Making Merry in Milano

        The Summit meeting in Milano among European leaders apparently was not very cordial.  German leader Angela Merkel had few encouraging words for her Russyan counterpart, mad Vlad Putin.  Italian leaders present noted a particularly cool attitude of Mrs. Merkel toward Mr. Putin who tried in vain to discuss his Crimean adventure as a Russyan prerogative and a completed activity in
Novorussya, the old czarist term.  Mr.  Poroshenko of Ukraine did not buy into it and remarked that at least the representatives were in discussions despite the slim chance of settling any issues.
      The Dance of Diplomacy is always a spectator sport as media types like the photo ops, and the diplomats like the food.   The heavy lifting, of course, takes place behind closed doors.   As Mr. Poroshenko said, "the implementation" has yet to be accomplished, referring to the peace agreement that has been signed over the Donbass in eastern Ukraine.   This activity comes as background to the war in the Middle east that all parties are watching closely, as Turks, Kurds, Americans, Arabs, Brits, and more confront the Islamic murderers around the city of Kobani in Syria.
     We in Tahoma are watching events closely.

Election Time
     Jerry Brown, Governor of California, has his name on top of millions of ballots mailed out to voters in the last week.  November 4th is weeks away, and the wily old veteran is hoping for one last term in the hot seat in Sacramento.  Many of the ballot propositions will determine his legacy, which was bolstered this week by the state Supreme Court which refused to hear challenges to his High Speed Rail Project in the Central Valley in an effort to link LA and SF by high speed trains.   His wish for twin aqueducts under the delta may not get past the discussion stage as environmentalists rip the proposal from every angle.
     Don't forget to put a stamp on your ballot when you mail it in, if absentee.   It will be returned: no freebie here.