So much to share, analyze, etc. this morning. This will be the largest Morning Stew ever.

No special sequence. They are going into the blog as they come up in my notes.

CDC made a mistake concerning one particular number of Florida COVID data. The CDC admitted it had over counted Florida’s cases. Not intentional. A screw up.

The CDC counted last week’s new coronavirus cases as 28,000. Actually, 18,000.

The number will be readjusted next week when 19,000 will be entered in Florida’s mix in place of the 28,000.

Indiana University mandated mask wearing. A student group went to court to reverse the decision. Lost. Appealed. Justice Amy Corey Barrett of the Supreme Court denied  the students appeal on her own without consulting her colleagues on the Court and without a formal hearing. Proper under the circumstances of the case and how it reached the Supreme Court.

The matter will shortly be heard by the full Court.

An example of DeSantis’ head stuck up his derriere. Regeneron is an antibody treatment. It was given to Trump when he had the virus. Last thurdsday,  DeSantis recommended its use to help curb the COVID spread.

I ask: Why not get people vaccinated? Get to people before they are infected with the virus. There are tons of vaccines available. I question who beside DeSantis and Trump have recommended Regeneron’s use.

Texas Democratic House members on the verge of arrest. . The Texas Supreme Court overruled the lower court decision which said the Democrats could not be arrested. The new decision said it’s ok based on the House of Representatives’ 89-12 vote to permit the same.

What next?

The U.S. has been in Afghanistan 20 years. Biden said no more. Ordered U.S. troops out.

Taliban has moved swiftly to take over the country. They are totally in control of most major cities.

The Afghan troops the U.S. spent so much money and time to train are turning and running as the Taliban arrive.

Biden and the U.S. do not look good at all.

In the past 2 days, Biden has ordered 5,000 new troops into Afghanistan to get the problem worked out, if he can. The Taliban are in the driver’s seat. They have little reason to desire any negotiation which would diminish their new present power.

Where did the money go in the 20 years? It is now being revealed that the Afghan government is extremely corrupt and it is suspected significant U.S. dollars went into their pockets. Most of which was supposed to be used to train Afghan forces.

Senator Rand Paul is another politician with his head not on his shoulders. YouTube recently blocked his comments for one week over his representation that masks are ineffective against COVID-19.

Rand retorted, It is “censorship…..very dangerous…..anti-free speech…..and anti-progress science.”

Fred missed Key West. Moved westerly as it passed Key West. Key West experienced 24 hours of off and on heavy rain and some winds. Nothing of any consequence.

Fred still on the move. At the Panhandle today. Heavy waters expected.

Grace continues towards the U.S. Key West in the cone of certainty. If it hits, it will be as a tropical storm.

Hurricane reporting not as good as in previous years. Weather people reporting using the cone alone too long. Key West always in the center of the cone. From Africa forward. Spaghetti lines needed at some point 2-3 days earlier that anticipated landfall.

Last week, I reported a Catholic Church group or two would at some point finance some entity to go to court seeking an exemption from any mandate to wear masks on religious grounds.

Biden announced last week he intended to compel mask wearing for the military. Turns out the courts have already recognized the military’s right to refuse most things on religious grounds.

Mask are next. It is anticipated that the Supreme Court would rule in favor of the exemption.

Too many freedoms being used not as intended by the people of the U.S. nor the Constitution.  And being approved by the courts.

I am the first to say “protect our freedoms.” However the people and the courts are proceeding even more than a step too far.

Last year is repeating itself this year. Street demonstrations bordering on open warfare are becoming common place again. The issue is different, however. Last year it was BLM and other “democratic groups” protesting and far righters, white supremacists, etc. in opposition. The same groups who were insurrectionists on January 6.

The issue today “masks.” Would you believe?

The mask opposition groups are getting stronger. They also appear to be more organized as time goes on. The most recent example Los Angeles saturday. A protest between pro maskers and anti-maskers.

Violence developed. One person stabbed.

The anti-maskers seem to be getting stronger and better organized. I have this gut feeling that they are being helped by and used by the same groups behind the January 6 insurrectionists.

Such should be under investigation. The far right continues to organize well. They feed the venom. There must be some with money behind them. Lets find the ones supporting these groups financially and run their asses into jail.

Another Florida shark attack. Near Key Largo. A teenager. The bite(s) to his “lower extremities.”

Further facts unavailable.

The Afghanistan turmoil continues. Keep in mind the U.S. is not the only nation to have spent a log time there. Russia was in Afghanistan before the U.S. For 10 years, 1979-1989. Left with their tails between their legs as the U.S. is now.

Afghans must be some sort of special people. Strong minded and willed. They have in effect knocked off two international giants.

DeSantis opposition is growing. The recognition proof the man does not know what he is doing.

A Florida doctor has described him as a “medical authoritarian.” A school official as the “mad king of the COVID era.”

DeSantis is unquestionably seeking a “new” aid to help people with the COVID-19 problem. He has come up with a second solution. The first was Regeneron. The latest Monocolonial anti-bodies. The two could be one and the same. I do not know. DeSantis says it is a rapid response to fight COVID-19 by administering monocolonial anti-bodies treatments to those already infected.

More importantly, we have the avoidance already. Masks and the vaccine. Why look elsewhere? He merely is doing it because he cannot find a way to say he was wrong re masking and the vaccine.

He sounds much like Trump when he was pushing the Clorox cue. Drink or be vaccinated with a bleach. Would kill the virus within minutes.

Where do these guys come from?

Are you aware that 40 percent of the new cases in the U.S. come from Florida and Texas? DeSantis and Abbott birds of a feather.

Florida’s COVID numbers from last week revealing.

Nationally based on record keeping by counties nationwide, Florida’s Broward County ranked #1 and Miami-Dade County #3. Something to be proud of Governor!

New cases last week  found Florida to have the highest number of new cases week wise since the very beginning of the pandemic, 151,415. Breaks down to an average of 21,630 per day.

Nationwide, new cases soared 700 percent since July 1. In late June, there were 10,000 new cases a day. Now, 125,000.

People are becoming concerned. The numbers are going up as new persons are being vaccinated. Friday 50 percent of U.S. persons had been vaccinated at least once. The situation slowly improving.

Andrew Cuomo.

I was a New York resident till 2006. Cuomo not N.Y. governor yet. However, I knew of him by observing his political career. He impressed me while I was a citizen. He has impressed me in his years as governor.

He is presently an item of discussion.

In the past 2 days, I have discussed his current problem with 6 people. One a male and N.Y. resident. The other 5 ladies. A mix of N.Y. and Florida residents.

Their opinions re Cuomo interesting.

The man thought Cuomo did wrong. It was against the law. He had to be made to pay.

I did not expect his response.

The ladies likewise I did not expect their responses. Each thought Cuomo had gotten a raw deal. Two recalled having grabbed my ass on occasion. Three surprised me by recalling throwing their arms around me and kissing my on the cheek at a time I was totally unaware they were coming or what they intended to do.

It seems to me the politicians, male and female, may have said kill him because they are in the forefront of the public’s eye and are expected to speak thusly.

I am done for today. Glad I was able to catch up.

Enjoy your Sunday!

One thing life teaches is that change is a constant. Nothing remains the same.

The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus was the first to arrive at the concept: “There is nothing permanent except change.” He thereafter influenced among others Plato, Aristotle, and Nietzsche.

So do not be shocked with that which is to about to be shared.

The ballet has been respected as the most sensuous of dances. In major cities, a black tie affair to evidence that respect.

A new building to house the Paris Opera Ballerina was constructed in the mid 1860’s. The audience portion the same as today. Silent respectability. Behind the stage, another story. A brothel!

Erin Blackmore is an historical writer of consequence. She frequently writes for the History Channel. She also has had her works presented in major publications world wide.

Her writing versatile. She covers every subject well.

In 2018, Blackmore wrote about sex and the Paris Opera Ballerina: Sexual Exploitation Was the Norm For the 19th Century Ballerina. The story of wealthy men who turned the famous Paris Opera Ballerina into a place of ill repute.

Charles Baudelaire was a famous poet in the first half of the 19th century. He wrote, “Dance is poetry with arms and legs.” So it was and so it is. However for twenty years beginning in the 1860’s, the ladies practiced their “poetry” on their backs with their arms and legs spread. “Money, power and prostitution mingled in the glamorous…..backstage world of the Paris Opera.”

The Paris Opera Ballet, founded in the 17th century, was the world’s first professional ballet company. Preeminent then and through today.

In the 19th century, it raised the bar for dance. On the backs of exploited young women.

Women entered the ballet as young children. Trained, trained, and trained some more. Laborious the making of a ballet dancer. Most who achieved “success” found it only in small walk on rolls. The young ladies were often malnourished and dressed in hand me downs.

The young girls were called the “petite rats” of the ballet. Vulnerable to social and sexual exploitation.

A struggle. First was opera dance school. Hopefully followed by becoming an apprentice in the Opera. A “long term contract” took forever to attain, if at all.

Most were exploited by the Paris Opera’s wealthy male subscribers. Nicknamed “abbones.” Such wealthy men did not subscribe for the music, but “for the beautiful ballerinas who danced.” Behind the scenes, “sexual favors from the women they ogled on stage.”

When Charles Garnier designed the Paris Opera House in the 1860’s, he included a “separate entrance for season ticket holders.” The building included a “lavish room” called the “foyer de la danse.” The play room for the wealthy who had financed the room. It was located directly behind the stage.

Touted as a place where the ladies warmed up, its actual purpose was use by male patrons.” The place where they socialized and propositioned ballet dancers.

The ballet attire of today is tight and body forming. Sensuous without question. Sensuous in the 1860’s, though in a different fashion. Generally skirts not form fitting at all.

Due to their social status, abbones were free to socialize with the ladies.

“Epic scenes took place back stage.” It was “a kind of men’s club where they could meet and greet other power brokers, make business deals, and bask in a highly sexualized atmosphere.”

The dancers were subject to scrutiny and harassment. Expected to submit to the subscribers, noblemen and important financiers, whose money supported the majority of the Opera’s spending.”

For a girl from a poor background, a “rich man was their only chance at stability.”

A few dancers were able to get along on their merits rather than assistance by an abbones. However they were still looked down upon as suspected prostitutes.

In the 1870’s and 1880’s, Edgar Degas was an influential Parisian who could not afford the “backstage.” However his “affluent friends” secured him backstage passes so he could sketch the dancers in their natural habitat. On occasion even capturing glimpses of their real world.

Life was not easy for most of the dancers. Degas was able to pick up on it.  His portrayal of the dancers were “marked by the hateful promise of every vice.” Some Degas fans thought it unfortunate that his subjects were marked by the sordidness of the “sexual harassment that was baked into ballet.”

I do not agree. The dark visible in certain spots and suggested immorality may very well have made Degas the success he was rather than just another artist. He saw things perhaps no other could.

Enjoy your day!

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!

.

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.