An example of a tough federal judge is Beryl Howell. She is handling a number of the January 6 cases. She wants answers. Answers as to why the government is being lax in its sentencing for those insurgents waving trial and voluntarily pleading guilty.

About time! I have asked why a few times also. Did not make sense to me that a person attacks the Capitol, destroys property, injures many, and kills some should walk with a slap on the hand.

Judge Howell obviously recognizes the Latin quote: “Calpae poemae paresto.” “Let the punishment fit the crime.”

She asked some prosecutors monday why restitution in Capitol riot cases was limited to $1.5 million when total repair response for the building alone ws $500 million. An excellent question. The wrongdoers should pay eh bill and not the taxpayers.

Concededly, with more than 500 persons already arrested a fair allocation for each defendant to pay would be difficult. However not impossible. The time should be spent deciding an allocation where the punishment fits the crime.

Judge Howell asked another interesting question. Why was the prosecution offering many defendants misdemeanor pleas in cases that saw the insurrectionists “terrorizing members of Congress?”

There is an underlying principle to the saying that punishment should fit a crime. The principle especially fits with what occurred on January 6. It is, “The more a nation neglects this basic principle of justice, the injustice will reign in that nation.”

COVID-19 is the major problem confronting the U.S. today There are several issues worth mentioning.

I would not want Governors DeSantis and Abbott to be my Teddy Roosevelt in war. No way would I follow them up a hill.

Their judgments re masks and vaccinations so screwed up as to be dangerous. Their positions are and will draw the people they represent into the mouth of a fire blowing dragon.

What is truly impressive is the conviction they evidence when they take their mask and vaccination positions: “What a good boy am I!”

DeSantis an idiot. No question. Florida schools open this week. DeSantis does not want the children to wear masks.

Some school boards have already decided to oppose the DeSantis mandate. The governor says he will cut off the pay of all board members and school leaders. He will make such persons suffer “financial consequences” for failing to enforce his mandate of no mask wearing.

Least understandable is the reason behind his position. He wants to “protect the rights of parents” to decide. I ask, “Who is protecting tech rights of the children?”

Florida has another coronavirus distinction. Florida leads the nation in the hospitalization of children with COVID. Schools open thursday. DeSantis worries about parental rights as opposed to children’s rights when many of these kids could end up at death’s door. at death’s door.

Doesn’t make sense to me.

Key West is moving swiftly regarding the present surge. It ws announced last week that masks and social distancing would henceforth be required in all public buildings.

How will this play out? Most schools in Key West are public.

The longer coronavirus is with us, the more that is learned.

Ceiling fans the issue.

There are certain ways to set up fans so as to decrease the risk of COVID-19 transmission indoors. One involving ceiling fans, the involving all other type fans.

It is recommended that ceiling fans be used at a low velocity and in the reverse floor direction so that air is pulled up toward the ceiling.

The other type fans recommendation is the fan direction be aimed towards an unoccupied corner or above an occupied zone.

Fred is on its way. Expected to be a tropical storm by tuesday night. As usual in recent years, the cone has Fred coming right over Key West. Unreliable since Fred is still too far away to make any type accurate prediction.

Wait for the spaghetti straps. A more accurate predictor.

In the 1970’s, Steve found airline arrival times uncertain. When I began constant flying back and forth in the 1990’s, it was the same. You waited at every stop. It was a 3 plane ride from Utica to Key West. Sometime four.

You became accustomed to it. It was a way of life. The inconvenience was worth it to get to Paradise.

Steve mentions traveling in the old days in TACOS paragraph 27.

Air Sunshine was the name of the local airlines / Although everyone called it Air Sometimes / People would tell you what time their flight would land / You’d laugh and day, “You don’t understand, / I’ll come out to the airport instead / After the airplane flies overhead.” / I miss the DC-3’s, they were the best / They just seemed to fit-in with old Key West.

Why is the New York Democratic controlled Assembly in such a hurry to impeach Cuomo? Has to be something more here than meets he eye.

For more than 20 years, Johnny Carson was star of NBC’s late night show. He was loved by everyone.

On this day in 1980, Carson was in Key West to visit the Atocha wreck site as the guest of Mel Fisher.

Another week has gone by. Tuesday again. Tonight at 9 my time, Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. I rant and rave for a half hour. To the point and hard hitting.

Join me. Guaranteed you will enjoy. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

A lesson learned. Hopefully it will remain so.

Seventy six years ago this week, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. One hundred sixty to one hundred eighty thousand persons died.

A horrible event! An inherent lesson learned. The two atomic bombs were the last two nuclear weapons used by any nation. The U.S. was the only country that had the bomb at the time. Now, many nations do. Yet not one has used a nuclear weapon.

The horror of Hiroshima and Nagasaki did more than end World War II. It taught other nations to beware the use of nuclear weapons to this day.

Hiroshima was the first to be bombed. It was August 8, 1945. More of the 100,000 who died did so from fire rather than radiation.

Nagasaki was bombed three days later on August 9, 1945.

The Japanese had enough. Japan unconditionally surrendered.

Sixty to eighty thousand were killed. An accurate number was impossible to arrive at. Nagasaki was surrounded by hills. The blast bouncing off the hills was so severe it was difficult to better estimate the number killed. Many who died left no remains. Their bodies evaporated by the bomb’s force bouncing off the hills.

I was born and raised a Catholic. I began questioning my faith in college. A Catholic one. My questioning has grown over the years.

One of the primary reasons has been the failure of the Church to attend to the important needs of the faithful. The Church over the years has left its people’s needs and spent an abnormal amount of time on what might be described as cultural values.

Father Thomas Reese is a Catholic priest who writes a column for the National Catholic Reporter. His words describe more accurately than I could the reasons why.

Father Reese wrote a recent column titled: COVID-19, Global Warming and Diminishing Catholic Guilt. In the article, he describes the Church’s failure to do the necessary rather than what they are concerned with today. Stated another way, the Church today fails to see the real problems that should be their business.

I have selected three paragraphs from the article. Each clearly describing the problem.

“Millions of us are going about our business worrying about our daily lives while Catholic bishops and elites argue about the Latin Mass, Communion for politicians, and Grindr, rather than the coming climate apocalypse.”

“There was a time the Church’s hierarchy was able to issue thunderous edicts and most Catholics would follow its directions like sheep. If the laity did not, they would feel guilty and fear going to hell.”

“Nothing would give me more illicit pleasure than having the governors of Florida and Texas, along with the leaders of the oil and coal industries, excommunicated, just as kings and nobles were excommunicated in the past.”

The leaning Tower of Pisa has always interested me. Only to the extent the building was leaning. Why had it not fallen after many centuries?

On this day in 1173, construction of the Tower began. I did a little digging when I noted its beginnings. An interesting story I am pleased to share with you.

It took two centuries to complete construction of the Tower. The  problem was wars. They interfered with construction. They had nothing to do with the leaning. The wars solely affected the construction time factor.

The architectural planning was deficient. The Tower began leaning soon after construction was initiated. A 4 degree lean developed. The result of an unstable foundation. The problem was destined to show itself and develop further.

Six years later, construction was only up to the second floor.

Construction was a lost commodity during the first hundred years because of various wars. The wars however provided a benefit. It gave the partial construction time to settle in. Engineers today believe that if the construction had proceeded on schedule, the Tower would have toppled.

Wars in the second century continued to delay the completion of construction.

As I get more into Steve Thomson and his Key West/Taco story, I am impressed with how smart he was. He understood work and did not avoid it. He knew how to make money and did.

TACOS paragraph 26 is a continuance of Turkey’s story.

So we headed down to Louie’s Backyard / To see Bob Mayo who was working hard / He was glad to see his old friend Turk / So he took a ten minute break from work / To spray for mosquitoes in the Keys / They had a fleet of DC-3’s / With white smoke billowing out the rear / You could see the pilot he was so near / Just then one roared overhead / Turk couldn’t believe it when Bob said, / “Not now does he have to do it here?” / “My place is packed and they’re all drinking beer!” / Turk thought he wasn’t ready for this town / He thought the airplane was going down.

Enjoy your day!

Nothing surpasses quality music.  Especially singing by the 3 Tenors. What better way to open today’s blog.

O Sole Mio as performed in 1994 as part of their grand world wide tour.

Thank you, Louis. Loved it!

Something else different this morning and for the past few days. I have advertisers! After 15 years!

We are running into some problems. All correctable, I am sure. The one that stands out at the moment is that 3 of the same ad appear at one time. Sloan survived COVID and is back to work. We met about the problem this morning. Her responsibility to work it out. I am sure she will.

In the meantime, enjoy the ads. Some quite good.

The Cuomo situation I find interesting. There is more than meets the eye. Background information that in due course will become public.

Cuomo’s primary attorney is Rita Glavin. I never heard of her. However, there can be no question she probably is one of the best. The Cuomo problem is major league ball.

The Attorney General’s Report came out last week. Immediately the mob assembled seeking Cuomo’s hanging. Reminded me of Jesus and Barbarous. The mob cared nothing for Jesus. When given the choice, it demanded Bararous be sparred and Jesus crucified.

Cuomo’s attorney Glavin has put forth two reports contradicting much of the Attorney General’s Report. Glavin’s first report was a detailed response to the purported “independent” report by the Attorney General. The subsequent and more detailed Glavin’s of 8/3/21: Position Statement of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Concerning The Sexual Harassment Allegations Made Against Him.

Both reports can be found on the internet. Every word of each. I suggest you read both before arriving at any conclusions at the moment.

Interesting!

It appears Cuomo’s enemies are out to get him. Frankly, they did an excellent job initially. Truth however has a way of surfacing. Cuomo will survive the deluge.

In the many months Trump was bringing lawsuits without any factual basis, I kept advising that at some point those representing Trump’s position would be sanctioned. Punished financially by a federal judge. Federal courts do not permit baseless lawsuits. Trump or his people brought 63, won 1, lost 62.

It has finally happened. A group of attorneys have had sanctions levied upon them.

The case is in a California federal court. The sanction decision by the judge came down this past week.

The judge first found the cases to have been frivolous and without merit. The judge based the sanction relief on her finding that the pro Trump allies attempted to use the courts to vet right wing conspiracies.

The attorneys being sanctioned are Gary D. Fielder and Ernest John Walker. I mention their names because time will reveal their representation in the California cases is going to cost them a hell of a lot of money. Years of savings will be gone paying the sanctions. Significant loans may have to be made if personal funds are insufficient.

They are being punished and made to pay for trying to use the law in an abnormal fashion to support Trump claims.

The sanctions: They must pay all attorney fees for Facebook, Dominion Voting Systems, the States of Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Wisconsin, and the Non-Profit Center for Technology and Civic Life.

Exact amounts will be known as the named defendants provide their bills to the court.

This blog receives some interesting comments. In addition to some not so. Actually, pure vile.

I was impressed with: “Al Gore lost the 2,000 election by 537 votes. Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 election by 3 million votes. But Trump lost the 2020 election by 7 million votes. Sore loser, eh?”

The Citizens’ Voice published a comment re the virus: “The unvaccinated do not need to wear masks. They already got their heads in the sand.”

Seems more and more drugs are coming in through the Keys. The most recent “find” a 2.4 pound cocaine brick with a street value of $55,000. It was found on the beach at the Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. Considered Key West’s best beach.

Steve Thompson’s friend Turkey came to Key West. He was a bit of a disaster. Honestly so. His happenings will appear over the next couple of days.

Turkey’s day 1 appears in TACOS paragraph 25.

Some friends were opening a saloon / On United Street called the Full Moon / Sid and Vic wanted a bar with some class / So they got this beautiful antique stained glass / It was laid out on the floor to install / In the one window in the middle of the wall / Turkey from Fort Lauderdale just got to town / So I decided to bring him down / Turk worked in a disco where the dance floor was lit / and he broke the antique glass when he stepped on it / Sid pulled me aside and said to me, / “Did you say this guy’s name is Turkey?”

Enjoy your Sunday!

There was a time petting was an All American sport. Sexual touching short of intercourse of any kind. The whole gambit: vaginal, oral and anal. If I missed one form, I apologize.

I decided to write about petting today because of the Cuomo “scandal.” If my recollection proves correct, none of the three variations mentioned have been claimed to have occurred. Involved was some touching, a quick kiss on the cheek, perhaps one quickie on the lips, holding, rubbing non sexual body parts except for the breasts. It is alleged the breasts were touched from outside the dress or blouse, expect in one instance. In that, the woman claims he put his hand under her blouse. No mention if the bra or flesh itself was touched. Less I forget, some sexual conversation. Nothing that could be described as dirty.

All of this resulting in a major scandal.

Lets go back to the 1920’s and 1930’s. Sexual women, scandalous women, were known as flappers.

It was 1931. The air on Chicago’s 57th Street art colony crackled with “sexual tension.” What once was a wild bohemian party was now something more intimate.

A “petting party” was going on. The event took place in a night club, bar, private group parties, wherever. This particular one a night club. Privacy not a concern. The woman was the attacker/provocateur. One woman and six men. Clothes always remained on. Private parts never shown.

The solitary woman caressed and touched the six men. That’s all. Again, she never went all the way. The woman would mingle and eventually start kissing, and then move on to something more intimate Again, short of actual sex. The men were not permitted to touch back.

Petting had become the fad of the time. It titillated youth, socialized adults and stoked the myth of the immoral flapper. Women drank alcohol, smoked cigarettes, chasing a life style that would have been unthinkable. Dabbled in bohemianism. Hair cuts were were short. Dress showed off a woman’s fabulously slender figure. Her talk used daring slang. She would date multiple men before marriage.

These were liberated women. The petting parties epitomized everything that was evil about the Jazz Age. The parties all had the same goal: Physical pleasure.

Note, these were not orgies. A far cry from them. They encouraged experimentation and created clear limits.

Petting had a flexible meaning for participants. For some, merely a long kiss. For others, more intense physical conduct. As already described, initiated by women. They did the touching, the men did not touch in return.

The petting party was a means for a woman to be safe yet not sorry. A way to explore her sexuality without experiencing things like the loss of virginity, pregnancy, or sexually transmitted infections.

Senior citizens looked down on women who participated in these events. Simply stated, bad girls. The playing was not considered healthy.

Flappers wanted to party instead of settling down. The Washington Post in a 1924 article wrote one study which indicated 92 percent of college women had tried petty partying. Another study found 62 percent of women thought the practice was essential in order to be popular.

The Washington Post further intimated women preferred petting to outright sex since the same would preserve their reputations. They were living in a time where their reputations could still be irreparably damaged by divorce or an illegitimate child.

If petting parties are rare today, it’s not because they are no longer needed. The mores of today frown not on divorce or illegitimacy. Even real sex outside of marriage is acceptable.

One of the loves of my life is my grandson Robert Malcom. He is a senior at the Key West High School..

Yesterday’s Key West Citizen ran an article about a “Senior Sportable.” Robert was the person interviewed for the article.

Robert is a top tennis player. The interview was excellent. As were Robert’s responses.

His life is before him. It should be a good one. As long as he keep thinking and doing as he is. I am a born worrier. Concerned might be a better description. I have seen too many changes on the part of our young ones as they get out into the world.

Steve’s progress is amazing. In 1975, he opened his third Key West Taco Company store. This one in Cocoa Beach. Not just a shack on the beach selling tacos through a tiny window. Cocoa Beach was a huge magnificent building. I have seen photos of it. He also had a band that played in the back.

Steve operated Cocoa Beach into the 1990’s.

Everywhere Steve goes, he has a “star” associated some how with him. In Cocoa Beach, it was Kelly Slater.

Slater was an American professional surfer. Considered the best in the U.S. for 11 years. Unprecedented. No one has passed the mark he set.

Steve’s Cocoa Beach story as told in TACOS paragraph 24.

Cocoa Beach was store number three / No big waves just sand and sea / We were right on the beach and we had our own band / You could park your car right out on the sand / A store up the street sold surf boards and thongs / It’s a little bigger now, called Ron Jons / A local kid came looking for work / For something to do when he couldn’t surf / I met his folks and his brother later / The world’s best surfer named Kelly Slater.

Enjoy your day!

The crucifixion of Cuomo. The smell of blood is in the air. The mob screaming kill.

Trump has done much worse including trying to overthrow the government and half the country still loves him. DeSantis and Abbott are on the verge of killing our children. Neither will suffer the persecution that Cuomo is and will.

Assume everything in the report is true, it still does not warrant the onslaught being waged.

We are a sick society.

Senator Mitch McConnell referred to himself as a “grim reaper.” His self identification at the time seemed to be terrible. However, he was only referring to legislation.

There is another grim reaper. A politician, also. Perhaps better classified as a “child killer in the making.” Florida’s Governor Ronald DeSantis.

Florida is out of control re COVID-19. Children included this time. Pediatric hospital admissions are soaring.

Florida schools open August 12. Last week, DeSantis made it clear he would be banning masks or making their use optional as regarded school children. With pediatric conronavirus surging, such means black days ahead for Florida’s school children come September and October.

Two reasons for the pediatric surge. The Delta variant and insufficient vaccines having been administered. There are age restrictions re administering vaccines to children. However those are in the process of being lifted. Until such happens, unvaccinated children continue to be subject to virus infection from their elders and other children.

DeSantis is adamant that he will not mandate vaccinations, regardless of whatever the federal government or CDC require and recommend.

Similar to letting a child enter a burning building to save the family dog.

As of last tuesday, Florida hospitals were caring for more COVID pediatric cases than at any time before. In fact, Florida ranked #2 with 135 cases. Second only to Texas that had 142 cases.

Florida’s cases were 46 definite and 22 wherein it was thought the children were infected.

Looking at admissions for the past month, Florida’s pediatric COVID admissions for children under 12 has been the highest ever. Interesting in that one year ago children were a group rarely infected.

Another set of numbers clearly reflecting the already significant increase in pediatric cases is the one month time frame from June 29 to July 29. On June 29, the 7 day average for those under 12 was 205. One month later on July 29, it had increased more than seven fold to 1,549.

Not only the seven fold increase, certain other records reflected the increase the highest ever anytime since the pandemic began.

Repeating myself, schools reopen in 2 weeks. DeSantis had banned masks in schools. The furor was such that DeSantis advised he was issuing an Executrices Order making masks in schools optional. Not enough, but better than nothing.

Prior to his optional statement, DeSantis threatened to “defund schools” if his ban was not followed.

Optional is not enough. Masks should be mandatory in all schools.

DeSantis has turned into a Pied Piper. He is leading Key West children in a direction many may not return from.

From DeSantis’ perspective, he says his concern is making sure “parents’ rights are protected.”

What about “children’s rights?”

Steve got to meet many successful people who came to Key West to vacation back in those days. One was Ed Money. His real name Edward Mahoney. Money was an American singer and song writer in the 1970’s and 1980’s. An international rock star.

Steve got to meet Money in TACOS paragraph 24.

A friend at the Casa Marina gave me a call / Said they needed a sailboat their’s was too small / I said I could do it, it would be OK / If I could get a friend to help for the day / So we picked up the couple with their beer in cans / And he asked if we were,

Eddie Money fans” / At first I said, “Well I don’t know” / Then I said, “Yeah sure, I guess so” / He and his girlfriend just arrived in town / We spent the whole day just sailing around / Then as we were heading back to the dock / He said, “I am really a Rock Star believe it or not” / “I make 20,000 a night and and that’s a fact” / My friend said some local boys do better than that / We went to my house and then out to eat / I decided he was really pretty neat / At first I thought he was a phony / Cause his credit card said Edward Mahoney / Then I saw him on MTV it was nice / He sang, “Two Tickets to Paradise.”

I am back into self-quarantine. Day 18. I view it as a no choice situation. Florida is heavy with the virus. Only going to get worse for a while.

Too many who never got vaccinated. Something like 95 percent of the people in hospitals today were not vaccinated.

Even Sloan. My Sloan. Respectfully, she was one of the know it alls. She wasn’t going to get it. Did. No hospitalization. Spent 10-12 days at home. Back to work now.

Enjoy your day!

Keep in mind that Steve’s recollections are still in the 1970’s. Relations made. Some would be notables in later years. Each lending a helping hand to one another. The way people were back then.

TACOS paragraph 23 a best recollection.

My next store was in Gainesville and who did I see / It was Jimmy Buffett walking up to me / He was giving a free concert live / It was summertime 1975 / I felt stupid after I heard him holler / When the first thing I said was, “I thought you were taller” / He wore a T-shirt I gave him a few weeks before / With a picture of the Key West Taco store / He gave me plugs all through the show / And said, “I want a burrito” / It was the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me / I’ll never forget his generosity / After the show he gathered up the whole band / And parked right in front of the taco stand / He brought the whole crew in to eat / And single-handedly put that place on its feet.

What a day yesterday for Andrew Cuomo. I am interested in your thoughts and hope many of you will respond.

Judgments are coming fast and furious. My admonition is slow down. Let the story play out. Good, bad, or indifferent.

First impressions sometimes prove incorrect in a final analysis. One thing the numbers appearing in the Attorney General’s report.

One hundred seventy nine persons “consulted.” sounds like a WOW! Note the word “consult” used rather than interviewed. Consult could mean in many instances a thought to be witness who turned out to know nothing. The person “consulted” to be of no consequence in a possible criminal action down the road.

Recall one of the 62 cases Trump lost. My recollection was it was one where Sidney Powell was representing the Trump position. To substantiate the purported ballot fraud, Powell had submitted something like 695 affidavits. Impressive on its face. However the judge was not take in. None contained necessary supporting documentation to support the Trump claim. All were valueless.

Another number seeming a WOW is the 79,000 pieces of documentation examined. Not necessarily consequential these days. I can recall environmental cases where my staff had to examine hundreds of thousands of pieces of paper per case. In one instance, more than a million.

Do not be impressed by the numbers.

Most of what I heard yesterday were representations/claims. Not supported by facts as a legal case requires. All representations will be put to the test in due course, if criminal charges are brought. The truth will out at that time.

Again, share your thoughts with me. I assume at this point that most, if not all, have Cuomo dead and buried.

DeSantis defended the unvaccinated yesterday. Made them sound like heroes. Claimed the media was being “judgmental” in criticizing the unvaccinated. He also suggested that the media was incorrect in inferring that the unvaccinated were persons trying to get sick.

Florida has achieved a distinction. It has become the “epicenter of the caronavirus in the United States.”

A distinction Floridians can do without.

How many will die? How many will suffer as they experience for days the inability to breathe properly?

As I said re Trump many times, “Thank you Ron DeSantis!”

You ignoramus!

The Miami Herald in a News Blast today brought COVID-19 cases in Florida up to date.

In the 3 days ending yesterday, there were 50,997 new cases. Only exceeded by California. The 50,997 number the highest in Florida since the pandemic began 18 months ago.

In the same 3 days, hospital bed use surged. It is projected Florida will be at the breaking point soon re hospital beds.

Enjoy your day!

Keep in mind, Steve’s story is still in the Key West of the 1970’s. He was not the only new face. There were others on the verge of achieving fame as well as those visiting who already were famous.

TACOS paragraph 22.

The Frenchman Rene lived upstairs next door / He had a Bistro down on the first floor / The name of the place was Le’ Mistral /It was the only French restaurant on Duval / Rene had just worked for the Shah of Iran / As his chef at the palace in old Tehran / He invited me to taste my first French food / I only went so I wouldn’t seem rude / I sat next to a play write whose name was Tennessee / He was having dinner with Truman Capote / Before that year I was slender and fit / I gained twenty pounds and never lost it / That season I left for Colorado to ski / Rene said success came too easy for me.

Florida doctors consider Governor DeSantis infected by a strain of “Trump.” He is an “harassment…..a clown…..and angry.” Florida’s coronavirus data support their feelings. Florida is now the number one state in the U.S. for number of virus cases. The State recently reported 10,389 hospitalizations. Twenty one thousand new infections this past friday.

DeSantis assures, guarantees in effect, no new lockdowns or mask mandates.

While hospitals are filling up, DeSantis shouts “Freedom over Fascism.”

Key West’s city government announced yesterday that masks are required once again to be worn in all governmental buildings. Key West apparently smarter than DeSantis. I suspect that within 2 weeks, masks will be required everywhere in Key West again.

The removal of the eviction ban. Crazy! The only one it benefits are landlords and banks.

The CDC eviction ban expired midnight sunday.

A recent Supreme Court decision written by Kavanaugh the problem. Does not surprise me he was the culprit. He wrote he recognized a need for relief. He further recognized the ban was to expire soon. Ergo, he ruled per the law. He said the issue was one Congress had to pass on. And did not extend the ban time wise.

He could have extended the time several months before Congress had to act.

Kavanaugh made one error. A major one.He forgot about the “people.” What would happen to the millions schedule for eviction?

An eviction at this time for those on the list of defaulters could take Congress months to consider. What were those evicted to do if the decision was forthwith in effect, as Kavanaugh did? Live homeless, sleep in cars, etc. Note most are families. Families include children. Children who will be forced to live in the mangroves or wrecked abandoned vehicles.

There is an added feature to the problem. One I do not understand.

Biden says there is about $47 billion the States and localities are holding for the specific purpose of making rents current. Biden asks why haven’t the States and localities used that money?

When Biden took office, he promised 70 percent of the population would be vaccinated by July 1 or 4. His estimate was 3 points off. Only 67 percent were.

The Republicans stomped their feet and yelled Bad!!! He failed to do what he promised!

Pure pettiness!

January 6 in the news this past weekend. Another Capitol police office committed suicide. The fourth since January 6.  His name Gunther Haschek.

Cheney understands what happened and its effect on the police that day. Remember she is a member of the House committee investigating January 6. She said, The police faced “unbelievable violence and cruelty” during the January insurrection.

