81 YEARS OLD

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Today is my birthday. I am 81 years old. Amazing!

In the opening of my blog talk radio show last night, I briefly commented on the FBI’s report re Hillary Clinton. The report had come out earlier in the day.

A point I made was lets not have more Congressional hearings. As with Benghazi. Following the show, I turned on TV. There was Paul Ryan expressing his disgust with the decision and indicating there would be Congressional investigations. Probably by the Oversight and Judiciary Committees.

Lets stop with partisan inspired hearings that cost a ton of taxpayer dollars and go on ad infinitum. Again, ike Benghazi. With the final result being zip. Lets get into jobs, the economy and security.

We must stop being a gotcha society.

I want to make mention of FBI Director James Coomey’s long report detailing reasons, etc. Not the way things are done! Normally, a report is made that there was not sufficient evidence to charge. That’s it.

The normal statement would have resulted in less furor than has been heard since yesterday morning. Though there would have been outcries. Such is the nature of our society.

Another item discussed I discussed was of more interest. To me. Should be to you also.

It was announced that the British government had given permission to scientists to create the first genetically modified baby.

The good book indicates that man is to give to God that which is God’s and to man that which is. Life is within God’s province. Not man’s.

My morning was spent with the heart doctor. Assured me everything looked good with the catheterization results. I have problems, but they have not magnified in recent years.

No answer as to why I had the chest and throat pains.

Funny part is I have not had any pains in two weeks. Not since I went to the doctor complaining of them.

Turtle news. Some one up on the Florida mainland was arrested for stealing turtle eggs. From the mother loggerhead turtle as she was laying them into the sand and from the sand hole itself. One hundred seven of them.

I was unaware people eat turtle eggs.

The eggs are round. Shelled. Eaten raw or slightly heated.

There are people who believe turtle eggs impart sexual stamina. I could use the 107.

My 81st birthday will be simple. I want to have lunch and read the newspapers at the Cuban Coffee Queen. Tonight, I want to enjoy Robert and Ally. I am having dinner with Lisa and the family.

Enjoy your day!

 

4 POINT SHOT

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Basketball has a major change in the works. Serious consideration is being given by the NBA to add a 4 point shot. Something 4 feet or longer behind the present 3 point line.

Shots from just after half court will become common place.

What an impact it will have on the game. Even the defense. Four pointers will require an extended defense.

Tonight my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Topics include Monsanto getting beat up, Israel and Saudi Arabia strange bedfellows, 157 pregnant U.S. women diagnosed with Zika, U.S. suicide rate at a 30 year high.

Also, Hugo Chavez’s daughter worth $4.2 billion and living in New York City, 5 non-financial companies hold 1/3 of all cash, a Nestle attempt to privatize water supply thwarted, the Portland School Board banning texts that deny climate change, and more.

Interesting material. Join me for a quick half hour dissertation.

Spent most of the day yesterday researching material for tonight’s blog talk radio show.

Dinner at nearby Roostica.

The New York Post recently ran an article titled: How Corporate America Bought Hillary Clinton for $21 Million. Covers her post-Secretary of State years 2013-2015. Breaks down the $21 million speech by speech.

Enjoy your day!

LAZY LUNCH AT LOUIE’S BACKYARD

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Lunch yesterday could not have been better! Lazy and long. Great company. Excellent food.

Donna, Terri and Louis at Louie’s Backyard. We lunched as one. Too many bloody marys, followed by Maine lobster rolls.

It was catch up time. We have not been together in at least three years.

My lesbian wives are returning. In six weeks they will be back in Key West. Forever.

They have already rented a lovely condo near Salute’s. Two blocks off the ocean.

My blog talk radio show Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou last night.

I stayed away from politics. The primaries are crushing.

I mentioned Venezuela’s Maduro had shortened the public employee work week two weeks ago to four days a week. Not enough electric power.

This morning a news flash popped up on the internet. Maduro has further slashed the work week to two days. No bargain. The employees only get paid for two days.

Maduro says it is because of a drought which is affecting water necessary to produce electricity. A crock. It is because Maduro has not spent monies to keep the dam and electrical system in good shape. Everything is falling apart.

Shades of what could happen to our infrastructure.

Keep in mind that Maduro’s first debacle was running out of toilet paper four years ago. Still not enough toilet paper.

I share this item with you, also. I got into government waste again. Congress authorized and the President approved $600 million to boost the Afghanistan economy.

Part of the money went to transport nine blond male goats to Afghanistan. Female goats were waiting in Afghanistan. Purpose to help the wool cashmere business.

Monies also went to build a laboratory to certify that the wool cashmere was the best ever. The scenario was to produce 350 jobs.

There is no record of monies spent. Where the money went, etc. unknown.  There also is no cashmere business. It is suspected the Afghans ate the nine goats. Could be. Goats are the number one dish in Afghanistan.

Manatees in the news. Tomo-Belle is a female manatee that has been under observation since 1993. She recently gave birth to twins. Tomo-Belle and her two calves were seen swimming this past week in a Siesta Key canal.

The shame of it all. On this day in 1867, John Milton was blind and broke. He sold his copyright of Paradise Lost for ten pounds.

Greece has a special place in my heart. When in Athens, I stayed at the Grande Bretagne. The finest hotel I have ever spent time at anywhere in the world.

I recall one of the staff telling me that the Germans used the Hotel for their headquarters during World War II. I thought at the time and still do, a shame!

On this day in 1941, the German Army ended Greek resistance throughout Greece. Except for Crete. Fifteen thousand seven hundred Greeks died defending their homeland.

The Cretes would not give up. They fought the Germans forever. Ultimately, they too were overcome.

My KONK Life column this week is Lincoln: Nomination and Election. Hits the stands today.

Wednesday! Love wednesdays! Wednesday is my screw off day. I write almost full time saturday through tuesday. Wednesday is the start of my weekend. My friday.

Enjoy your day!

POLENTA

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Enjoyed a quiet dinner last night at Roostica. Not very hungry. Ordered meatballs and polenta.

Polenta is cornmeal. Used by some with Italian cooking.

I rarely saw polenta back home in Utica. Definitely not a dish my family cooked.

I was confronted with polenta big time during my several trips to Courmayeur. One of the most beautiful places in the world. Courmayeur is a small village consisting of Swiss type chalets. Striking!

Courmayeur is located in northern Italy. A handful of miles from France and Switzerland. In the Aosta Valley. The village sits at the foot of Mont Blanc. Part of the Alps. The highest peak in Europe.

The area is the home of polenta. Every meal in every restaurant was accompanied with a large bowl of polenta. I tasted. Did not like. In fact, hated it.

Bobby Mongelli opens Roostica. He serves polenta. Generally comes with three meatballs in sauce. Resting on a bed of polenta.

I love it! Don’t know why in one place and not the other.

Did my blog talk radio show last night. Saudi Arabia prominent in my comments.

One of the Saudi issues began with the 28 pages of the 9/11 Commission Report that have never been released. Purported to deal with Saudi Arabia’s involvement in financing and otherwise being involved with the attack.

Victims and families have brought law suits against those deemed to be responsible for 9/11. U.S. law prohibits Saudi Arabia from being named in the lawsuits.

Recently, Congress announced it intended to pass a bill permitting law suits against Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia went crazy. Such lawsuits would involve prying into their involvement. It would also result in Saudi assets in the U.S. being frozen.

The Saudis are not our friends.They have always used us.

The Saudis retaliated to the news by announcing that if such occurred, it would dump all U.S. securities it holds immediately on the open market. U.S. Treasuries. Saudi Arabia is the third largest holder of the securities world wide.

Such would result in economic chaos. For the United States. Destruction of our financial systems.

I was disappointed to learn this morning that the President’s office announced late yesterday that Obama would veto any such bill were it to come before him.

I am disappointed in Obama. He blinked. The Saudis will squeeze us even harder the next time. They have our number!

Looks like Trump and Clinton. Disgraceful!

The Mosquito Control District has gone a step further in an attempt to calm Key Haven residents. It was announced a yes/no vote will take place on August 30 as part of primary elections the same day.

A report indicates gas prices have gone up almost 25 percent since mid February. The biggest short term rise since 2009. My Shell station has gone from $1.99 to $2.37 a gallon during that time.

Why?

The Saudis? They gave us $4 a gallon gasoline.

This day or April 21 in 1898, President McKinley asked Congress for a declaration of war against Spain. The primary reason the sinking of the Battleship Maine February 15. Congress declared war on April 25.

Historians mention either the 20th or 21st as the date for the request.

A question. Why did it take two months for McKinley to ask for the declaration of war following the sinking of the Maine?

Today, wednesday. Screw off day for me! Nothing to research or write today, except for this blog.

Enjoy your day! I will mine.

WHORE HOUSE PIANO PLAYER OR POLITICIAN

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I enjoy writing about Harry Truman. Not only because of his connection with and love for Key West. His life in general. Truman was a no bullshit person. Straightforward and honest. He called them as he saw them.

I received an e-mail yesterday containing a Truman quote. I was familiar with the quote. It merits comment here.

“My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politician. And to tell the truth, there is hardly any difference.”

The quote first came to my attention when I read David McCullough’s Truman. The biography was published in 1998. I did not get to read it till ten years ago.

The book another War and Peace. Long. One thousand plus pages. Took forever to read. Especially the way I read it.

Borders had a Key West book store location ten years ago. On Northern Boulevard. Where today sits a PET store. I used Borders as a library. The Key West library was adequate. However, parking terrible. Borders had a large parking lot.

Borders also had small comfortable black leather chairs. I sat and read Truman in one of those chairs. A couple of hours a day. It took forever to complete.

Spent yesterday afternoon fine tuning last night’s blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Did the show at 9. A bit of everything. Sports, politics, life in general. Covered a multitude of sins.

One being a New York City problem. Taxi drivers and hired car drivers are making sexual comments to female passengers. And, ejaculating on them. The comments and ejaculations increased big time last year.

New York is working on a new local law to ban the sexual comments and ejaculations. Punishment, a $1,000 fine. I would throw them in jail!

Watched Wisconsin political dribble off and on during the day. It’s the political junkie in me.

I was pleased to see Trump and Hillary take a beating. Hopefully the losses will shape them up. Trump has to learn honesty. Hillary that truth is not to be twisted.

Dinner at Roostica.

Three weeks ago, forget getting a table. Not even get a seat at the bar. The season is over. The place was deserted last night. Pleasant!

I appreciate the small crowd does nothing for Bobby and his staff. However, it is nice once again to enjoy one of my favorite dining places.

Difficult sleeping last night. I turned on Turner Classics. A great two hour show. Not an old movie. The life of Gregory Peck. Gregory Peck casually moderating the show. A great man, a great show. An interesting life. Not typical Hollywood. A family man first. Then an actor who took his work seriously.

Enjoy your day!

FISH AND MUDDY WATERS

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I live and learn.

This morning’s Key West Citizen has an interesting front page article re the weather. The cold a given. Significant waves. Waves outside the reef this weekend will be 11-14 feet. Winds 25-30 miles per hour.

Few fishing boats going out. Water too rough. Fishing questionable.

This is what I learned. Weather makes water muddy. Fish cannot see the bait.

I am not a fisherman. Many of you are. Many, not. The information is for non-fisherman.

The weather still cold. The cold front will continue. Through the weekend. The weekend to be colder and windier. Temperature at the moment 63 degrees. High however will be 73.

I am recovered. Went out yesterday. Felt fine. It was good to return to the world. My everyday world.

Decided on lunch at Harpoon Harry’s. Wednesday lunch is their turkey special.

The block on Caroline where Harpoon Harry’s is located blocked off. Big time road construction. Just what I would expect during the tourist season. The busiest street in the waterfront area blocked off.

The parking lot across the street full.

Went to 5 Guys instead. A healthy cheeseburger awaiting me. With fries.

Then to Publix. Spent some money. Not only was I out of food, I was out of paper products. Ran into Stan and Clare.

Last night Don’s Place. Felt good to be there. Chatted with Don and David. The three  of us to VFW for dinner. VFW is becoming a wednesday thing for Don and me.

Sounds like a big night. it was not. I was home at 8:30.

Some things I do not understand.

Pope Francis is getting a hard time from the Vatican hierarchy. The Cardinals who elected him Pope are now fighting him at every turn. The Cardinals are traditionalists. They do not agree with the changes the Pope wants to bring about.

Sometimes it is hard to breath fresh air.

I was listening to a radio talk show yesterday. The issue was gun violence. It was mentioned that Wal-Mart is the largest seller of guns in the United States. I did not know. It was further mentioned that Hillary Clinton sat on Wal-Mart’s board for eight years. I did not know this either.

Sarah Palin should go home. Her family needs her.

Soon after getting the VP nomination, we learned she had a pregnant unmarried daughter. Trump brings her out recently to support him. Soon after, we learn her son was  more recently arrested for hitting his wife in the face.

Her recent speeches contain many incoherent comments.

She brings baggage.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING!

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Christmas is my favorite holiday. Especially Christmas Eve.

Seven fishes, Santa Claus, twenty plus to dinner.

The meal outstanding. Baccala that took three weeks to prepare. Shrimp fried in egg batter. Smelts. All to die for. Prepared only at Christmas Eve.

Santa Claus always visited. Just before dinner. For my children and grandchildren. He visits in Key West also. Dinner tonight is at Lisa’s. Santa will be there. He will arrive just before dinner.

I think Robert and Ally are conning us. They are 11 and 10 respectively. Still believe in Santa Claus. I find it hard to believe. Most kids know the truth by their ages. Friends at school have had to tell them.

Lisa will have prepared a seven fish meal. The food excellent. However, she has yet to hit seven. I think the best has been five.

Jake will eat well tonight! We are generally told not to feed him. Everyone does.

I look beautiful! I have eight blood scabs on my head. All visible.

Yesterday began with the anti-gravity treadmill. It was work for some reason. Staff all dressed in Christmas attire. Friend Dave working out.

Followed the treadmill with a manicure. Tammy. The place was busy. Very crowded. Women getting ready for the holiday. Coming in without appointments. You must do me! Come back in an hour! Tension.

I was the only male. I had an appointment.

Then did Christmas shopping! Could not get it done all in one day. Two more items to get. I know what. Will be easy later this morning.

I stayed home last night and wrapped gifts.

How life changes. I never wrapped gifts when married. I have to do it now. If not me, who?

I need a woman. You already are aware for sex and cooking. Wrapping Christmas presents has now been added to the list.

The Trump/Clinton battle is warming up.

Sex is on the table. Hillary says Trump is “angry and vulgar.” A “sexist.” That he has “a penchant for sexism.” Trump countered with a threat that if we are going to get into sex, Hillary should BE CAREFUL.

It is leaning towards the down and dirty. Trump has thrown the gauntlet. Will Hillary respond?

I do not like the way the discourse is going. Trump’s fault. No question. Sex is not what a Presidential campaign should be about.

This week’s KONK Life column An American Christmas was linked this morning to my Key West Lou website. Enjoy!

Enjoy your Christmas Eve also!

 

DEM DEBATE KUMBAYA

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If the quality of the debate was the deciding factor between the Republicans and Democrats, the Democrats would win going away.

Last night was a for real political debate. Not dominated by showman Donald Trump. Issues actually discussed. Everyone at ease and kumbaya.

Hillary was great! I was impressed! She handled the debate well. Sounded and appeared Presidential.

Bernie Sanders likewise impressive. Bernie has a problem, however. Revolution. He speaks of it too much. Actual and political become mixed. His thoughts generally appealing. However, he is not Presidential timber from my perspective. Not even Vice-Presidential. His place is in the Senate where he would be capable of carrying on the fight.

Friend Howard Livingston and his Mile Marker 24 band out with a new CD. Sell Your Stuff Keep The Dog Live On An Island. I look forward to listening to it. Howard is the greatest! Personally and professionally.

Spent a bit of time yesterday afternoon fine tuning last night’s blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Confusion and chaos my opening theme. Confusion and chaos in the Republican Party and at the Synod in Rome.

Did some reading. Re the Catholic Church Bishops Synod and the issues and pressures involved. Interesting. Pope Francis has his hands full with the dogmatic old timers.

Per my usual tuesday custom, dinner at Roostica. Olga waited on me. Lovely. From one of the former Soviet Union countries.

Everyone going south! Not just people. Hawks and Monarch butterflies. In recent days, both have been seen over Key West in large numbers. The hawks going south, the butterflies to Mexico.

Beer is big money! Anheuser Busch and Miller #s 1 and 2 in beer sales. Two giants. They merged in effect. A friendly takeover. Anheuser Busch bought Miller for $106 billion.

Enjoy your day!

 

COLUMBUS DAY

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Happy Columbus Day!

Italian-Americans consider it their holiday. So do many other groups not Italian in any fashion.

Native Americans in recent years are claiming the day as theirs also. Properly so! Columbus promised to return with ships full of gold. He found no gold. To compensate, he took captured Indians back to Spain. The Indians were sold into slavery. He did this on two successive trips.

Columbus was not as nice a guy as thought.

This year, Columbus Day is October 12. Next year, October 10. In 2017, October 9. The reason is that Columbus Day by law is the second monday in October.

Oregon does not recognize Columbus Day. Why, I am not certain. A small Italian-American population perhaps? Or maybe they just do not like persons of Italian origin.

Speaking of Oregon, shame befell the state last friday. Obama visited to commiserate with the parents of the college students killed and to speak out against gun violence.

Gun supporters showed up. Hundreds or thousands depending which news release read. Signs and yells ridiculing the President. All an insult to the President. Signs like Go Back to Kenya, Obama Not welcome, Go Golf, and Go Home. Shouts of traitor and Benedict Arnold.

Respect, where have you gone?

The organizer of the gun supporters was Casey Runyan. A man with a checkered background. Not qualified to lead in any sense. Google him.

Needed Sloan in the afternoon. I could not tie together my KONK column. New material joined with a column I did two years ago. I am not computer literate. It took her all of 30 seconds.

This week’s KONK Life column is titled Worse Ever Congress. Can anyone argue with me?

Tavern ‘n Town last night. Since I never got out saturday night, I felt entitled to a good meal. I was not disappointed.

Judy bartending. A wonderful woman!

Michael Thomas entertaining. Three couples came in. Obviously on vacation. Sat at the corner of the bar near Michael. Ate and drank. Danced in between bites. A great sight, I thought. The six quietly enjoying their time away from home and responsibilities.

I was glad to see the U.S. win the President’s Cup. We have not been doing well in recent years against foreign competition. Close. 15 1/2 to 14 1/2.

Hillary came out for the Trans-Pacific-Partnership. Finally. She really is against it. Has supported the pact from day one. Politically unpopular for her to do so during a Presidential quest, however.

Obama supports the agreement, also. I do not understand why.

The agreement is nothing more than a license for other countries to steal from the U.S. It is next to impossible for the U.S. to compete. How can we against countries that pay workers significantly less per hour.

Bill Clinton got a similar type bill passed. Bush and Cheney supported the concept. Look at the results.

The pact is not good for America.

Volkswagen’s U.S. CEO appeared before a Congressional committee this past week. Apologetic. Eleven million cars involved. By his own testimony, it will take years to correct the problem.

The worst that will happen to Volkswagen is a stiff fine. A drop in the bucket compared to the profit they made over the years by failing to construct cars per the law.

The bad guys always seem to win.

Enjoy your day!

CENSORSHIP

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I have been complaining the past few years that the media has become selective as to what we see, read and hear. When I speak of the media, I reference its owners also. Corporate America. They decide what we see, read and hear.

Freedom of the Press no longer applies solely to the right of the press to observe and say whatever they want. Assuming its is correct. Freedom of the press today refers to censorship, the right of the media to pick and chose what we shall see, read and hear. Not as the Founding Fathers intended.

A perfect example is what occurred a few days ago on Morning Joe. Washington Post columnist David Ignatius was a guest.

Joe has consistently in recent weeks referenced the Hillary e-mail problem as a bad one. Ignatius wrote a Washington Post op-ed 8/28 wherein he argued that “this scandal is overstated.”

Joe and Ignatius on opposite ends of the spectrum re the issue.

Morning Joe’s 6 am hour is rerun at 8 am.

In the 6 am broadcast, Ignatius said…..As I talked to a half dozen lawyers who do nothing but this kind of work, they said they couldn’t remember a case like this, WHERE PEOPLE INFORMALLY AND INADVERTENTLY DRAW CLASSIFIED INFORMATION INTO THEIR PHONE CONVERSATIONS OR UNCLASSIFIED SERVER CONVERSATIONS, WHERE THERE HAD BEEN A PROSECUTION. (emphasis added)

In the 8 am rerun of the 6 am hour, the emphasized portion was edited out. Note that the Ignatius paragraph above was part of an ongoing dialogue between Joe and Ignatius. More followed.

Selective reporting? Yes. The better description is censorship. The new media freedom of the press.

Everyone should be pissed off at this type thing happening!

David from Kentucky is a loyal blog follower. Also, a frequent visitor to Key West. He lives in Kentucky. He e-mailed me regarding Kim Davis, the clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples. Kim Davis’ clerk office is located in Medford, Kentucky.

With David’s permission, I quote…..Morehead Kentucky has had more press in the last few weeks than they will have in the next one hundred years, whether they want it or not. I’ll go with the words of President Johnson after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and following trial, execution and imprisonment of the conspirators. “We wish to hear their names no more.” I wish to hear “Kim Davis no more.”

Today the anniversary of 9/11. May we never forget. Continued vigilance required.

Won all three bocce games last night! Keith was exceptional. He played all three games. The best bocce I have ever seen anyone play.

Excellent football. I enjoyed watching the second half of the New England/Pittsburgh game which New England won 28-21.

My KONK Life column this week is published in E-Blast this morning. About Tennessee Williams and one of his loves. Read it and enjoy.

Enjoy also your day!