Chess Champion:2018

     Magnus Carlsen, world chess champion, defeated a challenger this week to retain his title as No.1 in World Chess.  Good for him.  He works hard moving those pieces around the checkered board.  After several draws, rapid fire timed games were used to settle the match.  Carlsen prevailed, again.

Oil Price Slides as G-20 Conference set to Open in Argentina

      Well, no doubt the price of oil and its slide to lowest levels in 8 years will dominate discussions in Buenos Aries, Argentina.  The G-20 members will need to alter their speeches and their predictions for the next 12 months or so.  Nobody can predict the future with any accuracy, but these folks don't adhere to this reality.  They sleep better when their rosy predictions are made for the media to digest, which will then be distributed to the masses for immediate consumption.
     Russya will have to hone the numbers for its economy.  While not in free fall yet, the ruble has been battered relentlessly during 2018.   Much of this is due to sanctions imposed by the US and its Allies in Western Europe.  However, combined with this weeks Russyan Navy actions in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, the price of oil slide could disrupt plans of the Kremlin and Mr. Putin in particular.  Perhaps Mr. Putin will cozy up more closely with XiJP?  Maybe not.  Perhaps he'll cozy up with Mr. Assad in Syria and talk about continuing support for the government that kills its own citizens.  Mr. Trump will not meet with Mr. Putin during the conference.  His National Security staff advised against such a meeting.  The issue of further sanctions will include banishing Russya from the SWIFT banking protocol of international settlements.  This economic tool benefits all members with international transactions between banks.  Closing this venue to Russyan finances will cripple all business activity in Russya.   Perhaps when the population feels the sting of this whip, they might ask Mad Vlad to curtail is ill-advised adventurism down south.  Ha, that blockhead doesn't listen to anybody, only his KGB gut.  Too bad for the little guy in Vladivostok trying to put food on the table.
      Life in Argentina will be exposed somewhat during the conference.  Much of this country's domestic economy is in a shamble.  Continued decline in GDP has placed significant  challenges to locals.  The peso has dropped in value against the dollar all year.   While not as bad as Venezuela,  Argentina and the people suffer.   Maybe Mr. Trump will direct his peole to open a few new hotels on the River Plate.
       Speaking of River, the football team, things got ugly down there last week.  A contest between River and its neighbor, the BOCA Juniors was cancelled due to violence among fans waiting at River's home stadium.  Sadly, the fans who met the team bus of the Juniors decided that assaulting the bus was a good strategy.  It backfired.  After some fans rushed the turnstiles, others pelted the bus with rocks and bottles.  Several players were injured and taken to hospital.  Football officials cancelled the game.   A sad testimony to local policing and local governing;  not cool Argentina.

Need oil? Need SWIFT?

Snow: Ready or Not

      Well, you asked for it, and a favorable response has been recognized.  This first large storm to hit this winter will dump heavy amounts of powder from 6000' to the  highest peaks  above 9000'.  This will provide the necessary base for the whole 2018-2019 ski season.  Most businesses will cheer the weather change; most will firm up seasonal planning, adjusting hiring plans, and will prepare for larger crowds this year.   The economy is riding the wave of expansion that continues to promote consumer spending across all sectors.
     The latest designs in snow boards and skis will be seen on the slopes this year.  While no disruptive designs have been introduced, many skiers/boarders have waited for a good season to upgrade.  This could be the year.
     Forecasters are predicting over 4' of new snow inside the Basin this week.  Warm up the snow blower, put an edge on the shovel, and get to work.

