Some consider stone crabs the finest meal in the world. I am one of them. Many the time I have opined that were I to be executed tomorrow, stone crabs would be my last meal.

The season opened October 15. We’re into it! The season runs to May 1. Enjoy stone crabs as often as you can during the season. A meal you cannot get enough of!

Two stories involving ant-vaccine happenings. From my perspective, nothing to be proud of.

An anti-vaccine rally was held this past weekend in New York City. Thousands attended. The protesters were loud in crying out for “health freedom.”

I continue failing to understand why so many are opposed to the one thing that can protect them from the virus.

The featured speaker was Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. A vigorous opponent of vaccines.

Junior is not his father! Kennedy Sr. would have been out beating the bushes encouraging people to be vaccinated.

Another anti group involves a private Miami school.

The Centner Academy. Three hundred students. Pre-K to 8th grade. Three campuses.

Centner was founded by two wealthy parents.

Centner has issued two pronouncements.

The first that the school will not employ anyone who has been vaccinated. The second that any children who would henceforth be vaccinated would be required to be kept home for 30 days.

Requiring children to be kept home promotes a “false claim.” It is impossible for the vaccine to transmit “bad things” from one child to another. It is well known that the vaccines contain no live viruses and are not infectious.

It has become impossible for a day to go by without mentioning Joe Manchin.

T. J. Kirkpatrick in a New York Times Opinion piece yesterday described Manchin: “He is the face of utter folly.”

The title of Kirkpatrick’s article: History Will Not Be Kind to Senator Joe Manchin.

West Virginia is in tough shape financially. The coal mines have been terminally ill for years. Only a small number continue working beneath the ground in the mines.

The reason simply is that industries saw the handwriting on the wall and years ago began moving from coal to non fossil energy sources. The demand for coal has dropped dramatically.

Sixty thousand have left West Virginia in the past 5 years. One unhappy resident still remaining said, “We want Joe Manchin…..to go big and bold and to deliver for West Virginia.” Noting Manchin was not going to achieve the delivery goal if he depended on coal.

Manchin’s popularity has diminished in recent years. He won his present Senate seat in 2018 by a mere 3 percentage points.

Some think 2024 will be his political demise. I hope so. He deserves no better. He is on the road to defeat because of his present pig headed stances.

Today, tuesday. My blog talk radio show tonight at 9 my time. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. I will rant and rave.

I love doing the show! Join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

Colin Powell died yesterday. He was 84. He passed on from COVID-19 complications.

Simply stated, without question, he was a great American. A recognition few Americans can validly claim.

Powell was of Jamaican ancestry. He was born in Harlem. Grew up in the South Bronx. Attended City College of New York, a poor boy’s school.

While in college, he was a member of the U.S. Army ROTC. Rose to be its top gun in his senior year when he was Colonel of the ROTC.

Powell went directly into service following graduation.  Eventually ended up in the Army’s hierarchy. He was a 4 star general, led allied troops in the Gulf War. He served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, National Security Adviser, and Secretary of State.

Powell received his two vaccinations. Nevertheless died from COVID complications. Early reports as to the cause of his death indicate he had serious other illnesses which affected his immunity system regardless of the shots. One was cancer.

He came from nothing and made it to the highest echelons of his world! The U.S. was lucky to have had him as one of its leaders.

The supply chain continues to break down. Each day. Problems ahead.

It is suggested that Christmas toy and gift buying begin now. It is anticipated little will be left on the shelves in December.

Heating bills will have shoot up. The U.S. Energy Information System claims heating bills will be up 30 percent and more by Christmas in comparison to the same time last year.

Supply chain’s will continue to be messed up.

The government is needed to solve the problem. It must step in like yesterday.

The primary cause can be seen in media pictures. The numerous cargo ships in Los Angeles and Savannah waiting to be unloaded.

Americans are concerned. They have begun experiencing the adverse conditions arising from supply chain problems. At the moment, in the supermarkets where the shelves are slowly emptying not to be refilled.

A recent study recognizes 85 percent of Americans are aware and concerned. Forty nine percent are very concerned. Eleven percent not concerned. Sixty two percent said they are already noticing shortages of basic items in stores. Sixty five percent believe the federal government should step in now and take action. Eleven percent were not sure.

History will remember Joe Manchin. Not gloriously as it will Colin Powell. Rather as a pompous political hack who did not care he was depriving the American people and his President of what was needed in these times.

One of the worse anti positions held by Manchin involves climate control. Today’s news suggests he wants the whole section on climate control removed from the social infrastructure bill.

Why? It does not make sense when one considers the natural disasters the U.S. continues to suffer.

Manchin’s background provides significant answers. He was Governor of West Virginia. At one time a/the top coal producing state. While Senator these past 11 years, West Virginia has become less and less a coal mining state. The out of state industries West Virginia supported saw the light ten years ago and have been working at reducing the use of fossil fuels. Successfully.

The number of West Virginians actually working in the coal mines is around 10,000. Overall persons involved in West Virginia’s coal business another 20,000. The people of West Virginia saw the light long ago and moved into other businesses.

One did not. Joe Manchin. He still fights the battle he did 10-20 years ago. A battle already lost.

Manchin has financial ties to the coal industry. In 1988, Manchin founded two coal companies. One Enersystems. His son now runs the company. Financial disclosure documents reveal Manchin received $492,000 in dividends from Enersystems last year.

To be noted also is that Manchin is a top recipient of donations from oil, gas, and coal mining industries.

The media has failed in sufficiently reporting Manchin’s coal industry involvements. Since he is ruining Biden’s plan to help the downtrodden and those in need of assistance, they should be engaged in such reporting. People have a right to know.

Enjoy your day!

It cannot be denied Trump continues to be a power. Though things are happening that reflect the power diminishing.  As respect for him diminishes, so too does his power.

One example is Truth Social. Trump announced this week his personal social media was in the process of becoming a reality. Its purpose to follow the truth. What a joke!

The site would officially begin in November. However Trump immediately posted a test version where people could sign in merely by providing their names.

The fact that the site will provide Trump with broad access is a disgrace. His large number of followers will subscribe. He will have immediate access to them and the world via the site. It will be Trump’s tool to spread lies.

Though despicable in itself, Trump will reap a harvest.

Trump is doing the project with DWAC, a special purpose acquisition company. DWAC sells stock with the intention of buying private firms. The announcement reported DWAC would invest $293 million in the Trump project.

The announcement caused the price of he stock to triple in one day.

A major DWAC investor SABA Capital announced it was bailing out and selling all its stock. It wanted nothing to do with Trump. SABA’s principal said the the decision was “not even a close call.” Some people will not go to bed with dogs that have fleas.

Another “adverse” occurrence is Trump’s new site has already been hacked. Within hours, the unreleased test version was invaded. A picture of a defecating pig posted to the “donaldjtrump” account.

Truth Social was pulled off line immediately.

The site will return with all the necessary bells and whistles to hopefully protect it from similar hacking in the future.

The House of Representatives voted yesterday to hold Bannon in criminal contempt. Nine Republicans joined with the Democrats in the voting. The matter is now in the hands of the Attorney General as to whether the criminal contempt charge should be presented to a grand jury.

What a waste of time! The matter should be moving swiftly. Not doing so. I worry Merrick Garland will take forever and in effect sit on the contempt charge forever while deciding what to do.

Recall several months ago I warned of my concern when Garland’s nomination for Attorney General was announced. An honorable man without question. However, an appellate judge for more than 20 years. I advised my concern that a judge who served that long was not the best choice to be a prosecutor. His thought process had changed in those 20 years.

My fear was that in crossing every t and dotting every i, Garland would take forever in getting things done. And now as far as Bannon is concerned, decide in the final analysis Bannon should not be criminally cited.

My concern was reflected yesterday when Garland apparel before the House Judiciary Committee. He expressed his concern for the “jail problem” as Bannon’s contempt matter might affect it. He explained something we all know. The jails are full off gangs. Some whose members on the outside may have been perpetrators on January 6.

Were they to be arrested and convicted, the jails would have increased problems as a result.

Not the way to think! The judicial system was not set up to worry about impacts resulting from arresting someone. The way it is done is to arrest forthwith and convict a perpetrator and thereafter deal with the resulting problem.

No one should be permitted to spit in the face of the United States and get away with it. Bannon was and is part of the January 6 problem. The subpoena should have been approved by Justice yesterday.

These are dark days. So many things either not moving in orderly fashion or not not moving at all. Most elected officials by their actions reflect little care for their country. And more. Everything is a mess government wise.

There is a need for joy in the land. A smile. Some kumbaya.

Several months ago, I shared with you the Italian Grocery Store video. A happy work. Provided me with a smile and laugh.

I am replaying the video today. I hope it brings you some momentary joy.

Enjoy your day!

I watched Steve Bannon’s most recent podcast. That and everything he has done and is doing lead to the conclusion Bannon is a con man. Perhaps the best.

The portion of the podcast I watched had to do with Bannon sharing the percentages of Americans who believe Biden is not President. Bannon claims 48 percent of Americans don’t believe Biden was legally elected.

Which leads me to the subpoena served on Bannon to appear before the January 6 Congressional Committee.

Bannon said he was not going to appear and kept his word. He failed to appear. He claims he will not appear till a court rules on Trump’s claim of Executive Privilege and his (Bannon’s) decision following the court’s.

The last few words of Bannon’s declination is his “escape clause” if the court rules Trump lacks Executive Privilege. It provides Bannon with the opportunity to further delay his appearance.

The Committee will vote Tuesday to officially begin the process to hold Bannon in criminal contempt.  Assuming he Committee approves, then the issue goes before the full House. Assuming the House approves, the matter is then referred to the U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C. to handle.

The U.S. Attorney works under the Department of Justice. The matter will automatically be referred to Justice for its approval. Which means Attorney General Merrick Garland will make the final decision.

The path to the Attorney General is not as a practical matter the final one initially.

Justice has various approval levels within its operation. Each must be involved. All t’s crossed and i’s dotted.

More consumption of time.

In the end, Garland could decide there are not grounds for a criminal prosecution.

It could happen. Recall several months ago, I wrote a blog questioning Garland’s nomination for Attorney General. A judge of more than 20 years might be incapable of making a prosecutorial decision. Judging is one thing. Prosecution, another. Each involves a different belief system and thought process approach.

Time will tell. And that is what is bothering me. Time! The insurrection occurred on January 6. It is now October, 9 months later. How much longer will it take?

Respectfully, the Committee is moving its ass too slowly.

The Committee could have proceeded to issue a civil contempt rather than a criminal one. Such would have short cut the process and could still have ended up with Bannon in jail.

Most would agree the court system is antiquated and requires updating. The same with both Houses of Congress. The rules in each Chamber contribute to excessive delay.

Enjoy your Sunday!

The unexpected is always to be expected. Life changes in a split second.

Kasie Hunt is one of the finest TV news journalists I have had the privilege to watch over the years. A mere 36, success found her early. Properly so. Talented, knowledgeable, articulate and lovely. Success hers first at MSNBC. She recently moved over to CNN.

Kasie began having headaches in March. Underwent all kinds of tests. It became obvious something was there. It slowly kept growing. Finally, surgery last week.

A small benign brain tumor was removed.

Kasie described the whole situation as “pretty surreal.”

She is recovering at home. Another six to eight weeks anticipated.

She cannot lift anything heavier than 10 pounds. The thing she misses most is picking up and hugging her 30 pound son Mars.

Mars is a sharp young man. He knows his mother is sick. Points to her head and says “boo boo.”

The place to be this afternoon in Key West is Books & Books at The Studios of Key West. A competition involving high school students. The students will read passages by a Key West author with one difference from a usual book reading. They will improvise during the reading.

Each will in some manner act out the words being read.

The event is sponsored by Key West snowbirds Fred and Joanne Klein of New York City.

I had planned on attending. Appears doubtful at the moment.

