KEY WEST LOU / THE DIXONS ARE IN ANTARCTICA

I have received two e-mails and a dozen photos from Buffalo’s Fran and Tom Dixon. They left Buffalo’s cold to vacation in the Antarctica. From the tone of the emails and the pics, they are having a marvelous time. Bundled up, of course. The icebergs, sky, water and penguins beautiful. Each photo striking. Must be the play of the sun on the cold objects in the photos. Everything sharp and distinct.

They even went down in a submarine 400 feet. I’m impressed.

I will share some of the photos with you in the next few days. Need Sloan’s help in moving them over.

Fran and Tom visit Key West 3-4 times a year. Always stay at the Ocean Key House. Tom has a minor interest in Ocean Key. I believe their next Key West visit will be in February.

The 26th Key West Half Marathon & Runfest is scheduled for this sunday morning. Lori who has been cutting my hair for 25 years will be running in the event. The 13.1 mile jaunt no big deal for her. She has been a long distance runner for years.

Freezing cold in the Northwest and Northeast U.S., yet Key West has enjoyed 80 degree weather the past two days. Hope it continues.

Florida State Road A1A may soon be the Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway. Runs 340 miles along Florida’s Atlantic Coast. Florida may also soon provide specialty license plates with “Margaritaville” emblazed thereon.

A State Senate Committee approved both items wednesday. Both are expected to become law in due course. A fitting tribute to Jimmy Buffet, a man loved worldwide.

Last night an enjoyable one again. Dinner at Brady’s Irish Pub. Carola and pierogis. In addition to good company.

Chatted with Tammy and Rich again. Tammy a manager at A&B Lobster House, Rich a manager with Ed Swift’s trolley car operation. Together with Carola, we talked about the new Bob’s Restaurant on Margaret Street. For years prior thereto, the old Michael’s Restaurant. I was the only one who had attended so far. I loved it! Carola has plans to attend next weekend. Tammy tried to make reservations for St. Valentine’s Day. Too late already. Booked.

Met George. We talked for a long time.

George is a retired Coast Guard regular and reserve member. Twenty eight years. Following which he was a school teacher for a number of years. Now retired, he keeps busy doing paperwork for his son’s Rhode Island business and also crabbing in Key West waters. His wife Marge, who I did not meet, spends her time in what I suspect is an enjoyable past time, She does historical research.

I may run into George next week. He told me about some places I have never heard of which sound like fun. Can’t believe there are places I have not experienced in my 30 Key West years. But, there are.

Today, big! Syracuse/North Carolina at noon. North Carolina presently ranked #7 nationally. I will be watching the game at Jack Flats with Fred Klein, a fellow Syracuse graduate. Dan Riordan is in town for 2 months. A Syracuse die hard, also. Look forward to his joining me soon at some of the games.

Today’s podcast 5 years old. Involves Trump when he was President. Title: Mr. President, Have You No Conscience?

Doctors and hospitals have gone crazy complying with patient protection laws. They bend over backward to comply and protect. Pharmacists do not. A gaping loophole in federal healthcare regulations are permitting some leading drug store chains to turn over a customer’s most sensitive private healthcare information to law enforcement agencies. Without a warrant.

My message intended primarily for women. A warning, in effect. Drugs in any way even remotely involved with abortion and birth control are daily ending up in the hands of authorities. Prosecutors included if they want them. All eight of the nation’s largest pharmacy chains automatically turn over prescription records of thousands of Americans to law enforcement entities secretly.

Women be aware! What you can do, I am not sure.

Trump has been ordered to pay the New York Times close to $400,000 for a frivolous lawsuit he brought. The actual amount $392,638.69 in legal fees for the New York Times and 3 of its writers stemming from a “frivolous” 2021 lawsuit that had already been dismissed.

Donald generally loses. Has he wakened to the fact it costs him money not only for his own attorneys (who he seems to rarely pay) and now the attorneys for those he sues?

Jesus has been called upon to be involved in the Iowa caucus monday. By a Trump supporter, who else? She is evangelist Patricia Lage who said she was calling on Jesus to lend a hand on monday. The weather forecast predicts an exceptionally cold monday. Like minus 20 degrees. Lage said, “I am declaring that it be warmer in Jesus’ name.”

What happened to people praying/hoping privately and in silence? Too much God publicly in politics today.

My closing topic involves something that has become increasingly bothersome to me. The ignorance of some Congressional persons. Those who speak knowingly about an issue where they have absolutely no knowledge of the law involved nor have taken the time to check the law first before speaking out on a matter of great concern.

I am motivated to comment based on statements made by some Democratic Congresspersons re Biden’s recent bombing of Houthi rebels in Yemen. Biden said the bombings “were to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce.”

Note first that even prominent Republicans supported Biden’s decision. Senate Majority Leader McConnell and House Speaker Johnson  both supported Biden. If they were critical in any fashion, it was to say Biden should have so acted sooner. The term used was “long overdue.”

Congressional bipartisan support was mixed. Those opposing said what the Democrats opposing had said. The bombings were an act of war and the Constitution requires Congressional approval first.

The Democrats ignorant lazy idiots all. The Republicans opposing playing politics.

The law is clear and supports Biden one hundred percent. Biden has authority under the War Powers Act, aka War Powers Resolution, passed by Congress in 1973. The Act requires the President to inform Congress within 48 hours of military action and requires the termination of military action within 60 days of its commencement if Congress has not officially declared war or authorized the military action.

The Democrats critical of Biden embarrassed him for a brief moment. Following which they embarrassed themselves greatly. In addition, they should have supported their leader Biden in these dangerous tenuous times. A Trump he is not.

Enjoy your day!

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