Monday Musings - March 30, 2026

 

Beck and Bubbles
Glen Burnie, MD
March 29, 2026

1. The 5th and final Monday of March has arrived. Whew, we made it, I think. Spring arrived and April is upon us. There are only 39 Mondays remaining in the year--but it is definitely heating up. 

2. How about them O's. It took six series for the team to win a series last season, but this year they won the first series right our of the gate. Hope springs eternal. 

3. Chris and I spent yesterday enjoying the antics of a rambunctious almost 15 months-old grandson named Beck. We had a great time and he made us laugh a lot. We also enjoyed the time we spent with his parents as we always do when we get together. 

4. It just doesn't add up. All along, the Republicans have been trying to blame the Democrats for the partial Government shutdown which has disadvantaged TSA, FEMA and Coast Guard personnel. Yet, when they had the opportunity to solve the pay issue and fund those agencies they chose to go on vacation for two weeks. 

5. Why the SAVE America Act is a sham. The New York Times’ Peter Baker did the math on the solution in search of a problem that is the SAVE Act. Trump and Congressional Republicans maintain that its passage is necessary to keep noncitizens from voting. But the ultra-conservative right-wing Heritage Foundation, the folks who oversaw the creation of Project 2025, found only 1,620 cases of voter fraud from 1982 to 2025. That included 100 cases of noncitizens voting, or as Baker pointed out, “That's about 0.000008% of more than 1.3 billion votes cast in presidential elections in that time.” (Civil Discourse)

6. Today in History. On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan is shot in the chest outside a Washington, D.C. hotel by a drifter named John Hinckley Jr.

The president had just finished addressing a labor meeting at the Washington Hilton Hotel and was walking with his entourage to his limousine when Hinckley, standing among a group of reporters, fired six shots at the president, hitting Reagan and three of his attendants. White House Press Secretary James Brady was shot in the head and critically wounded, Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy was shot in the side, and District of Columbia policeman Thomas Delahanty was shot in the neck. After firing the shots, Hinckley was overpowered and pinned against a wall, and President Reagan, apparently unaware that he’d been shot, was shoved into his limousine by a Secret Service agent and rushed to the hospital.

The president was shot in the left lung, and the .22 caliber bullet just missed his heart. In an impressive feat for a 70-year-old man with a collapsed lung, he walked into George Washington University Hospital under his own power. As he was treated and prepared for surgery, he was in good spirits and quipped to his wife, Nancy, ”Honey, I forgot to duck,” and to his surgeons, “Please tell me you’re Republicans.” Reagan’s surgery lasted two hours, and he was listed in stable and good condition afterward.

Personal note: Chris and I were at a hospital in Shreveport, LA, at the time of the shooting as our oldest son was having tubes put into his ears to reduce/alleviate recurring ear infections. 

Iran calls US peace proposals 'unrealistic', oil rises amid new missile strikes - Reuters

Spain closes airspace to US planes involved in Iran war - Reuters

Ukraine's drone masters eye Iran war to kickstart export ambitions - Reuters

Trump threatens to obliterate Iran's energy sources if deal isn't reached - CNN

Miserably long airport lines begin to ease as TSA workers start to recoup back pay - CNN

The U.S. and Israel say they’re fighting together. On the biggest questions, they’re not. - MS Now

Congress is back to square one on the DHS shutdown after House GOP rejects Senate deal - MS Now

These Airports Don’t Use T.S.A. Your Current Wait: Minutes, Not Hours. The New York Times

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Monday Musings - March 23, 2026

 1. Monday has arrived again and with it the start of the workweek. This is the fourth and penultimate Monday of March. There are 40 Mondays remaining in 2026. 

Railroad Drawbridge over Loxahatchee River
Jupiter, Florida
March 22, 2026

2. We were blessed with a couple gorgeous weather days for the weekend. Temperatures made it into the 80s for our enjoyment under clear skies with low humidity yesterday. I managed a 19-mile ride on yesterday over a modified route. Along the way, I took a great image of the railroad drawbridge over the Loxahatchee River from the Florida A1A bridge. I was out a bit earlier than normal and the traffic was light.

3. Chris and I are departing on a trip to Baltimore for Easter tomorrow. We are very concerned about the situation at the airports due to the Congressional standoff and now the threat of ICE deployments. We are going to be arriving almost an hour earlier than normal, I hope there is room in the lounge once we clear security. I am already checking projected TSA wait times. 

4. Today [Sunday, March 22] the administration announced ICE agents will take the place of some TSA agents, although as the former national security officials at The Steady State note, the legality of moving ICE agents into TSA positions isn’t clear. Tonight Trump admitted he is not interested in any deal with the Democrats to fund the Department of Homeland Security unless Democrats also agree to the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and to vote, and which is widely understood to be a measure designed to suppress voting. Trump also includes in the measure an end to mail-in voting, and an attack on transgender Americans. (Letters from an American)

5. ICE personnel, including agents from Homeland Security Investigations, are planning to be at 14 airports, according to a document obtained by The Times. The airports include Newark, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans, Houston and Phoenix, as well as Kennedy and LaGuardia in New York. (NY Times)

6. Today in History. On March 23, 1839, the initials “O.K.” are first published in The Boston Morning Post. Meant as an abbreviation for “oll korrect,” a popular slang misspelling of “all correct” at the time, OK steadily made its way into the everyday speech of Americans.

During the late 1830s, it was a favorite practice among younger, educated circles to misspell words intentionally, then abbreviate them and use them as slang when talking to one another. Just as teenagers today have their own slang based on distortions of common words, such as “kewl” for “cool” or “DZ” for “these,” the “in crowd” of the 1830s had a whole host of slang terms they abbreviated. Popular abbreviations included “KY” for “No use” (“know yuse”), “KG” for “No go” (“Know go”), and “OW” for all right (“oll wright”).

Trump delays strikes on Iranian power plants after ‘very good’ talks with Tehran - CNN

LaGuardia closed after deadly collision - CNN

Oil plunges after Trump postpones strikes on Iranian power plants - Reuters

French far right fails to win in major cities in boost to mainstream rivals - Reuters

North Korea's Kim Jong Un reappointed as president of state affairs, KCNA says - Reuters

Ukraine has enough diesel for March, but April uncertain, says consultancy - Reuters

Trump has no one else to blame for surging gas prices. Polls show Americans know it - MS Now

Jeffries tells President Trump to 'keep his reckless mouth shut' after enemy comment - FoxNews

‘A Mass Disaster Nonstop’: Inside the Turmoil at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s C.D.C. - The New York Times

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - March 16, 2026

 1. Good Monday! (or Happy Monday as one of my former bosses used to say) It is the third Monday of March meaning there are 41 Mondays remaining in the year. The Iran War/Conflict/Excursion/Incursion (pick one) is in its 17 day of frustration and ineptitude.

Fishing on the Loxahatchee
Tequesta, FL
March 15, 2026

2. Made it out for a ride yesterday and came across this solitary fisherman in his boat on the North Fork of the Loxahatchee River. Not the calmest day for fishing, but a great start to a Sunday for both of us. 

3. Cheers for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. They made it into the finals with a nail-biting 2-1 win over the Dominican Republic last night. All of the runs scored in the game were solo home runs. 

4. Although the administration appears to be trying to convince Americans that the U.S. military’s destruction of the Iranian military means the U.S. has won the war, Iranian leadership needed simply to continue in power to declare victory. Then, blocking the 20% of the world’s oil that flows through the Strait of Hormuz would give them leverage over the war’s outcome. (Letters from an American)

5. I have grave concerns about statements made by our Secretary of Defense. One in particular, that the SECDEF made last Friday morning in the Pentagon briefing comes to mind. According to a transcript of the briefing, Hegseth said: “We will keep pressing, keep pushing, keep advancing – no quarter, no mercy for our enemy.” (The Guardian) Let's be real here, while he was likely grandstanding because he doesn't know any better, but as the SECDEF he needs to temper his enthusiasm for war and killing. What he said is a war crime! Period. And it is not the first time that he has suggested the US forces should engage in war crimes. I am, frankly, appalled that senior leadership does not understand the seriousness of the business of war.

6. Today in History. The United States Military Academy—the first military school in the United States—is founded by Congress for the purpose of educating and training young men in the theory and practice of military science. Located at West Point, New York, the U.S. Military Academy is often simply known as West Point.

Located on the high west bank of New York’s Hudson River, West Point was the site of a Revolutionary-era fort built to protect the Hudson River Valley from British attack. In 1780, Patriot General Benedict Arnold, the commander of the fort, agreed to surrender West Point to the British in exchange for 6,000 pounds. However, the plot was uncovered before it fell into British hands, and Arnold fled to the British for protection.

Israel says it has plans for three weeks of war as airstrikes pound Iran - Reuters

Zelenskiy says Ukraine wants money, technology in return for Middle East drone help - Reuters

China's economy builds early momentum in 2026 as global risks mount - Reuters

Trump ramps up calls for help reopening Strait of Hormuz - CNN

For Subscribers US gas is now at its highest price since the inflation crisis - CNN

6 airmen killed in Iraq plane crash remembered with emotional tributes - CNN

The cost of Trump’s Iran war is even more infuriating than it sounds - CNN

Spring break crackdown: Southern towns roll out alcohol bans and new restrictions - FoxNews

Republican rebukes FCC chair’s threats to revoke broadcast licenses over Iran war - The Guardian

‘Triple-threat megastorm’ to scatter snow, high winds and thunder across US - The Guardian

A 16-Year-Old Soccer Star Arrives After Impressive 23-Minute Display - The New York Times

Final note: Take a moment today to remember our military personnel, especially those deployed to the Middle East. Pray for them and especially for the families whose loved ones have paid the ultimate price.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - March 9, 2026

 1. The second Monday of March is upon us. We have survived the Daylight Saving Time transition and are moving deeper into the month. There are 42 Mondays remaining in the year. 

Minerva in Her Study
Rembrandt
Norton Museum of Art
West Palm Beach, FL
March 8, 2026

2. We are at war, declared or not. Out tax dollars are being consumed to the tune of about $1B per day to pursue a war that the American people do not want. Nothing good is happening and perhaps the greatest travesty of the war likely committed by American forces is being covered-up by the administration. American military personnel are dying for a cause that has yet to been defined. My thoughts and prayers are with our service men and women and their families for protection.

3. We visited the traveling art exhibit Art and Life in Rembrandt's Time at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach yesterday. The exhibit was well planned and seeing the paintings in real life was an experience. I spent some extra time considering the painting of Minerva in Her Study given that she is the Goddess of War, among other titles. 

4. Was anyone else appalled at our president's lack of respect for our fallen military members when he attended the Dignified Transfer wearing a campaign ballcap. “Trump just wore a campaign hat to a dignified transfer for fallen U.S. soldiers that were killed during his Iranian blunder,’ Chris D. Jackson wrote on X. “These are the same people who spent week attacking Biden for briefly glancing at his watch. The hypocrisy is absolute. There is no bottom for these people.” (Penn Live Patriot News)

5. We have been enjoying a great time with friends. When we get together, it is like no time has passed at all. It also gives us an excuse to do experience new activities or to revisit places that we have not visited in a while. Heading off to the Norton Museum of Art yesterday is one such example. Today we are planning on seeing the Orioles Spring Training Game against the Cardinals. 

6. Riddle me this. How is it we have enough money to wage a war most Americans do not want, but not enough to provide sufficient medical care and subsistence that most Americans want?

7. Today in History On March 9, 1959, the first Barbie doll goes on display at the American Toy Fair in New York City.

Eleven inches tall, with a waterfall of blond hair, Barbie was the first mass-produced toy doll in the United States with adult features. The woman behind Barbie was Ruth Handler, who co-founded Mattel, Inc. with her husband in 1945. After seeing her young daughter ignore her baby dolls to play make-believe with paper dolls of adult women, Handler realized there was an important niche in the market for a toy that allowed little girls to imagine the future.

Iran defies Trump by choosing hardline leader, oil prices soar - ReutersOne vote to lose: Life inside a chaotic House GOP majority - CNN
‘A very dangerous person’: alarm as Pete Hegseth revels in carnage of Iran war - The Guardian
‘Putin smiled’: Ukraine hurries to adapt as US focus moves to Iran - The Guardian

Airports see hours long delays due to TSA shortages as Homeland Security shutdown shows no sign of ending - CNN

‘Dark, like our future’: Iranians describe scenes of catastrophe after Tehran’s oil depots bombed - The Guardian

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - March 2, 2026

 1. March has arrived. By this time next week we will have returned to Daylight Saving Time and be on our way headed to summer! It is the first Monday of March and there are 43 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. Tariffs! I cannot believe the number of companies applying for tariff refunds. They don't deserve them, we the consumers should be given the refunds. How do I apply? 

3. Well it is Monday. The price of gas is going to spike and who knows what other prices are going to spike due to the unauthorized and ill-advised combat operations in Iran. Wait, it is not limited combat operations, it is a war. Some administration officials are saying it could go on for weeks! No matter what you call it, it is war! Did Congress authorize a war? I think not.

4. We are being led by a a deceitful megalomaniac. He just started a war to deflect attention away from the Epstein Files, the rotten economy, and ICE/CBP illegal activity. Who is paying the price? Our brave service men and women AND their families! Pray for them and our country during this time of tumult.

5. Today in History. On March 1, 1932, in a crime that captured the attention of the entire nation, Charles Lindbergh Jr., the 20-month-old son of aviation hero Charles Lindbergh and  Anne Morrow Lindbergh, is kidnapped from the family’s new mansion in Hopewell, New Jersey. Lindbergh, who became an international celebrity when he flew the first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927, and his wife Anne discovered a ransom note demanding $50,000 in their son’s empty room. The kidnapper used a ladder to climb up to the open second-floor window and left muddy footprints in the room.

The Lindberghs were inundated by offers of assistance and false clues. Even Al Capone offered his help from prison. For three days, investigators found nothing and there was no further word from the kidnappers. Then, a new letter showed up, this time demanding $70,000.

6. I wish I could report that Chris and I did something exciting this weekend, but aside from waiting at the hospital yesterday for almost two hours after a scheduled appointment time, we have just been doing small jobs around the house.

US jets downed by friendly fire, crew are safe, says military - In Focus

Iran conflict widens to Lebanon; Kuwait mistakenly shoots down US jets - ReutersOil jumps, stocks skid, dollar rallies as conflict grips Middle East - Reuters Trump’s new Iran attack opens up big global risks - Reuters

One month into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, three questions hang over the investigation - CNN

Trump’s next move in Iran is unclear. But Congress’ is obvious. - MS Now

Republicans Cite Iran Attacks to Pressure Democrats on Shutdown - The New York Times

Trump’s new tariffs rely on an untested section of a 1974 law that may be illegal. It might not matter - CNN

 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - February 23, 2026

 1. February is coming to a close. Today is the final Monday of the second month of the year. There are only 44 Mondays remaining in 2026. 

Turtle Fest
Loggerhead Marine Life Center, Juno Beach, FL
February 22, 2026

2. It was festival weekend. We attended the Jupiter Seafood Fest and the Loggerhead Marine Life Center Turtle Fest. We had a great time at both, but the Turtle Fest seems to be outpacing the Seafood Fest in terms of diversity and size.

3. The colder weather returned to South Florida overnight. It is a very chilly 47 degrees this morning after we enjoyed low 80s for the past four days. How rude! Today's high will only be in the 60s and we have another outdoors event planned--a Spring Training baseball game. Well, I guess it will really feel like springtime in Maryland when we get to the ballpark today. 

4. Does anyone else think our president behaves like a petulant child when things do not go his way? And then he attacks those who are giving him the decisions he dos not want to hear. Seems that he does not realize that if he didn't try to break the law the courts would not rule against him. Oh yea, he believes that he is above the law! Well, the experiment with the unitary executive seems to be a failure. So much for Project 2025. 

5. Today in History. February 23, 1945: During the bloody Battle for Iwo Jima, U.S. Marines from the 3rd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Regiment of the 5th Division take the crest of Mount Suribachi—the island’s highest peak and most strategic position—and raise the U.S. flag. Marine photographer Louis Lowery, who was with them, recorded the event. Americans fighting for control of Suribachi’s slopes cheered the raising of the flag.

Several hours later, more Marines headed up to the crest with a larger flag. Joe Rosenthal, a photographer with the Associated Press, met them along the way and recorded the raising of the second flag along with a Marine still photographer and a motion-picture cameraman.

EU says it will accept no increase in US tariffs - Reuters

Russian lives for Ukrainian lands - Reuters

Tehran is ready for nuclear concessions if US meets demands, Iranian official says - Reuters

US military begins withdrawing from main base in northeast Syria, Syrian sources say - Reuters

Killing of Mexican drug lord ignites chaos as US tourists shelter in place - CNN

Bomb cyclone blasts Northeast with widespread blizzard conditions, knocking out power and burying towns - CNN

Trump Claims a Historic Turnaround for the U.S. Here Are the Facts. - The New York Times

The GOP’s worst argument for voter ID - MS Now

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - February 16, 2026

 1. February is half completed. Today is the thrid Monday of the month with only one more to enjoy. There are 45 Mondays remaining in 2026. 

2. Yesterday marked a Sunday without football or baseball. It may have been the only Sunday of the year where neither sport was being competed. But not to fear! Spring Training baseball games begin this week and so not another Sunday in 2026 will pass without either football or baseball!

ArtiGras
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
February 15, 2026

3. Chris and I attended ArtiGras yesterday. It is a large event dedicated to artisans selling their creations for premium prices. We saw many very nice creations, but could not determine when we might display them in our home had we decided to buy them. It is not inexpensive to attend the show as tickets were $15 each (plus service fees) and parking was another $15. Add in a little food and drink and just for the opportunity to view the wares of the artisans made it a $100 day just to walk around. We arrived shortly after the event opened for the day and were able to spend some time enjoying the show before the suffocating crowds arrived.

4. The Olympics continues. The U.S. team has won more medals this past week and moved into third place overall, but still seems to underperforming. I wonder if the apparent underperformance is due to lack of preparation or whether judges are being tougher on the U.S. team due to the developing geo-political situation? One case in point is the French judge in the couples ice skating. 

5. Today in History. On February 16, 1923, in Thebes, Egypt, English archaeologist Howard Carter enters the sealed burial chamber of the ancient Egyptian ruler King Tutankhamen.

Because the ancient Egyptians saw their pharaohs as gods, they carefully preserved their bodies after death, burying them in elaborate tombs containing rich treasures to accompany the rulers into the afterlife. In the 19th century, archeologists from all over the world flocked to Egypt, where they uncovered a number of these tombs. Many had long ago been broken into by robbers and stripped of their riches.

When Carter arrived in Egypt in 1891, he became convinced there was at least one undiscovered tomb–that of the little known Tutankhamen, or King Tut, who lived around 1400 B.C. and died when he was still a teenager. Backed by a rich Brit, Lord Carnarvon, Carter searched for five years without success. In early 1922, Lord Carnarvon wanted to call off the search, but Carter convinced him to hold on one more year.

Iran says potential energy, mining and aircraft deals on table in talks with US - Reuters

Europe aims to rely less on US defence after Trump's Greenland push - Reuters

Savannah Guthrie says 'do the right thing' in latest emotional plea - CNN

DOJ lists hundreds of prominent people named in Epstein files in letter to Congress - CNN

How polls show Republicans shifted away from caring so much about Jeffrey Epstein - CNN

Trump is trying to block a new border crossing. A billionaire donor may have something to do with it. - MS Now

With Latest Rollback, the U.S. Essentially Has No Clean-Car Rules - New York Times

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - February 9, 2026

1. Happy second Monday of February. We should celebrate. There are 46 Mondays remaining in the year. 

Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III

2. The Super Bowl was quite an event last evening. It was a hard game to watch, being a defensive struggle for most of the affair. I was happy to see Seattle claim the crown as the Super Bowl Champion. I didn't do too bad with my prediction of the final score, although the game was not as close as I thought it might be. I predicted 24-21 Seattle and the final score was 29-13 Seattle.

3. I am hugely excited that temperatures here in South Florida are recovering after the freeze. Chris and I saw the remains of a lizard that didn't make it because of the cold yesterday. I believe there are going to be a lot less lizards around the yard for the remainder of the year. 

4. I did some research this morning to determine how the alternate Super Bowl Halftime Show did against the actual Super Bowl Halftime show. That performance [The alternate halftime show] attracted only an estimated 5 million viewers against Bad Bunny’s 135 million, which has otherwise served to mark the Latin musician’s performance as the most watched NFL halftime show in history. (Daily Beast) Seems as if the votes are in.

5. Oblivious to decency and the ability to recognize when there might a be a problem. the President called Olympian Hunter Hess, "a real loser." President Trump wrote this in response to a response Hess gave to a reporter. Hess said, in part, “There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of and think a lot of people aren’t,” Hess said. “If it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it. But just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean that I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.” (NY Times) I wonder if the President's ears were burning? 

6. Note: I will no longer be quoting the Washington Post in my blog as a protest against the changes at the formerly venerable newspaper. I have also canceled my subscription. 

7. Today in History. On February 9, 1971, pitcher Leroy “Satchel” Paige becomes the first Negro League veteran to be nominated for the Baseball Hall of Fame. In August of that year, Paige, a pitching legend known for his fastball, showmanship and the longevity of his playing career, which spanned five decades, was inducted. Joe DiMaggio once called Paige “the best and fastest pitcher I’ve ever faced.”

Paige was born in Mobile, Alabama, most likely on July 7, 1906, although the exact date remains a mystery. He earned his nickname, Satchel, as a boy when he earned money carrying passengers’ bags at train stations. Baseball was segregated when Paige started playing baseball professionally in the 1920s, so he spent most of his career pitching for Negro League teams around the United States. During the winter season, he pitched for teams in the Caribbean and Central and South America. As a barnstorming player who traveled thousands of miles each season and played for whichever team met his asking price, he pitched an estimated 2,500 games, had 300 shut-outs and 55 no-hitters. In one month in 1935, he reportedly pitched 29 consecutive games.

As AI enters the operating room, reports arise of botched surgeries and misidentified body parts - Reuters

SpaceX prioritizes lunar 'self-growing city' over Mars project, Musk says - Reuters

Trump repeatedly claims victory over high prices; the numbers don't back him up - Reuters

Russian drone attacks on Ukraine kill four, including mother and child - Reuters

Nancy Guthrie's children say her return is 'only way we will have peace'  - CNN

Trump calls Olympic skier ‘real loser’ after he expresses ‘mixed emotions’ representing the US  - CNN

Kid Rock’s ‘Halftime’ show is what happens when Christianity, celebrity and MAGA collide - MSNow

MAGA is screaming foul over Bad Bunny’s halftime show. Here’s why the NFL doesn’t seem to care. - MSNow

Trump Calls Olympian a ‘Real Loser’ Over Comments on Representing U.S. - New York Times

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL