GREAT BASKETBALL

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It cannot be denied. Last night was great basketball! Both teams should be proud. Unfortunately, both teams could not win.

From my perspective, the game was won by Duke in the last 5 minutes and won because of coaching. Krzyzewski slowed his team down. They held onto the ball and did not attempt a shot till there was only 7-8 seconds left on the shot clock. Duke only had a 3 point lead when they started playing in this fashion. Turned out it was the thing to do. Duke won by 5 points.

One negative re the game. Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan’s interview comments following the game. He was hurt. Dejected. Two years in a row he had been to the final game and lost.

Ryan’s bitterness showed in his comments re the refereeing. He thought not enough nor proper foul calls were made when his guys were being pushed around.

I did not see it, could not agree. Yes, it was  a hard fought game. Neither team had a referee calling advantage or anything else, however.

Bo Ryan is a great coach. He will be back. He probably regrets his comments this morning.

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

Topics include California’s water problem and Nestles, another police shooting full of apparent lies by the police officers involved, a Monsanto employee inadvertently revealing Monsanto has a whole department dedicated to destroying anything and anyone who speaks out against Monsanto, Iceland’s dramatic success in handling banks, and more.

Sloppy Joe’s. Began at the present location of Captain Tony’s on Greene Street, then moved to its present location on Duval. The Key West Citizen’s This Date in History section indicates the move occurred on this date in 1935. I think the date is wrong. It was May 5, 1937.

Whatever, it is easy to make a mistake re historical facts. I know.

The weather has been outstanding and will continue to be so the rest of this week. Mid 80s. Still not humid.

I fell two weeks ago and injured my left hip. Would you believe, it still hurts! I could not lie in bed for 10 days. Had to sleep in  a recliner chair. Not the best, but better than the bed. The last 3 nights I have slept in bed. Only half the night. The pain moves me back to the recliner chair.

The hip was x-rayed. No fracture.

Interesting is the bruising. Note, I am on a blood thinner. The bruising began two days after the fall. It is an expanding bruise. It now covers my entire left hip and buttock. Has moved along my lumbar back and appears on the right buttock. The bruise also runs down the side of my left leg and then moves around behind the left knee. Every place a deep purple.

I have never seen such bruising on my body before. Though I have seen it. My father fell a lot and had similar bruises. No question, I am my father’s son.

Buffalo’s Bob Saraceno arrives today. A loyal Key West Lou fan. We are scheduled to meet friday night at the Chart Room.

Enjoy your day!

MODERN DAY HEMLOCK REFUSED

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Monsanto, GMOs…..The cross society is being forced to bear.

The latest development regarding Monsanto’s super duper pesticide Roundup was in the news this past week. A Dr. Patrick Moore was appearing on a French talk show. Moore is pro-GMOs and anti-global warming. In many quarters, he is considered a spin doctor and truth bender for big oil, pesticides and GMO agribusinesses.

Dr. Moore said re Roundup, “You can drink a whole quart of it and it won’t hurt you.” The interviewer had a bottle of Roundup with him. Twice he offered  Dr. Moore a drink. Twice Dr. Moore refused. Dr. Moore prematurely concluded the interview with “I am not crazy” and “You are a complete jerk.” Following which Dr. Moore upped and walked out.

The American media continues failing to report negative GMO happenings. Newsweek and Huffington Post reported the interview. Plus, some ultra liberal publications. My question is where were other major media organizations? I have written and discussed this problem before. TV and the written media avoid knocking Monsanto and GMOs. A fact I attribute to corporate America controlling/owning both.

Socrates drank the hemlock with full knowledge of its dangerous composition. Dr. Moore refused to drink his hemlock.

There is a video of the interview floating around on the internet. Easy to find. Interesting to watch.

Crazy weather beginning yesterday afternoon. The day’s high was 86 degrees. Around supper time, the wind picked up, the shy darkened, thundering occurred, and the deluge was upon us. It remained so all night.

The temperature this morning is 67 degrees. The high will be 74. A 12 point drop from yesterday. Cold this morning and expected to be cold all day.

Most winds come from the north. The northwest to be precise. About six times a year, the wind comes from the south. The south wind is a sure sign a storm is on the way. Yesterday afternoon, the wind started coming in heavy from the south.

I can tell which way the wind is driving by how my palm trees bend.

The upstairs air conditioner required fixing. It had leaked big time the night before. It took Sub-Zero six hours to correct the problem. This is while the temperature was still 86 degrees. The upstairs was hot! I felt sorry for the Sub-Zero person.

Saw the doctor and had x-rays of my left hip. No fracture to either the hip or pelvis. Aleve and heat recommended. If it still hurts tuesday, return.

It still hurts. However, much less. I could not lie in bed last night. Spent the evening sleeping in the recliner lounge in my bedroom.

Amanda Knox is finally free free. The highest Italian court determined she and her boy friend were not guilty. The reason for the decision was not included. Under Italian law, the court has 90 days to deliver its written decision.

I remained home last night. The hip and I in the recliner from early evening. A good evening, however. Man of La Mancha on Turner and NCAA basketball on CBS. I was flipping back and forth between the channels. A most enjoyable time!

Enjoy your day!

 

THE WEATHER

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Number one news item the past few days unquestionably has been the weather. The whole eastern side of the U.S. is experiencing abnormal weather. Even we lucky people who live in Key West.

It dropped to 49 degrees during the night. Cold! I repeat something I have said before…..I need a woman to sleep next to me. It has been suggested, if not a woman then a dog. Who knows?

It is 53 as I write this morning. The high will probably be in the mid 60s. Today and tonight only minimally better. Saturday, a return to normal. The projection is for 76 degrees.

A cruise ship was required to avoid Key West yesterday because of high seas.

Bocce last night was played in a freezer. Not a refrigerator. It was 55 degrees. Blasts of cold weather were constant off the Atlantic. The coldest I have been in Key West.

I dressed for it. Long pants, a shirt and socks. Plus my leather jacket. The jacket is worn and old. Purchased it more than 20 years ago. Took care of the upper body. Not my legs and head. I was wearing a hat.

I discovered my body warmed up when I was playing.

We won all three games. We are now 6-0 for the season. A terrific start!

Good friends on the other team. Angus and Brenda from Schooner Wharf and Nate from Don’s Place.

My mind went back as I was sitting at bocce. Probably because of the cold. I remembered when I was young. Like 7 or 8 years old. Every time I got out of bed in the morning, the wood floor was freezing cold. My father would dramatically reduce the heat at night.

I was required to wear long johns in the winter. Clothes dryers were not invented yet. Or perhaps we could not afford one. So my mother used to hang the wash outside on the clothes line to dry. When taken in, the log johns were stiff as a board. Visualize it. From the waist to the ankle, flat like a pancake and hard. Cold, of course. I had to push and repush with my feet to get the long johns on.

Diana Nyad still in Key West. A welcome guest! She is performing in a one woman show which covers her life with emphasis on her successful swim from Havana to Key West in 2013. The show opened last night and continues through sunday.

Jenna tonight. We are having dinner together.

Enjoy your day!

WHAT RECOVERY?

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Last night was Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou, my blog talk radio show. My comments re the U.S.’s economic recovery initiated responsive comments.

The title of the segment was What Recovery? I also wrote this week’s KONK Life column on the subject. It publishes today.

The thrust of the comments and column is that the economy has only been good for the rich. The 1/99 percent thing again. A nation that has 16 million homeless public school children, 51 percent of public school children living in poverty, food stamps at an all time high, small businesses still struggling,  has a long way to go.

I spent a portion of yesterday fine tuning the show in preparation for last night.

I also did a couple of hours of pleasure reading. I am into a book on Italians. The Italian Americans by Maria Laurino. Published last month. I am learning things about my heritage I never knew.

The weather is crazy. Rain and thunder last night. This morning black. One blast of thunder woke me. I actually sat up.

The water is rough. Today definitely not a boating day.

A new cold spell is moving easterly. Big time cold. Arctic cold. Perhaps the lowest temperatures ever. As usual, bad weather up north affects Key West. Tonight, the temperature drops to 56 degrees. The high today 69. The high tomorrow 60. Yes, 60 degrees!

This morning’s Key West Citizen carries a picture of people waiting to get into the Hemingway House. I drive by the Hemingway House several times a week. I have noticed in the past several weeks more and more people waiting to get in. In the past if you had to wait in line, the line ended at the wall entrance. Now it runs almost to Truman.

The line tells me not so much an increased interest in Hemingway. Rather it evidences the fantastic early tourist season Key West is enjoying.

ISIS. What do we do? Above my pay scale. I hope however our government firms down on a procedure and goes after them. My fear is that we are only going to do it in a half hearted way. Time is not with us. It is almost a certainty that at some point ISIS will strike here in the U.S.

ISIS at it again. In Iraq, they placed 45 persons on the bed of an open truck, doused them with gasoline, and burned them to death. Videoed for the world’s watching, of course.

ISIS knows how to make money to support its endeavors and people. They are not a bunch of ragged fighters living in caves. The newest ISIS money maker is the sale of body parts. Body parts a very profitable item on the world market. Hearts, livers and kidneys in high demand.

Doctors are required to remove the body parts. From the living who end up not living. If a doctor refuses, he is killed.

Syracuse/Louisville tonight at 7. ESPN. At the moment, I plan on watching the game at Don’s Place. Louisville is a 5.5 point favorite.

Larry Smith with a major musical event this evening at the Pier House. Where the Wine Galley used to be. Christine Cardone and Kathleen Peace featured.

Enjoy your day!

ANOTHER MUNICH?

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A Ukraine cease fire was announced yesterday at the conclusion of the Minsk conference. I fear Minsk may be another Munich. Putin is not to be trusted. Merkle and her European friends fear war. If war occurs, the European economy will go down the tubes. It was anything to avoid war.

It is interesting. The thief steals and gets away with it. Right succumbs to might.

Another bocce season opened last night! We won all 3 games decidedly.

My evening was especially exciting. I made a shot difficult to achieve. One that I can never duplicate. It was the high point of my 15 years of playing bocce.

The polina was about an inch from the rear backboard. The length of the court. Blocked in front by other balls. Three things had to be taken into account. Distance, speed, and hitting the side board at the right spot.

I was standing ball in  hand thinking…..What to do? Don ran over to the side of the court at the far end. He pointed to the spot where I had to hit the side board. Mighty Casey did not strike out! Everything perfect. My ball ended up in front of and barely touching the polina. Wow!

Weather up north cold. I was speaking to a friend in upstate New York yesterday. The chill factor was minus 40.

The bocce courts were cold last night. Mid to high 60s. Everyone dressed for the cold weather. A cold cutting wind coming in off the Atlantic. I froze all evening even though appropriately dressed, including socks.

Key West weather today will be in the mid 60s. This evening in the mid 50s. If you are a Key Wester, not for the weak at heart.

Today is friday the 13th. If you are superstitious, stay home. In  Western civilization, the day is considered unlucky. Some countries refer to it as Black Friday.

Now for a big word. If you have a fear of friday the 13th, it is called paraskevidekatriaphobia.

Diana Nyad and Key West have bonded. Diana was the first woman to swim from Cuba to Florida without the aid of a shark cage. Actually, from Havana to Key West. It happened in 2013.

She came ashore on Smathers Beach. Key West has placed a plaque where she landed commemorating the event.

Diana has returned to Key West several times since. She is here once again this week. She has become more and more involved in the Key West community.

A love affair.

The Florida Keys have all sort of strange animals, reptiles, birds, etc. Pythons come to mind immediately. There is a new one. The black bear is back big time in southern Florida. The species is protected. In 1994, there were only 400 black bears. The rest had been killed off. Now, it is estimated there are over 3,000.

The bears are visiting residential areas. Four maulings have been reported thus far. There is a move underway to remove the protected species designation. Bears will then be fair game once again.

The proposed regulation also will permit persons to use sling shots and paint ball guns to keep the bears away from homes. I would suggest everyone be prepared to run like hell after hitting a bear.

It appears government has twinked the permissibles too closely/minutely once again.

Big time professional golf this weekend! Pebble Beach!

I was probably the worst golfer in the world. I stopped playing five years ago for medical reasons. Even though not talented, I traveled around the country playing big time golf courses. One was California’s Pebble Beach and its two neighbors Spyglass and Monterey Peninsula. An experience! Loved it!

I watch Pebble Beach on TV every year. I can recall every hole distinctly. It adds to the excitement.

Enjoy your day!

WAIT IN LINE TO HAVE SEX

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Venezuela in the news again. The country that ran out of toilet paper two years ago. Then it ran out of milk, shampoo, soap, and who knows what else.

It was reported yesterday that Venezuela has run out of condoms. Almost as bad as running out of toilet paper!

Actually, quite serious. Venezuela is in the midst of an HIV epidemic. Most had gone to condom use. The supply is gone. For some reason, President Maduro cannot figure out a way to replenish the condoms.

Assuming some can be found, the cost of a 35 condom pack is $755. Almost $21 per. $755 is close to Venezuela’s average monthly salary. A whole month’s salary to continue enjoying sex!

The wait in line comment refers to the long lines the Venezuelan people stand in to buy anything. Generally, a mile long. Twenty abreast. Then when they enter the store, there is no food or supplies on the shelves.

I am a Civil War buff. Wrote two term papers while in college concerning various aspects of the war. Key West’s Fort Zachary Taylor is having a Civil War era reenactment. Starts today. Runs through sunday. Should be interesting. Soldiers from both sides running around in uniforms, canons roaring.

Screwy weather the past 36 hours. It rained all day yesterday. At night, a howling wind. From the northeast. At least 20 mph. I could hear it all night. Whistling through the trees, banging on my windows.

This morning the sun is shining. Not one cloud in the sky. Everything bright and shiny. The wind still with us, however. Bending the palm trees.

I stepped out on the deck to look things over. The wind was so strong during the night that my deck chairs blew all over. One was resting in the pool.

Got cold during the night! Temperature dropped to 61 degrees. It was the kind of night I wished I had a warm body next to me. At 7 this morning, the temperature was 63 degrees.

The high today is projected at 72. Cold for Key Westers. Warm to visitors.

Cheryl, where ever you are in central Florida, your derriere has to be cold cold!

I spent a good portion of yesterday afternoon researching next week’s KONK Life column. I have decided to write about the National Football League’s tax exempt status. $9.5 billion annual earnings. No taxes paid.

I plan on writing the column this morning.

Enjoy your day.

 

WOE IS SYRACUSE

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Syracuse basketball has been under investigation by the NCAA for a couple of years. No findings reported yet. Yesterday, it was announced by Syracuse that it was self imposing a ban on playing in any post season tournaments this year. The NCAA, the NIT, and the ACC.

The investigation goes back as far as 12 years ago and as recent as 3 years ago. Word is that it primarily involves academics. Drug use by players in the earlier years may also be involved.

The NCAA’s report will be revealed soon.

As a most interested basketball fan, if Syracuse has to be punished this is the best year. The team’s record is bad. I doubt we would have been invited to the NCAA.

Syracuse will stand tall, take the hit and move on.

Visited Lisa yesterday. Jake, too. Jake is amazing! He now respects me as one of the family. We get along well. Which was not always the case.

I stopped at Walgreens to pick up a prescription. As most seniors, I take a lot of pills. I have a complaint. Co-pays are dramatically higher this new year.

The drug companies have had a free ride too long. It is time they were reined in.

I dined at Ibis last night for the first time. It has been open about three years. Stone crabs item #1 on Ibis’ menu.

I did not enjoy stone crabs. After the lobster roll the other night, it would have been too much in one week. Someone in my party did, however. Five large stone crabs. Looked smaller than large actually. $50. If my recollection is correct, the catch has not been good again for the third straight year. Restaurants are paying a high price for the delicacy. It has to be passed on to customers.

Sharon was waitressing. She bartended at Don’s Place for years before moving onto Ibis. It was hug and kiss time.

The weather yesterday was a warm 77 degrees. Rain is predicted off and on today. It is raining at the moment. I am sitting at the kitchen counter. The glass sliding doors are open. I can smell, taste and hear the rain.

The circus has come to Key West! Every year at this time. It starts today and ends sunday. I hope to get to watch it again with Robert and Ally.

My KONK Life column was published in the paper yesterday. I posted it on my Facebook site this morning. The topic interesting and timely. Greece In The Driver’s Seat.

In line with the substance of the column, it was reported in the international news this morning that the European Central Bank is taking a tough stance regarding Greece. The Bank is refusing to loan money to Greece’s commercial banks. The economic war has begun. The gauntlet thrown.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

IN SEASON

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The cartoon on the editorial page of this morning’s Key West Citizen has boldly written thereon Welcome to “In Season” in Key West. No question, the season has arrived. Tourists everywhere. Walking and driving difficult. Everyone happy. Why not, they are in Key West!

Twenty six years ago when I first visited Key West, the  “in season” was February 15 to Easter Sunday Monday. The first two weeks of January were dead. The next two weeks a smattering of tourists. Things picked up the first two weeks in February a bit. Then the avalanche began on February 15. It was like a water faucet had been turned on. People gushing all over the place.

Things have changed. Most certainly. And for the best! Key West is a vacation town. Its only business is tourism. Better closer to 12 months a year than 2.

I felt like a man lost in the desert yesterday afternoon. I wanted to watch the Syracuse/Clemson game. The plan was to meet Dan and Lisa at Jack Flats. I got there early. No Syracuse game. Jack Flats did not carry ESPN 3. Hustled over to Don’s Place. He gets everything on his TV sets. Again, no game.

David came in while I was complaining and explained to me that ESPN 3 only airs on the internet and certain cell phones.

I learned something.

Never got to see the game.

Probably for the best. Syracuse got whipped by Clemson 66-53. Prior to yesterday’s game, Clemson was described as the worst shooting team in the ACC. They found the range yesterday!

I have no further comment re the game.

The weather was a surprise yesterday. The weather report said 70 in the afternoon and 68 in the evening. Cold for Key Westers! It was cold cold on my deck overlooking the water. The ocean breeze always adds to a  cool day.

I dressed accordingly. Long pants, which I hate to wear, and a heavy long sleeved shirt.

When I got out of the car in Key West, the temperature was 78. I had to walk several blocks to Jack Flats and back. Sweating! It was a shorts and tee shirt day!

I mentioned yesterday hearing from some Greek and Italian friends about four jihadists hiding somewhere in Greece. One of some importance. Later in the day, they were arrested in Athens. The leader was Abou Omar Soussi. He was arrested in Omonia Square. Just behind the Square sits the Monastiraki. A Greek restaurant where I spent some afternoons sitting outside and enjoying a drink and bite to eat. I sometimes sat there a couple of hours. A great place to people  watch.

The world seems to get sicker by the day. Generally in Africa and the Middle East. Yesterday, on a road in South Jersey. A baby was found on fire in the middle of the road. Suffered severe burns. No further news was available.

My apologies for ending today’s blog on such a sick note.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

DID NOTHING

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Not much to share today. Yesterday was a do nothing day overall. A couch potato most of the day.

It was a good day! There is a need to rest body, mind and soul on occasion.

I watched the Syracuse/Georgia Tech game in the evening. Had planned to watch at Don’s Place. All of a sudden getting ready seemed like too much work. I stayed home.

Syracuse won by one point. 46-45. Not a pretty win, not an impressive game.

Syracuse did play well. The problem was they could not get the ball to go in the basket. Too many shots missed. Several lay ups.

Gamblers know what they are doing. The Vegas line was Syracuse by 1.5 points. Syracuse won by one point. Amazing how they can call most games!

I did work a few hours in the afternoon researching next week’s KONK Life column. A very interesting topic. Involves a new Black Panther group in Dallas. Ferguson motivated the rebirth of the organization.

The north is freezing in sub zero chill factor weather. When  extremely cold up north, it is cold in the south. Key West went down to 62 in the evening. I don’t fool around. Grabbed a blanket and turned on the heat.

Such was my nothing day.

Enjoy your today!

CHILL FACTOR -49 DEGREES

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Wowie! Cold in the north today. Chill factors as low as -49. Upstate New York projected at -20. With one foot of snow!

My friends up north laugh when I do this. But…..it is going to be cold tonight in Key West. -62. That means a blanket or heat.

All in all, crazy weather. Global warming?

After living alone so long, I have become domesticated to a degree. Was in Publix yesterday. Saw eggplants. A sudden desire overwhelmed me! I bought one. Cooked it for dinner last night.

Cut the plant in half. Thin sliced the half I was going to use. Heated some olive oil in a large frying pan. Then the slices. Cooked them to a light brown on each side.

Delicious! Just like my mother used to make.

I observed something interesting in the process. The eggplant slices absorbed the oil rapidly. Gulped it right up. Like a paper towel soaking up a spill.

Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou last night. One of my better shows. Spent more than a half the show discussing issues involving policemen.

As part of the police portion, I made reference to the new Black Panther group formed in Dallas. Shades of the ’60s. Blacks, many of whom are retired Army Rangers, have formed a paramilitary group to protect blacks from being killed by police. A confrontation/eruption is sure to follow at some point. Violence begets violence.

Nudity continues to be an issue in Key West. As regards Fantasy Fest. A do good group has their nose in the issue.

There is a special meeting of the City Commission tonight to review matters. Harry Bethel, a leader in the anti-nudity movement, says the Commission will discuss curbing nudity during Fantasy Fest. Bethel announced earlier that in all his years of living in Key West, he has never attended a Fantasy Fest. A blind man shall lead them!

Numbers sometime tell an interesting story. It has been reported that in Alabama, food stamp recipients outnumber public school students by 20 percent. Yet we keep hearing how the economy has recovered. Not for those on food stamps!

Enjoy your day!