KICK ‘EM WHILE THEY’RE DOWN…..THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR

The U.S. and Turkey are supposedly friends. Both led by authoritarian figures. Trump and Turkey’s President Erdogan. Birds of a feather.

Turkey has always been considered a key American ally. The U.S. has a large military base there. There is also a NATO base.

Friends no more. A pissing match instead. Trump is irritated Erdogan will not release an American minister it has held prisoner since 2016. Trump suggested an exchange. Some Turkish citizen the U.S. has been holding.

Erdogan said no. No one says no to Trump. Especially another authoritarian figure. As far as Trump is concerned, it is his way or the highway as far as Turkey is concerned.

Turkey has been hurting economically. Its currency fell to a record low this morning. Inflation 17.75 percent. The country is on the verge of an economic meltdown.

Turkey’s crisis has made the American dollar strong when pitted against Turkish currency.

Friday Trump delivered a major blow to Turkey. All because Turkey continued to refuse his demand that the minister prisoner be released. Trump doubled the tariffs already imposed on Turkey as part of the tariff wars. Aluminum rose to 20 percent and steel 50 percent.

Trump tweeted friday with the news: “Our relations with Turkey are not good at this time!”

European and Asian stock markets have reacted to the tariff increases. The feud perhaps the start of a world wide recession similar to 2008. Though not considered imminent at this time. Turkey’s economy ranks only 17th world wide.

My concern is it only takes a spark to start a forest fire. One of the major California fires still burning a perfect example.

Trump is kicking a “friend” while the friend is down. Not what friends are for!

Now to my yesterday.

Brunch 10 to 12 at Hard Rock Cafe. Terri White was singing with Larry Baeder. A WOW! Great show! Performances outstanding! Be certain to go next week. Terri and Larry will regularly appear at brunch time every sunday.

For a blind woman, my girl does terrific!

Terri has another gig tonight. She is singing with Dueling Bartenders Tom Luna and Rick Dery at Aqua.

Go girl, go!

Spent the afternoon watching the PGA. Excellent golf. Brook Koepka won. By 2 strokes over Tiger Woods.

Brook has won 3 of the last 6 majors. Only 28. He has only one other win. A tour win. Unusual for someone who has won three big ones.

Tiger gets better every week. He is due back as a winner soon. And then a consistent one.

Tiger shot a 64 yesterday. His putting not yet what it was. Had a few dropped, he would have won.

On one of the last holes, he hit a 40 foot plus putt. It hung on the lip of the cup. Everyone holding their breaths waiting for it to drop. It did not.

Jean Thornton and I partied together last night. Began at the Orchid Bar. Victor bartending.

I meet a lot of interesting people. A couple I met at the Orchid Bar last night, one of the most interesting.

Dan and Pam. Now hail from Largo, Florida.

Dan is retired from the New York City Carpenter’s Union. Pam still working. Bookkeeper for general contractors.

Dan described two jobs he was especially proud of. One was the scaffolding when the Statue of Liberty was being shaped up. The other involved something to do with a major job at the UN where he had 80 men working under him.

Then to the Rum Bar. Jean and I not traveling together. Jean rides her bicycle all over town.

The Rum Bar will be a regular sunday stop for me. My friend Lauri the bartender there sunday evenings. Left Aqua after 17 years to work the Rum Bar.

With Lauri running the show, the Rum Bar is quickly becoming a new locals place. Donna and Terri, Sally, Ingrid, Art and George there when Jean and I arrived.

Jean and I decided on Antonia’s for dinner. Closed. Must be shut down for the slow days of August and September.

No problem. We went across the street to La Trattoria.

We had a terrific time! Jean a wonderful companion.

Tiffany bartending. She mentioned we have known each other for 25 years. True!

Dinner done. I was tired. Jean still raring to go. I went home. Jean peddled her bike to Vino’s.

The white nationals/supremacists were holding a major rally in Washington yesterday. Publicized Unite The Right 2. Turned out to be a flop. Only a small contingency of the group appeared.

Why?

These are bad people. Fascists, Neo-Nazis, and KKK members. They believe there is only one race. The white race.

They became empowered by Trump’s statement following Charlottesville last year. The President supported them. Seemed to legitimize them.

I think they realized though the President supported them, most of the people did not. The vermin disappeared back into the woodwork instead of participating in the rally.

This does not mean they will not return to raise havoc another day. They will. They are mostly young whites. Some are your neighbors, though you are not aware of their political leanings.

Be on your guard.

For the past several years, I have written and spoken re Afghanistan and its opium fields. Ninety percent of the heroin on American streets comes from the poppy seeds grown in Afghanistan.

How so if the U.S. has been engaged in a war in Afghanistan for 16 years? The poppy fields neither attacked or destroyed. Poppy farming goes on. Heroin a thriving business.

I have consistently suggested someone has to be on the take.  More than one. Too much drug money involved for it not to be so.

A recent government report indicates that as the Afghanistan war progressed, opium production increased. Even though the U.S., separate from war dollars, has spent $8.62 billion between 2002 and 2017 in an effort to eradicate the opium problem.

The attempt to eradicate an absolute failure. As the report stated: “Afghanistan remains the world’s largest opium producer, and opium poppy is the country’s largest cash crop.”

Enjoy your day!

SYRACUSE KIM

Last night was exciting and fun filled. All at Tavern ‘n Town.

Sitting next to me at the bar were Kim and Cecil.

Kim is originally from Syracuse. Made us instantaneous friends. Utica is 50 miles from Syracuse. I went to law school in Syracuse. Tried many cases in Syracuse.

Kim of Italian extraction, also. We talked of Utica’s restaurants. Purported to have the best Italian restaurants outside of Italy.

Cecil, her husband. Not from Syracuse. It blocked him out of the conversation on occasion.

Kim is a waitress at Michael’s. Cecil a sales representative for BREAKTHRU Beverage, a liquor distributor.

Nice people.

I was reading the newspaper when I heard behind me…..You’re sitting at a reserved seat. A seat at the bar? It was Tom. I did not recognize his voice at first.

Tom was with his lovely wife Nancy. Nancy always charming. Tom a former bocce team mate.

With them were Dan, Betty and their daughter.

Dan and Betty only visit Key West. They are here so often one forgets they are visitors. Their home is in Tampa or Fort Myers. They keep running down to Key West for fun times with the many friends they have made here over the years.

I joined the group at their table after I finished dinner. Enjoyed a couple of drinks with them. A lot of political talk. No one seemed to like Trump. Amazing! Very few like him. Nevertheless, he constantly wins.

Another part of the discussion involved Dan’s heart. He recently had three stents placed. God bless him! Should be good for another 15-20 years.

I was up at 5 this morning working.

My KONK Life column this week very interesting. Involves Afghanistan and heroin. The title Afghanistan and America’s Heroin Addiction. An eye opener.

I researched about five hours yesterday. Not enough. That is why the five o’clock starting time this morning. Took another three hours to complete the research. I will begin writing the column at one this afternoon.

My day is an all writing one. I hope to get out tonight. Absolutely out of food! Have to eat and shop for groceries.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

FISH ARE FEWER

Fishing is important to Key West and the rest of the Florida keys. To the whole world actually. For food and sport.

A recent study reveals marine population is diminishing. Since 1970, marine life has fallen 49 percent. Two causes. Over fishing and climate change.

Re over fishing, fish are being caught faster than they can reproduce.

As to climate change, carbon dioxide is blamed. The carbon dioxide is being absorbed into the oceans. Such makes the waters more acidic. Unhealthy for all marine species.

Wednesday is my day! Screw off time. I spend friday through tuesday researching and writing. Time deadlines involved. Sunday for the KONK Life column. Tuesday for the blog talk radio show. Like a full time job. Love it!

I spent a bit of time yesterday fine tuning last night’s blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou.

The show went well. I decided before hand not to mention politics, Trump, or Hillary. I have had it up to here! I am smiling as I write that. Though true, I still cannot wait to watch the debates tonight.

An issue garnering interest last night involved Afghanistan. Specifically, Afghanistan’s opium and heroin trade.

The U.S. military first entered Afghanistan in 2001. Since that time, opium production has doubled. Heroin, tripled. How can this happen if Afghanistan is and has been a bloody battlefield? One from which people seek to escape.

The reason is simple. The opium fields and its workers are not touched by the war. There is no spill over of the war into the poppy growing farm lands. Off limit terrain.

Note the heroin production finds its way to the streets of America. The American people are the largest consumer of Afghan heroin.

Someone has to be on the take. Probably many. Could extend to some of our people over there.

The whole scenario amazing!

Roostica for dinner. Generally where I eat show nights. Close to home.

Fran from Buffalo, my Italian canning friend, suggested I try the Sicilian pizza at Roostica. A deep dish pizza. I do not particularly enjoy pizza. Rarely order it. However based on Fran’s recommendation, I did last night.

Wow! Absolutely delicious! Too much for one meal for me. Half sits in the refrigerator. Probably my lunch today. It will taste even better cold.

I am a political junkie. Yet the primary campaigns are turning me off. I am sick of the political pundits. Yet as mentioned earlier, I will be watching the debates tonight.

I was flipping through a high end magazine. Came across an ad for Piguet watches.

Some thirty years ago, I was in New York City on business. Had some free time. Walked a portion of Fifth Ave. I had always wanted an expensive watch. In front of me was an expensive watch store. Nothing but high priced watches for sale.

The store was crowded. Christmas time.

I looked through the show cases in the center of the store. Decided on a $25,000 Piguet. I was making money. I could afford it. I wanted to be good to Louis.

To get a sales person was impossible. One had to stand in line quite a while until the counter was reached. There were many lines.

I stood in line and finally got to a sales person. I told her the watch I was interested in. She pulled a box off the shelf and said $25,000 or whatever the specific number was.

I said I would like to see the watch and try it on. I might not like it and if so would select another brand or style.

The sales lady was not happy with me. She said there is no time. You either want it or don’t. There are other people waiting.

Of course, I did not buy the watch. I turned around and left the store.

Twenty five thousand dollars was a lot of money back then and still is today. A little fuss and attention were not unreasonable to expect.

The sad thing is I never bought an expensive watch. Never got around to it. It was never a priority. Merely a nice thing to have done for myself.

Rained during the night. Big time thunder and lightning. The white flashes into the bedroom once again. Lightning is different over the ocean.

Pouring right now. Looks like a rain day ahead.

Enjoy your day!

NAPOLEON, HEMORRHOIDS, OPIUM AND WATERLOO

On this day in 1815, the Battle of Waterloo was fought. Napoleon was defeated. His prominence ended.

Most historians credit the English and allied forces under the Duke Wellington for having defeated him. Others give credit to the Prussian army which entered the fray later in the day when the winner was yet to be decided.

Napoleon was a military genius. Not at Waterloo, however. Why? Why did he lose?  Did something other than the battle itself contribute to his defeat?

Napoleon suffered from hemorrhoids. They were bothering him big time the night before the battle. He was also suffering that evening from a bladder infection. He took a dose of opium to relieve the pain and help him sleep.

Napoleon slept well. He woke late. He had difficulty mounting his horse. He had to be helped. He did not arrive at the battlefield till around one o’clock in the afternoon. By that time the forces against him had made strategic moves and were in a better place to counter Napoleon’s moves.

Napoleon had the habit of riding around a battlefield while the fighting was going on. Personal reconnaissance. He could not that day. The hemorrhoids.

The pain/discomfort was intense. Napoleon took more opium.

The battle was a close one till late in the day. Whether the English or Prussians, the battle was won by the allied forces late in the day.

Historians rarely comment on Napoleon’s physical condition and medication on  the day of the battle. Nor the effect the pain and opium had on him.

In his incapacitated condition, Napoleon was defeated later in the day. I suspect he would have not lost were it not for the hemorrhoids and opium.

My yesterday began at Body Owners on Stock Island. The anti-gravity treadmill.

Then to my heart doctor, Dr. McIvor. To get the results of all the tests I had taken the past few days. A relief! Everything is ok. Nothing has changed. I have two aortic valve problems and was concerned there might be a problem with one of them.

While there, he complimented me on how thin I was. Was I still dieting? No, I was exercising. I explained the anti-gravity treadmill to him. I was singing to the choir. He has purchased one for his expanded offices. Soon his patients with bad hearts will be able to exercise without stress.

I am turned on by the treadmill. It made me feel better that he was going to use it with certain of his patients. Those who needed to exercise.  Starting slowly. I do not go slow, however. I move!

Last night, the Chart Room. Sheila and Emily holding court. And Liverpool Mike. I refer to him as Liverpool Mike because that is from whence he comes. Liverpool, England.

Mike recalled me from last year. Embarrassingly, I did not recall him.

Mike vacations once a year in Key West. This trip for two weeks.

He is a hospitality consultant. Arranges new restaurants and bars.

I mentioned to him last week’s KONK Life article re Portugal and drugs. I told him my research indicated that Great Britain was considering legalizing all drugs as Portugal had done. No way, he said. The big fight at the moment is reducing marijuana use from a felony to a misdemeanor. There is no talk of legalization.

I am sure Mike and I will share a drink or two together again during his visit.

Peter, aka Captain Peter, aka British Peter, is visiting from his present home in Oregon. Good to see him! Peter is special.

Che is under the weather. Peter is considering extending his visit to help Che get back on his feet.

One human family!

Word on the street is that Backspace closed. I mentioned Backspace several blogs ago. I went for dinner. Was not impressed. It appears I was correct.

There is a new Starbucks on the corner of Front and Duval. I love coffee houses! I went to give it a look.

The coffee aroma hits you as you walk in the door. Pleasantly. Adds to your desire to have a cup. The place is beautifully done. One negative. No table and chairs. It’s a buy and carry out.

It will succeed never the less. The new Starbucks will be patronized primarily by tourists. It’s location in the middle of heavy tourist activity.

Dinner at Hot Tin Roof. Quiet. Off season obvious. Had dinner at the bar. Diana normally a table waitress. Last night behind the bar. A lovely and charming person.

Jenna telephoned me yesterday. Let’s go out friday night. I said yes, of course.

Enjoy your day!