Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Halloween 2023

 


The fright night has returned. 

I hope the weather in your area will be conducive to supporting throngs of Trick or Treaters.

We are expecting very few kids again this Halloween. It almost takes the fun out of the holiday. 

But, on a different note, tonight marks the conclusion of the month of October! Yup, there are two months remaining in the year 2023 and then we get to do it all over again for 2024. 

The year has been quite a ride. 

With the beginning of November, there will be 5 national holidays during the next 10 weeks! That is one holiday every other week?

What are the holidays, you ask?

Veterans Day (November 11, observed on November 10)

Thanksgiving - November 23

Christmas - December 25

New Year's - January 1

Martin Luther King's Birthday Observed - January 15

So for those still employed and who get to enjoy holidays off--here comes the end of the year. Beware, the light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming holiday train. Or maybe it is Santa!


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday, October 30, 2023

Monday Musings - October 30, 2023

 


1. Happy Halloween. The 5th Monday of October has arrived along with the Halloween season. Today is the last Monday of the month and that means there are only 8 Mondays remaining in the year! 

2. The clocks Fall Back next Sunday morning, November 5th as Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends. They were not supposed to fall back, but our dear Congress, well actually the House of Representatives, failed to act on the bill passed by the Senate last year and we remain observing DST.

3. Family NFL Report. It was a mixed day for the family teams who went 2-2. Programming note: The Dolphins are not a family team, but as they are my local team, I track them here.

Commanders (4-4) lost to Eagles (7-1), 31-38

Cowboys (5-2) clobbered Rams (3-5), 43-20

Steelers (4-3) were chewed-up by Jaguars (6-2), 10-20

Ravens (6-2) survived Cardinals (1-7), 31-24

Dolphins (6-2) drowned Patriots (2-6), 31-17

4. Hypocrite. That describes the new Speaker of the House. The Speaker says to read the Bible to see where he stands on issues, yet he fully supported the election lie. He further shows unwavering support for a man whose use of divisive rhetoric, personal attacks, and derogatory language has been criticized as un-Christian; coupled with anti-social behavior on social media, interactions with political opponents, the media, and other individuals, not to mention the allegations of sexual impropriety. The only word to describe such a man is hypocrite. 

5. Don't look now, but the holiday season is already upon us. Start your Christmas shopping early!

6. Today in History“The War of the Worlds”—Orson Welles's realistic radio dramatization of a Martian invasion of Earth—is broadcast on the radio on October 30, 1938.

Welles was only 23 years old when his Mercury Theater company decided to update H.G. Wells’s 19th-century science fiction novel The War of the Worlds for national radio. Despite his age, Welles had been in radio for several years, most notably as the voice of “The Shadow” in the hit mystery program of the same name. “War of the Worlds” was not planned as a radio hoax, and Welles had little idea of how legendary it would eventually become.

The show began on Sunday, October 30, at 8 p.m. A voice announced: “The Columbia Broadcasting System and its affiliated stations present Orson Welles and the Mercury Theater on the air in ‘War of the Worlds’ by H.G. Wells.”



UN warns of ‘growing hunger and desperation’ in Gaza as Israeli troops advance Show all - CNN











-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL


Sunday, October 29, 2023

Birds of a Feather . . .

 

Flocking Ibis and Egyptian Geese
Tequesta, FL
October 28, 2023

It is Autumn.

I am receiving images of autumnal-cloaked trees from friends and family in the North, but here in South Florida it is Autumn as well. 

How do I know?

The birds are flocking. They are congregating. 

Last evening I looked across a lake outside of a friend's house and marveled at how two very different species congregated together. There were Egyptian Geese and Ibis on the bank of the lake opposite of where we were enjoying a glass of wine. What was most interesting was that there appeared to be three separate flocks within the congregation. Two Ibis flocks and one of Egyptian geese. 

They fed together on the shore for quite a while until departing just before dark. 

It is Autumn, after all.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL


Saturday, October 28, 2023

And so it was Friday

 What a Friday it was!

I began the day with a 22 mile ride. It was my first over 20 mile ride since late-April. I rode through some places that I have not visited in months.  It was a very overcast day and I was rained on more than once. Well, sprinkles and one real rain. But, I had a good time being out on the roads. 

But that was not the entirety of the day. 

Chris and I went to pick-up friends at a local car rental location and guess what? The battery in the Toyota decided to give up the ghost. Right there blocking the parking lot where I had parked to transfer their bags from the rental to our vehicle! Fortunately I carry a small Hot Shot portable battery jumper and was able to get the car started quickly. Of course that meant that I had to replace the battery, a task which took the next hour or so. Wow! Car batteries have gotten expensive!

But wait, there's more!

Decorations in Hog Snappers

Being their last evening in Florida, we went to dinner at one of my favorite local restaurants, Hog Snappers. There were six of us around the table enjoying Happy Hour and dinner. The restaurant was decorated for the season with a huge pumpkin hanging from the rafters.

We had an enjoyable dinner and then retired to our house for conversation and after-dinner drinks. All-in-all it was a great evening and a very busy Friday.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Friday, October 27, 2023

Sundown on the ICW

ICW
Jupiter Island, FL
October 26, 2023

It was a windy, but warm day.

I managed a short, 12 mile, ride in the wind and a bit of rain. Although I shortened the ride due to the elements, it pushed me over the 150 mile mark for the month. And I don't really feel as if I have been riding all that much.

The best part of the day was yet to come. We met friends along the ICW to enjoy Happy Hour and watch as the sun moved low in the sky. We were protected from the wind by the mangroves and as the tide gradually rose, we were able to move higher on the small sandy beach. 

We watched the boats pass in the ICW and even drew some perverse pleasure from seeing a jet skier stopped by the Sheriff just outside the channel, likely for exceeding the speed limit both in and outside of the channel. The jet skier was operating his vessel in an unsafe manner. 

I love getting to a beach for Happy Hour with friends. It is one of the best ways to put an exclamation point on a day.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL


Thursday, October 26, 2023

Back in the Saddle

 

After an almost three week disaster, the House of Representatives appears poised to resume working for the American people with yesterday's election of a Speaker!

Yay!

Not so fast . . .

Speaker of the house, Mike Johnson
Eschewing the opportunity to elect a Speaker who would provide a bipartisan approach to governing America, the Republicans managed to elect another flawed member won some have called the least prepared Speaker of the House in over 100 years. 

Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) added: “Apparently experience isn’t necessary for the speaker job…. We’re down to folks who haven’t had leadership or chairmanship roles, which means their administration of the House will be a new experience for them.”  (Letters from an American)

Guaranteed to be fraught with growing pains. 

But wait, there is more:

The new Speaker does not foster an inclusive view of America, here are some of his views and actions as reported in Politico

Abortion

Johnson co-sponsored federal legislation that would have prohibited abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, usually around six weeks into a pregnancy. The bill has exceptions for physical illnesses that endanger the life of the pregnant person but not psychological or emotional ones.

Hours before he officially won the gavel Wednesday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told CNN that Johnson is “an extreme right-wing ideologue” who “wants to criminalize abortion care and impose a nationwide ban.”


Transgender Care


The new speaker opposes gender-affirming care for children and led a hearing about the topic in a House Judiciary subcommittee, which he chairs. 

“The so-called ‘gender-affirming care’ is anything but affirming and caring,” he said in opening remarks for the hearing. “This is adults deciding to permanently alter the bodies of children who do not have the capacity to make life-altering decisions on their own.”

Military Spending

When the House passed its defense bill largely along party lines in July, Johnson touted the addition of a variety of conservative provisions to restrict abortion, transgender medical care, the discussion of critical race theory, diversity efforts and punishments for troops who refused to take a Covid vaccine.

Johnson was among the Republicans who argued Biden-era efforts to promote diversity and combat extremism in the ranks amounted to politicization of the military and distracted troops from their warfighting mission.

Johnson was also a cosponsor of Rep. Ronny Jackson’s (R-Texas) amendment to overturn the Pentagon’s policy to reimburse troops’ for the costs of traveling to seek abortions. Speaking in support of the amendment on the House floor last month, he linked the public’s falling confidence in the military to DOD’s leadership being “overly politicized.”

Ukraine

Johnson has consistently opposed more funding to assist Ukraine, a record that will give advocates of aiding Kyiv heartburn.

Johnson received an “F” grade from Republicans for Ukraine and has argued that there’s insufficient oversight of the money and it could be better spent on priorities at home, a common talking point among opponents.

Education

Last year, the House speaker introduced legislation to cut off federal funds to schools or other entities that promote “sexually-oriented material” for young children. Opponents decried it as a federal “Don’t Say Gay” law in the image of Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ legislation that restricted school teachings on race-related and sexual orientation issues.


I have posted only a few concerns from the article which I quoted and provided a link for further review. 

Wait...Did I mention that he is an election denier? Yup. He continues to be part of the Republican Party which fosters fiction over fact.

It is clear that the Republicans have elected a Speaker that does not represent the majority of Americans and who my be intent on pushing his narrow-minded view of America onto everyone.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL


Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Finally--the World Series


 What a very different MLB playoff season it was. But now the teams are set for the finale--the World Series. 

After the wild card and division playoff series were mostly blow-outs, both the ALCS and NLCS went seven games with the winning teams taking the final two games from the home teams. That was a first in baseball history I learned while watching the game last night.

Based upon their recent performance, the Arizona Diamondbacks should have the advantage since they will play four of the seven games on the road! Texas only won road games during their ALCS series. 

But no matter--it begins Friday night in Texas as Arizona faces the Texas Rangers in the best of seven game duel. 

Can the snakes strike before the Rangers unholster their bats?

It remains to be seen.

I am rooting for Texas. It is a thing. I tend to cheer for the team which eliminated my team to win the championship, because if we lost it had better be to the eventual champions!

Go Texas.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Off to the Beach by Boat

Setting-up The Camp
Hobe Sound National Wildlife Beach, Jupiter Island 
Hobe Sound, FL
October 23, 2023

 Yesterday was a great day for sitting on a beach. Mild temperatures and light breezes highlighted the experience. We chose to head out on a trusty pontoon boat for a few hours one of my new favorite beaches. 

Finnegan and Chris on the Beach
Hobe Sound National Wildlife Beach, Jupiter Island 
Hobe Sound, FL
October 23, 2023

The double-decker pontoon boat was the same model, but a different boat from the one we took out last week. The one last week managed a top speed of 21 mph, yesterday, the best I could get yesterday was 11 mph at 4K RPM. I think the pontoons need to be scraped to reduce the drag from barnacles on other sea junk. We used as much gas yesterday as we did last week, but only traveled about half as far. 

The ocean was relatively calm with the waves crashing on the beach, but with a steady soothing rhythm. Sadly, I did not manage any shut-eye time in a chair under an umbrella.

I enjoyed a walk along the beach and for the entire beach portion of the day Finnegan was off-leash. He stayed close and only had to be recalled on a couple of occasions from his continual desire to ensure that no birds were within his field of vision. 

Flight of Blackhawks
Hobe Sound Wildlife Preserve, Jupiter Island
Hobe Sound, FL
October 23, 2023

The excitement of the day was a flight of four Blackhawks flying just offshore. Of course we all wondered what they were doing as it is rare to see even one Blackhawk. My guess was that the Commander of USSOUTHCOM was headed somewhere. But, of course, I have no further information to substantiate that wild guess. 

After our time on the beach, we toured the ICW south to just north of Bridge Road, in Hobe Sound. That was about the spot where we turned around during our outing last week and headed back south to Jupiter. 

It was another great day of boating with friends. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday, October 23, 2023

Monday Musings - October 23, 2023

 


1. October is flying by rapidly. Today is the 4th Monday of the month. There is 1 Monday remaining in October and only 9 remaining in 2023. 

2. Family NFL Report. The family teams did relatively well this week going 2-1 with one team on a bye. 

Commanders (3-4) lost to Giants (2-5), 7-14

Cowboys (4-2) are on a bye 

Steelers (4-2) stopped Rams (3-4), 24-17

Ravens (5-2) hunted down Lions (5-2), 38-6

Dolphins (5-2) were drowned by Eagles (6-1), 17-31

3. The self-proclaimed most intelligent man in the world is confused about bread. He wrote, on Truth Social, the following: “Sidney Powell was one of millions and millions of people who thought, and in ever increasing numbers still think, correctly, that the 2020 Presidential Election was RIGGED & STOLLEN, AND OUR COUNTRY IS BEING ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED BECAUSE OF IT!!! MS. POWELL WAS NOT MY ATTORNEY, AND NEVER WAS. In fact, she would have been conflicted,” (Reported by CNN) Perhaps he believes the election was "stolen", but it surely isn't "stollen".

4. Today is another boat day with friends. We will be exploring the ICW from the Manatee Pocket in Port Salerno on a pontoon boat. I have a beach stop already planned. Maybe there will be an early afternoon trip to Stuart. 

5. Holiday planning is underway. Chris and I have made our reservations for travel and will next be preparing for the end of year trips north. We are looking forward to seeing family and friends in Maryland. The three month hiatus, since the August golf tournament, has been long. 

6. Today in HistoryOn October 23, 2002, about 50 Chechen rebels storm a Moscow theater, taking up to 800 people hostage during a sold-out performance of a popular musical.

The second act of the musical “Nord Ost” was just beginning at the Moscow Ball-Bearing Plant’s Palace of Culture when an armed man walked onstage and fired a machine gun into the air. The terrorists—including a number of women with explosives strapped to their bodies—identified themselves as members of the Chechen Army. They had one demand: that Russian military forces begin an immediate and complete withdrawal from Chechnya, the war-torn region located north of the Caucasus Mountains.



Israeli official says no Gaza ceasefire after IDF clashes with Hamas - CNN

Reports: Trump told Mar-a-Lago member about calls with foreign leaders - CNN

The House GOP has taken Trump’s stunt politics to a new level - CNN

Iranian teen ‘brain dead’ following alleged assault by morality police - CNN

In northeast China, Russian and Chinese firms ink deals from manufacturing to agriculture - Reuters

China says it uncovered another spying case in US - Reuters

Chevron to buy Hess Corp for $53 billion in all-stock deal - Reuters

Israel-Hamas War Revives Interest in U.S. Production of Iron Dome Missiles - The Wall Street Journal

There’s Never Been a Worse Time to Buy Instead of Rent - The Wall Street Journal


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Sunday, October 22, 2023

Wine Event - Doris Market

 I love Wine events!

A Table at the Wine Event
Doris Market, North Palm Beach, FL
October 21, 2023

Last evening, beginning at 8:30 PM, we attended a wine and food event sponsored by Doris Market in North Palm Beach. It was not far, fortunately. 

The event was held in the supermarket and there were well over 100 wines, probably closer to 200, available for tasting. The majority seemed to be from Italy, but I did find, and buy, a good Australian wine. There was enough wine that most vendors had wines available at the end of the event. Some of the most popular, and expensive, wines did run out a bit earlier.

The food portion of the evening was well done, buffet style. The event lasted two hours, which seemed like a short time, but at the end of an hour I had circulated through all of the wine tables selecting and tasting specific wines and eaten my fill of food. The next hour was spent revisiting tables to re-taste wines I was unsure of or to taste wines that friends or other wine event patrons recommended. 

It was a great evening and the event efficiently processed purchases and believe it or not, we were actually out of the venue before the two hours were complete. And we had a great time. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Did Somebody Say, Saturday?

 

Pelicans on the Evening Sky
Carlin Park, Jupiter, FL
October 16, 2023

I lost track of the week.

It went racing by and Monday turned into Saturday even before I knew it was happening. 

I managed at 17 mile ride yesterday, for which I was very happy. It was another beautiful South Florida morning with temperatures in the 70s and low humidity. I rode with friend and we explored some new places along my usual trek.

Chris and I have been busy this week with friends and activity. The week ahead will be nearly as busy, it seems. We already have a boat day planned for Tuesday! Yay!

Sometimes, however, I just like to watch the birds fly, like the squadron of pelicans I captured on an image earlier in the week. They were winging their way to who knows where, but I was firmly on the sandy beach wishing I were flying with them. 

And so, Saturday begins.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Friday, October 20, 2023

Plying the Intracoastal and Finding History

Former Presidential Yacht Honey Fitz
Jupiter Island, FL
October 19, 2023

 Chris and I took our friends out on a pontoon boat yesterday to see and enjoy the sights along the intracoastal waterway (ICW). 

We checked out a different boat for the day than my usual deck boat. It was a pontoon boat and it was perfect for the six of us, plus Finnegan, to enjoy a day on the water. 

Godfrey Pontoon Boat
ICW
October 19, 2023
As we were exploring the ICW, we came upon a piece of nautical history that has only recently arrived. We passed the former Presidential Yacht, Honey Fitz. There she was, tied up along the ICW for us to enjoy. It is funny that I recognized it immediately. Historically, Honey Fitz, which was given that name by President Kennedy, served five presidents: Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon. It was recently purchased and restored making it post-restoration debut at the Palm Beach Boat Show this past March.

Chris and Finnegan Aboard our Boat
ICW near Jupiter, FL
October 19, 2023

Our vessel for the day was not nearly as elegant, but it provided reliable transportation as we explored the ICW and visited a sandbar in the Loxahatchee River before finally landing on a beach to enjoy the mid-day sunshine.

Finnegan accompanied us for the day and enjoyed being out on the water. He was a very good dog and never needed to use his live preserver. 

I found that the pontoon boat is not nearly as agile as the deck boats I usually check out, but for a group of people to be comfortable and enjoy a lazy day on the water, pontoon boats are the way to go.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Biking and the Beach

Biking Along the ICW
Jupiter Island, FL
October 18, 2023

 Tuesday turned into a very busy and enjoyable day. 

The day began with a beautiful bike ride under a crystal blue sky on South Beach Road which runs between the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and the Atlantic on Jupiter Island. It is also home to some of the most expensive homes in America, one of which is on the market for a mere $55 million. It looks like a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired design. We completed a 17 mile ride and readied ourselves for the remainder of the day. 

Surfer
Carlin Park, Jupiter, FL
October 18, 2023
The next portion of the day was at Carlin Park enjoying the moderate air temperatures, ocean breeze, and rough surf. The crystal sky continued throughout the day. We enjoyed watching the surfers attempt to conquer the waves, but the waves were mostly uncooperative and dod not allow for long enjoyable rides. The beach was uncrowded as it was a weekday with kids in school and the snowbirds not yet arriving.  

We left the beach mid-afternoon and prepared for dinner with friends to complete the exceptional day. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Autumn Arrives in South Florida

 Autumn arrived in South Florida yesterday. 

Autumn Dinner
Tequesta, FL
October 17, 2023

The high temperature for the day was in the mid-70s and for the first time in months, or possibly ever, we had the windows open to let the cooler and low humidity outside air into the house. 

It was great. 

There is a crispness to the 60 degree morning air. I have the patio door open to let the refreshing air into the house. I am looking forward to a bike ride to enjoy the crystal blue skies and cooler temperatures.  

After weeks of oppressive humidity and temperatures in the high 80s and low to mid 90s it is refreshing and invigorating. 

We enjoyed a great dinner last evening with friends to celebrate a visit from the North. The moderate temperatures were welcomed and we even lit the small alcohol-fueled fire pit for the occasion. 

The week promises to be great and tomorrow we are heading out on a pontoon boat to enjoy the intracoastal waterway and a few beaches and sandbars. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Democracy in the Balance


 I am very unsettled about what may transpire in D.C. today. 

The election of a Speaker of the House could spell disaster for not only the U.S., but the world if the narrow-minded, backwards thinking Republicans install Jim Jordan as the Speaker. 

It is frightening to read about him. 

Last week, Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH) called for shutting down the government in November unless Democrats agree to cutting all spending for processing or releasing into the country any new migrants. He says the demand is “non-negotiable.” But U.S. and international law require the U.S. to process asylum requests, even if a migrant arrives in between legal points of entry. 

Jordan, a staunch ally of Trump, was key to the former president’s efforts to steal the 2020 presidential election. He is now gathering votes for a bid to become the speaker of the House of Representatives after the MAGA extremists threw former House speaker Kevin McCarthy out. 

In 2017, former Republican House speaker John Boehner told journalist Tim Alberta: “Jordan was a terrorist as a legislator going back to his days in the Ohio House and Senate…. A terrorist. A legislative terrorist.” In 2021, he clarified: “I just never saw a guy who spent more time tearing things apart—never building anything, never putting anything together.”  (Letters from an American)

And from another source:

Congressman Jordan took the following actions:

  1. Suggested Democrats will try to steal the election (starting Aug. 22, 2020)  
  2. Suggested and directly alleged the election was stolen (starting Nov. 5, 2020)  
  3. Endorsed Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell’s call to investigate Dominion and Smartmatic (starting Nov. 15, 2020)
  4. Called for immediate congressional investigations of alleged election fraud (starting Nov. 18, 2020)
  5. Endorsed state legislators’ picking their own electors (starting Dec. 7, 2020)
  6. Said Trump should not concede (starting Dec. 7, 2020)
  7. Started public call to object to certification on Jan. 6 (starting Dec. 13, 2020)
  8. Supported call for “special counsel” to investigate alleged election fraud (starting Dec. 10, 2020)
  9. Called Jan. 6 the “ultimate date of significance” (Dec. 16, 2020)
  10. Met with President Trump and small group of House Republicans to coordinate plans to object to certification on January 6 (Dec. 21, 2020)
  11. Raised Trump supporters’ expectations by saying he hoped a majority of Congress will object on January 6 (Jan. 5, 2021)
  12. Helped lead the effort to vote against certification on January 6 (starting Dec. 13, 2020)
  13. Called for Trump supporters to remain peaceful, but does not say to disperse (Jan. 6, 2021 3:02 PM)
  14. Made false claims about Speaker Pelosi and security preparations for January 6 (starting Feb. 15, 2021)
  15. Revealed for the first time that he spoke with President Trump on Jan. 6 (July 28, 2021)

This course of conduct arguably sets Rep. Jordan apart from every other Republican member of Congress who supported the Big Lie, voted to object to the certification of the election, or engaged in other related activities. 

(Just Security)

Jim Jordan should have been removed from Congress for his actions which clearly violate his Oath of Office. At the very least, censured. 

I am holding out hope that an alliance between 5 or more Republicans and the democrats in the House will offer and elect an alternate person as Speaker.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday, October 16, 2023

Monday Musings - October 16, 2023

 


1. This is the third Monday of October! There are 10 Mondays remaining in 2023. Better start thinking about those Christmas decorations!

2. Family Football Results. It was a good week for the family teams. 

Commanders (3-3) defeated Falcons (3-3), 24-16

Cowboys (3-2) play tonight 

Steelers (3-2) had the a week off

Ravens (4-2) outlasted Titans (2-4), 24-16

Dolphins (5-1) sank Panthers (0-6), 42-21

3.  After reporting the weekend scores above, I have to write that I was entirely frustrated with the NFL yesterday. I was so disturbed that I did not watch a single game. I wanted to watch the Ravens play in London, but that was carried only on the NFL network. Turns out my cable plan does not have the NFL network and I did not have any of my streaming services which had access meaning that I had to purchase the network separately. I watch one game per year on the Network, why am I going to purchase the network for one game? So I boycotted the day. 

From the North Fork Loxahatchee River Bridge
Tequesta, FL
October 15 ,2023
4. It was a beautiful morning yesterday and I headed our for a 16 mile ride. I crossed the same bridge that the day before I motored under. I stopped to take an image of the flat water and the solitary boat just outside of the main channel fishing. It was an idyllic scene. 

5. The flooring project is complete with only a small amount of painting to do in the powder room where we tool tile off the wall. I was able to get the wall prepped yesterday and expect to paint it today, thereby putting the exclamation point on the completion of the project. 

6. Today in HistoryOn October 16, 1934, the embattled Chinese Communists break through Nationalist enemy lines and begin an epic flight from their encircled headquarters in southwest China. Known as Ch’ang Cheng—the “Long March”—the retreat lasted 368 days and covered 6,000 miles, more than twice the distance from New York to San Francisco.

Civil war in China between the Nationalists and the Communists broke out in 1927. In 1931, Communist leader Mao Zedong was elected chairman of the newly established Soviet Republic of China, based in Jiangxi province in the southeast. Between 1930 and 1934, the Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek launched a series of five encirclement campaigns against the Soviet Republic. Under the leadership of Mao, the Communists employed guerrilla tactics to resist successfully the first four campaigns, but in the fifth, Chiang raised 700,000 troops and built fortifications around the Communist positions. Hundreds of thousands of peasants were killed or died of starvation in the siege, and Mao was removed as chairman by the Communist Central Committee. The new Communist leadership employed more conventional warfare tactics, and its Red Army was decimated.




Senior House Republican says GOP members are ready to block Jordan - CNN

Conditions in Gaza are deteriorating dangerously under Israel’s siege, and the risk is growing of the long-running conflict spilling over regionally - CNN

The ‘Gaza metro’: The mysterious subterranean tunnel network used by Hamas - CNN

Gaza border crossing set to reopen as Israeli troops prepare ground assault - Reuters

Nervous markets eye Gaza as oil hovers above $90 - Reuters

Ceasefire plans stall as Israel intensifies strikes on Gaza - Reuters

Goldman Wants to Ditch Consumer Lending. Employees Can’t Wait. - The Wall Street Journal

Home Sales on Track for Slowest Year Since Housing Bust - The Wall Street Journal


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Sunday, October 15, 2023

Escape to the Ocean

North Fork Loxahatchee River Bridge
Tequesta, FL
October 14, 2023

 I am going to call it like it was, an escape.

That is what I did yesterday, I escaped from the flooring project and joined two friends on the ocean for a day of fishing. 

It was something I have not done for quite a number of years. 

The boat was a 30 foot Cobia a bit larger than the 22 foot Cobia that I normally get from my boat club. Being the same maker, I was pretty familiar with the layout, but this boat had something I can only long for in a boat club boat: autopilot! Wow, That really mage navigating easy and getting to some specific points on the reefs for fishing was incredibly easy. 

Railroad Drawbridge Down
Jupiter, FL
October 14, 2023
We departed from a canal behind the boat owner's home and navigated to the river. I enjoyed motoring in the canals to the river. Passing under the North Fork Loxahatchee River bridge was a really cool because it is the bridge that I have taken so many pictures from while riding my bike. I have to confess, it looks much different from the water.

Traversing under the railroad drawbridge both ways we had the opportunity to wait for trains to cross. All told, I saw three Brightline trains and one freight train cross the bridge from the river. 

The ocean had rolling waves, but was not rough. It was not smooth either. The fishing was fun and over the course of the day the three of us managed to catch enough legal-sized fish for dinner. I had the biggest disappointment of the day by letting a nice Mahi get away. I had the fish at the boat but it made one last desperation run and crossed over the bow of the boat where I forgot the anchor was exposed and the line broke as it passed over the anchor. It was a very nice looking fish and we were disappointed that I did not land it.

It was a great day on the water and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

In other news--the floor project is complete! I was not to there for it the last three hours, but Chris handled the job very well. The house looks great! I am amazed how much larger the new floor makes the living spaces seem.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL


Saturday, October 14, 2023

Unbelievable Turn of Events


 I am shocked that the Republicans are considering nominating Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House. 

I believe that should he be elected Speaker the government will effectively shutdown until January 2025. 

Jim Jordan should have been dismissed from Congress for ignoring his oath to "support and defend the Constitution" by engaging in the conspiracy to steal the election. 

One writer puts it this way:

It remains astonishing that the Republicans would consider making Jordan speaker. The hallmarks of that position are an ability to negotiate and to shepherd legislation through Congress (think of all former speaker Nancy Pelosi got done with the same slim majority the Republicans have). Jordan has none of those qualities; he is a flamethrower who, in 16 years in the House, has not managed to get a single bill through the House, let alone into law. Jordan’s elevation would reflect that for many years now, Republicans have elevated those who disdain government and whose goal is to stop it from working.

Jordan is also a key Trump ally who worked to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Former representative Liz Cheney (R-WY) has been clear she opposes Jordan’s elevation to House speaker. Today she wrote:

“Jim Jordan was involved in Trump’s conspiracy to steal the election and seize power; he urged that [former vice president Mike] Pence refuse to count lawful electoral votes. If R[epublican]s nominate Jordan to be Speaker, they will be abandoning the Constitution. They’ll lose the House majority and they’ll deserve to.” (Letters from an American)


Jordan does not and has not worked for the good of the American people during his time in Congress. He blusters and accuses without fact of evidence. He does not negotiate. 

I am holding hope that sane heads will prevail.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL


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