Monday Musings - December 2, 2019

1. It is the first Monday in December and the 48th Monday of 2019. There are 23 days until Christmas.

2. Welcome to the Christmas Season. This season is six days shorter than last year's season.

Squirrel
Elkridge, MD
November 30, 2019

3. Squirrels like eating birdseed from our window boxes. It can be annoying as they chase away the birds. 

Turkey
Elkridge, MD
November 30, 2019

4. The season of the turkey is over. Over the weekend we replaced all of the turkeys with snowmen and Santas. 

5. It rained yesterday. All day.

6. Family NFL Results
    
    - Ravens defeat 49ers 20-17
    - Steelers defeat Browns 20-13
    - Cowboys lost to Bills 15-26
    - Redskins defeat Panthers 29-21

7. I am glad that I was not traveling this past weekend for the holiday. It do not appear to be a pleasant travel experience anywhere in the country. 

8. Now that the Christmas decorations are in place, what is next? Oh yes, the shopping.

9. Today in History. On December 2, 2001, the Enron Corporation files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a New York court, sparking one of the largest corporate scandals in U.S. history.

An energy-trading company based in Houston, Texas, Enron was formed in 1985 as the merger of two gas companies, Houston Natural Gas and Internorth. Under chairman and CEO Kenneth Lay, Enron rose as high as number seven on Fortune magazine’s list of the top 500 U.S. companies. In 2000, the company employed 21,000 people and posted revenue of $111 billion. Over the next year, however, Enron’s stock price began a dramatic slide, dropping from $90.75 in August 2000 to $0.26 by closing on November 30, 2001.

Headlines

With Brutal Crackdown, Iran Convulsed by Worst Unrest in 40 YearsWith Brutal Crackdown - The New York Times

Warming Waters, Moving Fish: How Climate Change Is Reshaping Iceland - The New York Times

Hong Kong police fire tear gas as thousands take to the streets in fresh protests - Reuters

At least 14 killed in attack on Burkina Faso church - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote of the Week

We Americans are slow to anger. We always seek peaceful avenues before resorting to the use of force -- and we did. We tried quiet diplomacy, public condemnation, economic sanctions, and demonstrations of military force. None succeeded. Despite our repeated warnings, Qadhafi continued his reckless policy of intimidation, his relentless pursuit of terror. He counted on America to be passive. He counted wrong. I warned that there should be no place on Earth where terrorists can rest and train and practice their deadly skills. I meant it. I said that we would act with others, if possible, and alone if necessary to ensure that terrorists have no sanctuary anywhere. Tonight, we have.

 - Address to the Nation on the United States Air Strike Against Libya April 14, 1986

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Decorating for the Holiday

2019 Christmas Tree
Elkridge, MD
November 30, 2019

It is the holiday season and that means time to decorate.

Riordin in the Wreath
Elkridge, MD
November 30, 2019

I was struck on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, by the scene at the end of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade when Santa and his sleigh were parked under the entrance to Macy's which was adorned by a colorful turkey. It was, in one image, the two seasons colorfully jammed together: Thanksgiving and Christmas. I could almost hear someone somewhere screaming at the top of their voice: "Shoppers, start your engines!"

Here at home, yesterday was decoration day. The boxes were moved from the attic and staged to disgorge their contents and thereby Christmasfy the house. 

Riordin got into the spirit of the day by checking out the wreath that was to be installed over the fireplace. He thought it was a big toy. He did no damage other wreath but it sure was fun to watch him explore the possibilities. 

It was a busy and fun day with Chris preparing for the arrival of the Christmas season. I am glad, that at lease we do not begin installing Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving, unlike the commercial world where they arrive after Halloween. 

Happy Christmas!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Rewriting History on Black Friday

It was Black Friday for hordes of shoppers across the country, but for a small group of dedicated players it was the day for the annual Axis and Allies event where the fate of the world once again hung in the balance. 

Axis and Allies - The Game Begins
Somewhere in Odenton, MD
Black Friday
November 29, 2019

The five players were transported back in time to early 1942 where World War 2 began anew about 9:30 AM around the dining room table. War came quickly to Eastern Europe and in the Pacific with the Germans and Japanese being there aggressors. With the Italians controlling the Mediterranean and Northern Africa, the Axis began making substantial gains across Europe. The destruction of the U.S. Pacific Fleet gave Japan freedom of the seas, but that was only temporary until the U.S. could rebuild its fleet and begin to slowly strangle the Empire of the Rising Sun. In the west, however, the U.K. was neutralized and the Soviet Union was quickly forced from the game as the Axis powers solidified their gains. The continuing war in the Pacific meant that the U.S. was unable to mobilize forces against the Nazis who controlled all of Europe with the exception of the U.K. 

The game began to tip precipitously for the Axis as Japan continued to hang-on forcing the U.S. to divert naval forces to the Pacific. Italy and Germany consolidated gains across Europe and Asia and soon London was lost. Following the loss of London, a massive German naval assault was made upon Ottawa and then Washington. Both capitals were lost. In the Pacific Theater, one of the highlights of the game was a naval battle fought between U.S. and German aircraft carriers off the coast of China which saw the U.S Pacific Fleet head to the bottom of the South China Sea, freeing Japan from the naval blockade and stranglehold and cementing the domination of the world by the Axis.

Sadly for the free peoples of the world, after 12 hours of conflict, history was rewritten and the game ended with the Allies being defeated.  Germany, played by Jeremy, ended as the strongest power on the planet. Mike fought valiantly at the U.K. Only Australia and countries of Southern Africa and South America remained unscathed by the conflict. 

Congrats to my other fellow players, first time player Jax as the Soviet Union,  and second time player Ethan as the United States. We were all winners because we spent a great day together joking, talking and planning world domination. Oh yea, I played a less than effective Japan--just in case you cared.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Facades and Family

Holidays are times for families to get together. I had a fantastic time yesterday with our family--and it was our complete family, all eleven of us plus a few welcome additions, as we gathered for the Thanksgiving celebration and meal. 

Yesterday, however, I noticed that some seem to put their "game-face" on when they get around family. I wonder if it is because they don't want to be there because something happening behind the scenes that they don't want the others to know about, or worse, that they do not feel supported by the family.

Families should be a safe environment where members can be themselves and relate what is occurring in their lives without fear of retribution or retaliation. Life can be hard. When there are too many unspoken grievances bubbling beneath the seemingly placid facade, the family needs to examine its collective self. Family members must feel safe being themselves and leave the game-face at home. They should depend upon the collective strength of the family support them when needed and then to support others when required.  And the entire family should celebrate successes of each member when they occur.

Families are forever we need to live like it.  


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Thanksgiving 2019

Well, it has arrived. The holiday to officially begin the holiday season dawned, or will dawn in a few minutes, and with it the parades, festive gatherings, football games, and the activities of our nation turn from divisiveness to family and friends. 

We need it! The news lately has become a repetitious drone of embarrassment. What have we become as a nation? Have we lost our moral rudder?

Our nation which used to be known for consistency with friend and foe alike has become like a rudderless ship adrift on the ocean. Friends are wary and foes openly defy us as they brazenly meddle in our internal affairs. We have become myopically inward-focused while the external world continues to churn. 

On this holiday, however, there are patriots among us who are not mired in the politics of the moment. The women and men of our military are standing guard across the world, but do not forget that with them there are also many civilians of the Department of Defense serving in foreign countries and working in operations centers here at home and around and who, instead of being at home with their families, are sacrificing their time and talent to secure and preserve freedom.

God bless you all!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Sun is a Late Riser

Sunrise Behind the Trees
Laurel, MD
November 26, 2019

Yesterday morning while walking to my truck in the parking lot of the club where I played racquetball in Laurel, I noticed that it still was not light out and that the sun was only beginning to brighten the skyline behind the trees. The streetlights were still illuminated. Sunrise was still more than 20 minutes away and while it was good that the sun was rising, I realized that for the next few weeks, until January 8th, it will continue to rise later in the morning.  

Here are the sad statistics.

Sunrise today was at 7:02 AM. By the end of 31st of December, sunrise in Baltimore will occur at 7:25 AM. I was amazed to find that even after the solstice on December 21st, when sunrise occurs at 7:22 AM, it will continue to occur later in the morning. It will be at its latest from January 1-7, 2020, when sunrise is at 7:26 AM. I guess the Sun prefers to sleep in during early January. I know that seems counterintuitive given that the daylight is actually lengthening during that period. The actual change in daylight from December 22 until January 7 is 11 minutes 51 seconds and it is all in later sunset times. 

And now for the real depressing thought, sunrise will not occur at 7:02 AM again until February 12, 2020. It truly is the season of darkness.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Darkness Falls

Sunrise today is at 7:02 AM.

I get to work at about 6:50 AM after playing racquetball beginning at 5:30 AM. 

Sunset will be at 4:48 PM. I will be lucky to be home by 4 PM so that I can experience 48 minutes of sunlight. 

It is the dark season. 

I am learning to live in the darkness, although I crave the light. There are only about 28 days left while the sun continues to reduce its daily presence. The solstice is coming and soon the light will begin to return.

The season of the darkness will be ending soon!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - November 25, 2019

1. It is the last Monday of November. Thanksgiving is Thursday and Christmas is a mere 30 days away. The year is rapidly drawing to a close. 

2. One of the most sensitive subjects in America right now is the impeachment proceedings--everyone seems to have an opinion, but most people are too polite to share theirs openly. 

3. Have the news media gone too far? Are they forgetting to cover the news? There are many things happening in the world right now that out Americans are blind to because the media is not covering them. 

Jupiter Lighthouse
Jupiter, Florida
November 18, 2019

4. Last week I was waking up in Tequesta enjoying the warmth of 70's. This morning it is 34 degrees as I wake up. On the last evening I was there, I did manage a nice image of the Jupiter Lighthouse  against the sunset-filled sky. 

5. Chris and I managed to escape for a few hours yesterday and visit a couple Maryland wineries. It brightened the entire weekend. 

6. The shortness of the days is becoming very evident. Darkness falls so early that there is little to do other than to watch the television. 

7. Family NFL Report
    
    Ravens play tonight in LA vs the Rams
    Redskins defeated Lions 19-16
    Cowboys lost to Patriots 9-13
    Steelers defeated Bengals  16-10


8. Today in History. “The Mousetrap,” a murder-mystery written by the novelist and playwright Agatha Christie, opens at the Ambassadors Theatre in London. The crowd-pleasing whodunit would go on to become the longest continuously running play in history, with more than 10 million people to date attending its more than 20,000 performances in London’s West End. When “The Mousetrap” premiered in 1952, Winston Churchill was British prime minister, Joseph Stalin was Soviet ruler, and Harry Truman was president. Christie, already a hugely successful English mystery novelist, originally wrote the drama for Queen Mary, wife of the late King George V. Initially called “Three Blind Mice,” it debuted as a 30-minute radio play on the queen’s 80th birthday in 1947. Christie later extended the play and renamed it “The Mousetrap”—a reference to the play-within-a-play performed in William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”



Headlines

Hong Kong Democracy Backers Win Big as Voters Flock to Polls - The New York Times

Voters in Romania Reject Years of Scandals and Chaos - The New York Times

Australia probes 'deeply disturbing' allegations of Chinese political interference - Reuters

Iran says pro-government rally to show who 'real' Iranians are - Reuters

Turkey to test Russian S-400 systems despite U.S. pressure: media - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

“Although we are a pluralistic society, the giving of thanks can be a true bond of unity among our people. We can unite in gratitude for our individual freedoms and individual faiths. We can be united in gratitude for our nation’s peace and prosperity when so many in this world have neither.” (1983)


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Cats and Dogs Living Together

Louis with Francis
Elkridge, MD
November 22, 2019

Riordin with Francis
Elkridge, MD
November 22, 2019

Friday evening Chris and I hosted Happy Hour for our friends. It was a great event, but we also, apparently hosted Happy Hour for the cats and dogs that share our lives. They also enjoyed the activity and at one point stole the show.


The cats became the hit of the party, near the end of the evening, as we allowed them to leave the area where we had them confined. I thought the look that Louis gave was a priceless "I'm not happy and I'm going to do something drastic" look. Riordin, on the other-hand  was not amused that he had to share shoulder-time with Louis. 

Finnegan Sitting on Makayla
Elkridge, MD
November 23, 2019

The dogs were just dogs. They seemed unaffected by the activity and were content to themselves. They did sit next to me during the mean, but otherwise, they were content. I did not get a picture of them during the evening, but I took one yesterday that represented their approach to activity in the house. 

I think dogs have a more global view of the activity than do the cats. The cats get involved in the moment and the dogs roll over and say to themselves, "Oh yea, people." Yawn. "Maybe I can get a treat."

Dogs: totally incorrigible. 
Cats: spastic.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

What a Week (Potentially a Bit Controversial)

Waking to a temperature of 30 degrees this morning and with frost on the newly mown grass, I was reminded that I started the week waking to temperatures in the 70's with palm trees dancing in the breeze.

It is a cold the morning, much like the political climate in our country right now. 

I cannot understand why our political leaders are abrogating their responsibilities to govern in a bipartisan manner and allowing our global adversaries the opportunity to make huge gains while we are myopically focused upon domestic bickering. 

Here's Bob's view of the impeachment proceedings. I got asked this question this week about how I felt about the proceedings and after I formulated my answer and teased it out a bit, I felt that I wanted to share it with others to provide my perspective on the issues.

The proceedings are legal under the Constitution.

There is too much fluff being entered into the discussion by the defense. It does not matter what the Democratic Party did, or this or that candidate did, or what the Republican Party did. The ONLY thing germane to the conversation is what the president did!

That the President did something illegal has not been disputed by the Republican defense. 

The big question: Is what the President did worthy of impeachment and subsequent removal from office? And that is the true substance of the whole issue. 

Here is my analysis.

Given the current make up of the Senate, I believe this question will be answered only through the extremely partisan process that we have witnessed thus far. If the impeachment goes to the Senate for a trial, I predict the final vote will be 53-47 against conviction and removal. That allows for two Democrats and two Republicans each to switch sides. When it is boiled down, despite what the Constitution says, the standard for removal of a president from office is such that the crimes have to be egregious enough for the President's own party to vote for conviction and removal. In this case that means that at least 20 (more likely 22 or 23) Republican senators must vote for removal in order to obtain the 67 votes necessary to sustain a conviction. At this point it is clear that the party of the president continues to staunchly support the president. Hence, there will be no conviction. Going back to the Constitution, that, by extension, also means that the crimes are not egregious enough to warrant removal.

Bob's opinion--the Congress needs to get back to work and govern the nation and start passing a budget and fixing our looming economic disaster.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD