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

The Trump jury is being seated faster than anticipated. Yesterday was the second day of jury selection. At the end of the day, seven jurors had been seated. Court resumes thursday. There is no court on wednesdays. It is possible the jury could be fully drawn by friday and opening statements made monday. An interesting comment in a Washington Post opinion piece yesterday: “Religion is declining in America overall but in some ways becoming an even more important force within the Republican Party. We have less religion but still very religiously influenced politics.” The restoration of Notre Dame ..read more

Steve Thompson got me to go out. I joined him at 3 yesterday afternoon at the Tropic Cinema to see the new movie Civil War. A strange film. I highly recommend it, however. During the course of my lifetime, I have noticed Hollywood always seemed to come up with a film today that would be a fact of life one year later. Civil War may be that type film. The movie is a civil war occurring in the U.S. At this time in our history. Similar to our Civil war that happened in the 1860’s. State versus State. Friends and relatives killing each other. Citizens killing each other. Violently and disgustingly ..read more

Smithsonian Magazine ran an article that revealed a law clerk in his 20’s in London in 1719 lived a life basically no different from that of a law student today in the U.S. Hard to believe. Nevertheless, true. A newly discovered collection of letters describes the life of a 27 year old law student, his job, social life, and financial concerns in 1719. Ben Browne was the 27 year old law student. He moved from a small English town to bustling London to work as a law clerk. From 8 in the morning to 8 in the evening, 6 days a week. He mailed 65 letters to his father during his law clerkship period ..read more

COVID is a definite Florida problem at the moment. Death toll near 2,300 thus far in 2024. Experts urge updated vaccines. Biggest risk is to persons 65 and older. They account for 91 percent of Florida’s COVID-19 deaths. Netanyahu has to go if Israel fails to cease actions in Gaza. Netanyahu is conducting himself over and above any semblance of propriety. If he fails to stop, if he fails to heed Biden’s admonitions, the U.S. must cease supplying Israel with arms and money. Enough is enough! In this case, more than enough! This morning’s news indicates an example of what “enough” can amount to ..read more

It’s amazing! I am a walker again. Thanks to the aortic valve replacement last month. The cane is gone. I walk! Not as far as I would like yet. I am taking things a step at a time. Do not not want to push my luck. Yesterday, I began with a four block walk to visit Fred Klein. He lives two blocks from me. So it was two short blocks each way. A month ago, I could not have done it even with the cane. The two blocks in getting to his home would have wasted me. It was back to Publix afterwards. Publix has been my real test. With the cane, I could only do one aisle one way. Then at least a 10 minute ..read more

Another crazy black shooting by police. Chicago police. The police stopped 26 year old black Dexter Reed for driving without wearing a seat belt. Reed refused to unlock his car door and not to roll up his window. Police claim Reed shot first. One bullet hitting one officer. Police returned the one shot with 96 bullets in 41 seconds killing Reed. The matter is under intensive investigation. It should be! General Christopher Cavoli oversees military operations in Europe. He testified last week before a Congressional Committee that the war in Ukraine has reached its decisive moment. He said “with ..read more

I received a telephone call from Jean Thornton last night. She called to tell me Marty Leshaw had died.  Very sad news. Jean and I had been very tight friends with Marty for years. Part of the Chart Room crowd during our time. Included Che Cohen, English Peter Bamberger, Sheila Cullens, David Hecht, Valerie Chelley, and Steve and Cindy Thompson. Several others whose names now escape me. For years, we met every evening at the Chart Room. Between 5 and 6. Some evenings to be spent at the Chart Room till late. Others a few drinks and then some of us would wander off to have dinner somewhere ..read more

I shopped at the Key West Publix located at Key Plaza 4 times last week. Not to buy a ton of groceries. Spent in the area of $30 each time. Rather to prove to myself the wonderous result of the aortic heart valve replacement surgery I underwent last month. Three years ago, I had to strop shopping on my own. Even using the cane, I could only walk one aisle one way and then rest for at least 10 minutes before I could make the return trip to the front of the store. My body physically could not physically walk one aisle back and forth. Forget doing the whole store! So for 3 years, I have been orde ..read more