Key West Lou / I AM THE FACE OF ANARCHY

Portland is turning more and more chaotic. Trump’s “gestapo” are being met with a backlash. Not bad yet. However obvious that people will not remain silent for long when being defecated upon by the man sworn to protect them.

Trump is playing the Portland game merely for political glory. Whatever, it can at some point become retaliatory.

Though the protesters have been on Portland streets evenings for more than 50 days, their conduct for the most has been respectable.

Allison Hyder is a Portland resident. She wanted to see up close what was going on. She grabbed a helmet and googles and was off to the demonstration. Her intent to stand in the rear and watch. Nothing more.

Allison is no teenager. She is a grandmother of 5.

In the early hours of tuesday she found herself not in the rear, but up front. Locking arms with other mothers dressed in yellow.

Allison told a reporter, “I am the face of anarchy. The people of the United States need to know that moms, grandmas and nurses are out here in the middle of the night demanding rights for everybody.”

Interesting. Grandmothers, mothers and nurses protesting front line on the streets of Portland.

Pew Research Center recently completed an analysis as to the composition of the Portland protesters. Surprising results.

Only 1 in 6 Black Lives Matter protesters are black.

The percentages speak for themselves. Whites 46 percent, Blacks 17 percent, Hispanics 22 percent, and Asians 8 percent.

Texas coronavirus numbers keep sky rocketing. No end in sight. Hospitals claim they are facing a “tsunami” of patients who will finally overwhelm them.

One doctor said, “Our hospitals look like war zones.”

The numbers tell the story. One thousand deaths in 10 days. As many deaths as occurred in the previous 3 months.

Not good.

No one seems to know what they are doing. Similar in most of the rest of the U.S.

The head public health official for Hidalgo County issued a “shelter-at-home” order monday. Governor Greg Abbot says it’s unenforceable.

Called “working together.”

Trump’s new reality show aired for the first time yesterday at 5. Doubt it will receive any awards. Doubt it will last long.

He read his report. No speaking off the cuff as he enjoys. His report overall not interesting.

There were 3 significant points made.

He changed his position on face masks and social distancing. Finally!

He did not wear one during the broadcast, however.

One of the doctors speaking on a news show afterwards said if Trump had taken that position 3 months ago, there would be 50,000 fewer deaths today.

The final item concerns Jeffrey Epstein’s good friend and procurer who is presently under arrest. A reporter asked about Ghislaine Maxwell. A put Trump on the spot question. He handled it with a smile on his face and his foot in his mouth.

The question was baited. Trump bit hook, line and sinker!

Note Ghislaine is accused of aiding Jefferfy Epstein in the sexual abuse of minors.

Trump’s response, “I just wish her well. I’ve met her numerous times over the years, especially since I lived in Palm Beach and they lived in Palm Beach. I wish her well.”

Dana Milbank in a Washington Post Opinion piece yesterday described Trump’s show as the “Five O’Clock Follies.”

Milbank said the show was dull. Predicted it faced an early cancellation. Not so much because of ratings. Primarily because “the lead actor hates his role.”

This is day 127 of my self-quarantine.

Amazing how many people are self-quarantining also. I have received e-mails from all over the U.S. from people who are doing as I. Most from people 60 and older. A few in their 90’s.

I confess I have cheated 6 times. Out of necessity. Doctor visits and hospital visits for tests. Still in the cycle. I have intentionally failed to share the purported problem. Probably bullshit. Hopefully bullshit.

The 6 visits were quick. I was only out of the house 45 minutes each time.

Yesterday was a doctor visit day.

Let me say in passing I am impressed how most doctor’s offices are handling the coronavirus problem.

My primary care physician is Dr. Norris.

In order to gain entry into his offices, I now press a bell. His door always locked. A nurse comes out immediately. Takes my temperature while I am standing outside. Then takes me in. Quickly does the blood pressure, etc. routine. Then to an examining room to await the doctor.

No siting in a waiting room first. No one ever in the waiting room these days.

Not what I intended to share with you. Interesting, however.

As I drove down US 1 to Key West, then down North Roosevelt Boulevard, ending up at Dr. Norris’ office on Southard, there was no traffic. Like nothing. Almost zip. Eerie.

Parking places. Whole blocks of them.

Very few people seen walking.

Key West was a “ghost town” yesterday morning. Probably has been for a while and will continue to be for some time to come.

The desolation reminded me of 2 movies. The 1959 film On The Beach with Gregory Peck and Ava Gardener and the 1971 film The Omega Man with Charlton Heston.

Both involved backgrounds where war or some disease had killed most everyone world wide. Only a handful left. Anticipating death or doing everything to avoid it.

In both, the streets were desolate. Empty. Stores and buildings, also.

The Monroe County Commission and the Key West Commission have overall done a good job in dealing with the virus. There have been screw ups, however.

Both have failed as regards lobster mini-season which occurs next week.

Florida is rampant with coronavirus. Miami-Dade and Broward Counties are the worst for the disease in the nation.

Drinking and partying rules stringent in certain instance. Especially as to bars and beaches.

So the people in those counties hop in their cars and drive down to the Keys. Bringing with them, coronavirus. Key Largo has suffered the worst. The first “major” community in the Keys as one drives south.

Mini-lobster season will bring these same party goers back. Most are young.

The Monroe County Commission should have shut down mini-lobster season. Did not. Apparently only the Governor could. He refused.

Rules in this time of major disease are meant to be bent. Just the way it is.

The County Commission should have said no mini-lobster season this year and closed all boat ramps from Key Largo to Key West to everyone, except locals.

Instead, the County Commission closed certain boat rams in the Key Largo area. No where else.

Islamorada is located mid Keys. Islamorada closed their boat ramps before the County even decided what they were going to do. And Islamorada intends to keep the boat ramps shut.

Key West should follow Islamorada’s example. Close down the ramps! Pay no attention to what the Governor or County Commission say in this instance. Key West should do the right thing. Close down the boat ramps and declare no mini-season in Key West.

My plan is appropriate. Key Largo is effectively closed to non-locals. Islamorada likewise. The next major Keys community is Key West. Do the same here.

Those who want to come down for mini-lobstering know they cannot go to Key Largo or Islamorada. Most will say no problem. Let’s go to Key West. The only major partying town left open for mini lobstering and partying! The two go together.

If Key West remains open, I predict that 2-3 weeks thereafter Key West’s coronavirus numbers will go up dramatically.

Some forget lives are more important than money. There are those instances.

Love the William Hackley and May Johnson diaries the Key West Citizen has been running!

I continue to learn.

Two comments received by my blog yesterday involved “Household Words.”

Household Words was an English weekly magazine. It was edited by Charles Dickens in the 1850’s. Household Words’ name was derived from a line in Shakespeare’s Henry V: “Familiar in his mouth on household words.”

Hackley’s diary covers 1855. Hackley frequently mentions he spent an afternoon or some time reading Household Words.

Today’s blog way longer than intended. I got hooked up with the mini-lobster season/coronavirus thing. Everyone’s life has value. I feel strongly that life should be protected.

Enjoy your day!

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