Just the Facts

 In all of the political discussions one party seems to create false facts, twist facts, and exaggerate far more than the other. That is not to say that there is not exaggeration on both sides, because we all know there is. 

I ran across the following on Reddit, I have not fact checked it completely, but in my head it seems to be about what I remember, so here goes (with some editing to correct spelling and remove pithy comments) The quoted material is in italics:

Regarding COVID:

While Trump told us 38 times that COVID would go away, U.S. LIFE EXPECTANCY FELL FROM 79 YEARS TO 76 YEARS and 1,000,000 Americans died of COVID and 4,000,000 Americans became disabled. 

Regarding the Economy:

US unemployment rate on Donald Trump's last day in office: 6.3%.

US unemployment rate today: 3.7%, after having hit a 50-year low of 3.4% in February.

Jobs added to US economy during 4 years of the Trump administration: -3 million.

Jobs added to US economy during the 2.5 years of the Biden/Harris administration: 13+ million.

Average annual GDP growth under Donald Trump: 0.95%

Average annual GDP growth under Joe Biden/Harris: 3%+

Most oil produced in a year under Trump: 13.1 million barrels per day.

Most oil produced in a year under Biden/Harris: 15.8 million barrels per day.

Infrastructure bills promised by Trump administration: 1. Delivered: 0.

Infrastructure bills promised by Biden/Harris administration: 1. Delivered: 1.

Felony charges facing Donald Trump: 91

Felony charges facing Joe Biden/Harris: 0

* https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/07/19/trump-carroll-judge-rape/

*** https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-life-expectancy-in-the-us-is-falling-202210202835

** https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4459861-trump-praises-collapse-of-bipartisan-border-deal/

Things were NOT better four years ago. We were trapped in our houses and I remember standing in line to vote and we had to stay 6 feet apart. The lines wrapped around the voting center.  We had to wear masks. Toilet paper could not be found in the stores. 

Wait, and who was president? Trump!

I do not need any more of that. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Another Successful Warranty Completed

Ray-Ban Meta Glasses
Tequesta, FL
September 7, 2024

 At the beginning of August my smart glasses stopped accepting a charge.

I was devastated. 

The glasses are a bit pricey, but I loved the features, especially being able to take videos and images while riding my bike. I also enjoyed being able to listen to music or talk on the phone through my glasses which allowed my ears to remain unencumbered. 

I went online and determined that the store through which I purchased the glasses was supposed to handle the warranty claim and so I contacted them. It took about a month, but I got a call last week, while we were in Maryland, that they had my replacement glasses. I picked them up yesterday and am very happy to have a functioning pair of glasses again. 

I guess sometimes the warranties actually work out!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Out the Hotel Window - Athens, GA

Hampton Inn
Athens, GA
September 5, 2024

 Chris and I made it home to Tequesta! Yay!

The drive was long, both days, but definitely worth the extra time to see Ethan in Athens. 

I was very pleased with the Hampton Inn in Athens. The staff was genuinely fun to work with and the location is great. The view out the hotel window was not too bad either. I took the image during sunrise on our departure day. It was a nice view, as compared to many places we stay. At least there was more than a parking lot or the building next door. 

The multiple entrances off the main lobby made unloading and reloading the truck much easier than most Hampton Inns. We have a lot of stuff to take inside, for instance the cooler and the wine along with suitcases and backpacks. The cooler weather was a nice added benefit.. 

I actually look forward to staying there the next time I visit Athens, unless I can find a nice hotel closer to the campus and near the center of activities. 

As for the day, the drive was long--9 hours. But, we made it OK. We got enough sleep that the drive never got too tedious and I am happy to report there were fewer road denizens intent on endangering everyone around them. 

Chris and I were able to get everything unloaded and the house returned to normal before the Ravens-Chiefs game. We went to bed at halftime and I awoke to find the expected score with the Ravens losing to the Chiefs, again! Ugh! At least it wasn't a blowout like the last time the Ravens opened the season on a Thursday.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Looking for the Parthenon

UGA Arches
Athens, GA
September 4, 2024

 Oops, I was in the wrong Athens. 

Go Dawgs!

UGA (University of Georgia) is everywhere in Athens. Seriously. It was a lot of fun visiting with Ethan and getting a personal tour of the campus. He has been at UGA for a month now as a second semester sophomore transfer student. He seems to be settling into the scene. 

Chris and I enjoyed the tour around the campus. It is a large campus with something new to see at every turn. I was impressed with the 92,000 seat football stadium and the expansive bookstore. Another nice feature is that the town is just off campus. The arches are the divide between the town and the university. We ate dinner in Athens just across the street from the arches. 

I have to get used to the idea that the symbol of an elongated "G" does not only mean Greenbay Packers. A "G" is circled in red means UGA Bulldogs. I did see the entire lineage of actual bulldogs that have served as mascots in the bookstore. 

The next time we visit, we may try to get a hotel actually in the downtown city area to be closer to the activities and the campus. I have to admit, the roads are a bit confusing, thankfully the mapping apps got us around without any problem. 

Gameday Ready Stadium with Ethan on the side
Athens, GA
September 4, 2024

-- Bob Doan, Athens, GA

  

Under the Cover of Darkness

Deer in the Yard
Odenton, MD
September 4, 2024

   Chris and I are on the road south somewhere in North Carolina headed for Durham. It is one of my first experiences on I-85 and the road is much more civilized than I-95. 

We departed Odenton about 0410 under the watchful eyes of a deer grazing on the lawn. She, it was a doe, seemed unconcerned about our multiple trips between the house and the truck. Even as I started the truck and drove away, she remained. 

And so the trip is underway  I am looking forward to getting home tomorrow filled with many happy memories of activities with family and friends.

Athens, GA, lies a few more hours ahead.

—  Bob Doan, somewhere in NC

Labor Day Golf

 

Pond by the 17th Green
Timbers at Troy Golf Course
Elkridge, MD
September 2, 2024

Jeremy and I attached The Timbers at Troy Golf course yesterday to enjoy a beautiful Labor Day afternoon. The course was crowded, as is to be expected on a holiday, but the idyllic weather, in the 70s with low humidity and clear skies, made the round a fantastic event. 

We were paired with two brothers who take the same approach to golf that Jeremy and I take. Golf should be fun and not stressful. 

That written, Jeremy reported that he played his best round of golf ever and I had a very, for me, acceptable score. Yay! We had fun but the round took over 2 hours. Ugh! But, that is golf on a holiday. The course is rated for 4h15m of normal play. In retrospect, an additional 45 minutes on a holiday is not bad. And we enjoyed talking to the other twosome we were paired up with. 

Tomorrow Chris and I expect to be on the road. We are looking at over 11 hours driving time to get to Athens, GA, where we will spend the night and visit our oldest grandchild who just transferred to Georgia. That is exciting. And as an added benefit, we will not be on I-95 for the whole day. 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Monday Musings - September 2, 2024

 

Happy Labor Day!

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

Grapevines at Big Cork
Rohersville, MD
September 1, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

College Football Saturday

Chris Ready for the Game
Odenton, MD
August 31, 2024

 With the transfer of my oldest grandson to Georgia for his sophomore year, apparently, I have a new college team to follow: The Bulldogs!

I have to add that team to my fairly short list of college football teams which includes Syracuse, Maryland, and Miami. 

Well, at least Georgia is currently ranked as the number 1 college football team. It was actually a great game and Ethan, our grandson was in attendance. We enjoyed a small party with friends and family to watch the game. 

It was a good day in college sport with all four of my team winning!

We will be visiting Georgia on our return trip and so I will actually see the campus and spend an evening with our grandson.

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Summer Green

Summer Green
Odenton, MD
August 30, 2024

 Despite the lack of rain in the region, the green of summer seems more vibrant this year than in years past. I haven't noticed many tent worms and while some trees are showing signs of heat stress, most are a vibrant green that almost blends into the background. 

Yesterday was a gray and rainy day--which was needed for the area although I am sure the wineries were not too happy since it is the middle of the harvest. Even so, the green remained vibrant. I took this image of the tree in my daughter's yard and it demonstrates how the green envelops everything. The tree is hard to distinguish against the green of the forest behind. 

This is the kind of summer that I remember as a kid growing up in Upstate New York. The heat, the humidity, and the green forest that surrounded our home. Everything during the summer seemed green, until those last days of August when color began to creep into the backdrop signaling the end of the season and the beginning of autumn. 

Color is beginning to arrive in the leaves. It is very limited at this point, but as the nights begin to cool off the color will eventually spread until only the coniferous trees remain to remind me of the summer green and excitement that the springtime brings as the green returns to fill the landscape. 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

On the MD Wine Trail - Catoctin Breeze Vineyard

Catoctin Breeze Vineyard
Thurmont, MD
August 29, 2024

 Chris and I , along with two friends, headed out on the Maryland Wine Trail to visit wineries that we had never visited. There are many more wineries in Maryland than most realize and there is always the opportunity to discover a hidden gem. 

We found one yesterday in Catoctin Breeze Vineyard. The winery is nestled at the foot of a hill in Thurmont, Maryland. The tasting room is a very inviting facility and provides a great vantage point of the vineyards. There is ample outdoor seating for picnicking. 

Catoctin Breeze Merlot
Thurmont, MD
August 29, 2024

The visit was a success. We found great wines, with white, rose, and red. The price point is a bit high, but the wines are definitely well made and come with layers and long finishes.

We were especially impressed with the Merlot ($30) and the Cabernet Franc ($55). Both, while medium body presented with layers and flavors of well blended wines. I bought some of the Merlot, but felt the price point of the Cabernet Franc was a bit high. 

Be aware, the price of a tasting is $24, but comes with 6 wines and if you are really nice, maybe a 7th. In addition to the two wines already mentioned, the Adagio 2022 ($40) was tasting very nicely. It is a blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Cab Franc, and 25% Teroldego. In addition to the red wines mentioned, there are white wines and a rose. The listing from yesterday showed 18 offerings call ranging from $30-$55. 

I recommend a visit to enjoy some great wines and scenery. 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD