Chinese Warriors From 245 B.C.

      The Mayor took the opportunity to enjoy some of the cultural offerings in the City.  The Deputy Mayor had a visit to the Asian Art Museum on the list.   Located in the Civic Center, in the old Public Library, the museum is one of the City's premier attractions.
     Currently on exhibit(and closing in a few days) is the famous Terracotta Warrior Exhibition.   Discovered in rural western China, these terracotta statues-8 of 6,000+ pieces, are tastefully displayed for the public to view in the traveling exhibit area.   The life-sized statues are amazing replicas of Chinese warriors.   As explained during the show, these figures represent the guardians of the First Emperor in the afterlife.   They were buried in tunnels near the tomb of the First Emperor. Included among the warrior statues were horses, chariots, various types of weapons, and wheeled chariots.  All were examples of the military might of the living emperor.
     The period of Chinese history is known as the Qin dynasty("schin").  The 22 year old monarch began a period of expansion until he and his armies conquered most of China.   It was this monarch who instituted laws and a legal system; standards of measures; writing; coins and monetary rules of trade.   Many of the measures lasted for thousands of years, until about 1911!
      Photos can be seen on the Asian Art Museum web site.
more later.

Memorial Day- 2013

    A day of remembrance.  A day of recollection.  War and Remembrance, the great Herman Wouk novel, somehow comes to mind.   The gifted writer captured a nation with his saga, begun with the "Winds of War".  It  follows the Henry family through the triumph and tragedy that was World War II.
An unforgettable page, during the narrative, stopped the story line.  The author decided that a particular fact of history needed its own truthful remembrance:  this was the incredible story of the Battle of Midway Island, June 6th, 1942, six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
       The Japanese Fleet was known to be heading east toward Midway Island, with a goal of landing and capture.  U.S. Navy Admiral Chester Nimitz ordered his forces to intercept before the attack could begin.  Bull Halsey took sick, and the solid Adm. Raymond Spruance was given command.   His carriers were his weapons with their air wings on  board.   Air groups included attack/scouting squadrons, bombing squadrons, and torpedo squadrons. Air group 8 included Torpedo 8.
    It was the men of Torpedo 8 who caused the Japanese to lose their focus, giving bombers time to fix the carriers and sink them.  Thus the tide had turned for the Japanese.  Landings of Marines in the Solomon Islands would begin the long road to Tokyo Bay in August, 1945.
     Author Wouk listed the members of Torpedo 8 by name and home town.  One member, rear Gunner Anthony Maffei was from Santa Rosa, California.   His sister lives there, alone with her memories of her older brother.

Uruguay Report

     Our Minister of Latin American Affairs, Senor Guillermo, landed safely at Washington's Reagan Airport after a two week conference in Uruguay's capitol city, Montevideo.   His early, verbal report indicates that the meeting went well, attendees were well prepared, and generally enthusiastic about
about topics and presentations.
      As always, the various representatives of member states wanted the latest China updates.  Apparently, most Latin American governments have developed acute fears when it comes to Chinese sourced hacking attacks on sovereign computer systems.  America and European nations have been targeted recently, with announcements of attacks that have been detected.  The security issue is paramount across the board.
     The Minister's full report will be submitted for review by the Mayor's Office by June 15th.

Tall Man With Beard seen in neighborhood

     Yes, it's THAT man, again.  Tom Stienstra, the outdoorsmen's outdoorsman, was seen strollingin the vicinity of Meeks Creek the other day.  In today's  Chronicle, his story appeared i the rear pages of the sports section.  His article highlighted the locals oft visited trail that climbs from the lakeshore at Meeks Bay to the lakes in the Desolation Wilderness, the source(s) of Meeks Creek and a significant tributary of Lake Tahoe itself.
     Tom always has his camera and has quite an eye for the great landscape shot.  Here he captures Crag Lake and its fast disappearing frozen surface.  It's been a warm springtime in the Sierra and the photo of the lake is one more testament to a warm summer ahead.
    His description includes many different observations, from the changing seasonal landscape to the awakenings of indigenous wildlife.  Having walked this path on several occasions, it was easy to imagine being alongside for the hike.  The mayor looks forward to his next hike up Meeks Creek.

Minister of Latin American Affairs: Update
     The minister announced his itinerary for his next southern sojourne.  He'll be leaving next week for 2 weeks in Uruguay.  He'll be in Montevideo, the capitol, most of the time, with some side trips to Buenos Aries for meetings, etc.   It's mid autumn in Latin America, a nice time to go on a trip south of the equator.  The conference will host most member states' representatives and they will discuss current topics: Venezuela's election results; Mexico's new president's meeting with Pres. Obama today; and the future of immigration reform in the US Congress.  Good luck to our minister.

First season's diver
     A sign of the season's change:  a scuba diver at lakeside ar Hurricane bay was preparing his tank next to the shore before testing the May 1st lake waters.  Must be spring.

West Side Pizza
       Heard from locals that West Side Pizza owners have put the business on the market.  After moving the family to Santa Barbara two years ago,, they have decide their future is on the south central coast.  It makes sense to me.  Why deal with TRPA anymore?  Why deal with El Dorado County anymore?  Why deal with Meeks bay Fire District anymore?  Why worry about the Homewood Resort project anymore?   Sad but true, business along the West Shore is seriously challenged these days.   Look at the old Norfolk Hotel building-now boarded up tight, after owners ignored the blight for all these years.  Now it's just a sorry sight.  It reflects its across the highway neighbor, The Tahoe Cedars property, with its new 'for sale' sign screaming across highway 89.