Monday Musings - February 22, 2016

1. Today is National Margarita day. Have one for me!

2. MLB Spring Training is underway. Hooray for Springtime.

3. Sunday's can be the busiest day of the weeks. Yesterday was filled with two basketball games and an acting performance by the grandsons.

4. It came to me why I have developed a love of golf. I can watch my heroes play AND since I also play the game it is possible for me to play on some of the courses the they do. That doesn't happen in many other sports.

5. The political races are narrowing. That may not be a good thing. The leading candidates are too similar.

6. The Daytona 500 was run yesterday. I had no clue!

7. Would it upset the balance of nature if we just eradicated mosquitoes? They seem to transmit disease and little else beneficial.

8. After a taste of warmer weather this weekend, I am ready for Springtime!!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Longer Days

Friday at Dawn in Columbia, MD

I noticed it the Friday morning while leaving the fitness club after a racquetball match to start the day. It was light outside at 6:45 AM. This represents a significant change from just a few short weeks ago. 

Friday the sunrise was building in the east and the dawn was in full glorious array. Although I have to drive into the dawn and rising sun, I am not complaining because I am happy to get to work in light instead of darkness.  

Coupled with the beginning of Spring Training, the dark season is beginning to fade. The daylight up to 10 hours and 58 minutes per day, which is already 1 and 1/2 hours longer than on December's  Winter Solstice.

Of course, with the longer days comes more activity! And that is awesome. Yesterday was warm and I enjoyed doing some work outside the house. Although the lawn was soggy, it felt good to be beginning to live outside again! I am hopeful that there will be no more snow this season and we can soon slide into the early Springtime predicted by Punxsutawney Phil!

For now, I will enjoy the day at hand and revel in the lengthening days.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

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

The Circus and the Orator

New Hampshire has voted and placed its unique style and mark upon the presidential olympics.

What did I see? The circus of Trump continues to attract. Scary. I do not see any depth in his proposals. He seems to be running on the ideas of candidate bashing and being the biggest bully on the block. Were he a kid in a public school today, he would be expelled for being a bully. I think the electorate is watching too many "reality" TV shows. And remember, Trump starred in one. 

I was encouraged that the trio of governors began to show some signs of life in the campaign. Someone needs to serve as an alternate to the circus.

On the other side of the campaign, it appears that the Hillary train was derailed by the orator. I listened to Sanders victory speech last evening, almost 45 minutes of it. I was struck by his oratory. He speaks in complete sentences and thoughts, unlike many candidates who speak in sound-bites. 

And now, on to South Carolina where the real campaigning will begin. I am sure Trump will declare victory, it is hard to declare a mandate with  thirty-something percent of the votes cast. The only victory of the night belonged to Sanders. 

Is November getting close, yet?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Super Bowl 50, Lessons

I enjoyed the Super Bowl played between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. I had hoped the Broncos would win the game, mostly because I have twice lived in the Denver area and have suffered, as a Broncos fan, through losses in previous Super Bowls.

Craig Morton
Denver Quarterback 1977 Super Bowl

I Cheered for the Broncos and the Orange Crush defense during their 1978, Super Bowl XII loss (27-10) to the Dallas Cowboys. I also remember the ugly loss to the San Francisco 49ers (55-10) in the 1990 Super Bowl XXIV.  The result of this game remains the most lopsided score in Super Bowl history.

Over time, and upon finding a home in the Baltimore region, I have become a Ravens fan; but I have a fond place in my heart for the Broncos.  It was not surprising, therefore, that I wanted the Broncos to win the Super Bowl.

That written, going into the game, I felt the Panthers were the more complete team with more capable players at critical positions. 

Officially, my position on the game was that I was cheering for the Broncos, but felt that the Panthers would win.

What are the lessons I take away from this game?

Peyton Manning
Denver Quarterback 2016 Super Bowl

1. No matter how it looks on paper, the intangibles affect the outcome and that is why we play the games.

2. Defense wins championships!

3. Experience matters.

4. Maturity is an important intangible.

5. The sheriff was better than superman.

6. Defensive games can be boring, but represent the essence of football.

Some of these are applicable in life as well as in the sports arena!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - February 8, 2015

1. The second week of February 2016 is underway!

2. There is another snowstorm taking aim at the Baltimore-Washington region. 

Broncos, 24 - Panthers, 10

3. Super Bowl 50 was won by the Broncos, 24-10! Defense was the name of the game, but Peyton Manning managed to lead the Broncos to a victory and his second Super Bowl win! Congrats to Denver and all of their fiercely loyal fans.

4. I did not find many of the Super bowl commercials to be especially super this year.

5. The Washington Post rated the Super Bowl commercials. I did enjoy Avocados in Space and the one about the "Weiner dogs" for Heinz ketchup. 

6. Now that the NFL season is over it is time to get ready for, yes, wait for it . . . BASEBALL! Spring Training is almost here!

7. I appreciate the respite from the presidential olympics--but it is back onto the campaign trail today with New Hampshire looming big tomorrow.

Great Wall of China

8. I was encouraged by the performance of the band of governors during the Republican debate a few days ago. Perhaps they can bring moderation and common sense to the campaign.

9. As an American, I do not want to fund the Western Hemisphere's version of the Great Wall of China to be installed on the border of Mexico and the United States.  It is too easy for a wall to change from keeping people out to keeping people in.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD 

Squirrel Thievery

Squirrel at the Feeder

They are creative thieves--squirrels. 

Chris bought a unique bird feeder to provide peanuts for her favorite bird--the bluejay. 

The squirrels figured out how to get the peanuts out of the feeder.

It is amazing how quickly they can get the nuts out of the feeder and create a huge mess on the deal. I am really looking forward to cleaning it all up when the weather gets warmer. 

Well, at least we are helping the critters enjoy a beautiful day.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Snow Melt

Until this morning, there had been a string of four days in a row where the temperatures did not dip below freezing. That has made a significant impact on the snow around the house. 

I am encouraged because the snow is melting, quickly. I can see the ground around my house.

In another testament to the snow melt, I received an email from a Baltimore area golf course encouraging me to come out and play this weekend. They remarked that they had 12 of their 18 holes open for diehard golfers. OK, I considered it. 

As soon as the snow is gone, I am sure I am going to be outside doing something. I even cooked two meals on the grill this past week! Yes, the grill works even when the weather is not hospitable!

Storm on the horizon?

No problem, I'm hoping it misses us.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

How Can You Tell . . . ?

I have been listening to the politicians arguing in the aftermath of the Iowa Caucus. 

What a miserable situation with every campaign claiming victory or blaming some other campaign for their poor showing. I remember a joke about it all.

How can you tell that a politician is lying?

Answer.

Their lips are moving.


I have not heard so much negativity and subterfuge on a national basis in years. 

Who won Iowa?

Here's a thought. Since no one garnered more than 50 percent, no one won!

How hard is that? Clinton and Sanders can slice the vote however they want--but there was no majority and therefore no mandate.

On the other side, how can someone who gets only 20-something percent of the vote declare victory?

I wish I could be a winner with 28 percent. In real life, I actually need something closer to 99 percent to be considered a winner. Has anyone else considered that anything less than 50.1 percent is not a winning percentage? Let's get a grip and stop letting politicians change what we know is true. Winning is different than losing.

So how can you tell? Yea, their lips are moving.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Phantom of the Opera

Chris and I spent the evening at the Hippodrome Theater in Baltimore viewing the traveling production of Phantom of the Opera. 

Hippodrome Interior before the Show

This performance used a redesigned set that adds significantly to the experience. 

Most people know that I am not a fan of the Hippodrome Theater in Baltimore because the seats are tight and the large balcony is a problem. And it was a problem last evening, although we were in the center orchestra seats, the balcony provided restricted viewing of some of the activity.

Chris and I at Phantom

The production, however, was great. The orchestra was well conducted and the actors were on pitch and strong. 

I recommend this performance for Phantom lovers and neophytes. Check the schedule--it may be coming to a city near you.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: Political Winners and Losers

The excitement of the Iowa Caucus is almost over and attention has turned to New Hampshire. 

I have decided that politicians can redefine words to suit their individual needs. Such would be the case for Clinton and Rubio who both claimed victories as a result of the Caucus.

I was impressed with Clinton declaring victory, albeit by a mere .3 percentage points in a marred process that featured multiple coin tosses. Did I mention that no one received 50 percent of the votes cast and there were multiple coin flips involved?

On the Republican side, a letter to the editor of the New York Times by Richard Nussbaum sums up the situation fairly succinctly. Mr. Nussbaum writes:

It really doesn’t matter that Ted Cruz beat Donald Trump in the Iowa caucuses on Monday night. What matters is that the majority of Republican voters in Iowa threw their support to one of two candidates whose main campaign themes are meanspiritedness and bigotry.

Though this week’s talk will be all about Mr. Trump’s loss, it should really be about America’s loss, and about confronting head on the racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia — not to mention callous indifference to poverty and suffering — that have become the calling cards of these politicians, and that are sadly embraced (or, at the very least, overlooked) by far too many Americans.

RICHARD JAY NUSSBAUM

The comments above are precisely what has been bothering me about the campaigns thus far. The bashing has got to stop! We need leaders who can work with opposition and can build-up rather than tear down. We have had too much tearing-down in our political system lately and that is why it appears that almost nothing gets done in Washington.

A bigger problem is that the top vote getters in each party, with the exception of Trump, are all senators or previous senators. Former senators have generally poor track record as presidents. I have found the list here. I exclude some of the original Founding Fathers from the statement because the initial cadre of senators was clearly composed of the leaders of the government. Also note, Warren G. Harding became a senator (and a good one) after his Presidency. We can argue about a few of the exceptions.

Conversely, former governors comprise some of our most revered Presidents. The list is here.  Governors actually have experience building coalitions to get things done while, in my opinion, Senators frequently are single issue people who can play well with others in the sand box. 

My Take is that the Iowa Caucus pointed out that the current front runners for the office to President of the United States are flawed. We the People need to do a better job finding and supporting candidates who are more focused on running the country rather than bashing the other candidates.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Iowa Caucus Results and Groundhog Day

I'm not sure how they are similar, except they are sharing a day.

Today is Groundhog Day! Yay, the rodent from Punxsutawney is predicting the future of Winter and the arrival of Spring.

Similarly, the people of Iowa are putting their stamp on the 2016 Presidential Election process by trying to predict the candidates from the two major parties who will vie to be the next President of the United States.

Both of the events mark beginnings. One, the beginning of the end of Winter and the other the beginning of the electoral primary season. 

Let's hope both reports are good. An early Spring and competent candidates!

That would be very different, on both counts.

--Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD