Out the Windshield - Snowy Morning

Snow Kissed Trees
March 3, 2017

The Baltimore region has been spared the worst ravages of Winter this season. Even Friday morning when snow actually fell, it was a light dusting. 

There was only a trace of snow at my house when I departed, but as I drove south towards work the trace turned into about a half-inch which presented a view along the road that I just had to capture. 

The snow kissed trees against the blue sky of dawn created an image of Winter's passing. Hopefully, this will be the last snowfall of Winter and I can turn my attention to Springtime and outdoor activities.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: Breaking the Deadlock

I like the words and the thought behind "Get America Moving Again!" They apparently date back to the Kennedy-Nixon era, and were coined in a speech given by then Senator Kennedy just before the election of 1960. The words are in the last line of the speech. I believe the words are true today. The phrase was later used during the Carter election campaign. 

Washington seems to be deadlocked in right now. 


I saw it yesterday as the minority leader of the House and the Speaker squared off with differing visions to the present and the future.

The minority party appears bent on obstructionism--not allowing anything to happen without dragging it out as long a possible.

The majority party cannot seem to get out of its own way and get programs and budgets moving to get programs implemented. With every new turn, another call for an investigation slows the process of getting America moving down to a glacial crawl. 

Sadly, the election of 2018 begins in just a few short months! We will have to go through the dysfunctional process yet again and precious little will get accomplished by our representatives.

Contributing to the deadlock may be that the administration has not filled nearly 2,000 jobs! This was reported last week by CNN in Trump still has to fill nearly 2,000 vacancies. It could be a major jobs program!

I found a link to apply for a position in the administration. Apply here. 

I'm not keen of commuting into D.C., and I enjoy my current employment--so I am not planning to apply, but there seem to be many jobs available!

My Take: Maybe if the jobs get filled, with competent people, America will get moving again and then, maybe, America will be great again.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sunset before the Storms

Sunset from the Columbia, MD Lowe's Parking Lot
March 1, 2017

After topping out at 75 degrees yesterday, the temperature is forecast to bottom out over the next four days with the high on Saturday reaching a balmy 38 degrees! Brrrr!

Ugh! Winter had to return, but I wish it wouldn't. I probably upset the winter by wearing an Aloha Shirt to work last Friday.

My Pussy Willow Bush

Last evening while the temperature was still near 70, I walked out of our local Lowe's after buying the supplies for my next project and the sky was ablaze! It was stunning and I just had to capture the scene.

The dark clouds above me and the red sunset in the distance. Even knowing what was coming, I had to admit it was a beautiful scene.

I am hoping that the buds and flowers survive the lows in the low 20's which are forecast for the next couple of nights.

I probably won't be playing any golf this weekend.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The President Speaks

President Trump flanked by Vice President Pence and
Speaker of the House Ryan
February 28, 2017

The President made his first address to a combined session of Congress and the government last evening. A transcript of the speech can be found on the New York Times site. 

And what a speech it was.

-- Fascinating because he stayed on script. 

-- Fascinating because of the continued use of inaccuracies, as reported in The Washington Post, to describe not only his actions but the situation in the country and business. 

-- Fascinating because he sounded Presidential! 

-- Fascinating because he reached, or attempted to reach across the aisle to the opposition party to assist in getting America moving again. 

-- Fascinating because he modified some of his most "in your face" points.

I was again appalled at the obstructionist response of the opposition party. I was, however, encouraged that some of the members broke with the leadership and stood or applauded at specific items mentioned in the address. Good on them!

Am I on-board with everything that he is doing? No. I continue to disagree with some of the policies and enforcement actions that he had implemented. I see them as ill-advised and reactionary designed to bolster his political based at the expense of real people working and contributing to this country.

But, I want to make the point again: We need our President to be successful! The last thing any of us wants, or needs, is to be led by an unsuccessful President. The impacts of anything less than success are too far reaching. As has already been demonstrated, the design of our government will contain the extreme idealism.

In reviewing the speech, which I did watch live on television, I was encouraged especially towards the end as the President began to lay out his vision for the future. 

He said: Think of the marvels we could achieve if we simply set free the dreams of our people. Cures to the illnesses that have always plagued us are not too much to hope. American footprints on distant worlds are not too big a dream. (New York Times Transcript)

I can envision that broad release of American ingenuity having a positive impact for all of mankind.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Stop Running--Start Working

45th President of the United States
Donald J. Trump

Tonight is the President's first address to Congress. 

I have a sense that the honeymoon is over and the country needs to start moving forward, collectively.

I am disappointed that the opposition party seems to have adopted a platform of obstructionism rather than bipartisanism. Stalling everything for two years is not the correct approach. Sometime soon, the government needs to get out of its own way and start moving the country forward. 

The Capitol

The Washington Post has an interesting political cartoon regarding the speech tonight. 

I have heard people express displeasure about the President--but he is OUR President. Is there anyone who rationally wants the president to fail? Consider, for a moment, the consequences. Failure is not desirable on any level.

A deeper and more thoughtful editorial, titled Does Trump know he's president?, looked deeper at the President's first month plus in office. The editorial covers a number of issues that the President should be addressing, but ends with the following observation: 

You might think the president would be fully engaged in some of these issues, but you’d be wrong. Instead, he has been waging a ridiculous war against the media. His cries of “fake news” may play well with the base, but he’s not running for president at the moment. He’s supposed to be doing the job.

President Reagan, in his January 25, 1988 State of the Union Address made the following observation about the state of the country and the government:

In the spirit of Jefferson, let us affirm that in this Chamber tonight there are no Republicans, no Democrats—just Americans. Yes, we will have our differences, but let us always remember what unites us far outweighs whatever divides us. Those who sent us here to serve them—the millions of Americans watching and listening tonight-expect this of us. Let's prove to them and to ourselves that democracy works . . .  

Good advice. Congress, take note, too!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - February 27, 2017

1. February ends tomorrow, amazingly. The year will be 17 percent complete. March is looking like it will come in like a lion!

2. Heads-up! Daylight Saving Time begins in less than 2 weeks on March 12th at 2:00 AM!

3. The Orioles are 2-1 in Spring Training games!

4. The Oscars were last night. Were there any real surprises, except the drama of announcing the wrong winning picture?

5. Heard in a restaurant:"You shall be punished because I ordered wrong."

6. Is the Bill of Rights under attack by some in Washington? Sadly, time will tell.

Headlines

7. Teen suicide attempts fell as same-sex marriage became legal - The Denver Post

8. This watch company is the perfect example of why Trump's "made in America" initiative is easier said than done - Business Insider

9. Trump to Ask for Sharp Increases in Military Spending, Officials Say - The New York Times

10. Trump’s Cabinet has to work as a cleanup crew - The Washington Post

Quote of the Week

"I have to believe that the future does look bright for our nation and for the world. So, keep your dreams; don't give 'em up." - Ronald Reagan

Remarks and a Question-and-Answer Session With Regional Editors and Broadcasters, February 10, 1986

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Summer-like Weather Ends

Green Hellebore
February 25, 2017

Daffodils in Bloom
February 25, 2017

Walking outside yesterday in my shirt, without a coat, while many parts of the country were besieged with a massive winter storm, I had to remind myself that it was February. The temperature at the time was 73 degrees. It was cooler than the high 70's of the previous three days, but still some 40 degrees above normal. I enjoyed having temperatures in the high 70's for five of the past eight days.

The springtime flowers are in bloom and many of the trees are budding. Everything is poised for the arrival of Spring, except for the calendar.

I knew that it could not last, this morning it was 40 degrees cooler at my house. The national weather map for this morning shows how cold it is across the nation.

But it was a great run and there are only a few days of cold (cooler) weather forecast ahead. I see 75 forecast for the Wednesday high. 

And add to that, Daylight Savings Time is only two weeks away!

Orioles Opening Day is 37 days away on April 3.
Pool opening day is 70 days away on May 6.

Excitement abounds.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

1st Amendment Under Fire

I am amazed that the mainstream news media is under attack. It is a clear effort to deflect the spotlight from the circus which has become the White House and focus it on the news media.

The Washington Post reported yesterday that some major news outlets were uninvited from a press briefing in the article CNN, New York Times, other media barred from White House briefing. While this is not, in and of itself, a violation of the 1st Amendment it does represent a threat to free access of media to the President and the Executive Branch of the government. 

The First Amendment is clear.

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Fortunately, legal opinion in the subsequent years has determined that the amendment applies to the entire government. 

So, the question is did excluding news outlets from a White House briefing cross the line and represent an abridgment of the freedom of the press or freedom of speech?

Based upon my reading of a Legal Information Institute, probably not. But it certainly is a poor practice.

The President evidently does not like some elements of the press, especially those who report contrary to his wishes. Limiting press access is dangerous and borders on violating the First Amendment--not because he limits their access, but because he limits their access based upon what they write and therefore violates the free speech aspect of the first amendment.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Baseball is Back

The Orioles first spring Training game is today against the Detroit Tigers.

Baseball is back!

It has been a few months since their last pitch and the Orioles are mostly the same team that was eliminated from the playoffs during the Wild Card round. 


Hope springs eternal during Spring Training. All of the teams begin the same way--winless. Players are watched and graded and teams are formed for the 162 game campaign.

I am excited. I love baseball. I love watching baseball. I used to enjoy playing baseball.

The boys of summer are back!!

The Orioles conduct Spring Training in Sarasota, Florida, which I have come to enjoy. Unfortunately, I will not be able to make my annual Spring Training trip this year. 

Baseball at Camden Yards will have to suffice.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Solar System Far, Far Away

NASA's announcement yesterday about the seven Earth-size planets arrayed in the Trappist-1 solar system have renewed the excitement about discovering or uncovering life outside of our own Earth.

I admit it is exciting. The Trappist-1 system seems so close and yet it is so far away. The system is 40 light years away--that is 40 continuous years of traveling at the speed of light just to get there. As a species, we have not yet devised any vehicle that can travel anything nearly that fast. 

The fastest space probe to date is the Juno probe, which upon arriving at Jupiter was cruising at about 165,000 miles per hour. At that speed it would take about 162 thousand years to get there. Even using the expected velocity of Space Probe Plus, due to launch in 2018, of 450,000 mph, it would still take 59 thousand years to get there. That is a very long time!

I can hear Buzz Lightyear shouting, "To infinity . . . and beyond!"

We still need to take better care of our own home. Global warming is a fact; not a theory.

It was nice to have something different headline the news yesterday.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD