DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON?

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Trump sounds the drums of war. Bombs Syria and Afghanistan. Threatens North Korea with…..Everything is on the table!

Trump, Secretary of Defense Mathis and Press Secretary Spicer announce a carrier fleet is on its way to North Korea waters. Video is shown on TV of the USS Hornet and other ships steaming for North Korea.

A mistake big time! The Hornet fleet was 3,000 miles away and traveling in the opposite direction. On its way to the Indian Ocean for scheduled joint exercises with Australia.

Who the hell is running the shop? Who knows what is going on? If not the President and Secretary of Defense, who?

Who will be scared next when the cry to arms, to arms, the Yankees are coming, is heard?

Suppose North Korea had bombed Seoul in anticipation of the Hornet carrier fleet arriving?

Spent yesterday afternoon fine tuning last night’s podcast show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. One of my better shows. Initial four segments devoted to China.

An early dinner at Roostica.

Harlem Suarez, the Key West beach bomber, was sentenced yesterday in Federal Court. Life in prison. Suarez had planned to bury a backpack nail bomb at Smathers Beach.

A proper result. Many people would have been on the beach at the time the bomb blew. Possibly even Lisa and the grandkids.

Ozitec out. MosquitoMate in.

Yesterday killing ZIKA and dengue carrying mosquitoes began. On Stock Island.

Process referred to as Wolbachia mosquitoes. The male is infected with a bacterium that will screw up their semen. When the male mates with the female mosquito, the resulting eggs do not hatch.

It is claimed this process has been utilized for years, is safe, and works.

We shall see.

Big day in American history! The American Revolution began this day in 1775. The first shots at Lexington.

I reported yesterday re the Doolittle raid on April 18, 1942. Eighty American warriors bombed Tokyo and other Japanese cities. Their 16 bombers took off from a carrier 650 miles from the Japanese coast.

Of the 80 who participated in the raid, only one remains alive. Former Lt. Richard E. Cole. He is 101 years old. Cole was Doolittle’s co-pilot.

No question China is our number 1 competitor in every regard today.

China is significantly more populous than the U.S. As with all other countries.

Fourteen percent of the world’s population speak Mandarin Chinese. Only 5.5 percent speak English.

The John Calhoun College name change at Yale University eats at me. The student body forced it on central administration. African-Americans and their supporters at Yale and elsewhere want anyone connected with slavery to no longer be honored/revered.

Four Presidents were slave owners. A reflection of wealth in their times. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Andrew Jackson.

Punish one, punish all. One example, Washington. Takes his name off Washington DC, picture off the dollar bill, and rename the Washington Bridge in New York City. As to Jefferson, take down the magnificent statue honoring him in Washington.

As to Jackson, remove all things honoring him. Jackson is Trump’s hero. I would love to see Jackson’s reaction.

Enjoy your day!

AQUA IDOL…..LYNDA FRECHETTE

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The driving force behind Aqua Idol is Lynda Frechette. She and others, the driving force behind the Waterfront Theater.

Aqua Idol is the annual fundraiser to assist the Waterfront Theater. Takes money to keep a theater going. Especially an excellent one!

Aqua Idol is Lynda’s baby! Runs several consecutive tuesdays. The best singers from the lower keys participating to raise money for the Waterfront Theater.

Want an enjoyable evening? Stop at Aqua tonight at 6. The best of the best awaits you.

Stopped at Aqua last night for Dueling Bartenders. No Tom Luna. Understand he is taking three weeks off. Rick Dery holding down the fort with two other vocalists. A typical great evening.

Liz and her lady friends part of the audience. Joined them. Afterwards, Liz and I had dinner at Michael’s. Liz stopped me from ordering desert and coffee. She had it planned for home. Her home. Finished the evening at Liz’s with great carrot cake, ice cream and coffee.

My blog talk radio show tonight. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. Join me for a quick half hour of interesting and challenging topics. Guaranteed you will not be bored. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Picture in this morning’s KONK Life: Sheila Cullen and Howard Livingston. A spectacular duo! The pic taken at the Southernmost Castaways fundraiser last friday night.

Love Eugene Robinson! Pulitzer Prize winner, Associate Editor and columnist for the Washington Post and a regular on MSNBC’s Morning Joe.

Robinson and his wife Avis have been vacationing in Key West the past several years. Last year, he spoke behalf of the Key West Friends of the Library. I missed it. He is scheduled to do it again this year.

At the Key West Theater. March 6 at 6. Arrive early. Line long. Doors open at 5:30. Free.

Water an interesting problem in the days of William Hackley. On this date in 1856, Hackley reported he could not bathe. Water foul. He could take a shower bath, however.

Raises the question in my mind as to whether bathing was done with well water. Does not seem possible. Key West is at ocean level. Nothing but ocean water a foot down.

Was the shower bath by accumulated rain water? Or, previously collected well water?

Whatever, I would like to know. If any of you have the facts, share with the rest of us.

Poor Trump. He is being mocked. In Austria. It is carnival season. Costume shops are selling Trump wigs. A popular item. Most shops sold out.

If Nixon had not screwed up with Watergate, he would be considered one of our great Presidents. A key item would have been his trip to China. He arrived in China this date 1972.

Nixon began the process of re-establishing diplomatic relations with China. A major feat!

On this date in 1848, Karl Marx, together with Frederick Engels, published The Communist Manifesto. What would become the Communist bible. the last few sentences of the work saying it all: “The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. they have a world to win. Workers of the world, unite!”

Without Marx, there would not have been a Lenin. In 1917, Vladimir Lenin led the world’s first successful Communist revolution in Russia.

Though no longer the case, by 1950 nearly half the world’s population lived under Marxist governments.

This is the best! Alexander Lukashenko is the long time President of the European nation of Belarus. He is reputed to be Europe’s last dictator. A thug, he steals elections, sends opposition politicians to forced labor camps. He even arrested  a one armed man for clapping.

Belarus is in recession. Not enough tax dollars coming in. Hundreds of thousands out of work or working little. Lukashenko refers to them as social parasites. They are not paying their fair share to run the government.

So…..He is taxing the unemployed! During a recession!

Anyone who works less than 183 days a year is required to pay $250 in compensation for lost taxes.

Less than 10 percent of those required to pay have paid.

Enjoy your day!

A FEW COMMENTS

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Short blog this morning. Barbara leaving. Have to get her to the airport for an early flight.

Still biting my tongue re Trump. People voted for a change. He is giving us change.

Some food for thought.

  1. The United States does not operate in secrecy. A federal agency media freeze is un-American.
  2. The President works for the people. The people do not work for the Presidnet.
  3. We have a B Cabinet: Billionaires and bankers.

The Key West City Commission has been considering making Key West a Sanctuary City. Still up in the air. Perhaps, fortunately. Trump is expected to target Sanctuary Cities today.

My blog talk radio show last night. A good one from my perspective. A lot of China and Mexico and the U.S. interplay with them.

Pythons back in the news.

I wrote a lengthy column about four years ago in KONK Life re the Florida python problem. Primarily in the Everglades. The bottom line was they are here to stay. In excess of one hundred thousand. The State is trying to manage the problem. Eradication not possible.

The State has hired two tribesmen from India who have had success in India with the problem. The State is also in the process of bringing in dogs trained to sniff out pythons.

Syracuse won a game last night! A close one. Beat Wake Forest 81-76.

Bocce and the Sons and Daughters of Italy hand in hand this weekend. Makes sense. The Sons and Daughters and the Key West Wildlife Center are having a Bocce Night Fundraiser saturday evening. 5:30-9:30. Bocce courts across from the White Street Pier.

Cost minimal. You even get to learn and play or play if you already know how. $20 for adults and $10 for children.

I will be at the fundraiser teaching. It is like riding a bicycle.

William Blakley. Fifty eight degrees this date in 1856. He “made up a fire in the stove.”

Fifty eight degrees in Key West is like 20 degrees up north.

Enjoy your day!

FRIDAY SATURDAY.

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Yesterday was friday. For me, saturday.

From the time I rose, I thought it was saturday. While reading the Wall Street Journal, I noticed it had friday’s date. I could understand. The saturday edition is normally labeled Weekend Edition.

Later, while I was at Tammy’s for a manicure and pedicure, she told me she was working tomorrow. I could not understand. She never works on sunday.

Later in the afternoon, I telephoned Liz to finalize plans for sunday evening. We are attending St. Paul’s Christmas show together. I wanted her know what time I would be picking her up “tomorrow.” She said not tomorrow, sunday.

At that point it dawned on me! Today was friday, not saturday. Wow! What a screw up! Was I losing it?

To add more humor, I was planning on attending Larry’s Smith’s Christmas show saturday night at The Studios of Key West. That would have blown me out! I would have showed up friday night to be confronted by locked doors.

Do I add this to falling down all the time?

So…..Larry Smith tonight at The Studios for Christmas with Larry. 8 pm. I will be there. You should, also. Guaranteed top flight entertainment.

Getting back to Tammy, she told me she was returning to Vietnam in June for three weeks. She and her 6 and 8 year old children. Rick staying home to work the business.

A 32 hour trip.

She is going because she has not been to Vietnam in 12 years. Her children have never met their great grandparents on both sides. Her and Rick’s parents live in the U.S.

Then to the Cuban Coffee Queen for lunch. A couple of weeks since I had been there. No Ruby. Nor the last time. A big young Australian working her job.

I spent my “friday afternoon” reading a book about Cleopatra. What I learned!

Cleopatra was of Greek origin, not Egyptian. She was a direct descendant of Alexander the Great’s right hand man Ptolemy I. Ptolemy I became governor of Egypt.

At some point, Ptolemy I appointed himself Pharaoh. Everything continued Greek. The court spoke Greek.

Ptolemy I wanted to keep the ruling class in the family. Brothers and sisters married. Cousins, also. Had to be a lot of nuts eventually!

Cleopatra was married to her brother Ptolemy XIII before her Julius Caesar marriage.

Cleopatra was not Elizabeth Taylor. Not a beauty at all. Great at sex, however. A seductress. Note Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony.

Since I was not going to see Larry Smith, I took the night off. Stayed home and watched old movies on Turner Classics. It was Myrna Loy night. A 1930s and 1940s star. I did not realize her remarkable talent till I watched her play several different roles last night.

Some followers of this blog reside in Papua, New Guinea. Almost since day one. Like 10 years now.

Papua suffered an 8.0 earthqualke yesterday. A tsunami warning has been issued. I hope God holds Papua in his hands.

Scary.

China can’t wait till Trump takes office to test the U.S. Yesterday, the Chinese stole a U.S. Navy submarine drone from South Sea waters in full view of a U.S. Navy vessel. Election hacking with Russia on the front burner. No peace for Obama in his final days.

Big day travel wise for Key West yesterday. United’s first direct non-stop flight from Newark to Key West. In January, United is going to provide a similar flight from Chicago.

I have been flying to Key West 26 years. I can recall when it was a 3-4 plane trip from Syracuse. Twelve to 14 hours. Assuming no delays. Delays guaranteed during the winter.

On this day in 1903, Orville Wright flew a power driven plane for the first time. Two thousand three was the 100th anniversary of the flight. Wright’s plane was reconstructed. Planned to be flown where Wright had flown 100 years earlier.

The plane did not fly.

Syracuse/Georgetown today at noon. On ESPN. I will be able to watch. Syracuse an 8 point favorite.

Syracuse and Georgetown were bitter enemies starting when the Big East League was formed in 1979. Always great hard fought games!

Big John Thompson Georgetown’s coach. Jim Boeheim Syracuse’s. They disliked each other from day one. Thompson especially hated Boeheim. Hated the correct word.

After Thompson retired and Boeheim was having league problems, the two made up. Actually initiated by Thompson. He came over at a game and hugged Boeheim. Just like that, the animosity of 30 plus years was gone.

Enjoy your day! Yes, I know it is saturday!

WOMEN DRINKING HARD STUFF

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Regarding people in their 60s, I read that women generally are drinking hard stuff and men wine. A change in drinking choice. Proof once again that women are the stronger sex.

Did some research yesterday afternoon for my tuesday evening podcast show. I have been waiting till tuesday to prepare the past couple of weeks. Made for long tuesdays.

Donna and Terri celebrated their anniversary this past week. Not from the day they married. From the day they first met. Eight years now. The right is theirs to determine from what date.

They were to be my guests last night to celebrate the event. Donna called mid afternoon to say Terri was a bit under the weather and they had to cancel.

So, I did Berlin’s alone.

Gage and Shaun bartending.

A couple to my left were eating 2 pound lobsters. I was tempted. Thought it would be too much for me last night. Instead, I enjoyed Berlin’s filet mignon special. A small piece of meat. To die for! Great cooking at Berlin’s!

Bria entertaining. A voice! She was singing 40s, 50s and 60s tunes while I was there. I sat a while after dinner to continue enjoying her.

Bria is a big woman. Not fat. Large. Very sultry. Innocently exudes sex.

Key West is supposedly studying the use of bicycle sharing to help reduce auto traffic. I say supposedly because I question whether Key West is taking it seriously.

China is. Successfully. If it is working for China, it will work here.

Bike sharing is escalating in China. Beijing has 5.6 million automobiles. Two companies in the business. Ofo and Mobike. Their bikes located all over Beijing. The customer locates one, books the bike using a cell phone, and rides away.

Ofo is the cheaper of the two companies. Its market college students. The rental cost is $. 07 American money per hour. With a $13 deposit for the bike. Returned when trip completed.

What blew me out was the cost of a new bicycle. Ofo pays $30 for a new bike. A used one cannot be purchased for that money in Key West. Not even close.

Hangzhou has the largest public bicycle program. The largest number of bicycles in any city world wide. Eighty four thousand bikes!

Key West City Commission, pay attention to China. It does not hurt to study a city where a bicycle program has proven successful. A smaller community such as Key West provides an easier opportunity for success.

We are into the voting season. Secret ballot. No one’s business who a person actually votes for.

Was not always so. There was a time when a voter’s choice was made publicly. Before an audience of friends and neighbors. A public act.

The setting was generally a platform in a public square. The voter went up, openly enunciated who he was voting for. A clerk recorded his vote. This was done in front of huge crowds. Some in the crowds heckling, drinking and/or brawling.

Thus was the method of voting in the U.S. from colonial times to the 1880s. Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln were elected this way.

Key West busy again this weekend. Not as many visitors as for Fantasy Fest. Large enough, however.

Parrotheads. Jimmy Buffett fans. This weekend their annual convention.

People come from all over the U.S. to enjoy the Parrothead convention, as people do for Fantasy Fest. Parrothead partiers significantly subdued in comparison to those that attend Fantasy Fest.

Some Fantasy Fest women from Iowa and Nebraska for example proudly exhibit their breasts. Grandmothers, teachers, etc. Good persons all. The Parrothead women on the other hand keep their clothes on. Limit their fun/foolishness to wearing crazy hats. The international sign of a parrothead.

Different strokes for different folks.

Key West Rotary history continues. This is installment 6.

The time continues to be 1925.

In November 1925, a Rotary meeting was held in St. Paul’s Parish Hall. A distinguished speaker.  Frank W. Lovering. A building contractor and former managing editor of the Boston Herald. His speech described as stirring.

The subject was Key West’s need for a planning board.

Problems discussed by Lovering are the same today in many respects. Parking, wider streets to accommodate increased traffic, better school facilities, a modern waterfront.

Key West has been successful re school facilities and a modern waterfront. A failure as to parking and more driveable streets.

He recommended the City plan for the pipeline recently authorized by the State legislature. Also, plan for the additional cars that would be coming to Key West down the Overseas Highway.

Lovering recommended that the City “…..plan for growth of that yet you may–a distasteful job. But necessary.”

Re the waterfront, “Give ocean traffic a chance in your zoning map so that proper segregation will make a modern and a practical waterfront.”

Lovering closed his address with…..”Be broad of mind and of vision.”

Enjoy your day!

 

 

NEW NEIGHBORS

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New neighbors in Key West! Amy Bondurant and David Dunn. Wife and husband. Welcome!

Some 200 hundred homes were visited by Amy and David the past few days. They have been in Key West canvassing door to door for Hillary Clinton.

Amy and David have homes in Washington, DC and Paris. They recently purchased a home in Key West. 1920s vintage. Undergoing remodeling. They plan on moving their furniture down here in December and becoming official Key West residents at the time.

Both have distinguished backgrounds. Amy was the U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development in Paris from 1997-2001. She served under Clinton and Bush 2. David is an attorney specializing in international law.

This blog brought us together. David has been reading it. We were supposed to meet for a drink this week. Our schedules would not permit it. We intend to get together when they return in December. I plan on introducing them to the Chart Room at that time.

I have some Trump comments. I apologize. However, we are getting close to election day. I feel compelled to vent my anti-Trump feelings. A number of pro-Trump readers will comment. It will be like the roof falling in on me.

More than a year ago, I referred to Trump as a Pied Piper. Both in this blog and on my blog talk radio show. His followers were blindly following him. Gabriel Schonfeld writes for the New York Daily News. He referred to Trump this past week as the Moronic Pied Piper.

Right on!

In a Washington Post article yesterday, Trump was described as a huckster and charismatic demagogue.

Nicolas Maduro has been Venezuela’s President since 2013. His country ran out of toilet paper under him. Now, food. Even pets and zoo animals have been eaten. I have commented adversely re Maduro many times since the toilet paper incident. In this blog, on my podcast show and in my KONK Life column.

The same Washington Post article suggested Trump was very much like Maduro. The article noted Maduro jailed his political opponents. As Trump has suggested be done with Hillary.

I’m not done with Trump yet.

George Will described Trump well in a recent Washington Post column titled “Putin Buying Back the 1930s.” The last paragraph spoke volumes. “In many worrisome ways, the 1930s are being reprised. In Europe, Russia is playing the role of Germany in fomenting anti-democratic factions. In inward-turning, distracted America, the role of Charles Lindberg is played by a presidential candidate smitten by Putin and too ignorant to know the pedigree of his slogan America First.”

A little more.

I have described the relatively new President Rodrigo Duterte as the Donald Trump of the Philippines. Rodrigo has a dirty mouth. More filthy than even Trump.

Now to Key West. Exciting days ahead!

Friday night marks the beginning of Fantasy Fest. Goombay! I will be out on the street with Don and the bocce team. An annual event for us.

Fiona. Fiona is the sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle who at the end of July was found dying. By a 12 year old boy. Fiona was emaciated, entangled in a fishing line, had ingested a portion of the fishing line, and her blood was low.

On death’s door.

Fiona was hurried to the Marathon Turtle Hospital.  She has recovered. Even gained 15 pounds.

Fiona is being returned to the ocean this saturday at 10 am. Sombrero Beach in Marathon. A couple of hundred will be there to see her off.

I will be home in bed by 9 this evening. Comfortably watching the last of the Presidential debates. Love this stuff! I am a political junkie at heart!

This is take care of Louis day. A manicure and pedicure at noon with Tammy. Then to my heart doctor’s office. Have to give blood. Hate it! Cannot look! When I was 21 and preparing for marriage, New York required a blood test to make sure a person did not have syphilis. I passed out!

Tonight, a couple of drinks at Don’s Place. A quick bite to eat somewhere and then home.

Enjoy your day!

 

HOPE EVERYTHING WORKS

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I have had a bad week with the computer. Certain facts must be understood.

I am not computer literate. I am of that generation that does not deal with machines well.

Some have asked where was my backup. I try. Understand I write this blog read by thousands world wide from a desk in my bedroom. I am not NBC or the New York Times.

My backup hardware when I have a problem is to go to Lisa’s and use her computer. This I did. I knew I had a virus. The virus showed up immediately as I used Lisa’s computer. I shut it down immediately, of course. Whatever my problem, it had to do with the program I use.

I did not want to share the virus with all of you. It took this long to get everything resolved.

I am back! Hopefully.

The highlight of my week without having to do a daily blog, weekly newspaper column, and weekly blog talk radio show, was meeting Patrick. That Patrick. Not as bad a guy as he sounds when he comments. We had an enjoyable half hour conversation.

Last night was Happy Hour at Martin’s with Jenna. More than a month since we had been together. She is more beautiful each time I see her. We enjoyed great conversation and small lamb chops, brie, crab cakes and sushi tuna.

Martin’s Happy Hour is the best deal in town.

Sherry is a loyal blog reader. I forget from where. She wrote several months ago asking if I could help her daughter Cassie get an internship in communications, TV, etc. I spoke with Jenna. Jenna interviewed Cassie and took her on. Jenna has told me several times what a find Cassie is. She is better prepared than other interns who have worked with Jenna.

Cassie is a student at Ferris State in Michigan. Jenna believes the school was instrumental in Cassie being as job ready as she is.

David Wolkowsky and I have become friends over the past several months at physiotherapy. I wrote a column two weeks ago in KONK Life titled David Wolkowsky. The man is Mr. Key West. Now, 96. David built the Pier House and Reach. He gave Jimmy Buffett his first paying job.

David is aware I broke my toe. A nice guy. He had delivered to me today at big sponge cake with fluffy white frosting. Written in blue on top: A Place For The Toe. Thank you, David.

Tom Oosterhoudt is a well known man about town. Conch Color is his production.

Tom’s back got screwed up a couple of years ago. He has had several heavy surgeries. Conch Color is a weekly. Tom does an editorial each week. This week he made mention that while he was in Miami for the last operation, Randy Roberts visited him. Randy washed his hair and face.

I have never seen as many tourists as this season. Town packed. Sidewalks so crowded it is difficult to walk. You flow with the crowd.

Syracuse did not make the big tournament. I suspect we will play in the NIT. A disappointment. However, I did not expect Syracuse to make it. A horrible season! Every now and then it happens.

Trump is a danger to our country, democracy, and way of life. I continue to compare him to Hitler in the early and mid 1930s in Germany.

If he becomes President, the country will be in far worse shape than before the election.

Elizabeth Warren recently commented on the Republican Party and Trump’s candidacy.

She said the Republican Party has welcomed every radical group into the party over the years. Now, they are taking over. They have the party by the throat. She believes the Republican Party will pay the price for its own extremism. Her conviction is the Republican Party has only itself to blame.

I agree with Warren.

The U.S. owes China roughly $1.5 trillion. China is also buying businesses in our country. The most recent acquisition is the historic Hotel del Coronado near San Diego. A Chinese insurance company paid $6.5 billion for it.

We are selling ourselves to the Chinese.

I hope this blog appears today. My frustration and exasperation will know no end if it does not.

Enjoy your day!

 

SUNDAY WRITING

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My Sunday limited to two events. Writing and eating.

I wrote this week’s KONK Life column. Took me from 11 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon. Part of the time spent completing research.

The title is Goodbye Handwriting. What I have written is shocking. I did not know. The written word is dying.

I strongly suggest you read the column later in the week when it is published.

A shower and it was off to Roostica. Luckily, I was able to get a table.

Sloan was at Roostica with a large party of family and friends. I was glad to see her and meet them. Sloan was anxious for me to meet her daughter who arrived later. A beautiful young lady. Very personable. Well done, Sloan.

I am off to Miami this morning. Car tune up time. I will never buy a car outside of Key West again. Every time something has to be done to the Volkswagen, I lose a day having to take it to Miami.

Not all lost, however. I plan on stopping at the something Fish Factory in Islamorada on the way back. Stone crabs!

I cannot recall if I wrote in an earlier blog concerning what is about to be shared. I know I addressed the topic on my blog talk radio show Tuesday night.

China and body parts. China and the harvesting of organs.

Human life is not as respected and cherished as in the United States. China does a big business in harvesting and selling human body parts.

Recently, Newsweek published a detailed story concerning the issue. The article was written by several well respected journalists. I point this out because what I am about to share is so far out.

China removes body parts for resale from prisoners. Especially political ones. By the thousands. Livers, corneas and kidneys.

No anesthesia used. The person generally dies during the removal. The person’s body is thrown into an incinerator.

Some live. They are thrown alive into the incinerators with the dead.

China denies the story.

Enjoy your day!

 

SCREW OFF DAY AGAIN

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Love wednesdays! The end of my work week. My friday night.

Writing consumes me. Love it! Especially research, the actual writing and editing. Certain days are heavy. I start saturday and run through tuesday evening.

Sunday and tuesday the busiest. The KONK Life column must be to the publisher by 5 on sunday. Takes me all day to do. After researching it on saturday. Tuesday is my blog talk radio show. Additional research, fine tuning the material, and doing the show in the evening.

Today is wednesday. The beginning of my weekly three day vacation.

Anti-gravity treadmill yesterday morning. Hogfish for lunch. I was able to get a seat. Not as many people. Fine tuned my blog talk radio show. Delivered the blog talk radio show in the evening.

I got into the Catholic Church last night. I am unhappy with the way the Cardinals and Bishops are treating him. He is being ignored. He says do something. They do not. They do what they want. I explored the problem.

Political campaigns cost money. I was into Bill and Hillary’s earnings from speaking engagements. Since 2001, $153 million. We should all be on the speaking circuit!

Syracuse/Louisville tonight at 7. Louisville a 7 point favorite. Dan, lets watch it together at Jack Flats. E-mail and let me know if we will be together. I will be bringing a guest.

The New York Times reported today that China has deployed surface to air missiles on an island in the South China Sea. Already some Congressmen are spouting…..We must do something!

Where have they been the past two years? China has been building islands from scratch in the China Sea. Placing air strips on them. Increased its naval vessel numbers beyond ours. Developed new surface to air missiles capable of hitting the US from one of the islands.

China could become an immediate problem if its problems with Japan are not resolved. Both nations are fighting over a series of islands. In the event of hostilities, the US  is bound by agreement to defend/help Japan.

Football czar Roger Godell received $34.1 million in compensation from professional football last year. Actually, he is paid directly by the owners who he continues to make rich.

This next topic is sure to arouse severe and adverse comment.

Recall General William Tecumseh Sherman’s March to the Sea. He burned and pillaged one community after another. With the full support of his military superior General Ulysses Grant and President Abraham Lincoln.

The philosophy behind such destruction was that it would end the war more quickly if Southern civilians felt the destruction personally.

This used to be the position of the US through World War II. Japan and Germany were left in ruins. We bombed the hell out of Germany. Dropped two atomic bombs on Japan.

Since World War II, the US has proceeded differently. Civilians must be protected. Avoid damage to civilians. Kill and wound them not.

I do not agree. I am of the opinion that the citizens of a nation have in one fashion or another placed their leaders in power and permitted them to remain in power.

Better the civilians die rather than our boys and girls.

Enjoy your day!

 

NO BLOG TALK RADIO SHOW LAST NIGHT

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Occasionally, the best laid plans of mice and men go astray.

It did for me last night.

Tuesday night is my blog talk radio show. Final preparation and fine tuning in the afternoon.

Nine came and I could not connect with Blog Talk Radio. Something wrong at their end. Frustrating.

Material put together for the show cannot necessarily be used next week. Generally stale.

I wish to briefly share two items from the show with you this morning. They were topics #s 1 and 2.

The first had to do with airport screening. Those wonderful people who prod us, check our bags, etc. at security in airports can make some extra money. The Drug Enforcement Agency pays a finder’s fee/commission to them if they discover large sums of money carried by a traveler.

An incentive for abuse here.

This is not TSA performing security duties. It is fishing on behalf of another federal agency. Not what TSA was established for.

The Inspector General of the Justice Department recently issued a report critical of the activity. What will come of it, I do not know.

Every nation seems to owe China money. The United States, $1.7 trillion.

Ecuador owed China $7 billion. China said pay up. Ecuador said we do not have it. China said ok, then give us 3 million acres of the Amazon Rainforest. An even swap. Why? The rainforest has a huge untapped oil reserve.

Assume China calls in the U.S. debt. We could not come up with $1.7 trillion. Would China take the Grand Canyon? The Empire State Building? Even better, all of Manhattan?

I had a 5 o’clock meeting yesterday downtown. Not the time to travel. The return trip to Key Haven horrendous.

Traffic backed up from Grinnell for the Palm St. bridge and the Boulevard. I went over White hoping to have an easier time on Truman. Traffic backed up to the Truman/White intersection.

Too many cars. Too many people.

The powers to be created the situation. Let them now come up with a cure. I doubt they can. Somebody must in the next few years.

Larry Smith is doing it again!

The Larry Smith Quartet will perform sunday night at 8 at The Studios of Key West. A major performance!

A jam session consisting of Larry’s original compositions.

Appearing also will be Dan Brubeck. Dan is the son of Key West icon Dave Brubeck. Dan is an accomplished musician in his own right. His drumming talent recognized world wide.

An event! Don’t miss it!

Enjoy your day!