Monday Musings - December 18, 2017

1. The final two weeks of 2017 have arrived. Christmas is next week. Hopefully, all of your shopping is complete and next up is the dreaded holiday travel. Thankfully, I'm not traveling too far this Christmas.

2. It is going to be much warmer this week. We need a break from the frigid cold.

3. "From Atlantic to Pacific, Gee the traffic is terrific," goes the phrase in a popular Christmas song. What does "the traffic is terrific," mean? Horrific I could understand, but what is terrific traffic?

4. Winners and Losers. Winners: Ravens, Cowboys, Redskins, Penguins. Losers: Steelers (on the worst officiating call of the century unaided by a totally inept video review and incorrect interpretation of the rules).

5. I'm feeling the need to play some golf! Tuesday is looking like a possibility.

6. Another potential government shutdown is looming. It could be a long Christmas holiday for many of us and The Congress fails to perform one of its Constitutionally-directed duties yet again.

7. Is it me, or are people becoming more passionate about insignificant things?

8. Star Wars: The Last Jedi was a great movie and I was entertained and caught up on the story again. 

Headlines

GOP faces 5-day scramble to pass tax bill, avoid government shutdown - The Washington Post

Power Failure at Atlanta Airport Snarls Air Traffic Nationwide - The New York Times

‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Has Second-Biggest Opening Ever - The New York Times

Fire crews take advantage of calm winds, but 'we’ll always be in the ‘ready, set, go’ mode' - The LA Times

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"The United States, as the most powerful of the free nations, is looked to for leadership by those who live in freedom and as a mighty source of hope to those who languish under tyranny. This is a weighty responsibility that no American, especially a President, can take lightly."

Remarks at a White House Briefing for Human Rights Supporters, December 3, 1987

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sleeping by the Fire

Riordin by the Fire

Riordin continues to be the most appreciative of the warmth that comes from the fireplace when a fire is driving the coolness from the room.

The other evening he was sprawled out in front of the fireplace keeping watch on the fire.

The cat loves to be warm. I caught him sprawled across the arm of my chair worshiping the fire just a few weeks ago. Whenever we have a fire, Riordin is nearby. When there is not fire, I often find him sitting on a register soaking up the warm air from the furnace.

I, too, love the warmth from the fire. I also love the smell of the wood as it burns.

Obviously, however, I don't love it as much as Riordin.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Star Wars Season

It is that time of the year. Star Wars has returned to the theater with the next installment of the saga which began during 1977.

It is hard to believe that the saga continues and has now begun to grow stronger with each successive movie. The chronological sequence had gotten a bit complex, There were the first three movies, and then three prequels, then another movie at the end, followed by a movie in the middle and now another movie at the end. 

I'm not sure how they are actually numbered, but sequentially it looks like they were released in the following order:
4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3, 7, 3.5,  and now 8.

I am excited because I will be seeing the current release today!

It is an event, after all. I am excited to be a part of it.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

In the News--the Good is Out There

The holiday news certainly is not uplifting this morning.

Net neutrality has been repealed.

Kim Jong-un may have executed another leader in North Korea.

Another NFL player was carted off the field last night with a potential serious and life-changing injury. 

There is snow and more cold in my forecast.

A woman and two daughters died in a fire in Baltimore. 


So much for tidings of great joy.

I found the Good News Network!

A military Mom has sent 10,000 care packages to the troops. 

A college in Puerto Rico is offering a free semester to help students continue to meet their educational goals despite the recent hurricane induced delays. 

Mexico is protecting the largest ocean reserve in the world.

Sportsmanship is still alive as a boy tried to give his winners trophy to the girl who actually won a golf tournament, but could not be the winner because she was a girl.

Good news is out there. Just look for it. It may not be sensational, but it is important to be aware of the good things happening around us.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Season Slips Away

Columbia Mall Poinsettia Tree
2017 Version

I looked at the calendar this morning.

I shouldn't have!

There are only 11 days until Christmas and for the second time in less than a week we received snow overnight which is dusting the roads and lawns. 

Finnegan and Makayla 

It is the pervasive cold which bothers me the most. I do not enjoy walking through the door and being slapped in the face with the frigid temperatures of winter. It causes me to shiver and mourn the loss of the summer. Where are the palm trees?

Christmas Trees are a poor substitute for the palms that line the warm and sandy beaches where I enjoy the warmth, water and blue skies.

It is still autumn! It is not even winter, yet. Winter does not officially start until next week and then we have at least two months of frigid cold and darkness.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Win for Decency

I'm glad that I was not directly involved in the Alabama Senate election. 

Common sense and decency apparently has prevailed in Alabama overnight as the democrat, Doug Jones, was elected to fill the Senate seat vacated by Attorney General Sessions in the special election as reported by The New York Times.

It has been a very longtime since the democrats have held a senate seat from Alabama. Finally, the impact of presenting a flawed candidate to the voters has backfired. That the vote was as close as it was demonstrates that too many people continue to vote along party lines rather than carefully assessing the credentials of those who would represent them in the Congress.

Despite how we may feel about our party or the opposition, we, as an electorate, must not continue to elect flawed candidates to represent us. Electing flawed representatives continues the pattern of ineffective leadership that we have been experiencing in our government.

The republican candidate was obviously flawed and not suitable to represent Alabama in the Senate.

Maybe now the political leaders will begin to find deserving candidates to represent "we the people."

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Birthdays, Holidays, and Family

Nicole with her Birthday Cake

I was reminded last evening about how family makes the holiday season much more exciting. It is also the middle of the our family's birthday season and so we have our own celebrations to enjoy along the way. 

The Great Looking Haslup Family

We have, in fact, two birthdays to celebrate this week. 

Last evening we celebrated Nicole's birthday. It was a continuation of the celebration we began in D.C. on Friday night. We finally got to enjoy the cake and presents portion of the celebration.

It is fun to get together, especially on a weeknight. That is what families do. Especially when there is a celebration involved. 

Happy Birthday, Nicole.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - December 11, 2017

1. It is two weeks until Christmas. How is all of that shopping going. I think we have returned half of what has been bought.

2. There is something warm and welcoming about a fire in the fireplace.

3. Ethan and Jax began their basketball seasons yesterday with wins! My how the sped of the game has increased for Ethan. It is real basketball.

4. The first snow of the season stayed around to make yesterday a cold, white covered place. It was NOT a wonderland.

5. Winners and Losers. Winners: Steelers, Cowboys. Losers: Ravens, Redskins, Penguins.

Sunrise on the Highway to Work
November 30, 2017

6. Apparently the Yankees believe they can buy a World Series with their recent acquisition. They should ask the Dodgers how that approach is working.

7. I have a heated steering wheel in my truck, who knew that I would like it as much as I do?

8. As the season has deepened closer to the solstice, I am no longer enjoying the brilliant sunrises on my daily trek to work, but this is one from a few weeks ago, 

Headlines

What is the Russia Story? - The New York Times

Liberal Outsiders Pour Into Alabama Senate Race, Treading Lightly - The New York Times

Microbes by the ton: Officials see weapons threat as North Korea gains biotech expertise - The Washington Post

And in the you knew it was coming department:

Lindsey Vonn suffers back injury in World Cup race - Fox News

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"Our country may face enormous challenges, but the great advantage of our democracy is that we do not act from fear or simply respond to threats. We Americans have never been pessimists. We conquer fear with faith, and we overwhelm threats and hardship with courage, work, opportunity, and freedom."

Radio Address to the Nation on Economic Recovery and National Defense, December 18, 1982

- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

First Snowfall for the Pup

Finnegan in His Hat

The first snowfall of the season arrived yesterday with 2.5 inches covering the grass. We received less snow than places south of us, some of which are reporting 15 inches. 

Finnegan in the Snow

The first snow of the season is often considered magical. In my mind there is nothing magical about the snow, it is just cold. 

It was, however, the first exposure to snow for our pup, Finnegan. Of course he needed to be properly attired for his sojourn into the elements. Sometimes I think this dog is a replacement for a doll. At least he does not seem to mind the attention of being dressed up  and paraded about. 

The weather remained wintery all day and we have the snow remaining this morning. I think the pup has a larger wardrobe than I do.

Well he is cute all dressed up in his overcoat and ready for the elements. 

I'm sure there will be additional photo ops for the pup as the winter season progresses.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Images of the Season

Four Seasons Hotel, D.C.
Before Dinner

Ham Solo

I am sitting here warm in my family room watching the news of the impending storm and waiting for the first snow flakes of the season to descend from the sky.

I spent a thoroughly enjoyable evening with Nicole, Mike, Jim and Shannon last evening celebrating her birthday in D.C.  Earlier in the day I drove Patrick and Tina to the airport as they departed for the Florida and a cruise. 

I have come across some interesting sights during the season. 

The one that made me laugh is Ham Solo.

Tree on the back deck

Residing at Patrick and Tina's residence, Ham Solo is clearly a good idea taken to an extreme. The pig is certainly getting into the spirit of the season, even though he will never get off the ground. If he could get off the ground, well, then  we wouldn't be able to say "when pigs fly.!"

My last image is an artistic one that I snapped of the small lighted tree on our deck. Looking out the window in the evening I was able to get the lights coming from the darkness.

I was amazed that an image that I was about to delete actually caught my eye with an impressionistic view of the season.

The images continue.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Budget and Waste

The political games associated with the federal budget are afoot yet again.

The ball has been kicked down the road yet again, although for only two more weeks.

It is a sad statement about the state of our government that our elected representatives cannot, do not, and apparently will not understand the waste and danger to our common defense that is generated by their now almost continual ineptitude at passing a comprehensive budget to fund the government. 

According to Federal News Radio, The Department of the Navy estimates that continuing resolutions have led to the waste of $4 billion since 2011.

That is $4 billion taxpayer dollars because the Congress cannot execute one of its fundamental and most important Constitutional duties.

Given the speed of commerce and communications, our government's approach to the budget is increasingly archaic, wasteful, and dangerous. 

It has also become far too political.

The Washington Examiner has an article about how the continuing resolutions negatively impact the defense of the country and readiness. 

From that article, here is an example of the impact:

For example, America’s long-running wars have depleted the stockpiles of bombs and missiles used to battle the Islamic State and other terrorist groups.

The new budget includes money to ramp up production of high-demand weapons to replenish the inventory, but as long as spending is frozen at last year’s levels, that initiative cannot begin.

We could run out of critical weapons to defend the nation because the Congress cannot pass a fully funded budget.

The continuing resolution situation cannot continue. 

There ought to be a law! 

But wait, there is! Congress just ignores it.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Decline and Fall of the NFL, part 2

I received some interesting comments on my blog from yesterday. I felt the need to continue the exploration into the Decline and Fall of the NFL.

Today is written from a personal and family perspective.

My family used to be huge NFL Sunday football fans. We would gather every weekend to watch the games. We routinely cheer for and support four teams: Steelers, Redskins, Cowboys, and Ravens. 


The NFL, in its effort to saturate the market has made gathering together on a Sunday afternoon to barbecue and enjoy the games almost impossible.

This season the Steelers have been playing in primetime almost every game--especially the latter part of the season. The Redskins and the Ravens have been moving around the dial as well.

Primetime games are terrible for East Coast residents. They do not end until well after 11:00 PM and many of us, myself included have to get up early in the morning. I almost never see the end of a primetime game. Perhaps that is why the recent Monday Night Football game in Baltimore saw low attendance. The games end too late.

Through the magic of selling its soul to television, the NFL is actually reducing our opportunity to watch the teams we care about. Even with Fantasy Football, the product being presented is not compelling enough to watch unless our favorite is playing.

Empty Seats in Seattle

Seriously, who wants to see New England crush some hapless AFC East team again? Or Watch the Panthers and the Titans unless they live i the home cities? I admit, I like to watch the Packers when Aaron Rogers is playing, but he is hurt.

Because of the jumbled television schedule, including too many primetime games, our family does not routinely gather anymore for the Sunday games. I am sure we are not the only ones. 

The NFL just isn't fun and when watching with young, impressionable pre-teens, all too often there has to be an explanation about sportsmanship and the caution "don't do this on the playground."

The NFL is at a crossroads, it can change and rework its image and interpretation of the game of football, or it will die within a decade after the over-generous TV contracts expire.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Decline and Fall of the NFL

The demise of the biggest sports league on the planet may be upon us.

The fall from supreme status has begun. The Chicago Tribune is carrying an article about the demise of the NFL. 

Stadiums are not full, TV ratings are down and the fan base seems to be eroding.

I am told that tickets to the Sunday Ravens gam could be had for $15. I think the face value of the tickets were $85. And the Ravens are in the playoff hunt.

Why?

The answer may be that the play on the field no longer reflects the norms of society. Or, in short, the NFL has ruined the game of football by allowing it to grow into a sport where the violence and lack of sportsmanship shock the fans and cause them to turn elsewhere.

Add to this that the ticket prices to attend the games in person are out of sight expensive and the fan experience is less than enjoyable and you have a recipe for failure.

The NFL has to do many things to recover from the death spiral.

First, focus on the game. Stop catering to television which often interrupts the flow of the game with unnecessary timeouts. Return the game to its roots.

Second, stop the wanton and unnecessary violence. This weekend's games are an example of violence run amok. Wanton hits designed to hurt opponents. While one game suspensions are a start, why weren't the perpetrators of the violence immediately ejected? They were not ejected because fundamentally the NFL sees the violence as improving ratings, I believe.

Third, improve the in stadium fan experience. Do not tolerate violence in the stand and taunting of opposing team's fans. 

Fourth, remove the "thuggishness" from the game. That is an example of poor sportsmanship and should not be tolerated. 

Fifth, make the game safer so that parents will let their boys play it again. I played high school football, and I was injured. Injuries happen, but fundamentally the game is not safe and needs to be reworked. 

Sixth, get rid of Thursday football, except on Thanksgiving. there is too much of a poor product.

Seventh, focus on product improvement. Improve the pace of play. Right now there is about 10 minutes of action in a 60 minute game that takes 3 1/2 hours to play. What is wrong with this picture?

Eighth, enforce a no tolerance policy for PEDs. The current policy almost encourages players to use PEDs because of the slap on the had for the first offenses. Implement a season long suspension and that will stop the abuse of PEDs and may ultimately make the game safer by reducing the bulk and strength of the players. 

These, however are just my thoughts.

I feel that the NFL has lost its fan base and may not recover.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

National Monument or Park?

What is in a name? 

Quite a bit it turns out. 

I learned something this morning that I didn't fully understand before. National Parks are established by Congress. National Monuments are established by the President.

This was not so clear before the current concern about Bears Ears National Monument.

The discussion about reducing the size of a National Monument really is a decision left to the President. There are a lot of issues involved. 

In terms of background, The New York Times reports that: 

President Obama created Bears Ears National Monument in December 2016, after years of lobbying by five tribes in the region: the Navajo, the Hopi, the Ute Mountain Ute, the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, and the Zuni. It is named for a pair of towering buttes — the Bears Ears — that dominate much of the landscape.

There are a lot of issues surrounding this relatively new National Monument. The good that will come from the current discussion, and through the judicial process, is to determine how far a President can go in determining the relative size of a National Monument. In this case, there apparently are five Native American Tribes also involved in the planning and definition of the monument.

Do not misunderstand me here, I am not against National Monuments and land preservation, but some of the writers have suggested that President Obama may have been a bit too generous when establishing the monument using the Antiquities Act.

It should make for another interesting day in court.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - December 4, 2017

1. The first Monday of December has arrived. There are only three Mondays left this year. 

Riordin under the Tree Skirt

2. There are 21 shopping days until Christmas. 

3. I think we finally have all of the seasonal decorations out of their storage boxes and on display to brighten the otherwise dark season.

4. Riordin, the cat, uses the tree skirt as a means to hide from and then attack Finnegan, our Yorkie. They play very well together.

5. Beautiful December weather has been evident the past few days, however, the impending weather report is full of cold and even ac mention of snow. And so it begins . . . 

6. We have been doing a lot of shopping on line again this year. We have been driven to it because the "brick and mortar" stores seem to be out of everything we are looking for.

7. We did get ourselves and early Christmas present. We are not the proud owners of a GE Sol. We are still unlocking its features, but we like it.

8. I am way behind in my racquetball league--I think I have to play three games this week to get back on schedule.

Headlines

What happened when North Carolina cut taxes like the GOP plans to for the country - The Washington Post
G.O.P. Pushes to Avoid Government Shutdown, but the Path Is Tricky - The New York Times

The Lure of a Better Life, Amid Cold and Darkness - The New York Times

Ravens, NFL scramble as fans stay home - The Baltimore Sun

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"Let's not go back. Our choice must be to keep our nation strong, free, and full of hope. America is a great and generous nation. We are the beacon of liberty and freedom to all the world. Together you and I, with the help of the Republican team, can finish the job. We can realize the dreams our critics said were not possible."

Address to the Nation on the Congressional and Gubernatorial Elections, November 2, 1986

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

December Musings

The season continues to race by. 

Finnegan Admiring the Tree

Chris and I have finally, mostly, completed decorating the house for the season. The second tree was completed yesterday and the boxes of decorations are now empty. 

Although it should be time to relax and enjoy the season, the buying and gifting is now ramping up to a fevered pitch. And then there is the issue of the Christmas cards, or are we sending New Year's cards this year. I guess we still haven't decided. 

Moon over Elkridge
December 2, 2017

In the exciting news department at least we have a new tax plan. Sadly, I expect to pay more. I firmly believe that I am in the group targeted to pay more in order that the truly rich can get a tax break. Perhaps people who actually pay taxes should write the tax laws. Now if Congress can pass a Continuing Resolution, or a budget, to keep the government running past next Friday it will be the best Christmas gift.

Finally, I admired the moon last evening as Chris and I walked the dogs. It was hanging there in the sky peeking out between the bare branches of the trees. I guess it was supposed to be a supermoon or something. It looked like the moon that I have been viewing for the past 62 years. Actually, the supermoon is tonight and that is when it is at perigee. Wow. Weirdly, the next supermoon occurs on New Year's Day.

And so, December is off and running.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Enjoying the Season

And so it is December. 

Lakefront Columbia, MD
December 1, 2017

That, of course, means events and activities. Last evening we were part of two events. We attended a Craft Cocktail Crawl on the waterfront in Columbia and then went into Ellicott City for Midnight Madness.

On the Street Corner - Midnight Madness
Ellicott City, MD
December 1, 2017

It was a beautiful and unseasonably warm evening on the lake. We enjoyed some revelry with our friends and started the weekend off with some unique and creative cocktails. 

Following the enjoyment on the waterfront, it was off to Ellicott City for the Midnight Madness shopping experience. I personally love Midnight Madness because it reminds me of life before shopping malls when people went out into the town to shop. 

The added benefit for Midnight Madness is that many of the stores offer light munchies and beverages. It helps to "make the season bright!"

The shopping can also be fun. I always find interesting things. For instance, the coaster above carrying the witty, and true, statement.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

December Arrives

Overnight, the last month of the year arrived.

In the heads of most children it is the best month of the year, but for many adults it falls well below that.

I look forward to the holiday parties and revelry. 

I remember that when I was a kid, December was divided into shopping days left until Christmas. I'm not sure that applies anymore. Shopping days until Christmas excluded Sundays, but now with the magic of computers and the stores being open seven days a week, the number of shopping days is really the same as the number of days remaining until Christmas. That number is 24 today.

Does anything other than Christmas happened during December?

USS Arizona Memorial
Pearl Harbor, Hawai'i

Certainly. Our family has birthdays to celebrate and then there is New Year's Eve (which is a December event). 

There is also Pearl Harbor Day on December 7th.

Don't forget the Solstice. Winter begins at 11:28 AM EST on December 21st. Brrrrr.

A busy month is fully underway!

Let's try to keep our heads about us!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Petulant Child (er Dog)

Finn with Shoe

I am not sure whether it is an excessive amount of energy, but the new puppy, Finnegan, who is not new anymore, had a rough ending to the night. 

That meant sleep ended at 4AM because we confined him to his cage and he cried for 45 minutes. Ugh.

Finn with Shoe Part 2 

It is hard to sleep with a petulant dog howling, barking, racing around and generally being a problem child.

It is part of the "growing" pains, but it surely is a pain.

Right now he is busy eating a shoe. It is not my shoe. At least he is quiet. Given that he is not creating a nuisance by barking or harassing Makayla, I am going to let him enjoy Chris' shoe. 

Tomorrow will be better!

Promise?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Winter Around the Corner

As autumn slides into winter, I found an unsettling prediction in this morning's The Washington Post. 

Washington, DC, Regional Snow Forecast

The winter snow forecast is in. The coming winter is predicted to be more normal--which means a lot more snow than last year's mild winter. I added a star to the map to indicate the approximate area where I am located in relation to the rest of the region.

Snow, or the threat of snow, tends to shut down the entire region. It is a a bit comical, coming as I do from a place where snow is just one of the seasons and they are equipped to deal with it. Here are the seasons in Upstate NY: Snow, Spring, Rain, Harvest.
I do write that a bit tongue-in-cheek, but it is not far from the truth.

Well, since the forecast is in I need to be ready for the coming season. I wonder how much snow we will actually receive. At least the season is beginning mildly. Temperatures today are expected to be in the 60's. 

I wish I could play hooky and go golfing.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Welcome to the Land of Insults

Yesterday was a banner day for the United States--and not in a good way.

The President began the day by obliterating the First Amendment in his personal and unreasonable attacks  on CNN and ended the day by insulting native Americans and using a racial slur while denigrating a member of Congress.

It is almost scary to consider what "off-the-cuff" utterance will be next. 

Regarding the news media, President Trump tweeted the following:

We should have a contest as to which of the Networks, plus CNN and not including Fox, is the most dishonest, corrupt and/or distorted in its political coverage of your favorite President (me). They are all bad. Winner to receive the FAKE NEWS TROPHY!

President Trump at Code Talker Ceremony
Image by Getty images 

It is OK to have a favorite network, but any effort to interfere with the freedom of the press is specifically against the First Amendment to the Constitution. 

And then later in the day, according to NPR, at a ceremony honoring surviving Navajo WW2 code talkers, the President destroyed the solemnity of the ceremony by making insults and using what is considered a racial slur against a U.S. Senator. What possessed him to tangentially add such comments into the ceremony?

Where does it stop? When will ethics and decorum be restored to the highest office in the land? When again will we have a leader that we can be proud of and rally behind rather than shudder every time he opens his mouth or makes another tweet?

Perhaps Lord Action was correct:

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."

In this case, I might substitute the word money for power.

--Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD