He does the ridiculous! He then lies to cover it up!

Our President. Donald Trump.

He writes with a Sharpie. The pen gives him that bold signature we always see when he holds up an Executive Order.

It was never contemplated that Dorian would hit Alabama. Not part of expert consideration.

A few days ago, Trump announced that Alabama was safe, would not be hit. Problem was no one ever said Dorian was going to affect Alabama in any way.

Trump must have picked up on his error. Yesterday, he was flashing an official U.S. weather map. One specifically intended to reflect Dorian’s movements.

The map was published 8/29. Yesterday, 9/4. Trump had the 8/29 map in hand. It showed in white the outer parameters of Dorian. The white parameters gave no indication of an Alabama hit.

However someone had extended the cone using a black Sharpie to show the storm would hit Alabama. Someone had screwed with an official document by so doing.

Trump showed the corrected version on the internet. As if to say, I was correct it would hit Alabama!

He took a beating all day that someone hard marked up the original. He further was questioned as to why a U.S. Weather Bureau office in Alabama had immediately said on 8/29 that the President was wrong. No way would Alabama be involved.

Our President is never wrong. Five days later he is on TV with the corrected version claiming he was correct.

Amazing, the man cannot even correctly bungle something up. White lines, the added black Sharpie lines.

When questioned, Trump said he do not know where the black line came from. Repeated his lack of knowledge 3 times in a row.

The only positive that comes out of this scenario is that we can say with confidence he knows where Alabama is. Nothing more.

Tampering with an official weather map is illegal under the U.S. Code. Punishable by a fine or 90 days in jail.

I doubt Trump will be pursued criminally. He is the President!

Some pray, some do not. Some talk to God, some do not.

The power of prayer can be strong. There are those instances when it can be misapplied.

Marianne Williamson is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President. A bit weird. I have been watching her closely during the campaign. Initially, I was impressed. Her words wholesome. Her direction uplifting.

I have come to the conclusion she is a bit of a nut.

She has taken the position that Dorian did not hit the U.S. because of “prayer.” The “power of the mind” kept Dorian away.

Apparently the people of the Bahamas did not pray sufficiently. Such is why they were hit badly.

Williamson said, “Two minutes of prayer, visualization, mediation for those in the way of the storm” prevented the storm from hitting U.S. shores as it did the Bahamas.

I pray, though infrequently. I talk to God often, however. Especially in those instances when I want to know why something adverse is happening to me.

However, I cannot accept Williamson premise that it was prayer that saved the U.S. To do so means alternatively that God wanted to punish the Bahamian people. I am confident they pray also.

Key Westers are a good hearted people. They forget not. Especially the help that came from all sources 2 years ago when Irma befell the keys.

Dorian hit the Bahamas. Key West immediately recognized its obligation to help. A group “Key West Cares” has been formed. Purpose to get aid quickly to our neighbors a mere 50 miles away. First money. Then water, food, etc. Money works quickly initially.

A second meeting was held yesterday at City Hall. The Commission Chambers packed.

Peter Batty and Mark Rossi 2 of the group’s leaders.

Amazing how persons of different strokes come together in a time of calamity.

Peter Batty is a Deacon at St. Mary By the Sea Catholic Church. Mark Rossi is the owner of the Red Garter. A gentlemen’s club/strip joint on Duval.

Batty made an interesting comment: “Between the two of us, we can cover everything from the sacred to the profane.”

Dorian dropped to a category 2 yesterday. Back up to a 3 today. Dorian will skirt the Carolina’s today. Perhaps even turn inland a bit.

Surges of up to 8 feet anticipated.

Dorian certainly throwing his weight around. And for a longer period than normal.

New York Time columnist Eugene Robinson wrote yesterday in view of Dorian, “Climate change is real. Welcome to the new normal.”

I doubt I shall ever forget Irma. It left its mark on me.

Irma hit Key West 2 years ago on September 10, 2017. For several days prior, it was coming straight at Key West. No deviation. Anticipated to be a category 5 when it hit.

Too much for me! I got out!

Left 5 days before Irma arrived. It was September 5 when I began heading north on U.S. 1.

All indications were Irma was going to hit the lower keys and then ride up the west side of Florida. So I put into Pompano for the night figuring I was safe on the east coast.

The motel evicted me the next morning. Irma had changed her mind and was going to come up the east coast.

I decided I was going to get as far away as I could. Far far away.

I decided to drive up the Florida Turnpike. It runs up the center of Florida. If Irma changed its mind again or continued to change its mind, I would be safe. Plus, I was getting out of Florida. My goal Atlantas, Georgia.

A long drive from Pompano. Got there late at night. Was lucky to get a room at the downtown Marriott. Forty seventh floor. One wall window floor to ceiling. Beautiful view!

I was safe!

Turned out not. Two days later, the Marriott threw me out. Irma was coming!

Note it had yet to hit landfall in Key West or the lower keys.

What to do? Jean Thornton! She and Joe live in Birmingham, Alabama. She said if I wanted, to give her a call and stay at their home. I did.

The trip a success! Fun! Myself and 5 other “escapees,” 2 dogs, and Jean and Joe together for 12 days. A party!

When I returned to Key West, I saw the damage wrought by Irma all the way down the keys.

Thought I was leaving late enough so the water and power would be on. They were. Went off within 48 hours for a few days.

Only part of the Irma story.

I wrote a book about my experience. Irma and Me. Very very interesting. What I have set forth thus far only a small part of that experience. Some funny, some sad.

I sat glued to the TV screen last night from 5-11. Watched the remaining 10 Democratic candidates being interviewed by CNN. The topic climate change.

Got to tell you something. Mayor Pete Buttigieg impresses me more and more.

Have to hustle. A manicure at noon.

Enjoy your day!

Dorian’s decimation of the Bahamas has made it possible for Washington windbags to be heard in full voice.

It never ceases to amaze me how Washington can speak about a calamity, assure all will be done to help, and then fall far short of accomplishing its promises.

It happened with Puerto Rico, Florida’s Panhandle, Michael, and Irma.

It is the old story. Money talks and bullshit walks.

Trump has assured in the past few days that the U.S. will help the Bahamas. So far the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency has sent $250,000 to the Bahamas. A pittance!

What is needed immediately is obvious. Water, food, shelters, chainsaws, and plastic sheeting. Does not take a genius to recognize the needs.

Can’t jump right in, however. Washington says required needs must be evaluated. I do not understand why. A category 5 hurricane tells us what is required. Everything!

The U.S. does not work that way however. It first has to assess and evaluate. While daily telling the world it will help, nothing moves. A “disaster response team” is in place. Its purpose to determine need and then react to the need.

Areas for “pre-existing assets” to be set up have been determined. Miami, Houston, Barbados, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.

When it has been decided what the Bahamian needs are, the goods will be sent to those areas first and then onto the Bahamas.

People are hurting today. They have been hurting ever since Dorian first came over the Bahamas. Now time will be spent evaluating needs. Then the necessary items sent.

In the meantime, people are without water. The most basic of needs. Food, power, etc. How long it will take to decide and provide, no one knows. If it takes one day too long, it is one day too much.

Instead of Trump and his cohorts talking a good game about helping, the U.S. should get to it like yesterday.

We are all God’s children. We should help each other in moments of calamity. We were going to do so in Puerto Rico, the Panhandle, places that Michael brought ruin to. Even Irma. Two years ago, Irma hit and people in some areas of the keys are still living in tents, without water and power.

Once again, talk is cheap. Lets see if Trump and Washington can do a faster and more efficient job helping the people of the Bahamas. Even though they are not “our people.”

I have a feeling the U.S. will be as helpful with the Bahamas as it has been with U.S. areas and territories.

Last night, Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Great show! I apologize for my modesty. It was a good one, however.

Much to discuss. Dorian, sick immigrant children Trump wants to send back, immigrant children part of a mumps epidemic in the detention camps, the banning of the crossbow in 1147 in an effort to ban war, and a China today/Japan 1941 comparison leading to World War II in 1941 and I am not sure where the U.S./China tariff war will take us.

Big political evening ahead! Tonight, CNN for 7 consecutive hours will interview the remaining 10 Democratic candidates re climate change. Starts at 5 pm.

As much as I love politics, sounds a little long.

Walmart deserves a medal! Several of them. And a slew of new customers.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon announced yesterday that Walmart will stop selling ammunition for handguns and military style weapons, completely end the sale of handguns, and discourage anyone from carrying weapons in a Walmart Store (even in open carry States).

McMillon’s position re guns takes courage. Something lacking in most major CEO’s.

Walmart is deeply in robot use. The latest group are referred to as “creepy robots.”

Robots will be used to scan shelves. During normal open hours. The robots going down aisles mingling with customers. The robots function to roam the aisles looking for items out of stock or out of place. The robots would then alert a human with the information who in turn would remedy the issue.

The use of the “creepy robots” began this summer in 350 Walmart stores.

The New York City measles epidemic has ended. Thanks goes directly to New York Mayor Bill de Blasio. A hard ass. However, he gets the job done.

The New York City outbreak was the largest in 30 years.

Measles was declared eliminated in 2000. It was if the rules had been followed. Get the measles vaccination!

Some did not. Generally on religious grounds. In 4 Brooklyn neighborhoods which made up an ultra Orthodox Jewish community.

The Mayor handled it well. Declared a public health emergency, spent $6 million, put together a staff of more than 500, mandated vaccinations.

The epidemic consisted of 654 cases. An epidemic is declared over when 2 incubation periods (42 days) go by without any new cases reported.

Trump and his wall!

Remember during the campaign. He was going to build the wall and Mexico was going to pay for it! The wall not yet built. Mexico will never pay for it.

Trump in a corner. Everywhere he goes for the money, he runs into a brick wall! Neither brick nor a wall. Sounds good, however.

During the last 2 budget periods, Trump has cried out for additional monies for the military budget. He claimed it had been ignored for years. More money needed.

He got the money. Huge dollars 2 consecutive years.

It was announced last week that Trump was taking $3.6 billion out of the military budget and moving it over to fund the border wall.

The Pentagon advises 127 military projects will be affected.

Most Presidents want to be war Presidents. I could never understand it.

Trump seems to want to be one. Together with John Bolton, wars are planned and threatened all over the world.

Four months ago, Trump sent 3,500 troops to the Colombian/Venezuelan border. They sat on the Columbian side. Trump claimed he was considering attacking Venezuela for humanitarian reasons. The people were starving under Maduro.

I don’t know where Trump had been. The Venezuelan people had been starving for 7 years under Maduro. They were starving several years before Trump even took office.

Russia did not approve of Trump sending the troops to the border in contemplation of invasion. Putin sent Russian planes and boot soldiers to Venezuela. China indicated they stood with Russia in regard to whatever might be done.

Trump blinked.

I am not sure what happened to the 3,500 U.S. troops. Russia’s planes and troops still in Venezuela.

The real reason the U.S., Russia and China are interested in Venezuela has nothing to do with people starving. It has to do with oil. Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world.

Though not certain, I suspect the U.S. troops are still in Columbia.

Venezuela complained to the United Nations recently that training camps for military plotting had been established in Columbia. Venezuela claimed the U.S. was involved. That the U.S. intended to use Columbia as a launching pad for regime change efforts and sabotage operations.

The U.N. has not made a decision as to Venezuela’s charges as yet.

Enjoy your day!

Trump misspeaks frequently. Twice this weekend. Once re Alabama, the other Poland.

Misspeaking is a faux pas. A faux pas is misspeaking.

I ran into a problem re the two attributed to Trump. How is the plural of faux pas spelled?

I continue to live and learn. At 84. Amazing.

The plural of faux pas is faux pas. Spelled the same.

Back to Trump and his 2 faux pas.

Trump was showing off his intelligence re Dorian. He said Dorian was going to hit Alabama. Never in the cards. Never considered by the experts. Never mentioned.

The National Weather Service publicly spoke out to correct Trump. The Service advised that Alabama would not see any impact from Dorian. The reason being Alabama was too far west for Dorian to reach.

The other Trump faux pas involved Poland.

Eighty years ago, Germany invaded Poland. The beginning of World War II. Poland treated poorly under Nazi domination.

Actually, Poland had 50 consecutive years of foreign domination. Soviet Russia followed Germany.

Poland scheduled a commemorative event this past weekend to acknowledge the 80th anniversary of the invasion. Not a celebration of joy. One to acknowledge Poland survived Hitler’s attack and brutality.

Trump was to attend the event. At the last minute, he decided it was better for him to remain in the U.S. and follow Dorian. He did so effectively. Trump spent the 2 days playing golf at one of his courses.

He sent Pence in his place.

Over the weekend, Trump was asked a question by a reporter about Poland and the event. His response a typical Trump faux pas: “I have a message for Poland…..I just want to congratulate Poland.”

Congratulate what? Trump was not aware the commemoration was not a celebratory one. Rather, a dark and traumatic time in Poland’s history.

Trump’s conclusion re the Polish event consistent with his position that he went to Wharton, is educated, and well versed in history.

Raining big time in Key West this morning. Can’t be Dorian.

It is anticipated Key West may have some minimal rain and winds. Too early, however. Dorian is still over the Bahamas. Following which it is turning right up the Atlantic. It may scrape the U.S. coast line. However beginning somewhere on the Florida mainland.

I have seen some 30 years of hurricanes and tropical storms in Key West. Irma the only one that left me with a somber feeling. Can’t shake it. Writing the book Irma and Me did not help alleviate the feeling of dread.

Key West and the Florida keys are fortunate that Dorian will not hit the area.

Maybe some rain and wind. Perhaps flash floods and surges. All that even too much. I doubt anything of significance.

Never made Dueling Bartenders last night. Decided to skip over to Roostica for dinner instead. Rosstica’s broiled chicken outstanding!

Tonight Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou.Lots to talk about. Especially Dorian. Little re Trump. I will be touching on events not involving Trump.

We need a break.

Join me for a quick moving half hour. Guaranteed you will enjoy. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

So many things happening.

Dorian. Top of the list! Yesterday knocked the hell out of the Bahamas. A category 5. Winds 185 mph. Total devastation.

Sometime today, Dorian will either hit the U.S. or rake its coast line. Wind gusts of 220 mph. Surges 18-25 feet. As much as 25 inches of rain.

If it makes U.S. landfall, it will be anywhere from Miami north. Could be Georgia or South Carolina.

Dorian truly fickle. No one precisely sure its direction….. at any moment!

Two other category 5’s come to mind. The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane and Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

The 1935 hurricane hit mid keys. Two hundred miles per hour. Five hundred died. Bodies were washing up for months.

Key West appears secure. Rain is expected however. Heavy. Showers and thunderstorms.

Most recent Texas shootings that occurred a few days ago. Odessa involved. Seven died. Twenty plus injured.

One of the injured a 17 month old baby girl. Why????? She is to be operated on this morning.

Fifty three people were killed in the U.S. in August as a result of mass shootings.

Come September when Congress returns, gun legislation should be at the top of the agenda. Easy small stuff probably will. Significant will not. Thank Congressional people who continue to suck up to the NRA and gun manufacturers. For political support and huge campaign dollars.

The people deserve better. I know it. You know it. Washington does not.

Pope Francis announced yesterday he is appointing 13 new Cardinals. None from the U.S. Not really a problem. The U.S. already has something like 27 or 34.

Mark Anthony and Cleopatra. Lovers of old. Brought ruin to Egypt. Each died by suicide.

It was on this day in 31 B.C. that the Battle of Actium took place. A sea battle.  Off the western coast of Greece. The Roman leader Octavius defeated the forces of Mark Anthony and Cleopatra.

The defeated lovers fled to Egypt where they ultimately committed suicide one year later.

Key West acquired a new hero on this day in 2013. Diana Nyad. She was the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. A 110 mile swim. Took her 53 hours.

She came ashore at Smathers Beach in Key West.

She took to Key West and Key West to her. An immediate love affair.  Diana a frequent visitor. Loved by all.

George H. W. Bush was a Navy pilot in the Pacific during World War II. Flew 54 missions. A torpedo plane pilot.

He was shot down twice. The first time in June 1943. He was rescued by a U.S. destroyer.

The second time he was shot down was on this day in 1944. Spent 4 hours in a small raft before being rescued by a U.S. submarine.

Fortunate he survived both shot downs and the War. Otherwise, he never would have been President nor would he have had a son who would become President.

I live and learn. The older I get, the more I realize how little I know.

The French Revolution 1789-1799.

It was September 1792. The month became known as the month of September Massacres.

The guillotine did a big business. That you and I knew. What I recently learned however is that the revolutionaries were not fond of Catholics. Three busops, 200 plus priests and a number of Catholics believed to be royalists sympathizers. Their lives ended via the guillotine.

A message here. Catholic clergy should stay out of politics.

The U.S. Conference of Bishops is a far right organization. It does not necessarily represent the views of U.S. Catholics. However, the organization purports to speak for them.

Some day U.S. Catholics as a whole may suffer as a result of the Conference’s positions.

Hopefully, Dueling Bartenders tonight.

I have decided to grow a beard. I am 10 days into it. Looks terrible! Sloppy! Ten more days and it wil bel fine. Like the Smith Brothers. How many remember the Smith Brothers?

Enjoy your day!

BEFORE I BEGIN…..PROBLEM CORRECTED. GO DADDY HAD UPDATED ME TO A DIFFERENT SERVER. THAT IS WHERE THINGS GOT SCREWED UP. FAILED TO ADVISE ME TO CLEAN BROWSING HISTORY AND THEN TYPE IN keywestlou.com. I HAVE DONE IT. PROBLEM ELIMINATED. YOU MUST DO THE SAME.

Several years ago, I wrote a KONK Life column concerning Napoleon and why he sold the Louisiana territory to the U.s. so cheap. Mosquitoes!

Napoleon’s original intent was to use the Louisiana Territory for French expansion purposes in North America. He arranged for a part of his army to go to Louisiana and begin the conquest.

First however he had them stop in Haiti. The French were under the command of Napoleon’s brother in law.

Haitian natives had been in rebellion. He told his brother in law to first put down the Haitian revolutionaries and then to move on to Louisiana.

One problem. The French were not familiar with the mosquito problem in Haiti and its ravishes. Napoleon’s first set of troops basically eliminated. Died from malaria and/or yellow fever. As did his brother in law.

Napoleon sent more troops. Wiped out by the mosquitoes once more. Sent another group with the same result.

That did it! Napoleon was facing European nations that were preparing to do battle against France to depose Napoleon. His forces were being diminished. He had it with the Americas!

He sent emissaries to Thomas Jefferson. Their instructions were to sell the Louisiana territory to the U.S. for whatever they could get. The amount immaterial. Just get him out!

They did. Therein lies the reason why Jefferson was able to make the great buy of the Louisiana territory.

Mosquitoes continue to be a problem. Even today. In the lower Florida keys for example, there is an elected Mosquito Control Board. Helicopters, trucks, etc. Spraying on a regular basis. Property examinations also.

Timothy C. Winegard recently published a book concerning mosquitoes titled The Deadliest Hunter of Humans on the Planet.

I have not read the book. I have read excerpts.

The book profiles the creature that has changed the course of war and empire, and survived every attempt to wipe it out.

A quote from the book’s introduction succinctly dramatizes the conclusion: “The mosquito has killed more people than any other cause of death in human history. Statistical extrapolation situates mosquito inflicted deaths approximately half of all humans that have ever lived. In plain numbers, the mosquito has dispatched an estimated 52 billion people from a total of 108 billion throughout our relatively brief 200,000 years of existence.”

Onward, ever onward. Shooting deaths in the United States. Not fewer. More. With frequency.

The latest yesterday. Texas again. Seven dead, 19 injured.

When will it stop?

If Trump wants to be a hero, he should change his position re the gun control issue. He should abandon the NRA and gun manufacturers. He should join the high percentage of Americans who want effective gun control.

I doubt Trump has the courage to do it nor the understanding as to why it must be done.

The time is now!

Dorian is taking his time. Moving very slowly. Building in force, however.

At 8 this morning, it was reported Dorian was a category 5 with speeds of 160 miles per hour. Landfall probably the West Palm Beach area. Not certain, however. Could still turn slightly north and avoid most of the Florida coast.

We will know for sure tomorrow night or sometime tuesday.

Dorian is not the end of the hurricane danger. It is only the middle of the hurricane season.

Two storms are developing. One in the far eastern Atlantic close to Africa. Meteorologists tell us they will know more in 5 days.

The other is coming from the opposite direction. From the west. The Gulf of Mexico. Again too early to tell if either will grow into an actual hurricane.

Syracuse and Liberty  Universities played their first game of the season last night. Syracuse won 24-0.

I was unimpressed with the score. Syracuse should have had at least 2 more touchdowns. The reason it might not was Liberty has a new coach and no film of games he has coached. Everything is important in achieving a victory of any size.

Syracuse’s other problem was at quarterback. Eric Dungey is gone. Sophomore Tommy DeVito the quarterbacking this year, He played sufficiently last year. Looked good! Not last night. He was 17 for 35.

I never got to see the game. Everything has changed!

It was carried on ESPN+. The + new. It strings the games over the internet. You watch on your computer screen, unless you buy a special hookup so you can see it on TV.

I have a terrific sports package with Comcast. The game was not available there. Comcast for once was very cooperative. The Comcast person spent a half hour with me to see if perhaps Comcast had hooked up with some other channel. No.

A pain in the ass!

I will be checking things out this week to see how it is done, cost, etc.

Numbers always interesting. Statistics generally provide an accurate picture.

Bloomberg reported this week that more people are presently leaving New York City than any other in the U.S. Two hundred seventy seven a day. Based on 2018 census data.

The U.S. city with the most dramatic immigration numbers is Phoenix. Sixty two thousand based on the same census data.

Today important in world history. World War II began this day in 1939. At 4:45 in the morning. Hitler hit the entire Polish border. Sent in 1.5 million troops, the Luftwaffe bombed Polish airfields, German warships and U-boats attacked Polish naval forces in the Baltic Sea.

A major invasion! Actually, overkill.

Hitler justified the invasion similarly to how Trump excuses some things he does. Hitler claimed the invasion was a decisive one. Big well equipped Germany against tiny Poland who still road horses into battle. Poland never threatened Germany. They would have been crazy to have done so.

Hitler also justified the invasion with the excuse that Germany needed “living space.” Germany was purportedly busting at the seams population wise. Especially following the Austrian plebiscite.

Racism was part of the justification. Hitler considered Germans “racially superior.” Germans would change the Polish area, native Slavs would be enslaved.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Dorian is not going to hit Key West. We may have some wind and flooding. That will be it, however.

I have been in Key West for a number of years. Experienced how Key West reacts. The reaction for Dorian not normal.

Dorian will landfall between Miami and Melbourne. Around Palm Beach. Perhaps right over Mar-a-Lago. It would be terrible if Trump suffered damage to Mar-a-Lago.

People are reacting differently. I am reacting differently. Even though we all know at this point no way will Dorian hit Key West. It is the remnants of Irma. Irma had an affect on all of us. Even those that left town.

I went out yesterday and got ready for Dorian. Bought a few necessities in the event Key West is without power, water or food. Filled the gas tank also.

Went out at 7 this morning to top the gas tank. I went to 4 stations. Yellow plastic bags on the pump handles. The 2 stations that had gas also had lines from both ends of the station like 15 deep in the street. I have 3/4 of a tank so I was not going to sit and wait.

Why could Key West be out of gas? Key West’s gas is trucked in from the mainland. At least 145 miles north. If Miami damage or insufficient gas to fill the trucks that would head to Key West, Key West will be without gas for several days.

Key West is not under mandatory evacuation. Hotels and bars will remain open.

Flooding a good possibility. King Tide time. The tide will be an extra 4 feet high with out Dorian. Heavy rains expected. Key West basically sea level. Streets flood easily. I anticipate some flooding.

Authorities have warned there will be flooding. Also tropical force winds and squalls.

Where ever Dorian hits, it will be a 4 or 5. Either bad! Disasterville! Irma was a 4 at landfall in Cudjoe Key. A mere 16 miles north of Key West. A category 1 at Key West.

Dorian is expected to hit monday night or tuesday.

This morning’s Key West Citizen had a large photo of 2 persons buying water at Winn Dixie. The shelves were 80-90 percent empty. Glad I watered up early yesterday.

There was a second photo. Of a gas station on Northern Boulevard. Cars lined up in the street. A police car sitting in the middle of the station. Tempers can flare when gassing up. I experienced them during Irma.

A good problem we seem to be experiencing in the U.S. is that people are listening to Trump less. Recall his solution for a hurricane that he expressed a couple of days ago. Drop a nuclear bomb in the middle of the hurricane and blow it up. Brilliant!

Further evidence that Key West will be ok is that the lower keys the past few days have become a safe haven and harbor. For visitors, boaters, and even the Coast Guard. There are presently in Key West harbor 12 Coast Guard boats from Miami and St. Petersburg.

Here we are facing a major hurricane. One of the biggest to hit the U.S. Recall the damage the past 2 years with Irma and Michael. Damage not yet corrected. The federal government keeps coming up short. Trump is not spending millions already allocated by Congress.

The reason…..Trump has held on to the funds. Till now.

With knowledge that Dorian is coming, Trump’s administration announced that $271 million of FEMA funds were being transferred to ICE and other accounts responsible for problems at the southern border. Including building Trump’s wall.

Hard to believe. Puerto Rico still has not received sufficient funds for Irma and Michael damage. Florida’s Panhandle and Georgia literally forgotten.

Trump fails again. Never seems to know what he is doing. If he does, he is then the worst of people.

Perhaps the worst news this past week has to do with a special program the U.S. has had for years. Trump has come up with a new way to punish migrant children.

No longer will severely ill undocumented children and their families be permitted to remain in the U.S. for medical care. The sick kids and parents have 33 days to get out of the U.S. or ICE will be knocking on their door.

Note that all of these children will die if the medical attention presently provided ceases.

One case hit me exceptionally hard yesterday. Involved a young boy who requires that 12 hours each day a tube goes into his heart to provide him medication and food. No other way to care for the child. Death the alternative. The Grim Reaper is not McConnell. It is Trump!

The treatment provided is life saving in each instance. Not available in whatever country they came from. Illnesses such as cancer, leukemia, and muscular dystrophy.

Approximately 1,000 requests are made a year by foreign families who want to bring a child to a U.S. hospital that can provide the necessary service to keep their child alive.

Another Trump winner as far as children are concerned. Mumps. Epidemic levels. Children crowded in the detention centers. Mumps easily transferable. Within 3 feet can be passed by coughing or sneezing.

So far 971 mump cases in 57 detention centers in 19 states.

Immunization the key to avoiding mumps. In detention centers, mumps is one of the common vaccinations not offered. Only available by request.

Tell me how a child in a detention center with other kids and no parents knows he should have a mumps vaccination and that he must request it.

Another Trump failure. Effective gun control. Many children killed and will be killed.

Last night in Mobile, Alabama, following a high school football game, 6-10 students were shot. Fifteen to 18 years old. No further details available as to their condition and who the responsible person might be.

A new year, a new day, a new season! Syracuse football. Opens tonight at 6 at Liberty University. Syracuse an 18 point favorite.

I will be home enjoying the game from an easy chair in the living room.

Enjoy your day!.

No question history repeats itself.

Man constantly seeks ways to end war for all time. The most recent example being atomic weapons following World War II.

Never seems to work, however. Man prefers war over peace. Must be. Look at the number of wars through the centuries. Look at the number of wars ongoing at the present time.

I found it amusing when I came across this piece of history involving the crossbow. The primary tool of war in 1146. European leaders got together. They wanted to outlaw war for all time. They banned the use of crossbows.

It is not the type of weapon that controls. It is man’s nature. For some reason, man enjoys killing. As time progresses, in the most diabolical of ways.

Dorian, Dorian, Dorian. We are in trouble!

Projected a category 4. Landfall somewhere between Miami and Melbourne. Landfall was supposed to be monday night. Then tuesday. Now, wednesday.

Big time lightening this morning while still dark. Heavy rain, also. The lightning came through the blinds into the bedroom. Seems Dorian too far away to have been the cause. Beyond my level of knowledge, however.

The rain and lightening were coming off the Atlantic. I live 1 mile from the Atlantic.

Did my thing yesterday at Publix, etc. getting ready. Publix at 9 in the morning was next to deserted. Perhaps I was the only one concerned.

No lines at the gas stations, either.

No one even talking about Dorian.

Better safe than sorry. Dorian can make a sudden southward turn and all of a sudden Key West is in trouble. The meteorologists have the southern part of the cone at Miami. One hundred fifty miles from Key West. Minimal distance when it comes to a storm like Dorian. A twist in direction, and Dorian could be here.

All of Florida is in an official state of emergency. A big area. Which means the experts are not yet sure precisely where landfall will occur. When they are, those in the path of danger will be jumping in their cars to get away. May it not be too late.

A couple of news articles indicated Dorian was heading straight for Mar-a-Lago. Maybe that is why Trump cancelled his trip to Poland. He wants to stay and protect his property.

Dorian as a category 4 is obviously a big time danger. Heavy winds, lots of rain.

Another reason comes into play with Dorian. Called a King Tide. Today or tomorrow we are into King Tide. Lasts 4 days. Occurs once or twice a year. Not because of climate change or anything like that. It just happens. A product of nature. Has been occurring for hundreds of years.

A King Tide is one with a 4 foot difference between high and low. The high the highest of the year. Not healthy. Key West sewers cannot handle it. Some will be swimming in the intersections, others rowing kayaks down Duval.

For real.

After doing the grocery preparedness, I hurried home to unload the car. Then back to White Street to get a haircut. My appointment was for noon. I was a week early. In fact, Lori did not even come into work yesterday.

I get mixed up on occasion these days.

Drove over to Hogfish last night for dinner. At the bar.

Hogfish only a third of its usual crowd. Empty seats at the bar. Off season.

The bar is a drinking and smoking place. I had forgotten. This no drinking and smoking not easy to handle. Two months already. It bothers me. I assume at some time I will acclimate.

Key West businesses will hurt this weekend. It is Labor Day weekend. The town usually crowded. Doubt it will be this year because of Dorian.

Next week, Key West will be the center of the universe for lesbians and their friends. Thousands will be visiting our island. To celebrate Womenfest.

Every bar, club and hotel will be involved. Alexander’s Guest House is official host.

The ladies will take over Key West and have a good time. Boats, sunbathing, dozing in the shade of a palm tree at a pool, playing ball, etc. Busy all day and then all night till the wee hours of the morning.

Interesting how some stories cross paths. I wrote a few days ago about Judy Garland. It was the anniversary of the 1939 debut of the Wizard of Oz.

My research indicated Judy was drugged while making the Wizard and other movies. The Hollywood custom in those days. Keep the young ones working. Mickey Rooney was like wise subjected.

An article appeared this morning announcing that a movie of Judy’s early years and her last year of life had been made. Titled Judy. Scheduled for release September 27.

Renee Zellweger plays Judy.

The movie dwells on Judy’s use of drugs. Began when she was a child star. Caused an addiction which was with her the rest of her life.

Zellweger commented, “They fed her pills! She was addicted her whole professional life.” Further, “Judy was struggling…..toward the end of her life.”

The Devil must be given his due. Unemployment rates are down. Very much so. An all time low.

Workers are needed. Iowa, New Hampshire and Florida 3 states where because of an insufficient number of employees, companies are unable to keep up with business demand. It is hampering growth. Will continue to do so until more workers are found.

To help relieve the problem, Florida companies are bringing back retirees, increasing the use of interns and apprenticeships.

Florida has a constantly aging population. Needs to refuel those employees who become to old to work, retire, etc. Florida relies on immigrants.

Problem is the devil who may be or is responsible for the low unemployment rate does recognize the need for immigrants.

Enjoy your day!

Hurricane time!

Dorian scares/bothers me even though Key West is not directly in its path. A holdover from Irma.

Key West is on the left/south edge or just outside of the cone. The cone this morning suggests Dorian is on line for Tampa. Projected to be a category 3 when it hits the Florida Atlantic coast line.

Nothing to screw around with. Must be taken seriously.

I have concern because Dorian is still a few days away. It is not expected to hit till late sunday or monday.

Hurricanes are fickle. A big body of wind. Whether small or huge, wind changes its mind easily and adjusts its direction. Those of you who sail understand.

Since Dorian is still a few days away, anything can happen. I doubt it would come as far south as Key West. Who knows, however.

Puerto Rico was not hit as bad as expected. Fortunately.

Though not anticipated to be a problem for Key West, better prepared than sorry. Which means I have to get ready. Ergo today’s blog will be short. I want to get where I have to go this morning early before the mob arrives. By later today or tomorrow morning, the shelves at Publix will be empty.

I start at the gas station. Fill up. Hope the lines will be short. Should be for Dorian. I will also top the gas tank every day up to and including sunday.

Publix. Food to be purchased might be strange from your perspective. However it is like dressing for a ball. You do as expected.

Water. Will buy lots. Also, peanut butter, jam, crackers, cookies, packaged tuna, bread, soda, desserts not requiring refrigeration, etc.

The purchases required because there will be no electrical power or water.

If sunday it appears Dorian will be visiting Key West, the bathtub will be filed with water. The water required to flush the toilets.

Need some things from Home Depot. Fortunately, I have some lights, etc which I purchased for Irma and never used. Can’t find a few of the Irma purchases however. So a battery for the cell phone and a short wave radio are on the list.

History repeats itself. It was on this day in 2005 that Katrina hit the Gulf Coast and New Orleans. In reviewing Katrina this morning, I was surprised that one article referred to Katrina and New Orleans as an “engineering disaster.” It was.

Blog still screwed up. Grand Daddy assured Sloan yesterday everything ok. Not. I am having problems getting the blogs to publish. I know some of you are still having problems.

My apologies. Nothing I can do however. Hang in there and hopefully soon all will be remedied.

If you are still having problems, write me at chairmansuls@gmail.com. Let me know specifically what the problem(s) are.

Enjoy your day!

It was August 28, 1963. The place the Lincoln Memorial. Two hundred fifty thousand people standing waiting for Martin Luther King Jr. to speak. Most African-Americans. King’s speech the culmination of March on Washington Day.

King’s words to go down in history. Etched forever in the fabric of the United States. As familiar today almost 50 years later as when first spoken.

“I have a dream…..we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children…..join hands and sing…..Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

Are America’s blacks free today? Have they achieved King’s goal?

Only to an extent. In voting booths and places of employment free at last not yet a total reality. Perhaps in another 20-30 years. At a time when the number of coloreds living in the U.S. will exceed whites.

No question hurricane season has arrived. Two imminent. Dorian and Elaine.

We have been hearing about Dorian for a week. Uncertainty as to its ultimate strength. Landfall somewhere along the Florida coast.

The picture clearer today. At the moment, Dorian is heading towards Puerto Rico. It will hit later today as a category 3. It will run over basically the same area which Michael did.

A state of emergency has been declared. Puerto Rico in trouble again.

After Puerto Rico, the cone becomes wide. Yesterday, Key West was just inside the left edge of the cone. Last night, on the edge. Today, outside the edge. Dorian is moving slightly northwest.

It is anticipated Dorian will it Florida in 1 or 2 days. Could be a 3 when it hits. The warm waters between Puerto Rico and Florida the reason.

The cone this morning had Dorian passing anywhere from Miami to Jacksonville. Such kept Dorian a good 140 miles away from Key West.

Meteorologists are not certain where between Miami and Jacksonville. It could be all or a small spot. Dorian has failed to provide sufficient data at the moment t0 make a certain determination.

Key West and the Kerys dropped out of the cone officially this afternoon. Good news! Bad news is it could drop back in! Dorian is fickle.

Puerto Rico will be clobbered tonight.

What is government/Trump going to do this time? He forgets they are our people, our family, American citizens.

Trump lies about the money Puerto Rico received because of Irma and Michael. From day 1, he has been doing this.

A twitter came out this morning. Trump claims Puerto Rico received $92 billion. Not true! No way close to actual dollars received!

Congress allocated $42 billion. Trump only let go with $14 billion. The rest (roughly $30 billion) remains unaccountable. Probably never will be found. Lost in the Pentagon ‘s monies. Many suggest Trump has used the $32 billion for border wall, detention centers, and other security measures at the border. Whatever.

Some say the $92 billion figure represents the government’s estimate as to how much money would have to be paid Puerto Rico over 20 years for recovery purposes.

I don’t know! All confusing to me. Mumbo-jumbo. Extravagant. No one can give a clear answer. Huge amounts of monies unaccountable and those in charge get away with it. Trump included.

Elaine got left behind. Has made the Atlantic northern twist. Yesterday, Elaine was expected to make landfall in New Jersey. Today, Canada.

Staying with hurricanes for the moment, it is ironic how things happen, cross paths, etc. Sunday is September 1. The beginning of September. Also the beginning of National Preparedness Month. Red Cross sponsored.

Be ready for emergencies like hurricanes.

Last night, Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Love doing the show! I was here, there and everywhere. Tried to avoid Trump talk and bring other matters to everyone’s attention. Things we no longer hear about because Trump dominates the news. More than Trump is going on in the outside world.

Jair Bolsonaro is the relatively new elected President of Brazil. He is Donald Trump reincarnated. They are birds of a feather. As Trump wishes to be like all the other bad leaders in the world, Bolsonaro wants to be like Trump. Trump is his hero!

Bolsonaro ran on a platform that he was going to get rid of the Amazon. Would you believe? And the people elected him!

He started chopping trees down immediately. Brazil was to make money selling lumber. The U.S./ China tariff war was going on big time. Bolsonaro started growing soybeans and selling them to China.

Bolsonaro had also said there were minerals under the ground and he wanted them mined.

He cared not for any environmental problems. Did not accept that 20 percent of the world’s oxygen comes from the Amazon forest.

G7 voted $22.2 million a few days ago to go to Brazil to help with the fires. Bolsonaro has refused to accept it. He says he will do what Trump tells him. So far he has been told nothing, or so seems to be the case.

Bolsonaro claims French President Macron insulted him. He claimed at G7 that Bolsonaro was not committed to the environment. Bolsonaro says as soon as Marcon apologizes to him, “we can talk.”

Another nut in a position of power.

Now for the best. What Bolsonaro and whoever is supporting him world wide really want is the gold and oil beneath the Amazon forest.

World affairs are becoming tiring. Used to be fun to follow. Now takes work to do so.

Enjoy your day!

For Key West, this is that time of the year. Hot! Heavy humidity…..like you would not believe! Close to a ghost town….. too hot for visitors!

September the worst. Every year without fail. The humidity heavier.

Things start cooling down in October. By Fantasy Fest, all is back to normal. Hot without humidity by day, cool by night.

I often think how the weather was this time of the year up north. My home town Utica, N.Y. In the heart of New York State, in the center of the State.

Without fail, the leaves start changing color by August 15. By Labor Day, a significant number of leaves had fallen. So much so that I closed my pool every year religiously the day after Labor Day. Leaves the problem. They screwed up the filter system.

Those up north are already into a bit heavier clothes. The men, for example, long pants. Perhaps a jacket. In Key West, long pants rare. If required, generally in January for 2 weeks. Gets cold enough at that time that even winter jackets are worn.

I prefer the hot. Never enjoyed the cold and snow of winter. I am happy wearing shorts and a sports shirt most of the year.

Hurricanes coming! Hurricane time of the year!

Two moving in as I write.

Dorian. Began hearing of Dorian last week. Mid week. It is presently a tropical storm. By tomorrow may be a category 1 hurricane.

The cone tells us Dorian should miss the keys. It has been edging northward every day. Close of enough for a lot of rain, however.

Later today or early tomorrow, Dorian will pass over Puerto Rico. A state of emergency has already been declared for Puerto Rico.

Elaine. Still no name. Elaine what it will be once it gets stronger as anticipated. Expected to pick up wind and rain later today. Cone reveals Elaine will be no problem for the keys. Elaine is making a dramatic right hand turn up the Atlantic. She is not expected to hit U.S. shores till she reaches New Jersey.

Saturday morning, disaster befell a Key West resident. Fifty two year old Bryhan Thompson.

He was diving the Vandenberg with a partner. Both experienced divers. Both had enjoyed the Vandenberg before.

Bryhan’s partner signaled they needed to surface. Bryhan ignored his partner’s signal. Instead, he entered a lower room in the Vandeberg.

His body was found in the wreck. One Hundred ten feet down. Twenty five feet into the vessel and away from any exit.

His body when found had no diving gear on it, except for a face mask.

A horrible ending.

The U.S./China tariff war is being felt throughout the U.S. lobster industry this year. I wrote recently how bad it was affecting Keys spiny lobsters. Obviously, the situation is far worse nationwide.

U.S. lobster exports can best be described as having “fallen off a cliff.” China is now purchasing lobsters from Canada.

The drop in the U.S. lobster industry itself is dramatic. Killing. Through June last year, 12 million lobsters were exported by the U.S. to China. This year, a mere 2.2 million. An 80 percent drop.

U.S. farmers are totally frustrated with Trump’s China tariff war. Their patience becoming short. It will not take much more for Republicans to lose the farmer vote in 2020.

Farmers are specially upset with Trump’s lies that the farmers are starting to do great again. Far from it. Brian Thalman is President of the Minnesota Farm Growers Association. He said yesterday that he could no longer support Trump as he did in 2016.

The numbers tell the story. In 2014, Minnesota exported $24 billion of farm product. Last year, $9.1 billion.

College football season is upon us. Syracuse opens saturday against Liberty at Liberty. Syracuse an 18 point favorite.

Last year Syracuse was 10-3. Its best season in many many years. An even better season anticipated this year.

I hope it is true!

Love tuesdays! My blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine this evening my time. A quick moving half hour. I rant and rave a bit. Tell it as I see things. Join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!