BEAR IN TOWN

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There is a bear in town. By name only.

Donna and Terri’s family now 3. A dog. Named Bear. A golden retriever. Eight weeks old.

A baby!

Met Bear last night. Enjoyed dinner at Donna and Terri’s with Bear.

Bear arrived the night before. Flew in from Detroit. Spent 11 hours in a cage.  A 3 hour stop over involved.

Cried all night. Can’t blame him. Stripped from his mother and 8 brothers and sisters. A new environment.

Talked with Donna this morning. He cried again all night. Terri does the night shift.

The game plan is to have Bear trained as a guide dog. Terri is blind in one eye and the other is going. The eye problem has nothing to do with the cancer. Terri is in remission and beaming.

The new Key West Amphitheater presently featuring a four day musical festival. Appears a success. Many tourists in town for the concert. When not at the Amphitheater, they are filling the downtown bars known for good music.

Apparent reason for the early morning shooting at Banana Bay Resort coming to light. Drugs. Police found 4 adults, 3 children and the drugs in one room. Lots of drugs. Marijuana, crack and powder cocaine, MDMS, and drug paraphernalia. All wrapped for sale. In a car outside, oxycodone pills.

Frequent Key West visitor Don Teich spends most of his year working in Asia. He and Chris Maxam are to be married in several weeks here in Key West at the Hyatt.

I mentioned Hemingway recently. For some reason, Don was in Spain. Pamplona to be exact. Where the bulls run. He sent me a photo of him running on the street where the bulls run. At night. Don running, no bulls behind him.

Courageous!

Pebble Beach Golf Tournament this weekend. Watched a bit.

What a course! I played it and its sister courses several times. Pebble Beach the most difficult course I ever played. The pros have their work cut out for them this weekend.

What does a husband do if his wife cheats? Leave, shoot the wife, shoot the lover, whatever?

Marital infidelity appears to have been dealt with in a different fashion in 1829 in Key West. A Mexican Naval officer named Charles Hawkins fought a duel with William Allison McRes, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Four shots fired. One man shot in the wrist, the other in the thigh.

Satisfaction obtained.

Why the duel? Hawkins saw McRes leaving his wife’s bedroom via the window.

Anna wrote to tell me one of the African negros involved in the voodoo killing was apprehended in the Milan railway station. Brought back memories.

About 10 years ago, Anna and I were in the Milan station. I fell down the stairs. Did a number on my arm. An open cut and bleeding.

Anna panicked and rushed me to a drug store in the plaza. She was going to take care of me. Needed bandages, etc.

The bandages, etc. were behind the counter. Anna is yelling for help. The girl was slow. Anna went behind the counter, grabbed what she needed, and wrapped me up.

As I think back, it may have been the first of my falls.

A new mosquito killer is being tested in Miami. The concern dengue fever and ZIKA. The company MosquitoMate.

Male mosquitoes are sterilized in a lab. They are then incapable of impregnating females. The males do not bite, have healthy sex drives, and will mate with females whose eggs then won’t hatch.

Six thousand were dropped on Brewer Park in South Miami thursday. It is expected that over a six month period, a total of six million will be released.

What is good for the goose is good for the gander. And vice versa.

California Assemblywoman Christina Garcia has been active in the local and national #Me Too Movement.

A male staffer said that in 2014 following an Assembly softball game, Christina approached him, squeezed his buttocks, and tried to touch his crotch. He told two friends immediately afterwards.

Both the Assemblywoman and male staffer agree she was drunk. She has no recollection.

The matter is under investigation.

Ian Welsh is an English blogger I recently began reading. His most recent blog concerned gender pay equality. Women should be paid as much as men for doing the same job.

He reported how the British Broadcasting Company was handling the situation. The BBC is the largest public broadcaster in the world. Twenty thousand nine hundred fifty full-time employees. An additional 35, 402 part-time, flexible and fixed contract staff.

Rather than increase women’s salaries, the salaries of men are being decreased. As much as 30 percent. All in an effort to tackle the gender pay crisis.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

 

 

35 VICTORIOUS YEARS

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No, not sick yesterday. Had some morning business matters that required attention. Thank you for your concern.

Little guys can beat the big eyes. Small nations can defeat or take the best of larger nations. One example being the colonists in 1776 who eventually beat the mighty Great Britain. Another the Vietnamese who eventually forced us out of Vietnam.

Key West’s population a steady 25,000 over the years. The United States 330 million. Yet every year for 35 consecutive years, the tiny Conch Republic has defeated the forces of the United States.

Last night was the Great Sea Battle. As anticipated, the Conch Republic won. A tiny pirate ship and other small boats beating vessels of the U.S. Coast Guard. The Conch Air Force consisting of pre-World War II bi-planes defeating  U.S. Navy jets from Boca Chica.

An exciting evening!

I watched from the Ocean Key House Pier. Cheered the Conch Republic on. Got wet from the spray.

Did the Chart Room before and after. Crowded. John bartending.

KONK E-Blast ran an interesting article and video this morning. A Deputy Sheriff on duty observed a meteor. He followed it with his dashcam. Through the sky till it is exploded. The explosion visible, also.

Two of Key West’s premier entertainers are teaming up to do a wednesday night event beginning this wednesday. Bobby Nesbitt will sing and play the piano. Skipper Kripitz, the drums. Both together at the Little Room Jazz Club.

Bocce thursday night a disaster. My team lost all three games. If the trend continues, I am going to come off the inactive list.

The team is having a difficult season. Hard to understand. For at least 5 years, the team one of the top ones. Good! All of a sudden, cannot do anything right. Inexplicable.

The State has reported no ZIKA disease found in mosquito samples this year.

Trump stated friday his first hundred days were “just about the most successful in our country’s history.”

Trump set the standard for what his accomplishments would be. Other than a Supreme Court Justice, he failed from my perspective. It has to appear that way to his supporters, also. Unless they are so blind they cannot see. Better stated, do not wish to see.

I expect a deluge of comments tomorrow morning disagreeing with me.

Where o’ where is the USS Carl Vinson?

We are concerned with North Korea. The Vinson part of a “carrier armada” Trump told us was on its way to North Korean waters. The carrier was first diverted to war  games in the Indian Ocean. Games have been long over. Vinson does not yet appear to have reached the North Korea area.

Information in the Indian Ocean days was that the Vinson could make the 3,000 miles to North Korea in four days by traveling at full speed. Thirty five mph.

On April 28, 1945, the dead bodies of Mussolini and his mistress were hung upside down from a grid at a gasoline service station site in Milan.

On my first visit to Novara several years ago, I visited Milan often. A half hour train ride away. Anna is very familiar with Milan. She attended college there and then worked in Milan for several years.

The gas station where Mussolini was hung was one of the places we visited. All I could think was deserved retribution.

More robot/artificial intelligence information.

A Chinese technologist Kai-Fu Lee claims that within ten years  artificial intelligence will replace humans in 50 percent of all jobs.

We should/must pay more intelligence to robots and artificial intelligence.

A couple of Key West/Hollywood connections.

Gloria Swanson spent several of her younger school years living in Key West. Her father was stationed here with the U.S. Army.

On a yacht trip in 1939, Swanson returned to Key West with several friends. Spent a few days learning about Key West anew.

Big star Jennifer Jones and equally big director David O. Selznick guested at La Concha in April 1946. They were not married at the time. What is common place now was not back then. Non-marrieds sharing a hotel room frowned upon.

Selznick was married to another. My recollection, Jones was divorced.

We end on a happy note. One involving a sad despicable place. On this day in 1945, the Dachau concentration camp in Germany was liberated by U.S. troops.

Enjoy your day!

 

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON?

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Trump sounds the drums of war. Bombs Syria and Afghanistan. Threatens North Korea with…..Everything is on the table!

Trump, Secretary of Defense Mathis and Press Secretary Spicer announce a carrier fleet is on its way to North Korea waters. Video is shown on TV of the USS Hornet and other ships steaming for North Korea.

A mistake big time! The Hornet fleet was 3,000 miles away and traveling in the opposite direction. On its way to the Indian Ocean for scheduled joint exercises with Australia.

Who the hell is running the shop? Who knows what is going on? If not the President and Secretary of Defense, who?

Who will be scared next when the cry to arms, to arms, the Yankees are coming, is heard?

Suppose North Korea had bombed Seoul in anticipation of the Hornet carrier fleet arriving?

Spent yesterday afternoon fine tuning last night’s podcast show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. One of my better shows. Initial four segments devoted to China.

An early dinner at Roostica.

Harlem Suarez, the Key West beach bomber, was sentenced yesterday in Federal Court. Life in prison. Suarez had planned to bury a backpack nail bomb at Smathers Beach.

A proper result. Many people would have been on the beach at the time the bomb blew. Possibly even Lisa and the grandkids.

Ozitec out. MosquitoMate in.

Yesterday killing ZIKA and dengue carrying mosquitoes began. On Stock Island.

Process referred to as Wolbachia mosquitoes. The male is infected with a bacterium that will screw up their semen. When the male mates with the female mosquito, the resulting eggs do not hatch.

It is claimed this process has been utilized for years, is safe, and works.

We shall see.

Big day in American history! The American Revolution began this day in 1775. The first shots at Lexington.

I reported yesterday re the Doolittle raid on April 18, 1942. Eighty American warriors bombed Tokyo and other Japanese cities. Their 16 bombers took off from a carrier 650 miles from the Japanese coast.

Of the 80 who participated in the raid, only one remains alive. Former Lt. Richard E. Cole. He is 101 years old. Cole was Doolittle’s co-pilot.

No question China is our number 1 competitor in every regard today.

China is significantly more populous than the U.S. As with all other countries.

Fourteen percent of the world’s population speak Mandarin Chinese. Only 5.5 percent speak English.

The John Calhoun College name change at Yale University eats at me. The student body forced it on central administration. African-Americans and their supporters at Yale and elsewhere want anyone connected with slavery to no longer be honored/revered.

Four Presidents were slave owners. A reflection of wealth in their times. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Andrew Jackson.

Punish one, punish all. One example, Washington. Takes his name off Washington DC, picture off the dollar bill, and rename the Washington Bridge in New York City. As to Jefferson, take down the magnificent statue honoring him in Washington.

As to Jackson, remove all things honoring him. Jackson is Trump’s hero. I would love to see Jackson’s reaction.

Enjoy your day!

WHERE IS IT GOING?

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Where is it going?

I refer to the Congressional Hearing which began yesterday. The Obama tapped Trump’s phone issue put to rest. The other not. The Russia/Election/Trump team involvement issue.

I watched with great interest. The last time I saw such somber faces at a Congressional hearing were the Nixon impeachment proceedings. The Republicans were relatively quiet. Shocked perhaps. Their man a deer in the headlights of a car.

Where will it end? How will it end?

Walked Duval yesterday morning. First time in quite a time. Not much foot traffic. I was walking around 10. Always interesting to see Duval waking up.

Last night, Dueling Bartenders at Aqua. With Donna and Terri. As soon as we walked in, Tom Luna handed Terri a mike.

It was Tom, Rick and Terri singing. Nothing better.

On the way home, my stomach began growling. Needed to eat. My choices Submarine, McDonald’s, or Outback. Decided on Outback. I was hungry. Desired a full meal.

Tonight the Grand Finale of Aqua Idol. Lynda Frechette’s brain child. Her baby. Without her, Aqua Idol would never have been a success.

The grand winner selected tonight. Down to four finalists. Aqua will be packed. Show begins at 6. Suggest you arrive at 5 to get a seat.

I have not seen Aqua Idol in a couple of years. My podcast show tuesday evenings at 9. I am fine tuning the show at 6 when Idol begins.

Join me tonight for an interesting show. Topics will include the Trump fiascos, the Congressional hearing, Russia, etc.  www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Other topics, female genital mutilation, white people sub-human, China harvesting body organs, and more.

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979. President Carter told them to get out. If not, the U.S. would boycott the Olympic games to he held in Moscow in 1980.

The Soviet Union did not get out. The U.S. boycotted the games.

The 1984 Olympics were held in Los Angeles. The Soviet Union boycotted the Los Angeles games.

Remember Oxitec? Oxitec is on the march again.

This morning’s Key West Citizen reported Oxitec and Houston are talking. The talks include Harris County.

Oxitec has not yet tested its product anywhere in the U.S. Looks like Houston will the place. The local mosquito control board is working closely with Oxitec.

Houston has no documented ZIKA cases where the ZIKA was locally acquired.

Enjoy your day!

A GOOD MAN GONE

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Stephen Edward Attis has passed on. Known to all as Steve. A good man. None better.

I got to know Steve here in Key west. We had somewhat of a similar background. Both born in 1935. We used to joke that I was older than him. By 2 1/2 months.

Manhattan College frequently came into our conversations. I graduated from Manhattan College. Steve attended Manhattan for a time. He used to tell me he attended several colleges before finally graduating.

Steve born and raised in the Bronx. Manhattan College is located in the Bronx. I also lived for a time at 682 E. 141 St. in the Bronx. We talked how things were then and now in the Bronx.

A bocce player. As the years added on and he had some difficulty with his legs, Larry Smith used to help him stepping on and off the court, picking up the ball for him. In spite of his problems, he shot well.

Steve’s wife, Midge. The two married 61 years. The best of wives. Always with him, always watching out for him.

Steve and Midge regulars at Don’s Place. Loved by everyone.

A New Orleans style funeral procession planned. What else for Steve? Saturday at 12:15. Begins at the Dean Lopez Funeral Home. Onward to St. Mary Star of the Sea for his funeral service.

Never been in a New Orleans type funeral procession. I will saturday.

Spent yesterday afternoon perfecting material for last night’s podcast. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou.

As much as I disliked it, Trump took up the whole half hour. We talk about nothing else anymore.

The show went well. I am anti-Trump so it was easy.

Trump’s Supreme Court nominee is Neil Gorsuch. Appears extremely intelligent. Extremely conservative, also. I do not approve of him.

Not important what I think. His problem is getting Senate approval. The Dems are lining up against him. Properly so.

Stephen Bannon has become the ring leader in the White House. Trump relies on him. A bad move.

Bannon is a Rasputin. He will not fuck Trump as Rasputin did the Czarina. However, he will screw  the United States. Bannon seeks the destruction of government as we know it.

I have never played dominoes. I have never seen anyone playing dominoes in Key West. Nevertheless, there is a Domino Tournament this saturday at the Southernmost Hotel. The first of many to follow. Sponsored by the Sunset Key West Rotary. Named after and honors the well liked Maury Madruga who recently died.

Remember ZIKA. Hit Florida about this time last year. We were told to beware. ZIKA coming in epidemic proportions.

Where is it today?

Instant fear as with Ebola. Everyone gets excited and jumps to do something immediately. Haste rarely required.

A Sons and Daughters of Italy fundraiser 5-8 friday at Bottle Cap. Italian food, deserts, music, silent auction, etc.

Called Buonasera Venezia. Translated, Good Evening Venice.

Our home grown terrorist Harlem Suarez was convicted on terrorism charges yesterday in Federal Court. Took the jury one hour to convict. Suarez planned on burying a nail filled back pack bomb on Smathers Beach and then detonating it with a cell phone.

He is yet to be sentenced. I suspect a significant sentence. Suarez is going to be an old man when he gets out of jail.

A quote in the World Almanac section of this morning’s Key West Citizen worthy of note. Langston Hughes in Dreams wrote: “Hold fast to dreams / For if dreams die / Life is a broken-winged bird / That cannot fly.”

I enjoy doing Go Live with Key West Lou on Facebook. Every day, several times a day. For a few minutes. I can be seen as well as heard. If you have not, take a look. You might enjoy. Go to Facebook and enter Key West Lou. Voila! Me!

A big evening ahead. Dinner with Liz.

Enjoy your day!

ST. PAUL’S CHRISTMAS SHOW

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Liz invited me to join her at St. Paul’s Christmas Show. Liz a St. Paul parishioner.

We stopped first at the lobby bar in La Concha. across the street from St. Paul’s. A hidden treasure. I have known and utilized the bar’s services several times. Not often enough, however. La Concha is not located in the areas of Duval I frequent.

A classy modern lobby and bar. Great happy hour food.

A few drinks later, we headed over to St. Paul’s. Liz did not drink. The night before she had a diabetic reaction. She had not eaten  all day. Compounding the situation, she was not carrying a chocolate bar in her purse.

All is well that ends well. Liz was up to going out last night.

The show itself was its usual success. First class! Top shelf!

A contrast to Larry’s show the previous evening. Larry’s Christmas tunes were ones with which we are all familiar. St. Paul’s a mixture. Some oldies I never heard of. Nevertheless, enjoyable.

Former Hot Tin Roof manager Joseph Lyles is Senior warden at St. Paul’s. Another way of describing chairman of the board. Joseph was helpful in arranging for special seating.

It was back to the La Concha lobby bar for a night cap following the show. Then home.

Did some Xmas shopping yesterday. I hate shopping. Of any kind. A burden. Without a wife, it now falls on me to do the shopping.

Still more to do today. Do not get the impression I am buying a lot. I am not. It is just that the selection in Key West is limited. Understandable when you realize Sears and K-Mart are our two largest shopping facilities.

Next year, I will use the computer. Internet sales.

Big night tonight! Hope I get it all in. First, Aqua for Dueling Bartenders. Then across the street to hear Alex play. Followed by Bourbon Street and Bria.

The Custom House is having an unusual event tomorrow night. A first. Might be described as unique. The Key West Art & Historical Society is sponsoring a holiday concert. Outside on the Custom House’s sweeping historic porch/promenade. In addition to the concert, there will be what has been described as an extraordinary light show. No charge for the evening’s events.

ZIKA. Come January, it will be one year since we were warned of the dangers of ZIKA. Almost a year later, the problem still dangerous. Though less so. Sufficiently less that the World Health Organization in November advised ZIKA was no longer a global health emergency.

Still a problem, however. A DNA vaccine is presently being tested. Vast movement made thus far in the development of a vaccine.

ZIKA and Ebola are two medical crisis of the past few years. Or, so we have been advised. Everyone went crazy. From the U.N. to the U.S. Congress to whoever. In the end, Ebola petered out as a major crisis. It appears ZIKA is taking the same path.

Benjamin Franklin was 26 years old in 1732 when he published the first edition of Poor Richard’s Almanac.

Poor Richard’s Almanac was published continuously for 25 years. Its popularity never diminishing. Ten thousand copies a year. A sizable number for those times.

Enjoy your day!

 

I HEARD FROM CRETE

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This blog has moved into its 11th year. I have made many friends via the blog over the years. World wide. A few I have been fortunate to meet. Others, not. However the level of communication has been sufficient that I feel I know them personally. Like we get together for a drink together now and then.

One “close friend” is Crete’s Jim Brown. Crete is one of the Greek isles.

Jim is a transplant from Great Britain to Crete. A resident of Crete for many years. Married with family. Earns a living by entertaining. A band. His band.

We occasionally chat via Facebook re politics.

I wrote Jim last week concerning Obama’s poor reception while visiting Greece. Seven thousand protested against him, the American flag burned, etc. The media suggested the Communists responsible.

I did not understand. The Communist Party in Greece is negligible. The powerful out of office party is the Nazi Party. Know as the New Dawn.

I wrote Jim re my concerns. He responded.

He does not believe the protests were anti-American. The Greek people are pissed. They like to vent. Need to vent. They are generally upset with the powers to be internationally. They do not believe the rest of the world gave them support in their “war” against Merkel and the Euro Union.

He said I should not be concerned about the American flag being burned. The protesters burned a Greek flag also.

Brown believes Tsipras sold them down the river, that austerity is crippling the Greek people.

The suicide rate has tripled. He writes these are “sad times my friend.”

He mentioned the Nazi Party hates all foreigners. He did not believe they were involved in the protests.

An absence in his e-mail was he never mentioned the Communist Party or Communism or a Communist part in the protests.

Does his silence re the Communist aspect say anything?

Worked with Sloan yesterday afternoon. Soon, I will be streaming on You Tube. In addition to everything else I am doing.

Bocce playoffs later in the day. Fun. Don’s Place got beat by monday’s #4 team.

Florida State beat Syracuse 45-14. Only one game left. Pitt. Then the season will be behind us.

Dinner tonight with Liz and her house guest. Another law school dean. Should be an interesting evening.

Typical Key West result. The new City Hall was to be dedicated tomorrow. The ribbon cutting. Announced in this morning’s Key West Citizen that there will be no ribbon cutting. The building not ready yet.

The Mosquito Control Board announced that it will be going ahead with genetically modified mosquito testing. Not in Key Haven, however. Key Haven residents voted it down in the recent election. The Board is looking for another key to run the test.

Weather has changed. We are going into winter. Cool this past week. No air conditioning required evenings. Sleep with the windows open. Rarely need air by day.

The temperature level is good. High 70s by day and low 70s by night.

Key West Rotary minutes 1935 reflect the influence of the federal government in resurrecting Key West from the depression, the 1935 Labor Day hurricane, and the demise of Flagler’s railroad. The three had kicked Key West in its ass.

A board meeting was held on December 16, 1935 at Strunk.s new home on Flagler. Federal support was discussed. Favorably.

Responsible was the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

La Semana Alegre was scheduled for the week of February 2, 1936. Also known as the Week of Joy Festival.

Ninety thirty five found the WPA successful in many ways in assisting a Key West recovery.

One the performance of Pirates of Penzance scheduled during La Semana Alegre.

A side note. Snowbird Diana Millikan is writing what she hopes will be a novel regarding WPA’s showing of the Pirates of Penzance in Key West. Her research deep. Her writing skills excellent.

Some background concerning the WPA and Key West. One of FDR’s programs to get America on its feet again.

As a result of the hurricane, demise of the railroad and the depression, Key West had become one of America’s poorest cities. Eleven thousand residents were receiving some form of federal assistance.

The WPA saw the possibility of a metamorphosis. To turn Key West into a tourist mecca. The purpose to make Key West a destination for people with money to spend.

WPA viewed Key West as a cultural destination. Artists, writers, etc. The WPA spent money beautifying Key West’s streets, homes and landscapes. A one year make over basically.

A no screwing around plan. Get in and get it done. Which the WPA did.

By the end of 1935, thousands had visited Key West for the first time. Ordinary people looking for an out of ordinary vacation spot.

The Key West Rotary planned to take advantage of the new Key West by scheduling a several city Rotary meeting for Key West during the February Week of Joy.

The thought occurs how differently things were in the 1930s when contrasted with today. Roosevelt’s government moved its ass to get things done. Key west an example. Nothing gets done that quickly today.

Enjoy your Sunday!

BRING YOUR KAYAK

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I was on my way to the Chart Room last night at 9:30. The intersection of Duval and Greene Streets was flooded.

It is that time.

The reasons for the flooding: Higher than normal tides, steady winds out of the northeast, and sunday’s full moon. The Key West Citizen reports this morning that the flooding could last a week. Which means it will get worse. The tides will remain high. It is expected the tides will reach as much as 3 feet above normal.

Flagler was also flooded in its usual places.

When these floodings occur, it is not uncommon to see people kayaking on Duval at Greene. Occasionally, some swimming.

I spent the day home. Tired. Concerned about my heart. Was at my heart doctor’s office at 6:30. Last patient of the day. I was being filled in.

I did not leave Dr. McIvor till 9:15. Not complaining. I was pleased he saw me. Tests being scheduled to determine why the tiredness and occasional gulping for air.

I was showered, shaved, etc. Instead of going directly home, I opted for the Chart Room. One drink and good conversation my aim.

Not to be. The chart Room was packed with tourists. I knew no one. Did not stay. Drove directly home.

Today, one of Key West’s more memorable occasions. Stone crab season opens. Good eating the next several months.

The drums rolled thursday night. Lynda and Bob Frechette returned. Great people! Can’t wait to see them.

Judy Wood. There is still a sadness within me. A Memorial Service has been scheduled for October 20 at Tavern ‘n Town.

Three Trump observations. Each speaks for itself.

Trump claims the allegations against him of sexual misconduct are the result of an international media conspiracy.

It is reported Trump hotel bookings are down 58 percent this year from 2015’s comparable period.

There is a neo-Nazi organization in the U.S. Not uncommon. Most countries have one today. The group considers itself white supremacist as well as neo-Nazi.

The neo-Nazi’s have a website.The Daily Stormer. The group’s news and commentary website. The group likes Trump. A recent comment stated: “Heil Donald Trump – The Ultimate Savior.”

ZIKA. Onward goes the battle to eradicate the mosquitoes causing the problem. We are still fighting the testing of the genetically modified mosquito here in Key Haven.

The State of Florida has gotten involved in the eradication of ZIKA. Not with genetically modified mosquitoes nor Ozitec, however. Sterile ones. The male mosquitoes will be inoculated and made sterile. Inoculated with the bacterium wolbachia pipientis.

Tests have been ordered. In conjunction and with the approval of local mosquito boards. Monroe County’s Mosquito Control Board has agreed to participate. Tests will be conducted in Key Largo and Stock island beginning March 2017.

The people can’t win.

Syracuse/Virginia Tech at 3:45 this afternoon. Virginia Tech a 17 point favorite. The game can be viewed on ESPNU.

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!