THE WORLD IS UPSIDE DOWN

Two years ago, I published my first book. The World Upside Down. If I thought things were screwed up then, they are worse now. The world IS upside down.

The past two days a perfect example.

The U.S. House of Representatives. Congress in chaos, turmoil. Congress not working.

Major powers screwing up.

It was reported yesterday that Russia was firing missiles from a vessel at Syria. Four of the missiles landed in Iran. Russia’s friend. Russia denies such occurred. Claims it is part of psychological warfare on the part of the United States.

If the missile event did occur, it fits into my representation that the world is upside down. If it did not occur and the U.S. made it up, it likewise fits.

I forgot to mention yesterday an experience at Don’s Place wednesday evening. When I walked in, several mentioned congratulations. I heard the word lottery mentioned. I paid no attention.

After chatting with Don and David a while, John and Jimmy congratulated me on winning the lottery. I should be so lucky! All of us should be so lucky!

Jimmy told me the word was I won $10,000 on a lottery scratch off card. Not so.

I knew a local businessman back home who won $1 million in the lottery. One year later, he won another $1 million.

He died six months after his second winning.

Yesterday so so and easy. The anti-gravity treadmill in the morning. Spent the afternoon researching. I have not yet decided what next week’s KONK Life column will be.

Last night, bocce. We won 2 out of 3 games. Trounced in the game we lost.

Our record now 17-4. Someone said last night left us tied for second place. First place had only two defeats.

It’s amazing! In any other season, a win of 2 out of 3 games was considered a win. Not this season. We want to win 3 out of 3 all the time. The only way we can maintain our position. We are in a place we have never been before.

I am on the radio just past noon today. 12:10. 104.9. KONK News Hour. Guy deBoer will be discussing with me this week’s column. The Doctors Killed The President.

Only 10 minutes. If possible, listen in.

Enjoy your day!

AVERAGE AMERICAN EARNINGS SUCK

The average American earns less today than 40 years ago. We need to be reminded of this occasionally. We get used to things. We accept what is.

Everything we buy has become more expensive over time. Gas, food, housing, clothing, college educations, etc. More money needs to be earned each year to maintain existing standards of living. Raises that are not stagnant. Raises that keep up with inflation.

Whatever way you look at it, the existing situation a pay cut for most.

Workers are making more than 40, 30, 20, 10 years ago. Inflation has wiped out the increases.

Workers do not share in gains made over the 40 years. Only the very wealthy. A small group. The 1 percent/99 percent thing.

I mentioned yesterday that Key West food sales might be down. Today another thing that is obvious. At least to me. Key West is quiet this week. Unusually so.

There was a time when the summer and early fall were dead ass. Over the years, it changed. People now generally visit Key West all year long. I cannot recall in recent years the town being so quiet the first week of October.

Yesterday was screw off day for me. I started with the anti-gravity treadmill. Then treated myself to a manicure and pedicure at Lee Nails. Love Tammy! Rested in the afternoon. Napped a bit.

Don’s Place first last night. Spent time chatting with Don, David, Keith, John and Jimmy. Bocce the #1 topic. Dinner at the bar at Outback. Ran into Frankie and Sandy and their grandson. Sandy a member of the bocce team that beat us one game last week.

Frankie and Sandy’s backyard sets against Lisa’s. Their grandson has been playing with Robert and Ally for years, even though a couple of years older.

The young man had just come from the high school javeee football game. He plays center. The team had won and he was excited. Frankie and Sandy were, also. Proud of their grandson a better way to say it.

This week’s KONK Life column The Doctors Killed The President was linked this morning with my Key West Lou website. keywestlou.com.

Syracuse football again this saturday. The team drew a bye last saturday. Syracuse now 3-1. Play South Florida saturday. Syracuse a 2 1/2 point underdog.

Enjoy the day!

 

 

 

WEATHER CHANGING

It was a tough summer weather wise. Humidity the culprit. Perspiration big time.

The weather is changing. Getting cooler. Means still warm. However, the humidity level diminishing. Temperature has dropped from low 90s to mid 80s by day. High 70s in the evening. Another month and we will not esquire air conditioning nights.

Spent some time yesterday afternoon fine tuning last night’s blog talk radio show. I opened with Ben Bernanke’s new book. The Courage To Act. Bernanke was Chairman of the Federal Reserve 2006-2014.

Bernanke makes mention of  something few prominent people have expressed. Especially some one was part of the banking world. He says that the financial and banking execs should have gone to jail. To jail because of their conduct leading up to and causing the 2008 recession.

His position is that fining companies does not make sense. Companies, Wall Street, banks, corporations…..are merely abstract firms. Entities. The illegalities were committed by individuals. People. CEOs and other hierarchy.

Dinner at Roostica before the show. A few words with Bobby Mongelli re the weather.

My KONK Life column this week is The Doctors Killed the President. The story of President James Garfield’s death. KONK Life hits the stands today.

Corruption exists at the highest levels. Not just in the United States. Everywhere.

John Ashe was President of the United Nations General Assembly 2013-2014. My recollection is he was U.N. representative for one or two Caribbean islands.

Ashe was criminally charged yesterday for taking $1.3 million in bribes from Chinese businessmen while he was U.N. President.

Is anyone to be trusted?

The saying is…..Thank God it’s friday! For me, it is…..Thank God it’s wednesday. My writing schedule makes friday through tuesday evening heavy research and writing days. Some call wednesday hump day. I refer to it as screw off time.

Enjoy your day!

CROCODILE GONE?????

This morning’s Key West Citizen carries another picture of the crocodile that has spent the past week lolling off Smathers Beach. A brief note under the photo suggests the croc is gone. It was not seen over the weekend. However, there was a sighting off Hilton Haven during that time.

Quite a trip from Smathers to Hilton Haven. Going straight across west, not too long a trip. However only land, no water. It would appear if it is the same croc, it had a very long trip around Key West’s perimeter to get to Hilton Haven.

My suspicion, another crocodile.

Interestingly, since the Smathers Beach crocodile story hit a week ago, there have been further articles and talk that there are more crocs in the area than most thought. An iguana type invasion in the making?

Congratulations to the Marquesa for standing up to the phony lawsuit against them. There is a disabled person and attorney who have brought over 1,400 lawsuits under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Toilets not proper, improper access, and now no lift for a disabled person to get in and out of a pool. Marquesa was sued re the pool thing.

Marquesa’s defense is that the pool is not public, all amenities are for use by registered hotel guests only, and the plaintiff in the case was never registered as a guest at the hotel.

A court appearance is scheduled for early December.

I have a sense of something that has happened or is happening in Key West. Tourists are not eating as much as they have in the past at restaurants. They are drinking. Eating appetizers or cheaper street foods rather than full meals. Paying top dollar at hotels.

After paying for the hotel room and average $10 drinks, tourists are forced to cut somewhere. It is with the food.

I could be wrong.

Spent yesterday afternoon writing this week’s KONK Life column. The Doctors Killed the President. The story of President James Garfield’s demise. The doctors screwed up.

Pope Francis opened the Synod yesterday in Rome. A convention of sorts of 270 bishops. To deal with Church problems. Serious business. Especially since the Pope is trying hard to open the doors of the Church and the bishops are opposing him.

A few interesting opening comments by the Pope. “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” The Church is a “field hospital” whose doors must be open to all who knock. “A Church with closed doors betrays herself and her mission, and instead of being a bridge, becomes a roadblock.”

Denmark has a problem. A falling birth rate. Of concern to the government. Who will care for the elderly one of the concerns. China has a similar problem. Not enough female births. Result not enough women for marriage and child bearing. Caused by China limiting the number of children each couple might have.

Denmark has had a liberal sex policy for years. Sex education begins early in the school years. Birth control one of the items pushed. A contributing factor. Having unprotected sex at an appropriate time in life now being pushed also. Do your duty the cry. Do it for Denmark!

Enjoy your day!

 

 

NATIONAL NO BRA DAY

We have a day for everything. Why not a no bra day!

A National No Bra Day has been held for several years now. The day this year is October 13, 2015.

The ladies supporting the event cry out…..Celebrate without restraint! Others…..Ladies, unleash your boobies from the booby zoo!

Men are asked to support the day/cause by wearing something purple.

I have no comment. Other than if women want to go braless, their choice. I do not understand why a special day is required to encourage the activity. It is another commando choice situation. A personal one.

The sun shines bright in Key West. Generally, warm. Perfect weather for not getting sick. It happens, however. Yesterday I got hit with a stomach bug. Kept me in all day. I am fine this morning.

In between feeling lousy, I researched this week’s KONK Life column. Ironically, about doctors. Titled: The Doctors Killed The President. President James Garfield’s medical attention from the day he was shot till almost two months later when he died. Not the best of care.

I will write the column this afternoon.

I had a couple of misstatements in yesterday’s blog. Sometimes when it is late at night and after a couple of drinks, my retention is not always accurate.

Tiffany wrote. We had been discussing La Trattoria. I had Erin leaving three years ago. Incorrect. It was Kathy. Kathy passed on. It is true however that Erin is no longer at La Trattoria. Tiffany advises Erin is now at Smokin’ Tuna and The Little Jazz Room.

Bocce rankings in the paper today. We are in second place alone. Two games out of first. Only one team in first place.

Enjoy your Sunday!