Monday Musings - July 6, 2026

 1. Happy first Monday of July and the first Monday of the second half of 2026. There are 25 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2.  In World Cup news, the Round of 16 has been halved and two of the three hosts of the championship were eliminated: Mexico and Canada. The US plays tonight and hopefully will post a different result, although we may be handicapped in the field of public opinion by Balogun's one-game suspension reversal.

3. The Orioles completed another mediocre week and continue to play at a .400 level going 4-6 in their past 10 games. They remain 7 games below .500, are 12 games back in the division, and 3.5 games out of a Wild Card invite. They are definitely limping into the All Star break next week.

Ella with Finn
Tequesta, FL
July 4, 2026

4. Finn was the hit of the 4th of July party we attended Saturday. The party was hosted by Mary and Fran and attended by friends we had not seen in a long time due to the group's collective travel schedules. Finn was great, except for chasing after Marley, one of their cats, on one occasion.

5. There are scary things being written by our president that portend a difficult time ahead. It was reported in a piece titled, The ground is shifting beneath Donald Trump, that: 

He [Trump] also reshared, earlier that morning [Sunday the 5th] at 11:16, a post that deserves far more attention than it has received. It came from an account called Geiger Capital, and it read: “Just 100 years ago, England was the greatest empire the world had ever seen. A few generations later, they are a deindustrialized welfare zone unable to stop third-world men from invading on rubber boats. Decline happens fast. Weak leaders and suicidal empathy.”

The phrase “suicidal empathy” circulates in white nationalist and far-right spaces, and it means exactly what it sounds like: that compassion toward immigrants, toward refugees, toward people who are different from you is not just misguided but is an act of civilizational self-destruction. That caring about other human beings is a disease and that empathy itself is the enemy. The president of the United States amplified that message to millions of people on the morning after hundreds of white nationalists marched through the nation’s capital.

6. Today in History. On July 6, 1957, Althea Gibson claims the women’s singles tennis title at Wimbledon and becomes the first African American to win a championship at London’s All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

Gibson was born on August 25, 1927, in Silver, South Carolina, and raised in the Harlem section of New York City. She began playing tennis as a teenager and went on to win the national Black women’s championship twice. At a time when tennis was largely segregated, four-time U.S. Nationals winner Alice Marble advocated on Gibson’s behalf and the 5’11” player was invited to make her United States National Championships (now known as the U.S. Open) debut in 1950. In 1956, Gibson’s tennis career took off and she won the singles title at the French Championships (now known as the French Open)—the first African American to do so—as well as the doubles’ title there.

Crowds fill Tehran's streets for slain ayatollah's funeral procession - Reuters

Trump intervention causes World Cup storm as FIFA clears US striker Balogun to face Belgium - Reuters

Supreme Court ruling may wipe out Democrats' cash advantage in Senate battlegrounds - Reuters

Russian strikes kill 12 in Kyiv as Ukraine runs low on air defences - Reuters

China test fires missile into Pacific, alarming regional powers - Reuters

Speaker Johnson says House will pass Trump’s voter ID bill through arduous process after GOP revolt - CNN

Super typhoon smacks into US Pacific island territories home to key military bases - CNN

White nationalist group hosts July 4 rally with hundreds of masked attendees - MSNow

Air Force Detains Officer Who Called for Trump’s Impeachment at Capitol - The New York Times

Belgium reportedly granted right to appeal FIFA's decision on USA World Cup star - FoxNews

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - June 29, 2026

 1. Today is the last Monday of June and it is also the final Monday of the first half of 2026. There are 26 Mondays remaining in the year. 

I-15 through Virgin River Gorge
Arizona
June 18, 2026

2. I made it back out onto my bike yesterday for a ride. I rode almost 21 miles in my return to the streets after the vacation layoff. While the road was clear and dry at my house, for a while I was following a rainstorm that was drenching neighborhoods. I only received a few sprinkles near the end of my trek, but funny enough there was never any rain at home. 

3. The Orioles are falling in the standings. They are 4-6 in their last 10 games and are now 7 games below .500 and 11 games out of first place in the division. 

