BORN ON A TABLE

This day in 1874. Winston Churchill was born on a table. Yes, a table. Not a very big one either. In a cloak room.

Churchill’s heavily pregnant mother was dancing at a ball. Contractions began. No time to take her anywhere. Not even to an upstairs bedroom.

She was rushed into a nearby cloak room and placed on a table. In a very short time, Winston was born.

Churchill was asked later in life about the circumstances of his birth. He replied with a smile: “Although present on that occasion, I have no clear recollection of the event leading up to it.”

Recall Nate “King” Cole’s 1961 hit whose opening lines went: “I was walking along minding by business, when love came along and hit me in the eye.”

Several years earlier on this day 1954, Elizabeth Hodges of Sylacauga, Alabama, was lying on her couch in her living room sleeping when…..flash, bam, alakazam…..a meteorite crashed through her roof, into the living room, bounced off a radio, and struck Elizabeth on the hip.

The meteorite weighed 8.5 pounds and was 7 inches long.

Fortunately, Elizabeth suffered only bruises to her hip and leg.

Elizabeth’s meteorite was the first in modern history of a person being injured or killed by a falling meteorite.

Today is the last day of the hurricane season. Sigh a breath of relief!

There were a few that caused damage to the north of Key West. However Key West itself was fortunate.

Do not think a hurricane cannot yet hit. It has happened in past years when the season has ended. Hurricanes don’t seem to be aware when the season is over.

I can recall one some 20 years ago. Hit 4-5 days after the end of the season. I had a party planned for the night before. Food, alcohol, flowers, etc. all ordered. I said what the hell, lets go ahead. The storm will not be here till tomorrow.

Two hundred were invited. Big party! One hundred fifty showed up. The fifty who did not attend were smart. They got out of Dodge before the trouble arrived.

Everyone had a good time!

Recall the saying…..the calm before the storm. True! The night of the party the weather was perfect. No wind or rain. Water not moving.

When I got up the next morning, things were starting to stir. I told my then wife and daughter Lisa we were getting out. Key West Airport had been closed for several days. I called Miami and was able to get 3 reservations for a 7 am flight the next morning.

The drive to Miami was bumper to bumper. Took 10-12 hours to get there. Both lanes of U.S. 1 were “out only.”

We were fortunate also to get reservations at the Miami Airport hotel for the night.

Staying with weather for the moment, Key West weather turns tonight. It will get cold!

Thunderstorms predicted for the day. High temperature 79. However, it will fall to 67 during the night.

Those not familiar with Key West will laugh when I say it will be cold. We who live here all year long have thin blood. We get cold easily. Seventy four is the dividing line.

Means a heavy blanket and maybe heat tonight. Long pants tomorrow as the high will only be 69.

I am not complaining. Merely sharing. Though rarely, it is not always sun, shorts and beaches.

A bit of coronavirus.

Dr. Fauci said Thanksgiving could lead to “a surge superimposed upon that surge that we’re already in.”

People disregarded warnings from the experts to not travel, have family group dinners, etc.

It is going to happen again just as it did following Memorial Day. In 2-4 weeks, the numbers are going to shoot up.

We Americans are a spoiled lot. We do not want to sacrifice anything. Such is why the numbers are so high and continue rising.

America’s greatest lawyer! Rudy Giuliani! Says who?

Giuliani told a reporter over the weekend that the “goo” dropping from his head were “brains.” He has a sense of humor.

Trump attorney team members said Giuliani’s bid to overturn the election was “deranged.” They also described pushing election fraud cases in court as a “clown car.” Finally, Giuliani was ill suited to litigating Trump’s cases.

The automobile industry changed this day in 1965 and the lives of many Americans have been saved as a result.

Ralph Nader published “Unsafe At Any Speed: The Designed In Dangers Of The American Automobile.” Safety became paramount as a result.

Within one year, there was a new law: The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Only 4 states mandated safety belts. Within one year that number rose to 49. New Hampshire the hold out.

Syracuse has only one football game left. Next saturday against #2 Notre Dame. Doubt my team will win.

This past saturday Syracuse lost a close one to North Carolina State 36-29.

Syracuse’s record similar to Giuliani’s. Both have only one victory.

Enjoy your day!

KISSING

The world is not a pleasant place to live at the present time. Problems galore. Serious ones.

I have days like most where I am sick and tired of that which is going on. Like today: Trump, coronavirus, disputed election results, assassinations, Israel and Iran, unemployment, hunger, food lines, evictions, mortgage foreclosures, inadequate hospital space and hospital personnel, etc.

I have had it and I am sure you also.

So a change of pace day! Today’s blog involves a topic unrelated to today’s problems.

Kissing.

In March 2012, I was writing a weekly column for KONK Life. One of the articles was KISSING. Why, I don’t recall. Whatever. Today I am republishing the column. Hope you enjoy.

KISSING

Kissing.

A pleasant pass time. Quite enjoyable.

Anything so popular and good is not without its detractors. There were persons and institutions that attempted to ban kissing.

At the beginning of civilization, men and women would sniff and smell each other. People were identified by their body odors.

At some point in time, the heads slipped during the smelling process and lips touched. Kissing was born.

Early kissing continued to be part of the identification process. Romantic kissing did not come into existence till around 1,000 B.C. India was its birth place.

The first identification of kissing as a romantic sense of expression was contained in a poem. The poem was written by an Indian poet, Mahabharta. He wrote “…she set her mouth to my mouth and made a noise that produced pleasure in me.”

Alexander the Great conquered the known world at his time. Kissing was known in certain of the middle east countries he conquered as romantic in nature. Alexander and his men enjoyed the experience so much that they introduced kissing through out Europe.

By the time of Julius Caesar, Romans had become big time kissers. Romans of Caesar’s time have been described as “kissing fools.” The Romans especially enjoyed “soul kissing.” The soul kissing of Caesar’s time is the French kissing of today.

Emperor Tiberius did not like kissing. Leprosy was a problem during his reign. He believed kissing caused the transfer of leprosy from one person to another. Tiberius banned kissing.

The ban was ineffective. The people enjoyed kissing too much.

The biggest romantic kissing killjoys were the Christians. Sex has always had an evil connotation of sorts in the Catholic Church. Pope Clement V in 1312 decreed sensuous kissing a mortal sin. “Kissing done with intent to fornicate is…a mortal sin.”

From Pope Clement V forward, the Catholic Church sought to ban romantic kissing. Just as some Christians of today would ban pleasurable sex.

Of course, the ban did not fly with the people. Interestingly, the missionaries to the New World are credited with the spread of kissing here. It is humorous to learn that the early missionaries were responsible for spreading kissing, as well as the word of God. For what ever reason, they encouraged those they sought to convert to indulge in it.

There is a corollary between yesterday and today. Just as early law makers and the Catholic Church failed to effectively ban kissing, today’s politicians and Catholic Church will fail similarly with regard to pleasurable sex.

PENCE…..WE’RE IN THE MIRACLE BUSINESS

Pence was at a political rally in Georgia yesterday. He told the crowd that there would be 40 million vaccines across the U.S. before year’s end.

He proudly said, “We’re in the miracle business.”

He continues to delude himself, his Master and 74 million voters. Pence and Trump rather have been in the business of death and destruction. The Four Horsemen again.

Think of the number of coronavirus dead and those made sick. Think also of the many businesses and jobs lost.

Simply because Pence and Trump were grossly ineffective in the job they were doing. They did next to nothing as far as coronavirus was concerned.

The U.S. recently passed the 13 million mark in confirmed coronavirus cases. In less than a year.

The number would not be so high had Pence and Trump performed as political leaders are expected.

In the next 4 weeks, the 13 million will rise exponentially. Thanksgiving weekend will be the primary cause. Not everyone wanted to follow the rules. Now many will pay. Some who did what they wanted. Others who followed the rules but became infected anyhow by those who brought the virus home with them.

The Supreme Court’s wednesday night decision re churches and synagogues will also contribute big time to the larger numbers coming. It is difficult to understand the decision. Freedom of religion superseding the health of the nation.

CNN referred yesterday to the decision as the “Supreme Court’s scientifically illiterate decision which will cost lives.”

Trump, Pence and now the Supreme Court! Who worries and cares about the people?

Trump as a litigant is not doing well. He really needs a lawyer! Not the team he has which is lead by Rudy Giuliani.

The team lost another case. Trump and the team’s record 1-31. Would you hire a team of lawyers who lost 31 cases concerning a particular issue? You have to be crazy!

The Federal Circuit Court sitting in Pennsylvania ruled the case before them consisted of “claims having no merit.”

Most if not all the 31 losses were decided on similar grounds.

There comes a time when any common sensed person would say no more! Not Trump and his team of legal geniuses. They know everything!

New York is suffering from the surge now ongoing. New York reported this week the most coronavirus cases in a single day since April 14. Eight thousand persons tested positive.

Some things close to my heart are not working out. Especially at a time when I have thus far spent 298 days in self-quarantine. I don’t ask for much. Just a little bit.

Like Syracuse doing well.

The football season is close to over. Fortunately! I cannot bleed orange every saturday.

Hope was on its way, however. The Syracuse basketball team.

The team played its first game yesterday against Bryant. A nobody, a non-entity. Well, Bryant only lost by one point 85-84.

Please Lord, not with the basketball team too!

Shoestring Weekend Blog an interesting read. It publishes once a week on Feedspot. The blog shares strange unknown things about the Keys.

This week’s especially good. The blog revealed 2 things I knew nothing about.

First, there is a President Franklin Delano Roosevelt flag pole on White Street. Which brings into play the second item. The flagpole is located at the intersection of White Street and White Street.

I never knew of the existence of the flagpole. And the intersection blows my mind. White at White. The next time I have a medical visit, I will search the information out and advise.

No question May likes Everest. Perhaps loves him.

Everest apparently was vacationing this week in 1896 in Key West. May wrote in her diary: “Ev. and I had the piazza, he didn’t want to go when the clock struck eleven. Oh!”

Something we all have experienced. Love is wonderful!

Enjoy your day!

 

AN ANNIVERSARY…..I REMEMBER IT WELL

Today is the 40th anniversary of Syracuse’s first basketball game at the Carrier Dome.

I was there. For that game and many others.

The Carrier Dome was new. It had opened for the football season in September. I was there for that first game also.

I was a die hard Syracuse fan. When the Carrier Dome was under construction, I contracted for  a box. The lease was for 10 years. One of the best things I ever did.

The box was the center of my life those 10 years.

Missed very few football or basketball games.

The box was impressive. Sixteen seats. Bar in the rear. Between the bar and the last row of seats, a standing area that held another 10-12 persons. Needless to say, the box was standing room only for the big games.

There was a catering service. Drinks and food each game.

Friends and clients alike enjoyed the box those 10 years. My popularity grew. Everyone wanted to see a Syracuse game from a box.

It was also a family thing. My children grew up with the box. My grandchildren when tiny crawling around the standing space.

I have mentioned the following in the past. Joe Biden was a guest whenever he was in Syracuse. He needed no invitation.

Biden was a Syracuse law graduate. He was a frequent visitor to the campus.

One thing especially impressed me about Biden. He never came to a game with the local Democratic big wigs. Instead, always with his friends from law school. Said a lot about the man.

By the way, Syracuse beat Columbia that first basketball game.

The box came with seats on the floor also. For basketball, eight immediately behind the Syracuse bench. Can you imagine how exciting it was to hear Boeheim work the team in huddle. Yelled at them most of the time.

Forty years later today and Syracuse opens the season with its first game at the Carrier Dome. Playing Bryant. A warm up game. Syracuse should win decisively.

Boeheim will not be at the game. He tested positive for coronavirus last week.

Coronavirus. How can it be described these days. Definitely out of control. Deaths rising dramatically. Scary.

Lets hope the vaccine works.

The U.S. death toll is 63,000. It has been reported 60,000 more deaths can be anticipated in the next 3-4 weeks.

How many additional cases will the Thanksgiving weekend bring? Whatever, not good. Many did not listen and traveled.

Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. Monroe County recorded 47 new cases. Twenty eight in Key West.

Monroe County’s total number of cases as of wednesday 3,204. Of that number, 1,835 were in Key West. The closest Keys city number wise was Key Largo with 406.

Key West is getting the hell knocked out of it. Yet state and local authorities continue to permit tourists. Mask wearing and social distancing have not readily been enforced. Bars and restaurants doing a big business. Making money and spreading the virus at the same time.

I have mentioned often in the past and yesterday as well that Governor DeSantis is incompetent. His brain in the seat of his pants. A true blue allie of Trump.  So much so that Trump refers to DeSantis as the “best governor in America.”

DeSantis came out with a new executive order wednesday. One which provides coronavirus with a free ticket to go and do its thing anywhere in Florida.

Two edicts. The first that local authorities cannot close bars and restaurants that fail to comply with local virus restrictions. The second that local authorities cannot fine residents who refuse to wear face masks.

Chris King was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor in 2018. He said re the new DeSantis rules: DeSantis “continues the killing spree.”

I believe the U.S. Supreme Court has also with its wednesday night decision that a state cannot limit religious seating as it violates freedom of religion.

I rarely am impressed with Key West Citizen editorials. Today’s, I am. A winner.

The editorial is titled: “Brace For Covid-19 Impact On Florida.”

The editorial notes state leaders have done little to stop the spread. DeSantis and his 2 rulings yesterday perfect examples.

Dr. Alonso is Palm Beach County’s Health Director. She recently expressed some fitting words. She said, “Infections in the County are spiking for the third time…..This spike is different…..It has expotential growth…..goes straight up. There is no curve to it.”

She believes crowded bars and restaurants fuel the infection rate. Especially the young frequenting these establishments.

Dr. Alonso claims State officials are not helping. “They have handcuffed local leaders.”

She views DeSantis and Trump as birds of a feather. DeSantis follows Trump’s words to the letter echoing: “We are not shutting down.”

An excellent column by Susan Estrich on the Citizen’s editorial page. The title says it all: “Drain The Swamp With Trump In It”

I close with “local news” of endearing quality. May Johnson’s life in 1896 Key West.

On this day, it is clear Everest is visiting. Everest her claimed lover. They spent time off and on this day together. Then May spent evening hours with Everest at her home: “Ev. stayed till 11:15, ah!”

Enjoy your day!

 

A DIFFERENT THANKSGIVING…..I DON’T LIKE IT

I’m a good boy. I always play by the rules. I can especially understand why I will be alone this holiday. Would not make sense for a guy who has self-quarantined for 296 days to not.

I love holidays! Love family and friends getting together. Miss it. Not just this day. All the holidays. Divorce changes things like family gatherings.

Lisa is making me a dish and having it delivered. I am looking forward to it.

I will not be alone. Cathy of Cocktails at 7 will be with me via Syype. She is alone. We will suffer through a portion of the day together.

I’m even going to shave and dress a bit for the occasion.

The details of the first Thanksgiving not as most think. No turkey. Deer instead.

The Wampanoag Indians 90 strong and their Chief Massaoit brought the meat. Deer.

Turkeys were indigenous to the area. However for whatever reason were not on the menu.

The Pilgrims provided local sea food consisting of mussels, lobster and bass. Also fruit, including pumpkin. Whether in pie form, I could not ascertain.

No potatoes. In a sense, they did not exist yet. At the time, potatoes were just being shipped from South America to Europe.

My Buffalo friends Fran and Tom Dixon are enjoying the holiday in Paris. I envy them! I am confident they are having one terrific time.

Interestingly in spite of my travels, I never made it to Paris. There is still time.

As many now do, Fran is now making face masks. I received several from her before they left for Paris. Well done. Comfortable. All kinds of designs.

The Keys face a definite problem re rising sea levels. No question, upward bound. Twenty five yeas from now, things will be out of control if we do not start dealing with the problem in the reasonable future.

It has been determined that half of Monroe County roads will be covered. Discussions and studies already underway.

The main problem will be money. Estimated in the billions.

I think Everest is back.

May in her diary entry for this day 1896, mentions “Ev.” several times. I sense the romance: “Ev. and I had the parlor to ourselves until 6:30.”

The politicization of the Supreme Court is obvious from a decision rendered last night. Why last night, I am not sure. Strange in itself. However has nothing to do with the politicization of the Court.

The decision a 5-4 one. Involved limiting gatherings in churches and synagogues. New York’s Governor Cuomo had been limiting because of coronavirus.

The Court decided Cuomo’s limitation violated the freedom of religion clause of the Constitution. The majority decision read in part: The restriction was “far more severe than has been shown to prevent the spread of the virus.”

New Justice Barrett voted with the conservative side. Chief Justice Roberts with the liberals.

I believe the decision a political one because it is one that without question would please the evangelicals who support religions generally. A Catholic group and a Jewish group were the parties who brought the lawsuit and whom the majority decision supported.

There is something wrong today when a particular group refuses to see the harm large groups of people bring. Coronavirus spreads easily under such conditions.

Further, the majority has to be blind if it does not see nor take into account that 62,000 Americans have died from the virus in less than one year.

Michael Flynn and Donald Trump are birds of a feather. Bad guys.

Trump yesterday pardoned Flynn. Very strange to me. Flynn twice in open court plead guilty to the charge against him.

Flynn’s strangeness in his thought process first came to my attention at Trump’s inauguration. It had been announced Flynn was to be Trump’s National Security Adviser.

Flynn was seated only a few feet away as Trump was being sworn in. He was texting at the moment. Texting a former business partner. They were discussing a nuclear power project that would require lifting sanctions on Russia. Flynn said, it was “good to go.” Flynn further said he could see sanctions on Moscow “ripped up.”

I wonder who will pardon Trump. I do not believe he can pardon himself. Even if through some devious plan he gets himself pardoned, it will do him no good against State charges. New York is ready to go after him once he is out of office.

Disney is hurting because of the virus. Disney announced it will be laying off 32,000 employees from the theme parks in Orlando. The lay offs will begin in the first half of 2021.

Florida’s Governor DeSantis is lacking in mental acumen. His intelligence resides in the seat of his pants.

DeSantis announced yesterday that he was doubling down on two virus problems. Not the correct way, however.

He decided that local governments cannot fine people who do not mask-up. He also prohibited local governments from ordering restaurants to close without public health or economic data to justify the move.

DeSantis supporting the economy rather than the health of Florida’s citizens.

At least he’s consistent. He is Trump’s lap dog. Does everything as Trump suggests. That is why Trump on more than one occasion has said, “DeSantis is America’s best Governor.”

Keep in mind that thus far Florida has had 962,000 confirmed cases. Included are 18,253 who died.

Enjoy the holiday best you can!

 

CRAIG AND CHERYL CATES AND DAUGHTER CRYSTAL SERIOUSLY ILL IN MIAMI HOSPITAL WITH CORONAVIRUS

Craig Cates, wife Cheryl and daughter Crystal seriously ill in a Miami Hospital. Coronavirus.

All three in intensive care. All three “fighting for their lives.” At the moment, Crystal the worst. Cheryl close behind. Craig appears to be coming around.

Craig a popular Key Wester. Mayor of Key West for 10 years. Recently elected to his first 4 year term as a Monroe County Commissioner.

They are in Jackson Memorial Hospital. In adjoining ICU rooms.

A prayer and best wishes in order.

The Citizens’ Voice continues to represent the voice of the people. Primarily locals. Some tourists.

The number of complaints re coronavirus’ impact on Key West an increasing number the past 2 weeks. Today’s Key West Citizen lists 13 comments. Nine are by locals complaining about the COVID-19 problem.

Came across yesterday’s Corbett Report this morning. Never heard of it before. Did a little digging.

It is an extreme political publication. A far out right publication. Published weekly. Its owner, editor, etc. James Corbett.

Yesterday’s article merely one title and one paragraph. Speaks for itself.

Title: What No One Is Saying About The Lock Downs.

“If your advocating for lock downs, you are complicit in tearing families apart…..inflicting untold suffering on millions of people around the world. You are complicit in casting the poor and most vulnerable in our societies into ever further grinding poverty. YOU ARE COMPLICIT IN MURDER (emphasis added).

Began in 2007, the Corbett Report prides itself on being an independent, listener-supported alternative news source. It operates on the principle of open source intelligence.

A nutty publication!

Birds of a feather flock together. Sometimes like glue. Cannot be separated.

NBC reported yesterday Trump disregard for Giuliani and other lawyers in the election ballot cases. It was reported Trump said, they are “fools that are making him look bad.”

Giuliani is scheduled to be in Gettysburg today. Last night it was reported Trump asked Giuliani if he might join him.

This morning the White House appeared to be backing off Trump making the trip claiming Gettysburg was not on Trump’s schedule for today. Trump’s comment was described as an “off the record” moment.

What is this Gettysburg event all about?

Republicans are the majority in the Pennsylvania Senate. The Majority Senators are holding a “hearing” re allegations of fraud in the election.

The “hearing” is not being held in the State Capitol. Instead, at a hotel.

I thought the Pennsylvania election ballot issue had been put to rest. State and local officials have repeatedly advised no evidence had been found of widespread voter fraud. Two courts in Pennsylvania , one federal and the other state, dismissed lawsuits seeking to block certification. The appropriate Pennsylvania agency has certified Biden the winner.

In addition, the top cyber security officer in Washington Christopher Krebs signed a statement last week that the election was the “most secure” in U.S. history. Trump fired him the next day.

In Washington, the General Services Administration has allowed the transition to proceed.

Again, why the “hearing?’ Nothing to be achieved, except throwing dirt re the Biden win.

This “hearing” will have witnesses. The witnesses will be those who signed affidavits for the court proceedings. It has been described that the witnesses will give “testimony” re 2020 election fraud.

Plans are that similar “hearings” will be held in Michigan next week and after that in Arizona. No evidence of fraud deduced in the lawsuits brought in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Arizona lawsuits.

Trump, Giuliani and the Pennsylvania Senators are beating a dead horse. The hearings merely to rabble rouse and incite.

Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou last night. Spent a good portion of the show talking about Angelica Harris, the lady who needs a donor kidney. Keep her in mind. You never know when you will hear something that might help.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

ANGELICA NEEDS A KIDNEY

Her name is Angelica Harris. Age 35. She needs a life saving donor kidney.

Angelica was born in the Philippines. Met a U.S. service man stationed there in 2012. They fell in love and in 2014 married.

Her husband eventually was stationed in Key West. They moved to Key West April 19, 2020.

She worked at a Key West resort a short time till the Pandemic hit. She was furloughed, then laid off.

Along the way she became a U.S. citizen and completed her Masters in Business Administration.

She and her husband continue to reside in Key West.

Angelica was having difficulty getting pregnant. She and her husband went to Miami to see a reproductive specialist. Lab work was done.

Her creatine level was 3.14. Normal range 0.50-1.10 mg/dl. She was retested. Her creatine levels remained high.

In April, Angelica was referred to a nephrologist. More tests done. The results scary. Her kidneys were only functioning at 16 percent. She was told she had less then 5 years before she would have to go on dialysis.

Angelica diagnosis stage 4 chronic kidney disease.

A preemptive kidney transplant was recommended.

Her stress level building during this time.

In July, Angelica completed her kidney pre-transplant evaluation.

In August, she was approved for a kidney transplant at Cleveland Clinic Florida. At that time she was listed on the United Network for Organ Sharing waiting list. Angelica was told at the time locating a kidney donor to meet her requirements could take up to 5 years.

The next month was September. Angelica was blessed. She had matched with a living donor in California. The donor went through all donation processes and interviews.

The donor was denied because of a urinary tract infection history.

Hope springs eternal. Angelica has faith. However, she is not waiting for another donor to pop up on the list. In addition to the posting, she is also out there seeking a donor on her own.

Social media the vehicle. Facebook and Instagram. Her Facebook site is Kidney for Angelica. Instagram (@kidneyforangelica).

The Key West Weekly on 10/22/20 wrote an article about Angelica and her search. I discovered it yesterday on a month old copy which I came upon by chance. I e-mailed Angelica and asked permission to write her story. She agreed. I will also be talking about her tonight on Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Angelica’s mission in seeking a donor kidney is threefold. She wants to live a long and healthy life, she wishes to avoid dialysis, and she wants to become a mother.

May God grant all of her three wishes.

I had to leave the house yesterday for more blood work.

Interestingly, the first doctor thought one of my kidneys had failed. He referred me to my second doctor, a nephrologist. Kidney good. The doctor discovered a parathyroid tumor instead.

Can’t win.

Now I am in the hands of a third doctor in Tampa. He has all the medical records We consult by phone and email. He recommends surgery. I am not in a hurry.

I had surgery by the same Tampa doctor 15 years ago. He removed 2 parathyroid tumors.

We have talked at length. I shared with him my coronavirus self quarantine. Today is my 294th day. My concern is I have basically remained confined to home other than medical visits.

I told the Tampa specialist if I went for surgery now, I would have an excellent chance of picking up the virus traveling to Tampa and teh time involved with the surgery, hotel, etc. He understood. Thought there would be no problem waiting till the spring or early summer.

Final decision not made yet.The blood work yesterday will aid in making the decision.

Since I was downtown for the blood work, I drove Duval again to see how many people, wearing masks, etc.

My previous trips down Duval in the past 2 months evidenced few people and bars and restaurants poorly attended.

It changed yesterday. Crowd 60-70 percent of what it normally would be. Masks are street mandated. I counted the number failing to wear masks. Twenty nine. Not bad considering the sidewalks were well occupied.

It was lunchtime. Fogarty’s and Caroline’s filled. People waiting. The bars appeared active. Even Sloppy Joe’s was open.

The crowd is because it is Thanksgiving week. There will be more as the week progresses.

I noted also the traffic on U.S. 1 coming into Key West was busy. Whereas the north lane sparse.

I am glad for the bars and restaurants that their business will be good this week. On the other hand, I am irritated all these people are coming to visit. They bring the coronavirus with them. Infect our people. Key West has the highest number of coronavirus cases in the Keys as well as the highest positivity rate.

I support a shutdown for a specified period throughout the whole country. We are never going to overcome the virus otherwise. The vaccine is still months off. Thousands will be infected. Many will die.

The city of Washington, D.C. has recommended no more than 10 persons in a house partying/sharing dinner for the holiday. Not sure if mandatory.

It was announced this morning Trump is planning several large parties at the White House over the Christmas season. The man does not understand! He brings large crowds in and a good number get sick. Some return home and get their neighbors sick.

Tuesday means my blog talk radio show tonight. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. A quick moving half hour where I rave and rant about this and that.

The show guaranteed to be interesting and exciting. Can’t miss. Not with all that is going on in the U.S.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A ROGUE

Political activity has been moving at a rapid pace this year. Keeping up, difficult. Yesterday’s truth is today’s falsity.

Yesterday, I wrote of Sidney Powell. She appeared to be Trump’s new lawyer in the next Georgia election ballot case. I was uncertain whether she had been selected by Trump specifically for the task, whether Giuliani was still on board, etc.

Powell was strong with the Georgia lawsuit she intended to bring this week. Referred to it as one of “Biblical proportions,” similar to previous Giuliani comments her words reflected sound and fury, further similar to Giuliani she claimed she had tons of evidence.

Quite frankly, Trump and his legal team look like the gang that could not shoot straight.

They have only won one minor lawsuit. Lost somewhere in the area of 30. Giuliani has been looking more and more like the worst attorney and personal attorney to a President in history.

Early last week, a picture of the Trump election ballot legal team appeared. Giuliani and the rest of the group. At one end was Sidney Powell. Trump announced his personal legal team and Powell was one of those named.

Early this weekend, the bomb fell! Powell went rogue. Though no one was sure at the time. She announced she was handling the Georgia election suit which involved Hugo Chavez, Germany, and a multitude of other falsities.

