Monday Musings - March 20, 2023

 

1. We are in the last half of the month of March and this is the third Monday. There remain 40 Mondays in the year. 

2. Happy First Day of Spring. At 5:24 PM EDT today, the equinox occurs and Spring begins in the Northern Hemisphere, for the southern half of the world it marks the first day of Autumn.

3. March Madness is in full swing. I watched more college basketball during the past four days than I had all year. The team remaining in the Sweet 16 that I am most excited about are the Owls of FAU. The Princeton Tigers are a close second!

4. And writing of sports, how about Team USA in the World Baseball Classic? Wow! In the championship game for the second straight time as the defending champions!

5. Even though temperatures were in the mid-60s yesterday here in South Florida, Chris and I completed a 12.5 mile ride through a state park near Port Salerno. We shook off the cold and rode undeterred. 

6. If you are looking for something new to enjoy this Springtime, an article titled, 9 Ways to Celebrate the Spring Equinox might provide some ideas. 

7. Today in History. On March 20, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson notifies Alabama’s Governor George Wallace that he will use federal authority to call up the Alabama National Guard in order to supervise a planned civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery.

Intimidation and discrimination had earlier prevented Selma’s Black population—over half the city—from registering and voting. On Sunday, March 7, 1965, a group of 600 demonstrators marched on the capital city of Montgomery to protest this disenfranchisement and the earlier killing of a Black man, Jimmie Lee Jackson, by a state trooper. 

In brutal scenes that were later broadcast on television, state and local police attacked the marchers with billy clubs and tear gas. TV viewers far and wide were outraged by the images, and a protest march was organized just two days after “Bloody Sunday” by Martin Luther King Jr., head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). King turned the marchers around, however, rather than carry out the march without federal judicial approval.

At the China-Russia Border, the Xi-Putin Partnership Shows Signs of Fraying - The Wall Street Journal

Xi Jinping arrives in Moscow - CNN

Credit Suisse shares plunge after UBS takeover - CNN

Why the US is beating Russia in the Black Sea without firing a shot - CNN

Russian court freezes all Volkswagen assets in Russia - Reuters

Former US Marine may have been 'lured' from China before arrest, lawyer says - Reuters

North Korea's Kim oversees simulated nuclear counterattack against US, South Korea - Reuters

North Korea's use of missile silo could mean less warning of launches - Reuters

Covid changed parents’ view of schools — and ignited the education culture wars - The Washington Post

Why white Christian nationalists are in such a panic - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Tumultuous Times

 I listened to CNN while driving home from Florida's Gulf Coast yesterday. The three-hour late-afternoon drive passed by quickly as I was confronted with the news that just does not seem to end in its ability to be unbelievable. 

Some of what I heard during the drive follows.

There is the continuing saga of the disgraced former president who does not know when to quit and accept that he committed crimes and like any other American is going to be held accountable. 

Truth is truly stranger than fiction

In the United States, MAGA Republicans have been faced with evidence released in the Dominion Voting Systems defamation case against the Fox News Corporation that shows Fox News Channel personalities lied to them. Now those who have cleaved to Trump have to face that he is asking them to risk their freedom to oppose his arrest for paying $130,000 to an adult film actress to keep quiet about their sexual encounter, hardly a noble cause. And the last time he asked people to defend him, more than 1,000 of them—so far—faced arrest and conviction, while he went back to playing golf and asking people for money.  (Letters from an American)

And then, while Russia continues its illegal invasion of Ukraine and China is planning to likely provide additional aid to Russia, the most important thing on the plate of House Republicans is:

House Oversight Republicans said in a new memo issued Thursday that members of President Joe Biden’s family received just over $1 million indirectly from a Chinese company – the committee’s latest disclosure in its investigation into the Biden family’s business dealings.

The memo, which representatives for the White House and Hunter Biden’s legal team quickly dismissed, does not provide any evidence tying the payments directly to President Joe Biden, which Republicans have said is the purpose of their investigation. (CNN)

I firmly believe there are a lot more important issues facing the Congress right now that looking into the finances of private Americans who, apparently, did nothing wrong.

Congress continues to amaze and confound, while the news entertains and frightens. 

My drive seemed to pass quickly.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Spring Training Continues

Lecom Park
Bradenton, FL
March 17, 2023

 I drove across Florida to attend a Spring Training game at the Pittsburgh Pirates facility in Bradenton, Florida, yesterday. The drive across Florida for three hours on a two lane road is very interesting. My route, since I'm going to the Sarasota/Bradenton area, takes me just north of Lake Okeechobee and then straight across the state to Bradenton. The landscape is very flat. I passed cattle farms, palm tree nurseries, a turf farm, and lots of just open space. I note that the road is a two lane road. And the road in places is just straight and flat. 

I enjoyed the game. The Pirates defeated the Rays 6-2, but it was almost more about being in the sunlight, the warmth, and with my friends from Maryland.

View Across the 5th Fairway
Bobcat Course, The Plantation
Venice, FL
March 18, 2023

This morning I awoke in a condo on a golf course. I ams sitting here watching the sun come up and wondering when the first group will pass by. I can remember being one of the first groups on the course heading out into the dew covered grass watching the ball kick up a rooster tail when it rolled over the green. I am told this course hosts an LPGA qualifying event. 

I am looking forward to some fun this morning and then a drive home later tonight.

-- Bob Doan, Venice, FL

Smacking the White Ball

Jupiter Dunes Golf Course Hole 6
Jupiter, FL
March 16, 2023

Happy St. Patrick's Day. 

Do not forget to wear the green!!

 Chris and I actually made it to the golf course, Jupiter Dunes, yesterday for a round of golf. It was a beautiful weather day and Chris had a great time. She made some stunning shots. I, on the other hand, did not play well and so was mostly frustrated. I had two holes, one of them is pictured, where I landed my shot on the green and the ball rolled off into the water! Ugh! I hate that. Elevated greens can be miserable.

Today, I am off for the Florida Gulf Coast for some Spring Training baseball and enjoying time with the Maryland crew which are visiting Florida to escape the Winter. It is the annual Spring Training baseball, golf, and beer trip. I am distressed that they decided not to play golf this year, but instead decided to watch the NCAA tournament--but I like the tournament as well so that will be fine. I sometimes get too frustrated trying to whack the little white ball, anyway. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Rainy and cold

 

Finnegan in his St Patrick's Day Shirt
Tequesta, FL
March 15, 2023

Yesterday's weather, rainy and cold, put a damper on our planned outdoors activities. I had the car loaded with our golf bags and push carts only to realize that a major cold front was moving in at exactly the time we were preparing to depart for the golf course. 

So what did we do? 

We went to the PGA Superstore in Palm Beach Gardens and spent money on golf stuff! If you can't play, then buy! Chris needed new golfing shoes and a few wardrobe items. I found a really great looking shirt with palm trees on it! I am excited about wearing it today if we can manage a round of golf. 

So I did not manage a bike ride--the winds were too strong and the misting rain made cycling more pain that it was worth. The weather remained difficult until about 5 PM when the skies cleared and the temperature rose into the 70s.

One funny thing did happen during the day. Chris dressed Finnegan in a St Patrick's Day shirt and he struck a pose in one of our chairs. I thought it was a great pose and a good image. Cute dog. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Ides Arrives

 The Ides of March have arrived. But in the good news department, there is less than a week until Spring begins (Monday, March 20th) and I am sure that those experiencing the Nor'easter are thrilled about the prospect of Spring arriving. 

Apparently Punxsutawney Phil had the forecast for six more weeks of Winter correct, sadly. I have been enjoying endless summer here in Florida where we set a record the Monday at 94 degrees, although yesterday the temperatures failed to get out of the mid-70s. 

I would like to say that I have been outside enjoying the great weather, and during the morning hours I have been. I managed a 21.5 mile bike ride yesterday, but during the afternoons I have been mired in tax preparation--the annual "render unto Caesar" exercise which is eminently appropriate on this day of infamy.  

In other news, Happy 203rd birthday to the State of Maine! I read a very interesting article this morning on the struggle for Maine's statehood and the Missouri Compromise. And we thought times were tough now.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

The Watcher

Riordin On Guard
Tequesta, FL
March 10, 2023

 Riordin, our cat, loves spending time in the garage. He goes there alone and in the dark. He watches for unsuspecting small lizards to run under a crack in the garage door seal. 

I believe, totally anthropomorphism, that he believes he is protecting the homestead from invaders. I am amazed at the amount of time he spends in the garage. To date, I can only confirm one kill--but since I hate cleaning them up, I am happy that there are not more. 

I will soon replace the garage door seal, but I am sure Riordin will continue to stand watch protecting the homestead from the lizard hordes. 

BTW, I really like the low light feature on my iPhone!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - March 13, 2023

 

1. Welcome to the second Monday of March. I hope you are adjusting to DST--Daylight Saving Time. There are 41 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. St Patrick's Day is celebrated on Friday! Wear the Green.

Jupiter Irish Fest
Abacoa, FL
March 12, 2023

3. While St Patrick's Day is not until Friday, Chris and I attended the annual Jupiter Irish Fest on Sunday. We enjoyed Irish music, food and drink. The Fest was well attended; however, parking in Abacoa was tough because a MLB Spring Training game was occurring across the street at Roger Dean Stadium at the same time. 

4. On Friday, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) failed in the largest bank failure since 2008. At the end of December 2022, SVB appears to have had about $209 billion in total assets and about $175 billion in deposits. This made SVB the sixteenth largest bank in the U.S., big in its sector but small compared with the more than $3 trillion JPMorgan Chase. This is the first bank failure of the Biden presidency (while Donald Trump Jr. tweeted that he had not heard of any bank failures during his father’s presidency, there were sixteen, eight of which happened before the pandemic). In fact, generally, a few banks fail every year; it is an oddity that none failed in 2021 or 2022. (Letters from an American)

5. Snowbird season is coming to a close here in Florida even as Spring Break begins. I expect many of the annual visitors will begin the journey north as Easter nears. That should, hopefully, help clear some of the traffic and open up the restaurants. 

6. US 1 is closing! Yes, right here in Jupiter, as of today, US 1 is closed for at least 20 months where it crosses the Loxahatchee River. The drawbridge is being replaced. While this is not a sudden thing, we have known about it for over a year, it will definitely cause transportation issues. There is only one viable detour and I expect traffic to be totally snarled for the next few days until the system gets the bugs worked out. 

7. For some interesting and potentially scary reading, check out, It happened there: how democracy died in Hungary. The article documents how democracy has slipped away and been replaced by authoritarianism. 

8. Today in History. Czar Alexander II, the ruler of Russia since 1855, is killed in the streets of St. Petersburg by a bomb thrown by a member of the revolutionary “People’s Will” group. The People’s Will, organized in 1879, employed terrorism and assassination in their attempt to overthrow Russia’s czarist autocracy. They murdered officials and made several attempts on the czar’s life before finally assassinating him on March 13, 1881.

As czar, Alexander did much to liberalize and modernize Russia, including the abolishment of serfdom in 1861. However, when his authority was challenged, he turned repressive, and he vehemently opposed movements for political reform. Ironically, on the very day he was killed, he signed a proclamation—the so-called Loris-Melikov constitution—that would have created two legislative commissions made up of indirectly elected representatives.

US regulators bail out SVB customers as second bank fails - CNN

Russian air defenses shoot down four missiles over Belgorod, governor says - CNN

Prosecutors refute claims Tucker Carlson's airing of security footage exonerates January 6 defendants - CNN

Exclusive: UK approves increased submarine-related exports to Taiwan, risking angering China - Reuters

Analysis: Declining U.S. bank reserves add wrinkle to contentious debt ceiling issue - Reuters

Ukraine, Russia locked in brutal battle in Bakhmut, casualties mount - Reuters

Biden Declares U.S. Arctic Ocean Off Limits to New Oil and Gas Leasing - The Wall Street Journal

Xi Jinping Brings China’s Reform Era to an End - The Wall Street Journal

North Korea Launches Two Cruise Missiles From Experimental Submarine - The Wall Street journal

Ukraine live briefing: Russia suffering heavy losses in Bakhmut, Zelensky says  - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, Fl

Biking through the Park

 Saturday's make for interesting activities. Chris and I have friends who work and so it is on the weekends that we get to enjoy daytime activities with them. 

Yesterday, Chris and I rode with a friend on a bike outing from Jimmy Graham Park through Sebranch Preserve State Park and then to Cove Road Park in Port Salerno, FL, returning via the same path. It was a short ride, just over 12 miles, but it was a beautiful day with a strong wind from the northwest. That wind made the return trip far easier than heading out. On the image at the right, we began at the dot near the bottom and rode Northwest until making a right turn to the Northeast where it ends at Cove Road Park. Then returned via the reverse route.

Dolphin
Cove Road Park, Port Salerno, FL
March 11, 2022

The highlight of the day was seeing dolphins in the Intracoastal Waterway from Cove Road Park. Just as we arrived a dolphin was just offshore and then we spied another somewhat further out in the navigational channel. I actually managed an image of that dolphin. It was something different as we do not see dolphins often. Aside from the dolphins we also saw some gopher tortoises and a lot of red headed agama lizards racing around. The lizards are an invasive species and their numbers seem to be increasing rapidly as I do not recall seeing as many of them as I have this year.

I have been doing a lot of biking and I am hopeful of riding the 150 mile Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) trail from Pittsburgh, PA, to Cumberland, MD, this summer and maybe following on to the C&O Canal Towpath from Cumberland to Washington, DC. Time will tell!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Surf's Up

Surfing
Carlin Park, Jupiter, FL
March 10, 2023

 It does not happen often, but yesterday the ocean waves were pounding the beach providing perfect waves for surfing.

I am not sure, but there must be some kind of surfer alerting network that identifies where the best waves are on any given day because there were more than 20 surfers out on the ocean by 8:30 AM in a place where there are normally none. And they were having fun. Some of the waves were rolling in at least 6 feet tall. 

Surfing to Start the Day
Carlin Park, Jupiter, FL
March 10, 2023

The morning was another great South Florida morning and the water is getting warmer with each passing day. As we walked the beach with Finnegan, we enjoyed a cooling breeze, a hot sun, and stood for a long while to watch the surfers in the waves. 

I sometimes wonder why I never learned to surf. Maybe because I lived so far from the ocean for most of my life. But I wish . . . 

It was a perfect dat which day began at the ocean and ended along the Intracoastal with Happy Hour at a new watering hole, Tiki 52, which had great seating and a solid band playing well into the evening. 

It was a great Friday.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL