STAR TREK MISSION 50 YEARS OLD

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Who would have believed it? The new TV show that first appeared on September 8, 1966. A futuristic show. Called Star Trek, it is still remembered. Fifty years later.

I suspect it is so because the show itself and its characters were believable. There was a quality of honesty. Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock examples. Some civil rights thrown in. Recall the different types and colors of those appearing in the shows.

Spent several hours yesterday researching this week’s KONK Life column. I will write it this afternoon. The article involves, surrounds, and emanates from the Star Spangled Banner. It has everything. Francis Scott Key, the burning of Washington, anti-Union blacks, a reluctant British Admiral, a cautious President Woodrow Wilson, and professional football player Colin Kaepernick.

I look forward to writing the column.

Intended to have dinner last night at the Marriott Beachside. Good luck! The bar and restaurant were packed.

Where to go? I did not want to drive into the downtown area. There was a DUI roadblock from 8-3 on Northern Boulevard at the intersection with Bertha and Palm.

Decided to try La Trattoria Oceanside. Glad I did.

Ate at the bar. Most of the time alone. There was time to chat with the bartender. Stephanie. A nice person. Enjoyed her company.

Stephanie is from Long Beach, New York. Long Island. She has been in Key West three years. The snow drove her down here. Understandable. If I never see snow again, it will not bother me.

She has traveled. Spain and London.

We talked politics a bit. Key West real estate. Local restaurant operators. La Trattoria on Duval. And other things.

Stephanie is a personality. I look forward to her company the next time I dine at La Trattoria Oceanside.

Bocce is into two weeks of the new season. Don’s Place is tied with three other teams for first place. Records 5-1.

Hell’s Rangers is one of those teams. Always dangerous. Always good. Don’s Place plays Hell’s Rangers next thursday. A blood bath, guaranteed!

The college football season is upon us. Syracuse beat Colgate friday night 33-7. Winning a big deal. However, not so big when the opponent beaten is considered. Colgate is a Division II school, whereas Syracuse a Division I.

There was a time…..

Colgate was a national champion. Always in the running. A major college team. National Champion in 1916 and 1932.

Syracuse became more powerful and Colgate less. By the end of World War II, Colgate was a second rate team. Syracuse was beating Colgate consistently.

The last time Colgate beat Syracuse was 1950.

Syracuse was National Champion in 1959. Ernie Davis time. Syracuse beat Colgate that year 71-0.

Following the 1961 season, Colgate announced it would not be scheduling Syracuse again.

Friday night therefore was special. Two old foes meeting again after a long lapse.

The two teams have played 66 times. In spite of Syracuse’s dominance in more modern times, Colgate still leads the series 31-30-5.

For some reason, most of the games were played at Syracuse. Many in the old Archibald Stadium.

I remember Archibald clearly. My Father used to take me to Syracuse games back then. From the time I was 8-9 through my high school years. Archibald was not a covered facility. No dome. My recollection is it was cold and rainy for each game. And muddy. Anywhere one walked, it was at least six inches of slop.

All fun, however. I thank my Dad for having exposed me to the experience.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID WOLKOWSKY

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David Wolkowsky…..Happy Birthday!

David turned 97 last week. God bless him!

Key West would not be what it is today without him. David, a genius. A man of vision.

Terri White sang last night! At Blue Heaven. I stopped in for a while. A God-given voice!

The humidity was too much. At least, for me. I think for everyone. Terri hung in there. Had to break at one time because of the heat.

Terri sings again. Tonight. At The Little Room Jazz Club. 9-12. Inside and air conditioned!

Friend Anne in Ithaca, NY e-mailed me last night. She caught Terri’s performance last night on Facebook. Live.

Modern science is amazing. I was sitting next to Donna. Donna had her cell phone on  and was videoing Terri’s performance. She told me it was going directly to Facebook. Obviously, it was.

Stopped at Outback afterwards for dinner. No room at the inn. Packed. Mostly families. The start of a holiday weekend obvious.

Walked down to the Chinese Restaurant. The same thing. First time I have ever seen the Chinese Restaurant full. As I walked in, I saw a booth open up. Smiled at the hostess who I knew while nodding at the booth. She nodded her assent.

A bad night diet wise and health wise. I ordered a combination. Egg drop soup, egg roll, pork egg foo yong, brown rice and orange sherbet.

Don’t forget, Brewfest today at the Southernmost. Street party 3-10 in the 1400 block of Duval.

The godfather of Brewfest is Matt Babich. I have known Matt and his former wife Carrie more than 20 years. Matt has been the manager of Southernmost all that time. He knows his job well!

Lisa worked for Matt and Carrie at Southernmost for several years as Sales Manager. Her last job before going into business for herself.

Hermine. Wow! Look at the number it did on north Florida. Glad it missed us. Sorry it hit anywhere.

Here it is saturday. Time to research this week’s KONK Life column. Once again, I am not sure what. I have two topics in mind. One will win out and I will begin the research later this morning.

Sloan coming at 2. Will interfere with my research. Need her for some technical matters, however. It is going to be a long day.

Enjoy your day!

SOME KEY WEST INFO

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Current Key West information.

Marriott Beachside is an exciting hotel. Perhaps the most exciting in Key West. Marriott announced it is adding to its facilities. Marriott guest facilities. A marina and a boat taxi service to downtown Key West.

Melody has been a Key West fixture for more than forty years. An exemplary entertainer. A lovely voice. She is leaving Key West. Sad. She is moving to Ashville, North Carolina.

Wednesday evening Melody will be giving a good-bye performance at The Little Room Jazz Club.

The Key West Brewfest has been ongoing this week. Ends sunday. Venued at the Southernmost Beach Resort. Saturday afternoon through evening the 1400 block of Duval will be closed for street partying.

On this day in 2013, Diane Nyad completed her record swim from Cuba to Key West. One hundred ten miles. She walked out of the water at Smathers Beach to the cheers of hundreds.

The hurricane season is upon us. Hermine doing its dirty deed in northern Florida and soon along the eastern seaboard up to New York City.

There was a more devastating hurricane in 1935. This date in 1935 was Labor Day. A class 5 hurricane hit the mid keys. Four hundred killed. The Overseas Railroad wiped out never to be rebuilt.

My yesterday began with a visit to my primary care/internist physician. Dr. Jackie Lefferts has cared for me for 10 years. I received good and bad news yesterday. Your health is good, I am retiring in one month.

One of the problems of aging. At 81, I have outlived certain of my doctors or seen them retire.

Change bothers me. Most people. A doctor change especially. Dr. Lefferts and I have come to understand each other. I am not the easiest of patients. She can be a tough doctor.

I consider her an excellent diagnostician. She has helped me over the years. Discovered problems early before they might have become serious.

Early on, she told me I had a heart condition. I told her she was crazy. How could I have a heart condition? I fought her on the issue for a year before I agreed to see a heart doctor. I had a heart condition. It has slowly gotten worse. I am alive, however. Were it not for Dr. Lefferts, I might not be here today.

Drove over to Lori’s for a haircut after meeting with Dr. Lefferts. Lori recently did a three day Bahamas cruise with girl friends. Actually, a bachelorette party. Big time fun, she said. The men did a fishing trip to Islamorada.

Then lunch at the Cuban Coffee Queen. No Ruby. A new guy doing her job. A young man. From England. Only here one month so far.

My KONK Life column this week is New Face In Price Gouging And Political Influence. It appears in this morning’s E-Blast.

When 99L was in the news last week, we were told it would be named Hermine if it turned into a tropical storm. It did not as it passed near Key West. Turned out to be nothing. 99L went out into the Gulf. Then turned around and headed northeast towards northern Florida. It hit north Florida yesterday as a class 1 hurricane.

The first hurricane to hit Florida in ten years. May it be ten years before another hits.

I must make a Trump observation. There are those of you that will disagree with me.

I have written and spoke of the following for 1 1/2 years.

Trump is a bully and thug as was Hitler. Hitler made the Jews the cause of Germany’s problems. We know what happened to the Jews.

I believe the immigrants of today are the Jews of yesterday. Trump is using immigrants as Hitler did the Jews.

Some say I am obsessed with Hitler. It is not obsession. It is recognition of a fact. History repeats itself. Unless we have learned from it.

Trump seems to attract fleas. Disruptive people. Not necessarily for the common good. It was announced yesterday that David Bossie has become Deputy Campaign Manager for Trump. Bossie’s name may not be familiar to you. His organization is. He is President of Citizens United.

I spoke briefly about North Korea President Kim Jong Un on my podcast broadcast tuesday night. Merely for background purposes, I mentioned the President not only kills his people in large numbers, but also those high in government. For bullshit reasons. Summary death.

Kim Jong Jin was 63. A Vice-Premier of North Korea. Jong Jin slouched during a Parliament meeting at which Jong Un was speaking. He was executed. His slouching was considered an act of dissent under North Korean law.

This whack has nuclear weapons. Can you picture he and Trump having a dialogue? Followed by Trump misrepresenting their conversation after the meeting. As Trump did with the Mexican President re the wall.

Enjoy your day!

UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER

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The 99L tropical wave was supposed to dump rain and wind on Key West sunday. Nothing happened. Not one drop of rain.

Yesterday, an 80 percent chance of rain. Wind from the south. I thought also we would have rain. Not a drop.

Today, an 80 percent chance of rain. I give up. I don’t know. Neither do the weather professionals.

Did my podcast broadcast last night. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Interesting. I covered happenings in Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Indonesia, Russia and China. Plus, occurrences in four States. A fast moving half hour.

Revealing material. Some sad, some humorous.

A busy day ahead. An early business luncheon at Salute’s. I am looking forward to it. Salute’s has great mussels at lunch. Martin’s Happy Hour with Joseph from Hot Tin Roof. Then, Donna and Terri at Back Door.

No laying around today.

Anna, where are you?

Anna reports this week she is in three different villages hanging off the side of Mont Blanc. Traveling with friends. They presently are at her chalet in Courmayeur. Tomorrow, they cross the border into France. they will be visiting Chamonix and Megeve.

What a life!

Everywhere they go,   there will be chic chalets and cobbled medieval streets.

An historic morning! At 9:45, the first commercial flight between the U.S. and Cuba takes off. Fort Lauderdale to Santa Clara. Santa Clara in central Cuba. A Jet Blue flight. The last commercial flight was 50 years ago at the time of the Cuban missile crisis.

Trump knows how to get publicity. He lets little slip through his fingers in that regard.

This afternoon, he will be in Mexico City for a meeting with the Mexican President. Tonight, Trump is in Phoenix giving his much awaited immigration speech. I am curious what this version will be.

The Mexican President is as foxy as Trump. I wonder who comes out ahead. He could make Trump look bad. Not that Trump needs help.

Hillary was in California last night at a fund raiser. At Jimmy Buffetts’ home. Hillary and the Beatles’ Paul McCartney danced.

Enjoy your day!

MORE DOCTORS SMOKE CAMELS THAN ANY OTHER CIGARETTE

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Dinner at the Outback bar last night. Got into a conversation with a couple near by. Fiftyish.

We got into cigarette smoking. The lady said she occasionally flies on a plane that still has an ash tray in the seat arm. She was concerned with the age of the plane.

I mentioned I could recall a time when doctors purportedly supported Camels. Recommended they be smoked. A Camel advertisement.

I checked out the verbiage this morning: More Doctors Smoke Camels Than Any Other Cigarette.

My new found friends were both shocked. I told them it gets even better.

Stewardesses (they were called that back then) would walk the aisle handing out packs of free cigarettes. Small packages. Probably four cigarettes.

Those were the days!

Took us a long time to learn.

Flying domestically has been cigarette free now 26 years.

Earlier, I had been at Aqua for the Dueling Bartenders. Two bartenders with great voices. Tom Luna and Rick Dery.

When I arrived, I was one of 2 people. Within an hour, there were 28.

Three couples came in. Mid 30s. Two couples tourists, one local. They were at Aqua for a couple of hours of fun. They livened the place up. Tom and Rick sang their songs. Their generational songs. The couples sang along with them.

Two of the ladies danced. First, at the bar. Then on the dance floor. The only ones. Both beauties.

Another time, they danced around Aqua’s good sized rectangular bar. All three this time. As one danced by, I could feel her finger nails run along my back.

The most sex I’ve had in months!

One of the lovelies claimed she was a Mormon. She was dressed in a top that started at her breasts and ran down. Her breasts held up the top. Rick asked her how could she be a Mormon? Where were her white Mormon underclothes?

A gotcha moment! She admitted she was Catholic. A good laugh moment, also.

Marty was a court stenographer. Worked Key West many years. Now lives in Fort Lauderdale. I have not seen him in years. My fault. He has invited me to his Fort Lauderdale home several times. I never go.

Marty and I became friends. Has to be more than 10 years ago. Marty introduced me to the Chart Room. I became a regular as he. We would start our evenings meeting at the Chart Room. Then off for dinner somewhere. Some nights longer than others because we would end up bar hopping after dinner.

Marty was an opinionated man. We agreed on very little. Argued over everything.

We were having dinner at La Trattoria’s bar one evening. Some how, I got into undergarments Mormons are required to wear. Male and female. He told me I was crazy. I stood my ground.

Marty took out his cell phone and called a lady friend in Los Angeles who was a Mormon. She told him yes they did and yes I was correct.

Miss you Marty!

Spent yesterday afternoon preparing for my podcast show tonight. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

A fast moving show.

Interesting topics. Like prison corporations requiring female prisoners to show their vaginas to prove they were menstruating, private prisons contributing big time to Trump (bullies of a feather flock together), Norway building a wall to keep refugees out, California judge upholding law requiring mandatory vaccinations for children, Russia and Indonesia now have toilet restaurants (disgusting), Big Pharma and price gouging, and more.

Wind from the south this morning. Seldom from the south. When from the south, means a storm.

Eighty percent chance of rain.

Must have something to do with the 99L that missed us and the new one coming up. Neither a big deal for Key Westers fortunately.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

EDWARD KNIGHT

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Key West lost another of its stars yesterday at age 99. Edward Knight.

A handful of men are responsible for the Key West of today. Knight one of them. He was a community pillar, a visionary and philanthropist. A realtor and developer.

Key West recently recognized his contributions by renaming the White Street Pier to the Edward B. Knight Pier.

He will be missed.

The weather has been everything the past week. The media suggesting a storm. People getting a bit nervous. Turned out to be nothing.

Yesterday, 99L was to hit. Merely a tropical wave. Rain and strong winds. Never happened. Yesterday was one of the loveliest days of the year. Shiny. brightly so. A bit humid. A slight breeze. Water moving fast, however.

This morning a bit darker. Has rained a bit already. Most recent weathercast says 80 percent chance of rain today. Yesterday’s rain in all likelihood.

I stepped out onto my deck. I was hit with a distinct smell of rotten fish. First time at my location.

The weather report says there is a tropical depression forming 60 miles to the south. Will be responsible for rain and wind wednesday.

All purchased for the storm has a long shelf life. I look forward at different times to meals of crackers and peanut butter and jam. Other times, to crackers and sardines.

I mentioned in yesterday’s blog that I was up at 5 yesterday morning researching this week’s KONK Life column. Wrote it yesterday afternoon. New Face In Price Gouging And Political Influence. Mylan Pharmaceuticals, EpiPen, CEO Heather Bresch, and political influence. An example of Big Pharma machinations.

KONK Life hits the stands wednesday.

Baby was vaccinated today. What was a vaccination in 1855? Was it for the baby’s fever or something else?

Tonight at 5:30, Dueling Bartenders at Aqua. Love the singing!

Afterwards at 8:30, Larry Smith at the Little Room Jazz Club.

An evening of great music.

Enjoy your day!

KEY WEST APPEARS SAFE

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Missed the bullet again! So it appears. We get past tomorrow and everything definitely ok.

99L is still 99L. Has not reached tropical storm or hurricane strength. It will pass over us some time today and tonight. Big rain and wind. When it hits the Gulf, it may grow to hurricane status. Will not affect the Keys.

At the moment, 99L is near Cuba.

Better safe than sorry. I finally hurricane shopped yesterday. Even if only for a couple of days of rain and wind.

Not expensive. Probably because I did not buy enough. I have no faith that the storm will have increased in strength when it goes over Key West.

$80 covered everything. Two flashlights and a battery operated lamp at Home Depot. Crackers, peanut butter, jam, sardines, fruits and puddings already prepared that do not require refrigerating, gallons of water, bottled water, etc. at Publix.

A sign that the storm is not being taken seriously was Home Depot and Publix. When a storm is around the corner, they feature everywhere water, flashlights, batteries. Publix, certain foods.

No such displays yesterday.

Another indication that a problem may be ahead are the shelves of bottled water. Non-existent. Yesterday, not even a dent.

For those unaware, foods must be purchased that do not require refrigeration. Electricity is the first to go. Galloned water needed to flush the toilets. the plumbing screws up.

My plan was to spend yesterday afternoon researching this week’s KONK column. I would then write it today.

I started around 2. Did not get far. Pop ups. Multiple full page ones. Not with every site. Definitely with the sites I needed for research.

The column will be about Mylan, its CEO Heather Bresch, her father Senator Joe Manchin, and Epi Pens. The connection between politics and corporate America. Favors done. A today issue. As regards Mylan, on the verge of becoming explosive. A shameful situation.

I telephoned Tim Reynolds in Tampa. Used to live and work in Key West. Computer guru. does it for a living. He is hooked up to my computer so he can take care of problems.

Took four hours to get rid of the pop ups. A pain in the ass! By the time the problem was corrected, I was exhausted. I was working along with Tim.

Not in any condition to research. Not even go out. Put the research off to today. Research and write in one day. Onerus!

I got up at 5 and sat at the computer immediately. Research complete. I will write this afternoon.

I love my roots. Utica, NY. Unfortunately, economically depressed more than sixty years. My brother in law Robert Palmieri is Mayor. He has a thankless task in trying to get things going.

A study was recently done re the 10 worst places to live in New York State. Utica was #9. I would have expected it to be closer to #1. Reasons included crime, jobs, income levels, and cheap homes.

The sole favorable report was that General Electric was returning. Many many years ago, GE was one of Utica’s major employers.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

BIGOTRY

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The term bigotry permeates the news. I want to share a personal thought.

I have known bigots over the course of my life time. All powerful persons. Disliked n—ers and Jews. Some, even Italians.

They did not know they were bigots. Bigots do not know they are bigots.

They all considered themselves do gooders. Helpful especially to those they demeaned the most.

A bigot is like a tiger. He does not change his spots.

Tropical storm, hurricane…..What is Key West to expect over the next few days. Tension is building on the island. Even with me. I shall be out stocking up for the few days I might be confined to my home.

99L is still 99L. Broke up  a bit over Hispaniola. We are going to have rain and winds. Whether more, remains to be seen. The storm’s line runs directly over Key West.

Monroe County’s second Zika case has been reported. Marathon. Travel related. Not the result of a mosquito bite in the Keys.

Driving gets worse and worse on Key West. More and more tourists. Something has to be done.

The City Commission is trying. They have hired a full time employee to deal with the problem.

An initial study has been completed. Done by a graduate student still a student. I cannot knock the initial result. Thoughtful. Some new ideas.

Only a beginning. Lets see where it goes.

This weekend would normally be quiet. A lull in tourism. It will be even quieter because of the possibility of a storm.

I wanted to schedule dinner saturday with out of town friends. They could not make it. Decided to leave saturday morning because of the possibility of a bad storm.

Wise judgment.

The poor Hackley baby. William Hackley reported today: “Babe had a fever again.”

Asians many times appear smarter than we do. They may be. China, Japan, Taiwan, etc. They always seem to be a step ahead in material development.

Singapore announced that within several weeks it will start using driverless cabs. A test. Only six. If the program works, Singapore believes it will reduce 900,000 vehicles a day on their roads to 300,000.

Uber has announced it will soon start testing driverless taxis. In Pittsburgh.

Key West? We threw Uber out! Interestingly, the congestion study referred to earlier suggested as one means of cutting traffic down was to use Uber and other such companies.

Insanity carried to an extreme. I am into alligators. I fear further injury and loss of life.

Insanity prevailed this past week in Bushnell, Florida. Reginald Blanton, age 76, has a horse farm. He was walking in the field with several horses. His 58 year old step son Jack Hildreth was with him.

An alligator came upon the scene. Started jumping for the horses who were panicking. Reginald was carrying. A 9 mm handgun. He put two bullets in the alligator’s head. The alligator was not dead. Stepson Jack was eight feet away from the alligator. The alligator leaped up and at Jack. In one leap, got one of Jack’s legs between his jaws.

Reginald shot the alligator again. The alligator subsequently died.

Alligators no longer are an endangered species in Florida. However there is a law that a person cannot shot/kill an alligator unless licensed to do so.

Reginald had no such license.  He was arrested. A felony carrying a five year sentence.

Lets stay with alligators for a moment. Yesterday, an alligator was seen with a man’s body in his mouth. Florida’s Lake Hunter. A witness called it into the police. The police saw the alligator and body also.

My column in this week’s Konk Life is Teaching To The Test Fails. It appeared on E-Blast this morning. The column was also linked to my Key West Lou website this morning.

Another example of insanity. The pure unadulterated human kind again. Phoenix airport this past week. Nine year old boy traveling with his parents. Frequent travelers, including the child.

The boy was born with four heart defects. He has had 15 surgeries. A 16th is scheduled to be done soon.

He has a pacemaker. Ergo, unable to go through usual screening. The parents have the necessary documentation from TSA providing for alternate testing. The documentation also spells out how it is to be done.

The TSA official said no good. Child must go through normal security or he will not travel. An exemption required.

Everyone got in the act. The Homeland Security officer in charge, several other TSA officers and a handful of police officers. Many carrying guns and lasers.

Everyone knew what to do. None knew anything. Each contributing something to the testing performed. Took an hour.

The child was scared. His parents have taught him to live with his disability. He gives it no thought. Not till Phoenix. Mother says child still bothered.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

HERMINE ON ITS WAY?

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I continue to learn.

Had I not decided to spend the last end of my life in Key West, I would have known little about hurricanes. Still little. However more than I knew back then.

The hurricane Gaston is out there some where. It will not make US landfall.

However…..Behind Gaston is tropical wave 99L. Tropical wave and with a number new to me. A tropical wave can turn into a tropical depression/storm. A tropical depression/storm can turn into a hurricane.

We have been told tropical wave 99L is behind Gaston. Also behind Puerto Rico. It is some 900 miles away. Presently over or soon to be over Hispaniola. Hispaniola and Puerto Rico part of the Greater Antilles.

Whether 99L turns into a tropical storm or hurricane depends what happens as 99L passes over Hispaniola. Hispaniola’s mountains are 10,000 feet. 99L could break up as it passes over the mountains. Such would be the end of any hurricane danger.

Whatever 99L is after the mountains will determine what will happen as regards the southern US. Could be a heavy wind/rain storm. Or, a hurricane.

If 99L turns into a tropical storm or hurricane, it will receive a new name. Hermine.

Whether wind and rain, tropical storm, or hurricane, it will be over the Keys sunday, monday and tuesday.

Truman Capote died on this day in 1984. Best known for In Cold Blood.

Capote once spent a couple of months in Key West. He booked into David Wolkowsky’s Pier House as it stood at that time. Wolkowsky lived in a trailer next to the Pier House ten feet from the water.

Capote was in a suite. After arriving, he was in Wolkowsky’s trailer having a drink. Wolkowsky’s trailer was very well done. Capote said I want to stay here. Wolkowsky said this is my home. So the conversation went on. Wolkowsky finally relented and gave up his trailer to Capote. Wolkowsky moved into Capote’s suite.

I intended to start my evening at the Back Door with Mark Watson. Closed. Mark never shows up if it is raining. The Back Door is outside.

It was not raining at 5. It had stopped around noon. The sun was out and blazing hot at 5.

Mark just wanted a night off.

I went inside to Aqua’s main bar. Rick Dery bartending. My Joe’s Chicken Shack friends Tim and Todd at the bar. Sat and talked with them. Good guys. One drink only.

Then to Sq. 1. John recently purchased it. Wanted to congratulate John. John not there. Met Ryan. The new bartender. All the employees were new. Recognized none of them

I asked if Jay was cooking. Ryan asked me who Jay was. Guess Jay is gone, too.

Ryan has only been in Key West one month. From Montana.

I enjoyed an appetizer and one drink.

Then home. Before 9. Early to bed.

Disaster!

I fell going up the stairs! Stubbed my toe on the last step. Went flying.

My fault. I was hurrying up the steps and not looking. At my age, I am not supposed to do either. No reason to hurry. No one waiting for me in bed.

At my age, when you fall, you fall hard. My nose. Where the bridge of my glasses rest. Thought I broke my nose. Swollen this morning. A bit bruised. A couple of small cuts. Talked to my doctor. Does not think it is broken. Don’t worry about it.

My wrists and knees hurt. Really bad. My left arm/shoulder, also.

I had a cut on my left foot shin bone. Bled more than a small cut should have.

My major problem after a fall is getting up. Big time difficult!

Whatever, I am alive and well this morning.

The Custom House celebrates its 125th birthday this year. Construction was completed 1891. At the time, housed federal offices. Courts, post office, etc. The building plans used were from a previous federal construction.  The new federal building in Aberdeen, Mississippi completed in 1887.

The William Hackley saga continues. Baby still sick. Fever till 2 in the afternoon. Fever returned in the evening. Matilda’s breasts continue to be a problem. Boil on one broke. Painful.

Hackley called for the doctor in the evening. To check out Baby. The doctor had a bit of a concern. He had just returned from treating a smallpox patient. He was concerned whether he should visit the child.

The doctor finally decided it was ok. He had no knowledge of anyone becoming infected by a doctor who had recently cared for a smallpox victim.

Glad we live today rather than back then.

Bob Saraceno and wife Sue are in town. Will be getting together with them at some point.

Enjoy your day!

 

PHILIPPINE’S DONALD TRUMP

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Interesting blog talk radio show last night. Some topics revealing.

One of the topics involved the Philippine’s new President Rodrigo Duterte. Elected May 1. The Philippine’s Donald Trump.

Duterte decided to eliminate drugs. Immediately upon taking office. Secret forces searched for dealers and users. Yhey were not arrested. Rather, killed on sight. No trial, no nothing.

Duterte has been successful. 1,500 killed so far. 400 for drugs. The rest for various reasons. All killed forthwith.

Duterte has a toilet mouth.

The UN criticized him for the killings. Violated human rights.

The US Ambassador complained also. Duterte called the US ambassador an “annoying, homosexual, son of a bitch.

Re the UN, “If you’re a rude son of a bitch, we’ll just leave you.” My way or the highway.

RE the UN again, “I don’t give a shit about them…..they are the ones interfering.”

Re human rights violations in the US, Especially police/black killings, “The Americans are killing the black people there, shooting them down when they are already on the ground…..if just 2 or 4, it’s still human rights violations.”

Another topic involved 5 year old Ormon Daqneesh. The boy seated on an orange seat in an ambulance, What appeared to be blood splattered on the sie of his face. His eyes sad.

A 2 minute video. Pictures made therefrom. Viral over the internet with over 700,000 viewing.

Some believe the video/pics are phony. Planned. Not blood on the boy’s face. A multitude of other reasons.

It is claimed the photographer has no other videos or pics listed anywhere in the world on the internet. Who is he? The claimed name is Mahmoud Roslan.

Which story is correct? I don’t know. Is the issue being discussed? Yes.

Yesterday was a tough day for me. I did not sleep well the night before. Felt like a zombie all day.

Caused my fine tuning, etc. of last night’s show to take 2 extra hours.

The rainy season is definitely upon Key West. Poured all day yesterday. Intermittently, but extremely heavy. All night also. This morning, too. With lightning and thunder big time.

My fellow senior citizens, recognition of a sort awaits. A helpful one. September is Healthy Aging Month. Exercise, proper eating, etc. Can’t hurt.

Today is screw off day for me. The start of my weekend. Love wednesdays!

History repeating itself today. On this day in 79 AD, Italy’s Vesuvius exploded. The volcanic eruption buried Pompeii. Today, a major volcanic eruption hit central Italy. Many villages destroyed. Look like our Baton Rouge. A strong quake.

Recall several years ago on my first trip to Italy. I was staying at Anna’s apartment in Novara. Third floor. Working in the library. All of sudden, things started moving. Pretty good. I could hear Anna screaming. Between shocks and after shocks, the quake kept up several hours. Fortunately, Novara was on the periphery.

I must admit, I was concerned. I thought the 1,500-year-old building I was staying in was going to collapse. The shock sensations were that bad.

Another day in the life of William Hackley. This day in 1855, his diary mentions “Baby is a little unwell.” Matilda’s boil on a breast broke. Another has developed on her other breast. “I think her milk much affected and disagrees with the baby.”

Not easy to feed a baby back then. Nor easy for a mother to breast feed.

I continue to worry about Baby.

Mosquitoes, Zika, in the news daily. Properly so.

I read something this morning that the French take care of the mosquito problem by opening their windows and placing flower pots of geraniums on the windowsills. Keeps the mosquitoes out.

Geraniums carry an oil with a scent. Citronella. A natural mosquito repellent.

KONK Life hits the stands today. My column this week is Teaching to the Tests Fails. About the education of our young. You will find it revealing.

Enjoy your day!