A Bob's Life: Monday Musings - February 28, 2022

Monday, February 28, 2022

Monday Musings - February 28, 2022

1. The last Monday of February has arrived. There are 43 Mondays remaining in the year.

2. We live in scary times. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is bringing up a lot of old Cold War fears, especially Russia's nuclear forces alert decision. From the looks of the current situation, Putin did not expect the Ukrainian people to so stoutly defend their homeland. Apparently he thought it would be more like the Syrian operation where the general populace just flees and it is a military force on military force operation.

3. As a tag along, the news reported that North Korea fired another missile the other morning.

4. Apparently greed has destroyed the start of the MLB season. Well, the two sides have until today's end to come to an agreement--but it is not looking good for baseball to begin on time. I found it interesting that the article referenced below is from Jupiter, Florida, but the image attached to it is of Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida, where the Baltimore Orioles conduct Spring Training games. Go O's--well, maybe.

The Mess Hanging a TV
Tequesta, FL
February 27, 2022

5. I am working to hang a television on a wall in one of the bedrooms. What a catastrophe. The condo has metal studs which means that just screwing a lag bolt into the the wall is not enough. Ask me, I tried and the TV, which is a heavier 2007 model started pulling the bolt out of the wall and nearly fell. I then did some research and learned about elephant anchors. They work really well. It only took three trips to Ace Hardware and Home Depot to secure everything that I need. Now I am trying to run cable and get the thing working. I did confirm the TV works, but I need to call the cable provider to get the box activated. I think we may just going to hook up a Roku and call it a day. Notice, I put a towel on the bed to protect the comforter! My next task? Taxes!

6. I had the opportunity to drive across Florida from the East to the West Coast for the annual Spring Training golf and baseball trip. Well, as we know, there was no baseball. I was amazed at Florida's flatness and diversity. It has a real beauty. The only problem is that the road I drove for most of the three-and-a-half hour trip is a two lane highway and slow vehicles become effective blockers.

7. I have owned my bicycle for exactly a month tomorrow. Amazingly as I tallied up the miles I discovered that I have ridden 142.3 miles and with today's planned at least 8 mile excursion I will log 150 miles in one month. Wow! During that time I have experienced two flat tires and only one near death experience which left a bald spot on my tire from maximum braking. I have also had not-so-pleasant exchanges with three people: two pedestrians and one driver. I have also crossed one drawbridge, both ways. Not bad for the first month.

8. Today in History. On February 28, 1953, Cambridge University scientists James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick announce that they have determined the double-helix structure of DNA, the molecule containing human genes. The molecular biologists were aided significantly by the work of another DNA researcher, Rosalind Franklin, although she is not included in the announcement, nor did she share the subsequent Nobel Prize award for it.

Though DNA—short for deoxyribonucleic acid—was discovered in 1869, its crucial role in determining genetic inheritance wasn’t demonstrated until 1943. In the early 1950s, Watson and Crick were only two of many scientists working on figuring out the structure of DNA. California chemist Linus Pauling suggested an incorrect model at the beginning of 1953, prompting Watson and Crick to try and beat Pauling at his own game.