Monday Musings - August 21, 2023

 

1. Wow, it is Monday all over again. It is the third Monday of August and there are only 18 Mondays remaining in the year. 

AL East Standings
Games through August 20, 2023

2. How about them Os? A great west coast road trip just ended which saw them go 6-3 culminating with a stunning sweep of the As. The Orioles are now 30 games above .500. They are playing solid baseball as a team and are hopefully preparing to close out the season. It will be a fight the remainder of the way as Tampa remains just 3 games behind. I do notice that the Yankees have apparently stopped playing baseball. 

Jeremy, Me, Mike
Elm Tree Golf Course, Cortland, NY
August 19, 2023

3. It was fun to be back on the golf course Saturday with my favorite golfing buddies Jeremy and Mike. We haven't been playing together much the past couple years and being together, even on different teams, was fun.

4. I find it amazing that North Korea attacks the water every time they want to protest something that the U.S. is doing in the region. 

5. Chris and I had a fantastic travel experience during our most recent journey. Both flights were early departing and arriving. Additionally, we had no ground delays and the return flight to PBI yesterday was pleasantly no full so that we had a seat between us. It was a big change from our previous flights which were delayed and over-full. 

6. Is anyone else concerned that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution may play a huge role in the upcoming presidential elections? 

7. Today in History. August 21, 1959. The modern United States receives its crowning star when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs a proclamation admitting (Native spelling: Hawai‘i) into the Union as the 50th state. The president also issued an order for an American flag featuring 50 stars arranged in staggered rows: five six-star rows and four five-star rows. The new flag became official July 4, 1960.

The first known settlers of the Hawaiian Islands were Polynesian voyagers who arrived sometime in the eighth century. In the early 18th century, American traders came to Hawaii to exploit the islands’ sandalwood, which was much valued in China at the time. In the 1830s, the sugar industry was introduced to Hawaii and by the mid 19th century had become well established. American missionaries and planters occupied the islands and brought about massive changes in Hawaiian political, cultural, economic and religious life. In 1840, a constitutional monarchy was established, stripping the Hawaiian monarch of much of his authority.

Hilary moves through Southwest with 'historic amount of rainfall'  - CNN

Trump’s expected Georgia surrender and debate no-show shatter campaign conventionality - CNN

Electric cars are breaking sales records, but here’s why they’re not replacing gas cars anytime soon - CNN

Russia says F-16s will escalate Ukraine war - Reuters

North Korea's Kim directs cruise missile test as South Korea, US begin drills - Reuters

Iranian delegation arrives in Moscow to discuss ground forces cooperation -TASS - Reuters

Rates in China Cut Again, but by Less Than Expected - The Wall Street Journal

Florida Teachers Are on Edge Over History and Gender-Identity Policies - The Wall Street Journal

How Ukraine is exploiting Biden’s cluster bomb gamble - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL