Seattle Liquor Stores Protest White House MOves on Russyan Consulate

     What's this?  A report from locals in Seattle report that a certain number of taverns and liquor outlets near the Russyan Consulate are sending protest letters to Foggy Bottom and Pennsylvania Avenue.   They seem to be upset that a large number of diplomats have been ordered to leave the country by the end of the week.  This shocking development will put a crimp in their sales of white goods, eg.: Vodka, vodka, vodka, and some gin.   Of course most of this issue revolves around the daily consumption of those same diplomats.
      No one doubts the necessity of ordering these folks back to the Kremlin where they came from.  This action is in response to the poisoning in London of a former Russyan spy and his daughter.  He is in critical condition, she is improving.   It is now believed they were poisoned at their home by a chemical placed on the front door.   A classic Russyan ploy to send a little message abroad.  Mr. Mad Vlad may have overplayed his hand in this case, given the worldwide fallout of the news.
      Sales of vodka are closely watched by the F.B.I. to assess consumption levels of diplomats.   Not difficult with Russyans- after working all day, listening to the junk from the kremlin, even I would need a drink, or two, or three.

US Treasury Department Readies Action on Chinese Investments

       Using a law that is designed to protect the US in times of national emergencies, the Treasury Dept. will us it to curtail Chinese purchase of strategic industries, companies, and products deemed to be part of the national security of the USA.  Included will be an array of technologies that have been mentioned as likely subjects to the new action.  Broadly speaking, the tech sector will be the most prominent area of action.   Beyond that, other areas will include energy, mineral resources, and various industries related to national defense.
      This has been talked about for a number of years, and has now come to pass after the Trump White House has seen fit to do the leg work.  The US Chamber of Commerce has been lobbying for years on this issue and its Executive Vice president just recently spoke on the issue, but also warned that it could go too far.
   We'll see how far it goes, if at all.

Vietnam Veterans Day-March 29th

    Today is Vietnam Veterans Day, signed into being by President Trump in 2017.  President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order in 2012 marking the day as such, but it did not outline a continuation of that honor.  It is now  so.
     Hence forth, today, March 29th, in the USA will be officially known as Vietnam Veterans Day to recognize the sacrifices of all those who served in SE Asia during that long ago conflict.  The day will also recognize the sacrifice of those affected family members: parents, widows, children, and siblings who dealt with the loss of loved ones among the 58, 000 service members who died there during the 10 years of the war.
     It is fitting and proper that we do so, to borrow the well known phrase from a famous personage(AL).

US and EU Countries Expel Russyan Spies

      Well, now, there's been some agreement among western allies that Russya has been behaving badly, again.   After the poisoning of two Russyans in England, it became apparent to any bureaucrat worth his/her salt, that the Russyans were at it again:  stirring the international pot by attempting the murder of two Russyan-1 a former spy and his daughter, a Russyan citizen in Salisbury, England.  Mr. Skripal, one of the victims, arrived in England after a prisoner exchange over 10 years ago.   This is getting to be a habit for Kremlinistas:  harm us and we'll find you.  There's no place to hide.
   Here's the list of countries that stood together to send a sharp diplomatic message to Mr. Putin and his cronies in Moscova:
US-60 spies(closing of Seattle consulate)
UK-23
Ukraine-13
Canada-4
France-4
Germany-4
Poland-4
Czech Rep.-3
Lithuania-3
Denmark-2
Netherlands-2
Spain-2
Croatia-1
Estonia-1
Finland-1
Hungary-1
Latvia-1
Norway-1
Romania-1
Sweden-1
         A Russyan spokesman said that the Kremlin will respond in kind shortly.  The list is expected to include the following names:
1.   Mickey Mouse
2.   Cinderella
3.   Bambi
4.   Tarzan
5.   Don Corleone
6.   Michael Corleone
7.   The Little Mermaid
8.   Moana
9.   Boris Spassky
10.  Igor Stravinsky
11.  Boris Yeltsin
12.  Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
13.  Nikita Khrushchev
14.  N. Lenin
15.  Martina Navratilova
16.  Maria Sharapova(doper)
17.  Sergei Magnitsky(sorry, he's already dead)
      More names I'm sure will be added as the Kremlin admin staff compiles the lists.
     Good luck

USS Juneau(CL-52): the Rest of the Story

     A little over a week ago, Paul Allen's research vessel  RV Petrel, using remotely operated submersibles, discovered the remains of the ship, sunk on November 12, 1942 by Japanese Naval Forces during the Battle of Guadalcanal.   She was heavily damaged when a torpedo fired by a Japanese destroyer exploded into her forward section causing a severe(12 degree list)  during a night action off the island.  The next day, while being towed near the USS San Francisco, also heavily damaged, she was struck by two more torpedoes intended for the San Francisco.  She broke up into 3 pieces and sank in less than a minute, taking most of her crew to the bottom.  After the explosion that sunk her, the other ships left the scene, assuming there were no survivors.   Unfortunately, there were an estimated 120 sailors in the water, hoping for rescue.  For 110 sailors, rescue efforts came too late.
Among the dead and lost were the 5 Sullivan brothers who were allowed to serve together.
       In a personal letter to the parents of the brothers, he expressed his emotions by explaining that no words could adequately salve their own grief.   Before the war ended in 1945, another ship would be christened THE SULLIVANS to honor the five brothers.
       Paul Allen's efforts discovered the pieces of the wreck in a deep trench off the island at a depth in excess of 10,500'.   Its exact location was not noted out of respect for dead crew members who went down with her almost 76 years ago as the Japanese attempted to expand their empire southward, hoping to capture Australia.
     It would not happen.   Another casualty during the Battle of Guadalcanal was Admiral Daniel O'Callaghan, a San Francisco native and a graduate of the Jesuit preparatory, St. Ignatius of Loyola.  Today, the school keeps his memory alive with the O'Callaghan Society, dedicated to citizenship and leadership.   The last survivor died in Iowa last year at age 90 years.

Matthew Turner Update

      The local tall ship, Matthew Turner, in the waters of San Francisco Bay since last April, continues to be outfitted by her crew of dedicated volunteers.

Catalonia Noise Makers Confront Reality

      So, Catalonians feel upset over the detention of Carles Puigdemont by German border officials as the former head of an illegal political group from Barcelona tried to drive across the border from Finland.   Thousands of Spanish citizens who supported the independence stand of a minority of Catalonians were displaying their despair.  Despair because they have come to realize the new reality:  the legal government of Spain has authority to quell a rebellion by a small group of disaffected locals.   Hmmmm.  Sounds familiar.  Often when a government tries to quell rebellion by talking and negotiating, things don't get better, only worse.  Maybe Mr. rajoy has learned this from history.  I hope so.  It will serve as a reminder to other groups in other nations.
      Mr. Puigdemont will now be returned to face the music and join his other friends in jail.  The left-leaning state of Catalonia will now settle down and become another respectable place for Spanish citizens to pursue life, liberty, and Rioja wine, and maybe a bull fight or two.  Not to mention Lionel Messi and Barce.
Viva Espangna.

EU Leaders Support UK on Position with Russya

   EU leaders met yesterday and issued a statement that support the UK's position that it is highly likely that the Kremlin was behind the poisoning of a British citizen and his Russyan daughter in the city of Salisbury.  Sanctions could be coming that will not please the newly elected dictator in the Kremlin, aka VoVa the Magnificent.
     Poor Mr. Putin, can't find a friend.  wait until all his oligarch friends have their accounts frozen in the City of London and all their condominiums are padlocked along the Thames River wharf.   Next will be a cessation of flights that originate east of Poland.  Then, the squeeze will start to take effect.  Then the former KGB master will take notice.  Then he will take his shirt off again.   Then he'll call Trump.  Then he'll call Bashar, then he'll call Yulia.  Then he'll call........................

Mr. Macron faces Off With France's Union Leaders

      The comforts afforded union members who work for the state in France have been a drag on the economy for generations.  The new president of France, 40 year old Emmanuel Macron, has put forth a new strategy of economic reform to modernize the labor market by restructuring the pay packages of state run operations, starting with the railways.
     Yesterday and today, union members have shut down railway operations in protests over Mr. Macron's plans to shakeup their pay and benefit packages.  Yea, Mr. Macron.  Finally, a man who is not afraid of confrontation to make significant policy changes that HE SAID HE WOULD DO.
So the unionists would have you believe that the end of the world is nigh. Their world: yes, maybe that gravy train at the expense of private workers' income taxes is coming to an end.  It's about time.  The primitive pay packages have led to a diminished economy over many years.  France is looking like its southern neighbors of Italy, Spain, and Greece, all hardly icons of growth and prosperity.  They reflect national policies that favor the few over the many.  Why should state run monopolies carry more sway over citizens than private risk takers?  A good question, surely.
    So, the media will delight in publishing photos of civil servants in the streets, protesting changes that will be made in their expected pay and pensions that the average taxpayer can hardly afford to sustain any longer.
     Right on, Mr. Macron.

McMasters: Gone

      Gen. McMasters, one of the Trumpster's greatest picks of last year, has been sent packing by his boss,  Sparky the Great.   Lucky him.  Now that he has asked to be retired fron his old job in the US Army, he can join us in the ranks of former military veterans.  The Old Vietnam warhorse can now shed some light on the 1 year of captivity among the select group of White House staffers who follow Sparky around the Belt Way campus.  This will certainly lead to further enlightenment for us all.  Well done, General.  Now don't follow that degenerate Steve Bannon abroad, that won't help anybody but your replacement.  Speak up, speak out, and refuse to disappear.

Tahoma: Rain

     Well, you can't have it all.  Weather today includes some rain, but, don't despair- more snow will follow by tonight or tomorrow.   Temperatures will fall late today, and the rain will turn to S-N-O-W.
Keep your boards handy, more fun days ahead.

Report From New Orleans

      Our Minister of Culture just returned from a quick trip down South to review goings on in NOLA.  The big event to be watched was St. Patrick's day and its parade(s).   Unbeknown to most of Americans,  St. Patricks Day is a big day in the Big Easy.  This goes back into local history when an Irish brigade came to town to help fight in a local conflict.  The support was much appreciated and resonates to this day among the local gentry.
      The end result is a mini-Mardi Gras style event.   Some regular krews turn out; a few motorized floats are seen; and many marching bands.  Locals like the vibe because it includes mostly folks from the parishes, not unruly tourists and college students on holiday.   This year the weather cooperated: gone was the rain that was forecast, to be replaced with sunny, warm weather.   As part of the experience,  a crawfish boil was held near Magazine St. for our Minister and friends.   It was a huge success.  The chef preparing the feast is a long time local who knows his way around the kitchen.  His name is Jimmie and he knows crawfish.  His "boil" includes not just mudbugs, but also corn on cob, local sausage, okra(if avail), onion, and a little pepper(not too much).
      Also on the list of places to visit was "The Parkway" for a Po'Boy sando: w/ fried oysters, please.   Another stop was "Fair Grounds", a local coffee house near the fair grounds race track.   The vibe has changed there since 2011, but the coffee remains excellent.   A stroll through Audubon Park marked the list as complete.  The return flight was delayed because of rainy weather in Oaktown, but our minister was not the worse for wear. 

Trump Sends New Message to China

      The White House announced that new restrictions will be placed on China and its foreign business practices.  Those areas of concern are in large part outside the domain of the World trade Organization, of which China is a member.  Trading practices of the 2nd largest economy in the world have been a source of conflict and concern for years, ever since they were admitted in 2001.
What to do?  What to do, has always been the question.
      First, trade negotiators will look at theft of intellectual property, a tried and true Chinese government practice through its state-owned companies.  Why buy a product if you can build your own version at home?   China has become expert in luring American owned businesses into partnerships that require the surrender of methods and techniques that come under the heading of intellectual property.  Soon, the partnerships are dissolved and the Americans are sent packing and now they face competition from China that produces its own version of the same product or service.   Not fair, and not covered adequately in the WTO Agreement(s).
     Second, flooding the markets with products that are sold below cost, subsidized by Beijing to put competitors out of business, thereby eliminating those very same competitors.  An old tactic, long recognized for its anti-trade results.
more later

Saudi Arabian King in US at White House

     In a message to Iran and other Middle Eastern players, King Salman of Saudi Arabia has visited with President Trump to firm up the relationship with the volatile Trump.   Given the lack of success in the Yemen conflict, the lack of a solution in Syria, and the emergence in Turkey of a hostile government ready to blow up past relations with its neighbors, King salman seeks a reset with its No. 1 supporter.
       Ad the US becomes a big player in the oil market place, those OPEC members who are in disarray need some stability to confront budget woes that could cause them to slip into recession that will aggravate tensions among the populous and cause more economic difficulties.
      Mr. Trump will succeed without even trying.  Just the meeting alone is enough to get the message out.  It is a deft political move on both parts.   Neither has to express anything earth shaking; just be there for the camera shot.  That sends the appropriate message to Vladimir, Bashar, Hezbollah, et.al.
well done, Mr. Salman.

Mark Zuckerberg: New Media Darling

    Facebook and its founder, Mr. Zuckerberg, have come under scrutiny this week after information was revealed that a sleazy British corporation sucked stored data from Facebook and sold it as their own to political campaigners in the US.   Cambridge Analytica has been in business for awhile, but does not have a good record for moral behavior or honest dealings.  It's the usual corporate stance: " We give our clients what they want".   Hmmmmmm.  So, the company's CEO, or King Scumbag, has resigned rather than face the music.  He'll slink back to some rathole from whence he came to rethink his moral compass or lack thereof.  Lying, cheating, selling whatever it can,  Cambridge Analytica represents the worst business instincts currently available.  Enter Mr. Zuckerberg.
     The EU will now descend on him and his company with a vengeance.  He'll be in front of legislative bodies trying to pull the wool over the eyes of media/internet novices who beleive that "something" has happened, somewhere, to someone(maybe a voter).
     It all comes down to Facebook's attitude about its billions of users: we own you!  We will use you for anything and everything that will help us turn obscene profits because we are a monopoly and we can do it.  Now shut up, and go to your Facebook page and give us what we want from you so we can sell it.

Snow

      Be careful what you wish for, always.   So, here it comes, falling down bigly.  Late winter, almost spring.   Spring skiing this year will be remarkable-one of the best ever.   rarely does it snow like this in March, but we are only catching up to normal.
      Several feet of new powder have fallen in just the last 36 hours.   This will push the most recent storm totals to well above 8' above the 7000' elevation.   Resorts in the basin are happy, happy, happy as the Easter break/Spring Break/ Ski Week approaches.  Just when you thought you could put the boards back in the closet, you must break out the wax and get to work.
      Resorts will chalk up the changing conditions to "mountain weather":  hard to predict, and always changeable. We welcome the latest developments as they give hope to long term residents that their decision to stay and enjoy a winter wonderland was the right one.
Thank you , Mother Nature.

Italian Elections: Winners and Losers

     So, what to make of this vote: national elections were held as scheduled.  The results were as predicted, somewhat.   There was no clear victor among the candidates whether in the Senate(Upper House) or the Chamber(Lower House).  Let's look at the parties and compare results for each.
                                    % of Vote          change from last vote
1.  5 Star                     32.22                      +6.62
2. Democratic Party   18.8                         - 6.50
3. La Lega                  17.69                      +13.59
4. Forza Italia             13.94                       -7.66
5. Fratelli d'Italia          4.35                        2.35
6. Free & Equal            3.38                        ------

      None of the parties commanded more than one third of the votes cast.   The 5 Star Movement, the right wing party founded by the ex-felon Beppe Grillo received the most votes of any party.  They succeeded mostly in the southern 2/3's of the country and the islands of Sicily and Sardinia.  In southern Italy, unemployment among the youth reaches almost 50%.   The 32% is significant, representing a 6.6% improvement over the last election results and almost double the closest rival.  This is a party that was founded by a comedian who made hay ridiculing politicians across the field.
      The Democratic Party(former Communist Party) reached 18.9% this time, a drop of 6.5%.  This could be the end of former Premier Matteo Renzi, the former Mayor of Florence in Tuscany.  The party was able to reach voters primarily in west central Italy, its traditional roots.  renzi will have to negotiate a coalition using his best efforts, but not many pundits agree on that outcome.
     La Lega(The League), formerly the Northern League(Lega di Nord) expanded its reach across the Po River plain, overwhelming all other parties in the industrial part of Italy where jobs are plentiful, and unions are not entirely in control.   Its improvement of 13.59% make its standard bearer, Matteo Salvini a significant player in any coalition negotiations.   His anti-immigrant position carries far in the south and in those areas directly affected by the sudden influx of refugees and illegal immigrants from Libya, Syria, and sub-Saharan Africa.   He was able to point to the failures of the EU in Brussels to provide any meaningful solution to the problem.   Just yesterday, the Italian navy seized a Spanish ship operated by an NGO that picked up a boat load of migrants that had set out from Libya, and had refused to return them to Libya as per an agreement with Libyan authorities.
      Forza Italia, the party of former premier, Silvio Berlesconi, took a beating, garnering only 13.9% of votes, a drop of 7.66%.  This will force the party to join another conservative/right wing coalition to maintain any suitable bloc in the parliament.   Mr. Berlesconi is still unable to run due to his conviction on tax evasion a few years ago.
     The Fratelli d'Italia Party gained ground but not in double digits.  It improved only 2.35% to 4.35%.  This ultra right wing group is still considered a fringe player among careful watchers of the elctorate; but its improvement indicates frustration of even that body of voters, small as it is.
     Last and least is the Free & Equal Party that showed with only 3.38% of the vote, its first significant collection since its founding just a few years ago.

The Possible Coalitions
        La Lega and Forza combined would bring a third of electors together, matching the 5 Star party by itself.

       The 5 Star M. and La Lega, both right wing conservatives and anti-immigrant could combine which could bring a 50% controlling bloc.  Many differences exist between the two, and it's not as simple as it might appear.

        A large bloc consisting of Forza/ Lega/ Dems/ and  5 Star could possibly be formed.  This would total almost 80% of the votes.  While possible, it would be too much to hope for among the disparate members of any coalition.

     Or, President Marterella could call for new elections, a distinct possibility.

65 year Old Dictator Reelected

      Vladimir Putin was reelected, again. Why?  Because he's Russyan and the vote was made by Russyans.  Case closed.

Protests Rock Iran

      Hmmm.  Seems the poliziei in Tehran have their hands full.  Full of youthful protesters who are tied of the sinking economy, tired of the lunatics in charge sending money to Syria, Lebanon, and other regimes while the unemployment rate at home is north of 24% and the future is looking grim if you are a young, educated Iranian with high hopes for a position that reflects their training and education.  A dozen deaths have been reported among the protesters.  This could be the beginning of the unraveling of the dictatorship overseen by some prehistoric mullahs who can't tell which direction the sun rises or sets.
     Meanwhile, the whole world is watching. more or less.  Depending if you live in Canada or saudi Arabia.

Funding Madness

      64 teams are given invitations to the tournament of the NCAA championship.  This is one of the biggest money machines in sports anywhere.  Hundreds of millions of dollars are collected by the NCAA for their coffers to distribute as they see fit.  How nice!  Unfortunately, none of this money makes its to the actors involved-those young men and women who spend years developing their skills, hoping to beat the odds.   The NCAA falls back to the position that the member schools offer valuable scholarships to these "student athletes".   Hah, nobody believes this charade at all.
      NCAA is nothing more than an "Old Boys" network, engineered to put $$$ in the pockets of academic elites and their cronies who administer the funds that allow campuses to put up ludicrous sports facilities to make generous alumni comfortable during the season du jour.  Paying coaches salaries in 7 figures is routine, while adjunct professors will never have a tenured position nor a salary they can live on.   Teaching assistants are routinely dealt with by working them to the bone while they hope to complete an advanced degree that will then admit them to the system they have grown to despise.   The NCAA sports machine generates almost a billion dollars to the organization.  It competes with the NBA, the NFL, and MLB, to name a few.  And all this wealth comes on the back of a very few talented young men and women who get nothing for their efforts except promises, promises, and more promises.   While in the clutches of these programs and their ministers, the players are subject to threats and intimidation. " You must practice on your time when I say so", goes the order.  If not, "No more scholarship, and you will be sent back to the poverty you left so willingly just a short time ago".   How many hours a week are required to "keep" the scholarship?  20 hours?  40 hours?   60 hours is closer to the norm.  How much time is left for classes?  For fun?  For serious contemplation about the future?  Not much at all.
      All the libs that populate academia hardly give it a thought.  They enjoy the reputation of "their" institution as it hits No.1 in the conference standings.   They love the "spirit" displayed by the undergrads who flock to the contests on or near campus.  "It's what college is all about".   Or so they think.   It is a sad statement of affairs across the landscape that has become increasingly foreign.

Election Day in Russyan Federation

    Who cares?  The Kremlin?  V.V. Putin?   he only cares if anybody shows up.   Rumors on the street indicate that the Navalny followers will stay away.   This will not affect the outcome one bit.  The outcome is a foregone conclusion:  VoVa will be the winner of his next 6 year term, putting him in power for another chance to redeem himself.  Fat chance.  Now he has to deal with his former friends in London.  The Old geographer, Theresa May has expressed displeasure with the FSB's recent murder attempt of a British citizen(ex-Russkie)/spy by gassing him in Salisbury, UK.  His daughter was also given some nerve agents, rendering them both incapacitated and hospitalized in critical condition.  Nothing new here.   Putin thinks it's still 1985 and he works for a fully functioning KGB.  He suffers from some of the same maladies affecting President Trump in North America.
     Pollsters in polls conducted by various kremlin -controlled outlets predict an 80% margin of victory if everybody shows up as predicted.  Hmmmmmm.  I guess the elcetorate likes what he's doing to their country, that is, making it an international pariah.  No matter where he leads these self deceived  folks from the Steppes, they always seem to step in it.
      This will put VoVa in power for the better part of 24 years. Hmmmm.  History usually does not treat such characters well.   Seems they have a tendency to get a little touchy after so long in power.  Folks also lose confidence in such individuals.  E

Not that cold here, says Vlad

specially if they are Russyans.

The Big Dance: March Madness Continues

      So, already: upsets-a #16 seed defeats a #1 seed.  Fans cry; fans cry out of joy.  Bettors despair; bettors are jubilant.  A 98 year old nun thanks the Almighty.  Teams pack to go home; teams pack to advance to another venue.   The Big Dance- money flows like water; money lines pockets, kids become men after consecutive halves define their futures, the lives they dreamt about; the dreams wrecked on the shoals of game, a game they've played since they were old enough to walk.  Now what?
      Under a spectators gaze, winners advance in pursuit of stardom; the majority, losers retreat into questions of self worth,  self doubts, broken promises and broken dreams.   Maybe the freshmen can say to themselves, " I'll be bigger and stronger next season, and I'll return to seek the olive wreath".  The crestfallen seniors depart facing an uncertain future, an empty slate, a blank page waiting for the first stroke of a pen to start the "rest" of a life.
      Loyola of Chicago: have you heard of it?  Loyola graces the name of more universities than any other.   The name is sprinkled around the states like confetti: big and small, they continue to crank out  graduates despite the increased costs.   They follow the dictum of a modern, Jesuit-inspired curricula that provides a foundation for a righteous life dedicated to improving the conditions faced in the world wherever life takes you.  Ignatius of Loyola, the Spanish soldier, lives on, guiding/molding, directing the lives of a nation of young men and women.   Now those same men and women are engulfed in fandom, books abandoned for the moment as their teams strive for celebrity and intense scrutiny by millions of gawkers and temporary supporters of the under dog.  Americans love under dogs.  While not just an American breed,  Americans cheer the loudest for the under dog, here most often called  " a Cinderella" team, named for the little Italian girl who transcended mediocrity and won the lottery at the Prince's ball where she upset tradition and won the final.   Cinderella.  Who doesn't love Cinderella?
     Play on.  To the victor..........?

Matthew Turner Update

close up of course yard connection made by Mayor of Tahoma

bow shot with course  and lower topsail yards in place February,2018

       The yards are being placed as we speak, with foremast getting all the effort at this time.  The two largest yards are in place as seen in the above photo.  The galvanized connector(s) are fitted andin place.  This is the key to the function of the course yard which will hold the bulk of the 7000 sq. ft. of canvas.  At 54' in length and weighing over 1000 lbs., the built up glue laminate Douglas fir yard will do the heavy work when the ship is under way on the open sea.  Last minute changes in the design placed sheaves internally at the yard arms to give the yard less bulk and less weight above the deck.  While taking more work, it was a design change that deviated from the original plans that had more closely followed the original drawing of 1897-8.
      The shroud lines can be see attached to the lower foremast at the platform and to the rails at the deck.  Next up will be the upper topsail yard and the top gallant yard.  This week, the main sail will be hoisted up and fitted to ascertain proper spacing for the remaining yards.
Stay tuned.  More to come as work continues below decks, especially in the engine space.

Steve Bannon in France

      Well, well, well.  Like a bad penny, Steve Bannon, former White House staffer/advisor to his client, President Trump,   he has turned up again.  This time in the European theater known as France.   he was there to give a talk(s) on his "populist" theme that appears to be sagging wherever and whenever he talks about it.  Photos of Mr. Bannon and former presidential hopeful, Marine La Pen, were splashed across international media as she sought to inject some air in the deflated message of her party, the National Front.  Like any defeated group, the National Front will float a name change in hopes of improving its image.  Good luck with that change.
      On the heels of La Pen's defeat, her 28 year old niece, Marachel, resigned from her seat in government.  Obviously, she, too, was stung by the lack of support among voters in France.  Mr. Macron is obviously delighted in the turn of events snce he assumed high office.  Mr. Bannon, meanwhile, is struggling to carry his message abroad.  Given his repugnant reputation at home, the old scoundrel with more money than brains, is traipsing about in search of anyone who will listen to his drivel.   Maybe he will he has a few more miles on his neocon legs, but it is doubtful he will enlist anymore supporters in the EU, let alone North and South America.
     he'll be home soon, scratching his head, asking himself,"What's a matter with these folks?  Aren't they paying attention?".   Sad, but certainly, the signs of dementia are everywhere. 

Italian Elections:2018

     The promised elections announced in the wake of Matteo Renzi's resignation last year have finally come to pass.  The March 4th election concluded a tumultuous campaign punctuated by a few incidents of violence as right-wing groups confronted left-winged groups in some urban settings, indicating growing unease among voters.  the elections came and went with outcomes close to those predicted by pollsters in the media.   No single party claimed a majority, leading to further uncertainty among the population.
     To examine the results, one must first look at the parties involved : all 9 parties for the camera dei deputati, and 7 for Del Senato Della Reppubblica.
For the Senate:
1. Movimento 5 Stelle(5 Star)
2. MAIE-con MERLO
Italiani All'Estero) Italians living abroad
3. Liberi e Uguali
4. PD-Partito Democratico
5. Europa
6. Civica Popolare
7. Lega; Forza Italia; Fratelli d'Italia
     (The League, Force Italy, Brothers of Italy
For the Chamber:
    all the above plus:
  1. Partito Repubblicano Italiano-ALA
  2. Free Flights to Italy

Stalin Biographer Rips Putin

      Political historian, Stephen Kotkin, reveals some ugly truths about the current situation with Mr. Vladimir V. Putin's government in Russya.  Mr. Kotkin has been studying Russyan politics and Stalin in particular for almost 35 years.  He knows his subject matter well.  He is currently a faculty member at Princeton where he has taught diplomatic and political history for 3 decades.  His interview in the Wall St. Journal is very illuminating.WSJ.  see page A11.

Boris Johnson and Russya

     So, the Foreign Secretary of the UK comes out threatening sanctions against the Red Menace of the East.  Well, well.  Has anybody told him how many Russyans live and hide in the UK?  Apparently, he has overlooked this minor inconvenience.  As PM Theresa May tries to engineer a BREXIT from the EU, this situation does not help as it exposes the vulnerability of an isolated Great Britain.
      The long arm of the Kremlin and its minions knows no boundaries today.  Be it agents on the move or hackers on the net, Russyans are continuing their role as the international pariah that has been its character for 100 years and more.  It seems to even the most casual observers that Russya cannot, will not, does not function in the modern world in any acceptable manner or fashion.   The root of this problem is deep and strong, owing to a self perception that has caused the Russyan government grief since the time of czars.
      When a country sends agents abroad to assassinate former citizens, it crosses all conventional methods of dealing with dissenters and former citizens.  Great Britain, like its cousins in North America, has provided refuge for Russyan citizens for decades, offering protections not found in other places(distance help).   It is a given that the Kremlin resents the Queen for providing this safe haven, but no doubt this legal position is not recognized by the Kremlin and its occupants.
     The world cannot accept such behavior, and will not.  Sanctions are already in place for other offenses(Crimea, UKRAINE, Olympics).  I suspect that the World Cup and F.I.F.A. will pull out before the tournament begins.  Then what, Mr. Putin?  Tears?

Russya: At It Again in the UK

      A man and his daughter were found dead in Salisbury, England yesterday.  People die all the time.  But here we have two Russyans, a father and daughter.  Seen minutes before at a shopping mall nearby, they were found unconscious on a park bench in their death throes.  Hmmmmmm.
      British security police are investigating the suspicious circumstances.  Mr. Sergei Skripal and his daughter have lived locally for several years.  He is the former K.G.B. agent convicted of spying ten years ago by a Moscow court and then exchanged for another Russyan wanted by the Kremlin.  This activity is becoming an international problem.  Russyans abroad are often the targets of reprisals from the Kremlin and its occupants.  Most recently, the head of the Kremlin is everybody's fave, V.V. Putin, or Vova to his cronies.   My, my.  Are we surprised?  Is anybody surprised?  Foreign Secretary of the UK, Boris Johnson, said that this activity, if found to be state -sponsored by the Kremlin, will be met with harsh sanctions.  Perhaps oligarchs will have to give up their homes in Kensington.
    We'll see.

Winter: Price of Propane

      Maybe you haven't noticed; maybe you have noticed the recent price of a gallon of propane.  This fuel is most common inside the  Tahoe Basin for heating, cooking, and general use.  It's still winter, for about 3 more weeks.  Normally, prices stay the same until well into springtime.  However, turmoil within the energy sector of the economy has disrupted the norm.  Oil prices have been moving wildly, rising and falling as market prices react to various inputs.  The US has now become a net oil exporter for the first time in decades.   Shale oil production has been the driver in the US turnaround.  But propane is a different product, and often responds more closely with the weather.  And weather looks to be the current market force of cause.
    The US west has had a mild winter; so, too, Lake Tahoe and Northern California.  Most folks prepare for winter here by ordering fill ups before the white stuff falls.  Where has the snow been?  Not here; gone, until last week.  With a significant amount falling locally, it appears that we will approach average for the season.   We shall see.  But at $0.76/per gallon @ retail, that should prove enticing for those who have seen their on site tanks depleted.  Fill up now; no point in waiting any longer.
That's right, $0.76/gal.  Of course, suppliers add on a little profit-$2.00/a gal.  Hmmmm.  Isn't that interesting.