Something's Gotta Give

Welcome to Saturday. We get to lick the wounds of the week. The insanity in centered in D.C. is destroying the country. 

The news this morning is especially depressing.

Federal workers being RIFed (fired)

Trump threatening sweeping Chinese tariff changes which sent the stock market tumbling. I can't prove it, but I'm sure his crime family made money off that. 

 House speaker Johnson announced he would cancel another week’s session, making four weeks he has kept House members from their jobs. Johnson first sent the members home on September 19. Staying out of session means not working on the budget that is overdue or hammering out the necessary appropriations bills. It means not working on figuring out a way to extend the healthcare premium tax credits that Democrats are demanding.

It also means not swearing in Representative Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), who won election on September 23 and who will provide the 218th vote on a discharge petition to trigger a vote on a measure requiring the release of the files the government has on the investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. (Letters from an American)

I found the following comment especially insightful:

Immigration lawyer Aaron Reichlin-Melnick commented: “Can you think of a single movie in which there is a video from the government denouncing its political opponents playing on a loop in public spaces in which that government was the good guy?” (Letters from an American)

I have to admit, I thought the budget standoff would be resolved before the 15th, which is the mid-month military pay day. However, Speaker Johnson's decision to keep house members out for another week indicates that there is no intention to actually resolve the shutdown. 

I am appalled that the solution to solving the budget problem seems to lie in making more people suffer. Thin about it--is that the kind of government we want? Self-aggrandizement at the expense of loyal employees?

And so, the Republicans are continuing to do the same thing over and wondering why nothing is changing. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

The day that it Happened

Dad on his retirement
Etna, NY
November 18, 2012

Thanks to all who have passed on their thoughts, prayers, and condolences on the passing of my Dad. The outpouring of love and concern has been inspiring and comforting.

It was a much harder day than I had imagined it would be.

But some good things happened. I snubbed my nose to the Secretary of Health and Human Services by getting a COVID-19 booster! Haven't missed one yet. I also received my annual flu shot at the same time. 

This morning, I restarted my genealogy work after realizing I did not know my Dad's mother's middle name. I discovered it and began running down some genealogy. It is very interesting. I always thought her last name was Dutch, but I discovered it is English, or German according to some sources, and means "battle-maiden". In German it means "battle bear". 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Passing of a Generation

Robert M. Doan
Weston Lakes, TX
April 20, 2025

It is with sadness and some joy that I, along with my siblings and family, report the passing of my Dad, Robert M. Doan. Dad departed overnight to join our Mom who proceeded him almost four years ago. He was 97 years old and represented the last of his generation of the family.

Mom and Dad on Mom's 78th Birthday
Danby, NY
June 8, 2013

He grew up outside a small town in Upstate New York, near Elmira. He graduated High School in Elmira and served in the Army after WW2 and was recalled to active duty for Korea. Mom and Dad were married during 1954 and settled in Ithaca, NY. We moved to Danby, NY, during 1960, where they made their home until resettling in Texas a few years ago. While I was growing up he worked in a clothing store in Ithaca and later as a security alarm installer before becoming a full-time pastor until his eventual retirement at age 84.

Chris and I were fortunate to have visited him during late-August. Along with the Texas portion of the family, we attended a dinner with him at his residence facility and I was able to zoom a portion of the dinner to family who were not able to make the trip. We had a great time with him and it is the basis of many final memories.

He will be missed by many. Rest well. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Halloween is in the air, but the traveling public may not be

Skeleton and the Witch
Tequesta, FL
October 7, 2025

 The Halloween season is evident in the decorations around the places that I ride my bike. I have always been impressed with the Halloween displays in the neighborhoods. There is one that I actually look for and it was there yesterday as I completed my 18-mile ride around Tequesta.  

I was able to get my ride in before the afternoon storms. Although they were not particularly strong, I don't like riding in the rain.

Cooler daytime highs are expected starting tomorrow. Yay. It isn't much, but a less humid 84 is significantly cooler than a humid 87.

Day 8 Partial Government Shutdown

Does anyone else find it tragic that the only way the republicans seem to be able to negotiate is by threatening to hurt scores of people? The idea of not paying furloughed federal workers, despite a federal law to there contrary, is but one example.

And then there is the Attorney General. Her testimony yesterday was an embarrassment. I heard a lot of it and she actually threatened Senators with investigations rather than answer questions. Case in point was her allegation of campaign irregularities against Senator White House.  

Seems as if the Air Traffic Controllers are going to take matters into their hands again. If Congress can't fly home, maybe they will negotiate.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday at Latitudes

View of the Atlantic
Jupiter Beach Resort, Jupiter, FL
October 6, 2025

 Chris and I enjoyed Happy Hour with friends at a new restaurant last evening. The restaurant has been remodeled since our last visit and it appointed very nicely. The restaurant is the Latitudes at the Jupiter Beach Resort.

Now, admittedly, the Happy Hour is a bit more pricey than some of our other haunts, but the upscale nature is really very nice. The restaurant sits just off the Resort's beach and we had a great view of the ocean. 

Latitudes Restaurant
Jupiter Beach Resort, Jupiter, FL
Photo from Yelp

The service was excellent. Due to the storm related winds, we decided not to enjoy Happy Hour at the Tiki Hut, but we ventured out to spend a few minutes next to the beach. The bar offers the lounge atmosphere and seating for Happy Hour and we enjoyed a sofa, chairs and coffee table rather than the more normal seating.  

We are in the season of King Tides and coupled with the storms the beaches are eroding. There is usually a good 100 yard beach in front of the resort. Last evening the waves were coming all the way up to the stairs. We were still over two hours from high tide! I believe the King Tides are part of the reason that the Outer Banks are experiencing the devastation we have witnessed on the news. 

We checked out the dinner menu and found it to be very nice. They offer a fixed-price menu as well. My only negative was that the Resort only offers Valet parking. That is not an issue as long as I know in advance. I don't usually have a key for the car with me since I operate the Mach-e using my phone. But, they were very accommodating in taking the car and allowing me to ride along. 

We will likely visit Latitudes again soon.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - October 6, 2025

 

1. Happy October. This is the first Monday of October. There are three Mondays remaining in the month and only 12, count 'em 12 Mondays remaining in 2025! That means Christmas is a short 11 weeks away!

2. Family NFL Report. The NFL season has not been good for some of the family teams. The Ravens, for instance, looked like something from a nursery rhyme about 4 and 20 blackbirds being baked in a pie today. So far the family teams are 2-2 this week with one on a bye and the other team playing tonight. The season record thus far is 12-15-1. 

Ravens (1-4) baked into a pie by Texans (2-3), 10-44

Cowboys (2-2-1) hammered Jets (0-5), 37-22

Commanders (3-2) short circuited Chargers (3-2), 27-10

Dolphins (1-4) were eaten by Panthers (2-3), 24-27

Steelers (3-1) were on a BYE

Chiefs (2-2) play tonight at Jaguars (3-1)  

Rolls Royce in Traffic with Montana Tags
Jupiter, FL
October 5, 2025

3. Weirdly, yesterday, Chris and I went out to get some food to eat during the Cowboys game and on our way home we were stalked, for a while, by a very nice and expensive Rolls Royce. Now, that is not too out of the ordinary for our area, we see them regularly, but this one was significantly different--it had Montana plates on it. Was it Bill Gates? He lives in Montana and recently put a house in the local area, (house? no, mansion) for sale at $23.5 million. I don't know if it sold, but is it possible he was here checking on it? Or planning to move in for the snowbird season? Inquiring minds want to know. Anyway, a Rolls with Montana tags in South Florida is strange. 

4. This is now Day 6 of the partial government shutdown and it becomes clearer every day that this is what the President planned. He successfully put the nation into a no win situation where he wins either way. 

5. The craziness continues. The first two items in news are about continued Executive Branch craziness.

6. Is anyone else concerned that the president is trying to incite riots by deploying troops to places where they are not needed? It is entrapment! He is looking for a reason to do something seriously stupid like claim there is an insurrection. He should know what one looks like and how to do it--he started one on on January 6th.

7. Today in History. On October 6, 1866, the brothers John and Simeon Reno stage the first train robbery in American history, making off with $13,000 from an Ohio and Mississippi railroad train in Jackson County, Indiana.

Of course, trains had been robbed before the Reno brothers’ holdup. But these previous crimes had all been burglaries of stationary trains sitting in depots or freight yards. The Reno brothers’ contribution to criminal history was to stop a moving train in a sparsely populated region where they could carry out their crime without risking interference from the law or curious bystanders.

Though created in Indiana, the Reno brother’s new method of robbing trains quickly became very popular in the West. Many bandits, who might otherwise have been robbing banks or stagecoaches, discovered that the newly constructed transcontinental and regional railroads in the West made attractive targets. With the western economy booming, trains often carried large amounts of cash and precious minerals. The wide-open spaces of the West also provided train robbers with plenty of isolated areas ideal for stopping trains, as well as plenty of wild spaces where they could hide from the law. Some criminal gangs, like Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch, found that robbing trains was so easy and lucrative that for a time they made it their criminal specialty.

Head of Eisenhower library forced out after sword spat with Trump - Early Bird Brief

Hegseth fires Navy chief of staff - Early Bird Brief

France in crisis as government quits just hours after being appointed - Reuters

Negotiators gather for Gaza talks under Trump plan, swift deal unlikely - Reuters

Oil rises after OPEC+ hikes output less than expected - Reuters

Judge again blocks Trump from sending National Guard to Oregon - CNN

 Trump’s tariff revenue could help keep the government open. Why isn’t that happening? - CNN

The president is unhinged’: Trump’s online behavior grows increasingly odd - The Guardian

Trump tries, fails to circumvent court ruling on unnecessary Portland troop deployment - MSNBC

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

The Sun Came Out

Normal Dog Bed
Tequesta, FL
October 4, 2025

The weather changed overnight and the sun arrived this morning to greet us. That was a welcome change from the gray and overcast skies we have been experiencing.

Overturned Dog Bed and toys
Tequesta, FL
October 4, 2025

Finnegan had a moment last evening. He threw a fit over something. We call it urban renewal. He turned his bed over and scattered his toys around the immediate area.

He does this occasionally. We are not sure why, but he just feels the need to impact his local environment.  

Day 5 Partial Government Shutdown

The President remains missing.

I received an email from my Congressman, he was complaining that the shutdown was hurting the military and never made mention of the real reason that the shutdown is in place.

Monday Musings

Is planned to return after a two-week hiatus tomorrow.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Saturday - Day 4 of the Shutdown

Under the Tiki
Puerto Plato, Dominican Republic
September 27, 2025

 We made it to another weekend. It is hard for me to believe, but last Saturday I was enjoying time in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. The farthest thing from my mind last Saturday was how our Republic is being destroyed by immoral; greedy leaders.

Now it is October. 

Day 4 Partial Government Shutdown

I find it tragic that the Republicans show no intention of negotiating to end the shutdown. The House is on recess all next week meaning that even if the Senate hammers out a compromise package, the House will be unable to vote on it. (NYPost)

Who is playing games now?

Oh yea, and where is the President? As of this morning there have been no credible reports of sightings since returning to the White House after his disastrous speech at Quantico on Tuesday. 

According to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, “Donald Trump is in the presidential witness protection program. No one can find him,” (MSNBC)

So where is the President? I'm sure he will reappear soon, but a bigger question is, who is running his social media account? Is he? Governing by social media is a real problem because we don't know who has their hands on the keyboard? IT is far worse than autopen.

That written, the government shutdown isn't going to end until the President actually reappears. But if he can't be found then there is no negotiation because the Republican leadership does nothing without the approval of Trump. 

Maybe leaders with integrity who are committed to fulfilling their oath of office will appear to bring the Republic back from the brink of disaster. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Return to the Rain

Fuel Barge next to Celebrity Reflection
St Kitts
September 23, 2025

 I am told that while Chris and I were enjoying hot sunny days, punctuated by brief storms, during our cruise that the rainy weather pattern we had escaped from in South Florida continued. 

It rains still. 

It was rainy yesterday, it is raining today. 

Washout. 

The picture of the day is from St Kitts during our cruise. I watched a fuel barge get tugged into place and offload fuel to our ship, Celebrity Reflection. I had never seen that operation before and it was interesting how it all happened. Unlike today in Tequesta, the day in St Kitts was bright with puffy clouds and blue skies. 

And I can't help myself--

Day 3 of partial government shutdown

Does anyone else notice that when Trump runs into opposition his response is to hurt people? And not just some people but many people across the nation. Firing federal employees not only hurts the Feds, but everyone due to loss of services. What is the plan?

Oh yea--privatize government services so the oligarchs can get richer at the expense of hard-working Americans. 

And the lies/mischaracterizations that continue to come from the White House continue to demonstrate a failing grip on reality. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Another Black Eye for America

Kash Patel in New Zealand

 Yesterday, I was amazed at and wrote about the actions of the President and the Secretary of Defense. Today, amazingly, it is the Director of the FBI who wound up in the sights, literally. 

The story about Kash Patel in New Zealand was reported by PBS on September 30th. Wait, that was the same day the President and Secretary of Defense held their circus act with the senior DoD leaders. 

The Headline:

FBI director gave New Zealand officials 3D-printed guns illegal to possess under local laws

So, apparently, the Director of the FBI, Kash Patel, visited New Zealand and gave gifts, which is fairly common, to some of the people he met with. What was not usual, however, was that apparently our FBI Director brought into New Zealand 3D printed guns that are illegal to possess without a special license, and which he didn't have, and gave the guns as part of a mounted display to senior New Zealand officials.

Excerpts from the story:

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — On a visit to New Zealand, FBI Director Kash Patel gave the country’s police and spy bosses gifts of inoperable pistols that were illegal to possess under local gun laws and had to be destroyed, New Zealand law enforcement agencies told The Associated Press.

The plastic 3D-printed replica pistols formed part of display stands Patel presented to at least three senior New Zealand security officials in July. Patel, the most senior Trump administration official to visit the country so far, was in Wellington to open the FBI’s first standalone office in New Zealand.

. . . 

A spokesperson for the spy agencies described the gift as “a challenge coin display stand” that included the 3D-printed inoperable weapon “as part of the design.” The officials sought advice on the gifts the next day from the regulator that enforces New Zealand’s gun laws, Chambers said.

Oops!

Our leaders need to do better. It sure would have been nice had the FBI Director directed one of his minions to check local laws regarding inoperable weapons. 

Oh well, it is just another black eye in a long series of black eyes.

Hopefully, today is a more boring day in the news cycle. 

Did I mention that the partial government shutdown is in Day 2?

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL