Propane Prices Plunge

     Is it time to fill up the tank?  Apparently, propane prices dictate that it is time to get ready for the winter in Tahoma.  Prices have declined over the last month from $1.20/gal. to  $0.85/gal.  Trying to anticipate changes is a fool's errand, and the reality is before us: a nice price drop at the right time.  Go for it.
Buying Firewood
     Every fall, I like to remind our Tahoma friends that a word of caution is in oreder when orderinf wood for your winter supply.   Various suppliers take advantage of this time period and offer many choices.  However, all of them have one constant: they sell by the cord.
      What is a cord of wood?  By definition, it is a volume metric that is defined by these dimensions:  8'X4'X4'= 128 _cubic feet.  Cubic is the word.   This feature of the word "cord" is what causes problems.  The measurement is not nominal, as in a 2"x4".  It represents the actual measurement.  The definition also includes the statement: tightly packed.  Split longs usually have 2 flat edges, joined in a "v" shape.   These pieces are conveniently packed together.   The pieces 'should' be 16" long to achieve the 4' dimension.   This is another area of suspect behavior.  More often than not, the pieces are less than 16", usually 15" to 13"-14".  From the beginning, then, a stack of pieces less than 16" in length will not make up the 4' measure.   The other big issue is delivery.  Unless the supplier shows up with wood stacked in the truck, tightly packed, there's no way to know if you are getting the cord you paid for.   Until it is stacked on your property, you won't know for surehow much was delivered.
     So, be aware of these situations as you pay out $425/CORD for wood this year. 

Germany Searches For New Leader After Merkel

     So, now Germany faces a leadership change:  Angela Merkel, who has led the German nation for over 13 years, will not run again after section defeats for her party.  This was not unexpected, as sentiments shifted against her policies over the last two years.  Much of the changes came on the heels of her widely publicized acceptance of hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees who sought safety in the EU as they fled war  and repression from the Assad government's civil war.
     An election will soon be held and three candidates have already appeared on the list.  First on the list is Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer,, the former head of the state of Saarland.  She is the current  secretary-general of CDU and is popular in the party.  She is often referred to as mini-Merkel.  The second candidate is 38 year old Jens Spahn.  He is the current health minister and the most polarizing of the three.  The third candidate is 62 year old Friedrich Merz.  He is part of the more conservative wing of the CDU.   He is an opponent of multiculturalism and might appeal to that group of conservatives in the party.
     Ms. Merkel says she will stay on until general elections in 2021, but this could change as many important decisions in the near term just might bring a call for earlier voting.  The issues facing the EU, including Brexit and immigration, have brought changes in many other EU nations, including Greece and Italy.   France's Pres. Macron is also treading lightly as opposition to his economic policies are opposed by more of his support base.

NY Yankees Sick Over Series Outcome

      After losing the longest game in World Series history(18 innings), the Boston Red Sox demonstrated their quality and resilience.  They didn't lose another game, and they beat the Dodgers on LA's home turf 3 games in a row to win the Series match up.  The final game was won by veteran pitcher David Price who can now add World Champion to his resume.  He won 3 games during the playoffs and was a standout in the finale, going 7+ innings, holding the Dodgers to 3 hits.
    His focus and his performance elevated the game for his teammates who lauded the athlete with superlatives usually reserved for singular heroes.  Of course, he had help.  Seasoned veteran pitcher for the Dodgers,  Kershaw, gave up 3  one-run homers in the final game, giving credence to Boston's balance as a team: pitching, hitting, and defense equals victory(s).
    A word about Red Sox defense is called for.  Some of the plays resulting in outs at critical points during play remain memorable.   The strike thrown by right fielder Mookie Betts(league MVP) to throw out a streaking Dodger runner will be replayed for years  to come.  The long ball to right field was chased down by Betts who turned and threw the ball on a line to the second baseman who placed the tag on the sliding runner for the out.   What a delight to watch that play!  Additionally, a catch by left fielder Benintendi spoke volumes: a deep flyball came off the LA hitter's bat and looked like extra bases, at least a double.   Benintendi, at full stride, dove to the ground with glove hand fully extended and caught the ball.  LA fans sat down and assessed their fate:  the Red Sox came to play.
     So, maybe next year for the Dodgers; and maybe next year for the Red Sox.  First year manager, Alex Cora, will be hard pressed to repeat as history illustrates how difficult that is to do.  A look at past winners, such as San Francisco in 2010, 2012, and 2014, demonstrate those difficulties, even with proven talent.
     See you in April, 2019.  

Election Tomorrow in Brazil

     Will another populist be elected in Latin America tomorrow.   Brazilians go to the polls to elect a new president and settle a runoff ballot between 2 candidates: one front the traditional left and a new candidate from the right.  Don't miss this one.  The largest economy in Latin America sets the tone for all the rest of the near neighbors.

World Series: Red Sox 2 wins; Dodgers 1 win

     The Mayor fell asleep; not for lack of trying, but after 7+ hours of baseball, I had had enough.  So, in the bottom of the 18th inning, the longest game in World Series history finally came to an end with a walk off home run by Muncie of LA.  The seats were mostly empty at this point, but die hard fans got to see the home team save the locals the embarrassment of going down 3 games to none.  few teams recover after losing 3 games to start a Series.  But a 2-1 situation makes competition much more intense and much more likely to produce good results.
      We'll see if the long game as holdover effects tonight.  Game 4 at 5:05pm.

Who is Elena Alekseevna Khusyaynova?

      What a mouthful!  Great handle.  A new accuser of Brett Kavanaugh?  A former girlfriend of The Orangeman?  A new Democrat candidate for the House midterm elections?  Oh, wait.  Don't associate her with anything having to do with elections.  She's been fingered by US authorities as the central figure in an organized effort to sow discord among voters here in the No. 1 favorite country in the world.  Where is she from?  Why, St. Petersburg, Russya, of course.  Mr. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin's fave city on the Baltic Sea way out in western Russya, almost a stone's throw from New York City.  In a front page article in the New York Times, the 44 year old was called out as the Chief Disrupter of a P-L-O-T /campaign of  "information warfare" to interfere in American elections.  US federal prosecuters unsealed charges against her calling her " chief accountant" of the organization.
My, my.  Will the Kremlin ever behave?  Sure, it's part of geopolitics, but come on, tone it down, Vova.  What good does it do to the failing Russyan economy when sanction fall like rain over your own efforts?
More later

World Series: Boston 2 wins, Los Angeles 2 losses

       Today is a travel day for professional baseball as both teams in the World Series fly west to California where they will play at least two more games.  It could go more; they could play 3 games and then return to Boston, but the Dodgers will have to overcome lethargy and subpar performance in all areas from pitching to defense.
      The Red Sox have displayed their remarkable talents across the board.  Defense, the oft overlooked component of success,  has received high marks as exceptional effort has been captured on camera several times.  The Sox habit of coming from behind to win typifies a "can do" attitude that bolsters the morale of all members of the teams.  Down 2 runs, no problem.  We'll come right back.  And they do.   No matter the counter moves by the Dodgers, the Red Sox hitters put the ball into play and the base runners scamper around and come home to erase a temporary deficit.  These efforts spell continued problems for Los Angeles.   Will coming West change the chemistry?  Tomorrow we will see immediately if the home team can rebound and give the locals something to cheer about.
      The trend line is clear:  it will be an uphill struggle for L.A.
An Aside
     Golden State Warriors superstar, Steph Curry, had a big game last night: he scored 51 points in 3 quarters, hitting 1 three after another from many different positions.  The fans love it, Curry loves it.  He appears over his injury that benched him for most of last season.  Watching this athlete play is pure joy.  May it continue.

Wells Fargo: A Criminal Enterprise?

      So, Wells Fargo paid a fine this year in excess of a billion dollars for opening accounts of customers who didn't want those accounts and didn't open them to begin with.  Wells personnel thought nobody would notice.  Well, some did, and the Comptroller of the Currency did to.  Since the bank paid the fine,  various overseers have kept up scrutiny of the bank's operations.  Sadly, it was reported that changes in bank policies were not forthcoming as required/promised.
     Two senior bank executives were shelved when they both received personal(as in addressed directly to them) letters advising them their efforts were substandard and the problems had not been corrected.  Hope Hardison, chief admin officer, and David Julian, chief auditor, were placed on leave by the bank board.  The OCC letters sent to both of them expressed concerns about their ability to resolve long term, identified problems related to marketing retail products.  Kim Bordner will become chief auditor.  David Galloreese, human resources, will report to Mr. Sloan and will join the operating committee.  Jim Rowe head of stakeholder relations, will also report to Mr. Sloan.
     So, the "too big to fail institution" is stumbling along, trying to right itself from continued inherent problems brought on by its size.  This institution operates as a bank, but its actual business model is a confusion  of roles, goals, and business methods.  The Federal regulators are likewise confused as to what exactly they are regulating.  Is it a customer oriented retail bank?  Is it an investment bank?  Is it a corporation that is inept in all these roles?  Is it time to rethink Federal oversight in its present form, that is, an institution that must follow rules established by the US Treasury, by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, by the Federal Reserve, by the Congress, by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and by individual states where they conduct branch business.  While many banks do flourish under these regulators, Wells Fargo cannot seem to get it right.
      Perhaps they should relocate from the city of San Francisco.  Perhaps the location alone is a cause of the problems, as executives survey the local landscape and see company after company achieve startling valuations based on emotions and whimsy.   The future of Wells Fargo rides on a stagecoach driven by a group of teamsters who have lost the road, and cannot divine the way back to that road that leads to prosperity and success.

Bone Saw

      Who travels abroad with a bone saw in his luggage?  Why a Saudi diplomat, of course.  Never know when you 'll have to perform a bone adjustment on a patient.  So this instrument was among those noted by Turkish intelligence officers when they scanned the luggage of the large Saudi group of individuals who traveled to Istanbul to meet other Saudis at the consulate.
      Those Saudis.  They think they are cool; they think they are smart;  they think the world is stupid and really could care less as long as Saudis provide oil as necessary.
     But, oh, the abuse.  Is it worth it, King Salman?  How do you like being scorned as a ruthless murderer?  Can you talk with the Crown Prince about anything?  Or is he out of control?
Time will tell.

Who is Otto Fuchs? What Does He Do?

      Otto Fuchs, sounds German to me.  And it is!  Mr. Fuchs founded an aircraft manufacturing company in the western region of Germany many years ago.  He had expanded his company through hard work, good leadership, and producing quality work and quality products.  In 2003, Mr. Fuchs wanted to expand into the lucrative American defense manufacturing sector.  But he could not without owning an American subsidiary.  He found a company in Southern California that needed an influx of cash and a larger management team.   He found that company in Paramount, California, near Long Beach.  This company was in close proximity to a Boeing plant where they did a fair amount of business.  This was exactly what Mr. Fuchs wanted.  After careful negotiations, he completed the purchase.
      To compete worldwide, the company needed an edge.  Leadership decided to invest in infrastructure and equipment.  After scanning the competition, Mr. Fuchs decided to build a machine in California that would give the edge needed.  The decision was made to construct the largest hydraulic forging press in the Western Hemisphere.  This press is designed to produce 60,000 tons of pressure on a 36 sq. foot ram.  It would cost about $13 million dollars and take 3 years to design , build and put into place with all the sub-functions on the site.  Fortunately, the site had surplus acreage that could accommodate the size of the machine.

hydraulic press: 60,000 ton cap.(above grade portion)

      The component parts would be made in Germany under strict controls.  Given the location of the site close to Los Angeles harbor, transport considerations were included as part of the final design.  Several contractors in logistics were part of the team used in the process from the start.  Special trucks had to be built to handle the parts as they arrived in California.  Although the trip from ship to site was not long, it was not without challenges.   Heights and weights were in the fore as engineers calculated necessary routes to deliver the massive pieces to be assembled on site.

inside view of 60,000 ton hydraulic press

        Of course, the entire apparatus is computer controlled.  The lead programmer is now the head of operations to ensure quality and to provide expert oversight of all production with this press.  There exists in the world today two other presses with the same capacity.  They are in Europe.

titanium strut-rough-first piece of material forged from press

     This piece of titanium will be machined and trimmed down to about 1/2" thickness before attachment to landing gear strut of large aircraft.  Piece as is weighs about 400lbs.
     Our Minister of Manufacturing is very impressed with the Fuchs Co. and its willingness to invest in the company's future.  This will greatly aid in its ability to  compete in world markets.

Tahoma Residents Take USDA Forest Service to Task

       In an outpouring of response,  residents in Tahoma, Homewood, and Rubicon Bay have responded to a request for comments about a plan to remake the Meeks Bay harbor located on Highway 89, on the west shore of Lake Tahoe.  The department is seeking input from local residents regarding the future of Meeks Bay resort and boat harbor, closed now for over 3 years.  The reasons for closing have been obscure, and responses from the USFS have been opaque at best.  The lessee on site, the Washoe Indian Tribe of Nevada, has been a target of locals for its mismanagement of the resort that has left the resort in a poor condition.
      Recently, the Truckee/Tahoe Sanitation District has added an extension of the bike path from Sugar Pine State Park north of the resort down to the entrance driveway of the Meeks Bay Resort.  This multi-million dollar effort will expose the many deficits found in the tribe's efforts to operate a profitable, seasonal resort.  Many residents who have responded to requests for comment and have highlighted the many deficiencies of the resort's management.  One comment goes far back to the beginning of the government's purchase of the site in 1978 using taxpayer funds. 

Saudi Crown Prince Party's Hardy at Conference

    Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, one of the sons of the current Saudi King, appeared at the much touted international finance meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  he arrived in the afternoon and sat next to King Abdullah II of Jordan.  Later he walked among attendees with Prince Al Waleed bin Talal, the billionaire Saudi investor who was imprisoned last year by the Prince and forced to give up financial gains accumulated over many years of business activities.   We now know through the efforts of President Erdogan of Turkey that the Prince was involved in the operation that involved the murder of Saudi national Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2nd.  The fallout of this event follows the Crown Prince wherever he goes.  US Treasury Secretary who attended the event, stated that the investigation will continue with Saudi Arabia and Turkey taking the lead role.  The cloud hanging over the Saudi government will further damage an already shaky reputation not just in the Middle East but in the financial world where Saudi oil dominates many economic systems.
        US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that action has been taken against 21 Saudi officials believed connected to the murder in Istanbul.  In addition to visa restrictions, other actions are involved against those involved.   The Saudis included those from intelligence services, the royal court,  the foreign ministry, and other departments in the government.
     Meanwhile, the price of oil has dropped significantly across the world.    

FireEye Reports on Hacking by Russyan Org

      FireEye, a cybersecurity firm, has made public the hacking activities of a organization located in Russya.  The firm announced that hackers were able to infiltrate the safety systems found in a Saudi petrochemical plant.  It was a malware intrusion, or a planted bug using computer code to alter code found in the resident system.  The system is called Triton.   This malware was identified before but now it was attached to Russyan hackers and their parent organization located in  St. Petersburg in the western area of the largest country in the world.  Experts identified the attack as an attempt to takeover emergency shutoff controls used in the event of a catastrophic event.  The hacking was supported by the Central Scientific Research Institute of Chemistry and Mechanics located in Moscow.  The malware was part of the work associated with a group named TEMP.Veles and a specific professional, unnamed, who works there.
      the French business that makes the shutoff systems found the malware program, known as Tritonix, was able to take control of the system.  It was able to do this by leveraging an unknown bug in the parent program.
      The Kremlin denied involvement, calling the accusations 'preposterous'.   John Hultquist, director of intelligence at FireEye, said the Russyan government was heavily involved across the board.  So it seems we have more evidence of the Kremlin's efforts to disrupt not only government institutions worldwide, but also industrial operations in key national locations.  These efforts have been seen not only in Saudi Arabia, but also in Ukraine and the US.
     Welcome to Putin's world.  His world is the world long gone: the former soviet union of socialist republics of Josef Stalin.

The World Series Begin in Boston: Red Sox v. LA Dodgers

       So we have a great national matchup:  East Coast versus West Coast.  It's a dream match up: both teams in big markets with big name recognition.  The Dodgers returning after losing last year's series to the Houston Astros.  They haven't won a Series in 30 years.  Boston has beaten the 'Curse' now several times, the most recently in 2015.  So, the Red Sox win Game No.1, 8-4.  Sox hitters tapped starter Clayton Kershaw for 2 runs in the first inning, the first time Kershaw has done that.
     The heavy hitters of the Sox came through while the Dodgers hitters couldn't produce enough to overcome the Boston gang.  Tomorrow will be another story.
Tomorrow:
David Price v. Ryu: good match

The Taiwan Strait Update

     So, the US Navy sends two ships into the straits that separate mainland China from Formosa.  The Nationalist Chinese claim independence from Communist China.  Communist China claims that Taiwan is a breakaway province that illegally occupies the offshore island.  As a result of this posture, the Chinese claim those international waters as their own.  here we go again.  Seems lie only yesterday the TAIWAN STRAIT WAS THE PLAYGROUND OF THE US 7TH FLEET: THE LARGEST, MOST POWERFUL ARM OF US FOREIGN POLICY.  Those days are long gone, however, never to return.  But, with the passage of these two frigates, the US is stating that it will not yield the accepted definition of international waters and the Law of the Seas.  China will not be able to roll forward on its plan to expand its sphere of influence as it has in the South China Sea.  It's a game of cat and mouse: a game with a high profile as nobody can hide anywhere these days.   This is a different game than those economic games that have dominated the headlines for months.   Just today,  farmers in North Carolina that produce tobacco for export were complaining about the 35% tariff China has imposed on their crop.  China is the largest consumer of American tobacco with over 350 million smokers countrywide.  Can you imagine: how many deaths will occur in China as these smokers succumb to diseases directly connected to their smoking?  Maybe the Chinese government is embarking on a health improvement program: stop imports of tobacco-save lives by the millions.
Time will tell: maybe the US Navy will start delivering cigarettes when they pass through the Straits again? 

Saudi Smoke Screen or How to Spin a Palace Ordered Murder

       President Erdogan of Turkey is having a good time on behalf of the royal family of Saudi Arabia.  He has trickled information to the world press discovered by his operatives and intelligence services related to the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.  No doubt the lamps are burning late in Riyadh.
      How does a national leader behave like this?  When he has grown up without restraint; he has been given everything; he feels he is entitled to anything and everything; and nobody is allowed to dissent or restrain his whims.  So his stable of yes men tell him this is a good move.  They make the plans, they put it into action and pat each other on the back as their target is murdered; packaged up in pieces and taken back to Riyadh for further disposition.   What was the Prince thinking?  He wasn't: he's a wacko.   How sad.  The king is now questioning his decision to turn over the crown to this nut case.   Not much will happen because of the tepid response by the Orange-haired Cookoo in the White House.  
      Perhaps the Congress will act.  Ha.   Maybe the Democrats will force some action:  maybe Dianne Feinstein will take her judiciary committee position and ask a few questions.  Maybe her sidekick Kamala Harris will jump into the fray and call for the closing of the American Embassy?  Ha.  Don't hold your breath:  won't happen, not these two has-beens.   Maybe the European Union will take the House of Saud to task?  Naaa, too wtapped up in Brexit/Grexit/ Italexit, etc.   Maybe Russya will call for an investigation: Ha!  Maybe Premier Xi JP of China will show some spine: Ha-needs too much oil.   Maybe President Assad will ask for more information-another Middle East joke.
      Let's see:  Iran.  What will they do in Iran?  Nothing or less.   How much will the Saudis give to the family of Khashoggi?  10 millions?  2 millions?  1 oil well?  A Mercedes Benz?  Who is Jamal?  Oh, he used to be a Saudi himself.  But then, he moved out, feeling threatened by the King/Crown Prince.   He started to write for the Washington Post, a very prestigious publication.  This move must have been too much for Mohammed ben Salman.   He just couldn't tolerate this type of well connected journalism.   So we have this situation.
     And now, the back channels are burning red hot.  The fistfight story was a laugher.  The rogue group out of control was even worse.  Are you kidding me?  Who advises these boobs?  Assad?  Kim Un?  Even the Kremlin wouldn't have been so bold and stupid. (well, maybe sometimes).
      Jut think: what if there wasn't any oil under the sand?

Your Russyan Pension

      Well, Ivan, did you think that Mr. Putin would give you something for nothing?  Why not thank him for extending your working career another 5 years before you can retire?  Look at all the good things he's done during his 18 years as the chief Russyan and Kremlinteer.  What's a few years, more or less of working for The Federation?  You know, The FEDERATION.  The Federation of the largest country in the world.  He's given you back Crimea(maybe).  He's given you some of Ukraine(really?).
Ok, so the average Russyan is only making $535/month; but that's almost twice the UN poverty rate.
     So, why all the protesting.  It seems a bit ungrateful.  What will you gain by all this anti-patriotism?   What were your plans for retirement: nothing special, maybe a vacation to Sochi; maybe a cruise on the Volga, or the Don, or the Yenesei.  Maybe a trip to Beijing.  Or a trip to Vladivostok on the TransSiberian Railroad.  Isn't that a laugher-can you imagine that ride?  Have you seen the pictures?   No, settle for a ride on the Moscova Underground, or a trip to St. Petersburg with a glass of vodka.
       No, the rise in the price of oil will not change things.  The sanctions imposed by the US will only get worse, and Vova will not alter any policies to compensate for the cost to the economy of those sanctions.  So, get your mind set up to work for 5 more years, Ivan.   Yes, I know, life expectancy is only 67 years in the largest country in the world.  It is just another accident of birth that made you Russyan.  Too bad.

Jamal Khashoggi: Missing

       We know he walked into the Saudi Consulate:  the photo is available and has been published worldwide.  The exit photo does not show anything: no photo-no exit.  The renowned and respected journalist has been disappeared, as they say.  This seems like a Chinese method.  No, wait, it's a tried and true Russyan tactic used against critics of the Kremlin- no poison, no Russyan. .  Yes, true, but wait-Assad of Syria uses this method.  No, wait, this is Recep Erdogan's Turkish tactic.  But this happened at a foreign consulate IN Turkey.  Erdogan wouldn't take the chance.  Hugo Chavez is dead.  Raul Castro, still in bed, asleep.  Maybe the Egyptian Secret police?  No, wait, the Taliban.  No, too busy elsewhere.
So, let's look again.
      M.B.S. or the King of Saudi Arabia is touchy about criticism.  This journalist was not flying under the "radar": he lit up on every Saudi radar screen.  So, jet loads of agents are dispatched to Turkey.  The passengers offload in Ankara and are met at the airport by black limos and whisked away to: The Saudi Consulate.  Then Mr. Khashoggi appears at the entrance and his wife bids him adieu as he is seen to enter, alone.  Then, the world awaits his exit.
      Then the Turkish government makes the claim that said Mr. Khashoggi has been brutally tortured, then murdered, then dismembered and his parts exit the consulate and return to Riyadh via private jets owned by the Saudi government.  Seems to be the exit part of the plot but the Turkish government has not given the waiting world the evidence to confirm this scenario.  Various organizations have accepted this scenario and have acted with their feet:  they have abandoned the large meeting in Dubai that was to showcase the Saudi government and cement its position in the Middle East as the de facto leader.  Now, however, the true Saudi hand in this part of the world has been revealed.  This vile dictatorship is no better than Iran, Syria, Russya, Iraq, Libya, and the other
regimes that continue to insult all of mankind.  How is it these thugs are allowed to abuse their power?   Good people doing nothing allows this outrage to continue.   The day will come when it's time to put an end to these practitioners of hate.   That day is nigh.
       Journalists continue to be put under extreme pressure, whether in Latin America(Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia) ,  or Egypt, Turkey)).   Their job is essential for peace and freedom.  We will protect them wherever they are, wherever they live, wherever they work.  China will be watched most closely, too.

Turks Call Out Saudis

      What's going on in Turkey?  Private jets coming and going carrying groups of Saudi men.  Black limos carrying VIP's hither and yon.   A frantic wife asking the whereabouts of her husband who entered the Saudi Embassy but apparently never left.   Hmmm.  Sounds like a Russyan mission.  Anybody poisoned?   Any civilians found DOA?   Everybody wants answers, including the Turks.  What happened to the security camera video record?
      Very suspicious......We want answers.  The world wants answers.  Enough.   And it seems the King of Suadi Arabia is a bit touchy about criticism.   Sound familiar?
   More later as news becomes available.

Book Report: Down the Great Unknown: John Wesley Powell's 1869 Journey Down the Colorado River

       Maybe you've heard of the Colorado River:  it is born in the Rocky Mountains, and flows south east, then bends southwest and makes it all the way to the Pacific Ocean by way of the Gulf of California.  The mighty river carved a most famous landscape:  the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River in the states of Utah and Arizona and parts of Nevada.   While well known to native Americans who were aware of its presence,  Spaniards had been guides to its rim in the 1500's but scoffed at its importance, relegating the river to just another feature of a desert wasteland.  By the Civil War period of the 19th century, the river well known as part of the great unknown West: that mythical place beyond the Mississippi River where dreams came true and adventures awaited those who dared.  Mostly those who dared were that breed of men called 'Mountain Men':  self sufficient, independent, tough, skilled men who possessed all the necessary tools of survival in a wild, untamed place.  They could ride, hunt, shoot, and befriend members of tribes who had little knowledge of Europeans and almost no contact with them at all.
       Enter this mix is a Union army war veteran, a survivor of the horrific Battle of Shiloh which provided both sides in the conflict with over 20 thousand casualties.  John Wesley Powell was one of these casualties, losing his right arm at the battle.   He was well enough after his recovery to return to duty for about another year of active combat.  After the war ended,  Powell decided he wanted to explore out West and the Colorado River had a certain attraction for an adventurous soul:  no one had descended its length nor had anyone mapped its course from beginning to end.  Its place on various maps always included the words "Unknown Territory".
      Author Edward Dolnick does an excellent job in piecing together a fact-filled narrative that follows the 10 members of his crew on their 4 boats specially built for the river run.  The boats were made of oak in the design of the classic Whitehall row boat.   It had a round bottom and a prominent keel that extended its entire length.  The boat was built for speed:  it was a fast design.  Made of oak, it was sturdy and durable.  The trade off is that this design is tippy and cannot be turned quickly.  There is no storage space excepting on the floor.   Another choice could have been a new England fishing dory, a design used on the open Atlantic Ocean to great effect by generations of new England fishermen.  It had a flat bottom, a high bow and a slender stern.  It is highly manuverable.   But nobody had ever run whitewater with either boat.
      Two of Powell's crewmen turned out to be excellent diarists.  Unbeknownst to Powell, they kept very accurate diaries throughout the trip   and were able to save most off their efforts from the raging waters and the many soakings.  The author had access to all three versions of the exploration and was able to fact check each of the writers.  Powell himself did not write his version until a few years later when he could sit down and review his  "notes" prior to writing the definitive account for publication.
The publication of his story carried the man to international stardom for the rest of his life.  His scientific background in geology, his military service, and subsequent Federal government service enhanced his reputation as a modern era explorer.
       This story is well known among most Westerners; but few know its harrowing details and how fortunate the crew lived to tell the tale.
Five Stars *****
Published by Harper, 2001
avail. in paperback

Our Man in China: On the Road Again

      Nanchong, heard of it?   Well, you should have-it's a big city in northeast China, in the province of Sichuan(4818 sq. mi.).  Our Minister went there to have a look around.   The first thing he noticed were the people: there's lots of them.   Mostly, they are of the Han ethnicity.   The city is composed of 976 sq. miles or about 20 times the size of San Francisco(49 sq. mi.)  The urban population runs to about 1, 858,875 millions and the prefecture pop. is about  6, 278,614 or about the size of the San Francisco Bay Area.  It is an agricultural region, sending food products throughout China and East Asia.  The urban area is in the Gaoping district of the prefecture.   Products include silk(with a lively textile business), rice(of course), pork, and oranges.  The region is home to a landmark range of mountains: the Qin mountains.  It is also significant as a source of labor for the more industrial east coast and south east manufacturing area of China.  His report is expected to include photos of the city and the surrounding landscape.

Where is Meng Hongwei?

       Who is Meng Hongwei?  Why he is the head of INTERPOL.  He went back to China and has disappeared.  Hmmmmmmmmmm.  Is this another example of State intervention?  Perhaps.  If you see this man, report the sighting to Interpol.

Head of Interpol Meng Hongwei: MIA

Brett Kavanaugh Confirmed as Justice US Supreme Court

      After being subjected to political theater for 3 weeks, it seems that the country is ready for a much deserved break.  However, a vocal minority of protesters want to carry forward the charade of Democratic posturing that foretells their hope that the midterm elections will give them a Congressional majority in at least one of the two houses.  Some Senators received more press than other on the Judiciary Committee.  Some less.  The exposure may serve some better than others; time will tell.
      One must comment on what was exposed here during the confirmation hearing and what was not exposed.  I'm speaking of the science or rather the neuroscience of memory.  Neuroscience got some exposure when Mrs. Ford, the accuser and research psychologist,  stated that her memories of events from 36 years ago were lodged in her hippocampus, in her brain.  Many neuroscientists acknowledge this as fact: memories are stored in the hippocampus.   What was not stated that memories are, in fact, created here in a separate region called the dentate gyrus.  One can actually say that there is a physical substrate to memory called an engram.   Scientists can actually identify a spot in the brain and say "that is the memory".  Scientists at the Riken-M.I.T. Center for Neural Circuit Genetics at the Mass. Inst. of Technology say they have created a false memory in a mouse, providing clues to how such memories may form in human brains. Dr. Susumu Tonegawa, a Nobel laureate for his work in immunology, and founder of the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory,  reported in the journal Science in July, 2013, that his team of scientists created false memories in lab mice.  It adds to evidence presented in 2012 in journal Nature that the physical trace  of a specific memory can be identified in a group of brain cells as it forms, and activated later by stimulating those same cells.
      Ddr. Tonegawa said that because the mechanisms of memory formation are almost certainly similar in mice and humans, part of the importance of the research is "to make people realize even more than before how unreliable human memory is",  particularly in criminal cases when so much is at stake.
      That unreliability, he said, prompts a question about evolution:  Why is our brain made in such a way that we form these false memories?"
    Thank you to journalist James Gorman, NY Times science reporter.  The article was published on July 25, 2013, if my memory serves me correctly.

From Russya With Love

       So,  a small group of Russyans leave the Moscova airport,  bound for Western Europe.  Where are they going to land?  Well, of course they will be closely watched and their every activity monitored by every spy agency that has 3 letters in its name.  The group is traveling on diplomatic passports.  Nothing new here: spies have used this cover since Caesar sent spies to Gaul.  SO they land in Denmark, little Denmark, home of the Little Danes.  Not a real threat to anybody, anywhere; the Danes keep to themselves and maybe NATO.
     So the group rents a car, and they place luggage in same.  And then they split up: two go here two go there.  What are they up to this time?  Hmmmmm.  They go to hotels where certain other groups are conducting meetings.  And what does the group then proceed to attempt?  HACKING.  That's right: these are the agents of the GRU who specialize in that distinctly Russyan pass time of hacking into the systems of any group deemed anti Russyan, anti-Kremlin, anti-Putin, anti-Lenin, anti-Pushkin, anti-Trotsky, anti- anything Russyan.
     As reported widely in international media, these sad agents were caught with their pants down(no, not literally Chump) red- handed(no, not literally), just caught in the act with all their little gizmos.  Who were they hacking?  Let's take a look. 
      One of the hackers is Ivan Sergeyevich Yermakov.  He was charged with creating a fake website and sending spear-phishing emails to to employees of Westinghouse Electric Company, near Pittsburgh, PA, who work on nuclear reactor technology.  Westinghouse has supplied nuclear fuel to Ukraine.  Dutch officials also said a hack attack was directed at a Swiss laboratory that tested a nerve agent used in chemical attacks in Syria, a Russyan ally.   Among other charges was the attack on the O.P.C.W. headquarters( the org. for the prohibition of chemical weapons).  One of the agents involved, Alexey Minin,, took several pictures around the O.P.C.W. headquarters.  In a rented car, the agents went to a hotel where a meeting was being held and they aimed their hacking gear at the hotel to penetrate the wi-fi network in use so they could hack into organizational networks and steal data.
      This is part of the larger Kremlin goal of harassing and intimidating opponents of Mad VLAD(aka Vova).  The he man portrayed by his publicists is really nothing more than the typical paranoid Russyn dictator, a trait passed on to generations by epi-genomics.
   So, be wary of hotel wi-fi. 

Minister on the Move in Asia

   Tahoma's Minister of East Asian Affairs has been busy this past week.  After making an appearance in eastern China at a local university, he and members of his staff went south to Hanoi, Vietnam on a unofficial visit.  He made his way to Ha Long Bay the world famous site noted for its limestone sea stacks that fill the bay area near Haiphong Harbor.  After that tour, he caught a flight south to the port city of Danang where he visited the beautiful beaches that surround the harbor area.
     After requesting directions from our office in Tahoma, he and his staff toured the southern area near the city, specifically the Marble Mountain area near the airport.  The 5 monoliths leap skyward from the sand dunes behind the beaches nearby.  Many local carvers offer many beautiful works of art.  After that area, he motored south to the area of the Tu Cau Bridge, noted as the sight of a fierce battle between American Marines and North Vietnamese troops during the American War period of the Tet Offensive of 1968.  Now the area features a village composed of nice homes filled with veterans of the NVA.
      Not slowing down, they continued on down Highway 1 and visited the craft City of Hoi An.  This old harbor town is now a hub of artisans and craftsmen who manufacture all types of goods from shoes to silk shirts and dresses.  Prices are very good.
      The local food was sampled and highly praised by the group.  It was agreed that the weekend was too short to cover all the sites so, another trip will be planned for 2019.
     A full report with pictures will be forwarded to our Tahoma office this week.

Tu Cau Bridge south of Danang, Vietnam

Highway 89/Fanny Bridge Project

      Well, citizens of the West Shore have endured road work for years, stopping only for the regular winter snow cycle.  The last two years, the project most interesting has been the Tahoe City Interchange work.  Finally, after many years of head scratching, the pols have found some money to make over the mess where Highway 89 joins the Lakeshore Blvd.  It has been a damper on all businesses in Tahoe City, not to mention those West Shore businesses that have felt the sting of constructiuon delays for years during the summer high season of visitors.   PLacer and El Dorado counties have been feasting on  Federal dollars as bi-state funds flow west from the US Treasury as a result of Congressional largess pushed by Pres. Bill Clinton and his Democratic allies Diane Feinstein and Gov. Jerry Brown.  In the push to "save" Lake Tahoe, funds have been forthcoming to keep the lake waters clean and free of pollutants.   The effort continues to help that cause.
      The Highway 89 project(s) will aid the traffic congestion in Tahor City.  This will be accomplished by building a new bridge over the Truckee River just north of the transit center and north of Tahoe City.  3 roundabouts will be installed to replace the electric light signals.  Fanny Bridge will be replaced and the new bridge will include bike and pedestrian pathways.  A river side walk will course under the new bridges.  The newest bridge has been completed but all the connectors have yet to be completed.  Years more work will be done as the weather permits and the money continues to flow.
     www.FannyBridge.org is the site to explore the project and all the points of local construction.  The fish sculpture at Highway 89 has been placed in storage until a suitable new site can be agreed upon.  This has not happened yet.  We await their decision which is to be made with the consent of the artist.
Stay tuned.