REPUGNANT / INSULTING

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Some things are as American as apple pie. They need not be changed and should not be changed.

Budweiser has announced it is changing its name. Temporarily.From May 23 through election day. The new name….. America.

Bud is trying to capitalize on the election. Remember, Trump is going to make America great again. Bud is capitalizing on election fever.

The renaming applies only to 12 ounce bottles and cans.

The move is not a political one. Rather an advertising idea to boost sales. Bud has been turning out millions less beers the past several years ago.

It also has to do with poor foreign judgement. Bud is a Belgian company run by a Brazilian. What does the home office know about these things!

Worked through the lunch hour yesterday. Fine tuning last night’s blog talk radio show. Left me with some free time in the afternoon. I put it to good use.

I drove up US 1 to Mangrove Mama’s. Lobster reuben time in a pleasant relaxing atmosphere.

I enjoyed doing last night’s show.

Two issues appear to have garnered the most interest.

One, the Portland School Board voting to ban school texts denying the existence of global warming.

The other America’s suicide rate. It is the highest it has been in 30 years. Suicides up for women and those formerly of the middle class. Only place not up is for those over 75. Places me in the safe group. A benefit of being 80.

Pass the buck time in the Florida keys. By public officials. Nothing new.

The Monroe Country Board of Commissioners wants to add to the sin tax. The tax on alcohol and tobacco. To pay for fire and ambulance services and to fund monies given to social service agencies. The alcohol/tobacco part is what gives it the sin tax label.

My problem with the proposal is the County Commissioners do not have the balls to vote on the issue themselves. And then defend the result the next time they run for election.

Instead, they propose having the people vote on the issue at the elections on November 8.

What further galls me is that the election result will not be a non binding one.

Voting by the citizenry does not seem to carry any weight. Commissioners do not feel bound to abide by the election result. Point: Peary Court.

The Marker Waterfront Resort opened two years ago. It sits near Schooner Wharf. Marker does not have an inside bar. Only a bar outside by the pool. Tried it twice. Did not enjoy. The place was dead.

Marker has come up with an idea to goose interest in the bar. One I like.

Marker is going to run movies outside by the pool every thursday evening at 8:30. Starting tomorrow night and running through the summer.

Top Gun came out 30 years ago. Marker is celebrating the film’s birthday by running it as its first film. One of Key West’s best known luminaries Kelley McGillis is the female head.

Zika. Controversial. This morning’s Key West Citizen has a Letter to the Editor re the issue. By John Prosser of Big Pine. Excellent. Suggest you read it.

Prosser does not understand the sound and fury.  He attributes the sudden concern the result of media hysteria and prediction of epidemics.

Prosser clearly stands on one side of the issue.

I stand on the same side. I spoke recently on my blog talk radio show Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou that I thought Zika was another Ebola. Sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Thus far, 157 pregnant women in the United States have come down with Zika. The number does not make for an epidemic.

I am going to be buried tomorrow with comments by those disagreeing with me. Bring them on! There are two sides to the issue.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

ZIKA DAY

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Spent a portion of yesterday fine tuning last night’s blog talk radio show.

Then dinner at Roostica.

Followed by show time at 9. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou.

Topics for the show come from two sources. One is research. The other sitting back and saying to myself that an issue has reached a certain point. A point requiring comment. No one is commenting, however.

I was reading some Zika material yesterday. The thought occurred as to whether Zika was another Ebola. Three years ago, we were introduced to a new and deadly disease called Ebola. The world went crazy. There was a need to act immediately.

The world reacted. Even Obama and Congress. Money was allocated to develop a vaccine, etc.

Ebola turned out to be a bust. Nothing happened. A false alarm.

This morning while searching another issue, I came across an article titled Birth of the Zika Industry. The author, Marco Caceres. The article published by the National Vaccine Information Center 5/14/16.

The National Vaccine Information Center is a non-profit. Founded in 1982 by parents who believe they should have information, input and decision making when it comes to their children being vaccinated.

A quote from the article: “It doesn’t take much to create a new industry. Basically, all you need to do is create fear.”

Zika is a major forefront issue here in the Florida keys. Especially my small key, Key Haven. The local mosquito control board decided to test anti-Zika genetically modified mosquitoes. New.

The plan involved dumping 3 million genetically modified mosquitoes over Key Haven

Key Haven residents raised hell. Properly so. The board finally decided to have the residents of Key Haven vote on the issue. The vote August 30.

This morning’s Key West Citizen notes front page that the board met last night. The board added another question to the Key Haven one. To be voted on also August 30. In effect, whether the people of the Florida keys want GM mosquitoes tested anywhere in the keys.

My first reaction was this sucks. Going to confuse people. Typical keys’ government actions. Screw things up.

On second thought, I think it is a good idea. The reason is every one I have talked who live on Key Haven says no to the testing. Anyone in Key West or another key, say yes to the testing. The testing over Key Haven. Zika dangerous and we have to act their thought.

When I ask whether they would accept similar testing over Key West or their island, the eyebrows go up. I can see the answer without it being uttered. Of course not!

I do not wish to be a guinea pig. My position remains the same. Stay off my island! And being more concerned than other keys’ residents, I say do not use any part of the Florida keys for testing.

One final thought. This GM mosquito thing is turning into another Peary Court fiasco. Government officials trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the people.

Bernie Sanders. Nice guy. Sincere re his beliefs. Enough is enough, however. He should pack it in. He is the loser in a close one.

He ain’t packing it in!

Sanders has started a movement. A big one. They believe in him. The problem is he believes what he says. His political bullshit. Something all candidates become guilty of.

I fear Sanders will never be the same.

I further fear the two movements which have developed during this primary process. Those that follow Sanders and those that follow Trump. I hope they never meet on opposite sides of the street during a protest.

Enjoy your day!

EVERYTHING GREEN TODAY

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St. Patrick’s Day again! Everyone Irish!

This is Spring Break time in Key West. Will add to today’s revelry.

The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade occurred in New York City. Irish soldiers serving in the British Army in 1762 decided to celebrate their homeland.

I marched twice in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parades. I was in Manhattan College’s Air Force ROTC. Still recall the sharp eyes right each time we passed St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Another recollection is the partying. Big! The best day of the year!

Visited the dentist yesterday. Check-up time. Even implants get checked.

The dental assistant doing the checking irritated me. She kept treating me like an old man. Late twenties lady. When she mentioned how sad it was that I was unable to get out evenings and party, I said…..Lady, I party more than you and have more fun than you!

Started the evening at Don’s Place. Don, Stan and Clare. Great conversation. The conversations should be recorded and placed on You Tube.

Don and I were to eat together. Don decided he was not eating. I had to eat. Skipped lunch. I was famished.

I went to Outback. Thought I might not be able to get a seat. Outback is crowded during season same as Duval restaurants.

The place was empty. Only about 1/3 full. Four persons at the bar, including me.

One of the best evenings I have enjoyed chatting with those round me.

To my right, a couple. We started with the NCAA tournament. Then the Hungarian revolution, Hungary today, Flora, Albania, and cursive writing.

Never got their names. He was 80, she 43. He the best 80 I have ever seen. Still working. At Publix. A butcher. She originally from Hungary. Has been in Key West three years.

They were celebrating their two year anniversary. I congratulated them. Two years married or partnered? No. Two years living together? No, we live separate. We met two years ago.

Typical Key West. Any reason to celebrate.

We got into handwriting. I mentioned my column re the issue. She knew kids are not being taught to write today. He did not.

A waitress overheard the conversation. She came over and joined in. Knew everything about cursive writing. Was unhappy her children were not being taught handwriting.

The fellow several seats to my left joined in. Then came over. He was really into the failure to teach cursive writing in most schools today.

My KONK Life column was Goodbye Handwriting.. Of all the issues I have written about over the years, this garnered the most comment. In writing and on the street. I was amazed! I feared people might be bored with the subject.

The Florida Keys Mosquito Control Board met with County Commissioners last night. The Board is pushing for a new building. $4.2 million. It would require raising taxes 10, 15 and 14 percent respectively over the next three years. The group insisted taxes had to be raised immediately.

The Mosquito Control group is an entity unto themselves. They do an excellent job. Ergo, no one bothers them. They generally ask and receive. High ranking staff are paid excessive salaries. Extremely so.

I say lets hold up a moment. The group has brass testicles asking for an immediate tax increase to pay for a building not yet even approved by the County Commission. Some Commission members heard the $4.2 million figure for the first time.

My immediate concern with the Mosquito Control Board is its intention to test GMO mosquitoes. The Mosquito Control Board wants to test them for the British Company Oxitec. The test would take place on the island where I live. Key Haven. Key Haven  is small. You could put it in your back pocket.

I am opposed to the testing. I do not believe my neighbors, our island and I should be used as guinea pigs.

After six years, the FDA came out last week with its determination re the use of GMO mosquitoes.. The FDA said the process was effective and safe. I questioned it then and now.

There is a lot of preaching going around that the use of GMO mosquitoes should not be held up in view of the safe and effective declaration by the FDA.

Sometimes people do not know. Many not properly informed.

The FDA regulates the genetic material introduced into the mosquito. The genetic material is safe and effective for mosquitoes. No federal determination has ever been made with regard to its safety as regards humans.

My message simple. Do not be mislead when told the FDA ruled safe and effective.

Fantasy Fest is back in the news. Some City Commissioners want the City to stop making its contribution to Fantasy Fest. The group who run the event are unfunded this year. The several year contract with the City ran out. Fantasy Fest is six months away.

There is no rush in arriving at a determination apparently. The vote to extend the contract one year while matters are further looked into has been adjourned one month.

Typical of governmental mentality in the Keys. Determinations are made too fast or too slow.

Enjoy your day!

WILL OF THE PEOPLE

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The people spoke yesterday in the elections held. Perry Court and Donald Trump.

The Perry Court $55 million purchase by the City was left to the electorate. They voted the proposed purchase down. 56.25 percent voted no.

Trump. Won big last night. The people obviously like him. I fear him.

There are so many negatives concerning Trump. One is his anti woman bias. Trump was interviewed by New york Magazine in 1992. He was asked how he felt about women. Trump responded: “Women you have to treat them like shit.”

A major boat fire at the Stock Island Marina yesterday. A 40 or 50 footer blew up. Black smoke rose high in the sky. Could be seen in downtown Key West. Fire personnel had a hard time getting the fire out. They contained it well. The fire was finally extinguished when the boat sunk below the water.

Harry Truman. Repetitive Lou says again: Truman loved Key west and Key West loves Truman.

On this day in 1950, Truman arrived in Key West for a three week vacation.

GMO mosquitoes continue to concern me. It is planned that the lower Keys be used as guinea pigs to test them.

There has been a five year hold up awaiting FDA approval. It came the past few days. The FDA confirmed the mosquitoes were safe and effective. Such is what the media reported. Such is what I understood. I wrote yesterday of the approval.

Since then it has come to my attention that the FDA approval was nor meant for humans. It was meant for the mosquitoes. Wild! Hope everyone gets to understands this.

The FDA is concerned with the safety of animals. Whatever is added to the mosquitoes is considered a new animal drug. The FDA regulates animal drugs.

Who regulates the drug as it affects humans?

Spent most of yesterday further researching and fine tuning last night’s radio show Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. The Oreo section and ISIS birth control for sex slaves appeared to have garnered the most interest.

Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote the Scarlet Letter. The novel was published this date in 1850. Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts, where 100 years earlier the witch hunts had taken place.

Hawthorne also wrote The House of Seven Gables. I remember the book well. It was the first book assigned for reading in my freshman high school English class.

Birds of a feather flock together as the saying goes. Appears it was so with Hawthorne. His buddies were Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.

Found my eye glasses! They were under the bed. I fell asleep while reading and they must have fallen off.

Enjoy your day!