Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Reunion:2014

    Class reunions: if you like people, you go.  So, we went to another gathering of the former classmates.  Some old faces, some new faces, and always some new stories.  The stories are the best part.  How's your life going?  How are the children?  Are you thinking about retirement?   Hmmm.
    With over 200 participants, it was a great party.  The formula for the " reunion " seems to have worked out the bugs.  The gathering day, followed by the "event" day, followed by the "banquet" day/night.   And lots of informal gatherings in a central location in the hotel.
      We stayed at the FREDERICKSBURG Hospitality and Convention center.   Well located, the hotel offered all the things we needed and then some.   On the edge  of a grand shopping mall, we were surrounded by numerous restaurants of all types-Italian, seafood, Mexican, fusion with Asian selections, and burgers, too.
     The weather is always a factor, especially for airline passengers traversing a continent.
A printed schedule of events is always helpful and contributes to a nice stay.  Virginia in the springtime is a comfortable experience- no humidity.
     The Deputy Mayor and I took a side trip down the Rappahannock River on Rte. 3.  This is the rolling  hill country of Tidewater Virginia.   The river flows into the larger Potomac River.   Our goal was Stratford Hall, the ancestral home of Robert E. Lee, the Confederate Army General.  The home occupies a large estate which at one time included over 2000 acres.   The home is in fine shape thanks to the hard work of the estate foundation.   Most outbuildings have been restored and the gardens are in excellent condition.   While little is made of  of Robert E., much is made of the lee family, two of whom were signatories on the Declaration of Independence.
      Robert left  Stratford Hall when only 3 years old.   The family moved to northern Virginia, closer to Washington, D. C. (near Arlington,VA).   Stratfort Hall was home to about a dozen family members and was maintained by 167 African slaves.  All the materials for household usage were available on the farm: wool, hides, dyes, cotton, and foodstuffs.   The house is well built of local brick, much of which was made on site.   It is a fine historical building worthy of a visit.  We enjoyed a nice lunch in the adjacent little village, near the B& B.   The 45 minute drive was enjoyable, both ways.


Nation's Capitol-Spring Time

      So, we did the Washington scene, again.   This time the weather was much more user friendly: in the 70's, sunny, and the rain came and went w/o too much thunder.  Sunday night, lightning and thunder rippled across the Potomac River, shaking the White House, I'm sure.   President Obama did not hear any of it: he's in Asia, cementing a few agreements with Japan, Malaysia, and the Philippines.   He'll be home soon to catch up on the situation in Ukraine.
     Spent time in Fredericksburg, that Virginia city on the Rappahannoch River, north of Richmond.  The town has the usual mix of old and new, with old town filled with antique shops, art stores, and even a number of book stores.  A nice mix.  The locals are putting the finishing touched on a new court house(high crimes in Tidewater country?) in a style fitting for the area.  While it seems expensive, the old court house was obviously dated and small.
     The Minister of Latin American Affairs was in town on Saturday night, the 26th of April, but his duties prevented our connection that night.   The next meeting will be in 2 weeks when the Mayor returns for GW graduation exercises on campus.
       This trip allowed us to catch a few cherry blossoms, those lingering flowers that survives a few snow falls of late.   Tourists on Spring Break were about, but school aged children, no so much.  WE visited the Museum of Natural History on the mall for the first time in 22 years.   It has changed some on the inside, with many more size appropriate displays(small) and better lighting throughout.  I always enjoy the Geology and Gems Exhibit on the 2nd floor.   The Hope Diamond is now on permanent display in a small island case that turns continually for all to see and marvel at.   Many pieces donated by diamond dealer Harry Winston are viewed in attractive settings.
     The samples of rocks and minerals are extraordinary in size and scope.   The gold nuggets are breathtaking.  The quartz crystals of immense size and quality are grouped with other minerals of equal dimensions.
more later.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

New Water System in at Lake Forest

   Our near neighbor, Tahoe City, announced through the Tahoe City Pub. Util Dist. that all the old pipes in the Lake Forest area have been replaced.   Most of the work was accomplished with a State Dept. of Public health grant of $2millions, Placer Cty Redevel. $400K, and Lake Forest customers: $400K.
     The TCPUD also announced a 1-mile Class 1 trail to complete the missing link in the West Shore trail network.  Yea.  This will directly affect all Tahoma residents who will now enjoy an extra mile of bike path, extending all the way to Meeks Bay resort which is used extensively during the summer months.   A great way to go by bicycle-on the path!  Although I doubt many "professional riders will use this path and continue to risk Highway 89 both  north bound and south bound.
     Much of the funding for the bike path come from the Federal Lands Access Program(FLAP).  That is $25.5millions worth.  A nice chunk of change, as they say.  Dollar Creek Path will also benefit.
    Look for construction efforts on site soon.
   In the TCPUD newsletter, there is some good information about bottled water vs. tap water.  More of the info can be found on the Tahoe Water Suppliers web site: www.TahoeH20.org or call 775-832-1212.

Two Fish Limit Scored at Lake Tahoe

       In fishing, experience counts.   Locals know the spots.  That is an axion as old as Huckleberry Finn.  Lake Tahoe is no different.  Here we have  Gene St. Denis, charter boat captain out of South Lake.  He's been fishing the lake forever, at least 30+ years.   So, it was no surprise when he brought in 2 monster fish just over a week ago.
       Without a fixed season, fishing on the lake is pretty much a weather driven choice:  can I handle the wind, waves, and snow?  Is it worth the effort and the risk?   As Gene will tell anybody who will listen, the "bite" on the lake varies with the weather: the worse it gets, the better the fishin'.
      By his estimates, as the wave height increases, the fish rise higher from their normal depths of 100'-175'.   During the storm that dumped over 3' of new snow on the surrounding peaks last week, Gene was on the water near Cave Rock in the southeast corner of the lake.  A favorite spot of his.
      He put 2 -10" Monster Trophy Sticks on his 2 rods: one painted as a Rainbow trout, and the other painted as a Brown trout.  Both were sprayed with ProCure, a covering scent.
     In no time he hooked a large mackinaw which he brought boatside only to lose it.  He estimated its size as 32-35lbs.!   After rerigging his line, he had two rods in the water.   After a short period, both rods quivered, announcing strikes.   He set both hooks and worked the rods with gusto.   The first fish weighed in at 29+lbs and the 2nd at 19lbs.   This is the new record of a 2 fish limit at the lake.
      His 20' aluminum boat, the PT-109, can be proud of this new record.   He can be reached at www.blueribbonfishing.com.

Opening Day: 2014 Giants Baseball

    In a ritual spanning decades and generations, San Francisco's baseball franchise held their season opener at AT&T Park yesterday in blazing sunlight.  A full house enjoyed the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Pitcher Tim Hudson, the 38 year old former A's player, put in a solid performance that delighted the crowd.   The Giants played long ball, hitting home runs and winning in fine fashion, 7-3.
      Friends of the Mayor sat in a special section: Corona Beer sponsored a "Creative beach" section, complete with beach sand.   The first pitch was thrown by a 5 year old boy dressed in a Batman costume and has endeared himself to members of the team.
     The Giants have been winning with style already this season, coming into the game with an impressive 12-3 record.  A good start for a season that runs for 6 months all the way to October.  Where will the Giants be in October?  Time will tell.
GO GIANTS!

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Book Review: The Rule of Nobody by Phillip K. Howard

      Stalemate in Congress read headlines.  Politicians can't agree reads another.  Local pols constrained by federal and state laws.  Sound familiar?  Of course.  For those who have lived just a bit lately,  the themes in Mr. Howard's book are plain as day.   We are a nation of laws, and we as citizens know this.  We depend on this democratic axiom: the rule of law governs our lives.  ' But have we gone too far?' is the question raised in this timely book by a distinguished writer and big time lawyer who heads the group known as the coalition Common Good.
      He attacks the complexity of rules that constrain politicians who can no longer rely on common sense to govern the people who elected them.  This is followed by a lack of accountability for results.  We have all read stories of what is necessary to discipline school children: endless paperwork for even minor infractions.
     He champions the cause of simplification and a wholesale rewriting of laws so that we can get things done.  An obvious case involves permitting construction projects.  One project can generate 5000 pages of study impact statements on the environment.   Mr. Howard serves up a number of anecdotes that support what we all know:  trying to get things done today is an arduous process that consumes many dollars and much time for all involved.
     He points to history and noted philosophers and politicians who warned about making laws "so voluminous that they cannot be read,  or so incoherent that they cannot be understood"(James Madison).  He quotes from Aristotle, Isaiah Berlin, Roscoe Pound, and Madison.  Berlin warned against "monstrous bureaucratic machines" that ignore the teeming variety of the living world, the untidy and asymmetrical inner lives of men, and crush them into conformity.  Roscoe Pound, the harvard law professor warned of mechanical jurisprudence and championed broad  official discretion.
       I would advise readers to consider some European states that have created monstrous bureaucratic institutions that have stymied growth and restrained the productivity of whole populations.  Italy cannot get out of its own way.   Youth unemployment is in the 3-40% range and is getting worse.  Why is that?  because employers(businesses) do not want to confront the bureaucratic morass that surrounds hiring even the most unskilled of the worker pool.
    This book is a must read for those who embrace change.  Maybe our president, the supreme embracer of change could learn something from this book. 
5 stars
for a complete review see WSJ, April 8, pg. A13.

Silverado Trail: Napa

       The Mayor and deputy did an inspection of the upper reaches of the Napa River over the weekend.  It was a beautiful, sunny, spring day.   Despite an event at the Sonoma Raceway, traffic was manageable on Highways 121 and 37.
      We took the northern route, 101 to Santa Rosa then over the hill on the Calistoga Road.   This  road twists and turns over the hills and trough the little valleys as one approaches the napa Valley's northern border.   Calistoga(pop. 5000) is the town north of St. Helena, it's much larger neighbor 10 miles south.
     We had lunch on Lincoln Blvd at a locals place, burgers and sweet potato fries.  We looked around town, people watched the visitors who joined the small groups ambling about the shops and restaurants.   We then headed south along the Silverado Trail which borders the east side of the valley.  This route is a 2 laned road used more by locals than tourists.   It is the sunny side of the napa Valley, basking in the hot afternoon sun as the valley floor cooks.  Yes, it cooks here, especially during the long summer months when vintners watch their vines absorb the moisture in the ground and the "terroir" aspects of locale.
      Zinfandel Lane is one of many cross roads than afford access from east to west.   This name alone says it all.
     Heading south to the city of Napa, one can see morros, those volcanic remnants that dot the landscape of various locations in California.  here they are small, seldom higher than 300'.  They are prominent features, usually covered in trees with occasional house peeking from the forest.  And of course, the entire landscape is covered in grapevines.  Those vines, like cherished children, have brought fame and fortune to all who live nearby.   Realtors marvel at prices which now approach the stratosphere at $350K/acre.  Who can build on ground that is made of gold.  Not many.
      Geographers make great hay when they examine the politics and economics of wine; the maps produced are inherently story tellers with treasured AVA's delineated and place names recognized as international favorites.   And it's all relatively close to the bay Area and its famous child, Silicon Valley.

Mission to Rio D.

       Well, the Minister of Latin American Affairs has sent a preliminary report back to the office and it appears that the situation in Colombia has similar traits to our own USA situation with the C.I.A. and Congress.  Who is watching whom?  That is the question on everybody's lips.  Sen. Dianne Feinstein(D-Ca) lambasted the CIA for snooping through the US Senate's computers looking for a "leak" that describes intrusions into the network, hoping to find a source of leaks.  All pols want to identify leakers.   Few expose themselves like Edward Snowden.'
      The Minister is off from Bogata to Rio, to look into similar matters in Pres. Dilma Rousseff's government as Brazil approaches the FIFA World Cup calender and the Summer Olympics.  Word on the street is: stay away from Brazil this summer.  Chaos is the operative word for conditions in the major venue cities throughout the country.
     Our minister will be in Rio for the rest of the week.  Then, he will return to Washington to adjust to the request from Sec. of State John Kerry to join the team at State.   No doubt our minister's reputation has gone beyond international boundaries and his many talents are now recognized by diplomats at the highest levels.  Kudos to him.
     It only serves to enhance the reputation of Tahoma. If he chooses to join the Team State, he will continue to be our voice in Washington, DC.
     A conference is scheduled in DC in 2 weeks to discuss his future plans and to answer questions regarding his role for Tahoma.  The weather should be spring like in all respects.
   

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Movie review: The Grand Budapest Hotel

       Occasionally Hollywood can produce a light hearted farce that has broad appeal across the movie going spectrum.   The Grand Budapest Hotel is one of those films.  With an all star cast lead by Ray Fiennes, the story is told in flashback as the storyteller recounts his long association with the now declining monument to a long gone era- '20's and '30's.
      It's all very tongue-in-cheek as the characters come and go with the grand old lady hovering in the background and foreground.   The plot revolves around the student-teacher motif:  the hotel concierge and his youthful acolyte lobby boy.   He is the recipient of the wisdom of his mentor's years of service to the stream of guests who arrive with seasonal regularity to enjoy the comforts of the "Grand Hotel".
     Well worth the effort and the $$.
Rated ****
Enjoy

Le Mons: 2014 at Sonoma raceway

     The Le MOns National Series returned to Sonoma last weekend and enjoyed a perfect 2 day weather feast.    Over 165 entries completed the field that began promptly at 8:30 am Saturday morning.   Our Minister of Industry and Manufacturing with his Porsche team, had their dependable 944 ready to go.
     Afterthe 1st hour or so, they were in the top 20.   At the 1st driver change around noon, they had moved into 9th place.   When the day's racing finished at 4:30pm, the team and Porsche had moved into 2nd place.   The newly installed rebuilt engine, with more horsepower, was serving them well.
Sunday would confirm the quality of the install and the team's improved performance overall.
        Sunday's start was at 9:00 am and the car was gassed and ready to go.   During Saturday's run, the car was bumped and 1 rear wheel was damaged, requiring replacement.   They only gave up a couple of minutes and were able to hold their spot.   The team captain, Sean, decided to replace both rear wheels at that time for stability and consistency.    Good move.   They could hit the track Sunday with confidence.
       Having driven well on Saturday, our Minister was part of the Pit Crew on Sunday.   In constant communication by 2-way radio, advice was given to the current driver as he monitored gauges through the hours.  
       Sunday was hot in Sonoma and more than a few vehicles lost time refueling and changing tires.  Porch Racing was in 1st place most of the day.   At 4:30 pm when the checkered flag came out and was waved at the victor, the 944 Porsche was the 2nd consecutive winner in the series at Sonoma Raceway.   The team basked in the Winners Circle as family and friends joined in the celebration.  Organizers welcomed the team into the special category of multiple winners.

Giants: 2014 Season

     After a long, cold winter with record lows and numerous icy storms all over the north east, the regular 2014 MLB baseball season began yesterday with a full calendar of games.  Our Giants, who have brought back many familiar names and faces, including Matt Cain, Pablo Sandoval, Hunter Pence, Buster Posey, Sergio Romo, and Mad Bum Bumgardner, are ready to provide 161 more games of delicious entertainment.   After last night's game, 2014 promises to have lots of thrills and chills.
      Bumgardner started on the mound, and was rolling along, allowing no runs going into the 4th inning.  Then his defense seemed to disappear.  Routine ground balls went through without much effort.   Infielders looked lost.   Soon the bases were loaded w/ none out.  Then another ground ball went through and scored 2.  With 2 out and bases still loaded, another through ball scored 2 more. 
      Boch pulled Mad Bum for a pinch hitter in the 5th after the Giants got 1 run back.   The Snakes added 2 more in the 5th and 1 more in the 6th, making the score 6-2.   AZ added another in the 7th; now 7-2.   Then the sleeping Giant woke up.
      They added a 4 spot in the top of the 7th, now tied 7-7.   Then in the 9th, Buster Posey laced a shot into the stands, now Giants 9, AZ 7.
      Diamondbacks added one in the bottom of the 9th, but Romo retired the rest of the batters: Giants win their opener, 9-8.
     Welcome to 2014.  Go Giants.

Obama and the Sox
       Following a White House tradition, Pres. Obama welcomed World Series winner the Boston Red Sox to Washington to congratulate the team on their impressive victory.   Dressed in blue blazers and red ties, the 'Sox looked good.   Obama appeared to enjoy the moment  despite the various issues, international and domestic, that are swirling around the hallways of American power. 

Putin: The Answer MAN.

    It's that time of the year folks: Czar Putin goes on the airwaves to talk at his people and answer their many questions to the best ...