Memorial Day. A special day. One set aside to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.

A brief observation.

The Memorial Day of today is not celebrated in the same fashion as those following World War I and World War II.

I can recall the Memorial Day observances during and following World War II. And those celebrated in the years thereafter.

The Day has changed.

The war dead were memorialized back when. Parades huge. The whole community came out to watch. People listened with revered attention to speeches honoring the war dead.

Then it was off to home. Nothing special the rest of the day. The feeling was having attended a wake a step beyond the actual service.

As the years passed by, the U.S. was engaged in more wars. First Korea, then Vietnam. Most recently Afghanistan. I cannot recall a time the U.S. has not had boots on the ground somewhere in the world.

Something changed, however. The solemnity of the occasion became  a party day, a beach day, a pool day at home, a barbecue, a special shopping day at malls and large discount stores.. Fewer and fewer went downtown to observe the parade. Even fewer remained to listen to the speeches.

Yes, the Day has changed. It is not what was nor what was intended. Good or bad? I don’t know. I am merely setting forth what I have observed. Each of you draw your own conclusions as to why. Even whether the change has any significance.

Respectfully, Trump is a little boy President. Part and parcel of that conclusion is the observation that working class white American men support him. Men’s men. The most relevant component of Trump’s base. Strange since Trump is “the least masculine man to ever hold the modern Presidency.”

Tom Nichols wrote an interesting article in the most recent Atlantic publication: Donald Trump, the Most Unmanly President. An outstanding work as to why white American working men support a person so unlike themselves.

Nichols article is reviewed by setting forth a number of quotes from the article. Each speaking for itself.

Nichols begins with the inquiry as to why the working white men support a little boy President: “So many of Trump’s working-class white male voters refuse to hold Trump to their own standards of masculinity – why they support a man who behaves more like a little boy.”

The observation is made that Trump is not a stand up guy.

“Trump is a vain, cowardly, lying, vulgar, jabbering blowhard.”

“Is Trump a man your father and grandfather would have respected?”

One of George Orwell’s 1984 characters dismissed all the “marching up and down and cheering and waving flags” as “supply sex gone sour.”

“Trump is neither honorable nor courageous.”

He “is a rich downtown bully, the sort working men usually hate.”

“Trump is an obvious coward. He has two particular phobias: Powerful men and intelligent women.”

He “visibly cowers to…..Putin.”

He criticizes China but “likes President Xi, desperately seeking to avoid going on the offense to the Chinese Communist Party boss.”

The old standard of masculinity is “the strong and silent type…..Trump…..is neither strong nor capable of silence.”

Trump says things stereotypically masculine men would not. “Like North Korea’s Kim Jung Un…..We fell in love.”

Trump does not respect women. He doesn’t “like strong women…..Strong women scare Donald. Real men don’t try to bully women.”

Trump fails to accept responsibility. “He is a blamer. Nothing ever his fault.”

Trump fails to look out for his team. “In the midst of disaster, he praises himself while turning on even his most loyal supporters without a moment’s hesitation.” Easily utters, “I take no responsibility at all.”

Trump has trouble with empathy.” He was traumatized “by his childhood and father.” He “should go into psychotherapy.”

Trump lacks masculinity. It “is about maturity. He is not manly because he is not a man. He is a boy…..Not everyone grows up as they age.”

“Trump is a hero to a culture in which so many men are already trapped in perpetual adolescence…..men who feel like life might have passed them by, whose fondest memories are rooted somewhere in their own personal Wonder Years from elementary school until high school graduation, Trump is a walking permission slip to shrug off the responsibilities of manhood.”

Trump indulges “in….. hypocrisy.”

“Cheat on your wife? No problem…..being a father to your kids too onerous a burden…..Let the mothers raise them. Money trouble…..tell your father to write you another check…..Upset your town or workplace has become more diverse? Get it off your chest: Rail about women and Mexicans and African Americans at will and dare anyone to contradict you.”

A macho man. Trump is “the most macho of men…..can turn his enemies to ash through sheer testosterone overload.”

Trump is supported by working class white women also, though the number seems to be diminishing. These women “regard Trump as just one more difficult and mischievous man-child in their lives to be accommodated and forgiven.

These women gave Trump a pass after the Access Hollywood tape came to light. “Women showed up” at rallies with shirts featuring arrows pointing right to where Trump could grab them.

Melania defended the boyishness of it all. “I have two boys at home…..I have my young son and I have my husband. But I know how some men talk, and that’s how I saw it.”

“Trump is unmanly because he has never chosen to become a man…..He is…..working class America’s dysfunctional son, and his supporters, male and female alike, have become the…..parent explaining what a good boy he is to terrorized teachers even while he continues to set fires in the hallways right outside.”

His disgust is prevalent.

Howard Stern said it best: “The oddity in all of this is the people Trump despises the most, love him the most. The people who are voting for Trump for the most part…..He’s disgusted by them.”

Nichols’ follow up to Stern’s words: “The tragedy is that they are not disgusted by him in return.”

So it was said, so it was written.

Enjoy your day!

Where does it stop? When will Trump cease accusing persons of wrongdoing? Conspiracies are in vogue again.

This time it’s Morning Joe. Joe Scarborough.

The charge that there may have been a conspiracy. A conspiracy to cover a murder when Joe Scarborough was a Congressman.

The year 2001. Lori Klausutis was working in Scarborough’s Washington office. She was found dead in his offices. Investigation determined her death accidental. She fell and hit her head. Scarborough was not in the office at the time.

Nineteen years later Trump decides a conspiracy exists to cover Scarborough’s ass: Scarborough might have killed the girl.

Mika says Trump is a “sicko.” I have to agree.

Trump thinks his record is great. He should run on it! Leave phony conspiracies aside. Let the people tell him how good or bad his record is with their vote. If Trump is as good as he thinks, he should not be afraid to go to the people on what he has accomplished rather than lies and misrepresentations.

Humans are not the only ones hankering for the days they could eat out in a city restaurant. Rats are having a problem. They have become aggressive in their hunt for food amid restaurant closures.

California has a ban on in-person church services. Trump announced Friday that he was lifting such bans across the country. Told the people he was reopening the churches. Considered them essential. And to let him know if they were not reopened. He would take the governors on.

A federal appellate court ruled later Friday in a lawsuit brought by a California church. The Church wanted the ban lifted. The church claimed people had a basic right to attend church.

The appellate court found the ban proper. Based its decision on the lack of any infringement or restriction involving “religious motivation.”

What now brown cow? How will Trump handle the federal court decision? A conspiracy? Judges personally against him? What?

Cocktails at 7 last night. Another enjoyable evening with Cathy in Seattle. The internet is terrific!

I did not drink. Had no alcohol. It was Diet Pepsi for me.

Two Utica friends passed away recently.

One was Michael DeSantis. I believe 93 years old.

Mike was an excellent general practitioner. He was already established when I began practicing.

I always admired Mike because he treated me with respect in my early days as a lawyer. Most people are unaware that many older lawyers dislike and disrespect young attorneys. Mike never did with me.

Mike always called me “Cousin Louis.” We were not related. However, our families had come from the same province in Italy. Mike’s mother and my grandparents were close. We were therefore “cousins!”

Rocco Giruzzi passed on also. Somewhere around 80 years old. We were social friends in our later years. Dinner with the wives, he and I would play golf together, etc.

Rock was a pharmacist. Ended up owning 2 or 3 neighborhood pharmacies. A chain bought him out about 25 years ago for a good buck. Rock retired.

He kept his hand in the pharmaceutical world, however. He had graduated from Albany Pharmacy School. He was on their Board for years. Also on a State board overseeing pharmaceutical practices.

He and some of his classmates got together in their later years. Started some kind of a drug company. Rock was traveling back and forth to Albany once a month for meetings for 3 years.

He and his friends sold the company. Each received $3 million.

A big day in rock’s hose! I was thrilled for him.

Rock was a family man. Extended to aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. That special tight Italian family relationship. He gave each a check from the $3 million. Some $5,000, some $10,000, some more. Such was Rock’s nature.

May Mike and Rock both rest in peace.

I mentioned yesterday Hertz had filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. At a time when they were still sitting on $1 billion in cash. An indication how far in debt the company was if $1 billion would not help it.

Reported in the news today that former Hertz CEO Kathryn Marinello received a $9 million compensation package in 2019.

Typical in most of these Chapter 11 filings are the monies a CEO was being paid. Number of employees comes into play and how they may have been treated financially.

In March, Hertz laid off and/or furloughed 16,000 employees. Twenty five percent of its work force.

Hurricane season begins June 1.

The first recorded major hurricane occurred in 1835. Key West’s population 700-800.

The “experts” at the time blamed the hurricane on Halley’s comet. The comet caused the hurricane to have abnormally severe storms, tornadoes and gales.

Halley’s comet revisited Key West in 1909 and 1910 for 2 more hurricanes. Each another story for another time. This tale confined to the 1835 hurricane.

A reading of the damage wrought by the 1835 hurricane reminded me of Irma. Fewer people, boats and homes. Damage never the less severe.

Boats and schooners were thrown out to sea, others inland, everywhere but where they belonged.

Key West isolated at the time. The way it was in 1835. There was no telegraph. Mail took 1 month in either direction.

Folks were on their own. Their prayers and hard work is what helped them to survive. Another problem was money to rebuild, etc. No federal program at the time providing such assistance.

Local merchant Stephen Mallory described the storm as “the severest with which our coast was ever visited.”

Enjoy your Sunday and Memorial Day Weekend!

A number of disjointed items this morning. Ergo, Morning Stew!

My 72nd day of self-quarantine.

If I had to describe the past several months generally, I would describe them as The Lost Spring In America. Not for me alone. For everyone.

The virus a first for my generation and the 2 following me. The Flu Epidemic of 1918 and 1919 could not have been any fun. The Black Plague horrendous.

The coronavirus crisis has been and continues to be like nothing we living have ever experienced. Never gave any thought we would be going through something like this.

Did we learn anything? Things have been tough. The saying when things get tough, the tough get going comes to mind. Have we been tough? I believe so. Coronavirus has not been easy to deal with.

It has become abundantly clear there are stupid people in this world. Those that fail to accept scientific truth. Those that follow a political leader blindly to their detriment.

Michael Cohen was Trump’s personal attorney and “fixer.” He was released from federal prison this past week after serving 1 year of a 3 year sentence. The prisons are gradually releasing inmates early due to the virus.

Cohen will serve the balance of his term in “home confinement.”

No special treatment here. The feds playing it safe and cost effective. Expensive to provide coronavirus medical care.

Cohen advises he is going to speak out. Write a book. Says the time is not “right yet.” “Soon,” however. Claims he will tell it all.

Week of the Churches!

First Pentecostal Church, Holly Springs, Mississippi, was burned to the ground this past week. The Church refused a stay at home order. Became defiant when the order came down. The members claimed their freedom of speech and ability to worship were being infringed upon.

The Church remained open for services.

Police believe the case to be one of arson.

A spray painted message was left on the grass next to the Church: “Bet you stay home now you hypokrits (arsonist’s spelling).”

Trump came out in support of his Evangelical supporters and churches/synagogues/ mosques yesterday. Defiant he was. Churches, etc. are essential. They are open! If a Governor refuses, he will have to answer to me.

Again Trump stepping where he does not belong. Stay at home and closing religious buildings a State responsibility. Feds have nothing to do with it.

Trump’s position had to have faith leaders singing Hallelujah! Especially his forceful order to the Governors/States to “open right now!”

Religious services in the Keys resume this weekend. Certain rules to be followed.

Masks must be worn. Six foot social distance, except whee families are involved.

Sunday is a Catholic high holy day. The Ascension. St. Mary’s By The Sea has issued its set of rules. In addition to those already listed. Seating will be in every other pew. Service will be limited to 1/2 hour. There will be no choir music.

The climate crisis is turning Antarctica snow green. The perimeter area of Antarctic.

The snow and ice is not melting down to grass. Rather the climate change warmth has caused the snow/ice to form green algae. Resembles a golf fairway. The algae bloom is referred to as “green snow.”

It was announced several weeks ago that 200 plus Mar-a-Lago employees had been furloughed. This past week it was announced that they were no longer furloughed. They were laid off, discharged, gone.

When the furloughed announcement had been made, members were told to bring their own towels to the club. I found such amusing at the time and even now. The initiation fee to become a member is $200,000. Annual dues $14,000.

Bring your own towel?

Michael Moore has been warning the American people to beware. Beware that Trump cancels the November election: “There will be no election if things keep going as they are.”

I have been warning for 2 years that Trump might try to cancel the election. If such occurs, I see the Border Patrol Special Force and ICE in the streets defending Trump’s position against a populist that will be off the wall in justified anger.

The bottom line: The American people may have to fight to preserve their right to vote.

U.S. 1 has been blocked for several months to keep non’residents out of the Keys. There was a crack in the dam, however. Planes were permitted to fly into the Key West Airport.

The numbers of passengers have been released. Not as bad as thought. Passengers not arriving in droves.

Passenger traffic for April was down 97 percent. As it should have been. For May, 63 percent. It is expected that passenger traffic for June will be down 52 percent.

Airport Director Strickland said passenger traffic “fell off a Covid-19 cliff” in April.

The Airport is hurting. Seeking federal aid.

Patrick Allen Tierney died this past week at age 71. A landscaper. One of Key West’s finest.

I bought my Key Haven home in the 1990’s. Immediately gutted the house. Redid the landscaping, even adding to it.

I did not know who to hire for the landscaping. Patrick Hayes, aka Patty Cakes, had become a friend. He was the bartender at Square One for many years. He said, “Get Patrick Tierney.

I did.

I knew nothing about landscaping. Patrick knew everything. I would suggest this and he would say no. Explain why. Did something else.

I was probably a pain. However, he put up with me.

He was the Master!

I told him I did not want the trees and foliage planted in front of the house to grow. He looked at me as if I were stupid. “Everything grows.” Then turned and walked away from me.

His work was outstanding. The final result magnificent. And the trees and foliage in front did grow. So much so I had to hire someone to constantly trim. Patrick was above trimming.

May he rest in peace.

Wuhan a city of 11 million people. They beat the coronavirus problem. Went something like 30 days with no new cases. Then 6 popped up in one day.

Wuhan immediately went to work. Decreed all 11 million people would be tested within 10 days.

A mammoth undertaking!

Wuhan got off to a good start. However, the city has made a change in the testing program. It found that 11 million in 10 days was too much. They have initiated a new program which is moving forward.

Wuhan has 11 districts. Each district will be tested separately. Each will take 10 days to do. Not all districts will be tested at the same time.

Even if the district approach becomes unattainable, Wuhan will have done dramatically better than any city or country in the world. The Chinese know how to move their asses when they have to.

The first system Wuhan discarded looked impressive after 2 days. Not good enough for the Chinese, however.

The first day 887, 321 were tested. The second day, 1,000,724.

Donald, pay attention! They are doing what you haves failed to do. How many Americans have been thus far tested? Three to four percent? Five?

Ben Franklin was many things. Writer, inventor, statesman, ladies man. Many a statement by him has been recorded for posterity. I share 3 with you.

“There never was a good war or bad peace.”

“Nothing…..certain but death and taxes.”

“We do not quit playing because we grow old, we grow old because we quit playing.”

Another major U.S. company has filed for bankruptcy protection. Hertz. Chapter 11. They will continue in business while reorganizing.

Hertz employs 38,000.

The interesting part of Hertz’s bankruptcy filling is that it has $1 billion in cash.

The U.S. is opening. A lot, a little. Many think the coronvirus problem is behind us. It is not. Twenty four States continue to have spreading virus numbers.

There is talk of a second wave. The talk primarily by scientists and doctors. Most politicians keep their heads buried in the sand.

It is anticipated a second wave could be worse than the first which is not yet over. The only way to avoid a disastrous second wave is to take sufficient precautions now. Not later when it is too late.

Party time tonight. Cocktails  at 7 with Cathy in Seattle. Skype is terrific!

Enjoy your day!

Japan woke a sleeping giant when it bombed Pearl Harbor. The U.S. woke a sleeping giant when it elected Trump President. China.

China was content to stay in third position in world power behind the U.S. and Russia. Quietly doing its dirty work, quietly improving its military, and as best possible keeping itself out of foreign wars.

Russia has limited power today. From a military perspective, an excellent submarine fleet. And of course atomic weapons left over from World War II which it has improved upon.

Were it not for a leader such as Putin, Russia would be of minimal influence in world affairs. Putin has not relented in his quest to return Russia to the power it enjoyed when it was part of the Soviet Union.

Russia at best is in third place power wise.

The U.S. has been the great power. We thought so. The rest of the world also. Or, so we thought.

The truth is the U.S. has steadily and quietly weakened itself militarily as will be described in this blog. In addition to fighting 20 plus years of wars that should not have been our concern. Wars that weakened us. Wars that wasted our monies.

And then, the American people did what few thought possible. Elected Donald Trump President. The U.S. slide downward began with his swearing in. No President has done worse.

In every respect. Even to the coronavirus epidemic. He has blundered his way through it causing more sickness and death than should have been. Weakening the American fiber in the process.

China yesterday began its major crack down on Hong Kong. America normally would do something. Trump silent so far. His problem is neither he nor his immediate staff know what to do. They are incapable.

Trump never the less stands on the dime. Tensions between the 2 nations will grow even worse. Additional sanctions being discussed already.

This is a new Cold War. Similar to the U.S./Russia one. It will go on for years. Each side hopefully not pushing the button that will commence a nuclear Armageddon.

The Cold War will first be felt on the farm fields of the U.S.

Trump has already done serious damage to American farmers.  Almost from day one with his sanctions involving China. China has retaliated. Each side continues to do so.

Farmers will get destroyed even more. Most of them from States that supported Trump in the 2016 election. I doubt they will in November.

Relations are already strained between the U.S. and China. Going to be for a long time. Twenty years at least from my way of thinking.

As with the U.S./Russia Cold war, both the U.S. and China must be ready militarily to strike or retaliate if necessary.

The U.S. to succeed must without question be the stronger of the two. Otherwise the American people will begin fearing Chinese domination as it did during the previous Cold War involving Russia.

During the past 3 years, I have written several times that from a military perspective, the U.S. was not a match for or superior to the newly developed might of China. We were in a difficult place and no one seemed concerned. Including Trump.

David Ignatius is a Washington Post columnist. An expert in world affairs. He recently wrote an article  for the Washington Post titled: “Think We Have Military Prominence Over China? Think Again.”

I will be paraphrasing the column. He calls it as he sees it. Hits the nail on the head!

Ignatius wrote the U.S. spends nearly $1 trillion a year on defense. China the U.S.’s primary rival. The U.S. has almost a perfect record over the last 10 years in U.S./China war games. The U.S. has lost every time.

The problem seems to be the U.S. has no “kill chain.” The U.S. lacks the capacity to see threats and take quick, decisive action to stop them.

Washington is blind. The U.S. fails to see the future, does not look to the future.

Ignatius places blame on the government, the Pentagon, and Congress. The government, yesterday and today, depends on the Pentagon to guide it. The Pentagon is excellent in seeing what they did yesterday. Understanding how things were done yesterday. No vision into the future.

Congress equally unable to see beyond the past. It wants things done in a similar fashion yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Everyone stuck in a rut. No future thinking.

The U.S. has been so busy buffing its legacy system that it “got ambushed by the future.” It’s a new world! Especially following the end of the pandemic.

China clearly is determined to challenge the U.S. as the global power. Propaganda wars over the origin of the Covid-19 virus just a warm up for the tests ahead.

China’s approach to the military and the U.S. approach are different.

China’s military is not focused on power. Rather on preventing American domination. China cares not the number of carriers and squadrons of jets the U.S. has. China’s approach is not to build carrier per carrier and plane per plane to compete with the U.S.

China’s way is to dwell on precision weapons. Weapons to prevent the U.S. from mobilizing their forces.

For example, the U.S. builds carriers. China does also, but not as many as the U.S. China instead has developed the DF-21. A missile capable of taking out a U.S. carrier. Referred to as the “carrier killer.”

Missiles cheaper to build and operate than carriers in this regard.

Washington lobbyists are a problem. They represent corporations that build yesterday’s weaponry. They are not concerned with military weapons for tomorrow. That would cost their clients more money to produce. An absorbent amount!

Congress goes along. Appropriates monies for current technology. A President signs the appropriation bill believing the more money spent the safer the U.S. will be.

Ignatius advises the U.S. continues to build for an “outmoded strategy” of “projecting power” rather than arming ourselves to deny “China military dominance.”

Ignatius believes the U.S. needs a “radical rethink” as regards its military. The U.S. has the money, technological base, and the human talent to do so.

What is lacking is the will to change.

Ignatius’ message is it would be foolish to enter a new, post pandemic world with the same military hardware.

It’s the 21st century!

Enjoy your day!

Cooking the books? Fudging the numbers?

Certain States, the federal government and CDC…..Any changing number of coronaviyus cases and deaths? Numbers being lowered from what they actually are. To show reopening makes sense.

A State employee charged Florida with so doing yesterday.  She was fired. Governor De Santis fluffed it off by saying it was a “non-issue.”

Apparently a change of mind today. The State employee is being investigated in anticipation of being arrested for cyber stalking and cyber sexual harassment.

Georgia is suspected of having played with the numbers.

I suspect time will prove several entities are involved.

Columbia University has come out with an interesting study. The study suggests coronavirus cases and deaths would be less if social distancing had been put into effect earlier.

The “earlier” time frame small.

If social distancing had been imposed 1 week earlier, the claim is 36,000 lives could have been saved. If 2 weeks earlier, 54,000.

A big difference. Each based on the short time difference. Makes sense however since coronavirus moves rapidly. Recall there were less that 100 deaths for all of the U.S. March 1. Today, 11 weeks later, 95,000 dead.

Unemployment numbers for last week down, but still off the wall.  For the week, 2.4 million new unemployment benefit claims filed.

The nation’s figure historically high.

New York State an example of how bad bad can be. New York has paid 4.5 years of unemployment benefits in the past 2 months.

Trump is one mean man. Classless.

The portrait of every U.S. President since George Washington hangs in the White House. The portrait generally painted after the President leaves office. Ergo, hung after he has left office.

A tradition has developed that the sitting President invites the former President to the White House for the unveiling and hanging of the portrait.

Appears Trump will not adhere to the tradition. Seems he has no intention to hang Obama’s portrait. The White House advises an “indefinite postponement” for the event.

Key West reopens in a limited fashion June 1. Tourists will flock down. Locals will start living again.

I plan on remaining self-quarantined a while longer. I do not believe it will be safe yet to be out and about.

The Covid-19 epidemic has helped a local business. The bicycle shops.

Business is booming for the locals. The bike business has returned. Shop owners advising a struggle to keep up with the increased demand.

This morning’s Key West Citizen’s Citizens’ Voice had some interesting comments. I share them with you.

“When we evacuate Monroe County for a hurricane we do not bring the hurricane to the mainland. When the mainland attempts to enter Monroe County in a pandemic, they bring the virus with them. Minor difference.”

“A 30 year old woman walking down Petronia Street is asked ‘Where’s your mask?’ Response: “Don’t need a mask when you’re outside!’ Genius. Pure. Genius.”

“Jeers to the City of Key West. Work on Duval Street during zero tourists was the perfect opportunity to make it totally pedestrian friendly ‘a la’ Lincoln Road Mall in Miami.” Remove curbs, level entire space, put in plants, etc. Instead “save ol’, save ol’, with blacktop.”

Michigan reeling from all type disasters. The protests, guns in the Legislature, and now 2 river dams breaking. Flooding big time. So far, 10,000 persons evacuated.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has her hands full. She has proven her mettle thus far. She will handle the dams/flooding problems well. Guaranteed she will not be tossing rolled paper towels to the citizens affected.

On third day in 1972, Michelangelo’s Pieta was on exhibit in the Vatican. “Jesus Christ” damaged it.

A hammer wielding man shouting he was Jesus Christ did the damage.

Enjoy your day!

One way or another, major sporting events are returning. Most with no audience.

The Triple Crown. Normal order of the races: Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. This year the order mixed. Coronavirus the reason.

The new order begins with the Preakness 6/20, followed by the Belmont 9/5, and last interestingly the Kentucky Derby 10/3. The reason given for the change is that the order better fits with the racing season in general.

Mint juleps in October!

My Fair Lady. The exciting Broadway and movie musical. Opened on Broadway in 1957 with Julie Andrews starring as Eliza Doolittle. The movie in 1964 with Audrey Hepburn in the starring role.

Jay Lerner was the song lyricist. At a certain part in the show, Eliza imagines herself having become a friend of the King of England. He tells her: “Next week on the 20th of May / I proclaim Eliza Doolittle Day.”

Today is the 20th of May. Per My Fair Lady, today is Eliza Doolittle Day!

I was not aware an Eliza Doolittle day existed.

My first Broadway show was My Fair Lady. July 1960. Remember it well. I was in New York City for 6 weeks studying for the bar exam. We had classes everyday from 10 in the morning till 10 at night, with one day off. I believe it was July 4th.

For my wife, it was a 2 night trip. We had not seen each other in 3-4 weeks. My Fair Lady was the only part of the 2 days we did not spend in bed.

Ah, youth! The beauty of it all!

There was another reason. It was all we could afford.

Some women have been recognized as special in the relationship with their husbands. How they helped make their husbands successful.

Anne Glenn died yesterday at the age of 100. Wife to astronaut and U.S. Senator John Glenn. An American hero unquestionably.

Mrs. Glenn died of conronavirus. She had been residing in a nursing home.

When her husband was circling the Earth the first time, Mrs. Glenn had already lived many years with a bad case of chronic stuttering. Later in life, she overcame it.

Ohio’s present Governor is Mike De Vine. He was close friends with the Glenns. He said upon hearing of Mrs. Glenn’s death, “There would not have been a John Glenn without Anne Glenn. Theirs an inspiring love story. She represented all that is good about our country.”

President Trump and Florida’s Governor De Santis are close. Very good friends. Trump regards De Santis as the best Governor in the U.S. Easy to understand. De Santis constantly sucks up to him.

Trump lies/misrepresents. De Santis is similarly inclined, though not as bad.

Last week, he tried to fluff off something. Something bad in the ultimate sense. Terrible. Way out of line.

Rebekah Jones was a State employee till very recently. She was responsible for the coronavirus data board in the Department of Health.

She was told to change some numbers re the virus. Number of cases, number of deaths. Reduce them. She refused to manipulate the data.

Rebekah said that for refusing to “manually change data to drum up support for the plans to reopen,” she was charged with “insubordination” and lost her job.

Governor De Santis says the situation a “non-issue.”

Immigrants confined in detention centers and watched over by ICE are suffering from Covid-19. Close quarters, insufficient protections, etc. are causing many to become afflicted.

A lawsuit by or on behalf of the immigrant detainees was brought in federal court. Three detention centers involved. One in Miami, one in Broward County, and one in Glades County.

A federal judge ruled in favor of the detainees. The Judge ordered ICE to bring the number of detainees down from 1,400 to 350 in 2 weeks. The order further provided that each detainee was to be provided masks within 2 days.

The Judge found violations of the Fifth and Eighth Amendments. Violations of due process and unusual punishment.

The U.S. Justice Department sent a letter to California advising the State should open churches. Justice was of the opinion that closing of the churches might violate religious freedoms.

At least one good has come out of the coronavirus crisis. Many factories and other facilities are closed. As a result, carbon dioxide emissions for April dropped 17 percent from last year’s daily average. The last time emissions were down to 17 percent for a whole month was 2006.

First arrest for speeding whiled operating a vehicle. This day 1899 in Manhattan. Jacob Gorman got the first vehicular speeding ticket. He was doing 12 mph while operating an electric car. The speed limit was 8 mph.

Enjoy your day!

I am falling again. This is the second time in 2 weeks.

I suspect it is the self-quarantine. I have not left the house. Not using the cane while home. Always something to grab on if I think I am going to fall.

Not working out that way as the 2 recent falls evidence.

I am back to wobbling. Walk ok. Then suddenly drifting from one side to the other.

Last night’s fall was not one of my best. I still feel it. On top of the fall 2 weeks ago from which I had not yet totally recovered.

Hurt like hell. Fortunately, no fractures.

How long will I continue to be so lucky?

Anyhow, I am even going to go to bed with the cane from this point forward. It will be with me all the time.

There will be no Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou tonight. I feel tired and beat up. Don’t want to handle preparing for the show and then doing it. So it is an afternoon and night off for me and those who listen to the blog talk radio show.

Trump must be looking for a way to die. Taking a hydroxychloroquine pill every day for 1 1/2 weeks. Trump is obese. No question about it. Of necessity, he must have heart problems. Too old and too fat not to have any.

The FDA says don’t take the pill. The VA says its experience with it is the drug kills people with heart problems. Even FOX’s Neil Cavuto last night was adamant in stressing how wrong it was for Trump to take the pill. Several times he repeated it kills!

A few weeks ago, the news came out that Trump was pushing the production of the drug and its mass sale in New York and New Jersey. Two States buried with coronavirus cases. Trump was pushing hard. I cannot help but wonder what interest he, his family or some friends might have in the sale of the drug.

I put nothing past the man.

I go even a step further. I question whether Trump is even taking the drug. He has to have sufficient smartness not to be that stupid. I suspect he is lying.

The drug is not Socrates’ hemlock. Socrates was forced to drink the hemlock. He was ordered to death. By his own hand via the drink or some other more painful method.

His pill consumption is closer to Jim Jones’ Kool Aide. A more voluntary consumption.

Keep in mind the number of coronavirus deaths in the U.S.

On March 1, less than 100. Today, in excess of 90,000. Ninety thousand in less than 3 months.

Average deaths in U.S. at this time roughly 1,000 a day.

All the result of Trump’s screw ups.

Compiled data clearly indicates that more older men with heart failure than women similarly conditioned  are dying from the virus. Based on the results of a new Netherlands study.

It was initially thought more older heart problemed men were dying because of their wayward lives. More drinking and smoking than women.

Italian data reveals more older heart problemed men than women died. Seventy percent more.

The new study suggests the cause if a key enzyme that men have more of than women. The enzyme is angiotensin-converting-enzyme. Referred to as ACE2.

ACE2 makes it easier for the coronavirus to enter the body. The virus latches on to the inhibitors.

Hurricane noises are being heard already. Tropical storm Arthur is skipping up the eastern seaboard far enough out to do no damage.

More hurricanes expected, however.

Recent studies indicate global warming a contributing factor to the increase of wind speeds. Hurricanes were studied for 40 years in arriving at the conclusion.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration conducted the study.

A step back in history.

It was on this day in 1538 that Henry VIII’s second wife was executed. Anne Boleyn.

Anne did everything to entice Henry to get rid of wife number 1 and marry her. She was a sexy pixie and shared her charms freely and enticingly to the King.

Anne failed Henry in one extremely important regard. She bore him a daughter rather than a son.

She was charged with adultery, incest, and conspiracy against the King. The veracity of the charges questionable.

Henry claimed Anne had seduced him by witchcraft.

She was sentenced to death by burning or execution. Henry decided execution by beheading. He did show her mercy however. Rather than have her head severed by an ax, he permitted a sword to be used. Apparently more humane.

In a sense, Anne won. Title to the crown important. It was her daughter Elizabeth who ultimately became Queen Elizabeth I and ruled gloriously for 40 years.

May Johnson and I have something in common. She wrote in her diary she fell on yesterday’s date in 1896. I fell 124 years later on the same day in 2020.

Enjoy your day!

The hoards will return to the checkpoint at the entrance to the Keys June 1. Some will be afflicted with coronavirus. Some Keys residents previously unaffected will become infected. Some may die.

The checkpoint worked! No question about it. One of the wisest moves the Monroe County Commission ever made. The numbers say it all. Total coronavirus cases 100. Thirty nine of the number in Key West. Deaths, 3. None in Key West.

The numbers will change. Perhaps dramatically.

Florida’s record overall is not worthy of praise. Immediately to the north of Monroe County are Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Two of the biggest beds of coronavirus in Florida.

Tourists from those counties and others to the north will drive in. They do every year at this time. In fact, generally earlier. The season is over. Hotel rates and restaurant prices considerably cheaper.

My gut tells me that four to six weeks later, the coronavirus numbers for Monroe County and Key West will rise. Again, in conceivably dramatic fashion.

Money and business will have won over health and life.

In addition to the checkpoint being removed June 1, as of that same date hotels will be permitted to operate at 50 percent occupancy. Masks will be required in stores and to gain entrance into restaurants.

Come on coronavirus! Not much we can do to stop you!

Trump thinks himself to be King. He would love to be King for real and forever. If reelected in November, the opportunity might arise.

On this day in 1804, such a situation occurred in France. Napoleon wished to be Emperor of France. He had no lineage. He did the next best thing. Crowned himself Emperor!

It was a big day in Paris. The Cathedral of Notre Dame the place for the crowning. The Cathedral ablaze in all its glory. Decorated royally and colorfully. At considerable expense.

Napoleon took the crown in his hands and placed it on his head, thereby crowning himself Emperor. He then crowned his wife Josephine Empress.

Don’t tell me it can’t happen here! With Trump, anything can happen anytime.

I can envision Trump in an Address to the Nation afterwards telling all: We have made America great again!

Be careful who you vote for.

The Reverend Frank Pavone is a Catholic priest. Close to God and close to Trump. A Trump supporter in the extreme. Part of Trump’s inner circle of supporters.

Father Pavone heads the organization Priests for Life. A pro-life group. He also is a leader in the Catholics for Trump organization. It is probably those relationships that have made the priest and President close friends

He is not easy to get along with as regards the Church hierarchy. Always aggravating someone. Two Bishops and a Cardinal no longer have anything to do with him.

Father Pavone’s protests know how to raise money. Filed documents reveal that for 2016 and 2017, he raised $13.2 million.

Father Pavone has attracted to the Church and his organizations the same type people that follow Trump.

Evidence of his support for anything Trump involves family separation at the border. He defended Trump’s child separation policy. He said, ” If someone is breaking the law, being separated from their families is not the fault of those enforcing the law but of those who broke it.”

He is an openly proud Keep America Great advocate.

Lynda Frechette shared a video with her followers this morning. It basically had to do with the crazy and erroneous reasons people support Trump, hate Obama, etc. One person interviewed said he was against Obama because “he was responsible for 9/11.”

Nuts everywhere!

Whoever heard of Zoom a year ago?

Zoom is booming!

Business in general is getting killed by coronavirus. People have been required to transition to working and socializing from home.

The transition could be the new normal. Zoom Communications is an example of an organization that has benefited from the transition and continues to benefit from it. Zoom is now worth more than the top 7 airlines combined.

Impressive!

Cocktails at 7 this week became Tea at 11 Sunday morning. A pleasant change of pace.

Enjoy your day!

Graduation 2020 last night was an outstanding tribute to this year’s graduating high school seniors. Deprived of the usual last month or two of high school, America was at its finest in acknowledging them via a program of programs.

Obama’s words the type of tribute one would expect.

Trump could not have put on such a show. The TV event was about them, the kids, not Trump. Trump lacks the sensitivity to understand what last night was all about.

Lets stay with the younger generation a moment. Those about to graduate from college. Not the best of times. Jobs worse than scarce. Many will end up working in a McDonald’s and bear bitter fruits as a result.

My recommendation is those graduating not even look for employment. Rather, continue with their educations. Get a Masters, Ph. D, law or medical degree. Go to school as long as reasonably possible. By the time they finish, the tide will hopefully have turned. That first job will be much better than any possible at this time. The graduate will have more to offer an employer and the beginning pay will be more.

I do not want to hear it cannot be afforded. If there is desire, the money will come.

The worst thing affecting higher American education has been the student loan program. Borrow now and pay back later. An extreme burden for every student. The time is coming when the federal government will forgive the loans. The only way they will be “paid.”

Permit an observation by this old man. There were no loan programs when I went to college and law school. We worked! Two, three and four jobs at a time. Throw in a scholarship or two here and there. We made it.

I was married in law school. My son John was born when I was in law school.

We worked at outside jobs. Studied late into the night. Never complained. In fact, did not even know how tough it was. Never gave it any thought. It was the way most of us got through school.

It irritates me when people say it was cheaper back then. Only relatively so. Expensive is expensive at a given time.

Salaries were not great either. Relative however. I cannot forget high school. I worked 4 years in a super market. My salary was $.1675 an hour. Sixteen and two third cents an hour. In college and law school, $.75 to a $1.25 an hour.

A tough hourly, so I sought jobs that paid a commission. I was the best pots and pans and Encyclopedia Americana salesman around!

And so it was.

Covid-19 male or female?

L’Academie Francaise sets the rules for the French language. It has decided Covid-19 is feminine. Therefore will be referred to as La Covid and not Le Covid.

In excess of 87,000 coronavirus deaths in the U.S. thus far. Responsibility for the excessive number lies with the Trump administration. A public policy for mass murder.

The Boston Globe wrote it correctly last week in a headline: Blood On The Hands Of Those In Power.

At a Task Force presentation in the Rose Garden Friday, Trump with gusto said, “Vaccine or no vaccine, WE’RE BACK!”

Back from where? Nothing? What of significance has been accomplished thus far?

He also went on to spell out how the distribution of the vaccine would be done. By the military.

It is always good to plan ahead. How far, however? It could be 1-2 years to vaccine if we are lucky. Many scientists are now suggesting 4 years. Based on the history of U.S. developed vaccines. The quickest was measles and it took 4 years.

Trump also reiterated a term he used a couple of weeks ago to describe his new approach to creating the vaccine: “Operation Warp Speed.”

Fancy terms all. Whether effective, remains to be seen.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Rutgers University has a picture of the Statue of Liberty standing in water with her body showing only from the breasts up.

Says it all when it comes to the effects of climate change. Extreme in its presentation. I doubt the sea level will rise that much. However, the picture does effectively make a point.

Some books have a resurgence. Discovered again.

For whatever reason, Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises is experiencing an increase in popularity. The novel in demand.

It was difficult! Arthur had to knock on the door two weeks in a row. However, Arthur finally made it.

Arthur is a tropical storm. Probably will grow into a hurricane. The first this year. And hurricane season still 2 weeks away.

Arthur is heading for Florida. Will not make landfall. Instead will run up the Atlantic coast from northeast Florida to south North Carolina. Then expected to turn out to sea.

Enjoy your Sunday!

As occasionally mentioned, I am a fan of Canadian blogger Ian welsh. Though I do not always agree with his positions. The man is a thinker however and his thoughts interesting to read.

I happen to agree with a blog he published yesterday: Armed Right Wingers Able To Shut Down Michigan Legislature. I paraphrase his blog for your reading.

My thought concisely expressed first. I consider what happened thursday when the Michigan Legislature failed to convene a disgrace. A stepping stone to worse events to occur. We are gradually moving to rebellion/a showdown.

Welsh believes the Michigan Legislature canceled its thursday session  rather than face the possibility of another armed protest and death threats against Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Recall that on 4/30, right wingers playing soldiers and dressed in military fatigues walked the balcony above the legislative chambers armed with weapons.

Intimidation at its worst.

Through the 1970’s, the Democrats were the party of violence. Unions, black disturbances, bombings, etc. Things changed in the 1980’s and have remained changed since then. The Republicans are the party of violence.

Reagan destroyed the Comptroller’s Union and at the same time placed the fear of god in the Democrats. Subtly the violence perspective moved to the Republican side.

Today, Republicans will fight. Democrats will not. They “cry.”

Normal people in normal times would think the police and national guard would be called in to quell these Republican motivated disturbances. Such not easy. The police and guard are loyal to and generally part and parcel of the right.

The authorities would arrest left leaning demonstrators while not bothering those of the right.

An observation. Martin Luther King’s non violence approach fails today. Things change with time. Aggression must be met with aggression.

The left is intimidated. Intimidated by an armed minority. Such is the case with Michigan.

Violence a definite possibility. It may erupt. That’s the way it is.

Trump is a bully. The Republican right are bullies. The only way to bring down bullies is to confront them. Sort of a don’t tread on me situation requiring a don’t tread on me approach.

Welsh suggests 2 reasons why the Michigan legislature gave into violence. First, they think that violence is legitimate. Second, as indicated earlier, they do not trust the police or national guard to stop right wingers who sympathize and support them.

Welsh believes it is time for Antifa and the Black Panthers to become involved. The Black Panthers already have begun escorting certain Democratic legislators.

He also suggests that those who believe fanatically in non-violence exist at the whim of those who believe in violence and are good at it.

Such is the position the left has placed itself in.  The left has come to believe violence is wrong and ineffective.

Welsh believes Michigan represents the fruit of those beliefs.

Violence works. History proves it. Effective violence, if perceived as legitimate, is a winning strategy.

Robert, my Robert. Love him.

Sixteen years old. Yesterday his birthday. Happy birthday Grandson!

A sophomore at Key West High School. A tennis player of merit. He has been designated informally All County. Informally because only half a season played.

A good kid, also. His coach Paul Findly said, “We don’t have the typical award this year, but I give him our coaches award for being that team leader. Robert is just a great kid and a good influence on the other kids. He’s the first to practice and the last to leave.”

Mar-a-Lago is partially reopening this weekend. One problem. Members must bring their own towels.

A $200,000 initiation fee and annual dues $14,000. Bring your own towels!!!

Reason given is that Trump’s home/playground laid off 153 employees due to coronavirus.

My immediate thought is Donald is a cheap bastard. However, he is President. He is not a bastard. He is cheap, however!

Wuhan fears a second wave of coronavirus. It went 1 month without any new cases. Then 6 in one day.

Wuhan is a city of 11 million people. Wuhan has issued an order. Referred to as the “Ten Day Battle.” All 11 million people must be tested in 10 days. The program already initiated.

A Herculean task. The best Wuhan did previously was 100,000 tests per day. Never the less, Wuhan is determined to stop a coronavirus “Round 2” and is going all out with the testing.

Arthur trying to get in the hurricane books second week in a row. Last week a low pressure area east of the Bahamas threatened to become the first hurricane of the year. Failed, however. Turned north and back out to sea.

This week another low pressure area in the same place. Could be Arthur if it becomes a tropical storm or stronger. We’ll know later today or tomorrow.

Its final direction not yet determined. Could hit southeast U.S. or turn north and then back out to sea.

The hurricane season does not begin till June 1. Two early threats concern me. The prognosticators tell us this hurricane season could be a bad one.

Jean Thornton, ready your Birmingham home!

The Girl Scouts were feted at the Whit House yesterday. The Girl Scouts wore face masks. Melania did not. Nor did Donald.

The Keys continue to block the entrance to the Keys from non residents. Properly so. Residents have come through the virus so far in relatively good shape.

Regardless of what the President and Governor say, our local political leaders remain firm in continuing to keep the entrance blocked.

This morning’s Key West Citizen reports a lawsuit has been commenced to reopen U.S. 1. By a couple who have a Duval Street business and live somewhere in the Keys.

Crying boo-hoo! Loss of business, no right to close U.S. 1, etc.

I assume they are part of the protesters who appeared on North Roosevelt Boulevard this past week expressing their desire the check point be removed.

When lawsuits of this nature are brought, generally a third person(s) is the party in interest. Who is or are those persons? Follow the money. The question to be answered is who is paying the legal bills. That’s the person.

May Johnson wrote in her diary this day in 1896: “Received a letter from my dearest.” Who is her “dearest?” I missed it somewhere along the way.

Enjoy your day!