Today is friday the 13th. A good day to stay home, not walk under a ladder or permit a black cat to walk in front of you. The day is considered an unlucky one in the western hemisphere.

Friday the 13th does not always occur only one time a year. In some years, up to three times.

Where did the day come from? What is its source?

Many a story behind friday the 13th. Which the real one? No one actually knows. People select which ever suits their fancy.

The most popular is the Last Supper. Jesus and his 12 disciples the evening of Holy Thursday. Thirteen purportedly for dinner.

Another source involves the Knights Templar which began with their arrest on friday October 13, 1307.

The story originates from a Norse myth. Twelve Norse gods were having a dinner party in Valhalla. There was a thirteenth god. Trickster Loki who had not been invited. His uninvited appearance made for 13 gods in attendance.

Loki killed the god Balder with a weapon which had been mistletoed on top.

It is said the whole Earth got dark, the whole Earth mourned.

As a result of Balder’s death, the combination of friday and the 13th day of the month have been considered bad and unlucky.

Return with me now to the Last Supper.

The Last Supper is a well known painting by DaVinci. It is a 15th century mural painting. Housed today in the Refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.

I have been fortunate to have visited Milan on several occasions. On two, visited DaVinci’s Last Supper.

It is located on a large wall at the end of an even larger dining room.

The painting is neither small nor regular in size. DaVinci was not putting around when he decided to paint the Last Supper. I do not know its actual size. Huge the only way to describe it. Big! Also of course, spectacular.

The Last Supper is painted on the huge wall. The whole wall.

DaVinci first prepared the wall. He sealed the wall with a double layer of gesso, pitch, and mastic, with an undercoat of white leaf to enhance the painting’s brightness when it was done. Lastly, he covered the wall with secco (dry plaster).

He then painted.

In simple terms, DaVinci painted the Last Supper on some sort of concrete wall.

Very small groups were permitted in the former dining hall. There was sufficient room for many. However there was a concern that chemicals in one’s clothes and that germs emanating from the human nose might contaminate and destroy the painting. Before arriving at the dining hall, we had to take 2 separate elevators to “sanitize us” before even getting into the dining hall.

I was in awe of DaVinci’s work. I listened to the guide director’s words and then sat on a bench at a side wall for a half hour “contemplating” the work.

There were the 12 apostles and Jesus. The tour guide asked if anyone could see an additional person. No one could.

There was one in the painting.

Sitting to Jesus’ immediate left was John the Apostle. He was cloaked on his shoulder closest to Jesus in some sort of pink shawl. Looking closely at the shawl after having been directed to do so, there was woman leaning on it. Her face and upper torso.

The guide said many historians believe her to be Mary Magdalene. As the story goes, she was married to Jesus at the time. Even further, the story claims they had two children.

Mary’s purpose at the Last Supper was to help with the food, etc. Her role minor. It is further believed that she followed Jesus around as he washed the feet of the disciples. She would dry their feet.

What is it……Don’t believe everything you hear or read. I am the world’s greatest skeptic. Lawyer training does that to a person. Nevertheless, I have read parts of books and searched the internet re Mary and DaVinci’s Last Supper. There are those who believe DaVinci painted Mary into the Last Supper resting on John’s shoulder starring at Jesus.

It was not uncommon for artists in DaVinci’s day to sneak someone or something into a painting for no other reason than to see if the public could be fooled.

Fred will be visiting today or tomorrow. I may bite my words later, but it does not look that whatever is coming will be that bad. There is no calm before the storm this morning. The trees are blowing as they normally do every day.

Having so written, watch! I’ll probably have to be taken off my rooftop by helicopter.

Fred had reverted to a tropical depression. It is supposed to go back to being a tropical storm before it hits Key West and the lower Keys. Expected landfall later today or sometime tomorrow. Winds at its striking projected to be sustaining at 45 mph and gusts up to 50 mph.

I speak with some degree of authority. Key West is expected to be in the middle of the cone as Fred passes over. Never forget however wind storms of Fred’s nature are fickle. Fred may  change his mind at the last minute and turn in another direction or with a different force.

Recall Irma. It was a category 5 approaching Key West. The damage would be disastrous. Very few buildings would be left standing. I was scared and got out of Dodge 5 days before its anticipated arrival.

Irma deviated slightly as it hit Key West. Slightly moved west and dropped to a category 1. Sixteen miles later when over Cudjoe Key, it became a category 4. Much destruction. Nothing seemed to be where it belonged. Cars in the water. Boats on U.S. 1. Houses in the ocean and on land turned sideways or upside down. Furniture everywhere.

Note again, the distance between Key West and Cudjoe Key is 16 miles.

Enjoy your day!

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Insanity continues to prevail.

The Catholic Church is getting involved in an issue where it has no place. Unless of course it does so in a Christ like fashion.

The issue: Vaccination mandates are subject to freedom of religion attacks.

Those who issued such opinion are the two Bishop groups in the United States: The United Voice of the Catholic Bishops of Colorado and the Washington based Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The two organizations represent 50 percent of American bishops. There is division in the ranks re the vaccine issue as well as many others.

The two Conferences operate on a close basis with evangelical Republicans who operate with the far right politically. These bishops should have become politicians rather than priests attempting to impose non Christ like teaching on the American people.

Jesus and Pope Frances both said go feed my people. I recall nothing from my studies saying get involved in politics.

Expect some lawsuits in the near future claiming vaccines violate religious rights. They will be supported by the Bishops’ organizations and financed by wealthy Catholic laymen who have personal and political reasons for having the lawsuits brought.

Words appearing now with “personal choice” and “parental choice” are popping up. Soon it will be by the Catholic Church with “personal choice” being involved in freedom of religion cases.

One argument by the Bishops is that certain of the vaccines have abortion derived cell lives. In short, cells from dead fetus’s were used in experimentation for the vaccines. Their argument even goes to vaccines not having such cells in them at this time. The cells were only limited to cell use in the beginning.

COVID-19 is a killer. Now numbered in the hundred of thousands. Children now adding to the number on a daily basis.

I have a solution. A serious one.

Since coronavirus is easily contagious and the Delta-variant even more, the numbers of those afflicted will continue to dramatically increase.

There was a disease long ago that was horrendous also. Many lepers were sent to Molokai Island. Father Damien followed to care for them. My suggestion is we find an island for the die hard anti-vaccine, send them to live on such an island, to be accompanied by Catholic Bishops to care for them.

Such more God like than the freedom of religion issues being raised.

Fred is becoming confusing. The type of hurricane that persons should be concerned with. It first was projected to be a tropical storm. It became one. Now it has been reduced in power to a tropical depression. We are told it will return to a tropical storm by the time it hits Florida.

Winds initially projected 60-80 mph. Now, 40-60.

Certain cones has Fred basically coming right over Key West and the Keys. Fred first indicated to travel west of Key West. Now, east of Key West.

Fred first projected to hit Key West next tuesday. Then, this coming friday around 7 pm. Now perhaps as early as tonight.

The projection when Key West hits heavy rains and wind in the 40-60 mile range.

Hurricanes are fickle. Fred is fickle. Not the weather persons. They merely report their findings to provide us with the best information so we can make an educated guess as to what to do.

No one in Key West seems to be concerned about Fred at this point.

All good things come to an end. Steve Thompson’s TACOS ends today. Somewhere in time in the mid 1970’s.

Ballast Key is prominent in his last writing.

Ballast Key at one time was owned by David Wolkowsky. His personal hide-a-way. Time wise probably after Steve visited there, though I am not certain.

Ballast Key is off the Gulf side of Key West 16 miles out. Wolkowsky built a home out there. Brought water and power to the island.

He threw parties for the rich and famous. Kings, Prime Ministers, entertainment celebrities, authors, politicians, etc. The menu always the same: Hot dogs, potato chips and champagne. Provided by one of the richest men in the world at the time.

Steve’s Ballast Key story as it appears in TACOS paragraph 28, the last paragraph of the writing. Steve wrote this book 10 years ago. Perhaps he should finish it. He and Cindy are a wealth of knowledge. They have so much to tell.

All the locals used to go to Ballast Key / And I felt great when they invited me / Six miles out we came to a stop sign / Everyone turned left and followed in line / I didn’t want to seem so formal / But nothing about this seemed very normal / The island was 10 miles out in the sea / With a white sandy beach and a lone palm tree / We pulled he boats right up on the sand / Everyone looked beautiful and tanned / Then everybody took of all their clothes / I looked like a glass of milk from head to toes / I really felt like a geek / And I couldn’t sit down for at least a week / We went there a lot not just that time / But I never got used to that stop sign.

Finis.

Thank you Steve and Cindy.

My attempt at advertising is neither simple nor easy. Sloan is deeply involved.

When I decided we should look into advertising, I placed responsibility on Sloan. I would merely oversee. Sloan began. Almost immediately coronavirus became involved. Sloan became infected and was down for 14 days. Now up and around. Claims all is good. I hope so.

I am not happy with the advertising so far. No one’s fault. Start up errors. The scene is more complicated than I initially thought it would be.

I am unhappy with the same piece of advertising popping up 3 times, the location of the advertising pieces, dating sites, and the quality of those I am advertising. Too gaudy, not in good taste. Not what I wanted.

We have much work ahead.

Until we have the problems worked out, we all must suffer. I opted to jump in because I thought it would work out better time wise. It will, assuming Sloan stays healthy. In the meantime, please bear up with us.

Enjoy your day!

Coronavirus is the nation’s enemy. Big time! The virus has overcome the walls. The enemy lives with us. Gains strength each day. Making  people sick and killing in larger and larger numbers each day.

Some of what is happening.

Texas Governor Abbott issued an Executive Order banning the wearing of masks in public schools. Bexar County did not approve of the Governor’s Order. Took the Governor to court.

The judge ruled yesterday in effect that Abbott was wrong and could not order the banning. The court granted Bexar County’s request for a temporary restraining order.

The victory short lived at the moment. Abbott has appealed and the appellate court will hear arguments monday.

The decision thus far is a major victory for the County and the children it seeks to protect.

Texas is buried under the burden of more and more corononavirus cases each day. Texas hospitals are full. Hat in hand, Abbott has asked other states to help. He wants other states to take what Texas cannot handle.

Another decision rendered yesterday involving Texas. The case against  Assembly Democratic legislators who fled to Washington, D.C. to avoid arrest.

The legislature is now closed. Many of the legislators who escaped north are returning. Their reasoning being if the legislature is closed, there cannot be a quorum vote.

When the problem first arose, the Governor believed he had the right to have the Democrats arrested and under arrest be brought to the legislative Chambers thereby creating the quorum required. Then Abbott discovered Texas police have no right to arrest anyone outside the boundaries of Texas.

Abbott then came up with a new trick. He became of the opinion the legislators were refusing to do their public duty. Under this theory, he ordered the returnees to be arrested.

The Democratic returnees went to court.

The court decision came down yesterday. The court made Abbott look like an ass. Even worse, the decision was by a six member Court of all Republicans.

The court ordered police could approach the legislators if they were in Texas. Note the word “approach.” Approach yes, ask the legislator to return to the Chambers. If the legislator declined, the police could do nothing. No handcuffs, no delay, etc.

A bogus decision, in effect.

This case most assuredly will be appealed by Abbott.

The Florida Keys are being overwhelmed by the virus. Actually most of those sick have only themselves to blame.

Data indicates for the last 4 weeks, more than 90 percent of hospitalized COVID patients were unvaccinated. Smart asses all! Vaccinated and a reverse 90 percent would not have gotten sick.

Doctors are correct when they label the present surge “a vaccination pandemic.”

The Florida Keys are taking a real beating with the present surge. Yesterday the Keys set a record for new cases. Note, a one day record. Eighty nine.

Overall, 388 new cases last week.

Florida’s Health Commissioner Eadie for Monroe County (the Florida Keys) said yesterday Keys’ numbers were all going in the wrong direction. He recommended get vaccinated if you have not and wear a mask all the time. The most positive way to stay healthy and alive.

My phone rang yesterday. People to update me on what was going on coronavirus wise. The information threatening! Made me uncomfortable.

I have not been able to verify what I am about to share.

The Lower Keys Hospital Center is nearing full occupancy. Administrators have a growing concern. Persons having coronavirus 10. Two of them in intensive care. Only 1 on an inhalator. Doctors have been asked to discharge non COVID patients who were scheduled for discharge in 1 or 2 days, if safe to do so. Visitors will not be permitted, except under special circumstances.

I was wrong re Andrew Cuomo. I felt he was innocent of any of the charges and was being given a fast shuffle by fellow Democrats and certain staff.

I began mentally to compare Cuomo to Jesus. He arrived in Nazareth on thursday for the Last supper. Was arrested that night. Tried and crucified the next day. All in less than 12 hours.

Perhaps it was because I knew his father Mario.

I don’t know.

What I do know is I was wrong.

Three items from the Key West Citizen Historical column that occurred on August 11, however in different years.

William Hackley seemed to be a nice guy. Many have been reading of his Key West exploits in the mid 1850’s. What was reported is changing my mind. Perhaps he was not so nice or good.

His wrong has to do with animal cruelty. He beat his dog Spring.

It was August 11, 1856. Hackley “walked across to South Beach by the Lighthouse. Whipped Spring to make him obey and he ran home and when I returned, I chained him and whipped him well.”

Alice Reid and Mom’s Tea Room were having a hard day with the police on this day in 1941. Mom’s was a whore house. Reid the madam. Two of the girls, plus Reid, were arrested for prostitution.

August 11, 1968, was a very special day for a great man and the seed he planted. The Pier House Motel at Duval-On the Gulf was opened for business. The 50 room motel was developed by David Wolinsky. He continued to build the Pier House into what it is today.

TACOS paragraph 27 provides a sense of who you can meet in the Chart Room and what could develop.

Phil Clark worked at the Chart Room with Walter Perry / When a lady came in whose name was Mary / Phil said Walter served her more than one gin / When she started taking a liking to him / Walter asked Phil for a bottle of Bombay / And left with her at the end of the day / When they left town she was calling him honey / Oh, and did I mention, she had money / When Walter came back he was driving a Rolls / He bought the Raw Bar, Louie’s, and Sloppy Joe’s / He also bought a lot of land / The future Anchor Inn and the Taco Stand / Most people don’t know what all Walter gave us / But he played a big part in making Key West famous.

Day 24 of self-quarantine.

Enjoy your day!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Doesn’t make sense to me.

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

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

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

Ceiling fans the issue.

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

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

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

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

Wait for the spaghetti straps. A more accurate predictor.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy your day!

A lesson learned. Hopefully it will remain so.

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

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

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

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

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

The Japanese had enough. Japan unconditionally surrendered.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy your day!

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

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

Thank you, Louis. Loved it!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Interesting!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Turkey’s day 1 appears in TACOS paragraph 25.

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

Enjoy your Sunday!

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

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

All of this resulting in a major scandal.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Steve operated Cocoa Beach into the 1990’s.

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

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

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

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

Enjoy your day!

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

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

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

We are a sick society.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What about “children’s rights?”

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

Steve got to meet Money in TACOS paragraph 24.

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy your day!

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

TACOS paragraph 23 a best recollection.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Do not be impressed by the numbers.

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

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

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

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

A distinction Floridians can do without.

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

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

You ignoramus!

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

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

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

Enjoy your day!