Hitler began his air blitz of London this day in 1940. His intent was to bomb the Brits into submission. It didn’t work. The blitz lasted 8 months. Hitler finally gave up when he began losing more planes than the British. He redirected his air power to the Russian front where he sorely needed help.

Jimmy Buffett still on my mind. We are poorer for his loss.

Lee. Expected to become a hurricane today. Became a Category 1 yesterday. Expected to become stronger friday. Maybe a Category 5. Even before it makes landfall anywhere.

I watched the TV hearing in Atlanta before Judge Scott McAfee to determine if the Cheseboro and Powell cases should be tried together. The two had asked for “speedy trials.”

I was unimpressed with Judge McAfee during the some 3 hours of attorney arguments. The Judge asked a ton of “what if” questions that were all over the place. I thought what a disaster this Judge is going to be.

His decision changed my mind. Instead of reserving and issuing a written decision down the road, he decided immediately from the Bench. Try the cases together. Everything else he raised during the 3 hours, extraneous bullshit.

I was impressed. No wasting of time decision making. Decide and move on. The way the matter should be handled.

Mexico’s Supreme Court upheld abortion rights nationwide. Mexican judges apparently more prone to the will of the people. Doubt any are taking free plane and yacht trips and vacationing on someone else’s tab. I would be surprised if any free loaders are on the Mexican Court.

Another DeSantis “winning move.” He ordered flags flown at half mast two years ago when  Rush Limbaugh died. He did not do so this past weekend when Jimmy Buffett died.

Limbaugh was divisive and a hate monger. Buffet a warm happy guy who spread good feelings.

Moms for Liberty a sick group. The organization’s name misleading. DeSantis sick. Both bad for Florida and U.S. citizens.

DeSantis recently appointed Tina Descovich, Moms for Liberty co-founder, to the Florida Commission on Ethics.

Moms for Liberty is an American conservative group that advocates against school curricula that mention LGBTQ rights, race and ethnicity, critical race theory, and discrimination. Multiple chapters have also campaigned to ban books that address gender and sexuality from school libraries. The group are extremists.

Never left the house yesterday. Hit with a bout of tiredness. Hopefully today will be better. Morning better so far.

Enjoy your day!

Famous saying…..You do the crime, you do the time.

Another way of saying, people suffer the consequences of their own acts. Break the rules, punishment follows.

Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio was sentenced yesterday to 22 years for the January 6 Capitol riots. The longest sentence to anyone yet.

Next, the political leaders. Trump and his group. They deserve that which ultimately will be their fate. Especially those who planned the day before on January 5 in a room at the Willard Hotel. It’s their time!

Tropical Storm Lee. Expected to be a hurricane thursday. A bigger one friday.

Lee is approaching the southeast U.S. Curving north. At the moment, looks like it will avoid Key West and the Keys. Cannot be certain, however. Hurricanes are fickle. You never know when their path will change. We’ll know by the weekend.

South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh is entitled to a new trial if the accusations of jury tampering by a court clerk are correct. Details of the purported tampering are all over the media. I’m not going into them here. However if true, he is definitely entitled to a new trial. You will recall he was convicted of murdering his wife and sentenced to two consecutive life terms.

Section Three of the 14th Amendment continues to be in the news. Former federal Judge Michael Luttig commented on Section Three again on a sunday talk show. He said the Supreme Court is likely soon to determine whether Trump is eligible to run for President in 2024, even before primaries are held. Cases are in the works all over the country to challenge Trump’s eligibility based on his insurrectional activities leading up to January 6 and thereafter.

I was the first to comment on Section Three following The Hill and law review articles. I even suggested Judge Luttig’s opinion should be sought. Now everyone is commenting.

Netanyahu has unquestionably gone totalitarian. Authoritarian at every level. He has transformed the Israeli government. The U.S. will look like the Israel of today if Trump is reelected.

Far right Jewish supremacists have taken over in Israel. Such is why there have been previously unheard of street demonstrations in the thousands by Israeli citizens protesting Netanyahu’s changing the way the Israeli court system works and other matters. The far right Jewish supremacists want to control everything, with no concern for the people.

Netanyahu is trying to sell a bill of goods to Biden and Saudi Arabia. His aim is to make both “his useful idiots.”

Beware, Biden! Beware, Saudi Arabia! Netanyahu has gone totally power crazy. He is not normal, nor is the government he leads.

Bess Levin continues to call them as she sees ’em. Her recent Vanity Fair article of 9/5  makes a point: Donald Trump’s Coconspirators Have Started Throwing Him Under The Bus.

She writes: “The thought of prison time is apparently testing the ex-President’s demands for total loyalty.”

Trump is not worth going to jail for.

It was happy hour at The Grand last night. A lively crowd. A good time.

The Grand’s local special of half price for everything during August was apparently successful. It has been extended for September.

Matt bartending. A good guy. I joined Steve, Cindy and Christine. Ate little. Enjoyed mussels in a red slightly spicey sauce. Dunkin’ good. Soft bread came with it.

A fellow stopped by and asked if I was Key West Lou. He introduced himself. Brett Garland from Arkansas. Nice guy. He wanted to thank me for the blog. He has been reading it for years. I find these moments embarrassing. Do however enjoy receiving the compliment. We chatted briefly. Hope I run into him again while he is here.

He was with his brother Blake who he introduced me to.

Sitting to my right at the bar was a couple. Did not know them. We began chatting. Locals. They have lived in Key West 7 years. Originally from Buffalo. I mentioned Utica and that got the conversation going. They are Kevin and Tammy. Very pleasant people.

We chatted quite a while. So much so that when I turned around to say something to Steve, he and Cindy were getting ready to leave.

Kevin asked if we could have dinner together sometime. I look forward to hearing from them. 

My plan is to visit Donna at the hospital today. I hope she is well enough to receive visitors.

Enjoy your day!

Jimmy Buffett…..Random thoughts and observations.

The whole nation is “celebrating” his passing. Not for a day. It is ongoing.

“Wasting away again in Margaritaville” is a lifestyle. Such is why persons such as myself opted to live here.

A piece of information from this morning’s Keys Citizen: The Margaritaville cafe on the Las Vegas strip is the top grossing restaurant in the Nation.

Key West not the only locale reacting to Buffett’s death. Nationwide. Cities like New Orleans parading and singing. Ninety thousand at the Alabama/Middle Tennessee State football game singing Margaritaville. Chicago Cubs special 7th inning stretch tribute. Paul McCartney singing. Kenny Chesney coming to Key West to sing his good byes. Everyone happy! Paying credit to a man who made them happy.

I still feel sad. An occasional tear appearing.

Everything amazing!

On this day in 1698, Russia’s Peter the Great imposed a tax on beards. It was part of the Tsar’s effort to bring Russian society in line with European models. To enforce the ban, he empowered police to forcibly and publicly shave those who refused to pay the tax.

Would DeSantis try such a thing to increase tax revenues?

Mother Theresa died this day in 1997 in Calcutta, India, at the age of 97. Took her a long time to meet God face to face. He probably permitted her to remain alive on Earth to continue doing her unique good…..God’s will, God’s way.

The Grand for Happy Hour today. I have not been out since friday.

Enjoy your day!

A parade was scheduled for 5 pm last night on Duval Street for Jimmy Buffett. Described as a “tribute,” not a mourning. Turned out to be a CELEBRATION! Thousands marching, walking, standing, singing! 

The parade itself was headed by Howard Livingston and a band. Followed by 2,500 marching along singing Buffett tunes. They began at Front Street, ended the parade at Truman Avenue. The curbsides along the way crowded with even more people. The procession stopped in front of the restaurant and bar of Margaritaville in the 500 block of Duval. Buffett’s first restaurant in Key West, his first anywhere.

I was not present. Never left home. I knew Duval would be crowded. I can’t handle walking more than a block. The mass of people would have crushed me. Knew it would be too much for me. What I am relating is from information Steve Thompson provided in a phone call after everything had concluded.

Steve and Cindy were here in the early 1970’s when Buffett arrived. 

Margaritaville is special for Cindy. She worked there for Buffett in the bar’s early days. Thereafter she moved to his offices on the second floor of the Kress Building above Fast Buck Freddie’s for a few decades working as part of Buffett’s office operations as he built his dynasty.

Steve started the evening at the Chart Room at 5 when it opened. He said by 5:10, the place was packed like sardines. People singing and toasting Buffett.

Steve said he knew no one in the Chart Room. No locals. All tourists.

It was the same along Duval to Margaritaville. A few locals at Margaritaville. Very few. 

Following Duval, he and Cindy moved onto the outside back bar at Louie’s Backyard. Locals galore! Many familiar faces.

Steve reports the evening was truly celebratory. A special time to honor a man who honored everyone in the way he remembered them in his songs.

If there is another place, I can envision Buffett playing and singing for everyone as soon as he arrived. Thousands upon thousands listening and cheering him. The good Lord looking over at him, smiling, and saying…..That’s my boy!

Social Security’s annual cost of living adjustment should be announced any day. It is expected to be 3 percent.

A Judge struck down Florida’s Congressional Map on saturday. He ruled it violated the Florida Constitution by diminishing the influence of Black voters. In my words, cheated Blacks. He ordered the Florida Legislature “to enact a new map which complies with the Florida Constitution.”

The first test of Section Three of the 14th Amendment questioning whether Trump was barred from running for public office again because of insurrectionist activities failed. Judge Robin Rosenberg ruled that Florida tax attorney Lawrence Caplan had no “standing” to challenge another individual’s qualifications to hold public office. He lacked “standing.”

Interestingly, I raised the “standing” issue last week in a blog. I believe a Section Three challenge requires a public officer to make it. I was correct.

The decision does not mean the 14th Amendment does not apply. It merely advises the wrong person tried to enforce it. There are other lawsuits pending which will test the issue.

Note the speed with which this case was decided. One week! The way all Trump cases should be decided instead of taking forever.

Note further the Judge involved was not a Trump appointee. He was appointed by Obama.

Diana Nyad’s story has been made into a film: Nyad. The story of the 64 year old woman who swam from Havana to Key West. Stars Annette Bening. The movie will hit select theaters October 20.

Nyad has become a Key West icon and friend since her successful crossing. A plaque honors the event on Smathers Beach where she landed.

Today is Labor Day. It has a particular consequence for the Keys: Death and destruction. The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935.

A Category 5. The biggest to hit the Keys up to that time. Struck between Long Key and lower Matecumbe Key. Today, mile markers 73-90 on U.S. 1. Wind 200 mph. Tide 20 feet above normal. Four hundred eighty five killed. Most workers on the Overland Highway living in tents.

Survivors remain who are now in their 90’s. One described how the winds ripped the skin off peoples’ ears and clothes off their bodies. Survivors were without clothes for days.

Enjoy the holiday!

Key West is mourning Jimmy Buffett in song.

Respect spreads throughout the city. His songs can be heard everywhere. City Hall has speakers outside playing his greatest hits. At 5 today, a procession will begin at Duval and Front Streets and proceed down Duval to Truman Avenue. I wouldn’t be surprised if the marchers sing Buffett tunes as they walk along. The parade will stop at his Margaritaville restaurant and boutique on the way to Truman. Key West city offices are flying flags at half mast. 

Again, it’s called RESPECT.

Buffett got his start in Key West at the Chart Room. David Wolkowsky gave him his chance. Told Buffet he could stand in the corner and play and sing. Compensation tips only.

The tips only thing did not last long. Wolkowsky knew a good thing when he saw and heard it. He began paying Buffett.

Their relationship developed over the years. They made real estate purchases together. Two of Key West’s greatest citizens achieving economic success together.

The cause of Buffett’s death has been revealed. Buffett died from skin cancer which metastasized into lymphoma.

DeSantis’ lack of class revealed itself during Biden’s Florida hurricane visit. It also reflected DeSantis’ lack of respect for the Office of the Presidency. 

Biden is the person who can do the most for Florida’s hurricane victims. Federal dollars far exceed what a State can provide. Billions are needed.

Recall Hurricane Sandy and New Jersey. Sandy did a job on New Jersey. Chris Christie was New Jersey governor at the time. He met with President Obama when Obama came to New Jersey.

Republicans severely criticized Christie for the meeting. Christie took no guff. He made it clear the first thing involved was respect. Especially when a President took the time to visit and consult with him re damage control. Christie understood federal bucks were desperately needed to solve New Jersey’s problems at the time. And resolve them swiftly. Christie was happy to meet with a political adversary in order to effectively help the hurt people they both represented. And to give President Obama the credit he deserved.

Not DeSantis’ way, however. Respectfully, his brains are in his ass! Presidential timber he is not!

Bill Richardson died yesterday at age 75. 

A distinguished public servant. A fine politician. I was always sorry he did not serve as President. He would have been a “great.”

He was a two term Governor of New Mexico, Ambassador to the United Nations, and Energy Secretary. He truly distinguished himself by helping to free Americans detained by foreign governments. He had a talent for being especially successful in that regard. His most recent success was the release of basketball star Brittney Griner from Russian detention.

The Atlantic is running an excellent Opinion piece: The End Will Come For The Cult Of Maga. The reason: “The next generation isn’t buying it.”

The article by Peter Sagal is recommended reading.

Neo-Nazis marched through a park in Altamonte, Florida, Saturday shouting: “We’re everywhere!” They were dressed in red shirts, carrying Nazi flags, and raising “Heil Hitler” salutes.

Two groups involved. The Goyim Defense League and the Blood Tribe. They are planning further marches in “high visibility locations” to attract as much public and media attention as possible.

My lesbian wife Donna Barnett had emergency surgery yesterday. A lengthy one here at the Lower Keys Medical Center. I am having difficulty understanding her problem. Concerned colon blockage and a bladder problem. She will be wearing a bag from now on.

She has been having breathing problems since the surgery. Terri advises no visitors for 3 days at least because of the breathing situation.

The whole thing a big time sad!

Syracuse beat Colgate in its opening game yesterday. Walloped Colgate 65-0.

I’m glad the Syracuse victory was so decisive. Syracuse, both in football and basketball, has been losing these warm up games early in the season. Somehow such results cause the entire season to suck. Hopefully this year will be different.

It’s Syracuse/Western Michigan next Saturday.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Jimmy Buffett died yesterday at 76. He is physically gone. However, his spirit will live on forever.

Buffett put Key West on the map. Made it famous. Margaritaville and Cheeseburger in Paradise will will still be popular a hundred years from now.

I never met the man. I do know however Cindy Thompson who I frequently mention. She worked for Jimmy Buffett for some 40 years. I extend my deepest personal condolences to her.

So much for today.

A 57 year old Conch Key man high on methamphetamine was arrested for attempted murder. His victim a 27 year old female roommate who he shot at and missed.

The Sheriff’s office recovered from his apartment a 5.56 caliber rifle, .22 caliber rifle, 7.62 caliber rifle, .357 caliber revolver, 9 mm handgun, 12 gauge shotgun, and an assortment of ammunition. (If these numbers are off, I take no responsibility. I know nothing about guns. The gun descriptions were lifted by me from this morning’s Keys Citizen.)

Why would anyone need that much firepower? Going on a “fish shooting” expedition? Doesn’t make sense.

The COVID of the Civil War. In the month of August 1862, yellow fever killed 20 members of the 90th New York Regiment and another 27 in the Marine Hospital in Key West.

On this day in 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland. The event is regarded as the start of World War II.

Esteemed Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz is 85 today. We are political opposites. I am proud to say however that he is an occasional reader of my blog.

The Key West of the early 1970’s returns in a film recollection of the time by Tom McGuane and Jimmy Buffett. The film All That Is Sacred. A 34 minute movie starring McGuane and Buffett had its premier at the Telluride Film Festival this past weekend. It shows Key West as a small remote island that was a hotbed for one of the last counterculture art scenes, a combination of prose and music.

The movie has been described as “strong.” Highly emotional.

Governor Abbott and Texas are unbridled terrorists as they undertake a State plan for Houston schools. Libraries are being removed and replaced with “discipline centers.” Some 40 libraries are involved.

It is inconceivable to me how libraries can be considered a negative. Those responsible for the change have to be dumb. Replacing libraries with rooms to hold students being disciplined for various reasons. Libraries provide students with the opportunities to learn, travel, dream, etc. It is difficult for me to comprehend an educational facility lacking libraries. 

What the hell is going on with electric bills in Florida? DeSantis made it possible for electric rates to shoot up 20 percent this year. A major jump.

On average, Florida residents spend about $289 per month on electricity. My bills have been in the $190 range so perhaps I should not complain. However, I do. Even $190 is too much!

The Florida $289 per month average is one third higher than the national average.

Disgraceful!

DeSantis does not seem perturbed. He is receiving large contributions from the electric companies. Makes it appear the Washington swamp DeSantis complained of while campaigning for Governor has reached Tallahassee.

The Thai Island bar at cocktail time yesterday was packed. Joined Steve, Cindy and Ellen. Tammy, also. Tammy had been boating with the ladies. Ran into Brad and Cheryl again. Met them for the first time last friday.

Brad and Cheryl relatively new to Key West. Spent 2019 here. Then left. Returned 3 months ago. Both boaters. They own a 50 foot Gulfstream 50 Ketch sailboat which they live on in its mooring at Garrison Bight. By day, Brad works as a tour captain with Lagerheads Water Sports. Brad can be reached at Lagerheadswatersports.com to arrange trips. His personal phone number is 305-619-1974.

Brad and Cheryl do not live alone. Their Jack Russel named Leo is with them. I should introduce Leo to Jake.

Brad and Cheryl are originally from Birmingham, Michigan. High school sweethearts. They have been married 47 years. Two children.

Just spoke with Steve. We will be back at Thai Island this evening.

Enjoy your day!