Your in the Navy Now: Russyan Navy, That Is

       So, Black Sea, south eastern Europe, Ukraine, Kazakstan, and don't forget Ukrainian Crimea.  Old Mad Vlad, aka VoVa, has given the green light(Go) to the Russyan Navy to absorb a few Ukrainian vessels in the Black Sea.  Sounds like the old Revolutionary times in the Atlantic Ocean when those nasty British sailors would board a US merchant ship and impress the crew into the Royal Navy: not a fun transition.  Imagine: you're sailing along in the Black Sea and your vessel is approached by a Putin Ship flying the 3 stripes of the Russky Federation, aka Putin's Navy, and ordered to stop or be blown out of the water by force.  Next step, you are taken prisoner by a bunch of Russyan thugs disguised as drunken sailors-well, not really disguised-they are all drunk as usual.  Now what?
       Messages sent, conditions noted, and Mr. Putin sends a message of sorts to his Bro, Trump in White House:  "Your move!".   What will Trump do?  He'll tell Angela Merkel not to sit next to Putin at the G-20 Summit tomorrow, and that taking Navy ships by force is bad for the price of oil in the Middle East.  Perhaps it will enhance Putin's stature among his homies in St. Petersburg and Moscova?  Or maybe Vladivostok, or Beijing, or Ankara.
     The Ukraine government has declared martial law, and has put troops on alert against another Russyan tactical move in the area of the Donbass region and Crimea.  Have you seen the new bridge that was built connecting Crimea to mainland?  Pretty.  Moscova must have money to burn.  But wait: aren't Russyans in the streets bad mouthing Kremlin moves that aggravate the West and cause more sanctions to be heaped upon  the populace?  Why, yes.
     Ahh, VoVa, after 19 years of your dictatorship, folks have had enough.  Next you will see the "yellow vests" come out of the packets and the new Russyan winter landscape will start to  look like an alpine photo with quaking aspens in the foreground.  Maybe new elections will be held sometime soon: 2040 or 2050.
    Can't wait.   Bill Browder can't wait either.

Want to join my Navy?

Goldman Sachs: Trouble Again

      Are banks really just chartered illegal enterprises allowed to exist as long as they kick back to overseers?  What's going on this time?  Now let's see:  indictments were unsealed by the Justice Dept. against two high ranking employees who are alleged to have been involved in the 1MDB scandal involving Jho Low, the man accused of fooling Wall St. bankers and absconding with billions.  Now it has been learned that Mr. Lloyd Blankfein, just recently replaced as CEO of Goldman Sachs, actually met with Jho Low several times during the search for new business in Asia.  Mr. Low somehow worked the 1MDB fund so it appeared that these funds were going to be invested to promote Malaysian national interests.  But, something happened along the way.   Mr. Low forgot whose money he was investing; or he was confused, thinking it was HIS money.   Maybe he told Mr. Blankfein it WAS his money. 
     More will come out as the case against former Goldman Sachs executives is made known.  Goldman Sachs is known to have made more than $600 million dollars in fees dealing with 1MDB.  It's a shame that these well respected individuals compromise their integrity for a few bucks.  Mr. Blankfein's net worth is reported to be $1.1 billions of dollars.  The man is 64 years old.  He won;t live long enough to spend it.   What will happen to it?  Maybe he'll give it to Bill Gates or Warren B. and their charitable foundations that fund international health programs.
      We'll soon find out how much he's really worth as investigators delve into 1MDB records.  Where is Mr. Low?   Disappearing in China, where else.

Oh Japan: Trouble Under Mt. Fuji

     The chairman of Nissan was arrested by authorities and placed in a detention facility allegedly for financial misconduct related to stock-related pay.   Hmmmm.  How can this be?  The chairman of one of the world's leading auto maker-busted?   Carlos Ghosn has been feted as the go=to company fixer.  The company Renault, where he serves as both chairman and chief executive was also informed of the action.   Nissan stock took a big hit after the announcement., falling 5.5%.  How this plays out has yet to be determined, but it has sent shock waves throughout the world.  More later.

Snow: At Last

      Well, folks, the forecasters got this one right:  snow has arrived at the Lake.  At the Lake shore, various measures found almost a foot of powder.  Above 8000', a few inches more depending on the exposure.  This will please resort companies and weekend guests, of which there are more than a few. Thanksgiving always welcomes the early birds to the slopes.  Homewood is not quite ready for prime time; it's opening day is still a ways off.   Snowcat Adventures, the new offering at Homewood, will start gearing up for back country fun soon.  The "Cat" can handle about 10 skiers w/ gear.  The goal is to reach those runs not served by regular lifts.  These scouted runs provide deep powder, pristine snow, and a ride to and from.  One of the bennies of Homewood, Tahoma's back yard park.
    Storm total is about 14" so all the runs and all the mountains are winter white.   Enjoy the views. 

Weather Brings Relief to Northern California

     Weather forecasters were correct: rain arrived over the north state yesterday bringing long awaited moisture to the tinder dry area around Chico,  where the Camp Fire caused such devastation in the town of Paradise.   Firefighters believe they may have the blaze contained today or tomorrow.  Containment will not improve the lives of evacuees who are dispersed far and wide around the area.  Many are in shelters in Chico, some in Sacramento, some with relatives where they can find them.  More than 10, 000 structures were destroyed in the wind-driven inferno.  The death toll is close to 80 lives, and the search for victims continues.
      The Woolsey fire in Southern California' s city of Malibu is just about fully contained.  The firefighters on the scene are confident their efforts have been successful.  Time will tell.

