Monday Musings - October 7, 2024

 

1. It has taken a full seven days, but the first Monday of October has arrived. Whew. There are just 12 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. Family NFL Report. Family teams went 4-1 with Chiefs to play tonight. The Ravens snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in a thrilling but frustrating overtime period.   

Cowboys (3-2) last minute come from behind to defeat  Steelers (3-2), 20-17  

Ravens (3-2) snatched victory from Bengals (1-4), 34-13

Commanders (4-1) dominate Browns (1-4), 42-14

Dolphins (2-3) swim past Patriots (1-4), 15-10

Chiefs (4-0) face Saints (2-2), tonight  

Hurricane Melton Track
As of 7 AM September 7, 2024

3. We continue to keep a close eye on Hurricane Melton. The track has remained relatively steady. We are just on the edge of the cone. We expect tropical storm level winds to arrive during the Wednesday morning hours. The rainfall total was reduced to 4-6 inches overnight and that is down from 6-8 inches. 

4. Words matter. Trump and Vance are potentially facing charges in Springfield, Ohio, for their false statements about the Haitian immigrants there. The Associated Press reports: Trump and Vance, a U.S. senator from Ohio, are charged with disrupting public services, making false alarms, telecommunications harassment, aggravated menacing and complicity. The filing asks the Clark County Municipal Court to affirm that there is probable cause and issue arrest warrants against Trump and Vance.

5. Words really matter and can impede needed assistance. This morning [yesterday, Sunday October 6] began with a CNN headline story by fact checker Daniel Dale, titled “Six days of Trump lies about the Hurricane Helene response.” Dale noted that Republican nominee for president Donald Trump has been one of the chief sources of the disinformation that has badly hampered recovery efforts. (Letters from an American)

6. Today in History. On October 7, 2001, a U.S.-led coalition begins attacks on Taliban-controlled Afghanistan with an intense bombing campaign by American and British forces. Logistical support was provided by other nations including France, Germany, Australia and Canada and, later, troops were provided by the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance rebels. The invasion of Afghanistan was the opening salvo in the United States “war on terror” and a response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. The conflict in Afghanistan would span two decades and become the longest war in U.S. history. 

Dubbed “Operation Enduring Freedom” in U.S. military parlance, the invasion of Afghanistan was intended to target terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda organization, which was based in the country, as well as the extreme fundamentalist Taliban government that had ruled most of the country since 1996 and supported and protected al-Qaeda. 

Ignore the misinformation on social media. The VP’s proposal would only affect those whose net worth is more than $100 million - CNN

Hezbollah rocket attack hurts at least 5 people in northern Israeli city of Haifa, hospital says - CNN

Fact check Trump’s six days of lies about Hurricane Helene response debunked - CNN

Israel bombs Lebanon, Gaza ahead of one-year anniversary of Oct. 7 attacks -Reuters

Gazans wonder how to deal with tons of rubble - Reuters

Ukraine's Zelenskiy to present 'victory plan' at Ramstein meeting - Reuters

Putin’s ‘Merchant of Death’ Is Back in the Arms Business. This Time Selling to the Houthis - The Wall Street Journal

How Alabama Got Rolled in the Biggest Upset in SEC Football History - The Wall Street Journal

Ghost guns, transgender care on Supreme Court agenda as election looms - The Washington Post

Cancer Society 300-mile Challenge Update:

Due to constant rain yesterday, I did not log any miles towards my goal for the month. Thus far, I have logged a total of 97.45 miles. I have 202.55 miles remaining to reach the 300-mile goal. With the hurricane settling into the area, riding may be tough until Friday.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

Monday Musings - September 30, 2024

 

1. It is the final Monday of September. There are just 13 Mondays remaining in the year. Tomorrow is the first day of October and the New Fiscal Year begins!

Birds on the Beach
CocoCay, Bahamas
September 25, 2024

2. Family NFL Report. Family teams went 4-1 with Dolphins to play tonight. The Steelers fell to the Colts leaving the Chiefs the only undefeated family team. The Ravens improved to 2-2 by overwhelming the Bills.  

Cowboys (2-2) defeated Giants (1-3) 20-15 

Ravens (2-2) ran past Bills (3-1), 35-10

Steelers (3-1) were stampeded by Colts (2-2), 24-27

Commanders (3-1) plucked Cardinals (1-3), 42-14

Chiefs (4-0) survived Chargers (2-2), 17-10

Dolphins (1-2) Titans (0-3), Tonight

3. Baseball gets exciting tomorrow with the beginning of the post-season, but before that the Mets and Braves have unfinished business in the form of a doubleheader which will decide which two of three teams, the other being the Diamondbacks, will move into the post-season. The Orioles host the Royals at home beginning at 4:08 PM on Tuesday. This is now the second year in a row that the Orioles have made the post season. While they did not win the division, as they did last year, they earned the first wild card spot and the honor of hosting the opening round of their post-season.

4. Lies, Lies, and more Lies. On Friday and Saturday, Trump lied that Vice President Harris had let 13,000 or 14,000 convicted murderers enter the U.S. in the past three years, who “freely and openly roam our country,” a lie that Elon Musk called “true.” In fact, as CNN’s Daniel Dale pointed out, it is a lie. The Department of Homeland Security clarified that the data to which Trump appeared to refer lists individuals who entered the country over the past 40 years—including during his own term—committed crimes in the U.S. rather than their country of origin, and either are currently incarcerated or have served their sentences but can’t be deported because their country of origin won’t accept them. Such individuals are monitored. (CNN)

5. We have been enjoying the heat here in South Florida. On Friday afternoon the heat index was 109 degrees. Ugh. It is looking better this week with the heat index being in the mid-90s for most days. Maybe autumn is here?

6. Today in History. The USS Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear submarine, is commissioned by the U.S. Navy.

The Nautilus was constructed under the direction of U.S. Navy Captain Hyman G. Rickover, a brilliant Russian-born engineer who joined the U.S. atomic program in 1946. In 1947, he was put in charge of the navy’s nuclear-propulsion program and began work on an atomic submarine. Regarded as a fanatic by his detractors, Rickover succeeded in developing and delivering the world’s first nuclear submarine years ahead of schedule. In 1952, the Nautilus‘ keel was laid by President Harry S. Truman, and on January 21, 1954, first lady Mamie Eisenhower broke a bottle of champagne across its bow as it was launched into the Thames River at Groton, Connecticut. Commissioned on September 30, 1954, it first ran under nuclear power on the morning of January 17, 1955.

 

Israel widens attacks on Iran-backed militant groups - CNN

Fact check 12 election lies Trump is using to set the stage to dispute a potential 2024 defeat - CNN

A Senate investigation discovers new red flags surrounding Jared Kushner's private equity firm - MSNBC

China stocks set for best month in nearly a decade on stimulus cheer - Reuters

Labour's move to tax private education leaves Britain divided - Reuters

North Korea says US military aid to Ukraine is 'incredible mistake' - Reuters

Why Kamala Harris Wants to Stockpile Minerals You’ve Probably Never Heard Of - The Wall Street Journal

Scores are fleeing North Carolina’s flooded towns after Hurricane Helene, which killed at least 87 in six states - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

#mondaymusings

Monday Musings - September 23, 2024

1. Happy Autumn! In case you missed it, Autumn began yesterday. Today is the 4th Monday of September. Next week will mark the last of five September Mondays. There are 14 Mondays remaining in 2024. 

Finn Watching the Cowboys-Ravens Game
Tequesta, FL
September 22, 2024

2. Family NFL Report. Family teams went 3-2 with Commanders to play tonight. The Steelers and Chiefs remain the only undefeated family teams, while the struggling Ravens achieved their first win even while being outscored 19-0 during the 4th quarter. 

Ravens (1-2) held on against Cowboys (1-2), 28-25 

Steelers (3-0) defeated Chargers (2-1), 20-10

Commanders (1-1) play Bengals (0-2), Tonight

Dolphins (1-2) lost to Seahawks (3-0), 3-24

Chiefs (3-0) comeback against Falcons (1-2), 22-17 

3. The Orioles continue their September slide. Fortunately, it appears that all of the teams they are in competition with are also playing poorly. They are 8-11 in September, yet still in contention for the first wild card position.  

4. Trump lies. At an event held by a conservative group in late August, Trump claimed that schools are sending children for gender-affirming surgeries without their parents’ knowledge. He said, “The transgender thing is incredible. Think of it. Your kid goes to school and comes home a few days later with an operation. The school decides what’s going to happen with your child.” (CNN)

5. Fact for the week:

Approximately 10% of people are left-handed.

6.  If they are complaining about it, they are probably doing it. 

7. Today in History. On September 23, 1875, Billy the Kid is arrested for the first time after stealing a basket of laundry. He later broke out of jail and roamed the American West, eventually earning a reputation as an outlaw and murderer and a rap sheet that allegedly included 21 murders.

The exact details of Billy the Kid’s birth are unknown, other than his name, William Henry McCarty. He was probably born sometime between 1859 and 1861, in Indiana or New York. As a child, he had no relationship with his father and moved around with his family, living in Indiana, Kansas, Colorado and Silver City, New Mexico. His mother died in 1874 and Billy the Kid—who went by a variety of names throughout his life, including Kid Antrim and William Bonney—turned to crime soon afterward.

Delays in counting mail-in ballots could make it unlikely to know on election night who won battleground states - CNN

The Middle East is closer to the brink of a catastrophic war - CNN

Trump’s false claims haven’t just triggered a string of bomb threats in Springfield — they’re also draining funds - CNN

Israel says operations in Lebanon will continue until safe for evacuees to return - Reuters

Sri Lankans elect Marxist-leaning Dissanayake as president to fix economy - Reuters

Russian strike on apartment block in Kharkiv injures 21 - Reuters

Bipartisan Spending Deal Would Avert Shutdown, Aid Secret Service - The Wall Street Journal

Harris Makes Undercover Push to Win Over Corporate America - The Wall Street Journal

Congressional leaders reach deal to avert shutdown, boost Secret Service funds - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

Monday Musings - September 16, 2024

 

1. Welcome to the third Monday of September. The month is speeding past meaning that there remain only 15 Monday in the year. 

Kayaks on the Beach
Cove Road Park, FL
September 4, 2024

2. Chris and I completed a 12.5 mile ride on Saturday through Seabranch State Preserve and near Port Salerno. We stopped at Cove Road Park to enjoy the scenery as we looked out upon the ICW. Along the ride we saw three tortoises and enjoyed a relatively quiet Saturday morning. 

3. The news has been crazy lately. I am distressed that some people feel the need to determine the upcoming election through the use of bullets rather than the ballot box. I would hate to have one of the candidates martyred. 

4. Family NFL Report. Family teams went 2-3 this week. The Steelers remain the only undefeated team, while the Ravens are struggling for their first win. 

Ravens (0-2) lost to Raiders (1-1), 23-26 

Steelers (2-0) defeated Broncos (0-2), 13-6

Cowboys (1-1) were blown-out by Saints (2-0), 19-44

Commanders (1-1) defeated Giants (0-2), 21-18

Dolphins (1-1) lost to Bills (2-0), 10-31

5. Financial snapshot past to present:

    S&P 500

         January 15, 2021 - 3768.25 (Last Friday of Trump presidency)

         September 13, 2024 - 5626.02 (Most recent Friday of Biden presidency)

     Change: +1857.77 or 49.30 percent increase

6. Today in History. On September 16, 1620, the Mayflower sails from Plymouth, England, bound for the Americas with 102 passengers. The ship was headed for Virginia, where the colonists—half religious dissenters and half entrepreneurs—had been authorized to settle by the British crown. However, stormy weather and navigational errors forced the Mayflower off course, and on November 21 the “Pilgrims” reached Massachusetts, where they founded the first permanent European settlement in New England in late December.

Thirty-five of the Pilgrims were members of the radical English Separatist Church, who traveled to America to escape the jurisdiction of the Church of England, which they found corrupt. Ten years earlier, English persecution had led a group of Separatists to flee to Holland in search of religious freedom. However, many were dissatisfied with economic opportunities in the Netherlands, and under the direction of William Bradford they decided to immigrate to Virginia, where an English colony had been founded at Jamestown in 1607.

To learn more about the Pilgrims and their time in Leiden, before sailing to England and boarding the Mayflower in Plymouth, read the Pilgrims in Leiden.

Dana Bash and JD Vance clash over baseless claims about Haitian immigrants - CNN

The man detained owns a construction company in Hawaii, had criticized Trump on social media and is a Ukraine supporter - CNN

Germany angers European neighbors as it tightens migration along all land borders - CNN

Boeing strike: bosses bruised, blindsided and on brink of crisis - Reuters

Central European flooding widens as death toll rises - Reuters

US Naval Academy to defend race-conscious admissions policies at trial - Reuters

Ukraine asks UN, ICRC to join humanitarian effort in Russia's Kursk region - Reuters

Ukraine's spy chief says North Korean military aid to Russia presents major battlefield problem - Reuters

Fed Enters Tricky Terrain: Rate Cuts in a Decent Economy - The Wall Street Journal

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

#mondaymusings

Monday Musings - September 9, 2024

 

1. September is moving along. It is already the second Monday meaning that there are only 16 Mondays remaining in 2024!

Chris on the Tequesta
Loxahatchee River Bridge
Tequesta, FL
September 8, 2024

2. It is good to be home. There is something satisfying about walking into our own home after a trip and being able to unwind and relax.

3. Chris and I did an easy 10-mile ride yesterday to get back into prime biking shape. I had gone out on Saturday, but only got 1 mile in before a thorn punctured my back tire. I was not amused and neither was Chris as she had to come retrieve me in the truck.

4. Family NFL Report

Ravens (0-1) lost to Chiefs (1-0), 20-27 (Thursday)

Steelers (1-0) defeated Falcons (0-1), 18-10

Cowboys (1-0) blow-out Browns (0-1), 33-17

Commanders (0-1) defeated by Bucs (1-0), 37-20

Dolphins (1-0) comeback against Jaguars (0-1), 20-17

5. NFL football has returned. I guess that may help me get past the Orioles September slump. Thank goodness the Yankees are having similar problems. 

6. Today in History. The King of Rock and Roll teams up with TV’s reigning variety program, as Elvis Presley appears on “The Ed Sullivan Show” for the first time on September 9, 1956.

After Presley earned big ratings for “The Steve Allen Show,” the Dorsey Brothers “Stage Show” and “The Milton Berle Show,” Sullivan finally reneged on his Presley ban, signing the controversial singing star to an unprecedented $50,000 contract for three appearances. 

With 60 million viewers—or 82.6 percent of TV viewers at the time—tuning in, the appearance garnered the show’s best ratings in two years and became the most-watched TV broadcast of the 1950s.

Trump warms up for debate by threatening to jail election officials - CNN

Shooting suspect’s mom drove 200 miles to Winder, Georgia, after getting cryptic text the morning of the school attack - CNN

An alleged Chinese agent went undetected in New York state government for years. Why it may have taken so long for authorities to act - CNN

A mini Russia emerges in Serbia as thousands flee war - Reuters

Russia focusing on US social media stars to covertly influence voters - Reuters

Google's antitrust trial over online advertising set to begin - Reuters

Iran denies reports of missile transfer to Russia - Reuters

September Is Once Again a Tough Month for Stocks - The Wall Street Journal

Iraqi Banks Used U.S.-Created System to Funnel Funds to Iran - The Wall Street Journal

On social media, a bullied teen found fame among child predators worldwide - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - September 2, 2024

 

Happy Labor Day!

1. The first Monday of September has arrived. The year is 2/3 complete with only 17 Mondays remaining in the year. 

Grapevines at Big Cork
Rohersville, MD
September 1, 2024

2. Don't forget to start that holiday shopping early!

3. We visited my favorite Maryland winery yesterday, Big Cork Vineyards. The wines are tasting great and we thoroughly enjoyed spending a Sunday afternoon talking, drinking wine, and enjoying live music that was not too loud to make conversation difficult. Best wine of the day? Black Label Cabernet Franc ($60), and worth it! Make a tasting reservation and visit Big Cork.

4. Chris and I begin our travel back to Florida via Athens, GA, on Wednesday. 

5. I continue to be confounded by a claim that candidate Trump has repeatedly made that Democrats want to allow abortions even after birth. Please explain to me how an abortion can occur after birth. Once born in the United States, my understanding is that the child has right the rights of citizens and killing them would be murder, not abortion. 

6. Today in History. Aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Japan formally surrenders to the Allies, bringing an end to World War II. 

By the summer of 1945, the defeat of Japan was a foregone conclusion. The Japanese navy and air force were destroyed. The Allied naval blockade of Japan and intensive bombing of Japanese cities had left the country and its economy devastated. At the end of June, the Americans captured Okinawa, a Japanese island from which the Allies could launch an invasion of the main Japanese home islands. U.S. General Douglas MacArthur was put in charge of the invasion, which was code-named “Operation Olympic” and set for November 1945.

Israel erupts in protests and nationwide strike after Hamas killed hostages - CNN

Trump says he had ‘every right to’ interfere with presidential election - CNN

Disney pulls ABC, ESPN and other channels from DirecTV in carriage standoff - CNN

Far-right state win shakes Germany's fragile coalition - Reuters

Russian missile attack rocks Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine - Reuters

New unproductive forces: the Chinese youth owning their unemployment - Reuters

Hardened Voter Pessimism About America’s Trajectory Begins to Soften - The Wall Street Journal

Ukraine Strikes Moscow Oil Refinery in Massive Drone Barrage - The Wall Street Journal

A school cop was accused of sexual misconduct with kids. He kept his job for years. - The Washington Post

‘Dark’ tanker crash exposes dangers of China’s thirst for cheap oil - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Monday Musings - August 26, 2024

 

1. The 4th and last Monday of August has arrived. Next week we celebrate Labor Day. Don't look now, but only 18 Mondays remain in the year. 

Maple Tree with Color
Stonehenge's Golf Course
Groton, NY
August 24, 2024

2. Autumn is coming. Chris and I saw leaves beginning to change on the maple trees in Central New York! Even on the golf course. That went along with the low 50 degree temperatures we experienced during our visit to Cortland and Groton. 

3. We took the less traveled route back from New York yesterday. We chose Route 15 for the ride and were careful to avoid the area in Williamsport where the Little League World Series was being played. 

4. Congratulations to the team from Florida on winning the Little League World Series.

5. Golf is a fun game if not taken too seriously

6. I cannot fathom how any active, retired, or veteran military person could vote for or work for Trump. He does not respect the military. An article in Cardinal & Pine published June 25, 2024, details six separate occasions in which Trump disparaged the military. The six are below but the article contains details. 

2015: Disparaged John McCain’s POW experience
2016: Publicly insulted a Gold Star family
2017: Expressed distaste for wounded veterans
2018: Called WWI casualties “losers” and “suckers”
2018: Dismissed Navy SEAL Commander Adm. William McRaven
2020: Downplayed troops’ injuries following missile attack in Iraq

7. Today in History. On August 26, 1939, the first televised Major League baseball game is broadcast on station W2XBS, the station that was to become WNBC-TV. Announcer Red Barber called the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York.

At the time, television was still in its infancy. Regular programming did not yet exist, and very few people owned television sets—there were only about 400 in the New York area. Not until 1946 did regular network broadcasting catch on in the United States, and only in the mid-1950s did television sets become more common in the American household.

Trump’s personal attacks aren’t just who he is. They’re his strategy - CNN

Western airlines were excited about returning to China after Covid. But not anymore - CNN

Spacecraft slingshots around Earth and the moon in a historic first on its way to Jupiter - CNN

SpaceX’s Risky Next Mission: The First Private Spacewalk - The Wall Street Journal

U.S. Nuclear Missile Silos Need Modernizing, but Fixes Aren’t Coming Soon - The Wall Street Journal

Families flee after new Israeli evacuation orders in Gaza as ceasefire hopes dim - Reuters

Russia launches massive missile and drone attack on Ukraine, Kyiv says - Reuters

North Korea's Kim Jong Un oversees tests of 'suicide drones' - Reuters

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

#mondaymusings

Monday Musings - August 19, 2024

 

1. Welcome to the third Monday of August. There are 19 Mondays remaining in the year. 

Out the Hotel Window
Dunn, NC
August 18, 2024

2. Chris and I were amazed when we looked at the temperature this morning in Dunn, NC. It was 69 degrees and foggy. I am more used to the numerals being reversed. It was pleasant this morning as I took Finn for a walk. 

3. My take away from driving I-95 yesterday is that drivers proceeding at excessive speed is the most dangerous thing we face on the highways today. Their rapid lane changes and approach speeds mean that I must be almost as keenly aware of what is happening behind me as well as planning for what is ahead.

4. FACEBOOK has not yet responded regarding the post they took down on Saturday. I had expected a response this morning, but they remain silent.

5. We head out on day 2 of our trip this morning. I am hoping for more good weather and no major traffic tie-ups between Richmond and DC.

6. Today in History. On August 19, 1909, the first race is held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, now the home of the world’s most famous motor racing competition, the Indianapolis 500.

Built on 328 acres of farmland five miles northwest of Indianapolis, Indiana, the speedway was started by local businessmen as a testing facility for Indiana’s growing automobile industry. The idea was that occasional races at the track would pit cars from different manufacturers against each other. After seeing what these cars could do, spectators would presumably head down to the showroom of their choice to get a closer look.

The rectangular two-and-a-half-mile track linked four turns, each exactly 440 yards from start to finish, by two long and two short straight sections. In that first five-mile race on August 19, 1909, 12,000 spectators watched Austrian engineer Louis Schwitzer win with an average speed of 57.4 miles per hour. The track’s surface of crushed rock and tar proved a disaster, breaking up in a number of places and causing the deaths of two drivers, two mechanics and two spectators.

Analysis The party will kick off a convention that was hastily reconfigured to try to vault Kamala Harris to a historic presidency - CNN

When and how to see the rare super blue moon - CNN

Ukraine aims to create Kursk ‘buffer zone,’ Zelensky says, as Kyiv’s forces blow up second Russian bridge - CNN

Blinken warns Israel, Hamas of last chance to end Gaza war - Reuters

Venezuelan opposition protests as election dispute drags on - Reuters

South Korea, US kick off annual drills over North's military, cyber threats - Reuters

Trump and Harris Duke It Out on Social Media - The Wall Street Journal

Flash floods in Connecticut, as some towns hit by ‘1,000-year’ rain events - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Dunn, NC

#mondaymusings