Monday Musings - April 3, 2023

 

1. Welcome to April. The first Monday of the month has arrived. Spring is arriving in the north. There are 38 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. My two favorite NCAAM Basketball Final Four teams were eliminated: FAU and Miami. FAU lost on a shot where time expired while the ball was in the air--there is no coming back from that.

Crowd at The Square Grouper
Jupiter, FL
April 2, 2023

3. It was an enjoyable Sunday of golf and relaxation capped by a cruise on the Loxahatchee River and Intracoastal Waterway. We boarded the PonTiki for an hour cruise and were able to see some of our favorite spots from the water. One of those, The Square Grouper, was very crowded as we sailed past. I guess they were all out celebrating Palm Sunday.

4. Today we are off to Universal Studios - Orlando. I am not really sure what to expect as it has been over 10 years since we last visited there to deposit large sums of money into the pockets of the studio.

5. After blowing the game on Saturday with a dropped game ending fly out, the Orioles have managed to go from first to worst in the AL East. Ugh!

6. Today in History. On April 3, 1860, the first Pony Express mail, traveling by horse and rider relay teams, simultaneously leaves St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California. Ten days later, on April 13, the westbound rider and mail packet completed the approximately 1,800-mile journey and arrived in Sacramento, beating the eastbound packet’s arrival in St. Joseph by two days and setting a new standard for speedy mail delivery. Although ultimately short-lived and unprofitable, the Pony Express captivated America’s imagination and helped win federal aid for a more economical overland postal system. It also contributed to the economy of the towns on its route and served the mail-service needs of the American West in the days before the telegraph or an efficient transcontinental railroad.

Authorities detain a woman in connection with explosion that killed a prominent military blogger and injured dozens of others - CNN

America faces yet another grave national drama - CNN

Why this is one of the worst times to buy a car in decades - CNN

Ukraine says its forces fight on in Bakhmut despite Russian claim to have taken it - Reuters

Oil surges as OPEC+ surprise output cuts shake markets - Reuters

Trump to fly to New York for court surrender amid tight security - Reuters

McDonald’s Temporarily Shuts U.S. Offices as Chain Prepares for Layoffs - The Wall Street Journal

Scared to Bike in the City? Here’s the Gear You Need to Stay Safe—Plus 10 Smart Tips from Skilled Cyclists - The Wall Street Journal

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL