Monday Musings - July 20, 2020

1. It is the third Monday of July. My favorite month of the year is slipping by too quickly. I am trying to enjoy every day.

Enjoying a Day at Big Cork Vineyards
Rohrersville, MD
July 19, 2020

2. What could be better than a day at Big Cork Vineyards with friends? Nothing really. We spent a marvelous afternoon with friends and listened to live music while enjoying some great wine in the Maryland mountains. 

3. The afternoons have been really hot--and this week will be likely the hottest of the year. Be cool, stay safe, and enjoy the summer.

4. Every time I hear the words "Fake News," I immediately discard the comment or statement being made at the time. The words "Fake News" in a report are a red flag to me that what is being reported or recounted about is likely untruth or contextually challenged. 

5. Circles of trust are everywhere during these coronavirus days. Don't break your circle.

6. When the dogs get up early in the morning, they have business that needs to be done. Then, unlike me, they lay on the floor and go back to sleep.

7. In the quiet of the middle of the night sometimes the thoughts in my head are too loud to allow me to go back to sleep. 

8. Are the overwhelming majority of Americans who refuse to wear a face mask in public really as selfish and uncaring of others as they seem?

9. I slipped out and played golf Saturday afternoon in the 98 degree heat. I decided to ride in a cart and not walk. It was a good choice.

10. Today in History. July 20, 1969, at 10:56 p.m. EDT, American astronaut Neil Armstrong, 240,000 miles from Earth, speaks these words to more than a billion people listening at home: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Stepping off the lunar landing module Eagle, Armstrong became the first human to walk on the surface of the moon.

Coronavirus Deaths Surpass 140,000 in U.S., as Trump Sees Flare-Ups as ‘Burning Embers’ - The Wall Street Journal

 Canada Bars Blue Jays From Playing Home Games in Toronto - The Wall Street Journal

As Trump Ignores Virus Crisis, Republicans Start to Break Ranks - The New York Times

TimesVideoTear Gas, Fireworks and Police Clashes at Portland Protests - The New York Times

Trump defends bungled handling of coronavirus with falsehoods and dubious claims - The Washington Post

Comet Neowise, two meteor showers and the ISS: Skywatching opportunities abound in next few weeks - The Washington Post

When the U.S. sneezes, the world catches a cold. What happens when it's COVID-19? - Reuters

United Arab Emirates launches mission to Mars - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

An evangelical minister and a politician arrived at Heaven's gate one day together. And St. Peter, after doing all the necessary formalities, took them in hand to show them where their quarters would be. And he took them to a small, single room with a bed, a chair, and a table and said this was for the clergyman. And the politician was a little worried about what might be in store for him. And he couldn't believe it then when St. Peter stopped in front of a beautiful mansion with lovely grounds, many servants, and told him that these would be his quarters.

And he couldn't help but ask, he said, ``But wait, how -- there's something wrong -- how do I get this mansion while that good and holy man only gets a single room?'' And St. Peter said, ``You have to understand how things are up here. We've got thousands and thousands of clergy. You're the first politician who ever made it.'' [Laughter]

But I don't want to contribute to a stereotype. [Laughter] So, I tell you there are a great many God-fearing, dedicated, noble men and women in public life, present company included. And, yes, we need your help to keep us ever mindful of the ideas and the principles that brought us into the public arena in the first place. The basis of those ideals and principles is a commitment to freedom and personal liberty that, itself, is grounded in the much deeper realization that freedom prospers only where the blessings of God are avidly sought and humbly accepted.

  -- Remarks at the Annual Convention of the National Association of Evangelicals in Orlando, Florida, March 8, 1983

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Wear a Face Mask

Why is this is difficult? Wear a face mask in public! 

It amazes me that so many people resist such a simple measure which according to the CDC Director could help us get coronavirus under control in weeks.

Trump in a Face Mask, Finally

How many Americans must die before we take a simple preventative measure and show concern for others?

The recent publication from the CDC is pretty clear and has a very interesting case study based upon tracing to help confirm what the experts have been telling us. Face masks save lives. Of course looking at the recent increase in infections we really don't need the experts to tell us to wear masks. States were masks are optional are suffering with high infection and hospitalization rates. 

“We are not defenseless against COVID-19,” said CDC Director Dr. Robert R. Redfield. “Cloth face coverings are one of the most powerful weapons we have to slow and stop the spread of the virus – particularly when used universally within a community setting. All Americans have a responsibility to protect themselves, their families, and their communities.”

Are face masks safe? There is a lot of misinformation and partially true information on the internet right now, but an article in USA Today titled, Fact Check: Face masks are safe for most, but not kids under 2 lays out the situation. 

Here is the situation--over 1 percent of the U.S. population have been confirmed as infected with coronavirus as of yesterday. Of those infected, nearly 4 percent have died which is 138,782 people who have lost their lives as of yesterday. By comparison, during the 2019-2020 flu season 17 percent of the U.S. population is estimated to have possibly been infected with the flu and of those infected 0.1% (yes, that is one-tenth of a percent) lost their lives. Coronavirus is not the flu! If 17 percent of the American population were to become infected with coronavirus the result could be over 2,200,000 deaths! 

The argument over Constitutional rights just does not hold water in the case of wearing face masks. People have the right not to wear a face mask in public--in some states that will be against the law and there will be consequences, everything has consequences. People do not, however, have the right to possibly infect someone else with a disease. It is our responsibility to take action to protect our fellow citizens.

Wear a face mask. Save a life.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Baseball Returns

It is back again in the news, hidden in the depths of the sports pages and web sites. 

Baseball! 

Major League Baseball (MLB) is creeping back onto the national stage. 

America's pastime.

Ed Smith Stadium
Sarasota, Florida
February 29, 2020

There is a schedule of three Spring Training (why aren't they calling it Summer Training?) today. Hidden inside the schedule of intrasquad games there are real baseball games between the Pirates and the Indians, the Mets and the Yankees, and the Phillies and the Nationals. 

Fans at Spectrum Field
Clearwater, Florida
March 1, 2020

I am lucky to have gone to Spring Training, the real Spring Training during late-February and viewed real baseball games with fans! And beer! And hamburgers!

It will be very different knowing that there are no fans in the park. Empty cavernous stadiums--it is a sad thought.

But, baseball is returning and the Orioles are traveling to the Phillies tomorrow for a game! 

I definitely need the diversion.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Dog Days 2020

Finnegan Helping with the Deck Project
Elkridge, MD
July 16, 2020

The Dog Days are upon us and the summer is becoming hot and sultry. It has been difficult around the house for the smallest member of the family. Finnegan gets very frustrated when Chris and I are at home, but not available for him to follow and be near--as was the case while we were staining the deck.

Newly Stained Deck Christened by Morning Shower
Elkridge, MD
July 17, 2020

It was day two of the deck staining project and Finnegan, of course, could not be with us. He likes to be a bit too close and stain does not work well in his coat. As we were nearing the completion of the project yesterday, staining the stairs, he could no longer be contained and he rushed the door when I opened it taking a position near Chris as she was staining a baluster.

We managed to complete the project in two days, two long and hot days, using three gallons of stain. Three complete gallons of stain. Fortunately we bought four gallons and there is a gallon remaining to stain the small porch off the garage. I have to replace a board three and it will look nice when stained to match the deck on the back of the house.

The newly stained deck was christened this morning by a passing shower--but fortunately it had been drying overnight and since yesterday afternoon so so damage was done.

As the Dog Days deepen and the coronavirus continues to rage I wonder what other fun projects I will become involved in completing.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Animals in the Area

I enjoy finding and spying on the wildlife that I encounter during daily life. Sometimes I get to rescue the animals that get caught in the waters of my pool. 

American Ermine Moth Swimming
Elkridge, MD
July 14, 2020

The other day, Chris rescued this moth, which we believe is an American ermine moth from the pool. The moth was exhausted from swimming and she placed it in the grasses which border the pool. It was very unique and different. We do not often see such moths. It regained its white background color once it dried from being in the pool.

Turtles on a Rock
Lake Kittamaqundi, Columbia, MD
July 14, 2020

I also spied some small turtles basking on a rock during our walk around Lake Kittamaqundi. They were enjoying the sun and staying away from the boats collecting the aquatic plants.

These turtles were very small and looked like red-eared slider turtle escapees from pet stores. I thought I saw the characteristic red mark on the turtle's neck. Alternatively, there could be Eastern mud turtles, I did not get close enough to be able to make a definitive determination.

It is supposed to be another great summer day. Hopefully we will complete the deck staining project today. I do not suppose that I will have time to discover any other animals lurking around aside from the explosion of rabbits that we are experiencing. I guess the fox has found another place to reside. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Enjoy the Day

Lake Kittamaqundi
Columbia, MD
July 14, 2020

It was another coronavirus day. It was a day when I had planned to be sitting on a Florida beach, but prudence caused me to cancel our trip. But, the need to be near water was overwhelming and so we decided to wander around Lake Kittamaqundi in Columbia, Maryland. It was a nice walk and I was taken by the clouds in the sky reflecting off the surface of the lake. The amount of algae growth was evident in the water and I also saw two specialized boats scooping the algae put to clear the lake. 

Mowing the Lake
Columbia, MD
July 14, 2020

The water plant removal boats were interesting to watch. It was almost like they were mowing the lake. The bins were collecting massive amounts of the unwanted aquatic plants to help clear the lake. I was unaware of this process before yesterday. 

It was a nice walk and a good way to begin the day. Even Finnegan enjoyed the walk.

Today is a project day! Staining the deck day. It has been coming for a long time and I guess that there is no escaping that the deck needs to be stained and preserved. We will finally also unify the two tones of stain that are already on there deck from where we stained it after rebuilding part of it a few years ago! Home projects. As I always say, they are best when completed!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Random Pandemic Thoughts

Happy Bastille Day! Vive la France!

I note that the French are more effective combatting the coronavirus than we are. France has 209,640 cases and 30,032 deaths compared with the U.S. 3,364,547 cases and 135,615 deaths as of this morning from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center.  The seven-day moving average for new cases in France was 577 and the average for daily deaths was 16 as of yesterday, based upon New York Times reporting. The U.S,. by comparison has a seven-day moving average pf 60,521 new cases and 724 deaths, also from The New York Times. Just a thought--1 percent of the entire U.S. population has not been diagnosed with COVID-19.

I think the statement made the Florida governor the other day about schools is probably one of the most revealing for lack of understanding of how opening the schools is materially different from reopening the economy. 

"But I'm confident if you can do Home Depot, if you can do Walmart, if you can do these things, we absolutely can do the schools. I want our kids to be able to minimize this education gap that I think has developed." DeSantis. As reported by CNN on Friday, July 10, 2020. 

I am amazed that the governor did not see the huge difference between Walmart and a school. First off, wearing masks for an entire school day is going to be a tough experience for many kids and teachers. The spaces are closer together and physical distancing is tough to maintain. Additionally, a trip to Walmart is just that--a trip consisting of minutes. A day at school is just that--a day. We need to get the virus under control before kids can get back to school safely. 

Me in a Mask
Columbia, MD
April 4, 2020

This is a pandemic people--we need to get our heads-out-of-the-sand and take responsibility for ourselves and others. I do not understand the resistance to wearing masks. I think it is clear that states where mask wearing is mandatory are doing better combatting the virus than those where mask wearing is not enforced. That is one of the reasons that I am not in Florida this week--Floridians do not understand the importance of wearing masks. 

From all of the studies I have seen, there are no health issues associated with wearing masks, with the narrow exception of underlying medical issues like asthma or COPD. Some people have suggested that CO2 builds up--that has been patently dismissed as untrue. The worst part about wearing a mask? No washing it after use!

Take responsibility for yourself and stop blaming others!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - July 13, 2020

1. It is the second Monday of July. Time is sweeping past quickly. Tax Day 2020 is in two short days. 

Refurbished Stairs
Elkridge, MD
July 11, 2020

2. I can confirm that the flooring project is complete and we also updated the stairs. The place looks great! Now onto the next project. 

3. The quote of the week is from the German Chancellor Angela Merkel: "We are seeing at the moment that the pandemic can't be fought with lies and disinformation, and neither can it be with hatred and agitation." 

4. Apparently, if you can't change the truth you need to stifle those who tell the truth. Seems the administration is trying to silence Dr Fauci.

New Reported Cases in the U.S.

5. How well is the U.S. doing in the face of coronavirus. See the graph from this morning's New York Times.

6. Playing racquetball on an outdoor court at 6 AM really adds a new dimension to the game. 

7. I want to go on vacation--but there is no where to go, safely.

8. Today in History. On July 13, 1985, at Wembley Stadium in London, Prince Charles and Princess Diana officially open Live Aid, a worldwide rock concert organized to raise money for the relief of famine-stricken Africans. Continued at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia (where Joan Baez famously kicked it off by telling the crowd "this is your Woodstock, and it's long overdue") and at other arenas around the world, the 16-hour “superconcert” was globally linked by satellite to more than a billion viewers in 110 nations. In a triumph of technology and good will, the event raised more than $125 million in famine relief for Africa.

Coronavirus Surge Challenges Struggling Food Supply Chains - The Wall Street Journal

Trump Aides Target Fauci as He Grows More Vocal Over Virus Surge - The New York Times

How Russia Built a Channel to the Taliban, Once an Enemy - The New York Times

Redskins to retire team name today - The Washington Post

China imposes sanctions on U.S. senators Rubio, Cruz over Xinjiang advocacy - The Washington Post

Exclusive: U.S. turns screws on maritime industry to cut off Venezuela's oil - Reuters

Fire aboard U.S. Navy warship in San Diego injures 21 people - Reuters

Taliban attack on Afghan government compound kills 10, wounds dozens - Reuters






Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

Protecting the rights of even the least individual among us is basically the only excuse the government has for even existing.



-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Taxes Looming!

Tax day is almost here. 

It seems weird to write this statement during July, but coronavirus encouraged the government to delay the annual pain of settling up by three months. I have to admit, I have delayed paying my tax bill this year. The taxes have been complete since April, but I have been waiting until closer to the Day of Reckoning to submit them.


We experienced some changes during 2019 that resulted in Tax Day not being a lot of fun! I also fell victim to some tax law updates, ugh! I hate it when they change the rules in the middle of the game. But, we have made corrections and adjustments for 2020 to ease the pain of Tax Day 2021. It still bugs me that I pay more in income taxes that some Fortune 500 companies pay in taxes. And companies are able to pass their tax bills to their customers through increased prices on products and services. I, unfortunately, am where the tax bill hits the bank account. I cannot pass my tax bill onto anyone! I confess, I was secretly hoping that Tax Day would be canceled this year--that would have been the best stimulus package!

Later today or tomorrow I will press the send button in Turbo Tax and watch the money in my accounts be siphoned off to support our Republic. It is, after all, my civic duty!

I will be happy to have Tax Day 2020 in my rear view mirror. Sadly, however, the next Day of Reckoning is now only nine short months away!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The End is in Sight

The Final Boards are Laid
Elkridge, MD
July 8, 2020

The end of the flooring project is in sight. Hopefully, today we will complete the project. All of the flooring was laid Wednesday and we spent Thursday evening beginning to install the moulding. 

Last evening, I had the night off to enjoy Happy Hour with friends. 

Today, I will be installing the moulding on the second floor and the doing a facelift for the stairs. This should bring the project to a successful completion. Finally! It has taken the better part of two weeks

Home improvement projects are enjoyed best when they are finished!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Summer Friday

Welcome to the second Friday of July 2020. That is significant because we are in the second half of the year and it has now been a week since the Independence Day weekend which provided a means to escape the pervasive coronavirus presence. 

Last Friday I spent the day laying floors and preparing for the holiday. This Friday the summer is in full swing, except, I have no where to go. Just as it seemed that Chris and I would escape to Florida for a couple weeks--Florida became a coronavirus hot spot. 

Prudence dictated that our trip be canceled and as of yet it not has not been rescheduled. Were we afraid of contracting the virus? Not really, but flying and taking a Lyft or Uber does increase exposure chances. And then there is the shopping for supplies that has to take place. At least the beaches are open! We will try again in August and potentially drive the truck to ferry some larger things to our condo. 

Today, I will go to work and I am very happy to have a job. I will focus on my tasks while counting the hours until I can join friends to celebrate Happy Hour and the arrival of the weekend. At least there is a developing sense of normalcy in the upside down world. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

School Reopening - Crisis of Conscience

Whether to return to school, be they primary, secondary, or college, later this year has become another diversionary tactic by the administration. 

The president's statement yesterday, coupled with a nearly unenforceable threat to reduce funding, may be irrationally causing school systems to rethink their plans for Fall semester classes. 

The Wall Street Journal headline reads, Trump Criticizes CDC Guidelines for Reopening Schools. 

Schools are, and historically in the United States have been, community funded and managed. The president is using this flash-point to divert attention from a miserably implemented coronavirus policy which finds the U.S. as the most incompetent country in the world in dealing with the virus. Successful countries, for instance Italy, shut everything down. We are reopening too quickly, as seen by the recent spike in hospitalizations and ICU bed usage. Opening schools will likely cause the virus to spread even more quickly through the population. And while studies generally indicate that children are not as frequently affected or with the same dire consequences as adults what about the teachers and staff at the schools? And what about the transmission of the disease to parents and siblings and then through the social networks of the community? 

Reopening schools too quickly could be a recipe for disaster which might well ensure that no part of American society is spared the ravages of the pandemic.

Anyone who has been in a school knows that they were not designed with physical (aka social) distancing in mind. Look at the lockers, classroom loading, and cafeterias to name a few. Many school districts are wrestling with these issues. And an even greater concern, given some of the more recent reporting about the airborne nature of the virus, is the condition and quality of the air handling systems which could effectively make schools and school busses as well, petrie dishes for the virus. 

The irrational rush to reopen schools could well cost many more Americans their lives. 

A more measured approach to reopening schools and colleges is consistent with the needs of our society.  

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Flooring Project Update

Flooring at Jeremy's House
Elkridge, MD
July 8, 2020

The flooring project at Jeremy's house continues. 

We have been installing flooring every day for the past week. The house is transforming. 

The main level is nearly complete, we only have to install the trim. The materials for the trim should arrive today and then I will be having fun with my pneumatic nailer. On the upper level there is a small area in the hallway and most of one of the three bedrooms remaining. My knees are very sore, even wearing knee pads. I confess that I only worked three hours last evening as the light was such that I could not see the seams. We are being very critical about the seams and if they cannot be seen we cannot ensure the adjoining boards are properly joined. 

I have been making some complicated cuts around doors and into hallways. They take time to map out. I had one cut along an angled wall yesterday that was especially difficult because the wall was not at a 45 degree angle and I have go go back to basic geometry to figure out how to determine the angle. Actually, I finally remembered to just measure the length of the hypotenuse and it worked like a champ.  

While the coronavirus continues to rage across the country, this project is keeping us off the streets and busy.

I am hopeful of completing the project by Thursday night!

Next week's coronavirus project will be an adventure in deck staining! Oh joy! Anyone who knows me understands how much I dislike projects involving paint brushes and rollers!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Can I Get Away from it All?

The View from Jupiter Island Beach
Jupiter Island, Florida
November 6, 2019

I had planned to be on a Southwest Airlines flight departing Baltimore-Washington International Airport for Palm Beach International Airport this morning to enjoy a couple weeks in Florida and my condo there and escape to the beach. 

I canceled the trip due to the rise in coronavirus cases in Florida and specifically Palm Beach County. 

Coincidentally, there is a moderately comprehensive article in this morning's The Wall Street Journal titled,

Is It Safe to Travel Again? Your Coronavirus Questions Answered

Appropriately, the article features an image of a Southwest Airlines 737 in flight! 

Osprey Flying Free
Jupiter Island, Florida
November 7, 2019

The article appeals to those of us who want to get away from the new normal, whatever that has become, and attempt to find old fashioned escape-ism by collapsing on a beach somewhere and enjoying the sun, sand, and surf. 

Sadly, there are not many places open to travelers and even within the U.S. vacationers need to be mindful of quarantines and travel requirements. 

The opening paragraph of the article:

As countries begin to reopen, is there any place abroad where I can travel right now? 

Not easily. Many countries remain closed to nonessential travelers and non-residents. Some nations are gradually lifting their bans but only permitting in tourists from countries where the number of coronavirus cases is relatively low or steadily declining. The European Union lifted its internal borders last month and as of July 1, began allowing visitors from up to 15 other countries, including South Korea, New Zealand and Rwanda. But tourists from the U.S., where coronavirus cases are surging, are still prohibited from entering most European countries.

In fact, the Canadian border remains closed to non-official U.S. persons!

Also from the article:

Can I take a road trip? Are there coronavirus checkpoints at state borders? 

As more hotels and national and state parks reopen across the country, road trip vacationsare picking up speed. Only Florida currently has checkpoint, on Interstate 95, just south of the Georgia border, to screen travelers. Those visitors arriving from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are required to quarantine for 14-days. New Mexico has a checkpoint on US 64, leading in and out of Taos Pueblo, which is closed indefinitely to nonresidents. For other roadside travel restrictions, see AAA’s Covid-19 map at TripTik.AAA.com. And for more road trip guidance, including tips on how to safely get gas and food along your drive, read “Expert Advice for a Safe Road Trip.”

And so I remain in Maryland, hunkering down even though the state is slowly reopening. I long to be free to "move about the country" but I am smart enough to realize the now is not the right time. Yet.

Well, I have more flooring to install and next week I have a deck to stain. I am definitely keeping busy--maybe too busy with my full-time job and then my full-time projects. 

But, I'd really like to get away from it all, but safely and smartly.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - July 6. 2020

1. The first Monday of July 2020 has arrived. The second half of the year is underway and we have already enjoyed the Independence Day celebrations. July is my favorite month of the year!

2. This week marks the third planned vacation that I have canceled this year due to the pandemic. Chris and I had planned to head to Florida for a two-week  getaway to check on our condo and enjoy some beach time. We canceled the trip due to the coronavirus explosion underway in Florida.

Calla Lily after the Rain
Elkridge, MD
July 4, 2020

3. Sometimes the flowers in our gardens are worth remembering. I enjoyed this calla lily after a brief rainstorm on July 4th. 

4. The work renovating the floors of Jeremy's house continue. The main level is complete and the upper level is about 50 percent complete. The hardest part has been the transitions between rooms. But it looks great, fresh, and clean!

5. Why do some people prefer to tear down rather than build up? 

6.  The hot weather has been great! I have been enjoying time in and around my pool--well, when I have not been busy laying flooring. I have been relearning the meaning of hard work!

7. The trees and grasses are green. It is an image that I indelibly fix in my mind to remind me of summer during the other seasons. 

8. Today in History. On July 6, 1957, Althea Gibson claims the women’s singles tennis title at Wimbledon and becomes the first African American to win a championship at London’s All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

Gibson was born on August 25, 1927, in Silver, South Carolina, and raised in the Harlem section of New York City. She began playing tennis as a teenager and went on to win the national Black women’s championship twice. At a time when tennis was largely segregated, four-time U.S. Nationals winner Alice Marble advocated on Gibson’s behalf and the 5’11” player was invited to make her U.S. Open debut in 1950. In 1956, Gibson’s tennis career took off and she won the singles title at the French Open—the first African American to do so—as well as the doubles’ title there. In July 1957, Gibson won Wimbledon, defeating Darlene Hard, 6-3, 6-2. (In 1975, Arthur Ashe became the first African American man to win the men’s singles title at Wimbledon, when he defeated Jimmy Connors.) In September 1957, she won the U.S. Open, and the Associated Press named her Female Athlete of the Year in 1957 and 1958. During the 1950s, Gibson won 56 singles and doubles titles, including 11 major titles.

U.S. Coronavirus Death Toll Nears 130,000 as Infection Rate Surges - The Wall Street Journal

Global Stocks Jump, Led By Surge in Chinese Markets - The Wall Street Journal

The Fullest Look Yet at the Racial Inequity of Coronavirus - The New York Times

The Invisible Caste System Behind American Racism - The New York Times Magazine

7-day average case total in U.S. sets record for 27th straight day - The Washington Post

Places with highest daily reported cases per capita - The Washington Post

Australia closes state border for first time in 100 years after COVID-19 spike - Reuters

Hong Kong court denies bail to first person charged under new law - Reuters

US Navy responds to Chinese paper’s tweet on ‘carrier killer’ tech - Fox News

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

Let the Fourth of July always be a reminder that here in this land, for the first time, it was decided that man is born with certain God-given rights; that government is only a convenience created and managed by the people, with no powers of its own except those voluntarily granted to it by the people.

We sometimes forget that great truth, and we never should. 

   -- Ronald Reagan Essay on Independence Day written during 1981 as published in Real Clear Politics

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

There is no "I" in "We"

Yesterday we celebrated our nation's independence. It is my favorite holiday. But of course, celebrating independence or the creation of a country is not something done only by Americans. Most other countries in the world also celebrate their creation or independence. 

Canada Day, for instance, was on July 1st. 

Bastille Day, July 14th,  celebrates the beginning of the French Revolution leading to the creation of the French Republic. For those of you who know me, you know that Bastille Day is my second favorite foreign holiday. The French really know how to celebrate!

Independence Day Pool Celebration
Elkridge, MD
July 4, 2020

Our family celebration was subdued by comparison, but there was a lot of fun in the pool. It was a hot, humid day and the pool was refreshing and a fun place to celebrate. We also enjoyed fireworks launched being launched around the neighborhood as darkness fell.

We partied and remained within our family circle observing proper respect and distancing for coronavirus. Maybe we overlapped two family circles. 

Our celebration focused upon our country our country--not a person or a political party. The politicization of Independence Day is contrary to its meaning. Sowing seeds of divisiveness, especially for personal or political gain is anathema to the day. Shame on those who did so yesterday. Independence Day is a day for unification and affirmation of the founding principles of our nation. 

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
  -- Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
  -- Constitution of the United States, 1789

There is no "I" in "We."

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD