A Long Time Ago . . .

. . . in a galaxy far, far away--it began.

Well, maybe it was only 38 years ago on a few movie screens across America. It only seemed to be far, far away and that, of course, was the magic of the movie Star Wars. 

Tonight, the saga continues as the early opening-night showings begin and billions of dollars are spent by movie goers to finally answer the question that was left hanging in 1983 at the end of Return of the Jedi--"so what happened next?"

The epic battle between good and evil continues, finally. The detour through the prequels has been completed and the main story continues.

I have tickets for an evening showing and it will be an incredibly long day as I wait to stand in line to see the movie. 

The hype and the anticipation have given way into reality and I am looking forward to being transported into another place and time. At least for a few hours.

May the Force be with you!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: Be Afraid!

Be very afraid.

I admit that I did not watch the debates last evening, but I have been reading the accounts of the proceedings.

One of the common themes was a continuing assault on our Constitutional rights.

Between keeping people out of the country on religious grounds and the discussions of what the government should know about us, from the New York Times article, our Constitutional protections are under attack:

“I promise you, the next time there is an attack on this country, the first thing people are going to want to know is, why didn’t we know about it and why didn’t we stop it?” Mr. Rubio said. “And the answer better not be, ‘Because we didn’t have access to records or information that would have allowed us to identify these killers before they attack.’ ”

Enforcing something like this would strip Americans of privacy.

In a related issue, the ACLU is looking into the use of the No Fly List. In an article titled, Until the No Fly List is Fixed, It Shouldn't be used to Restrict People's Freedoms. 

I understand that many people scratch their heads and ask, why not? But the simple answer is that placing people on the No Fly list is arbitrary and incomplete. There is also no due process! All Constitutional violations. I urge you to read the ACLU article to understand the Constitutional implications associated with the No Fly list. Denying people access to protected freedoms based upon an arbitrary list compounds the offense.

Even more frightening, the government uses the phrase "predictive judgement" in determining whether to place people on the No Fly list. That sounds like a movie called, The Minority Report. I am not against the No Fly list, just the lack of oversight and due process associated with placing people on it.

My Take: Fear must not overtake our guaranteed freedoms or we will soon become a totalitarian society with no freedom.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Ides of December

Not My Trees--But Similar

We are halfway through December. The dark season is in full swing with two months remaining. 

I raced home after work yesterday to enjoy 45 minutes of daylight!

And then it was gone. 

At least it was warm and I could enjoy walking outside. Except that the rain had started. Fortunately it was not snow.

The landscape is becoming so bleak--the trees are bare, but the grass is still green. I think playing golf on Sunday was a much needed shot of outdoors. If only there were a way to play more.

Maybe a Bit Larger than I Need

I looked ahead at the weather forecast for Christmas. I believe that I can safely say that there will NOT be a white Christmas in the Baltimore area. A rainy Christmas almost assuredly, but not white.

Too bad about the rain--that will keep the fleet of new drones that many people will receive grounded. Although I don't know what I'd really do with one--I'd like a drone, too. And even big enough to have to register it under the new FAA rules.

Aha, the joys of Christmas! I remember when I was a boy and I received the bicycle of my dreams on Christmas morning. It was awesome, except that I couldn't ride it until April because of the snow in Upstate NY.

Ides means the middle day of the month. I thought it was the 15th for all months, but there seems to be some discussion about that.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - December 14, 2015

Sunday Morning December 13, 2015
Patient Greens Golf Club at Sun up

1. December golf in shirt sleeves. Wow, have I moved south overnight? It was an awesome way to start the day. And the gold was good, too.

2. I took a weekend off from the news. It was very cool.

3. I think Chris and I have completed most of our Christmas shopping! We went out Saturday and were amazed at how on-line shopping has reduced the numbers of people at the stores.

Riordin cleaning Louis

4. Cats can be fascinating to watch. Our two, Riordin and Louis go from fighting, to sleeping, to caring for each other in a matter of moments.

5. The incredibly warm and mild weather has me hoping for a "palm tree" Christmas. I lived in Miami for a while and I know I like walking the beach on Christmas day!


6. Traffic seems to be getting heavier. I wonder if it is a seasonal thing?

7. Do shoppers really "rush home with their treasures?" In my experience, it is usually a slow slog through heavy traffic.

8. Given that they have not defeated Navy in 14 years, should Army continue to field a football team?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

December 12th

What a day! It was an awesome late autumn, yes, it is still autumn, day. Temperatures were very mild.

December 2015 in Maryland

So mild, that I was outside most of the day without a coat and having a great time.

There was the obligatory Christmas shopping and then present wrapping which consumed most of the morning.

But then the afternoon arrived--and I was actually in the yard on my tractor doing some light mowing, you mowing, and leaf removal. 

And from there, the day really picked up.

Wine, Fire, and Christmas Lights

There was a long walk to enjoy the sunshine and the mild temperatures. I chatted with neighbors along the way and saw many people putting out their Christmas lights 

I even was able to hit a few golf balls in the yard to keep my swing steady.

And then it was dark.

But wait, we have a fire table and it was fantastic to sit outside,during December, not risking frostbite, and enjoying a perfect wine for the occasion. 

It was a perfect ending to a great day.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Pre-Christmas Birthday Season

Nicole's Birthday Celebration

Birthdays are fun--and when they occur during the Christmas season, they can be all the more fun.

Nicole and Chris

Last evening we celebrated Nicole's birthday. It was fun to have a non-holiday focused, holiday season get together! The houses are decorated and the neighborhoods are bright with lights, but we obtained a much needed respite from the hustle and bustle of the shopping/holiday season.

As family and friends gathered together, there was the obligatory cake and rendition of Happy Birthday--and then it was to a local establishment off for adult beverages and munchies.

The gathering was well attended as everyone else seemed to have the same idea--enjoy a great happy hour and celebrate a very special person in our lives.

Nicole and Me in a Selfie

I guess that is really the whole idea for take time out of our too busy lives to celebrate others. In a perfect situation, we change the focus of our lives from self-centered into a other-centered.


I really enjoy hearing the boys sing Happy Birthday. And so, I captured their rendition below.

What else did I learn last night? I am really bad at taking selfies!

Happy Birthday Nicole!!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Boxes

A concern I have about on-line shopping is the accumulation of extra boxes.

Last evening I collapsed and took a large number of boxes, mostly from on-line retailers, to the street for recycling. While on-line shopping sure is easier, the accumulation of waste seems to be greater. 

So, while the shopping is easier, the waste is greater. 

It is just something we need to consider. Although I recycled them, there is a lot of energy that goes into the manufacturing process, it would be more efficient if the boxes could be reused. 

Add to that the paper form the wrapping, and the tape, and the bows, and tags--Christmas can be a high trash season. 

Recycle, recycle, recycle!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Gas Prices Drop

Call it an early Christmas present.

Over the course of the past two days, I have filled up all three of my vehicles with gasoline for less money that is cost to fill one just a year ago!

I was in shock! 

Unbelievable!

Amid all of the hustle and bustle of the season there is a bit of good news! Gas prices are down just at the time when we are spending money on other people! 

That is awesome.

Frankly, I haven't seen $1.93 at the pump in Elkridge in forever.

I know that gas can be found lower in other places, but Elkridge is where I shop and gas prices here are very competitive.

I am amazed at people who drive around to save a penny a gallon--that usually equates to about 15 cents during as fill-up. If you fill your car 50 times a year, that is then $7.50 a year in savings. Not counting the extra gas spent to go to the other station and your time!

Enjoy the gas prices and Merry Christmas.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Political Upheaval

The true colors of one presidential candidate were clearly revealed yesterday.

He (yup, it was HE) does not support the Constitution. His statement about excluding people from entering the country based solely upon religious grounds is evidence of that.

His message appeals to the fears that people have about people who are different than they. 

I can see a very messy election ahead with three candidates--Republican, Democrat, and Trump.

This may be a case where the country is saved from disaster by the Electoral College--one of the most brilliant and yet widely misunderstood ideas that our Founding Fathers included into the Constitution.

Rational voters hopefully will prevail against the reactionary forces.

We live in uncertain and dangerous times.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Most Versatile Bomber Ever

B-17 and B-52

Imagine my surprise yesterday as I was reading the New York Times and came across an article titled, After 60 Years, B-52s Still Dominate U.S. Fleet. 

It was only just the other day that someone asked about my favorite aircraft and I told them that I had two, the B-17 and the B-52. No, I do not fancy the hot fighters that everyone is so enamored about. I have become a huge fan of the workhorses of the fleet--the aircraft designed to carry large payloads of weapons to ruin the day of our adversaries.

I found the following paragraph from the article most interesting:

Now in its 60th year of active service, the bomber is slow, primitive and weighed down by an infamy lingering from the carpet bombing of Vietnam in the 1960s. But 76 B-52s still make up the bulk of the United States’ long-range bomber fleet, and they are not retiring anytime soon. The next potential replacement — the Long Range Strike Bomber, which has yet to be designed — is decades away, so the B-52 is expected to keep flying until at least 2040. By then, taking one into combat will be the equivalent of flying a World War I biplane during the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

B-52 Taking Off

The B-52 has grown from a Cold War warrior into an impressive power projection jet bomber that strikes fear into the hearts of adversaries everywhere. Why?

Because it can!

The are few things more impressive than watching B-52's roll down a runway and take-off with less than 30 seconds between each jet. I wonder if they still practice that. 

The B-52 will be about 80 years old, from their production dates, when they are retired in 2040. Somehow, I don't believe we will ever really be able to say good-bye to such a versatile warrior!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD