The Key West Cemetery is one of Key West’s most famous tourist spots. Now located in Old Town. Not always the location.

I came across 2 interesting  bits about early Key West burials.

The first involves location.

In the early 1800’s, the first cemetery was located on the “western beach between the town and Whitehead’s Point.” Most of the graves were located in the space between Emma Street and the Marine Hospital Building.

The cemetery was not like today’s or anything even similar to what we have come to know as a cemetery. A body was buried and a few stones randomly placed on top of the grave. No grave stone as such.

An 1830 visitor described the stones. Few had any names etched on them. Most were “a few plain stones to tell that the possessions of the little tenant below once lived and died.”

Some stones marked the length of the body below.

The question generally asked was: “Who sleeps below?”

The use of stones was probably copied from the Indians who frequented the lower Keys. They sprinkled/set a few small stones above a grave.

For several years when my children were young, we vacationed on Block Island. An island off the coast of Rhode Island.

There was a “painted rock.” A stone about 4 x 4 feet. Kids used to go and paint the stone. My children did it several times. Everyone always painted over the previous person’s paint job.

A tradition.

I was standing watching my children one day when a Block Island local began talking to me. He asked if I had seen the Indian cemetery. I had not. It was across the street from painted rock and a way in the woods.

A small open area. Weedy. Small tones in an irregular grouping here and there. The Indians of Block Island were buried similarly as the early residents and the Indians of Key West.

Respect for the dead was common place. As it is today. Except the respect evidenced in a different manner.

From the mid 1800’s to the early 1900’s, the Key West custom re burials involved the closing of the doors of all stores while a funeral procession was passing by. All business along the line of march was suspended.

The late 1960’s and into the 1970’s, public demonstrations were frequent. By those opposed to the Vietnam War. College students and adults alike.

An anti-war demonstration had bean going on for several days on the Kent State University campus. The National Guard had been called in.

On the third day of the National Guard presence, the National Guard shot at the students. I recall the TV showing of the shootings. The students were running down a slightly slopping hill to get away from the Guardsmen. Shots were being fired. Four students were killed. One paralyzed.

Similar shootings will take place at some point in the U.S. At State capitols. The difference with Kent State is the demonstrators will be shooting at government officials.

Armed protesters make such an occurrence inevitable.

J. Crew filed for bankruptcy protection last week. A Chapter 11. Means the company will continue in business while working out a debt repayment plan that the company can handle. The Bankruptcy Court says who gets paid and when. Gives a company such as J. Crew breathing room to get going again.

It was announced that 5  northeast States have joined together to purchase ventilators and protective gear such as masks and gloves. New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

The Governors of the 5 States decided they could get better prices and avoid getting into a bidding war with each other.

I am confused. Trump keeps saying we have so many ventilators now. He has them stored in a federal facility. So many, that he keeps telling us how he is providing them to other countries. Whether free or for money, I am not sure.

If Trump has so many, why do the 5 States need to go elsewhere for ventilators?

Does not make sense to me. I suspect somewhere along the line Trump is bullshitting us or perhaps charging too much.

Trump was interviewed last night by FOX in the Lincoln Memorial. Sitting directly in front of Lincoln.

I consider it an insult that Trump featured himself in such place. An Abraham Lincoln he is not.

A top Italian medical authority revealed that 75 percent of the people who died in Italy from coronavirus had high blood pressure.

I’m doing good. I’m 84 and have a bad heart. Also have high blood pressure. Since I was 30 years old.

Involves the heart, I know. However I view it as another malady. Mine is controlled by pills each day. Keeps my blood pressure low. Exceptionally low.

God bless the pills!

An observation. Coronavirus is nowhere under control. I believe the reopenings are foolish and too soon. People who are on the side of what I consider early reopenings are gambling with their lives.

Why don’t they understand?

The U.S. Senate is returning to Washington today. Washington is infested with coronavirus. Trump insists there are enough tests for the law makers.

He tweeted, “There is tremendous caronavirus testing capacity in Washington.” Despite multiple reports of the Senate’s shortage of tests.

At 10 this morning, the stock market was down 300 points.

Enjoy your day!

Mobile crematoriums.

What a topic for a Sunday morning!

I write about the subject because of the number of bodies building up in parts of the U.S., especially New York City.

Mobile crematoriums are just as the phrase sounds. A vehicle of sorts within which to place a number of bodies and cremate them. Then dispose of the ashes where ever.

The vehicle looks like an over grown tank. Some with .50 caliber machine guns on top.

Four countries involved.

The first Nazi Germany. Hitler tried to use them. Inefficient from his perspective. Could not keep up with the number of bodies to be incinerated. So Hitler went to the large furnaces.

The next 3 countries are China, Russia and the U.S.

In researching the topic, the most interesting item is that each country tends to keep secret the number of crematorium deaths. Actually, the number of coronavirus deaths. Like for shame this is happening to a country.

I cannot understand.

In any event, China appears to be the biggest user of mobile crematoriums. In Wuhan, especially.

As of February 1, China had 48 mobile crematoriums. The number insufficient. More were ordered in February. The number not disclosed.

China operates these crematoriums around the clock. Twenty four hours per day, 7 days a week.

The volume of bodies to be cremated obvious.

Numbers of bodies incinerated difficult to ascertain. The numbers all over the place. It is represented that it takes 2 seconds to incinerate a body. Another estimate is 5 tons of corpses per day.

China had previous experience with mobile crematoriums. Used in the past for animal carcasses and garbage.

The number of coronavirus deaths kept secret. Many are labeled as pneumonia to keep the actual number down.

One article suggested China is incinerating so many corpses that the sulfur dioxide emitted has resulted in an increase in acid rain world wide.

Russia has been playing secret with the actual number of coronavirus deaths also. Russia using mobile incinerators as China. However, not in similar numbers or volume.

Putin first put mobile crematoriums to use in the Ukraine. It was the method used to dispose of the bodies of dead Russian soldiers.

The United States a problem.

There were a number of news articles in 2015 re the issue. The elitist American group part of the articles. The same elitist group financing protests today re State mandated coronavirus restrictions.

It was thought at the time these elitist groups were testing mobile crematoriums. The crematoriums were being tested to assist with the elimination of the homeless.

Mobile crematoriums were seen in Texas and Montana.

The questing in my mind is whether the U.S. has mobile crematoriums today. With the military perhaps? If so, appears secret. However if so, more important that these crematorium be put to use now to assist in body disposal. Especially in New York City.

Not much to work with here. Not much information available.

I get upset with the verbal garbage being printed in some instances. An example is an article by David Horowitz titled Dark Angel: The War To Destroy Christian America.

Horowitz begins: “I am a Jew, but I know these are especially dangerous times for Christians. The war on the virus has become a war on Christians.”

His motivation in writing the article: The closing of most churches to avoid the spread of coronavirus. He views it as trying to keep Christians from practicing their religion.

Horowitz is pro Trump. His thoughts supported by Mike Huckabee, Russ Limbaugh and Tucker Carlson.

It has been suggested that jailed inmates are not receiving proper attention re avoiding coronavirus nor necessary care if they do.

A federal jail in Brooklyn has been named in a class action law suit. The Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District is defending the law suit.

The prison has 1,700 inmates.

The Judge ordered an inspection of prisoner records. There was an allegation records were being destroyed as part of a deliberate effort to obscure the number of incarcerated people infected with coronavirus and to avoid providing them adequate care.

The inspection complete. Turned over to the Judge. Only 6 of 1,700 inmates per the records was found to have been infected with coronavirus.

The attorney for the inmates said the number did not make sense. He said it represented only the tip of the iceberg.

In many of the demonstrations since Trump became President and especially the ones in Michigan recently, the question arises as to whether Trump’s nationalism is advancing on a predictable trajectory to violence? Will his supporters kill?

A matter for concern.

The U.S. economy has been fragile in recent years. The stock market may have risen. However, a high stock market alone in not an indicator of a good economy. Most economists will agree.

The U.S.’s economy was fragile going into the coronavirus epidemic. The stimulus bailouts add to the fragility big time.

A government cannot survive long under such circumstances. Failure inevitable. A collapse of huge proportions.I give Trump credit in this instance. He is aware of the fragility. He is doing everything in his power to avoid a collapse. Not for the country necessarily. More for his personal image.

Whatever, I wish him well.

The local government in Stillwater, Oklahoma required face masks be worn in stores and restaurants recently reopened.

Friday was the day.

Withing 3 hours, the requirement was rescinded. The wearing of masks became optional. Customers threatened employees with violence and heaped abuse upon the employees. One even threatened the use of a fire arm.

The customers kept spouting the mask requirement was not Constitutional. I am unaware how the Constitution enters into the argument. The matter is one of public safety, pure and simple.

Seat belt and helmet laws similar in nature.

It was announced last week that a House Sub-Committee had invited Fauci to testify this coming Wednesday. The White House announced it was barring Fauci from testifying.

Most of America, if not all, had to come to the same conclusion. What did Trump have to hide?

It was announced yesterday Fauci was scheduled to testify before a Senate Committee on May 12. Senator Lamar Alexander made the announcement.

Is this a Republican/Democrat thing? Is Trump saying screw you to the Democrats. If a “star” like Fauci is going to testify, it will be before a Republican Senate Committee.

Childish bullshit!

Asia has been a primary source of America’s headaches this year. Coronavorus the major one.

Now another. A new one. One you will not believe.

Scientists have announced an invasion by a deadly hornet. The Asian Giant Green Hornet. Appeared in the State of Washington for the first time anywhere in the U.S.

As much as 2 inches long. Referred to as the “murder hornet.” Bites the heads off bees. Can be deadly to humans if a human suffers multiple bites.

So much for today.

Enjoy your Sunday!

The Washington Post’s Eugene Robinson is one of the world’s outstanding columnists. No question about it.

He and his wife enjoy Key West. They spend one month during the season here. She painting at the Studios of Key West. He reading, writing, giving talks, and walking around chatting with those he runs into.

In a recent column, Robinson commented at length about the protesters who have been demonstrating in several states. He opened the column with an old Cole Porter song. Don’t Fence Me In. Published in 1934. Its popularity remained strong through World War II.

I recall singing it many times with my parents. That’s what we did back then. My Father used to buy sheet music. Words only. Some evenings, we would sit int the living room as a family singing off the sheets.

Don’t Fence Me In had an unusual popularity. Remained popular an especially long time. Recorded by some of the top singers of the era: Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Ella Fitzgerald, and Willie Nelson.

As Robinson reflected, the tune fits today’s protesters. Describing the song as the Protesters Aria for today’s generation my doing.

Don’t Fence Me In’s opening words: “Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above, / Don’t fence me in. / Let me ride through the wide open country that I love, / Don’t fence me in.”

The “protesters” don’t understand that unless they “fence” themselves in, many more deaths that should not have occurred will occur.

A step back in Key West history. A banking story.

The Bank of Key West sat at the corner of Front Street and Exchange Alley. The bank had been opened by some affluent Key Westers. The building was destroyed by fire in 1846.

The people of Key West were panic stricken. As far as they were concerned, their money burned in the fire. The bank owners sensed a run on the bank in the making.

Fortunately, all books, cash, notes and valuables were stored in a fireproof safe on the second floor of the bank. The owners were aware however that their depositors might not believe that their monies were safe.

Two of the owners took the bull by the horns. The day after the fire, they took space at the U.S. Naval Station. A large table was set up. “Heaps of silver dollars and packages of currency were piled on the table. Bags of silver were stacked all over the floor.

Behind the table were two of the owners. George Lewis and George W. Allen. The sight of the men and money dissuaded the crowd who had come to withdraw their funds. They left without doing so. Their confidence restored.

“Square Grouper” is a familiar Keys term. In the 1970’s and 1980’s when drug trafficking was big, boats or planes would fly offshore the Keys and drop bales of marijuana into the water. Local dealers would go out in small boats and pick up the bales.

Apparently square grouper days have returned.

Thursday afternoon a barrel of marijuana washed up on shore in Marathon. The barrel contained 5 separate large plastic bags. The contents of each marijuana. Total weight 90 pounds.

This morning’s KONK Life ran a photo the north end of Duval in the late 1960’s. What a difference the years have made!

The area totally unrecognizable. No Pier House, Ocean Key Resort, Hogs Breath or Mallory Square.

The price of gasoline has benefited purchasers from the over supply of oil world wide. Everywhere, but in Key West. Till this week. The price dropped under $2 a gallon. At one station only. The Shell Station in Key Haven at the corner of U.S.1.

The Lower Keys Medical Center is opening to additional business. Not a total reopening. Effective May 4, the hospital will resume outpatient surgeries and elective procedures.

All hospitals hurt financially if they cannot perform outpatient surgeries and elective procedures. A hospital full of coronavirus patients is not a money maker.

The hurricane season is a month away. Opening day June 1. The word is it could be a rough one.

Powerful hurricanes not expected till mid August. These are described as the “red meat” of hurricanes.

I have learned not to place much faith in hurricane prognostications. They rarely are accurate. The “big one” usually comes when least expected.

The hotel industry taking a beating. Understandably.

The Hotel and Lodging Association released new data. These are nation wide figures. Seventy percent of employees are laid off or furloughed. Eight in 10 hotel rooms remain empty.

May Johnson still sick. Today’s entry from her 1896 diary: “Better but very weak from yesterday’s vomiting.”

Trump time.

I mentioned yesterday New York City’s problem with dead bodies. Insufficient funeral personnel and inadequate monies to bury people.

The government could pick up the bill. FEMA is authorized by law to finance the burials IF the President consents. Trump has refused to consent.

Ergo, the bodies stack up. Many in large refrigerated trucks.

A senior living facility has experienced 98 deaths. Most of the bodies stacked in refrigerated trucks outside the senior building.

Donald, a little help for the dead! Can it be so bad? Is it because they cannot vote? Or perhaps because many are Puerto Ricans and black?

The banks, hotels, corporations, universities, etc. receive stimulus assistance. What about the little guy who lives in a small apartment with his family. The rent came due yesterday. He could not pay it.

Several months ago I suggested a solution to the problem. It was one we all knew had to occur.

My solution simple. Defer rent payments till things return to some semblance of normal. Where the landlord has a mortgage, defer mortgage payments to the bank for the same length of time.

A big help!

Why not done? Others have made a similar suggestion. Is it because it would screw up a bank’s cash flow?

The White House announced it is prohibiting Fauci from testifying before a House Appropriations Sub-Committee wednesday.

Why?

I do not know whether the President has power to do so with Fauci.

I do know this. It makes it appear Trump has things to hide. I doubt anyone would argue the point.

It is wrong to bar Fauci from testifying. The coronavirus crisis is perhaps the worst that has ever faced this nation. Transparency required. The people have a right to know exactly what is going on.

Trump always likes to keep the truth hidden. Wrong each time. Especially wrong this time.

Donald, Donald, Donald. When are you going to stop screwing around with China? You have already caused enough damage going back to the time you were elected.

The stock market began a radical drop friday afternoon. It began with the White House announcement that Trump was considering imposing additional tariffs on China in response to the Covid-19 epidemic.

The market will probably open down monday morning.

I cannot understand Trump. To his way of thinking, a strong market means a strong economy. A position I do not agree with.

Not the issue, however. Trump does think so. It would seem he is cutting his own throat by imposing additional tariffs.

His thought process confusing.

Enjoy your day!

On this day in 1931, Kate Smith made her debut on CBS Radio. The event coincided with her 24th birthday.

You have not heard God Bless America sung till you hear Kate Smith sing it. Search the internet, TV programming, etc. to find it.

Uplifting! It carried us through World War II.

Eighteen yeas ago yesterday was a big day in Jean Thornton’s life.

She was diving off Mel Fisher’s boat. As she was finishing her dive, she saw something out of the corner of her eye. She swam over. It was a good sized emerald.

She also found some gold coins.

All from the Atocha area where Fisher had found hundreds of millions of dollars in treasure several years before.

Jean was a school teacher from Indiana. She quit her job. She and husband Joe bought a condo in Truman Annex. Their home is in Birmingham.

Jean spends a lot of time in Key West. Months each year.

As a result of her discovery, she is known as the Golden Girl.

One of her favorite places is the Chart Room. That is where we met many years ago.

I love Jean. Everyone loves Jean.

People protesting a growing event. People who are upset with the coronavirus restrictions imposed upon them. Especially the stay at home one.

It was Michigan last week. It was Michigan again yesterday. Chicago today.

Lansing is the Capitol of Michigan. They were back at the Capitol protesting yesterday. Inside and out.

I believe these protests across the country in recent weeks are the work of and financed by ultra right wing Republican groups. Their goal to upset government as we have known it. Replace it with chaos. Thereby providing them the opportunity to exert more influence and make more money.

Setting my concern aside, there is another.

Some of the Lansing protesters were armed. Their guns weapons of war.

The protesters made their way into the Capitol Building. The Michigan House of Representatives was in session. The armed protesters entered the balcony above the Chamber floor. They walked around carrying their weapons.

For some idiotic reason, visitors are permitted to carry in the Capitol building.

Intimidation? Provoke fear? You better believe it!

Lets take the scenario a step further. Suppose one of the armed protesters decides to shoot down on the Representatives below. A massacre.

A senseless act.

The face of America would change.

Trump was asked about the Michigan protesters last night. He said, They “are very good people” The Governor should “make a deal with them.”

These protests are not freedom of speech issues. Nor religious and economic ones. The issue is public health. Pure and simple.

Trump can be a horse’s ass on occasion. Bodies are piling up in New York City. No money to bury them.

FEMA has a provision that permits it to pay for burials in disaster situations. Like the coronavirus epidemic. Such not automatic, however. The President must approve.

Trump refuses to approve.

At the moment, there are 4 large U-Hauls sitting outside a Brooklyn funeral home. Bodies of coronavirus victims inside.

Trump wonders why his popularity numbers are gong down. This is an example of why.

Some things stay with a person for life. Something said, something done. Trump’s disinfectant comment one.

The Washington Post’s Dana Millbank in a recent column discussed Trump’s comment. His article titled: “Inject bleach? Trump Must Have OD’d on Hydroxychloroquine.”

Love it!

Trump may go down as the worst President in U.S. history. Barr is close behind and will be labeled the worst Attorney General in U.S. history.

This week Barr directed U.S. prosecutors to safeguard civil liberties of those protesting against State imposed pandemic orders. He signaled Justice Department support for lock down protesters by highlighting religious and economic rights.

As stated earlier, I do not see it that way. The issue is neither religious nor economic. It’s public health, stupid! The “stupid” added by me for emphasis.

The Key West police found a little boy wandering around alone last night. The boy’s picture was taken.He appeared to be 3-4 years old.

His picture was placed on Facebook. Within one hour, his parents showed up.

The matter is under investigation.

The Annual Hemingway Look-Alike Contest was scheduled for 7/23-7/25. In brings to Key West each year in excess of 100 Hemingway Look-Alikes. Everywhere one walks on those days, there is a Hemingway or two to be seen.

Not this year.

The event has been canceled due to the coronavirus crisis. It was decided the men participating are all in their senior years. Most, very senior. The competition would be too much of a risk.

Key West is opening “a little” come monday. Restaurants and retail stores.

Capacity limited to 25 percent at any time. Other restrictions apply.

I am curious as to how it will work out. Tourists are the money makers for Key West business establishments. There are no tourists presently in Key West.

I have been proud of our County and Key West officials to date. They have been hard ass in lifting restrictions. Even opposing some Governor suggestions.

Some locals may enjoy the restaurants. It worries me. Our numbers re Covid-19 affliction have been good. This is not the time to screw up!

People forget. Coronavris deaths March 1 were less than 100 nationally. Today, 2 months later, in excess of 60,00o. The virus moves fast!

May Johnson’s diary for this day 1896 not encouraging re May’s health. She has been confined to bed for almost 2 weeks with chills, etc. If it were today, they would think she had coronavirus or the flu. Or, the doctors may even have cured her by now.

Poor May wrote in her diary for today: “Commenced 6 o’clock to take quinine to ward off chill, took 2 capsules at 6, 8 and 10, they nearly killed me. I wrenched and vomited till I thought I should die. MY TERRIBLE DAY OF SUFFERING.”

Enjoy your day!

Charles Dickens’ masterpiece A Tale of Two Cities  was published this day in 1859.

Many literary pieces back then were published in magazines. Generally on a weekly basis. Chapter by chapter. Dickens’ work in All The Year Round magazine. Complete publication took to 11/26.

An upsetting time. The French Revolution, aristocrats arrested, summary trials, many executed by the guillotine.

The first paragraph of the novel a literary wonder. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, etc.” I have taken the first paragraph and eliminated certain passages to make it fit today. Our time.

“…..it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom…..it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Darkness…..it was the winter of despair…..”

Today!

This is day 50 of my self-quarantine. Break time! Party time! Tonight a dozen people!

Oh, were it so. Merely joking, however. Do not even desire throwing or participating in a party. Not the time yet.

America’s corporate whores and the Republicans at it again.

Meat packing houses across the country seem to be a haven for coronavirus. Does the meat have anything to do with it? Or, is it the close quarters employees work in?

During my 4 years in college, I worked in a meat packing house. Pork and beef. Worked at a Utica plant summers, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter vacations. Made a big buck! I was in the union.

Most of the employees work shoulder to shoulder. From slaughter to the final packing, it is one step after another. The “meat” moving from one person to another. Many times people working shoulder to shoulder.

Ergo, understandable coronavirus is having a field day in the meat packing houses.

Trump wants the meat packing houses opened. Back to work.

Liability a problem. The corporate owners want a law passed that exempts the corporation if a person outside the plant becomes sick in any fashion because of coronavirus. A 100 percent protection against lawsuits.

Understandable, though not necessarily desirable. Many different type corporations have such liability shields. The corporations do not want to be held responsible for wrongdoing even where it can be directly traced back to them.

I suspect that the meat packing houses will get such protection. The reason is America has to eat. The meat packing houses will remain closed if such protection is not provided.

The issue I am sensitive to is that which affects the employees themselves. People injured while on the job or as a result of the employment. Covered in most states via Workers’ Compensation.

I describe the corporations in this instance as whores because they do not want to provide Workers’ Comp coverage to the employees.

Wrong! Unheard of in today’s society.

Another problem involved. No matter what laws are passed, it appears the employees do not want to return to work yet. They fear acquiring the coronavirus.

Cannot argue with the employees. We are talking a death virus here. Sixty one thousand have already died in the U.S.

The meat packing companies will open. They have to open. Trump mandated it so. He signed an Executive Order to that effect. requiring them to. However, no one can force the employees back to work.

An interesting confrontation in the making. The meat packing business requires experienced hands. The knives are working all the time. Inexperienced persons will end up stabbing the person working next to them or themselves.

Many a hand I saw pierced by a person not up to the job. The meat held in the left hand and the knife in the right. How many times the knife missed the meat. Even worse, the person forgot to hold a piece of meat and stabbed themselves in the hand.

Not a simple cut in these instances. The knife goes clearly through the hand.

Another big week for persons signing up for unemployment. This past week 3.8 million. In 6 weeks, more than 30 million have signed for unemployment benefits.

Not “the best of times.” Reflective of “the worst of times.”

Trump and his family must live in a different world. Son in law Jared Kushner spoke up yesterday. He said the federal response to the coronavirus crisis was “a great success story.” The government “rose to the challenge.”

He and his father in law must be smoking from the same pipe.

Locally, the Oro Gold Cosmetic Shop on Duval has closed permanently. This is one of the “rip off” stores the Key West Rip-Off Response Team has been aggravating for 2 years. Properly so. The operators of the store were ripping people off, especially the elderly.

The Rip-Off group contributed to some degree to Oro Gold’s leaving. However, they should not take too much credit. It’s the economy!

May Johnson still in bed. I’m beginning to worry about her. Her diary entry for this day in 1896 says: “In bed all day from effects of chill.”

This is about her 10th day with the problem. She is not getting better.

Enjoy your day!

The musical Hair premiered on Broadway this day in 1968.

It was a first!

It was hippie time in America. The country was in social and cultural upheaval. Hair was a tribal love-rock musical. New!

The show gave New York theater goers a full frontal glimpse of the burgeoning 60s-counterculture aesthetic.

Hair first opened off Broadway. In Joseph Papp’s Public Theater in the East Village. Ran there for 6 weeks before moving onto Broadway.

It was at Papp’s Theater in the Village that I saw the show. A huge old movie theater. Packed. Standing room only.

Hair was different. It was the first of what was to come. However none knew it at the moment.

I became aware when the entire cast appeared on stage at the end of the first act nude. Totally. Male and female. Front and back.

Unheard of in those days.

The crowd went wild!

It was a youth performance with a youth hope. That the world was going to chose tomorrow.

I missed the hippie experience by about 10 years. When I saw Hair, I was 33. Had a wife, 4 children and a mortgage. I was into wearing suits, shirts and ties.

Today appears to be great musicals of yesteryear time for me.

“I’m on the road again…..” One of my all time favorites. Willie Nelson.

He is 87 today and still going strong!

Forrest Gump was prone to come up with brilliant statements. One of my favorites: “Stupid is as stupid does.”

The recipient of the stupid is as stupid does award today is none other than Vice President Michael Pence.

A horse’s ass in many ways.

Pence was at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota this past week. He refused to wear a mask while visiting the doctors and patients. Even though Mayo personnel explained to him it was “policy.”

Woodrow Wilson must have had a suspicion that some day a Donald Trump would be President. A Wilson observation befitting Trump: “All the extraordinary men I have ever known were clearly extraordinary in their own estimation.”

My blog talk radio show Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou last night. The main topic was Fauci, Giuliani, Wuhan Laboratory, and the $3.7 million grant.

I was loaded for bear.

Absorbed 20 minutes of the 30 minute show. Worthy of such a long exploration of the situation. I have not shared it here as yet. Saving the material for another day as I suspect the “show” is not yet over.

The Florida Keys are doing well as far as Covid-19 is involved. The Keys are part of Monroe County.

The County so far reports 79 confirmed cases, 3 of those resulting in death. Key West claims 38 of the cases, none of the deaths.

Trump is proud of his record. Especially as to “promises made, promises kept.”

The problem which Trump does not recognize is that few of his promises become reality.

Stimulus monies. Small Business loans a major screw up. Everyone is aware.

I was concerned about the $1200 stimulus payment to Social Security recipients. I am one of those, together with millions of others. Thought sure there was going to be a screw up. Business as usual.

Not this time. Trump delivered as represented. Monday  the Washington word was those entitled to payment who were on direct deposit would receive their deposit by the end of the month.

The end of the month tomorrow.

I checked my bank account on the internet this morning. The $1200 was there.

On this day in 1946, movie producer David Selznick and movie star Jennifer Jones checked into La Concha Hotel.

Jones one of my all time favorites. Especially her performances in The Song of Bernadette and Love Is A Many Splendored Thing.

May Johnson still sick. Her second week in bed. “Chills” a major complaint. In her diary for this day in 1896, she wrote: “In bed all day, at 10 o’clock had another dreadful chill.”

Enjoy your day!

Being the ever interested citizen, I watched Trump’s “show” at 6 last night. Nothing new. Same old same old, except been a while since Trump had some national CEO’s on.

I have a bitch.

Since day one, test kits, masks, etc. were always next week. Second week 1 million plus “next week.” Four million the representation for another next week. Nothing even close to the numbers represented ever arrived.

All talk. No action. No “promise made, promise kept.”

Last night, new numbers. In millions like you would not believe. Some next week, some in a month.

Always “tomorrow.” The problem is tomorrow never comes.

The media is having a field day with Trump’s Clorox/Lysol cure.

An article on 4/27 in Forbes was titled “Disinfecting Info: How Clorox and Lysol Took the White House to the Cleaners.”

The Boston Globe expressed itself editorially yesterday: “Disinfect the White House of Quackery.”

Even the Key West KONK Life E-Blast this morning in a Tim Weaver Bonehead Island cartoon: “The Press didn’t say ingest Clorox. An idiot would know better. He said inject Clorox! Inject!”

I fear coronavirus induced restrictions are being lifted too soon. Hope I am wrong. My guess is there will be an increase in Covid-19 cases and deaths in certain areas of the U.S. in 4-6 weeks.

Trump and his people love telling us “a promise made is a promise kept.”

My comment is limited to stimulus monies being sent to Social Security recipients who receive their Social Security payments by direct deposit. The deposits will be made by the end of April.

We shall see.

Key West beaches were opened yesterday afternoon at 4. One admonition: Masks preferred, but not mandatory.”

Blake Hunter’s Prime Time opened over the weekend at Studios of Key West. An opening party the first night following the performance.

I am going to receive many negative comments from what I am about to write.

This mornings KONK Life E-Blast contained a series of photos of those at the party. I know most of them. Are they crazy? Irresponsible? Most seniors. Maybe they thought they have been on earth long enough.

Whatever, they were hugging and standing close together. No 6 feet, not 3 feet, not 1 foot.

Love you all! Stupid move! Unless you believe it’s time to open things up. It’s like driving 100 plus miles an hour on U.S. 1.

An “only in Key West” occurrence. As reported in this morning’s Key West Citizen Keys History section.

On this date in 1992 “police made a gruesome discovery at a home on Southard Street: They found a man who had been dead for 2 months and his room mate was unaware he was dead.”

Twenty year old May Johnson still sick. If she were alive today, we would think it was coronavirus.

May’s April 28, 1896 diary entry states, “Still sick. In bed all day, very sick from effects of yesterday’s chill.”

May has been sick for at least a week.

Fitting words by Abraham Lincoln for today’s U.S.: “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”

Mutiny on the Bounty for real. Not just a movie starring Clark Gable.

It was on this day in 1789 that the mutiny occurred on the HMS Bounty. Fletcher Christian and his followers set Captain Bligh adrift in a launch in the South Pacific.

Tuesday comes quickly each week. Tonight Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Join me at 9 my time for a bit of ranting and raving.

My primary topic concerns Dr. Anthony Fauci, the $3.7 million he allegedly gave to the Wuhan Laboratory, and Rudy Giuliani’s charge intimating Fauci’s purported wrongdoing. Very interesting.

Typical Giuliani muckraking.

www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

Better to begin with a happy event. Too many sad ones recently.

On this day in 1805, the U.S. Marines attacked and conquered the Tripolitan port city of Derna. The Marine hymn words “to the shores of Tripoli” born of the battle.

The U.S. was a young nation. Still seeking respect from other nations.

Pirates from the Barbary states in North Africa were raiding U.S. ships. Successfully. American sailors were abducted and held for ransom.

The war with the pirates was 4 years old. President Jefferson had it. He ordered the U.S. Navy to the Mediterranean Sea to protest the attacks on American vessels.

Derna was located in Tripoli. It was there that the significant battle was to be waged. By U.S. Marines.

This was not a ship to shore event. The Marines had to travel 500 miles over desert to reach Derna. This they did.

U.S. agent William Eaton led the forces of Marines and Berber mercenaries. The Marine leader was Lt. Presley O’Bannon.

The Marines won a glorious victory.

Two historical factors were born of the battle.

The first is today’s Marine sword. Elaborately designed. The pattern representative of the battle. The sword carried by today’s Marine officers.

The other specific words in the Marine hymn. From the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli…..the Tripoli portion presenting the Derna victory.

A return to the normal. The trials and tribulations our nation is suffering at the moment.

Rudy Giuliani has returned!

His dementia obvious.

He slammed Dr. Anthony Fauci over the weekend. Like saying God isn’t good.

It appears Trump may be getting ready to dump Fauci. Blame him for the coronavirus. Fauci appeared only once last week at the Task Force briefings.

Giuliani  has developed into a muckraker. Especially when he attacks Fauci. He claims Fauci is responsible for the “damn virus that is killing us.”

Several years ago, Fauci approved a $3.7 million grant to Wuhan Laboratory. The Laboratory connected with the outbreak of the coronavirus epidemic.

Giuliani went on to indicate it was China’s intent to “weaponize” the virus. Thereby affecting the U.S.

The accusation typical Giuliani. Typical Trump. Giuliani said, “I don’t want to make any accusations.” Throw the thought out in the form of an accusation and let it hang there.

Already facts are coming to the forefront indicating no wrongdoing on Fauci’s part.

The Lab did not receive all of the funding. Everything else re China’s plan to infect, etc. unsubstantiated.

Giuliani says Fauci violated an Obama rule. One which prohibited the U.S. from giving money to any laboratory fooling around with viruses.

Typical of Giuliani accusations, he may next accuse Fauci of having had an affair with a staff member of the Laboratory. She made him do it!

Our politics are not just down and dirty. They are sick! The sickest I have seen.

Bill Gates is a man to be admired. I respect his successes. I respect what he and his wife are doing in these times to improve the world.

Microsoft. Gates was instrumental in creating a new industrial revolution.

His wealth appears to know no bounds. Deservedly so. He and his wife Melinda recently purchased a $43 million home near San Diego. They also purchased an $18 million house in Santa Fe.

Gates has appeared recently in the media. He has ideas and solutions for the coronavirus. In addition, thoughts and solutions for other maladies.

He puts his money where his mouth is. Significant amounts. To research and resolve the world’s dilemmas. The house costs pale in comparison.

I share this portion of the Gates story with you because some are beginning to knock the guy for his recent house purchases. They fail to mention his huge dollar contributions to charitable causes.

I look at it his way. The man made the money. His “invention” advanced the world tremendously. He is the Thomas Edison of our time. He can spend his money any way he wants.

Back to the increasing food shortages. An issue I have been discussing for some time.

We have a food shortage problem! I am not sure everyone recognizes it. What is required to make more people take notice, I do not know.

Food is rotting in the fields. At the same time that shortages are evident in supermarkets.

Many reasons involved. Two more significant than others.

The first is that the food “supply chain” has collapsed. People forget that food is grown/prepared in one place. Demand is in another.

Due to the epidemic, many of the jobs required to get the food from one place to another are gone. People out of work because of coronavirus. For example, truck drivers and those who arrange the product in whatever form for delivery.

The supply chain is broken.

Another involves fresh fruits and leafy greens. Covid-19 caused people to raid supermarkets and buy “non-perishables.” Things they could store. They forgot about fresh fruits and vegetables.

The food shortage is only going to get worse. The food bank lines longer. People not working. Stimulus checks better than nothing. However not enough to properly support a family.

Some observations concerning the economy and letting the elderly die.

Mike Norman Economics reports, “We need a real fucking plan, you shitbags.”

Strong words. True, however. The U.S. is wandering aimlessly in a reactive fashion rather than proactively. Some reactiveness required. An overall plan necessary, also.

McConnell says he favors “letting the States declare bankruptcy.”

His lunacy more skillfully stated than Trump’s. Trump comes out hitting away, with little thought. McConnell thinks things out before he speaks and many times has a reason not initially evident behind his statements. A skillful mind, a devious mind.

McConnell fears “revenue replacement…..We’re not interested in solving their pension problems for them…..We’re not interested in saving them from bad decisions they’ve made in the past.”

What is he saying? Some believe his words are intended to mean we should avoid the costs of caring for retirees and just let them die off faster. And in case you do not understand, the Republican right wing wants the elderly to die sooner than later. What’s the purpose in keeping them alive?

An example used involves New York City and coronavirus. Two thirds of all Covid-19 deaths involve people 70 or older. Who make up only 10 percent of the population. Their care and confinement expensive.

Then there are Medicare and Social Security. Think of the money that will be saved!

They think this way and talk this way. They are as bad as our Russian, Iranian and North Korean enemies.

Beware!

Enjoy your day!

Genesis 19 recalls Gomorrah as a place where “grave sins” were committed. Flagrant sins.

Studio 54 opened in New York City on this day in 1977. Disco! Big time! The global epicenter of the disco craze.

Immediately became the most famous night club in the world. Drugs and sex the attraction. Drugs not my thing. Fine looking women another story. All beautiful!

I visited 2 times in my late 30’s.

A class club.

I had a limousine driving me around. My days in New York were extremely busy. Several different conferences in different parts so Manhattan. I required the limousine. I general kept it for a night on the town afterward.

I had already stopped at a couple of bars and restaurants. It was late. Asked the limo driver if I could get into Studio 54. “No problem, Mr. Petrone.”

He made 2 telephone calls. One to make my reservation. The other to announce when we arrived that I was there.

The doorman open the limo door and said, “Welcome to Studio 54, Mr. Petrone.” Immediately knew I was going to like the place.

I did not have to pay, though there were long lines of others waiting to get in and/or pay. I was escorted into the heart of Studio 54.

What a place! Magnificent! Reeking of excitement. The women outstanding! I had died and gone to Heaven!

Studio 54 had not the best of reputations. Probably the drug issue. However in the end the authorities were not able to close it down because of drugs. They got one of the principals for tax evasion. Shades of Al Capone.

Studio 54 had its closing party the evening of February 4, 1980. It was labeled: “The End of Modern-day Gomorrah.”

Nothing like it has ever returned to New York City.

I have been predicting a food shortage for several months. It is here and is only going to get worse.

Forty percent of Los Angeles has turned to food banks. Food banks being strained in New York, San Diego, Chicago and Houston. Running out of staple goods.

At the same time, farmers are culling pigs, dumping dairy products, and breaking eggs. The food supply chains have been upended. Becoming increasingly impossible to get crops from farms to where ever they go next and then to grocery stores. Markets struggling to stock their shelves.

The strain on the food system a social bomb in the making. Proof the long lines on highways waiting to get to food banks. Many in line there for the first time. Not working, no cash flow.

I hope we do not get to where Greece was the first time I visited. Food scarce. People ate their pets. Then raided the zoos and killed the animals. Then ate anything growing from the earth. Then dug for roots to boil to make soup.

Big Pine is physically the largest of the Keys. Population  only 5,000. Not one case of coronavirus!

Amazing!

Big Pine residents are a bit of a different breed. Skilled at being alone. Worry not about career prospects. Appear emotionally experienced in dealing with problems.

The Monroe County Commission announced the County will not be open to outsiders till June 1. Good for the Commission. The road block preventing non residents from entering will remain in place. Other restrictions will remain also.

The numbers for the County are not bad. A total of 76 caronavirus cases. Only 3 deaths. Fifteen of the cases in Key west.

As the world turns. Yesterday I reported that the County determined the Keys were into a drought. Much sun and next to no rain for several months. A drought restriction was imposed. Lawns could only be watered 2 times a week rather than 3.

This morning it rained big time for 3 hours. Hard! The drought announcement may have come a day or two early.

Yesterday was my 44th day of quarantine. Self-imposed.

Necessity is the mother of invention. The internet has become the site of whatever social life I have. We all have.

Last night was cocktails at 7 again with Cathy in Seattle, Washington. We celebrated her 58th birthday.

Love Skype!

Enjoy your Sunday!

The pain of coronavirus is everywhere. Those afflicted, their families, and the medical staff caring for them. Personal and in one’s face.

An example occurred on Anderson Cooper’s show last night.

A young wife and mother. Married 10 years. Two children. Ages appeared 3 and 2. The husband/father had come down with the virus and was hospitalized. He died.

He left a note to his wife for her and someday the children to read and understand. The mother said that she had a blanket with her husband’s picture a part of it. The children were climbing on the blanket, pointing, and saying Daddy. Sometimes striking the picture with their hands as young ones are prone to do.

Anderson Cooper was the first to cry. He broke up several times. Then the wife. Then me.

It was heart wrenching.

Day 45 of my self-quarantine. Hanging in there. Wish things would get better however so I could get out into the world again. I think I am in the initial stages of cabin fever.

Some things happening in Key West.

Key West is closed to visitors until after May. Then local authorities will do a look see to determine if it is time to open the town up to outsiders. All of Monroe County operating under the same rule.

The County is being safe and not sorry. Smart! It was reported in the Citizen that Monroe County will probably be closed to outsiders till after Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties opened and experienced no problems. Then Monroe County would consider reopening “lodging.”

I mentioned yesterday Key West had a case of Legionnaire’s disease. One. Turns out it is 5.

The one reported yesterday at Poinciana Gardens. The “new 4” really “old.” I do  not recall hearing about them. The 4 oldies were reported 2 months ago at the Paradise Inn on Simonton Street.

Keys weather has been fantastic for several months. Bright sunny days. Very little rain.

The lack of rain has caught up with us. The beginnings of a drought. Officials describe it as a “moderate drought.”

Flowers and greenery beginning to wilt.

Not bad, but enough to impose a drought restriction. Homeowners may only water their lawns 2 days a week. No longer the 3 days previously the rule.

Key West 1896 young lady May Johnson not well. Her sickness keeping her bed ridden. She thought she recovered and went out for 2 days. Dancing one of them. However, not her time yet.

She has suffered for 3 consecutive days. Terrible chills. SICK AGAIN as she describes it. “Suffering agonies.”

The doctor visited. Gave her some pills.

Trump time.

Donald does as Donald wants and gets away with it.

There is something called the emoluments clause in the Constitution. Prohibits a President from certain investments. The issue came up early in Trump’s Presidency. He said he was not going to be bound by the clause.

Trump owned 30 percent of 1290 Avenue of the Americas. The remaining 70 percent was owned by Vornado Realty Trust. The building was refinanced in 2012. The total refinancing package $950 million.

It is assumed Trump still owns the 30 percent interest.

The Bank of China is state owned. The government owns it. The Bank of China took $211 million of the $950 refinancing

The note becomes due in 2022.

Has the obligation influenced or will it influence Trump’s judgment?

Trump has been using the Task Force reports at dinner time each evening in place of the rallies that no longer can be held because of coronavirus. Trump has taken to reading from a prepared text. Sometime deviating and speaking extemporaneously. Followed by questions and answers.

We are looking at roughly 2 hours each evening.

Not last night. Trump took no questions. Immediately walked off the platform following the text material. His total time last night 21 minutes.

The “why” of it all. Trump’s by needle or other type ingestion of a disinfectant into the body or  some form of UV ultra light to cure coronavirus.

The world up in arms. Cannot understand the stupidity of Trump’s suggestion.

Trump took no questions because he well knew they would have had to do with his foolishness from the previous evening.

Trump’s drug of choice to kill Covid-19 has been hydroxychloroquine. He had been pushing it like crazy. The possible “cure.” Why not try it?

It was revealed this past week that it had been used in some hospitals. Where tried, more died than recovered. Obviously the hydro whatever not the “cure” as Trump had promoted it.

Turns out there is another phase to the story.

Admiral Brett Giroir is Assistant Secretary of HHS.He sent out a 4/4 e-mail pushing government officials “to flood New York and New Jersey with treatment courses.”

Someone was not happy. Thought the drug stores should also be “pushed.”

The matter now public.

I would like to know who and why it was “pushed.” Who is responsible? Is anyone in government benefiting financially from the “push?”

Worthy of an inquiry? Especially where people apparently died because of its use.

Saturday night. A date night. I am having cocktails at 7 via Skype with Cathy in Seattle. We are celebrating her birthday.

Enjoy your day!