D.C. in Traffic

Driving through D.C.
with Washington Monument and
Jefferson Memorial in  view

I had the opportunity to drive through the heart of DC during high traffic yesterday. 

It was an experience that I had forgotten. 

I quickly remembered why I don't drive through DC too often. I prefer to take the metro.

Traffic is slow, crazy, and dangerous. The dangerous part is an understatement. People drive like they have no respect for the damage a vehicle can do. 

I had dropped Chris, Jodie, and Trev off at Reagan National and was headed back to work. The roads were jammed. Who is out driving at about noon on a weekday? Lots of people, it seems. 

I was at a total standstill on a bridge when I snapped this image.

At least I could sightsee in the traffic!

Remind me again why flying out of National is better than BWI? I forget! Lol.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

John McCain Lays it Out

I had the opportunity to see some of Senator John McCain's speech to the Senate on Tuesday. 

Senator John McCain Addressing the Senate
July 25, 2017

He is an American hero.

There may be no one who better understands the construct of the American government, our Republic, than John McCain.

Senator McCain laid it all out in this part of his speech,

“We’re getting nothing done. All we’ve really done this year is confirm Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. Our healthcare insurance system is a mess. We all know it, those who support Obamacare and those who oppose it. Something has to be done. We Republicans have looked for a way to end it and replace it with something else without paying a terrible political price. We haven’t found it yet, and I’m not sure we will. All we’ve managed to do is make more popular a policy that wasn’t very popular when we started trying to get rid of it.
 

He mentioned that the Senate had done nothing all year more than once.

He also has a great grasp on the concept of checks and balances--he was clear and unequivocal in his assessment of the unwelcome influence of the President on the Senate.

“We are an important check on the powers of the Executive. Our consent is necessary for the President to appoint jurists and powerful government officials and in many respects to conduct foreign policy. Whether or not we are of the same party, we are not the President’s subordinates. We are his equal!

No truer words have been spoken. 

The Senate needs to exert leadership in the Congress for America.

I was impressed with Senator McCain's grasp on the true importance of the Senate and its check on the powers of the unruly presidency. 

“That principled mindset, and the service of our predecessors who possessed it, come to mind when I hear the Senate referred to as the world’s greatest deliberative body. I’m not sure we can claim that distinction with a straight face today.


I urge you to read the test of Senator McCain's speech and relive the greatness of what America was and yet should be.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Golf off the End of the Runway

Golf requires a mixture of playing and practice.

Chris at the Range
July 25, 2017

I could never approach the amount of practice time that the pros dedicate, but heading off to the driving range for an hour or so of practice allows me to work on aspects of my game that I would not attempt during a round of golf when I am trying for my best score.

Last evening, instead of hitting a course for a fast 9 holes, Chris and I went to the range for some serious work. It was a beautiful evening and the range was full--both levels. I guess all of the other weekend golfers wanted to enjoy the relative cool, low humidity evening. 

The range near the airport is a lot of fun because when the correct runway is active the planes seeming fly right over top. 

The range is nice because I am able to hit more balls in an hour than I would during a four hour 18 hole round--and I can work to adjust my stance and swing to begin to learn how to better aim my shots.

It was a great way to begin an evening--for both Chris and I.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

As the Day Ends

Last evening was one of those all to rare experiences which put the period at the end of the day in a truly enjoyable and relaxing fashion.

The Pool as Evening Falls
July 24, 2017

I had not realized the amusement park-like pace that Chris and I had been on until we were lounging on floaties in the pool with a glass of wine for the first time all season. Yes, it is late-July and we only last evening found time to lounge in the pool and enjoy some time to ourselves.

Admittedly, the weather has been questionable, we have been traveling, and we have been busy--but lounging in the pool is something that I look forward to enjoying. 

Chris and I are fortunate, we have been able to carve out a piece of serenity amid the cacophony of the world around us to enjoy the ending or the beginning of the day. Last evening the stars and schedules finally aligned to allow us to decompress without struggling to get everything done. The late evening ending thunderstorm was but the icing on the cake as we both enjoy watching the storms rage around us.

I hope for more such days as the summer winds down because I can already feel summer losing its grip as the temperature this morning was 64 degrees and cool with the humidity finally falling into the comfort range.

Evenings like that are to be enjoyed and then treasured.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - July 24, 2017

1. The next to last Monday of July is upon us. August is breathing heavy in the stable waiting to be released. 

Cannon at Antietam Battlefield
July 22, 2017

2. The month of July has been a great month with lots of memories. 

3. July is vacation month. 

4. Saturday Chris and I drove through the Antietam Battlefield. It was a very sobering experience to think about the battles and horrific scenes that played out there.

5. Finding new Maryland wineries is a great weekend past-time. 

6. I was playing golf yesterday as Jordan Spieth was setting golf history by winning The Open tying only Jack Nicklaus and the other player to have ever accomplished that feat.

7. The British Open is correctly titled just The Open.

Headlines

In Minneapolis, Unusual Police Killing Raises an Old Outcry: Why? - The New York Times

9 people dead after dozens found in sweltering tractor-trailer at a Walmart in Texas - The Washington Post

Jordan Spieth Edges Matt Kuchar to Win 2017 British Open - CNN

Quote for the Week

"Time and again our nation has proved that there are no limits to what we Americans can achieve when we work together. Well, today we are working together to do what is right. And as a result, we can look forward to a more secure tomorrow." Ronald Reagan Radio Address to the Nation on Arms Control and Reduction, July 16, 1983

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Societal Breakdown

A very disturbing article out of Cocoa, Florida, found in The Washington Post highlights a potential tear win the fabric of society. 

The article titled, Police seek charges after teens film, mock drowning man, mayor says describes how five teenagers aged 14 and 16 filmed and mocked a man who was drowning, but did nothing to help him.

CNN reports that they will not be charged with anything. They should be charged with something, most likely failure to render aid if that statute were still on the books.

What is most disturbing is that the drowning happened on July 9th and the teens filmed the death in realtime, but never reported the event nor called 9-1-1. The badly decomposed body was not discovered until July 14th. 

Jamel Dunn, the man who drowned, died while people who potentially could have saved him and rendered aid watched, filmed, and mocked the event.

The incident is described:

Police said that the teens didn’t attempt to help Dunn as he struggled and screamed.

“They didn’t call the police. They just laughed the whole time. He was just screaming … for someone to help him,” Yvonne Martinez, spokeswoman for the Cocoa Police Department, told Florida Today

I cannot imagine how society, parents, and the education system failed the young men who joked as they watched a man die without rendering aid.

We need to take action and do better. The cavalier attitude towards our fellow citizens cannot be allowed to continue.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Dunkirk: Movie Review

See this movie!

That, in short, is my review. 

Dunkirk is 1 hour and 47 minutes long and it is a riveting and fully involved story. The filmography is spectacular and the up close and personal look at a select number of the characters provides a unique perspective of the events and the situation faced by the 400,000 trapped British, Belgian, and French soldiers on the shores of Dunkirk, France during May and June 1940. In the end, 330,000 of the troops were evacuated.

It took me a while to understand the manner in which the events were presented because the movie does not proceed in a classic chronological manner. The events are overlaid upon each other and viewed from the multiple perspectives of the participants. 

The movie provides a gritty, earthy, realistic look at the events that are unfolding from multiple perspectives. The action is intense and very personal. 

I had the opportunity to view the movie in a D-Box seat. While is it not as plush as some other movie seats, it transmitted the action including the bombs exploding, the aircraft dogfighting, and the swells of the sea for me to enjoy adding a new viewing experience. I enjoyed the D-Box seat.

Recommendation: See the movie and get in touch with the history of the greatest generation.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

When the News Becomes Too Real

Missile Graphic from the New York Times

I usually watch the news on television and feel detached from the unfolding events. Unless the action is happening in my own backyard, I feel like the activity is not likely to affect me personally.

That is changing as the world continues to grow smaller.

An article this morning in The Washington Post, titled Hawaii rolling out civil defense plan for North Korean missile attack, took me back to my days in grade school when we practiced sheltering in place and civil defense drills. 

What caught me was how Hawaii, in response to something that happened almost an ocean away on during Independence Day celebrations is creating a plan to protect people. 

Here is an excerpt from the article:

The state of Hawaii is formulating a preparedness plan for a North Korean missile attack, much to the dismay of the state’s tourism boosters.

“We do not want to cause any undue stress for the public,” Vern T. Miyagi, Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency administrator said in a statement reported Thursday by the state’s news media, but “we cannot wait to begin our public information campaign to ensure that Hawaii residents will know what do if such an event occurs.”

The full plan for that campaign will be unveiled Friday, according to Hawaii News Now. 

So while I watch the news, sometimes the news becomes more than just a detached event on the television and it requires action. I applaud Hawaii for their proactive response to the news. It is scary, but sometimes we need to respond and be prepared.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Confounding Orioles

OPACY
July 19, 2017
Orioles Defeat Texas 10-2

I was ready to write the season off and begin thinking about trades to make the Orioles a contender next year after the weekend series against the Cubs which saw the Orioles get swept while surrendering 27 runs and scoring 11, and 8 runs were scored in a losing effort. 

It was and ugly series and I have to remember that the league leading Houston Astros are coming into town for a weekend series that could result in a similar slaughter; however, there is still hope!  

The Orioles have played three games of a four game series against the Rangers and have surrendered only 4 runs while scoring 25 and winning the all of the games so far. They actually could complete a four-game sweep tonight with a win. The turn around, which has been fueled by three consecutive quality stats from the beleaguered pitching corps, has returned the O's into Wild Card contention and they remain only 8 games behind the Red Sox for the division.

There remain 68 games in the regular season and the Orioles need to start winning. The Red Sox are 8 games ahead of them with a .563 winning percentage. To achieve that modest goal, the Orioles need to get to 91 wins which means winning 46 of the remaining 68 games. Going 46-22, .676, over the course of the remainder of the season is not likely. That means that the Wild Card is the most likely route into the playoffs. 

The mid-season collapse of the pitching staff coupled with inconsistent batting has pushed the team to the brink of elimination, yet there remains hope. It should be a fun run to the end of the season and hopefully some great October baseball.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Going to the Dogs

Arthur and Florence
By the Door

I have wondered which is harder--watching other people's children or dogs?

It is an interesting question. 

I am sure watching kids is harder than watching dogs, but sometimes I wonder. Dogs, other than my own, require work to keep them regular and happy when they are not in their usual environment. 

One of the hard parts is picking up on the potty cues. 

And it is hard as well because the environments are different. But, I think we have reached a classic canine-human, or cross-species understanding about potty time. 

Feeding time is easy! Keeping the water dish filled is a chore, but fairly self-explanatory--fill it when it is empty.

But we are having fun together. The cats are a bit frazzled, but they have a portion of the house they can live in free from the dogs.

Life can go to the dogs for a while, it is all about keeping perspective!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD