Our veterans are everywhere among us. Men and women who have given a portion of their lives in service to this country. And while every so often they are given lip-service by our leaders, the grim reality is that many veterans struggle with the scars of their service--both physical and emotional, in silence and alone.
Remember our veterans tomorrow and every day.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
1. Today is the second Monday of November. The days remaining in 2020 are quickly passing. Veterans Day is this week.
3. Family NFL Scores
Steelers (8-0) defeat Cowboys (2-6) 24-19
Ravens (6-2) defeat Colts (5-3) 24-10
Football Team (2-6) lost to Giants (2-7), 20-23
4. The passing of Alex Trebek who hosted Jeopardy, one of my favorite TV game shows since 1984, saddened me yesterday. I had known of his pancreatic cancer diagnosis and so his passing was not unexpected.
5. Now that the election is over and we have a president-elect, let's move that energy into defeating the pandemic.
6. New administrations have to deal with the state of the country left to them by their predecessors. The Biden administration is going to face world leading coronavirus cases and deaths, economic disaster, record unemployment, and intentionally created divisions within the country. Four years ago, the current administration faced none of that when they walked into the White House. How could anyone expect to get reelected with that record?
7. The absolutely beautiful autumn days of this weekend were throughly enjoyable. Warm temperatures and crystal blue skies highlighted the magnificent colors of the autumn leaves on the trees. I am happy that I was able to enjoy the days.
8. Heard jokingly over a glass of wine the other night: Canada is considering building a wall to keep Americans out.
9. Today in History. On November 9, 1938, in an event that would foreshadow the Holocaust, German Nazis launch a campaign of terror against Jewish people and their homes and businesses in Germany and Austria. The violence, which continued through November 10 and was later dubbed “Kristallnacht,” or “Night of Broken Glass,” after the countless smashed windows of Jewish-owned establishments, left approximately 100 Jews dead, 7,500 Jewish businesses damaged and hundreds of synagogues, homes, schools and graveyards vandalized. An estimated 30,000 Jewish men were arrested, many of whom were then sent to concentration camps for several months; they were released when they promised to leave Germany. Kristallnacht represented a dramatic escalation of the campaign started by Adolf Hitler in 1933 when he became chancellor to purge Germany of its Jewish population.
Biden win opens door for improved predictability in China-U.S. relations: state media - Reuters
Latino Democrats tell Mexican president to get with the program and back Biden - Reuters
U.S. Stock Futures Rally After Biden Wins Presidency - The Wall Street Journal
U.S. Daily Coronavirus Cases Hit Fourth Straight Record - The Wall Street Journal
Republicans Split on Accepting Biden Victory - The New York Times
A ‘Terrifying’ Coronavirus Surge Will Land in Biden’s LapA ‘Terrifying’ Coronavirus Surge Will Land in Biden’s Lap - The New York Times
Trump’s presidential dream began on a gold escalator. It may have ended at Four Seasons Total Landscaping. - The Washington Post
In the dumbest and darkest of times, Alex Trebek maintained a safe space for intelligence - The Washington Post
"There are no great limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence, imagination, and wonder."
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Part of the healing process involves changing the mood of the nation and I believe we saw that on display yesterday in the spontaneous and peaceful celebrations that occurred across the country once the news organizations unanimously announced that the Biden-Harris team would be the winners of the election.
I know there are those out there that are angry, scared, and working to undermine the victory for America, but we need a time for healing and changing the machinery of America from internal fighting to unity and again leading the world. I found the the fireworks in London and church bells in Paris to be a clear sign that our best allies want America to be back as a world leader.
I found these words spoken by the president-elect to be especially insightful:
For all those of you who voted for President Trump, I understand the disappointment tonight. I’ve lost a couple of times myself. But now, let’s give each other a chance. It’s time to put away the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature, see each other again, listen to each other again. And to make progress, we have to stop treating our opponents as our enemies. They are not our enemies. They are Americans. They are Americans. (Global News)
It is time for a mood change and a rebirth of America. The time for pettiness and the spouting of irrational grievances is over. The time of hope, grace, and civility is arriving.
With full hearts and steady hands, with faith in America and in each other, with love of country, a thirst for justice, let us be the nation that we know we can be. A nation united. A nation strengthened. A nation healed. The United States of America. (Joe Biden)
Last night, for the first time in four years, we saw a victory speeches for America!
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Success is measured vote by vote and I was encouraged that Joe Biden made it clear in his speech last night that each vote represents a voter, an American, who exercised their right to express their will during the election process. Every vote needs to be counted.
The New York Times wrote the following about the process:
As Day 4 of the United States election turned into Day 5 on Saturday, the race for president appeared to slow to a crawl.
Today, however, I will tear myself away from CNN and Fox News to go to a baseball tournament and enjoy being outside, in the still warm sun, on what is promising to be a beautiful autumn day. 
Jax at the Plate
Severn, MD
November 5, 2020
Chris and I went to a game Thursday evening--and I rediscovered how cold 57 degrees can feel when you are sitting in a chair watching kids play baseball.
The image I took of Jax getting out of the way of a baseball thrown at his head is at the left. If you can see the white streak just above him, but obscured a bit by the fence, that is the baseball. Look at the good job he did getting the bat down so the ball would not inadvertently hit the bat and become a foul ball. He walked twice during that game because he has a good eye at the plate.
So with two games on tap today, it will be a welcome break from the tortuous wait to find out who will be taking the oath of office on January 20, 2021.
It is time to let life resume and to realize that what will be, will be. I am glad that we have plans for today.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Fact versus fiction.
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| White Smoke from Sistine Chapel Announcing Election of a New Pope |
Reality versus myth.
Truth versus lie.
I wrote on Election Day that the true colors of the candidates will be shown.
And that statement has come true.
Joe Biden, in the days since Election Day has busied himself by becoming even more involved in the pandemic and in preparing to transition the country, should he be confirmed as president.
The President, sadly, has continued to obstruct, obfuscate, threaten, and litigate the will of the American people.
It is really very simple--let all the votes be counted.
Losing sucks--I get that. I hate losing, but I have learned in life that we win, we lose, and we draw; but we should act with grace and civility at all times.
I watched the address to America given by both men. Joe Biden provided hope and a call for calm.
The president, conversely was sowing seeds of discord and imputing the character of the people monitoring the process to ensure that the will of the American people is heard. What he said has even been called seditious.
Today we may finally get definitive news about the presidential election, it is much like waiting for the white smoke from the Sistine Chapel to announce the election of a new Pope.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
We are an impatient society.
So understand my discontent when I went to bed last night with the Electoral College vote at 253-213 and it was the same when I woke this morning.
There was not a lot of movement in the numbers overnight and collectively we are still watching for returns in Nevada, Arizona, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia to help determine who will be inaugurated as president in January.
I admit--I'm impatient. But, I recognize that careful diligence is required right now in order to ensure the results are properly and accurately tabulated.
These states are not an anomaly!
I looked this morning and here are the vote count percentages for some states which have already been decided:
New York - 78 percent
Maryland - 73 percent
Colorado - 90 percent
Illinois - 88 percent
So the point I am making is that the states we are watching are under a microscope--but they are conducting their process much like many other states. They are not slow--but they are diligent.
And we must wait!
Enjoy the the time.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
As I write this morning, the president prematurely declared victory in a close, hard-fought election.
It is time for calm, and watchful waiting--no matter which candidate is being supported.
I am quite happy that those responsible for counting and documenting the will of the people are doing so in a reasoned and diligent manner. Every vote matters.
I will admit, I thought that the election would not be as close as it has shown itself to be.
It will be a long day and possibly a long week--but when it is over we will know who will be inaugurated on January 20, 2021. And our process will have worked yet again.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
I want to write about the American electorate.
I believe in America and the electorate and the voters. I believe that people want truth, science, and peace. People know right from wrong. People who want to live in peace and trust their elected leaders.
Today the true colors of the candidates will be shown and while we continue to display our country as red or blue states, the next president will have the job of gluing the country back into the red, white, and blue.
I have been involved in many discussions this election season about America and the direction that I believe we need to take this country. I have been vociferous in my defense of my beliefs and I know that in more than one case, I pushed the conversation a bit too far. Yes, it is an emotional issue with me. I love this country. I have worked my entire adult life for this country and for the Constitution.
I spent a lot of time developing a prediction both for the Electoral College and the popular vote percentages for the two candidates. But, I am not comfortable sharing my predictions in the broken, dysfunctional, emotionally charged environment that has become these United States. I have a map and have looked at the polls--many polls, for almost every state. I will be tracking my prediction through the night to see how well, based upon the information available to me, that I did.
But predictions are just that--the game still needs to be played. And so, today, America, we stand on the field of the future. I cannot remember an election since the mid-60's where so much is at stake and the choices are so different.
One Facebook correspondent, a former neighbor and a friend, admonished me that I will be surprised tonight that I am in a minority. I wanted to quote him directly, but apparently his comments were removed from the Facebook thread we were discussing.
I hope that I am surprised tonight! In a good way. I am weary of the pessimism that has gripped our country because our leaders--in the Executive Branch and The Congress have abrogated their responsibilities.
And I reiterated one more time: VOTE! It is the only way that we can make our collective voices heard.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
1. Today is the first Monday in November. There are just over 8 weeks remaining in the turbulent, pandemic filled 2020.
2. Tomorrow is, finally, Election Day and we will discover whether the healing of this country will begin with the election of the 46th President of these United States or whether we will have continued moral bankruptcy, divisiveness, lies, and dysfunction fostered by the 45th President for four more years.
3. Squirrels decided to play on our screens the other afternoon. It made them appear suspended in air. 
Squirrel on the Screen
Elkridge, MD
October 28, 2020
4. Family NFL results:
Steelers (7-0) escape Ravens (5-2) 28-24
Football Team was on a BYE
Cowboys (2-6) lose to Eagles (3-4-1) 9-23
5. Our pets did not do well on the change from DST to Standard Time. It took us a while yesterday afternoon to understand why they wanted dinner an hour early.
6. A man came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his axe. The Trees consented to his request and gave him a young ash-tree. No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it, than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest. An old oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar, “The first step has lost us all. If we had not given up the rights of the ash, we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood for ages.” (The Trees and the Axe)
7. The true measure of a man is what he has done, not what he says he has done.
8. November and Standard Time dawned yesterday with cold rain.
9. Chris and I made a visit to the Columbia Mall on Saturday. It was our first visit to a mall in many months. Our take away--the economic crisis is real. We were shocked by the number of small businesses which have closed their doors. Perhaps up to one-third of the stores were closed.
10. Today in History. November 2, 1947, the Hughes Flying Boat—at one time the largest aircraft ever built—is piloted by designer Howard Hughes on its first and only flight. Built with laminated birch and spruce (hence the nickname the Spruce Goose) the massive wooden aircraft had a wingspan longer than a football field and was designed to carry more than 700 men to battle.
Howard Hughes was a successful Hollywood movie producer when he founded the Hughes Aircraft Company in 1932. He personally tested cutting-edge aircraft of his own design and in 1937 broke the transcontinental flight-time record. In 1938, he flew around the world in a record three days, 19 hours, and 14 minutes.
England Set for Limited Lockdown to Slow Coronavirus - The Wall Street Journal
French Police Probe Personal Dispute in Lyon Priest Shooting - The Wall Street Journal
Analysis: Dishonesty Has Defined Trump’s Presidency. The Consequences Could Be Lasting. - The New York Times
Dramatic Rescues After Major Earthquake Kills at Least 39 in Turkey - The New York Times
Brazilians protest mandatory COVID-19 immunization, Chinese vaccine - Reuters
Ten dead, three missing as 2020's strongest typhoon slams Philippines - Reuters
How Americans surmounted a pandemic and dizzying rule changes so their voices would be heard - The Washington Post
The real results of Trump’s trade tariffs - The Washington Post
You know, Abe Lincoln, the day after his election to the presidency, gathered in his office the newsmen who had been covering his campaign. And he said to them, "Well boys, you're troubles are over now; mine have just begun." I think he -- I know what he meant. Lincoln may have been concerned in the troubled times in which he became president but I don't think he was afraid. He was ready to confront the problems and the troubles of a still youthful country, determined to seize the historic opportunity to change things.
And I am not frightened by what lies ahead and I don't believe the American people are frightened by what lies ahead. Together -- Together we're going to do what has to be done. We're going to put America back to work again. You know, there -- I aim to try and tap that great American spirit that opened up this completely undeveloped continent from coast to coast and made it a great nation, survived several wars, survived a Great Depression, and we'll survive the problems that we face right now.
President-Elect Victory Speech, delivered 4 November 1980, Century Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
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| Chris and Talan Elkridge, MD October 31, 2020 |
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| Finnegan with the Headless Horseman Elkridge, MD October 31, 2020 |
It was necessary to try to continue Halloween and work within the COVID best practices.
The numbers of children were greatly down from last year. We had only 31 visitors. I know this because we made 30 bags of candy in advance and wound up one short. The Trick or Treating began about 5:30 PM and was concluded by about 7:45 PM. Chris and I sat with neighbors at the beginning of drive at the street giving the visitors a 2 for 1 special. It also saves the children having to walk down the drive to our house in the dark.
The preparations and the execution of the evening's festivities were a welcome break from the depressing and confusing news of the day.
And now it is November! Election Day is ahead followed in fairly rapid succession by Veterans Day and Thanksgiving.
Enjoy the day.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
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