PORN FOOD

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What a title!

I was sitting at the round table in the Chart Room last night with some old friends and some new. Alicia was the culprit. I had met her once before. She is Sheila’s friend. Also at the table were Alicia’s husband Trevor and a North Carolinian Mark. Both new to me. Plus, the eternal David.

Alicia asked if I wanted to see some porn food. I squeamishly asked what it was. After some joking around the table, I was shown cell phone pictures of porn food.

Turns out Alicia is a gourmet cook. Loves to cook! The pictures were of various dishes she had prepared. Alicia described how most of the dishes were put together. Interesting. Mouth watering.

I commented man has two great drives. His mouth and his genitals. Ergo,  it made sense to describe food from a sexual perspective.

Mark works part time as a Washington, DC  public relations consultant. I enjoyed chatting with him.

Alicia and Trevor are returning to Key West in March. It was agreed a cook out would be held at Sheila’s apartment at that time. Sheila is a fabulous cook, also. I hope they remember to invite me.

As expected, Don and Chris arrived. My Syracuse friends. They got up at 3;30 yesterday morning to catch a 6 am plane. They live outside Syracuse. When they left the house at 4:30, it was minus 10 degrees.

Don and Chris are here for a week. I will see them frequently. We have become good friends over the years.

Tonight is Syracuse basketball! Playing Florida State at 8. Don, Chris and I will be watching the game at Don’s Place.

Which brings me to Dan and Lisa. You have been hiding! I understand you have been in town a week. For shame, we did not get together. Join us at Don’s Place for the game.

Dan and Lisa are from Skaneateles, a town outside Syracuse. They own a restaurant. They will be here for two months.

The game is at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. The poor Florida State players are going to get a taste of real COLD!

Syracuse is favored by 12 points. I have no comment. I do not know anymore.

I am impressed with the march that is to take place in Paris today. The French people are standing up to the terrorists. What is most impressive is the number in the march is estimated at 1 million. Another impressive factor is that the heads of many nations are joining the march. Forty four. Leaders such as Germany’s Merkel, Britain’s Cameron, Italy’s Renzi, and Israel’s Netanyahu.

I hope nothing happens during the parade.

Enjoy your Sunday!

RANK INSUBORDINATION

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On December 20 in New York City, two police officers were shot and killed while sitting in a police car. Two days later, the PBA, the  police organization authorized to collectively bargain with the City on behalf of its members, began an aggressive campaign aimed at the Mayor.

The PBA became angered with New York Mayor de Blasio for comments he had made to his bi-racial son regarding how to conduct himself any time a police officer stopped him. The Mayor is a Caucasian man married to an Afro-American woman.

PBA President Lynch blamed the Mayor for the shooting of the two police officers. He said their blood was on the hands of the Mayor. Lynch claimed the Mayor’s advice to his son and subsequent release of that information to the public was inflammatory and abusing as regards police officers.

In addition to the blood comments, New York City police have turned their backs on the Mayor whenever he has been speaking or at a public event.

There is another reason why Lynch and the PBA are conducting themselves in this fashion. The PBA is without a contract with the City. It ran out. A new one has not been agreed to. Negotiations are presently underway to agree on a new contract. Some quarters believe Lynch and the PBA are conducting themselves as they are in order to gain leverage in the negotiations.

Some believe there is an additional threat. If the Mayor does not submit to PBA demands, an armed organized rebellion against civilian control could occur. Sounds far-fetched. However in today’s police/citizen climate, anything is possible. The PBA has been quick to remind that they are 35,000 strong, that they have more members than the FBI.

A police stoppage has occurred since December 22. Police are performing their duties not as before and not as normal.

Traffic tickets are off 94 percent. Down from 10,069 to 587. Summonses for low level violations are also down 94 percent. Down from 4,831 to 300. Parking tickets are off 92 percent. 14,699 to 1,241.

The Mayor is the civilian head of the Police Department. Just as the President is commander in chief of the armed forces. Public officials in New York State have no right to strike. They do have a right to bargain for benefits. The strike leverage is not available to them. Nor are work stoppages.

Calvin Coolidge was Governor of Massachusetts in 1919 when the Boston police went on strike. He said, “There is no right to strike against the public safety, anywhere, anytime.” More recently recall President Reagan in 1981 with the air controllers. The controllers went on strike. Reagan said no way could public employees strike. He gave them two days to return to work or they were fired. Most continued to challenge Reagan. Eleven thousand were fired.

Interestingly, people thought Reagan would not deal so harshly with the controllers. How were planes to fly in our busy air corridors? Reagan called their bluff and the planes continued to safely fly.

New York State has had on its books for years the Taylor Law. It covers the relationship of management and labor regarding civil employees. The Taylor Law is clear. It prohibits work stoppages and strikes. Union officials violating the Taylor Law are subject to arrest. The charge is criminal. Additionally every officer participating in a work stoppage or strike can be fined $2 for every $1 of earnings.

An all out confrontation has not yet occurred. de Blasio is keeping his cool while Lynch is ranting and raving. If push came to shove and work stoppages continue, the Mayor could ask the Governor to send in the National Guard to perform police functions.

I think Lynch and the PBA are wrong. The Mayor is in charge. He is the civilian authority. I view what the PBA is doing as an arrogant assault on democracy. A further dilemma arises. If the police do not follow rules, why should the people?

Much has been written and spoken in and by the media regarding this confrontation. I have not found one article completely supportive of the PBA’s position. Those siding with the PBA generally acknowledge the PBA’s conduct is wrong. However, they encourage the Mayor to apologize. Seemingly an apology would settle the situation.

Most of the articles written refer to the police conduct as treasonous, rogue, mutinous, exploitative of the two police killings, a coup in the works, the usurpation of the Mayor’s authority, an all out assault on the Mayor, and defiant.

Strong characterizations. However if the shoes fit, Kelly and the PBA should wear them.

A perfect fit from my perspective.

NEW MOTELS

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The next 3-4 months will see the completion of the new motels being constructed on the Boulevard across the street from the Marriott Beachside. From construction completed thus far, they are beautiful to behold.

I believe the new motels will create a new business dynamic for Key West. A new play area for tourists and locals alike. Due to the new Boulevard construction, there is a sidewalk running along the front of the motels. People will be able to go from one to the other with no problem.

Each motel will probably have a restaurant and bar. One or two will become unusually popular.

Parking becomes another attraction. Key West City fathers have parking completely screwed up. There will be no parking problem at the motels.

I wrote next week’s KONK Life column yesterday. Black Panthers Return. An eye opener. They are back. This time however considered to be on the right. They have come alive in Dallas. The resurgence caused by Ferguson. It was the last straw.

This week’s KONK column is available for reading on today’s KONK Life E-Blast News. Rank Insubordination. Re the New York City police and Mayor de Blasio situation. Interesting factual reading. Definitely opinionated.

Decided on Kelley’s last night. A good crowd. Sat at the outside bar and enjoyed. Chatted with various tourists. All happy with Key West!

Every now and then I feel compelled to write about Harry Truman. My hero! One of the best Presidents ever!

While President, Truman made 11 trips to Key West totaling 175 days. He loved Key West. He worked yet found time for enjoyable leisure activities. He relaxed, walked, swam, fished, played cards, and slept. I suspect had Hemingway been in Key West at the same time, they would have been great friends. Can you envision Truman and Hemingway seated at the corner of Sloppy Joe’s bar?

Truman stayed on the US Navy base at what has come to be known as The Little White House. The Little White House was built in 1890. A two family dwelling, it housed the commandant and paymaster. In 1911, the building was converted to a one family. Historically in preparation for Truman, though no one knew it at the time.

This morning’s Key West Citizen carries a picture of Tennessee Williams standing with his dog on the front porch of his home on Duncan Street. The home is as well kept today as it appears in the photo. A credit to owners who came after Williams. Shows respect not only for the house, but also for its historical significance.

Facebook this morning has a photo of Bob and Helen Marks taken on their wedding day in a Lutheran Church in Portland, Maine. I am in it! First person on the left. Thirty four years ago. I was best man. I had hair, was thin and, if i may say so, looked good. What a shocker!

Though I have congratulated Bob and Helen a couple of times this week already, congrats once again to two wonderful people!

Don and Chris are back! Don probably from somewhere in the Far East. He spends 80 percent of the year doing business in Asia. The two are die hard Syracuse fans. Syracuse basketball will predominate the conversation.

Don and Chris, I will be at the Chart Room tonight at 6 looking for you. If Dan is in town and you know how to reach him, have him join us.

Enjoy your day!

 

DID NOTHING

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Not much to share today. Yesterday was a do nothing day overall. A couch potato most of the day.

It was a good day! There is a need to rest body, mind and soul on occasion.

I watched the Syracuse/Georgia Tech game in the evening. Had planned to watch at Don’s Place. All of a sudden getting ready seemed like too much work. I stayed home.

Syracuse won by one point. 46-45. Not a pretty win, not an impressive game.

Syracuse did play well. The problem was they could not get the ball to go in the basket. Too many shots missed. Several lay ups.

Gamblers know what they are doing. The Vegas line was Syracuse by 1.5 points. Syracuse won by one point. Amazing how they can call most games!

I did work a few hours in the afternoon researching next week’s KONK Life column. A very interesting topic. Involves a new Black Panther group in Dallas. Ferguson motivated the rebirth of the organization.

The north is freezing in sub zero chill factor weather. When  extremely cold up north, it is cold in the south. Key West went down to 62 in the evening. I don’t fool around. Grabbed a blanket and turned on the heat.

Such was my nothing day.

Enjoy your today!

CHILL FACTOR -49 DEGREES

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Wowie! Cold in the north today. Chill factors as low as -49. Upstate New York projected at -20. With one foot of snow!

My friends up north laugh when I do this. But…..it is going to be cold tonight in Key West. -62. That means a blanket or heat.

All in all, crazy weather. Global warming?

After living alone so long, I have become domesticated to a degree. Was in Publix yesterday. Saw eggplants. A sudden desire overwhelmed me! I bought one. Cooked it for dinner last night.

Cut the plant in half. Thin sliced the half I was going to use. Heated some olive oil in a large frying pan. Then the slices. Cooked them to a light brown on each side.

Delicious! Just like my mother used to make.

I observed something interesting in the process. The eggplant slices absorbed the oil rapidly. Gulped it right up. Like a paper towel soaking up a spill.

Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou last night. One of my better shows. Spent more than a half the show discussing issues involving policemen.

As part of the police portion, I made reference to the new Black Panther group formed in Dallas. Shades of the ’60s. Blacks, many of whom are retired Army Rangers, have formed a paramilitary group to protect blacks from being killed by police. A confrontation/eruption is sure to follow at some point. Violence begets violence.

Nudity continues to be an issue in Key West. As regards Fantasy Fest. A do good group has their nose in the issue.

There is a special meeting of the City Commission tonight to review matters. Harry Bethel, a leader in the anti-nudity movement, says the Commission will discuss curbing nudity during Fantasy Fest. Bethel announced earlier that in all his years of living in Key West, he has never attended a Fantasy Fest. A blind man shall lead them!

Numbers sometime tell an interesting story. It has been reported that in Alabama, food stamp recipients outnumber public school students by 20 percent. Yet we keep hearing how the economy has recovered. Not for those on food stamps!

Enjoy your day!

TUESDAY TALK WITH KEY WEST LOU

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My blog talk radio show tonight at 9. Join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

A quick moving half hour of hot topics. Like police insubordination, Pope Francis packing the Cardinals group, police using a battery ram and tasers while entering a home celebrating a son’s 21st birthday, the Philadelphia Fed burning bills to make electricity, a Ferguson grand juror saying the prosecutor misrepresented certain things in his report, and more.

Not a boring show!

My diet continues. 26 pounds! I went a week losing nothing. It was discouraging. However, I could tell I was losing inches. A great diet! If it continues to work, I may write a book. The Key West Diet!

Key West was the scene of happiness last evening at midnight. The first same sex couple married in Florida took place at midnight. It had to be in Key West. One of the couples leading the court fight and making it possible were Key West residents. Lee Jones and Aaron Huntsman. Good for them, good for Key West, good for loving couples every where!

A wedding reception was held afterwards at Aqua. One in the morning. I did not go. Too late for me. Very much too late!

Friend Anna wrote yesterday. She is at her home in Courmayeur. Courmayeur is in northern Italy. Sits on the side of Mont Blanc. Mont Blanc is the highest peak in Europe. It is part of the Alps.

A ski resort. Anna say snow, snow, snow. People, people, people.

I love Courmayeur. A ski village composed of Swiss chalets. Nothing more beautiful!

Staying with Italy a moment longer, today is the Feast of Behana. Actually it was last night, though celebrated today also. Behana is a witch appearing old woman. Beak nose. Black cape. Sinister. January 6 is the Feast of the Epiphany. On the evening before, Behana brings gifts and candy to children. Just as Santa Claus. Older Italians share candies today.

Behana may look scary. In reality, a  nice person.

Greece. New elections January 25. It is going to be out with the old and in with the new. The new have already said Greece will be leaving the euro and Common Market. The Eurounion going crazy. Germany especially upset. It  is primarily their money that will probably never get paid back. Germany cannot afford such a loss. A recession very possible.

I saw this coming. In several blogs I wrote while in Greece three years ago and also in my book The World Upside Down, I discussed the scenario. I was not a genius. It was predictable. You can only defecate on a people so long. Then they will rebel. Here, peacefully.

A story typifying Mario Cuomo.

Back in my Utica days, Senator Donovan represented our area in the State Senate. Twenty years plus. He died. The church was packed for his funeral mass. From where I was seated, I could see the Donovan family clearly.

In the fifth row was an empty seat on the aisle. I thought it strange. Just before the Senator’s casket was rolled down, Mario Cuomo walked into the church. Neither looking to his right or left, he walked down the aisle to that seat.

After mass and when the family was leaving, the Governor quietly moved into the aisle and embraced the Donovan family. A quick few seconds. Then back to his seat. Cuomo walked out of the church with everyone else. His eyes straight ahead all the time. No conversation with those around him.

As the Governor left the Church, he walked over to a black car , got in, and was driven away. I assume to a plane waiting to fly him back to Albany. No handshaking with anyone. No stopping to converse with anyone.

I thought his conduct a class act. He was in Utica and at the mass solely for one purpose. To show respect for a political colleague. He did not pander.

Few politicians would have conducted themselves as he did.

Enjoy your day!

POPE FRANCIS DOES IT AGAIN

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Pope Francis is unique. He is different. He fights in the trenches.

Over the weekend, the Pope named 19 new Cardinals. Cardinals are one step below him in authority. Followed by Bishops.

A synod was held a few months ago. A Bishops thing. Some Cardinals in attendance. They gave the new Pope a hard time on homosexuals and Catholics who divorce and remarry.

It will not happen again if and when a new synod is held. Or any meeting of Cardinals and/or Bishops. The Pope is packing the Cardinal group. Appointing those who would be supportive of him in the future. Even a Pope has to play politics.

No U.S. Catholics were nominated. Unusual. The U.S. has long been a strong arm in Vatican politics. It was the U.S. contingency that obstructed the Pope at the Synod. Not the next time. The Pope has no time for clerical politicians. He is going to ride roughshod over them. The first step was stacking the Cardinal deck.

Yesterday’s Key West Citizen ran a major front page story on alligators and crocodiles. They are moving down the keys. Small ones have been observed south of the Seven Mile Bridge. Additionally, authorities have received 9 calls in the past 3 years re sightings between Big Pine and Key West.

Canal swimmers beware!

I learned something interesting from the article. Alligators and crocodiles cannot exist together. It is one or the other. Not in watery areas south of Miami and through the keys, however.

How lucky can we be!

Got out again yesterday. I had thoughts of Boondocks. Put the top down and away I went.

I have always liked Boondocks. Thirty miles up the road on US 1 just south of Big Pine. The food and prices a step up from Hogfish and Geiger Key. The ambiance also. I sat quietly and comfortably at the bar reading the Sunday newspapers.

Party time coming! Don and Chris arrive Saturday. Don already sent me an e-mail advising the Sunday night Syracuse game. Where will we watching, he asked. Don says Skaneateles Dan has already arrived.

I have been watching the games from home and bed recently. For whatever reason, I can get the games on one of three ESPN channels. If I am to go out, and I would enjoy doing it with friends, I suggest Don’s Place. Inside or outside bar.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

Christmas….A Legal Holiday

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CHRISTMAS 2010, I WROTE AN ESSAY DETAILING HOW CHRISTMAS CAME TO BE A LEGAL HOLIDAY. THE STORY INCLUDES MANY INTERESTING FACETS NOT GENERALLY KNOWN. THE ESSAY WAS NOT PUBLISHED IN THE BLOG AT THE TIME. I SHARE IT WITH YOU NOW WITH MY WISHES FOR A BLESSED AND MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Christmas….A Legal Holiday

 

On this wonderful Christmas Day 2010, most of us are sitting back happy with ourselves. In a joyous festive mood. Thankful for family and friends. Pleased by gifts and food.

And we might believe that Christmas in the United States has always been such. That Christmas as we know it always existed.

Shockingly, it did not!

Let’s go back to the Puritans. Those hearty immigrants from England to the shores of Massachusetts. Those who gave us Thanksgiving.

Christmas they did not give to us. In fact, they took Christmas away from us. The earliest Scrooges of record!

From 1659 to 1681, Christmas was outlawed in Boston. By the Puritans. They believed that Christmas was not consistent with their Puritan ideas and religious reforms. So one of their acts was to abolish Christmas!

Christmas remained a no-no through the American Revolution. The English influence in the colonies prevailed. Christmas could not regain its foothold.

A few years after the Revolution, the colonists, rid of the English influence, started celebrating Christmas. But it was not Christmas as we know it.

The early 1800s found Christmas being celebrated in a bit of a rowdy fashion. Much like Mardi Gras and Fantasy Fest.

Then came a couple of books which influenced the situation.

The first was by Washington Irving. In 1809, he wrote The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon. It portrayed Christmas as a peaceful loving holiday. Many attribute Irving’s novel as setting the mood for present day Christmas.

Irving actually created with words Christmas Day as we know and celebrate it. He mentally conceived his concept of Christmas and wrote it on paper. Christmas to that point had not been as he portrayed it.

About the same time, there was another writing. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This, too, captured the American imagination.

During the 1830s, several southern states legalized December 25 Christmas Day as a legal holiday. The first was Alabama in 1836.

The South continued to favor and celebrate Christmas up to the time of the Civil War. Whereas the North basically paid little attention to the day. Christmas had become a Southern thing.

Now comes the Civil War. Lincoln wanted to demoralize the Confederate troops. He wanted to show that the South’s Santa Claus was on the side of the North. He authorized a famous artist late in 1862 to do a drawing of Santa Claus watching over Union troops. The picture was the front cover on January 3, 1863 of a prominent national magazine. It was sort of God is on our side thing. Some believe it achieved Lincoln’s desired effect.

President Ulysses S. Grant is given credit for making Christmas a national holiday. I question the accuracy of the representation. In 1870 Grant signed a bill into law regarding Christmas Day. The new law read that Christmas “…shall be a holiday within the District of Columbia.”

The District of Columbia is not the whole of the United States. However, Grant is usually given credit for making Christmas a national holiday by that act.

The last state to legalize Christmas as a legal holiday was Oklahoma in 1907.

I suspect that it was the combination of Grant’s signing regarding the District of Columbia and all of the states legalizing the holiday that finally made Christmas Day a national holiday.

Christmas Day received a further boost by the 1897 editorial in the Sun of New York. We all know it. “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.”

Christmas was practiced and recognized as a holiday through World War II. For whatever reason, it received its most gigantic step forward recognition and celebration wise following World War II. Everyone got into the act after the war! Maybe because people were happy and grateful to have won.

Such is the story of the legalization of Christmas Day.

NOVARA

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Good morning world!

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Good morning world! Another lovely Key West day in the making. I woke this morning with a fiery orange ball confronting my eyes. Bright. I had to turn away. It was the rising sun.

In recent days, I have spent much time  at home. Generally writing. Yesterday was that way. A good part of the day was spent on Friday’s Internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. Interesting material. The show is easy to put together. The world about us is crazy. Every week more and more of the unbelievable occur. I merely report the happenings. With a comment or two, of course.

This week’s show will include the high school valedictorian who is facing deportation in Florida, Muslims burning a Catholic Church in Sudan, toxic tushes, an update on the Ladies Lingerie League, and the best of all…..a new Arizona law that says conception begins the first day of the woman’s last menstrual cycle.

The last item re the new Arizona law is really crazy. In effect it says that a person exists even before the egg and sperm unite. Even before the sex act was performed.

My Internet talk show can be found at www.konkbroadcasting.com. Friday mornings. Ten o’clock my time. Join me for a fast moving hour of life today.

Amongst other things yesterday, I published a new article to my Amazon Kindle blog. Key West Lou Law. It is called Santa Claus And Guns. Kids sitting on Santa Claus’ lap with all kinds of sophisticated guns behind Santa. Happened in Arizona the past two years. The same state that decreed life begins the first day of a woman’s last menstrual period.

One of the things that bothered me about the Santa and guns story is the advertisement which resulted in a standing line crowd: “Get your holiday pictures with Santa and his machine gun.”

Donna posted a lengthy comment to yesterday’s blog. She and Terri went to a Hollywood party. They ended up watching a movie. An old B film. Stella Stevens was at the party. I remember her. The wacky girl friend in the first Poseidon movie. Also the Asian boy from 16 Candles. I do not recall him. However, loyal reader Moto did and commented on him.

Bocce tonight. It will be the first time in three weeks that I will have ventured out to play. I look forward to it. Fun, people and a drink or two.

Ryno is returning! A great guy. He left Key West last year for Syracuse. Missed Key West. Calls it home. Ryno was my teacher when I started doing my radio show. Glad he is returning.

Enjoy your day!