One police shooting after another. We forget the other kind. Ordinary people killing ordinary people. Lay persons shooting in schools and churches. Random street shootings.

This one is sick. Sick, sick. I don’t know how else to describe it.

The shooting death of an 11 month old baby girl Dior. Her shooting inexplicable.

Sunday night in Syracuse, New York. Three children in the back seat of a car. Eleven month old Dior and two other children 8 and 3 years old.

Dior’s mother Desiree. Not in the car. The car was being driven by her cousin Shakema.

Shakema reported a car pulled up along side her. The window on the the car’s passenger side rolled down. She could see a man look back into her car between the front and back seats.

The man suddenly began firing a gun into the back seat.

Eleven month old Dior was shot 3 times. She died. The other two children were also shot. They are expected t0 survive.

The car then drove away.

Dior’s mother Desiree is expecting May 11. She passed out three times upon being made aware of her baby daughter’s death. Desiree would have been one year old in 18 days.

A suspect has been arrested. A 23 year old man. No further details available at this time.

We are a sick society. Alleged good people like police officers shooting good non police citizens. Persons going on a rampage and shooting wildly inside schools and churches. Incomprehensible killings such as 11 month old Dior’s.

It’s only getting worse. Will it ever stop? Not soon, I fear. Perhaps, never.

A police officer not knowing the difference between a taser and a gun. How can it be? Not an infrequent occurrence as it turns out. News reports this morning indicate such.

The most recent such shooting occurred in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Ten miles from where the Chauvin police killing is being tried.

In another stupid traffic stop involving excessive police force, Daunte Wright was killed. The police officer saying she thought she was tasering him.

I am coming to the conclusion that a bad cop is being equated to the saying there is always a bad apple in every basket. My thought process is there may be only one good cop in the basket.

The police traffic stop in Windsor,Virginia late December. Recently came to light because the Army Lieutenant involved has brought a federal case against the police officers involved.

Carson Nazario is a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He was driving a new SUV. Cardboard plates on the vehicle. The rear one taped to the back window.The Lieutenant was waiting for the metal ones to arrive.

He was in uniform.

Two police officers spotted him. They claim they went after him because of “no tags.” Erroneous based on the facts.

The Lieutenant I suspect was “Black smart.” It was dark where the police were trying to get him to stop. He put on his emergency lights and drove 1 1/2 miles till he came to a brightly lit gasoline station.

While there, he was pepper sprayed and held at gun point. Cops screaming at him. Later the police officers said they considered the situation a “high risk traffic stop.” Covering their asses.

The facts suggest it was 2 white police officers chasing a vehicle which had a black person operating it. When finally stopped, the police treated the Second Lieutenant in uniform as they did other black drivers.

No ticket given nor an arrest made. The police advised the Lieutenant not to make any trouble, etc. or they would charge him with something and ruin his military record in the process.

Police excessive force a story which has become part of the American landscape in the last 20 years.

The island of St. Vincent has experienced several volcanic eruptions this past week. People have been told to evacuate. Cruise ships are arriving to take them off the island.

The Prime Minister advised that those who have not received the coronavirus vaccine will not be evacuated. Some were those who did not consider the vaccine safe or for some other odd ball reason refused to be vaccinated.

Which means those not vaccinated will be left to fend for themselves. Not a welcoming thought when poisonous smoke, hot ash and even hotter lava is feared will cover the island

Nora O’Donnell on CBS Evening News reported: “We went from vaccine passports being a conspiracy theory to ‘fuck you die’ so fast.”

A message to those in the U.S. who refuse to be vaccinated. If an emergency situation as has arisen on St. Vincent occurs here, you will be left on the ocean in a row boat without a paddle.

On this day in 1992, The Bridges of Madison County was published. A modern day Romeo and Juliet with its lovers older people. A big seller!

A movie followed. Starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep.

A massive power outage yesterday. 3.5 hours in late morning into early afternoon. Another one around dinner time for 1.5 hours.

I had nothing. I hate it when that happens. Especially when the computer is down. I am one of those who is constantly on the internet.

A friend cell phoned me from New York. Hey, understand you have a big power failure. Thirty thousand affected. Covers the lower half of the Keys.

He was not aware as to the cause. It had not been reported.

I told him the problem arose because of one of two reasons. Either a car or truck on U.S. 1 had driven into some power facility. Or, a boat got screwed up in the power wires under or near the Seven Mile Bridge. Both happen frequently.

Turned out a sail boat got caught up in the power wires at the Seven Mile Bridge. Live in the Keys long enough and you know about such things. Their frequency makes you aware.

It was reported the winds and waters were a bit rough and the sailboat could not be removed yesterday. Winds 40 mph. Whipped up the ocean a bit.

Being out sunday must have been too much for me. Never got out yesterday.

