Monday Musings - July 22, 2024

 

1. Welcome to the 4th Monday of July 2024. I am pretty sure the week past will be one of the most talked about in the history of the U.S. There are 23 Mondays remaining in the year. 

Wildcats Junior Legion Team Gambrills
Hanover, MD
July 21, 2024

2. In a follow-up to yesterday's post, my grandson's baseball team did face the team from Boonsboro that defeated them in the opening round of the tournament. It was a double elimination situation and so they had to beat the team twice twice to win the championship. The did just that coming from behind in both games to win 13-12 and 11-10. It was a thrilling evening of baseball.

3. As President Biden stepped off the reelection stage, I was filled with many emotions and concerns. As Chris will attest, I felt that it might happen this weekend. I respect his decision although in my heart I do not agree with it. I still believe that he has the best vision for America and its place in the world of any leader. I listened to his press conference after the NATO conference and his detailed, cogent answers to complicated questions were spectacular. No, at times he does not come off well and he pauses and stumbles, but do we want a smooth talking "snake-oil" salesperson as president or one who understands the issues facing the country and has already demonstrated that the ability to put together and effective team to deal with them? 

4. A couple more things about the our president. I keep hearing the republicans complain about immigration, energy, and runaway inflation. They are disingenuous on all three points. 

a. Trump had four years as president to solve the border problem. He didn't! The Obama and Biden administrations each deported more illegals than Trump did. Look it up. And the connection to crime they continue to spout? Immigrants commit crime at a much lower rate than citizens.  

b. In terms of energy production, the U.S. is second only to China AND is the world leader in oil production. I don't understand how the republicans can strive to "make America the dominant energy producer in the world" (Republican Party Platform) when we already are. America throws away energy, China doesn't have enough.

c. And then there is inflation. Biden ascended to the presidency in the middle of a complete disaster that his predecessor left to him and has forged the strongest economy in the world. There is no runaway inflation--it is about 3 percent and has been stable for over a year. Oh wait, and the consumer price index went down 0.1% during June. I do not know what runaway train the Republicans are on.

5. Today in History. On July 22, 2003, U.S. Army Private Jessica Lynch, a prisoner-of-war who was rescued from an Iraqi hospital, receives a hero’s welcome when she returns to her hometown of Palestine, West Virginia. The story of the 19-year-old supply clerk, who was captured by Iraqi forces in March 2003, gripped America; however, it was later revealed that some details of Lynch’s dramatic capture and rescue might have been exaggerated.

Lynch, who was born April 26, 1983, was part of the 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company from Fort Bliss, Texas. On March 23, 2003, just days after the U.S. invaded Iraq, Lynch was riding in a supply convoy when her unit took a wrong turn and was ambushed by Iraqi forces near Nasiriya. Eleven American soldiers died and four others besides Lynch were captured.

Analysis If Biden’s gamble pays off, he may be one of the most successful one-term presidents - CNN

Navy aviator scores first air-to-air victory by a US female fighter pilot - CNN

Israel strikes Yemen for the first time following deadly Houthi drone attack. Here’s what we know - CNN

Netanyahu heads to Washington, says Israel will remain key US ally whoever replaces Biden - Reuters

China cuts several major interest rates to support fragile economy - Reuters

Nuclear wildcard reignites Australia's climate wars - Reuters

Ukraine's debt woes during wartime - Reuters

72-year-old fends off grizzly bear with handgun while picking huckleberries - The Washington Post 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - July 15, 2024

 

1. Already, the third Monday of July has arrived. It is going to be a hot and wild summer it seems. There are 24 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. It was a very sobering weekend, given what happened in Butler, PA with the attempted assignation. I was distressed at the misinformation and fake news that followed the attempt. Why must people continue to twist events for their own benefit and intentionally mislead others. It is a dangerous world in so many ways. Elections should be resolved at the voting box and not by an assassin's bullet.

Monkeys at the Zoo
Palm Beach Zoo, West Palm Beach, FL
July 13, 2024

3. The monkeys at the zoo the other day seemed to have the right idea. Just go out and play! They were having a great time hanging around and swinging. 

4. Project 2025 has been the topic of much discussion. I have been attempting to read it to better understand the position of the conservative movement and to have some ground truth (if there is such a thing anymore) when I read assessments of the plan. I have posted a link for everyone to access the massive document and see for themselves. My initial assessment is that if you are a white, evangelical Christian with no disabilities and who believes that everyone must be like you--this is the plan for you. 

5. With the start of the Republican National Convention today, we need to listed closely to what is being advocated and not just what is being said. I am seeing phrases like protecting freedom being coupled with plans that actually take freedoms away from groups people. 

6. Today in History. On July 15, 2006, the San Francisco-based podcasting company Odeo officially releases Twttr—later changed to Twitter—its short messaging service (SMS) for groups, to the public. 

Born as a side project apart from Odeo’s main podcasting platform, the free application allowed users to share short status updates with groups of friends by sending one text message to a single number (“40404”). Over the next few years, as Twttr became Twitter, the simple “microblogging” service would explode in popularity, becoming one of the world’s leading social networking platforms.

RNC to kick off just days after Trump assassination attempt - CNN

After assassination attempt on Trump, Biden’s political challenge changes in an instant - CNN

We built our world for a climate that no longer exists - CNN

China's economy falters, raises pressure for more stimulus - Reuters

China new home prices fall at fastest pace in 9 years, more support needed - Reuters

Israel launches new Gaza strikes after weekend attack kills scores in safe zone - Reuters

Ukraine's mobilisation campaign picks up despite faltering enthusiasm - Reuters

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - July 8, 2024

 

1. It is the 2nd Monday of July. Wow, time flies! There are three Mondays remaining in the month and only 25 Mondays remaining in the year. 

Les Deux Raies
Henri Matisse
Norton Museum of Art
West Palm Beach, FL

2. One piece of art which intrigued me at the Norton this week was Matisse's Les Deux Races (The Two Rays). I had not been exposed to the work before and found it to be very much to my liking. There are a couple other works that I will be sharing in the coming days. There was one somewhat controversial work, Huck and Jim by Charles Ray, that I found intriguing, but will not share my image. 

3. The show, Expedition Unknown has an episode titled Traitor's Treasure about the infamous Doan Gang of Bucks County, PA. The Doan Gang were some of the worst outlaws of the Revolutionary War period. They were Loyalists who supported the Monarchy. I am not proud of that. I am related to, but not directly through the Doan Gang. 

4. Russia is continuing to violate the Laws of Armed Conflict most recently by attaching a children's hospital. These violations must not be allowed to continue and the U.S. and the West must provide better and more capable conflict changing weapons to defeat Putin and is aggression once and for all. 

5. Immigration conundrum. During Trump’s term in office from January 2017 to January 2021, deportations by U.S. immigration and border authorities fell lower than most years of his Democratic predecessor Barack Obama, who some advocates for immigrants dubbed the “deporter-in-chief.”

Biden had even fewer deportations than Trump during his first two years in office. But, faced with much higher numbers of migrants arriving at the border, he greatly increased deportations – including those of families – in federal fiscal year 2023 and the first five months of the 2024 fiscal year, outpacing Trump. (Reuters)

6. Today in History. On July 8, 1951, Paris, the capital city of France, celebrates turning 2,000 years old. In fact, a few more candles would’ve technically been required on the birthday cake, as the City of Lights was most likely founded around 250 B.C.

The history of Paris can be traced back to a Gallic tribe known as the Parisii, who sometime around 250 B.C. settled an island (known today as Ile de la Cite) in the Seine River, which runs through present-day Paris. By 52 B.C., Julius Caesar and the Romans had taken over the area, which eventually became Christianized and known as Lutetia, Latin for “midwater dwelling.” The settlement later spread to both the left and right banks of the Seine and the name Lutetia was replaced with “Paris.” In 987 A.D., Paris became the capital of France. As the city grew, the Left Bank earned a reputation as the intellectual district while the Right Bank became known for business.

Beryl slams Texas with extreme rainfall, life-threatening storm surge - CNN

France rejects far right, plunges into uncertainty after stunning election result - CNN

Russia attacks Ukraine's largest children's medical center - CNN

Boeing to plead guilty to fraud in US probe of fatal 737 MAX crashes - Reuters

Biden is now deporting more people than Trump - Reuters

Samsung Electronics workers strike as union voice grows in South Korea - Reuters

Insurers Pocketed $50 Billion From Medicare for Diseases No Doctor Treated - The Wall Street Journal

‘We’re Not Dead Yet.’ Baby Boomers’ Good Times Drive the Economy. - The Wall Street Journal

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - July 1, 2024

 

1. Welcome to the second half of 2024. There are 26 Mondays remaining in the year and 4 remaining in July.

2. Happy Canada Day!

3. July is my favorite month of the year! I'm glad that it has arrived. Enjoy the summer!

Gopher Tortoise
Tequesta, FL
June 30, 2024

4. Despite the morning thunderstorms yesterday, Chris and I were able to get out for a short 10-mile bike ride yesterday which brought my total miles ridden for June to 305! It was my third-ever month riding over 300 miles. Along the way we spied a tortoise moving across the sidewalk. I don't usually see them on the sidewalk. It was very different riding during the afternoon. I usually ride during the morning.

5. The pathologic liar, who arguably was the fourth worst president in the history of the United States (C-Span), continued his string of false claims during the debate last week. According to CNN, Candidate Trump made more than 30 false claims during the debate--that is one every 90 seconds. Additionally, he did not provide a plan for the future other than retribution. A quick summary, from CNN follows: Trump’s repeat falsehoods included his assertions that some Democratic-led states allow babies to be executed after birth, that every legal scholar and everybody in general wanted Roe v. Wade overturned, that there were no terror attacks during his presidency, that Iran didn’t fund terror groups during his presidency, that the US has provided more aid to Ukraine than Europe has, that Biden for years referred to Black people as “super predators,” that Biden is planning to quadruple people’s taxes, that then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi turned down 10,000 National Guard troops for the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, that Americans don’t pay the cost of his tariffs on China and other countries, that Europe accepts no American cars, that he is the president who got the Veterans Choice program through Congress, and that fraud marred the results of the 2020 election.

Trump also added some new false claims, such as his assertions that the US currently has its biggest budget deficit and its biggest trade deficit with China. Both records actually occurred under Trump. (CNN)

6. Have you heard the question, are you better now than you were four years ago? Remember, four years ago we were in the COVID-19 pandemic which the then sitting President denied existed until he actually was afflicted by COVID. 

7. Today in History. At midnight on July 1, 1997, Hong Kong reverts to Chinese rule in a ceremony attended by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Prince Charles of Wales, Chinese President Jiang Zemin and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. A few thousand Hong Kongers protested the turnover, which was otherwise celebratory and peaceful.

In 1839, Britain invaded China to crush opposition to its interference in the country’s economic, social, and political affairs. One of Britain’s first acts of the war was to occupy Hong Kong, a sparsely inhabited island off the coast of southeast China. In 1841, China ceded the island to the British with the signing of the Convention of Chuenpi, and in 1842 the Treaty of Nanking was signed, formally ending the First Opium War.

Officials warn Hurricane Beryl will raise water levels by as much as 6 to 9 feet above normal near where it makes landfall - CNN

Car dealerships are racking up millions in losses as CDK outage enters second week - CNN

French parties rush to build anti-far right front - Reuters

Scientists wary of bird flu pandemic 'unfolding in slow motion' - Reuters

Top Democrats rule out replacing Biden amid calls for him to quit 2024 race - Reuters

Russia attacks Ukraine's two largest cities, Kyiv and Kharkiv - Reuters

17 Years, $700 Million Wasted: The Stunning Collapse of New York’s Traffic Moonshot - The Wall Street Journal

The Once-Dominant Rocket Maker Trying to Catch Up to Musk’s SpaceX - The Wall Street Journal

In Effort to Stem Quality Problems, Boeing Agrees to Buy a Longtime Supplier - The New York Times

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

#mondaymusings

Monday Musings - June 24, 2024

 

1. The last Monday of June has arrived. The year is approaching the one-half mark--it is your choice whether that is one-half gone or remaining. There are 27 Mondays remaining in the year.

Mason-Dixon Line Park
GAP Trail
June 16, 2024

2. One of the stops we made during the GAP ride was along the Mason-Dixon Line. There is a small park where the line is paved in white rock and there is a prominent marker. In the image, PA is on the left and MD is on the right side of the line.

3.  It was very good to get home after over a month of almost continuous travel. We began to feel like our home was just another temporary stop. At one point last week, I had slept in five different beds in a seven day period--and none of them were mine!

4. I continue to be amazed by the number of vehicles traveling in excess of what must be 90 mph on the highways and they weave in and out of traffic. There has to be a way to stop them as they make driving dangerous. 

5. On Thursday, Moody’s Analytics, which evaluates risk, performance, and financial modeling, compared the economic promises of President Joe Biden and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. Authors Mark Zandi, Brendan LaCerda, and Justin Begley concluded that while a second Biden presidency would see cooling inflation and continued economic growth of 2.1%, a Trump presidency would be an economic disaster. (Letters from an American)

6. Today in History. On June 24, 1997, U.S. Air Force officials release a 231-page report dismissing long-standing claims of an alien spacecraft crash in Roswell, New Mexico, almost exactly 50 years earlier.

Public interest in Unidentified Flying Objects, or UFOs, began to flourish in the 1940s, when developments in space travel and the dawn of the atomic age caused many Americans to turn their attention to the skies. The town of Roswell, located near the Pecos River in southeastern New Mexico, became a magnet for UFO believers due to the strange events of early July 1947, when ranch foreman W.W. Brazel found a strange, shiny material scattered over some of his land. He turned the material over to the sheriff, who passed it on to authorities at the nearby Air Force base. On July 8, Air Force officials announced they had recovered the wreckage of a “flying disk.” A local newspaper put the story on its front page, launching Roswell into the spotlight of the public’s UFO fascination. 

US aircraft carrier arrives in South Korea as Russia-North Korea defense pact deepens regional fears - CNN

Unrelenting heat wave set to shift into the South today - CNN

Blaze in South Korea battery plant kills 22 workers - Reuters

Ukraine inches closer to EU dream after decade of war - Reuters

Ukraine’s Naval Drones Turn the Tide in the Battle of the Black Sea - The Wall Street Journal

The Texas Factory About to Become a Key Ammo Supplier for the U.S., Ukraine - The Wall Street Journal

Americans Are All Over Europe This Summer. Here’s How to Outsmart the Crowds. - The Wall Street Journal

Hajj heat wave deaths underscore climate threat for most vulnerable - The Washington Post

Abortion Debate Shifts as Election Nears: ‘Now It’s About Pregnancy - The New York Times

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

#MondayMusings

Monday Musings - June 3, 2024

 

1. Monday musings in back! Welcome to the first Monday of June!. This is the month that Summer begins with the Summer Solstice. There are only 30 Mondays remaining in the year. 

Calm Day on the Loxahatchee River
Tequesta, FL
June 2, 2024

2. I seem to enjoy activities that begins with the letter B. Some that I can think of are: biking, boating, and beaching.

3. I got out for a pleasant 17 mile ride yesterday. It was earlier than usual and the traffic, being a Sunday, was pleasantly light. Stopping on the Tequesta Loxahatchee Bridge as I neared the end of the ride I saw that it was a fairly good day on the water. I, of course, wished that I could be out in a boat. 

4. My grill died! Ugh. That is a travesty. Chris and I are now grill shopping. We are quite limited in our selection as it must be electric and have a surface area of no more than 200 square inches. Also, we do not have a large spot on our patio to support a grill station. 

5. I have avoided the topic of the former President's conviction intentionally, but I have happened upon items that need to be remembered. The Biden administration did not convict the former president--a jury of 12 peers in New York City did. One wonders why Trump is so unliked in the city he called home for decades. At least that is what he professes. Trump has been involved in over 4,000 legal proceedings during his career, the only reason this one was different is because he is a former president. He kept saying he was being treated unfairly, and he was because unlike any of us in a similar situation he was not in jail and is freely able to travel around the country. Finally, the eight Senators who signed the letter pledging not to do their jobs should be impeached for not carrying out the business they were elected to do and are required to do under The Constitution. I note that both of Florida's senators signed the letter.

6. Today in History. On June 3, 1943, a group of U.S. sailors marches through downtown Los Angeles, carrying clubs and other makeshift weapons and attacking anyone wearing a “zoot suit”—the baggy wool pants, oversized coats and porkpie hats favored by many young men of color at the time. 

Over the next week, the so-called Zoot Suit Riots spread throughout the city, including the largely Mexican-American neighborhood of East Los Angeles and the largely Black neighborhood of Watts. The riots marked the culmination of simmering racial tensions in Los Angeles, set against the backdrop of World War II.

Judge blocks key defense evidence in Hunter Biden gun trial - CNN

 Fact check Trump falsely claims he didn’t call to lock up Hillary Clinton - CNN

The far-right Proud Boys rebuilding, rallying behind Trump - Reuters

OPEC+ extends deep oil production cuts into 2025 - Reuters

Russia warns US against 'fatal' miscalculation in Ukraine - Reuters

The U.S. Gave Chip Makers Billions. Now Comes the Hard Part. - The Wall Street Journal

China Is 'Prepositioning' for Future Cyberattacks—and the New NSA Chief Is Worried - The Wall Street journal

‘She Hooked Me’: How an Online Scam Cost a Senior Citizen His Life’s Savings - The Wall Street Journal

Mexico elects its first female president - The Washington Post

The B-17 blew apart in an instant. The memory has burned for 80 years. - The Washington Post

A Surging Hard Right in Europe Stumbles Over Its Own Divisions - The New York Times

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

#mondaymusings

Monday Musings - May 6, 2024

 

1. And it has arrived, the first Monday of May. Yes, the summer is almost upon us! Beware though, there are only 34 Mondays remaining in the year. 

Mustang Mach-E Puddle Light

2. Our new car, the Mustang Mach-E, has something called a puddle light. The car projects a Mustang onto the ground when we come near, but it only seems to happen during periods of darkness. It makes me smile when I see the light as I approach the car.

Lizard on a Palm
Cove Road Park, Port Salerno, FL
May 5, 2024

3. Chris and I did a 12-mile ride yesterday through a state park and to another park where people often put their kayaks into the water. It was a great ride and we saw over 10 tortoises. I had an experience with a lizard. We went eye-to-eye and he wasn't backing down. He made it clear that he owned the palm tree he was clinging upon.

4. In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, we hosted a small gathering of friends last evening. The margaritas were excellent as was the seven-layer dip Chris made. 

5. Is the daily news getting repetitive? 

6. The facts and nothing but the facts. 

What Trump Said: “I even built the embassy. And it’s a beautiful embassy for a lot less money than anybody ever thought possible.”

The Facts: Trump is talking about his decision to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusaem, which he announced in December 2017. In early 2018, Trump claimed the U.S. would spend only $200,000 to $300,000 on the project. The embassy opened in May 2018, with the U.S. originally spending just under $400,000 on modifications to the site. But just months after the opening, Desbuild Limak, a Maryland-based firm, was awarded a $21.2 million contract from the State Department to design an extension and security enhancements—upgrades that put the embassy's cost more than $20 million over budget. (Time Magazine)

7. Today in History. In a May 6, 1994 ceremony presided over by England’s Queen Elizabeth IIand French President Francois Mitterrand, a rail tunnel under the English Channel is officially opened, connecting Britain and the European mainland for the first time since the Ice Age.

The Channel Tunnel, or “Chunnel,” connects Folkestone, England, with Coquelles, France, 31 miles away. The Chunnel cut travel time between England and France to a swift 35 minutes and eventually between London and Paris to two-and-a-half hours.

As the world’s longest undersea tunnel, the Chunnel runs under water for 23 miles, with an average depth of 150 feet below the seabed. Each day, about 30,000 people, 6,000 cars and 3,500 trucks journey through the Chunnel on passenger, shuttle and freight trains.

Analysis Trump’s criminal trial enters a pivotal week as Democrats deal with protest fallout and Speaker Johnson fights for survival again - CNN

Black voters won a big victory in Louisiana. Some White voters said it violated their ‘personal dignity’ - CNN

Bodies found in Mexico confirmed as those of missing American and Australian tourists - CNN

Sea drone warfare has arrived. The U.S. is floundering. - Reuters

Putin orders tactical nuclear weapon drills to deter the West - Reuters

How the Gaza campus protests differ from the Vietnam war era - Reuters

​​Putin is forging a new Russia: Ultraconservative, militarized and anti-West - The Washington Post

IDF urges civilians to evacuate parts of Rafah; cease-fire talks at impasse - The Washington Post

Boeing’s Big Space Test: Using Starliner to Ferry NASA Astronauts - The Wall Street Journal

The Science Behind Why the World Is Getting Wetter - The Wall Street Journal

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - April 29, 2024

 

1. It is the final Monday of the five Monday month of April. We are at the end of the first third of the year. There are just 35 Mondays remaining in the year. Next up? Cinco de Mayo!

Bluebird in the Morning
Odenton, MD
April 28, 2024

2. Yesterday, a bluebird perched at the very top of a fir tree. It sat there long enough for me to actually get my phone out of my pocket and snap a pretty good image. I was happy the image of the bird came out so well, I think I had zoomed in as far as possible with the camera.

3. A miraculous thing happened yesterday! The temperature in Maryland rose to above 70 degrees and I was able to don shorts and a tee-shirt leaving the heavier clothes behind. Yay!

4. The Orioles had a difficult series against the Athletics by losing 2 of 3 games. Both of the losses were the result of blown saves in the 9th inning by the closer. Maybe they need to get a new closer. Hopefully things will get better during the upcoming four-game series against the team whose name shall remain unwritten or spoken.

5. Dogs are very intelligent. Nicole's dog, Lily, remembers that we walk Finnegan every day during the morning and keeps a close eye on Chris and I for signs that a walk is imminent. She has not missed a walk yet.

6. Today in History. On April 29, 2004, the World War II Memorial opens in Washington, D.C. to thousands of visitors, providing overdue recognition for the 16 million U.S. men and women who served in the war. The memorial is located on 7.4 acres on the former site of the Rainbow Pool at the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. The Capitol dome is seen to the east, and Arlington Cemetery is just across the Potomac River to the west.

The granite and bronze monument features fountains between arches symbolizing hostilities in Europe and the Far East. The arches are flanked by semicircles of pillars, one each for the states, territories and the District of Columbia. Beyond the pool is a curved wall of 4,000 gold stars, one for every 100 Americans killed in the war. An Announcement Stone proclaims that the memorial honors those “Americans who took up the struggle during the Second World War and made the sacrifices to perpetuate the gift our forefathers entrusted to us: A nation conceived in liberty and justice.”

An El Niño-less summer is coming. What that could mean for the US - CNN

 House Speaker Johnson will face the fallout from his foreign aid package today - CNN

Blinken to Hamas: Accept Israel's 'extraordinarily generous' Gaza truce proposal - Reuters

US lawmakers strike deal to boost aviation safety, will not raise pilot retirement age - Reuters

Ukraine pulls back from three villages in east, Zelenskiy pleads for weapons - Reuters

Russia steps up offensive on east Ukraine village, Kyiv says its forces holding out - Reuters

Regulator Investigates Ford’s Hands-Free Driving System After Fatal Crashes - The Wall Street Journal

In America’s Biggest Oil Field, the Ground Is Swelling and Buckling - The Wall Street Journal

An assassination plot on American soil reveals a darker side of Modi’s India - The Washington Post

Opinion|Is another Trump coup case really necessary? Yes. Arizona matters. - The Washington Post






-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

#mondaymusings

Monday Musings - Monday. April 22, 2024

 

Happy Earth Day

1. Welcome to the fourth Monday of April. Where is the month going? There is one Monday remaining in the month and there are just 36 Mondays remaining in the year. I hope your taxes are filed. 

2. A stadium concert etiquette question:

A person spills an adult beverage onto the people in front of them which leaves puddles in their seats and drenches their concert merchandise. What is the correct response?

a. Say "I'm sorry" and nothing more

b. Assist in getting napkins to help clean the mess

c. Offer to buy a beer later during the concert after feeling guilty for not helping clean the mess

d. Do nothing at all, it is a hazard of attending stadium concerts

e. Offer to replace the damaged merchandise 

Answer:  Apparently it is a combination of "a" and "c". 

 

Kenny Chesney Concert
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
April 20, 2024 at 4:42 PM

3. Chris and I went to the opening concert in Kenny Chesney's summer series Saturday. It was far more than we expected with almost 6 hours of music from four performers/bands. We were exhausted as we left the stadium just about 11 PM. We entered when the gates opened at 4 PM and the music began at 5 PM. It was our first ever stadium concert. 

4. I hope I never get tired of blue skies and almost perfect weather.

5. Protect the planet. We all must do our parts to help the Earth survive the onslaught of humans. As we strip resources and fill the atmosphere and oceans with pollutants and excess heat, we are changing the planet and potentially making it uninhabitable. Go Green!

6. Today in History. Earth Day, an event to increase public awareness of the world’s environmental problems, is celebrated in the United States for the first time on April 22, 1970. Millions of Americans, including students from thousands of colleges and universities, participated in rallies, marches and educational programs across the country. 

Earth Day was the brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, a staunch environmentalist who hoped to provide unity to the grassroots environmental movement and increase ecological awareness. “The objective was to get a nationwide demonstration of concern for the environment so large that it would shake the political establishment out of its lethargy,” Senator Nelson said, “and, finally, force this issue permanently onto the national political agenda.”

Trump's reality as criminal defendant will become clear today - CNN

Israel Defense Forces intelligence chief resigns over Hamas attacks on October 7 - CNN

Documents found on North Korean server suggest US studios may have unknowingly outsourced animation work - CNN

Germany arrests three people suspected of giving technology to China - Reuters

Russia-Ukraine war: What difference will US aid package make? - Reuters

Russia says seizing its frozen assets would set dangerous precedent - Reuters

Nike Shifts Course as Innovation Stalls and Rivals Gain Ground - The Wall Street Journal

Finland Long Believed It Could Tame Russia. Now Moscow Is Enemy No. 1. - The Wall Street Journal

You Can’t Just Book Your Flight and Ignore the Bag Fees Anymore - The Wall Street Journal

The pandemic cost 7 million lives, but talks to prevent a repeat stall - The Washington Post

How Trump has become angrier and more isolated on Truth Social - The Washington Post

Bird Flu Is Infecting More Mammals. What Does That Mean for People? - The New York Times

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - April 15, 2024

1. Happy Tax Day! I hope your taxes are complete and you have either received a refund or made your payment. Whew, that's over for another year.

AL East Standings as of Games Through April 14, 2024

2. It is the 3rd Monday of April, if you can believe it! There are 37 Mondays remaining in the year. Get busy with your summer plans!

3.  The Orioles are alive. I have to admit that they are not playing the best baseball yes and 7 of their 9 wins have been come-from-behind victories. It is time to get the pitchers under control and the batters swinging the wood. The Orioles were outscores 26-12 in their last series, but managed a hard fought 6-4 win yesterday as Jackson Holiday recorded his first hit in a MLB game. He has an .067 batting average right now--but I expect him to have some solid numbers soon.

4. Which is worse? Someone accidentally speeding up to 52 mph in a 30 mph zone on a street with no traffic or someone at 90 mph in a 65 mph zone on a crowded 8-lane interstate weaving through traffic? 

5. From the I can't believe it category. 

Today, [Sunday April 14, 2024] on ABC’s This Week, host George Stephanopoulos asked New Hampshire governor Chris Sununu about his recent switch from supporting former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley for the Republican presidential nomination to supporting former president Trump. 

“Just to sum up,” Stephanopoulos said, “You support [Trump] for president even if he's convicted in [the] classified documents [case]. You support him for president even though you believe he contributed to an insurrection. You support him for president even though you believe he's lying about the last election. You support him for president even if he's convicted in the Manhattan case. I just want to say, the answer to that is yes, correct?”

Sununu answered: “Yeah. Me and 51% of America.”  (Letters from an American)

Today in History. On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson, age 28, becomes the first African American player in Major League Baseball's modern era when he steps onto Ebbets Field in Brooklyn to compete for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson broke the color barrier in a sport that had been segregated for more than 50 years. Exactly 50 years later, on April 15, 1997, Robinson’s groundbreaking career was honored and his uniform number, 42, was retired from Major League Baseball by Commissioner Bud Selig in a ceremony attended by over 50,000 fans at New York City’s Shea Stadium. Robinson’s was the first-ever number retired by all teams in the league.

Trump shatters another norm with historic criminal trial - CNN

Israel vows to ‘exact a price’ from Iran after an unprecedented large-scale attack - CNN

Today is Tax Day. The IRS expects ‘tens of millions’ of returns to be filed at the last minute - CNN

Oil slips as risk premium eases after Iran attack - Reuters

Floods grip Kazakhstan and Russia as tributaries of Ob rise - Reuters

China indicates man executed for spying had sold secrets to US - Reuters

How the U.S. Forged a Fragile Alliance to Fend Off Iran’s Attack on Israel - The Wall Street Journal

Hybrids Extend Lead Over EVs in Green Vehicle Race - The Wall Street Journal

2 Police Officers Are Killed in Shootout Near Syracuse - The New York Times

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

#mondaymusings #orioles #taxday