The 4th Amendment Quandary

The Supreme Court heard cases yesterday regarding the rights, or not, of the police to search cell phones without a warrant when the phones are on a person being arrested for good reason.

I hope that the Court holds that without a warrant the contents of cell phones, regardless of their location, cannot be searched. The crazy part is, that as I understand it and I am not a Constitutional lawyer, my cell phone is protected in my home from random police searches without a warrant, but when I step outside with it on my person the government maintains that my same phone is fair game for unwarranted searches. 

Everywhere, it seems, we are being asked to surrender our 4th Amendment rights and many people blindly think that is OK. When we lose our protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, we will never be able to get it back. Even if the government creates the illusion that it is in our best interests to surrender our rights--nothing good will come if it. The trick that government and law enforcement especially use is that if we voluntarily provide the information, then no violation of the 4th Amendment occurs. 

I was appalled that Edward Snowden was considered by Time Magazine to be one of the 100 most influential people on the planet for 2013. He is traitor and a criminal--but, he has brought the entire issue of 4th Amendment Rights to the forefront of discussions.

Each time we blindly surrender our 4th Amendment Rights, we move closer to becoming as totalitarian state. It is too easy to find reasons to surrender our rights--and it is hard to resist the faulty logic presented.

I believe we are already seeing the negative results that come with government and business acquisition of personal information. Each time another business reports a security breach in which personal information is compromised, I question why the company needed all of that personal information anyway?

I wish it were as easy as just saying no--but the consequences of saying "no" include not being able to get a mortgage or credit card and many other important things. In some cases saying "no," a perfectly legal right, can result in loss of job. Who protects individuals and throws the penalty flag when businesses and government exceed reasonable requests for personal information which violates our 4th Amendment right to privacy?

I wish I knew. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Don't Leave Us, Again!

Louis and Riordin in the suitcase

It was clear, from their reaction when we arrived home Sunday and started unpacking, that the cats in our lives were happy we were home and wanted to ensure that they were not forgotten the next time we traveled. 

Louis and Riordin staked out in the suitcases as we were unpacking.

Cats in the Case with Ghost Eyes!

It was pretty funny. It was as if they were saying--if you go, we go! We were still in the process of unpacking, but they were convinced that we were planning to depart yet again. 

There have been a log of goings and comings lately. I can understand their confusion. Frankly, I have been confused, too.

It will be good to be home for a while. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - April 28, 2014

1. Sitting on the back deck last evening with Chris, who is finally home, and a 2001 Pinot Noir from one of my favorite wineries in California was a fitting end to a difficult time.

2. As I turned onto my street yesterday afternoon at the end of a six hour drive from Upstate New York, I was amazed at how the trees had filled out. There were actual leaves on the trees and their shadows were no longer of stick figures.

3. Due to the cold weather, I am sad to report that pool opening day has been slipped two weeks to May 17th. Maybe the thermometer will be registering more 70 degree days and fewer 30 degree nights by then.

4. Game 6 tonight--Penguins and Blue Jackets, Pens up 3-2 in the series. Be there!

5. I had an interesting discussion the other day about taxes. It is amazing how municipalities are finding new and creative ways to increase revenue through taxes. Why is it that our representatives believe they should be increasing taxes as first resort to balancing budgets?

6. While I'm on taxes, Maryland, between 2007 and 2012 levied 24 tax and fee increases totaling $2.4 billion, according to the referenced report. AND during the 2014 session, when there was a surplus in the budget, instead of refunding the excess, they found new ways to spend the money and reduced tax deductions, which is effectively a tax increase.

7. Chris and I visited a very nice winery on the shores of Seneca Lake while on our way home yesterday, Catharine Valley Winery. I'll write it up later, but for those of you tracking, we did get two more grapes on our quest for wines from 100 different grapes!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My very special nephew Troy

Yesterday was a difficult day. It was a celebration. How can a celebration be difficult?

Well when you are celebrating someone who was very special and made a huge impact on his local world in 23 all too short years and is now gone, it can be difficult.

But it was uplifting to see how much of an impact one person can have on others.

His story was in the local paper, The Ithaca Journal, on Friday and was picked up today by USA Today. Wow.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/04/25/ithaca-golfer-masters-cancer/8144595/

I learned a lot about my nephew yesterday from his friends. He leaves a great legacy and so his story is not yet finished.

Thank you everyone who has been praying and supporting my family through this difficult time.

Bob Doan
Elkridge, MD

50 Years

OK, I know I am not supposed to write about work and the stuff happening there in this blog--but, celebrating 50 years as an organization is really special.

To everyone I work with, everyone that I have worked with in the past, and everyone that came before me in the organization--thanks, you are all great. We have a great history and we live for the future--how much more awesome could that ever be?

Today is going to be an especially tough day for me personally. Many of you have read about my nephew Troy and know what my family is dealing with--but the culmination of 50 years of fantastic service to our nation by my small organization has really helped me to focus my energy and time.

Even Makayla senses my anguish over how this particular Saturday is going to play out. She is going to have an overnight with her best friend Chewie, Patrick's dog.

To all of my work friends--congrats on 50 years of success.

To all of my family--I pray for peace and comfort in this distressing time.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Troubled Drivers

The speed limit is 55 MPH on Maryland Route 100. I was going somewhat faster, but moving with traffic and not trying to be either the fastest or slowest car on the highway.

A huge pick-up truck came up onto my bumper trying, I believe, to push me to go much faster than the speed I was going. Yes, I was in the left lane, but I was still traveling at a speed which risked a ticket from Maryland's troopers. 

There was no way that was I going to go faster. The driver behind me was inching closer to my bumper. OK, I slowed a bit to make a point and hopefully get him to back off, to no avail.

It was scary. 

Finally, the driver passed me on the right and was able to get just in front of me before I exited the roadway. 

Why are people like that? All of that angst and aggravation to gain 50 feet. Less than a second of driving.

Aggressive and in-your-face drivers make the roadways dangerous.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Below Normal Temperatures

Forecast from April 24, 2014

Although Spring is here, I am still hearing the words "below normal temperatures" every morning on the daily weather forecast.

Ugh!

I could really use some warming weather where the temperatures are "above normal" for a few days or weeks. 

I long to have my pool open, but the cold temperatures are keeping me from even buying my annual supply of chemicals, which I need to do before the sales end. 

In addition to the below normal temperatures, rain seems to dominate the forecast. Cold, rainy, gray skies. That, of course, leads to a gray and gloomy mood.

I dream of hot sun and sand on a beach somewhere where the ocean water temperature is at least 80 degrees. It is time for palm trees and warm weather flowers--cue the geraniums! But, I fear there is still a threat of frost! 

There have been a couple 80 degree days recently, but they were just teasers and soon departed for the cooler temperatures we are experiencing. 

Warm temperatures are out there and I am sure there will be a lot of complaining when they finally arrive. But I, for one, am looking forward to basking (or is that baking) in the warm sunshine.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Gardens Grow so Quickly

I took a quick tour of the gardens even as it was raining yesterday and was amazed by the bleeding hearts. They have grown from almost nothing into thriving plants complete with blooms in less than two weeks. Despite the cold weather and rains, they continue to grow.

I am encouraged by their growth because I enjoy the bleeding hearts in my gardens. They are definitely springtime plants, but the speed at which they grow is also encouraging. 

Although I am definitely a summertime person, I appreciate the rebirth of life that abounds during the springtime. I recall Sunday morning, looking out the window an seeing three rabbits playing--OK, it looked like they were playing, in the yard in upstate NY. They were running around the yard chasing each other similar to the way that children play. I can imagine they were enjoying the more moderate springtime temperatures, in the low 40's that we were experiencing that morning.

Each new day brings new joys to discover. And yes, the lawn still needs to be mowed, it was raining yesterday when I had time to actually accomplish the second mowing of the year.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Grass Needs to be Mowed

Well, I wished it upon myself. I was waiting for the grass to green up so that I could mow it for the first time and enjoy riding my tractor around the yard. 

Be careful what you wish for because it may come true. 

I looked last evening and I noticed that the grass needs to be mowed again--just a short week after my first triumphant ride across the lawn on my tractor!

Somehow it already doesn't feel like a victory.  But it is springtime and the lawns need to be mowed and cared for. That is why I put fertilizer on the lawn--to make it green so that I could mow it. 

But I have been so busy lately, I haven't even had much time to enjoy the greening of the lawn before I need to rev up the tractor again.

As I was heading out last evening, I noticed that many of my neighbors were also mowing their lawns--it is that time. The trees are green and the lawns are growing.

That is a good thing. 

The weeping cherry was beautiful, as expected. I do miss my plum trees which died last year--they would have been full of blooms as well. But, there are a few dogwoods blooming in their place.

It appears that all of my favorite friends are recovering from winter's grasp.

Yay!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - April 21, 2014

1. Happy Easter Monday, be sure to enjoy the White House egg roll.

2. It has been a rough weekend and, amazingly,  Easter happened despite everything else going on.

3. I was surprised at how springtime has happened in Maryland but not yet un upstate NY. It was nice to watch springtime return as I traveled farther south yesterday. 

4. Sleep is overrated.

5. Faith is what gets us through the times when we can't see the way.

6. On this date in 1836, the Texas army under the command of Sam Houston defeated the Mexicans at the Battle of San Jacinto. 

7. Computers can be very frustrating. I was trying to install new software and I couldn't get it to run properly! Ugh!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD