Key West Lou / SOUTHERNMOST POINT SET ON FIRE…..OFFENSIVE!!!

One of Key West’s most famous landmarks is the Southernmost Point. Sits on the end of South Street immediately on the ocean facing Cuba.

Two vandals set fire to the edifice. Damage extensive. Between 3 and 3:30 New Year’s Eve morning.

I consider their act personally offensive. I am sure most Key Westers feel the same.

The culprits should be burned at the stake. A just punishment for a hideous crime.

The two will be caught. They were videoed on a nearby webcam as they approached, started the fire by burning a Xmas tree they laid on the side of the monument, and then walked away.

Nothing less than a severe jail term befits the crime.

Pics popping up on the internet of the New Year’s Eve celebration in Key West. Most pics of the four droppings.

Pics outside Sloppy Joe’s and Bourbon Street. The streets were packed in every direction.

The last time I did a Sushi dropping at Bourbon Street was about 10 years ago. Crowded then. Significantly more crowded today.

Not one mask was visible in any of the pics. Failure to wear a mask like drinking the kool-aide. Kill yourself!

Benjamin Franklin wrote proverbs galore. Most he published in Poor Richard’s Almanac. Some published were from an earlier time and still popular when Franklin was publishing his own.

The proverbs are described as “witty aphorisms and printed proverbs.”

Amazing is the fact that most are part of our discourse today.

Examples: “Fish and visitors stink in three days” / “No gains without pains” / “Haste makes waste” / “He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals” / “Beware of little expenses: A small leak will sink a great ship” / “Glass, china, and reputation, are easily crashed, and never well mended” / “He that lies down with dogs, shall rise up with fleas.”

Respectfully, DeSantis lies. He and Trump birds of a feather in that regard.

After yesterday’s blog was published, I read a news item that appeared to be an attempt to explain DeSantis’ disappearance from public view since December 17.

FOX and the Daily Mail carried the explanation.

Mrs. DeSantis had cancer and the Governor was with his wife as she underwent chemotherapy treatments. One news item said he was with her on the December 19, the other December 29. Neither article listed more than one chemo visit attended by the Governor.

As I would not believe DeSantis and Trump on a stack of Bibles, I do not trust that reported by FOX and the Daily Mail.

Someone reported at the same time DeSantis was seen at the Orange Bowl New Year’s eve.

Had the information been available to me when I published, I would have said what I write now. Has to be a lie! Not denying the wife’s cancer. Her treatment times, yes. She would have been undergoing chemo beginning back in October when first diagnosed.

A pic was also run of DeSantis at a bagel shop in Ocala. At first suggested, looked like the Governor was in Ocala on December 17. Not true. Later in the, day it was reported the photo was taken earlier.

This morning’s news clearly reveals DeSantis’ deception. Shocks me he would use his wife’s cancer to cover his ass. Similar to what Ted Cruz did when he ran off to the islands following Texas’ disastrous storm. Cruz said he went for his daughters. Indicating their concern and he wanted to be the good father and with them.

Today’s news releases suggest DeSantis was in West Kendall. New Year’s Eve he was at a Christian concert in Miami which his wife attended with him.

No one yet knows where DeSantis was those other days between December 17 and New Year’s Eve.

Note that the COVID surge in Florida over the past 2 weeks has been horrible. Surging with no stop. Not once has DeSantis issued or appeared anywhere to tell the people Florida not to be concerned, he was on top of the problem, etc. At a time when one day alone last week the surging numbers of new cases were in the 75,000 area.

DeSantis did mention at the Christian concert friday night that Florida was the “freest state” as far as taking steps to impede the virus. A virus DeSantis denies exists and so does little or nothing to combat it.

The Governor is guilty of “nonfeasance.” Nonfeasance is guilt by having done nothing.

Senator Rubio is another “Florida winner” where COVID is concerned. He almost as wacky as DeSantis.

On friday, Rubio criticized the “irrational hysteria” over the surge in coronavirus cases due to the omicron strain. He attributed whatever was going on as mostly “sore throats.”

What would the good Senator say if his wife or one of his children became infected and died? It was a sore throat?

Omicron is the enemy as we enter the new year. The highly contagious variant is racing across the country. The U.S. is averaging 386,000 new cases a day. Experts suggest the number is unreliable. It is more. Vast undercounting is going on.

Puerto Rico has had a 4,600 percent increase in new cases in recent weeks.

Medical experts say omicron may peak around January 9 at 2.5 million new cases per week. They further indicate the number could be as high as 5.4 million.

Omicron is different from the first coronavirus strike and the Delta variant. It is more dangerous. Hospital beds will be in even worse supply. Unavailable. Medical staff shortages will be the worst yet as doctors and nurses get the virus and cannot work.

The problem has spread to all areas of our our daily lives. Lack of pilots a perfect example.

I close on a sad note. Not that what has come before is not sad. I add the straw that breaks my back. Syracuse basketball.

Syracuse lost again yesterday. To Virginia, 74-69. Syracuse’s record now is something like 7-6.

I have reached the point where I have stopped watching the games. Can’t handle it.

I have said and continue to believe this is Syracuse’s best team talent wise in 30 years. Great players. Play well. Can’t win.

The fabled zone defense is not holding up. Not the only reason. But, what else? There has to be more. I can’t see what though.

Frustrating!

Enjoy your day!


COVID BATTLE WORLD WAR III

We are entering the third year in our battle against COVID. A battle we are losing.

So different from World War II. Two years after Pearl Harbor, we were steadily beating back our enemies.

The COVID battle a strange one. We move one foot ahead and then fall back two. The U.S. and the rest of the world are working hard to discover the path to victory. Some victories. Many failures. Especially at this time.

Today’s blog is a detailed report where we stand. No need to read it with a grain of salt. It is real and true.

Observations/comments are written as they appear in my notes. No order involved.

The world is a tsunami of COVID infections. The U.S. experiencing 1 new case every 16 seconds. Mild compared to France where 2 new cases are popping up every second.

The omicron surge is affecting our young children big time. Hospitalizations increased 66 percent last week. Average new daily cases 378.

Deaths are considerably lower however when children are contrasted with adults. Whether it will continue so, remains to be seen. Children are relatively new in large numbers to the virus.

Children afflicted are obviously unvaccinated. Rules do not yet cover them sufficiently.

Question: I wonder how unvaccinated parents feel when one of their children become infected. Note recent cases involve babies also.

The ball drop last night in Times Square an absolute disgrace. Big deal the politicians cut the crowd back from tens of thousands to 15,000. Still enough to do considerable spread damage.

I admire Atlanta. Atlanta knew, as we all do, that a huge public gathering New Year’s Eve could, no would, result in additional surge. Atlanta cancelled its public events.

Many other cities world wide did the same as Atlanta. Acted responsibly and cancelled their ball droppings, fire works, etc.

Politicians have to stop compromising with what is right and appeasing citizens. Leadership sometimes requires going against the mass. The COVID attack is one.

The New York City ball drop last night was at a time when New York City had experienced its highest single day number of new infections. At a time also when COVID hospitalizations had increased 67 percent during the week ending thursday. The week began with 4,744. On thursday, new hospitalizations were at 7,919.

Eighty percent of the New York City hospitalized were unvaccinated.

Sixty two percent of Americans have been vaccinated with at least 2 shots. Where are the other almost 40 percent? Those that are significantly contributing to new cases. The number of unvaccinated hospitalized prove the point.

Gail Collins in her column in the New York Times this morning referred to America as the ‘land of the needle free.”

Another example DeSantis’ ineptitude is reflected in this morning’s Citizens’ Voice: “Florida has erroneously embarked on a program to incentivize people not to be vaccinated by extending unemployment benefits to those who quit their jobs rather than agree to private company requirements that employees be fully vaccinated. Without this program, these workers would be ineligible. What a waste.”

Employers are desperate for workers. Their staffs dwindling because of the virus.

Airlines an example. Thousands of flights cancelled over the weekend because of insufficient pilots to fly the planes and attendants to work them.

United has offered a solution which the Pilots’ Union has found acceptable. Work overtime for extra pay.

“Open flights” a constant the past several days. Flights where pilots are not available. Pilots have been offered 3 1/2 times their normal pay to fly open trips from 12/30-1/3. Triple pay 1/4-1/29.

Attendants will also receive incentive pay. The actual amount not yet available.

Some other carriers have also agreed or are in the process of agreeing. They have not yet been identified.

I mentioned about 10 days ago a leading physician in the COVID fight in Israel announced “fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh shots are on the way.” Israel announced yesterday that it has begun administering “fourth shots.” Limited at this time to those with weakened immune systems and elderly residents and employees in care homes.

It would not surprise me if we are into the “fourth shot” in the relatively near future.

It was reported this past week that COVID can result in “long term” illness in adults and children. The problem being “inflammation” that can damage the heart, lungs and brain.

I saw on TV yesterday the story of a COVID survivor with some residuals. He is deaf in his left ear and has lost most of his sight in his left eye. He also claims his brain does not function as before.

A few non related COVID items.

Betty White died yesterday at 99. One week short of her 100th birthday.

An exceptional actress, comedian and person. I recall her role in The Golden Girls. Outstanding! In addition to her part in The Mary Tyler Show.

Her third husband was Allen Lunden to whom she was married 18 years before he died. I recall his TV announcing work in the 1960’s. He hosted College Bowl and Password. College Bowl was one of my favorite TV quiz shows.

Ludden died many years ago. When Betty was asked why she never remarried, she responded when you’ve had the best, you don’t.

I watched Alabama/Cincinnati yesterday. Alabama won 27-6.

A no competition game. Alabama just too powerful and too experienced.

I did not watch Georgia/Michigan which Georgia won 34-11.

The two winning teams meet in 2 weeks in the championship game.

I cooked dinner again last night. My New Years Eve dinner.

I am not one to argue with success. Enjoyed a filet mignon and hash browns again.

Added apple cobbler and one glass of red wine.

Once again, a treat. A problem, however. Cleaning up. Don’t like it. Cleaned as I cooked. Still work left at the end of the meal.

Went to bed and sleep at 10. Thought I might wake at midnight. Didn’t happen. It was 2 am.

I thought I could get a rerun of midnight. Great pics on NBC, ABC, CBS and MSNBC. No audio, however. All other stations ok. Still without ABC audio this morning.

Enjoy your first day of the New Year!

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