Monday Musings - December 21, 2020

 

1. It is the third Monday of December. Christmas is four short days away. Are you ready? More importantly, 2021 begins in 11 short days. Perhaps we will finally be rid of 2020 and the pain and suffering that it has brought.

2. Inauguration Day is 30 days from today! I hope we make it.

3. Winter began today at 5:02 AM EST. We have 9 hours and 24 minutes of daylight today in Baltimore. Now the days will begin to get longer, finally. Can Spring be that far off?

4.  Family NFL Results

     Football Team (6-8) lost to Seahawks (10-4) 15-20

     Ravens (9-5) defeat Jaguars (1-13) 40-14

     Cowboys (5-9) defeat 49ers (5-9) 41-33

     Steelers (11-2) play Bengals (2-10-1) tonight

5. Where is the President? The United States is under a cyber attack from the Russians, the coronavirus is rampaging, and our economy is slipping into quicksand and he is more interested in attacking the very democratic principles upon which our republic is based than preserving the union. 

6. I have heard it said that the president is more interested in having the title than doing the job. 

7. I was looking at images from Christmases past over the weekend and I found it interesting how we continue to make small adjustments to how we decorate the house for the season. 

8. I heard that the baseball season may be delayed until May. It was reported by CBS. 

8. Today in History. On December 21, 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 from London to New Yorkexplodes in midair over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members aboard, as well as 11 Lockerbie residents on the ground. A bomb hidden inside an audio cassette player detonated in the cargo area when the plane was at an altitude of 31,000 feet. The disaster, which became the subject of Britain’s largest criminal investigation, was believed to be an attack against the United States. One hundred eighty nine of the victims were American.

Trump Remains Focused on Reversing Election - The Wall Street Journal

Defense Officials Push Proposal to Separate NSA, Cyber Command - The Wall Street Journal

Trump says he spoke with Sen.-elect Tuberville, who has hinted at backing electoral college challenge - The Washington Post

Details emerge on stimulus checks as Congress rushes to finalize deal - The Washington Post

Some European Countries Begin Barring U.K. Travelers - The New York Times

Analysis: A President Who Can’t Put Aside Grudges, Even for Good News - The New York Times

Biden chief of staff says hack response will go beyond 'just sanctions' - Reuters

Flights cancelled, holidays in disarray as Sydney battles pre-Christmas COVID-19 outbreak - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"Is the Christmas spirit still alive?'' some ask. Well, you bet it is. Being Americans, we open our hearts to neighbors less fortunate. We try to protect them from hunger and cold. And we reach out in so many ways -- from toys-for-tots drives across the country, to good will by the Salvation Army, to American Red Cross efforts which provide food, shelter, and Christmas cheer from Atlanta to Seattle.

Radio Address to the Nation on Christmas, December 24, 1983

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD