Like a bad movie

Pyongyang

There are a lot of divisive forces at work in our country right now trying to unravel the protections of the Constitution. 

It is frightening. 

The militarization of Washington, D.C., reminds me of what I read about for cities like Pyongyang. Under strict military control and beautified to portray an unreal vision of the country. By the way, if you look closely at images of Pyongyang, there are almost no cars!

This is all like a bad movie. 

Washington, D.C. is becoming a showcase capital city for a wannabe authoritarian leader. I can't believe they tore up the Rose Garden for a convention hall. 

The targeting of the homeless is another play in the authoritarian take-over playbook. 

Adolf Hitler's regime began targeting the homeless and other marginalized groups in the early 1930s, with significant actions occurring around 1933 when the Nazis came to power. The regime implemented policies that aimed to "cleanse" cities like Berlin, often forcibly removing homeless individuals from public spaces. (Wikipedia) (ChatGPT)

And then yesterday. 

Despite all of the pre-visit bluster--TACO showed up in Anchorage yesterday and the Ukrainians are on their own because Trump met with his mentor.

Show me the money and you will see U.S. policy. There is no honor, no defense of allies only love of money. We all know where that leads. 

I've seen this movie before.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Touring South Carolina

Mount Pleasant, SC
August 15, 2025

 The trip back to Florida for Maryland was unique. We left our usual I-95 in southern North Carolina and headed for Murrells Inlet. Talk about an overland route! Wow! Between traveling yesterday to Murrells Inlet and today's trek back to I-95 to complete our journey to Tequesta, Chris and I traversed a lot of South Carolina.

Upon arriving, we were treated to a great lunch along the banks of the inlet. I guess I just like being near water. It was beautiful day, right up until the afternoon thunderstorm rolled in. I was glad we were off the road. 

Today, we traveled around Charleston and enjoyed the wide wetlands and forests on mostly Route 17. Yesterday it was a number of roads, many of them really small, to avoid Myrtle Beach and get to Murrells inlet. 

What a great place to drive through. Both Chris and I were impressed. 

Today's drive took 10 hours--a full day and we did not get home until just after 6 PM--but we made it home. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Sharing the Course

Geese on the 5th Fairway
Carroll Park, Baltimore, MD
August 10, 2025

 Playing golf, which is a fantastic outdoor sport, usually means that we share the course with the local fauna. 

I have enjoyed many different species over the years. There were geese on Sunday--they are messy and we have a rule that golf balls that come to rest in goose poop can be cleaned or replaced. Geese poop a lot! 

But there are many other animals prowling the golf courses. I have avoided alligators in Florida. We have another rule that a free drop is given for any ball landing within 10 feet of a gator. 

In addition to geese and gators there are sand hill cranes, foxes, turtles, woodchucks, deer, snakes, and lizards. 

It is fun to see all of the wildlife, but some of them require a wide berth.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

2 Days in a Row

Jeremy Chipping onto the 17th Green
Timbers at Troy, Elkridge, MD
August 10, 2025

 I played 18 holes of golf yesterday. Well, actually, the golf course played me for most of the day. It has been a long time since I played golf two days in a row and I remember why. The second day can be both painful and awful at times. Still, a day on the course is better than most things. 

Tiger Butterfly near 5th Tee Box
Timbers at Troy, Elkridge, MD
August 10, 2025

Jeremy and I headed out to Timbers mid-morning when the temperature was still nice. We did not finish until 1:30 PM and it was very hot and humid as we holed out on 18. It was nice to be playing on a Monday as the course was not jammed, although it still took over 4 hour to play the round. There were a couple slow groups in front of us.

As always, Jeremy and I had a great time whacking the little ball. I had a minor success in that I actually had a birdie--they are very rare for me. 

Our time in Maryland is drawing to a close and Chris and I are planning our return to Florida.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD 

Monday Musings - August 11, 2025

 

1. Greetings. It is the second Monday of August. There are 20 Mondays remaining in the year. Labor Day is coming soon and summer will be over.

2. The Orioles snatched defeat from the jaws of victory yesterday. They gave up two runs in the top of the ninth inning and lost 3-2. They are 12 games under .500 again and headed for a last place finish in the division. All hopes of making the playoffs have vanished and the team and fan base are in a "wait until next year" mode.

Woodchuck on the 8th
Carroll Park, Baltimore, MD
August 10, 2025

3. Jeremy, Julie, Chris, and I golfed yesterday. We went to Carroll Park, a nine hole course in Baltimore, and enjoyed a bright Maryland summer's day. The pace was slow and we spent some time looking at diversions, such as this woodchuck on hole 8. 

4. Apparently Washington, DC, is about to become a militarized city. Wait, I thought this was America and we  had police and not military to patrol our streets. What city is next? New York? (Reuters)

5. So, Putin is a wanted war criminal with an international arrest warrant. He is apparently meeting with Trump in Alaska. If the U.S. does not arrest Putin and hand him over to the international courts for prosecution, does that make the U.S. a criminal nation? Apparently not. The U.S. is not a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

6. Today in History. A group of federal prisoners classified as “most dangerous” arrives at Alcatraz Island, a 22-acre rocky outcrop situated 1.5 miles offshore in San Francisco Bay, on August 11, 1934. The convicts—the first civilian prisoners to be housed in the new high-security penitentiary—joined a few dozen military prisoners left over from the island’s days as a U.S. military prison.

Alcatraz was an uninhabited seabird haven when it was explored by Spanish Lieutenant Juan Manuel de Ayala in 1775. He named it Isla de los Alcatraces, or “Island of the Pelicans.” Fortified by the Spanish, Alcatraz was sold to the United States in 1849. In 1854, it had the distinction of housing the first lighthouse on the coast of California. Beginning in 1859, a U.S. Army detachment was garrisoned there, and from 1868 Alcatraz was used to house military criminals. In addition to recalcitrant U.S. soldiers, prisoners included rebellious Indian scouts, American soldiers fighting in the Philippines who had deserted to the Filipino cause, and Chinese civilians who resisted the U.S. Army during the Boxer Rebellion. In 1907, Alcatraz was designated the Pacific Branch of the United States Military Prison.

Israel strike kills Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza - ReutersIn India, Trump's tariffs spark calls to boycott American goods - ReutersTrump escalates crime rhetoric ahead of Washington crackdown announcement - ReutersPam Bondi has a new probe into the handling of 2016 Russian meddling. John Durham already spent four years investigating it - CNNTrump needed an Epstein distraction. A conspiracy theory explains what came next. - MSNBCAfter a deadly shooting at the CDC, shaken scientists demand answers from RFK Jr. - MSNBCHigh-stakes summit with Putin over Ukraine war tops Trump's agenda this week - FoxNews

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Anniversary Party

The Family at Dinner
Fulton, MD
August 9, 2025

 Our family gathered last evening at a local restaurant to celebrate our 50th Anniversary. 

It was a fantastic gathering, but not without some drama as the youngest member of the clan decided to practice some projectile vomiting just as we preparing to head to the restaurant. But, it was handled very well and everyone did arrive, some a bit late, for dinner. 

We enjoyed the evening together talking about our wedding day and some of the things that have happened in the 50 years since. 

One of the things that we get asked is about how we did 50 years. It is a fair question for which there is truly only one answer--one day at a time! Truly, it still seems like yesterday that we married. One other piece of advice that has worked for us is, don't go to bed mad at each other that way we start each morning with a "Good Morning" and mean it. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD 

50 Years

Anniversary Cake
Tequesta, FL
August 3, 2025

 Today Chris and I celebrate 50 years of marriage.

I remember that back during 1975 when two 19 year olds got married that the probability of still being together 50 years later were not that great. But, it happened! 

It was a hot summer day in Ithaca, NY, on August 9, 1975. The wedding was thankfully at 7 PM, but the church was not air conditioned. Fortunately, it was cooler as the day drew to a close and we were not all that uncomfortable during the service. Pastor Degner was mercifully short and soon we were enjoying a modest reception at a local Union Hall. I wish I had remembered to bring some wedding pictures along on this trip to include in the blog, but they are safely stored in albums in our Florida storage room.

After the reception, Chris and I settled into our hotel for the night, but a short while later our wedding party, comprised of our best friends and my sister Pennie, crashed our love nest with pizza and we partying with them until the wee hours of the morning. After the sun rose, it was off to begin Day 1 of a marriage which today celebrates 50 years together. We have been blessed with three great kids, four wonderful grandsons, and many friends and acquaintances over the years.

And writing of friends, before we departed Florida on our current trip to Maryland our friends there gave us a celebratory cake and congratulations. That was very nice and unexpected. Tonight we gather with our family to celebrate and remember. 

Tomorrow, we begin Day 1 of year 51!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

They are not just boring Pinecones

Pinecones
Elkridge, MD
August 6, 2025

 Chris, Finn, and I went for a walk and happened upon a pine tree hanging over the sidewalk. As I ducked under the branch, I noticed pine sap on the pinecones glistening in the sunlight. I had not noticed sap on pinecones before and it added a new aspect to a very familiar object.

 

I had to take an image. 

We enjoyed the walk and in writing this item I learned that pinecone, the word, can be written as an open compound word: pine cone, or a closed compound word: pinecone and that both forms are correct although writers should choose one form and remain consistent throughout their writing. 

BTW, Happy Friday--the weekend is upon us. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Bob - 2, Lanternfly - 0

Spotted Lanternfly

 Living in Florida, I had totally forgotten about  the Spotted Lanternfly, a Chinese import, until yesterday.

I came across two of the invasive insects yesterday and was able to dispatch them both; doing my part for the environment. 

As invasive spotted lanternflies continue moving through the United States, local agricultural agencies have launched “If you see it, kill it” campaigns urging people to kill the bugs in order to prevent any further spread across the U.S. 

(Time)

I wish we could have done something similar to the Emerald Ash Borer and we might still have some mature ash trees.

The spotted lanternfly is a planthopper indigenous to parts of China and Vietnam. It was accidentally introduced into South Korea and has spread invasively to Japan and the United States, where it is often referred to by the acronym "SLF". Its preferred host is the tree of heaven, but it also feeds on other trees, and on crops including soybean, grapes, stone fruits, and Malus spp. In its native habitat, L. Wikipedia

The spotted lanternfly is easy to identify, although some people may mistake it for a stink bug, another Chinese import. 

Is there a humane way to kill a bug? 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Pineapple Boy

Beck watching the Dancing Pineapple
Glen Burnie, MD
August 5, 2025

 We completed a pleasantly uneventful road trip to Maryland. Yesterday, the traffic was so smooth that we arrived in Elkridge sooner than Apple Maps predicted even with two bio stops. That was due to traffic clearing as the morning rush dissipated, but this was a definite change from other trips where we sit in traffic and watch our predicted arrival time move later and later. 

Chris and I spent a last evening with our youngest grandchild and, of course, his mom and dad. We were lucky to be able to synch up with them to reconnect. 

Beck, our youngest grandchild, has grown a lot since our last visit two months ago and is closing in on 7 months old! He is a beautiful, alert, inquisitive boy. 

He also likes a dancing pineapple animation and the associated music. I thought the funniest thing he did was use his hands to clap his feet together while lying on his back. He likes to be held and interact with people, but he also plays with his age-appropriate toys. The entire duration of our visit Beck was a very happy baby--which made the visit that much more enjoyable. 

We are looking forward to seeing Beck a couple more times during our visit. And his parents, too!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Out the Hotel Window - Dunn, NC, Aug 2025

Out the Hotel Window
Dunn, NC
August 4, 2025

 Yes, Chris and I are back in Dunn, NC, along with our trusty dog, Finn. Dunn has become the place where I like to stop for the night as we travel north from our home in Florida. It is about 2/3 the way to Maryland, maybe a bit more, but given the traffic around DC having a short second day is desirable. 

The view for this stay is one of the best in a long time. I have to giggle a bit at the Burger King sign. I believe it has been over a year since the sign was damaged. I wonder if it is ever going to be repaired? 

I enjoy looking at the flags and of course the cloud filled sky. 

The trip, thus far, has been one of the best. The clouds kept the hot sun away for most of the day. We only encountered one brief rain shower and were blessed with no long delay traffic incidents. We lost only 48 minutes during the trip for stops--our best ever. When we left Tequesta, Apple Maps predicted a 2:13 PM arrival time and we arrived at 3:02 PM. Chris packed some power bars, which we decided would be lunch and so we never stopped for food, so only one gas stop and three bio breaks.

Finn was his usual trooper self, once he settled after realizing that he was being loaded into the truck after the suitcases. He is funny when he sees suitcases and makes it a point to be underfoot so he won't be forgotten. 

Well, time to start today!

-- Bob Doan, Dunn, NC

Looking at the Clouds

I-95
Oak Hill, FL
August 4, 2025

 We are on the road north. Looking out the window this morning at the clouds in the sunrise was a spectacular sight. We have been on the road for two hours and completed our first driver swap which allowed me to do the Wordle and write the blog. 

I made the decision to let Chris drive when the driving is usually easiest; through the wilds of Florida. I all too often hand her the wheel just in advance of construction and thunderstorms.  While she drives through them great, it isn’t fair for me to do the easier driving. 

We are headed for an overnight stop in North Carolina before finishing our trip in Maryland tomorrow. 

— Bob Doan, I-95 in Florida 

From Seashore to Marina

Atop the Stairs
Jupiter Island, FL
August 2, 2025

 Saturday was bookended by water. Chris, Finn, and I began the day with a beach walk on Jupiter Island. The sun was hot, the water warm, and there more than a few snorkelers enjoying the day as well. I had thought it was the lobster mini season, but according to my info that ended on Thursday. 

Standing atop the stairs crossing the dune, the ocean was inviting and the encroachment of sand onto the stairs could be seen. There are dozens of turtle nests and it is amazing that some of the turtles actually crawl up the dune to the foliage at the top to lay their eggs. It makes the baby turtles descent to the ocean longer and more treacherous, especially as they have to cross the piles of sargassum. I hope it all works out for them.

Under the Tiki Hut
Tequesta, FL
August 2, 2025

The day progressed normally and we decided, on a whim, to head to Tiki52 for dinner. We had not visited there in two weeks and with our upcoming travel we will not get to enjoy the relaxing vibe for a couple more weeks.

We had a great time, although when we first arrived the live music was a bit too loud. That ended and the noise level returned to normal. We enjoyed chatting and planning, which is something we do when we go out for meals. 

It was a great ending for the day.

Today is devoted to trip preparations and truck loading. Tomorrow the road awaits.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Shooting the Messenger

 We witnessed an example of "shooting the messenger" yesterday.

Trump fires statistics chief after soft jobs report

The firing yesterday of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner is a classic example of shooting the messenger, but portends a more sinister and potentially devastating situation for our nation. 

What happens if, as Project 2025 describes, the federal workforce becomes staffed with people who are loyal to the president over supporting the Constitution? Will we be able to believe anything published by the government? That is my concern. When facts are no longer facts but become twisted to make the president happy while managing reality, the United States will become no better than a banana republic.

It is also clear that businessmen do not make good presidents. The idea that people can be fired because you don't like what they are telling you, if it is based in fact, is not good government. Period! Bad news is just as important as good news.

Trump said something the other day about the declining value of the dollar (down 10 percent since he took office)* that made no sense. 

"Well, you know, I'm a person that likes a strong dollar, but a weak dollar makes you a hell of a lot more money," Trump said in a media Q&A. (Newsweek)

If the dollar is worth less, then he has less economic power at the end of the day. Am I missing something here?

If the dollar is worth less then things like oil and imports cost more dollars and We the People certainly are not earning more. I know that my income has not increased by 10 percent this year. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

 *Note: The article says that the dollar is down 11 percent since the first of the year, but made the point that Trump was not president for the all of that time. I had heard it was down 10 percent since he took office, but I cannot find where I heard that. So, I went with 10 percent. 

Fully Assembled

Fully Assembled Lumin Grill and Stand
Tequesta, FL
July 31, 2025

Happy August!

 The dedicated grill stand arrived two days early. The matching stand was not supposed to arrive until today, but it showed up late-Wednesday and I assembled it yesterday. Yes, there was some assembly required. I actually despised the assembly directions, it was drawings which at times made no sense. But, Chris and I struggled through them and successfully assembled the stand, without injury, and mated it to the grill. 

Last evening, I prepared our second meal, salmon, on the new grill! Mmmm. I'm still learning temperature control, but the salmon was cooked to perfection. 

I found that the Weber Lumin grill cleans much easier than other grills I have owned. The salmon did not create a mess because I cooked it in aluminum foil, but the remains from the steak the other night were easily cleaned. That was way cool. 

In biking news, I finished the month 10 miles short of 300 miles. A good month, but it would have been nice to cross the 300 mile mark for the 5th time since I have been riding. I started out August with a brisk 1.48 mile walk with Chris and Finn. 

OK, now onto August!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Post Hump Day

Aperol Spritz
Lucky Shuck, Jupiter, FL
July 30, 2025

 Wow, what a day yesterday turned out to be.

I have already written about the early morning activity--but wait, there's more. 

Chris and I checked out a new place for Happy Hour. We went to Lucky Shuck to enjoy their Wednesday Happy Hour Special: $1 oysters and $1 wings!

It has been a long time since I enjoyed a dozen oysters and did not feel guilty! I also enjoyed an Aperol Spritz, which is one of my favorite cruise ship drinks. 

It should be noted that Chris does not enjoy oysters, but she did devour a few wings. 

The restaurant sits along the ICW next to a marina and so there is a lot of activity, but with the heat last evening we stayed inside at the bar and I had my back to the water. No matter, there was plenty to enjoy. And in a really freaky coincidence, Chris and I met and chatted with two people from my actual hometown. We compared friends from the past for a short while. It was even weirder because even though I tell people I'm from a small city situated at the southern end of one of the Finger Lakes, I'm truly from a small town without a post office or a traffic light. We went into the city for everything, including school.

Well, today is Friday-eve AND the last day of my favorite month of the year. Tomorrow begins the slide into the end of the year. I can already tell that the days are getting shorter.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

How Early Did You Say?

Sunrise on the Pines
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
July 30, 2025

 Some days start way too early. 

Today, for instance, was one of those days. 

Chris and I were up at 4:45 AM for an early morning routine medical procedure. The good news is that we were done by about 8 AM, the bad news was that we didn't get much sleep the night before. Which is why I just woke from a much needed nap after delivering Finn to the groomer. 

I got to sit around, waiting, for two hours and not sleep as I was the dedicated driver. I walked outside about sunrise to get warm, because the A/C was on max at the office, and took a quick image. I could tell it was cold in the waiting. area because my glasses fogged over as soon as I stepped outside, but the 78 degree high humidity morning was, dare I say, refreshing. I thawed out.

But, Chris got through it and so did I. 

We have the rest of the day ahead, well when Finn is finished getting groomed. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

First Off the New Grill

First off the New Grill
Tequesta, FL
July 28, 2025

 My new Lumin grill is up and running. I cooked our first dinner on it last evening. It was a simple menu--steak and squash. We also had a very nice tossed salad, which, of course, was not grilled followed by Moose Tracks ice cream. It should be noted that Chris and I usually split the steak because neither of us can eat a whole steak anymore, especially a T-bone. The squash dish was supposed to be zucchini and squash, but the zucchini went bad before we could cook it. Sometimes vegetables linger in our refrigerator a bit too long.

I worked through my new grill concerns, for instance what temperature does the dial setting equate to? That was fun--I was a bit worried, but the grill really turns out the heat. I had burned off the grates earlier in the day and the grill made it to 550 degrees. The instructions said it could go over 600, but I really didn't want to see if it could make it there since I do not expect to grill anything at that temperature. 

I am very happy, so far. The real test will come later this week when I expect to smoke a rack of ribs! There is actually a setting on the dial for smoking. 

More to follow. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - July 28, 2025

 

1. It has arrived. The 5th and final Monday of July is here and there are only 22 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. It looks as if the Orioles are going to be sellers before the July 31 MLB Trading Deadline. They effectively played themselves out of playoff contention since the All Star Break by going 5-6 (.454). They are currently 11 games under .500 standing at 47-58 (.447). There are 57 games remaining and the O's need to win 37 of them to reach the expected 84 wins necessary to lock down a Wild Card Playoff spot. That means they need to play .649 (37-20) baseball. I don't see that happening. But, still l hope!

Crossing the Loxahatchee River on my Bike
Tequesta, FL
July 27, 2025

3. I got out a bit earlier yesterday to ride and rode almost 22 miles around Tequesta and Jupiter. Being Sunday morning the traffic was light and the roads open. Being early, I had hoped it would be cooler, but alas, it was not. I enjoyed the ride and saw multiple tortoises along my trek. 

4. I read the speech the our Vice President gave on July 5, 2025, at the Claremont Institute in which he makes some very concerning statements. First off, he believes that America as a creedal nation. That is a scary notion because it is clear that America was not intended to be creedal--there is no religious creed that is to be followed. But even more concerning was the statement: So I believe one of the most pressing problems for us to face as statesmen is to redefine the meaning of American citizenship in the 21st century. This, apparently, is becoming a new way that citizens can be deprived of their rights. As I read further in the transcript, he lays out a number ideals that citizens must meet and he also clearly denigrates those of alternate or atheistic religious beliefs. 

(Transcript: JD Vance’s Speech At The Claremont Institute’s Statesmanship Award Event)

5. This Day in History. July 28, 1868: Following its ratification by the necessary three-quarters of U.S. states, the 14th Amendment, granting citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States—including formerly enslaved people—is officially adopted into the U.S. Constitution. Secretary of State William Seward issues a proclamation certifying the amendment.

Two years after the Civil War, the Reconstruction Acts of 1867 divided the South into five military districts, where new state governments, based on universal manhood suffrage, were to be established. Thus began the period known as Radical Reconstruction, which saw the 14th Amendment, which had been passed by Congress in 1866, ratified in July 1868. The amendment resolved pre-Civil War questions of African American citizenship by stating that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States…are citizens of the United States and of the state in which they reside.” The amendment then reaffirmed the privileges and rights of all citizens, and granted all these citizens the “equal protection of the laws.”

Europe reacts with mix of relief and concern to US trade deal - Reuters

US, China to launch new talks on tariff truce extension, easing path for Trump-Xi meeting - Reuters

Thai, Cambodian leaders agree to ceasefire after five days of battle - Reuters

Russia at the gates: How Ukraine defended a strategic city for months - Reuters

Israel announces daily pauses in Gaza fighting as aid airdrops begin - Reuters

Justice Department drops cases against LA protesters after officers caught making false claims - The Guardian

Muscovites’ travel plans disrupted as Ukraine targets airspace with drones - The Guardian

Trump embraced Australia's harshest immigration policies. But there's one key difference. - MSNBC

Former anchor fears 'the end' of CBS as Paramount merger sparks liberal panic - FoxNews

Programming Note: Due to travel, Monday Musings will not be published next week, August 4th; unless, of course, plans change.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Escape from Grill Hell

My New Weber Lumin Grill
Tequesta, FL
July 27, 2025

 My time in griller hell has ended. My new electric grill arrived yesterday. 

Since the Condo Association requires me to use an electric grill, I decided to get a very nice and versatile unit and chose the Weber Lumin, in yellow. Since I can't have a full size grill, I decided to go for versatility and add some color to the situation. In addition to the standard red and black, the Lumin comes in four additional colors. I chose the yellow! Orange was not one of the additional colors or I would have chosen that one. 

The Lumin comes with the usual grates, but also a pan for either water for steaming or for wood chips for warming. The instructions provide methods for High-Heat Searing, Steaming, Smoke Infusion, Food Warming, and Grill from Frozen. The size of the inserts and grates appears to facilitate easy clean-up, but I'm not sure as I haven't cooked anything yet. 

So, I have been redeemed from griller hell and am now in a sort of purgatory awaiting today's arrival of a heat insulating pad to arrive to protect the wooden table I have it sitting on. The Lumen's matching stand is not currently available and I will acquire that as soon as I can so that I can return the wooden table to its previous location in the house. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Worse than Animals

Trump at Alligator Alcatraz
Somewhere in Florida
July 1, 2025

 It seems that we have becoming desensitized to the inhumane treatment that undocumented immigrants and citizens are receiving at the hands of law enforcement and ICE. 

I read an article in The Guardian this morning which is more than concerning. In addition to the obvious inhumane treatment by law enforcement, I was concerned about the mention of a bounty and the cavalier suggestion that some of them may be killed in the process of arrest. 

Video footage of the incident captured by Laynez-Ambrosio, an 18-year-old US citizen, appears to show a group of officers in tactical gear working together to violently detain the three men*, two of whom are undocumented. They appear to use a stun gun on one man, put another in a chokehold and can be heard telling Laynez-Ambrosio: “You’ve got no rights here. You’re a migo, brother.” Afterward, agents can be heard bragging and making light of the arrests, calling the stun gun use “funny” and quipping: “You can smell that … $30,000 bonus.”

In the video, Laynez-Ambrosio can be heard repeatedly telling his friend, in Spanish, to not resist. “I wasn’t really worried about myself because I knew I was going to get out of the situation,” he said. “But I was worried about him. I could speak up for him but not fight back, because I would’ve made the situation worse.”

Laynez-Ambrosio can also be heard telling officers: “I was born and raised right here.” Still, he was pushed to the ground and says that an officer aimed a stun gun at him. He was subsequently arrested and held in a cell at a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) station for six hours.

Audio in the video catches the unidentified officers debriefing and appearing to make light of the stun gun use. “You’re funny, bro,” one officer can be overheard saying to another, followed by laughter.

Another officer says, “They’re starting to resist more now,” to which an officer replies: “We’re going to end up shooting some of them.”

Later in the footage, the officers move on to general celebration – “Goddamn! Woo! Nice!” – and talk of the potential bonus they’ll be getting: “Just remember, you can smell that [inaudible] $30,000 bonus.”  (The Guardian)

Furthermore, the conditions where people are being detained are abhorrent. The administration has quickly moved to make the U.S. worse than authoritarian regimes. Responsible reporting on the conditions at Alligator Alcatraz continue to mention lack of water, food, protection from mosquitoes, and insufficient access to showers and sanitation facilities.

I believe the Humane Society would file charges against pet owners who did these things to their pets. Yet, we have become complicit with the inhumane treatment of those being prepared for deportation. I hate to remind us all, but everyone on U.S. soil has the rights granted in The Constitution, specifically, their 4th Amendment rights. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Finding Friday

Sidewalk Home
Tequesta, Fl
July 25, 2025

 Being on the cusp of the weekend again is amazing. It has been a busy week, even though I have not ridden since Tuesday. I'm not sure that I needed two days off. 

Watching the Republican Party implode over the Epstein files has been refreshing. It is weird that some try to blame the Democrats for the problem, but it is a self-inflected wound where many of the Cabinet-level leaders made promises to release the files before they wound up in their positions. It is almost funny if it weren't so tragic. 

I enjoyed a just short of 18-mile ride this morning. The wind from the East was tough, but I had a good time and crossed over 200 miles for the month. That is the most miles ridden in a month since I rode over 300 miles for the Cancer Society during October last year. 

And so, since it is Friday, Chris and I will be heading out to get some supplies for the weekend. That will be the big trip of the day, although we are looking forward to dinner tonight. We hope to try a new, as yet undecided, restaurant.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL