Saturday, November 30, 2024

The Annual Axis & Allies Event

Axis & Allies Europe Board at the Game Start
Odenton, MD
November 29, 2024

 Black Friday is the day the guys gather to play Axis & Allies. This year we chose to play the Axis & Allies Europe version to fill the day. This version is suited to lower number of players and it provides a satisfying 3 vs 1 format with players playing USA, UK, and Soviet Union on the Allies side and one player playing the Axis. 

I wound up defending Moscow as the Soviet Union player. I was teamed with two grandsons who played USA and UK against their Dad, the Axis player. 

The game proceeded fairly close to history with Germany laying siege to Leningrad and Stalingrad and making it to the outskirts of Moscow before the UK and USA could amass enough forces to thankfully require a major German armored army to move out of Eastern Poland and head back to liberate Berlin. I write thankfully, because the Soviet armies were exhausted and out of reserves. 

And so with a nod to history, the Allies won the game. Winning this game required one of the four capitals to be captured and held for a complete round. Berlin was captured, but before it could be held an entire round it was liberated by the aforementioned German armored army. Subsequently, with successive assaults by the UK and then USA forces, Berlin fell and the game was ended because Germany had insufficient forces remaining to mount another capital liberating counterattack.

This year, I was on the winning side.


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Friday, November 29, 2024

Black Friday Antics

Merlin and Percy
Odenton, MD
November 28, 2024

 Black Friday has arrived and the annual Axis and Allies game will likely begin in an hour or so. Thanksgiving was great. The family gathered together and spent a great day together talking and enjoying each other. The NFL games became secondary events. 

I will note that two family teams played and went 1-1. The Cowboys won and the Dolphins lost. 

Part of the fun I am having revolves around two small bundles of fur and claws--Merlin and Percy. They are kittens, brothers, who can be wild and are very inquisitive. Merlin is a bit smaller but more adventurous. Percy is the classic scaredy-cat. 

They are providing lots of entertainment. 

No, I do not want or need a pair of my own!


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Thursday, November 28, 2024

Thanksgiving 2024

 Happy Thanksgiving!


Well it arrived all on its own. The latest date the holiday can be, but it is finally here and with it cold, wet weather; food; and football.

How could we possibly have waited for so long?

December begins on Sunday!

Until then we will have a steady diet of sports and leftovers.

Remember as you give thanks for the blessings in your life to give thanks for the first responders, military men and women and DoD civilians, and those who serve on the frontlines in our hospitals and care centers who are on duty today and every day. There are many people who do not get the day off, but who are out there making sure the rest of us are safe and can enjoy the blessings of liberty.


It has pleased Almighty God to prolong our national life another year, defending us with His guardian care against unfriendly designs from abroad and vouchsafing to us in His mercy many and signal victories over the enemy, who is of our own household. It has also pleased our Heavenly Father to favor as well our citizens in their homes as our soldiers in their camps and our sailors on the rivers and seas with unusual health. He has largely augmented our free population by emancipation and by immigration, while He has opened to us new sources of wealth and has crowned the labor of our workingmen in every department of industry with abundant rewards. Moreover, He has been pleased to animate and inspire our minds and hearts with fortitude, courage, and resolution sufficient for the great trial of civil war into which we have been brought by our adherence as a nation to the cause of freedom and humanity, and to afford to us reasonable hopes of an ultimate and happy deliverance from all our dangers and afflictions: 

-- Opening Paragraph Proclamation 118, Abraham Lincoln, October 20, 1864


America is a Nation of promise and possibilities — and that is because, every day, ordinary Americans are doing extraordinary things.  Our service members and veterans have given all, risked all, and dared all to keep our Nation free.  Our first responders, firefighters, and police officers risk their lives every day to keep the rest of us safe.  I can see the best of America in them and in our workers and union leaders, public servants and teachers, doctors and scientists, and all who give their heart and soul to ensuring people are treated with dignity and respect.  And I find hope in our Nation’s families, who sacrifice so much to achieve the American Dream and build a future worthy of our highest aspirations.
     This Thanksgiving — the last one I will declare as President — I express my gratitude to the American people.  Serving as President has been the honor of a lifetime.  America is the greatest country on Earth, and there is so much to be grateful for.  May we celebrate all that unites us — because there is nothing beyond our capacity if we do it together.

-- Excerpt from A Proclamation on Thanksgiving Day 2024, Joseph R. Biden Jr, November 27, 2024


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Even the Trees Look Cold

Looking at a Late-Autumn Morning
Odenton, MD
November 26, 2024

 The body shock of going from 70 degree days to 36 degree mornings is tough. I can only barely remember opening the door to head outside and being met by a rush of frigid air. I am more used to being slammed by a hot, moist wave and then toasted under the burning sun. 

I prefer the heat. 

Even the Trees Look Cold
Odenton, MD
November 26, 2024

It was cold yesterday, in the 40s, and even colder to start today with 36 (OMG, it's cold) degrees. While the scene is pretty, the reality is not so inviting. Even the trees look cold! I keep forgetting to put shoes on when I go outside for short activities like bringing in groceries or taking out recycling or trash.

I just need to get used to it because this is where I'm going to be for the next roughly two weeks. 

I have been enjoying the live entertainment that my daughter is providing in the form of two eight-week old kittens. They are bundles of energy. Just a moment ago they made me laugh, as during their play, they crashed into something which fell and they scurried for cover. They are cute and at this point very enjoyable. Their names are Merlin and Percy and they are brothers so they have been playing together since shortly after birth. 

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I hope everyone is already where they want to be for the holiday. Thankfully, Chris and I are in place for the festivities.


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

At the Road's End

Looking Out the Windshield
North Carolina on I-95
November 25, 2024

 Chris and I arrived in Odenton yesterday afternoon about 2 PM. It was a nice short day of driving. The weather was perfect with bright sin and a blue sky highlighting the late-autumn colors. We marveled at the colors of the trees all day, of course they were bit brighter in North Carolina and southern Virginia, but we could see the colors in the trees even until our destination. 

Oak Tree
Dortches, North Carolina Rest Stop
November 25, 2024

The trip was easy, except for the last couple hours when we experienced the travel time warp where our arrival time suddenly becomes 40 minutes later due to building traffic. That of course happened in Northern Virginia within about 70 miles of our destination. We made a few comfort stops along the way. The one where I imaged the oak tree in Dorches, NC, about an hour after we started out for the day, was a stop for Finnegan which was successful. 

We are happy to be in place for the Thanksgiving holiday. 

And the Ravens rewarded our travels with a win!


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Monday, November 25, 2024

Monday Musings - November 25, 2024 Travel Edition

 

Out the Hotel Window
Dunn, NC
November 25, 2024

1. Welcome to the last Monday of November. The Holiday Season begins officially on Thursday with Thanksgiving and there are only 5 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. I am writing from a hotel in Dunn, NC. We were on the road for just over 10 hours yesterday, but it was a beautiful driving day. 

3. Out the Hotel Window this morning is a bright sunrise and a parking lot. The blue sky is grand with the sun.

4. Family NFL Report. Family teams went 3-2 with the Ravens playing tonight. The Steelers lost a very snowy game on Thursday and the Cowboys escape the Commanders in what was probably the most exciting 4th quarter of football in a long while

Cowboys (4-7) overcame Commanders, (7-5) 34-26

Steelers (8-3) lost to Browns (3-8), 19-24 on Thursday in the Snow Bowl

Ravens (7-4) face Chargers (7-4) tonight

Dolphins (5-6) drowned Patriots (3-9), 34-15

Chiefs (10-1) held off Panthers (3-8), 30-27

5. We hope to be in Odenton, MD by about 1:30 this afternoon.


And this is the travel version of the Monday Musings!


-- Bob Doan, Dunn, NC

Sunday, November 24, 2024

Holiday Travel


And we are on the road again.  We are two hours into a two-day trip to in Maryland. Chris and I marveled at the starlit sky as we headed out just before 6AM. It was clear, cold, and filled with stars and at least three planets. 

It is hard to write on a phone in a moving car.  But, so far the day is great and traffic light as the Thanksgiving week travel begins in earnest.  We are looking forward to seeing and celebrating with family and friends. 

We still have a couple more hours in Florida and are headed to North Carolina for the night. We prefer longer first days and shorter second days of the trip. 

Finn has settled in and is sleeping in his bed. He was very happy not to be left behind. 

Here’s hoping the weather stays good. 


— Bob Doan, I-95 near New Smyrna Beach, FL

Saturday, November 23, 2024

Uninvited Guests

Momentary King of the Pole
Port Salerno, FL
November 22, 2024

 I went to lunch with a friend yesterday. It was a beautiful South Florida day with a crystal blue sky, bright warm sun, and a light breeze. We dined at an outside table on the water so that we could enjoy the day. 

All too often here in Florida it is too hot to sit outside at a table and eat. But not so yesterday. It was a bit cool as the temperature was struggling to reach 70 degrees. 

Little Blue Heron Moving out the Seagulls
Port Salerno, FL
November 22, 2024
Lunch was very good as the service and the food were excellent. We, however, were hounded by some uninvited guests. The seagulls tended to gather and squawk at irritating moments. There seemed to be a game of "King of the Pole" being played by some of them.

The seagulls continued squawking and playing their games until the much larger little blue heron arrived and made it clear who was the real king of the restaurant patio. It became much quieter and the egret patrolled the area keeping the noisy seagulls away. 

I have to admit, despite their noise the seagulls were fun to watch. I guess even uninvited guests can have some entertainment value.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Friday, November 22, 2024

It was a Short Trip


Heading out into Manatee Pocket
Port Salerno, FL
November 21, 2024

 Yesterday was intended as a boat day. Finnegan had a grooming appointment near where we reserve our trusty motored-watercraft and so we decided to check out a boat and head to Stuart for lunch while Finnegan was in the shop, so to speak. 

It was a great plan--but it turned out there were some problems. 

The day was bright and, although one of the coldest mornings of the season, the temperature quickly warmed into the mid-70s by 11:00AM when we arrived to head out onto the water. We planned properly and dressed for the cool breeze--Chris was wearing two layers and brought a coat along. I had a pullover. 

The wind was strong stronger on the water and the waters surrounding the marina, which is on Manatee Pocket, had a nice chop. Chris was not amused and I promised her that if it was too rough on the more open waters of the St Lucie River that we would head in rather than continue on to Stuart. 

We were motoring north toward Stuart into a cold north wind. OK, I know the wind was not as cold as what we saw driving snow on last night's NFL game in Cleveland, but we have thin Florida blood. That was the first problem. 

The second problem was that the chop of Manatee Pocket became 2-foot waves out on the river which occasionally, because of the direction of the channel, broke over the boat and got us both wet. And then there were the occasional 3 foot waves. Chris is a flat water boater and I knew I was pushing it with the 2 foot waves, but the bigger ones coupled with the fact that we were not even into the more wide open areas of the river where the wind could really kick up the waves meant this trip was likely going to be short. 

The third problem was that Chris was cold and she hates getting wet--especially on a cold day. We made it about halfway to Stuart, which is roughly the highway bridge which connects Sewell's Point to the mainland. When I reduced speed to go under the bridge, we made the decision to return to the marina rather than press on. Chris donned her coat to get warmer and we reversed course.

In all, we were on the water about 45 minutes. I got my boating fix in for the month and we decided to lunch in the Port Salerno area rather than driving to Stuart.

I am not sure how, exactly, we are going to survive the upcoming holiday trips north into the cold. It should be an experience. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Thursday, November 21, 2024

As the Season Arrives

 


2024 Christmas Tree
Tequesta, FL
November 20, 2024

It pained me to do the deed. And the deed was removing the turkeys and our Thanksgiving decorations before the actual holiday. 

But, Thanksgiving is late this year and we are going to be away for two weeks; returning in the middle of the Christmas season and wanted the house decorated. Yesterday because decoration day. We have not completed everything and some decorations will not be unboxed this year--but we are beginning to display the festive mood the holiday season brings. 

Tomorrow is actually the earliest date upon which Thanksgiving can fall and this year the 28th, which is Thanksgiving, is the latest and so I rationalized that we are not really jumping the season and my turkeys had a good run--but it was time.

Happy Thanks-istmas!


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Bob the Dog Walker


 I discovered, while Chris was away, that I was unable to both walk Finn and get a meaningful bike ride accomplished. 

Finn walks for about a mile-and-a-half. When he and I walk we do it in just under 30 minutes--and that includes numerous stops for his personal business. 

He enjoys his walk and is a a trooper. One would think that a dog of his size would not enjoy such a long walk at a brisk pace, but he definitely does. And it is good exercise for both of us. But by the time we finished Finn's walk, it was getting too late to get my usual 17 mile bike ride in before noon. 




Chris is back now and I was able to get my ride completed this morning while she walked Finn!


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Christmas is Closing in

Poinsettia Plantings
Tequesta, FL
November 18, 2024

 I was able to get bike yesterday, even though the wind was strong and in places made me wonder why I decided to head out. I walked Finnegan a mile-and-a-half before the ride and I had failed to eat breakfast. Don't know how that happened. Well, about 10 miles into my ride I realized that I was low on energy and, as it was about 11:30 AM, I shortened my ride and headed home to get some lunch. Coffee is just not good for powering a body into the middle portion of the day. 

Along the way I did see more poinsettia plantings to bring a splash of color to the upcoming holiday season. Most of the usual flower plantings are past their prime and the poinsettias provide as needed kick-start to the gardens. 

Chris and I are about to start our holiday season travel gymnastics. She returns today from the baby shower trip and we leave Sunday to head back for Thanksgiving. We will be there two weeks and then return to Florida for about two weeks before heading back for Christmas and an undefined stay in Maryland while waiting for the arrival of our fourth grandchild, who is also our fourth grandson. Gonna be a wild ride. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday, November 18, 2024

Monday Musings - November 18, 2024

 


1. Well, it has arrived. The last Monday before the beginning of the holiday travel season. There are just six Mondays remaining in the year and starting next week the rocket sled ride towards the new year gets into high gear. 

2. Thanksgiving is as late as possible this year. That means---a short Christmas season and more stress. 

3. Family NFL Report. Family teams went 2-3 with the Cowboys playing tonight. The Ravens lost a nail biter to the Steelers, again!.

Cowboys (3-6) tackle Texans (6-4),tonight

Steelers (8-2) survived Ravens (7-4), 18-16

Commanders (7-4) got whipped by Eagles (8-2) 18-26 on Thursday 

Dolphins (4-6) swam past Raiders (4-4), 34-19

Chiefs (9-1) stampeded by Bills (9-2), 21-30

4. For those of you who maintained that Project 2025 was not Trump's plan, see the article in the Washington Post, linked below, about the FCC pick. Project 2025 envisions sweeping changes to economic and social policies and the federal government and its agencies. The plan proposes taking partisan control of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Commerce (DOC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and Federal Trade Commission (FTC), dismantling the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and abolishing the Department of Education (ED), whose programs would be transferred or terminated.[26][27]  (WikipediaI recommend getting familiar with Project 2025 because it seems to be the basis for what is coming to America.

5. Today in HistoryOn a day like today, the first case of a person infected with Covid-19 was confirmed in the Chinese province of Hubei.

On November 17, 2019, the first case of a person infected with Covid-19 was confirmed: a 55-year-old adult from the city of Hubei, China, although at that time the authorities refused to confirm that it was patient zero.

China was able to reach the first known case of Covid-19 in the world, after an in-depth investigation that finally managed to track the patient and map the early contagion pattern, two months before the local outbreak turned into a pandemic.

On December 27 of that year, the doctor of the Provincial Hospital of Chinese and Western Integrated Medicine, Zhang Jixián, had reported to the authorities about new infectious conditions caused by a new type of coronavirus.







-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Sunday, November 17, 2024

Worrisome Choices


 One of the biggest concerns that I had about the president-elect was who would he surround himself with as advisors and cabinet leaders. 

I think the answer is coming in fairly clearly: patsies. 

He is not willing to find experts or even people with experience to run important departments such as defense, justice, and the interior. He is selecting, in at least two cases, people with no experience but who will do his bidding. 

Is anyone else concerned about this? 


On top of unqualified appointees, Trump may be planning to subvert the advice and consent of the Senate by trying for recess appointments--there is something just wrong about that, and also skipping security vetting from the FBI. 

About the announcement for DNI, Director of National Intelligence:

As former Illinois representative Joe Walsh wrote: “Donald Trump just picked someone to oversee our intelligence who, herself, couldn’t pass a security clearance check. She couldn’t get security clearance. She couldn’t get a job in our intelligence community. Because she’s too compromised by Russia. Yet Trump picked her to run the whole thing.” (Letters from an American)

What is happening? Trump seems to be knee-capping Defense, Justice, and the Intelligence Community. 

I saw this coming.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL



Saturday, November 16, 2024

Along the River

Over the Loxahatchee
Tequesta, FL
November 15, 2024

 I realized that my bike ride is generally defined by some body of water. It might be the ICW, or the Loxahatchee River, or even the ocean; but I am never far from water. 

I enjoy riding over the bridges and looking for the tidal level and the wildlife. Even along the ICW and the ocean there is always activity. 

Yesterday's ride was an interesting one. As can be seen in the image, the sky was partly overcast, but there were blue patches. This was just about 2 miles into my almost 18 mile ride. Within the next few miles, the sky becomes completely overcast and at times I wondered if I might get rained on. Fortunately, there was no rain, just an ever strengthening wind that was very cool and at times made the ride difficult. 

But in reality, it was just another great day in Florida. Chris is in Maryland today and she reported the morning temperature in the 40s. It was cool here too, the morning temperature was 67. Too cool to go to the beach, but it will warm to almost 80 later. 

What a difference a thousand miles makes. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Friday, November 15, 2024

More Festive Decorations

Poinsettias at Publix
Tequesta, FL
November 10, 2024

 I know I wrote about this last year, but using poinsettias for outdoor Christmas plantings is a thing here where we do not get frost. 

The poinsettias are out everywhere brightening up the season with their red festive bracts. 

The splash of poinsettia red makes even the most unassuming garden announce that Christmas is coming!

I enjoy watching the transformation of the gardens for the holiday season and seeing the use of a typically indoors only plant (up north) in outdoors garden plantings. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL


Thursday, November 14, 2024

The Festivities Begin

 

Tiki52 Decorations
Tequesta, FL
November 12, 2024

We went back to our favorite Tuesday evening restaurant which is collocated with a marina. The holiday season's decorations were already illuminated brightening up the uncovered seating area. They added a festive mood to the area. We sat under the Tiki Roof to shield ourselves from the wind, which was not as bad as the previous week, for an enjoyable outing. 

Wall Under Repair
Tiki52
November 12, 2024

I appreciate the Christmas light wrapped palm trees. It is quite a production to wrap a palm tree--sometime they use a bucket lift to also wrap the fronds. 

This was the same restaurant where I pointed out the vandalization last week. Well, I can report that the holes are being fixed, but sadly even the new plaster has been vandalized. I just do not understand the immaturity of some people. 

This is why we cannot have nice things!

Newly Vandalized Wall
Tiki52
November 12, 2024


I worry that as the rails come off our society that there will be more of this needless vandalization. I remember when I visited Moscow during August 1992 that the vandalization was so prevalent that car owners took their windshield wipers off unless it was raining and every gas tank had a lock.

It should be noted that I retouched the image to remove two offensive words which were not consistent with the content of my blog. The subject is the vandalization, not the actual words that were carved into the new plaster. 

Well, at least the holiday lights and the food were enjoyable. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL


Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Information Warfare


 It seemingly has become a way of life in America. False news and disinformation are everywhere. The recent election demonstrated the effectiveness of the false news agencies in convincing Americans that we, as a country and a society, are bottom barrel and trash. 

If a majority believe it, it must be true--right? Not so. It remains not true, but the following information does demonstrate how disinformation affected the election outcome.

There is data from a Reuters/Ipsos poll in October that shows just how damaging the information gap is. People who are in possession of truthful, accurate information voted overwhelmingly for Harris. In other words, if you believed violent crime in major American cities was at an all-time high—which is not true—you were far more likely to vote Republican. Voters who knew that inflation had declined over the last year and was close to historic averages were +53 Democratic votes. Perhaps most disturbingly, people who did not have truthful information about undocumented people crossing the southern border were more likely to vote Republican.

(Civil Discourse)


If Americans were making decisions based upon disinformation then who won the election? Well, that does not change, but America will change. 

I am a bit frightened because our president-elect has stated that he will fulfill every promise he made. 

We can't afford them. And I thought Republicans were the party of fiscal responsibility?

Figure 1 summarizes Trump’s campaign promises and their corresponding revenue estimates (collected by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget).

(Forbes)


And so it begins. The sad thing is that the people who elected him will be the ones who may suffer most. BTW, I heard him say something like that in a campaign speech.

Almost every economic policy Trump proposes would, at best, do little for the middle and working classes and, at worst, outright harm them. To take one example, among the random suggestions Trump has made is to make car insurance interest tax deductible. But that would only benefit you if you already itemize your deductions, and only 10% of taxpayers itemize, most of whom are wealthier. The rest of us take the standard deduction, which was significantly increased in that 2017 tax cut Trump wants to extend.  (MSNBC)

Well, the ride into misty future has already begun.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Ending the Day

 



Sailing Across the Sunset
Tequesta, FL
November 11, 2024

With the shorter days that are now in play, the sun sets earlier. 

Chris and I headed off to the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) last evening to watch the sunset. We had not visited there in a while, as we often go to an eastward facing beach rather than sit along the ICW facing west directly into the setting sun. 

Jet Ski in the Sunset
Tequesta, FL
November 11, 2024
The ICW beach was more crowded than I expected, but I forgot that it was Veterans Day and many people had a holiday to enjoy. I kind of miss the excitement of a three-day weekend, but since every day is like a weekend I sometimes forget that holidays mean more people on the beaches. 

We arrived about 50 minutes before sunset. The sun was directly in our eyes as we waited for the anticipated event. Once the sun dropped below the buildings the real fun began as the sky and clouds began to reflect the ever-reddening rays. It was a grand show and the Jupiter Lighthouse soon became the focal point of our attention. I was amazed at the number of jet skis on the water even as it became dark and hard to see. I guess they weren't ready to end what had been an almost idyllic weather day in South Florida. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday, November 11, 2024

Monday Musings - November 11, 2024

 



Veterans Day. 

Say thank-you to a Veteran.

Gobble Till You Drop
Tequesta, FL
November 10, 2024

1. As the year careens to a close, we have arrived at the second Monday of November. There are seven Mondays remaining in 2024. 

2. Family NFL Report. Family teams went 3-2 with the Dolphins playing tonight. The Cowboys have apparently mailed in the rest of their season.

Cowboys (3-6) were massacred by the Eagles (7-2), 6-34

Steelers (7-2) slipped by Commanders (7-3), 28-27 

Ravens (7-3) slipped past Bengals (4-6), 35-34

Dolphins (2-6) visit Rams (4-4) tonight 

Chiefs (8-0) overcame Broncos (5-5), 16-14

3. Chris and I saw this haunting Thanksgiving lawn decoration yesterday on our bike ride. The skeleton was used for Halloween, but has been updated for Thanksgiving with the shirt that reads: Gobble Till You Drop! 

4. I am amazed at the difference this Monday brings over last Monday. Last Monday the world had hope that America would continue to be the leader of democracy for freedom loving people; today that hope is gone as we even now begin to look inward for the imagined "enemy within." Until this morning's news I had hope that the House of Representatives might be under Democratic control, but looking at the numbers, that seems unlikely now and so there are literally no rails on the president-elect and his plans to remake America into his own image. Well, it may not be his own image, but rather Viktor Orbán's image. 

5. My post-election unanswered question is: Why did about 12 million Americans stay home and not vote? 

6. Today in HistoryOn a day like today, in 1918, the Armistice of Compiègne was signed in France between the Allies and Germany, with the aim of ending hostilities on the western front of the First World War. The main signatories were Marshal Ferdinand Foch, commander-in-chief of the Triple Entente forces, and the German representative, Matthias Erzeberger.

About 9 million soldiers lost their lives, 21 million were wounded and almost 10 million civilians died, indirectly, victims of the war. The two most affected countries were Germany and France, which sent approximately 80% of their male population between the ages of 15 and 49 to the battlefield.


After the armistice, in 1919 the peace treaty of Versailles was signed, in which Germany was obliged to reduce its troops by half, pay large compensations to the victorious countries, cede all its colonies and return Alsace-Lorraine to France. However, the treaty was unsuccessful: Germany said that it had signed the armistice under false pretexts, believing that peace was a "peace without winners." Germany's resentment towards the treaty and its authors is considered one of the causes of World War II, which occurred two decades later.



Trump is already causing massive disruption - CNN

Ukraine’s war effort faces uncertain future as Russia mounts record drone strikes - CNN

Tens of thousands of Chinese college students went cycling at night. That put the government on edge - CNN

Notre-Dame’s bells ring out for the first time since the devastating 2019 fire - CNN

Source says Trump told Putin not to escalate in Ukraine, Kremlin denies they spoke - Reuters

Oil falls as China stimulus fails to boost sentiment, US dollar strength - Reuters

New Zealand Maori begin march on capital to protest Indigenous treaty bill - Reuters

Trump Victory Leaves China Calling the Shots at COP29 - The Wall Street Journal

What Trump Can—and Can’t—Do on Day One - The Wall Street Journal

Republicans inch toward ‘trifecta’ control of House, Senate, White House - The Washington Post


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Sunday, November 10, 2024

Rough Football Day and Stuff

Stuart Airshow Fireworks and Drone Display
Stuart, FL
November 8, 2024

 Chris and I have begun watching college football on Saturdays when the Georgia Bulldogs are playing. 

I also continue to cheer for Syracuse and Maryland. 

Yesterday was a trifecta of misery: all three lost. 

Syracuse is having a solid season and should get a bowl invite as they are 6-3.  Georgia's loss probably takes them out of contention for the playoffs and a possible National Championship as they fell to 7-2. Maryland is mired in another so-so season at 4-5. 

I added an image from the fireworks and drone show the ended the first evening of the Stuart Airshow Friday night. It was so spectacular that I had to show more of it. The addition of drones, and at one point a piloted aircraft, really kicks the whole show up a notch. 

Today is football Sunday. The Ravens, thankfully, have already secured their win for the week on Thursday night. The other family teams are in action today and tomorrow. 

Do not forget that tomorrow is Veterans Day! Hug a veteran! OK, just say thank you for your service. For those who have a holiday tomorrow--enjoy the day. Veterans Day was when I used to set up the outside Christmas lights and decorations, although we did not light them until after Thanksgiving. Living in a condo, we do not have outside decorations anymore.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL


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