The Darkness is Passing

 

Looking Up the Street at 5:21 PM
Elkridge, MD
January 27, 2021

I noticed it last evening. 

The darkness is not falling until later in the day. 

Makayla needed to go out about 5:30 PM and I noticed that it was still light. It is funny how it happens by a few minutes each day and so it is hardly noticeable until, suddenly, I realize that sunset is becoming later each day. 

As it turned out I snapped this image exactly at sunset, 5:21 PM last evening after 10 hours and 4 minutes of daylight. Just by way of example, just one month ago sunset in Baltimore was at 4:50 PM after 9 hours and 25 minutes of daylight. 

Daylight is returning. 

In one short month, we will be basking in 11 hours and 15 minutes of daylight per day with sunset at 5:57 PM.

I need to locate my golf clubs and racquetball racket. 

I love watching the progression of the days from day to light!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Week One - Done

It was only a week ago that President Biden was sworn-in, but I feel that the mood in the country is already improving. 

Civility has returned to the White House. Despite the efforts of the right-wing disinformation machine, progress is being made and America is reengaging with the world and tits Allies. No, it is not Pax Americana, but the tone and tenor of communications from the highest office in the land is reasoned and inclusive.

The COVID-19 battle is underway with a strategy and competent leadership to fill the void left by the previous administration. After only a week it is hard to point to much progress, but positive things should begin happening soon as the new policies and plans begin to take effect.

NBC News published a comprehensive list of the executive actions already taken by the administration in its first seven days on the job. 

I have seen that some have made the news for the problems that they may cause, but some of those focusing on problems are ignoring the larger body of good being dome--the problems can be corrected within the context of the broader positives of the actions. 

Week One is done. I remain encouraged.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Snow and Ice

 

After the Overnight Dusting of Snow
Elkridge, MD
January 26, 2021

Winter made its second appearance of the season overnight. The region actually received a dusting of snow and an ice storm is expected as the day progresses. 

I guess I needed a reminder that it is Winter because January has been pleasant and mild. 

The build-up that the news media gave to the storm was truly astonishing. It is almost as if there were no other stories worthy of coverage. I am expecting that the areas North and West of my town received a good deal more snow and ice--but as of 5:30 AM this morning, we have apparently escaped the fury of the storm. 

I admit, I have mixed emotions about escaping the storm. I have a snow thrower ready to tackle the dreaded white stuff, but is definitely ready for some use. But, it will remain at the ready. In my mind it is better to be prepared and not need to bring in the heavy equipment than it is to not be prepared at and snowed under.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - January 25, 2021

 

1. It is hard to comprehend, but this is the fourth and final Monday of January 2021. The first month of the new year is nearly complete and the year does not feel so "new" anymore.

2. Kansas City will meet New England (err, Tampa Bay, I mean) in Super Bowl LV in two weeks. It just seems so normal for Brady to be a Super Bowl quarterback. The NFL Season is actually going to end on time despite COVID-19.

3. Despite the lack of travel, I remain thankful for my workout cycle. I have been cycling in Patagonia, Argentina this week.

4. January has been relatively mild so far, but that is likely to change in the coming week as sleet, rain, ice, and snow make their way into the region. 

5. I miss looking out the back window at palm trees.

6. I realized that because of COVID-19, I only wrote two Out the Hotel Window entries last year.

7. I smoked some chicken last evening to eat while watching Kansas City defeat Buffalo. It was a good game and I enjoyed the outcome. For those unaware, during my youth growing up in Central New York I was a fervent Kansas City fan! I distinctly remember the stinging taste of defeat as Miami defeated Kansas City in the longest NFL game ever played on Christmas Day 1971.

8. Today in History. On January 25, 1905, at the Premier Mine in Pretoria, South Africa, a 3,106-carat diamond is discovered during a routine inspection by the mine’s superintendent. Weighing 1.33 pounds, and christened the “Cullinan,” it was the largest diamond ever found.

Frederick Wells was 18 feet below the earth’s surface when he spotted a flash of starlight embedded in the wall just above him. His discovery was presented that same afternoon to Sir Thomas Cullinan, who owned the mine. Cullinan then sold the diamond to the Transvaal provincial government, which presented the stone to Britain’s King Edward VII as a birthday gift. Worried that the diamond might be stolen in transit from Africa to London, Edward arranged to send a phony diamond aboard a steamer ship loaded with detectives as a diversionary tactic. While the decoy slowly made its way from Africa on the ship, the Cullinan was sent to England in a plain box.

How West Virginia Became a U.S. Leader in Vaccine RolloutHow West Virginia Became a U.S. Leader in Vaccine Rollout - The New York Times

Is Space the Next ‘Great Power’ Contest Between the U.S. and China? - The New York Times

For Wars of the Future, Pentagon Looks to Distant Past: the B-52 - The Wall Street Journal

Biden to Lift Restrictions on Transgender Military Service Members - The Wall Street Journal

Trump made 30,573 false or misleading claims as president. Nearly half came in his final year. - The Washington Post

Pandemic aftershocks overwhelm global supply lines, threatening higher prices for consumers - The Washington Post

Australians Can’t Get Home, but Tennis Players Fly in From Covid-19 Hot Spots - The Wall Street Journal 

Japan likely to hit COVID-19 herd immunity months after Olympics - researcher - Reuters

China says U.S. military in South China Sea not good for peace - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are not heroes, they just don't know where to look. You can see heroes every day going in and out of factory gates. Others, a handful in number, produce enough food to feed all of us and then the world beyond. You meet heroes across a counter, and they're on both sides of that counter. There are entrepreneurs with faith in themselves and faith in an idea who create new jobs, new wealth and opportunity. They're individuals and families whose taxes support the government and whose voluntary gifts support church, charity, culture, art, and education. Their patriotism is quiet, but deep. Their values sustain our national life.

  Ronald Reagan First Inaugural Address - January 20, 1981

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Democracy and our Republic

Illustration by Tim O’Brien for TIME

I have been reflecting on the week's activities. President Biden made the following encouraging statement during his Inaugural Address: 

  We have learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed. (Politico)

And I am encouraged. Democracy has prevailed. Despite the worst efforts of the unrepentant opposition, the inauguration happened and the will of the majority of the American people was confirmed on a cold, January Wednesday in Washington, D.C.

But there are still forces out there stalking, waiting for their moment. I found a paragraph from an article in Time Magazine which continues on from President Biden's thought:

But only barely. Biden now leads a country divided between Americans who believe in facts and Americans who distrust them, between those who want a multiracial Republic and those who seek to invalidate nonwhite votes, between those with faith in democratic institutions and those who put faith only in Trump. (Time Magazine)

I understand that now there are three strong political forces in the country. The Democrats, the Republicans, and the Cult of Trump.

I know that many people have been calling for a third political party to help balance the partisan fighting between the Democrats and the Republicans--but I am not sure that a party based upon a fervent religious adoration of Trump is a good counterpoint. I know that this statement will incite many of my friends and possibly family--but that is OK.

I point to the words of our President during his inauguration:

That’s democracy. That’s America. The right to dissent peaceably, within the guardrails of our Republic, is perhaps our nation’s greatest strength.Yet hear me clearly: Disagreement must not lead to disunion. (Politico)

And so, we, and I mean all of us, are on a journey. It is a two-year journey, for at that point we will be electing a new House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate. It will be a referendum on the Biden Administration and it will be in our hands to change course if we believe our Union is not on the right path.

But we must remember the starting point, from President Biden's Inaugural Address: 

We face an attack on democracy and on truth.
A raging virus.
Growing inequity.
The sting of systemic racism.
A climate in crisis.
America’s role in the world.
Any one of these would be enough to challenge us in profound ways.
But the fact is we face them all at once, presenting this nation with the gravest of responsibilities.
Now we must step up.
All of us.
It is a time for boldness, for there is so much to do.
And, this is certain.
We will be judged, you and I, for how we resolve the cascading crises of our era.
Will we rise to the occasion?
Will we master this rare and difficult hour?
Will we meet our obligations and pass along a new and better world for our children?

I believe we must and I believe we will.

(Politico)

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Weekend Projects Anew

Although it was a week ago, Chris and I had the opportunity to assist Patrick in transforming a powder room last weekend--all while practicing social distancing.

It is a standard powder room, well except that unlike most it has a window which makes it bright. This image is after the first coat of bright paint was applied to two of the walls--the accent color. I took the shot from the main room where the brightness of the room can clearly be seen and understood. 

It is awesome! I love the color, the brightness, and the way the color just chassis the gloom and darkness away. I am sure that even with the light off--this room is bright!

The only problem was that the room was too small for two people. I, of course, had the pleasure of painting around the toilet! It seems I always get the "dirty" jobs!

Patrick finished it off with the second coats of paint and I have not had the pleasure of seeing the final result in person, but I hear it looks great.

More ways to ride out the pandemic!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

First Impressions

President Biden and Vice President Harris

The new administration is off and running. I have been encouraged by some of the first actions--repairing what was torn asunder and attempting to actively Marshall forces to defeat COVID-19.

We needed a COVID-19 plan-and we finally have one. I have not read it yet--but I have included the link to the plan above. Having a cogent plan does not guarantee success, but it gives the country a place to begin. With over 4,000 Americans dying each day, something needed to change.

Given that I am not traveling much these days, I suppose I will have the opportunity to read the plan in detail. 

I believe the new administration is off to a good start. I found it funny that there was no discussion of crowd size at the inauguration. But, I do thing there were more flags than at the previous inauguration.  I am excited about the openness and preparedness that is being shown by the new administration. The two months between Election Day and Inauguration Day were put to good use. 

As an aside--

I did find it interesting that China slapped sanctions on 28 Trump administration officials. A parting shot. 

China Slaps Sanctions On 28 Trump Administration Officials  - NPR

And hopefully, we are off into the weekend!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Inauguration--Beginning Anew

I watched the inauguration yesterday with great anticipation and expectation. I do not know what I expected to see, but I know that I saw it. 

I saw grace, strength and resilience on display. I saw a team, a new president and Vice President, who I believe can unite the country and plot a cogent course for the future.

I was encouraged to hear an inauguration address worthy of the day and the moment in time. A speech which recognized the divisions and differences in the country, but did not blame nor shame the opposition. 

Much of what President Biden spoke made my heart sing, and so, from the Washington Post text of the Inaugural Address, here are some of the parts which spoke to me. Note, the red annotations are from the Washington Post and I highly recommend you click on the link above and read the commentary they provided.

But the answer is not to turn inward, to retreat into competing factions, distrusting those who don’t look like you or worship the way you do, or don’t get their news from the same sources you do. We must end this uncivil war ⁹that pits red against blue, rural vs. urban, conservative vs. liberal. We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts. If we show a little tolerance and humility, and if we’re willing to stand in the other person’s shoes, as my mom would say, just for a moment, stand in their shoes. Because here’s the thing about life: There’s no accounting for what fate will deal you. Some days when you need a hand. There are other days when we’re called to lend a hand. That’s how it has to be. That’s what we do for one another. And if we are this way, our country will be stronger, more prosperous, more ready for the future. And we can still disagree.

So here’s my message to those beyond our borders: ¹¹America has been tested and we’ve come out stronger for it. We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again. Not to meet yesterday’s challenges, but today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. And we’ll lead, not merely by the example of our power, but by the power of our example.

Folks, this is a time of testing. We face an attack on our democracy and on truth, a raging virus, growing inequity, the sting of systemic racism, a climate in crisis, America’s role in the world. Any one of these will be enough to challenge us in profound ways. But the fact is, we face them all at once, presenting this nation with one of the gravest responsibilities we’ve had. Now we’re going to be tested. Are we going to step up? All of us? It’s time for boldness, for there is so much to do. And this is certain, I promise you: We will be judged, you and I, by how we resolve these cascading crises of our era.

I know that this was not the greatest inaugural address ever given--but, I am convinced it was the right address, given by the right person, at just the right time. And that is what really matters.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Inauguration Day - 2021

 

The day has arrived. It dawns full of hope and promise like all Inauguration Days before it. A chapter of American history ends and another begins with the utterance of a short, but powerful, phrase. 

The oath is perhaps the most powerful in the land and possibly the world.

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

At noon today, Joe Biden becomes the 46th President of the United States. 

No one wants a president to fail. No matter who we voted for, there is nothing worse than a failed presidency and so at noon all of the hopes and dreams of every American fall upon his shoulders and those of the Vice President, Kamala Harris.

• The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly as necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else.
• Theodore Roosevelt, "Lincoln and Free Speech", The Great Adventure (1926; vol. 19 of The Works of Theodore Roosevelt, national ed.), chapter 7, p. 289.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

COVID-19 Escape

 

S22i Studio Cycle in Patagonia, Argentina
My Ride
January 18, 2021

My S22i NordicTrack Studio Cycle continues to get significant use now after over one month of ownership. To be honest, I have only missed cycling two days and I am really enjoying the escape form reality that it provides. Just this week I have cycled in Norway, the toughest ride so far, and Argentina! Seriously, Sunday in Norway and Monday in Patagonia, Argentina. 

The cycle is the perfect COVID-19 escape. For between 30 and 50 minutes each day I escape to the open road and view some beautiful scenery and get my butt kicked by some really in shape trainer as I struggle to climb mountains or race on an open road. 

Yesterday I rode around a lake in Patagonia, complete with hill climbs. I have been wearing my Apple Watch and tracking the workout and my heart rate. I have been getting some very strenuous workouts--and enjoying them while enjoying some great scenery. So fay, I have ridden in Glacier National Park; North and South Carolina along the Blue Ridge Parkway; Fairbanks, Alaska; a route I built in Florida, and sampled Norway and Argentina.  Glacier National Park and the Carolina series were both 12 separate rides each. 

The ultimate escape while working to improve fitness.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD