Memorial Cleanup San Francisco

   For visitors to San Francisco or commuters who go by ferry and end up at the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero, a visual treat awaited those passengers crossing the street toward Ferry Plaza.  On the north side of the entrance area, on the wall underneath one of those granite orbs that are found topping large cubic blocks, a bronze plaque, entitled "San Francisco Vietnam Veterans Memorial".   In raised letters in 5 columns, 163 names are listed in alphabetical order.  All were killed in Vietnam during the war years 1965-1975.
      The plaque was placed/dated 2001 Memorial Day.   Why here?  High visibility?  Who knows?  The plaque had been neglected, turning a dull green, splattered with pigeon droppings making it essentially unreadable even under close observation.
     Within the last few days, unknown parties cleaned and polished the plaque, restoring its dignity, color, and brilliance.  This bright condition, as it was when new, highlights the esteem that these veterans are held with, as they should be.

San Francisco Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Ferry Plaza

Locals seem to think that the City plans to relocate the plaque to the War Memorial Building at the Civic Center near City Hall.  Maybe that's a good thing.  It may get cleaned a little more often.

Tom Stienstra and Fall Colors

   Tahoma's friend, Tom Stienstra, wrote a nice column the other day, giving tips on viewing fall colors in the Sierra.  Included was a nice photo of our lake, from the north shore.  With the spotted clouds across the sky and the rocky shore in the foreground, the photo took on characteristics of an impressionist painting:

Lake Tahoe with Fall Colors

        He highlighted the aspen groves along the road to Fallen Leaf lake, off Highway 89 just past Cascade lake area sign.  We know that aspen grove and it is a great sight if your timing is right.  In about another week or so, colors should reach their peak inside the basin.  Have your phone ready.
The foto credit goes to Jeff Dow.
     Stienstra also mentions the "super moon", a full moon when the satellite is closest to the earth, an event that will not be seen again until 2033.  Atmospheric conditions caused a reddish tint to the reflected sunlight of the moon, giving it some additional notoriety, causing viewers to congregate at various observation points around the lake last night.

Refugees Welcome in Europe

     Germany is leading the way in accepting refugees from the war torn countries in the Middle east, especially Syria where war has been continuous for 4 years.  The rebels trying to drive out Mr. Assad have not been successful, and have spawned another rebel group that calls itself the Islamic State.  It really is the name of a group of murderers, rapists, and sadists bent on destroying any and all peoples who stand in their way- the way of evil and anti-humanity.
     Perhaps other European countries will align with the Germans and accept some refugees.  Rumors abound that the Swiss may accept 1-200,000.   Also Lichtenstein may accept 10-15.  Latvia may take 2-3; Estonia-4-8; Sweden: 30-40; Denmark: 4-5; Belgium: 6-9; Nederlands- 5; Russya: 500,000-1 million in 2015.  Japan may take 3.  Myanmar 4; Thailand 2; Philippines- 2; Egypt-8; South Sudan-1; Norway-11; Russya on the Baltic-7; Finland-19; Poland -?.
     So, one can see that Europe is doing its part to ease the crisis provoked by the Assad Regime as it exists in Syria today. 

UN Podium Will Be Busy on Monday

     The UN Headquarters in New York City will be quite busy MOnday.   Heads of state from around the world will get an opportunity to speak before the General Assembly.  Xi Jinping, Chinese Head of State will speak.  Then, the little munchkin, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin will speak about his Russya, the largest country in the world.  He may announce that Russya will be accepting 1 million Syrian refugees fleeing Russya's client regime in Syria.  That would be Assad's Syrian fiasco which single handedly has driven 4 million Syrians to other countries, seeking relief from Assad's war against rebellious citizens.
     Obama will meet with Vlad Putin after he, Putin, asked to meet with the President.  Or did Abama ask to meet Putin?  Or did Putin ask Xi to ask Obama to meet?  Or is Putin asking somebody to ask Obama to ask Xi to speak with him?  Or is Putin confused?  Or is he worried about Ukraine?  Or is he worried about the rouble?  Or is Putin worried about a ban on Aeroflot flights to Odessa?  Or is Putin worried about his Facebook followers?  Or his Twitter account followers?  Does Putin use social media?  Who cares?  Oligarchs?  Sergei Magnitski?  Sonya Molodetskaya, party girl/famous Russkie?  Is Vladimir on Instagram?  Who cares?

Jarrett Parker: A Big Day

      It's nice to see a kid who has struggled during his early career to breakout, all of a sudden, on prime time TV in front of a Bay Area crowd at the Oakland Colosseum.  In the top of the 8th inning, with the bases loaded, Parker unloaded on a pitch right down the middle and launched it into the right field seats.  He joins an elite group of rookies who have hit 3 home runs in a game.  His hits and RBI's have put the Giants ahead 14-10.   Not a pitchers duel, the game was touted as a contest between old teammates Barry Zito of the A's, and Tim Hudson of the Giants.  They played together for the A's in 2002-3.  Zito was brought up for the occasion, and also announced he would be retiring at the end of the season.
      Jarrett Parker is 26 years old and played ball at the University of Virginia before being drafted by the Giants.  He was brought up from Triple A after playing for the Richmond Flying Squirrels in 2013-2014.  He was on the Giants roster in 2014 for a few days and thus was presented a World Series ring when the season was over.   
      It's all about timing.

Ukraine Says Nyet to Aeroflot

      The Ukraine government announced a ban on flights from Russya to Ukraine by its national airline Aeroflot.  This will cause great distress among Russyan oligarchs who like to zip down to Odessa to get away from the Kremlin and the FSB.  Of course, they'll be taking their hot girlfriends along for entertainment.  The Kremlin announced that this will lead to countermeasures, thus further isolating Russkies from the civilized world to which they aspire.
      This action also followed sanctions on 900 individual Russyans and many Russyan businesses, such as cheese importers.   The Russyans must hate cheese or they don't like cows or things dairy or something.  This follows other announcements lately.

Volkswagen: Trouble in Germany

      So, the CEO steps down after an embarrassing revelation: yes, his company made an attempt to evade pollution rules in the USA by programming onboard computers to feed bogus data to pollution control tests.  11 million diesel autos will have to be recalled in the US alone.   The company has set aside 7 billion dollars to cover costs.  That may not cover the fines that are sure to follow.  And this comes at a time when drivers were beginning to think diesel was the answer.  Wrong.
       Perhaps in their pursuit of worldwide markets, the management of Volkswagen thought they could pull this off.  Wrong.  The entire country of Germany has egg on its face.  The iconic Volkswagen is symbolic of German engineering and business success.  How does this happen?  Is competition so taxing that ethics and morality are both victims?
      The Justice dept. is investigating.  The hammer will fall sooner rather than later.  Volkswagen does not want this situation to linger in the minds of future buyers.  Does this spell trouble for diesel engines?  Big trouble, especially now that the engines as designed do not meet EPA standards.  If modifications required reduce power and mileage numbers, buyers will flee.
      American auto makers are smiling.   Schadenfreude: the feeling of enjoyment that comes from seeing or hearing of the troubles of others.   This is a text book or dictionary definition of the term as it applies in this case.   Even the french are laughing at their neighbor.  Angela Merkel is probably not going to say much at all.  Why bother?  The CEO is gone.  Martin Winterkorn will be looking for work.   Maybe he'll ask Mr. Marchionne at Fiat/Chrysler for a position.  Maybe not.  Other European carmakers are worried that the fallout could affect their ability to sell diesel cars in Europe where about half of sales are  cars with diesel engines.  Diesel car sales in the US are negligible, although auto makers are promoting trucks with large diesel engines.
     Earlier this year, the mayor of Paris, France, Anne Hidalgo, called for an outright ban on diesel powered vehicles in the capitol.  This latest flap with the US and Volkswagen will help her position.

The Pope Does USA

    His Holiness Pope Francis is making his first visit to the USA.  He's in Washington, D.C. where he was greeted at Andrews AF Base by President Obama and Mrs. Obama.  He'll be speaking to a joint session of Congress tomorrow.  Then he'll be traveling to Philadelphia and New York City.  For a sitting Pontiff, this is a major policy statement in terms of his role as head of the Roman catholic Church and its 1.3 billion followers.
       Another impressive location on his itinerary will be a local prison where he will speak to those incarcerated inmates and offer hope and consolation for their condition.  This follows a visit most recently by President Obama as he highlighted the situation with our present day prison system which in the opinion of many, is a complete failure.  The USA has more people behind bars than any other country in the world.
      Perhaps the Pope's attention to this system will enable changes necessary to reduce the numbers overall and offer some alternative to mass incarceration.
Maybe something will happen.

Welcome President Xi

      Seattle, Washington is China's President Xi 's first stop during his visit this week to the US of A.  He wants to talk tech in Seattle and the locals are only too willing to oblige.  Lots of techies in the state, including Microsoft and all of its supporters.
      After Seattle, the Head Commie of China will go to the White House to meet with Pres. Obama, his free world counterpart.  He'll be feted at an official state dinner where talk will be cheap.  Obama will roll out the RED carpet for this master manipulator, i.e. Communist Party Leader.  Behind the scenes, staff flunkies will try to exert some influence with Chinese business types who run state-owned companies that directly compete with foreign businesses.  Recent economic events in China have caused the government there to reevaluate policies aimed at growing the economy at 7% annually or greater.   The central government has had to intervene in the stock market and the banking sectors to avoid slipping into recession.  On top of all this, regional countries in South Asia such as Vietnam, Philippine Islands, Rep. of China(Taiwan), and Indonesia have raised the alarm that China's territorial advances in the South China Sea(East Asian Ocean) in the form of occupation of disputed islands in international waters threaten stability in the entire region.
      If these activities were not enough, Chinese government supported hackers have compromised the computers of the Office of Personnel of the Federal Government  gaining access to records of over 4 million employees.   Hmmmm.  Ol' Xi has some 'splaining to do this week.
      Maybe we'll be able to discern some clues when Ol' Xi speaks at the U.N. General Assembly on Friday this week.  That should be interesting.   Little Mad Vlad will also speak there.  What fun! The head Commie and the ex- Commie speaking to the assembles "peacemakers".  

Report From Brazil

   Our man in Brazil has reported back that all's well in Brazil.  He'll be moving again this week, and hopes to be settled in new quarters for the duration.  The Brazilian Olympic Committee reported that event testing has been going on at various venues throughout the country in preparation for the Olympics next August.  Soccer venues were announced and will be located in Manaus, Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paolo, and Recife.
     Our minister will be working extra hard for the Olympics as he will necessarily be connected to the event(s).
More later

Report from the Playa: Burning Man

   Our own Burning Man correspondent has returned to Tahoma intact, barely.  She said it was the best yet.  However, the dust storm on the 2nd to last day was the worst on the playa since they've used the site.  The dust was so bad, even eye protection goggles were insufficient to protect against the grit.  Visibility was near zero for hours, and moving about was hazardous to say the least.  But,, the experience was worth it all.  The art exhibits were great.  The installations incredible, and the burning man performance was the best.burningman.com
     Check out the photo sections of the web sight.  Many amateur and professional photographers contribute material to the displays.  It's hard to believe that plans are in the works for Burning Man 2016.  But, it has become a world renowned event and people fly in from all over the globe. Reno International airport expected 35,000 "Burners" to pass through the airport while coming and going.  No, it is not a commercial venture for participants, but stake holders spend a lot of money.
     Cirque du Soleil was on hand with a fantastic display of live performers during the week.  It must have been something to watch the acrobats doing their thing on the Playa.
     The fireworks connected to the burning were said to be the best ever.
Maybe next year the staff will set up a "camp" on the playa. TBD.

Seriously, Russya in Syria

     Mad Vlad wants to preserve his port options.  So, send a squadron of fighter jets to Assad's Syria.  Back them up with some Rusyan Marines(really, Russyan Marines-they've never been to sea, ha,ha,ha, ha).  Send some equipment with them, and housing, too.  Nice.  Just what Assad needs to defeat 1) rebels, 2) ISIS, 3) Christian militias, 4) Kurds, 5) Shiites, and a few TuRks.
    Ahhh, Russyans.  Gotta luv'em.

Ironman Tahoe-2015

      This past weekend saw 2500 entrants swim, bike, and run in the vicinity of Tahoe City and the West Shore.  The weather was perfect: high 70's at the 7:30am start, no wind and almost no visible smoke in the air.  Spectators enjoyed the event from various locations along Highway 89 and West Shore Blvd.  Traffic going southbound on 89 faced long delays, but, advisories had already been posted in advance.  The restrictions were to end around 5:30 pm, but, alas, as we made our way to T.C., southbound 89 traffic was at a stop.  It took another hour before normal conditions resumed.
     There were some concerns that smoke from several NorCal fires might cast a pall over the lake, but the smoke stayed away.
     Race results can be found on the Ironman Tahoe web sight. 

Tahoe Forest Question: To thin or not to thin

     Is this really a "burning" question?  In today's WSJ ,wsj.com, an article on forest management displayed for all the question of thinning to prevent destructive fires.  No doubt prompted by he season's high incidence of fire, most recently in Lake and Sonoma counties where over 450 structures were burned in the Valley Fire and 20,000 residents were forced to evacuate.
     Environmentalists contend that thinning is unnecessary and causes loss of habitat for wildlife, and that it removes filters for runoff that can damage water quality in lakes and rivers.  Since the fire in South Lake in 2007, thinning has been an ongoing effort throughout the Tahoe Basin.  Evidence is seen around the lake in the form of "burn piles" left by crews to dry before controlled burns during the winter months when there is little risk if spread.
     Other forest managers believe their efforts will support healthy forests and reduce chances of intense fires that can wipe out all vegetation in a burn area.  Always two sides to the issue, but the thinned areas look a lot like parks that are cared for and they look like wildlife would easily move about securely without hindrance by under growth and debris.
    About 55,000 residents call Tahoe home and it seems that residents would like a measure of safety afforded by thinning.

Walking on the Mall and the Marocchinate

      The Mayor had some time while in the Capitol and took a stroll around the Mall.  Half is still under renovation, circled by chain-link fencing.  It looks like the finish is a long way off.  On September 11, all the flags were at half mast, appropriately so.  A new memorial was dedicated in Pennsylvania at the sight of the impact of one of the hijacked aircraft that did not arrive at its target-the Capitol Building itself.  The story is the stuff of legend, but it's true- passengers on board took back the aircraft from the jihadists but could not stop the fatal dive.
     We walked by the new Museum of African-American History which is close to completion.  It makes another significant impression to passersby with its shroud of stylized, tiered bronze screens.  The summer crowds were gone, and tour buses, food trucks, and T-shirt sellers were in short supply.  One stop included the gift shop at the Air & Space Museum, just to check the latest tech toys.  Amazing items here.
    We also stopped for lunch at the National Gallery in the basement.  They have a variety of food choices, something for everybody.  After lunch, we sat around the east wing gallery, waiting for a film to begin-a classic: Two Women with Sophia Loren, 1960.  She won an Oscar for her performance in the Italian production based on the novel by Alberto Moravia who based his story on real events.  After Monte Cassino, French troops from Morocco flanked the German positions and took control of the countryside.  They embarked on a campaign of destruction, murdering and raping innocent civilians of all ages, killings many who resisted or defended themselves and others.  Many attribute the cause to the French General Juin who gave the Ok for this conduct.  As many as 800 Italians were murdered and as many as 60,000 women and children suffered from the violence.  The victims are called the Marocchinate.  The director was Vittorio De Sica, one of the "new realism" school.

Gustave Caillebotte: The Painter's Eye

     The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC., is a favorite spot to visit during any stop in the nation's capitol.  This trip brought a pleasant surprise: an impressionist exhibition of one of the unsung masters of the period- Gustave Caillebotte.  Not only was he a painter of the school, but also a great patron of the Impressionist Masters.  Being a wealthy individual, he was able to collect impressionists' works, and support his belief that this was the new style that would mark a break with the past.  he was correct.
      Gustave painted Parisienne street scenes, carefully structuring the subject(s), the landscape/city scape, and the perspective.  His work was original and drew much positive criticism. By the 1880's, his interests changed and by 1890, he had moved to the suburbs of Paris, to a small town, Petit Gennevilliers, north of Paris along the river Seine.  Here he was dedicated to landscapes.  He liked boats and boating and they became the subject of many of his paintings.
     His life was cut short by a stroke in 1894, and his vast collection was willed to the state.  It became the basis of the national collection of impressionists in  France.

Minister Moves In

      Our indefatigable Minister of Latin American Affairs has found decent housing in Brazil.  However, it is temporary, and he'll be required to move again soon.  He most recently took a short trip to the city of Belo Horizonte, about 500 miles north of SP.   He said the weather was perfect and he enjoyed his visit to this city of over 2 million souls.
     WE will wait for his initial report as the government of Brazil gets ready for more bad  economic news.

Migrants: Migrants: Migrants Everywhere

      Germany announced that border controls will now be in effect as authorities in Austria and Germany try to cope with the influx of refugees from war torn parts of the MIddle East.  Most are from Syria, but many are from other countries torn by civil strife, ethnic conflict, poverty, and economic instability.
      Some refugees are from Iraq and Afghanistan where civil war has been waged for 10 years or more.   Even North Africa's countries are in on the migration as citizens from Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria jump into smuggler-provided water craft in attempts to cross north to Italy, Spain, and Greece.
     It's not pretty, and it's getting uglier by the day.

Russya in Syria: Part II

       It was reported today that Russyan military vehicles, assault troop carriers, artillery pieces were unloaded at the Syrian port of Tartus on the Mediterrenean coast.   Foreign Secretary Lavrov said they troops and technicians will be training Syrian troops on use of the equipment.  Assad and Company will be delighted to have their sponsor on board to lean a hand.  Especially now that millions of Syrians have hit the migrant path abandoning their homes to seek relief from the ongoing conflict between Assads government, rebels, and the ISIS movement.  After 4 years and no end in sight, it appears the citizens have had enough.
     Now, they all want to move to Germany.  Meanwhile, the US has asked countries on the air route from Russya to Syria to close their airspace to Russyan overflights.
     Mad Vlad's speech writers must be scratching their collective Red heads as events keep changing, leading up to Putin's appearance at the UN in New York later this month.  What a fun event that will be.  Don't miss it.  I hope Donald Trump shows up to cast a few dispersions on some of his targeted groups of international leaders.

Russya Fined $44 Million: Refuses Court Order

     A U.S. federal judge ordered Russya to pay a fine for neglecting a court order to return some books.  About 12,000 books and 50,000 religious artifacts held in the Russyan State Military Archives.  The collection, known as the Schneerson Library, was amassed by the Chabad movement two centuries before WW II.   Since 2013, the judge has fined Russya $50,000 a day.  Judge Lamberth ordered the payment be made immediately.
      Steven Lieberman, a lawyer representing the Chabad organization, said the organization is looking to identify Russyan assets other than art to seize to put pressure on the Russyan government.
     So, here we have another incident where mad Vlad snubs the West, ignoring the legal issues, and acknowledging only that the issue is not in the hands of the USA.
      He is really something.

Sergei Rachmaninoff: American Citizen

      Russya's Minister of Culture(?), Vladimir Medinsky, said last month that Mr. Rachmaninoff's remains should be returned to Russya.  Mr. Rachmaninoff died in Beverly Hills, California on March 28, 1943, at the height of WW II, when Joe Stalin was on the ropes on the Eastern Front, besieged by Nazi armies.
     The body of the famed composer was returned to Valhalla, new York where he is buried today.  His great-great-granddaughter says his remains will stay here.  The Russkies sure are a funny lot.  What chutzpah! "Bring home a favorite son,he's ours".   Ha,ha.
     State house organ TASS Agency says his grave is unkempt.  Ha.  Have a video?  A foto? No.  We're the FSB- we don't need no stinking fotos.
    Sergei Rachmaninoff left his native Russya in 1917.  Why?  To escape the Bolsheviks/Communists who would stop at nothing to take power from the czarist regime.  He was smart enough to know that no good would come with a takeover by the Marx-spewing thugs from the back alleys of Moscova.
In addition to other evidence, Mr. Rachmaninoff became an American citizen in January, 1943.  Any body in their right mind would acknowledge that the last place an American wants to be buried is Russya.
      What are the chances of exhumation and reburial in some godforsaken steppe plot, froazen over most of the year?  None.   I liked the comments of another dillusional Russkie,  Valery  Poliansky, head of the Rachmaninov Society of in Moscova.  "Nobody in America needs him; America doesn't need anyone, except itself".   This man obviously has been a recipient of vast quantities of state-issued vodka.
     Much of this reportage comes our way via Sophia Kishkovsky in Moscova, and we thank her for her efforts at explaining the absurdities of life in VoVa's Russya today: absurd.

Russya Goes to Syria

   Well, as if VoVa didn't have enough on his plate.  Now he's establishing a foothold in Syria.  Maybe he likes Assad.  Two-of-a-kind?  Maybe he wants the West to look bad.  Maybe he's bored and can't take care of business in Kremlin.  Maybe the import food police have fixed the smugglers and all's well on the counter-sanction front.

We don't like being treated this way, Vlady

Piglets rush railroad station hoping to flee Russya after hearing of destruction of foodstuffs by FSB goons responding to Kremlin's anti-European food program.  Piglets were being harassed as they sought tickets back to Germany and Denmark.
     US officials say Putin's plans are obscure, but no doubt he wants to give some Russyan some jobs in a country where recession is on everybody's lips.

Tahoma Goes to Burning Man

    Our agent is on the ground at camp Burning Man.  Just arrived in the Black Rock Desert Camp.  We wait with baited breath for updates on the festival.
more later

Solovetsky Journey

     Remember the Gulag?  The Russyans do, too.  Except there seems to be a bit of controversy among those who remember and those who want to forget, and those who live there.  Yes, the monks who now inhabit this ancient place of such notoriety want to see it remembered as a religious holy sight while some want it remembered for the period of political repression carried out by the czars and the Bolsheviks and Communists.
     Now there's a tug of war.  Who will win?  Who really cares?  Yuri Brodsky, 69, has made it his life's work to expose the history of the politcal history of the gulag and its victims.  He has written a book about Solovetsky.  He wants the truth out now.   PM Medvedev recently signed a document admitting and recognizing millions suffered and died in the gulag.  Can you imagine?  A russyan who admits anything?   Shocking.  Then we have Perm-36, a former gulag, now a museum of political repression.  Almost like the Germans keeping the death camps around to remind the citizens of what can happen.   Mr. Brodsky has written a 527 page book with photographs and personal statements of what went on in the camps.   Who reads this book?
     Now the orthodox church wants to weaken the history of the gulag and replace it with more church history.  Hmmmm.  What memory serves the world best?
  Comments?
      Solovetsky is actually a group of islands in the White Sea, on Russya's northwest border near Finland, above the arctic circle.  Cold, cold, cold.  Dark, dark, dark.  Gulag No. 1.   I wonder if Allies knew about it in WW II?   Maybe, maybe not. Murmansk, a port city, is just around the corner to the west.  It is one of the few port cities available to Russya during the winter.  It was a port used to resupply the Russyans during the Great War against Germany.  Nobody among the merchant marines talked about Solovetsky.