Presidential Proclamation on Columbus Day, 2018

In 1492, Christopher Columbus and his mighty three-ship fleet, the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria, first spotted the Americas. His historic achievement ushered in an Age of Discovery that expanded our knowledge of the world. Columbus’s daring journey marked the beginning of centuries of transatlantic exploration that transformed the Western Hemisphere. On Columbus Day, we commemorate the achievements of this skilled Italian explorer and recognize his courage, will power, and ambition — all values we cherish as Americans.

Columbus’s spirit of determination and adventure has provided inspiration to generations of Americans. On Columbus Day, we honor his remarkable accomplishments as a navigator, and celebrate his voyage into the unknown expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. His expedition formed the initial bond between Europe and the Americas, and changed the world forever. Today, in that spirit, we continue to seek new horizons for greater opportunity and further discovery on land, in sea, and in space.

Although Spain sponsored his voyage, Columbus was, in fact, a proud citizen of the Italian City of Genoa. As we celebrate the tremendous strides our Nation has made since his arrival, we acknowledge the important contributions of Italian Americans to our country’s culture, business, and civic life. We are also thankful for our relationship with Italy, a great ally that shares our strong, unwavering commitment to peace and prosperity.

In commemoration of Christopher Columbus’s historic voyage, the Congress, by joint resolution of April 30, 1934, and modified in 1968 (36 U.S.C. 107), as amended, has requested the President proclaim the second Monday of October of each year as “Columbus Day.”

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 8, 2018, as Columbus Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I also direct that the flag of the United States be displayed on all public buildings on the appointed day in honor of our diverse history and all who have contributed to shaping this Nation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-third.

DONALD J. TRUMP

So Speaketh Da Trumpster.

THe dead can only speak to ghosts.

February 13, 1991 - Biak, Indonesia - Journal

Roosters crowing at 5:11 a.m. I walk onto the veranda of the hotel and look out on Cendrawasih Bay. There are so many stars up above, I can see the islands silhouetted by the Milky Way. To the east dark as well. Sunrise not for another hour and a half. I have a slight hangover from a boisterous Saturday night drinking with two Japanese sailors and Larry Smith. Our conversation mindless. We shared it a thirst for beer and I wandered to the hotel safe and sound. Stripped off my clothes in the hotel room, turned on the fan, got underneath the mosquito netting and fell into bed with 10 toes pointing to heaven.

I hadn't shut the mosquito netting too good. I have bites all over my body. I turn on the BBC World Radio. The world is at war, as the coalition gets ready to invade Iraq. George W Bush is pissed off about Saddam trying to assassinate his father. The ex cokehead wants to prove he's a man. I wish you could do it another way maybe another time.

I change to the France International. They're playing music. Serge Gainsborough in fact. Wars mosquitoes, Biak, Serge rules over them all.

I could easily catch a plane to Bali today, but Larry Smith has returned from java. His new crankshaft for his boat is coming by ship. He suggested we cross the island to a beach on the north shore with his Indonesian girlfriend. She doesn't speak much English. She smiles a lot. I know that trick from having lived in Paris without any French for the first three months. Larry says there are waves there and he has two boogie boards. I'm in no hurry to circumnavigate the globe. I don't have to be back in America, until my money runs out sometime in May or June. Traveling Indonesia is not expensive. Especially since I'm traveling alone. Knowing no one is waiting for me back home or any place where I'm going I'm more ghost of passing interest, although if I was with a woman i wouldn't be able to turn left or right or just stay in place. I'd have to think of somewhere to go some place to be something to do. Come to think of it, I'll make that trade off in a second, but the only women I love are the ones in the past or too far gone from my caresses, so it's me on my own traveling around the world.

Enough moaning self-pity doesn't get you anywhere. You're trying to be a writer. Or am I?

Rick and Caroline were a cute couple in Hawaii. John and I met them at the airport in Honolulu. I thought about going to Kauai with them, but was more enthralled with going further east into the Orient, so I can write. I have to start rewriting North North Hollywood soon. Once I get to Ubud the cultural center of Bali. No beach scene in that town. Plenty of surf south of there in Kuta Beach, Ulu Watu, and Sanur according to the Rough Guide. I love distractions from writing. My mind is clear of everything, except the drink. Thankfully there's no drugs out here.

Presidential Photo Ops

In late September the extra warm waters of the western Carribean created Hurricane Helene. After hitting Mexico and Cuba the category 5 storm headed northeast. The Florida Panhandle was struck hard on September 26 and 27 by Hurricane Helene dropping twelve inches of rain and pummeling coastal towns with 140 mph winds. Even worst was that the hurricane maintained its destructive power to devastate inland Georgia and North Carolina. Over 200 dead and an estimated $150 billion of damage. Landslides and floods were on a biblical scale.

As the federal government swung into action Donald Trump flew to North Carolina to survey the damage. According to The Guardian Donald Trump spoke in front of a furniture store gutted by Hurricane Helene in Valdosta, Georgia, on Monday, claiming falsely that Georgia’s governor had not been able to reach Joe Biden.

Upon landing in Valdosta, Trump claimed to reporters the president had been “sleeping” and that Brian Kemp, the governor, had been “calling the president and hasn’t been able to get him”. He repeated the false claim when speaking in front of the store.

Kemp refuted the allegation earlier in the day. He said he had been playing phone tag with Kamala Harris but also said: “The president just called me yesterday afternoon and he just said: ‘Hey, what do you need?’ … He offered that if there’s other things we need, just to call him directly, which, I appreciate that.”

During the White House press briefing on Monday, the homeland security adviser Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall said Biden had offered Kemp “anything” Georgia needed in terms of storm response.

Of course we all remember Trump throwing donated paper towels to a group of survivors in San Juan, Puerto Rico two weeks after Hurricane Maria left 93% of the island without power. MAGA supporters asked, "Where is Biden?"

In the White House coordinating the relief effort. Since a week ago FEMA has delivered approximately 6.1 million liters of water and 4.1 million meals. More than 70,000 people have registered for individual assistance through FEMA. Power has been restored to more than 800,000 customers according to https://ncnewsline.com/

It will take years to recover from this storm and Hurricane Milton is expected to strike the Tampa area shortly. Another category 4. Prayers and thoughts won't help, since few news agencies or politicians aren't discussing how the global climate change is showing its muscle. The tipping point was passed in 2011 and there's no turning back. Bible thumpers get your prayers ready. Just understand that we are doomed, but we've survived the Ice Age. We will this time too. With the help of the horseshoe crabs.

Montauk # 29

Autumn morning
Again
Ditch Plains
Off-shore easterly
Surfers riding a chest-high swell
Seagulls skating the crest
A bright sun
No sunglasses
Squint
Richie Boy thinking
Work or surf___
A fishing boat chugging to harbor
At least twenty aged surf bums
On the break___
We
On the beach
Richie Boy
A friend for almost fifty years
On a bench
Rubbing his knee
Surveying the ocean___
1993
Bingin Beach
Bali
A forever left
Forever overhead
Too big for me
No matter
I go out
On a borrowed board
A potato chip___
A big set coming in
Paddle
Over the first wave
Paddle
Over the second wave
Richie and me over
My arms al dente noddles
The third wave
Richie makes to the lip
Look back
His face horror
Then the wave buries me in a washing machine
There is no up or down
No richie
No Bali
Only the head over heels tumble
Over the coral reef___
Under a long time
Thirty seconds
Forty
Pop to the surface
Grab a breath buried again
Longer
At the mercy
Of Lord Baruna
The Balinese God of the Sea
I don't pray
I'm an atheist
Also
I'm too busy drowning
Gulp Glug Glup___
Spit up on the sand
Blowing out ocean
My beach boy
Relieved
I back from the dead
Reincarnated once more
Into this body
It wasn't the first time
Nor the last
No more surfing that day
Time to spit out ocean
And drink beers into the night
With Richie
The massage girls
On the Bingin Cliff
Sampai Jumpa___
Time elastic
Snap forward to October 2024
Ditch Plains
Montauk
Richie
Rubs his knees
Yesterday morning
A good hour in the line-up
Pushing it hard__
Now rubbing his knees
No surf today
We look at each other
We work-bound
But
Just not yet
Thank you for life Lord Baruna
Terima kasih banyak___

Tubas In Space

I always thought that there would be no tubas in Space. Too big, too heavy, use too much oxygen, but on a Star Trek episode some crew member played one in the holo deck. I googled 'tuba star trek' and discovered the Star Trek Voyager theme featured a tuna. Google search also revealed that no tuba has left the planet.

Fort Greene Park # 11

A simple water fountain At the top of the lawn A sip of water from the Catskills Many miles to the north Up the Hudson___

A gentle October evening Children run on the grass Play tag An ancient game Always new ti the very young___ Dogs on leashes Squirrels munch on acorn Fallen into the season's first pile of leaves From a yellow leafed tree Grackels flit from branch to branch Most humans on a phone Talking Texting Blind to the wonders of Fort Greene Park___ Sad their blindness Detached from thos oasis of nature Unable to appreciate our existence ___ But not everyone is lost An old man complimented my straw cowboy hat Bought in Montana Thirty years ago traveling with Ms. Virginia I see her in Chico Hot Springs Laughing on a horse Gone From this Now but with me in eternity Her laugh Her smile Her love With me even now In Fort Greene Park As the sun sets behind the Polytech Fire engines racing to a blaze On Myrtle Avenue Raindrops from above From yellow grey clouds With leaves falling from the trees Oh such joy To have nowhere to go Except to quench my thirst At the fountain

Montauk # 28

Montauk # 28 Gray autumn dawn 61 No longer summer No sun No clothes Step in the shower A warm spray A warmer hose Wind weaves Through the weathered slats This is life Hobo beach bum life Soap and water Clean Then cleaner The ocean on the breeze This is where I am I In the early dawn Everyone asleep Clouds overhead Shut off the water Feet on concrete A damp towel Nothing really dry This close to the sea This is all I need For now