There will be another woman on a national ticket this year. Biden has promised a black woman as his Vice-Presidential running mate. We soon shall know who. By the end of the week perhaps.

There are three other ladies who have run on a national ticket in the past. Geraldine Ferraro as the Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate in 1984,  Sarah Palin as the Republican Vice-Presidential candidate in 2008, and Hillary Clinton for President as a Democrat in 2016.

There have been other female candidates who have run. On minority party lines, however.

One was Victoria Woodhull. She ran for President on the Equal Rights Party ticket in 1872. A time when women did not even have the right to vote. She was a 33 year old social reformer who was also an outspoken advocate of free love. She told reporters it was a sure cure for immorality.

Woohull was flamboyant. Constantly defied convention. Always seeking to break down barriers.

She was a self-proclaimed clairvoyant who performed in carnivals in her youth.

Later in life, she and her sister achieved fame as America’s first and only female stockbrokers. The two also published their own crusading newspaper.

Woodhull was accused of promiscuity when she was a candidate. There were those who said she was little better than a prostitute.

She turned the tables. Her paper accused one of the most famous ministers of the day, Henry Ward Beecher, of practicing sexual infidelity while preaching against it. She knew what she was talking about. She and Beecher had been lovers.

A national scandal erupted. Woodhull was arrested and jailed for pornography. A cartoonist Thomas Nast labeled her “Mrs. Satan.”

Woodhull had only scorn for those that preached against free love openly and practiced it secretly. Throughout the ensuing scandal, Beecher never denied her accusations.

The New York Times in March 1870 referred to Woodhull thusly: “Mrs. Woodhull with an ambition worthy of a female Napoleon, goes for the Presidency.”

An extraordinary woman. She eventually married not the devil, but an English banker.

The scandal during the campaign stirred up much hatred. She fled the U.S. Leaving the tumult behind her, she created a new persona and lived out the second half of her life as a respected member of the British upper class.

Key West has a reputation for being a sexually down and dirty place. Not so! Reputation and fact do not necessarily go hand in hand.

Key West has the reputation because it is home to so many gays. Those who have not lived closely with homosexuals and lesbians are unaware that gays are generally like straights, except for the gay factor. They live together for years, marry, adopt children, go to church, contribute of themselves to the community, etc. Some are not married. Those not, stick to their own local friends when it comes to sex.

They are not sex freaks running around seeking their next conquest.

It is the tourists who come to Key West seeking the crazy sexual behavior that does not exist. Does not exist among locals. Does  exist among tourists. The men have the gentlemen’s clubs and tourist ladies, the tourist ladies the vacationing men. Visitors intimate with each other, not with locals.

The message is perversity is transient.

A perfect example is what occurred last week.

Robert Privette is 49. Visiting from South Carolina. Staying at the Double Tree Hotel.

His room was next to a room occupied by 2 young ladies, 24 and 27. There was an internal door separating the two rooms. Locked on both sides.

Privette heard noise from the adjoining room indicating the ladies had returned from the beach. He slid a camera under the adjoining doors which was hooked up to his cell phone.

One of the ladies had just finished showering and was leaving the bathroom. The other was standing in front of a mirror naked admiring her body.

The one coming out of the bathroom saw the camera and yelled, “What’s that? That’s a fucking camera!”

The police were called. The camera was found in Privette’s room hidden between pillows. Privette confessed. He has been charged with 2 felonies.

A major movie star and his family are opening a restaurant in Key West. The star Mark Wahlburger.

The restaurant will open in late summer. It will be located on the boardwalk of the Historic Key West Seaport. The actual address 700 Front Street.

Casual dining.

The Wahlburger the featured item.

Restaurants are not new to the Wahlburger family. They already have 44 locations in North America and Europe.

Sounds exciting! Hope the food is good!

I have never been in favor of chains opening in Key West. I would rather see Key West remain old, historic, and traditional. It is not a McDonald’s type town. At least not downtown Key West. The chains are ok on the Boulevard period!

However, I am not the one who makes these decisions.

May Johnson’s exciting 1896 Key West life continues.

Her diary for this day reflects she wrote to Ernest. Important! Ernest her “love.” He works in Miami.

May does not let grass grow under her feet. Joe came by. They went to La Brisa.

Joe had a new “codac” with him. He took 5 pictures of May.

I assume the “codac” was the relatively new Kodak camera. Kodak began manufacturing them in 1888.

After some time at La Brisa, Joe took May home. May’s house full of company. Joe stayed a while. Everyone enjoyed tea.

A pleasant friday evening. It was Cocktails at 7. Enjoyed cocktails via Skype with Cathy in Seattle.

Cathy has a pug dog. Lucy. Fifteen years old.

Lucy is blind, deaf and has diabetes. Can still smell, though. Cathy is to be complimented. The dog is her life. She takes exceptionally good care of Lucy.

Enjoy your day!

Tear gas affects the lungs. Breathing becomes difficult. Coronavirus victims similarly suffer. Breathing a major problem.

Makes me think there is another major problem. U.S. citizens using tear gas to quell their fellow American citizens at a time when coronavirus is rampant in the U.S.

Confusion and interest exists re the legality of the use of tear gas. Many believe it is prohibited by the Geneva Protocol of 1925.

The Geneva Protocol prohibited the use of “asphyxiating gas, or any other kind of gas, liquids, substances or similar materials.”

The Protocol was not structured properly. It failed to spell out/identify to some degree the chemicals banned.

The U.S. accepted The Protocol, reserving however the right to use tear gas, etc. as risk control agents.

Banned in war, ok to use in quelling domestic disturbances.

The CDC defines tear gas, or riot control agents, as “chemical compounds that temporarily make people unable to function by causing irritation to the eyes, mouth, throat, lungs, and skin.”

In 1997, a Chemical Weapon Convention issued a new protocol which made definite the chemicals prohibited. Specifically, it banned riot control agents in war, but still made their use legal for law enforcement purposes.

The Senate approved. Passed the new document controlling use of tear gas, etc. Twenty nine Republicans and 45 Democrats voted in favor.

Interesting is the identity of those Senators who voted in support of an instrument that banned riot control agents in war, but permitted their use in quelling riot situations in the U.S.

The New York Times 4/25/97 listed the Senators voting for and against. Some are still Senators. Others, no longer.

I list by name those Republicans I consider significant member of the Senate who voted in support at the time: Collins, McCain, McConnell, Murkowski, Specter, and Warner. Democrats: Biden, Daschle, Durbin, Glenn, Inouye, Kennedy, Kerrey, Moynihan, Rockefeller, and Wyden.

Two significant Democrats voting yes: Biden and Wyden.

Does Biden have any concern with his vote? Should he? I don’t know.

Wyden is the yes voter who amuses me. He is still one of the Senators from Oregon. He has been on TV lately complaining of the terrible things being done by the “federales” sent into Portland by Trump. He describes them as “thugs,” claims Oregon has been invaded, and complains about the “tear gassing.”

Wyden voted for it. His people now reap the sad winds it has brought.

Trump’s recent actions with his personal military reminds me of Willie Nelson. “He’s on the road again!”

Trump announced yesterday he is returning to Seattle this weekend. He is sending in what is known as a “Special Response Team.” Part of U.S. Border and Protection.

BORTAC part of U.S. Border and Protection, also.

Why is Trump sending in a different group? It would make sense to return BORTAC who have some experience in Seattle. Does Trump want the “Special Response Team” to get some boots on the ground experience?

Trump in effect invaded Seattle with non-identifiable secret police. My suspicion is he observed what Putin did in Crimea in 2014 and he wanted to copy his hero’s modus operandi.

Luke Harding wrote an interesting book which was published in 2017: “COLLUSION: Secret Meetings, Dirty Money. and How Russia Helped Donald Trump Win.”

I read the book when it was published. I was looking through my slew of books yesterday for a particular one. Instead I came across COLLUSION. I recalled a passage in the book that fits recent happenings in Portland.

At page 154, “Putin’s response was to seize Crimea and declare that the uprising in Ukraine was a ‘fascist’ coup.’ He pledged to defend the ethnic Russians whom Manafort had previously targeted as election fodder. Soon after Putin started a war in eastern Ukraine–albeit a covert one, done with undercover troops and clandestine agents. The conflict that gripped Ukraine in 2014 wasn’t, as Moscow claimed, a civil war. In reality it was a Frankenstein-like conflict, artificially created by the Russian government and given life by the external brute shock of military force and invasion.”

I am sick of Trump repeated telling the American people how smart he is. Especially when it is obvious he is not.

Trump continues relying on the cognitive test he took. The 3 animal thing.

Not a test for brilliance. A simple test to measure memory loss, if any. Problems like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Schizophrenia.

I have taken the test every year for the past 15 years. Part of my annual physical. Be aware, I always identify the elephant, etc. correctly.

Trump says the last few questions are “hard” My recollection is they include: What year is this? What is today’s date? What day is today?

Respectfully, a bullshit artist at his best.

Trump dd his third briefing last night. I have watched all 3.

They are a waste of time. He is using them to show that he is in charge. We all know that. No question about it. That is why everything is screwed up.

The shows are absurd.

Two things especially bothered me yesterday.

First, Trump took credit for getting the virus under control in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Galling! The whole world knows it was Andrew Cuomo.

If Trump ever decides to approach the coronavirus problem as Cuomo did, we would definitely get out of it. Sooner than Trump ever will, if he can.

The other item that bothered me was Trump’s claim that the country was doing “great” re the pandemic.

Real great! Over 4 million infected, with 1000 a day dying.

U.S./China tensions are getting worse. Forcing consulates to close is increasing tensions.

A Chinese representative said yesterday that the U.S. was “breaking down the friendship bridge.”

Are U.S. relations better today with China than when Trump took office? Is the U.S. better off today as regards China than when Trump took office? Finally, are the American farmers and certain manufacturers better off today than when Trump took office?

Trump says we are at war with coronavirus. I agree. Is Trump aware we are losing it badly?

The 2020 Summer Olympics were to have opened this week in Tokyo. Cancelled because of coronavirus. The games have been rescheduled to next summer.

It has been raining for 3 weeks. Heavy. Real heavy.

Not complaining. This is the rainy season. Don’t recall it ever being so consistent, however.

Yesterday was a monsoon!

This morning the Key West Citizen ran 2 front page pictures of the resultant flooding.

The intersection of Eaton and White Streets. Always gets flooded. Yesterday about 3 feet.

On 2 occasions over the years, I saw tourists swimming in the intersection.

Then there is the intersection of Duval and Front Streets. Another always flooded intersection. Yesterday, abut 1 foot.

Never saw anyone swimming in the intersection. Did see someone kyacking once.

Cocktails at 7 tonight. Looking forward to it.

Enjoy your day!

Portland is turning more and more chaotic. Trump’s “gestapo” are being met with a backlash. Not bad yet. However obvious that people will not remain silent for long when being defecated upon by the man sworn to protect them.

Trump is playing the Portland game merely for political glory. Whatever, it can at some point become retaliatory.

Though the protesters have been on Portland streets evenings for more than 50 days, their conduct for the most has been respectable.

Allison Hyder is a Portland resident. She wanted to see up close what was going on. She grabbed a helmet and googles and was off to the demonstration. Her intent to stand in the rear and watch. Nothing more.

Allison is no teenager. She is a grandmother of 5.

In the early hours of tuesday she found herself not in the rear, but up front. Locking arms with other mothers dressed in yellow.

Allison told a reporter, “I am the face of anarchy. The people of the United States need to know that moms, grandmas and nurses are out here in the middle of the night demanding rights for everybody.”

Interesting. Grandmothers, mothers and nurses protesting front line on the streets of Portland.

Pew Research Center recently completed an analysis as to the composition of the Portland protesters. Surprising results.

Only 1 in 6 Black Lives Matter protesters are black.

The percentages speak for themselves. Whites 46 percent, Blacks 17 percent, Hispanics 22 percent, and Asians 8 percent.

Texas coronavirus numbers keep sky rocketing. No end in sight. Hospitals claim they are facing a “tsunami” of patients who will finally overwhelm them.

One doctor said, “Our hospitals look like war zones.”

The numbers tell the story. One thousand deaths in 10 days. As many deaths as occurred in the previous 3 months.

Not good.

No one seems to know what they are doing. Similar in most of the rest of the U.S.

The head public health official for Hidalgo County issued a “shelter-at-home” order monday. Governor Greg Abbot says it’s unenforceable.

Called “working together.”

Trump’s new reality show aired for the first time yesterday at 5. Doubt it will receive any awards. Doubt it will last long.

He read his report. No speaking off the cuff as he enjoys. His report overall not interesting.

There were 3 significant points made.

He changed his position on face masks and social distancing. Finally!

He did not wear one during the broadcast, however.

One of the doctors speaking on a news show afterwards said if Trump had taken that position 3 months ago, there would be 50,000 fewer deaths today.

The final item concerns Jeffrey Epstein’s good friend and procurer who is presently under arrest. A reporter asked about Ghislaine Maxwell. A put Trump on the spot question. He handled it with a smile on his face and his foot in his mouth.

The question was baited. Trump bit hook, line and sinker!

Note Ghislaine is accused of aiding Jefferfy Epstein in the sexual abuse of minors.

Trump’s response, “I just wish her well. I’ve met her numerous times over the years, especially since I lived in Palm Beach and they lived in Palm Beach. I wish her well.”

Dana Milbank in a Washington Post Opinion piece yesterday described Trump’s show as the “Five O’Clock Follies.”

Milbank said the show was dull. Predicted it faced an early cancellation. Not so much because of ratings. Primarily because “the lead actor hates his role.”

This is day 127 of my self-quarantine.

Amazing how many people are self-quarantining also. I have received e-mails from all over the U.S. from people who are doing as I. Most from people 60 and older. A few in their 90’s.

I confess I have cheated 6 times. Out of necessity. Doctor visits and hospital visits for tests. Still in the cycle. I have intentionally failed to share the purported problem. Probably bullshit. Hopefully bullshit.

The 6 visits were quick. I was only out of the house 45 minutes each time.

Yesterday was a doctor visit day.

Let me say in passing I am impressed how most doctor’s offices are handling the coronavirus problem.

My primary care physician is Dr. Norris.

In order to gain entry into his offices, I now press a bell. His door  always locked. A nurse comes out immediately. Takes my temperature while I am standing outside. Then takes me in. Quickly does the blood pressure, etc. routine. Then to an examining room to await the doctor.

No siting in a waiting room first. No one ever in the waiting room these days.

Not what I intended to share with you. Interesting, however.

As I drove down US 1 to Key West, then down North Roosevelt Boulevard, ending up at Dr. Norris’ office on Southard, there was no traffic. Like nothing. Almost zip. Eerie.

Parking places. Whole blocks of them.

Very few people seen walking.

Key West was a “ghost town” yesterday morning. Probably has been for a while and will continue to be for some time to come.

The desolation reminded me of 2 movies. The 1959 film On The Beach with Gregory Peck and Ava Gardener and the 1971 film The Omega Man with Charlton Heston.

Both involved backgrounds where war or some disease had killed most everyone world wide. Only a handful left. Anticipating death or doing everything to avoid it.

In both, the streets were desolate. Empty. Stores and buildings, also.

The Monroe County Commission and the Key West Commission have overall done a good job in dealing with the virus. There have been screw ups, however.

Both have failed as regards lobster mini-season which occurs next week.

Florida is rampant with coronavirus. Miami-Dade and Broward Counties are the worst for the disease in the nation.

Drinking and partying rules stringent in certain instance. Especially as to bars and beaches.

So the people in those counties hop in their cars and drive down to the Keys. Bringing with them, coronavirus. Key Largo has suffered the worst. The first “major” community in the Keys as one drives south.

Mini-lobster season will bring these same party goers back. Most are young.

The Monroe County Commission should have shut down mini-lobster season. Did not. Apparently only the Governor could. He refused.

Rules in this time of major disease are meant to be bent. Just the way it is.

The County Commission should have said no mini-lobster season this year and closed all boat ramps from Key Largo to Key West to everyone, except locals.

Instead, the County Commission closed certain boat rams in the Key Largo area. No where else.

Islamorada is located mid Keys. Islamorada closed their boat ramps before the County even decided what they were going to do. And Islamorada intends to keep the boat ramps shut.

Key West should follow Islamorada’s example. Close down the ramps! Pay no attention to what the Governor or County Commission say in this instance. Key West should do the right thing. Close down the boat ramps and declare no mini-season in Key West.

My plan is appropriate. Key Largo is effectively closed to non-locals. Islamorada likewise. The next major Keys community is Key West. Do the same here.

Those who want to come down for mini-lobstering know they cannot go to Key Largo or Islamorada. Most will say no problem. Let’s go to Key West. The only major partying town left open for mini lobstering and partying! The two go together.

If Key West remains open, I predict that 2-3 weeks thereafter Key West’s coronavirus numbers will go up dramatically.

Some forget lives are more important than money. There are those instances.

Love the William Hackley and May Johnson diaries the Key West Citizen has been running!

I continue to learn.

Two comments received by my blog yesterday involved “Household Words.”

Household Words was an English weekly magazine. It was edited by Charles Dickens in the 1850’s. Household Words’ name was derived from a line in Shakespeare’s Henry V: “Familiar in his mouth on household words.”

Hackley’s diary covers 1855. Hackley frequently mentions he spent an afternoon or some time reading Household Words.

Today’s blog way longer than intended. I got hooked up with the mini-lobster season/coronavirus thing. Everyone’s life has value. I feel strongly that life should be protected.

Enjoy your day!

We all watch television. What did you think in recent weeks when you saw the protesting in Washington, D.C., Seattle, and Portland?

What will you think if Trump keeps his word and sends his “secret forces” into Chicago, New York City and Baltimore?

I refer not to just the protesters. Protesters are protesters. Something is wrong and they want it corrected. Protesting is where a people let the government know they are not happy. Change is born of the protesting.

Such has been the American way.

Pray tell, when was the last time you saw demonstrations so much out of hand? Every evening feeling tonight is the night! Breakout time! Full battle gear, guns and all! Americans killing Americans!

The time is coming. It is close. Just around the corner.

There is a growing frustration among the American people. Americans have lost their ability to shape government policies and structures. Democratic type government is rapidly slipping out of the hands of the American people.

America was born of revolution. Its Founding Fathers believed another revolution would not be required. The vote was the weapon to remove corrupt and inept officials in the future.

Such was the case till Donald Trump. In 3 1/2 years, he has screwed up everything he has touched. His failures too many to list in their entirety. Included are his mishandling of coronavirus, the economy, our friends for years no longer our friends, his sucking up to authoritarian leaders, sending secret police onto the streets of our cities, etc.

Rebellions/revolutions have been many since man’s beginning. I have selected four to briefly discuss.

The first for all Americans of course is the Boston Tea Party. December 16, 1973. Dumping 303 chests of tea in Boston harbor a political protest. King George III and Parliament referred to the colonists as “anarchists.” The same word Trump uses to describe protesters.

George and Parliament retaliated. Passed the Intolerable Acts which ended self government in Massachusetts.

Did even more.  Invited the American Revolution in 1775.

The French Revolution was a 10 year event. A social and political upheaval. Began with storming the Bastille in 1789, ended in 1799. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette lost their heads. The monarchy was overthrown.

Several different forms of government were tried over the next 10 years. Even one with Napoleon as its leader.

Even to recent times, the French people have been flexible. They have not hesitated to change various parts of their government as the need arose.

The American Civil War in the 1860’s to some extent reflective of the U.S. of today.

Two sides. The North and the South. Each had come to view their political opponents in the extreme. Demonic ways, also. The two found it impossible to find a middle ground.

Lincoln’s confidence waned many times during the war. He sometime questioned whether he was correct that “government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from this earth.”

A new U.S. civil war could be around the corner.

The Russian Revolution. A political and social conflict, also.

The Czar was a poor monarch. Lousy more descriptive. Trump similar to the Czar. Each a major screw up.

The monarchy was abolished in 1917. The Russian Civil War ended in 1923 when the Bolshevik’s established the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union a perfect example of how the mighty can fall. In 1991, the Soviet Union ceased to exist.

Steve King was a Congressman from Iowa for many years. He was defeated in a recent Republican primary.

King was far right. No question where he stood. Authoritarian to the last drop of his blood.

At one time, he said, “The red states have “8 trillion bullets” in the event of a civil war.

A Trump similarity…..I’m a tough guy, don’t screw with me!

I am worried. Very worried. The straw that broke my back re the possibility of rebellion occurred in Portland this past week. Who the hell are these secret police. How dare Trump even use such persons in the Portland circumstances or any other in our beloved land?

We are not an authoritarian run government…..yet! Nor are we a banana republic!

It’s tuesday! My blog talk radio show tonight at 9 my time. Tuesday Talk With Key West Lou. I have 10 hours material to squeeze into 30 minutes. No way! What I do get in I guarantee will be interesting. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

Hitler had his Jews. The world swore it would never happen again. Unfortunately, it has happened somewhere many times since World War II.

Always an authoritarian despot.

China’s bad guy is Xi. Germany’s Jews of yesterday are China’s Uyghur Muslims of today. The Chinese have disliked and disapproved of the group for years.

In February 2016, I wrote as part of a blog China’s involvement in human organ sales. Big time!

Most of the organs being sold by China were removed from the live bodies of Uyghur Muslims. Generally anesthesia not used. Most died on the operating table while the removal was being done. Their bodies thrown into incinerators. Those still living were thrown with the already dead into the incinerators.

Gruesome!

In yesterday’s blog, I referred to Chinese organ harvesting. Actually merely in passing.

This morning an article concerning China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims. Totally incidental.

A Chinese official appeared on a sunday morning BBC news program. He was shown a video taken one year ago in China at a railroad station. The scene terrifying.

A huge group of Uyghur Muslims could be seen kneeling, handcuffed, blindfolded and heads shaved. They were waiting to be put on a train and taken to “reeducation camps” or “detention centers.”

Most to be murdered in one fashion or another. Simple execution or organ removal.

Shades of the Holocaust!

Secret police in Portland. Trump’s military. Different from Hitler’s Gestapo.

A comment to yesterday’s blog made an astute observation. Those in Germany at least knew who was arresting them.  In Portland, not.

Coronavirus is spreading like wildfire world wide. Especially in the U.S.

The U.S. has 4.5 percent of the world’s population and more than 25 percent of the world’s coronavirus cases.

Since the first U.S. coronavirus death in February, 1,000 people a day have died. U.S. deaths now exceed 140,000.

The U.S. leads the world in number of cases and deaths. Not a record to be proud of.

The nearest competitor to the U.S. re deaths is Brazil. The U.S. has more than two times the number of deaths than Brazil.

Florida a disaster. I write of Florida specifically since it is the State of my residence.

Florida has had 10,000 plus new coronavirus cases for 5 consecutive days.

Forty five Florida counties have no more ICU beds. All occupied. Monroe County my home has 9 ICU beds. All occupied.

Numbers reveal the problem better. Florida has 6,252 ICU beds. Presently occupied, 5,035. A mere 19 percent of ICU beds left available at a time when Florida’s number of cases is spiraling upward.

Unquestionably, Trump is the blame for the bad situation the U.S. is in. He refused to acknowledge the seriousness of the virus and provided only minimal assistance.

Trump is not done in failing to do what should be done.

A new coronavirus relief bill is before Congress. Supposedly this week is the one where Congress will do what ever it considers right and then send it onto the President.

Trump wants to remove remove significant funding from the CDC and NIH. He also wants to remove ALL funding for testing and contact testing. Zero funding!

He’s crazy! Inept and incompetent! Fails to understand the needs of the people. Hurts way more than he helps in every respect.

Finally, the Trump/Fauci relationship continues to deteriorate. Trump says, Fauci is an “alarmist.” He seeks to destroy Fauci because not only does he speak truth, but he speaks truth to power. Something very few do today.

Two unusual occurrences reported this past week. Babies born with coronavirus. Not supposed to happen. A surprise.

One was a baby born in India. When doctors became aware of the fetus’ coronavirus condition, a premature caesarian was done at 36 weeks. The baby has recovered and is doing well.

The other involves triplets born in Mexico. Two have recovered. The third continues to have breathing problems and remains on a respirator.

The affluent in our country do not seem to want to help the less than affluent as they once did. The issue unemployment benefits.

The number of unemployed bcause of coronavirus is astronomical. In the first stimulus package, the unemployed received $600 a week in addition to their unemployment check. The program ends this week.

The Republican Senate wants that number dropped $200-400.

Will hurt big time. A drop in the bucket. $600 was a help. Made being unemployed less hurtful. It costs money to feed a family, pay rent, etc. Something Trump and his Republican cohorts do not understand because being poor not part of their lifestyle.

Those receiving stimulus assistance require every penny.

Protests and demonstrations becoming commonplace. All over the U.S. Seattle and Portland still in the news. New York City entered big time this past weekend.

People are not happy campers. Those participating and those not. Our country is screwed up. The people have had it. Whether the protesters are right or wrong is immaterial. The end of the line has been reached. They want to shout out what they deem to be the wrongs that have accumulated in our society.

Trump no help in putting out the fires. He continually fuels them.

A history of adverse policing contributing to the protests.

“Secret police” in Portland no help.

The U.S. not the only country having protest demonstrations. Russia, too.

Russia periodically has them. We do not hear either because the Russians keep it quiet or the U.S. media opts not to tell us.

Recognize that Putin has not been in a secure position for at least 5 years. Russia has economic problems. Coronavirus ones also. Russian young are maturing and do not agree with their elders as how things should be done. Putin an “elder.”

Recently, a demonstration occurred in a Russian government entity called Khabarovsk. Involved was an election for governor. Sergi Furgal won. Long a Putin adversary.

He was arrested soon after his election for multiple murders that occurred some time ago. His arrest 2 months ago. Following the arrest, he was immediately flown to Moscow.

He has been in jail the entire 2 months.

The people of his area are upset. Apparently Furgal is respected and liked. The citizenry believe his arrest based on phony charges. They want him released. Before he is killed!

The key to this Russian story is that the demonstrations have occurred several times and the numbers protesting. Each time, tens of thousands.

Trump is not the only one having problems.

A without thinking act of heroism. An off-duty Florida police officer jumped in the water and pulled a boy away from a passing shark.

Cocoa Beach Officer Adrian Kosicki was was walking the beach with his wife. He saw a 10 year old boy boogie-boarding. At the same time, he saw a shark approaching the boy.

Kosicki ran into the shallows off shore. People yelling “shark” as he ran. He grabbed the boy and dragged him through the surf to shore. The shark was “dangerously close” as he rescued the 10 year old.

Witnesses and a video someone took indicate the shark was “within just feet of them.”

God bless Kosicki. There are some good cops.

Last but not least, my Happy Birthday greetings to Lynda Frechette. Thirty going on 29. She and husband Bob the best of the best. I treasure their friendship.

Enjoy your day!

America is dying. The U.S. is on a precipice. Waiting to fall.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are on the move. War and Plague already have arrived. War being the protest conflicts occurring on the streets of America. Plague, coronavirus.

Conquest and famine not far behind.

I was chastised in a comment today for mislabeling BORTAC. I referred to it as the Border Patrol Military. Its correct name is Border Patrol Tactical Unit. Technically, a tactical unit of the U.S. Border Patrol.

Not conceived by Trump. Actually began in the mid 1980’s. Trump has found a new toy. He uses the force whenever he can.

BORTAC is not that large. A mere 220 members. Specially trained. My concern is that BORTAC also has part time members all across the U.S. To be used as and when needed.

Trump discovered them and is using them, whether full time or part time.

I would like to know how many part-timers.

I refer to BORTAC and ICE as Trump’s Gestapo. Some as Hitler’s storm troopers. The name immaterial. Their function important.

Perhaps a compromise is in order. Hitler also had brown shirts.

The important thing is to recognize Trump is using and developing certain groups detrimental to the democratic way as Hitler did.

Organ harvesting a big time business. Chinese astute business people. China recognized several years ago the market for human organs.

They are doing well at it.

A Chinese group is known as the Uyghur Muslims. China defecates upon them. Arrests frequent. In the dark of the night generally. Taken to concentration camps where, among other things, their organs are removed for purpose of sale to others.

A big dollar business.

Chinese doctors believe 28 year olds are the best candidates for organ removal. The estimate is 25,000 organs a year are removed. China derives an income of $10-20 billion a year.

China’s organ business is the largest in the world. In one fashion or another, China is involved in 60,000-100,000 transplants annually.

A portion of a blog I wrote in February 2016 dealt with China and organ harvesting. The article’s title: Sunday Writing. Organ harvesting a small part of the blog near the end.

Part of what I wrote is as follows: “China and body parts. China and the harvesting of organs.

Human life is not respected and cherished as in the the United states. China does a big business in harvesting and selling human body parts.

Recently, Newsweek published a detailed story concerning the issue. The article was written by several well respected journalists. I point this out because what I am about to share is so far out.

China removes body parts for resale from prisoners. Especially political ones. By the thousands. Livers, corneas, and kidneys.

No anesthesia is used. The person generally dies during the removal. The person’s body is thrown into an incinerator.

Some live. They are thrown alive into the incinerators with the dead.

China denies the story.”

Lets take a quick look at the coronavirus numbers.

U.S. deaths exceed 140,000.

Monroe County reports 810 cases. Six died.

One problem. Monroe County has only 9 ICU beds. All occupied at the moment.

I am not sure of the Key West numbers. Somewhere in the 60’s or 70’s. I expect them to surge upward a bit next week when the July 4th weekend infections come into play.

Trump refuses to accept responsibility for the conoronavirus. In any fashion. Especially now when the numbers keep climbing.

He want’s out.

He wants legislation pushing responsibility onto the states. His attitude is to let the states take the public relations fall, not the President.

Trump also rejects national standards. Such would impose responsibility for what happens on the President, also.

I can hear Donald now: The states failed, not me!

There are still good things in life! Today is National Ice Cream Day.

The man responsible Ronald Reagan. In 1984, Reagan declared it a national day of recognition. The entire month of July was declared National Ice Cream Month. The third Sunday in July, National Ice Cream Day.

When my children were small, gong out for ice cream was a big deal. Is it still the same today? I wonder if supermarket selling of ice cream in large amounts has dome away with the happy family event.

William and Matilda’s baby is not yet well. Starving. Matilda’s milk and goat milk insufficient.

William wrote in his diary this day in 1855: “Being awake in the night by the baby whose milk had curdled and who had nothing to fill herself and would not go to sleep.”

I feel sorry for Baby. Starving. Mother and goats not even close to sufficiently helping. Thank God we live in a world today where there is always a can of milk at the supermarket a baby can ingest.

Enjoy your Sunday!

There have been protests in Portland, Oregon recently. Never ending ones. Not that bad, however.  People letting steam off.

Things got bad last night. Very bad.

As he had threatened, Trump sent in federal troops. Not exactly sure in every instance who they were. They can be described as “unidentified.” Uniforms non-descript black or green military fatigues. Neither names nor insignias identified. Black unmarked cars used.

There were some that were identifiable from 2 specific agencies. The U.S. Marshall and the Department of Homeland and Security. They might be described as non-consequential when compared to the others set forth.

A few protesters were taken into custody. I believe all released. Makes sense. No judge would hold them. Probable cause was not involved.

The 2 groups not identifiable I suspect were members of ICE and Border Patrol Military.

Why the blog title? Why do I ask the question whether Portland represents the beginning of the end for the U.S.?

Trump’s numbers are way down. The pandemic is killing him. The economy getting worse by the day. Trump’s reelection on November 3 in serious doubt. Many know it. Trump has to recognize it.

Trump will not accept defeat. Not part of his nature. I visualize one of two things occurring.

First, Trump will not run. He is not the type to publicly accept defeat. He will find some reason to gracefully withdraw.

The other is Trump will lose, but refuse to leave the White House. He will claim the election was rigged.

If he does remain in the White House, who will remove him? Will the U.S. Army do it? I doubt so. He is their commander in chief. National Guard units? No way.

Some describe ICE and the Border Patrol Military as Trump’s personal army.

