Monday Musings - November 10, 2014

1. Veterans Day is upon us. Known as Remembrance Day in much of Europe to remember the carnage of World War I. Take a moment to pause and thank a Vet.

Tower of London Poppies

2. Remembrance Day is also known as Poppy Day, and the poppy is the symbol of the day. This year a special remembrance was conducted in the moat around the Tower of London with thousands of ceramic poppies in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the start of World War I.

Chris, Patrick, and Tina at the after Ravens Game party

3. A special thanks go out to Patrick and Tina for taking Chris and me to the Ravens game yesterday--in the Club Level no less! We had a great time, the weather was awesome, and the Ravens won the game. It was a perfect day--a total surprise.

4. There is something nice about driving to work as the dawn breaks. Sadly, though, it gets dark so much sooner that I feel like is it 9PM when it is only 5:30PM.

5. Big shout out to the Homer, NY, High School Football Team which won its sectional game yesterday. On to the Regionals next week! Go Trojans!

6. It seems as if winter wants to take control of the weather over a month early with the monster storm heading East. Ugh! Snow. Who needs it?

7. Yes, I took today off in advance of the Veterans Day holiday to get some final outside work done around the house before the big freeze begins!

8. I have been enjoying the color saturation of the golden sun on the still clinging to the trees leaves in the cool autumn mornings.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Agony of Defeat becomes Real

I remember the words of the opening lines of ABC's Wide World of Sports talking about the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. The image of the ski jumper crashing on the slope after a failed launch still plays in my mind as the visuals associated with those words scroll through my mind.

I have felt the sting of defeat--losing a contest or event that I really wanted to win. I have watched my favorite sports teams accept defeat. Only one team can win, we are told. Or, both teams are truly winners--but only one can be the champion.

Usually, there are no tears--we have become resigned to not crying when we lose. We must be tough and accept the end result even though every fiber of our being wants to scream, it's not fair! We should have won! We are the better team!

GORC Playoff vs Andover
November 8, 2014
Arundel High School

That is why we play the games.

Yesterday, on a cold, but bright, November morning I witnessed the end of the season for a group of six and seven year old football players including my grandson Jax. They lost a playoff game by one small point (19-18) to a team they had previously beaten 25-0. Jax's team had lost games before--so they have felt the sting of loss. But this was the first time they felt the loss associated with a season ending defeat. 

With the filters off--because six and seven year olds don't have many filters, I was reminded how much losing a game that really needs to be won hurts. I was astonished to see tears in the eyes of most of the players as the finality of the game became real. And I realized, that there have been many times when I have lost a tough contest that I wish I could have cried--but couldn't. I thought the coach's speech after the game was perfect--he reminded them that this was only their first year of football and that they had come so far and learned so much. He encouraged them not to lose touch with each other and that next year--next year, will be different.

I'm sure the words meant much more to the parents who were tending to their crying football players than to the players themselves, but that is the gift of sports--we'll get them next time!

The agony of defeat stings hard, but it is temporary and motivating!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

First Frost Surprise

It wasn't supposed to happen this way. There was no forecast of frost for our area--but sure enough, last night the temperature dipped four degrees colder than it was supposed to and the frost arrived to terminate the autumn flowers we have been enjoying. 

It is still dark outside, and so I do not know the extent of the damage; but at least I brought in most of the plants we want to save through the winter.

The house is near the bottom of a low spot, and I have learned that cold goes downhill seeking the low places--that would be my house. The official temperature at 6AM, still 44 minutes before sunrise is 32.4 degrees. But my thermometer is recording 29.8 degrees, and falling. The temperature has gone down a whole degree since I woke up at 5AM and realized a freeze was in progress and rescued as many of the plants as I could.

The extent of the damage is unknown and likely it will be a day or so before we know how many will succumb to the cold.

Autumn has moved into the next phase--the final lock down before winter arrives. The cold winds of November are blowing. The darkness is settling and we are more and more confined to in door activities. The trees have mostly given up their leaves, and those remaining give the world a rusted hue when meeting the rays of the dawning sun. Green is giving way to brown and gray as the cold works its way into the region and winter's first big storm is lashing the Pacific Ocean making its way towards the coast and to cover the land with unseasonably cold temperatures. 

I am happy that I have so far enjoyed the season--but I do long for spring, already.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Feeding the Homeless Deemed Illegal

I read an article on RawStory about a 90 year old man and two ministers who were arrested in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for feeding the homeless on a sidewalk.

Remember--Fort Lauderdale is where a significant amount of Spring Break partying and debauchery occurs annually.

The article, titled, 90-year-old Florida man faces 60 days in jail for feeding the homeless is an interesting read. Homeless advocate Arnold Abbott describes the incident as follows:

“As contemplated on Sunday, I was arrested for feeding the homeless and received a citation to appear in court,” Abbott explained on Facebook. “However, only 4 people were fed before an officer told me to, ‘Drop that plate immediately!’ As though it were a weapon I was holding, and to go with him to the police car. After a time I was allowed to get the food back on the van and we were able to find a small churches [sic] driveway, where we set up, and fed the people who followed us over.”

I am confused. How is a non-profit organization feeding homeless people that otherwise might have to resort to public assistance a problem for the city? As I read the article, the larger problem may be the number of homeless in Fort Lauderdale--but apparently, the city isn't solving the problem only exacerbating it through their "police state" actions. And it seems Ft Lauderdale has no problem with encouraging the annual partying and problems associated with Spring Break.

Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail when the courts get involved.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A New Butler in the House

I felt rich, for about a minute last evening as the new butler, Hermann, arrived to tend to our needs.

And then it was all downhill. Although it was a great buy from the after Halloween sales, the butler is just creepy! He has a mean sense of humor too--like saying something about dinner being served in the dungeon. Really? We don't have a dungeon, do we?

He says a bunch of other weird things and Makayla is terrified of him. 

Frankly, I get kind of creeped out by him too. Thank goodness he was on a 90 percent off sale and Chris brought him home for $5. 

It is almost too bad he will need to wait a whole year to terrify some unsuspecting trick or treater.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Shock Waves across the Country

I love it when "We the People" speak with a nearly unified voice. The election yesterday was one of those times.

I'm not saying that I am excited that a particular party was victorious, but I found that the message being sent to the political leaders in Washington, DC, was simply--"That dog don't hunt!"

Or put a different way--it is time for a course correction.

The leadership of our country has been dysfunctional and the people want a functioning government.

I note that in Maryland the voters elected only the 7th Republican governor in the history of the state. Democrats reportedly outnumber Republicans 2-1 in Maryland. I believe the results are clear, it is not about politics--it is about leadership.

I hope the winners take note of what the people want. No more gridlock in Washington or in the State Houses across the country. The people want functioning government, lower taxes, consistent policy and integrity.

I hope you voted! I did.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Tree Ate It! Really!!

Orange Golf Ball in a Tree

Yesterday, after I mowed the lawn primarily to remove the leaves that used to form the privacy canopy in the trees, I decided to hit a few practice golf balls.

My yard is not particularly large--but it is private. I use orange foam practice balls so that I do not risk breaking anything--like windows. 

I work mostly with my wedges and short irons trying to consistently hit the ball--which is a lot harder that I ever imagined it would be. 

All too often my shots leave the yard and fly into the wild and forested area next to the house. 

Yesterday, I  hit one and was tracked it into the wooded area as it flew off course, but I didn't see it come down. I knew about where it was headed, so I went over to look for it. The orange golf balls--which, while easy to see in green grass are a lot more problematic to find in the orange and red autumn leaves piling up around the yard. 

After searching for a few minutes, some of the people I play golf with say that I am a fanatic about finding lost balls, I was unable to find the missing ball. I replayed the shot in my head and remembered that I never saw the ball come down into the underbrush. 

Orange Golf Ball up Close

I decided that maybe, since it was a foam ball and not as heavy or dense as real golf ball, that the ball might be in a tree. The area is surrounded by juniper trees which are still green and have small needles for leaves. 

I looked up into the first tree and there it was--in the branches.

Wow! I was happy, I hate losing golf balls. It was funny to find the bright orange ball nestled in the branches of the tree. It was a lot like an Easter Egg Hunt.

I lose enough balls, it was nice to find a wayward one.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - November 3, 2014

1. November. Really? What happened to October?

2. When the tree canopy disappears and becomes debris on my lawn, I know that winter is not far off.

3. I played golf yesterday--the best way to describe it was, cold. Somehow, even though I improved my score by 5 strokes, I was too cold to feel excited. The leaves were obscuring many of my balls on the course.

4. I was sitting in my chair last evening about 5:30 PM. It was dark outside. I'm not sure I enjoyed the light in the morning more than the light in the evening.

5. Election day is almost here (tomorrow) let's show the politicians and pundits what "We the People" want. No, let's show them what we demand in leadership! Vote!

6. I have to give a shout-out to the Homer, NY, High School Football Team who will play for the Class B New York State Championship next Sunday--it will definitely be better than any NFL game. I think the kicker will have a big game! Go Joel!

7. So what happens after dark now?

Comet

8. Daylight Savings Time returns Sunday March 8, 2015. Let the countdown begin!

9. For my space geek friends out there--did you know that comets stink? I mean really stink? They smell bad! Check this article about comet smells. Can you smell anything in space, anyway?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Wake-up Time in America

My concern over the future of our personal freedoms grows even more after reading an OpEd piece in the New York Times yesterday. 

The piece titled, Deceptions of the F.B.I. begins as follows:

If your Internet service goes down and you call a technician, can you be certain that the person who arrives at your door is actually there to restore service? What if he is a law enforcement agent in disguise who has disabled the service so he can enter your home to look around for evidence of a crime?

This is just one article in a series of revelations about how those sworn to defend us from the bad guys are themselves becoming bad guys. 

A New York Times article earlier in the week described about how the IRS confiscated $33,000 from a business owner without even the hint of due process. 

One business owner summed up the situation after trying to deal with the IRS as follows:

“I don’t think they’re really interested in anything,” Mr. Potashnik said of the prosecutors. “They just want the money.”

There are many articles citing police abuses confiscating cash and property from innocent Americans--again without any due process. In my article We Are Being Monitored--Everywhere, I wrote about the postal surveillance system and License Plate Recognition programs.

The problem? When innocent citizens are deprived of their financial assets or other personal assets the onus is on the them to defend themselves and that is expensive! If it costs $30,000 to recover $33,000--is it worth it? You bet it is! But often the legal costs can easily exceed the expected recovery. Even so, why should an innocent person have to pay anything to recover what is and was rightfully and legally theirs?

We are supposed to be protected from unreasonable search and seizure--that would be the 4th Amendment. Where does it stop? We are paying for all of this surveillance through our taxes!

Here we are on the brink of a  mid-term election and none of these issues have surfaced. We are mired in minor issues while our basic rights are being usurped by the very institutions chartered to defend them. 

Here's an idea--if agents of the government (e.g., IRS, FBI, police, Secret Service, DHS) confiscate money or property from innocent Americans--then that agency should pay all of the legal costs associated with the recovery. Something as simple as this will transfer the burden from the innocent to those who are making the accusations and rushing to judgment without cause. Currently, and I am fascinated by this, those confiscating the money and goods are protected from prosecution and paying restitution.

"We the People" need leaders who will correct these wrongs and defend our Constitutional rights! 

Soon, I hope.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Halloween Review

The main event has concluded, although I will be attending two more parties today. 

Halloween seemed very subdued in my area this year. All of the Trick or Treaters were off the streets by about 7PM. It was a bit sad. I am sure the numbers were down in the neighborhood where I spend my Halloween enjoying the costumes. 


The best costumes of the evening were really good. Makayla wore her Minnie Mouse costume through the neighborhood, but the best costume of the evening was an Orioles Bird costume.

Yea--Baseball isn't fully over! OK, it is, but it was good to see a replica of the Bird out gathering treats for next season.

Yes, it is November. Ugh. Daylight Savings Time evaporates overnight--I get an extra hour of sleep but lose evening activity time.

Well, at least Halloween was happy and there were more treats than tricks.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD