DAVID WOLKOWSKY’S PIER HOUSE MOTEL AT DUVAL-ON-THE-GULF

The best laid plans of mice and men…..

Last night was to be Captain Tony’s at 8 for his 102nd birthday bash. Thought it would be fun. Locals and tourists combined.

Never made it.

I enjoy researching. Can be a trip! Occasionally, a drudge.

Began researching at 2 yesterday afternoon. I was right into it. It was quickly 7. I was enjoying myself. Decided to skip Captain Tony’s party. I was confident he would not miss me.

I worked till 2 am. Dead this morning.

Tomorrow morning from 10 to noon, Terri White sings! With Larry Baeder at Hard Rock Cafe. Brunch time. Terri will be appearing every sunday morning with Larry.

I plan on having brunch at Hard Rock tomorrow morning. My lady entertains!

David Wolkowsky is responsible for the Key West of today. No one had his vision when he opened the Pier House in 1968. Actually, on this day in 1968.

Called the operation the Pier House Motel-At-Duval-On-The-Gulf. Fifty rooms.

David a person who could see whether others could not. The Duval location was nothing but a mud pit when he decided to develop it.

David has had many accomplishments. One notable is Jimmy Buffett. Buffett will tell you David was the first person in Key West to pay him to sing. In the Pier House Chart Room, of course.

David not yet a 100. He has a ways to go. He will be 99 later this month. I received my invitation to his birthday party yesterday.

Mom’s Tea Room was a popular place back in the 1930’s and 1940’s. A bar with ladies of the night. Even in the day time.  A house of ill repute. A whore house.

If my recollection is correct, she operated at different times at 3 locations. Two in Key West and one on Stock Island. The authorities kept closing her down. The local police were not concerned. The federal government was. The Navy base was large in those days. The Navy did not feel it proper for their men to frequent a place like Mom’s.

On this day in 1941, Mom’s Tea Room was located near Fort Zachery Taylor. The constabularies raided the place. Three of Mom’s ladies were arrested.

Recall the power outage I reported this week. The one that occurred thursday night while I was at the Blue Macaw. The power outage was caused by a sailboat that struck a transmission line at the north end of the Seven Mile Bridge.

Irma beat up the Key West Shipwreck Museum. Located at 1 Whitehead. Recently reopened. The Museum has a 65 foot tower. The view spectacular. The island and Key West Harbor.

The Museum and tower are free to locals through September 30. Take advantage!

The U.S. Navy and Coast Guard are friends. We have lived together since way before World War II.

Friends take care of each other.

This past week, a fishing boat was out 63 miles northwest of Key West. A man on board was thought to have had a heart attack. The Naval Air Station was called. A Coast Guard boat arrived swiftly.

The crew recognized the man required immediate attention. A helicopter was called. The helicopter arrived in 9 minutes.

A medic was lowered from the helicopter. Arranged for the man to be lifted to the helicopter. He was flown to Lower Keys Medical Center. He is in stable condition.

Today and tomorrow tumultuous ones. Our country’s dark side will be exposed. Today, Charlottesville. Tomorrow, Washington, D.C.

Today is the one year anniversary of what could be described as the Charlottesville race riot. A wound opened. Exposed. A President who indicated support for the bad guys. By so doing, blatantly evidencing his racism.

White nationalists were on the march. Persons of color and those supporting them in opposition.

The vermin came out of the woodwork.

White nationalists are pro-white. Supportive of those who have come to America from European countries. They are white. Nazis at heart. Supportive of Hitler and his beliefs. Anti-Semitic.

An advanced U.S. group consists of those with extreme far right leanings. They are known as the alt-right. Whether extreme, all are white supremacists.

They Heil Hitler! Use the Nazi verbiage, Sieg Heil!

Primarily young. Difficult to distinguish or be aware of their political leanings. Your next door neighbor.

They believe white people are a race unto themselves. Whites presently are a majority in the U.S. They want to maintain that majority. They believe non-whites are on a mission of genocide to destroy whites. They seek to protect their own.

They are anti-immigration. Immigration allows additional non-whites to enter the country.

Trump supports them. They support Trump. They are part of the hard-core Republican conservative base that supports Trump.

They claim history supports their position.

The Naturalization Act of 1790 set forth the rules for granting naturalized citizenship. Immigration was limited to those who were “free white persons” of “good moral character.”

The law remained such till the adoption of the 14th Amendment in 1868. Did not blanket cover everyone, however. Granted citizenship only to black people born in the U.S.

The issue as to other non-whites was resolved in U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark in 1898. Allowed for naturalization to be available to everyone.

John C. Calhoun is a respected historical figure. Never the less, he was pro white and anti all other persuasions. He said, “We have never dreamt of incorporating into our Union any but the Caucasian race – the free white race…..Ours, sir, is the Government of a white people.”

I took the time this morning to spell out in some detail the background, etc. re the white nationalists. They are the enemy of our democracy. They seek to change it. By so doing, destroy it.

You will hear much on the media today and tomorrow re Charlottesville and Washington happenings. Our country may bleed a little.

Understand what is going on.

Enjoy your day!

 

RUSSIA COPYING U.S. METHODS

Russia was always the bad guy. Made to look bad even when not so. No more. Russia has learned. Primarily due to Putin. With skill. Making the U.S. look bad occasionally. More frequently it seems.

Russia has a Federal Drug Control Service. A recent report blames the U.S. with the increase in opium production in Afghanistan. the increase has caused more than one million to die world wide. It also has caused a transnational increase in crime from drug sales.

The thrust of the report is that Afghan opium production is 40 times higher since the U.S. led NATO invasion in 2001. Remember, Operation Enduring Freedom.

I still do not know why we are in Afghanistan or why we remain. Recall the Afghans took down Russia in the 1980s. No one seems to win against the Afghans. The battles rage year after year with the end never in sight.

I wrote two major articles for KONK Life in the past several years re Afghanistan and opium. The last two years ago.

The point in each concerned the Afghan poppy fields which turned into heroin on American streets.

An interesting observation in each was that in a war that has resulted in huge damage and thousands of lives lost, not one poppy field has been bombed. Nor one poppy farmer killed. Nor has one war lord owning the fields ever complained about damage.

The fields are protected.

I have suggested graft exists. On our side. Militarily and otherwise. If not, why do the poppy fields grow without interference and heroin reaches our shores to continue killing and addicting our people?

Russia does not say what I have directly. It merely says opium production 40 times higher today than 16 years ago when the U.S. invaded Afghanistan to save the nation.

We were going to bring democracy to a country that never sought it. We failed. In the meantime, contributed greatly to its destruction.

The Russians are using truth against us as concerns Afghanistan. Amazing! They have learned.

Great evening last night. My friend Ted Kane from Wampsville, NY is in Key West on a fishing trip. He enjoys flat fishing this time of the year. Visits Key West several times a year.

Wampsville sits in Madison County in the middle of New York State. It is next door to what was my home county, Oneida.

Ted a lawyer, also. Finished his legal career with a long stretch as Court Clerk. Actually, the confidential clerk to two Judges.

Clerks are a Judge’s brains. Clerks generally research and write the opinions which the Judge then signs.

I never knew Ted back when. How we failed to trip over each other, I do not know. I met Ted 3 years ago at the Chart Room. We have become good friends.

We had dinner together at Hot Tin Roof, followed by a drink at the Chart Room.

I returned home after my pleasant evening out to discover the upstairs air conditioning was not working. It was Hell! I could not get comfortable downstairs. Ended up sleeping in my bed upstairs with the fan over me going full blast.

This morning’s Citizens’ Comment carried an interesting observation. It takes forever to build any public building or edifice these days. The writer asked…..Why? Flagler built the Seven Mile Bridge in less than a year. At a time when construction equipment was no where as sophisticated as today’s.

Two big things on the agenda this morning. The Senate’s proposed health plan and a visit to my heart doctor. Both can be painful. I will do better with my heart than the American people are going to do with the health plan.

Enjoy your day!

 

NEARLY 5 MILLION VISITORS A YEAR

In a Letter to the Editor in this morning’s Key West Citizen, the writer stated that Monroe County’s annual visitors equal 65 times the number of permanent residents.

Checked the numbers as best I could. Appear correct.

The population of Monroe County is 75,000. Key West makes up 25,000 of that number. Sixty five times Monroe County’s 75,000 permanent residents totals nearly 5 million. Key West’s share 1.65 million.

I have commented in the past I could not understand how Key West has not sunk under the tourist burden. Space problems alone past the breaking point.

The Keys are guilty of gluttony. Going after more and more tourists every year. The pleasure of the islands being lost along the way.

Strange day yesterday. Did not feel right. Stayed in all day.

My pleasure came from the Final Four games. Terrific! Oregon better than most thought. Lost to North Carolina by only one point. Gonzaga/South Carolina another good game. Close, with Gonzaga winning.

Monday night should be wild!

To err is human. I prove the adage frequently.

Twice this week, I commented on the Cow Key Channel Bridge Run. Said it was Saturday. Saturday was yesterday. No run. The reason simple. The run is today.

So there is yet time for some of you to make it. Noon today.

Yesterday’s race was the Seven Mile Bridge one.

Interesting that one day a 7 mile run and the next a 300 foot one. Only in the Keys!

Both races will have between 1,000 and 1,500 participants.

We are spoiled by modern conveniences. Like running water. William Hackley reported that this day in 1856…..There was no water in the tub or well, so I could not bathe.

A day without bathing ugh!

Russians protested in 99 cities and towns last weekend. Against corruption in government. They are back this weekend.

I ask now as I did last week whether the Russian protests are an extension of the Arab Spring. Is Putin’s foundation crumbling? Could be. He is killing those who could top him all over the world.

Don and Chris in town. Plan on having dinner with them tonight.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

IT AIN’T OVER ‘TIL IT’S OVER

Few would take lead comment this morning away from Pope Francis. One of the few is Yogi Berra. An outstanding baseball player, nice guy and recycler of the English language. It ain’t over ’till it’s over…..One of the best!

He died yesterday at the age of 90. Never will be forgotten. May he rest in peace.

Now for the second team. The Pope!

I was glued to the TV set yesterday watching his arrival in Washington. I found his arrival emotional. He speaks to the masses today outside at the National Mall. Tomorrow, he addresses a Joint Session of Congress.

Many dislike him. Prominent persons. Especially Republicans.

This morning’s column by George Will attacks the Pope without mercy. Certain Washington figures speak aggressively concerning him.

Why, I do not understand. The man is Christ like. He is being referred to as The People’s Pope. His concern is for the downtrodden. Not the wealthy, not capitalists. He simply says feed, house and clothe everyone, be concerned for everyone. What is so troublesome about such? Jesus spoke no differently.

The Seven Mile Bridge will be closed off and on today. For five minute periods each time. A permit has been given to an advertising firm to do so. A commercial is being filmed.

My yesterday started with an airport stop. It was good friend time. I picked someone up.

Roostica for lunch. I am becoming more Italian every day. Enjoyed a dish of sauce covered meatballs.

Spent the afternoon fine tuning last night’s blog talk radio show.

Dinner at Hurricane Hole. It had been several years since I was last there. It is close to my home. I stay away because the bar is not placed correctly. The setting sun shines directly on the bar. Reflects off the water onto the bar. A steam bath!

I sat at a table with an umbrela to avoid he sun. Fortunately, it was overcast which helped.

At 9, my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Two mid-east stories seemed the most popular.

The one about the Afghan commander who handcuffed a young boy to his bed. The boy was used as a sex slave by the commander evenings.

The other concerned Saudi Arabia. Our false friends. Saudi Arabia is Chairman of the UN Human Rights Commission. They are about to crucify a 20 year old for illegal protesting and carrying a gun. His head will first be chopped off. His body then hung headless on a cross for three days.

Screw off day today. Finally, wednesday! No writing to do. Except for this blog, of course.

Enjoy your day!

 

BANKS AND WATER

Water is the oil of the 21st century. Water is not only a U.S. problem, it is a world wide one. Demand is constant and growing as the world population increases. Supply is limited. More so with every passing day.

There is another reason for my water/oil observation. It has recently been reported that banks are buying up water sources world wide. Banks are pigs. Guaranteed the price of water will gradually increase as the cost of oil did in the 20th century!

It is amazing how this blog and readers tie up. I mentioned yesterday running into Stevie at Publix. Stevie was bartender at the Wine Galley for years. John from New Jersey forwarded a comment…..”As I recall, Steve the bartender used to get up and sing Cry Me A River when Larry Smith was at the Wine Galley.”

Memories. Unfortunately, the Wine Galley is no more.

A quiet dinner at the bar at Tavern ‘n Town last night.

Bocce tonight. It is getting tougher!

We are tied for third. We play the team tied with us for third. A war!

The Florida keys are running out of telephone numbers. Commencing sunday, area codes must also be used when placing a call. Even if local. The area codes are 305 and 786.

Big race saturday! A marathon! Saturday morning the Seven Mile Bridge will be the scene. From one end to the other. At last count, 2,100 had signed up. Probably many more before race time saturday.

It has to be hard to run the Seven Mile Bridge. Sun glaring off the water and concrete. No shade anywhere.

The police problem confronting us is not going to go away easily. The police are geared up. They believe they are correct.

There is a bill in the Florida Senate soon to be voted upon. It mandates that videos taken in private places and/or involving medical emergencies and deaths can only be obtained with court approval. And if the judge thinks the video would cause harm to reputation of anyone in the video or reveal personal information, the court can deny approval.

The proposed legislation will keep the public in the dark where excessive police force is used.

What is happening to us? Where did our country go wrong?

I have to hustle. Physio this morning.

Enjoy your day!