Yesterday, Giuliani and another Trump attorney Jenna Ellis issued a statement totally contradicting Powell. The statement clearly cut any ties the legal team and purportedly Trump has with Powell.

The Associate Press printed the statement yesterday and ran an article with it. The statement: “Sidney Powell is practicing law on her own. She is not a lawyer for the President in his personal capacity.” Strange since as part of his statement earlier in the week, Trump had heralded Powell as part of his team.

Powell responded to Giuliani’s statement. She said she agreed with it. However she intended to still bring the lawsuit despite her separation from the Trump team: “I agree with the statement today. I will represent #wethepeople and seek the truth.”

She went on to say “she intended to oppose all the fraud and let the chips fall where they may.”  She said,  “She would not allow foundations of this great Republic to be destroyed by abject fraud or our votes for President Trump and other Republicans to be stolen by foreign interests or anyone else.”

Wow! The “lady” on the white charger! She is going to save Trump, the American people, and the American way of life.

Something does not make sense here.

She is not needed. The U.S. needs no more radical thinking zealots. She and Giuliani should join in wedlock. They make a perfect pair!

By the way, Trump still has not been heard concerning this situation. He could easily come out siding with one side or the other. Or, appointing a new attorney to represent him. Things are moving swiftly and in a violent fashion these days.

Concluding, who will Powell be representing? Who is #wethe people? More importantly, who is paying Powell’s bill. Lawyers do not handle these cases for nothing.

Enjoy your day!

 

GUATEMALA YESTERDAY / WASHINGTON D.C. TOMORROW

When a particular type violence occurs in one place, it generally happens in another. A copy cat effect.

An event yesterday occurred in Guatemala City which could easily occur in Washington, D.C. Or, any other capital city for that matter.

Yesterday protesters in Guatemala City set fire to their Congress. Heavy stuff.

Guatemala is experiencing difficult times. Two bad hurricanes recently hit. The people were hurting big time before the hurricanes. Worse since. Their Congress seemed to be doing nothing to help.

Congress passed cuts to education and health. At the same time, the legislators passed a bill to increase their own meal stipends.

Thousands in the streets. They had it. They set fire to Congress from the inside. One portion of Congress was severely damaged.

A picture appeared on the internet this morning showing a protester standing in front of the burning building giving the finger with both hands. A smile on his face.

It could happen here, including the finger. Our Congressional building could be set on fire. Perhaps even the White House.

American people are upset on both sides of the spectrum. Who knows what will happen. If it does, the U.S. definitely will have become a third world country.

My concern a serious one. Americans are upset. About everything. They are equally divided. Each side believing themselves to be correct.

When something different happens in one place, persons in another say…..”Hey ! A good idea!”

It could happen here.

Sidney Powell, a new leader of the pack. The legal group working for Trump to upset the election.

What happened to Giuliani? Quietly overnight has Trump replaced him with Powell? Giuliani’s track record having left nothing to be desired. Or is Giuliani still involved to whatever degree?

Powell is a Dallas attorney. Her background indicates a tough lawyer who enjoys working the difficult cases.

In the last 48 hours, Powell announced that this week she was going to bring a lawsuit of “Biblical proportions.” Warning in effect that the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse were coming down on Georgia.

Indications are Powell is no different from Giuliani with regard to charges involved: “Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

Her charges sound horrendous and gigantic. The wrongdoing by the Democrats beyond belief. Powell claims she has “tons of evidence.” As Giuliani did.

She has been asked by the media to share the evidence. So far, nothing. It is suspected “nothing” because there is nothing of substance. Hers the same type cases Giuliani had been bringing, with a new twist.

Her theory involves conspiracy. Among other things, she will claim Democrats used an “algorithm” to switch votes from Trump to Biden. The argument  will then indicate the algorithm failed because of the unanticipated large Trump vote. The Democrats then had to switch their wrongdoing to something else. The something else being the manipulation of the mail in ballots.

Powell appears to be a QAnon supporter. She has been known to run QAnon slogans on her social media site. Those referring to a conspiracy involving a cabal of child abusers in the life of the liberal elite manipulation of world events.

Powell also concurs with the QAnon claim: “The Storm Is Coming!”

This day in 1963 was a sad one. One of the saddest in U.S. history. President John Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald.

The entire nation mourned. Political affiliation had nothing to do with their sorrow. Kennedy had brought a new vibrancy into the White House with him. Hope sprang eternal.

Then it ended.

The nation did not feel that same exuberance again till Barrack Obama was elected. As Kennedy had, he brought with him that special excitement.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

THE GOOD IN LIFE…..THE MARATHON TURTLE HOSPITAL

So much tragedy in life. Centralized in the U.S. with the coronavirus pandemic.

Tragedies occur in other areas and with other species. Man sometimes is there to help.

One of the places is the Marathon Turtle Hospital. Not a fly by night operation. In existence for many years. Fully staffed. Totally respected. Turtles flown in from all over the world to be saved.

A local incident this past week. The Key West Citizen’s Rob O’Neal wrote a pointed article about it.

Involved, a juvenile green sea turtle.

Fishermen noticed the turtle while in the lower Keys. They could tell the turtle was in a bad way. Tumors all over the turtle’s body.

Authorities were contacted who in turn contacted Key West Wildlife Rescue and the Marathon Turtle Hospital. Together they were able to capture the turtle from the ocean waters.

The turtle was transported to the Marathon Turtle Hospital. Diagnosis serious. Tumors on the face, neck and flippers. A typical malady of turtles all over the world. The tumors are created by the fibropapillomatosis virus which affects a turtle’s soft body tissue.

If left untreated, the turtle’s vision can be obstructed, can’t see  predatory fish, unable to swim and feed.

The Turtle Hospital will surgically remove the tumors. The turtle will remain in the Hospital for one year for rehabilitation purposes. Then will be released back into the wild.

Giuliani should be an author today rather than an attorney. The imaginative things he comes up with would make for good reading. Not so in the political world, however.

Giuliani did a press conference following his appearance in a Philadelphia court. He was sweating profusely. As reported yesterday, his head was so wet from sweat that the dye from his black hair was running down his face to his jaws.

Giuliani’s imagination can run wild. Crazy wild.

He claimed Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez was a prominent figure in the election ballot cheating being claimed. Chavez died in 2013.

He suggested someone should “cut the heads off “Democratic leaders. I wonder if he was influenced by Steve Bannon in this regard. A few days earlier Bannon had suggested certain people should have their heads cut off and placed on poles in front of the White House.

Another part of his theory involved a Clinton. He was not specific which one. He said, “Somehow the Democratic Party was hijacked by Clinton and since then it’s gone more corrupt.”

Another weird representation was that the conspiratorial theory he was promoting was orchestrated in Frankfort, Germany.

About as valid as saying it was born in Hitler’s bunker.

Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson had a great article in this morning’s edition of the Washington Post. Titled “Donald Trump’s 2020 Theme: Make America Sick Again.”

Robinson’s opening three sentences stated the obvious: “This is becoming like Greek tragedy. The nation is on fire with COVID-19, cases and hospitalizations are soaring to unattainable new highs, and our leader does nothing but rage and moan about his own punishment at the hands of cruel fate. If it is true that those whom the gods would destroy they first make mad, then President Donald Trump is finishing his shambolic term in office as Mad King Donald.”

Robinson’s last sentence right on: “The theme of his failed re-election campaign should have been ‘Make America Sick Again!”‘

Hopefully, the Key West City Commission is finally seeing the light. It has cancelled all special events on public property through 12/31. One week after it decided to ease restrictions. In that one week, coronavirus in Key  West and Monroe County surged.

Gone this holiday season are the Christmas Parade, Christmas tree lighting, Memorah lightnings, the Lighted Bike Ride, and all concerts at the Amphitheater.

The numbers. Coronavirus on the move. Straight upward. A surge.

Keys had 99 new cases in one day this past week. Sixty seven of those cases were in Key West.

Monroe County cases already top 3,000.

Florida close to 1 million. Actual number 923,418.

Positivity rates off the wall. Florida 17.6 percent. Monroe County 20.38 percent. To appreciate these numbers recognize New York City closed its schools when the positivity rate hit 3 percent.

A growing trend is obvious. Key West locals are getting more vocal and upset with the numbers and the failure of governmental authorities to do their job effectively.

The Citizens’ Voice clearly reflects the trend.

Today’s Citizens’ Voice carried 9 complaints from persons upset with the growing numbers and what they perceive the reasons why. Only 3 comments ran in the opposite direction.

The worse danger facing the U.S. since World War II is coronavirus. Trump should be providing personal hands on attention to the problem. Instead he mans about his loss and takes every opportunity to hurt the U.S., the wreckage of which will remain long after he leaves office.

The pain of it all! Syracuse got beat last night 30-0 by Louisville. Syracuse was favored. Syracuse had only won 1 game going into last night. Louisville, 2. For whatever reason, Syracuse was favored.

What a mistake!

What a season!

I can’t stand much more! Thank God there are only 2 games left.

This is my 291st day of self-quarantine. I feel like I am blindly following the Pied Piper.

Not easy. Gets to me some days.

This week will be tough. Thanksgiving. I am a family man. Love family holidays. No family this year. Lisa and I have talked. I did not want to come to her house for dinner, she did not want me there. The virus!

She is sending me a plate.

Enjoy your day!