Italian Election this Weekend

      Italian voters will go to the polls this Sunday, March 4th.  This is the promised election to replace the Premier, Matteo Renzi, who resigned last year after his plebiscite was rejected by the voters.  His bet that Italians wanted change was miscalculated.  They want changes, but not as much as he promised.  As an example of changes he wanted, he planned to reduce the size of Parliament which is composed of almost 900 elected officials in the Senate and Chamber of Deputies.  The costs of this huge body of lawmakers is extraordinary.   In addition to a salary of E250,000/ann, each  member enjoys a staff for the office and many other expensive benefits.  No wonder its so difficult to make changes.
    In the past week, violence has broken out in some cities as opponents on the right and left have faced off in demonstrations and counter demonstrations as the voting date approaches.  No candidate is expected to win a significant victory and as a result, another coalition government will be formed.
This does not bode well for the EU.  Italy has seen weak economic growth over the last 2-3 years.  While other member states have seen growth in the 2.5-3.5% range, Italy has only managed a 1.5% rate.  Unemployment is barely under 10%.  This is not good.  Not good for the Euro either as Brussels is dealing with the exit of Great Britain from the union.
      Italy needs change but lacks the leader to accomplish necessary steps.  Silvio Berlesconi has come back as the face of the Liga Nord or Northern League which is a populist party that supports restrictions on immigration which has overwhelmed provinces in the South of Italy, and has even extended to many in the North.
     Results could predict what will happen in other countries that have faced immigration issues related to refugees from the Syrian war and political upheaval in sub-Saharan Africa.

President Xi of China Likes His Job

      Well, no surprise here.  As his second term comes to an end, the President of China has engineered a sweeping change.  This change involves a rewriting of the constitution.  Instead of term limits, no term limit.  He could be president for life.  Hmmmm.  Who does this sound like?  Sounds like  ----yes, Mao.
      Does China welcome another supreme leader?  Like it or not, Mr. Xi has been astute in consolidating his power(s), and sidelining obstructionists to his plans.  The country has made extraordinary economic progress in the last 20 years, lifting  hundreds of millions of citizens up from extreme poverty to more comfortable living conditions, including health and education improvements for all.  The business climate has improved, but international trade is the one area where trading partners are most concerned.  Chinese state-owned companies have expanded overseas, investing in Africa and South Asia.  The country has also expanded into the Pacific Ocean western basin or the South China Sea.  This move has caused great concern among many countries on the rim.
     So, another Communist takeover.  This time, a takeover within a Communist country.  We'll see how this all plays out.  The short history of Communist countries does not speak well for an autocrat/dictator ruling over 1 billion citizens.
   The whole world is watching, Mr. Xi.

Winter: Finally

      Have you seen the weather forecast?  Snow is on the calendar=for days, or four days, if you will.
The jet stream, our old friend, has decided to drop in on us and deliver some much needed precipitation.  This will swell the hearts of those officials responsible for water resources and its allocation.  A fair amount of moisture will fall across the north state, and maybe some farther south.  How timely:  get ready for spring skiing-fresh powder, few tourists and visitors-no lift lines at all.  Wheeeeeeee.
      So, get the wax, get your boards and slats and hit it.  It won't last long, probably over before Easter Sunday, just a few weeks off.
Update on expected snowfall
     NOAA weather is predicting 3 successive systems will roll over the Sierra ridges over the next week.   Accumulation above 7000' could reach 48".  Certain areas could see quite a bit more.  This great news for the whole state of California.   This could relieve any seasonal shortages that were predicted, despite a low amount to date in the north state.

Ester Ledecka: New Olympic Heroine

      Well, you must admit:  she was genuinely surprised last week when she won the gold medal in women's downhill.  She came from behind to beat the listed favorites, shocking even herself(she wore no makeup at all!).   Standing beyond the finish line, she appeared calm and cool, even as spectators screamed over her victory.  When it dawned on her, she still couldn't believe her success.  A gold medal on two skis, not her strong suit at all.  Her real talent is in snowboarding, a completely different animal, so to speak.
     So when the snowboarding competition began, her status rose to the stuff of legends.  If she could pull off a win here, she would be the first woman in Olympic history to win gold in two different sports.  She did win that medal, defeating 4 other competitors in convincing manner on her way to history as another first.
Brava, Signorina Ledecka.

Russya: The Largest Country in the World:Land of Hackers and Cheaters

      Just when you thought it was over, it wasn't.   Doping scandals are here again.  Who's involved?  Swedes?  No.   Brits?  NO.   Chinese?  No.  Guess who.

Venezuela: Old Maduro Will Try Anything

      Have you heard of BitCoins?  Have you invested in BitCoins?  Are you nuts?  Are you a gambler?  Do you have money to throw down the toilet?  Apparently, some folks in Venezuela think the Bitcoin business will save the country from complete collapse and the following chaos.  Mr. Maduro, the certified nut case running things in Venezuela, thinks a local Bitcoin program will save his economy.   How sad.  The Nut -in-Chief probably read in the toilet somewhere that this is the path to riches and success.   Like all his other "programs" to return prosperity to this oil rich nation, this ploy will only add to the disaster that has accompanied everything this idiot has touched since he took over from the  previous nut case, Hugo the Fool.
       As his rule hastens to justify foreign intervention by the other sad cases in Latin America, the Organization of American States sits on its hands, using it position to do nothing but observe the situation from afar.  As desperate Venezuelans flee the country for Colombia and its shelters for food and medicine, the elected rulers (ha,ha,ha,) continue on the road to ruin.
     Thank you to Socialismo and its acolytes.  Welcome to the Western Hemisphere.

Vladimir: Say It Isn't So

       Just as the Olympics are ending, news came out that an athlete from Russya is being investigated for drug violations(blood doping, etc).  The individual probably assumed he was safe because the drug in question is not new, and has been around for many years.  Maria Sharapova is possibly the most notorious user of the drug which was developed by the then USSR in Latvia in 1970.  How sad, tripped up by using a domestic staple.
      Perhaps the Olympic Athletes From Russya(OAR in official parlance) think that they can do things like the Kremlin does: take over a country(Ukraine), take over a peninsula(Crimea), invade a country(Syria) and not face any consequences.  Not happening.
    What sport are we talking about?  Curling?  NO, come on?  Curling, with broom pushers sweating profusely as they dance down the line?   Ridiculous, if true.   But the investigation continues.
Say it isn't so, VoVa.

Canada and Germany: Tied

      Well, it's the Olympics-there are always surprises.  Surprise defeats, surprise victories, and the emotions that accompany all the surprises.  The chase for  gold, silver, and bronze medals keeps the audience focused on success for all the athletes.  Only a few reach the podium position to bask however briefly, in the limelight, enjoying the moment.  It's always a grand moment.
     In Korea this year, weather conditions were some of the best that have been shared by all participants.  Granted, many events are conducted indoors.  Quite a few are on the mountain and all the elements come into play.  One event, the bobsled, has many different elements: a fixed course, icy surfaces, and the clock.  This week, the men's two-man bobsled event featured some great teams.  Two of the best, Canada and Germany, have been there before.  One outlier was Latvia.  Latvia?  Bobsled?  Come on?  Are you kidding me?   So, Latvia makes an unbelievable run, and assumes first place.  The No. 1 Germany team can't best the time.  Then the No. 2 Germany team speeds to first place, shutting out their countrymen.  Canada is up next  for the last run.  They do not want to come in second, again.  With a terrific push at the start, the Maple Leafs hurtled down the shoot, holding the line and picking up speed.  It's going well and the elapsed time is ahead of Germany.  Near the end of the course, it looks like Germany may hold on for the gold.  And then-Surprise!  The Canadian sled trips the timer at exactly the same time as their rival from Europe.  It's a gold medal for both teams.  Latvia takes the bronze.  A classic finish made possible by exact timing devises. 
Ahhh, the Olympics.

Winter Weather

     Well, there's not much snow in South Korea either.  As we in Tahoma gaze on out lakeside landscape, we understand that this year is different.  Unlike the records of last year, we are seeing a complete reverse in circumstances for a snow bound season.  This will change today.  Cold air masses will descend on the state over the next week and bring down the temps.  Snow making machine will crank up and make lots of powder for y'all.
    It's President's Day weekend: enjoy the break.

Hacking University of St. Petersburg

The Watcher

       Well, children, it seems that certain folks in Washington, D.C. are doing their jobs.  Just last Thursday, indictments were handed out to a number of Russyans.  This group of 13 political operatives were working overtly and covertly to disrupt the US Presidential elections of 2016.  The narrow victory of Donald Trump shocked not only worldwide observers, but also Americans in general and Democratic voters in particular(not to mention Hillary Clinton and her husband, former resident, Bill).
      The sordid tale of state-sponsored dirty tricks by the hackers in St. Petersburg underscore the continued efforts on the part of the Kremlin to sow chaos in the West.  This sad attempt at improving the status of Russya worldwide in reality  only serves to highlight the social and political inadequacies of a nation, especially on the international stage.
   Let's look at the list of those indicted:
1.  Yevgeny Prigozhin, 56
2. Mikhail I. Bystov, 59
3. Mikhail L. Burchik, 31
4.Anna V. Bogacheva
5. Alexsandra Y. Krylova
6. Sergey P. Polozov
7. Marin A. Bovda
8. Robt. S. Bovda
9. Dzheykhun N.O. Aslanov
10. Irina V. Kavevzina
11/ Vadim V. Podkopaev
12. Gleb I. Vasilchenko
13. Vladimir Venkov

       So there's the list given to the press as part of the uncovering of the indictment in the US.  Who are these sorry subjects?  Why, just peace =loving Russyans who live in St. Petersburg and who are trying to make a living by hacking.  Hmmm.  Has anybody told them this type of work can harm others?
Let's have a closer look at those indicted.
     Yevgeny Prigozhin is an ex-convict.  He also sold hotdogs, lots of them.  That profession gave rise to his nickname-"Putin's Cook".  He's also received government contracts worth $3.1 billion dollars.  Not bad for a hotdog salesman.
Mikhail I. Bystrov, retired St. Petersburg police colonel.  His address is the same as the Internet Research Agency, a haven for cyberspies.
Mikhail L. Burchi, he was a subject of a NY Times Mag interview when he denied everythingrelated to the spy research agency.
Anna Bogacheva and her partner, Alexsandra Krylova, visited the US under false pretenses.  They traveled around the US, looking over many important states, such as California and New York.  Ms. Krylova is the No.3 person at the spy/troll farm.  She also is a former head of the Federal News Agency, a government controlled outlet for misinformation.
Sergey Polozov runs a company called Morkov, started in 2013.
Robert Bovda and Marin Bovda ran a project involving social media sites, employing hundreds of people, and spent $1.2 million a month by July, 2016.
Dzheykhun Aslanov was in charge of American section at the troll farm.  He's a 20-something.  Records indicate he funneled money to the troll farm from an organization called Azimut

Winter Olympics:2018

     South Korea is in the spotlight today as opening ceremonies will be conducted in PyeongChang, South Korea.  Thousands of international athletes will descend on the site in their quest to earn a gold medal and fame and fortune.  Highlighting today's event will be the group of athletes from the largest country in the world :Russya.  These athletes are not allowed to represent Russya because of an IOC ban that took effect before the Games began.  In a half-hearted way, the committee allowed the athletes to participate, but only as individuals FROM Russya.  This situation was meant to penalize Russya for its doping scandal activities at the last Games in Sochi in 2014 when the drug testing lab, supervised by Russyans, was compromised by an elaborate scheme meant to thwart procedures in place to detect banned drugs in blood samples provided by athletes entered into competition.
     In video reporting last night, there appears to be sufficient snow for the events and the cold weather is appropriate for the place.  Security is tight.  The North Korean athletes have arrived amidst much controversary.  Kim Un's sister will represent the government of this oppressive dictatorship run by her brother, a notorious murderer and cruel leader who represents the worst mankind can produce.  he ranks up there with other notable dictator/murderers: Mao Tse Dong, Josef Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Pol Pot, Gen. Franco of Spain, and the Ayatollah of Iran.
     Figure skating competition has begun, along with downhill racing and team skating.  Event guides are available for all Tahomans across the internet.  Watch it.

Chinese Government Hold Swedish Citizen

     In a bizarre case of international crime, the Chinese Government have taken a Swedish citizen from abroad and put him in Chinese prison.  He was born in China, but became a Swedish citizen in 1996.  However, the Communist government of your favorite Chinese peoples, have decided that when Mr. Gui was a publisher in Hong Kong, he sent printed material to the mainland that made accusations of corruption among high Communist officials, much of it salacious material depicting a rough trade in sexual favors handed out to these same officials as part of the bribes offered to them by various state-owned businesses.
     Hmmm.  Makes you want to visit China doesn't it.

Space Ex Success

      The tension in Florida was heavy as visitors waited for lift off of the Falcon Heavy.  But all went well and the launch was an unqualified success.  The two booster engines landed upright as planned and the Tesla roadster is now in orbit and will end up near Mars in the distant future.  Skeptics were silent as Elon Musk touted his space business and it s future.  More launches are planned and buyers of his services are lining up.  Could be the world has a new idol to follow-a new "rock star" like Justin Timberlake or Justin Bieber or Just In Time.
     Jeff Bezos will also take note and push his space company to get the lead out.  NASA will also take note as to how inexpensive the Musk effort was compared to their costly efforts over the years.  A new urgency has opened the space program due to the Musk dream and Musk effort to reduce costs and provide a new guideline for exploration.  The talk of a new lunar colony is on the lips of many scientists and dreamers.  mars could be on the table within 5 years.
     Tourists could be going around the moon by next year.  It could be you.

Mr. Putin in Volgograd

   Seizing headlines is nothing new for Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, leader of the largest country in the world.  So, on the 75th Anniversary of the Russyan Army's victory over the Nazis at Stalingrad(now Volgograd),   Mr. Putin appeared at the memorial site to place a floral wreath commemorating this signal moment.  The Russyan Army and local civilians suffered over 1 million casualties during the 6 month siege battle.
     Mr. Putin is up for re-election next month, looking for another 6 years of power after 17 years as the living head of the largest country known to man.  The photo op was not missed by his detractors nor by his supporters, such as they are.   I'm surprised he kept his shirt on during the wreath laying part of the process.  I'm sure he wanted to, but was advised by his Twitter followers to keep it cool and on the low down.
     I wonder what Mr. Putin will do to bolster his image over the next month: annex Poland?  Annex China?  Annex  Alaska?  I'm sure there are Russyan supporters in Sitka, Juneau, Kiska, Attu, Kotzebue, and the Kenai.  Maybe the locals in Alaska would support a Russyan annexation.  That way they wouldn't have to put up with the EPA and its efforts to close down the Pebble Mine Campaign.
     Keep a look out for more campaign fotos of Vova.

Price of Propane Plummets

      For all Tahoma residents and the population in general that uses propane for heating, etc., the retail price of a gallon of propane hit $0.76 yesterday on the open market.  This fall in winter pricing is, to say the least, unusual in early February.  Normally, seasonal highs would be about now, but weather forecasters predict a continued warming trend for the month, even as the days get longer.
     Most of the precipitation and cold weather has been thwarted by a dominating high pressure zone over the western states of Nevada, Utah, and California.  The rain and snow has been falling on Washington state and Oregon, and Idaho, Montana.  Oh, well.  We know Mother Nature is fickle.
     So, if you need some propane, go for it.  Prices have dropped from $0.99 to $0.76, almost a 25% drop.  Spend some of that savings on yourself.  You deserve a tax cut and this could be it.

Space X Rocket on the Launch Pad

       Well, Musk-Man(Elon Musk), has his reputation on the line again this morning.  He is launching the the Falcon Heavy rocket with a test payload to verify all the design factors that have contributed to the vehicle.  It is the largest of his rockets to date and is designed to deliver a 70 ton payload.  It is similar to the Falcon 9, first launched in 2010.   This model adds two rocket booster engines attached at the sides(see diagram).

Falcon Heavy-red label 70m Tall

      Depending on the weather today, Tuesday, February 6, 2018, the exact time of liftoff will occur in early afternoon.   The test specifics include an effort to have the rocket boosters return to be reused, thereby saving huge amounts of investment dollars.  These booster motors don't have nose cones and their performance is questionable on the return.  Engineers will also be looking for minor glitches that can be fixed before the next launch(s).   It is noted that a Tesla roadster will be on board as a mock payload.   The rocket motor and boosters are designed to return and land vertically to ensure viability of the vehicle's future.   Some experts predict a last minute postponement due to the complexity of the various new system on board.
     Good luck, Elon.