Tall Ship Moves to Edge

    MV Matthew Turner moved into the sunlight today for the first time.  At about 1pm., after 5 days of preparation, Bigge Crane Movers had all their equipment in place:  the hull was secure in its cradle; 4-wheeled trucks were strategically placed under the support beams fore and aft; and the tow trucks were attached below and in front of the stern.
      With a loud toot on the airhorn, the 2 trucks commenced pulling, ever so slowly.  A cheer went up from the observers who had been in position along the route for hours, sitting, standing, or just staring from a convenient vantage point.  Moving stern first the elegant ship rolled toward the Army Corps pier where it would be positioned for tomorrow's launch.

ship exits from its tent

moving to edge of ramp

close up of hull at bow

nameplate port bow

 

     The blue and white color scheme glowed in the afternoon sun as shipwrights, engineers, carpenters, welders, machinists, clerks, and old sailors reveled in the unique experience.  Many observers have been long time volunteer workers, spending the better part of 4 years getting to today.
Another year of work remains for the fitting out of the ship.  The work remaining includes finishing of all interior spaces, galley, head(s), fire pumps and lines; all plumbing; all electrical; masts(2); bowsprit; mainstays; running rigging; cabin windows; engine controls; battery banks; communication equipment; anchors; sails; and crew bunks.   It all takes time.
      The US Coast Guard must give final approval before she can sail away.

Two Rats Meet to Discuss Rat Traps

      Don't you just love Geopolitics?  What else explains the meeting of two despised personalities who have managed to insert themselves among their cultural scenes as the leaders they've all been waiting for?   So, we have Mad Vlad Vladimirovich Putin, premier of Russya, the largest country in the world, meeting with President Rouhani of Iran, clearly, the lead despot of the Arab world, and stake holder No. 1 in the world of international terrorism and nuclear blackmail.  These two rats,(no offense to traditional vermin) will no doubt work on some mutually beneficial activities that they both hope will thwart the West's attempt to settle the landscape of Syria, Israel, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Turkey.   All the players across this vast desert have been unable to bring peace in any form to its inhabitants.   Millions of desperate refugees, fleeing the war torn area, have embarked on perilous journeys, exposing themselves to every torment, every slight, every disease, every pirate, and every whim of Mother nature as they seek a safe haven.  Do they go to Russya?  No.  Do they seek China? No.   Do they go to Egypt? No.  How about Equatorial Africa?  No, again.  They want peace and hope with the possibility of a future.  They go west, to Europe and its peaceful environment(s).   The Europe of 2016-17 strains under the burden as Bashar al-Assad continues to murder his own with the help of Russya and Iran.
Rats.  That's all they are:  Rats.  With turbans and neckties.

Russyan Spring: 2017

    Well, it was bound to happen: an internet-organized show of protest against the Putin Regime.  This past weekend saw protests in major Russyan cities across the largest country in the world, from Kalinin on the Baltic Sea to Vladivostok on the Pacific Ocean more than 6000 miles to the east.
    It was organized in part by opposition leader Nalvalny who will oppose the Kremlin candidate in the next elections.  For his efforts he was jailed for 3 days and fined for disturbing good order.  Of course, this is a velvet glove rebuke  by Kremlinistas who don't want any additional world scrutiny of its oppression of the masses than already is widely known about the world.
more later

Final Four Set: NCAA Tournament Close at Hand

   The NCAA Basketball Championship roster is all set:  Oregon, Gonzaga, North Carolina, and South Carolina.   It promises to be an exciting event.   Oregon has not been a participant in over 70 years.  South Carolina has never been.   It's a first to the Final Four for Jesuit school Gonzaga, although they have been to the sweet 16 8 times.   North Carolina is the only veteran of many trips, several wins, and maintains a role as a perennial favorite.  But, as can be seen in the past: anything can happen,

Tall Ship Almost Ready

      M/V Matthew Turner, first all wood brigantine built in San Francisco in 110 years, is days away from launch.   Ship movers are preparing the lifting, and shipwrights are putting the cradle wedges in place.  The set up will continue for another 24-36 hours and then, amidst a cheering crowd of onlookers and well wishers, the new vessel will finally get her feet wet in the salty brine of san Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

the model w/ sails

Bigge Crane  trucks:6 sets

Name plate added to bow port and starboard

     Today, the crew will be fixing the hull to the steel rails that rest on the trucks.  When securely in place, the vessel will be towed into position about 160 yards east to the top of the launching ramp at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers depot.   Then, the media hounds, spectators, et al., will take in the spectacle for all its worth.   At about 4pm, Saturday, April 1st, down it will roll into the water.

Xavier Goes Down, Zags Move On

      After a good 3-win run in the NCAA Tournament,   Cincinatti's Xavier Musketeers bowed to Gonzaga's unrelenting barrage of 3-pointers.   The game started with a back-and-forth effort, but soon, Gonzaga moved ahead and never looked back.   The 25 point final margin indicated that the Zags are looking to go further.   This is the Zags first trip to the Final Four: Good Luck.

Mexico Organizes Opposition to Venezuela's Maduro

       Mexico Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray announced  that a group of 14 nations, including Argentina, Brazil, and Peru, Colombia, Uruguay, and Paraguay, has called on Caracas to release political prisoners, return power to the National Assembly, and set a timetable to hold regional elections that Venezuela has postponed indefinitely.  The U.S. is working with Mexico to facilitate discussions among the group.
      The draft statement reflects the recent demands of Luis Almagro, the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States, who recently called onmember states to pass a resolution calling on Venezuela to make democratic changes within 30 days or be kicked out of the group.   That resolution needs  two thirds of vote by members to pass.
    No comment from Maduro.

Brazilian Hamburgers Scrutinized

       A scandal has erupted in the beef business.  Seems inspectors were taking bribes at various locations of beef processing plants.  The largest beef exporter in the world was identified as the culprit.  It became known after information came out the tainted and spoiled carcasses were sent to foreign customers including China and Canada.  Shipments were halted and huge losses have begun to pile up.   The European Union has suspended imports of Brazilian beef.
     Now comes the campaign to reform the image of Brazilian beef.   Prime Minister Temer has made statements that the problems were isolated and violators will be prosecuted.   Hmmm.
     How does a country come back from institutionalized corruption?   Not easy anywhere.

Another Day, Another Russyan Murder by Kremlinistas

     Well, another political protester is eliminated.  A man protected by bodyguards is gunned down in broad daylight.   This is becoming a bit much.  It's one thing to be a victim in the shadow of the Kremlin; but to be victimized in a foreign capitol is an affront to the entire international community of nations.   But we seem to have a pattern of behavior here: oppose the Russyan hierarchy, and you are most likely to become a target, where ever you are.
      Denis Voronenkov, age 45, was gunned down in central Kiev by an unknown gunman.  His bodyguard, who returned fire and wounded the gunman, was himself wounded.   The action occurred outside the the upscale Premier Palace hotel when Mr. Voronenkov was exiting.   The gunman and bodyguard were taken to the hospital.  The gunman died; the guard is recovering.
      Mr. Voronenkov was a former legislator in Moscova.  He defected to Ukraine where he then became an outspoken critic of Mr. Mad Vlad Putin.   Despite having voted for the annexation of Crimea in 2014, he denounces the move as a mistake.   His defection embarrassed the Kremlin; and he later said he feared for his life.  Hence the bodyguard.   Prior to his legislative activities, he was a high-ranking official in the Federal Drug Control Service.   He had considerable information relating to various corruption schemes of Kremlin-connected elites.
       So, more of the same from Mad Vlad:  you better keep quiet or you're toast.   Pity the poor Russyan:  enslaved by a band of self-serving oligarchs and despots.  What a way to live in the Largest Country in the World. 

April 6, 1917: Centennial of US Involvement in WW I

    In about two weeks, when April 6th rolls around, the US will mark 100 years since we joined the Allies in Europe to defend the West against German aggression.  The war had been raging for several years already and it seemed that the Germans were on the threshold of victory over Great Britain, France, Italy, and Russia.  The isolationist movement had kept Woodrow Wilson from committing any troops to the effort.   But with violations of neutrality becoming routine, the President felt it was time to act.
     So,  2,810, 296  draftees were called up to serve in the armed forces, 73% in the Army.  Total served: 4,734,991(46% served overseas).   As the country begins to commemorate the service of men(and women) who participated at the time, various service organizations are contributing time and money to the effort.   Yes, it was along time ago.   Yes, much has happened to the world since.  But let us not forget the sacrifices of the few who not only served, but perished in a faraway place.
There is much statistical evidence of what the cost was in terms of lives lost among the casualties, and those lives forever altered either by being among the wounded or being among the survivors who would never forget.
More later 

March Madness Descends on Hardwoods Across the Land

   Round ball fans are being consumed by their passion(s) this week and in the next couple of weeks as colleges around the US put their best 5-man teams to the test.  Early favorites include the usual suspects: Duke, of course.  Gonzaga in Washington State, UCLA, Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina, and, and, Northwestern? Really.   Fans like a Cinderella story, but odds don't favor a Cinderella.
It makes for an interesting month as the NBA playoffs approach and pormer MVP Step Curry seems to struggling for the Golden State Warriors who actually had a losing streak this season that exceeded 2 games.
     Local advice: bet the favorite.

NPR: Supported by a Kremlin Favorite

       NPR, or National Public Radio, currently in the crosshairs of the Trump White House budgeteers, takes contributions/donations/ free money from a wide variety of sources.  Recently, one of their donor groups, identified on the air as such, is Kaspersky Labs, the Russyan cybersecurity firm founded in Russya in 1997.   Many of its employees, including its founder(s) are on Mr. Putin's "A" List of Friends of Vlad.  They hang out at the many Vodka Bars sprinkled around the Kremlin to take off the edges of bureaucratic malaise.
      The Washingtonian budgeteers are following Steve Bannon's dictates to cut the funding for a few liberal-supported causes: Nat. Endowment of Arts, Meals on Wheels, and natioanl Public radio, to name a few.   Perhaps one of his staffers mentioned the Mr. Putin's cyber spies were making contributions to NPR; maybe not.  But broadcasting support from Kaspersky Labs is a very "Red" flag among Trump White House staffers.
     I would suspect NPR will no longer maintain a relationship with Kaspersky Lab, especially after all the ink in the NY Times this past week following the Dept. Of Justice indictment of 6 hackers of the Yahoo data base.  It also follows the arrest of 1 of the 6 in Canada before he could flee to ................Russya to join his cronies in their vodka-drenched rat hole.

A Name on the Hacker Face

       The name of the Yahoo hacker is very familiar around the cybersecurity world.  He's a Russyan with a long history of crime and related criminal enterprises.   He's very adept at discovering system vulnerabilities and how to exploit them.
      Alexsey Belan is a 30- something who has been on the run since he escaped from prison after being arrested in Europe.   He set up the "cookie" factory that was used to access  30 million Yahoo
accounts.   he would find credit card numbers and then sell them over various dark web sites.   He was on the F.B.I.'s most wanted hacker list in 2012, or almost 5 years ago.   He was arrested in 2013 but escaped to Russya before he could be extradited.  Attempts to reach Mr. Belan for comment were unsuccessful.
     He's probably in the Kremlin, drinking vodka with his video game cronies. Yahooooooooooooo!

Profile of the Russyan Hacking team

   Who are they, really?  Kremlinistas, of course.

Russyans Indicted

So, now we know for sure: the Russyan spy authority, aka the FSB-Federal Security Bureau, aka The Kremlin, managed the hacking teams that did so much to damage the reputation of an American corporation-Yahoo.
     So, now we have the Justice Dept. naming names and pointing fingers.  Let's see the Old Colonel get around this one.  And the Trumpster, too.  Well, he's still trying to define "wiretapping" or his mouthpiece, Sean Spicer is trying to define something for somebody.
     A member of the hacking team was arrested in Canada before he could flee to join his co-conspirators somewhere in the largest country in the world where the word "gulag" needs no definition because everybody who lives in the largest country in the world understands what gulag means: long, slow, painful(torturous death).   Will there be a trial?  Of course.  Anytime soon?  Hmmm.  One can never be sure these days about a timely trial, even if the defendant(s) are Russyans.

Book Review: Elon Musk, biography

     Seems impossible to pickup a newspaper or search effort without finding Elon Musk somewhere in the course of that effort.  Who is Elon Musk?   American? No.  Canadian?  NO.  South African?  Yes.  Raised where?  South Africa.  Secondary education?  South Africa?  First trip abroad?  Age 17, Canada-alone, w/o supervision: teenage explorer.   Goes West, looks up uncle.   Works; works hard.  Decides on college in America; M.I.T.  Hmm. Likes computers; likes coding.   Does his own research.  Remembers everything.  Meets like minded folks.  Begins startup cycle.  Hits the big time.
How big is big?   Nobody knows where this run will go; but, the arc is long and getting longer.
       Tesla?  Making money, finally.   Solar City?  Maybe making money; expanding.   SpaceX?  Making money:  big plans for the future.   The only drawback?  One's imagination.
        His biographer realizes that this is an open-ended story.  There's more to come.  He promises the moon(Mars); electric cars for the masses @$35K; batteries that will change the world(see Giga factory, Nevada).   While he has accomplished much, he has detractors.  However they frame his personality, readers will understand that the man is driven, focused, and defiant of nay-sayers and obstructionists.   Experienced people said a private company could not launch a rocket, much less retrieve it(done).  Or provide a reasonable mission to the ISS(space station) and return safely(done).
     With Tesla S models zipping quietly around the neighborhood, and 350,000 orders for the Tesla family car, he's on a roll.   He's an example of entrepreneurial spirit.  He has thrown out the old commercial playbook, and created an entirely new book.  The old industrial order has been shaken to its core by one man: Elon Musk(with a little help from his friends).

Check out the stock price runup and the affect on his net worth.(2021, November).
Good read.
4 Stars

Snow :Again

   March: Spring, winter no more.  But, wait, more snow.   Winter: still here

Weekend Conditions:Homewood, West Shore

     Highway 89 is still closed around Emerald Bay.  Seems CalTrans will not reopen the stretch for awhile due to avalanche potential.   That's Ok for locals-who wants to chance that drive under these conditions.  Skiing around the Lake has been the best in decades.
Enjoy.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan Shoots Off His Mouth

      Just what the Middle East needs: a president without verbal restraint.  case in point: the President of Turkey accuses Germany of using "Nazi" tactics when it prevented demonstrations preceding referendum votes on constitutional changes that would grant Mr. Erdogan sweeping new powers.   Germany is home to 3.4 million emigrants from Turkey, the largest diaspora of its kind in Europe.   Prime Minister Angela Merkel of Germany issued a rebuke of Mr. Erdogan's statements.
     Relations between the two nations have been strained since the arrest in Turkey of a German/Turkish journalist in Turkey as part of a larger Turkish government effort to stifle media in general and journalists in particular.   This follows a crackdown in Turkey on tens of thousands of civil servants and teachers after a failed coup attempt in Ankara last summer.  The action also follows an agreement between the EU and Turkey to stem the flow of refugees from Syria and North Africa who have fled the region's war and turmoil.   The EU promised to pay Turkey over 5 billion Euros to set up refugee centers and care facilities for those from war-torn regions.   Turkey has given Turkish expats the right to vote and Erdogan has sought their vote.   However, Germany retains the right to control foreign intervention in political activities within its borders.
      Modern Turkey is wrestling with its current situation: is it a secular nation or will it revert to its former status as a religious fundamentalist theocracy.   With Mr. Erdogan at the helm, it appears that Turkey will have to endure his explosive decision making for some time to come.

Sergey I. Kislyak: Russyan Ambassador to USA

       Mr. Kislyak probably is not too happy about his recent publicity involving allegations that US Attorney General Jeff Sessions is on the public carpet for having had conversations with the Ambassador BEFORE Mr. Trump was elected.   The NYTimes has a nice article with all the details mapped out for a clear view of what went on among Mr. Sessions, Mr. Kislyak, and their various assistants and operatives from Trump's campaign staff.
      Mr. Kislyak is a career diplomat, representing his country through thick(now) and thin(old Soviet period).   He is highly educated with a degree from Moscova Univ. of Engineering Physics, speaks English well, w/ accents, and is considered brilliant by those who have worked or met with him in his role as Russya's No. 1 man in America.
     He is a staunch defender of the largest country in the world where the state sells and profits from home made vodka, where alcoholics are everywhere, and the economy is slowly imploding.  He is also obviously overweight and in poor physical health,  At age 66, one would think he'd take better care of himself; but, as we know, it only happens among Russyan Olympic hopefuls who are monitored by the drug pushers from the Kremlin.   We also know that last week, the Russyan ambassador to the UN, Vitaly I. Churkin, died of an apparent heart attack(?).  Was he unhealthy or unlucky?  We won't really know.   Mr. Kislyak could be at the UN next week.
     Locals in diplomatic circles say that Mr. Kislyak threw great parties.  He also presided over the 'dacha' in Maryland at Pioneer Point where he invited many Americans to relax and enjoy comforts provided by the Kremlin( no doubt more comfortable that a bunk in a gulag hotel).
    I wonder how he gets along with Gary Kasparov? or the late Mr. Nemtsov?
More later

Sweden and the Draft

      It has been years since Sweden had a draft: a government imposed obligation for military duty on all citizens.  But, times change.  And the geopolitical climate has changed, especially to the east of the Nordic countries, ie., those that border the Russyan 'Bear".
     Since Mad Vlad Putin has assumed control of the largest country in the world, he has exhibited irrational/ dangerous behaviors.  He has eliminated competition at home by all available means.  He has eliminated opponents abroad by assassination, and he has had  disguised troops invade a foreign country: Ukraine.   Now he has paid a price for these actions, slight as they may be- financial sanctions, etc., he has tightened his grip on his people.  He uses tactics learned while a KGB officer during the old Soviet period.
     Now Sweden looks around and realizes Old Man SAM might not be up to its promised NATO commitment.   A draft seems to be prudent, given Russyan military movements on the border of Finland and the Baltic States(Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania).
     Look for more such actions as reality takes hold in the USA.

Poor Russyans Suffer With Bad Vodka

    Way out east, near Russya's Pacific Coast, times are tough.   Locals struggle to make ends meet.  Some retirees exist on less than $130 per month.   This means they can barely survive.  One woman claims she can afford to eat regular food 1 week a month.  The rest of the time, she eats bread and butter, that's all.  It's a very sad situation in the largest country in the world, ruled by an elite crowd of oligarchs and insiders 6000 miles to the west, beyond the Urals Mountains, in European Russya.  Here one finds a different type of Russyan, far removed from their brothers in Irkutsk.  It is claimed that in Moscova, people dine on caviar, by the bucket full.  An obvious exaggeration, but a meaningful one at that.
      Since Mr. Putin, former KGB officer, took over, the life of the average Russyan has not gotten any better.   Many of these folks cannot afford good vodka.  They drink a watered-down version that sells for 1/5th the price of Moscova-controlled State vodka, with all profits going to the Kremlin.  Hmmm.  Nice work if you can get it.   Sadly, what has happened is that the poor, in their quest for relief through alcohol, have become victims of vodka scams: the black marketeers make up a batch of cheap rotgut vodka and sell it to thirsty peasants.  Unfortunately, poison is often included: no extra charge.  Just recently, there was a concentration of fatalities in and around Irkutsk.  Over 110 victims died of poisoned vodka.  The State(kremlin) is investigating.
      The outcome is unknown.  The surest bet is there will be more deaths as Russya's economy continues to shrink despite the USA's Nat. Air and Space Administration's $320 millions contract for 5 seats on a mission to the Space Station in the next 2-3 years.   Don't bring any vodka- might not be real.  Have a nice flight.