FUCK YOU NOT KEY WEST

Trump’s recent Key West visit gives me concern.

The Miami New Times videoed the Trump caravan as it passed City Hall and made the turn onto United. Short and shocking.

First, shouts of Love Trump’s Hate. Then boos and hisses. Followed by FUCK YOU! Loud. Several times. Topped off with a woman giving the President the finger.

Fuck You! is not Key West. I cannot believe Key Westers would utter such a profanity to a President of the United States.

Many lack respect for the President. Properly so. A man who does not give respect cannot expect it in return. FUCK YOU! goes beyond a mere lack of respect. It shows disrespect. The dis important. It requires affirmative action regarding the respect issue.

Key West would not disrespect.

I have been a part of the Key West community one way or another for 30 years. A homeowner 20. A resident 12. I know my friends, I know the people of Key West.

Contrary to thought, Key West is a conservative community. Take away several blocks of Duval and what is left is small town America. A blend of conservative and liberal values.

I read somewhere last week that organizers from outside our community were coming to Key West to organize an anti-Trump protest. I have to believe it was the outsiders who were dirty mouthing and fingering the President.

If correct, then we have to be careful in the future who we listen to with regard to protests.

I personally am anti-Trump. From day one. His record before and since President reflect him to be inept, corrupt, immoral, a racist, and homophobic. My hope is we survive his Presidency.

I spent the better part of an hour yesterday watching the Barbara Bush service. Touching. Moving. I cried.

What the world needs are more Barbara Bushes.

The Chart Room first to meet Buffalo’s Fran and Tom Dixson last night. Great people! Good friends!

Fran brought me 4 jars of sauce and pork. A couple loaves of low carb bread. And some other goodies.

Fran and Tom just returned from 2 weeks in Sicily and southern Italy. Fran, Sicilian. My former wife and her mother were Sicilian.

Sicilians tough people. I some time wonder how I survived my wife and mother in law.

From the Chart Room to the A&B Lobster House for dinner. Outstanding!

We did not have a reservation. Lucked out. Sloan’s daughter Shaina hosting. We were seated immediately. Great conversation, drinks and food. We chatted the evening away.

I have a long day ahead of me. This week’s KONK Life column due today. I have delayed to the last minute. Several topics in mind. Not sure which one yet.

Today is Earth Day. The first Earth Day in 1970. Always celebrated April 22.

The purpose of an Earth Day was to increase awareness of the world’s environmental problems. Such has constantly been accomplished since 1970.

Interestingly, 1970 also found the EPA being established. Its purpose to regulate and enforce national pollution legislation.

The United States a healthier and safer place to live and work because of the EPA. The same EPA today being torn apart by Trump. Years of safety regulations killed by the stroke of a pen. For the sole purpose of helping corporate America make more profit.

Corporate America generally comes out on top. Today’s example Wells Fargo.

Wells Fargo was fined by the Trump administration $1 billion for predatory mortgage practices.

No big deal for Wells Fargo. The company will be pocketing more than $3 billion this year as a result of Trump’s new tax law.

The World Bank is an international friend to business and countries.

The draft of its annual World Development Report came out this week. It recommends that countries eliminate minimum wage requirements, dismantle wrongful dismissal rules, and repeal laws providing contractual protections for workers.

More wealth and advantage for the rich based on the ashes of the working class.

The World Bank explains its decision. These drastic moves are required to discourage employers from rushing into robots and automation which would eliminate many human jobs.

A non-sensical excuse. The World Bank must think people are stupid.

Enjoy your Sunday!

OUTLAWS IN ACTION

This past weekend the Poker Run. A Key West annual event. Ten thousand bikers roll into town. Everyone has a good time. Rarely a problem. Many of the bikers doctors, lawyers, and  CPA’s in disguise.

There was a bit of trouble this past weekend. The Outlaws came to town for Poker Run. I do not know if they were in Key West for the event in prior years.

Fifteen of them were at the Rumor Lounge on Greene Street. A fight began between the Outlaws and two men. 15-1. Then, 15-2. As soon as the police began arriving, the Outlaws were out the door hopping into cabs or running down the street.

No arrests were made.

The Outlaws are the original biker group formed in 1935. Logo, a small skull. The opening words of their motto, “God forgives.”

The Outlaws similar to the Marlon Brando bikers that roared into a small town in a long ago movie whose name I forget.

My blog talk radio show was last night. I spent the entire day preparing. I had let preparation slide.

Two things were hit big. Banks and police shooting blacks.

The people of the U.S. are disturbed by what they learned about Wells Fargo last week. Congress had a hearing yesterday. Wells Fargo’s CEO testified. Elizabeth Warren ripped him a new asshole. Only way to describe it. Warren is one tough cross-examiner.

Wells Fargo was fined $185 million for their wrongdoing. Plus, Wells Fargo paid the official who ran the bank unit involved a going away payout of $124.6 million when she retired in July.

I mentioned Wells Fargo briefly. It was not the thrust of my discussion. I brought Deutsche Bank to everyone’s attention. Our Department of Justice has recently fined Deutsche $14 billion for wrongdoing leading up to 2008.

Fourteen billion is a number to talk about!

The fine is negotiable. What bullshit! Fine them and let the number stand!

The U.S. has avoided jailing any banker for any significant wrongdoing. The too big to fail…..too big to prosecute thing. I disagree. Jail a few bankers and bank wrongdoing will become yesterday’s news.

Fine instead of prosecution is part of the bank/corporate America influence that permeates our government. The causes of the people set aside to accommodate the needs of the big guys.

Police shooting blacks. When does it stop? An unarmed 40 year old black pastor killed in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His arms over his head when shot.

Then yesterday, another shooting. In Charlotte, North Carolina. Another death. A question whether the deceased had a gun.

These shootings must stop! Both ways. Citizens should not be shooting police officers.

I do not know the solution.

October is National Bullying Protection Month. Tenth anniversary. Needed. Hopefully helpful.

Enjoy your day!

HELEN MIRREN FILMING MOVIE IN KEY WEST

The great English actress and Academy Award winner Helen Mirren filming parts of a movie in Key West. Yesterday, today and tomorrow.

The movie involves a retired couple taking a trip on their RV. Donald Sunderland plays Mirren’s husband.

The Key West Citizen ran a photo of Mirren being driven in an electric cart in this morning’s paper..

Mirren filmed in front of Salute’s yesterday. Today, she will be shooting at the Hemingway House. Tomorrow, I do not know.

My podcast last night. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. I enjoy doing the show. I assume people enjoy listening. I base the last sentence on the numbers and fact that I now have a few national advertisers. Like Geico and Walgreens.

I decided not to discuss politics. We are getting bombarded. I a political junkie am getting tired of listening. The worse Presidential campaign I have experienced. A lot of gutter snipping. Little policy discussion.

Ergo, I did not get into politics at all. Explained to the audience at the beginning I would not be and why.

Wells Fargo was the biggest item in my judgment. Especially with the news that the high echelon person responsible for the unit doing the bad deeds had retired in July. Her walk away payout $124.6 million. My point, crime pays.

A 4th case of Zika has been discovered in Monroe County. In Big Pine. Travel related.

Babe is now 3 months old. Daddy Hackley says she is “quite well.” Weighs 14 pounds.

Last year I fell many times. In one series, five times in seven days. All while going up or down stairs. I was sent to physiotherapy. Spent three months learning not only how to climb stairs, but also walk.

The key is to pay attention. Look where you are walking. Remember to lift your feet. Take your time.

It works. As simple as the instructions sound, I have only fallen once since. The reason I did fall was that I was not looking, not picking up my feet, and moving fast.

Falls Prevention Awareness Day is September 22. A notice re  the Day set forth facts with which I was not aware. The numbers apply to persons over 65. In 2014, 2,400 persons were fatally injured from falls. Fifty thousand hospitalized for non-fatal injuries.

Syracuse/South Florida saturday. South Florida a two touchdown favorite. After the beating Syracuse took from Louisville friday, I fear what might happen.

Enjoy your day!

WRONGDOING PAYS WELL

Wells Fargo. Can’t seem to get out of the news. First, the $185 million fine for illegal marketing practices. In addition to the fine, Wells Fargo discharged 5,300 employees claimed to have been involved..

Yesterday, it was reported that the head of the marketing unit retired in July. Her name, Carrie Tolstedt. A 27 year employee.

Her retirement payout, $124.6 million.

Wrongdoing pays.

An extremely busy day for me yesterday. I sometimes let things go. Then have to play catch up. Yesterday was catch up day.

Went well. In fact, I felt energized when I was done.

So energized, I put together tonight’s podcast. All done. Can relax today.

Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou is at 9. Topics include what I consider a Facebook error, the Wells Fargo fiasco, the FDA banning a specific chemical from soap and not toothpaste, debtor jails for children, government workers outnumber manufacturing jobs, only one in six primary age persons working, some Syracuse football, France and Israel with driverless vehicles, Joe Biden stepping in if Hillary cannot go ahead, police committing sex crimes, and more.

Dueling Bartenders at Aqua last night. Tom and Rick bartending. The three ladies I met at Tavern ‘n Town saturday night sitting at the bar. Mary, Lizabeth and Josefina. Plus a friend I have not seen in ages. Jim Wallace, together with his wife and mother in law. Jim was my art dealer at one time. He now is a manager at the Butterfly Conservatory.

I had a most enjoyable evening chatting with Lizabeth. Lizabeth Goody. Has had a Key West home for years. Lizabeth is a former Dean at two law schools. Stetson and Cleveland State. In spite of the overwhelming music noise, we talked law, mutual acquaintances, etc.

Farmer’s Market thursdays at Belleview Park. I am ashamed that I rarely go. The breads, cakes and honey outstanding. The City commission renewed the Market’s one year lease last night

Something strange in the news this morning. Not the local news.

The article stated the EPA had approved/permitted cutting edge technology re Zika carrying mosquitoes. University of Kentucky given the go ahead. Their solution somewhat similar to Oxitec’s, but different. Don’t ask how. It was not clearly spelled out.

Kentucky’s process has been tested in Fresno, California since May.

Is Kentucky’s process the end all solution/salvation to the Zika cause? Is Oxitec’s way alive?

The Star Spangled Banner does not leave us. All over the news the past few weeks. Today an anniversary. On this day in 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote the poem which when put to music became the Star Spangled Banner.

Join me for my show this evening. A quick-moving half hour. Never boring. Sometimes controversial. Many topics eye openers. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!