Who is Maj. Gen. Alexander Prokopchuk?

     If you guessed that he's a Russyan, you'd be right.  But who is he, really?  That rank, major general, indicates he's a politician of some repute, no matter where he serves or what he's done to get there.  He has headed Interpol's National Central Bureau for Russya since 2011, or about 7 yrs ago.  He's also combined that job with the role of the agency's vice presidency since 2016.  So, he's a working stiff, a bureaucrat, an apparat

Vova and his Nice Kitty

chik.  His name surfaced, naturally, as a possible successor to  Meng Hongwei, who resigned last month after Chinese authorities(PLA) arrested him and charged him with corruption(drinking bourbon, laughing, making jokes about XiJP, socializing with Westerners, looking at women not his wife, and wearing argyle sox). Normal stuff.  So, after a brief period of notoriety, Hongwei disappeared from the front pages, and a replacement name was soon floated out of the hangar.  Name Prokopchuk.
     And then, the storm broke.  Like a tsunami wave, the shrieks and screams reached a crescendo across the globe.  Members of the US Congress wailed like banshees, asserting that his appointment would lead to the demise of law and order worldwide.  "This must not happen", they said.  The chorus was taken up in Europe and poor old Prokopchuk saw the handwriting on the wall. While he didn't withdraw his name, no nameplates were cut and replaced on the doors at HQ.  The mere thought of a Russyan as head of INTERPOL sent legions of police and security personnel directly to the pharmacia where they loaded up on antacids, bicarb of soda, Pepto(strong version), and maybe some Prilosec.   Can you imagine?
      Jumping into the fray was American businessman and Kremlin target, Bill Browder.  We've written about Bill in the past and we've reviewed his book about his experiences in Russya dealing with the kleptocracy that formed there after the fall of the old, old, old Soviet Union, Uncle Joe's creation.  Mr. Browder's lawyer,  Sergei Magnitsky even gave his name to a law passed in US Congress, called the Magnitsky Act, that gave the US the powers to hold Russyans responsible for criminal acts against dissenters by banning them from travel to the US, and banning them from doing business(banking, etc.) with any US company or bank.   And it's working!   It's been a boon to the US diplomatic effort to deal with a rogue state and its perps.(Medvedev, Putin, etc.).  Mr. Browder correctly warned in media statements that having a Russyan at the helm of the organization would place the lives of ex-pat Russyans who were critical of Putin and the Kremlin in jeopardy.  (see Skripal story).   Mr. Browder himself, living in London, cannot travel to Russya without fear of being arrested.  Russya even had Interpol notified that he's been charged in Moscova as a criminal(tax evasion).   Hard to believe these antics are still going on in 2018, but they are.
      Combine this story with recent revelations that R ussyan hackers are actively working to subvert the West with a massive disinformation campaign to sow fear and uncertainty among the populations.
See 2016 US presidential election, and 2018 midterm election).
Happy Thanksgiving

Sad Day in Argentina

      It was formally announced in Argentina that the Argentine Navy submarine that has been missing for a year has been found.  The hull was discovered by searchers using remote controlled robotic submersibles in 3000' of water, lying on the bottom, intact.  44 crewmen were on board at the time it disappeared on a routine training patrol as it returned from the vicinity of the Falkland Islands.
     Families who lost loved ones were notified privately by the government.  Their wait is over, and now they can grieve for those lost at sea.  An investigation has begun on the cause of the disaster.

INTERPOL Election Tomorrow

    All the countries associated with INTERPOL, the international police agency, will vote tomorrow for a new president.  In October, the last president disappeared, more or less.  The Chinese gentleman who held the post went home for a visit.  He then failed to return and didn't leave messages for his office staff.  Seems odd.  But wait.  After a delay of several days, the Chinese Communists announced that he had been arrested and detained for certain "crimes"(usually taking bribes, drinking bourbon, soliciting wild women, and the like).  The INTERPOL organization was informed that he would not be returning to his post.  So, the Secretary General of the organization announced a search for a presidential candidate.  A flood of names was soon seen at headquarters: some names submitted:
Woody Woodpecker;  Charley Brown;  Boris Johnson; Sarkozy of France; Donald Duck; Mickey Mouse;  Jacob Zuma; Jerry Brown; Elvis; Elton JOhn; Otis Redding; Link Ray; Michael Bloomberg; janet Neopolitano; Chris Christie; James Comey( a real possibility!); Sarah Palin; Al Franken;
and Al Sharpton.
      But to nobody's surprise, the Kremlin is promoting one of its own.  Can you imagine: a Russyan as head of INTERPOL?  We 'd have to put all poisons around the world under armed guard 24/7 with orders to shoot-to-kill all trespassers. Even the suggestion of such an election is enough to cause convulsive laughter around the globe.
     I won't make any predictions the night before the election, but: with Turkey Day fast approaching, don't be surprised if a REAL turkey shows up in the INTERPOL presidential suite on FRIDAY, aka Black Friday.
    Note: if the election computer gets hacked, who will approve the results?

BREXIT: Can Theresa May Pull it Off?

       With a divided Parliament, a divided population, and a rigid EU, PM Theresa May of the UK is on the verge of cementing a deal for the exit of Britain from the EU.  With a deadline for the exit appraoching, time is running out.  She must have enough votes in Parliament to have it approved or the deal reverts to whatever the EU decides to hand the country.  It has proved to be the most controversial topic since the formation of the EU itself.  The Conservative Party of Ms. May has proven to be not much of a support for her position.  After drafting a 500+ page plan,  the Party has been divided among the exit group and the no-exit group. 
      World opinion is running against an UK exit, believing it is a wrong-headed move.

Monday Night Football Record

      It was expected to be a shootout:  Kansas City Chiefs v. Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles.  It did not disappoint and it proved to be an amazing game in all respects.  Not only was there more than enough action, but also a never ending supply of twists and turns before the clock finally ran out as the LA Rams eked out an improbable victory.
      The game was seen as a contest between two very young quarterbacks:  Patrick Mahomes, age 23, of the Chiefs, and Jerrod Goff(age 24), of the Rams.  These two young men started the game, both with high expectations.  Over the course of 4 quarters, these two entertained the LA home crowd with high quality skills and unanticipated  events that created an up and down cycle of emotions among the spectators.  Several turnovers were followed by scoring, changing the lead in seconds.   Whether a fumble, an interception, or a takeaway, the efforts were caught on camera for all to see again and again.
     The "new" NFL was on display for all the country to observe.  Defense?  What defense?  In the highest scoring Monday Night Football game(of 793 games), these two teams never quit.  Score on Me?  I'll be right back at you with another touchdown.  Not content with field goals, these coaches and quarterbacks went for it on 4th down.  They didn't look for 1 or 2 yards, they wanted big gains; they wanted to pressure the opponents relentlessly.  And they did.  One series after another.  In the 4th quarter alone, there were five lead changes.  Just when you thought the game was out of reach, a long pass changed the entire complexion of the tilt.  Pass receivers made their own contributions by catching the ball with circus catches: one-handed affairs that looked impossible.
     Coach McVay of the Rams was caught up in the emotions of the game and could not hide his delight as his team responded to Chief's scoring with aggressive offense that added more points for his team.  Coach Andy Reid of the Chiefs had his own formula for victory that came up just short.  His late 4th quarter efforts almost brought victory only to be lost in the last 3 minutes as QB Mahomes threw 2 interceptions to end the effort.
     One of the great games of the past few years.  This was something the NFL sorely needed this late in the season.  Jerrod Goff is a California native from Novato, California.  He looks like he could be the next Joe Montana. 

Otto Fuchs: Part II-Hot Metal

Shaping the Red Hot Billet of Titanium

       This is how it's done in "heavy industry".   Machines do the 'heavy' work necessary: super sized fork lift outfitted with a hydraulic clamp grabs the heated billet from the nearby furnace where it was heated to 1000+ degrees.  The lift takes the piece to the hydraulic shaping press where it is stamped along its length to a reduced dimension suitable for processing into the part designed by the engineering staff.
        The camera holder is standing at a safe distance, but even at this distance(about 90') the heat cab be felt like a hot day at the beach.  This piece was eventually halved by a compression blade that cut through the billet as though it was "hot butter".  On the right edge of the photo is one of the insulated cloaks used by workers in the vicinity of the operation(s) to protect against the effect of radiant heat from the super heated piece of titanium. 
     It won't be long before this piece finds its way to Seattle where it will be installed on a Boeing "DreamLiner".
     Thank you, Otto.

American Football Coach in Jail in China

      Wendell Brown, a former player at Ball State University, has been sentenced to 4 years in prison in China.  He was involved in a bar fight, arrested, and tried in a Chinese court on various charges stemming with his encounter with locals at a bar.  His lawyers, court appointed, defended him, but the judge handed down the 4 year sentence.  He has been held in a temporary detention center in a cell with approximately 20 other detainees/prisoners.  The conditions of his detention border on cruel and unusual.  There are no beds provided for any of the prisoners in the cell.  They have bamboo mats of some type.  There's not much room for all prisoners to bed down at night.  There's no heat; some type of jackets are provided at night fall. Half of the space is open to the outside environment.  Depending on your position in the cell when the sun goes down, determines your resting place for the night.
     Mr. Brown lost his appeal for a reduction in the sentence.  He has served over two years already.  He remains positive about his situation and is resolved to endure his plight as best he can.  It is a sad state of affairs as his family is unable to visit for financial reasons.   After the judge's decision recently, he was allowed a conversation with his Mother and other family.  US media outlets have reported on his situation, but have not kept up with recent developments.  There appears to be a certain amount of racism in evidence concerning those who filed the charges against him.  Apparently, locals are not fond of American sportsmen who maintain a local residence.  Mr. Brown mentions this situation as aggravating and uncomfortable.  Sadly, in light of how the Chinese Government treat their own citizens, such treatment of outsiders is not difficult to understand.  (See Uighurs Detention).
      Hopefully, the US Government will stay on the case and assist Mr. Brown and his family as much as possible.  His case underscores the precarious conditions in China as they relate to all foreigners.
A word to the wise.

C.I.A. Says Crown Prince Salman of Saudi Arabia Ordered Murder of Journalist

     Well, well, well.  Now we have intercepted messages between the Crown Prince and his staff before Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.  Apparently, instructions were given to lure the journalist to the consulate under a pretext of administrative necessity.  The 18 aides were then dispatched to Turkey to carry out the orders from the palace of the Crown Prince.  So, it seems, the various clumsy press releases that have been floated by the Crown Prince have no basis in fact.  It's always been a test of the world's gullibility.  No matter what story they told, each and every one was a laugher.  They said things that a 5-year old would tell his mother.
"Are you kidding me?" has been the response, generally.  The Turkish government has sources inside the consulate and they have provided enough information to discredit all the fabrications floated by the Saudis.  The Crown prince is obviously living in a dream world of his own creation.  His inexperience and his isolation from world events underscores the sad situation as it relates to events in the Middle East, and the Arabian Peninsula in particular.   The U.S. Government is attempting to move the Saudis to end the war in Yemen that threatens to be a human catastrophe of immense proportions.
      Perhaps the Court in the Hague will get involved.  Perhaps charges will be filed against the Crown Prince.  Now we have charges of murder against 5 Saudis who were present in Turkey at the Saudi Consulate when the journalist, Jamal Khashoggi,  disappeared.  Where is the body?  Hmmmmmmm.  Who knows where the body ended up after it was removed from the consulate and flown back to Riyadh to show the Crown that in fact the deed had been carried out according to orders.  Maybe the Saudis think the world will be satisfied with 5 agents being tried and convicted of murder.  I think not.  No doubt, the Saudis will continue to feed tidbits of legal action that may trick media types into believing they have solved the "mystery".   Ha, ha, ha, ha.  What a pathetic country!  What a pathetic government!  What a pathetic culture!  Oil-take it away and what do you have?  A sad, 3rd world country stuck in the 17th Century, trying without success to make progress in a world leaving them behind at a record pace.  Next thing you know they will start making deals with the Chinese.
     Beijing(X.JP.)  will come in and start building things.  Next thing you know, the Chinese will own the oil wells, their goal(s) all along.  Oh, well(ha).
     Good luck King Salman: you had a choice, and you made the WRONG choice.  Of all your direct descendants, you had to pick HIM?  Really?  There's still time: dump HIM now and save your country from 5 generations of contempt.  

Valley Smoke Conditions

     The Mayor had to go down the hill yesterday; it was difficult, to say the least.  Smoke conditions were horrific.   Air quality index numbers spelled out the scene:  Very Unhealthy for all citizens.  The Camp Fire that has destroyed the city of Paradise, California has filled the northern California atmosphere with smoke, threatening the health of all local inhabitants.  Fortunately for Tahoma residents, the prevailing winds have kept the smoke out of the Tahoe Basin.   We should be thankful.   Many valley inhabitants are wearing masks, recommended by health professionals.  Young children and older folks have been advised to stay indoors unless it is absolutely necessary to go out.
    Cal Fire has announced that the fire is now 50% contained.   They also reported that over 1000 residents are unaccounted for and 63 victims have been identified among the dead.  The fire is now the worst in California's history. 

