When Home Repairs Go Bad

Friday has arrived and I am home waiting for a plumber! I hate it when home repair projects go awry. I do not often have to call in professionals.

One of the Troubled Faucets

Both of out outdoor (hose) faucets leak. Badly. Seriously badly. 

I checked out the YouTube videos about how to repair them and successfully made the problem worse. One of them not only leaks, it is like taking a shower when it is turned on.

The cost for my inability is a plumber's visit.

I hope they can be repaired inexpensively. I had thought that the problem was with the seals and washers. But, I am afraid the problems may be more severe than that.

Both faucets are old enough that neither Home Depot nor Lowe's carry parts. Ugh!

Hopefully by the end of the day they will be repaired and fully functional.

Another day, another project.

It never seems to end.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Brawl-timore Reflection

OPACY, June 7, 2016
Royals vs Orioles

I was at the baseball game on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 between the Kansas City Royals and the Baltimore Orioles.

This game has been in the news because of the brawl that broke out during. I watched the proceedings.

I was part of the crowd showing our support for Manny Machado, our all-star third baseman, now shortstop, who was hit by a 99 mile per hour fastball thrown by the Royals pitcher during the fifth inning.

It was a beautiful evening for baseball, although the wind was cool, the sky was clear and the evening warm enough for short-sleeves, shorts and sandals. 

I saw the high and inside pitches that the opposing pitcher had delivered during Manny's previous two at bats. As I recall, Manny was the only Orioles player to receive the head-hunting pitches.

Brawl at OPACY
June 7, 2016

During the fifth inning, the Royals pitcher, in my estimation, deliberately hit Manny with a 99 mpg fastball. That is what percipitated the ensuing brawl between the teams. 

Deliberately hitting someone with a 99 mg fastball is the same, in my mind, as assault with a deadly weapon. While I do not condone thuggishness behavior in any sport, including hockey, I understand the emotion of the situation. The the two principals involved were the only ones who actually threw punches. 

Major League Baseball will be handing out fines and suspensions for the brawl, but I hope they review the build up to the event. Sadly, the Orioles could be without Manny for 3-8 games. 

Was Manny justified in charging the mound and throwing two punches at the pitcher? Maybe--the guy just threw and hit him with a 99 mph fastball. That makes it an emotional thing it is hard to walk away. I hope the pitcher gets suspended for at least as many starts as Manny. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: When did We Stop Being Great?

I received a telephone call from one of the Presidential candidates asking me for money to help make America great again.

When did we stop being great?

When did we stop having the most powerful and flexible military in the world? 

When did we stop having the premier economy in the world?

When did the dollar stop being used for almost every major international transaction around the world?

I am tired of the implication that we have lost something.

We still have the mojo. And I am concerned that we are going to lose greatness by persecuting specific ethnicities. That is not the America that I envision and to which I am committed. 

The campaign has already turned ugly. Right now, the main difference that I see between the presumptive nominees of each party is gender. They are equally as extreme and both use the same political tactics.

Neither is trying to build America and both are trying to destroy the opposition.

My Take: If the candidates would focus upon their vision to govern this diverse democracy in an inclusive manner, the character flaws of the other candidate would soon become evident and the electorate would finally see a clear choice. As it is now, they are too much alike.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sitting Together

Chris and Makayla

Last evening as I arrived on the deck for happy hour, two of the ladies in my life were sitting on the patio sofa together waiting for me.

It was an neat image and I'm glad that I captured it. The weather was beautiful and we enjoyed a great evening outside. It is funny how Makayla will never look at me when I have a camera in my hand. 

I was beginning to think that with all of the rain, we would never be able to enjoy an evening outside again. The air was still and humid, It was truly a pre-summer evening. 

But then the mosquitos arrived!

Well, things can't just be perfect all of the time, then we wouldn't appreciate them.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - June 6, 2016

1. 72 years ago, the D-Day landings on the Normandy Beaches by Allied Forces marked the turning point of World War II in Europe.

Timbers at Troy 2nd Fairway
June 5, 2016

2. The weather forecasters predicted rain for yesterday--it did finally arrive, but not before I enjoyed a fully busy day.

3. I managed a round of golf Sunday with Mike, despite the ominous weather report. I played one of my best rounds ever. Mike took a nice shot of me right after I said my chances of hitting the green were zero. And I put the ball on the green.

Patrick with the Brakes

4. Changing rear brakes on a Honda turned into an all day job that required two trips to the auto parts store. But Patrick and I got it done! All new and ready for the highway. It was another two hour job that took all afternoon. But getting it finished felt good.

Faline in the Flower Bed

5. The fawn returned for another day of fun with the family. She returned to the very same spot and we were surprised at how much she had grown in a week. And yes, we believe it is a "she" based upon some of the gender identification techniques we read about on line. She has been named Faline, for obvious reasons. She was a bit more skittish this week and made notice of our presence. 

6. The political posturing in the Presidential olympics has taken reached new levels of absurdity. 

7. I noticed the leaves on the trees again. I love looking at them. I remember writing about the bare branches not so long ago and it is good to have to solitude that the trees provide.

8. I have been frustrated lately by drivers who do not give consideration to others by pulling to the left side of the lane on side streets when waiting to make a left turn to allow other drivers (lime, me!) to pass.

9. And writing of driving consideration--does anyone remember what the lever on the left side of the steering wheel is for? Yes, that's it, turn signals. Use them!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The All Star

 

GORC Coach Pitch National League
All Star Team
June 4, 2016

Jackson played in the GORC Coach Pitch league all star game yesterday, having been selected as one of the two players representing the GORC Pirates in the annual event. 

It was fun to watch the best kids in the league compete after coaching the season. Unlike professional all star games which can be boring, this game let all of the kids who are at the same baseball level come together and showcase their abilities.

Jax at the Plate
All Star Game
June 4, 2016

It was a truly different game from the regular league games. Balls that would have been hits in a league game were outs in this game and unlike the regular season, the outfielders were very busy.

Jax in the Field
All Star Game
June 4, 2016

Jax did very well. He had hits and played balls and made outs in the field. Both of the players representing the GORC Pirates played very well, and during one stretch of two innings the two of them were involved in 4 of the 6 outs posted against the opposing team.

Did I mention that the National League team (Jackson's) defeated the American League team 17-11 in a seven inning affair?

Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Water Feature

Water Feature in the Pool

Chris has wanted a water feature in the pool since we have lived at our current address. 

The was one attempt a few years ago that was less than satisfactory. 

Fast forward to a few weeks ago--we ran across an inexpensive fountain in a pool magazine and this week it arrived and I installed it.

Chris is very happy. Two of her longer term projects have been completed: a new sink and now, a water feature in the pool. 

I was concerned about the flow of water around the pool and the impact on the chlorine levels, but everything seems to be good. The fountain does not use all of the returning water and there is still a sufficient current in the pool to encourage small leaves and debris to wind up in the skimmers.

The water feature is in place.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Tournament

Jeremy at the Crypto Cup
June 2, 2016

I took a day of leave yesterday to play golf in the 15th Annual Crypto Cup Golf Tournament which raises funds for the National Cryptologic Museum Foundation.

It is a fun day on one of the closer courses to me, Patuxent Greens. The weather was good--a bit cloudy in the morning, but the sun broke through in the afternoon.

Jeremy joined me for the day and we were teamed with another player and attacked the course as a threesome.

Mother and Juvenile Woodchuck

We did very respectfully, finishing solidly in the middle of the pack of 30 or so teams. I think if we had had our original team, two guys couldn't do the rescheduled date, that we would have done much better, possibly competing for prizes. 

Golf courses provide home for an assortment of animals and yesterday there was a woodchuck and its baby on the course. They provided some comedic relief as we waited to take a shot. 


I am finding that playing in tournaments like this one are not so much about the scores as they are about meeting people who, like me, are taking a day away from the routine of life to enjoy a round of golf while raising money for a good cause. 

Do I wish I was a better golfer? Sure. But do I have fun and still make some nice shots and putts? Definitely. 

My next tournament is the 3rd Annual Troy Whittemore Classic in August. It should be a nice day in the sun as well with family and friends.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: Unfavorable Candidates

The "presumptive" nominees for President from both the Republican and Democratic Parties are carrying historically high unfavorable ratings CNN reports in an article about the topic. 

I have been reading and hearing about the possibility of a third party candidate. Perhaps the poor ratings of the leading candidates gives viability to a non-mainstream candidate. But then I worry that such a candidate would be unable to get Congress to do anything. I guess that is no different than the current situation.

There have been many potentially viable candidates stepping up to the microphone lately. I am concerned because a conservative third party candidate will likely not win and only makes it probable that the Republican nominee will not win which almost assures the Democratic nominee of the Presidency according to an article titled. Could an Independent conservative Candidate Really Compete in the 2016 Election. 

A poll in Florida Politics suggests that 55 percent of Americans want a Third Party candidate to run this year. The problem, however, is that the deadlines to qualify to be on the ballot in many states is coming already or (as in the case of Texas) has passed. Since the Republican and Democratic conventions are not until next month, why are the dates to qualify to be on the ballot so early?

All of this begs the question--should the the bloated and expensive primary system which nominates candidates with incredibly high unfavorable ratings be changed? 

I think the answer to that question is self-evident.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Out of the Nest

Blue Jay on Pool Edge
May 31, 2016

Last evening, after the Jax's GORC Pirates won their final game of the season, I was checking the pool and I noticed a small visitor sitting precariously on the edge. 

It was something I had never seen before--a juvenile, fresh from the nest, Blue Jay.  Chris has been feeding the Jay's and I guess they like it here because one of the newest members of the species was hanging out on the pool deck. It didn't even have a towel.

It seemed ready to spend the night there, but out in the open with the potential of drowning in the pool didn't seem like a good choice for its first, probably, night out on its own.

It was very docile and did not mind having its presence documented for posterity. 

The bigger question was, "so what do we do with it?" 

Blue Jay on Pool Net
May 31, 2016

We determined that using the pool net to relocate it to a more suitable area was the best approach. The young Jay was very accommodating and jumped onto the edge of the net while I carried it, no small distance, around the pool and out to the yard. Determining that it needed cover for the night, we attempted to put it in a tree, but the was the one time the small bird objected. It did not want to be in a tree. 

It hopped off the net onto the ground and seemed comfortable there. Both Chris and I were a bit concerned about the local fox finding it, but the young Jay hopped into the underbrush seeking cover.

The number of juvenile animals around the house continues to increase. We have had a fawn spend the day, we have seen multiple baby rabbits, two juvenile wood chucks, and juvenile snakes of multiple varieties.

I wonder if our gardens can support all of them.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Holiday Weekend in Review

It was a crazy holiday weekend.

It seemed that every time something was turned on or used, it broke. I spent hours fixing things--like the pool heaters, faucets, door knobs, and the like. I can tell that the infrastructure of my house is aging. 

Did I golf? No. Why? Because the weathermen were not accurate with their forecasts. It always seemed like rain was forecast, but in reality the the rain only occurred in ernest on Sunday afternoon. 

I also learned that the local wildlife love my house. In addition to the fawn, I have seen baby bunnies and two juvenile woodchucks in the yard. Add to that the juvenile brown snake I helped out of the pool on Saturday morning and we are blessed with a few too many juvenile animals in the area.

I also worked on Jeremy's Jeep and helped him to add additional lights. That was an enjoyable distraction from cleaning and repairing. 

Somewhere during the weekend there was a truckload of mulch, multiple shopping excursions, trips to Lowe's for parts, and even a little lounging in the pool.

Chris with the Three Dogs

Did I mention dog sitting for two additional canines? Yup, Florence and Arthur were with us for the holiday weekend. The bed got a bit crowded.

I was able to watch the rain pummel my roof and confirmed that my new gutter leaf guards did their jobs--there was no overflow! Yay!

The highlight of the weekend was, of course, the holiday family picnic. I felt Chris' pain as the date for the picnic waffled between Sunday and Monday depending upon the weather report. In the end, we got the better day on Monday and the picnic was a grand success. The pool was a balmy 82 degrees and the day was mercifully dry. 

I'm looking forward to the short week ahead, but it seems that Mondays which fall on Tuesdays are some of the busiest days!

With Memorial Day weekend behind me, I can now focus on the summer ahead. If only the weather will hold.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - May 30, 2016

1. It is Memorial Day. Take a moment to remember those who gave all for our freedoms. Read the words the President Ronald Reagan spoke at Arlington National Cemetery during 1982.

2. My pool made it to 82 degrees yesterday! It was awesome, until the rains came. Again!

3. I can't believe how bad travel problems are at airports. Yesterday a computer problem snarled travelers at JFK. At one point 1500 people were in lines waiting to be checked in for their flights.

4. The killing of a gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo yesterday is  reminder that zoo animals are wild, but the visitors bear responsibility for being safe as well. How did the 4 year old boy wind up in the gorilla enclosure in the first place? What were his parents doing? 

5. The weather has become a stressor. The weathermen can't seem to get a forecast right.

6. What a great way to win the Indianapolis 500--cross the finish line and then run out of gas and have to be towed to the winner's circle. Sometimes it is that way trying to get to a gas station.

7. New York City is making menu reading harder. They are now including salt content. Does anyone try to read the warning labels on everything we receive? The letters are too small to read without a magnifying glass.

8. Landing a space launch booster on a barge is an incredible feat. Elon Musk's SpaceX did it again! How Buck Rogers is that? The video in the linked article is really cool!

OK, I thought it was so cool that I included it here!

9. Did I mention that the Orioles managed to win a close game yesterday!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Visit from Bambi

Fawn in the Garden
May 28, 2016

I was startled yesterday as Chris and I were working around the house. We had been outside about an hour when, as I rounded the corner on the side of the house nearest the wooded area, there nestled under the lilac bush and in the Lily of the Valley patch was a fawn.

Hiding in almost plain sight, but very quiet and still, was Bambi!

We have a small herd of deer that traverse the wooded area behind the house and love to eat our plants. 

After discussing the situation with Chris and phoning a friend for some advice, we decided to clear the area and suspend our outdoor work for a couple of hours to see if its mother would return to retrieve the fawn.

I searched the internet and ran across an extremely informational site that set our minds to rest about the situation.  We learned that the fawn had probably not been abandoned and was not in any distress. I highly recommend reading this document titled, Do You Know How To Tell If That Fawn Really Needs Your Help??? It answered all of our questions and reassured us that the situation would resolve itself. 

The most important thing we learned from our reading was that this would probably be an all day event. The doe would likely not return until dusk. We also learned that the fawn was less than three weeks old.

The fawn stayed in its spot all day. It was quiet, but aware, and only moved when its location came into full sun. It moved three feet to more shaded spot under the lilac bush. 

We checked on it throughout the day and kept the dogs and kids away from it. We did advertise its presence to the neighbors who took some pictures, but did not otherwise disturb the small fawn.

Sometime between about 6:30 and 7:30 PM, the fawn disappeared. The house and the yard had been quiet for a couple of hours and we believe that its mother returned and took it away into the woods. We had hoped to catch a glimpse of mother and fawn together, but alas, it was not to be.

While we enjoyed our wildlife encounter, because it added a different dimension to the weekend, we hope it doesn't return for another day for free babysitting.

I checked the area this morning and as of 5:49 AM, the fawn had not returned. I have no idea whether deer reuse the same spots. I know that they traverse the same paths.

And that is the story of our real world encounter with Bambi.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Changing Laws for the Better

Our society has criminalized some of the most minor things. For instance, having an open container of alcohol in public in New York City was a misdemeanor, a criminal offense! 

Think about it--why would that be a criminal offense? With mandatory jail time and a permanent record? It was the same for littering and urinating in public. The Washington Free Beacon reports this morning that that is all changing. 

As quoted from an Associated Press article in The Washington Free Beacon:

The [New York] City Council on Wednesday passed a series of criminal justice reforms to sharply curtail the punishments for low-level offenses such as littering and peeing in public, an overhaul intended to help unclog the courts and jails of the nation’s largest city.

The Criminal Justice Reform Act alters the penalties for certain offenses, including possessing an open container of alcohol in public. Though the offenses will remain illegal, the legislation steers them to civil court rather than criminal court.

Public urination and most offenses in public parks will be downgraded from misdemeanors to violations and reduces the available jail penalties to just one day for violations. Currently, jail time could stretch up to 90 days for such offenses.

I am glad the courts will have more time to address those larger issues rather than being bogged down by these lesser (nuisance) offenses.

If you want to see some of the strangest criminal laws in existence in the United States, I recommend reviewing the article titled Here Are The Most Ridiculous Laws In Every State, compiled by Business Insider. I thought Ohio and Idaho were especially entertaining. And who says,  "Truth is funnier than fiction?" I can't make this stuff up. (BTW, it was Mark Twain)

Food for thought on the Memorial Day weekend.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Memorial Day Weekend Arrives

The first, albeit unofficial, weekend of the summer season has arrived. 

I am not disappointed with the weather outlook. The first weekend of summer is a stark contrast to last weekend when we were suffering with highs in the 50's and cold rain. This weekend the lows are in the upper 60's with the highs approaching 90! Bring it on!

As I walked out of work last evening, I was hit with a blast of hot, yes it was hot and humid, air that instantly reminded my of how much I love summer. It was far better than the icy cold blast of winter and the bone chilling wet days of even last week. I strode to my convertible, named Cat, and put the top down relishing in knowing that in a few minutes I would be feeling the warm wind in my hair as I drove home in crushing rush hour traffic.

My pool is still at a chilly 66 degrees, but that is nothing that more sunshine and a little propane cannot fix. I am seriously thinking of building a solar heater for the pool. 

I was coaching at the GORC Pirates baseball game last evening, with sweat falling into my eyes and I fully appreciated that I was in shorts and a golf shirt. The sun was shining bright into my eyes and it felt like summer.

I am glad that the weather has finally caught up with the calendar.

If you are traveling this weekend, be safe. Whatever you do--please take a moment to remember those who "gave all" and those who are on the front lines of conflict around the globe protecting and securing the freedoms we enjoy.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

O's Sag

Baseball is a long-haul sport. 

Teams go through good times and bad during the course of a season. In football, a three-game losing streak might end a playoff run. In baseball, it is just the way a series may play out.

The Orioles are amidst a three-game losing streak in Houston after losing their last two the Astros. Both games were one run losses and one was a 13 inning extra inning game. Losing the past two games is frustrating, because earlier in the season the O's were winning extra inning and one-run games. On a good note, last night they made four errors (that's not the good part, wait for it) and still only lost by one run.

Clearly the problem is not pitching (although the starting pitcher had two errors last night). The problem is hitting, or rather the lack of timely hitting. 

Last night, for example, the O's had 11 hits! 
They scored only 3 runs while leaving 12 men on base!  
They committed 4 errors! They had only committed 18 errors (the fewest in all of baseball) in their previous games this season.

The night before, they had 8 hits, scored 2 runs, and left 11 men on base. And had 19 strike outs!

Losing on Tuesday night in 13 innings was the Orioles first walk-off loss of the season!

On Tuesday night, the team batting average was .190, well below their season average of .259 (as a team), Wednesday night it was a more respectable .289 (but they still lost).

Baseball has a lot of statistics--but in reality there is only one statistic that really matters--putting a "1" in the win column.

I don't mind winning ugly, but losing ugly really hurts. 

Another great thing about baseball? They get to play again today.

Let's Go O's!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

First in a String

Looking Back Toward the 17th Tee Box
Timbers at Troy Golf Course

Last evening I headed out after work and enjoyed a round of golf at my local course. It was a momentous event given the incredible cold and rain of the past weeks.

I wore shorts and a short sleeve shirt--and was comfortable. I think there was even some sweat as I enjoyed the first 80 degree day during May. It was such a beautiful day and I didn't mind sharing the course with a family of geese. They watched me closely, but did not seem too perturbed by my presence. The goslings were happy to be finding food protected under the watchful eye of the adults.

Looking at the forecast, it appears that the cycle of cold, gloom, and rain is finally broken. Every day from now until June 3rd is forecast for 80 degree temperatures and no appreciable rain. June 3rd may break the string of great weather, but that is still days away and as I am fully aware, the weather can and will change. Sure, there are thunderstorms in the forecast--I can deal with those. 

Today looks as if it will be the second day in a row of moderate and enjoyable weather. I will be able to do the lawn work that I didn't start last evening because I was out whacking a small white ball with a club. 

I had to get out and enjoy the great weather. 

Memorial Day weekend is looking great!

Bring on the pool and the celebrations.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: TSA Damage Control

It appears to be a case of "too little, too late" and with that colloquialism I am referring to the replacement of the T.S.A."s security chief.

The New York Times article describes the situation and the replacement of the official in an article titled, T.S.A. Replaces Security Chief as Tension Grows at Airports and Agency. 


The entire security situation at many airports around the country has devolved into a nightmare for travelers and it appears that in terms of security, based upon the statistics, we are not really safe.  Security screeners failed 95 percent of the time to identify fake weapons and explosives in covert tests. For that record, and the incredibly long lines that I have been seeing on television, the chief of security was given a $90,000 bonus paid in $10,000 increments.

But the Summer travel season is already upon us! And the situation is not getting better, only worse.

Security Lines at Chicago O'Hare International Airport

In related moves, the TSA administrator apparently replaced the leadership team at Chicago O'Hare to help with the problems. The NY Times article describes the situation there:

On Sunday, hundreds of passengers, including 450 on American Airlines alone, missed flights because of waits of two or three hours in security lines, according to local news reports. Many of the passengers had to spend the night in the terminal sleeping on cots.

The T.S.A. has sent 58 additional security officers and four more bomb-sniffing dog teams to O’Hare. Last week, Mr. Neffenger apologized to passengers and briefed officials in Chicago about efforts to address the crushing delays.

I am glad that I am not traveling very much. I hate standing in security lines and missing my flight.

My Take: The moves by the TSA are principally superficial. The agency is failing to address the problems with security and have spent too much time trying to develop spectacular technology while ignoring the fundamental need for a motivated, trained workforce.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD 

Monday Musing - May 23, 2016

1. It rained so much over the weekend that I was greeted by a man at my door yesterday afternoon inquiring about the availability of gopher wood. His name was Noah.

2. I played nine holes of golf yesterday morning in the rain. We were supposed to play 18, but came to our senses half way through.

3. It has been so cold and rainy that many of us are beginning to wonder if we relocated to Seattle in our sleep?

4. Historical thought of the day, from the Washington Post: Hamilton’s great fear was that American democracy would be destroyed by demagogues who would “mouth populist shibboleths to conceal their despotism.” 

As of May 22, 2016
From ESPN.com

5. The Orioles have the best record in the American League. There is no time for celebration, however, because the team with the second best record is .005 behind and in second place in the division. 

6. I realized that I don't actually hold newspapers in my hands to read them anymore. I read them on line. I miss the smell of newsprint with my coffee in the morning.

7. My lawn needs to be mowed. That is something that cannot be done in the rain.

8. Maybe the Vietnam war is over! According to the Washington Post, "The Obama administration announced Monday that the United States would fully lift a longstanding U.S. embargo on lethal arms sales to Vietnam, a decision that reflects growing concerns about China’s military clout and illustrates the warming bilateral ties between the former enemy nations."

9. Does anyone else remember when Vietnam was written Viet Nam?

10. The forecast for today is 70's and chance of a thunderstorm. At least it will be 15 degrees warmer.  

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Day for the Pluviophile

After two days of warmer temperatures and sunshine, I have to report that the sun never shone yesterday.

It rained most of the day and the gloom was pervasive. That bright orb in the sky was a no show.

I did manage a trip to the golf driving range to hit some unsuspecting balls, however, that was the only respite form the weather that I could manage.

My pool is looking inviting--if only the temperature wasn't still in the 60's!

I learned a new word and then discovered that I am not a pluviophile!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Two Evenings in a Row

Two evenings in a row I was able to be outside both without rain and in short sleeve shirts. 

It was fantastic. 

That streak ends today, however, because it is raining, again.

But I revel in the memories of Thursday's GORC Pirates baseball game which was played in sunshine and then sitting around my pool with friends last evening. 

Two evenings without rain and with temperatures warm enough to be warm is a record for the past few months here in Baltimore. 

I was even able to see a sunset! Not the one imaged in the picture here, but one nearly as beautiful. And yesterday morning, a sunrise!

I am looking forward to the summer ahead. One day at a time!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Fraud Protection Fraud

I had an interesting experience last evening. I received a call from the fraud protection department of one of the credit companies I do business with. Apparently some of my purchases set off their fraud protection program and they were calling to verify some of the charges on my bill.

Although this is not the first time that this has happened--usually I receive the call there is real fraud involved and it is an indication that my credit card has been compromised, my experience last night was different.

The answering machine contained theca form the fraud alert center. I debated returning it; however, I knew that if the call were genuine I would not be able to use my card when I wanted it.

My problem was simply--how do I verify that the call is not a fraudulent call?

As I dialed the phone and the classic voice in using broken english answered, my trepidation grew. Then the questions and the exchange of information. 

Still, how do I verify that the fraud center that I am calling is not fraudulent? 

The person on the other end of the phone offered to connect me with customer service, give me a number to call back, and other inadequate means of verification. Each of those ideas represent a potential fraud avenue.

As it turned out, after a few tense minutes on the phone, I felt that the information they were asking for was publicly available and gave it to the person who then asked me about three charges legitimate charges.

But the question remains, how can I protect myself from fraud protection fraud? 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Another Cold and Gloomy Night

OPACY
May 18, 2016

I went to the Orioles-Mariners baseball game last evening. 

The Orioles won a well played game and I would like to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the outing, but that would not be true.

It was there again--the weather.

At a time of year when I should be in a short sleeved shirt, shorts, and sandals; I was bundled up in two layers of shirts with a heavy coat. And I was cold!

Look at the overcast, gray skies in the picture of the stadium that I took last evening. I just looks cold. 

Even holding my obligatory baseball game cold beverage made my hand cold!

To add to the misery, it drizzled off and on all evening accompanied by a biting wind. 

The temperature at game time was 63 degrees, but by 9:30 had dipped into the 50's.

I long for the hot, 90 degree days of summer when I am sweltering in my seat with sweat rolling down my face making my cold beverage taste even that much better--until it gets warm.

I should enjoy the game more. The Orioles have the best home record in baseball (17-7) and the second best winning percentage in baseball. The enjoy a half-game lead over our arch rivals from Beantown and the team whose name shall remain unspoken is languishing 7.5 games back at the bottom of the division. 

I just wish the weather would become normal and that we would get a respite from the pervasive rain.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Bathroom Battles

With everything else happening in our society today, the bathroom battle being waged in legislatures across the land is one of those things that I have trouble understanding.

This issue is becoming an emotional one, but I think it deserves to be explored. First off, what is the difference between a bathroom and a restroom? We use the terms interchangeably, but are they? I think not. 

I found this definition on the internet: Toilet is the actual equipment you use to "do your business" (i.e., to urinate or defecate). Bathroom literally means the whole room, in which there is a toilet, a bathtub, and a sink. Restroom is generally used for public spaces (such as restrooms in a restaurant or a rest stop along the freeway.)

An editorial in the Washington Post this morning titled, How the psychology of public bathrooms explains the "bathroom bills," helped me to gain additional perspective, since I am apparently one of those people who do not have a problem using public restrooms. 

The article ends with the following statement: "By focusing our basic fears and making the gender divide so conspicuous, bathrooms are lightning rods for the sorts of hysteria we are now witnessing. Freud wouldn’t have been at all surprised."

Earlier in the article the fears of our society are addressed. I did not realize that up to 15 percent of people have so much anxiety about public restrooms that they schedule their days around their personal habits. The article points out that,  "These fears reflect both the vulnerability we feel in bathrooms and our expectation that these spaces are, and should be, strictly divided by sex. That’s nothing new. Public restrooms have always been riddled with anxiety and conflict. They’ve been sites of panic over contagious diseases, scandalous revelations about lewd behavior and political struggles over “potty parity” between men and women. The current controversy is only the latest saga."

The concerns being expressed about safety will not be mitigated by enacting discriminatory legislation. 

From my perspective there is sufficient privacy in modern public restrooms and no one else needs to know if a transgender person is using the facility. An NPR article titled When a Transgender Person Uses a Public Bathroom, Who is at Risk? confirms that: 

". . . some people just don't understand that when it comes time for a transgender person to start using the other restroom, they'd rather do it privately, and with as little fuss as possible.

"The last thing you as a trans person would want to do is draw attention to yourself. . . "

So I wonder, what is the real problem? Food for thought.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: Crippled Court

The Supreme Court still has only eight members. They appear fairly evenly split on major issues. 

Despite the contention that the lack of confirming and seating a ninth judge not hamper justice or the interpretation of the constitutionality of issues, the court is resorting to sending some issues back to lower courts with instructions to work out a compromise.

The New York Times this morning, in its article titled, The Crippled Supreme Court, describes the situation and the problem.

Fundamentally, the Supreme Court is not supposed be involved in proposing compromises. The article states: "The court’s job is not to propose complicated compromises for individual litigants; it is to provide the final word in interpreting the Constitution and the nation’s laws."

With only eight members our constitutional freedoms are at risk. 

Just as with the annual budget battles that leave our government crippled, the delay in confirming a ninth justice for the Supreme Court is another area in which the Congress, in this case specifically the Senate, is failing to discharge its constitutionally directed responsibilities. 

Can the Congress be unconstitutional?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - May 16, 2016

1. The Baltimore region's string of consecutive days with at least a trace of rain ended on Thursday at 15. That was two days short of the record. I am glad that it is over, except that it is still raining nearly every day. 

Patrick next to Testudo
May 15, 2016

2. Now that the rain has ended it is cold. 38 degrees this morning.

3. Chris and I enjoyed attending the University of Maryland University College ceremony in which the degree of Master of Science in Cybersecurity was conferred upon Patrick! Congrats Patrick!

Jeremy at Eisenhower on May 16, 2016
As Dawn Breaks

4. I managed 54 holes of golf over three days this weekend! Yay. I wish my scores were better, but the practice is really beginning to pay off in some areas of my game like putting and chipping. Now if I could just hit my driver reliably.

5. Sometimes projects happen and I'm not around to help and participate. A jeep was significantly modified in my driveway yesterday.

Jeremy's Jeep at the start of the project

6. Why is it so cold outside this morning?

7. Did anyone notice that the Orioles, even with their loss yesterday have the second best record in Major League Baseball?

8. The world's reported oldest person died at 116. Her successor is also 116 years-old and she lives in Italy and is also the last documented living person born during the 1800's. 


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD