Monday Musings - July 7, 2025

1. It is the first Monday of July! We are in the second half of 2025. There are 25 Mondays remaining in the year!

Sand Hill Cranes
Turtle Creek, Tequesta, FL
July 6, 2025

2. I managed an 18-mile ride yesterday under mostly blue skies! I was happy for the sunshine. I saw a family of sand hill cranes wandering through one of the the golf course communities.

3. Trump said Democrats had opposed the measure [One Big Beautiful Bill] only “because they hate Trump. But I hate them, too. You know that? I really do, I hate them. I cannot stand them, because I really believe they hate our country.” Trump has never been more wrong about anything in his life. Democrats do not hate him they do not believe he has the stability, character, integrity, or leadership abilities to be president. Democrats actually love this country more than he does. By making this personal, he continues to demonstrate why he is not suitable to be president. He is not the right person for the job and so far the results justify that assessment. 

4. The Orioles have crawled up to be 9 games under .500 with the three-game sweep of the Braves. They are doing everything they need to do right now to be in playoff contention!

5. Prayers and support for the Texas flood victims are needed.

6. The U.S. is leaving Ukraine high and dry without the weapons necessary to defend their country. By doing this it is clear that we are supporting the aggressor--Russia.

7. Today in History. On July 7, 1930, building begins on the future site of the Hoover Dam. Over the next five years, a total of 21,000 men would work ceaselessly to produce what would be the largest dam of its time, as well as one of the largest manmade structures in the world.

Although the dam would take only five years to build, its construction was nearly 30 years in the making. Arthur Powell Davis, an engineer from the Bureau of Reclamation, originally had his vision for the Hoover Dam back in 1902, and his engineering report on the topic became the guiding document when plans were finally made to begin the dam in 1922.

Search teams scour Texas flood zone for dozens missing; 78 confirmed dead - Reuters

Trump threatens extra 10% tariffs on BRICS as leaders meet in Brazil - Reuters

Facing battlefield setbacks, Ukraine withdraws from mine ban treaty - Reuters

China's rare earth export controls are good for Beijing, bad for business - Reuters

How ICE’s massive cash infusion is poised to transform America - MSNBC

Israel launches military operation against Yemen ports after vessel attack - FoxNews

U.S. measles cases reach 33-year record high as outbreaks spread - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - June 30, 2025

 

1. The end of the month of June has arrived. This is the last Monday of the month and we have arrived at the halfway point of the year. As expected, there are 26 Mondays remaining in the year. 

Finn in the Lead
Tequesta, FL
June 29, 2025

2. Finnegan led the way on our walk yesterday. It was hot and humid, but he took the almost 1.5 mile walk in stride. It was good to tire him out. 

3. I remain stunned by the Supreme Court rulings that were rendered on Friday. It may be heresy, but I wonder if some of the justices are not as impartial in their reading of the law and the Constitution as they claimed during their hearings. One commentator saw the ruling as follows:

The law regarding birthright citizenship is clear and well-established. Nor can Presidents rewrite amendments to the Constitution with a stroke of a pen. So why, in this particular case, where the injunctions prevent the administration from doing something that is so clearly wrong and will be so harmful—depriving newborns of citizenship—would the Court decide it’s the right time to take the step of pushing aside the injunctions? It’s hard to believe there was a sudden upswell of concern about protecting the defenseless presidency from overreach by the courts. This case will have real impacts on real people’s lives 30 days from now, and when, or rather if (because there are concerns the solicitor general will posture to keep the substantive birthright citizenship issue out of the sights of the Court) the Court decides that Trump was wrong a couple of years down the road, many people will have been damaged in ways that will be hard to undo. Not all of them will have the resources to find a lawyer and file a lawsuit of their own.  (Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance)

4. The Orioles are back at 11 games under .500 (36-47). They need to continue doing what they did over the weekend, by winning a series from the Tampa Bay Rays, to have a glimmer of hope at being in the playoffs. They need a .608 record the rest of the way, meaning they must win 48 of the remaining 79 games. Time is short. I heard it estimated that it would take 84 winds to squeak into the playoffs as the last Wild Card team. It is time for Orioles Magic.  

5. I am personally very much against the budget bill now being discussed in the Senate. It is bad governance. I am very much against the bill because it allocates too much money for immigration enforcement and building the wall at the expense of Americans and seeks to vilify those who rely on Medicaid by suggesting that they are laggards who should work instead of being on Medicaid. If America first doesn't focus on Americans, then who is it for? Oh yea, I get it--the oligarchs. 

6. Today in History (modified). On this date in 1934 occurred the “Night of the Long Knives,” in which German dictator Adolf Hitler had his elite SS guards summarily execute many leading officials of the SA, a Naziparamilitary group.

Syrian forces massacred 1,500 Alawites. The chain of command led to Damascus. - Reuters

Canada rescinds digital services tax to advance stalled trade talks with US - Reuters

Immigration raids leave crops unharvested, California farms at risk - Reuters

Ukraine F-16 pilot killed in large-scale Russian attack - Reuters

The real reason Republicans are rushing to pass the Trump megabill - MSNBC

Senate rejects War Powers Act measure on Trump, additional military strikes on Iran - MSNBC

Israeli attack on Tehran facility leaves 71 dead, as nuclear concerns linger - FoxNews

Man arrested after disrupting Senate debate on Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' - FoxNews

The bill could change the federal government and U.S. economy. Here’s what’s in it. - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - June 23, 2025

 

1. It is the 4th Monday of June. The Summer Solstice happened Friday. There are 27 Mondays remaining in the year. 

Jer, Chris and Julie on the Sandbar
Jupiter, FL
June 22, 2025

2. Boating day was a huge success. The weather was a bit touch and go, but I determined that the rain and thunderstorms were going to remain inland from us and so we risked the weather and were rewarded with a fantastic afternoon of boating. The highlight was enjoying time on a local sandbar after which we motored to a restaurant and tied up the boat for lunch. Following that we toured the area before returning the boat to the marina.

3. Is anyone else concerned? The president looks as if he is getting us involved in another Middle East War. The same man who promised to end Ukraine-Russia within 24-hour of being elected. His actions by failing to support Ukraine fully have likely extended the conflict and resulted in the deaths many more Russians and Ukrainians. And now, Iran?

Looking at the New US-1 Bridge
Loxahatchee River, FL
June 22, 2025

4. Chris and I watched the 50th Anniversary showing of Jaws the other evening. This movie was one that she started every summer with while watching the grandsons! We will need to keep the tradition going as Beck gets older.

5. How about the O's? They had crawled up to 10 games under .500, but lost 2 of 3 to the Yankees to fall to 11 games under. And now Adley Rutschman is on the DL. Well at least they are only 12 games out of first and 6.5 games out of the Wild Card. Ugh. There remains a lot of baseball to play. 

6. Today in History. Well, it happened. They changed the website format and I cannot find the stories that I used to be able to access for my weekly history. I will keep looking and maybe return this item for next week. 

Iran issues warning to 'gambler' Trump: We will end this war - Reuters

Hague NATO summit aims to focus on Trump's spending goal but Iran looms large - Reuters

Russian attacks on Kyiv kill seven and injure dozens, Ukraine says - Reuters

Senate Democrats now have regrets about Kristi Noem. If only someone warned them. - MSNBC

Analysis Sweeping GOP budget bill illuminates the central fault line in the modern Republican coalition - CNN

‘Jaws’ turns 50. It changed pop culture and our perception of sharks - CNN

Russia says countries may supply nuclear warheads to Iran after US strikes on key facilities - FoxNews

Texas governor signs MAHA bill to add warning labels to food products - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - June 16, 2025

 

1. It is the third Monday of June. It is later than you think! There are but 28 Mondays remaining in the year. Summer officially begins on Friday at 10:42 EDT! Are you ready?

2. Regarding the protests on Flag Day. I was appalled by the comments of some elected leaders who do not support Americans right to peaceful protests. These leaders are not supporting The Constitution which specifically protects the rights of the people to peaceably protest. Amendment 1:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. (US Constitution)

Birthday Celebration for Julie
Ellicott City, MD
June 12, 2025

3. Before departing Maryland we were honored to celebrate a big birthday. I won't say how many years, but the number did end with a zero. Happy Birthday Julie--and many more. The celebration occurred at a Japanese Steak House and we were treated to the usual excitement surrounding a hibachi meal. I missed my small piece of pork on all three occasions when the chef flipped it to me. 

4. An amazing thing is happening. Last week the inflation rate was reported at 2.4% over May 2024 and everyone was happy. The president promised that he would reduce prices, a 2.4% inflation rate is still an increase. It is counter-intuitive. BTW, the inflation rate for May 2024 over May 2023 was just 3.3% and it was an outrage. Weird. The inflation rate for September 2024 over 2023 was 2.4% and inflation became a huge issue in the campaign.

5. Today in History. On June 16, 1884, the first roller coaster in America opens at Coney Island, in Brooklyn, New York. Known as a switchback railway, it was the brainchild of LaMarcus Thompson, traveled approximately six miles per hour and cost a nickel to ride. The new entertainment was an instant success and by the turn of the century there were hundreds of roller coasters around the country.

Coney Island, a name believed to have come from the Dutch Konijn Eilandt, or Rabbit Island, is a tract of land along the Atlantic Ocean discovered by explorer Henry Hudson in 1609. The first hotel opened at Coney Island in 1829 and by the post-Civil War years, the area was an established resort with theaters, restaurants and a race track. Between 1897 and 1904, three amusement parks sprang up at Coney Island–Dreamland, Luna Park and Steeplechase. By the 1920s, Coney Island was reachable by subway and summer crowds of a million people a day flocked there for rides, games, sideshows, the beach and the two-and-a-half-mile boardwalk, completed in 1923.

Iranian missiles hit Tel Aviv and Haifa, Israel warns of tough response - Reuters

Airbus bags Saudi order as Franco-Israeli dispute rocks air show - Reuters

Minnesota shooting suspect Vance Boelter arrested - Reu tears

Trump rejected Israeli proposal to assassinate Iranian supreme leader: U.S. officials - MSNBC

I’m not just protesting kings — I’m protesting Christians idolizing Trump - MSNBC

Trump orders 'largest mass deportation operation' as unrest erupts in major cities - FoxNews

Congress is coming for your EV — and what’s left of conservatism - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

#mondaymusings

Monday Musings - June 9, 2025

 

1. It is the second Monday of June. There are 29 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. Through an oversight, last week's Monday Musings was not published. Oops! 

Chris and Beck
Glen Burnie, MD
June 8, 2025
(Image by Patrick)

3. Happy Grandma. We spent last evening with our youngest grandson, Beck. Chris was in her glory with the opportunity to spend quality time with Beck. We enjoyed a great dinner and time together with Jen and Patrick. It was especially nice to sit outside around the fire pit and enjoy great conversation and food.  

4. We journeyed to Big Cork in Rohrersville, MD, yesterday. We enjoyed a tasting of a variety of wines and were then treated to a very nice charcuterie box which contained more choices than we could eat along with wines. The 2022 Cabernet Franc continues to be a great wine and my personal favorite. The 2022 Meritage, which is a blend of 50% Cab Franc, 25% Malbec, and 25% Petit Verdot; was also drinking very nicely. 

5. There are a lot of things happening in the country right now, but critically, the most concerning of the moment is the unrest in Los Angeles regarding the ICE arrests. The federal response seems excessive. But, perhaps that is why LA was chosen to have such a display of force. This situation surely is taking our eyes off the bigger issues and problems.

6. Today in History. With a spectacular victory at the Belmont Stakes, Secretariat becomes the first horse since Citation in 1948 to win America’s coveted Triple Crown: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. In one of the finest performances in racing history, Secretariat, ridden by Ron Turcotte, completed the 1.5-mile race in 2 minutes and 24 seconds, a dirt-track record for that distance.

Secretariat was born at Meadow Stables in Doswell, Virginia, on March 30, 1970. He was sired by Bold Ruler, the 1957 Preakness winner, and foaled by Somethingroyal, which came from a Thoroughbred line known for its stamina. An attractive chestnut colt, he grew to over 16 hands high and was at two years the size of a three-year-old.

California governor calls Trump National Guard deployment in LA unlawful - Reuters

Israeli forces seize Gaza aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg - Reuters

Iran to present counter-proposal to US in nuclear talks - Reuters

Exclusive: US expects Russia to launch multi-pronged strike on Ukraine - Reuters

'Tom, arrest me. Let's go.': Gov. Gavin Newsom responds to Trump border czar's threat - MSNBC

LAPD says ‘agitators have splintered’ in downtown area, declares unlawful assembly - FoxNews

The NASA science missions that would be axed in White House’s 2026 budget - The Washington Post

Trump tax bill reveals striking shift in GOP’s focus - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - May 26, 2025

 Memorial Day 2025

“If words cannot repay the debt we owe these men, surely with our actions we must strive to keep faith with them and with the vision that led them to battle and to final sacrifice.” —Ronald Reagan

Decorated House
Tequesta, FL
May 25, 2025

1. Welcome to the final Monday of May 2025. There are 31 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. In an amazing finish, the Orioles are on a two game winning streak and split the four-game series against the Red Sox in Fenway. We have to enjoy the victories when they happen. Who knows, they may even get to 20 victories soon!

3. As I rode my bike around Tequesta yesterday, I was pleased to note how many houses were decorated, tastefully, for Memorial Day. There were many and that meant going above and beyond just having the flag on a pole. So many people add small flags around their gardens and the street. 

4. Well, the Big Beautiful Bill has gone onto the Senate. Wow. I am hopeful that the senators will put some fiscal sense into the bill. I am very concerned that the administration wants to cut funds to care for Americans in order to deport immigrants. That seems upside down to me. And then there is the huge tax cut for the wealthy while actually increasing the costs of living for the lower earners. I am hard-pressed to find an upside in the bill with the exception of increasing defense expenditures.

5. Today in History. On May 26, 1924, President Calvin Coolidge signs into law the Immigration Act of 1924, the most stringent U.S. immigration policy up to that time in the nation’s history.

The new law—also known as the Johnson-Reed Immigration Act—reflected the desire of Americans to isolate themselves from the world after fighting World War I in Europe, which exacerbated growing fears of the spread of communist ideas. It also reflected the pervasiveness of racial discrimination in American society at the time. Many Americans saw the enormous influx of largely unskilled, uneducated immigrants during the early 1900s as causing unfair competition for jobs and land.

Trump says Putin has 'gone absolutely CRAZY', considering more sanctions on Russia - Reuters

EU sees 'new impetus' in trade talks from weekend call with Trump - Reuters

European stocks rebound as Trump's tariff deadline extension aids sentiment - Reuters

Trump's tax cut plan will be cripplingly expensive for most Americans - MSNBC

The Trump administration’s literally toxic agenda exposes ‘MAHA’ as a ruse - MSNBC

Rand Paul slams Johnson, says 'big, beautiful' bill will 'explode' debt - FoxNews

Slammed by Russian missiles, Ukraine seeks more U.S. air defense systems - The Washington Post

E. coli outbreak sickened more than 80 people, but details didn’t surface - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - May 19, 2025

 

Osprey with Catch
Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge
Jupiter Island, FL
July 13, 2012

1. The month of May continues. This is the third Monday of the month. There are 32 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. I have been going Bach through old images and using a newly acquired application to sharpen and upscale them. I am very happy with the results and we will be printing some of the images for display. 

3. Miserable. That is my current assessment of the train wreck which is the Baltimore Orioles. The team is currently mired in a six game losing streak and is hosing signs of already packing in the season. It is incredibly sad for a team which some pundits predicted would represent the American League in the World Series this year. 

4. After a busy weekend, we are looking at a quiet beach day today. It should be a lot of fun lounging on a nearly deserted beach. 

5. 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.

Trump to speak to Putin on end to war in Ukraine as Europeans demand ceasefire - Reuters

Brazil can no longer export poultry and meat to EU due to bird flu - Reuters

Russia launches war's largest drone attack ahead of Putin-Trump call - Reuters

I knew the pain of apartheid. How dare Trump embrace Afrikaners as refugees. - MSNBC

Senate Republicans plan to hand Trump’s favorite new industry a big victory - MSNBC

Trump's 'big, beautiful' tax and spending bill clears major hurdle in House - FoxNews

New Jersey rail strike ends with pay raise for workers, union says - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - May 12, 2025

 

1. Well here we are, it is the 2nd Monday of May 2025. Amazingly there are 33 Mondays remaining in this year. 

2. How 'bout them O's? Sitting on the bottom of the division, but they managed to win their second series of the year after getting swept in Minnesota. They are currently tied for the 26th (of 30) best team in MLB. If this were the Premier League in the UK, they would be facing relegation--maybe not a bad idea. I think Norfolk could do better than they are playing right now. 

3. We enjoyed a great Mother's Day. The day was capped at a local Italian Restaurant, Vulcano's.  for a great meal with friends. The wine flowed freely as did the food. This small restaurant in a local strip plaza was a great find. The evening was great and was a fitting end for the celebration of Mothers. 

4. Trump's trade war with the world is becoming something of a joke and it is fraught with possibilities for corruption. Take, for instance, this morning's announcement of a trade deal with China. The markets surged, but was this information available to everyone or only a select few? There is money to be made, but, I suspect, the system is being games and the small investors are left holing the bag. 

5. Today in History. The body of aviation hero Charles Lindbergh’s baby is found on May 12, 1932, more than two months after he was kidnapped from his family’s Hopewell, New Jersey, mansion.

Lindbergh, who became the first worldwide celebrity five years earlier when he flew The Spirit of St. Louis across the Atlantic, and his wife Anne Morrow Lindbergh discovered a ransom note in their 20-month-old child’s empty room on March 1. The kidnapper had used a ladder to climb up to the open second-floor window and had left muddy footprints in the room. In barely legible English, the ransom note demanded $50,000.

On May 12, a renewed search of the area near the Lindbergh mansion turned up the baby’s body. He had been killed the night of the kidnapping and was found less than a mile from the home. The heartbroken Lindberghs ended up donating the home to charity and moved away.

Latest updates: US and China agree to lower tariff levels for 90 days - Reuters

Kurdish PKK disbands and ends 40-year Turkey insurgency - Reuters

Trump plans to accept luxury 747 from Qatar to use as Air Force One - Reuters

Republicans to reveal whether they will advance tax hike on the wealthy - Reuters

Zelenskiy tells Putin to come to Turkey if he wants talks, after Trump intervention - Reuters

Trump is finally getting his parade — and it's only going to cost taxpayers tens of millions - MSNBC

South Carolina botched this man’s execution. But that’s not the main problem. - MSNBC

Trump travels abroad after talks fail with those who shout 'death to America' - FoxNews

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

#mondaymusings

Monday Musings - May 5, 2025

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

1. Welcome to the first Monday of the month of May 2025. Yup--it is time for the May flowers. There are 34 Mondays remaining in the year. 

Sandhill Cranes with Chicks
Riverbend Golf Club, Tequesta, FL
May 4, 2025

2. Yesterday, I played golf on a Sunday for the first time in a long time. It was good to be back on the course whacking my frustrations at the little white ball. I had some great shots, but more not-so-great ones. It was fun and there were lots of animals on the course. I saw a family go Sandhill Cranes, and a family of Egyptian Geese as well as a large turtle.

3. Well, I thought the Orioles had found some answers after taking a series from the Yankees, but they only raised more questions after getting crushed by the Royals yesterday and losing that series. Can we buy some pitching, please? 

4. The government's deportation mess is embarrassing. Too many of the deportees do not strike me as "very bad people." Read the article about the Mom being deported which I linked in the news section and decide for yourself. Oh, and remember the words on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” What have we become?

5. Today in History. On May 5, 1961, Navy Commander Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. is launched into space aboard the Freedom 7 space capsule, becoming the first American astronaut to travel into space. The suborbital flight, which lasted 15 minutes and reached a height of 116 miles into the atmosphere, was a major triumph for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

NASA was established in 1958 to keep U.S. space efforts abreast of recent Soviet achievements, such as the launching of the world’s first artificial satellite—_Sputnik 1—_in 1957. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the two superpowers raced to become the first country to put a man in space and return him to Earth. On April 12, 1961, the Soviet space program won the race when cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was launched into space, put in orbit around the planet, and safely returned to Earth. One month later, Shepard’s suborbital flight restored faith in the U.S. space program.

Israeli leadership votes to expand Gaza ground offensive - Reuters

Trump orders 100% tariff on foreign-made movies to save 'dying' Hollywood - Reuters

Pakistan tests missile amid India standoff, Moody's warns of economic cost - Reuters

Zelenskiy says ceasefire with Russia could be put in place at any moment - Reuters

Trump's power grabs may be blunting his political instincts - CNN

Florida woman deported under Trump immigration policy, leaving toddler and husband behind - CNN

Trump administration backs down in dispute with Maine over trans athletes - MSNBC

Trump orders massive rebuild of notorious prison to house America’s most ruthless - FoxNews

“There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.” —Mister Rogers

Reference: https://www.shopify.com/blog/motivational-quotes

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - April 28, 2025

 

1. Happy Monday. It is the final Monday of April. The year is about 1/3 over and there are 35 Mondays remaining.

Gardenia Bush in Bloom
Tequesta, FL
April 27, 2025

2. I am very concerned about the Orioles. They are on pace for a 100 loss season and there seems to be no way to get the club into the win column. They were just swept by Detroit and the Yankees come to town tonight! Ugh. 

3. I managed to get an image of blooming gardenia bushes yesterday. The sweet fragrance remains hanging in the air. I enjoyed my almost 18-mile ride yesterday. The traffic is lighter on Sundays although there were many more people out walking. I got out a bit later than normal. 

4. There is no plan! Typically when the U.S. sets a policy or chooses a course of action there is a plan, a playbook, which has both short-term and strategic goals. It becomes clear last week that with regard to Ukraine-Russia, the economy, tariffs, immigration, foreign policy, and whatever else I can think of that there is no plan. We are at the mercy of the gray matter inside of one person's head. We have seen regular flip-flops which leave everyone wondering--what's up? All that I can discern is that a failed 19th century solution is being applied blindly to a 21st century problem and it is floundering just as badly now as it did back then. The world is very different now and more interconnected than it was in the 1800s. 

5. Today in History. April 28, 1789. Three weeks into a journey from Tahiti to the West Indies, the HMS Bounty is seized in a mutiny led by Fletcher Christian, the master’s mate. Captain William Bligh and 18 of his loyal supporters were set adrift in a small, open boat, and the Bounty set course for Tubuai south of Tahiti.

In December 1787, the Bounty left England for Tahiti in the South Pacific, where it was to collect a cargo of breadfruit saplings to transport to the West Indies. There, the breadfruit would serve as food for enslaved passengers. After a 10-month journey, the Bounty arrived in Tahiti in October 1788 and remained there for more than five months. On Tahiti, the crew enjoyed an idyllic life, reveling in the comfortable climate, lush surroundings and the hospitality of the Tahitians. Fletcher Christian fell in love with a Tahitian woman named Mauatua.

Hispanic voters helped Trump retake the White House. Now their support is waning - Reuters

Risk of global economic recession surges on US tariff shockwaves - Reuters

Putin declares 3-day May ceasefire to mark 80 years since World War Two victory - Reuters

Suspected US airstrike hits Yemen migrant centre; Houthi TV says 68 killed - Reuters

Analysis How Trump’s big bet on tariffs went bad - CNN

Canadians vote in election overshadowed by US tariff and annexation threats - CNN

New estimates suggest Elon Musk's DOGE has been a self-sabotaging project - MSNBC

Debt crisis deepens as 1 in 4 Americans forced to choose between bills and basics - FoxNews

Putin thanks North Korea for sending troops to fight Ukraine: 'Will never forget the heroism' - FoxNews

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - April 21, 2025

 

1. Today is Easter Monday and the third Monday of April. There are 36 Mondays remaining in 2025. 

Me, Dad, Chris
Easter Sunday in Texas
Weston Lakes, TX
April 20, 2025

2. The news of the death of Pope Francis is the lead story this morning. The 88 year old Pope died overnight of pneumonia. 

3. Chris and I were excited to have spent part of Easter Sunday with Dad. We had a great day and enjoyed a fantastic dinner prepared by my sister Pennie with help from Chris. 

4. I have wondered why the Easter Bunny is depicted with eggs and more importantly why the eggs are decorated. Now mind you, this was not something that I  ever spent much brainpower thinking about, but I mentioned it to my sister yesterday and she offered a potential explanation. It seems that the Easter Bunny stole the eggs from the hens and then dyed them so the hens would not recognize them. The Easter Bunny then distributed the eggs to the unsuspecting. I guess that makes the Easter Bunny a thief! For an alternate reality, Good Housekeeping has a more plausible story. 

5. I am holding my breath concerned about what Executive Branch inspired travesty will occur this week. I would hope for a quiet week where the markets recover, tariffs are terminated, and concern for the hard-working American people outweighs the need for splashy headlines. 

6. What is up with the Orioles? They lost 24-2 yesterday and position players pitched the last two innings giving up 9 runs. The team, which was projected to be in the World Series by multiple sports writers, seems to be sinking into irrelevancy. 

Colosseum
Rome, IT
May 11, 2024

7. Today in History. According to tradition, on April 21, 753 B.C., Romulus and his twin brother, Remus, found Rome on the site where they were suckled by a she-wolf as orphaned infants. Actually, the Romulus and Remus myth originated sometime in the fourth century B.C., and the exact date of Rome’s founding was set by the Roman scholar Marcus Terentius Varro in the first century B.C.

According to the legend, Romulus and Remus were the sons of Rhea Silvia, the daughter of King Numitor of Alba Longa. Alba Longa was a mythical city located in the Alban Hills southeast of what would become Rome. Before the birth of the twins, Numitor was deposed by his younger brother Amulius, who forced Rhea to become a vestal virgin so that she would not give birth to rival claimants to his title. However, Rhea was impregnated by the war god Mars and gave birth to Romulus and Remus. Amulius ordered the infants drowned in the Tiber, but they survived and washed ashore at the foot of the Palatine hill, where they were suckled by a she-wolf until they were found by the shepherd Faustulus.

Pope Francis, whose tenure was marked by turbulence and division, dies at 88 - Reuters

Pentagon chief Hegseth shared sensitive Yemen war plans in second Signal chat - Reuters

Harvard says Trump administration doubled down after sending letter reported as unauthorized - Reuters

As Trump eyes coal revival, his job cuts hobble black lung protections for miners - Reuters

Trump's threat to block international students is a terrible own goal - MSNBC

International students are being told by email their visas are revoked and they must ‘self-deport.’ What to know - CNN

-- Bob Doan, Weston Lakes, TX

Monday Musings - April 14, 2025

 

1. It is the 2nd Monday of April. Welcome to Holy Week! There are 37 Mondays remaining in 2025. 

Rino on the Road
Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa
February 25, 2025

2. Chris and I are finding it hard to believe that we were in South Africa two months ago! It seems like yesterday that we were sampling wines and enjoying the wildlife while riding through a National Park in South Africa. 

3. In the land of tariffs and confusion we are not too sure what is and is not going to be exempted from tariffs. 

4. Congratulations to Rory McIlroy on winning the Masters on a sudden death hole and completing a career Grand Slam! It was exciting to watch. 

5. Today in History. President Abraham Lincoln is shot in the head at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. on April 14, 1865. The assassin, actor John Wilkes Booth, shouted, “Sic semper tyrannis! (Ever thus to tyrants!) The South is avenged,” as he jumped onto the stage and fled on horseback. Lincoln died the next morning.

Booth, who remained in the North during the war despite his Confederate sympathies, initially plotted to capture President Lincoln and take him to Richmond, the Confederate capital. However, on March 20, 1865, the day of the planned kidnapping, the president failed to appear at the spot where Booth and his six fellow conspirators lay in wait. Two weeks later, Richmond fell to Union forces. In April, with Confederate armies near collapse across the South, Booth hatched a desperate plan to save the Confederacy.

Tariffs on imported semiconductor chips coming soon, Trump says - Reuters

Russian missile strike kills 34 in Ukraine's Sumy, Kyiv says - Reuters

Rory's time! McIlroy wins Masters to complete career Grand Slam - Reuters

Trump administration says it is not required to help wrongly deported man return to US - Reuters

White House's new policy to ignore reporters who share their pronouns sparks debate - FoxNews

Five missing and one dead after boat capsized off coast of Florida, authorities said - CNN

No evidence linking Tufts student to antisemitism or terrorism, State Dept. office found - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL