Tsarist Coin Found by Mayor

1916 Mint state coin

1916 Mint State Coin

     The Mayor, while rummaging through some old artifacts came across an amazing find: a near perfect Russyan historical piece: a Tsarist relic.  Minted in 1916, this coin is a beautiful example of artistic excellence that was the hallmark of 19th century engraving talent that could be found across Europe at the time.
     In an effort to help the citizens of Russya that are currently experiencing deflationary pressures, the Mayor will send this coin to the first citizen of the largest country in the world who adds a comment to the blog within the next 30 days- no costs or fees whatsoever.
     Verification will be necessary.  Please, no ex-KGB types or FSB types.  This offer is for non-governmental members of the population.

Burning Man 2015

What to wear? Oh, what to wear?

     Reno International airport is gearing up for the annual Burner Invasion.  The airport expects upward of 34,000 travelers who will land next week and make their way to the Black Rock desert site of the annual art festival.
      Tahoma will have a representative who has paid the ticket price of $450 for the 3 day event.  News media has announced that the site has experienced an infestation of insects which causes some concern to campers.
     Weather outlook is good for this years event.
More later as date approaches.
       Yesterday festivities began for 2015.   Yahoo, and good luck to all the burners, especially those who flew into Reno International and then loaded themselves et costumes into their rentals.
Hopefully, weather won't turn against them and it will be a good experience.

Crimean Protestor Gets Jail

      Russyan courts in Rostov-on-Don near Crimea sentenced a protester to 20 years in prison for his activities organizing anti-Russyan invasions in Crimea and Ukraine.   Two other protesters were sentenced to 7 years each.   International organizations chastised the Russyan acts as anti-humanitarian and contrary to judicial standards of justice.
More available on CNBC.

Book Review: How to Catch a Russyan Spy

       Just when you thought the Cold War antics of the KGB had outlived their usefulness to writers of all stripes, here come another title to provoke renewed interest in the spy genre.  This is the true story of how an individual took an interest in a group of Russyan nationals in the USA(in New York City) who began using the services of an obscure book seller to provide them with public documents available to libraries and universities published by the federal government.   The requests escalated to include documents not so public.  At this time the book seller contacted the F.B.I. which became interested in the group of Russyans and their requests.
      The book seller(Books& Research) soon became an informant for the Feds.  Over several years he helped the Feds monitor the activities of the group and they were able to identify members of the ring as they came and went back and forth from the Federation.
      The story reads like a novel with each page revealing more twists and turns to maintain the readers' attention.  The book dealer was not very sharp, making personal boasts on Facebook of his connection to the F.B.I. and even tattooed his code name on his person.  Really?  Yes.
      When the F.B.I.had had enough, they busted the group and sent them all home, knowing that things haven't changed much as the spy game moves into the 21st century.  Same old, same old.
Good read, available on Amazon.
Author: Naveed Jamali and Ellis Henican, Scribner, 290 pages
  

The Strange Case of Vitaly Korchevsky

        How does a Baptist preacher praise the Lord during the day and steal millions of dollars during the night?  It's easy:  he's Russyan.  He was busted by the F.B.I. as part of a scheme that netted him  over $17 millions using inside information that was hacked from corporate documents ahead of public announcements.   Vitaly worked at Morgan Stanley, the Wall St. firm noted for its proclivities for illegal financial manipulations, illegal banking operations, and general financial system irregularities that caused so much grief for investors during the banking crisis in 2008-09.
       Vitaly thought that he was smarter than the F.B.I. and that nobody would suspect a Baptist preacher of stealing money from various corporations. 
Wrong.
      The F.B.I. loves catching such holier-than-thou types-it makes such good press, and even helps to improve the image of the Federal organization.  Vitaly has been hanging around in the USA for quite a few years-he's 50 years old and has been educated here and has worked here since the collapse of the old USSR.   He forgot to recall that the USA is fundamentally different than anything Ruusyan:  we have laws and we enforce them.   Hmmmm.  Bail was set at about $2million.   He is considered a flight risk by the judge.   Where would he go: Belarus?  Uzbekistan?  Georgia?  Maybe he'll go to Fort Leavenworth with the Guantanamo jihadists.
       Maybe his lawyers will argue that the Ukrainian hackers who sent him the information were bible students looking for redemption?  Maybe Vitaly was trying to save their souls.
      The trial will prove interesting.

Black Bear Update

      Locals in Incline Village, Nevada can breathe easier today after Fish & Game announced that it had captured a local bruin that had residents on edge.  The 450lb animal became a nuisance and a threat to the local population.   He was tracked and tranquilized over the weekend.  Because he was a serial offender, he was euthanized by F & G wardens.
     Be aware, be safe in bear country.

200 Years of Lake Tahoe Art in Reno

     So, you want to see what the lake looked like some years ago.  One can appreciate a little local history.  After the "European" discovery of the alpine lake that had been the seasonal summer home of indigenous Americans for a thousand years or more, word spread that it had incredible scenery.
     Soon, artists arrived along with surveyors, engineers, miners, and pioneers.   Once on the map, it was hard to keep folks from coming into the basin for a look see.  When the Comstock Load was discovered in Nevada, the boom began as mining engineers needed heavy timbers to shore up the shafts of the countless mines being opened around Virginia City.  When the vein of silver ran out, and the forests had been clear cut, the lake was forgotten by all but a few.  One of the few was Duane L. Bliss.
     He had the foresight to see the lake as a place that visitors would love to see and appreciate.  He developed various entities including Tahoe Tavern, Tahoe-Truckee Railroad, and the Tahoe Boat Company to deliver guests around the lake.
     By the end of the Civil War, Lake Bigler was a draw.  Famous landscape painters came to look and sketch, and take their impressions back to their studios to complete commissions and other artisitc endeavors.  Among the painters were some early photographers who carried their bulky apparatus to the basin to isolate classic features of the rim and lake shore with its crystalline water.
      The Nevada Museum of Art opened a temporary exhibition of samples of the best artistic efforts over the past 200 years.  Big names are included:  Albert Bierstadt, William Keith, Ansel Adams, Thomas Hill, Maynard Dixon, and Maya Lin to name a few.
      Pioneer John C. Fremont made maps and drawings around the west; many included the area around the lake.  As an added bonus, one can find some of the finest examples of Washoe basket making and basket art.  Included are the finest known examples of one woman whose work was widely recognized and collected during her lifetime.
     Architect Frank Lloyd Wright has some examples of his ideas and designs for a development at Emerald Bay called the Summer Colony.  It included a bridge/pier to Fanning Island; houseboats or barges floating in the lake near the bridge, and cabins of unique design on the slopes leading down to the water's edge.  It was never realized but the design concept is fascinating.
This exhibition receives a full 5 stars.  It will continue until the end of the year.  The catalog is beautifully done and is available for sale in the book store.

Wine in Time :2015 Production

       After a quick trip to Reno, NV,  The 2015 crop of Sonoma County Pinot was put to press.  reno Home Brew has all the equipment one needs for small batch beer brewing or small batch wine making.  Plus, the owner, 29 years in the business, has a wealth of knowledge and experience he is more than willing to share.
      Because of the this year's numbers, we could get by with the smaller press which can handle about 5 gals. of must at a time.   Unlike the traditional screw down press, he offers the hydraulic water press.   Simply put, the press utilizes hydraulic principles to make the effort.   After must is dumped into the circular hopper, a hose is connected to a household source, water  is pumped into the rubber bladder in the center of the press which expands to do the work.  Very simple and efficient, more so than the older screw type.
      So, once we had all components in place and connected, the process was started and completed in a couple of hours. the results: 40 gals. of red wine, 100% Pinot.