It has been ages since I have taken a fall. Last night an “almost.” For whatever reason, the last step got to me. I caught myself going down. The only damage was a twisted left ankle. More sore this morning.

Parking is difficult at The Studios on the corner of Simonton and Eaton. Even with a cane, walking will be too much.

Fred and Joanne are watching on Zoom from New York. I will try to do the same from here.

Fantasy Fest is on the horizon. Soon to arrive. Sort of like “shrimp boats are a ‘comin, their sails are in sight.”

Fantasy Fest runs from 10/22-10/31. Abbreviated this year due to COVID. All public events like the Parade have been cancelled. The only things that will be open and rocking are the bars. Parties every night.

Though there will be no parade, visitors will arrive to party. There are very few communities that permit adult parties.

I believe it wrong that the City did not take steps to close everything down. COVID infecteds will arrive. More than arrived will leave. A significant number of locals will also be infected.

Not worth it!

The Sanders/Manchin battle continues. Sanders had an Opinion piece published in a prominent local West Virginia newspaper. He chastised Manchin big time for failing to support Biden’s agenda re social infrastructure. Manchin came right back saying in effect…..West Virginia is my state. Stay out!

Kyristen Sinema is having her problems in Arizona. Not made public till this week.

Sinema has been opposing Biden on his social agenda also. She and Manchin seem to be vying for King and Queen of their high school ball.The news has been reporting Pharma and financial institutions have been throwing money into Sinema’s coffers like their is no tomorrow. As the money comes in, she continues to oppose Biden’s program.

Arizona Democrats are not blind. They see what is occurring and have become “brutally” opposed to Sinema.

It’s all in the numbers.

Sinema presently has a 25 percent approval among Arizona Democrats. Mark Kelly her Democratic compatriot 85 percent.

Amazing! Two Democrats from the same state. One going down the tubes politically. The other revered.

Biden’s popularity among Arizona Democrats important also. He has an 85 percent Democratic rating.

Sinema is lucky she does not have to run again till 2024. Already Arizona’s Democratic Party is considering possible primary opponents.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) blasted Supreme Court Justice Aloi re his recent Notre Dame speech where he complained of recent attacks on the Supreme Court.

Whtehouse commented re the speech, “You have fouled your nest, not us.” Whitehouse’s words were specifically directed at Aloi’s comment that the Supreme Court was undeserving of recent scorn.

Whitehouse’s retaliatory comment was to the effect the Court deserved the scorn. The Court had created the situation.

Whitehouse also said Republicans have always depicted Democrats of judicial activism. The shoe is now on the other foot. Republicans are the party of judicial activism.

Whitehouse viewed Aloi as being “touchy.” Whitestone said there is a reason. Aloi’s fingerprints are all over this “pattern of judicial activism.”

Whitehouse concluded, “The Court that Dark Money Built has squandered the benefit of doubt.”

I watched Syracuse/Clemson last night. Syracuse lost 17-14.

Syracuse’s record 3-4. Three recent games have been close. Syracuse lost all 3. The winner in each game was decided in the last few minutes. Which means Syracuse could have won the 3.

What I am about to say is terrible. However, I blame Coach Dino Babers for the 3 loses. My conclusions based on bad calls the coach made in the final minutes of each game.

Babers has been coach at Syracuse 5 or 6 years. He has had only 1 good season. The team went 10-3 in 2018. Last year, Syracuse’ record was 1-10.

I doubt Babers will be around next year. Only one thing can save him. To win all of Syracuse’s remaining games.

Enjoy your day!

Former President Clinton has been in a California hospital most of this week. Still remains. Should be out in a few days.

He was “bad sick.” Suffering from a urinary track infection that spreads into the bloodstream. Described in most instances as sepsis. Sepsis represents the bodies’ extreme reaction to an infection.

Sepsis is life threatening. Causes a chain reaction throughout the body. Forty to sixty year old elderly die from it.

Medical reports indicate Clinton is “on the mend…..and in good spirits.” The reports do not detail what he went through. I know. I had the problem 2 times.

My 2 problems occurred in my 40’s.

The first time I was at work. Suddenly, I was freezing from the waist down Followed by tiredness. My urge to urinate existed, with one problem. Nothing came out.

Called my urologist and was off to the hospital. Doctor said don’t worry. We’ll drain you and you will feel better once you piss. He thought I had some sort of blockage.

The two nurses putting the tube in my penis I knew. They thought it was funny. I did too actually. Even they were assuring me when the tube was in, the urine would gush out.

Tube was in. Nothing came out, except for a small cotton like ball.

Even I knew I was in trouble at that point.

My doctor returned with test results. Said don’t worry. You have sepsis. Here is what’s going to happen. You are going to get even sicker today. You will get sicker for next 4 days. Worse each day. Then on the fourth day the turn around will occur. You will start feeling better and walk out of the hospital on the seventh day.

Encouraging.

The cause of my problem was I was not emptying out my bladder when urinating. Not intentionally. For whatever reason, my bladder was retaining some urine. Urine I guess is like wine. While sitting in the bladder, it ferments. Then somehow gets out into the rest of the body. If I recall correctly, even into the blood stream.

I ended up in bed with all kinds of tubes in both arms. Heavy antibiotics the primary drip.

The doctor was correct. I was sicker with each passing day. Felt like my body was sinking into the mattress. Actually thought I was going to die.

Then came day 4. I began feeling better. I left the hospital on day 7. Returned to work the next day feeling fine.

A year or two later, the same basic problem occurred. Fermentation not the problem this time.

My PSA came back well over a 4.0. Actually, 11.4. Doctor’s immediate reaction was I probably had cancer of the prostrate.

A biopsy of the prostrate was done. Horrible! I won’t describe the process. However to get at the prostrate, the doctor had to go through the colon wall. The openings resulting permitted shit from my colon to get into the rest of my body.

Sepsis again. Everything the same. The 7 day treatment.

I did not have cancer. The biopsy can have negative readings. Mine was a negative one, thank God! My reading today is 1. something.

I feel sorry for Clinton. Glad he is on the mend. Glad the doctors caught everything immediately.

The South rides again.

I wrote earlier this week that Texas is the America of Tomorrow. Assuming Texas cannot be stopped now with all the crazy laws they are passing.

The last 2 days, the new Texas abortion law has been in the news. A Fifth Circuit 3 judge panel decided yesterday in a 2-1 vote that the law as passed and signed would continue in force and effect till decided on by the Supreme Court.

A highly unusual move where a Constitutional question is involved. Lower courts generally rule in support of the law. Not here. Texas has not been following years old procedure in anything it recently has been doing.

The Constitutional issue involves Roe v. Wade. Still the law of the land.

A new problem arose yesterday.

Texas has new “guidelines” for how teachers should vett books in a school’s library. Both sides of an historical issue are to be taught. Truth/falsity immaterial. Opposing viewpoints must be examined.

The issue in this instance the Holocaust.

A superintendent in north Texas advised her teachers if any book discussed the Holocaust, books should also be on the shelves explaining the counter thoughts. The issue one of race. Truth again not the issue. Share both sides and do not question the propriety of the false side.

Must be the wind Texans inhale!

No question as to the truth of the food shortage coming. One reason being the vessels sitting out on the water that do not have enough help to unload them. The foodstuffs being carried are limited or not available. Things will only get worse between now and Christmas.

Due to my self imposed quarantine, I have a “shopper.” Going on 3 years. Each week there are 1 or 2 items not available. This week 3.

I eat DelMonte peas in the small can. No DelMonte peas Had to settle for a similar size small can with a brand name I never heard of. I have no recollection of ever seeing it on the shelf either.

Yogurt a similar problem.

Plastic spoons, forks and knives. Forget it! Third week unavailable. Plastic microwavable plates. The same thing.

The cause the pandemic. Not enough workers to unload the vessels.

The purported scarcity of workers an issue for another day.

There was no blog yesterday. Sorry. Two doctor visits in the morning. I was exhausted when I got home. Amazing!

Enjoy your day!

An outstanding American professional basketball player is Kyrie Irving. Plays guard for the Brooklyn Nets.

Irving was drafted in 2011. He was a first round pick. He was the #1 pick overall.

Irving has refused to be vaccinated.

Based on his refusal, the Nets have banned him from all games.

A significant hit for Irving. He earns $380,000 each game he plays. He will not be paid for home games. However, he will be paid for road games though he will not play in them. Some technicality involved that creates the situation.

Highly admirable Irving is willing to lose big time money for something he believes in. Is he all there in doing so? Recognize Irving believes the world is flat.

A significant number of U.S. citizens are overweight. Obesity affects American pets. The reason therefore is they are over fed and under exercised.

Same problem as with many pet owners.

A recent study reported an unusual quirk re pet obesity. The study found overweight pets had thin owners. Overweight owners had thin pets.

A silent Trump coup moves on. The ground work being laid for Republicans to win in 2022 and 2024. Republicans are fighting the battle in the trenches. Not at the ballot box. Their plan to win elections at the lowest level by having people in place who will do Trump’s bidding when the time comes again to challenge every ballot.

Sort of the way Hitler did it in the Germany in the late 1930’s.

Michigan recently announced some low life elected official has demanded an “investigation” of the 2020 Presidential election. Note not termed an “audit.”

Two reasons an ‘audit” would look foolish. Biden won Michigan by 154,000 votes,  The other, feather have already been two audits. Biden won both. No fraud discovered.

What an “investigation” involves I am not quite sure. At this point I have to believe Trump and his henchmen will be standing around, looking at each other, and asking what do we do now?

The silent creeping coup attempt can only be defeated one way. Democrats have to get down and dirty with Republicans. Fight as Republicans do. Go for the jugular at all times. Make the opposition slowly bleed to death.

Democrats must stop being “statesmen.” They must become gutter fighters for a time.

The first place the Democrats must stand and wage a quick bloody war is with the 1/6 Committee subpoena issue. Go for it! Push the Justice Department to move swiftly. Get the courts to to do likewise. There are ways to get to a “fast docket.” Democrats must refuse to be bogged down by Republicans who play by procedural rules to slow down every investigation, etc.

This is a war. They must recognize it as such.

In addition to the 1/6 investigation, other agencies of government must get involved in other happenings. They must move before Republicans do. Democrats must learn to anticipate.

The Federal Criminal Code is full of all type crimes. Accuse everyone who commits a wrong and prosecute them.

The American people must see the Democrats playing not as hard as the Republicans. Rather as vicious and dirty. Within the confines of he law, of course.

Again the 1/6 investigation must be recognized the first place Democrats become “new fighters.” The Democrats must go after Trump and his followers with the force and speed of Hitler’s blitzkrieg when he invaded Poland.

Fun time last night. I did my Tuesday Talk show. Hit hard on timely issues. Much as in today’s blog.

Enjoy your day!

Janet is one who consistently reads my blog. Opinionated. Generally, intelligently.

Janet commented yesterday to my recent blog: Why?…..I Don’t Understand.

Her comment speaks for itself.

“People take their kids on a metal tube that goes 500 miles an hour at 36,000 feet without ever ‘doing their own research’ about who made the plane, who last serviced it, or even reading about the physics of air travel. They just trust that ‘big airplane’ knows what it is doing.

Cut the crap stupid!”

Texas Governor Abbott continues on his roll. His long “15 minutes.”

In his recent announcement, Abbott barred all coronavirus vaccine mandates in Texas, including private employers.

His statement claimed Biden is “bullying” people with his COVID comments and handling.

A Trump stalwart is Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wi).

Southwest Airlines cancelled most, if not all, of its fleet over the weekend. Some two thousand planes. The reason pilot “sick outs.” Pilots not sick, but wish to make a point to management.

The pilots are opposed to what they describe as “imposed mandates.” Get vaccinated or lose your job.

Johnson supports the pilots. I would have expected nothing less. He describes the walk out the “Great Rebellion” over vaccine mandates. He added, “Stop the mandates before more damage is done.”

The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association has sued their airline employer in federal court re the imposed mandate.

Some view the walk out as only the beginning. Intimating other airlines may follow.

Benny Johnson is an 18 year Southwest pilot. He said, “This is the single bravest thing I have seen in years. God bless them pilots. The heroes we need right now.”

Johnson views the confrontation as one involving “freedom of choice issues.”

A 10/10/21 Zerohedge article claims: “The U.S. is finally a banana republic: The top one percent now own more wealth than the entire middle class.” The situation represents “unprecedented wealth inequality.”

The last time such a situation existed was prior to the Great Depression.

The Key West Airport has outgrown itself for the third or fourth time in the years I have lived in Key West. Key West is at the point again where too many planes are coming in and going out.

A vastly remodeled airport is planned. Construction to soon start.

Hurricane Irma occurred just over four years ago on September 10, 2017.

Today for the first time I learned the air control tower has been down as a result of Irma. It cannot be used.

Air controllers are working across the tarmac in a tiny trailer and can’t see planes coming in and out.

How safe is that? Especially with the significant increase in air traffic.

A Citizens’ Voice comment this morning concerns the airport: “Dear airport noise/traffic complainers: You fools bought an overpriced house on an island where the airport is at most 2 miles from your house! Get over yourself!”

Tuesday again. Tonight my blog talk radio show Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. Please join me. I rant and rave for a half hour re things that bother me. Helps relieve my concerns and frustrations. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

Trump did his Iowa rally this weekend.

MSNBC interviewed some attendees afterwards. Two elderly couples, each in a separate interview. One couple appeared in their 60’s, the other in their 70’s. Both couples were in Washington on January 6. They attended at Trump’s behest.

Both couples Ma and Pa Kettle All-American types.

Their stories the same. They saw nothing that was shown on TV. In effect questioning the validity of the filming of the insurrection. As far as they were concerned, everything was peaceful.

Were these people blind to the truth? Did they feel compelled to lie on behalf of Trump? Whatever, I don’t know. And, I don’t understand!

Most would argue our government is falling apart. Many reasons, many causes.

One is our elected representatives. The garbage they utter.

The most recent example Senator Rand Paul: “Be afraid of your government.” A watch list of dissenters “already exists.” It is being prepared by the Biden administration.

The list began being prepared as a result of January 6.

As a result of January 6, I would expect Biden’s people to prepare such a list. Insurrectionists are enemies of the government. Our government. Yours and mine.

“Dissenters” sounds like Rand made up terminology. More appropriate names might be “insurrectionists” or “troublemakers.” By labeling the list “dissenters,” Rand does not go one step too far. He goes several.

He misleads.

Eighteen year old Timothy Simpkins entered a school in Arlington last week. He shot several. Two remain hospitalized. A 15 year old boy and 25 year old teacher. One clinging to his life.

Simpkins was arrested. Within 24 hours he was released on a $75,000 bail bond. The same day he, his family and friends partied at his home.

Another situation I do not understand.

The purpose of bail is to assure a person charged will return for trial. Another to assure such person does not go free and in this case shoot others.

Simpkins should have been kept in jail till his case is concluded. He sounds to me like a danger to society. His crime in committing the shooting sounds sufficiently dangerous that it is reasonable to assume he could attempt a similar crime while out on bail.

The Simpkins bail handling another example of the erosion within our justice system.  What motivated the judge to approve such a low bail in an attempted murder case? The cost of the bond is significantly lower than $75,000.

Another problem is Simpkins has not been charged with attempted murder. Some lesser crime. Why? It’s like if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is a duck!

Gay sex is legal today. Without it, gay marriage would not be permissible. Gay is another word for homosexuality.

African-American Mark Robinson is a candidate for Lt.Governor in North Carolina. He said homosexuality is “filth.” He also referred to transgenderism as “filth.”

Robinson refuses to resign.

The price of gasoline is going up.

I realized it last week when I had to fill up. Cost me $20 more than normal.

I learned the reason for the gas increase from the media this weekend. Crude oil has gone up and is expected to keep rising..

My sense was correct.

Beware! The cost of food is, also. Most are already aware. As with filling the gas tank, people have to purchase groceries every week. The increase is evident at the checkout counter.

If you enjoy an oat cereal for breakfast, the increase will be larger than with other breakfast cereals. Canada is the biggest exporter of oats. The U.S. is Canada’s largest customer.

Canada experienced a severe heat wave this summer. It caused a serious drought which destroyed much of the oat crop.

The proof that such will occur has already been experienced in the futures market. Oats are at a new record high. Such will soon affect the supply chains to consumers.

Except for a small handful of states, the COVID rate has dropped dramatically in the last month. Even in Florida.

I watched Dr. Fauci on TV yesterday. He said the virus is dropping and suggested the worse could be behind us. He was concerned however that a significant number of persons remained unvaccinated.

Fauci even thought it was safe for children and their parents to celebrate Halloween by going door to door tricking and treating.

Assuming the downward slide continues, Key West will not totally benefit from it. The last 10 days of October have been kept sacred for years for Fantasy Fest. Key West’s Mardi Gras. An adult party.

The City Commission has banned all public events. Such being those it has control over like the Parade. The Parade brings a minimum of 60,000 persons to Duval Street for the event.

The City however has no control over the bars and restaurants. Many have their own parties/celebrations in the evenings. Several major bar events will be going on each evening.

Visitors will come to Key West just to attend those parties. Big time adult fun. Which will cause COVID to party also. I have a feeling 2-3 weeks following Fantasy Fest, the numbers of newly afflicted will rise in Key West and the home towns of those who came to party.

Some may come to die.

Enjoy your day!

Whenever I have mentioned the Supreme Court this year, the responses have been powerful. There is a growing sense of dislike, discomfort, fear, of the Court. Understandably so.

This past week I decided to write about the present members of the Court one at a time. Randomly. The first was Associate Justice Anthony Alito. The responses to the blog the strongest I have received to any subject.

People have become aware of what once was the silent branch of government. They have come to realize the immense power the Court has. They realize the power is unbridled and can do harm instead of good.

Today’s blog concerns the Supreme Court again.

New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd wrote an opinion piece on the Court 10/9/21. Titled: The Supreme Court v. Reality. Dowd closely follows the court. This is one of many articles she has written on the subject.

Today’s blog is a series of quotes taken from her most recent article.

“Ordinarily staid and silent Supreme Court justices have become whirling and dervishes of late, spinning madly to rebut the idea that Americans are beginning to regard the court as a dangerous cabal of partisan hacks.’

“No one is beginning to think that. Many of us have thought that for a long time.”

“Supreme Court justices in the words of Shakespeare “doth protest too much, methinks.”

“Bloom came off the robe” in 2000 when the court “threw the game on Bush v. Gore, voting 5-4 to stop the Florida recount and anoint a Republican president.”

Bush gave us “20 years of quicksand in Afghanistan.” A disaster in many ways. Friday’s headline: “Son of Afghanistan’s former Defense Minister buys $20.9 million Beverly Hills mansion.”

“The right wing justices may as well embrace their reputation for hackery…..in this blockbuster year” with abortion and second amendment on the table “they are going to make rulings that will drive people crazy, rulings that will be out of sync with what most Americans believe.”

“So please, conservative cabal, don’t pretend you’re not doing this out of ideology.”

“America, can we have term limits? Justices should not be on the court for 30 years, or into their late 80s.”

“Chief Justice Roberts, who did not want the court to be seen as too extreme, has lost control because there are five more rabid conservatives running over him.”

“Ignore the charade of the parade of justices protesting that they are pure and neutral Nobody’s buying it. We all know it’s a disaster if the country’s going one way and the court’s going the other.”

“The Least Dangerous Branch, as the court was once known, has become the Most Dangerous Branch.”

Some of Maureen Dowd’s thoughts from yesterday. She is right on.

Problems at the Supreme Court level grow each day and metastasize like cancer. The time for solutions at hand. The usual ones may not work. Time to start thinking outside the box.

Enjoy your Sunday!