“They died together holding hands and walked into Heaven holding hands.” Words spoken by the son of a couple who recently died from coronavirus.

Johnny and Cathy Darlene Peoples were married 48 years. Resided in Rowan County, North Carolina. A close union. One son, 9 grandchildren.

They died within 4 minutes of each other holding hands.

They came down with coronavirus at the same time. Immediately into intensive care. Died 30 days later.

They were in separate rooms. The nurses knew death was imminent for both. Wheeled the wife’s bed into her husbands room. Placed the beds next to each other. Joined their hands together.

The husband died first. The wife 4 minutes later.

Their son said, “They died together holding hands and walked into Heaven holding hands.”

God could not have planned it better.

Wildfires have been destroying California and parts of Oregon and Washington for 3 weeks. Trump has basically ignored the 3 states. No federal aid for the natural disaster so far has been authorized by the President.

Some reporters suggest it is Trump getting even with California and its Governor Newsom. The reasons appear twofold. Newsom has been critical of Trump’s handling of the pandemic and California is a Democratic state that undoubtedly will vote for Biden in November.

Trump’s attitude appears to be why should I help them if they’re not going to help me. He forgets that once elected, he is President of ALL the people.

This is the third consecutive year California has had to endure these wildfires. Experts already are saying this year’s is the third worst ever. If it continues as it is, might end up the worst.

Trump says California fails to care for the forests as they should. He says, “You gotta clean your floor…..sweep the ground.” In other words, sweep up the branches and leaves on the ground.

Experts do not agree with Trump. The problem is climate caused, they say. The last 3 summers in California have been unusually hot. This year the summer heat the worst. Some days 120-130 degrees.

No rain, of course. The trees got dry. Heat in the high temperature levels causes lightning. Big time multiple lightning strikes. The lightning sparks the dry trees. Such the cause of the fires.

More raking is not going to solve the problem.

Finland had wildfire problems in past years. They were able to solve it. Trump spoke with Finland’s President and shared his theory that the unraked ground was the cause. Trump said Finland’s President said the same thing caused the Finland fires. They raked and no more fires.

Finland’s President issued a statement saying he had said no such thing to Trump.

An interesting side point is that most of California’s forests are federally managed. Trump may not be aware. I am sure the feds have neither raked or swept the woodlands they manage.

Governor Cuomo deserves much credit. He brought what was an out of control coronavirus epidemic under control. Conceded, Cuomo at first did not recognize the danger involved. He quickly learned however and took control.

New York is in great shape.This is he 4th consecutive week that the coronavirus infection rate is under one percent. Seven tenths of a point in the City and nine tenths of a point in the State.

Cuomo attacked the virus with a vengeance. He went to war. Not in words. Actually. Got the job done.

Trump talks a good game and accomplishes nothing, unless you consider 193,000 dead so far success.

The comments to this blog are a story unto themselves. I have some very astute intelligent readers and some much less than. They all write. Argue with each other.

I love it!

Some days the comments are more interesting than my blog.

A comment last week brought to my attention that Chuck Yeager and Orville Wright had met. How could it be, I thought. Orville and Wilbur flew for the first time in 1903. Yeager a World War II ace who was the first to break the sound barrier.

Turns out Orville lived to 1948.

They were together on two instances. For lunch at a 1945 air show. Then again sometime between the end of World War II and 1948 when Orville died.

It is said Orville was impressed that Yeager had broken the sound barrier. Amazing! Yeager had to be impressed that Orville and his brother built and flew the first airplane.

Enjoy your day!

Before some of you get your dander up, the words are not mine. They are however those of another Catholic. Catherine O’Neill.

O’Neill is the President of Catholics for Trump, an authorized Trump campaign committee. She is the daughter of the major Trump donor George O’Neill, Jr. He is the one who helped connect Russian spy Maria Butina to prominent Republican leaders, including at events surrounding the National Prayer Breakfast.

Catherine O’Neil recently tweeted: “You cannot be Catholic and be a Democrat — pass it on.”

As in the United States and many other countries, there is a political split within the Catholic Church. Right and liberal. The right mostly far right. Conservative to the extreme.

They would rather concern themselves with selecting Supreme Court Justices than feeding the poor and caring for the needy.

A member of the Trump Campaign Committee recently said, “You’ve got a non-Catholic in Donald Trump who’s delivering on Catholic social teaching and principles.”

He deludes himself.

I am opposed to religion’s participation in government. Religion belongs in churches and not Washington.

What happened to Jesus’ words that there is room for everyone in my Father’s house?

The hero of the Catholic right and Evangelists is Trump. What about the Tenth Commandment? Thou shalt not kill. How can Trump’s responsibility for the death of thousands in the coronavirus scandal not affect even Republican judgments?

The opening prayer at the recent Republican Convention was given by New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan. He did not belong there. A priest with much fewer credentials fine. However not one the leaders of the Catholic Church in the U.S.

The Catholic Bishops in America is located in Washington, D.C. From which it lobbies for their beliefs. My problem is their beliefs are not that of all Catholics. I don’t think even half. What the group lobbies for is not consistent with my beliefs.

The Catholic right is opposed to Pope Francis. They are trying to take him down. The Catholic Bishops group among those trying.

On the Board of O’Neill’s Catholics for Trump sits Newt Gingrich. A minor player in politics today. A wannabe who seeks the power he had 30 years ago. Gingrich’s wife is the U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican. So appointed by Trump.

Neither friends of Francis.

Catholics for Trump do not support Francis’ Papacy either. On the organization’s website is a letter penned by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the discredited former Papal Nuncio to the U.S. who previously called for Francis’ resignation. The Archbishop is widely heralded by many right wing Catholics as leading the resistance to Francis’ Papacy.

Lurking in the background is Steve Bannon. He wants to upset the established Catholic government and replace it with a new one. He seeks the dumping of Francis also.

Trump beams. The Catholic Church supports me! He says he is the best President the Catholic Church has ever had.

Excuse my repetitiveness. I oppose any religion’s intrusion into or active participation in government. It could lead to a modern day Spanish Inquisition. Don’t say no. Did you ever think we would have a President like Trump?

Today is a solemn one in American history. Represents a modern day attack on American citizens on American shores.

September 11, 2001.

It could happen again. World wide every country is mad at us. Especially China, North Korea and Iran. China and North Korea are capable of dropping ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads on our cities. I question whether we have the defensive capacity to thwart those missiles.

Enjoy your day!

Earlier this week when Trump’s “losers” and “suckers” came out re the military, I did not think there was anything worse that Trump could say or do.

I was wrong! Big time! Sixty to eighty thousand deaths worth.

Trump knew early on concerning the dangerous and deadly aspects of coronavirus. Instead, he told us the virus was nothing, would pass, “was going to disappear,” and would “all work out fine.”

His silence and malfeasance in handling this monstrous problem has resulted in thousands of deaths. For which he is solely responsible!

It is fortunate Bob Woodward was permitted to tape his meetings with Trump. No way Trump can lie his way out of this one.

Carl Bernstein wrote that what occurred was the “greatest Presidential felony.” Too bad Trump cannot be indicted for negligence or something similar for his failure to make us aware and for the lies he told.

It is absolutely amazing! Trump knew weeks before the first confirmed U.S. death that coronavirus was “more deadly” than the flu. Instead of being truthful with the American people, he played it down publicly.

His excuse for not telling was he did not want to “panic” the American people. He kept the knowledge.

The experts say that if Trump had warned us in early February, a strict shutdown, consistent messaging to wear masks and social distancing, could have been imposed nationally. Thousands of Americans who died from the virus would still be alive. Instead, he sent many Americans blindly to their deaths.

If a stimulus bill does come out this week, it will not contain the $1,200 stimulus as the last major bill did. It will however protect corporations/employers against workers compensation claims for employees injured on the job because of the virus. Coverage is remotely possible under a number of conditions which will be for most impossible to have complied with.

A mangling of workers compensation laws.

This day a big one in my lifetime experience. September 10. Irma hit the Keys Septembr 10, 2017.

Taught me respect for nature. Gave me the opportunity to experience the goodness of people.

Thank God for Jean and Joe Thornton who housed me for 12 days in their home in Birmingham. Me and several other evacuees from the storm.

In recent years, I have concluded that China had moved way ahead of the U.S. militarily. China also swiped one of our biggest businesses. Recall Trump said he would stop American companies from moving to foreign shores.

The Chinese company Haier bought General Electric in 2016. Manufacturing is still done in the U.S. However, GE’s home office is in China.

In a Miami Herald article yesterday, the paper asked where did all the tourists go? The paper’s answer: Over the weekend, they were in the Keys.

Terrific. Brought their coronavirus germs to us. Partied. Had a good time. Left not appreciating what they had done.

All because public officials from Trump down suck up to businesses. Especially bar and restaurant owners. They either failed to pass protective laws, or enforce the laws already passed.

Enjoy your day!

I did it again. I was finishing the blog and lost it! Frustrating! I am going to redo. However, each topic a bit shorter.

Donald Trump has been nominated for the 2021 Nobel Peace Price. Would you believe!

Alfred Nobel must be turning over in his grave.

Trump was nominated for his assistance with the Israel-UAE accord.

A tweet this morning from a Middle East person says well what most must think about the nomination: Since when does the Nobel Peace Prize go to “politicians who invite Racism, Civil War, Fraud, Tax Evasions, alleged serial rapists…..You get the drift.”

Trump’s former personal attorney Michael Cohen was a guest on the Rachel Maddow show last night. He was asked what Trump might do if he lost. Cohen says Trump would resign. Pence would become President. Pence would pardon Trump.

One of Key West’s favorite sons passed away. Benjamin “Dink” Bruce. Loved and respected by all.

Dink got his nickname, which has stuck with him, from Ernest Hemingway. Dink’s parents were close friends of Hemingway. His father was extremely close to the great man. He built the wall around Hemingway’s home on Whitehead. The two would fish and drink together.

Before moving to Cuba, Hemingway left in a room at Sloppy Joe’s boxes. The room was full of the boxes. They contained some Hemingway writings and artifacts.

The boxes were discovered after Hemingway’s death.

Hemingway’s last wife traveled to Key West to see what was involved. She took some items, gave the rest to Dink’s father. Dink’s father left them to Dink.

Dink still had them at the time of his death.

I only met Dink in the past few years. He was a regular at La Trattoria. He would sit on the stool in the corner by the window. We met one evening and became instantaneous friends. Everyone who met Dink became his instantaneous friend. He was that kind of person.

Dink is missed already.

May he rest in peace.

Mosquitoes are man’s enemy in the Keys. They bring all kinds of medical problems with them. The Keys protects its humans with a professional Mosquito Control Board. They do a good job.

Turns out humans are not the only ones prey to mosquitoes. Manatees, also. A recent discovery.

Manatees rest with their head and shoulders above water or on a beach. The mosquitoes attack them. Some have begun coming down with dengue fever and encephalitis as a result.

Not everyone went to Duval this past weekend. Some felt it was safer to remain home. The hordes of visitors would bring coronavirus with them.

I have a question. Directed to the Key West Citizen. Why no pictures of the weekend? Why no columns re the weekend? Was the Citizen afraid to make the public aware of what went on?

The City Commission’s loosening of the rules for the holiday weekend were not supported by all Key West residents. Did the paper support them? Did the paper support the bars, restaurants and businesses who clamored for an easing of the rules?

The people have a right to answers to all the questions asked. Especially if the virus has a surge by the end of the month.

William Hackley wrote again about his baby in his diary entry of this day 1855. He refers to the child as Baby. I wish he would let us know what her name is.

Her health still a concern. To me and many other readers, also.

Hackley wrote: “Babe’s mouth very sore. Sarah Peterson says she has thrush and is using a preparation of brickdust, burnt alam and honey…..Baby is growing finely and looks well if her mouth will only get well she will soon get fat and will be pretty.”

I worry about Baby. Appears it was very difficult to survive birth and the early months of life back in 1855.

I wrote a couple of weeks ago about Australia’s quarantine camps. The concept has arrived in the U.S. Ohio’s Gov. DeWine issued an order establishing “isolation camps.” Technical name “non-congregate sheltering.”

Fourteen days of quarantine and a clean bill of health before being permitted to leave.

The purpose of the isolation camps “to isolate individuals who are unable to safely quarantine in their places of residence and to isolate those diagnosed with or showing symptoms of Covid-19.”

While most cities across the country like Key West fail to enforce the rules, colleges and universities do not. An example being Northeastern University in Boston.

With Labor Day coming, the University said partying students would be dismissed without tuition refunded.

Eleven students broke the rule by partying in a Boston hotel room.

All 11 were dismissed. Their tuitions forfeited.

Fuddruckers. What a name! Sort of like Smuckers. It has to be good!

I discovered my first Fuddruckers 30 years ago in Coconut Grove. Fell in love with their steak sandwiches.

In recent years, found 2 in Miami. When I have been in Miami, I make it my business to stop in one.

Thirty one Fuddruckers left in the U.S. Their Board recently voted to close them all down, sell off their assets, and distribute the money among the shareholders.

Really sad! Apparently not everyone enjoyed Fuddruckers as I did.

Enjoy your day!

I was trying to find the final round of the Fed Ex Tournament on TV yesterday. Not sure of the channel, I was jumping around with the remote control. Suddenly an Ellen DeGeneres show popped up on the screen.

I had never seen Ellen’s show. Decided to watch it a bit to see what makes her so popular.

The show was a last year one. Sometime early November.

One of he first things was someone being picked at random from the audience to participate in a sketch on stage with Ellen.

The lucky person was a lovely, bouncy, excited 17 year old young lady. In her high school senior year.

Ellen took her to a table. A map, phone book and dial phone were on the table.

The young lady’s instructions were to identify each. She was able to do so.

Then she had to unfold the map and refold it. Those of you who can recall, the maps were big and difficult to return to their original position after unfolding.

The phone book was a thick one. White and yellow pages. She was to look up the number for Gold Mufflers.

The telephone was the old type black dial phone. One which would sit on a table. She was given a number to call.

My generation could have done all. I will concede refolding the map was always a problem for me.

The 17 year old indicated no sweat. However, she failed with regard to all 3.

Absolutely no way she could refold the map. Finally gave up.

She did not know how to use a phone book. Gold Muffler probably could easily have been found under Muffler and then Gold Muffler. The poor kid went to Car Parts and then Cars. She failed.

Ellen moved her over to the telephone. She had been given a number to call. She never lifted the receiver. Left it sitting on the phone.

Instead went immediately to dialing. A finger in the number. Moved it slowly around with the finger and then with the same finger moved it slowly back in place. Obviously no connection.

Everyone laughed, including the young lady. It was funny. She was not embarrassed. And should not have been.

The reason for her failure was she had never used any of the 3 items in her lifetime. They were from a generation or two back. Similar to a person my age trying to use a cell phone or computer for the first time today.

Trump is a white supremacist.

He views BLM and other Democratic or liberal groups terrorists.

He is campaigning on law and order. He is going to rid our streets of the thugs he depicts as terrorists. The good guys.

Typical Trump strategy. He takes something he does or thinks which is bad and relabels it as having been done by the opposition.

I am not sure how he will handle this one.

It was revealed friday that the Department of Homeland Security as part of its annual report intends to label white supremacists as the most serious threat in the U.S. One which the DHS considers more significant than the immediate danger from foreign terrorists.

The American people will continue suffering re a further stimulus package.

Congress has returned and will be in session this week. Then home till after the election. Good job!

The word is the stimulus package will not be completed. Insufficient time the excuse.

Fault of the Republicans? Fault of the Democrats? Fault of both?

Whatever, the stimulus dollars the people have been expecting and which are long over due may be agreed upon in late November or December.

A lousy way to run a government! Governments are no different than a business. Operating as Washington does, it would soon be out of business if it were in the business world.

Today or tomorrow could be significant days for China and North Korea. Even the U.S.

China already has long range missiles that can be shot from somewhere in the South China Sea. Missiles with nuclear warheads that are capable of reaching U.S. shores.

North Korea close.

A test of a missile somewhat comparable to China’s scheduled for today or tomorrow. If successful, North Korea will have a major ballistic missile also with capability to hit the U.S.

Trump keeps pissing off China. North Korea long ago gave up on the U.S.

Trump has us in a position where we can literally be killed because of his inept ways of governing. U.S. defensive and retaliatory power is not as significant.

Trump has a terrific talent in picking people to work with him at high levels in Washington. Many crooks. So far 8 have been convicted of various crimes and many are in jail.

Trump wanted to destroy the Post Office. All over the mail in ballot issue which he created and which has no basis in fact.

He brings in Louis DeJoy to be Postmaster General.

No experience with mail. He acquiesces to Trump’s ideas of how to bring the Post Office down.

DeJoy testified before a Congressional committee last week. He lied big time. Under oath, no less.

Seems he would have his employee contribute to the Republican Party or Republican candidates and then reimburse them with a bonus what they had contributed.

A no no. Against the law.

Federal charges may not be available because of statute of limitation problems.

DeJoy is a resident of North Carolina. His business is in North Carolina. North Carolina has statutes forbidding what he did which are still good.

Me thinks DeJoy is in trouble. Another of Trump’s employees will fall.

You are known by the company you keep. Trumps appointees do not help his reputation.

College football has arrived! Unless coronavirus interferes, saturday afternoons are going to be fun.

Syracuse opens its season this saturday against North Carolina. Syracuse a 22 point underdog. Nothing new. Nevertheless, it will be exciting to watch my Syracuse play.

Tonight my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. A quick moving half hour show. Join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

Two of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are in Key West this weekend. Death and famine.

It is the Labor Day weekend. Key West has been quiet since the July 4th weekend. Bars and restaurants not making money. Hotels hurting big time.

This weekend is make up time!

From what I have gathered, the town is full of tourists. Partying like they have not in a while. Bars and restaurants packed. Hotels full.

Most of the revelers are young. Perhaps those older have more sense and are more cautious.

I’ve given thought to the young who have been and are partying in recent weeks. They are old enough to vote, old enough to join the military, old enough to drive a car. All require a sense of responsibility.

If they are old enough to do the above, why not do what is necessary to beat coronavirus?

Responsibility begins at the top. The President. A man who has no sense of responsibility. His actions speak for themselves. He has conducted himself in a very non-responsible manner since day 1. The virus is not for real, will be gone in a few weeks, will not wear a mask, does not social distance.

I can see the young adults thinking Trump is President. He must know what he is doing. I can act accordingly.

They believe they are immune from the virus which does not exist. They even have parties the sole purpose of which is to break the rules and then see in a couple of weeks who first comes down with coronavirus. That person the winner. The winner of what? Disease and possible death!

Dumb!

In Key West, the bars, restaurants, merchants and hotels have weighed in on the City Commission to loosen the rules. The Commission capitulated. The Commission will be as responsible for the virus surge to come as the bar owners, etc.

In the end, definitely sickness. Perhaps death. Those who sought the lifting of certain rules and those enjoying the “benefits” thereof this weekend responsible.

Responsibility the big word here. Responsible to themselves and others.

The hotels are cheap this weekend. A rarity in Key West. Generally expensive to the extreme. One internet advertised a hotel room as low as $19. Never mentioned the specific hotel, however.

Others advertised discounts as high as 75 percent.

I reviewed the ads. Even the major hotels were significantly cheaper than normal.

Which of course encouraged people to come to Key West for the weekend.

Businesses like the trolley tours and Furycat had their own ads inviting tourists for the weekend.

Apparently this is Brewfest Weekend. Brewfest a bigger deal than I thought. Seven different ads advertising the event.

From what I could gather, many visiting not those who normally travel. Which added to the rowdiness. One person described it to me as “running around crazy.”

Guaranteed there will be a rise in coronavirus cases in 2 or 3 weeks in Key West. Also in the home towns where the tourists came from. They will bring the bug home with them.

Do I sound disturbed? You bet I am! We are never going to win the war against coronavirus unless we follow the rules. Wear masks, social distance, wash your hands. Simple basics. And the bars, etc should stop complaining. They are not the only ones losing money. Think of all those out of work.

We must kill the virus or it will kill us.

The numbers are interesting.

June 1 a significant date. The day U.S. 1 was reopened. A mistake in and of itself.

Since June 1, Key West has experienced 798 confirmed cases. On June 1, the number was only 41.

Since June 1, Monroe County as a whole (including Key West) has experienced 1,764 cases. On June 1, the number was only 109.

Note that today’s Key  West 798 cases is roughly 40 percent of all of Monroe County’s cases.

Florida as a State has done poorly. Governor De Santis primarily responsible. He is Trump’s lap dog and does whatever the President suggests. As a result, Trump refers to him as the best governor in America.

Yesterday, Florida passed 12,000 for the number of deaths. Overall, Florida has had 646,431 confirmed cases.

Number of people permitted to attend a wedding reception has become an issue in some states.

New York’s Governor Cuomo said no more than 50 at a wedding reception. His order was taken to court. A federal judge said Cuomo could not do it. New York has appealed the case.

Maine has a 50 percent limit. The Maine story occurred after the New York problem.

The place Alfred, Maine. Sixty five attended a wedding reception that was supposed to be limited to 50. The fall out speaks for itself.

Tracking has been done. One hundred twenty three confirmed cases came out of the wedding reception.

One was an employee of the York County Jail. He was responsible for the virus being spread to 18 other staff members at the jail, 7 family members of staff, and 46 inmates.

What is going to come of the Key West Labor day Weekend? Many many more cases than 123. The Maine situation also clearly shows how easily the virus spreads.

Take heed.

Another guest was a nursing home employee. The person infected 15. Eight residents of the nursing home and 7 staff members.

Such is life as we are experiencing it these days. The days will continue ad infinitum till Key West and the rest of the country do what is necessary to defeat the enemy.

Enjoy your day!

The story I am about to share you will not believe.

Tonawanda is a city near Buffalo. Typical suburban America. Conservative leaning. Population 73,000.

The city has a high crime rate.

The Tonawanda City Commission at a meeting 2 weeks ago began entertaining proposed legislation to allow police officers to receive “sexual gratuities” while on duty.

The proposed legislation has an excellent chance of passing.

The sexual favors considered by some to be “tipping cops” for favors received.

Due to what has been ongoing in the U.S. in recent years, some Tonawanda citizens believe such legislation would, among other things, help “boost” police morale.”

Consider a simple situation. A woman is stopped for speeding. She says to the officer I’d like to blow you. He gets blown. She does not get a ticket.

Someone has to be crazy here! Like you, I could not believe such was possible. Police sexual misconduct legal. A Pandora’s box opening. What next?

Even more shocking, such legislation is already in force in 34 States. Would you believe!

New York City had such a law till April of this year. New York City police officers could have sex with persons “in custody.” The only requirement was it had to be “consensual.”

An officer arrests a hooker. In the paddy wagon on the way to the station, the lady knowing of the law asks the officer if he would like to get laid. Knowing full well, she may be let go before arriving at the station or receive a lesser charge when booked than she might have.

The laws in the 34 states cover everything from “groping to intercourse.”

Police develop an above the law attitude. The right to do as they see fit sexually as long as everything is “consensual.”

The proposed Tonawanda legislation has two conditions. The sex act must be completed within 15 minutes. Apparently Tonawanda allows its officers 2 fifteen minute breaks during a shift. He must also decline to take his next 15 minute break.

The other is that the sex must be a “gratuity.” The police officer cannot ask for it. The act must be offered.

Tonawanda a strange town. In addition to a citizen considering the “gratuity” a morale booster, a local group has been formed called the Coalition of Suburban Women Voters.”

The group not only wants the legislation passed in Tonawanda, they want it to apply on the State level to New York State Troopers.

Everyone wants to get into the act! Get a piece of the action! Tonawanda’s paramedics want to be included in the proposed new law.

Why not? Don’t forget the fire department, dog catcher, code enforcer, etc. What is good for one should be good for all!

My sense is that police officers after having been able to kill blacks with impunity over the years, now believe it is their right to enjoy sexually those who could be arrested or already have been.

Forget the “swamp” in Washington. A bigger one has been developing over the years with police departments across the U.S.

Less I forget, Happy Labor Day! TRY to follow the rules. Wear a mask and practice social distancing.

Mary Ellen’s on Applerouth has become a top Key West bar. Funky like Key West. Dildo races on tuesday nights for example.

Mary Ellen’s also serves the best grilled cheese sandwich and cup of tomato soup on the island.

Applerouth gives the impression of a shady street. Probably because it runs off Duval at La Trattoria to Whitehead. Narrow. A bit dark in the evening.

I can recall 15 years ago where Mary Ellen’s sits today, a sex club existed. A swingers’ club.

Sex can be interesting. I opted to stop in and see what it was like. Management was delighted. I got a first class guided tour.

What my eyes beheld!

Not my place, however. I was at least 50 years older than anyone else in the place.

I always thought dengue fever required tropical weather. Not the case. Pennsylvania recently reported dengue fever a problem. Sixteen cases. One dead already.

Dangerous. Glad the lower Keys spray, etc.

Kentucky Derby great last night. Authentic and Tiz the Law were neck and neck in the final quarter mile. Authentic pulled ahead and won.

Mexico has significant coronavirus problems. They are #4 in the world as to number of cases.

Mexico recently suffered a surge. Deaths higher than anticipated. Deaths to date 66,000.

Problem: Mexico ran out of death certificates. A real problem. Bodies cannot be buried without a death certificate. Bodies are piling up.

Some say the death certificate shortage also the result of Mexico fudging the numbers. An attempt to keep them low. The number of deaths too many for the numbers submitted. Not enough blank death certificates had been ordered.

Wednesday will mark my 189th day of self quarantine. Twenty seven weeks!

I am impressed. Also getting buggy. It is beginning to affect me.

I am fearful of going out. My age and underlying maladies make me a perfect candidate for Covid-19. I am not ready to meet my parents and grandparents in the other life yet. Assuming there is one.

Enjoy your Sunday and Labor Day holiday!

The summer of 2020 has been a long summer. A lost summer.

The end is here, however. We are into Labor Day weekend. Many coronavirus rules have been lifted or cut back.

The barbarians are at the gate. It was obvious yesterday afternoon. I was in the hospital for 3 hours beginning at 11:30. Two hours of that time strapped to a table while all kinds of pictures were taken.

Ran into a friend while waiting in Imaging at the hospital. Rita from the Sons and Daughters of Italy. Coronavirus has prevented any meetings for several months. It was good to see her again.

When I left, I decided to drive to Duval to see if I was correct in assuming the hordes would be coming.

I did not even need to get to Duval. I hit Route 1 at College Road. The cars were streaming into Key West non stop. Fast. One after another. I looked north. As far as the eye could see, cars!

To appreciate what I am describing, everything was moving south. Nothing north.

It took forever to get onto Route 1. Even with a light. The light had been fixed to let 2 or 3 cars make a right. It was green for those heading to Key West for several minutes at a time.

Duval. Some people. Not many. Still coming, checking into hotels, etc. Half the people not wearing masks. Some store fronts empty. Almost half of Duval’s 200 block with consecutive closed stores. The busiest block in Key West with empty stores!

My sense is the bars and restaurants did well last night. Will do better tonight. The hotels, also.

The merchants will make money for 3 days. Then what? I fear in 3 weeks coronavirus is going to surge in Key West and everything will have to close again.

I can and cannot condemn the businesses who will make a buck this weekend.

I condemn them for their greed/desire to make a buck not caring for the people who will get sick because of it.

On the other hand, they are desperate. Need to reopen, make a buck.

El Presidente Trump.

Yesterday was not his best. His military are “losers” and suckers” did not sit well with the American people. It has to have been the worse day of his Presidency. Might have been the one that put a nail in the coffin for real.

I read somewhere this morning that his comments made him look like he was against America. Suggested he might actually be a traitor.

I believe the last sentence a step too far. However, who knows with this guy.

Various governmental agencies require employees to attend ant-racism training programs. Trump yesterday described the programs as “anti-American…..divisive, anti-American propaganda.” He ordered them shut down.

Some believe Trump is a racist. What do you think?

Back to the “losers…..suckers” military cemetery issue.

Trump denies his hair had anything to do with his not attending the ceremony.

To back up his contention, Trump said he “called home” to Melania and told her how upset he was for not being able to visit the cemetery. Told her how the bad weather prevented the helicopter from flying.

He said, I “called home, I spoke to my wife and I said ‘I hate this. I came here to go to that ceremony.”

Some fact checking in order. Facts First reported: “Melania was on the same trip with the President and was scheduled to attend the cemetery visit. She was not in the U.S.”

The man cannot even keep his lies straight. No wonder when he speaks so many.

Senior Adviser to the President Stephen Miller is a sick man. Mentally. He is behind everything bad concerning immigration, writes many of Trump’s highly negative speeches about this and that.

He is a propagandist artist. I have often compared him to Hitler’s Goebbels. They even look alike.

Stephen and Katie were married in February. She too is a political adviser. She was secretary to Vice President Pence. She served as the public relations person for the coronavirus task force.

A mere 28 years old.

A strange duck. She has tattooed on the inside of her lip YOLO. Stands for “You Only Live Once.”

It has been reported that “the only thing she loves or values in the world is power. Anyone she attaches to in her life is a pawn to feed her addiction to it.”

Irma back in the news. The terrible hurricane that hit the Florida Keys on 9/10/17.

I read today that Irma was the “most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the open Atlantic region.”

Note “in the open Atlantic region.” The article discussed Irma’s overall power and damage over a period of several days. Days when it did significant destruction to Barbuda, St. Berthelemy, St. Martin, Anguilla, the Virgin Islands,and the U.S. mainland.

The article stated Irma was a Category 5 two days before it hit Key West. Winds were 180 mph on 9/5. Hit landfall in the U.S. as a Category 1 (when it went over Key West). Only to become a Category 4 when 16 miles later it was over Cudjoe Key. Cudjoe Key 16 miles north of Key West.

Irma’s damage estimated at $50 billion.

I wrote a book about Irma. Titled: Irma and Me. You might enjoy reading it. The book is available on amazon.com.

Today, the Kentucky Derby.

The blog Shoestring Weekend wrote this morning that the Kentucky Derby has ties to the Florida Keys.

A street named Churchill Downs is somewhere near Mile Marker 104 bayside at a tiny bridge crossing a canal near Key Largo.

The Shoestring blog indicated it did not know why a road in the Keys would be named Churchill Downs. I did some searching and came up with nothing, also.

The Kentucky Derby this evening at 7:02 EST. Love horse racing!

My Cocktails at 7 tonight is being moved up 15 minutes so I can watch the Derby. My mint julep a Beefeater on the rocks.

Enjoy your day!

Today is the beginning of the Labor Day weekend. Tourists will come to Key West in droves. Like Attila the Hun and hordes of old.

Normally, the onslaught would be welcome. Key West is a tourist town.

Some/many residents are not happy about Key West being an open town again. Except for the bar and restaurant owners. Coronavirus is still with us. While the flock of tourist will be open and visible, corinavirus is not. It is like a thief in the night.

Key West will pay later this month. The numbers will surge. Elsewhere also as the tourists return home and spread the contagion where ever they live.

The City Commission and bar owners have made a mistake. The ultimate cost of contagion and possibly death not worth it.

This day in 1969, the FDA reported birth control pills were safe. Changed a woman’s approach to sex dramatically. It was a new world!

Coronavirus and sex. Canada’s top medical person issued a statement this week concerning the subject.

Only have sex with your steady partner. Wear a mask when kissing. Avoid all face contact.

He also recommended use of a condom. Even though there is no evidence as yet that coronavirus can be contacted through semen or vaginal fluids.

Atlantic ran an article this week about Trump and the many he considers “losers” and “suckers.” Like soldiers, Marines killed in the Battle of Belleau Wood during World War I, and John McCain because he was captured.

Recall when he was in France with other foreign leaders. They were attending a military cemetery in France. Trump did not go. Used the “losers” excuse. The real reason is said to have been it was raining and Trump feared it would muss his hair.

Trump’s failure in not recognizing coronavirus early and his overall failure to do correct things to reduce the virus’ contagion has resulted in roughly 180,000 deaths to date. Experts predict the number will be 410,000 by January.

Medical and scientific experts are not at all confident that there will be a vaccine by November 3.

Barr should be disbarred.

A lawyer’s word is everything. Barr has forgotten or does not care. He lies as does the President.

Barr recently claimed a Texas man collected 1,700 ballots and filled them out as he pleased. The comment made in support of Trump’s position that mail balloting leads to big time fraud.

Turns out Barr’s representation of the Texas man was not true. Fact check found the statement to be false.

There are concerns we are facing a government shut down. Need a budget by the end of the month.

The parties have yet to address the situation as it should have done. The new stimulus package in the way.

Pelosi is down to $2.2 trillion. Barely fair. The Republican Senate to $500 billion. Not even in the ball park.

The mighty fall. I refer to the “great” nations the world has known.

The U.S. itself and the rest of the world considered the U.S. the strongest nation  up to the time of Trump’s election. The U.S. could very well have dropped to second place under Trump. It could mark the end of U.S. dominance in the world.

The Roman Empire was another great nation. Nothing is forever, however. History wise, this day in 476 A.D. is recognized as the traditional end of the Western Roman Empire.

Romulus Augustulus, last Western Roman Emperor, abdicated after forces led by Odoacer invaded Rome.

Heat spell time!

It is expected 50 million will be exposed to unusually high warmth this weekend.

I had a doctor visit yesterday. It was hot outside! Ninety two degrees wit heavy humidity.

Nothing like air conditioning!

I mentioned earlier this week that United Airlines announced it was furloughing 2,850 pilots.

A further report has come out. The number has increased to 16,370. In addition to the 2,850 pilots, 6,920 flight attendants and 2,100 technicians.

My feelings are increasing that May Johnston may be fooling around. She has Ernesto out of town. Miguel in town.

Today’s diary entry in 1896 reports that her mother “brought up the Miguel subject again, I got up and left.”

Big day at the hospital for me. A 2 1/2 hour test. Hope this is the last one.

I have done well with the previous tests. I am beginning to think the doctors are going to test me till they find something.

Enjoy your day!

The Key West City Commission met last night. Changes in rules intended to protect against coronavirus were adopted. Overall, a win for bar owners and restaurants.

There is the old saying that a squeaky wheel gets the oil. So it was last night.

There were about 40 demonstrators outside City Hall carrying signs supporting open bar seating. Some, a removal of the requirement to wear masks.

I assume that certain bar owners did their lobbying for liberalization of the rules.

From my perspective, the City Commission did bad and good.

The Commission voted to allow bar counters in restaurants to open. Open seating permitted. With restrictions. Groups of 6 seated at bars are allowed with 6 foot social distancing between the groups. Food must be ordered. No drinking without eating.

Who enforces the new rule. Prior to last night, police and code enforcement officers were the enforcers. No more. Now it is the bar owner.

Is the buck being passed here? Concededly not a pleasant job.

Failure of the bar owner to enforce the new rules can result in being closed down for up to 10 days in the first instance. A second time and the penalty is extended for up to 30 days.

I disagree with permitting the bars to open as indicated. Coronavirus is no where under control. Allowing drinking and eating at the bars means more customers. The additional customers will primarily be those driving down for a few days.

Recognize that it is impossible to wear a mask while eating and drinking.

Labor Day weekend a few days away. There will be an onslaught of tourists. Guaranteed a couple of weeks down the road and coronavirus cases in Key West will be on the rise.

Face masks. The Commission delayed loosening mask restrictions for 61 days.

Such will not make much difference. The tourists who have been visiting recently generally disregarded the mask wearing rule. Probably will continue to do so.

One hundred eighty thousand plus have died in the U.S. Key West will make a significant contribution in sick and dead in the second half of September.

The History Section in today’s Key West Citizen made mention of a Carnival Stag Show involving the Navy which resulted in a sex orgy in 1953.

Search as I could, I could find no additional details than those set forth in the Citizen.

The event was called a Charity Carnival Stag Show. It took place 9/3/53.

Whatever occurred had to be flagrant. The Secretary of the Navy gave reprimands to Admiral Irving T. Duke and Lt. Commander Benjamin Berry.

No rest for the alleged “wicked.”

It was reported ICE worked hard in arresting illegal immigrants in July and August. Two thousand were arrested. The largest sweep during the Pandemic.

Two thousand a large number to be apprehended over a 2 month period. Where were they confined during processing? Had to take several days or longer. Was any protection provided to protect them against coronavirus?

The President of the United States is the most powerful person in the world. A President’s health is of extreme importance.

Recall last year when Trump was suddenly taken to Walter Reed Hospital. Whatever the purpose, he was in and out in less than a day.

The public has never been told what the President’s problem was. The public has a right to know. Especially if Trump’s cognitive abilities were impaired.

The issue as to what was wrong has resurfaced. Yesterday, Trump in a tweet denied having “mini-strokes.” No one said he had mini-strokes. Trump was the first to even use the term as he did yesterday.

Trump apparently refuses to let us know. However, he did have the White House physician issue a statement. The White House physician is considered the Physician to the President. His name Dr. Dean Conly.

Conly wrote yesterday that the President was “healthy…..I expect him to remain fit to execute the duties of the Presidency.”

A California State Judge issued an opinion affecting those applying for admission to University of California schools. The decision to the effect that SAT and ACT tests could no longer be used in determining admission.

The decision’s reasoning was that the tests disadvantaged low income students and students with disabilities.

The decision bugs me a bit. I and many I know come from “low income” families. Many with disabilities. Like blind. We made it. Those deprived today can make it also.

Not even 7 this morning and today’s blog done. Woke around 2 and could not sleep. Did my research and then grabbed some sleep. Up and at the blog itself at 6. Done!

The reason I am an eager beaver with today’s blog is I have a doctor’s appointment later this morning.

Tomorrow more testing. A 2 1/2 hour one at the hospital. Hope I can get tomorrow’s blog out.

Enjoy your day!