GREAT BLIZZARD OF 1888

Posted on by

Sitting here in Key West enjoying 80 degree weather, I write first of snow. Lots of snow. The Great Blizzard of 1888. The northeast. New York City hit hard, as Boston  was in recent weeks. However, the Great Blizzard took only 24 hours.

Considered one of the most severe blizzards ever, it claimed 400 lives. Twenty to sixty inches of snow fell in different areas. Winds 45 mph. Snowdrifts in excess of 50 feet.

Roscoe Conkling had studied law in my home town of Utica, NY. He became District Attorney of the County and Mayor of Utica. Then engaged in a thriving law practice. He was considered a great orator. Conkling was elected to the House of Representatives several times and then served for 18 years in the U.S. Senate.

He became a major political figure state wide and nationally. He made presidents. One being Ulysses Grant. Grant offered him the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Conkling refused. Years earlier, he was nominated to the Supreme Court as an Associate Justice and was confirmed by the Senate. He refused the nomination after his confirmation.

He was a known philanderer. A woman chaser. There is the story of the husband coming home early, Conkling going out the back window, the husband chasing him with a shotgun.

Conkling took care of his body. He worked out daily.

He was in his office on Wall Street when the Great Blizzard hit. He could not get a horse and carriage to take him home. Being in the excellent shape he was, he decided to walk. Three miles from Wall Street to 25th Street. He never made it home. He collapsed, came down with pneumonia and died.

He is buried in Utica. A simple yet massive stone. It sits on a little hill which runs along Oneida Street. The retaining wall holding the hill has been crumbling for years.

His stone faces west. Utica developed to the west. The cemetery to the east behind the stone. When Conkling was buried, he was placed in his grave as he was so that he could forever have an uninterrupted view of the valley before him. Progress decided otherwise and Utica developed in that area to the west, thereby placing his stone near a heavy traffic thoroughfare. Few take the time to look at the stone. Even fewer know Conkling is buried there.

I write about the blizzard and Conkling for a number of reasons. Today is the anniversary of the Great Blizzard. His career was outstanding. His stone and place of burial interesting.

I enjoy walking through cemeteries. The history of an area or the person is carved into the stones. What can be learned fascinating. I first came across Conkling’s stone and burial place on one of those walks many years ago.

Fantasy Fest seems to have survived its most recent onslaught. The Key West Commission and Fantasy Fest promoters met last night. Some minimal advertising changes were agreed to. Otherwise, everything will remain as it has been.

I agree with the outcome. My philosophy is if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

Spring break is upon us. The college kids appear well behaved. They seem to be having a great time.

I envy them. I neither knew of spring break nor could have afforded it had I known when I was in college.

My blog talk radio show last night. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Listeners appeared most interested in the letter sent to Iran by 47 Republican Senators.

I spoke of Nicholas Maduro. He is President of Venezuela. I have been talking about him for three years. The man is a nut case. He becomes more troublesome by the day. Troublesome as regards the United States. The man bears watching.

KONK Life hits the streets today. If you have a chance, read my column. Mass Killings Common. I wrote the article because of recent ISIS atrocities such beheadings and burning people alive.

Enjoy your day!

MICKEY SPILLANE…..KISS ME, DEADLY

Posted on by

In the last few days, Mickey Spillane has come to my attention. I cannot recall where. The name brought back memories.

Spillane was a writer. Many mystery novels. He was the creator of Mike Hammer.

In 1952, Spillane wrote Kiss Me, Deadly. An instantaneous success. Caused a furor. It was considered a dirty book by 1952 standards. Sex was a big no no in 1952. Not as it is today. When I read the book back then, I read it for the off color passages. I was a college senior and my blood was always boiling.

An example of the off color material typical of the book is found in the first few pages. Mike Hammer picked up a female hitchhiker in a rainstorm. She was wearing a rain coat. At some point, she took his hand and placed it under the raincoat and on her thigh. She was wearing no clothes. That is as far as it went.

Don’t laugh. Such was porn back then.

The Catholic Church considered the book immoral. They placed it on the Index. Which meant it should not be read. The U.S. Congress also made damning comments about the book.

All the preceding did nothing more than to increase sales. The publisher could not print enough copies.

My dorm floor consisted of 60 students. Someone had the book! With the good pages and paragraphs marked. The book found its way into each of our hands.

I doubt the book would be a best seller today if written as it was in 1952. The juicy portions would be considered too mild. Extremely so.

Staying with book writing, I attended the Friends of the Key West Library session last night. A series of lectures by writers.

The speaker Mark Childress. I had never heard of him. He was most enjoyable to listen to. He traced his writing career. The good and the bad. He has been a Key West resident for several years now and continues to write.

His most famous published work is Crazy in Alabama. In the late ’90s, it was made into a movie starring Melanie Griffith.

I was taken by his talk. I intend to place Crazy in Alabama on my list of books to read. It may take me a week or month or year to get to it. But, I will.

The days are warm. The heat can be felt. The cool breezes gone. Sweating time. I wanted to walk. I rarely do outside. I did not feel guilty when I did my walking yesterday in Home Depot.

Home Depot was not as cool as it should have been. A bit sticky. I made comment to one of the assistant managers I knew. He said I was correct. The full system is scheduled not to be turned on till the end of the month.

It was still better than walking outside.

Had my routine checkup with my heart doctor. McIvor his name. I am alive and well as far as my heart is concerned. May I stay that way. I will see him again in three months.

Last night, the Chart Room. I ended up speaking with five bikers. Black leather, long beards and all. Most were in their 60s and retired. All from the Chicago area. Good guys. Softies at heart who like to dress bad.

Tonight, my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. A half hour of political and social commentary. The show provides the opportunity to express my opinions. Love doing it!

The show is at 9 my time. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. If you miss it and would like to listen another day, the show is archived on Blog Talk Radio and You Tube. It can also be found by going to my Key West Lou page where you are reading this blog. The navigation bar on top lists Blog Talk Radio. It is my personal archive and you can listen there if you like.

Topics to be covered tonight include the letter the 47 Senators sent to Iran, a man in jail for life without parole for being involved in a $20 pot purchase, and an update on Venezuela’s President Maduro.

Enjoy your day!

JOHN HERSHEY A PART OF KEY WEST HISTORY

Posted on by

Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams are generally thought of when Key West authors are discussed.  There is another big name. A person of note. John Hershey.

Hershey’s winter home was Key West. He led the good life. His summer home was Martha’s Vineyard.

Hershey is famous for many books. One is A Bell For Adano for which he won a Pulitzer Prize. I am ashamed to admit I never read the book. I did see the movie it was made into. John Hodiak starred.

Hershey died at age 78 in 1983 in Key West. He is buried on Martha’s Vineyard.

I wrote this week’s KONK Life column yesterday. It took the greater part of the day. Titled Mass Killings Common. The topic was motivated by recent ISIS killings. The column places special emphasis on beheadings.

It goes back to similar killings centuries prior to the birth of Christ and up to today and ISIS. The thrust is ISIS type killings are not uncommon. Men have been doing it to each other for centuries. The difference is the internet and social media which bring today’s killings visually to everyone’s attention.

The column is interesting. Many generally unknown events shared.

I spent the rest of my Sunday doing nothing. I hung around the house watching TV and reading. Occasionally falling asleep for short periods.

The Friends of the Key West Library series continues this evening at St. Paul’s. Novelist Mark Childress the speaker. Part of his talk is dedicated to learning how to write. I plan on attending.

My heart doctor this afternoon for a routine visit. He is going to tell me what a good boy I am for having lost more weight.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

BLOODY SUNDAY

Posted on by

This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of the Selma march. The day of the first march (March 7) became known as Bloody Sunday. The march is being reenacted today.

We live in strange times. In a land that has become stranger. The civil rights battle was won 40-50 years ago. It’s back. Out of necessity. Whether by reason of hatred or for political purpose, Republicans are making it more difficult for blacks to vote.

The problem could be born of fear. The black/tan community is growing in numbers. In 20-30 years, more than half the population will be tan. Those of color will control. I suspect what is going on today is a last gasp for air for what has been, a last hurrah.

Syracuse, my Syracuse. The season a disaster. The past few days even more woe.

Syracuse played its last game of the season yesterday. The team was decidedly beaten by North Carolina State 71-57. the game was over the first 10 minutes of the second half. North Carolina State made Syracuse look bad in every respect.

I am not knocking the team. I merely make an observation.

Thursday, the NCAA report came out. I spoke of it in depth yesterday. I especially felt bad for Boeheim who I think was very unfairly treated.

Interestingly, Dick Vitale agreed with me in a statement made yesterday. This from a man who over the years rarely commented favorably re Syracuse or Boeheim. Not this time. He stated loud and clear that Boeheim got a raw deal.

Thank you, Dick Vitale.

When Boeheim was introduced before the game, he was “strongly” booed by the North Carolina State fans. Sportsmanship? These young people have yet to learn not to criticize till they have walked in another person’s shoes.

I watched the game from home. Immediately after, Sloan arrived. We spent a couple of hours working on this and that.

Last night was Tavern ‘n Town. My usual Saturday night haunt. Love Bobby Nesbitt!

Immediately upon arriving, I ran into June Hudson. I have been trying to reach her for two weeks. At least two unanswered e-mails out there. Whatever, we are getting together friday night.

June as vivacious and lovely as always. She has been a widow for two years. I admired and respected her husband Bill. A premier Delaware divorce attorney. He had a terrific sense of humor. The two made a great couple. I was lucky to have met and known them for more than 20 years.

Met two interesting people who were sitting next to me at the bar. Bill and Susan from North Carolina. Snowbirds. Own a home in Key West. Summers are spent on the North Carolina shore. They enjoy the best of both worlds. I hope to run into them again.

Let me take you to Israel, Italy, and Japan for a moment.

Netanyahu was well received last week by the Republicans. I thought his visit highly improper and irregular. He was received by Congress as a conquering hero. The same reception or better than MacArthur received.

He is back in Israel. He faces an election next week. The opposition sponsored an anti-Netanyahu rally in Tel Aviv. Thirty thousand showed up. Apparently Netanyahu is not as popular at home as he was before our Republican Congress.

Berlusconi back in the news in Italy. Love the man! He is never down and out.

He was convicted of tax fraud and sentenced to several years in jail. Italy by law does not incarcerate people over 70 or 72. Instead, they do house arrest. Berlusconi has done house arrest the past few years. His time has ended. He is as free as a bird.

He still faces resolution of charges involving a 17 year old girl.

A European meeting is scheduled soon in Milan. One of Berlusconi’s several homes is in Milan. Putin is expected at the conference. The two men are close friends and will probably spend some time together in serious conversation and partying. I do not use the term loosely. Six months ago when Putin was in Milan, they got together at Berlusconi’s home at 2:30 in the morning and spent a couple of hours together.

Japan. Perhaps we should all move there.

A 117 year old Japanese woman celebrated her birthday yesterday. She is still going strong. Apparently she has a sense of humor. When asked what she thought of her long life, she responded…..It seemed rather short!

Turns out Japan has 58,820 persons alive who are more than 100 years old. Interestingly, 90 percent are women. The 58,000 plus are more than in any other nation.

The water?

Enjoy your Sunday!

JIM BOEHEIM…..A CLASS ACT

Posted on by

I just read the shocking news. Shocking from my end. I speak for no other person in this regard.

I know Jim Boeheim. A good man. The penalties against him are an insult to him personally and to his illustrious career. So there is no misunderstanding, I am saying that the suspension and 108 games vacated unfairly impact him.

Boeheim was convicted (it is a conviction) per the NCAA rule requiring head coaches to be responsible for violations in a school’s program. In a nutshell, Syracuse failed to police itself with regard to sports activities. Under the rules, someone must bear responsibility. That person is the head coach. Boeheim in this instance.

Severe! Unreasonable! Impossible of compliance! If each division I school were scrutinized, each would be guilty of some infraction(s). Some minor. Miniscule. Is each head coach to be punished since he bears responsibility as head coach for any NCAA violations?

Boeheim is two seasons away from 1,000 career victories. The NCAA vacation of 108 Syracuse wins effectively makes reaching that goal impossible.

Additionally, holding Boeheim personally responsible as head coach is a non sensical approach to maintaining the integrity of the game. Someone has to pay is the cry. A head must fall. The head coach the victim.

Boeheim said that a “…..coach can’t be responsible for everything.” I agree with him.

There are two things which are part of the mix. The Syracuse investigation took eight years. Unheard of. Unprecedented. The other is that Syracuse self-reported itself when it became aware of certain violations.

The process has improperly penalized a stand up guy with a distinguished record. Boeheim is 70  years old. Concededly in the twilight of his career. A tough way to go out.

Paterno and Penn State were charged with far more serious offenses. Paterno was summarily executed. He died believing his life’s work was tarnished. Now, we find out that the Penn State wins vacated have been reinstated. It is further expected that Paterno’s statue will in the next year be returned to its place of prominence on campus.

Boeheim’s reputation has been placed in jeopardy by the foolish and unfair NCAA rule making the head coach responsible for all wrongdoing. I hope he sees the wrong done him rectified in this life rather than thereafter as in Paterno’s case.

CHILDREN AGAIN

Posted on by

Bocce last night! We were vanquished. Won 1, lost 2. To a better team. However, we gave them a fight in 2 of the games. In addition to which, we had a good time! Both teams.

The team record is now 9-3. The team that beat us 11-1. Not bad.

Bocce brings me to something I have known, for some reason forgot, and hit me again last night. While playing bocce and looking at the 50 other people playing. Key West is where adults become children again. Especially those in retirement. We regress back to the days of our youth.

Key West is bocce, golf, tennis, beach volleyball, hanging out in friendly bars and restaurants, making believe, costume dressing for the slightest reason, painting, writing, and daydreaming. Especially the daydreaming. Nothing like sitting under a palm tree on the beach with the vast expanse of the ocean in front and letting your mind go.

Everything that is done is done with the same zest and enjoyment as when one was young. Remember?

Dressing is also a regression. Shorts and a tee shirt. Even for the ladies, though I must admit that some days the ladies enjoy dressing a bit more. I love it when they wear long. Sultry and beautiful.

Diana Nyad two years ago swam from Havana to Key West. A first! She has since become an integral part of our community. She loves us and we love her.

Now comes Ben Hooper. His game plan is to swim from Africa to Brazil. A bit of a long trip. He is spending a month in Key West training. We have it all. Calm seas, rough seas, and sharks. He is training six days a week at the Community College lagoon.

He says the trip will take three months. He will be in and out of the water. Twelve hours a day in, the remainder in a boat. It is described as an assisted swim as opposed to the one Nyad accomplished. Of course, she only had to swim 90 miles rather than almost 2,000.

I admire Hooper. I also think he is crazy. What he is attempting is not my cup of tea.

I love Oreos. Who does not! I mention Oreos for two reasons. The first is that the cookie was introduced on this day in 1912. The second has to do with my diet.

I am now at 36 pounds lost. Stalemated again! Just as at 27 and 30 pounds.

My Louis conceived diet includes Oreos. For real! Not to pig out on. One to four a day. Some days not at all.

When I started  this diet, 20 pounds was my goal. I then extended it to 30. Now 40. I suspect I will continue to lose even after I reach 40 and end the formal diet. The reason simple. For the first time in my life, I believe I have truly changed my eating habits. We shall see.

My doctors are thrilled with my weight loss. The diet also when it has been explained to them.

If all works out, I may write a book titled The Key West Diet. Has to be a best seller!

I received a comment to this blog on WordPress today. From a Sharon in Oklahoma. I am not sure yet who she is. I suspect a love from long ago. It would be nice.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

RESEARCH

Posted on by

A considerable amount of my time is spent researching. For everything I do. KONK Life column, blog talk radio show, the daily blog, and for the books in process I am writing. I enjoy/love doing it!

Permit me to briefly share what goes into the weekly KONK Life column as an example.

First, I need a topic. A subject to explore. I search for the generally unknown. Also for one that appeals to me personally. When a topic crystallizes, I search the internet for further information.

The unfortunate thing is that after I give the topic the internet run, it turns out not to be as I thought. So it is back to searching for a topic again.

I am supposed to have the column into KONK Life by wednesday each week for publication the following wednesday. It is thursday this week and I do not have a column yet. It could take me through sunday. The two items I thought had appeal fell apart upon research. I am still looking. I fear not. Something always comes up. Like a bolt out of the blue!

A good chunk of my yesterday was spent researching.

The only break was a walk once again at Home Depot.

Last night was Don’s Place. I stopped in around six. Don, David and John at the bar. I sat with them. The chatting continued for more than two hours. First with all three. Then we lost David. John followed soon thereafter. It was Don and me till Larry showed up. The three of us finished the evening..

A good time out. Pleasant company. Many things discussed. One of course was bocce. We play tonight. Our team has started with a bang. We are 8-1. The team we play tonight is 9-0. The opposition is a good team. Better than us. We have had experience with them. They beat us the last two times we played.

It will be an interesting evening.

Syracuse plays its final game of the season saturday. Against North Carolina State. Both teams are 18-12. Should be a good game.

Have to hustle. A haircut appointment with Lori this morning.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

GREAT THEATER

Posted on by

Netanyahu’s speech yesterday was great theater. Better than any State of the Union address. The content worthy of the Biblical expression…..Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

He indicated he knew the contents of the US/Iran deal. Does not surprise me. Israel has the best intelligence service in the world. My problem with the talk was that it offered no alternative. Merely that a better deal should be had.

I took what he said with a grain of salt. This is the same man who said authoritatively that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction back when Bush and Cheney were promoting an Iraqi invasion.

The Republicans beamed as never before. They had insulted the President.

While I am at it, a comment re Petraeus. The mighty shall fall. Unfortunate in his case. The man was an exceptional military leader. Similar to Eisenhower. Considered Presidential timber.

We have lost what might have been a great leader. He took a bite of the apple.

My blog talk radio show was last night. Love doing it! I talked about everything. It was that kind of evening. Actually, week. Many things happened.

The topic that garnered the most interest however was my advising a new type banking on the horizon. At some point, banks will pay you to take out a loan and charge you for holding your deposits. A reverse! Already being done in many European countries. So far in the U.S. only by J P Morgan Chase with big accounts.

My yesterday began with a manicure. Tammy always good company. Then a walk at Home Depot. Followed by a business meeting downtown.

The World Almanac section of this morning’s Key West Citizen set forth that there were 77,865 ready people in the U.S. waiting for body transplants. Makes it easy to understand why the black market in body parts is such a big business. Most body parts go for $100,000 to $150,000. Even ISIS is in the  business. They remove body parts from some captives. Men, women and children.

This week’s KONK Life hits the stands at 5 this afternoon. My column this week is on the light side. The Minnie Ball Pregnancy. I guarantee you will find it amusing.

Enjoy your day!

WINSTON CHURCHILL

Posted on by

Being home bound for a few days gave me time to catch up on my reading. Operation Sea Lion had been started several weeks ago. Then deserted for a time because of the Italian book. It was back to Operation  Sea Lion which is an inside story of Great Britain during the early days of World War II.

Churchill obviously a major character.

Churchill’s speaking ability was discussed. I have always considered him to be  one of history’s great orators. Exciting. The revelation was that his great speeches were not off the cuff. Churchill was not a natural speaker. He spent considerable time writing each oration before its presentation. His approach was meticulous. He sought particular words that best conveyed his message. Resulting in the quality the world came to know.

One of Churchill’s most memorable speeches was given in 1940 before the House of Commons. Sentences crafted before hand word by word. “We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and on the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender.”

My health is better. Back still hurts, but less and less each day. Face still looks like I got beat up.

I went out last night. It was like getting out of jail! St. Paul’s Church and Publix.

The Friends of the Key West Library’s lecture series continued last night. Edward Hower was the speaker. An author of some note. I did not enjoy his presentation. He read the whole thing. I had difficulty keeping awake. The question and answer period which followed was better.

Then a hurried stop at Publix. I was anxious to get home for the Syracuse game. Publix is changing product locations. For example, fresh fruits hit you almost upon entering. My only problem concerned Entenmann’s. No longer at the end of an aisle near the milk. I could not find it. I asked a stock person where it might be. He did not know what I was talking about. I will find Entenmann’s next time when I have more time.

The Syracuse game was a disaster. Lost to Virginia 59-47. As it should have been. Virginia ranked #2 nationally. Only one game left. Then the season is over. It is impossible at this stage for Syracuse to get 20 wins. Only the third time in Boeheim’s illustrious career this has happened.

My blog talk radio show tonight. I spent much of yesterday in preparation. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou airs at 9. A quick half hour of current events and my thoughts. Join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Topics include Homeland Security and Netanyahu, new shocking bank rules on the way, and life at hard labor without parole for being involved in a $20 pot purchase.

Almost forgot. I shaved! A close call. A close shave. I was seriously tempted to go for the beard.

Enjoy your day!

GOING OUT TODAY

Posted on by

I continue to heal. Black eye lighter. Still obvious. Cuts by eye not totally healed. Scab fell off lip. Cuts still obvious, however. Back better, but not good.

It is called progress.

I have not shaved since wednesday. I have a good start on a beard. Not sure which way I will go.

I have been in since wednesday night. Time to get out of the house today. A brief walk somewhere. Tonight the Friends of the Key West Library at St. Paul’s. Author Edward Hower is speaking re his latest book about writing personal essays and travel stories.

Syracuse plays Virginia tonight, also. Normally, I would miss the Friends event and watch the game. It does not make any difference this season however. Syracuse plays Virginia, #2 in the country. I expect it to be as the Duke game went saturday.

If I work things properly, I should be able to watch the second half of the game.

Syracuse only has two games remaining. They have won 18 so far. The goal is always 20 wins. It has been years since Syracuse failed to reach 20. Though two games are left, I see Syracuse losing tonight. Which would mean that at best it might only be a 19 win season.

Nobody’s fault. It was a hard year for Syracuse from the beginning. Three players from last year expected to return this year did not. They went pro. Our big freshman center was injured early on and has not been able to play. I am not even throwing the NCAA investigation into the mix.

Wait till next year! The whole team returns with the exception of Christmas.

There was an article of interest in this morning’s Citizen. A four year study has revealed that Big Pine, No Name., and Bahia Honda have the lowest death rates in the County. Makes sense. The area is quiet country. Limited hell raising. Tranquility.

On this day in 1951, Harry Truman started a three week vacation at the Little White House. I often wonder if he ever visited the local haunts in the Duval Street area. We know he read, swam, fished and walked. Enjoyed a drink. Truman is recognized as a regular guy. He had to be at Sloppy Joe’s on occasion looking for the next Hemingway to talk with.

Enjoy your day!