Did They Really Say That?

The temperature outside my front door this morning is already higher than the highest temperature yesterday! The rising temperatures are mirroring those in the political contests around the country.

I have heard some incredible statements uttered by people about the presidential race during the past couple of days. 

Here is some things that resonated with me:

Trump:

"I can be more politically correct than anybody you've ever interviewed," Trump said. He added: "I can do whatever I want. ...I deal with society. Society loves me."

"Boycott all Apple products until such time as Apple gives cellphone info to authorities regarding radical Islamic terrorist couple from Cal"(My Thoughts? A candidate should not be advocating boycotting any company, especially on which may be in conflict with his own business interests)

Kasich:

"We've got to slow down," Kasich told Cooper. "You've got to celebrate other people's wins, and sometimes you've got to sit with them and cry."

Obama:

"I continue to believe Mr. Trump will not be president," Obama said at a news conference in California after a meeting with southeast Asian leaders. "And the reason is that I have a lot of faith in the American people. Being president is a serious job. It's not hosting a talk show, or a reality show."

The Pope

"A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian. This is not the gospel," the Pope told journalists who asked his opinion on Trump's proposals to halt illegal immigration.  (Note: This is a lot different than the way the TV sound bytes are characterizing it)

Carson:

Dr. Ben Carson says Democrats are “always going to bring up the race issue anytime they don’t get their way like little children having a temper tantrum.”

Bill Clinton:

"Let me just say this," Clinton said, "that campaign has been remarkably fact free and a lot of the numbers don't add up." (Note: He was talking about the Sanders campaign)

My thoughts? This is all beginning to sound like a bad reality TV show. And guess which candidate starred in his own reality TV show? Oh yes, that would be Trump.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Spring Training -- Orioles

It is the time of the year when the winter seems to be fading fast into a bad memory. Pitchers and catchers have reported to the MLB Spring Training camps and another season for the Boys of Summer is getting underway.

Yes, it is America's pastime. 

It is the harbinger of springtimes arrival and the resumption of the classic rivalries that will keep me interested from now until October. 

All of the teams start with the same record and have a chance to win their division, a championship, and the World Series. 

The saga that is 162 games long begins in less than two short months. Even the pundits are fun to read--although the Orioles are not forecast to do very well. The O's are picked by USA Today to finish last in the American League East. 

Orioles 2016 Spring Training Schedule

But it doesn't matter because that is why they play the games. Anything can happen. The O's are forecast to finish only 10 games out of first place--there are a lot of games between April and October!

In a few short weeks, I will be traveling to Sarasota and giving my own assessment of the team. Soon after that, nearly every evening I will be following the exploits of the Orioles as they progress through the season. It is a time of optimism, despite the pundits' predictions. 

I am excited about hearing some of my favorite words again: "Play ball!"

Let's Go O's!!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Yay for Apple

It is amazing how a seemingly small thing can be so important. I am happy, today, that I own and operate Apple technology.

I applaud Apple Inc for standing up to the government's attempt to unlock and thereby discard our 4th Amendment right to privacy. I know there are many who think that in this particular instance Apple should concede--but where could it stop. I believe Apple, Inc, adequately stated their position in their February 16, 2016 letter to customers. 

Constitutional rights to privacy and protection are just that--rights. That the government could force a private company to develop software to assist the government in breaking into technology created by that same company and thereby access people's private records is ridiculous. The government already has agencies devoted to doing just that--for instance the FBI, itself.

This action threatens privacy on a global scale. And it threatens the economic viability of American companies in the larger worldwide market if they can be forced to turn over specialized software to overcome the security of devices, consumers worldwide will quickly begin buying from companies which cannot so easily be compromised.

In the past, to ensure privacy consumers could burn or shred documents to ensure they would not fall into the hands of unscrupulous people. There were not multiple copies of everything traveling around in cyberspace. Today, however, nothing ever really disappears in the world of the internet and the cloud. The only way to protect privacy and secure our lives from the forces of those who would steal our identities is through unbreakable encryption. As more and more companies and banks push us, the consumers, towards electronic receipt of financial documents, this problem becomes greater. More of our most important documents will be stored in cyberspace.


How quickly the computer breaches of the Office of Personnel Management which affected millions of Americans have been forgotten. Even our government has shown that it cannot protect our privacy.

It is too easy for people to think they have nothing to hide, when in fact there are criminal forces who would quickly exploit our naivety for their financial gain. Of course we have privacy to protect. If the U.S. government can overcome technology to access data are we ignorant enough to believe that criminals and even other countries cannot?

This is a new world of cyber security. We all must be extra vigilant to protect ourselves. Apple must not be forced to give up our individual security no matter the price.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Difference is in the Day

Yesterday morning the world was frozen. The snow that had fallen since Sunday evening and all through Monday was covered with ice and the falling rain was freezing at it hit the ground. It was a mess. The temperatures crawled past 30 degrees and began their slow climb ultimately into the 40s as the morning wore on. 

No Snow in the Yard

The rain picked up intensity and the ice turned slippery making driving almost impossible. The schools closed, businesses delayed opening, accidents were everywhere. Fortunately, I too was delayed in having make my daily trek to the office. Travel was very difficult. But the temperature kept climbing as the rain fell harder. By 9 AM it was already 40 degrees! That was up from 8 degrees on Sunday morning.

As I made my way to work, suffering in snarled traffic which doubled my commuting time, the rain fell harder. I even took my umbrella with me. When I went into my building the weather was terrible.

Driveway Devoid of Snow

But then, a few hours later when I left work to head home it was completely different. All traces of the inches of snow and monsoon-like rains had disappeared. The sky was a brilliant blue and clear. The early evening was, in a word, idyllic. I was amazed at the difference of just a few hours. 

As I drove home in the brilliant sunshine, I marveled at the change in the world from just a few short hours earlier. The day had transitioned form dreary to bright and with it my mood had changed as well. 

The only snow that remained were the piles created during the blizzard of a few weeks ago. Every trace of the past few days' storm had vanished. I forgot to take a picture, but even in the images I shot this morning, it is clear that the snows of winter are receding.

Maybe, just maybe, springtime is on the horizon and the groundhog's prediction of an early spring will come true!

All happening in just a day.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: Vying for Equal Time

Over the course of the past couple of entries, my cat Riordin has been pictured in a variety of positions, which have been trying to stay warm or to find warmth. 

Louis Getting Equal Time

In the interest of fairness, I decided to show Louis sitting in my chair. He has a knack for getting into my chair just after I get up, for instance to go get another cup of coffee. When I return, he gives me that big, blue-eyed looks as if to say, "you wanted to come back?"

I have noticed that the whole idea of vying for equal time also applies to the presidential candidates. Those who are lower in the polls try to do or say spectacular things to get air time and help get their message out.

Frankly, I'm tired of the sensationalism. It is becoming a joke to find out which candidates traded insults during the past 24 hours. The most recent Republican debate was an example of this trend at its worst. Candidates traded barbs and insults rather than discussing meaningful concepts and ideas like foreign policy. I'm not kidding, the country needs a coherent plan to correct 7 years of ineffective and inconsistent foreign policy. On the other side, one of the democratic candidates was personally responsible for the chameleon-like foreign policy we have been suffering through.

I really don't want to watch many more of the debates if they are going to continue to be like a bad reality TV show. Wait! One of the candidates starred in his own reality TV show, no wonder why the debates are beginning to take on that type of character.

My Take

"We the people" need to demand better from our candidates because that is where the problem lies. We are not making our voices heard and we are accepting the lowest level of campaigning as those behind in the polls vie for equal time.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - February 15, 2015

1. The discussion about replacing Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia should not occur until after he is laid to rest. The difficult political posturing are premature.

Riordin Looking to Keep Warm

2. How cold is it? It was so cold that our cat Riordin was in my chair praying for warmth and fire. It was cute to see.

Valentines Day Dinner

3. I am enjoying the idea of a quiet Valentine's Day dinner at home more and more. For the fourth year in a row, and extra special bottle of wine and a dinner prepared in love graced our table. Can't beat that.

4. I can tell that the sports seasons are in the in-between mode, the lead sports story in the New York Times was about the judge at the Westminster Dog Show. 

5. Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training this week! Baseball is almost here. Let's Go O's.

6. The spring Training trip to Sarasota is all set. Golf and baseball, here I come!

7. It is President's Day! And it is snowing, again. And cold. And too miserable to go outside.

8. Why is it that 8 of the 10 holidays are crammed into the 6 months from September to February? The next Federal holiday is over 2 months away at the end of May! Ugh!

9. Here is a scary thought: nearly 20 percent of all of the cars on the road are under some kind of recall. I think our Toyota has three recalls. Maybe we should get them fixed.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Frozen Dawn

Dawn, February 14, 2016

I know, I must not have much to write about since I am going discussing another sunrise.  Well, at least it is not a tequila sunrise!

I despise the cold. But sometimes I find something unique hidden away associated with it. This morning, it is the sun coming up against the frozen blue sky. The naked trees are reflecting the light in the 8 degree morning. Yes, it is cold. There is still snow on the ground from the storms of a few weeks ago.

Riordin on the Register

It is so cold that Riordin is sitting on the register trying to keep warm as he looks outside even though it is toasty in the house.

I could write about the Republican debate. Nothing specific was discussed and then mudslinging began. I'm not sure how invoking problems of previous Presidents helps someone's own campaign. I noticed that one candidate in particular doesn't know how to play well in the sandbox. He believes that he can interject whenever the spirit moves him. Overall though, there was nothing different as the frozen dawn deepens.


In my region, it is going be cold and then there is going to be some winter weather. Be careful. I probably should have accepted Chris'  offer to escape to Key West for the weekend.

It is Valentine's Day! And so, I hope you have a happy one.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: Cardboard Tasting Produce

Dinner Last Evening

My friends and I enjoyed a lovely dinner last evening and composed of some great wines and fine food. One of the highlights of the evening was a tray of strawberries and pineapple to dip into a chocolate fondue.

It was then that I noticed that the strawberries looked awesome. They were a shot of summer during the dark, cold days of the winter. They even had a light fragrance of strawberry and while I thoroughly enjoyed them I noticed that they lacked flavor. Of course, they were out of season, what did I expect?

And then I thought about it, many of the fruits and vegetables I eat lack pizazz! I have gotten used to produce that looks good bit I have to imagine the taste rather than savor it. What is happening? I found the answer. Less that flavorful fruit is an intentional byproduct of American farming techniques. 

I discovered and article titled, Why Fruits and Vegetables Taste Better in Europe. In the article is a story about a man who created a tomato, named the Garden Gem, that is one of the most flavorful in the world, but it is not grown commercially because it would require more labor to pick than the larger more taste-deprived varieties. Similarly, the article points out that American consumers want bigger, which is not necessarily better.

The article carries the following statement,

"If you ask the question, 'Why are the chocolates better in Belgium and Switzerland?' it's because locals demand it that way," Schatzker added. "They don't tolerate or want lower quality. And they get upset when people try to pass off inferior quality food as being good."

Interesting thought, Why do our vegetables and fruit taste like cardboard? Because we, as consumers, do not demand higher quality. Wow! Fascinating thought. Producers are selling us exactly what we are demanding. It seems we are not demanding quality. 

Perhaps it is time to demand quality and be prepared to pay for it! 

My Take: I long for fruit that tastes as good as it looks and vegetables that likewise are as good as they appear!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: Economic Ambivalence

Dow Jones 2016

The stock market is in free fall these days. Every night when I turn in at the end of the day, my net worth is less than it was the night before. 

The Dow and the markets were down again yesterday. By my very loose calculations, the market has been down about 10 percent since December.

None of the presidential candidates are talking about it. They are bashing each other, but no one is worries that the retirement funds that Americans depend upon for their futures are in an virtual free fall. 

Elon Musk

I read that one of the "uber" rich, Elon Musk, has lost $3 billion in value with the declining market. 

The numbers are staggering and affect all diligent Americans who have been saving for retirement, or even for a rainy day. This kind of ambivalence being cast on the issue is why it is almost better to do nothing to plan for the future and to prepare to throw oneself upon the welfare of the government and other citizens.

Yet, the presidential candidates say nothing.

And then I heard an interesting statement: "The falling price of oil is bad." I remember when I heard that the rising price of oil was bad.

Pick one!

My Take: The economy is in a shambles and the emperor has no clothes. Let's hope the candidates stop sniping and start talking about real issues, soon, or no one will be able to afford to vote for them. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Too Cold

Wouldn't you know it?

The weather for the upcoming President's Day, three-day, weekend is forecasting temperatures to be below freezing. Temperatures are not expected to rise above freezing again until Tuesday and not before then! That is five days of frigid weather.

Bring on the ice skating.

Ugh!

I am so frustrated by the cold that I went outside last evening and hit a golf balls in the yard until my hands got numb. It wasn't very many.

The cold weather is just cruel! The snow has mostly melted and it is time to get on with spring.

By the way, I learned that the coldest day on record for Baltimore was February 10, 1899. The low was -7 and the high was 3 degrees. Brrrr!

At least we won't be getting that cold.

I hope.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD