On the Road to Rumsey

Quail Eggs from Rumsey-note coins for size

      Rumsey, California.  Not on everybody's "must visit" bucket list.   The Mayor visited Rumsey (pop. 125)over the weekend, going down the 'hill' for some time in the flat lands.  As one traverses the 505, exits note destinations west: toward Clear Lake, etc.  The exit to Highway 20 takes the traveler to the picturesque Capay Valley, a stretch of agricultural land that follows the track of Cache Creek as it flows east toward the Sac valley and the flyways of Colusa, Tehama, and Yolo counties.  The geology exposed in the water-cut channel features the edges of upended plates of folded strata, pointing skyward as they dissect the stream bed.  Twisting and turning around these faults, Cache Creek eventually broadens out to elevated benches where farmers have planted orchards of almonds and walnuts, and a few olives and grapevines.   This area might be called the "almond zone -west".   It was the weekend of the annual Almond Festival, put on by the locals up and down the Capay Valley.  All the communities were involved: from Esparto at the east end to Rumsey at the west end.   And it was well attended.
              Rumsey locals turned out in large numbers, enjoying the live music, the food stands, produce stands, and the craft stands inside the community center next to the tiny Rumsey P.O.  My crew and I enjoyed a grilled pork sausage (too late for pulled pork at 1 pm) will slider buns, cole slaw, and pinto beans.  The quail eggs were offered by a local farmer who has about 300 producing birds on his farm.  He and his partner had various fresh and pickled eggs available, of which this dozen was a sample.  Can't wait to try them.   Among the crowd were scores of 'bikers' who had motoered into town for the festivities.  The weather was fantastic after a weak front passed through overnight that left some snow on the local hilltops.   Harleys were parked on both sides of Highway 20.  In the community center, tables held the offerings of a Silent Auction with the usual items: theme baskets, crafts, oils, soaps, and artwork of all types.
more later

Let's Go to Russya's Far East

Cruise ship captain Patrick Marchesseau, vic. Kurile Is.

active volcano far eastern Russya

arctic fox

      Waaaaaaaaaait a minute.  What are we talking about here?  Russya's eastern edge:  Kurile Islands?  Aren't they Japanese?  They used to be; but now, Russyan.  Oh, yes, in 1945, Stalin sent a few Red Army cast offs into the area to stake a few claims when the world's focus was on the Japanese homeland and its occupation by American military forces.  Who knew that Russya was acting in its own best interest( a few military realists, that's who)?

     So, now, one can take a tour of these largely abandoned outposts of Russya's far eastern activities of post WW II.   Tourists can view old Japanese -built fortifications; Red Army detritus(old helicopter parts, old barracks and warehouses).  It makes a case for historians who wish to write about the period when Old Joe Stalin embraced his paranoia about the Yellow Peril.   Maybe he should have looked a little closer to MOskova.
      Tourists can book travel on a cruise line that will allow them to explore these essentially barren landscapes: volcanic islands; windswept beaches; docile wildlife; untrammeled, park like harbors.  Do you have an extra $10,000 to spend?  That's what you'll need to board one of these ships. 
        How many Russyan citizens who live in the largest country in the world have been to the east coast of Russya?  Not many.

F.I.F.A. Votes in New Leader

    The ground shook yesterday as soccer's world body voted in a new leader:  Gianni Infantini, a long time FIFA bureaucrat.  Despite his name, he's a Swiss  When members present did not go for Mr. Salman, the favorite, a new candidate emerged from the pack, a dark horse candidate.
     Old Sepp Blatter, the disgraced former president, is working on his memoir, sitting on the sidelines, trying to make sense of all that has happened to his fiefdom that collapsed around his shoulders last year.  With dogged persistence, criminal investigators with the F.B.I. constructed a case against him and his minions of corruption that surrounded the Swiss-based governing body of soccer.  The exposure of bribery, corruption, multi-million dollar slush funds contributed to the downfall of Blatter and many of his lieutenants.
      That Gianni Infantini would want to continue as the public face of this rotten group is not particularly shocking.   For him and his many supporters, its merely a timely regime change.  The perks will continue to flow, just a little less than in the recent past.  This storm will blow over, and it will be back to business as usual.  But it won't be business as usual.
      Governments will now look at everything FIFA.  No more rubber stamping of World Cup shenanigans.   Bid for the CUP?  Really?  And who is in charge?  Follow the money.
     It really is time to dissolve FIFA once and for all.  It is inherently corrupt, and cannot be fixed.  Snuff it out.  Start again.   Get the players and fans involved.  Remove corporate incentives; deprive the oligarchs of team control and ownership.  Seems they will always be a corrupting influence of the "FORMERLY" beautiful game.

Apple, the F.B.I., and the Iphone

   So, the F.B.I. went to court to force Apple Corp. to assist the Federal Government in accessing information on an iphone by writing code to provide a "backdoor" to the information held on the phone provided to Islamist terrorists employed by San Bernardino County that murdered many of their coworkers before being exterminated by police.
    Apple CEO, Tim Cook, has gone public with his response.  Forcing or even asking a private company to "assist" the Government in breeching the privacy of an individual by creating code to open the phone, is a violation of the Constitution, specifically the 1st Amendment and the 5th Amendment.
more later

3 Blind Mice: Candidates Get Ready to Debate

The 3 Stooges: 2016 Version

     There's a debate tonight.   Well, well, well.   Who is going to go after whom?  What a lineup: not what the GOP considers its best offering.   Hillary is eager to confront any one of these clowns, with her victory almost guaranteed.

Russya Goes to Court: in UK

     Something ironic about a sovereign country that invades several countries then asks one of those countries to pay its bills.  But, Russyans are different by any measure.  They don't live in the real world; they live in Putin's world.  It's different.  Ukraine owes a few billions for some energy delivered by their northern antagonist/invader.   So, the slavs of the Steppes go to court----in the UK!
Ha, what will the Brits do with this hot potato?  Pass it on, like any other rational being.  But David Cameron has his own hot potato to deal with- membership in the EU and Boris Johnson, Lord Mayor of the City of London.
       Nonetheless, critics and pundits will marvel at this move, close on the heels of the release of the results of the investigation into the extra territorial murder of a Russyan whistle blower in London by Russyan agents using polonium -92(in tea, of all things).
      Have the Russyans no memories?  Maybe not, but Moskavites are trying to turn this around by placing memorial plaques around the city to remind locals of Stalin's murder campaigns of the '30 and other years during his reign of terror against his own people.

Obama Making House Calls

      Mr. Obama will visit Fidel and his brother Raul in Cuba on march 21.  They will talk.  And Talk, and the brothers(one demented) (which one?) will ask for economic aid beyond diapers and baby formula.  Maybe Obama will dangle Gitmo in front of them?  Like he dangles it in front of Congress, to no avail after 8 years.  Why is he going to this  " Island of Broken Dreams"?  He is in his last year- building legacies, as the phrase goes.  Maybe he's going to open a new ferry service to Marco's Florida?  Maybe not.  Maybe he'll visit Papa Hemingway's house museum in Havana?  Maybe not.
     Maybe he's going deep sea fishing(he'll throw back any fish caught so as not to offend PETA or Planned Parenthood, or SPCA, or RNC, or Nancy Pelosi, or Harry Reid.
    Hmmmm.  Does Darn Old Trump like to fish?  From his deck at Mar a Lago?

Evo Morales and Bolivia

   Evo Who?  Yes, the twice elected indigenous president of the land-locked South American country.  He wants to change the constitution so he can continue to be the "Man".  Why is it in Latin America(among others) countries, the leaders want to stay forever?
Update 2/25/16
     Voters turned out and tuned in to real change:  so much for a 'new' Latin American dictator for life.  Evo Morales' effort to alter the Bolivian constitution have failed as voters firmly rejected his effort to rewrite the law extending his presidency by another 5 years from 2020 to 2025.  Recent corruption probes have damaged his reputation; personal problems with a Chinese executive woman(they had a child together 10 years ago) resurfaced.
     Mr. Morales joins other Latin American leaders who are on the outs with locals:
Kristina Kirchner in Argentina,
Dilma Rousseff in Brazil(in combo w/ her predecessor Luis Ignacio Lula De Silva),
Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela,
Rafael Correa in Ecuador.
      Populism has been a mainstay of Latin American politics since the early 20th century; but, its record has been dismal since the post WW II era began.  Less than 10 years ago, economists were heralding Brazil's surging growth and development, especially in energy expansion.  With the Olympics slated to open there in a few months, the excitement has been tempered by arrests and indictments related to the vast corruption involving state-owned oil giant PetroBras.
     In Colombia, negotiations with rebel group F.A.R.C. appear to be on the brink of a settlement that will end the 50 year old insurgency.   Perhaps peace is at hand there.

Saudis Deal Blow to Oil Markets

      Saudi Oil Minister Ali Naifitold the producers yesterday that the country would not cut production to raise prices.  In a blount statement, he told the group that market forces would determine the price per barrel.  He also stated that expensive recovery efforts related to deep water drilling, tar sands recovery, and shale extraction all worked to destabilize the market.  These expensive extraction methods no longer have a place in the market that is coping with energy alternatives to oil and gas, ie. solar power and natural gas.
     The recent re-entry of Iran into the global marketplace put further pressure on prices.  Iran announced that the country would double production from recent past amounts.  Saudi Arabia is one of a few countries that can make money at $20/barrel.  Brazil, Venezuela, and Algeria cannot market profitable oil at that price.   While large producer Russya can make money at this price, the dollar amount they need to stabilize the economy is much higher, closer to $60/barrel.
      It's nice to see the Saudis getting the rap they deserve.  The modern "Kingdom" of religious fanatics is unsuited to any respectable position in international politics.  Until such time as a reform movement turns this monolith around, Saudi Arabia will be treated as the leper it is.

Trump: The US Version of Silvio Berlesconi

      Not too many years ago, the international media had lots of fun following the antics of Italy's Prime Minister, Silvio Berlesconi.  The self-made billionaire was a businessman turned politician.  Why not?  If he was elected, he could bend the laws in his favor.  Which is exactly what he did.  While Prime Minister, he was, by law, immune from accusations(slander), and immune from prosecution.   He had it all:  plenty of money, influence, and his No. 1 weakness- pretty young women who liked to rub shoulders with the ultimate power broker.  Eventually, he was kicked out and tried for influence peddling, and other high crimes.  He's dropped of the radar as he approaches his 80th BD.
     Now his American clone, Darn Old Trump is only 69.  He has more hair and a younger wife(#3).  He doesn't drink or smoke which gives him an advantage over most business associates.  His brother was an alcoholic and always warned Little Darn Old about "Demon Rum".   Little Darn Old took it to heart, and has been a teetotaler ever since.  Really?
      NOw that Darn Old is the Republican front runner, even the skeptical media is scratching its head:  Am I dreaming?
     Tomorrow is the Nevada Republican caucus- do you want to guess the outcome?  No, neither do I.

US Bombers Hit Libya Camps

     Two US Air Force F-15 fighter bombers, based in the UK, made an attack Friday at a coastal site in Libya.  Since the fall of Moammar Qaaddaffi and his family, the country has been essentially without a government.  Rival factions have split the country in two, east and west.  Islamic fighters of the ISIS group have stepped into the seam to recruit and train jihadists who are then dispatched to units in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
     Using various intelligence gathering methods, targets were found in LIbya that included a military  style training camp said to hold one of the top leaders of ISIS.  The two sorties bombed the site, reducing much of the camp to rubble and killing 20-30 occupants of the camp.  The leader is expected to be among the dead.
     While not a US preoccupation, these types of training camps are high on military target lists provided to Air Force planners.  No statements were forthcoming from US sources other than to acknowledge the actions.
     You can run, but you can't hide.

Harper Lee Dies at 89.

Harper Lee and her Dad  at home in Alabama, 1960

     American author and Pulitzer Prize winner, Harper Lee,  died of natural causes in her sleep.  The author of "To Kill A Mockingbird" lived a very private life after the overwhelming exposure brought to her as a result of the success of her only novel until 2013 when another novel, unpublished until then, sat completed in an old file for almost 60 years.  It was a first draft of what became "To Kill a Mockingbird".
     For many years, Harper Lee worked for and with her friend and neighbor, Truman Capote.  She did considerable leg work for his great book, "In Cold Blood".  A small town girl, she shunned publicity and spent a lifetime dealing with her fame and fortune.

Jeb Out, Trump Best Field

      So, we will have to endure the Darn Old for another few weeks before he gets the message that he's unelectable with that hair piece. In South Carolina,  Hillary bested The Bern 52%-48%( a draw really).  So, on to Nevada.  Democratic caucuses will be finishing shortly.  The Republicans caucus on Tuesday next. 
     Mr. Bluster is still getting used to the idea of being a front runner.  Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are 22% and 21%, respectfully.  The GOP supporters are still confused, trying their best to understand what's happening to their party.   The Dems, on the other hand, are in shock: how can a rusty, old socialist be a viable challenger to their Joan of Arc?  It's her turn.  Hmmmm.  Emails, Benghazi, Clinton Foundation, Goldman Sachs speaking fees,  Bill's speaking fees, foreign government speaking fees-where does it stop?
      There's an opening here, but for whom?  This is a very interesting election cycle.  Let's not get into the Supreme Court appointment topic.  Antonin is not even in the ground yet, his funeral only this morning.  Obama doesn't want to bring bad press to a Democratic candidate by drawing away any supporters whom may not care about a Justice appointment at this particular time.  The WSJ laid out the Dems dismal record when it comes to politicizing the Supreme Court appointment process.  It's not a pretty picture with Sen HARRY REID, (D. NV) over playing his hand more than once when he was majority leader in the Senate.  The little jack-Mormon, ex-pugilist, has always used these situations to expand his own role to expand power of the Democratic Party.  So, now, Obama, will get a serious dose of Republican payback.  Well deserved, too.

NATO On the Go

      So, southern Europe needs a little help.  NATO responds.  Five ships have been deployed to the eastern Med to assist the Greek Coast Guard in their efforts to assist refugees who are fleeing the war in Syria.  Turkey has done quite a bit, taking in a million or more refugees, putting them up in camps near the border.  However, over the last year, most of the refugees are, in fact, economic refugees: young men, often with families in tow, heading for opportunities in Europe where there is an economy that is functioning.
     NATO has been known for being a Johnny-Come-Lately to international conflicts on Europe's fringe.  Now, it appears, under current leadership, a more active role is being played out.   Recently, the decision was made to send a brigade into the Baltics to address recent Russyan maneuvers along the borders.
     Retired US General David Patraeus offered counsel that Mr. Putin will not be changing his strategy anytime soon, and deserves to be told that current sanctions will be added to quickly if he continues to act in aggressive ways.  Given Russya's movement into the Syria war, NATO, the US and its Allies must come up with reasonable contingency plans to thwart Russyan aggression.
    Mr. Putin is very aware that his country is in recession and it's getting worse.  Oil prices, despite a dead-cat-bounce this week, will not advance, especially in light of Iran's return to the market.  Need any roubles, Boris?  Hardly.  Maybe a Euro or two?

Trump and the Pope

      Nothing like a little sideshow to get the pundits going.  Seems a reporter asked Pope Francis, who has been in Mexico this week and made a stop on the US/Mexico border, a pointed question:  What does the Pope think of Trump's position about building a wall along the border and keeping out asylum seekers?  The Pope responded that a person who thinks thus is not a Christian: he who builds walls, not bridges, is not concerned with the human condition.  Mr. Trump, when told of the Pope's statements, immediately defended himself.  "I am a Christian", said the Darn Old," and  a Presbyterian Christian at that, and I'm proud of my Christian heritage."
      So, during this unusual campaign season, with all its twists and turns, we now have the Man With Yellow Jaundiced Hair Piece talking down the head of the Catholic Church.  Yes, the darn old trump is pandering to evangelical Christians who might think Pope Francis is too liberal.  After all, the Pope said that contraceptive devices are Ok to prevent the spread of the Zika virus in Brazil and other locations.  Hmmmmm.  Sounds liberal to me.  Too liberal?  I don't think so.
     Hillary and Bernie are in Nevada, stirring up the Democrats ahead of Saturday's Democratic caucuses.  Bernie is making Hill work for this one.  For 74 years old, the Bern Man is full of energy.  He's campaigning in the style of Bob Dole.  Jeb Bush is having his Mom speak on his behalf.   Hmmmm.  Must be worried.  This weekend could be it for the youngest Bush kid.
    We'll be watching, but not during ski time with all this wonderful powder snow around Tahoma, Homewood, and the Lake Tahoe rim.
     Get some.

Tahoe City's Alpenglow Mountain Festival KIckoff

    The winter version of Tahoe City's Alpenglow Festival kicks off this weekend for 8 days.  The agenda is extensive and has something for everybody.  The website alpenglowsports/festival has a complete list of events for each day with times and locations.  Many sponsors have signed up, taking advantage of one of the best winter seasons in 5 years or more.  Snow continues to fall, and addsto the base of over 8' or more in places.
     Weather for the weekend looks good.  Could you ask for a better time to visit the Lake?  I think not.
Go. Dates: Feb. 20 through the 28th.  Locations vary.

South Carolina Looms Large

     Anderson Cooper held a Town Hall style gathering in front of a live audience tonight in Greenville, South Carolina.  Featured candidates included Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio.  This format allowed the candidates to respond to pointed questions from select voters from the audience, and to explain positions related to the questions.  It appears that it was more successful than the "debate" style face-offs prior to Iowa and New Hampshire voting.
      One concern of potential voters was the replacement of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia who died in bed last weekend while in Texas on a hunting trip.  Candidates expressed concern that Obama would take the opportunity to stack the Court with another liberal Justice who could affect decisions for years to come.  Given that Obama has already placed 2 liberal justices on the Court, a 3rd liberal would be a coup for any Democratic president in the White House.  However, a Republican-dominated Senate is unlikely to affirm any but the most conservative candidate.  Scalia has been acknowledged as the best writer on the Court, perhaps the best of all time.  His decisions and his dissents were always worth the time to read them for their clarity, logic, and readability.
     Ted Cruz, again, appeared to be the most relaxed of the 3, responding with reasonable(for him) answers to all questions posed by members of the meeting group.  Marco Rubio seemed more anxious, less sure, and lacked that quality that makes the difference among equals stand out.  Ben Carson, too, offered little that was unexpected or perhaps could convince anymore voters to be swayed in his direction.
     Tomorrow night: Jeb Bush, John Kasich, and the Darn Old Trump.  Should be worth the time to watch.

Alexander Novak: Pressure Point

      Russya(the largest country in the world) and friends(?) have made a pact to control oil production within limits.  Key OPEC members have not signed on to this agreement.  Mr. NOvak, Minister of Energy Resources made the announcement amid withering criticism of the Kremlin's (Putin's) actions in Syria this week.  Doctors Without Borders lambasted the Russyan Air Force's bombing of two hospitals in Aleppo as Assad's government forces make progress in the area against regime rebels.
     Locals on the ground observed air assets directing their bombs at the hospitals.  This comes against oil production reports placing Russya's production at the top of the list of producing countries.  Little can be done to reduce the storage of 300 million barrels of oil around the world nor curtail production of Iran which is attempting to regain market share against that of Saudi Arabia, the USA, Iraq, and Venezuela.  The desperate situation in Venezuela speaks volumes of the situation: an oil rich country with a failed econometric model that has fostered populist style of governance ala Hugo Chavez, the late president.
     Russya's economic recession will try the Kremlin's efforts to maintain political credence. Given the state of affairs in the Middle East and Putin's habit of being a bald-faced liar, does not bode well for his country and countrymen.  Will the citizenry rebuke the former KGB colonel?  Or will they rollover and absorb his international gambits that produce headlines and little else but heartache for widows and orphans?
     As the price of oil continues to slide, the future of oil producers is, at best, cloudy, and at worst, a warning of impending disaster.

Vladimir and his friend: Nice Kitty Kat

Antonin Scalia: Supreme Court Justice: R.I.P.

      Long serving Justice of the Supreme Court, Antonin Scalia, died over the holiday weekend of natural causes while on vacation in Texas.  He was 79, and had a heart condition.  He was the first Italian-American to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States.  He was known as a conservative voice on the Court.  He was nominated by President Ronald Reagan in 1987 and served for almost 30 years.

The Gem of the Ocean: August Wilson, Playwright

      The Mayor was at the theater tonight.  It was a play put on at a local playhouse by a professional company.  With 6 actors involved, the story focused on their interactions, dictated by their history, family relations,  and current events.
    The time frame is 1904, in the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.   It is a city on the verge of becoming a steel town of world renown.  But in this setting, the over arching topic is the post civil war life of African-Americans in a Northern City.   Like many northern cities, Pittsburgh attracted those Southerners who were former slaves and the offspring of those slaves who sought refuge from the post-Reconstruction era of the former Confederate States.  The intense racism of the period was directed at the new citizens who now could legally vote, own property, and live without the threat of family breakup, poverty, and the complete lack of educational opportunity.
     August Wilson wrote a series of plays, each focused on a certain decade of the 20th century, beginning in 1904(timeline).  This play, "Gem of the Ocean", was completed in 2003, shortly before Wilson died in October, 2005.  His series of 10 plays is called "The Pittsburgh Cycle" for which he received two Pulitzer prizes for drama.

Candidate Bloomberg?

      It seems that the attractions of the White House have wider appeal beyond the chattering class.  Michael Bloomberg is a chattering billionaire who has served as Mayor of New York City for 3 terms.  He is the ultimate self-financed candidate, out doing even Darn Old Trump.  When compared to the Trumpet, he comes out much better, having run the largest city in the east successfully for 12 years.
      With his name recognition due to his financial ties, he is hardly an unknown.  Media reports have him poised on the edge of candidacy, waiting for the right moment before throwing his hat into the ring.  He could win it all, come November.  With 5 times as much money as the Darn Old, Michael could out duel Hillary or the old scourge, Bernie Sanders, the ex-Brooklynite Vermonter. Bernie has a long track record, but hardly has support beyond a few millenial naifs.   As the primary election cycle heads south and west, after two GOP candidates(Christy and Fiorina) withdrew, now would be a good time for Bloomberg to announce.
     The pollsters are drooling over the prospects of more polling requests by the well-heeled businessman from NYC.
     We will watch and wait.

Russyans Arrest Terror Suspects

     Federal Security Bureau agents captured 7 suspects in Yekaterinburg, an industrial city in the Ural Mountains, east of Moscova.   It was reported by the official state media that various explosives, grenades, guns, and ammunition were  gathered at the sight.  It was also reported that the group was directed from Turkey, and they had planned attacks before fleeing to Syria to fight for ISIS forces against the Assad forces.

Meanwhile, in the far north, Russyan military units were on manuevers with their equipment that was hauled on sleds pulled by reindeer.  Yes, those burly, antlered creatures often associated with the Christmas icon, Rudolf, the Red-Nosed reindeer.  Oh, those Russyans, they know how to get a headline.   The picture of the white-shrouded soldier, complete with Kalishnakov assault rifle, laying flat out on the sleigh with the towering reindeer behind him is priceless.  Check it out in the NY Times.
    To complete the story, Russya also announced military training exercises in the south of the largest country in the world.   And don't forget the Russyan bombers doing a number on Alleppo in Syria, the country's largest city.  Look out, Russyan planes overhead.

Russyans Put a Cake on It

      So, you are out to dinner with family and friends, having a nice time.   The next minute, you are surrounded by a group of 12 thugs, who begin slapping you around.  You are helpless to resist or defend yourself-there are just too many.  Soon, they gather a large cake and plant it on your head, sort of a "cheese head look", but with cake instead.
     The target here is Mikhail M. Tasyanov, who was attacked in a Moscova restaurant.  Mr. Tasyanov was Prime Minister under Mr. Putin during Vova's first administration.  Mr. Tasyanov joined the opposition after he left the Kremlin.   A cake today, polonium tomorrow.  Welcome to Moscova, my friend.
     Life in Russya is always exciting.  One just cannot predict what events will occur day to day.
As an example, today, Russyan head of Natural Resources of the largest country in the world, announced that Russya had submitted official claim to the land under the polar ice cap.  He claimed that this claim is in strict accordance with the United Nations agreements on Law of the Sea.  While a nation cannot claim navigable sea as part of their border beyond the 200 mile limit, a country can claim the ocean floor for its mineral contents, ie. energy deposits.  Most countries have not given much concern to prospecting in these inhospitable waters, especially in light of current crude oil prices.  But Russyans, they have a different reality than the rest of the civilized world.

Yulia in US

      Former Ukrainian Prime Minister and current member of Ukrainian Parliament, Yulia V. Tymoshenko, arrived In Washington, DC, for a series of talks with various officials to discuss the situation in her country and the efforts of the Obama administration to secure an agreement on elections in Ukraine.   She also met with officials of the International Monetary Fund to discuss financial and economic issues.   Ms. Tymoshenko, leader of the Fatherland minority party, had been imprisoned for 28 months by President Viktor Yanukovich who was ousted in the Maidan protests.  After her release from prison the day after he left the country for Moscova, she returned to political activity and was returned to Parliament.   The 55 year old Ukraine native has been an advocate of getting Russya to follow the accords agreed to in a signed document in Minsk, known as the Minsk Accords.   She has stated that the US and her allies should not seek an agreement at any cost.   Her statements are extraordinary since they were made during her official trip to Washington.
      While military activity in the Donbass Region of eastern Ukraine have been curtailed, the conflict continues with random artillery fire and various manuevers by Russyan forces in the area.

FAT TUESDAY: Mardi Gras

      Get Fat: It's Tuesday.  Celebrate, go wild.  Even the staid Swiss celebrate a bit.  In Lucerne, the center of Swiss Mardi Gras activities, citizens turned out to party hardy.  Yes, they DO party occasionally in the Alpine financial redoubt.  They put aside their watchmaking duties and 'get down'.
Hmmm.  Is it beer drinking and dancing?  Big -headed costumes and scantily clad frauleins?  We'll have to watch some Utube videos to get the answers.
     If you're in New Hampshire-Go Vote.
     If you're in Tahoma- Go Ski!  Best weather of the last 5 years here.

Denver Did It: Super Bowl Winners

     It went as expected, excepted the favorite team lost.  The Carolina Panthers, with their great offense generaled by a young, experienced QB,  Cam Newton,  could not overcome the smothering defense of the Broncos.  Harassed endlessly, No. 1 Newton could not find receivers who were all covered all the time.  Many times he was forced to throw to the out of bounds to save his line of scrimmage.  The rushers were relentless, and he was sacked many times during the game.
      The first Denver touchdown came by way of the defense recovering a fumble in the end zone.  Score then : 10-0.  In the 1st 10 mins.

Marco: The Robot Republican and Company

       It seems that the debate went on for hours.  The candidates stood at their lecterns, responding to the moderators and to the questions they posed.  One after the other, they put forth positions, citing past legislative efforts; past crises confronted; personal experience outside of the political realm, and , of course, education and training.
      Chris Christie, Governor of New Jersey, continued to recall and recount his experience as a Federal Prosecutor.  He then would extend that role into decision making and dealing with crime.  he made a point that New Jersey was in the van when it comes to drug decriminalization in favor of treatment programs and long term care of drug -addicted citizens.  This response came after a question of 'how would you confront the opioid epidemic in the Northeast US'?.  Mr. Christie stated that New Jersey health officials were actually helping New Hampshire to change to a healthcare program from a criminal drug program.   These points resonate across a broad swath of America as states adopt revamped attitudes toward the drug problems that afflict cities and suburbs nationwide.
     Ted Cruz got lots of mileage on veterans' issues.  One aspect of the debate focused on women's role in the military.  They mentioned Def. Sec. Ash Carter's announcement last month that women would be eligible for all combat roles as long as they could pass the training regimen.  Some candidates said it was time for women to register for the draft as do their male counterparts when they turn 18.  But, pointedly, no candidate called for a return to the draft.
     Dr. Ben Carson continued his rhetoric based on his medical experience and his desire to put real conservatism into the White House.
     Darn Old Trump, plastic hair intact, continued to bluster and rant with the same old topics he's been hammering with for months(seems like forever).  Immigrants: no path to citizenship; a higher wall on the border; legal immigrants first and only first.   When confronted on 'eminent domain' by Jeb Bush,  Darn Old said he didn't take the widow's house for a parking lot for his casino.  Well, yea, he did try, but he abandoned that attempt.  He had high praise for eminent domain and the government's use of same, citing its use when it comes to locating schools, firehouses, hospitals, and government buildings.  He also stated that property owners were compensated at fair market value.   Hmmm.   I'm sure many in the viewing audience would take him to task on that one.
     Ted Cruz, remarking on the care and treatment of veterans, stated that all veterans should be able to seek treatment at any medical facility, not just a VA hospital or clinic.  Really?  You would support this?  The, of course, is a response to the legions of problems uncovered in the VA health care system.
Dem. candidate Bernie Sanders, who chaired the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, was slow in his response to claims the VA system was failing in its duties, despite clear evidence to the contrary.  Ted says he'll make treatment of veterans mental health issues a high priority, citing a statistic that 22 veterans commit suicide everyday in the US.   A despicable truth!
     Jeb Bush is still struggling to resonate with voters on any level.  He has funding and can continue on, but his family legacy cannot be overcome.
     Marco Rubio:  a malfunctioning robot.  He repeated the same response three(3) times during the questioning.   Chris Christie called him on it.  His stock answers kept overriding his thoughts.  He could not detach himself from his preprogrammed answers.  How sad: a candidate without the ability to think for himself.
     Tuesday-it can't come soon enough.

Republican Debate in New Hampshire

      The final debate is being televised as we speak.  here we have Donald trump, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush,  John Kasich, Ben Carson.  After an hour, it appears that the candidates are making a final attempt to sway voters, which takes place this Tuesday.

New Hampshire: Voters Ready to set the Stage for November's Presidential Election

     Let the Games begin.  Hillary: she will come in 2nd to Bernie.  Bernie will smile as his career reaches its high water mark before it skids into oblivion.   Trump will eke out a slim lead, only to face reality as the primaries head south.  Marco and Ted will will ramp up their vicious personal attacks, all for naught as Michael Bloomberg readies his hat to throw into the ring.  he will then walk into the White House, come next January when Obama walks off into the sunset.
     mardi Gras will have special meaning this year for all the candidates, marking the end, the beginning, and the long middle for a few.

Carnaval: Let the Party Begin

     It's Super Bowl 50 Weekend in the States.  Fans are stocking up on snack(junk) food, BBQ items, booze of all sorts, and fan gear-hats, scarves, sweatshirts, horns, and other items too ridiculous to name.  The rest of the world,  the Western world that is, prepares for Lent with the pre-Lenten debauch known as Mardi Gras, named in french for Fat Tuesday.
     The most famous, of course, is Rio de Janeiro's version.  There, the locals drop all pretense of restraint or mores, and celebrate as if there is no tomorrow.   The vast majority wake up sometime later this week and go through their selfies to see what happened that they cannot recall with anything resembling clarity.  Ipanema Beach, Copacabana and other local names resonate with revelry and revelers.   The traditional parade items: monster-sized floats with monster-sized heads abound and highlight all the parades and festivities.
     Our Minister of latin American Affairs could very well be lost in Rio.  He has been on scheduled vaca since last week.  We have not expected any communication during this time.  No doubt, he is taking notes of his observations of this cultural event.  We do expect photos to appear in his filings soon.   They will then be posted for locals in Tahoma.

The ferry Building in San Francisco at Super Bowl City

Barack and the Warriors

      Well, they call themselves WARRIORS, but, really, they're ball handlers, albeit, good ones.  Or great ones.  President Obama welcomed the Golden State Warriors basketball team to the White House today.  Making time out of his usual hectic day to honor the accomplishments of these young men meant quite a bit to them, their fans, the NBA, and all sports enthusiasts.
     The President seemed relaxed, enjoying the moment.  For somebody who has played a little basketball, he can appreciate the exceptional talent that joined him in celebration.  It had been 40 years since the Warriors finished at the top of the NBA, and the long drought underscores the difficulty not only of winning but also of repeating the feat.
     Pres. Obama pointed out the singular efforts of Steph Curry, the league's  Most Valuable Player in 2015.  He noted that just last night, Mr. Curry scored 51 points and that included 11-3 point shots. He went through the roster, mentioning each player and adding an anecdote or 2.  His light-hearted banter was warmly received and his special guests will long remember their visit to the House at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Brazil Can't Catch a Break

      Now the W.H.O. has declared a health emergency in Brazil over the spread of the Zika virus which has been linked to birth defects, most notably microcephaly.  The mosquito borne virus was confirmed yesterday in a case of transmission by sexual contact in Texas.  The transmitting person had acquired the virus in Venezuela.  This is the first known case of the spread to America of the Zika virus.
     With the 2016 Olympics just months away in Brazil, this information was not welcomed by a government reeling from an economic slump.  After spending billions on infrastucture improvements, the government must now deal with a new problem which could deal a blow to their hopes for a boost to the nation's economic outlook.
     While not often fatal, the prevalence of the disease among the poor means that getting health aid to those who need it most will be difficult.  Pregnant women are advised to be checked for the disease and to take added precautions against infection.   This new awareness of the transmission of the virus is especially disturbing.
     Dilma Rousseff is probably taking more aspirin for her headaches.
Update: 2/4/16
      Health officials confirm that the Zika virus has been found in donated blood to blood banks.  One gun shot victim received tainted blood and later died from his wounds, not the virus.  An organ transplant patient who received several units of donated blood found to be tainted is expected to survive.  meanwhile, in Florida,, Gov. Rick Scott declared 4 counties, including Miami/Dade, as health emergency locations related to Zika virus.  Several cases were reported among individuals who had returned from Latin American countries. 

Snow Report: Good News 2016

     State hydrologists reported snow pack conditions yesterday and it's "all" good.  The measurement indicated the snow on the ground is 14% above average for this time of the year.  This bodes well for the state.   It is the most snow measured here in 5 years.  Agricultural interests will immediately breathe a sigh of relief, as they wade through the cutbacks ordered by Sacramento.  While reservoirs are filling, the drought conditions are still with us and it will be awhile before we see any real relief.
      Tahoma residents will notice that the shoreline is definitely expanding again as the recent moisture begins to refill our Lake in the Sky.
     Keep skiing.

Marco Rubio: the Iowa Winner

   It seems to various pundits that the outcome from the Iowa vote is that Hillary has a problem and Marco Rubio is the new Republican front runner.  The Donald is beginning his long slide into obscurity, and the rest of the pack has to decide when to depart.  Ted Cruz will have little chance in New Hampshire, and Hillary will not bother with those results next Tuesday.  She's already looking to South Carolina.
     Marco, the son of Cuban immigrants, is now planning to take his show to a higher level.  He'll have to reposition his positions for broader appeal.  Good luck, Marco.
     Everybody but Hillary fears the "Coastal" effect.   Those 'blue' state borders that harbor America as we know it.  Dick Spotswood, a political writer from California, has been on the ground in Iowa for the past week, sniffing around, taking the pulse of the local voters and putting that into a broader perspective.  He's right on:  things are different in the Mid West-the people are bewildered, wandering about, trying to figure out who they are and where do they fit in, in America, an America increasingly unrecognizable to them.  Their towns are shrinking; their children leave and don't come home.  There's nothing for them at "home".  Farming-forget it.  Corporate jobs? No way.  Maybe Ted can offer some solace for the situation, but his balm is no cure.
     Our great heartland-the vast, rolling plains, that appealed to generations with its cheap, fertile, productive opportunities.  Now, gone.  Now the space is seen not as opportunity, but empty, devoid of possibility.  It's like the Summer of Love all over again:  take me to San Francisco, with ear buds in my hair.
Starship Connection
      San Francisco, the City on a(7) hill, the beacon for a another restless generation of seekers, holds sway over young seekers.   Recently, one of the original seekers died.   Signe Toly Anderson, age 74, died last week.  She was the original voice of the Jefferson Airplane.   In a remarkable coincidence, she died the same day as her singer/ partner of the same group-Paul Kantner, aged 74.  The two were on the first Jefferson Airplane album.   She was followed by Grace Slick.

Russyan Scientist Dies in Marin County

       A few days ago, a highway accident caused a traffic problem on Highway 101 where it passes through San Rafael, California(Marin County).  There was a single fatality: the driver/occupant of the wrong way passenger vehicle.  He, the driver, was alone when he was hit head on by a tractor trailer truck.
     After the fire department extricated the body, the police work began.  The body was later identified to be that of Sergei Aleshkov, age 53, from Moscova, Russyan Federation.  After further investigation, his death was ruled a suicide.   No drugs or alcohol were found in his bloodstream.
     The deceased was a graduate of the prestigious Englehardt Institute of Molecular Biology of Moscova.  He came to the US several years ago, and worked at various research labs before founding his own company: Labqualitek, LLC.  Recently, he had reported that he was drugged and beaten while on a trip to Moscova to visit friends and colleagues.  He blamed FSB thugs for this harassment with the support of the Kremlin. 
     He had sought psychiatric help, claiming that he was being followed and harassed.  After a failed suicide attempt, he was successful in Marin County last week.
     His death raises another RED flag concerning the activities of Vladimir "Vova" Putin and his Kremlinistas.

Iowa Caucus: Finally Over

      As if.  Does America need Iowa?  For What?  Amusement, really.  It's winter, people are stuck inside for months; nothing to do.  TV is old hat.  The dog is asleep.  Your bank account is meek and mild after December's splurge.  So, we might as well caucus.  Oh, Lord, do we have to listen to Bernie?  And Hillary.  Really.  Is she going to have the strength to make it to November?  Look at her eyes-tired already.   And Trump.
      Oh, Lord, spare us from the Donald.  Why can't he be content with his hotels and casinos and wives?  Too much money; too much ego.  And that mouth of his.  Megyn Kelly of FOX News made the Donald squirm and twitch.  Too good looking for the Donald to ignore.  So, he did the right thing by avoiding her incisive questioning and stayed away from the last televised debate.

Megyn Kelly of FOX

The Donald w/ teeth, Simpsons, Tyson

    Then the Cruzer.   Oh, please, spare us from Ted.   Now he's in 1st Place and has displaced the Trumpeter.  And Marco is a close 3rd.  Where's the "Dark Horse"  candidate?  Somebody please wake up the dark horse and tell him the race is on.  Ben Carson has gone back to Florida to change clothes.  Kasich is flying home to Ohio, nice try.  Jeb.  Jeb?  Where is the well -heeled Bush candidate?  Back in Texas getting some advice?  Or in Florida getting some sun?
      New Hampshire looms large in one week's time.  This is Bernie country and Hillary knows it.  So, she's willing to give him the Granite State's primary.   Then it's on to South Carolina, a gun-toting Republican strong hold with more than a few old time Dems to spice things up.   Who knows where the election is going- the pundits are confused, bewildered, and worried.
     It's going to be a fun summer.  Don't miss it.

US Navy Provokes Chinese Response

     Down near the equator, in the South China Sea, the Chinese government has been aggressively seizing rocky shoals in international waters, building them up, and occupying these new "islands" as part of China's territory.  Several other nations also claim these rocky shoals as part of their territory.  Hence, a dispute.
     The US government sides with the international court that says these are international waters.  As a result, the US Navy sent one of their ships into the alleged Chinese territory which was followed up by a protest by the Chinese defense dept.  The message is clear to the Chinese:  stop your aggression now!  This follows a fly over last month by an Air Force B-52 bomber.   The rocky islands now have a Chinese air base, and a unit of the military.  Hmmm. What next?

Turks v. Russyans: II

     Well, now the Turks claim that a Russyan fighter crossed into Turkish territorial airspace without warning over the weekend.  Russyans say that the Turks are smoking too many hookha pipe loads of hash.   They also claim that this charge is baseless, and the product of anti- Russyan sentiment caused by Russyan assistance to the Assad regime in Syria.  Oh, well, maybe the pilot made another mistake in navigation, maybe not.   And so it goes in the Middle East.

Snow, Ice, Traffic and Interstate 80

        Hope you were not involved in Truckee's traffic incident yesterday.  A series of conditions converged on Highway 80 yesterday afternoon and caused a traffic nightmare for travelers.  As a light snow fell over the Truckee River Canyon, skiers on their way home descended the Basin on Highway 89, going north to Truckee to merge onto 80.
     Trouble began as visibility obscured slowing traffic westbound 80.  Tractor trailer rigs, sending waves of powder over passenger vehicles, began skidding and jack-knifing at the main on ramp.  Soon, it became a mess: cars and trucks careening into each other, piling up one after the other. The CHP finally had to close the road for safety and evacuation.  This added to the problem as drivers were slow to get the word of the closure.
      Ahhhh, winter.   Tow trucks were swamped with calls, and service providers from Reno were called to help with the problem.  By night fall, the highway was reopened and traffic began slowly returning to "normal".