THE AWARD GOES TO…..

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I am old school. I enjoy the Academy Awards.

Last night turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. Not because of the Academy Awards. Because of Comcast.

My TV screen went dead following the Award for Best Supporting Actress. My computer was non-operational also. Both  services bundled with Comcast.

I was stripped from the world of information. Totally.

Went to sleep at 1. Still no TV. Comcast had a recording advising it might take 24 hours to correct a problem it was experiencing

I woke at 4. Had left the TV on. It was up and running.

Took me till 5 to find out who won the other awards. I missed one of the biggest screw ups in Academy history. The wrong card being opened to announce Best Movie.

It all worked out well in the end. La La Land had a minute of glory. Something they can talk about for years. Moonlight received its just due, though a few minutes late.

Sloan was over at noon. We worked on increasing Go Live’s coverage. Not easy.

Syracuse/Louisville. A disaster. Louisville won 88-68.

Key West will be celebrating Tennessee Williams in March. For the whole month. Williams’ birthday is March 26.

Many events planned. Among others, Tropic Cinema will be showing Williams’ classic screen films on March 6, 13 and 20.

Another weekend of anti-Semetism. More than 100 Jewish tombstones tipped over at the Jewish Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Philadelphia.

It should be noted that many Muslims helped in lifting the stones to their correct positions.

A 1 pm heart doctor appointment. Get my test results.

Enjoy your day!

 

A SPORTS AFTERNOON

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An interesting sports afternoon! I did not view much of it. The results astounding.

First, Syracuse.

Football. Syracuse lost as anticipated. Finally the football season is over. The score of the game unusual. Syracuse beaten by Pitt 76-61. The numbers reflect a basketball score. I am pleased that Syracuse kept it close. Only lost by roughly two touchdowns.

Basketball. Here I thought success would be ours. It was not. Syracuse lost to South Carolina 64-50.

No excuse. However…..Seems South Carolina’s defense was unique. New to college basketball. Syracuse could not handle it.

Boeheim will overcome.

Finally, the Ohio State/Michigan game. #s 2 and 3. Went to two overtimes. Ohio State finally won 30-27.

I only got to watch the overtimes. Fantastic football!

Last night with Liz. A lady. Charming. Her two deanships at law schools make Liz an extra interesting dinner companion.

I picked Cafe. The vegetarian restaurant. A funky appearing place. Reminds me of a college hang out. Food excellent. Business, likewise excellent.

I enjoyed a spinach-artichoke dip and mussels. Liz had some type veggie dish described as a pepper steak. No steak, of course.

Pie at Liz’s home afterwards. Potato pie made with rum. Never had potato pie before. Taste close to pumpkin pie. Made from canned sweet potatoes.

Fidel Castro has died.

A tyrant. Dictator. People forget that he replaced a despot. Batista. Initially, Castro was viewed as a hero.

Somewhere along the way, he ended up on Russia’s side. I have always wondered why not on the side of the U.S.

Batista was a whore. He and his associates became rich. Organized crime and international corporations paved their way in Cuba with bribery dollars.

Key West, the State of Florida and the U.S. have constantly guarded against Castro actions and influences as they might affect each.

An Emergency Management organization exists. Its primary purpose to guard against any large scale immigration. Also to observe any unusual happenings.

Monroe County’s Emergency Management has kicked in. As has Florida’s. Monitoring Cuban activities.

Santa Claus is coming to town! Monday evening at 6. Bayview Park. Key West’s Christmas tree lighting. Santa’s first public appearance.

This morning’s KONK Life E-Blast has an elderly health article. The article notes that 1/3 of people over 65 fall. I am one of them!

Pope Urban II is responsible to some degree for today’s Muslim problem. On this day in 1095, he ordered the first Crusade. His speech considered the most influential of the Middle Ages.

He cried out “Deus vult!” God wills it! He even told everyone that those fighting would have a remission of all their sins. Such meant immediate entrance into Heaven. No Hell or Purgatory. Sounds sort of like the Muslim 17 or 21 or whatever number of virgins who will be waiting for those who die for the Muslim religion.

Pope Urban’s Crusade was the first movement against the Muslim world. For 461 years, the Muslims had battled and seized 2/3’s of the Christian world. Pope Urban wanted the Christian lands reclaimed.

Whatever the reason, a forever war.

The history of the Key West Rotary continues. This is Installment 23.

I have noticed that beginning with World War II, the history contents of Langley’s work have become sparse. Five years missed here and there. Cannot be nothing occurred. Whatever, this feature of my blog will see its conclusion by the end of the week.

When I started, I advised Langley’s history went to 1975. I recently discovered there was later a sort of addendum bringing it up to 1991.

April 1966 was the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Key West Rotary. The Club’s golden anniversary. It was celebrated in a befitting manner.

A gala cocktail party and dinner at the Trade Winds Supper Room in the Holiday Inn. The Holiday Inn was Key West’s largest hotel/motel for years. It was torn down and replaced with what today is the Marriott Beachside.

One hundred Rotarians and guests attended. Guest speaker was Cleve Allen of Coral Gables. His thunder was stolen by Joe Pearlman, one of the Club’s pioneer members. He told stories about yesterday. Back when.

Interestingly, when the Key West Rotary was established 50 years earlier, it was only the third in Florida.

The 1960s found the U.S. heavily involved in Vietnam. The war was very unpopular. Returning soldiers and veterans were not acclaimed. Actually looked down upon.

The Key West Rotary recognized Vietnam veterans were being overlooked. At the January 26, 1967 luncheon meeting, 4 U.S. Marines were invited. They were recuperating from their wounds at the time at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Key West.

Enjoy your Sunday!

TERRI WHITE SINGS

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Tonight…..Terri White sings! At Blue Heaven. 6:30-9:30.

This is Terri’s first Key West performance since returning. She is retired. Moved back home to Key West with her wife Donna. Terri will do an occasional Key West gig. Nothing more.

Terri is officially retired. She had no choice. She went blind rather suddenly in one eye. If my recollection is correct, her last solo performance was at Kennedy Center. She fell off the stage. Her depth perception is shot.

I will be at Blue Heaven enjoying Terri. My evening will be doubly pleasing. Jenna will be with me.

I did nothing yesterday. Laid around. Read, napped and watched TV. I am taking it easy till we are sure what if anything is going on with my heart.

Hemingway. I have been reading a lot of Hemingway this past week. Not his works. Stories about the man himself. Interesting and revealing.

Hemingway was not a nice guy all the time. Especially as he got older. Mean.

Once an enemy, always an enemy. He wrote of his former friends, now enemies, as characters in his books. Making them look bad.

His sex life all over the place. Besides several wives, he had at least two long term affairs with lesbian women. Who apparently became bi as a result.

Hemingway is considered to have been bisexual by several who wrote about him. Going as far back as F. Scott Fitzgerald during their Paris days.

I would love to write a Hemingway column taking in all these facets. Too much involved, however. Also, I would owe it to the man to research even more deeply than I have. A lot of work. A ton of material. It would have to be a novel.

Anna telephoned yesterday from the Milan airport. She was waiting for a plane to Athens. She decided not to let the immigration problem screw up her summer.

She will spend a few days in Athens in a small hotel near Playka. She promised to visit my favorite outside cafe and drink a silent gin and tonic toast to me.

Her second stop will be Santorini. Things safe there, she says. After that, not sure. Maybe Amorgos.

I envy her.

She mentioned that Silvio Berlusconi had heart surgery ten days ago in Milan. An aortic valve replacement. Appears to be doing well.

My primary problem is with my aortic valve. Interestingly, my father’s problem was with his aortic valve.

Anna follows Berlusconi’s doings closely. Most Italians do. In spite of everything, he is a loved man in Italy. Anna says Putin has been in constant touch with Berlusconi. The two are known close friends. Putin built a home next door to Berlusconi in Portofino.

Trump in Scotland as seen on TV. Boring. Unimpressive.

My sense is he did not have a crowd. Hard to determine. The camera remained on him and never showed us those listening to him.

Americans are movie lovers. Especially of the old west. On this day in 1876, the Battle of Little Bighorn took place. Custer and his 200 men were wiped out by Chiefs Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull. The Native Americans had 3,000 against Custer’s 200.

I have to research this week’s KONK Life column today. I research on saturday and write on sunday. My usual problem again. Do not know yet what I am going to write about.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

RAGNAR

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The Ragnar dispute is ongoing. My knowledge of the situation was limited. I did some homework. Research. I share with you what I learned. If anything I write is incorrect, let me know.

Ragnar is a business. Apparently a good one. Ragnar “sponsors” two day relay races across the country. One of those places has been the Florida Keys. All the way down to Key West.

Many locals are opposed to permitting the Ragnar race this year. Ragnar is willing to make any adjustments to obtain official approval.

The facts.

Six thousand will race. One thousand vans will support the 6,000 runners. The numbers overwhelming. Especially for the two lane highway most of the way. A major traffic problem.

Ragnar says worry not. From Marathon to Key  west, the race will take place on the trail or bicycle path on the south side of US 1. The path is 4-5 feet wide. Six thousand people? It would take forever. It is inevitable. The runners will spill over into the highway.

Money involved. Big dollars. Running to Ragnar. A terrific business!

The runners consist of 12 person teams. Dividing 12 into the 6,000 runners makes for 500 teams. Each team pays an entrance fee of $1,260 to $1,620. Multiplying $1,260 by 500 teams totals $630,000. Wow!

Ragnar is a non-profit organization. I learned long ago there is profit in non-profit.

What, if anything, does Ragnar contribute to defray the public’s costs? Things like extra police, safety personnel, clean up, etc. Forget the most important thing. The inconvenience to Keys residents and non-running visitors.

I agree with local leaders who have heard the cries of their constituents. Ragnar should not be permitted to race.

Anti-gravity treadmill yesterday. I am up to 4.5 miles per hour!

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

Topics will include some brief observations from this week’s KONK Life column Helen Sperling…..Holocaust Survivor. One of her comments: “The nights still belong to Hitler.” Buchenwald never left her.

Other topics include a boy who spent 40 days in jail for allegedly throwing a snowball that broke a police car window, the off duty cop who shot a neighbor in the head after previously having been on paid leave for killing a man.

Also, buried in the proposed highway bill a provision that the IRS be permitted to lift the passport of anyone owing more than $50,000 unpaid, 72 Department of Homeland Security personnel on the terrorist list, France moving far to the right, the Jordanian who tried to open a Lufthansa door while in flight shouting he wanted himself and the passengers to join Allah, and more.

Great evening at the Chart Room last night. Spent good time with Kevin.

Cool last night. 71 degrees. Cold for locals. Days in high 70s. No problem.

The weather strange this past week. Rain, rain, and more rain. Weather man says there is a stalled front over us.

Trump creating a furor re his wanting to bar Muslims from travel to the U.S. St.  Petersburg Mayor Rick Krisemus announced yesterday Trump is banned from entering St. Petersburg. Tit for tat.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HANNUKKAH

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The Jewish celebration Hanukkah begins at sunset today. It lasts till monday December 14. It is a Festival of Lights.

My blog today is not about Hanukkah. Though I wish all a Happy Hanukkah! Especially, my Jewish friends.

I spent many hours yesterday researching this week’s KONK Life column. It was about Teddy Roosevelt and an executive order of his that exasperated many world wide.

I woke this morning to learn that Helen Sperling had died. Unknown to most. A Buchenwald survivor. A woman who dedicated her adult life to telling her story and reminding us not to forget what happened.

Helen’s story is hard to hear. Dark. Overrides the Roosevelt story. I am shelving Roosevelt for another day. This week’s column will be Helen’s story. Titled Thou Shall Not Stand By.

Changing columns means a long day ahead for me. I am late with today’s blog because I have already spent four hours researching the new column. There are several more. Then the actual writing.

Helen’s story would be appropriate any time. However with the Jewish holidays upon us, it has a special meaning.

Georgetown beat Syracuse yesterday 79-72. The game was not as close as the score might indicate. At one point in the second half, Syracuse was behind 20 plus points.

Syracuse played lousy. Simply stated. Could not make threes nor control the boards. Georgetown pierced the zone defense at will. Their big man hurt us badly. I keep saying, we need a big man! Some one screwed up in the recruiting process.

The team was not with it. A major problem was hesitation. The team failed to take threes when they had the shot. The threes they took did not drop. They moved slowly around the court. Always seemed a step behind. There were moments when a Syracuse player would stand still holding the ball, not certain what to do with it.

The Syracuse team yesterday was not the same one I watched beat two ranked teams in the Bahamas two weeks ago.

Boeheim not being there not a factor.

I who love small town parades decided to skip Key West’s Christmas Parade last night. I was not in the mood. Instead, I had dinner at Tavern ‘n Town.

Met Larry and Linda. Enjoyed their company tremendously.

Most importantly, Larry and Linda were celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary. Congrats to them! They live in Fort Myers. Came to Key West for the weekend to celebrate their anniversary.

Linda is originally from the Buffalo area. She and I are New York neighbors of a sort. About 175 miles separating Buffalo and Utica. Larry is from Youngstown.

The two did cocktail hour at Alonzo’s before Tavern ‘n Town. They stopped at Tavern ‘n Town for dessert. Key Lime pie. They were interested in experiencing every aspect of Key West.

The San Bernardino shootings have raised many thoughts, questions, solutions, etc. One is that people would be safer if permitted to carry concealed weapons. Such would discourage the bad guys.

Someone wrote a comment today. His thought was precisely what I have set forth. Carry concealed weapons.

Jerry Falwell’s son Jerry Falwell Jr. is now President of Liberty University. He claims carrying would prevent  San Bernardinos. His justification was not directly to save lives. It was that “…..we could end those Muslims.”

I do not agree with gun carrying, concealed or otherwise. Ultimately, society would be as in the Old West. The Muslim situation on the other hand I find troublesome. Islamic radicals are a danger to us, to our way of life.

President Obama is speaking tonight to the issue. I hope he hits a home run. People are discouraged about his handling of ISIS. Empty words will not help.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

 

ROSE TATTOO / TENNESSEE WILLIAMS / DUNCAN ST.

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The time is this week 1954. The place Duncan Street in Key West. The filming of the movie The Rose Tattoo began.

A great movie. Loved it! Starred Burt Lancaster and Anna Mangani. Mangani won the Academy Award for her performance.

The movie was an adaptation of a Tennessee Williams play. Tennessee Williams lived on Duncan St. He wrote the play while living on Duncan St. The house where the movie was filmed was on Duncan Street. Two doors up from Tennessee Williams’ home. Both Williams and the Rose Tattoo houses still stand on Duncan.

Lisa lives on Duncan. Her home is 1 1/2 blocks from the Williams home.

Key West loves Harry Truman. Harry Truman loved Key West.

On November 2, 1948, Truman was elected President. He defeated New York Governor Tom Dewey. Truman was not favored to win. A big underdog. No one gave him a chance. Except Truman himself.

Congress at the time was Republican. They blocked him at every move. Some what like today’s Congress and Obama. Only worse. Truman campaigned against the worst Congress ever, as he put it.

Corporate America disliked Truman. Vehemently.

An example is what occurred while Truman was campaigning. Campaigning was done from the back platform of the last car on a train in those days. The train traveled all over the country.

Truman was short on funds. Again, he was not expected to win. Few were contributing to him. The train and crew were leased. The bill was overdue.

The train was stopped by the railroad somewhere in the middle of nowhere between two towns. Truman was told the bill had to be paid in full. If not, Truman and his entourage had to get off.

Truman threw in what he had in his pocket. His supporters did likewise. They had just enough to pay the bill. Truman proceeded on his way.

The distaste the railroad owners had for Truman obvious. Doing this to a President of the United States! Disrespectful!

Politics played the same all the time. Hard ball.

Did my blog talk radio show last night. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Love dong the show!

One of the topics clearly reflects government waste.

The Department of Defense built a gas station in Afghanistan. Nothing special. A run of the mill gas station. The contracted cost for construction $3 million. A lot for a gas station. Especially since a similar one had been built the previous year in Pakistan for $500,000.

The final cost of construction was $43 million. Wow! $3 million for the construction. $40 million for overhead.

The gas station built was a compressed natural gas automobile station. So built because of the great supply of natural gas in Afghanistan.

The only problem was the people had cars that were petroleum operated. They had no use for the new station. Making the necessary adjustments to change over to a natural gas operated vehicle was not financially feasible. The cost was more than the average Afghanistani made in a year.

The Defense Department had a task force in charge of spending with regard to the closed gas station. When the Department was asked why the increase, they said they did not know/ could not tell because the task force had closed down in March.

And they want to cut Social Security! Cut waste!

I would like to know who made out on this Afghanistan gas station.

Last week, I reported on my radio show that the Muslim immigrants in Germany were overloading the hospitals. One problem was they refused to be treated by female personnel. Doctor, nurse, or otherwise.

Yesterday, it was announced that Muslims presently in camps in Germany would not accept food from women.

Beggars can’t be choosers. They should be grateful they are receiving free medical and food.

European banks are beginning to hurt. Good! May their American counterparts do likewise.

European banks are cutting costs. A large Spanish bank with 2,300 branches     now cleans windows only six times a year instead of twelve. Another Spanish bank with many branches kills the electricity at 7 pm. Another bank requires staff to clean their desks every wednesday. Called Wet Wipe Wednesday. Office space is being reduced.

One hundred thousand banking jobs in the Eurounion have been cut since 2012.

My left chest which I injured in a fall last week started hurting big time again last night. I don’t know why. Kept me up all night. Not one moments sleep. A pain pill did not help. Feels better at the moment.

I am going to skip the treadmill this morning. Will keep a noon manicure appointment with Tammy, however.

Enjoy your day!

 

FANTASY FEST OBSERVATIONS

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It’s only just begun. Fantasy Fest. I want to share a few observations. Not necessarily what you might expect.

Key West is a tiny island. Not enough room for homes, people, cars, bicycles, and dogs. Less room during Fantasy Fest.

Event planning is scatter brain. At 5;30 last night, I drove into town on the Atlantic side. There was a 5K race on Simonton and Duval. Police and police cars moving traffic slowly. As I crossed Simonton and Truman, Truman blocked off to the north. A police officer and police car in addition. I looked down Truman. Road construction way down the street.

This morning’s Key West Citizen in the Comments section: Simple rule for Fantasy Fest nudity. Cover everything below the waist, including breasts!

I was in the Chart Room. Met an interesting couple. They have visited Key West many times. Especially for Fantasy Fest.

Mid 60s. He a retired oil company executive. They now live in Houston. Originally from Illinois. They are going home this coming weekend for some event. Returning for the power boat races next week. Well traveled. Well heeled. They have a 61 foot Viking that sits in a slip in St. Augustine.

They were planning on attending the BD/SM party last night at Kelley’s. I did one time. Ten years ago. Bad ladies Donna and Terri took me. A voyeur experience. You must dress appropriately for the event or no admission.

As they were leaving, I noticed the woman was dressed in a rather skimpy black outfit. Nipples 1/8th inch from falling out. Tummy and body areas exposed. Nothing bad. On the edge, however.

I said…..Oh, you’re already dressed. No, she said. I have to change first.

Her next outfit had to be something!

Why do I mention this couple and their planned evening? I have always maintained that one of the large groups attending Fantasy Fest are seniors from conservative middle America. They are here for a brief foray into exciting decadence.

Good for them!

So much for Fantasy Fest.

My morning was determined by the fall the day before. My doctor first. No bruising. Sore in chest and rib area. I take a blood thinner every day. My doctor was concerned with internal bleeding and blood accumulation. I was not aware this could be a problem.

So it was x-rays of chest and ribs. Plus, a cat scan of my head as I hit it hard when I came down.