Today is Tony Bennett’s birthday. Ninety five years. Happy birthday Mr. Bennett!

Many many years ago when I was a relatively young attorney, I was in New York City on business. I decided to have dinner in a steak house whose name I cannot remember. It was located in a hotel whose name I cannot recall. It was out of the way. In the East 70’s.

The steak house is now closed. Don’t know about the hotel.

I was alone. Opted to eat at the bar. For a New York City restaurant, the bar was unusually long.

Quiet that evening. Only 3 persons at the bar including me. No one sitting near me.

In walked Tony Bennett.

Guess he wanted to talk. He sat next to me.

I recognized him immediately. I learned he had an apartment in the hotel.

We chatted about everything for 3 hours.

The man was charming and humble. Genuine humility.

His attire impressed me. Sporty, yet sharp. A blue blazer, gray slacks, an open collared white shirt, and white tennis sneaks. He was not wearing socks.

It was a special evening.

Years later, Bennett was on tour. One stop was Utica. The theater was packed, his performance great.

I wanted to say hello. Decided I would go back stage to greet him. It would be no problem for me as I was Chairman of the Board of the corporation that owned and operated the theater.

There was a crowd back stage, of course. As I was walking towards the crowd, he turned and saw me. Exclaimed, “Louis!”

That was the man and I assume he still is.

Bennett is still performing, though he is afflicted with Alzheimer’s. He is not at the walking off alone or not recalling anything stage yet. He continues to perform and it is said his working protects him and keeps him going. He has a performance scheduled shortly with Lady Gaga.

Meghan McCain is leaving View after 4 years this friday. She is the daughter of one of America’s great heroes John McCain.

She is leaving because she has lung cancer. Interestingly, Meghan never smoked. I read that 20 percent of women who never smoked become afflicted with lung cancer. She will be having surgery shortly to remove half of one lung.

On one of the shows last week, she stated, There is no “good” Trump family members to me. Can’t blame her attitude. Her father was maligned by Trump and family many times.

I close with the Olympics.

Dutch representative Sefan Hassan’s performance interesting. She was in the final lap of her 1,5000 meter run. She was several runners behind at the time. The runner in front of her tripped and fell causing Hassan to fall over her.

Th end of the race for her? No way. She got up and continued her run. Now having many in front of her. She ran like hell! She won!

Another story involves the famous Simone Biles. Simone is the most decorated American gymnastic. She has won 31 Olympic and World Championship medals.

She had what she describes “mental problems” a few days ago. Flipping in mid air, she forgot what she was doing. Dangerous!

She decided she needed a break. She felt her problem was a mental one.

No one expected her to perform further in this year’s Olympics.

She came back 2 days later to win a bronze medal.

A gutsy young lady.

Enjoy your day!

No question Steve Thompson made his fortune in Key West. At a relatively young age.

The story is best told in his own words in TACOS paragraph 21.

They say on a small Island it’s hard to get rich / Everybody’s watching saying, “What’s the hitch?” / The taco business started great you see / I saved a few bucks for a shopping spree / I bought Bud man’s house with all the chickens and hens / A Cessna, a sailboat, and a Mercedes Benz / It all seemed too easy it was like some kind of joke / I think everyone assumed I was running dope.

Key West was once called Thompson’s Island. Had nothing to do with our Steve Thompson, however.

On March 25, 1822, Commander Matthew Perry sailed into Key West and planted the American flag. No one protested.

Key West was called Cayo Hueso (Key West) at the time. Perry renamed the island Thompson’s Island after the then Secretary of Navy Smith Thompson. Fortunately, the name never stuck.

The first week of August is World Breastfeeding Week.

Breastfeeding is worthy of the honor and a reminder to women to breast feed if at all possible.

My daughter Beth bore Samantha. It is difficult for me to express the feelings that ran through me when I first walked into Beth’s hospital room and saw her sitting up with Samantha sucking away. Joy, love. Tears came to my eyes the same as they are now as I recall and write this.

Samantha is a practicing attorney in Boston today.

Mass shootings. Never end.

Two this past weekend.

One on a Boston street at 3 in the morning. Five shot. Panic ensued.

The other on a Queens’ street in New York City. A coordinated gang attack. A spray of bullets injured 10 people.

There is a sense of excitement in Washington at the moment. A trillion dollar infrastructure bill is on the verge of passing. Bipartisan interestingly.

I have a bit of concern it might not. House Democratic progressives say no way will they vote for the road, etc. infrastructure bill unless there is an assurance the human infrastructure one will be passed immediately thereafter.

The road, etc. one will not pass without progressive support. The Democratic House majority is slim. Ergo, the human one must pass thereafter.

The human infrastructure would be done by reconciliation. The 50 Democratic votes in the Senate plus Vice-President Harris’ vote also.

How this will be accomplished remains uncertain. Manchin and Sinema continue to be filibuster holdouts requiring bipartisan votes on everything. Foolish they are. Their position detrimental to an opportunity for the nation for the first time ever to gain all the things $3.5 trillion can buy. Things the American people have been desperate for for many years.

If Manchin and Sinema remain firm, and there is no reason to suspect they would do otherwise, Majority Leader Schumer will need 2 Republican votes to pass the reconciliation bill.’

Possible? Could be. Schumer has been acting positively and with confidence the bill would pass. I hope he has those 2 Republican votes in his pocket.

Enjoy your day!

From Trump’s perspective, the truth is whatever he says at a particular time.

His tune is changing once more. From the election was fraudulent/rigged to my intent was to advise the people I thought elections should be properly conducted. Nothing more.

A far cry from 63 lawsuits and a ton of false utterances. The man is not stupid. He saw his cry of fraudulent balloting was one of diminishing returns. Many Congressional Republicans were beginning to steer away from him.

No way to help Republicans win in 2022 and he himself in 2024.

What Trump is silently saying is I miss the attention I was getting. I require it. I promise to behave. Give me one more chance. I’ll change.

He must also sense the sky may be ready to fall on him. January 6, his tax returns, his many wrongdoings, etc. All coming to the forefront at the same time.

Trump’s first opportunity to evidence his change will take place between now and wednesday. A federal judge has given Trump till wednesday to challenge the Department of Justice’s order requiring the IRS to surrender his tax returns to Congress.

A “new” Trump would make sure no appeal is filed. Evidence of the old Trump would be the filling of an appeal.

Court fights ad infinitum have been Trump’s life time way of handling disputes. Especially in the political sphere. And before the Presidency, to thwart bill collectors.

Is there a new Trump? I doubt it. There never has been one before. We will know wednesday.

Senator Rand Paul presents himself as a knowledgeable virtuous man. Knows everything.

Recently he has been badly beating up Dr. Fauci. He recently requested federal authorities to charge Fauci criminally for purportedly having lied to Congress.

What goes around, comes around.

In the past few days, it has become public that Rand has been under scrutiny for failing to return $165,749 to a donor to Paul’s Presidential PAC to support Paul’s Run for the Presidency in 2016. Paul withdrew even before the Republican nominee had been determined.

The Federal Election Commission has fined Paul $21,000 for his failure to do what the law requires if he as a candidate withdrew from the race: Refund the donor or redesignate the contribution for use in another campaign within 60 days.

Very rarely does the Federal Election Commission fine anyone. Words of warning have generally been sufficient. Here the Commission went a step further and has hit Paul with the small penalty of $21,000. There was a message there.

Governor DeSantis must be pleased that Florida has the distinction of being number one in the nation as regards the summer surge in new coronavirus cases. Deaths alone totaled 319 in the surge period. The most in states gravely affected by the virus.

Good job, Governor!

Hospitals are running out of space. Medical help overworked as they were a year ago.

The surge has been driven by the Delta variant, large numbers of unvaccinated, congregations of people indoors because of the heat, and refusal to enforce mask wearing, distance, etc. restrictions.

Successful families and their descendants have found their way to Key West over the years.

Recall Windex. The blue liquid to clean windows. Spray it on and wipe it off.

Phillip Dracket invented Windex. Made himself and the family rich.

Steve and the Windex inventor’s grandson Phil Dracket became friends. Steve tells their story in TACOS paragraph 20.

Phil Dracket was once a cabbie who didn’t have a dime / His grandpa invented Windex, now he’s got nothing but time / He lived alone in a mansion and owned expensive cars / We used to spend our time going to all the bars / He wanted to go on vacation and I had just paid all my bills / So we took off on a road trip to the South Carolina hills / We took his brand new Lotus that was all set up to race / We didn’t look  like we were from there, more like from outer space / I thought I was Mario Andretti driving up the hill / When an old pick-up flew past us as if we were standing still.

Enjoy your day!