Key West Lou / ABRAHAM LINCOLN…..A WARNING FROM THE PAST

Lincoln’s words of wisdom went far beyond the Gettysburg Address and Emancipation Proclamation.

Following are additional words he uttered more than 150 years ago. Words spoken back then giving warning to today’s Americans. It is as if Lincoln knew his words would be needed: “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”

Welcome August!

August is National Breastfeeding Month.

Breastfeeding was the way babies in William Hackley’s 1855 were fed. If the mother’s milk was foul or such that the baby could not tolerate it, bad repercussions occurred. As we have been reading in Hackley’s diary.

If good fortune prevailed, a mother who had a super abundance of milk or had lost her child might be available. I am assuming the Mrs. Hews Hackley writes about is such a woman.

He reports in today’s entry: “Sent the baby to Mrs. Hews to get some milk.”

Having experienced Irma, I am skiddish every time a hurricane is reported which might hit the Keys.

Isaias made me nervous for 24 hours. Though still far away, its cone ran right over Key West. Similar to Irma’s cone.

Fortunately for the Keys, Isaias turned east. It will completely miss south Florida. Landfall is expected in the Palm Beach area. Following which it will run off and on the eastern seaboard. On wednesday, it is projected to be over Boston.

Coronavirus will compound the impact of any hurricane that hits. How are people to be protected? Shelters are of no use. People packed in. The virus will have a field day moving from one person to another.

Florida announced it is not opening any shelters for Isaias. First time I can recall no shelters being open. And I go back 25-30 years.

Coronavirus deaths for 7/31/20 in the U.S. were reported at 1,465. Means one American was killed every 58.9 seconds.

There are well more than 1 million pythons in the Everglades and northern Florida. Could be 2 or 3 million or more. No one knows for sure.

What is known is that there are now so many that they are impossible to eradicate. Florida hopes to be able to control their growth, however.

Hurricane Andrew is blamed for the large number of pythons in existence today. Many people kept pythons as pets. Andrew took down whole blocks of homes. To ground level. The python pets took a trip through the air and settled in wherever they landed.

Sexual beings. They propagated.

Florida failed to pay timely attention.

Every so often, Florida comes up with a new approach to the problem. Never one that will work to totally eliminate. Rather will that will merely diminish.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the South Florida Water Management District came up with a new idea.

They have asked people living in the areas where pythons exist to call either agency immediately and report the sighting. As well as the location. State workers then go out to kill the python reported.

Best program yet! It has been reported that 5,000 pythons were killed this past year. A huge number! The largest ever!

However a drop of water in the ocean, a grain of sand on a beach. Too little too late. When talk is in the millions, 5,000 is non consequential.

While Floridians are worried about coronavirus (and hurricanes and pythons), dengue fever has returned. Just as deadly as coronavirus. Except infects substantially fewer persons.

Infection carried by mosquitoes. The problem has been under control. However every few years, the fever returns.

Twelve cases alone reported for the month of July. A huge number for the disease. All 12 cases reported in the Key Largo area where several had been reported prior to July 1.

Trump consistently makes the wrong move where the health and welfare of the U.S. and other parts of the world are at stake. Not where Putin is concerned, however.

Trump announced he is pulling 12,000 troops out of Germany. That number have been stationed there for more years than I can recall.

Part of a NATO supplement. Stationed in Germany to protect former Soviet Union countries.

Putin wants NATO destroyed. Its sole purpose is to protect Europe from Russian aggression. Putin is happy the 12,000 troops are being pulled out of Germany. Less for him to worry about if he pulls another Crimea situation.

Trump says he is doing it because Germany fails to meet its NATO contribution. Also, Trump hates Angela Merkel. A woman who has consistently stood strong against him.

All lies. The real reason Trump is doing it is to accommodate Putin.

Mail in ballots are in the works already this month in Florida. A “local election” is scheduled for August 18.

The Supervisor of Election reported 18,051 by mail ballots have been sent to persons who requested them. So far, 5,609 have been returned.

I asked for mail in ballots. I have received the local election one and plan to mail it back today. I am also listed for a mail in ballot for the November 3 election.

The Supervisor announced 19,529 persons have already requested mail in ballots for the November 3 election.

The preceding numbers apply only to Monroe County.

Last night was most enjoyable. Cocktails at 7. My socialization for the week. It helps.

Enjoy your day!

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