PATRIOTIC EMOTIONS

The Comments Section of this blog generally a war zone. Opposing political positions. No place for the timid.

A comment today emotionally moved me. A video. Touched my patriotic nerve. Brought tears to my eyes.

I recommend you view it. Seven minutes long. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDdY46iAwHI&feature=youtu.be

Food for thought. Hatred is being spewed by those at the very top of the American political stage. Such the case, the Pittsburgh synagogue incident didn’t just happen. It was bound to happen.

Though the Comment Section has its moments of ferocity, occasionally a touch of humor appears. I consider the following humorous recognizing at the same time it insults a portion of American society: Ban Pre-Shredded Cheese. Make America Grate Again.

My last night began with the Chart Room. Vacationing trial attorney Scott at the bar again. He knows a good place when he finds it. I have seen him there 3 nights recently.

Also at the bar were Sheila, Carol and Jean Thornton. Carol visiting with Sheila for the week. A Californian. Professionally, a costume designer. She and Sheila were out every night of Fantasy Fest in a different costume.

Love of my life Jean Thornton sitting with them.

Chatted with all 3 ladies for a time. Then Jean suggested I join her for dinner. Stone crabs at the Pier One Restaurant. She was buying.

How could I say no.

Jean and I pigged out on stone crabs. Ordered nothing else except a drink each.

A glorious day for Syracuse. The college football rankings came out today. Syracuse is ranked #22. The first time Syracuse has been ranked since 2001.

Syracuse travels to Wake Forest saturday. Hope the ‘Cuse winning ways continue. Syracuse 6-2, Wake Forest 4-4.

When the federal government recommends privatizing jails it is for the benefit of the corporations owning them. Not the tax paying public. Mucho dinero involved. Political donations huge.

I have been opposed to jail privatization since day one. Two primary reasons. The U.S. crime rate has steadily been going down. The other is that corruption occurs within the privatization system. An issue I have written about in the past several times.

The New York Time Editorial Board in an Opinion Piece 10/28/18 titled “The Hate Poisoning America” wrote in part: “Violent crimes remains at historic lows across the United States. But by various indexes, hate appears to be on the rise.”

Justice moves slowly. The axiom Justice delayed is justice denied occurs in many scenarios. One is the length of time it takes for a death sentence to be carried out. Ten to twenty years not uncommon.

I am totally in support of a defendant sentenced to death to receive every legal theory available to avoid the death sentence. However, 10-20 years is a bit long. The victim died in a much shorter time frame. Minutes to days in most instances.

It was not always a long stretched out period. An example involves President McKinley.

The President was shot on September 6, 1901. He died September 14, 1901. His assassin was executed October 29, 1901.

Eighty four days from the commission of the crime to the carrying out of the death sentence.

The assassin was executed by use of the electric chair at Auburn Prison.

I go out of my way to mention Auburn Prison. I was in the prison several times to depose witnesses. Not a pleasant place even to visit.

Terri sings tonight! Guest performer with Dueling Bartenders at Aqua.

Enjoy your day!

 

POLENTA

Enjoyed a quiet dinner last night at Roostica. Not very hungry. Ordered meatballs and polenta.

Polenta is cornmeal. Used by some with Italian cooking.

I rarely saw polenta back home in Utica. Definitely not a dish my family cooked.

I was confronted with polenta big time during my several trips to Courmayeur. One of the most beautiful places in the world. Courmayeur is a small village consisting of Swiss type chalets. Striking!

Courmayeur is located in northern Italy. A handful of miles from France and Switzerland. In the Aosta Valley. The village sits at the foot of Mont Blanc. Part of the Alps. The highest peak in Europe.

The area is the home of polenta. Every meal in every restaurant was accompanied with a large bowl of polenta. I tasted. Did not like. In fact, hated it.

Bobby Mongelli opens Roostica. He serves polenta. Generally comes with three meatballs in sauce. Resting on a bed of polenta.

I love it! Don’t know why in one place and not the other.

Did my blog talk radio show last night. Saudi Arabia prominent in my comments.

One of the Saudi issues began with the 28 pages of the 9/11 Commission Report that have never been released. Purported to deal with Saudi Arabia’s involvement in financing and otherwise being involved with the attack.

Victims and families have brought law suits against those deemed to be responsible for 9/11. U.S. law prohibits Saudi Arabia from being named in the lawsuits.

Recently, Congress announced it intended to pass a bill permitting law suits against Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia went crazy. Such lawsuits would involve prying into their involvement. It would also result in Saudi assets in the U.S. being frozen.

The Saudis are not our friends.They have always used us.

The Saudis retaliated to the news by announcing that if such occurred, it would dump all U.S. securities it holds immediately on the open market. U.S. Treasuries. Saudi Arabia is the third largest holder of the securities world wide.

Such would result in economic chaos. For the United States. Destruction of our financial systems.

I was disappointed to learn this morning that the President’s office announced late yesterday that Obama would veto any such bill were it to come before him.

I am disappointed in Obama. He blinked. The Saudis will squeeze us even harder the next time. They have our number!

Looks like Trump and Clinton. Disgraceful!

The Mosquito Control District has gone a step further in an attempt to calm Key Haven residents. It was announced a yes/no vote will take place on August 30 as part of primary elections the same day.

A report indicates gas prices have gone up almost 25 percent since mid February. The biggest short term rise since 2009. My Shell station has gone from $1.99 to $2.37 a gallon during that time.

Why?

The Saudis? They gave us $4 a gallon gasoline.

This day or April 21 in 1898, President McKinley asked Congress for a declaration of war against Spain. The primary reason the sinking of the Battleship Maine February 15. Congress declared war on April 25.

Historians mention either the 20th or 21st as the date for the request.

A question. Why did it take two months for McKinley to ask for the declaration of war following the sinking of the Maine?

Today, wednesday. Screw off day for me! Nothing to research or write today, except for this blog.

Enjoy your day! I will mine.