I have been saying since soon after Trump was elected that ICE was being turned into Trump’s Gestapo. Their numbers and training have increased. They always seem to be where Trump has need to show force.

The Border Patrol Military are newer than ICE. Technically affiliated with the Border Patrol. They receive special forces training and are available to Trump as he desires.

Trump would illegally remain in power defended by ICE and Border Patrol Military.

The “secret” military units were shooting bullets considered less than lethal. However one of the protesters was hit in the head. His skull and other facial bones fractured. His face was rebuilt in surgery.

Others “arrested” were swept away in black unmarked cars.

Protesters were repeatedly tear gassed.

Trump said there were 2 reasons why he sent the forces in.

One, allegedly to quell violence. Problem is there was no violence till Trump’s troops arrived. Then matters escalated.

The other reason “technical justification”. Federal agents from any source were there to enforce federal laws. Specifically, “assaults on federal agents or danger to federal property.”

Trump described the protesters as “violent anarchists.” He “cheered” the tactics being used.

Everyone from the local Congressman, Mayor and Police Chief have complained Trumps actions illegal and to get out of town.

I believe Trump’s actions illegal, also. He is not the law. He is President. He has never recognized the distinction.

I worry November 3 might be too far away. Too late.

Don’t ask me what to do. I don’t know at this stage.

An American hero has passed on. John Lewis. I have a feeling his services will be similar to those befitting a President.

Lewis was a civil rights leader. He stood next to Martin Luther King Jr. Born to sharecropper parents, he was one of ten children.

He became involved in the civil rights movement in the 1960’s. Helped organize the March on Washington where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have A Dream” speech.

Lewis stood tall for what he believed. He was in the front line in Selma on Bloody Sunday marching across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965. He was beaten so badly he suffered a fractured skull.

For the past 33 years, Trump has been a U.S. Congressman.

Lewis 80 when he died. His death not easy. Cause pancreatic cancer.

May he rest in peace.

It was on this date in 64 AD that Rome burned. Many believe Nero started the fire. He wanted to rebuild parts of Rome.

Historians do not accept the theory that Nero burned Rome.

He was not in Rome at the time. Thirty five miles away in his country villa. Incorrect history tells us Nero played the fiddle while Rome burned. He could not have. The fiddle had not been invented yet.

Nero did put the fire to good use, however. He blamed the Christians. Fed them to the lions and crucified them.

An interesting question. Suppose the schools do not reopen. Will school taxes be refunded?

Annie occasionally comments to my blog. Her comment yesterday had to do with school reopenings.

Annie advised a reporter asked Press Secretary Kelly Anne Conway if the Trumps would be sending Barron to school if schools reopened. Conway refused to answer.

I cannot envision Melania sending Barron off to school in the next few months.

My night out this evening! Cocktails at 7 with Cathy in Seattle via Skype.

Enjoy your day!

I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore. A great line from a great movie.

Network the film. Hit the screen 1976. Won 4 Academy Awards. Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress and something else. Starred William Holden, Faye Dunaway, and Peter Finch.

Finch played a TV news broadcaster who turned into some radical nut in  a news show where he yelled and screamed. His words whatever turned him on at the moment.

He claimed he was inspired by the Almighty. God woke him from his sleep and instructed him to be His spokesperson.

America went crazy for him.

He did the mad as hell monologue every night. Told his viewers to go to window and shout out: “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore.”

And they did! Picture for example New York apartment building windows open, with people yelling “I’m mad as hell, etc.”

Finch’s character felt the nation was going to hell. Things were bad. Something had to be done. He took being God’s messenger seriously.

Another line in the movie: “I don’t have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad.”

We could use the Finch character today. People know things are bad, fools are running the show, and people are suffering.

Donald must be having a field day. Putin did something bad again and Trump has the opportunity once more to let the world know Putin is his friend.

It was reported yesterday that Russia has been hacking U.S., U.K., and Canadian coronavirus vaccine trials.

I await Trump’s response. Probably, “He’s my friend!”

A strange connection the 2 have. I continue to believe it has to do with money and sex. Truth has a way of surfacing. It will all come out in the end.

It was only 2 weeks ago that we were told Russia was paying Afghanistans to shoot and kill American soldiers in Afghanistan. Trump has been silent so far on that issue.

If someone hits you and you fail to hit back with even greater force, your enemy/assailant is going to keep hitting you.

Secretary of Education DeVos is Trump’s lap dog with regard to reopening the schools. Her approach to Trump similar to that of Florida Governor DeSantis. Her recent TV appearances a disgrace. I doubt she is even as smart as the President.

Two incompetents. The reason we are in trouble. Our President and his appointments leave much to be desired.

Trump and DeVos insist schools must be “fully operational” this Fall.

Intentionally exposing America’s children to coronavirus incomprehensible.

Randi Weingarten is President of the American Federation of Teachers. She said, “It’s as if Trump and DeVos want to create chaos and want to jeopardize reopening…..There’s no other reason why they could be this reckless, this callous, this cruel.”

“Callous, reckless, and cruel” fit!

Mary Trump is the President’s niece. Her book about Uncle Donald and the family was published tuesday: “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man.”

Many interesting comments and observations in the book. Much better than John Bolton’s which is thought to be good.

Mary’s observation about cousin Ivanka interesting: “She doesn’t do anything.”

Italy suffered big time before it got coronavirus under control.

A report from one of Italy’s top medical authorities interesting as far as high blood pressure is concerned. The report claimed 75 percent of all people who died from coronavirus in Italy had high blood pressure.

Key West and Monroe County are not doing enough to combat the virus. The two try to please everyone. Primarily bushiness and the public.

Sometimes it cannot be done.

A new announcement from Monroe County. Beginning July 24 and running through August 19, new changes have been adopted re restaurant hours, bar hours, and alcohol package sales.

Restaurants and bars will be closed from 11 pm to 5 am. Alcohol package sales will be prohibited from 11 pm to 7 am.

I have 2 complaints. Not enough being accomplished.

Close the restaurants and bars 24 hours a day till Covid-19 is behind us.

Second and perhaps most important, barricade U.S. 1 again. Southern Florida’s mainland is rampant with the virus. Miami-Dade and Broward the 2 most infected counties in all of the U.S. Quite a distinction!

Key West will be open during times mainland ones are not. Mainland residents will still want to party. Key West will be their destination every weekend.

We don’t need their germs!

While I think of it, close the hotels.

Anything that would attract visitors should be closed down!

More information re William Hackley’s baby: “Baby well except for some sores in the throat which are nearly well…..Paid William Pickney for the goat that was brought from Havana $12.50.”

Twelve dollars fifty cents a lot of money in 1855. In addition to which the goat failed to produce much milk.

Enjoy your day!

I was researching some of Shakespeare works yesterday looking for a particular item which I never found. However, I did come across a particular word Shakespeare mentioned several times in The Merry Wives of Windsor. “Cuckold.”

Cuckold led to “henpecked.” Henpecked to the eternal question as to which came first: The chicken or the egg?

Lets begin with Shakespeare. Then back in time 10,000 years to something like a chicken. From whence we shall return to answer the eternal question.

Cuckold was a word familiar to the chicken farmers of Shakespeare’s day. When the rooster or cock grew old, the farmers would bring in a younger cock to service the hens. The older cocks were then referred to as cuckolds.

The farmers would cut off a cuckold’s spurs so it could not injure the younger cocks should they fight.

Henpecked is another word that comes down to us from the farmers of Shakespeare’s time. Henpecked meant a man who was dominated by his wife. Still does.

When a cock attempted to mount a hen, the hen pecked at the cock, thus driving him away. Unable to mate with the hen, the cock was said to have been henpecked.

Chickens were native to Asia. Specifically, the jungles of southeast Asia. They were domesticated. Today, valued as one of the most domesticated animals in the world.

Going back 10,000 years ago, chickens were not valued as food. Cockfighting was their forte in Asia and China.

With that background, the question arises as to which came first: The chicken or the egg?

Difficult to answer. As some things are.

Recall Luna Lovegood, the dreamy yet dotty witch from Harry Potter. Lovegood was asked about the riddle, “A circle has no beginning.”

It is impossible to identify the first case of a circular cause or consequence.

A circle has neither beginning nor end.

Determining whether the chicken or egg came first similar in difficulty.

However, the answer has been arrived at.

Long ago, a “chicken like bird” was close in many respects to a “chicken,” but not a chicken yet. That “first almost chicken” has became known as a “proto-chicken.”

A proto-chicken laid an egg. The “proto-rooster” fertilized it.

One of the fertilizations resulted in a freak of nature. The genes from the ma and pa “almost chickens” fused. They combined in a new way. Created a mutation that accidentally made the baby different from its parents.

The mutation was not noticed initially. Took one hundred years for the difference to be noted. The egg difference sufficient after a century for the noticeability to become the official progenitor of a new species. The “chicken.”

The simplified answer to the eternal question: Two birds that weren’t really chickens created a chicken egg. Ergo, the egg came first following which it hatched a chicken.

Coronavirus is affecting many persons and businesses economically.

Businesswise, the hospitals are taking a beating. Surprisingly since they are full of coronavirus patients. Most of whom however never had or have lost their medical insurance.

Rural hospitals are taking the biggest beating. It is expected the big city ones will follow.

The rural hospitals have and are continuing to go under for 3 reasons. They have been forced to cancel elective procedures which are the most profitable for a hospital. Delay in reimbursement killing them. Finally and perhaps difficult to believe, dwindling patient volumes.

Thus far this year, 42 hospitals have closed. Twenty nine of which have already filed for bankruptcy.

Recall Benghazi? The very people outraged for 8 years because of 4 dead people in Benghazi are now telling us that 100,000 plus deaths due to Trump’s negligence is acceptable.

Jimmy Carter is 92. The former President still active. His way of life the past several years helping to build homes for Habitat for Humanity. Wife Rosalyn working by his side.

Last week, Carter was working in constructing a new home in Edmonton, Canada. He passed out. Dehydrated. Rushed to a hospital where he spent a few days. All is well now.

Carter has been out of office more than 30 years. Still active in helping others.

As I mentioned in yesterday’s blog, he is America’s best post-President.

Keep going, President Carter!

Came across a Tumblr comment this morning that must be one of the circumstances to be considered in arriving at a determination as to whether reopen schools: “A parent knowingly dropped off their Covid positive child at day care because they had to work.”

Someone responded: “If you all don’t think this will be the case when schools open, you’re smoking crack rock.”

The Keys and Monroe County Commission should stop screwing around! Put the barricades back up at the entrance to U.S. 1 to the Florida Keys.

We don’t want Miami-Dade and Broward Counties’ Covid-19 bug out of control here!

An interesting comment in this morning’s Key West Citizen Citizens’ Voice: “Temporary inconveniences placed on personal freedoms to save lives and eradicate a disease is temporary at best. Death, on the other hand, is eternal.”

Could not have been said better!

Enjoy your day!