My game plan was to go out at 5. A few stops downtown. Drinks and dinner. Meet interesting people to chat with.

What happened is I laid down at 3 for a nap. Never woke till 7. Still had to shave, etc. and drive to Duval. I would not be there till 8:30.

I am early to bed and early to rise. Would not have worked for me.

Today is tuesday. My blog talk radio show tonight. I will be working on it from about 2 this afternoon till 8 in the evening. I never go out on a tuesday.

Join me for the show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou. Love doing the show which I am proud to say has an excellent following.

Enjoy your day!

Yesterday was the day! Out of the house and out and about after 412 days of self-quarantine.

It was 3 in the afternoon. I was excited. Opened the door and stepped outside. Almost turned around and went back in.  The humidity was horrendous. Heavy! I then recalled humidity begins being heavy after Easter.

My first stop was COLLECTIONS Key West. An art gallery. Read about it in one of locals last week. COLLECTIONS was having an open house Sunday from 1-6.

Location on Stock Island. Stock Island not necessarily known for art galleries. I telephoned the number on the ad. Talked to some woman. She instructed me to park at Hogfish. Then walk back behind Hogfish till I saw two red doors.

I had never been to the back of Hogfish. A different world.

Signs made it possible to find COLLECTIONS easily. The walk back was quite a distance for me and my cane, however. Especially on stones.

Reached my destination. Second floor. Met charming Karen Wray, one of the owners.

I was taken by what she had available. If you want to experience something different in a different setting, visit COLLECTIONS. Telephone for an appointment. 305-923-4778.

It was a turn on for me. It was old Key West. Old!

The paintings, wood work and artifacts primarily from a different time. Even the room was special. Wood walls. Not sure what kind. Whatever, added to my viewing pleasure.

Karen knowledgeable and pleasant . Enjoyed talking with her.

Her husband did much of the wood pieces available for sale. Karen told me his workshop was about 100 feet away. Stop in. I did.

No one there. Doors wide open.

I was impressed with the machinery and tools. Her husband must be a wood master. I have known a few men capable of good work with wood. I was familiar with what a master’s place would look. This one looked that way. I could vision the man after he was working with a piece taking his hand and rubbing it along the piece he was working on.

My trip back to the car was a bit difficult. I went the wrong way. Zigged when I should have zagged. All I could see was a marina with boats. Most big. Could not see Hogfish. I was somewhere out in the Atlantic.

Fortunately ran into a couple. They set me straight. I was going in the wrong direction.

Something else that was appealing. The structure behind Hogfish is from another era, also. Wild!

When I reached the car, I noticed I was not tired. Surprising. Note that I have not been out of the house in over a year except for doctor and hospital visits. Each time was able to park 50-100 feet away.

Drove to the Pier House. Surprised the traffic on U.S. 1, the Boulevard and Eaton Street was light. Half of what I expected. Pulled into the Pier House. Parking lot half empty. Walked to the Chart Room. Knew it had not opened yet.

Sad to see it closed.

Hit the Beach Bar. Knew I would find Janine. A 20 year fixture there.

A beautiful woman!

We chatted a bit. Told her I was looking for Tammy. She was not sure where. Could be Sloppy Joe’s or the Ocean Key bar by the water.

Another long walk to the Ocean Key bar. Tammy and I saw each other at the same time. She ran around the bar and gave me a big hug. Love her!

The bar half empty. I was concerned about seating. Did not want to be near anyone. Took a seat with the guy to my left 6 feet away. To my right, 3 empty seats close together. Close to where I was sitting.

A young couple eventually sat down. He was right next to me. Like 2 feet away. Then he started talking to me. He was breathing on me!

My mask was off because I was enjoying my first drink in months. A Hendrick’s. They did not  have Beefeater.

Now the fun started for me. People to talk with!

Tammy introduced me to her two cohorts working with her. They returned frequently to chat. I also engaged with the people on both sides of me.

The guy to my left was from Ohio. Probably in his 60s. Our conversation was golf. The Masters and some of the players.

Talked to the couple on my right. Young. From Wisconsin. Down for the weekend. They were happy to be here. This had to be the trip of a lifetime for them. Their enthusiasm was obvious.

They return home today.

I asked where they were eating last night. They had reservations at Bagatelle. Told them a great choice. Excellent food. They would enjoy.

They were thrilled to hear my words. Apparently they were not certain if they had selected a good restaurant.

Sitting at the bar and talking with people made me feel good. Something I have been doing for over 20 years in Key West. It was as if I had returned home.

Then the walk back to my car. Not a short one.

Drove to Lisa’s. First time I have been allowed in the house in 412 days.She did not want to be in my home and I was not to be in hers. The coronavirus fear. I understood.

I stayed only 5 minutes. I was welcomed! Even Jake was thrilled to see me.

Then home. I was only out and about for 3 hours. Surprised I was not tired from all the walking. Though I must admit I slept well last night.

Mask wearing. What mask wearing? I wore mine. I would be surprised if even 5 percent of the people I saw were wearing masks.

Stayed in last night. Watched the end of the Masters and then a movie. I felt good. Did not want to spoil the feeling by overdoing.

An interesting factor. I did not feel for a moment as if I were returning somewhere after a long time away. It was like I had been out and about the day before.

Obviously did not see anyone I knew other than those already mentioned. Many have left. Some working in different places. I will catch up with many by week’s end.

Spoke with Jean Thornton in Birmingham this morning. She and Joe are flying in wednesday for a month’s stay. It will be good to see them. My benefactors for 12 days when I escaped Irma.

I plan on being out again tonight. Where, I know not.

Enjoy your day!

This is the day! After 412 days, my self-quarantine ends!

I have received both shots and waited 2 weeks before going out.

I am excited.

I’m even going to shave. My last shave was a few weeks ago.

My intent is to start out with a visit to an art gallery I’ve never been to before. Then find an open air bar to have a drink. I have no idea what will follow.

My father’s birthday was yesterday. Born in 1914, he would have been 107 years old.

He did not quite make it. Passed on 9 years ago at 98. Not bad!

He was in relatively good shape till the end.

Longevity seems to run in my Dad’s family. Hopefully, it is a part of me. My grandfather made it to 94. My father’s sister my Aunt Mary to 102.

Later years are interesting. I find I am my father. I am were he was at 85. Not just physically and mentally. Disposition wise also.

Happy birthday, Dad!

In addition to being a unique story, what follows is also a happy one. It involves superfetation. Never heard the word till I read the story.

Superfetation is where a woman gets pregnant while already pregnant. The mother here ended up having “twins.”

Superfetation is not common. The last study done was in 2008. Up to that time there had been less than 10 such births ever.

Jenna Romaine wrote the article. It was published in Changing America 4/9/21. I highly recommend you go to it for no other reason that to view a photo the very young twins today. A touching sight.

Basically, the story involves a U.K. woman. Thirty nine yeas old. Never pregnant before. She and her husband had been trying. She was undergoing fertility treatments at the time she became pregnant. Her doctor and others in the medical profession have said the fertility treatments had nothing to do with the double pregnancy.

The woman conceived a second baby 3 weeks after conceiving the first. Her obstetrician Dr. David Weller said, “It just doesn’t happen.” He has been delivering babies for 25 years and never came across a similar story.

The first sonogram showed a single fetus. The second was done 12 weeks later. Twins! Medical staff and parents surprised!

Technically, the babies are not twins. Merely described that way. They are separate pregnancies where a woman already pregnant conceives a second time.

When a woman gets pregnant, her body undergoes hormonal changes that impede her conceiving a second time.

Obviously not the case here. Instead of ovulation stopping, the mother released another egg 3-4 weeks later, which miraculously fertilized and implanted in her uterus.

The exact cause of such an occurrence not known.

The second baby is actually 3 weeks younger than the first.

The doctors were concerned the second baby would not survive. The 3 week difference affects rate of development.

A typical delivery time is 40 weeks.

The umbilical cord of the fetus of the second baby was not functioning correctly. A Caesarian had to be performed.

All’s well that ends well. Noah is the older. He spent 3 weeks in neonatal intensive care. His sister Rosalie, the second. She spent 95 days.

Both are home now and thriving.

Again, the picture accompanying the article must be seen. So beautiful! So Moving!

No age is attached to the photo. I would suggest the babies are 4-5 months at best. Noah is one third larger than his sister.

The photo shows them laying next to each other. They are holding hands. The mother said they do it automatically when laid down next to each other.

I have twin grandsons. Now in their early thirties. When young, they did strange things that only could be attributed to their having been close together for nine months.

Trump invited a group of big dollar donors to Mar-a-Lago last night. In his 50 minute speech, he was Trump 100 percent.

He called McConnell a “dumb son of a bitch.” He was “disappointed” in Mike Pence. He called last year’s Presidential election a “fraud.” He mocked Tony Fauci.

One thing you can say for Trump, he’s consistent.

Enjoy your Sunday! I hope I do mine!

It is claimed Winston Church made the greatest speech in modern history.

It was June 4, 1940, The British were trapped at Dunkirk and facing annihilation. His own party lost confidence in his leadership and urged him to sue for peace with Hitler. Churchill stood alone with the British people.

Churchill addressed Parliament that historic day. He thundered he and the British people would fight “on the landing grounds, and in the streets, and on the beaches, and in the fields, and in the hills. England will never surrender!”

Courageous words at a time when England was at its lowest ebb.

Years later, John Kennedy shared his impression of Churchill’s words: “He marshaled the English language and sent it off into battle.”

One of Hemingway’s better remembered statements: “An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools.”

Hits home for me!

For years, friday night was couples night. My former wife and I would go to dinner with two other couples. The people and conversation always the same. The conversation never deviated.

The ladies were close friends and pretty much dominated the conversation.

It became too much for me. The solution came soon. When we arrived where ever we were to eat, I had 3 Beefeaters on the rocks in rather rapid succession. Followed by at least 2 more during dinner.

No problems! I handled these evenings for years afterwards. Smiled through dinner. Uttered an occasional yes , how wonderful, really?

Made it through the night. Hemingway was absolutely correct.

Truman loved Key West and Key West loves Truman. How many times do I say it! Never boring. Always true.

On this day in 1950, Truman returned to Washington after a month’s rest in the Key West sunshine. Good for him!

McConnell was quick to respond to Biden’s friday announcement that he was appointing a Commission to study the Supreme Court.

McConnell came back with a swift statement that Biden’s move was a “direct assault on an independent judiciary!”

Makes me laugh.

McConnell is a whore. He speaks through both sides of his mouth on every issue. He led the war for 10 yeas to pack the Court from the Republican perspective. He accomplished it. The Court now is 6-3 with conservatives in control.

McConnell was open about his aim over the years. His party and many conservative groups wee constantly lauding him.

There is nothing democratic about a Court overloaded with members of one party. The correct mix should be 4-4 with the 9th jurist a swing vote. Like rolling dice to achieve.

The Democrats cannot permit the Court to remain as it is. Neither fair, balanced nor democratic. Unless some sort of packing is permitted, what Congress and the President may want to do is meaningless. The Court will continue to be the final arbiter leaning to the conservative right in most instances.

Note that a 9 member Court is not sacrosanct. There have been differing numbers in different periods of American history.

Last night was Cocktails at 7 with Cathy in Seattle. It had been a bit of time since we last met via Skype.

As usual, pleasant. Nice lady.

We touched on many subjects. Nothing boring.

Occasionally cooking becomes a topic. She has cooked her whole life. I am a newbie at it. She has helped me with many of the simple things like how to defrost frozen meats and fish, what to throw away out of the freezer after months of sitting there, how to prepare certain dishes, etc.

A new one came up last night.

Somehow we got into egg salad. I told her I did not like store bought. Nor did I enjoy making it myself. The egg boiling, cooling, removing the shells, was too much for me. Not from a labor sense. It forced me to do things that did not turn me on. Cathy came up with the solution! Buy already hard boiled and shelled eggs. Simple from that point forward to prepare egg salad.

The eggs Cathy recommended came with this morning’s grocery delivery. I plan on making egg salad this afternoon.

It amuses me how my years of legal training are of no value in my attempts at cooking.

Tomorrow a big day! A very big one! I am leaving the house. Going out into the world. Associating  with virus laden people.

Today marks my 411 day in self-quarantine. A good boy I have been.

I am now 2 weeks past the second shot. Doctor says go out and enjoy! Keep wearing a mask and social distancing wherever you can.

Enjoy your day!

A David and Goliath situation may be developing. Waste Management wants to increase its charges for residential and commercial waste hauling. Mid stream!

Waste Management has a 4 year contract. It ends this year. Its last day 12/31/21. Waste Management has advised the City it would like to increase it charges since whatever they are doing is bringing in insufficient funds.

The contract was negotiated in good faith. By both sides. A strange request. Waste Management is big business. If there is a problem at their end, they can absorb it. Key West cannot. It would result in a significant increase for trash removal neither side anticipated.

Key West residents have taken a massive beating this year due to COVID-19. Things are tough for the people of Key West, also. However Key West is not a deep pockets community that can absorb an increase at this time.

No way should the increase be agreed to. The City Commission must stand tall and reject Waste Management’s request.

Economists have consistently told us this year that the one percent made billions of dollars. Whereas the 99 percent zip. Waste Management should dip in its own pocket to take care of what is their problem.

Needless to say, negotiations for the new contract to cover beyond 12/31/21 will be interesting. The City Commission will be earning their pay with this one. Whatever, the City Commission should remain hard ass in negotiations and let the chips fall where they may. There is always another garbage collector out there who would love to have the Key West account.

Mom’s Tea Room in the news again. Mom’s was a happy whore house for years first in Key West and then on Stock Island. Mom’s popped up in the news this morning as part of Keys’ History. Mom’s Tea Room on Stock Island burned down this day in 1953.

Mom’s Key West operation initially was at 1016 Howe Street in Key West. She was closed down and moved to Stock Island.

Mom’s was owned by Mrs. Griffin aka Alice Reid. The Madam of Madams!

Mom’s was shut down several times. All at the behest of the U.S. Navy who thought the activity in the houses was immoral and a place where venereal disease was transmitted.

Local police did not care as the Navy did. In fact, nowhere on police books in both communities was Mom’s listed. Those were the days.

Two of Mom’s girls committed suicide. Cecilia Thompson Trunk in 1941 and Rita Brown 1952.

When arrested, Reid was charged the same each time. I mention it only because it fits into a sex scandal in our nation today. Reid use to import her working girls from out of state. Generally, Georgia. A federal crime. The charge was transportation across state lines for purposes of white slavery. “White slavery” referred to today merely as “sex.”

Keys residents care about “theirs.” Which includes fish in the oceans.

Tuesday, an 11 foot female sawfish weighing between 400-500 pounds was found dead near Marvin Key. The body was immediately transported to Port Chester, Florida to determine cause.

Sawfish are a protected species under the Endangered Species Act.

Had the sawfish been found alive but hurting, it still would have been sent to some facility with experts to care for her.

Matt Gaetz getting a lot of publicity recently. All of which it can be assumed he dislikes.

A most recent example of publicity involves a billboard on route 485 near Hub City. The billboard a picture of Gaetz with the following notation below it: “Matt Gaetz wants to ‘date’ your child.”

Marion Anderson is a famous Black singer of days gone by.

In 1939, she was denied use of Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. by  the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Anderson was one up on the white Daughters. She instead performed April 9, 1939 at the Lincoln Memorial.

Rudy Giuliani fueled many false stories during the campaign. Generally one percent truth. Everything else blatant falsehoods. Most of the ‘stories” told when he was Trump’s “personal attorney” and constantly in and out of the White House.

Georgia’s Lt. Governor blames Giuliani for the recent adverse voting legislation. He says Giuliani would sit for hours “blasting” Georgia legislative members with phony information re ballot fraud.

The legislative members bought it. The result the new legislation which is an insult to all Americans, white or black.

Recall John Boehner (R-Ohio) when he was Speaker of the House of Representatives. He was part of the group successful in impeaching President Clinton.

Boehner now several years into retirement. Wrote a memoir: “On the House: A Washington Memoir.” In it he clearly states he regrets not fighting against the impeachment: “I was not on board at the time, I won’t pretend otherwise. But I regret it now. I regret that I didn’t fight against it.”

Boehner claims Representative DeLay pushed for the impeachment. DeLay was #2 in the House at the time. He claimed the impeachment would help Republicans win more seats in the next election.

I have not enjoyed Cocktails at 7 in a while. Tonight a return to the festivity.

The lady in Seattle is Cathy. Cathy was visiting Key West 2 weeks ago. We have never met. We are pandemic virtual friends.

Carol wanted me to have dinner with her, etc. I refused, explaining my time in self-quarantine was not over. Ergo, I passed. Makes me wonder if the opportunity will ever arise again.

Enjoy your day!

Religion has been known to do more harm than good. From the Crucifixion of Christ to the Spanish Inquisition to the Crusades to the Salem Witch Hunt to religious conservative groups in modern day politics.

The Catholic Church a present day example.

Saving souls does not mean suppressing the vote in Georgia.

Major Catholic funders and power brokers are among those spearheading voter suppression efforts. Conservative Catholic philanthropists and pro-life leaders are key players behind efforts to limit voter access in a number of states.

Their efforts could obstruct the right to vote for economically marginal populations and racial minorities for years to come.

A number of Catholic organizations and donors pumped millions into the 2020 Presidential election and Georgia’s January Senate run offs.

The Catholic organizations and donors remind me of the inquisitors who sat in judgment of Joan of Arc. Hard headed and blind doing what they believe is God’s work.

In the wake of the 2020 Presidential election and Georgia’s January run offs for 2 Senate seats, a number of Catholic lead organizations and donors pumped millions of dollars into voter suppression efforts. Under the banner of “election integrity.”

Not all Catholic organizations and political donors are guilty. There are many who view voter suppression initiatives as a betrayal of Catholic values and a perpetuation of the false claims by Trump that the election was stolen.

The list of the anti-Christ types include organizations and persons whose names are not well known. The Susan B. Anthony List is one. A pro-life advocacy organization that together with other related entities committed to spending $52 million spearheading Trump’s pro-life activities in the 2020 election.

Individual donors sit on major public boards and those religiously based. Providing opportunities where from their own pockets or those of a board millions can legitimately be funneled into the coffers of those working to suppress voter participation laws.

Ernest Hemingway in the news big time in recent days. The PBS Ernest Hemingway 3 day 6 hour series Conversations with Hemingway one.

Notation by many that on this day in 1928, Hemingway and his wife Pauline arrived in Key West for the first time on the Peninsular & Occidental steamship from Havana. A 1 or 2 day visit turned into 10 years.

Eudie Pak wrote The Many Wives of Ernest Hemingway which was published in Biography 3/20/19. Pak did an update which was published in Biography 4/6/21. An interesting article.

As is well known, Hemingway in a career spanning almost 40 years enjoyed the company of 4 wives. Whether married or not, he was rarely without a woman by his side.

Hemingway’s 4 wives were Hadley Richardson, Pauline “Fife” Pfeiffer, Martha Gellhorn, and Mary Welsh.

Certain of the wives formed a bond. Wife #4 Mary Welsh described the “wife group” as “Hemingway University.”

Trump has finally spoken re Matt Gaetz. His comment was limited to he never discussed a pre-emptive pardon with Gaetz.

Trump believes he is the Almighty. Right or wrong, can do anything he wants.

He is doing it again. The repetitive credit card charges. Trump believes they are proper. He intends to begin using the same method once more to raise funds.

Not the best of mornings. I fell. Been a while since I have fallen. Stubbed my toe going up the stairs. I was almost to the top. I was carrying in one hand a large plastic glass containing a chocolate protein drink.

The drink is all over the carpet and on the wall. Ten feet high on the wall.

The wall doesn’t look bad. A Picasso.

Of course, I got hurt. My right knee bleeding. My head and neck ache. My forehead hit the wall and must have bent my head and neck back.

Tell you why this happened. A friend recently sent me a book on how to avoid falling. I began reading it. The subject matter not exciting in itself. I should have finished. I will now.

Too late to have helped me this morning, of course.

Enjoy your day!

Will we ever have true gun safety? Gun safety significantly better than today. Not merely something peddled as “gun safety.” A real move forward in correcting a problem contributing to the death of Americans every day.

Gun safety has a tendency to move backward when it should be moving forward. Iowa the latest example.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law permitting residents to buy and carry guns without permitting required.

Specifically, the law eliminated the requirement for law abiding Iowans to obtain a permit to purchase a hand gun from private non licensed sources. Additionally to carry a weapon, Iowans will no longer need to have a permit.

Big day in Sloppy Joe’s history!

On this day in 1935, Joe Russell moved his bar from one location to another. His original bar was on Greene Street, a few doors off Duval. Where Capt. Tony’s is located today.

Joe had a rental dispute with the landlord. He opted to move instead of paying the increase in rent.

The new location remains to this day the site of the world famous Sloppy Joe’s. Located on Duval at its intersection with Greene Street.

Joe’s friends, including Ernest Hemingway, helped him move. They participated in carrying everything from the old location to the new one.

There are so many Hemingway stories. Each pleasant in and of itself.

Hemingway said following the publication of A Farewell to Arms, “I rewrote the ending to Farewell to Arms, the last page of it, thirty nine times before I was satisfied.”

No wonder A Farewell to Arms and his other publications were so well received. Perfection in expression!

I am not happy with Joe Manchin. My disapproval for his methods is growing. He has become a squeaky wheel, power mover, and obstructionist. An opportunist as well. He immediately recognized the value of his one vote in a divided Senate and is using it to advance his causes, whatever they may be.

He is grabbing “the reins of history.” A phrase he once use in a statement regarding himself and West Virginia: “I want each and every West Virginian to have bragging rights. I want to stop playing defense and start playing offense. So, together, let us grab the reins of history.”

Matt Gaetz reminds me of the old Christian song that begins “Onward Christian soldiers.” Every day a new “fact” in his story.

I have wondered why Gaetz did not approach his “friend” Donald Trump for a pardon. Turns out he did. It was refused.

Wow! If Donald wouldn’t do something for him, who would?

Enjoy your day!

Frederic Remington still lives. Through his works. His art, sculpturing and writings will be as famous 100 years from now as they are today.

He is a Hemingway. Eternal. Both having had a connection to Key West. Though Hemingway’s time much longer.

Remington made his fame and fortune in the old west. A transplant of sorts. He was born and raised in Canton, New York. Near the Canadian border.

Cowboys, Indians, the land and its people simply stated turned Remington on. He loved painting the old west. He is best known to day for his sculptures of cowboys and Indians. Close your eyes and see a horse standing on his hind legs with a cowboy seated waving his hat.

Nothing is forever. By 1890, the old west was fading big time. Almost totally gone.

The 1890 massacre at Wounded Knee marked the last big clash between the U.S. Army and the Indians. By 1894, Remington stopped traveling west. Everything he had known was gone. It was a new day.

Remington spent time working in his studio in New Rochelle, New York. Whether a painting, sculpture or writing, all were done from memory.

Harper’s gave him an assignment which took him to Florida. His assignment was to write about Florida’s cowboys, cattle and the land.

He disliked all. None similar to the west of old. The cowboys did not sit tall in the saddle and appear to be tough guys. None the heroic images of he old west.

The cattle were not the husky animals he viewed on the western plains. Skinny in comparison. Remington described them as “scrawny creatures not fit for a pointer-dog to mess on.”

The land the worst comparison wise. No mountains, deserts and canyons. Only scrub lands.

He returned to New York. After a brief stay, an assignment arose which would take him to Key West and Cuba.

Tensions existed between the  U.S. and Spain. Spain owned Cuba. Cuban revolutionaries in the mountains were causing the Spanish havoc.

Remington first visited Key West in 1890. William Randolph Hearst owned the New York Journal. He sent a wirier by the name Richard Harding and Remington to Cuba. It took a while for them to make it. They were stuck in Key West for three weeks.

Hearst had the fastest speedboat in the world at the time. Called Vamoose. Vamoose was to take Harding and Remington from Key West to Havana for a meeting with revolutionaries.

Two reasons offered why the had difficulty getting to Cuba.

The ocean was rough. Three times the trip was attempted. Three times it could not make it and had to return to Key West. There is a second reason. The Spanish fleet had blockaded Havana harbor which prevented Vamoose from breaking through.

Only one of the two reasons is accurate. Historians are split. Some believe it was the blockade that prevented Harding and Remington from reaching Havana. A fact that Hearst’s ego and reputation could not stand. No way anyone or anything could stop Hearst from doing what he wanted.

Whatever, Harding and Remington eventually got to Cuba. They took the steam boat like everyone else.

The two spent 3 weeks in Key West attempting to make the trip to Cuba. It was a wonderful three weeks for them. Harding and Remington were “gentlemen” of the day. Brought all the social niceties of New York with them. When recollecting those 3 weeks, Remington referred to them as “three years.” Insinuating they wee that good.

They were guests at dinner parties, luncheons and informal receptions ashore and on war vessels. They were social hits! The ladies were fond of them. The two brought charm and comradeship with them. Relationships were made that lasted lifetimes.

Harding and Remington returned home.

Remington detested Key West itself. The people wonderful, the City not so. He called Key West a “dusty smelly bit of sandy coral, and the houses built like snare drums; they are dismal thoroughly, and the sun makes men sweat and wish to God they were somewhere else.”

Hearst sent Remington back to Key West. This time to await the Spanish-American War. As far as Hearst was concerned, it was inevitable.

Remington sat around for quite a while waiting for the war to begin. His job was to do illustrations of the fighting once it had commenced.

Hearst was rabble rousing the war in New York. He had the north in a pro-war frenzy. Remington while waiting had made it to Cuba. He did not believe there would be a war and was sick of Cuba. He wired Hearst: “Everything is quiet. There is no trouble. There will be no war. I wish to return.”

Hearst responded: “Please remain. You furnish the pictures and I’ll furnish the war.”

Hearst was obviously correct. The Battleship Maine was sunk in Havana harbor in 1898.

No one has ever suggested Hearst had any direct involvement in the sinking of the Maine.

Greed was the motivating factor why Hearst wanted the war. It would improve circulation of his newspaper.

Remington was there for the war. A close friend was Teddy Roosevelt. Remington went up San Juan Hill in close proximity to Roosevelt.

Remington did not enjoy the war. He personally hated war. The death and heat were too much for him. On top of which, he came down with yellow fever.

He returned home. His thirst for war and killing satiated. He said, “From now on, I mean to paint fruits and flowers.”

Big entertainment evening last night. The PBS show re Hemingway and the Championship Game of the Final Four.

I am a Hemingway fan. More precisely, fanatic. I was first introduced to his writings in college. Those works I did not read at the time, I consumed over the next 10 years.

Spending almost 30 years in Key West, I have further become familiar with Hemingway. His personal habits, tastes, etc.

I did not enjoy the PBS show. Too may facts crowded into 2 hours. Expansion of some parts was required.

My mental expansion re Hemingway hit speed here in Key West. A lot of people living here who knew him personally or who knew those close to him after his death. Those who knew him personally were children at the time.

One was Dink. He died last year. His father was one of Hemingway’s personal friends, his driver and a fishing buddy. A drinker, also. Dink died last year.  He still had a room full of boxes containing Hemingway works which his father had left to him.

A Hemingway discussion generally works its way to his sexual tastes. As PBS slid over last night, his mother frequently dressed him in girl’s clothes. One of his wives was a lesbian. The question always comes down to whether he was in some form bisexual.

No one knew. No historian had ever come up with the answer.

The PBS show was at 8. On another channel immediately before the PBS show was the film A Farewell to Arms. Magnificent! Made in 1932. One of Gary Cooper’s finest performances. Emotions galore.

Then came the basketball game. Baylor/Gonzaga. Baylor won 86-70. The game interesting. No where as good as Gonzaga/UCLAS two nights earlier.

Tuesday comes around rapidly each week. My blog talk radio show tonight. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time.

You’ll love it! Join me! www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

The title to this blog is also the title of a 4/3 New York Times article authored by Shane Goldmacher.

Somehow, I missed it 2 days ago when it first appeared. I do not recall seeing it anywhere at the time.

The information about to be shared first came to my attention early today on Morning Joe. Thought it significant. Did some research. Again, the New York Times article the only one I came across.

The New York Times article lengthy. I suggest you read it for complete details.

Basically involved is a simple fraud scheme.

It began in September and October during the campaign. Biden’s operating funds were going thought the roof. People were contributing to  him big time. Trump’s on the other hand went in the opposite direction. Contributions were down! Not enough was coming to to compete with Biden.

The same scenario about to be described was also utilized following Trump’s defeat to finance among other things Trump’s need for money to fight the fraudulent ballots.

The cry went out in each instance for more money. Trump’s supporters responded with small to large contributions. Credit cards were used. A one shot contribution situation.

One of the Republican/Trump groups requested the monies. The funds were handled/disbursed by a for profit group called Red Wing who processed the donations.

The sin involved is that the campaign organization and/or Red Wing processed the credit card contributions more than once. To be clear, a one time credit card contribution was put through several times over a period of one to two months.

An example is one contributor who donated a one time $500 contribution which in less than 30 days became $3,000. Or, a $5 one which after several transactions turned into multiples of the $5.

When people received their credit card statements, they noticed the improper charges and most contacted credit card fraud departments.

The amounts were outstanding! Big! The Republican entities involved moved as swiftly as possible to reimburse those who had been defrauded.

Numbers tell the story. In the last 2 months of 2020, Republican entities refunded $643 million to 530,000 contributors. There were other time frames and reimbursements. All in large numbers.

The Democrats had similar problems.  The article did not suggest the Democrats repeated chargings were wrong in any fashion. Numbers appear to support the conclusion. In the same 2 month period at the end of 2020 when the Republicans were refunding $643 million to 530,000 contributors, the Democrats refunded $5.6 million to 37,000 donors.

Something stinks. Something is wrong. The Republican scenario should be investigated. Those determined to be guilty in any sense should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

The article suggests prominent persons include Trump and Kushner.

A special television night this evening. A doubleheader.

PBS has a 2 hour show beginning at 8 titled Conversations with Hemingway. The Championship Game of the Final Four beins at 9:20 on CBS when Gonzaga and Baylor face off.

I will be moving the remote control back and forth.

America loves the underdog. Also a person who once was great and then fell. America pulls for that individual to return to former glories.

Tiger Woods an example.

Another, Jordan Speith.

Speith began his career with a bang. Won 11 tournaments. Including 3 majors.

All of a sudden, he lost his talent in 2017. Never to win again till yesterday. Win #12. The Valero Texas Open. Speith previously went 82 consecutive tournaments without winning.

He seemed to be coming back 5 or 6 tournaments ago. Could not put it together to win on the final day, however.

He did yesterday. The purse $1.8 million.

The Masters is this weekend. Speith will be among the favorites. He’s back!

Numbers always reflective. A study was done comparing “working” Wall street persons (the people on the floor, staff help) and their hourlies to “minimum wage workers.”.

The study indicated that the minimum wage would be $44 an hour if it had grown at the same rate as Wall Street bonuses. Which, for example, averaged $184,000 in 2020. The number reflecting a 10 percent increase from 2019.

Since 1985, bonuses increased 1,217 percent. The $44 an hour figure appears again. If the federal minimum wage had grown at the same rate, it would be $44 an hour today.

The study also reflected an additional downside for minimum wage persons. The pay gap made the social and gender pay gap worse. White men dominated the Wall Street employee force.

I am in my last week of self-quarantine. In Willie Nelson’s words, I’ll be back “on the road again” sometime this weekend.

Hurrah!

Enjoy your day!

Happy Easter!

“He is not here, He has risen. Just as He said.” Matthew 28.6

One of the most revealing events in Christian history.

Gonzaga/UCLA perhaps the most perfect and exciting college basketball game ever played. Gonzaga won in overtime when its star player hit a long 3 pointer precisely at the moment time was to expire.

Today will be a quiet one for me. A lounging around morning. A holiday meal Lisa will send over. I am still in self-quarantine. Six days to go.

Plan on finishing a book I began 3 weeks ago and never got back to.

A couple of movies and a nap at some point.

Easter 2021 for me.

Whatever your religion, may your God hold you in His Hand.

Enjoy the day!