I get the results sometime today. I doubt anything wrong. I feel good.

After the medical procedures, I was tired. I also spent an hour as part of my annual physical. I decided to go out for breakfast. Someone mentioned last week that the Creperie in the K-Mart Plaza was excellent and I should try it. I did.

Go! Outstanding!

While at the Chart Room last night, I also met The Pig Man. As I am Key West Lou, he is The Pig Man. He is David Williamson. Lives in Big Pine. Travels the lower keys. He barbecues pigs for parties. Good company.

Dinner was at the bar at Hot Tin Roof. Chatted with Joseph a bit.

Someone at the bar was from Rhode Island. The bartender Matais started talking about Block Island. I have rented homes on and sailed into Block Island many times. Turns out Matais was born and raised on Block Island.

I mentioned Mike Shields who I recently discovered owned a coffee house for years on Block Island. Matais was aware of the Michael Shields story.

It’s a small world.

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

Interesting topics tonight. Like Muslim immigrant takeover of German hospitals resulting in big time chaos. The media not reporting the disaster. It was getting out via social media. Merkel asked FB’s Zuckerberg to block the comments.

Ben Carson’s inconsistent position on abortion.

Also, 65 million Social Security recipients will not get a cost of living increase next year. Something I do not understand as the U.S. government owes Social Security $3 trillion it borrowed and never paid back.

Boudicca in 60 AD and the brutality she subjected captured Romans to. Makes ISIS look like kids.

A couple of GMO updates.

Enjoy your day!

 

KEY WEST CEMETERY

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I find cemeteries a turn on. History has always intrigued me. I took to walking through cemeteries at an early age and reading tombstones. There was a lot of history to be learned.

The Key West Cemetery is interesting. From sailors who died when the USS Maine was blown up in Havana Harbor to the smart Key Wester who had inscribed on his tombstone: I told you I was sick.

This saturday, the Key West cemetery is offering escorted tours. The guides will explain the significance of certain graves. If you have not already, I suggest you take the tour. I have been through the cemetery twice with a guide and several times alone. Each time I discovered something new.

Call it global warming. Call it climate change. Whatever, it gets worse not year by year, but season by season. The abnormal amount of snow in the northeast. Now, this minus zero cold streak.

The freezing storm up north began to be felt in Key West last night. Temperature during the night about 60. Wind  blowing big time. The palm trees blowing one way. From north to south.

Today the high is 60. Tonight 50. Tonight, bocce. It will be in the mid 50s with a cold biting wind coming in off the Atlantic. I am tempted to stay home. However when I was a Key West golfer, I learned that “men” always show up to play regardless of the weather. I will be a man tonight.

Larry Smith, Christine Cordone and Kathleen Peace headed what I assume was a great show at the former Wine Galley last night. I had intended to go. Jenna was my date. I called her monday and cancelled. My excuse, I could see from the weather reports that it was going to be very cold. Social events do not have the same status as sporting ones. Manliness not an issue.

Missing Larry provided the opportunity to watch the Syracuse/Louisville game. Syracuse won 69-59. A good game all around. Syracuse pulled away in the last 5 minutes to win. The victory was the first time this season Syracuse has beat a top 25 team. Louisville was ranked #12.

My KONK Life column this week is titled What Recovery? It hit the stands yesterday. This morning, it was posted on my Key West Lou site. If KONK life is not available to you, you can find it there.

ISIS is sick! Beheadings, burying people alive and burning people to death. Now a new form of sickness. ISIS is a money making machine. The leaders are aware that big dollars are required to run their organization. ISIS is now selling body organs. Removed from captured men, women and children. Many times without anesthesia. Doctors are recruited to do the operations. If a doctor refuses, he is killed.

Body parts like hearts, livers and kidneys bring big dollars on the international black market. $100,000 to $150,000 is not uncommon.

I received two comments this morning relating what is happening to 1939. One was regarding economics. The other ISIS burnings. A relevant quote…..”It’s 1939 again. Hitler is back and he’s a  Muslim. From killing people in ovens to burning them in cages and trucks.”

Enjoy your day!