4. Saturday marks the 250th birthday of the United States. I think that many people feel similarly to me. I am a proud American, but am not proud about what the leadership of our country is doing. This is definitely not the Golden Age of America. 

5. It is hard to believe that one week ago, we were in the Las Vegas area preparing to travel back home. My how time really does seem to pass quickly. 

6. Today in History. On June 29, 1995, the American space shuttle to form the largest man-made satellite ever to orbit the Earth.

This historic moment of cooperation between former rival space programs was also the 100th human space mission in American history. At the time, Daniel Goldin, chief of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), called it the beginning of “a new era of friendship and cooperation” between the U.S. and Russia. With millions of viewers watching on television, Atlantis blasted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in eastern Florida on June 27, 1995.

Shattered tiles, trembling domes: How the war has damaged Iran’s historic sites - Reuters

Israel destroys Hezbollah underground infrastructure in southern Lebanon - Reuters

Happy birthday, America? At 250, nation may be too divided to celebrate as one - Reuters

Southeastern Europe feels effects of heatwave, wildfires break out  - Reuters

Russia pounds on the gates of Ukraine's 'fortress belt' - Reuters

Breaking News Comcast says it will spin off NBCUniversal - CNN

Venezuela earthquake rescue teams listen for signs of life as death toll mounts - CNN

U.S. Reaches Deal With Iran to Halt Attacks, Official Says - The New York Times

‘Heat Dome’ Could Bring Triple-Digit Temperatures to Midwest and Eastern U.S. - The New York Times

Trump’s harassment of the Iranian World Cup team is pitiful security theater - MS Now

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - June 22, 2026

 1. Summer has arrived! It showed up yesterday and today is the first full day of the best season of the year. Today is also the 4th Monday of June. The year is nearing the half way point with just 27 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. We have been enjoying Las Vegas. Today is a travel day, but we are not departing until late tonight. We will arrive home tomorrow morning. We have been experiencing some high temperatures--up to 108 degrees! We have been minimizing our time outdoors in the heat and have been drinking a lot of water to stay hydrated. We came upon the heat warning sign at a state park we visited yesterday. 

3. We are being kicked out of our hotel at 10 AM today and need to find something to do for about 10 hours. I always thought 12 noon was the standard be out of the room time. We have planned to visit the Hoover Dam, which will be good for about 4 hours. It is too hot to sit around outside for very long. 

4. Chris and I have done some really interesting things while we have been in Vegas. Yesterday, we visited Valley of Fire State Park! It is definitely something that should be on everyone's visit list. I'll write more about it in a future blog.

5. Well, the Iran war is over. Or is it? Did we win? Lose? Or draw? According to a Newsweek article, the situation on the ground seems to be as follows: 

The U.S. laid out several goals when it joined Israel with strikes against Iran on February 28. It succeeded in beating down Iran's conventional military power. But it did not fully achieve the White House's other stated objectives: eliminating the threat of Iranian nuclear weapons, regime change, dismantling Tehran's support for proxy groups and wiping out its ballistic missile capacity. (Newsweek)

6. Today in History. On June 22, 1944, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the G.I. Bill, an unprecedented act of legislation designed to compensate returning members of the armed services—known as G.I.s—for their efforts in World War II.

As the last of its sweeping New Deal reforms, Roosevelt’s administration created the G.I. Bill (officially the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944) hoping to avoid a relapse into the Great Depression after the war ended. FDR particularly wanted to prevent a repeat of the Bonus March of 1932, when 20,000 unemployed veterans and their families flocked in protest to Washington. The American Legion, a veteran’s organization, successfully fought for many of the provisions included in the bill, which gave returning servicemen access to unemployment compensation, low-interest home and business loans, and—most importantly—funding for education.

UK's Starmer announces resignation, Burnham puts himself forward as successor - Reuters

US authorizes Iranian oil sales amid talks on final peace deal - Reuters

Temperatures to exceed 40C in European heatwave as three die in France - Reuters. (104 degrees Fahrenheit)

People caught vandalizing Washington Reflecting Pool to be fully prosecuted, US Attorney Pirro says - Reuters

Trump’s Iran agreement embraces sanctions relief, a policy he and his team once denounced - CNN

What to know about the New World screwworm - CNN

The Deadly Rise of Giant Trucks and S.U.V.s - The New York Times

Going to a National Park This Summer? Here’s What to Expect.Huge visitor numbers, sharply reduced staffing, scrapped reservation systems and higher entry fees for nonresidents could make your trip a bit less serene. - The New York Times

--  Bob Doan, Las Vegas, NV

Monday Musings - June 15, 2026

 

1. It is the Ides of June. Et tu Brute? Oh wait that was March. It is the 3rd Monday on June. The year is creeping closer to the halfway point and there are only 28 Mondays remaining.

Worn Back Bike Tire
Tequesta, FL
June 12, 2026

2. I finally changed my very worn back bike tire. It was one of the best tire changes that I have recently undertaken. Chris provided the necessary 3rd hand to keep the bead from popping out as I set it around the rim. We worked together remarkably well and the new tire was successfully installed. I did my first ride with it on Saturday morning. 

3. Finn, our Yorkie, reminded us that he is afraid of thunder. Last evening, the storms rolled through and there were a few loud bangs as the lightening came closer. That is going to be a problem for the 4th of July as our area is incredibly loud with celebratory fireworks. 

4. Every time I think the Orioles are playing better, they take steps to prove me wrong. During the week, they dropped 2.5 games down in the standings. 

5. The announcement of the end of the Iran war is typically void of details. But, the news is at least hopeful since both the US and the Iranians made the announcement and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and the end of the US blockade of Iranian ports seem to be in agreement by both sides. Nothing yet on the Iranian nuclear program, however. It will be tough to claim victory when the principle reason for beginning the conflict remains unresolved. 

6. Today in History. Following a revolt by the English nobility against his rule, King John puts his royal seal on Magna Carta, or “the Great Charter,” on June 15, 1215. The document, essentially a peace treaty between John and his barons, guaranteed that the king would respect feudal rights and privileges, uphold the freedom of the church, and maintain the nation’s laws. Although more a reactionary than a progressive document in its day, Magna Carta was seen as a cornerstone in the development of democratic England by later generations.

John was enthroned as king of England following the death of his brother, King Richard the Lion-Hearted, in 1199. King John’s reign was characterized by failure. He lost the duchy of Normandy to the French king and taxed the English nobility heavily to pay for his foreign misadventures. He quarreled with Pope Innocent III and sold church offices to build up the depleted royal coffers. Following the defeat of a campaign to regain Normandy in 1214, Stephen Langton, the archbishop of Canterbury, called on the disgruntled barons to demand a charter of liberties from the king.

Iran, US agree to halt war and reopen Hormuz, sending oil prices tumbling - Reuters

Historic Kyiv monastery damaged, 10 people killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine - Reuters

SpaceX set to extend rally after record Wall Street debut - Reuters

Trump's support in rural America slips, Reuters/Ipsos poll shows - Reuters

Twelve people killed in Missouri plane crash, skydiving company says - Reuters

China didn’t qualify for the World Cup. But its fans still have a star: a card-wielding referee - CNN

Kennedy Center exterior remains covered after Trump’s name is removed - CNN

Sen. Mitch McConnell hospitalized, his office says - MS Now

Americans’ surveillance crisis is far bigger than Bill Pulte - MS Now

Ukraine Is About to Take a Big Step Toward the European Union - The New York Times

Mysterious remains found in national park sleeping bag identified after 26 years - Fox News

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - June 8, 2026

 

1. Happy Monday. It is the second Monday of June. Summer begins in 13 days! There are 29 Mondays remaining in the year. 

InstaCrate
Tequesta, FL
June 7, 2026

2. It is good to be home. Chris and I took yesterday and just got back into the house. That included doing laundry and making a trek to Costco for supplies. Patrick introduced me to some really nice collapsable crates that make unloading items from a Costco run much easier.

3. Was anyone else embarrassed by our Secretary of Defense at the June 6 remembrance in France? One writer summed it up as follows: 

On the 82nd anniversary of D-Day, Pete Hegseth stood on a bluff above Omaha Beach, among the graves of thousands of Americans who never came home, and turned a solemn remembrance into a political rally. He took the vocabulary of June 6, 1944, and turned it into a far-right anti-immigrant speech. He placed migrants in the rhetorical role the Nazis occupied in actual history. And he did it as a guest in France, standing in a cemetery that exists because France chose to preserve the memory of American sacrifice. (Heather Delaney Reese)

4. The Orioles let one get away yesterday and fell to 4th in the division, 8 games out of first. They are 5-5 in their last 10 games, but for the most part are playing better. I am encouraged. They seem competitive for a Wild Card port in the post-season. 

5. While shopping at Costco yesterday, I made a concerning observation. I noted that in the produce cooler, the normally with packed shelves and stacks of crates in the middle of the cooler were nearly empty. Selections were less than normal. Are supply chain problems beginning to affect produce items? 

6. Next Sunday, which is Flag Day, an abomination will occur at the White House. That the President is hosting an UFC event on the White House lawn for his birthday is nothing other that unbelievable. It continues to clearly demonstrate his contempt for our country and our traditions. I believe he sees our country as nothing more than his personal piggy bank.

7. Today in History. June 8, 1968. James Earl Ray, an escaped American convict, is arrested in London, England, and charged with the assassination of African American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

On April 4, 1968, in Memphis, King was fatally wounded by a sniper’s bullet while standing on the balcony outside his second-story room at the Motel Lorraine. That evening, a Remington .30-06 hunting rifle was found on the sidewalk beside a rooming house one block from the Lorraine Motel. During the next several weeks, the rifle, eyewitness reports, and fingerprints on the weapon all implicated a single suspect: escaped convict James Earl Ray. A two-bit criminal, Ray escaped a Missouri prison in April 1967 while serving a sentence for a holdup. In May 1968, a massive manhunt for Ray began. The FBI eventually determined that he had obtained a Canadian passport under a false identity, which at the time was relatively easy.

On June 8, Scotland Yard investigators arrested Ray at a London airport. Ray was trying to fly to Belgium, with the eventual goal, he later admitted, of reaching Rhodesia. Rhodesia (now called Zimbabwe) was at the time ruled by an oppressive and internationally condemned white minority government. Extradited to the United States, Ray stood before a Memphis judge in March 1969 and pleaded guilty to King’s murder in order to avoid the electric chair. He was sentenced to 99 years in prison.

Epstein abused them. The Justice Department exposed them. Now they’re under attack by haters - Reuters

Israel and Iran attack each other for first time since ceasefire - Reuters

Earthquake of magnitude 7.8 strikes off southern Philippines, 32 feared dead - Reuters

Tumbling tech puts brakes on AI rally, Middle East escalation lifts oil - Reuters

European leaders ready to support ceasefire talks between Ukraine, Russia - Reuters

Search for suspects enters third day after 12 people shot near a festival in Toledo, Ohio - CNN

Knicks fans know they’re seeing something special. They’re flying from around the world to NYC to be a part of it - CNN

How the Drive to Find a Conspiracy Against Trump Rocked the Justice Dept. - The New York Times

Why Trump’s pitiful new health care ‘plan’ is even worse than it appears - MS Now

European troops arrive in Greenland as Trump targets allies with new tariff threats - MS Now

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - June 1, 2026

Southwest 4029 at the Gate
Rochester, NY
May 31, 2026

 1. The month changed over while we were asleep last night. Welcome to June! It is the first Monday of the five during the month, but only 30 Mondays remain in the year!

2. Yesterday was another travel day as we flew from Rochester, NY, to Baltimore, MD. I have to admit, I cannot recall flying to Baltimore from the North and I was excited to see different sights along the flight route. I was especially awed by seeing Three-mile Island nuclear power plant just south of the Harrisburg airport. Sitting, as I was, in a middle seat I was not able to capture an image of the plant. It was a short flight, about 45 minutes. I laughed when the crew advised passengers that it was not a "sip and savor" flight. We needed to finish our beverages expeditiously. 

3. The Orioles are playing much better of late. They are 7-3 for their past 10 games! They are winning series and actually swept the division leading Rays. Maybe they are finally coming together.

4. Cognitive dissonance. If Iran is truly as defeated as the administration says, why can't it deliver terms to Iran and have them accept them? It is clear that the actual situation is being obfuscated when the President writes something like as follows: 

“Iran really wants to make a deal, and it will be a good one for the U.S.A. and those that are with us,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

“The Dumocrats, and various seemingly unpatriotic Republicans, understand that it is MUCH tougher for me to properly do my job and negotiate, when political hacks keep negatively ‘chirping,’ at levels never seen before, over and over again, that I should move faster, or move slower, or go to war, or not go to war, or whatever.” (Raw Story)

Beck in the Wading Pool
Glen Burnie, MD
May 31, 2026

5. We arrived in Glen Burnie yesterday and enjoyed a fantastic afternoon and evening with our youngest grandson and his family. He is a ball of creative energy. I enjoyed helping him down a slide and into the wading pool. It was nice to be out of the cold New York weather and someplace warmer, although we did very much enjoy sitting around the fire pit last evening. 

6. Today in History. On June 1, 1980, CNN (Cable News Network), the world’s first 24-hour television news network, makes its debut. The network signed on from its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, with a lead story about the attempted assassination of civil rights leader Vernon Jordan.

CNN went on to change the notion that news could only be reported at fixed times throughout the day. At the time of CNN’s launch, TV news was dominated by three major networks—ABC, CBS and NBC—and their nightly 30-minute broadcasts.

CNN was the brainchild of Robert “Ted” Turner, a colorful, outspoken businessman dubbed the “Mouth of the South.” Turner was born on November 19, 1938, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and as a child moved with his family to Georgia, where his father ran a successful billboard advertising company. After his father died by suicide in 1963, Turner took over the business and expanded it. In 1970, he bought a failing Atlanta TV station that broadcast old movies and network reruns and within a few years Turner had transformed it into a “superstation,” a concept he pioneered, in which the station was beamed by satellite into homes across the country. Turner later bought the Atlanta Braves baseball team and the Atlanta Hawks basketball team and aired their games on his network, TBS (Turner Broadcasting System). In 1977, Turner gained international fame when he sailed his yacht to victory in the prestigious America’s Cup race.

Iran and US trade strikes, Kuwait comes under fire as diplomacy drags on - Reuters

US takes step to halt Nvidia AI chip shipments to Chinese firms outside China - Reuters

Indo-Pacific nations race to arm themselves - and each other - Reuters

How Trump’s Ukraine aid cuts undermine justice for Russian war crimes - Reuters

3 climbers who fell near treacherous pass on Alaska’s Mount McKinley are dead, 1 rescued - CNN

United flight diverted to Wisconsin after passenger’s ‘multiple attempts’ to breach cockpit, crew member says - CNN

Democrats plan to force GOP lawmakers to answer for Trump’s $1.8 billion fund - MS Now

Law enforcement clashed with agitators breaking curfew outside NJ ICE facility - FoxNews

The MorningDeath from AboveWe look at U.S. boat strikes in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. - The New York Times

-- Bob Doan, Glen Burnie, MD

Monday Musings - May 25, 2026

 Memorial Day 2026

1. It is Memorial Day and the final Monday of May. Whew. Where did the month escape to? Heading into June next week, there are just 31 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. It is good that we, as a nation, take a day to recognize the ultimate sacrifice made by true patriots to secure our freedoms and liberty through the centuries. As this country celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of one of the most consequential documents in human history, The Declaration of Independence, we must rededicate ourselves to creating a nation that embodies the spirit of that document. 

Sandhill Crane
Tequesta, FL
May 24, v2026

3. I enjoyed nice ride yesterday, although the winds was a bit strong at times. OK, really strong. I came across the first Sandhill Crane that I have seen in quite a while. That is was alone was also a bit weird. I normally see them in pairs. Perhaps the other member of the pair is sitting on the nest somewhere?

4. The Orioles managed to split a doubleheader yesterday. Yay. There are still mired in 4th place in the division and starting a series with the Rays today that could drop their season through the floor. Ugh!

5. I'm confused. If Iran is totally destroyed, as the administration declares, why do they get to set the terms of the end of the conflict? Stuff like this does not make sense. To the victor go the spoils and the terms of the conflict's resolution. I'm afraid that our president thought he would get a quick win and be hailed as a warrior hero rather than as a mediocre commander-in-chief. We are wasting our military resources and national treasure in pursuit of fleeting glory that will not happen. 

6. Today in History. Four years after the United States won its independence from Great Britain, 55 state delegates, including George Washington, James Madison and Benjamin Franklin, convene in Philadelphia to compose a new U.S. constitution on May 25, 1787.

The Articles of Confederation, ratified several months before the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781, provided for a loose confederation of U.S. states, which were sovereign in most of their affairs. On paper, Congress—the central authority—had the power to govern foreign affairs, conduct war, and regulate currency, but in practice these powers were sharply limited because Congress was given no authority to enforce its requests to the states for money or troops. By 1786, it was apparent that the Union would soon break up if the Articles of Confederation were not amended or replaced. Five states met in Annapolis, Maryland, to discuss the issue, and all the states were invited to send delegates to a new constitutional convention to be held in Philadelphia.

13 US service members have died in the war with Iran. Here are their stories - CNN

Iran and US play down hopes for imminent breakthrough in war - Reuters

Pope Leo urges world to 'slow down' on AI in fervent first manifesto - Reuters

Dollar drifts lower as oil falls on Hormuz deal optimism - Reuters

Missile and drone strikes kill eight in Russia and Ukraine - Reuters

After 250 years, Revolutionary War-era soldiers finally laid to rest in upstate New York - CNN

Polls show many Republicans don’t believe these three facts. That’s bad for America — and the GOP. - MS Now

All charges dropped against ‘Broadview Six’ after feds admit to errors in case - MS Now

--  Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - May 18, 2026

Mount St Helens Erupting
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Published: February 09, 2010

1. The third Monday of May has arrived. Yup. Only one Monday remains in May and that is also Memorial Day. There are 32 Mondays remaining in the year.

2. Aside from a trip to Home Depot, Chris and I stayed in yesterday and watched movies. None of them were particularly special, but they were entertaining. We tried to watch the Director's Cut of Alien, but gave up after about an hour. I had forgotten how plodding that movie was. 

3. It was oppressive outside. Hot and humid. A true South Florida beginning to Summer. I was encouraged, however, because the high in Odenton, MD, was 86 degrees and we only reached 85 degrees with a nice wind from the ocean. 

4. The Orioles managed a couple wins this past week. They are still playing sub-optimal baseball. They have slipped to fourth place in the division, ten games out of first place. 

5. How interesting is it that a treaty from 1797 provides clear insight into the minds of the founding fathers with respect to the establishment of religion in the United States. The Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the United States of America and the Bey and Subjects of Tripoli of Barbary, signed January 3, 1797, lays out clearly that the current Christian Nationalism push by the administration is not in keeping with the intent of the Constitution's Article 1 regarding the "establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". Article 11 of the referenced treaty makes a very clear statement: 

Article 11.

As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion, — as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen, — and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

6. Today in History. At 8:32 a.m. PDT on May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens, a volcanic peak in southwestern Washington, suffers a massive eruption, killing 57 people and devastating some 210 square miles of wilderness.

Called Louwala-Clough, or “the Smoking Mountain,” by Native Americans, Mount St. Helens is located in the Cascade Range and stood 9,680 feet before its eruption. The volcano has erupted periodically during the last 4,500 years, and the last active period was between 1831 and 1857. On March 20, 1980, noticeable volcanic activity began with a series of earth tremors centered on the ground just beneath the north flank of the mountain. These earthquakes escalated, and on March 27 a minor eruption occurred, and Mount St. Helens began emitting steam and ash through its crater and vents.

How Trump’s crypto venture and Iran’s top exchange tapped into the same industry networks - Reuters

Exclusive: Pakistan deploys jet squadron, thousands of troops to Saudi Arabia during Iran war - Reuters

Global bond rout deepens as Iran war drags on and underscores inflation fears - Reuters

Russia attacks Odesa and Dnipro, Ukraine strikes Belgorod region - Reuters

WHO declares Ebola outbreak an international emergency - Reuters

‘It’s not supposed to look like you’re going to dive in’: Historians criticize Trump’s Reflecting Pool makeover as group sues - CNN

Painful Commute Hits New York as Long Island Rail Road Strikes - The New York Times

A Search for Ways Around Blocked Strait of Hormuz Leads to Syria - The New York Times

Trump’s economy is failing Americans - MSNow

Iran moves to take permanent control of Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping choke point - MSNow

Cheap, healthy food rejected by most Americans as MAHA movement pushes it - FoxNews

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - May 11, 2026

 1. The march of May continues as it is not the second Monday of the Month. In just two short weeks Memorial Day will arrive to announce the unofficial beginning of Summer. There remain 33 Mondays in 2026.

Under the Banyan Trees on Beach Road
Hobe Sound, FL
May 9, 2026

2. A hearty congratulations to the Arundel High School Baseball Team for a thrilling season. It did not end the way we all desired, but still, you all did great. Congrats.

3. Mother's Day was throughly enjoyed by Chris. We ended the day with dinner at Cooper's Hawk  followed by watching one of her favorite movies: The Sound of Music. She also enjoyed hearing from each of her children.

Tortoise Number 4 on my Ride
Tequesta, FL
May 10, 2026

4. I completed an 18-mile ride during which I saw five gopher tortoises. That was the most I have ever seen during a ride. I guess it was a busy day in the tortoise world. It was also the hottest day I've ridden this year. 

5. Saturday, I had to take the truck out for a drive to keep the wheels round and the fluids flowing. I drove the reverse of the rout I had ridden my bike on Friday and was able to get a great image of the banyan trees lining Beach Road in Hobe sound. It is an iconic road and when a tornado damaged the trees a couple years ago, they were speedily repaired and reset. that is why they look a bit thin.

6. The words of Péter Magyar's inauguration speech in Hungary caused me to pause and dream of better times here in the USA. He said, “We inherited a country where politics deliberately pitted Hungarians against each other,” he said, and he explained how Orbán mobilized supporters with hatred and fear, poisoning “the collective psyche of an entire nation.” “The Hungarian state must never again do this to its own citizens,” he said. He vowed to heal the country: “We will once again learn to think of ourselves as one nation,” he promised. (Letters from an American)

7. Today in History. On May 11, 1934, a massive storm sends millions of tons of topsoil flying from across the parched Great Plains region of the United States as far east as New York, Boston and Atlanta.

At the time the Great Plains were settled in the mid-1800s, the land was covered by prairie grass, which held moisture in the earth and kept most of the soil from blowing away even during dry spells. By the early 20th century, however, farmers had plowed under much of the grass to create fields. The U.S. entry into World War I in 1917 caused a great need for wheat, and farms began to push their fields to the limit, plowing under more and more grassland with the newly invented tractor. The plowing continued after the war, when the introduction of even more powerful gasoline tractors sped up the process. During the 1920s, wheat production increased by 300 percent, causing a glut in the market by 1931.

Trump dismisses Iran's reply to peace plan, oil jumps as Hormuz closure persists - Reuters

Trump and Xi set for talks spanning Iran, nuclear, trade and AI - Reuters

Ukraine reports Russian attacks and battlefield clashes despite ceasefire - Reuters

Anger, confusion as Louisiana Republicans move to erase majority-Black House district - Reuters

China is learning from the US war with Iran - CNN

Hegseth calls for Sen. Mark Kelly to be investigated by Pentagon for second time - CNN

American Passengers Exposed to Hantavirus Land in the U.S. - The New York Times

Thousands rally to support USPS as agency running out of cash - MS Now

A death on Denver airport’s runway highlights the challenge of securing a facility twice the size of Manhattan - CNN

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL