MATTHEW FICKLE…..SO FAR

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Matthew is number one attention wise. Yesterday and will continue through today. Those who live in Key West have experienced weaker hurricanes. Never a 4 or 5 in recent years. The worst of the worst! Fear accompanies those numbers.

It was a typical Key West day yesterday. Sun shining. Unusually hot. The heat index had to be 110.

I visited with Tammy for a manicure. Then lunch at Harpoon Harry’s. People quiet. All thinking…..We lucked out!

It is now predicted Matthew may loop back. Can happen. Earlier this year, a hurricane passed south of the Keys into the gulf of Mexico. Was going to hit Louisiana. Halfway there, it turned around and hit north Florida instead.

You do not know. Not even the professionals. In the final analysis, hurricanes are fickle. They go where they want when they want.

Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach lucked out. Rain and wind. The wind not of hurricane velocity. Matthew may still bring devastation with it as it travels up the Atlantic coast.

I must be honest. Matthew concerned me. A 4 or 5 is bad without question. My best experience so far is a 2. However, I drove through Homestead after Andrew hit. Andrew was a 5.  I was there three weeks after Andrew.

My eyes had never seen such devastation. Not one building left standing. A nuclear bomb could not have done worse property damage wise.

The picture has never left my mind. I definitely would leave if told a 4 or 5 was going to hit us. Better safe than sorry.

Charity is on the minds of those fortunate not to have been hit. Communities in the Keys have already joined together to send aid to the Bahamas. Nine vessels of the Bahamian Defense Force sheltered in Key West harbors the past few days. Bottled water and diapers have been collected from Keys’ citizens. It will be delivered to the Bahamas with the Defense Force. A beginning.

It has been suggested that Key West may experience some flooding. Street flooding. Nothing significant.

Apparently, Matthew’s wind is pushing water southward. As Matthew travels northward. Interesting.

Such will cause street flooding at high tide.

Enjoy your day! Stay safe! Especially those still in Matthew’s path.

ARROGANT PARKING RATE PLAN

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Key West is a small island. One and one half by four miles. It has been buried with too much construction, too many hotels, restaurants, bars, vehicular traffic, and tourists. I am surprised the island has not yet sunk. Key west is a new Atlantis in the making.

The Key West City commission is money crazy. Always the need for more money. Only to be not spent or spent to do totally illogical things. Last night, the Commission voted to increase parking rates by $1. Parking is already too expensive. Street parking $2 per hour, Mallory Square $4 per hour, the Bight $2.50 per hour.

The Commission says don’t worry, tourists will be paying it. They forget there are people like me. I do not live in Key West proper. I am 2.5 miles outside Key West in Key Haven. However, I drive into town twice a day. Costs me $8-10 a day to park. Now to go up by a dollar an hour.

In addition to which I spend a ton of money in Key West.

Key West workers have been told not to worry. They can park at one of the two municipal garages and be bused wherever.

The Commission is also going to require the Parking Department to chalk mark ties to better control time/overtime. Brilliant! Most if not all cities were doing it 60 years ago. None today. They depend on more sophisticated means to ascertain time violators.

The Commission does not realize this is the 21st century.  Get with it, guys!

Hurricane Matthew. Wow! By the grace of God, Key West will miss it. However, the mainland is in for a beating. This is one of the worst hurricanes ever. A high 4 with the probability of becoming a 5. Destruction galore!

Tomorrow morning at this time, Matthew will be over Palm Beach.

Good sized water vessels have already come into Key West for shelter from the storm. More expected. They are primarily dropping anchor in the Outer Mole and the Coast Guard sector.

Don’s Place first last night. Good conversation with Don, Stan and Clare. Clare promoted! She is now the Manager of Dion’s at White and Truman. A big place, a big job.

Then to Back Door and Mark Watson.

David stopped by. He educated me. The sky had a golden hue. He said it was called the Golden Light and appeared when a hurricane was on the way.

Met Jan and Kim.

Jan is a snowbird. RV lover. A retired Marine master sergeant. Drove to Key West from northern Georgia. I enjoyed her company. A knowledgeable person re world events. Especially Russia and the Middle East.

Kim arrived in Key West a few hours before appearing at Back Door. From Los Angeles and Portland. Came a long way to spend some time in Key West. She is here for several months, perhaps forever. A biologist by education and a journeyman electrician by experience. She appeared to enjoy the electrical work better.

October is the tenth anniversary of Girls’ Night Out. From 16 the first night to 2,000 ten years later. Good job, Mary Lou Hoover!

Greater love hath no man…..A tale of morbid obsession. The story of Carl Tanzer aka Count von Cosel. Tanzer is the whacky hospital employee whose love died. He dug her body up two years after burial. Took her to his home. Kept her in his bed seven years before being discovered.

Tanzer was arrested on this day in 1940.

Syracuse/Wake Forest saturday. Wake Forest a 2.5 point favorite. I suspect Wake Forest will beat Syracuse by a much higher number. This not the year for our football team! We continue to wait. Patiently.

One of the giants of the 20th century was Anwar Sadat. Egyptian President, Nobel Peace Prize winner, peacemaker with Israel.

Sadat was assassinated this date in 1981. He was in a stand reviewing troops. Islamic extremists did not like him. Two reasons. First, his peace efforts with Israel. Second, that he permitted the deposed Shah of Iran to remain in Egypt to await death from cancer. He refused to return him to Iran to be tried for war crimes.

A vehicle with armed troops drove up in front of the stand Sadat was standing on. Their guns blazed, grenades exploded. Sadat took four bullets and died.

The event was filmed/recorded. I can still see Sadat standing tall and glaring into their eyes. He never budged, never attempted to duck nor avoid the assassins.

Enjoy your day!

 

A NEW CONCH REPUBLIC IN THE MAKING?

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The Conch Republic was born in 1982. On a day when the U.S. Border Patrol blockaded U.S. 1 just outside the Keys and before Florida City. Vehicles searched. Drugs the problem. The government wanted to stop drug trafficking from Key West and the lower keys into the Florida mainland.

Another blockade of sorts has been established recently. Near Key Largo. Mile marker 106. A check point.

Drugs not involved. Screwworms the problem. Been fifty years since last a problem. They have returned. Screwworms are deadly parasitic fly larvae. Prey on all type animals.

Screwworms are dangerous. Animals infected are euthanized. Whole animal kingdoms could be wiped out other wise. Forty Big Pine little deer have already been euthanized.

The purpose of the check point is to inspect all animals. Federal and State officials involved. It is expected the check point will remain till year’s end.

Does the activity call for another Conch Republic?

Staying with the Keys and non-human invasion, the birds have arrived. Hawks, eagles and falcons. A yearly event. They are migrating south. In the Key West area every September and October. Hundreds a day. Swooping around.

Yesterday afternoon was spent fine tuning last night’s blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou.

The show went on at 9. Probably had zero listeners. The same time as the Vice Presidential debate began. Fortunately, the show is archived.

An interesting observation involving the New York Times’ recent story re Trump’s $916 million loss carryover on his taxes.

The pot calling the kettle black.

In 2014, the Times had a $29.9 million before tax profit. The Times never paid a penny. Received a $3.5 million refund instead.

More than one person/group/company has good tax lawyers.

Hurricane Matthew is going to miss Key West and the Florida keys. Thank God! Matthew is now a 3. The mountains of Cuba broke it up. However, Matthew has now turned north and it is expected will increase back to a 4 soon.

Some part of mid to northern Florida could be hit. Definitely damage to some parts of the Atlantic coast all the away up to New York.

Key West has already been designated a safe harbor. Vessels already moving in. Some from as far north as Jacksonville. Others from the Caribbean to the south.

Vessels include those of the U.S. Coast Guard and 9 Royal Bahamian Defense Force Ships. Cruise ships will come at their discretion.

Power/electricity is expensive. I consistently wonder why solar panels are not more in use. My Greek isle travels revealed everyone using solar panels. From the smallest house to larger buildings. An average size home was powered by a 4′ x 3′ rooftop panel.

Harry Truman loved Key West and Key West loves Harry Truman. An undying love.

On this day in 1947, Truman made the first ever televised Presidential address from the White House.

Another on this day item. The year 1953. The New York Yankees won their fifth consecutive World Series. My team. Everyone’s team from upstate New York. Baseball big at the time. Bigger than pro football and basketball. Baseball was the All American sport.

New York Yankee players on the team included Mickey Mantle, Hank Bauer, Yogi Berra, Billy Martin, Phil Rizzuto, and Whitey Ford.

Washington Post columnist George Will titled a recent article: Donald Trump’s Rise Reflects America’s Recent Decay.

Mull that around.

Enjoy your day!

KILL THE GOOSE THAT LAYS THE GOLDEN EGGS

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Kill the Goose That Lays the Golden Egg is the modern rendition of To Kill the Goose That Laid Golden Eggs. An Aesop fable. Interpreted to mean unprofitable action motivated by greed.

Applicable to the Key West City Commission. They’re doing it again!

Residents, snowbirds and tourists can be defecated upon only so much. Then the bird dies. In this instance by fewer making Key West their home or place to visit.

This morning’s Key West Citizen reports the City Commission is proposing a parking rate hike. An additional $1 per hour. I can’t tell you with certainty what the rate is now. Only because it is different depending where you park. I suspect the Bight’s large lot is the most expensive.

The extra dollar will be distributed 40 percent to affordable housing, 37 percent to the gas tax fund to study implementation of alternative transportation methods, and 33 percent to the City’s general fund.

As to affordable housing, much has already been spent with little result. Studies and limited construction.

Alternative transportation methods? Key West hired several months ago a director of such. He has already garnered a grant to help with his work. I cannot believe big dollars are required to solve the traffic problem. Sit a bunch of residents down and they will immediately tell you what has to be done without pissing a ton of money away.

The 27 percent to the City’s general fund is a gimmick to receive more dollars that can be easily spent at the discretion of the Commission. Tax dollars do not seem to be enough.

To the Commission I say:  Keep it up fellows. You are going to keep people away. Destroy the economy of Key West. Perhaps, not a bad idea. Lets go back to the 1970’s when things were slower, quieter, cheaper, and there was no traffic problem.

Hotels, restaurants and bars are equally guilty. How much can they charge? Apparently the sky is the limit.

Great Ryder Cup finish yesterday. Watched it from home.

Dinner last night at Roostica. The Sunday special. Spaghetti in a pork meat sauce with meatballs and sausage. Just like my grandmother made! Love it!

My grandmother did her cooking on a large kerosene stove. The way it was done back then. I can still see her standing and cooking at the kerosene stove. The late 1930s through the 1940s. I was a young kid back then.

Diana Millikan wrote she had lunch at Roostica yesterday. Her first time there.

Diana is a snowbird. Recently returned. She is all over the island. Into everything. She went to the Casa Marina for the sole purpose of viewing the lobby’s wood beamed ceiling. She is at the library constantly digging up further William Hackley information. She is the one who came up with the Hackley maid being a rented slave.

Hurricane Matthew to be watched. Still a #4. Eventually will reach Cuba. Then supposed to turn north avoiding the keys and most of Florida. After that, who knows?

I worry. Cannot help it. I repeat, hurricanes are fickle. They change course without warning. Note also that Matthew went from a #1 to a #5 in one day.

Hackley complaning today his piles will not stay up and are very sore. I sympathize with him.

Big baseball anniversary today. On this date in 1951, Bobby Thomson hit the “shot heard ’round the world.” Last game of National League Playoff. Bottom of the 9th. Brooklyn Dodgers winning 4-2 when Thomson came to bat. Two on. Thomson hit a 3 run home run, giving the New York Giants the win 5-4.

I was in high school at the time. Working part time in a super market. Stocking canned goods on a shelf. The radio playing throughout the store. Everyone went crazy when Thomson hit the home run.

How far we have come. The game was the first major sporting event televised coast to coast.

To Victor at the Chart Room: I am supposed to meet someone at the Chart Room tonight at 6. Never met him before. He is a blog reader. I cannot find his e-mail to tell him I can’t make it. My heart doctor has rescheduled me to 5 this afternoon. Please tell him the new time is 6 thursday. Ask him to send me an e-mail confirming.

Thank you.

Enjoy your day!

 

JUDY WOOD…..HEART ATTACK

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One of Key West’s nicest persons is Judy Wood. Always a smile and a cheery hello. Judy is one of the bartenders at Tavern ‘n Town.

Last week, Judy had a heart attack. In Winn-Dixie. She is presently in intensive care at the Lower Keys Medical Center.

A prayer is in order.

A tough lady, lets hope she makes it.

Last night was Tavern ‘n Town for me. Bobby Nesbitt time.

The three ladies at the corner of the bar closest to Bobby Nesbitt. Lizabeth, Mary and Josefina. They  must show up at 3 in the afternoon to get the seats. A brief hello and peck on Liz’s cheek.

I sat at the other end of the bar.

Liz came over later to chat. A lovely lady. A knock out. In a black dress. Sexy. A compliment to her 82 years.

Lori and her husband arrived for dinner. Lori has been doing my hair at least 15 years. I had a full head when we started. Always sweet. Takes care of Lisa and the grandkids, also.

Met Jamis. She was sitting one seat away at the bar. An empty seat between us. Stayed empty the entire two hours we were together.

Not sure if I liked her.

Her background not a problem. She presently lives in Apollo Beach, near Tampa. A retired high  school teacher. In Key West for a second time. Other in 1993. Considers herself a Key West virgin. Three children. One with the Federal Reserve. Another an Army major. The third in cyber security.

She turned me off early on when she indicated a dislike for Joe Paterno. Thought he deserved what he got. I have always believed he got screwed.

She got into the conversation at some point that she was a Trumpee. She described herself as such. She sees no danger in a Trump victory.

She said she was waiting for her son. He was upstairs. They were staying at the Beachside. She telephoned him several times. No answer. Must be sleeping, she said. Had a menu. Never ordered. She was waiting for her son. I am not sure if she had more than one drink.

The empty seat bothered me. They are at a premium. If one asked if the seat was taken, she said her son was coming.

The son never appeared nor could she make contact with him.

I question whether a son was ever to appear. I think she wanted an empty seat next to her so she would not be crowded.

Twice I opted to stop talking with her. I found her aggravating. The first time I turned away and went back to reading the newspapers. The second time occurred when I was taking some info for my blog. I forget what she said. Closed my notebook, turned away and said she would not be in the blog. I was not being humorous. She had struck a sensitive cord for whatever.

Her tuned  changed immediately. She obviously wanted to be in the blog. And so she is. Getting more space than entitled. Yet so deserving as she pissed me off. Not easy to do.

Notre Dame walloped Syracuse 50-33. Notre Dame a top team. I was impressed. Everything about the team great. Syracuse had flashes of brilliance. Not enough yet. Not there yet. This season turning out to be a tune up for next year.

Sloan’s picture was in Facebook. With her twin sister. Did not know she had a twin. I was astounded. Could not tell them apart.

Hurricane Matthew not nice. Reached a category 5 yesterday for a brief time. Now back to a category 4. Still heading for Jamaica. Next Haiti. Then Cuba.

A 4 or 5 will do massive destruction. A 5 a total wipeout. Nothing left standing. Key West included. I hope Matthew turns back to sea before hitting the keys.

Immigrants a problem of sorts even in the 1855 days of William Hackley. A local election. Hackley did not vote. The “foreign element is too strong.” Key West had a population of 2,000. Only 200 hundred white. The rest he described as not native born Americans.

The campaign is turning into a sex-along. What about jobs, the economy, Syria, etc.? Even immigration has been forgotten.

Trump’s fault. He apparently relishes in sexual discourse.

On an early morning TV news show today, a video of Trump was shown. Re something he said yesterday. He spoke of Bill Clinton’s misdeeds. Then suggested Hillary had her problems. Suggesting he might have to get into them.

The man is disgusting.

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

My bocce team is doing well without me. Tied for first. 11-1.

This week’s Keynoter has an excellent article on lice. The little bugs that end up in children’s hair. Especially during school times. I remember the problem with my kids. Most recently with Robert and Ally a few years ago. Ally especially. Lisa was patient and spent hours combing and picking the bugs out.

There is now in South Florida a chain for lice treatment and removal. Appears successful.

I was impressed that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has lice under study all the time. We are now into super lice. The super lice are resistant to usual medical/chemical treatment.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

SLOAN IN DUBLIN

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Sloan arrived in Dublin. Followed by a night’s sleep, she is now enjoying her first day of sightseeing.

Sea gulls. Many sea gulls where she stayed. Noisy. Sea gulls in Key West, also. Sloan commented she never hears them here.

Dinner last night alone at the bar at Hogfish. Continues to be less than full. It’s September.

Finished Orange Is The New Black yesterday. Enjoyed the book. Different from what I had anticipated. Women’s federal jails not replete with lesbian lovemaking and brutal fights. Rather a place of endless time waiting to complete a sentence. Little help or concern by guards or other security officers.

I read the book six years after its publication. It is also a TV series into its third or fourth year. I have not seen any of the TV shows.

The author did wrong and spent 13 months in jail paying what society viewed as her debt. Had to be awful. The one rewarding factor is the success of the book and TV series. The thirteen months brought her a life time of economic security. A fortunate result.

Hurricane Matthew now a 4. Wow! Deadly! Approaching Jamaica.

My day ahead a perfect one! Syracuse/Notre Dame football at noon. Notre Dame a 9.5 point favorite. Tonight, dinner at Tavern ‘n Town and Bobby Nesbitt. Lizabeth, also. She will be with two lady friends. Lizabeth has been a Bobby Nesbitt follower and friend for years.

Poor William Hackley. He is into his third day of hemorrhoids. He refers to them as piles. So bad today that he could not walk.

I appreciate his pain. Mine were horrible some 40 years ago. Finally required surgery. Wish I had had the surgery months earlier.

Yesterday was the first day of the Ryder Cup. I was not aware. Do not know how I missed it. They are playing in Minnesota.

The US up 5-3 as a result of yesterday’s playing. Not so good. They were ahead 4-0 at the end of the morning rounds. Europe came back big time in the afternoon.

I will be watching parts of the Ryder Cup while watching the Syracuse game.

I was fortunate to see a Ryder Cup 20 plus years ago. In Rochester. All four days. Stayed at a hotel filled with NBC guests. A friend worked for NBC. Used the Oldsmobile tent. A client was an Oldsmobikle dealer.

NBC picked up my hotel tab. I was bundled in with all their guests. NBC also provided bus service to the golf course.

The only way to go! A sponsor hotel and tent.

Disney World opened in 1971. Cost $3.50. Today, one day for 10 year olds and up $105.00.

Today, a big day in baseball history. On this day in 1961, Roger Maris hit his 61st home run. Breaking Babe Ruth’s record which had existed for years.

A required observation. Maris did it, and Ruth before him, without the benefit of steroids or drugs.

Enjoy your day!

 

RALPH NADER UNKNOWN TO COLLEGE STUDENTS

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Florida played a major role in the 2000 Bush/Gore Presidential race. Actually, THE major role.

The election came down to Florida. The ballots were counted. They were referred to as chats. A joke!

It was not the chats that decided the election. It was Ralph Nader. He ran as a third party candidate. Took a significant number of votes from Gore. Had Nader not run, Gore would have won Florida and the election.

I remember Nader and the race. Many who will vote this year do not. Especially those voting for the first time. College students. Most 2-4 years old at the time of the 2000 election.

A guest on one of the talk shows this morning commented re the situation. He had visited some college campuses. Next to no one knew who Ralph Nader was and the impact he had on the 2000 race. His inquiry was part of a discussion attempting to show a vote for third party candidate Johnson could result in a Trump victory.

Let me stay with the Presidential election for a moment. Trump is threatening to get into Bill Clinton’s infidelities. What bullshit! Who cares! Yesterday’s news!

Trump has to have a long list of sexual conquests. The man probably has a sex record few have achieved. He believes he is safe from exposure. As I understand it, there are clauses written into marital and sexual settlements prohibiting women from revealing anything Trump might have done of a sexual/negative nature. If any of the ladies does, she loses the money being paid or already paid. If paid, the money has to be paid back. Silence for pay.

A few will come out from under the floor boards.

Busy middle day. Lori for a haircut. She is getting ready to move to new quarters on White Street. Visited Jay at his new restaurant to be on Southard next to Bank of America. Place still under renovation. Looks good. Jay the chef looked more like Jake the carpenter. Quick stops at Walgreens and Publix.

Howard Livingston is having a party saturday from noon to 6. At the Looe Key Tiki Bar. A social fundraiser for the Kevin Piper Memorial Fund. It’s Howard and his Friends Club.

Another hurricane. Matthew. Presently a 2. Expected to become a 3 this afternoon.

Not expected to hit Key West or the Keys. Might hit Miami, though considered remote. Expected to turn out to the ocean.

Hurricanes are fickle. Matthew has already evidenced his fickleness. Last night, Matthew was to turn northward. Instead, Matthew turned southward into the Caribbean.

Hurricanes are not dependable.

New York Times columnist Gail Collins has a sharp humorous way of writing. A recent column concerned White House pets. She concluded by getting into Trump. Her closing words: “If he wins the election, we would have the first President in history to refuse to pardon the Thanksgiving turkey.”

The Munich Agreement was signed this date in 1938. Hitler took advantage of the allies he was dealing with. They agreed to give a portion of Czechoslovakia to Germany if Hitler promised no war.

Chamberlain returned to London uttering the famous words…..”Peace in our time.” Chamberlain told the world Hitler was a gentleman. Less than two years later, Germany invaded Poland.

Contrast Chamberlain’s words re Hitler with those being presently spoken by Trump re Putin.

Enjoy your day!

A WONDERFUL DAY

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It is almost impossible not to have a good day in Key West. Short of being hung up in a hospital bed with two broken arms and two broken legs, every day is wonderful.

My yesterday was wonderful. In some instances, special.

The day started with lunch at Lizabeth’s home. In her shaded garden. A French salad. The name escapes me. Outstanding! Salmon, anchovies, eggs, black olives, potatoes, etc.

Accompanied by wine.

Good company, good food, good wine. What more can one ask for?

I enjoy Liz and our conversations.

One problem. I am not a wine drinker. Even a good wine. I went home a bit tipsy. Straight to bed. Slept three hours.

Must mention the wine. Bellini. Lizabeth and her husband used to drink it in Venice at Harry’s Bar. Owner, the famous Giuseppe Cypriani. Inventor of the the now world famous Bellini wine.

Another Key West resident frequented Harry’s Bar. Ernest Hemingway. His primary watering hole when in Venice.

I was refreshed after the nap. Decided to go to the Back Door and Mark Watson. Intended to meet Donna and Terri. Did. And many more.

There were a ton of women. Unusual for Back Door. Turned out it was a meeting of a group from Girls’ I Know.

If it’s Girls’ I Know, it’s Mary Lou Hoover time. The founder of the organization years ago. An organization that has grown to thousands and extends beyond Key West’s borders today.

Mary Lou has her hands in many things. One several years ago. Mary Lou was Fantasy Fest Queen 2007.

Mary Lou has had a concern for suicide victims and those thinking of committing suicide. Last year, she started Out of the Darkness. A group committed to suicide awareness and prevention.

A walk is planned. An Out of the Darkness Walk. Takes place Sunday November 6. Registration begins at noon. Speakers and entertainment scheduled.

This is no small time event. It has the backing of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The Walk already has several national big dollar sponsors.

Mary Lou and Charlie Waite are husband and wife. I envy them. One of Key West’s happiest couples. In love with each other!

I had enough to drink. Should have gone home after Back door. Did not. Instead joined Donna and Terri at Salty Angler. First time there for me. The ladies were going to play Trivia. Me play trivia?

I did.

Mary joined us. That completed our team. I knew next to nothing. Mary and Donna knew quite a bit.

I left before the exercise was over. I do not know where we stood in the rankings or if we won. We did come up with two special oral answers. For which we were rewarded with free shots each time.

Then home to bed. Slept well. A given after the wonderful day I had.

Enjoy your day!

BEES NUKED / BEE-POCOLYPSE

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What a beautiful morning! Key West at its best. Sun shining, sky blue. Water and wind quiet. The calm before the storm? It has been raining heavy most of the month.

There is a world wide war against mosquitoes. Especially, ZIKA causing ones. Even in the Florida Keys. Mosquitoes like you would not believe!

Until recently, I would have said we in the lower Keys have no problem. A terrific Mosquito Control Board. Now, problems.

ZIKA has driven everyone crazy. News of the ZIKA problem hit us in January. Everyone rushed to do something.

A decision was made by the local Board to test genetically modified bees. Basically untested. The test would be done on the small key of Key Haven. My home. The locals have been up in arms. whether such testing can take place is pending on the November ballot to see if we want it.

In the meantime, there have been a total of four ZIKA cases reported in the Keys. The Keys about 140 miles long running north from Key West to the mainland. The four cases not caused by Keys’ mosquitoes. All were contacted out of the area. Means in another country.

The rush to protect has not only affected the Florida Keys. People are going crazy everywhere. Reminds me of Ebola, which turned out to be a bust.

South Carolina was in a hurry to do something re the ZIKA problem.

Naled is an old time pesticide. Thought to be dangerous to humans. Rarely used. South Carolina did not care. On the last sunday of August for two hours, South Carolina had planes spray naled. In the Dorchester area.

South Carolina is also home to beekeepers. Beekeeping a business in South Carolina. Where sprayed, bees were killed instantly. Millions of them. One beekeeper had 46 hives. He lost 2.5 million bees instantaneously.

It is a month later and no one knows what effect, if any, the spraying had on the mosquitoes.

The bees nuked. Apocalypse for the bees.

Did my podcast last night. A half hour of interesting topics. Bees, included.

Before the show, stopped at Roostica’s for dinner.

Ted Williams spent many years in the Keys. He had a home in Islamorada for twenty plus years. Williams was an avid fisherman.

The story goes that Williams sold his Islamorada home when he had to wait to cross US 1. Too many people.

On this day in 1941, Williams was playing the last day of the season. He was close to batting .400. Had to have a good day to get there. Played a doubleheader. Went 6 for 8. Ended up batting .402 for the season. The last time a player has hit .400.

I am a history buff. Majored in history in college. William the Conqueror part of my education in grammar school, high school, and college. The year 1066. On this date in 1066, William, aka Duke of Normandy, invaded England. Historically noteworthy.

I am looking forward to lunch today. Liz invited me for lunch. She is preparing a special French dish for me.

Enjoy your day!

 

THE DEBATE

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Key Westers are politically conscious. They have opinions re Trump and Hillary. Key Westers do not just lie on a  beach drinking margaritas and hitting the bars at night. The election is a much discussed event every day in the Chart Room, Don’s Place, La Te Da, and everywhere else.

Last night’s debate will not change many minds. People are fixed rigidly in this election. The two sides are like Congress. Adamant. The election will be decided by the five percent undecided and/or who have decided to vote for Johnson. In the end, a number of Johnson intended votes will go over to Hillary.

Hillary bested Trump last night. I give her a B and Trump a D-. The D- a gift. Except for trade, Trump made no impact. He evidenced no understanding of government or world problems. His incompetence for the position of President was obvious. He was a mega flop.

Hillary was prepared and sounded Presidential.

Yesterday was a run around day. The bank. Then Walgreens. Followed by the Cuban Coffee Queen for lunch.

Then a 100 foot walk to what is to be Cuzza Bubbaz. A Key West flavored sandwich shop. Opening scheduled for October 10. Jay O’Neill owner and chef.

Cuzza Bubbaz is on Southard next to Bank of America. At the entrance to the Key Lime corridor.

Jay has been a bocce friend for years. He was chef at Sq. 1 and Solo American Bistro. A chef who takes pride in his product. His sandwiches will be a step above and better than others.

Met with Guy de Boer last night for a couple of drinks at Tavern ‘n Town. Even on a monday night, the bar is packed. Ran into my neighbors Ed and Nancy Swift. Also, original Square One friends. This goes back 20 plus years. Then owner Michael and his sometimes hostess Jean. Two great people.

Stay with me on this one. America is not named after Amerigo Vespucci. He never even landed in North America. His stops were in Brazil and islands offshore.

Vespucci is claimed to have made four trips. Historians doubt the first ever happened.

America is named after Richard Ameryk. Ameryk was the patron/financier for John Cabot’s trips. Cabot’s chief investor. Cabot reached Labrador in May 1497, two years before Vespucci landed in South America for the first time.

Correct historical fact tells us two things.

First, Vespucci never reached North America, nor any America before Cabot. Second, back in the 1400’s newly discovered countries and continents were named after the financier/patron of the exploration. The last name was used. Never the first. Ergo, most historians believe America was named after Richard Ameryk.

This is the second time in a month I have come across a mistaken historical fact. I was taught America was named after Amerigo Vespucci in grammar school. How do these things happen?

Tonight my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. If you have never heard the show, join me. A fast moving half hour packed with my opinions re the events discussed. Nine my time. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Topics that will be discussed include the debate of course, John Boehner cashing out, why environmental damage caused by war is never discussed, the bumble bee in trouble, and guns sell out after Charlotte shooting.

Also, Pentagon admits black U.S. soldiers were used for scientific/medical test purposes during World War II, the fear self-driving trucks will result in the layoff of many from good paying jobs, FBI Director James Coomey’s percieved involvement with the Clinton Foundation, and more.

Enjoy your day!