1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 1: Ridiculous History is a production of I Heart Radio. Welcome 2 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: back to the show, Ridiculous Historians. Thank you so much 3 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: as always for tuning in. I've got to say I 4 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: am super pumped to be here virtually on a Monday 5 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: morning with two of my favorite guys. Uh. So, hello 6 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:44,879 Speaker 1: to you as well. Dudes. My name is Ben, my 7 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 1: name is no Ben. That's really nice way to open 8 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,199 Speaker 1: the show. I appreciate that. It's really nice to be 9 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:51,280 Speaker 1: here with you. It's a great way to kind of 10 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: start the day, even though it is pushing eleven thirty. Um, 11 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: hopefully we've all been running around doing some things around 12 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 1: our our respective home bound bunker situations. What did you 13 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:05,040 Speaker 1: do this morning? Ben? Well, let's see, I actually spent 14 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 1: about ten minutes in the early days of the morning. Uh, 15 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:13,759 Speaker 1: writing math based food puns. Uh. It's that's where I'm at. 16 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 1: How many math based food puns does one generate in 17 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:19,960 Speaker 1: ten minutes? A lot? Actually, a lot, so long as 18 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 1: you don't worry about whether or not they are good. Well, 19 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: that's what they say about writing in general, isn't it. Ben. 20 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 1: You just got to do the thing, don't worry about 21 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 1: whether it's good or not. You're gonna learn from your 22 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 1: mistakes and eventually you'll become a math based food pun virtuoso. 23 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 1: Right the old tipping point or Malcolm Gladwell thing. It 24 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:42,039 Speaker 1: is actually a myth that ten thousand hours of practice 25 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: make you a genius at something. But you do get 26 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 1: better with time, and science proves that we use a 27 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 1: different part of our brain when we write, uh than 28 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 1: the part of the brain we use when we edit, 29 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 1: So you shouldn't edit yourself when you're trying to do 30 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: something creative. But I've I've been trying to do something, 31 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: you know, just like a mental exercise in the morning 32 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: along with the physical routine to try to stay physically 33 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: and mentally fit. Uh what about you, Mitt? You know, 34 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:10,519 Speaker 1: I haven't done my walk yet today, but I've really 35 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 1: been enjoying doing nice walks. I went to a place 36 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: in Atlanta called Arabia Mountain yesterday, which is a very beautiful, 37 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 1: uh scenic, kind of um rock outcropping, I guess you 38 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 1: could say, but it really you guys, know, it feels 39 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:24,920 Speaker 1: like you're on the Moon or some other weird alien 40 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: planet has got these light, shallow pools with these bright 41 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 1: red like lichens or whatever. In them, and they're apparently 42 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 1: kind of rare, and they had all these signs telling 43 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 1: you not to uh trod upon them. But it's a 44 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:38,360 Speaker 1: really really neat spot if anyone's ever visiting Atlanta, And 45 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: it was not abandoned, but it wasn't also wasn't super crowded, 46 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: so it was really easy to social distance out there 47 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 1: in the wild. Um. But today I had my daughter 48 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 1: over the weekend, so I took her back to her mom. 49 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:51,520 Speaker 1: She staying there for the week, and then her mom 50 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 1: made us some breakfast and I hung out there with 51 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 1: her and her sister and stepdad for a while, and 52 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 1: it was very nice to to be around kind of 53 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 1: like other humans for the first time in a week 54 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: or so. Have you been to Arabia Mountain before? I have? 55 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 1: I have, Yeah, this was maybe my third time, um, 56 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 1: but it was. It's it's definitely a really special place 57 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: here in Atlanta. Oh yeah, it's got it's got a 58 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:14,799 Speaker 1: dark and twisted history. I went there a lot when 59 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 1: I was growing up because my parents lived nearby. But 60 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:21,920 Speaker 1: what what's fascinated bout Arabia Mountain is that it is 61 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: part of Stone Mountain, the fourth largest basaltic extrusion in 62 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:29,079 Speaker 1: the world. I don't know if that'll come in handy 63 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 1: for anybody if you're playing trivia, but you know, keep 64 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:34,519 Speaker 1: that one in your back pocket and do check it 65 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: out if you get a chance. Stone Mountain also pretty 66 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 1: serious history of racism and a hotbed of Ku Klux 67 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 1: Klan activity back in the day. And I think wasn't 68 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 1: it the same sculptor that did Mount Rushmore did that 69 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: weird carving in Stone Mountain? It's like, is it Robert E? Lee? 70 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 1: Who is it that's in the in the sculptor is 71 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: guts On Borglum. I think we mentioned on. I really 72 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 1: want to do an episode on him in the future. 73 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: Also Arabia Mountain super producer Casey Pegram You may be 74 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 1: interested to know that pet Cemetery too was filmed in 75 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 1: part of Arabia Mountain. Is that right? Part two? That's 76 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:17,680 Speaker 1: the one with with young John Connor um as a 77 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:21,720 Speaker 1: as a slightly older adult actor um Edward Furlong I 78 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:25,239 Speaker 1: think is his name? Yes, Actually I watched that movie 79 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 1: again not very long ago, I guess in the lead 80 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:30,720 Speaker 1: up to the rerelease. It's not good. It's not good. No, 81 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 1: it's not good. There's there's some Jesus and Mary Chain 82 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: on the soundtrack, which is okay great. Um And speaking 83 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:38,799 Speaker 1: of pet cemetery movie based songs, do you guys remember 84 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 1: the Ramones song from the first pet Cemetery movie that 85 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: was called pet Cemetery? And it's just like I was, 86 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:47,840 Speaker 1: I don't want to be buried in a pet cemetery? 87 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 1: Or it? Does he want to be buried? He doesn't 88 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 1: want to be bury I think he doesn't want to 89 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 1: be Okay, No, they're they're very much an anti zombie 90 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:58,280 Speaker 1: punk band, got it, Got it? But I like what 91 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:02,840 Speaker 1: you said about not spending too much time, you know, 92 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: dithering or having the the old Uh should I shouldn't? 93 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 1: I kind of Hamlet problem because today's episode is a 94 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: very weird story about a another person who maybe impulsively 95 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 1: jumped to a decision. Uh and and uh, you know, 96 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 1: Florida has been in the news a lot lately, mainly 97 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:29,919 Speaker 1: because people are still partying on this Lotti da Vie 98 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:34,159 Speaker 1: about by the beaches. But our story today is also 99 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:38,039 Speaker 1: about Florida sort of. It's about Florida, it's about war 100 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:42,600 Speaker 1: and uh it's it's a pretty recent war in Florida 101 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 1: that most people have not heard of It's true. It's 102 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 1: not the War of the Roses. It's more of the 103 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 1: War of the the conks. Right, That's how you say, 104 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:54,120 Speaker 1: is is it a ch sound or is it it's conk? Right? 105 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:57,479 Speaker 1: I've always said conk like bonk? Remember Bonx Adventures that 106 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:00,080 Speaker 1: game for a what was what system was that? I 107 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 1: don't know. It's the one with a little turbographics sixteen. 108 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 1: So we're gonna go with conk like bonk. It's true. 109 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 1: In nineteen eighty two, April three, to be exact, uh, 110 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 1: the mayor of Key West, Florida, Dennis Wardlow, declared the 111 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 1: Florida Keys was going to become an independent micro nation 112 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:25,600 Speaker 1: and seceed from the Union. And there's there's an interesting 113 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 1: backstory to this. Let's let's rewind, So consider that in 114 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:33,160 Speaker 1: the cinema of your mind, the cold open and then 115 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 1: we flash back, right, So we're doing a little bit 116 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 1: of a nonlinear plot unraveling here. So in eighteen sixty one, 117 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 1: more than a century earlier, Florida seceded right and joined 118 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 1: the Confederacy during the Civil War. That's why there's still 119 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: that monument on Stone Mountain. The whole US Civil War, 120 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 1: but Key West Florida stayed in the Union. I believe 121 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 1: it was specifically January eighteen sixty one that Florida seceded, uh, 122 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: and they were just the third state to do so. 123 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 1: Only South Carolina, Mississippi beat them to it. But when 124 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 1: when they succeeded, you know, Key West is is an island, right, 125 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 1: It's an island outpost, and they said, you know what, 126 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 1: We're not going to go with the rest of the 127 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 1: peninsula here, We're gonna stay loyal to the Union. And 128 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 1: you could say this set a precedent for Key West 129 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 1: kind of harving their own path independent of the rest 130 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: of their state. Totally. Key West is always I've never been, 131 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 1: but people really love it, uh, and I think a 132 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 1: lot of that has to do with it sort of 133 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 1: like cookie individualistic spirit. Like they have things like, uh, 134 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 1: you know these parades that they call drag races that 135 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 1: aren't with cars, but they're actually with like lots of 136 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 1: like drag performers, and just in general, like there's apparently 137 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: a lot of like uh, it's almost like Tijuana or 138 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 1: something like that, where it's this very kind of you know, 139 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 1: out in the street, let it all hang out kind 140 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 1: of lifestyle there and and and Key West. It's all 141 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 1: about relaxation, Margaritaville type vibe um, but also a lot 142 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 1: of kind of that Florida man stuff that we always 143 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 1: hear a lot about, but a little bit more in 144 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 1: a tongue in cheek kind of way, a little bit 145 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 1: less methy, a little bit more maybe um festive. Yeah, 146 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 1: there you go. And for anyone who wants a good 147 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 1: sense of the geography, Uh, the state of Florida, as 148 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 1: you know, has two kind of primary parts. It's got 149 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 1: what we call the Panhandle and then it's got this peninsula, 150 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 1: which it makes up the majority of the state. But 151 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 1: Key West is not on the Panhandle. It's not really 152 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: on the peninsula either. If you look at it, it's 153 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:46,679 Speaker 1: at the very very very very very end the tip 154 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: of this archipelago that that kind of swoops off of 155 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:55,320 Speaker 1: the peninsula. So it's geographically isolated and uh, you know, 156 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:59,559 Speaker 1: I think I think it is also culturally uh unique. 157 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:02,160 Speaker 1: The way you described it, NOL was perfect. I'm glad 158 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:05,480 Speaker 1: you mentioned the drag races. Yeah. I actually just googled 159 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 1: weird Key West, and there's a website on this life 160 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 1: and trips called six odd Things to Do in Key West. Uh. 161 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 1: And the first one says say hello to Robert, who 162 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 1: is apparently a ghost that occupies America. At it's considered 163 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 1: America's fifth most haunted city. And uh, Robert is a 164 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 1: ghost that's been haunting Key West since the nearly nineteen hundreds. Uh. 165 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 1: Let's say you can, uh, you can bike through an 166 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:35,000 Speaker 1: above ground cemetery. They've got biking tours. There's an event 167 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:38,800 Speaker 1: called Fantasy Fest UM that allows folks to do all 168 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:42,120 Speaker 1: kinds of really elaborate body painting UM. And that's an 169 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:44,960 Speaker 1: event and you see images of people that are essentially 170 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:48,200 Speaker 1: nude but are painted up to look like superheroes, like 171 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: there's a Superman here, a wonder Woman, but they are 172 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 1: in fact, uh full nude. UM. And then of course 173 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:57,079 Speaker 1: you've got your key Limes, very very well known UM. 174 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 1: And you can get lots of key Line pies like 175 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 1: on sticks, which I'm a big fan of personally chocolate 176 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 1: dipped white chocolate. And there's a lot of piratey stuff 177 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:08,440 Speaker 1: there in Key West. There's a Key West Shipwreck Museum 178 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:10,760 Speaker 1: UM that looks pretty awesome with all kinds of old 179 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:14,559 Speaker 1: relics and weird stuff that's washed up from from shipwrecks, 180 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 1: pirate ships, including an entire piano that's all covered in 181 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 1: kind of like sea crust and barnacles. Pretty cool stuff. Oh, 182 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:25,920 Speaker 1: and they have their their famous six toad cat um 183 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 1: that you can go to a place that's right, Yeah, 184 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 1: the cats of the Hemingway House, Ernest Hemingway's famous six 185 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:36,720 Speaker 1: toad cat Snowball. It was cool. I went to the 186 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:40,319 Speaker 1: Hemingway House in the past because, like a lot of 187 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 1: like a lot of young riders, I was trying to 188 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 1: make peace with Ernest Hemingway in the cannon. Uh you know, 189 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 1: I still I still like I still like his stuff. Hey, now, 190 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 1: remember that story we did about Ernest Hemingway's lesser known 191 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: brother that started his own micro nation on a raft 192 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:02,200 Speaker 1: full circle, my friend. Oh yep, yep, yep, full circle 193 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:07,079 Speaker 1: of full full peninsula perhaps right, all right, So the 194 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:11,319 Speaker 1: reason I wanted to give us all a sense of 195 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:15,920 Speaker 1: the extreme location of Key West is because it plays 196 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 1: into the story. It is, as you said, nol, it 197 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 1: is culturally unique. It is also geographically isolated in comparison 198 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:26,439 Speaker 1: to a lot of other cities in Florida. Fast forward 199 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 1: to the early nineteen eighties, there's this guy you may 200 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 1: have heard of. Uh. Ronald Reagan, the Gipper, is the 201 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 1: president of the US at the time. The Cold War 202 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:40,720 Speaker 1: with the Soviet Union is still ongoing, and the USSR 203 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:44,839 Speaker 1: has a proxy just ninety miles away, the communist nation 204 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 1: of Cuba, and our relationship as a country has always 205 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: been quite complicated with Cuba. But there's a lot of 206 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 1: Cuban culture that finds its way into Florida and Key 207 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 1: West is no exception. Um. And the reason is a 208 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 1: lot of folks that were fleeing Cuba due to a 209 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:06,080 Speaker 1: lot of of drug wars and a lot of like 210 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:10,160 Speaker 1: issues with the government, UM are illegally coming into the 211 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 1: United States through Florida. It's really becoming an immigration gateway. Uh. 212 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 1: There are civil wars going on, chaos in general reigning 213 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 1: in that in Latin America because of a lot of 214 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:24,679 Speaker 1: this cartel stuff. UM. And this is a real problem 215 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 1: as far as the Reagan administration is concerned. They don't 216 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 1: want these immigrants coming in. It's very much of a 217 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 1: of a sentiment of you know, we don't need them. 218 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 1: They're bringing drugs into the country. You know, it's a 219 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 1: problem for our country. We that's not our issue. Let 220 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:41,840 Speaker 1: them deal with it, keep them out. Uh. We're in 221 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:44,480 Speaker 1: a similar place right now actually with the current administration, 222 00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:47,520 Speaker 1: which was very much influenced by Reagan. Yeah, yeah, we 223 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 1: see that conflation of illegal drugs and immigration, which is 224 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 1: which is misleading, right, just objectively. So on April eighteenth, two, 225 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:02,440 Speaker 1: the US Border Patrols set up a customs checkpoint and 226 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:06,920 Speaker 1: a roadblock at the intersection and County Road nine five 227 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 1: A and US Highway One on the Florida mainland. This 228 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:14,160 Speaker 1: is important because it is the only way in or 229 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 1: out of the Florida Keys. Yeah. It's also important because 230 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:20,480 Speaker 1: typically these kinds of roadblocks have been set up on 231 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:25,439 Speaker 1: the border side the opposing border, right, yeah, this or yeah, 232 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:29,200 Speaker 1: exactly what the border. This is absolutely on American soil 233 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 1: in a place that is highly inconvenient for all these 234 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:36,720 Speaker 1: vacationers and revelers that are trying to get into Key West, 235 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:40,080 Speaker 1: Um to see the six toed cat or what have you, 236 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:42,320 Speaker 1: or you know, do do the body paint parade um, 237 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:44,520 Speaker 1: which I'm assuming had to have been going on in 238 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:48,040 Speaker 1: the eighties. Um. So there's this roadblock. It's a checkpoint, 239 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 1: a legitimate military checkpoint, um, and it they're they're going 240 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: the full nine yards. They're checking ideas, Um, there, show 241 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:59,240 Speaker 1: us your papers. You know, they are actually searching every 242 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: single vehicle. They're looking for drugs, they're looking for immigrants, 243 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:06,840 Speaker 1: illegal immigrants being smuggled in. And with a single likely 244 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 1: two to four lane highway road, this is going to 245 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 1: become a real log jam. And it absolutely did, didn't 246 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 1: it Bam, it did, it did. Within mirror hours, there's 247 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:21,840 Speaker 1: a traffic jam that's nineteen miles long. Uh still doesn't 248 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 1: set the record for where the world's longest traffic jam, 249 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 1: which you could hear about in a different episode of 250 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 1: car Stuff. But people are losing their minds, and rightly so, 251 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 1: because again, this is a one way in, one way 252 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 1: out situation. So word about this spreads across the country, 253 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 1: and people who have planned a vacation to Key West, 254 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:48,239 Speaker 1: it's a very popular tourist destination, they start canceling delivery 255 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 1: trucks say, well, there's no point make in making deliveries 256 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:54,520 Speaker 1: because we can't get through the traffic, and the islands 257 00:14:54,840 --> 00:15:00,320 Speaker 1: become economically paralyzed. The the traffic jam, by the way, 258 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 1: he continues to grow. At one point it's twenty three 259 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:09,160 Speaker 1: miles long, and eventually Mayor Wardlow that you mentioned at 260 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:12,320 Speaker 1: the beginning toal uh, he decides he's gotta he's gotta 261 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 1: make up. He's got to react to this. The people 262 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 1: demand it. He only hears about the checkpoint. Now get this, 263 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 1: he's the mayor and he only hears about this checkpoint 264 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 1: wrecking his city on Sunday April and his it's he 265 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: doesn't hear about it through official channels either. I think 266 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 1: his dad told him, jeez, that's really gotta hurt, because, 267 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 1: I mean, this is a area that depends um hugely 268 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 1: on on tourism and on these tourists coming in and 269 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:45,000 Speaker 1: if you're one road in and out as being jammed up, 270 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 1: that's gonna be a problem. And that's gonna cause the 271 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 1: real animosity towards whatever and whomever is causing this. Yeah, exactly. 272 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 1: So Wardlow's dad finds out about it because he's a 273 00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:59,080 Speaker 1: Ham radio guy, which I always wanted to get into. 274 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:02,320 Speaker 1: Maybe now is the time. What do you guys think? So, okay, 275 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 1: is that the one that involves like a crystal kind 276 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 1: of situation? Right? Isn't there a crystal the powers the 277 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:10,960 Speaker 1: Ham radio or am? I think that's a different kind 278 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 1: of radio. That's I don't know. There used to be 279 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 1: those science kits where you could build a radio from crystal. 280 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: Maybe that's what and that's that's what I'm thinking of. 281 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: I think a HAM radio is a little more advanced 282 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 1: than that. I think calling it a ham radio is misleading. 283 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 1: By the way, there is no Ham involved. You know 284 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: what does the HAM even stand for? It's probably an 285 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 1: acronym for something. Yeah, it's definitely not ham though. Uh yeah, 286 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:33,640 Speaker 1: let's you know what we're here, neither of us are 287 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 1: going anywhere. Let's see what Let's see what HAM radio 288 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 1: stands for? Uh, amateur radio? Ham radio? You know what? 289 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 1: How about this nold casey? What do you what do 290 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 1: you guys say in the future we do an episode 291 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: on ham radio? Oh why not? Why not? Well, in 292 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 1: this case, ham radio comes in, hamdy, I'm so sorry 293 00:16:55,360 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 1: and uh and Wardlow's dad is calling his son. He's like, 294 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 1: what the hecks going on on Route one? And the 295 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:06,920 Speaker 1: mayor has to say, I don't know, I haven't heard anything. 296 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 1: So he checks with the chief of police hasn't heard 297 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 1: anything either. The sheriff hasn't heard anything either. Florida's state 298 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 1: representative also zip zilch Bupkus. Even the Congressman Dante facel 299 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:26,360 Speaker 1: Up in Washington couldn't explain what was happening. And imagine 300 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:30,200 Speaker 1: how crazy that is. You're the mayor. You are finding 301 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:34,480 Speaker 1: out informally after the fact that the federal government is, 302 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:37,719 Speaker 1: for all intents and purposes, shutting your city down. You 303 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:40,439 Speaker 1: have to do something, right, Oh, I mean, you know, 304 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 1: for all intents and purposes, like to your point, Ben, 305 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: and it would it would have felt like an occupation 306 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:47,920 Speaker 1: or some kind of invasion, right, Uh did not even 307 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 1: be given the courtesy of a heads up. I would 308 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:53,680 Speaker 1: have been absolutely livid. So Um. He springs into action 309 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:58,400 Speaker 1: with UH. An attorney named David horn Wardlow files an 310 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:02,959 Speaker 1: injunction to get the roadblock removed. UM, and then he 311 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 1: joins up with someone named Virginia Panico, who's the president 312 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:10,120 Speaker 1: of the Hotel and Motel Association, a gentleman named Edwin 313 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: swift Um who was at the time the president of 314 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 1: the Chamber of Commerce UH, and outside of a courtroom 315 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:20,240 Speaker 1: in Miami announces this UH, this injunction UM, and he 316 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:23,439 Speaker 1: is denied because the judge didn't have the power to 317 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:28,480 Speaker 1: grant such an injunction. But it becomes a media feeding frenzy. Um, 318 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 1: and that's when he decides whether it's on the fly 319 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 1: or he's given this some thought. It all happened so quickly. 320 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:35,480 Speaker 1: I have to assume it was kind of just to 321 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: spur the moment decision. Wardlow utters the following words, Tomorrow 322 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:43,320 Speaker 1: at noon, we are going to succeed and we're going 323 00:18:43,359 --> 00:18:47,359 Speaker 1: to become a foreign nation. Isn't that crazy? That's true, 324 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 1: That's what he said. The reporters like, you know, Mr mayor, 325 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:52,440 Speaker 1: Mr mayor, Mr mayor, Mr Mayor, blah blah blah blah 326 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:54,800 Speaker 1: blah blah. And then he just decides. We don't know 327 00:18:54,840 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 1: if he planned ahead or you know, if the spirit 328 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:00,359 Speaker 1: just moved him, but he says, we're going to be 329 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:04,640 Speaker 1: a foreign nation. His reasoning, at least the way Vice 330 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 1: puts it in their excellent article. I gotta say, the 331 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:11,200 Speaker 1: reasoning is that if Uncle Sam is going to treat 332 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 1: us like a foreign country, then that's what will become. 333 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:19,400 Speaker 1: And uh, this is so weird because he followed up 334 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:28,640 Speaker 1: on it. Wardlow and his associates that you mentioned earlier, 335 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:33,399 Speaker 1: they immediately start organizing their own government. It's, you know, 336 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:36,159 Speaker 1: it's kind of like a nod and a wink, you 337 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:40,920 Speaker 1: know what I mean. But they get thirty different officials 338 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:44,560 Speaker 1: and thirty different leaders in the community and appoint them 339 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:47,240 Speaker 1: to all these new posts that they've made up. Secretary 340 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 1: of Underwater Affairs is one, Minister of Nutrition is another. 341 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:54,440 Speaker 1: And we should also mention that there were some additional 342 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 1: acts of you know what you could call rebellion. Pilot 343 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 1: buzzed the row block when they were flying back to 344 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:04,520 Speaker 1: Key West because he could go past the traffic jam, 345 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:09,600 Speaker 1: right and buzzing Just for anyone who's wondering, buzzing something 346 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:12,440 Speaker 1: in a in an aircraft is when you fly really 347 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 1: low and it gets super loud. It's like it's like 348 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:18,399 Speaker 1: a drive by. It's like an airborne drive by. Oh yeah, 349 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:21,480 Speaker 1: so definitely like it's it's definitely like an airborne fu 350 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:24,480 Speaker 1: kind of you know, right, yes, yeah, all right. And 351 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:27,280 Speaker 1: then um, that little by plane eventually landed back in 352 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:30,920 Speaker 1: Key West, and by then it was all over the news, um, 353 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:34,440 Speaker 1: and it had become a pretty big story, a bit unexpectedly. 354 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:38,399 Speaker 1: By the way. Uh Conks was a nickname for for 355 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:42,720 Speaker 1: Key West locals. Uh And like kiwis exactly just like 356 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:46,159 Speaker 1: Kiwi's or Aussies or whatever. These are conks, um like 357 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:49,880 Speaker 1: box and at this point, uh, the story was really 358 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 1: taking off. The phones of the mayor's office were going nuts. 359 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:57,520 Speaker 1: There were concerns from local citizens, understandably if this was 360 00:20:57,560 --> 00:21:00,919 Speaker 1: to be taken seriously, like is our our dollars and 361 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:04,119 Speaker 1: since our American currency is gonna still hold? What about 362 00:21:04,119 --> 00:21:06,920 Speaker 1: our social security numbers and and things like that. Um, 363 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:09,720 Speaker 1: there were death threats being levied at the mayor and 364 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:14,160 Speaker 1: his family at the very least, um, he was cautioned, 365 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 1: this was a really really really dumb career move, um. 366 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 1: And yeah, and then the city's commissioners and representatives uh 367 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:27,160 Speaker 1: from Monroe County, UM didn't want anything to do with it. 368 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:31,400 Speaker 1: They were absolutely against the plan. It seemed like a 369 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:33,439 Speaker 1: fool's air. And even if it was sort of a 370 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:36,520 Speaker 1: tongue in cheek nos thumbing at the U. S government. 371 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:38,439 Speaker 1: But he was gonna do what he was gonna do. 372 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:41,439 Speaker 1: And he had started this, uh, this crazy thing, and 373 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:44,720 Speaker 1: he was going to write it out at least until it, 374 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: you know, became completely untenable, right right, all Hail the 375 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:54,960 Speaker 1: conk Republic. You know, Mayor Wardlow has the benefit of 376 00:21:55,040 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 1: retrospect here uh, you know, looking back on it, he'll say, okay, 377 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:02,440 Speaker 1: a of course it was a tongue in cheek response 378 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 1: to political issues. But he also admits that Friday April two, 379 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:10,879 Speaker 1: when they were in the thick of this, it was 380 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:15,240 Speaker 1: very serious and very frightening. At the time, he plans 381 00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:19,400 Speaker 1: to make a proclamation of secession speech. In the hours 382 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:23,880 Speaker 1: leading up to his secession speech. You know, we mentioned 383 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:26,680 Speaker 1: that he speaks with that pilot that that's a guy 384 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:30,520 Speaker 1: a conk named Tony. Uh. And Tony has offered to 385 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:35,720 Speaker 1: fly his biplane over some ships hanging off Mallory Square 386 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 1: and he says, you know what, you know what, Mayor, 387 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:42,240 Speaker 1: I'm gonna bomb them for you with my homemade conk fritters, 388 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:45,320 Speaker 1: which sound really good, right, And uh, this is not 389 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:49,840 Speaker 1: misleading like Ham Radio. These are actual edible conk fritters. Totally. 390 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:51,480 Speaker 1: Have you ever had a conkfritter band. There was a 391 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:54,239 Speaker 1: there was a pop up place that karaoke bar here 392 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:56,720 Speaker 1: in Atlanta called Fam Fam that had a little pop 393 00:22:56,800 --> 00:23:00,200 Speaker 1: up conk fritter guy that was there, uh, and were 394 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:02,679 Speaker 1: really good. They almost like a corn bread kind of situation. 395 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:05,639 Speaker 1: And the conk it almost is like a like a 396 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:09,359 Speaker 1: a scallop. Um. It's sort of like a soft, not 397 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 1: particularly flavorful sea meat. But when it's seasoned really well 398 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 1: and put in these fritters, they're quite delicious. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, 399 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:21,679 Speaker 1: I've I've cooked conk before. Uh, just kind of as 400 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:24,520 Speaker 1: an experiment. You know, sometimes you go to the grocery 401 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:27,480 Speaker 1: store hungry and you pick up dumb stuff because you're 402 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:30,880 Speaker 1: you think that you can make something ambitious and amazing. 403 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:33,040 Speaker 1: That was one of the weird ones I bought was 404 00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:36,040 Speaker 1: it was conk. I cooked it, I ate it, but 405 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:38,119 Speaker 1: I definitely think there's an art to it, and it's 406 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:40,320 Speaker 1: all about you know, when it's fried, it's all about 407 00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:43,240 Speaker 1: the flavoring, right, you gotta get that m M on 408 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 1: it exactly that M mommy, not my most descriptive moment. Know, 409 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:49,399 Speaker 1: it was good then it was good that I was 410 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 1: here for it with you. Um. So this did happen, 411 00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 1: this idea that they were gonna bomb with conk fritters, 412 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:58,439 Speaker 1: and again all in the spirit of this kind of 413 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:03,119 Speaker 1: goofy protest uh and um that was the plan. They 414 00:24:03,119 --> 00:24:05,959 Speaker 1: were going to attack the U. S. Navy. Uh. And 415 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:09,960 Speaker 1: this was sort of their declaration of war. Uh. And 416 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:12,840 Speaker 1: this guy, Tony was clearly very zealous about this whole 417 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:16,959 Speaker 1: cause was going to help out with this um. And 418 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:21,639 Speaker 1: here's the thing, though, it wasn't exactly clear whether or 419 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:23,960 Speaker 1: not this was a joke or not at the time, 420 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:29,320 Speaker 1: right right, absolutely, uh this. You know, one thing that 421 00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:32,080 Speaker 1: the federal government doesn't like to do is to play 422 00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:37,280 Speaker 1: around with secession. So the Secret Service, the FBI, other 423 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:41,399 Speaker 1: federal agents are legitimately confused here. They say, well, we 424 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:46,280 Speaker 1: don't know whether or not to arrest the mayor. And 425 00:24:46,520 --> 00:24:51,040 Speaker 1: this confusion, this fog of war it's called, happens in 426 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:54,600 Speaker 1: part because of the media. The Miami Herald erroneously reports 427 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:59,240 Speaker 1: that the conquer Republic is going to attack off short 428 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:01,960 Speaker 1: naval ships, which you know, your call is partially true, 429 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:04,639 Speaker 1: and then lower the U. S flag replace it with 430 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:10,080 Speaker 1: their own. Now we're getting into kind of um a 431 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:15,720 Speaker 1: world of conflicting narratives because some of the details remain unclear. 432 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:19,440 Speaker 1: But here's what happens. The press, along with the FEDS, 433 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 1: flood Key West because they want to lock this down, 434 00:25:23,119 --> 00:25:26,600 Speaker 1: and it's not you know, it's like it's like you're 435 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:29,440 Speaker 1: not supposed to make bomb jokes when you're going through 436 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:32,800 Speaker 1: security at an airport. Saying you're gonna secede is kind 437 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:37,000 Speaker 1: of like that. So at noon on April twenty three two, 438 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 1: Mayor Wardlow reads this proclamation of secession. He's changed his 439 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:45,000 Speaker 1: title for Mayor of Key West, the prime Minister of 440 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:50,240 Speaker 1: the conquer Republic, and he in his uh secession speech, 441 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:55,480 Speaker 1: he declares war on the United States. He declares war 442 00:25:55,600 --> 00:26:00,119 Speaker 1: on the United States through a symbolic act of bonking 443 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:03,720 Speaker 1: over the head a gentleman ceremoniously dressed in the US 444 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:07,600 Speaker 1: military garb uh. Not not only with a piece of 445 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:12,960 Speaker 1: stale Cuban bread. Uh. This whole thing is just getting 446 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:16,120 Speaker 1: more and more ridiculous. Um I I kind of I'm 447 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:20,200 Speaker 1: kind of here for it, honestly, right right, we have 448 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:25,000 Speaker 1: some of the statement here. Uh. He unfurls the conk 449 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:28,119 Speaker 1: flag and it's you know, for a excellologist in the crowd, 450 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:31,080 Speaker 1: you'll be interested in this. It's a blue field with 451 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:34,720 Speaker 1: stars and a horse conk and a neat little tropical sun. 452 00:26:35,119 --> 00:26:38,680 Speaker 1: And he says, I declare the Key West shall now 453 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:41,800 Speaker 1: be known as the Kunk Republic. We serve notice on 454 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:45,080 Speaker 1: the government in Washington to remove the roadblock or get 455 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:47,480 Speaker 1: ready to put up a permanent border to a new 456 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:51,280 Speaker 1: foreign land. Ben, there might have been a skype lag. 457 00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:55,200 Speaker 1: But did you say horse conk horse conk? Yes? C 458 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:58,680 Speaker 1: O N C H. Now I got that. I just don't. 459 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:01,080 Speaker 1: Was that like a particular type of conk show, like 460 00:27:01,119 --> 00:27:04,200 Speaker 1: a like a like a big one. Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah. 461 00:27:04,280 --> 00:27:07,760 Speaker 1: Let's see, we can pull up a picture here. It's uh, yeah, 462 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 1: it's there's the giant horse conk. It's the it's the 463 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:16,399 Speaker 1: street name for uh trip low fusis papolosis. Got it? 464 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:19,359 Speaker 1: Remember the conk in The Lord of the Flies. That 465 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:21,480 Speaker 1: was how they they knew who was allowed to speak. 