The U.S. is in turmoil. Again. It happens every few years. One of the last times I recall when things were this bad was the late 1960’s into the early 1970’s. College campuses were in an uproar. The Vietnam War was at the heart of most problems. Court decisions were becoming questionable, One of the three main problems today involve the U.S. Court System. Especially the Supreme Court. Two others involve the many college campuses that are in an uproar and women’s rights which are being stomped upon. Each unhealthy. Troublesome times come and go. Fortunately the go part. They pass in due course ..read more

Some people don’t know enough to quit while they are ahead. Speaker Johnson is one. He came out looking good by permitting the money bill affecting Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan to go to the floor to be voted on. Yesterday, he blew it. The man from Louisiana went to the Columbia campus to express his thoughts. He was not well received. How could he be. A Southerner whose State has a poor black record and one concerning women’s rights re abortions is preaching to students at a northern university. Among other things, he said Columbia’s President Nemat Shafik should resign if she could not “immedia ..read more

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Disorganization is the key to American life today. The Supreme Court, Congress and college campuses say it all. New Hampshire legislative Republicans insane. Similar to Florida’s. Going anti-vaccine crazy. New Hampshire’s body passed a bill that would end the requirement for parents enrolling kids in child care to provide documentation of polio and measles vaccinations. I am 88. I have viewed polio first hand. The vaccine was first offered in 1955 when I was 20 years old. I saw classmates and people I knew become afflicted with polio. I have a cousin who got measles at 3 and was rendered total ..read more

A rarely heard event. The plot to assassinate George Washington. The plot occurred during the very early stages of the Revolution. Tea dumped in Boston harbor, Jefferson finalizing the Declaration of Independence and Washington bringing the ragtag Continental Army to New York where a British invasion was expected at any moment.  The plot was revealed in a recent non-fiction book “The First Conspiracy” by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch. New York’s royal governor was William Tryon. He was forced to live on a British ship in New York harbor while waiting for the British invasion. The loyalist ..read more

In 1990, the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration opened. To honor and tell the story of the 12 million immigrants that passed through Ellis Island to start a new life in the United States. My family came through Ellis Island. Included were my mother, grandparents on both sides of my family and numerous other relatives. Now more than 30 years after its first makeover, the Museum is getting a second. A $100 million project. Data bases will be preserved and expanded. Added to the original 12 million will be 90 million records from other ports of entry nationwide. An interesting factor. At ..read more

Congress continues spiraling out of control. Marjorie Taylor Greene continues to be out of control. She introduced an amendment yesterday requiring members to “conscript in the Ukrainian military” if they vote for the Ukraine supplemental bill. Florida Democrat Jared Moskowitz thereafter proposed a further amendment appointing Marjorie Taylor Greene as “Putin’s Special Envoy to the United States Congress.” A Catholic Bishop says Biden “doesn’t understand the Catholic faith…..I’m not angry at him, he’s just stupid.” Does Bishop Robert Gruss of the Diocese of Saginaw believe Trump’s Christian/Ev ..read more

Initially shocking news.  Bloomin’ Brands owns Outback Restaurants. It announced it is closing down 41 Outbacks. Sales and traffic the primary reasons. At the same time, Bloomin’ Brands announced it plans to open 45 new Outbacks this year in the U.S. Suggests good business judgment being exercised. Time will tell. Full jury of 12 plus 6 alternates seated in Trump’s New York City hush money trial yesterday. The actual trial/battle begins monday. A young man set himself on fire yesterday afternoon near the Lower Manhattan Courthouse where the jury was being chosen for the Trump trial. The i ..read more

The 42nd Anniversary of the Conch Republic Independence Celebration begins today. A whole week of events. Today’s include an opening ceremony and raising of the colors. Followed by a kick off party and Conch shell blowing contest at the Schooner Wharf Bar. Big time fun every day and evening for the next week. Trump criminal trial update. A jury of 12 has been seated. Plus one alternate. Five more alternates sought. Total selections should be completed by the end of today or monday, Syphilis is surging. Doctors are calling for more testing during pregnancy. Three tests recommended. A routine bl ..read more

My recent five week stay at Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami where I underwent three heart surgeries did cause me to experience thoughts of death. My death. On two occasions, I thought I would never leave the hospital, that I was going to die. Fortunately, I did not. However death still runs through my thought process some of the days since my discharge. Marty Leshaw’s death did not help. Two death comments by noteworthy persons come to mind. Benjamin Franklin’s: “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Can’t argue with it. Saint Augustine came up with one that h ..read more