Monday Musings - November 4, 2019

1. Here we go--the next to last month of the year is here. Welcome November, it is too cold all ready.

2. The GORC Wildcats 12U season ended yesterday with a disappointing doubleheader loss. Well, at least we know what we have to work on during the off-season to get ready for the Spring campaign.

Chris in Front of a Lighted Art
Baltimore Inner Harbor
November 2, 2019

3. Welcome Standard Time. I am sure I prefer Daylight Saving Time. It got dark just after 5 PM last evening.

4. Chris and I spent Saturday evening at Baltimore's Inner Harbor enjoying the atmosphere and watching the sunset. After dark, the place came alive with light and color. It was a very enjoyable evening. 

5. Family NFL Results. The next time the league needs to pin a loss on the Patriots, just call on the Ravens, just saying!

   Ravens soundly defeated the Patriots 37-20
   Steelers squeaked by the Colts  26-24 (on a missed field goal)
   Redskins lost to the Bills 9-24
   Cowboys play tonight against the Giants

Baltimore Across the Harbor
November 2, 2019

6. As Chris and I were walking along the waterfront of Baltimore's inner Harbor Saturday evening watching the day fade into darkness, we observed the beauty of the Baltimore Skyline with the lights of the buildings being illuminated and reflecting in the almost still waters of the harbor. It was a scene for a picture, and so, of course, I took one.

Ferris Wheel
Baltimore Inner Harbor
November 2, 2019

8. Do you remember what a Ferris wheel looks like at night? It reminds me of Volunteer Firemen Carnivals from when I was young. The excitement of the nights and the lights and the sounds. 

8. Today in History. A spontaneous national uprising that began 12 days before in Hungary is viciously crushed by Soviet tanks and troops on November 4, 1956. Thousands were killed and wounded and nearly a quarter-million Hungarians fled the country.

The problems in Hungary began in October 1956, when thousands of protesters took to the streets demanding a more democratic political system and freedom from Soviet oppression. In response, Communist Party officials appointed Imre Nagy, a former premier who had been dismissed from the party for his criticisms of Stalinist policies, as the new premier. Nagy tried to restore peace and asked the Soviets to withdraw their troops. The Soviets did so, but Nagy then tried to push the Hungarian revolt forward by abolishing one-party rule. He also announced that Hungary was withdrawing from the Warsaw Pact (the Soviet bloc’s equivalent of NATO).

Headlines

A Million D.U.I. Cases a Year, but Breath Analysis Often Fails Test - The New York Times

Flood of Oil Is Coming, Complicating Efforts to Fight Global Warming - The New York Times

Scores injured in chaotic weekend of Hong Kong protests - Reuters

North Korea, U.S. could resume talks in mid-November: South Korean MP - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

May I congratulate all of you who are Members of this historic 100th Congress of the United States of America. In this 200th anniversary year of our Constitution, you and I stand on the shoulders of giants -- men whose words and deeds put wind in the sails of freedom. However, we must always remember that our Constitution is to be celebrated not for being old, but for being young -- young with the same energy, spirit, and promise that filled each eventful day in Philadelphia's statehouse. We will be guided tonight by their acts, and we will be guided forever by their words.

Address Before a Joint Session of Congress on the State of the Union, January 27, 1987

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD