Ministers Meeting in Malibu

       The Mayor arranged a meeting over the past weekend in Malibu.  Our Minister of Latin American Affairs was in LA for a conference and we decided to take advantage of his time here.  The Mayor also arranged to have the Minister of Manufacturing attend at the same time.
       Much was discussed, especially the current situation in Venezuela, which is at the boiling point.  Maduro is on the brink of disaster as his presidency is being pelted from all sides whether its the high inflation, lack of food, high crime, or a disgruntled populace.   His tenure is in trouble, deep trouble, and business investment is completely absent.
     We also discussed Brazil and its ongoing investigation(s) into political corruption and malfeasance in office.  Pres. Temer is under increasing pressure from labor unions, bankers, and educators to get the economy going again.
      A fine time was had by all who attended the meeting(s), and we even had some time to explore the local beaches and restaurant scene.   At one local eatery, a popular movie star was sighted at the next table: Liam Hemsworth, the Australian actor currently connected with American Miley Cyrus.   He apparently has been surfing at some local venues, practicing his technique.   Of course, no photos were taken, but his dining companion was his brother, Luke, another actor.
      The Minister of manufacturing gave a presentation on current conditions in business, relative to increased interest in providing opportunities for more domestic production and manufacturing.   The first flight of a Chinese produced passenger jet aircraft was noted.  It was also noted that a good portion of the plane's components were made abroad.
     Driving back to Lake Tahoe was a breeze-road repair on I -5 was limited to a zone near Tracy and the 580 cutoff.