Where Were You on Nov. 22, 1963?

     This is a question that rings in the ears of "Baby Boomers", those born from January 1946 until December, 1964.  Even those in the youngest cohort with memories can explain their location on that fateful day.   Often, families were spread out at school, at work, in transit somewhere, or abroad, in a faraway place.  In addition to business travelers, members of the military were stationed in some very exotic places(VietNam), and not so exotic(Germany).   A sizable number were aboard ship, at sea.
      For those of us aboard ship, information was not easily acquired.  Our ship, the USS CORE, had left Bangkok, Thailand on November 20 after a brief stay.   Our next port of call was Kaoshiung, Taiwan, Republic of China(Formosa), located at the southern tip of the island east of Hong Kong.
     On duty in the engine room, an engineer came down the ladder and announced that he had heard on a shortwave radio that the President had been shot.  No more information was heard until we arrived off the harbor entrance later that morning.  Our ship was instructed to drop anchor and wait outside for further instructions.   After 24 hours, we were allowed to enter the port.   We were informed that Premier Chiang Kai Shek had declared marshall law, a dusk to dawn curfew for all civilians, and the military had been placed at the highest state of readiness- troops armed carrying a full complement of ammunition.  We were the only ship allowed to enter port-we carried military equipment for the airforce.
      After 48 hours, we departed for Okinawa, to the port of Naha.   Enroute, the ship received a telegram/radiogram to all ships at sea from Robert S. McNamara, Sec. of Defense, confirming the reports of the president's assassination.   We left Okinawa within 48 hours and arrived in San Diego on December 18, and finally, San Francisco on December 20th.   By that time, President Johnson was in the White House, and Jackie Kennedy and her children had moved out.  Nobody among the crew members had seen the TV coverage; nobody had heard of Lee Harvey Oswald; nobody had heard of Jack Ruby.   The entire episode of tragedy had to be learned from second hand reports and a retelling which many citizens did not want to do.
      For those of us who were not at home, the events surrounding that day are blurry, blurred by time and distance.   Perhaps it was meant to be for those living abroad at that time.   That day does not carry the weight that it does for so many living Americans who answer the question, "Where were you when Kennedy was shot?".

50 Years Later: Looking Back at Jack, JFK would be 98 years old

       Washington, DC, was cold last Friday, but the sun was out.  It was a nice day.  But not a nice day to remember.   As the 50th Anniversary of JFK's assassination approached, the media reminded the nation of the collective trauma to the entire country.   Interviews were conducted of survivors of the incident in Dallas, Texas, photos reprinted, and stories repeated.  Conspiracy theorists had their moments, again, refusing to accept the  "lone gunman" fact.
      A week ago Sunday, the New York Times magazine printed an article that covered the brief life of the assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald.  Clearly, the man was alienated from any mainstream American life.  He had already lived 2 years in Minsk, Russia, learning Russian, and making believe this was his path to becoming a Communist.  When he returned to the USA, he made overtures to Cuba, and Fidel Castro by going to the embassy in Mexico City.   He had married a Russian woman, Marina, and she was largely in the background, without influence.  Two weeks before he murdered the president, he attempted to kill the leader of a far right organization in Dallas; but he missed in that attempt.
      The author of the article called Kennedy a victim of the Cold War, the confrontation of the 2 major world powers that often came in the form of proxy wars, eg. VietNam.  No link has ever been established with any other plotter in the event.

The Newseum
      The privately operated museum on Constitution Ave. provides insight into how the print media works, and how other outlets(TV, radio, Internet) cover news topics.   A recent installation included the work of Jacques Lowe, the photographer of the first family.  He had almost unlimited access to the family, beginning when JFK was elected to the Senate from Massachusetts.  He moved to the White House in 1961 and covered JFK's first 2 years there.   The photos reminded viewers, young and old, how attractive the Kennedy family truly was, and how this attraction spread around the world.
      Flags around the capitol flew at half staff, most standing well off the pole as the November winds rippled across the Potomac River.  Modest crowds walked to and fro as visitors checked off the various national galleries of art, history, Congress, White House, and Smithsonian.   For those younger than 60, the day had some historical interest; for those older folks, we could recall a different America.

Ann Bryant and her Bears; Firewood alert

       People like the bear issue, so much that the Wall Street Journal gives the topic quite a bit of coverage.  Today's issue had a nice article about the problem, focusing on Incline Village in Nevada.  There in black and white was Tahoma's own Ann Bryant, Bear League Director; this time cum shotgun.   She made a statement that it is loaded with rubber bullets/slugs that give any bruin 'what for' without any severe trauma to the body.  I'd hate to catch a rubber plug anywhere on my body.
     Residents claim that the bears are a significant problem.  Wildlife authorities state the bear populations, nationwide, have increased significantly in the past few years, owing to their proficiency at gathering human garbage.  Increased efforts at controlling access to garbage have been partially successful; but, as we know in Tahoma, the bears are now resorting to active home invasions, often multiple times at the same location.  A new bear proof garbage container runs about $800./each!
     Ahhh, wildlife.  So respected, so loved, so irascible!   But, the issue is not going away soon.  We will keep locals informed.

Buying Firewood
     Most local folks have laid up their supplies of firewood for the season.  With snow on the ground and Thanksgiving imminent, latecomers are making a last effort to stock up.
TIP: a cord of wood is measured as that material  stacked(not at rt. angles)- 8'X4'highX 4' wide-Tightly stacked!!!!!!
It's not a "nominal" measurement, but a precise measure.   Supplier tricks- 1) delivering a'load' without any stacking,  2) delivering when nobody is home, dumping a pile in the driveway(no measuring), delivering brokered loads from the Valley(almond, walnut, etc) that is precut to various lengths.   This alone causes most of the "shorting" of cords.   Valley wholesalers include various lengths, from 12" to 16" inches.   More often than not, the cut pieces average about 13"-14" inches long.   This reduces effective loads by about 15%.   So, a $400/cord actually is a $460/cord; or another way, a $400 cord is really a cord of 75% or 80% cord.
      Measure your purchase, take your supplier to task if it comes up short, as they usually do.  It's a combination of lax business practice, lax customers who are too trusting, genuine greed and thievery, and established lack of oversight by anybody.
Enough on wood. 

In the Holding Pattern:2013

A "holding pattern" has become a cliche'.  We all use it to describe a situation that calls for some patience, some resolve, and /or a postponement of some activity.   Well, the mayor was in a bonafide holding pattern over the Central Valley yesterday during a flight from Washington ,DC, to SFO.  The pilot notified the cabin that we would be delayed about 50 minutes; so, we circled over Fresno/Manteca area at about noon.  He explained it was a VIP holding pattern request for all commercial traffic, inbound and outbound.  Who was the VIP?  Read the papers: President Obama was flying into San Francisco for a fund raiser and a minor policy statement event to mention the issue of immigration.  he confronted a few hecklers, explaining that he had not forgotten the topic nor its importance to many Americans, especially children of immigrants.
      This trip came on the heels of the signing in Geneva, Switzerland, of an accord with Iran over their nuclear uranium production facilities.   This is possibly an issue larger than the Affordable Care Act which has taken on a life of its own since going into effect on October 1st.
     It's been awhile since the mayor was stuck in a holding pattern but at least this time there was a finite frame to the pattern.
    Good luck, Mr. Obama, with Iran.

Snow: Finally

   Yes, a system with some strength is currently dumping a little snow in the basin.  Squaw Valley resort announced they will open Nov 27th, in time for Thanksgiving weekend.
Cheers.

ObamaCare: A Few Issues

     The Affordable Care Act has some speed bumps to deal with now that its contents have seen the light of day.   All the internet traffic generated by applicants has created vast, system wide problems that have caused Pres. Obama to appear before the nation and issue an apology for the miscues.
    Time will tell if there is a solution to this entire project.  Congress has already passed legislation that will allow policy holders to retain policies they had and were told by Obama they could keep.
    There are always problems on the roll out, but these were extraordinary.
   Keep watching......

Gettysburg: 150 years ago: November 19, 1863

    Yesterday marked the 150th Anniversary of Lincoln's brief address in Pennsylvania at the dedication of the battlefield cemetery.  Numerous media outlets took the time to broadcast the speech, often rendered by noted actors.  In one case, the late Gregory Peck gave an impressive reading of the revered words.
     At the site, locals marked the occasion with appropriate events, including music, reenactments of participants, and a reading of the address.

It's All About the Wine November 2013

      Mayor makes wine?   Well, let's not be hasty.  It could be wine, it could be vinegar, only time will tell as this first crush takes shape in a vat in Sonoma County.   This first attempt at the age old art has proven to be a learning experience: from picking to crushing, it has been interesting.
     Putting together all the components has taken longer than expected, included a variety of unforeseen issues, and continues to be a learning experience.
     Dealing with agricultural products is always a challenge.  Aside from the weather, the final product involves many tasks that have to be dealt with in  quick time: the product has a finite lifecycle with little room for error.
     Hence, the fermentation process must begin on time, and must be finished within a reasonable amount of time before the remaining processes necessary can be completed.  So, here we are, somewhere in the middle: not grapes, not wine.
     More time is necessary.   More later.   The weather is still nice.   Fall colors in the vineyard, a few leaves still on the vines.  No rain in the forecasts.

The Casino: that Graton Casino, is OPEN

        Tuesday, election day around most of the country, saw the curtain open on a new gambling casino in Sonoma County, California.  The Graton Casino, an Indian casino owned by the local native American tribe, the Graton Pomo Indians.
       With federal authorization, the tribe was given land in the county next to the city of Rohnert Park.  City services:water, sewer, and utilities came from the city.  With a partnership from a Las Vegas gambling group, the new building and its adjacent 6 story parking garage were built just west of Highway 101.   New freeway ramps and access roads were installed to accommodate the expected traffic.   On opening day, 25 extra policemen were on duty to facilitate traffic.   By 11am, the parking lot was full, traffic was at a standstill, and the casino rightfully closed its doors to new arrivals: too much of a good thing.
        So, here we have a new "wine country" diversion.   It's not enough to have world class wines, excellent restaurants, and prospering businesses, more is needed: more jobs, more people, more money.   Given that it has been only 2 days since the opening, more time will be needed to assess the full impact on Rohnert Park, Sonoma county, and the local job market, housing market, and quality of life for all involved.
Stay tuned.

Andy Lopez, R.I.P., 2013

        Andy Lopez, a 13 year old student who lived in Santa Rosa, was gunned down by a Sonoma County Sheriff 2 weeks ago while walking to a park near his home while carrying a plastic toy rifle modelled after an assault rifle, AK-47.
       The deputy sheriff, Mr. Gelhaus, a 24 year veteran, stopped the cruiser, shouted a warning, then fired 8 rounds at the boy, hitting him 7 times, killing him dead at the scene.   Sheriff Gelhaus said he was in fear of his life.   This former military soldier, acknowledged weapons expert and instructor, came upon this boy in broad daylight, without any weapons being fired, without any reports of a crime being committed, without any fore knowledge of Andy Lopez at all, gunned the boy down after an approximate 10 seconds of verbal warning from a considerable distance.

         No One Is Safe in Sonoma County:
not a child, not a parent, not a grandparent, not any citizen who ventures out of their household.   Sheriff Freitas must be brought to task for creating the culture and environment that produced this killing.   Whatever policy, whatever plan, whatever tactic practiced by the Sheriff's department, it failed miserably.
        Where is the outrage?   On the streets of Santa Rosa, in front of the Sheriff's headquarters, in front of the city council.   Community members have spoken out against the incident.   The Lopez family has filed a lawsuit against the county already.   The county must pay for this gross taking of a young man's life, a life with everything it could possibly be in the coming years and now gone, taken by a deranged man with a gun, given to him by a culture gone haywire.       

ObamaCare aka, the Affordable Health Care Act 2013

      It is impossible to avoid the criticism being heaped on the new national health care program.  It comes as a result of technological errors found universally on the web for potential applicants who try to sign up for one of the myriad plans offered.   The Secretary of HHS, Katherine Sebelius has been brought before Congress to explain the problems.  She has been unable to explain other than to say the problems will be addressed and remedied by the end of November, this November.  Good luck.
       In Tahoma, healthcare, or health care, is not an all consuming issue.   Mountain folk are a hardy breed, healthy of necessity as the harsh environment itself weeds out those afflicted with serious health issues, temporary or long term.    Hospitals exist at a distance: in South Lake Tahoe city about 18 miles away; or Truckee, about 24 miles away.   Tahoe City offers some medical support in a limited fashion, and the paramedics of the fire department can offer immediate first aid in case of accidents or cardiac events.
       But if a citizen has a chronic illness that requires continuous care, that citizen must decide to relocate to a location in close proximity to those facilities that offer such care.  Goodbye Tahoma, hello good health.
      President Obama cannot duck from the flak being thrown up in his direction nor that thrown in the direction of the Democratic party.  All the affable reports prior to the roll out are now history.   The harsh glare of reality has illuminated the truth: all is not well for this massive program, designed to provide care for the 15% of Americans who were living without insurance.  Experts agreed that even this new program would only cover about 10% of Americans, leaving 5% without any coverage for any number of reasons.
      So, read about it, fret about it, ignore it, ObamaCare will be a subject of great concern for the future for all Americans, all Tahomans, all medical personnel, and the president and future president(s).

Election Day 2013

     Here we go, again.  How many voters will give today a pass?  Projections are for a less than 50% voter turnout.   How sad.   Politicians and government bureaucrats have figured it out:  on the off year elections, put on the bond measures, the local tax increases, the parcel tax requests and all manner of slippery deals for "civic improvements.   The only saving feature is that tax increases need a 66% passing point, but only 66% of the voters who turnout!
      The laundry list of parcel taxes continues to grow; but even that number is not enough for Sacramento.   The new fees are testimony to the new method of raising funds for legislators to play with.   the Fire Prevention "Fee" is the classic example.  passed 2 years ago, it now hammers all property owners outside of incorporated areas, annually.   Ahhh, politicians.
     Some states have gubernatorial elections today, Virginia and new jersey two of the higher profiled races will be voted on.
     Well, get out and vote.   The weather is no excuse: it's beautiful!

The Seine: A River in Time

      Few rivers enjoy the reputation of the French icon.  Storied for generations, visited by countless millions, crossed continuously by thousands everyday.   At Paris, the river is wide and channeled, as it has been for a very long time.   Geologically, it is a mature riverine environment, meaning not much downcutting is going on, not much erosion along its banks can be expected.  Hence, the residents look upon the river for its aesthetic properties: the views, the opportunities for transport, the water source, and the history all in one.
      The river bed meanders through this area of France; the  river makes wide, looping turns, creating blind curves for boatmen, and challenges for engineers and bridge builders.    Islands exist in the river: large, built up affairs resembling anchored ships waiting for a tidal change.   Two of note are quite obvious: Ile St. Louis and Il de la Cite'.   Both provide homes to magnificent cathedrals-Notre Dame on la Cite and St. Louis en l'Ile.  Both high on the list of must see sites.
      The banks are both tree-lined venues  with ample walking paths for strollers.   Cafes and restaurants are located in nodes near the many bridges.   At night, the lighting effects create another visual feast: indirect uplighting accentuates the many museums and government offices.   Churches take on a new look with spires standing out against the black night.  And the Eiffel Tower flood lit to great appearance.   These nights, every hour on the hour, a spectacle of illumination occurs within the framework of the tower: blinking microlights twinkle in fireworks-fashion to give the icon an even higher profile.   A night cruise on one of the many tour boats is the best vantage for this scene.
     The Left Bank, which most literate readers are familiar with, is that side of the river as it passes through the city that is the traditional home of artists, art, shops, and parks of some note.   It truly is an amazing area.  One distinct part is known as St. Germain.  Here one can find the campus of the Sorbonne, the Jardin du Luxembourg, the Palais du Luxembourg, and the Universita Paris V, to name a few.   Boulevard St. Germain is the grand thoroughfare.
     Riverside is the famous  Muse'e d'Orsay, found in the northern area of the 6th arrondissement(neighborhood).   The museum is home to one of the world's most amazing collection of impressionist paintings.   Housed in the converted train depot, this location is absolutely unique and one of the great art institutions of the planet, bar none.  During our 2 visits to the museum, we experienced magnificent weather and we were able to walk directly there from our apartment.  Sundays get busy with many French tourists thrown in with everybody else.  Weekdays are better.  The Museum Pass is great as it affords access to a separate entrance, a time saver/line beater!
     As a bonus, the continuous barge traffic on the river in both directions is a constant moving diorama that grabs the viewers eyes as the boats navigate the confines of the banks carrying their various cargoes.  A visual feast for all.

Paris, France: Has Everything Already Been Said?

      The Mayor zipped over to Paris to advise PM Hollande on the political situation in Tahoma,CA.  He was very busy in October with his immigration issues, monetary issues, labor issues, and , of course, Angela Merkel of Germany(just re-elected by a commanding margin).   France's moribund economy needs some oxygen, fast, and Monsieur Hollande is doing his best at resuscitation.  Compared to Spain and Italy, he just might be having a little more success.   The Minister Of European Affairs has been reviewing all statistics and economic variables in an attempt to discern the growth rate of the French economy: not easy! 
      For Americans, Paris has long held a certain fascination.  Touted as the harbor of culture and learning, students, artists, writers, philosophers, and socialists have long agreed- it is the place to be and be seen.   Between the wars( WW I and WW II), this was definitely true.   Bolsheviks and Commies were running the conversations with promises of a new "Utopian" life.  And the setting of Paris gave them ample room to spread their vegetable soup of labels, leaders, lackeys, and leftists.
Papa Hemingway found Paris to be to his liking; of course, Charles Lindbergh loved all things Parisiene, and foodies were discovering the dietary plums of classic continental cuisine.

       So, not quite 'April in Paris', but the weather in late September, 2013, in Paris was magnificent.  In the 70's(20's C) everyday, and warm at night at the sidewalk cafes and bars.   We had arranged an apartment on Rue de Rousseau, off Rue St. Honore', one block from the Lourve Museum.  It proved to be a great location.
     Rue de Rousseau itself is a small(narrow) one way/one lane street often used as a byway to Rue du Lourve and Les Halles, the great shopping mall(now being completely redone).  It is home to several eating and drinking establishments, along with a variety of shops, a few definitely high end.  There is also a laundrymat.   We enjoyed a few meals at Coup d'Etat(on the corner); L'Emile. mid-block; the patisserie JJ Rousseau, and the no-name bar across from the apt.   An antique store(read-junk) opened occasionally as the typical hole-in-the-wall.   At the end of the block was the International House: a hostel type residential hotel for young people visiting or studying in Paris.  It appeared clean and well managed.   A small arcade extended from Rousseau to Rue du Bouloi and houses leather goods shops, women's wear, restaurants(2), shoe stores(several men's & women's) and a real estate office(?).
So Rue JJ Rousseau is a lively part of the neighborhood.
More later

Wine Country Sojourne

      November is a great time to visit our wine growing regions.  Sonoma county is one of our closest and also one of the best.  healdsburg is the heart of the area and today was warm and sunny throughout the county.
      We stopped at Williams/Selyam to pick up an order, and then decided to head north to the Alexander Valley to check out Mazzocco Winery on Lytton Springs Rd, a few miles north of Healdsburg.   The setting is classic and the tasting room ample and well appointed  for guests.   We sampled there reds: cabernet, zinfandel, and petite syrah.   All are delicious: fruity, but not too much; great nose/aromas; and smooth on the palate.   We bought a few bottles and signed up for their release announcements.   Their maker, Antoine Favero, is a 46 year old Frenchman, born in Champagne, raised in Peru, and educated at UC Davis.  He has quite a history, and has been with mazzocco for only a few years.
      We then turned south again, for Healdsburg,  for lunch.  We revisited  Tapas Bravas, a tapas
 restaurant in the authentic Spanish style.   We ate duck sliders, calamari, padron peppers with sausage,  and dates wrapped in Serrano ham, served on the patio under the umbrella with outside temps about 78.  Perfect.

     A quick stop at the vineyard to check on the "must" temps revealed a rise of about 8 degrees overnight- a good sign!   More tomorrow.

Ministers on the Move

     Mayor received a dispatch from the Minister of Latin American Affairs who is in Bogata, Columbia for a conference.   He says the weather is cool but it has not deterred revelers from hitting the streets to party- it's Halloween through Latin America.  It's a big deal, as is today- Dia de Los Muertos- the Day of the Dead.   Citizens visit the cemeteries, crypts, tombs, and churches where their ancestors have been placed.  It is a reminder of our temporary stay on this earth and a sign of respect for those in the family who have gone before.   Europeans have their version, which is more subdued than the Latin version; but equally important.

Ministers of manufacturing and metallurgy fly to Texas.

Our two ministers on assignment in Los Angeles were at the airport when tragedy struck at the terminal.  A young man of 23 opened fire with an assault rifle inside the terminal, killing a TSA officer and wounding 6 others.  Our two ministers were already on board the aircraft which had left the gate and was waiting on the runway for takeoff clearance.  The plane was allowed to proceed to San Antonio after a few minutes delay.   For 700 other scheduled flights it was wait and see.  Most were cancelled and thousands have been stranded.
     Initial reports indicate the suspect, wounded and captured by police, was from New Jersey and his father, worried about his mental state, called police with a warning.   Too late for some.