A beautiful blog today. Elites and control of the Republican Party, We shall overcome, German TV show Achtung Abzock, a coronavirus update, dengue fever, the Key West Copacabana of yesteryear.

I lost it! It’s somewhere in outer space.

Don’t bother telling me to be more careful. I was. Lost it when I sent it to publish. Have no idea what key I pressed.

Tonight, Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Insufficient time to redo blog and prepare show. Ergo, no blog today. I do promise however to redo some of the topics as they were extremely interesting.

Enjoy your day!

A major whoring class in America today are bankers.

A perfect example. The banks caused the 2008 recession. Were in not for the government bailing them out with taxpayer dollars, the banks would have gone under.

The banks saved, they then turned around and screwed their customers royally. Especially homeowners whose mortgages the banks held. Millions of Americans were forced into foreclosure and lost their homes.

Bankers have always been considered bad guys. Recall Jesus throwing the money lenders out of the temple. Their reputations have not improved one iota in the centuries since.

There was a banker who extended a helping hand to his customers without the customary bullshit that accompanies borrowing money. Years ago and even today. His name, Amadeo Giannini.

In 1904, Giannini opened the Bank of Italy in San Francisco. The Bank of Italy developed into the Bank of America. Prior thereto, Giannini had been in the produce business. He sold out in 1892 at the age of 31 and retired.

Italian immigrants at the turn of the century were greatly discriminated against. Banks refused to do business with them.

Giannini was one of the first bankers to offer banking services to middle class Italian-Americans. Note, middle class. Prior to that time, banks only did business with upper class persons.

Giannini was upset Italian immigrants were not able to bank. Such led to his opening the Bank of Italy in San Francisco.The Bank was opened in a converted saloon. He made it known that the bank was for the “little fellow.”

It was the bank for hardworking immigrants that other banks would not serve. He offered savings accounts and loans.

His customers had no accountants or paperwork. Giannini judged them by their “character,” not “wealth.”

Deposits the first year totaled $8,780. The next year, $700,000, $13.5 million in 2002 dollars.

In 1906, disaster struck San Francisco. The earthquake and resultant fires leveled most of the city.

Giannini set up a temporary bank. He collected deposits, made loans, and proclaimed San Francisco would rise from the ashes.

His bank began operations literally in the street. From a plank set on 2 barrels. Giannini made loans on a handshake to those interested in rebuilding. In later years, Giannini was proud to report that everyone of those loans was paid.

Prior to the earthquake and fire, money was kept in vaults. When the vaults were opened, the heat would destroy the cash. The heat was that intense when a vault door was reopened.

The banks were reluctant to open the vaults. Many vaults remained closed for weeks and banks were unable to do business.

Giannini anticipated the danger. He emptied his vaults immediately, thereby avoiding the danger.

The money was moved to his home in San Mateo 18 miles away.

Giannini had a concern that thieves might steal the money while in transit. He came up with a plan. He moved the money in a garbage wagon. The money was hidden beneath the garbage.

While others could not make loans or do any kind of banking, Giannini was ready on the go. He was one of the few bankers who had cash. He was easily able to provide for withdrawals and making loans.

Giannini banking types no longer exist. Today’s bankers prefer doing business wit the very rich, make it difficult for the middle class to borrow, and care not for those in the lower economic strata.

Staying with banks for a moment.

HSBC is Europe’s largest bank.

This is going to be hard to believe. Its net profit for the second quarter of this year plummeted 96 percent. The net profit was $192 million. The net profit second quarter last year was $4.37 billion.

HSBC attributes its bad times to coronavirus and lower interest rates.

My heart bleeds for HSBC. Welcome to the world of difficult times!

Deutsche Bank. A huge banking enterprise. Suspected of being Putin’s bank and one that has been doing business with Trump and Kushner. Deutsche is/has been Trump and Kushner’s “personal banker.”

Deutsche has a major internal investigation underway.

The personal banker involved is Rosemary Vrablic. The investment “Bergel 715.” Two of her co-workers are claimed to be involved also.

Facts still murky. Appears Vrablic purchased a $1.5 million Manhattan apartment from Bergel. Kushner held an ownership interest in Bergel at the time.

During the time frame being investigated, Deutsche through Vrablic allegedly made $190 million in loans to Trump and Kushner.

Bankruptcies of old time businesses continue.

Men’s Warehouse and Joseph A. Banks’ parent company is Tailored Brands Inc. Tailored Brands filed for bankruptcy.

The result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Sales for both entities were down 60 percent the first quarter of this year.

Lord and Taylor filed for bankruptcy. Lord and Taylor the oldest department store in the U.S.

I loved Lord and Taylor! It was one of my places to visit while in New York City. The store had the best and largest collection of wing back chairs.

Day 145 of my self-quarantine. I’m doing ok. Gets rocky on occasion. Thank God for my writing and researching. Keeps me occupied.

Trump is screwing around with the Post Office. In so doing, he is screwing around with my vote and yours come November.

It is offensive that he would carry the mail in ballot situation this far. The man is no good!

Trump is also considering banning the media from the Republican Convention.

Hackley’s poor baby. Matilda’s milk and the baby not working well together.

Medicines and 3 goats have not helped. Mrs. Hews may be.

In William’s diary entry for this day 1855, he writes, “Yesterday sent the baby to Mrs. Hews four times, she is getting better.”

Enjoy your day!

Lt. John Kennedy was captain of a PT boat in the south Pacific in World War II. His crew consisted of 13 sailors.

On August 1, 1943 while on night duty, the PT-109 was cut in half by a Japanese vessel. Eleven survived, 2 died.

Though injured, Kennedy helped save the remaining crew members. His performance that evening and until they were all saved days later would not have occurred without Kennedy’s leadership.

Kennedy’s calm gutsy approach in the PT-109 saga was similar to that he exhibited during the Cuban Missile Crisis. We were on the brink of war with Russia. The U.S. had blockaded Cuba. Russian ships were within several hundred yards of the American ones when the Russians blinked first and turned around to return home.

We need more Kennedys, no more Trumps. We have had our fill of Trump.

I wonder on occasion how Trump’s bone heel chips are doing.

Waddell is a strange name. Key West has a street named Waddell. Louie’s Backyard is located on Waddell.

Did some research to figure how who Waddell was. Quite a while, in fact. It was difficult verifying the little I came across.

Turns out Waddell was named after James I. Waddell who was a banker and twice Mayor in the Key West of the second half of the 1800’s.

The first person I discovered was of course named James I. Waddell  also. He resigned from the Union Navy to join the Confederate one. Assuming such to be true, I thought a dissertation of sorts was in order that the name Waddell be removed as the street’s name.

It would be politically correct to rename Waddell based on the fact Waddell was a Confederate naval officer who captained a Confederate vessel that did much damage during the Civil War.

Waddell’s track record as a Confederate captain impressive. He captained the Confederate cruiser Shenandoah. Two hundred thirty feet long, 8 large guns, and a crew of 73.

Waddell’s performance is marked with 2 distinctions.

He did not engage in ordinary combat. His responsibility was to seek out and destroy Union fishing vessels. He was adept at it.

He sailed the south Atlantic, across the Indian Ocean, and into the north Pacific. Even to Arctic waters.

His greatest feat the capture of 10 U.S. whale vessels in the space of 7 hours after the war had ended.

Such was his second distinguishing factor. He kept fighting after the war was over. He never knew it had ended.

He found out when he was in English waters off the coast of Great Britain. He immediately surrendered his vessel to British authorities.

Key West has its exciting moments most years. This year too many. However, tough people we are!

Floridians and Keys residents are accustomed to playing the cards they get. This year coronavirus, hurricanes, dengue fever, and pythons to name a few.

Me thinks Alan Dershowitz complaineth too much! A good lawyer would tell him to keep his mouth shut.

The average age of cars and light trucks still on the road continues to spiral. Now, 11.9 years.

New car sales continue to plunge as they have on a steady basis since the 1970’s. Sales were tough before the pandemic. They are tougher now with the Pandemic.

The 11.9 percent figure is the highest in 12 years. Sales of new cars and light trucks are down 24 percent for the first six months of this year compared to the same time period last year. They are expected to continue sliding in the second half of the year.

It is not only the normal American buying public that cannot afford a new car. The care rental companies are taking a beating. No one is traveling. The need for a rental car down drastically.

Hertz and Advantage filed for bankruptcy this year.

Coronavirus is crippling everyone, except the very rich. The rich are getting richer.

Jared Diamond wrote concerning the reasons why societies collapse: “Societies collapse when elites are isolated from the consequences of their decisions as expressed by the rest of the population.”

Robert Reich wrote on the same day as Diamond: “New York’s billionaire class saw their collective net worth grow by $77,300,000,000 since the start of the Pandemic…..while “the state’s budget deficit for 2020 and 2021 is/will be $13,300,000,00.”

The number of zeroes mind boggling!

Reich’s admonition: “Tax the rich!”

Ian Welch recently wrote: “The personal self-interest of American elites is now so completely divested from American society and everyone else that there is no recovery without a revolution, peaceful or otherwise.”

Enjoy your Sunday! Quarantine, wear your mask, distance 6 feet, and wash your hands frequently!

Lincoln’s words of wisdom went far beyond the Gettysburg Address and Emancipation Proclamation.

Following are additional words he uttered more than 150 years ago. Words spoken back then giving warning to today’s Americans. It is as if Lincoln knew his words would be needed: “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”

Welcome August!

August is National Breastfeeding Month.

Breastfeeding was the way babies in William Hackley’s 1855 were fed. If the mother’s milk was foul or such that the baby could not tolerate it, bad repercussions occurred. As we have been reading in Hackley’s diary.

If good fortune prevailed, a mother who had a super abundance of milk or had lost her child might be available. I am assuming the Mrs. Hews Hackley writes about is such a woman.

He reports in today’s entry: “Sent the baby to Mrs. Hews to get some milk.”

Having experienced Irma, I am skiddish every time a hurricane is reported which might hit the Keys.

Isaias made me nervous for 24 hours. Though still far away, its cone ran right over Key West. Similar to Irma’s cone.

Fortunately for the Keys, Isaias turned east. It will completely miss south Florida. Landfall is expected in the Palm Beach area. Following which it will run off and on the eastern seaboard. On wednesday, it is projected to be over Boston.

Coronavirus will compound the impact of any hurricane that hits. How are people to be protected? Shelters are of no use. People packed in. The virus will have a field day moving from one person to another.

Florida announced it is not opening any shelters for Isaias. First time I can recall no shelters being open. And I go back 25-30 years.

Coronavirus deaths for 7/31/20 in the U.S. were reported at 1,465. Means one American was killed every 58.9 seconds.

There are well more than 1 million pythons in the Everglades and northern Florida. Could be 2 or 3 million or more. No one knows for sure.

What is known is that there are now so many that they are impossible to eradicate. Florida hopes to be able to control their growth, however.

Hurricane Andrew is blamed for the large number of pythons in existence today. Many people kept pythons as pets. Andrew took down whole blocks of homes. To ground level. The python pets took a trip through the air and settled in wherever they landed.

Sexual beings. They propagated.

Florida failed to pay timely attention.

Every so often, Florida comes up with a new approach to the problem. Never one that will work to totally eliminate. Rather will that will merely diminish.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the South Florida Water Management District came up with a new idea.

They have asked people living in the areas where pythons exist to call either agency immediately and report the sighting. As well as the location. State workers then go out to kill the python reported.

Best program yet! It has been reported that 5,000 pythons were killed this past year. A huge number! The largest ever!

However a drop of water in the ocean, a grain of sand on a beach. Too little too late. When talk is in the millions, 5,000 is non consequential.

While Floridians are worried about coronavirus (and hurricanes and pythons), dengue fever has returned. Just as deadly as coronavirus. Except infects substantially fewer persons.

Infection carried by mosquitoes. The problem has been under control. However every few years, the fever returns.

Twelve cases alone reported for the month of July. A huge number for the disease. All 12 cases reported in the Key Largo area where several had been reported prior to July 1.

Trump consistently makes the wrong move where the health and welfare of the U.S. and other parts of the world are at stake. Not where Putin is concerned, however.

Trump announced he is pulling 12,000 troops out of Germany. That number have been stationed there for more years than I can recall.

Part of a NATO supplement. Stationed in Germany to protect former Soviet Union countries.

Putin wants NATO destroyed. Its sole purpose is to protect Europe from Russian aggression. Putin is happy the 12,000 troops are being pulled out of Germany. Less for him to worry about if he pulls another Crimea situation.

Trump says he is doing it because Germany fails to meet its NATO contribution.  Also, Trump hates Angela Merkel. A woman who has consistently stood strong against him.

All lies. The real reason Trump is doing it is to accommodate Putin.

Mail in ballots are in the works already this month in Florida. A “local election” is scheduled for August 18.

The Supervisor of Election reported 18,051 by mail ballots have been sent to persons who requested them. So far, 5,609 have been returned.

I asked for mail in ballots. I have received the local election one and plan to mail it back today. I am also listed for a mail in ballot for the November 3 election.

The Supervisor announced 19,529 persons have already requested mail in ballots for the November 3 election.

The preceding numbers apply only to Monroe County.

Last night was most enjoyable. Cocktails at 7. My socialization for the week. It helps.

Enjoy your day!

Difference between mail in ballot and absentee ballot? NONE!

Trump during his 5 o’clock follies show yesterday spent considerable time decrying mail in ballots. Their use bad. Lends themselves to all kinds of fraud, time delays, and lawsuits.

Trump added absentee ballots were ok. He himself voted by absentee ballot in 2018.

The man is dumb.

Another item of interest came up in the 5 o’clock follies show. Trump was expounding how terrific the U.S. was doing in attacking coronavirus. Makes me wonder what planet he lives on.

He said Australia’s record was far worse than America’s.

The numbers speak for themselves. Australia has had a total of 16,905 cases. Deaths 196.

U.S. numbers exceed 4.58 million with deaths in excess of 154,000.

Some things I do not understand. The GDP for Q2 came out yesterday. Horrible! Collapsed in 3 months by 39.9 percent.

So believeth Trump and the White House. So believeth the media. Or all the them do not want to share the correct percentage. Why, I cannot figure out.

The true percentage not 39.9 percent. Rather, 9.5 percent. A big difference!

The 39.9 percent figure is an “annualized” one. The 39.9 percent figure is arrived at by multiplying the 9.5  over the period of a year. It multiplies the 9.5 percent by 4. Shows what the percentage would be if the GDP kept plunging.

The 9.5 percent decline bad enough. It represents the largest decline in 70 years.

Portland continues to have its Wall of Moms. Another group has identified themselves: Wall of Veterans.

Another Trump misrepresentation popped up on yesterday’s 5 o’clock follies show. Trump continues to brag the U.S. has all the testing kits needed. In fact, he says we share them with other countries.

Pure bullshit!

I was in the hospital for a kidney test 10 days ago. My doctor told me that I would also be coronavirus tested. The hospital does it to all entering patients.

I never got the test. Did not ask. I was reluctant to have them poking something up my nose. I was experiencing none of the coronavirus symptoms so remained silent.

I asked my doctor when next I saw him why I did not receive the test. His response was the hospital probably did not have any test kits at the moment.

I shake my head in disbelief. Why does Trump keep telling the lie? Except for his die hard followers, we all know the U.S. was and continues to be in short supply of many PPE items because of Trump’s mishandling of the virus. The only person that does not know Trump has screwed up is Trump himself.

Herman Cain died. Age 74. Candidate for the Republican nomination in 2016. A member of Trump’s Cabinet.

He died from coronavirus.

He was a true Trump follower. Refused to wear a mask.

The news reports are knocking Cain for failing to wear the mask. Sort of a see what can happen thing.

Most media have failed to report Cain had an underlying condition which contributed to or accelerated his death. Stage 4 colon cancer.

I did not buy “hurricane food.” Isaias turned. Not a danger to the Keys.

Isaias turned east. Will hit central or northern Florida.

Isaias has graduated. It went from nothing to a tropical storm to a Category 1 in a very short period of time.

Today’s May Johnson diary date for 1896 makes mention of her love live. Her “darling” works in Miami. She went to the Post Office to see if he had written. She had received no letter for 10days.

No letter!

She was irritated.

She questioned whether he was still her darling: “My darling (?)…..” The question mark of significance.

I don’t understand why she is upset. Sounded to me that they had some sort of “arrangement.” May is always partying and dancing at La Brisa with other boys. In fact, she found no letter waiting for her so went to La Brisa to dance with Charlie.

Relationships are strange.

Tonight, Cocktails at 7. My “big evening” once a week. Cathy in Seattle and I Skype and chat for a couple of hours. She enjoys an alcoholic drink or 2. I enjoy her. I continue to be off booze.

Enjoy your day!

Up front, let me apologize for the title. It was the first that came to mind. Nothing else as representative or befitting the facts.

Sometimes you have to call them as you see them.

The “hero” of this tale is Representative Louie Gohmert, a Texas Republican. A Trump die hard, also. To each his own.

Gohmert has refused to wear a face mask. To be expected. Trump has refused to wear one, also.

Gohmert tested positive yesterday for coronavirus.

He announced later in the day that he planned to “use hydroxychloroquine” to treat the virus. He said, “My doctors and I are all in.”

Normally federal judges are quite good. They follow the law. Not all judges do.

A number of Portland protesters have been arrested. Misdemeanor charges. They came before the court. The federal magistrate agreed to release them on “bond” (does not mean the case is over / the defendant technically must return for other court appearances and a trial or the defendant will merely forfeit bail and not appear for trial thereby ending the case with no criminal conviction applying.)

The judge has required each protester to sign and agree to an Order Setting Conditions of Release. A certain paragraph in the Order reads: “Defendant may not attend any other protests, rallies, assemblies or public gathering in the State of Oregon.”

Totally improper! Unconstitutional on its face! Arm twisting by the court.

A judge under the circumstances of this case has no right to require such agreement from a defendant. By so requiring, he is forcing the defendant to waive his right of free speech. Basically, the right to protest.

This scenario is similar to the Michael Cohen situation which occurred in the past 10 days in federal court in New York City.

Cohen had been released to home confinement because of the coronavirus epidemic. He was with his lawyer making a required routine visit to federal officials.

The word was out Cohen was writing a book about his experiences with Trump. The officials said Cohen had to sign an agreement that he would not write the book nor discuss his time with Trump with the media. Otherwise, he would be returned to jail.

Cohen refused. He was returned to jail. Several days later a federal judge released Cohen saying  to prohibit his writing the book was an unconstitutional violation of his rights.

John Galt has been a religious reader of this blog for many years. A student of history. We agree more than we disagree. However, we do disagree on occasion.

John commented on the blog I wrote the other day titled: Grim Reaper Ain’t Gonna Get Reaped. I share his comment not because he agreed or disagreed with me re what I wrote. I share it with you because I learned some historical facts I was not aware of.

John wrote, “Some of the federal police opposing the demonstrators in Portland are from the Federal Protective Service. The FPS is one of those federal agencies that most of us have never heard of. Its origin dates back to 1790 when President George Washington was acquiring buildings to become the location for the seat of the federal government. Six ‘night watchmen’ were hired to protect the designated buildings the government was planning to use. FPS races its origin to those six night watchmen. In 2002, the agency was transferred to the newly formed DHS.”

Pizza Hut is cutting back on its operation and number of Pizza Huts.

The organization will be closing hundreds of locations in the U.S. Those that remain open will no longer provide restaurant service. The dine-ins have been under performing in recent years. The stores will provide only delivery and carry out.

I came across another Pizza Hut announcement. Its Greece stores will close. All or some? The news notation was slight. I could not discover any further information.

I would wonder why Pizza Hut or any other U.S. quick food chain would even open in Greece.  I never saw a Pizza Hut in my many Greece travels. Also,  Greece provides some of the finest short order quick food restaurants probably in the world. I enjoyed my lunches more than the dinners. That good!

Remember 2008 when American banks were too big to fail. The banks were saved by the government on that premise. To the detriment of millions of people who lost their homes in mortgage foreclosures. No governmental assistance.

Banks continue to get away with murder. U.S. banks on a precipice. Something many are unaware of.

European banks, also.

Th Spanish Banco Santander is a European biggie. For the first six months of this year, it announced a $12.7 billion loss. Its first loss ever in 163 years.

A primary reason was the bank’s write off of expected loan losses. Many coronavirus caused.

I have an uneasy feeling. Tropical storm Isaias has come about rather suddenly and is expected over Florida saturday. The cone looks like Irma. Initially, directly over Key West. Now could be either east or west coast of Florida. If east coast, we could be hit.

I have tons of food. However little “hurricane food.” Things like bottled water, crackers, peanut butter, jam, cookies. Thinks that do not have to be cooked. Can’t cook without electricity. Can’t store food that will spoil when the refrigerator stops working.

Isaias not a big deal compared to Irma. Irma was coming in as a category 5. Isaias will be a tropical storm.

Florida’s Governor De Santis rarely does anything right. Especially matters that are coronavirus related.

Yesterday was one of those rare occurrences when he exercised proper judgment.

There has been an eviction and foreclosure moratorium that is scheduled to expire saturday. De Santis has extended the moratoriums to September 1.

Trump continues his ill advised ways.

I wrote yesterday of Dr. Immanuel who supports the use of hydoxychloroquine. Trump became aware of her yesterday. He was on TV at 5 lauding her virtues.

The media did a quick in depth check on her. Turns out she is a fruitcake. Believes demons and witches are involved in our lives, that aliens have sex with humans in their dreams, etc.

By the time Trump went to bed last night he had to know he had praised a nut.

Apparently Trump does not care. He was back on TV this morning not backing off her purported virtues. He continued to laud her. She had spoken from the steps of the Supreme Court with a bunch of doctors listening to her.

He thought she was A-ok. I suspect so because she endorsed the use of hydroxychloroquine as the cure all for coronavirus. He avoided questions as to her demonic/witchery beliefs.

Trump’s support of Dr. Immanuel as good as Trump’s belief at one time that Clorox or bleach ingested would quickly cure coronavirus.

A survey released yesterday suggested taller people faced a higher risk of catching Covid-19. The study revealed that people 6 feet or more tall were twice as likely to be diagnosed with coronavirus.

Conclusion: The virus spreads through the air, not only from droplets.

Makes me happy that I lost 4 inches in height in recent years. From 6’1″ to 5’9″. Old age.

Enjoy your day!

Several months ago, Trump became very excited on his 5 o’clock virus report show. With enthusiasm, he told Americans that Clorox or bleach taken orally or by shot was an almost instantaneous cure for coronavirus. My memory recollects one minute.

A new 5 o’clock show with Trump starring alone began last tuesday. Very poorly done by what was once a master showman. The Washington Post’s Dana Milbank described it as The Five O’Clock Follies.

It too has become a joke. It only took 4 shows.

The past two days, America’s Frontier Doctors met in Washington. An off the wall group. Organized by the Right Wing Patriots. The Right Wing Patriots being a group of wealthy Republican donors.

Speeches were made on the steps of the Supreme Court. One of the speakers was Houston physician Stella Immanuel. A pediatrician. Her presentation videoed. Later went viral.

Immanuel is a right wing star.

Trump spoke of Immanuel at his 5 o’clock follies show. Trump recommended the video a “must watch.”

Immanuel way out. A snake oil charmer. If this was the old west, Trump would have purchased every bottle of snake oil Immanuel had available to sell.

Immanuel had much to say. Every word bordering on the insane. Trump moved by her.

Let me share Immanuel’s thoughts.

She praises hydroxychloroquine as a coronavirus cure. With equal vigor, advises face masks are not necessary.

She believes sexual visitations by demons and alien DNA are the roots of America’s health concerns.

Gynecological problems like cysts and endometriosis are caused by people having sex with demons and witches.

She claims alien DNA is currently being used in medical treatments.

She believes scientists are cooking up a vaccine to prevent people from being religious.

The government is run in part not by humans but “reptilians” and other aliens.

“Nobody needs to get sick. This virus has a cure…..You don’t need a mask. There is a cure.”

The video ran on Facebook. Within a very short time, 13 million views. Twitter ran it also.

Both soon deleted the video citing rules prohibiting Covid-19 disinformation.

Immanuel responded to Facebook’s removing the video. She said Jesus would destroy Facebook’s servers if her videos were not returned.

Immanuel believes medical issues like endometriosis, cysts, infertility, and impotence are caused by witches and demons having sex with people in dreamland.

Blames demons for male impotence.

Continuing with sexuality, demonic spirits “turn into a woman and they sleep with the man and collect his sperm. Then they turn into the man, and they sleep with a man and deposit the sperm and reproduce more of themselves.”

Not making any of this up!

Immanuel says dream night might not be with a demon. Could be with a “human witch.” Called “astral sex.”

In a 2015 sermon, she claimed scientists had plans to install microchips in people and develop a “vaccine” to make it impossible for a person to become religious.

Witches are intent on gaining control of children.

She believes children’s books are part of a scheme to introduce children to spirits and witches. Children’s TV shows are a gateway to evil. Children are taught to meditate so they can “meet with demons.”

She has thoughts re the American government, also.

Claims the American government is run in part by non-human reptilians “not even human…..half human, half ET.”

She is anti-gay marriage. She says the next step is “people are going to be seeking to marry kids.”

Advocates corporal punishment for children: “Kids need to be whipped.”

Immanuel sought a meeting with Trump. Late monday, she tweeted Trump and advised she was open to meeting with him.

Trump picks strange people to take advice from, be impressed by. Even more amazing, he appeared to speak more highly of Immanuel than Fauci.

I was interested as to how much money Russ Limbaugh makes. The man yells out all kinds of negative things. Nevertheless, he has a significant following to his radio show.

Discovered Limbaugh is one the highest paid radio figures. Forbes listed his most recent yearly earnings at $84.5 million.

The highest paid radio personality is Howard Stern at $90 million.

My curiosity reached to Sean Hannity. His annual salary $40 million.

Spewing poison and misinformation pays well!

Tropical storms and hurricanes have been moving around for several weeks. Now comes one that may hit Key West.

At the moment, the storm is 350 miles east of Puerto Rico. Its intensity is expected to bring it to tropical storm level. It will then be named Isaias.

The cone’s center at the moment indicates it will come right over Key West. Means nothing at the moment. Could turn.

Isaias is expected to make landfall saturday.

Enjoy your day!

The self named Grim Reaper is not going to get reaped. Mitch McConnell will win in Kentucky for the zillionth time. He has been the U.S. Senator for decades.

Too bad. The American spirit he reflected when first elected has dissipated. He has become a Washingtonian. Bought by Washington standards. The best delivery boy lobbyists could want.

His Democratic opponent is Amy McGrath. An impressive woman. She has no chance. McConnell’s seat bought and paid for years ago.

The most recent poll indicates a big McConnell win. He is ahead 55-33 percent. A 22 point lead.

Two recent quotes re McConnell.

“Show me a politician who becomes a millionaire while in office and I will show you a crook.”

“It’s about time Kentucky lay the Grim Reaper to rest.”

The last quote is not going to happen.

Trump must always be the “winner.” Not happening in Portland. He is not quelling the protesters. He cannot consider the results so far as encouraging.

One hundred more U.S. Marshalls were sent in thursday. Homeland Security is considering sending in an additional 50 U.S. Custom and Border Protection agents.

Trump’s thugs have been battling and beating up the demonstrators since early July. The result thus as far similar to U.S. “wins” in  Vietnam and Afghanistan. Victory evasive. Each war never ending.

Trump’s ill conceived solution is to send in more Trump agents.

In mid-July there were 114 agents in Portland. The number as of last thursday unknown. The White House keeping details secret as if this was a “real war.”

Getting a handle on the coronavirus battle difficult. The U.S. way behind because Trump refused to be a leader and enforce basic medical rules. Thousands have been afflicted and have died because of his ignorance and reluctance.

Major League Baseball shows how hard it is to “return to work” in a safe and secure fashion.

The shortened season began 3-4 days ago. Disaster has already struck.

Sunday, the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies played. Professional baseball invoked all safeguards. Did not work. Fourteen players have tested positive since sunday.

Someone left a duffel bag in a public place on Grassy Key. A couple found it saturday. The bag contained $884,000 of cocaine.

The cocaine was turned over to authorities. No other facts are available at this time.

Mini-lobster season wednesday and thursday. A disaster about to happen. Normally 50,000 vessels and 80,000 lobster harvesters are on the water diving and partying. A big time! I know. I have done it enough times!

Most of the fishermen come from outside the Keys. Many from Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. The 2 worse infected counties in the U.S.

The Governor has been reluctant to cancel the event. Some entities and municipalities are doing so.

The key to success in limiting boats and people: Ban use of the boat ramps as a result of which the boats cannot get into the water.

Monroe County has banned ramp use in the Key Largo area. Islamorada banned use of their ramps.

Both bannings permit resident use. No problem because they live in the Keys and will not be bringing the virus with them.

The City of Key West finally moved its ass. Most of the ramps will be closed to non-residents. A joke as you will see.

A significant large ramp will be open. Not 100 percent. However sufficiently to be a danger.

What I am about to share shows how local governmental officials fear Key West business people.

The Garrison Bight City Marina Boat Ramp will be open to locals and GUESTS OF CITY OF KEY WEST HOTELS and CITY OF KEY WEST VACATION RENTALS.

Like opening the door to the enemy. Not a very bright way to fight a virus pandemic.

My heart bleeds for William and Matilda Hackley’s baby. The baby cannot handle Matilda’s milk. Three goats have failed also. Plus one woman who apparently had recently given birth and breast fed the baby on one occasion.

William’s entry for this day 1855: “The baby has been ailing for three days her passages being very green and the Doctor gave her some mercuriated chalk. She was quite heavy all day and I was up with her from 12:30 am to 3 at which time I went for a walk on the beach, the baby was by this time better. Matilda’s milk is not good and that disagrees with the child.”

I am beginning to be concerned whether the baby will survive.

One of the greatest film stars of all time died sunday in Paris. Olivia de Haviland. She was 104. God bless her!

She starred in such films as Gone with the Wind, Robin Hood, To Each His Own, and The Heiress. She won two Academy Awards.

Sweet and lovely on and off the screen.

May she rest in peace.

My night tonight! Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Oh, the things I have to talk about!

Join me for a fast moving half hour of raving and ranting. Show begins 9 my time. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

Whack as a sex term. Like in masturbation and virtual sex. An activity available to both sexes.

Canada’s disease control center is known as the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control. Similar to the U.S.’s CDC.

The Centre’s website has an entire section dedicated to sex education during the virus pandemic.

In addition to masturbation and virtual sex, the Centre suggests a third activity. Glory holes. Identified as a “safe technique” to minimize virus spreading during sex.

Imagine, a saturday night date at an adult book store. Two booths used. One for the male, the other for the female. Fun all night! With non stopping porn flicks for watching in each booth while playing.

Canadians not too happy with the sexual recommendations. Consider the suggestions wild: “You put Canada on the world stage, front and center, with your ‘nut-ball’ agenda (no pun intended).”

Tripped upon three interesting comments yesterday. Food for thought ones which I share with you.

“When the rich rob the poor, it’s called BUSINESS. When the the poor fight back, it’s called VIOLENCE.”

“I can’t be anything to anyone if I am nothing to myself.”

“The tree that would grow to Heaven must send its roots to Hell.”

The protest/government confrontations have only just begun. Violence has begun knocking on the door. It was inevitable. You hit hit me, throw tear gas at me, sweep me off the street into dark cars, etc. and retaliation is to be expected.

First with the protesters shooting back. Then actual shooting between Trump’s special military and the protesters. War!

Trump makes me laugh. For 4 years he has been telling us that if someone hits him, he hits back. Well, his people have been hitting the protesters. Time for retaliation at hand. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

Physical problems in two cities in recent days.

Austin saturdy night one of the places

A protester was “carrying a rifle” down a street and blocking traffic. A driver of a car claims the protester approached his car with the rifle aimed.

The driver was armed also. He shot the protester.

The other place Aurora.

Protesters marching on a highway. A car was intentionally driven through the protesters.

Protesters ran after the car. “Pops” were heard. Protesters shooting at the car. The car and its driver not hit. However, one of the protesters was.

The Jews and Germans who continue seeking out World War II persons who caused significant injury and deaths to Jews are to be commended. It has been 75 years since the war ended.

Bruno Dey was convicted this past week of being an accessory in the murder of 5,230 Jews. Dey was 17 at the time. He was an SS guard at the Nazi concentration camp Stutthof.

He is now 93 years old.

Dey was found guilty.

He is a bit lucky.

First, he lived 75 years without being caught and punished.

Second, because he was 17 at the time, he was tried as a minor. He has yet to be sentenced. His sentence will not be anywhere what it would have been had he been an adult. He may be out of jail before he dies.

Coronavirus keeps marching ahead. Never faltering. Reminds me of Onward Christian Soldiers. Though the righteousness of each diametrically opposed.

Florida keeps moving. Spiraling ever upward.

Sunday’s media reports saturday’s numbers of new cases 9,344. A significant number of new cases from the day before.

Deaths through saturday 5,972.

Thank you President Trump and Governor DeSantis. Thank you also the Floridians that have been too stupi/smart to follow the basic rules which limit the virus’ spread.

Floridians seem to listen to no one. They must think they are special and that God is on there side. They’re not going to get sick! Only to learn too late they, their families, and friends are susceptible to the virus.

Enjoy your day!

Portland continues to be front page news. Every night without fail. Ken Cuccinelli is the person who carries out Trump’s plan of action for the city.

Cuccinelli is Acting Deputy Secretary for Homeland Security. Actually, he runs Homeland Security. He had problems with Senate approval of his appointment and a federal court decision as to what his title and power were. As a result, Cuccinelli’s status is Acting Deputy Secretary. Do not be fooled however, he is actually running Homeland Security.

Portland’s picture becomes worse with each succeeding day. Much has to do with Trump’s thinking. Cuccinelli however is a loyal soldier and dances to the Presidents tune. He is somewhat like Florida’s Governor DeSantis in that regard.

Cuccinelli’s background reflects a far right thinker. He is against same sex marriage, rejects scientific consensus on climate change, as Virginia’s Attorney General he investigated scientists who supported climate change for fraud, an immigration hardliner, anti-birthright citizenship, believes employees in the work place should speak English, and believes the only sex education to be taught should be abstinence.

Two examples that Cuccinelli’s thinking is on the twisted side.

One of the grounds upon which he justifies the federal Portland invasion are the shields and gas masks used by protesters. He describes them as “weapons.” Cuccinelli said, “Here is a shield and a couple of gas masks from a rioter arrested in Portland…..preparations for violence. Peaceful protesters? I don’t think so.”

Another, Democrat’s use of “Nazi” and “Stormtrooper” may be libelous.

I wrote as part of a blog a couple of weeks ago that the judiciary needed updating. Cases had to move faster, decisions rendered quickly, technicalities overlooked in the search for justice.

My thoughts based on one of the first rules taught in law school: Justice delayed is justice denied.

Oregon recently brought suit in federal court to limit the actions of federal agents and to get them out of Portland. The Judge decided against the State (in effect the people) on a technicality.

Brought to mind another basic rule of law taught early in law school: For every wrong, there is a right.

Wrongs perpetrated on the protesters multitudinous. Protester rights should be multitudinous. Basic Constitutional rights are being violated by the minute.

Somewhere, somehow, there has to be justice.

Our government is trending aristocratic. Judges should recall the Nuremberg trials where judges were on trial.  Their excuse was they were enforcing the law. Most were found guilty.

Our judges have yet to step over the line. However they seem to be pushing it.

Trump’s says he is considering sending in 60,000 more federal whatevers to cities he believes need assistance in quelling criminal activity. He mentioned Milwaukee in 3 weeks. In between, Chicago, Albuquerque, Detroit, and Cleveland.

All part of Trump’s new law and order program. To curb violence. A violence not the federal government’s responsibility to cure.

I do not believe the law and order kick will help get Trump reelected. If anything, it will contribute to his defeat.

A coronavirus update next.

Florida is in deep shit trouble as far as the virus is concerned. Governor DeSantis the blame. He has sucked up to Trump at every turn.

Florida numbers recently passed those of New York State. Florida entirely covered with the virus. The numbers swiftly moving up every day.

Florida consistently makes stupid moves. Those which contribute to the virus continuing in an upward trend. The most recent involves Florida’s top business regulator. It was announced this past week he is looking for ways to open bars safely. He has been scheduling meetings with bar owners.

There is no safe way at the moment. The pandemic has overwhelmed Florida.

Florida’s problem is its Governor who wants to reopen the economy. Similar to Trump’s way of thinking.

Coronavirus is never going to go away unless we go back to a hard line. As I continue saying, life is more important than money.

Note that DeSantis is also big on reopening the schools. Another birds of a feather thing between Trump and DeSantis.

As of Friday, Florida has 402, 312 confirmed coronavirus cases. Deaths, 5,653.

The Keys have begun to take a beating. Eighty four new cases reported Friday alone.

The check points were a savior for the Keys. Prevented non-residents from traveling down U.S. 1 to anywhere in the Keys. Kept Key West safe. The checkpoint went up 3/19. Came down 6/1.

In roughly 10 weeks, only 109 new cases.

Since then, the numbers have spiraled. Especially for Key West. Everyone wants to drive down from the mainland to party.

The checkpoints/barricades must be brought back. DeSantis and business owners say no. The rest of the population says yes!

The mini-lobster season Wednesday and Thursday this week. A virus disaster in the making. Mini-lobster season normally attracts to the Keys 50,000 vessels and 80,000 harvesters.

Some ramps in the Key Largo area have been closed by the County Commission. Islamorada closed their tamps on their own.

The Commission failed to close all the ramps. The Governor got involved. None further expected.

By mid-August, the number of new cases will rise dramatically. Especially in Key West.

Most of Key West business people are my friends. I disagree with them on this issue, however.

Coronavirus is never going away if we do not put a STOP to everything that permits it to grow. Most know what to do. Our people are not all in accord, however. The situation is only going to get worse, not better.

Local governments have to play “hard ass” if we are going to defeat the virus. Washington, D.C. played “hard ball” this past week. Mayor Muriel Bowser issued an executive order. Masks must be worn outside the home. Failure to do so will result in an automatic $1,000 fine.

Washington, D.C.’s total cases as of last Wednesday were 11,529.

It has been reported that Fauci and his family have been receiving threats. Considered “serious threats.” They began in March and continue. It is believed the threats are the result of anger by those suffering economic hardship.

The Department of Justice is providing Fauci, his wife and daughters with security.

Enjoy your Sunday!