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!

Some of today’s topics unusually interesting.

The first involves Great Britain, the United Kingdom, England, or whatever it was called at a particular time in history.

The Brits were always taxing people and things. They cared not what nor for those being taxed. Only to collect money for the royal coffers.

That is why there was a Boston Tea Party, a need for a Robin Hood, and more.

Today’s subject the Window Tax. The Brits were known as the United Kingdom at the time. A Window Tax was imposed in 1699 and remained in place till 1851.

The Window Tax also referred to as a “bandl tax.”

Windows on a house were taxed. The more windows, the higher the tax paid by the owner.

Necessity became the mother of invention. Everyone wants to pay as little in taxes as possible. Tax avoidance came into play big time.

Homes were built with fewer windows. Older homes had some windows bricked over. The poorer homes covered all the windows.

“Dark and gloomy” became the order of the day. The more blocked windows, the less the light entering from the outside.

As the years progressed, poor and rich alike clamored for a repeal of the tax. It was considered a “tax on health” and a “tax on light and air.” The tax encouraged disease and ill health.

It took 152 years, but the people finally won out when in 1851 the Window Tax was withdrawn.

This past thursday, Trump bare naked his intelligence level. His thought process convoluted.

Trump was speaking at Owens and Minor, a medical supply distributor, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He said, “When you test, you have a case. When you test, you find something is wrong with people. If we didn’t do any testing, we would have very few cases.”

Brilliant!

Dr. Joseph Fair is known to most of us. He appears frequently on NBC and MSNBC. He is one of their medical consultants.

Dr. Fair is a virologist and epidemiologist which makes him an expert in the study of the coronavirus problem.

He flew to New Orleans last week. The plane was crowded. “Packed” as he described it. The thought occurred to him to get off. However, he did not.

He wore a face mask, gloves, and wiped his area with disinfectant.

Turns out he should have worn googles. So Dr. Fair thinks today.

Three days after the trip, he started feeling lousy. Remained home. Over the course of a few days, breathing became difficult. He could only get 25 percent of his breath into his lungs.

He was off to the hospital. They gave him 4 coronavirus tests. All negative. It took #5 to come up with a positive finding. He was definitely sick.

Dr. Fair believes the virus got into his body through his eyes. Recent studies indicate mere talking can generate droplets that can linger up to 14 minutes.

Goggles would have prevented his coming down with the virus.

Dr. Fair claims he was not at high risk for the problem. Forty years old and in good health. Runs every day. Has no underlying maladies. He said he was in the best condition he has ever been.

Which brought to his mind he probably would have died were he older and not in such good condition.

Dr. Fair remains in the hospital, no longer in critical condition.

Certain prostitutes earn big money.

Some governments tax a prostitute’s earnings. Germany has been doing so for more than 10 years. Germany legalized prostitution so it could tax the ladies.

Other European nations tax prostitutes also. Great Britain is one.

Linda St. Clair began working the streets as a teenager. At a point later in life, she became one of Britain’s leading ladies of the night. Her professional name Miss Whiplash. She was both a prostitute and dominatrix.

Linda owned and operated one of the largest whore houses in London. High class. Some 250 members of Parliament among her customers.

She drove a Rolls Royce.

The British government decided to tax her. She refused to pay. She said if she were to pay, the government would be living off “immoral earnings.” Such was her legal position.

The government said morality had nothing to do with it. The government considered her earnings derived from a “trade.”

Linda fought the tax collector successfully for 15 years. The government never gave up, however. When she saw she would not be able to win, she sold everything. Took her monies and went on a world cruise. Excuse the vernacular, she “pissed” her money away in all the fun spots of the world.

When the government finally got her and had a huge judgment against her, she was judgment proof. Penniless.

Some Trump.

One of the commentors to my blog recently wrote Trump was no “warrior” as he was claiming. He pointed out Trump dodged the draft and mocked a prisoner of war.

The gulf between Trump and scientists regarding coronavirus grows. Trump even finding fault with Fauci.

What did Trump think would happen when his thoughts and those of the scientists were at opposite ends of the spectrum. He obviously expected dedicated professionals to lie.

Trump is learning there are some honest people in the world. Not all are cut from the same bolt of cloth as he.

Coronavirus data as of 5/14 interesting. Actually, surprising.

The data shows trends are significantly rising in the U.S. if the numbers for 3 cities are pulled. New York, New Orleans, and Detroit.

Not a good sign. Indicates things getting worse, not better.

A 6.4 earthquake hit Nevada during the night. Several large aftershocks followed. The quake line near the California border.

Someday again California may experience another of its drastic earthquakes. I recall my good friend Bob Marks being involved in one. So strong, it took down a major bridge in San Francisco. Bob could not get home for 3 days because the bridge was gone.

Some Key West happenings.

Publix cut back on open hours because of the virus. Publix announced that as of tomorrow, it is returning to normal shopping hours. The stores will be open from 7 am to 9 pm.

The virus opened many eyes in Key West as to the pollution the cruise ships were causing. Key West waters have become clear since the cruise lines were shut down.

The cruise ships will return. Many do not want them. I for one do not.

Key West is at the bottom of the list re payments from the cruise lines being permitted to dock here. The cheaper cruise lines bring passengers to Key West. Not the affluent who spend money. Passengers in recent years spend a day walking around and having a drink or 2 at a bar. They skip back to the ship for lunch. Do not spend money on food or anything of value.

And of course the ships themselves pollute our waters and reef big time.

They are not worth it.

The Key West Committee For Safer Cleaner Ships has been formed by some locals. They have opened an office on Caroline street.

They are anti-cruise ships.

The issue is being put to referendum in August. The actual wording not yet formulated. It will either be to limit the number or eliminate cruise ship visits in their entirety.

John Simonton was the first American to own the Island of Key West as it was then known. Simonton died this day in 1854 in Washington, D.C.

The news is the Cow Key Channel Bridge reconstruction is on schedule. I have not seen it. I live one island off Key West. The bridge the only way in and out of Key West. I crossed it twice daily.

Since I am in my 65th day of self-quarantine, I have not seen any of the reconstruction work being done.

I wish they were ahead of schedule. With the virus impacting us, there was substantially less traffic and the contractor should be ahead of schedule. The virus would have turned out to be a benefit in disguise. Unfortunately, the State of Florida does not think that way.

The stone crab business has been taking a beating the past several years. The State now wants to add to the stone crab fishermen’s plight.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has issued a draft to be voted on in July. It proposes to close the stone crab season by 5 months. It also proposes to reduce the minimum size of stone crabs that can be caught.

The 5 months I cannot understand. The reduction in size I can. Only 1/8th of an inch.

Enjoy your day!

Our country is in “woe” shape. Everyone going in opposite directions.

Trump his way. Fails to listen to his own selected medical professionals just as has has done with our intelligence people. The elitists/rich financing and encouraging the “people” to raise hell about returning to work and eliminating restrictions. The nuts of our society playing soldier. Dressing in military fatigues. Carrying guns.

And more.

Wisconsin has a very serious problem. Governor Tony Evers issued a stay at home order. Republican legislators took it to court. Wisconsin’s highest court declared it illegal yesterday.

It was celebration time in Wisconsin last night! The bars were packed. No face masks, no distancing. All over the State. Chaos has been used to describe the partying.

Governor Evers said, “We’re the Wild West!” The Governor sees “more death” on the way.

AXIOS had an interesting article this morning: The Pandemic Broke America. I disagree. Trump broke and continues to break America.

It is in the way he has been handling the coronavirus crisis. Instead of bringing out the best in American people, he is bringing out the worst.

Michigan Governor Witmer is a stand up lady. Gutsy. Knows what her job is and tries to do it every day. In spite of the opposition.

Her latest problem involves her stay at home order. Pits her against a 77 year old barber.

Karl Manker practices his trade in Owosso, Michigan. He refused to close his barber shop. He considers what is happening because of the virus “all nonsense.” Says, “I only want to work”

A group of civilians who enjoy playing soldier have come to his aid. The Military Men. Dressed in fatigues and carrying guns.

They have been standing for days in front of Manker’s barber shop defying authorities to remove the man or try to close him down. They promise to defend Manker from “being hauled away in handcuffs.”

The State suspended Manker’s barber license. He continues to cut hair.

The Michigan Attorney General issued an order closing down the business. The order has not been able to be served because of the Militia.

The matter was in court before the Military Militia were on the scene. Still in court. The judge seems to be dispensing “local justice.” He will do nothing till the State shows ‘irreparable damage” if Manker is permitted to remain open.

Then there are those counties in Pennsylvania where businesses prohibited from doing so will open, stay at home orders out the window, etc. They care not what Governor West says or anyone else.

Trump is heading for Pennsylvania today to show his support for the rebellious counties. He is promoting confrontation by so doing. Not proper for a President to do in these circumstances.

Trump considers himself above the law. He is numero uno. He can do anything he wants. He believes he has the power of a King rather than a President.

The Supreme Court heard argument this past week re Trump’s tax returns. Some think the Court’s decision can establish without question that a President is no different from an ordinary citizen in the eyes of the law.

Christina Farsis in a recent article in Vanity Fair wrote the Court has the opportunity before November’s election “to reassert the notion that Trump is no different in the eyes of the law than any other person.”

I wrote yesterday concerning the protest by some Key West persons about opening U.S. 1 and letting people work.

Today’s Citizens’ Voice carried a reader’s comments re the protest. The reader observed that the protesters were not practicing social distancing nor were they wearing face masks. The reader raised the question as to what will tourists do if they are permitted to return at this time.

The reader posed another observation: “Greed has become very ugly in Key West.”

One time Key West resident Thelma Strabel wrote Reap the Wild Wind. On this day in 1940, she obtained a building permit to construct a home in Key West.

I wrote at length about Strabel, Reap the Wild Wind and Key West in in a 2013 blog. I summarize some of the details today.

Reap the Wild Wind was a novel about Key West wreckers. A successful novel. Strabel’s building permit allowed the construction of a new $12,000 home at 400 South Street.

A movie was made 2 years later in 1942. Starred John Wayne and Paulette Goddard. I did not like the movie. Wayne played a bad guy. The only movie in which he ever played a bad guy. The bad guy image did not set well with me.

Strabel’s novel was serialized in the Saturday Evening Post. Strabel built her Key West home with the monies she received from the serialization.

The house became known as the Southernmost Home in the U.S. The address 400 South street attracted many visitors. The view. It was the last house on South Street. There was a claim that Cuba could be seen from the house. False, of course. No one knew it till they went and took a look.

Strabel sold the house at some point in time. The purchaser tore it down to build a larger home.

I have no idea where 400 South Street was at the time and what, if anything, stands there today.

Medical marijuana is legal in most States today. In a few, even for social smoking purposes.

Not in 2001.

On this date in 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court in an 8-0 decision ruled there was no exception in federal law for people to use pot for medical purposes.

Time heals most things.

Doctors, nurses and other healthcare personnel stood tall and are still standing tall in this time of the coronavirus.

A problem gas arisen, however. Caring for virus patients not as financially rewarding for those involved in medicine. Not high paying care. And when paid, generally medicaid/medicare. Low paying and long times between rendering of the service and payment.

This year alone 1.4 million healthcare jobs have been lost nationally.

I don’t have to tell you. Grocery costs are shooting up because of the epidemic.

U.S. grocery cost the highest in 46 years. Leading the price rises, meat, eggs, cereal, and milk. April experienced a rise of 2.6 percent.

As with Onward Christian Soldiers, the price of groceries will continue to rise.

Last week, 3 million more unemployment claims were filed. In the last 2 months, a total of 36 million.

One of America’s greatest entertainers died this day in 1998. Frank Sinatra.

Michael Flynn’s case is going to become even more interesting. Trump and his cohorts are picking on the wrong Judge He will not put up with their games.

Judge Sullivan will go down in history for his actions regarding what is to come. He is cut from the same cloth as Watergate’s Judge Sirica.

Enjoy your day!

Protests to reopen America, remove restrictions, etc., have finally reached our tiny community. Key West had its first protest yesterday.

It was well organized. Probably elitist backed as in other communities.

The thrust of the protest was to remove the blockades on U.S. 1 at the entrance to the Keys. The blockade has has been successful. The numbers of confirmed cases and deaths speak for themselves.

We did good!

The question now is whether it is time to remove the blockades and let business flow south to Key West. A tourist town cannot be one without tourists.

I believe it is still too early. If those promoting removing the blockades and reopening Key West are wrong, deaths will occur. Mothers, fathers, children, grandparents, friends, etc.

Money is important. The economy itself also. However nothing is more precious than life itself.

The protesters had handouts. Titled: “Let Key West Get Back To work, Let’s Not Commit Economic Suicide.”

The inference is physical suicide is ok. I cannot agree.

Signs were carried. Some of the messages: Open U.S. 1, Honk For Free America, Giving Me Liberty Does Not Give You Death, Let People Work, Open The Hotels, and Remove The Road Block.

From a street in Key West to the floor of Congress. The issue as to whether to open the economy was fought. Dr. Fauci and other leading public health persons testified.

The speakers from their respective homes. Most in shut down because of exposure to some one infected with coronavirus. Many of the Senators at home also. No guests. A sense of vacancy permeated the hearing room.

Fauci was up front. The man does not screw around. He calls them as he sees them. His words struck home: “Needless suffering and death” if the country reopens too soon.

Senator Paul Rand played Republican smart ass. He was insulting. The issue was whether schools should be reopened in September. Fauci did not know. Would have to see how things were as September approached.

Rand was not happy with the response. He confronted Fauci: “Your not the end all.”

Again as we all know, Fauci calls them as he sees them. Fauci came back with: I think we better be careful that we’re not cavalier “when children’s lives are at stake.”

Love the “cavalier!”

Rand’s questioning reflected his thinking. If a few deaths were necessary to bring the economy back, so be it.

Don’t understand. Nothing is more important than life itself.

Here is what I see happening. I could be wrong. It is one man’s opinion.

Forty five of the 50 States are in some part for easing restrictions.

Three problems involved.

The first is the curve has not crushed. It has flattened. In some States, still increasing.

Secondly, once the curve has crushed, if there is no vaccine, it means test and trace. We know vaccine not a reality for at least 1-1 1/2 years, if not longer.

Test and trace requires thousands of tracers. They would have to be hired and trained. Experienced tracers very few.

Third, Covid-19 takes 2 weeks from infection to show symptoms. Two weeks more before those infected begin dying. During the asymptomatic period carriers are contagious. Which means the carrier and those being infected do not know it is happening.

Appreciate 2 weeks to a month suddenly makes things difficult to handle. The virus moves fast. Never forget that March 1 there were less than 100 deaths in the U.S. Today some 2 1/2 months later, 82,000.

The scenario sought by protesters is to remove many restrictions now. They justify the removal on the fact the numbers are declining in most areas.

The number of new cases will start increasing in 2-6 months. This will be the second wave. It will be  greater than the first since the virus is coming off a larger base.

The second wave will be one where people will start dropping like flies. It will make the first wave look like kids’ stuff.

Another issue of concern. The Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court handles cases today the same as it did 100 or more years ago. Everything moves slow. Justice is denied several years as the process moves through the required phases.

In the meantime, justice delayed is justice denied.

Society has changed. We live in a meteoric society. Everything moves fast. So must justice. The system has to be changed to bring it to current times.

Arguments should be televised or carried on the internet. Open the doors and windows!

Court rules for time to do this and that must be radically cut back. Yes, the good Justices would have to work harder and perhaps a bit longer. The reality however is the mere hiring by each Justice of 2 more clerks would solve the load problem.

Many similarities between the 1918-19 flu epidemic and the present day coronavirus one. Face masks were worn. Most wore them without complaint. A few refused. Many poked holes in their face masks in order to smoke.

The flu epidemic was a big one. The coronavirus one nowhere close. Fifty million died world wide. Six hundred seventy five thousand in the U.S. alone.

The bodies of the dead piled up in both instances. It was a struggle to bury the dead.

Admiral Brett Gioir is Trump’s “Testing Czar.” Yesterday the Admiral announced that the U.S. could do 40-50 million tests per day by September.

I’ll believe it when I see it.

It was revealed over the weekend that Florida’s Governor De Santis had been “fudging” the coronavirus death records. In effect, he was “trying to hide information…..trying to paint a rosy picture.”

The information was provided by Barbara Petersen, President Emeritus of the First Amendment Foundation.

De Santis is a loyal Trump follower. Probably the most loyal Governor in the U.S. I have often described him as Trump’s lap dog.

Recall Trump was coming in with lower than real numbers at the beginning. De Santis was following his lead. Both apparently believe the lower the number, the better they are doing.

Last week, Obama referred to Trump as being “an absolute chaotic.” Senate Majority Leader McConnell retorted Obama should keep “his mouth shut.”

McConnell has become power crazy over the years. Politics may be politics. However not right to trash a former President who history will recognize as one of the best ever. Obama worked for the people. Trump works for himself and the rich.

The possible hurricane. I reported on it yesterday. A low pressure area coming towards the southeast Florida coast. About 200 miles east of the Bahamas at the time.

If it reached hurricane strength, would be called Arthur.

Ain’t going to be no Arthur. It was reported this morning that the developing storm had turned north and would end up heading out to sea.

Thank God. Too early for a hurricane. Always too early for one.

A man of history. Our children’s children’s children will read about him.

Winston Churchill.

On this day in 1940, Churchill as the newly elected Prime Minister addressed Parliament for the first time. Great Britain was the lone democracy left battling Hitler. The U.S. not yet in the war.

Tough times for Britain.

Churchill said in his address, “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.” He promised his country and the world that the British people would “never surrender.”

They didn’t.

Enjoy your day!