rankin was decidedly anti-war. During the Vietnam conflict, she was a national leader in opposition to the war.

Strange things are happening!

Canada’s Supreme Court ruled this past week that human sex acts with animals is permissible if there is no penetration.

Eleven States in the U.S. do not have laws prohibiting bestiality.

Five years ago, I wrote a KONK column titled Berlin The Whore House of Europe. Left Amsterdam in the dust. I reran the article last year with some updates.

Now, I learn Germany has gone further down the road of perversity. Animal brothels are permitted. Germans view animal brothels as a lifestyle choice.

Sick.

Enjoy your day!

 

DECEMBER 7, 1941

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December 7, 1941. The day after when addressing a joint session of Congress seeking a declaration of war against Japan, President Roosevelt described December 7 as “…..a day that will live in infamy.” It has.

President Roosevelt also provided U.S. citizens with a bolt of confidence: “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”

This morning’s Key West Citizen provided interesting data re the attack. Two thousand four hundred three American military and citizens were killed. The Japanese lost only 64 of its Navy personnel.

I was six when Pearl Harbor occurred. I distinctly recall evenings sitting around the radio as a family hanging onto every word of the war news. Families wanted to know how the country and their own were faring. This kept up till the end of the war in 1945.

My Sunday was not as planned.. When I discovered yesterday morning that Helen Sperling had died, I decided to write this week’s KONK Life column about her. Helen was a Holocaust survivor. Spent significant time in Buchenwald.

I had neither research nor notes. I was prepared to write about Teddy Roosevelt. I had to start the column from scratch. It took the greater part of the day to get the column out. As a result, I never made it to the Gardens at 5.

The President’s TV speech disturbed me. He said nothing new. The concerns of the American people were not directly addressed.

I do not know what his problem is. Unless I am wrong and he has everything under control, his worry not attitude the correct one. I doubt it. The situation worries me.

Between writing the Sperling column and the President’s speech, I had Chinese delivered to the house.

The new City Hall’s furniture in the news again. Our spendthrift Commission approved the expenditure of $755,000 for furniture for the new City Hall. Top of the line furniture. All the buttons and gadgets. Like hydraulic desks and electric window blinds.

The World Almanac section of the Citizen carried a very fitting quote by Willa Cather: “The dead might as well try to speak to the living as the old to the young.”

How true!

Enjoy your day!