DOG TICKS, CROCODILES AND BOEING

What do dog ticks, crocodiles and Boeing have to do with each other? Absolutely nothing. Thought it made for an interesting title.

Dog ticks came to my attention when reading William Hackley’s diary entry for this day in 1856. He took dash for an ocean ride on the steamer Jasper. Dash had ticks.

Salt air cure dog ticks? A quick google told me no. Salt water does cure fleas. Maybe Hackley had ticks and fleas mixed up. Even in 1856, tick removal required tweezers.

This morning’s Citizens’ Comment made mention of the crocodile that now lives at the Key West Golf Course. My recollection, a Nile crocodile.

I was under the impression crocodiles are harmless to humans. Especially, Nile crocs. Not so.

Crocodiles and alligators alike enjoy feeding on humans. Crocs 4 feet are attracted to human babies and children. The size leads the crocodile to believe the baby/child is an animal.

Crocodiles 6.6 feet and over prefer adult humans.

The above info the result of a quick google search, also.

So…..Those that tell us not to worry about the 7-8 foot Nile crocodile living on the Golf Course may be wrong. Could be wrong. Whatever. Be on the safe side and keep a safe distance.

Five months ago at a Boeing plant in South Carolina, Trump and Boeing’s CEO enjoyed a kumbaya meeting. Trump announced he and Boeing had an understanding. No more jobs to go elsewhere. Jobs to remain. Plants to be built in the United States.

Boeing’s CEO was excited. Exclaimed…..We have a seat at the table!

Since that time, it has been announced that Boeing is building or planning to build plants in China, Saudi Arabia and India. It was further announced yesterday that just under 200 employees were going to be let go at a North Carolina plant.

So much for Trump fighting for every last job.

When the plant building became evident in the three foreign countries, the Boeing CEO said he was misunderstood five months ago. His comments were only to the effect that employment rolls would not be diminished . Job numbers would remain the same. No promise was made to increase the numbers.

I did not hear it that way.

New news this morning on Morning Joe. A Washington Post investigative reporter guest appeared. New cyber war information had been released moments earlier in a Post announcement. The information was not in this morning’s paper.

One of the steps taken by Obama was to somehow infiltrate late in December Russia’s cyber sources that provided the means to hack into the Presidential election. The U.S. had the capacity to destroy the technology involved.

Obama left the decision to Trump to decide when or if. Trump has and has had the information and decision making power since his inauguration.

Trump has the ability to pres the button. He has not. Nor has he even mentioned Russia and the election. Why?

My yesterday began with a visit to my heart doctor. Routine.

Late afternoon, I stopped at Louie’s Backyard. Meditation time. Sat looking out over the water thinking about this and that while enjoying a couple of drinks. Louie’s Backyard has one of the most relaxing water views in the Keys. A God is in His Heaven, all is right with the world feeling.

Big day for the ladies June 23, 1972. Title IX was enacted into law. Banned sex discrimination in federally funded educational institutions.

A boon to female college athletes!

No Key West Lou Facebook Video the past two days. Sorry. Back on track this afternoon.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

GOP SHOOTING

A sad morning.

Sad for the people of the United States.

Republican Congressmen were shot at early this morning while practicing for a baseball game tomorrow morning. Against Democrats. An annual charity fundraiser.

Steve Scalise, the Majority Whip, was shot. In the hip. In surgery at the moment. Several others shot, including two police officers.

I am not a Scalise fan. He is a right wing conservative. However, that does not mean I want him shot. The philosophical battles between my side and his are fought in the halls of Congress and at the ballot box.

One observation. I place part of the blame on the venom and in your face bully type comments spewed by Trump. It invites reaction. In this instance, against Republican Congressmen.

All wrong!

An attack against a Congressman is an attack against me and against you. We are all Americans.

My yesterday a busy one. Running around all day taking care of the mundane.

Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou last night. My podcast. Dwelt on Sessions’ testimony, the Cabinet meeting (the ass kissing one), and Boeing building or planning on building plants in China, Saudi Arabia, and India.

Forbes March edition reported there are 2,043 billionaires in the world. Their combined net worth $7.67 trillion.

Our national debt is three times that amount!

This Qatar thing is having effects. I once again blame Trump for emboldening the Saudis.

Qatar is one of the richest nations in the world. However a financial crisis is looming. The Saudis have shut off Qatar’s outside its borders bank transactions.

Another problem is milk. A problem of more immediate consequence. Milk. Milk is generally imported. Saudi Arabia and several other Arab nations have blockaded Qatar.

Local Qatar entrepreneurs have started a cow paradropping campaign. The Berlin Airlift on a minor scale.

The Key West Citizen carries columns by national columnists several times a week. One appeared today. By the Washington Post’s Kathleen Parker: Wishing for a Trump Tweetectomy.

Right on!

More than any other President, Trump has increased material for use by comedians.

Comedy Central’s Daily Show is opening this weekend the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library. The featured subject: Trump tweets. The Library is at 3 West 57th Street in Manhattan. It will be open friday-sunday. Admission free.

Some 20 years ago, a waitress at Square One had a sister who was afflicted with some rare disease. The sister was in Philadelphia. The waitress walked from Key West to Philadelphia to bring attention to the disease and to raise money to assist in finding a cure.

Impressive!

Another such venture. This one in the water rather than on land.

Three women are paddle boarding from Havana to South Florida. Hopefully, Smathers Beach.

One paddle board. three women. Each will take turns of two hours or less paddling. One of the ladies said, “Our arms are our engines.” Actually, the ladies cup their hands and use their hands to cut the water.

A vessel will lead them.

The trip is anticipated to take 25 hours.

Purpose: To bring two charities to the forefront. Ocean of Hope and Special Olympics 305.

Brave, tough ladies. Not an easy trip. Beside crazy waters and sharks, jelly fish could be the most significant problem. The ladies expect bites. They believe they can mentally as well as physically handle the pain.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

CABINET KISSES ASS

Trump news overwhelming. Directly and indirectly. On a daily basis.

Yesterday’s Cabinet meeting. The camera went around the table and captured comments by each Cabinet member telling Trump what a great job he was doing.

Actually, sickening. Powerful independent people in their other lives paying adulation to a leader not entitled to their words.

The Cabinet represents the President’s chief advisers. They fail when they kiss ass.

Trump’s comments at the same Cabinet meeting. Claimed he was one of the most productive Presidents in American history. He has passed more legislation at a record setting pace. Only Franklin Delano Roosevelt could come close.

Trump deceives himself. He is a mental case. He and Roosevelt are not even close to being in the same class. Name one piece of major legislation Trump has passed.

Boeing. I thought Trump beat up Boeing early on. Brought Boeing to the table of submission. Trump’s message to Boeing understood: My way or the highway.

Boeing is now building or in the planning stage to build plants in China, Saudi Arabia and India. Boeing says worry not. The overseas moves will not reduce the number of jobs Boeing has in the United States.

What about increasing jobs? Much needed jobs!

Trump is like Nero. One played a musical instrument. Trump keeps looking at himself in the mirror and reciting what a good boy am I. Nero so doing while Rome burned. The other while America dies.

Boeing secured $50 billion in defense and commercial sales from Saudi Arabia during Trump’s recent state visit. The pact included an agreement to complete Boeing Apache attack helicopters in Saudi Arabia.

Boeing is also interested in assembling fighter jets in India. A deal involving more than 100 planes.

Does color matter?

Public Theater has been presenting Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in a modern setting. Donald Trump is portrayed as Caesar. A Caesar dressed in a business suit with a long tie who gets knifed to death on the stage. Hair Trump style.

Delta and Bank of America pulled their sponsorships of the show.

The same play toured the United States in 2012 by The Acting Company. Caesar was played by an Afro-American actor in a business suit. Closely resembled Obama.

No one withdrew their sponsorships nor were there any adverse comments.

Last night began with delivering Terri to Aqua. I did not go in. Hurried to Tavern ‘n Town for a bite to eat and read the newspapers. The season is over and seats at the bar available.

Returned to Aqua afterwards. Enjoyed the end of Terri’s performance. Chatted with Donna. Lynda and Bob Frechette also.

Tom Luna and Rick Dey the Dueling Bartenders.

Key West is fortunate to have Donna and Terri and Lynda and Bob and Tom and Rick as residents and supporters.

Home early. Part of my game plan for the evening. Wanted to catch the Cleveland/Golden State game. A good one! The Warriors have won it all. A new dynasty born.

My podcast tonight. Some Trump and some other things. All interesting. Join me at 9 my time. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!