Tahoma Traffic: Slow

    Now the weekend is over, our construction crews are back at it.  Downtown Tahoma is restricted access throughout the day and early evening as the curb gutter is extended across the Pine/89 intersection.  Flagmen are posted at 3 spots, so: watch what you're doing as you approach Westside Pizza and the USPS.
     Traffic is much less an issue as schools have opened in many cities down the hill.  Traffic into Tahoe City was light yesterday morning on a trip into the grocery store.  Clearly, the season is about done.  Not much will happen until next weekend when the race will happen on 89 around the lake.  September is always interesting-many events to entice visitors to our Lake basin.

     Met a trio of visitors yesterday at Meeks.  They are from  Munich, Germany.  The daughter and her partner are post grad students at UC Berkeley, studying Russian history.  She brought me up to date on Russia and current attitudes toward Mr. Putin(Mad Vlad).   She is of the opinion that Mr. P has gauged the opinion of middle class Russia and tapped into their continued support for his popular politics, enjoying broad support from the emerging urban semi-professional.  However, it remains to be seen how well he'll be able to sustain their continued support in light of moves in Ukraine/Crimea.
Recent border incidents with Ukraine military indicate some hesitancy on the part of Mad Vlad.  Despite the loss of 1 jet fighter to an ground-to-air missile, the Kiev leadership continues to pommel separatists rebels near Donetsk.
     The US and the Inter. Red Cross are on the ground near the Russian border to verify the reports about all cross border activities involving Russian claims.  Why is it that the Russians in the Kremlin think they can continue to lie in the face of current intelligence revelations?  Are they just inveterate liars?  Is it a genetic Russian defect?  Or merely a holdover from Uncle Joe Stalin and the Communist/KGB era?   Answers will be forthcoming.