466 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:24,320 Speaker 1: They would pass around the conk. Oh, that's right, that's 467 00:27:24,440 --> 00:27:29,919 Speaker 1: right man. What a what a good book to reread today? 468 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:32,399 Speaker 1: Who's that? William Golding? Was that the it is? But 469 00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:37,080 Speaker 1: what an odd book to assign to eleven year olds. Yeah, 470 00:27:37,119 --> 00:27:40,280 Speaker 1: it's so dark and end upsetting and uh and full 471 00:27:40,280 --> 00:27:43,560 Speaker 1: of all kinds of strange sexual innuendo. I loved it 472 00:27:43,760 --> 00:27:45,720 Speaker 1: when I was that age. But I do think it's 473 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:48,879 Speaker 1: a pretty dark and intensely violent book. And I know 474 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:51,760 Speaker 1: it's one of the one of the more controversial ones. 475 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:53,800 Speaker 1: And they may not even assign it as much anymore. 476 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:56,360 Speaker 1: Same with Catcher in the Rye, but we lucked out. 477 00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:59,639 Speaker 1: We got all the really dark and grim books assigned 478 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:01,320 Speaker 1: to us and we were in school, and look how 479 00:28:01,359 --> 00:28:04,800 Speaker 1: we turned out just fine. Mainly I read uh Elive 480 00:28:04,840 --> 00:28:08,000 Speaker 1: Eisel's Night when I was in middle school, and that 481 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:11,280 Speaker 1: is a heavy book for children. There was another one 482 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:14,040 Speaker 1: that I remember that I was a sign called the 483 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:19,440 Speaker 1: bridge bridge over Terabithia. The Bridge Terabathia, Yeah, bridges to Arribathia. 484 00:28:19,520 --> 00:28:21,639 Speaker 1: I loved it. I thought it was really moving and 485 00:28:21,680 --> 00:28:23,720 Speaker 1: nearly wonderful. It's one of those ones that kind of 486 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:26,560 Speaker 1: teach us kids how to accept death and and tragedy 487 00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:28,880 Speaker 1: and loss. Um. But it's also one of these ones 488 00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:31,640 Speaker 1: that it's like this fantasy world that these kids occupy 489 00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:34,600 Speaker 1: because they can't cope with how sad and kind of 490 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:38,520 Speaker 1: like you know, uh dull their lives are sort of um. 491 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:41,000 Speaker 1: And that was a heavy one for me. And that 492 00:28:41,080 --> 00:28:44,480 Speaker 1: was another really really controversial one for kids. But we digress, Yes, 493 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:47,520 Speaker 1: well we uh you know. I think it's an interesting point. 494 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:50,200 Speaker 1: I want to see any kids in the audience or 495 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:52,920 Speaker 1: any parents with kids in the audience here, what are 496 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:55,160 Speaker 1: what are your kids reading what do kids read now 497 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:58,480 Speaker 1: in middle school? Because I think the three of us 498 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 1: all all got throwing some plot twist by reading some heavy, 499 00:29:02,600 --> 00:29:05,440 Speaker 1: heavy books. And uh, not to humble brag, I'll just 500 00:29:05,480 --> 00:29:08,320 Speaker 1: straight up brag. The three of us were probably in 501 00:29:08,360 --> 00:29:12,960 Speaker 1: the nerd English classes. I think that's that's probably the case. 502 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:15,880 Speaker 1: Oh totally. I also started reading like Stephen King and 503 00:29:15,920 --> 00:29:18,400 Speaker 1: stuff by the time I was I think twelve, so 504 00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:20,719 Speaker 1: I was already like I was going down that rabbit hole. 505 00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:23,440 Speaker 1: There was no coming back for me. Yeah, I probably 506 00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:26,160 Speaker 1: should have waited a little while to read the stand 507 00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:32,680 Speaker 1: and it uh, definitely should have waited. But let's instead 508 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:37,240 Speaker 1: of digressing, let's progress right these Uh, this speech has 509 00:29:37,360 --> 00:29:41,200 Speaker 1: met with some support. As you said, their protests signs 510 00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:44,200 Speaker 1: there at the rally. Uh some of them are like, 511 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:47,560 Speaker 1: you know, silly, not in the wink, and other ones 512 00:29:47,640 --> 00:29:50,560 Speaker 1: are kind of uh, you know, here in the South, 513 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:53,920 Speaker 1: there are people who consider themselves serious secessionists. So I'm 514 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:55,800 Speaker 1: sure there were a couple of people in Key West 515 00:29:55,840 --> 00:29:59,120 Speaker 1: who are like, this is a great opportunity. Oh totally, 516 00:29:59,160 --> 00:30:00,960 Speaker 1: And that's the problem them with this. If there is 517 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:03,480 Speaker 1: a problem per se, or a central one is that 518 00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:06,880 Speaker 1: I think it happens so quickly that not enough people 519 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:09,480 Speaker 1: kind of were sure sure if it was a joke 520 00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:11,120 Speaker 1: or not, because I mean, you know, there's a lot 521 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:13,280 Speaker 1: of people that lack the sense of humor to know 522 00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:16,480 Speaker 1: that if there's a talking about conk bombings, and you 523 00:30:16,520 --> 00:30:19,160 Speaker 1: know the names of some of these uh positions, like 524 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:22,720 Speaker 1: the Minister of Underwater Activities, you know, they couldn't quite 525 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:24,360 Speaker 1: pick up the fact that maybe this was all a 526 00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:27,160 Speaker 1: bit of of a of a gag. But um, that's 527 00:30:27,200 --> 00:30:30,240 Speaker 1: the problem. Like it wasn't very clear to too many people. 528 00:30:30,320 --> 00:30:33,400 Speaker 1: So there was a lot of like polarizing responses to this, 529 00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:37,320 Speaker 1: or polarized responses rather yeah, totally, this is this is 530 00:30:37,360 --> 00:30:39,680 Speaker 1: the thing. Uh. This reminds me of one of my 531 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:46,479 Speaker 1: favorite cinematic metaphors. Uh. Prime Minister Wardlow finds himself in 532 00:30:46,520 --> 00:30:50,400 Speaker 1: the situation that the Sorcerer's Apprentice Mickey Mouse found himself 533 00:30:50,480 --> 00:30:54,040 Speaker 1: in in Fantasia. He you know, in Fantasia, Mickey Mouse 534 00:30:54,600 --> 00:30:58,440 Speaker 1: like magically automates the mops I think, and then it 535 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:03,200 Speaker 1: quickly goes out of control. Prime Minister ward Low, uh, 536 00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:06,520 Speaker 1: the former mayor of Key West, looks upon the chaos 537 00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:09,560 Speaker 1: and the people chanting after they break that bread over 538 00:31:09,600 --> 00:31:12,480 Speaker 1: that individual in the naval uniform, and he thinks this 539 00:31:12,600 --> 00:31:16,480 Speaker 1: is getting out of hand, and I've just declared war 540 00:31:16,840 --> 00:31:20,440 Speaker 1: on the entire United States. So how long does this 541 00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:25,000 Speaker 1: war last? Noel about a minute? About one minute, six 542 00:31:25,080 --> 00:31:30,479 Speaker 1: sixty sconds. I think because Wardlow, you know, our our 543 00:31:30,560 --> 00:31:33,600 Speaker 1: our new prime minister kind of gets wise to how 544 00:31:33,800 --> 00:31:36,920 Speaker 1: maybe he jumped the shark on this a little bit. Uh, 545 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:40,520 Speaker 1: maybe he pushed this a little too far. And it's 546 00:31:40,560 --> 00:31:43,320 Speaker 1: absolutely possible that he is in danger of having his 547 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:48,080 Speaker 1: small New Island micro nation actually bombed or at the 548 00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:53,440 Speaker 1: very least experienced some really serious consequences from the U. S. Government. 549 00:31:53,560 --> 00:31:57,040 Speaker 1: So he pretty quickly, very quickly, in sixty seconds in 550 00:31:57,080 --> 00:32:01,320 Speaker 1: fact um, surrenders. He's like j K j K hashtag 551 00:32:01,360 --> 00:32:04,600 Speaker 1: no treason because treason does still carry the death penalty 552 00:32:04,640 --> 00:32:13,920 Speaker 1: here in the United States. And so they say, okay, okay, alright, sorry, 553 00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:17,080 Speaker 1: l O, l are bad. Uh. We're we're good conks, 554 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:20,479 Speaker 1: but we're U. S. Citizens. No war. Uh. But a 555 00:32:20,520 --> 00:32:23,760 Speaker 1: few days later this was the funniest things to be. 556 00:32:23,960 --> 00:32:28,960 Speaker 1: A few days later, key West request one billion dollars 557 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:33,400 Speaker 1: in foreign aid from Uncle Sam. Uh and and they 558 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:38,880 Speaker 1: say it's war relief. What Yeah, yeah, the war relief 559 00:32:38,960 --> 00:32:42,080 Speaker 1: to read to quote, to rebuild our nation after the 560 00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:45,480 Speaker 1: long federal siege. Man, he really didn't quit. This guy's 561 00:32:45,520 --> 00:32:49,360 Speaker 1: got some uh uh what do you call him? Uh? Cojones? 562 00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:51,160 Speaker 1: Is that okay to say on a family show? Can 563 00:32:51,160 --> 00:32:54,080 Speaker 1: we say? Yeah? I think so? Yeah? Okay? Good at 564 00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:59,120 Speaker 1: very at least it's educational, right, So yeah. The they 565 00:32:59,160 --> 00:33:03,600 Speaker 1: continue these kind of pranks. There's this sort of um 566 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:07,680 Speaker 1: Mary prankster's electric kool aid acid test vibe to some 567 00:33:07,800 --> 00:33:11,880 Speaker 1: of their social activism and disruption here because for two 568 00:33:11,960 --> 00:33:18,800 Speaker 1: weeks Wardlow has a guy named Skeeter Davis from key 569 00:33:18,840 --> 00:33:22,960 Speaker 1: West Last Chance Saloon, shooting cannon blanks at that border 570 00:33:23,080 --> 00:33:26,560 Speaker 1: checkpoint until the border patrol goes away. These are blanks, 571 00:33:26,640 --> 00:33:29,320 Speaker 1: but there you know, of course, they're very loud, and 572 00:33:29,880 --> 00:33:34,880 Speaker 1: looking back, this actually turned out thankfully, no one was 573 00:33:34,920 --> 00:33:38,600 Speaker 1: injured or killed in this sixty second war. But this 574 00:33:38,600 --> 00:33:44,080 Speaker 1: this also, oddly enough, may have been a benefit for 575 00:33:44,240 --> 00:33:46,360 Speaker 1: the people of key West. It may have given them 576 00:33:46,400 --> 00:33:50,480 Speaker 1: attention nationally that they wouldn't have gotten otherwise. But they 577 00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:53,400 Speaker 1: don't think they ever got the billion dollars though, very important. 578 00:33:53,560 --> 00:33:55,480 Speaker 1: I mean that seems like a bit of a stretch anyway, 579 00:33:55,480 --> 00:33:58,560 Speaker 1: If anything, they were disrupted for what how how long? 580 00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:00,480 Speaker 1: How long do you think total we had did they 581 00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:02,920 Speaker 1: had to deal with this roadblock? Do we know that? All? Right? 582 00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:09,440 Speaker 1: So we know it started on April eighteenth, two. We 583 00:34:09,520 --> 00:34:15,560 Speaker 1: know that the speech was a few days later April 584 00:34:15,560 --> 00:34:20,400 Speaker 1: twenty three, right, So after that speech, that's when they 585 00:34:20,440 --> 00:34:23,719 Speaker 1: declared war and then walked it back immediately. And then 586 00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:30,520 Speaker 1: within days of of this activism, the border patrol actually 587 00:34:31,200 --> 00:34:34,800 Speaker 1: renegged and they pulled back and they closed down the checkpoint. 588 00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:39,319 Speaker 1: So not very long. How long is that? It's like 589 00:34:39,719 --> 00:34:43,760 Speaker 1: five days? Uh? Maybe maybe? I know for two weeks 590 00:34:43,800 --> 00:34:46,399 Speaker 1: though they were shooting the cannon blanks, so they were 591 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:49,359 Speaker 1: building up to this, So I guess maybe a week 592 00:34:49,440 --> 00:34:52,480 Speaker 1: after all. I'm trying to quantify here, as you know, 593 00:34:53,040 --> 00:34:58,640 Speaker 1: what potentially the uh the economic damage would have been 594 00:34:58,719 --> 00:35:00,920 Speaker 1: to the city of Key West. I think a billion 595 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:04,200 Speaker 1: seems a little bit on the high side. Oh yeah, 596 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:06,200 Speaker 1: I see. I think they chose it because it's just 597 00:35:06,239 --> 00:35:09,360 Speaker 1: such a supervillain sounding number, just an absurd number to 598 00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:12,640 Speaker 1: continue with that, Mary frank Survibe. Yeah, so they definitely 599 00:35:12,719 --> 00:35:17,240 Speaker 1: didn't get that, but they did clear the roadblock eventually, Um, 600 00:35:17,280 --> 00:35:20,319 Speaker 1: they gradually started phasing it out and then then it 601 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:22,480 Speaker 1: was gone. I will say this, I mean it's it 602 00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:26,719 Speaker 1: sure seemed like a pretty thoughtless act on the part 603 00:35:26,719 --> 00:35:28,600 Speaker 1: of the border patrol, don't you like it? Like they 604 00:35:28,600 --> 00:35:31,920 Speaker 1: didn't really think about the consequences, and they either didn't 605 00:35:31,920 --> 00:35:34,720 Speaker 1: care or they did not fully vet you know, how 606 00:35:34,760 --> 00:35:38,319 Speaker 1: this was going to affect this this the city, right, Yeah, yeah, 607 00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:41,319 Speaker 1: that's that's the thing. You can see the logic behind it, 608 00:35:41,360 --> 00:35:45,680 Speaker 1: because that route and that intersection, it's a choke point, 609 00:35:46,160 --> 00:35:48,560 Speaker 1: so you would want to be so you would be 610 00:35:48,600 --> 00:35:53,120 Speaker 1: able theoretically to catch drugs if they're being transported on 611 00:35:53,200 --> 00:35:56,160 Speaker 1: that road. But what it ignored was that there were 612 00:35:56,200 --> 00:35:59,920 Speaker 1: so many other avenues for the drug trade. Uh, you know, 613 00:36:00,440 --> 00:36:02,560 Speaker 1: going by water, going off air, there are a couple 614 00:36:02,600 --> 00:36:06,440 Speaker 1: of other different options, and they didn't really plan. Uh 615 00:36:06,640 --> 00:36:10,000 Speaker 1: they didn't plan the infrastructure they needed, right, They just 616 00:36:10,120 --> 00:36:12,839 Speaker 1: they didn't have it there, and they obviously didn't think 617 00:36:12,880 --> 00:36:15,759 Speaker 1: about the effect this would have on the locals. But 618 00:36:16,239 --> 00:36:20,680 Speaker 1: the conquer Republic, though it is no longer officially its 619 00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:25,000 Speaker 1: own nation, it remains alive and well in the hearts 620 00:36:25,000 --> 00:36:28,000 Speaker 1: and minds of the Key West residents. As a matter 621 00:36:28,040 --> 00:36:31,960 Speaker 1: of fact, we are getting pretty close to Key West 622 00:36:32,120 --> 00:36:36,080 Speaker 1: Independence Day. It is every April twenty three. It's an 623 00:36:36,120 --> 00:36:42,440 Speaker 1: annual celebration. The conquer Republic issues passports and visas referring 624 00:36:42,480 --> 00:36:46,000 Speaker 1: to the US as the Northern Territories. We do want 625 00:36:46,040 --> 00:36:50,640 Speaker 1: to mention they are not legal passports, they're not legal visas. 626 00:36:50,760 --> 00:36:53,879 Speaker 1: You cannot use these at an actual border. Yeah, it's 627 00:36:53,880 --> 00:36:56,160 Speaker 1: just another kind of quirky well you like we talked 628 00:36:56,200 --> 00:36:57,919 Speaker 1: about the top of the show, UM, one of these 629 00:36:57,920 --> 00:37:01,440 Speaker 1: events that gives folks visiting Key West an opportunity to 630 00:37:01,840 --> 00:37:06,200 Speaker 1: you know, kick their shoes off and party um. And yeah, 631 00:37:06,640 --> 00:37:12,239 Speaker 1: it really is kind of a thing that is very 632 00:37:12,320 --> 00:37:15,759 Speaker 1: much part of the history of of Key West, and 633 00:37:15,800 --> 00:37:18,120 Speaker 1: it's sort of quirkiness. Uh. And by the way, they're 634 00:37:18,120 --> 00:37:22,600 Speaker 1: also are conk slates in four cities across the world 635 00:37:22,920 --> 00:37:26,360 Speaker 1: UM that they have designated UM in memory of of 636 00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:30,239 Speaker 1: this event as well. Love it love a good pun uh, 637 00:37:30,280 --> 00:37:33,920 Speaker 1: and love a bad one too. So this is interesting 638 00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:37,239 Speaker 1: because they you know what, they've got another pun I 639 00:37:37,360 --> 00:37:42,200 Speaker 1: love it's their uh, their national motto. We succeeded where 640 00:37:42,200 --> 00:37:47,400 Speaker 1: others failed. Wah wah, and uh, if you if you 641 00:37:47,480 --> 00:37:50,759 Speaker 1: ask people how seriously this has taken since, as you said, 642 00:37:50,800 --> 00:37:54,560 Speaker 1: old they have an international presence. Uh. The mayor had 643 00:37:54,719 --> 00:37:58,320 Speaker 1: The Key West mayor has a pretty interesting response. He says, 644 00:37:58,560 --> 00:38:02,640 Speaker 1: the conk Republic is as real as a state of mind. 645 00:38:03,840 --> 00:38:06,440 Speaker 1: That's sweet. They should really put that on an airbrush 646 00:38:06,480 --> 00:38:10,120 Speaker 1: T shirt. Oh yeah, totally, Actually an air brush T 647 00:38:10,200 --> 00:38:12,600 Speaker 1: shirt with the sleeves off so that it's not really 648 00:38:12,640 --> 00:38:14,400 Speaker 1: a tank top. What do you call that one of 649 00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:16,239 Speaker 1: those shirts? It a muscle shirt? Is that the same 650 00:38:16,280 --> 00:38:17,839 Speaker 1: thing as that? Yeah, it's a muscle shirt. I think 651 00:38:17,880 --> 00:38:20,640 Speaker 1: when there's no sleeves. Firstly, I call it a vibe. 652 00:38:20,880 --> 00:38:24,280 Speaker 1: I agree, it's that Florida vibe. It's that Florida vibe. 653 00:38:24,680 --> 00:38:29,160 Speaker 1: So we hope that you have some personal experience with 654 00:38:29,320 --> 00:38:32,600 Speaker 1: the conquer Republic and let's hear from you. You know, 655 00:38:33,040 --> 00:38:35,160 Speaker 1: do a lot of people in Key West actually have 656 00:38:35,280 --> 00:38:38,200 Speaker 1: a Conquer Republic flag or a passport? Or is it 657 00:38:38,239 --> 00:38:40,880 Speaker 1: more is it more like a tourist thing? Like do 658 00:38:41,000 --> 00:38:44,480 Speaker 1: people visit Key West and then get the flag and 659 00:38:44,520 --> 00:38:47,799 Speaker 1: the passport and the visa and so on? Uh, it 660 00:38:47,840 --> 00:38:51,160 Speaker 1: seems pretty cool. I wish I wish more. I wish 661 00:38:51,200 --> 00:38:54,080 Speaker 1: more states and cities had that kind of tourist draw. 662 00:38:54,760 --> 00:38:58,200 Speaker 1: And the big question, the last question, could this happen 663 00:38:58,280 --> 00:39:01,160 Speaker 1: today or would someone do it today. I'm gonna go 664 00:39:01,200 --> 00:39:03,680 Speaker 1: ahead and say, just personal opinion, I don't think people 665 00:39:03,719 --> 00:39:07,239 Speaker 1: would do this. I don't even think Key West would 666 00:39:07,239 --> 00:39:10,160 Speaker 1: do this today. No, I don't think so either. Um. 667 00:39:10,200 --> 00:39:12,279 Speaker 1: It seems a little risky and it seems like not 668 00:39:12,400 --> 00:39:16,799 Speaker 1: a great look considering things like September eleven and some 669 00:39:16,880 --> 00:39:21,359 Speaker 1: of the uh, the heightened UH tensions involving terrorism and 670 00:39:21,400 --> 00:39:25,600 Speaker 1: all of that. Being patriotic is a pretty pretty important uh. 671 00:39:25,600 --> 00:39:28,239 Speaker 1: And and especially to a government official, this would not 672 00:39:28,320 --> 00:39:30,360 Speaker 1: have been a good look, uh. You know, in in 673 00:39:30,680 --> 00:39:35,400 Speaker 1: recent years, one thing just for any like international or 674 00:39:35,520 --> 00:39:39,320 Speaker 1: geopolitics nerds, uh, one thing that was interesting. I I 675 00:39:39,680 --> 00:39:42,279 Speaker 1: agree with you completely. By the way, there's I I 676 00:39:42,320 --> 00:39:44,680 Speaker 1: don't think this is a good move to do post 677 00:39:44,760 --> 00:39:47,879 Speaker 1: nine eleven. You know, arguably it wasn't a good move then, 678 00:39:47,920 --> 00:39:53,240 Speaker 1: but it was pretty funny, but fretty uh fretny geopolitics, 679 00:39:53,680 --> 00:39:58,600 Speaker 1: international travel nerds in the audience the conqueror Public's secretary 680 00:39:58,719 --> 00:40:03,239 Speaker 1: general shoes passports that are pretty expensive. I don't know 681 00:40:03,280 --> 00:40:05,319 Speaker 1: if you guys saw this, but the application fee for 682 00:40:05,400 --> 00:40:08,880 Speaker 1: one is anywhere from a hundred dollars to twelve hundred. 683 00:40:09,239 --> 00:40:14,480 Speaker 1: And there's one guy, the Secretary General, uh Peter Anderson. 684 00:40:15,360 --> 00:40:19,239 Speaker 1: Until he passed away inten he claimed that he had 685 00:40:19,400 --> 00:40:23,920 Speaker 1: used his conqu Republic diplomatic passport to travel to thirty 686 00:40:24,080 --> 00:40:27,279 Speaker 1: other countries and even said that he was able to 687 00:40:27,320 --> 00:40:30,960 Speaker 1: get back into the US with it five times. That 688 00:40:31,000 --> 00:40:33,560 Speaker 1: should never happen, by the way. That's like you and 689 00:40:33,600 --> 00:40:39,160 Speaker 1: I making ridiculous history passports or Ben Bucks. Oh my gosh, 690 00:40:39,200 --> 00:40:41,799 Speaker 1: my grine heart grew a size and a half. Man. Yeah, 691 00:40:41,920 --> 00:40:44,879 Speaker 1: Ben Bucks, why not bring him back? Is what I said? 692 00:40:44,960 --> 00:40:48,160 Speaker 1: Ridecus history passports and in Ben Bucks? Who knows? Man, 693 00:40:48,160 --> 00:40:50,239 Speaker 1: all bets are off now in this uh, this new 694 00:40:50,280 --> 00:40:53,160 Speaker 1: world that we're emerging into. Uh, we could maybe make 695 00:40:53,200 --> 00:40:55,799 Speaker 1: a real case for that. Well maybe, man. I you know, 696 00:40:55,960 --> 00:40:59,840 Speaker 1: if if I've got you guys on my side, the 697 00:41:00,200 --> 00:41:02,960 Speaker 1: as a team, there's not much they can stop us, except, 698 00:41:03,080 --> 00:41:06,480 Speaker 1: of course, uh you know, we'll we'll be stuck in 699 00:41:06,480 --> 00:41:09,360 Speaker 1: our rooms absolutely. Uh. And and just just just to 700 00:41:09,760 --> 00:41:12,320 Speaker 1: you know, really quickly, um, do a little check in 701 00:41:12,400 --> 00:41:15,959 Speaker 1: you're doing all right, Ben, You're getting uh, getting things done, 702 00:41:16,000 --> 00:41:20,800 Speaker 1: feeling okay about the quarantine situation. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, 703 00:41:20,320 --> 00:41:23,520 Speaker 1: I found my Dare shirt. Oh what's you've been looking 704 00:41:23,560 --> 00:41:27,360 Speaker 1: for that forever? No? Right, yeah, uh, Dere's true. I 705 00:41:27,440 --> 00:41:30,680 Speaker 1: know that we're all doing some creative non work stuff. 706 00:41:30,800 --> 00:41:33,920 Speaker 1: It's very important, you know. Um, No, you've been You've 707 00:41:33,960 --> 00:41:37,720 Speaker 1: been really digging deep into the music I've been writing. Uh, 708 00:41:37,760 --> 00:41:40,120 Speaker 1: and I'm looking forward to I'm looking forward to hearing 709 00:41:40,120 --> 00:41:43,839 Speaker 1: some tunes. Thanks man. I'm actually collaborating on a little 710 00:41:43,880 --> 00:41:46,040 Speaker 1: something with our boy Chuck from Stuff. You should know. 711 00:41:46,280 --> 00:41:49,279 Speaker 1: He's been doing some kind of cover songs, uh, sort 712 00:41:49,280 --> 00:41:51,480 Speaker 1: of redoing them in his own style. And I'm gonna 713 00:41:51,520 --> 00:41:53,160 Speaker 1: add a little bit of a little bit of guitar 714 00:41:53,200 --> 00:41:54,600 Speaker 1: to some of them, so that'll be fun. I'm gonna 715 00:41:54,640 --> 00:41:56,719 Speaker 1: do that later today. That's awesome, And we want to 716 00:41:56,719 --> 00:42:01,200 Speaker 1: hear about your creative projects. If you have, like us, 717 00:42:01,239 --> 00:42:06,320 Speaker 1: found yourself with a little more limited mobility than you're 718 00:42:06,560 --> 00:42:08,920 Speaker 1: used to. Of course, it can be a day to 719 00:42:09,000 --> 00:42:10,960 Speaker 1: day thing, and it can be a real struggle to 720 00:42:11,400 --> 00:42:15,520 Speaker 1: um find your creative voice. If you are you know, 721 00:42:15,640 --> 00:42:18,480 Speaker 1: if if you're worried, but it can also be of 722 00:42:18,680 --> 00:42:22,200 Speaker 1: tremendously freeing thing. So let us know and let your 723 00:42:22,239 --> 00:42:24,880 Speaker 1: fellow listeners know about your projects. You can find us 724 00:42:24,880 --> 00:42:26,960 Speaker 1: on Facebook, you can find us on Instagram. You can 725 00:42:26,960 --> 00:42:30,480 Speaker 1: find us on Twitter, not just as a show, but 726 00:42:30,840 --> 00:42:34,480 Speaker 1: as actual facts, real life human people. It's true. You 727 00:42:34,480 --> 00:42:37,160 Speaker 1: can find me on Instagram at how Now Noel Brown, 728 00:42:37,719 --> 00:42:40,399 Speaker 1: um doing whatever it is that I do. I post 729 00:42:40,440 --> 00:42:43,920 Speaker 1: a lot of memes and um just you know, videos 730 00:42:43,960 --> 00:42:45,839 Speaker 1: of me around the house. I might post some of 731 00:42:45,840 --> 00:42:48,080 Speaker 1: these tunes that I'm working on, but I also might not, 732 00:42:48,280 --> 00:42:51,279 Speaker 1: but I'm leaning towards maybe doing that thing. And you 733 00:42:51,320 --> 00:42:55,919 Speaker 1: can find me on Instagram at Ben Bollen, where I 734 00:42:55,960 --> 00:42:59,160 Speaker 1: am on a number of strange projects that I won't 735 00:42:59,160 --> 00:43:02,680 Speaker 1: disclose here on air. You can also join me on Twitter. 736 00:43:02,800 --> 00:43:06,200 Speaker 1: I am at Ben bullin hs W. Hit me up 737 00:43:06,239 --> 00:43:09,279 Speaker 1: with any of your questions about prepping any any like 738 00:43:09,400 --> 00:43:13,759 Speaker 1: folklore questions. We got a pretty cool email about Mothman, 739 00:43:14,200 --> 00:43:17,040 Speaker 1: and I want to point out that Casey Nolan, I 740 00:43:17,280 --> 00:43:22,160 Speaker 1: actually went to point Pleasant, West Virginia to the Mothman 741 00:43:22,520 --> 00:43:24,759 Speaker 1: Museum and I found my swag from that. I still 742 00:43:24,760 --> 00:43:27,040 Speaker 1: got the hat. I actually got my kid a T shirt. 743 00:43:27,040 --> 00:43:28,879 Speaker 1: I don't think I got myself anything, but she has 744 00:43:28,920 --> 00:43:32,080 Speaker 1: a nice shocking pink Mothman Museum T shirt that that 745 00:43:32,120 --> 00:43:33,680 Speaker 1: I have very much enjoyed. I think she might have 746 00:43:33,719 --> 00:43:35,239 Speaker 1: even grown out of it though, due that kid is 747 00:43:35,280 --> 00:43:39,879 Speaker 1: like shooting up like a weed, as they say. Well, 748 00:43:40,480 --> 00:43:43,000 Speaker 1: I think she'll always cherish it as a as a 749 00:43:43,040 --> 00:43:46,359 Speaker 1: cool momentum of the time. Well, she can also pass 750 00:43:46,360 --> 00:43:48,839 Speaker 1: it on to her little cis. Yeah, that's a perfect plan, 751 00:43:49,200 --> 00:43:52,440 Speaker 1: you know. So that's that's it for us today. Thanks 752 00:43:52,520 --> 00:43:58,440 Speaker 1: as always to our research associate, uh Gabe Louisia, who 753 00:43:58,520 --> 00:44:02,200 Speaker 1: I don't think as a republic sympathizer, but I don't 754 00:44:02,200 --> 00:44:04,360 Speaker 1: know for sure. And of course thanks to Alex Williams, 755 00:44:04,360 --> 00:44:07,080 Speaker 1: who composed this uh this banging bob you here at 756 00:44:07,080 --> 00:44:09,600 Speaker 1: the beginning and end of every show. Thanks to Christopher 757 00:44:09,600 --> 00:44:13,000 Speaker 1: hasciotas here spirit Jonathan's trickling and his nefarious alter ego 758 00:44:13,080 --> 00:44:15,920 Speaker 1: the Quister. Maybe we'll do uh well, we'll skype him 759 00:44:15,920 --> 00:44:19,720 Speaker 1: in on one of these from his absolute secret bunker 760 00:44:19,960 --> 00:44:22,239 Speaker 1: that he has had and and and maintained and lived 761 00:44:22,239 --> 00:44:24,640 Speaker 1: in this whole time. Um, it's some sort of you know, 762 00:44:24,680 --> 00:44:28,080 Speaker 1: like villains do he's got something like under a glacier 763 00:44:28,160 --> 00:44:31,279 Speaker 1: or something somewhere. Probably totally. And of course thanks to 764 00:44:31,320 --> 00:44:34,799 Speaker 1: Eve's Jeff Coach check out her daily podcast This Day 765 00:44:34,800 --> 00:44:37,840 Speaker 1: in History Class. And of course, of course, of course 766 00:44:38,120 --> 00:44:42,160 Speaker 1: thanks to producer Casey Pegraham Um and and to you, Ben, Thanks, 767 00:44:42,160 --> 00:44:45,080 Speaker 1: thanks to you and you out there in podcast. Left 768 00:44:45,360 --> 00:44:49,200 Speaker 1: last though, most importantly, thank you to all the people 769 00:44:49,320 --> 00:44:52,600 Speaker 1: on the front lines, uh, in these are troubled times. 770 00:44:52,880 --> 00:44:57,360 Speaker 1: That's not just the military, that's not just the excellent nurses, doctors, 771 00:44:57,360 --> 00:45:00,080 Speaker 1: e n t s, medical professionals. That's every body, be 772 00:45:00,160 --> 00:45:03,160 Speaker 1: who's working at a grocery store dealing with panicked people, 773 00:45:03,480 --> 00:45:07,400 Speaker 1: everybody who's running essential services like uh, you know, like 774 00:45:07,480 --> 00:45:11,480 Speaker 1: a sanitation And thanks to everybody. We're in this together 775 00:45:11,800 --> 00:45:19,360 Speaker 1: here here Ben. Let's see you next time, folks. For 776 00:45:19,440 --> 00:45:21,600 Speaker 1: more podcasts from my Heart Radio, visit the I Heart 777 00:45:21,680 --> 00:45:24,520 Speaker 1: Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your 778 00:45:24,520 --> 00:45:25,280 Speaker 1: favorite shows.