Putin Critic Wins in Court

      The great Russyan hero, Aleksei A. Navalny,  has been absolved of wrongdoing by the Europe's top human rights court.  In a rare finding, the top court ruled that a government has abused its powers with political intent.   Observers called the decision an embarrassment for the Kremlin.  It was only the 11th time in the Court's  60 year history that it found abuse of power by a government.
     For most of the years of Mr. Putin's reign, critics have been subject to abuse by the government.  This abuse comes in many forms: arrests, confinement, criminal investigations, family and personal harassment,  derogatory public statements, and invasion of privacy, among others.
      The Court ordered the Kremlin to pay Mr. Navalny 63,678 Euros or about $72,000 in compensation and legal fees.   Over many years, Mr. Navalny has been arrested dozens of times, once merely for walking down a street.   This action brings the case under the control of the European Convention on Human Rights.   Based in Strasbourg, it was founded in 1959 to enforce compliance of post war agreements.
      Essentially, the Court ordered the Kremlin into compliance by stating that the Kremlin "has been lying" about the reasons for arrests, according to Jeffrey D. Kahn, a lawyer at Southern  Methodist University Law School and an authority on the European Court of Human Rights.  In October, 10,950 allegations were on the docket against Russya, more than any other country.   Russya has stopped paying dues and may soon withdraw from the Court.  This will further alienate the country from the West. 

Putin Scared of Oil Price Drop

      So, too much oil in the market.  OPEC ready to dissolve.  America pumping more than ever.   Iran ready to take a dive off the market diving board.

Need Propane?

      So, winter has been delayed this season.  But then, the price of oil has plummeted.  Along with that price drop is the drop in the price of propane.  Propane heats Tahoe residents on both sides of the lake.  Yesterday, the retail price dropped to $.70/gallon.  How much are you paying?  When ordering, don't settle for the first price quoted.  Tell the slug on the phone that the price is much lower than a month ago.   Shop around, call everybody; call anybody.   Don't pay outrageous prices anymore.  Don't feed the fuel beast.

Turkey Releases Recordings of Khashoggi Murder

     Keeping pressure on crown prince Salman, nominal ruler of saudi arabia,  Recep Erdogan of Turkey has distributed copies of the recordings of what happened inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul the day of the murder of Jamal Khashoggi after he entered the building to pickup papers related to his impending marriage to a Turkish citizen.  The recordings have not made it to social media yet but people around the world anticipate the release shortly.  This will end all the smoke and mirrors used by the government in Riyadh to obscure the horrific details of the state sponsored killing of a journalist who openly criticized the leadership of the Saudi government.  This was not supposed to happen in broad daylight, but the Turkish intelligence services did an outstanding job exposing the plot hatched by the Saudi leader crown prince salman.
     This despicable tyrant needs his hand slapped and should be replaced by his father.  However, the father is aware that his options are limited, and undestands the meaning of PATRICIDE.
     Soon, those countries dependent on oil will have to acknowledge that they are dealoing with immoral murderers when they deal with the saudis.  These backward former bedouins are hardly able to enter the civilized world.  They cling to traditions that have long been abandoned even by the Russyans and the Chinese.  Africa is another story.
      The world waits for details and they should be released soon.  The reults should send a message to saudi Arabia:  enough.

The 11th Hour on the 11th Day of the 11th Month

     Formerly known as Armistice Day, Veterans Day, the 11th day of November, marks the anniversary of the end of Word War I, the War to End All Wars.  Not.  It has been 100 years since the end of that European catastrophe that decimated the populations of the UK, of France, of Belgium, of Italy, of Russya, and of Austria, and Turkey, and the Middle East.  It is now acknowledged as the lead up to World War II.  So, we mourn its millions of victims, both military and civilian.  The ghastly scenes are viewed in shock and awe as primitive versions of now familiar weaponry looked somehow like toys made by mad men.  Well, they were made by mad men.
     In Europe, in the European Union,  commemorative events mark the day.  Orange Head from the White House made it to France for one ceremony but didn't attend due to the weather.  Sad that this fool represents the entire United States.  Perhaps in 2020 sanity will return to a more thoughtful nation and a responsible party will be elected.  It could happen, but..........
HAPPY VETERANS DAY or better yet: pray for all veterans.

What Happened In Paradise?

      Paradise, California: a foothill town that occupies a ridge top that overlooks the northern section of the Sacramento Valley.  This town of 27,000 residents enjoys warm days over the heat of the valley found in its neighbor, Chico, which is bisected by the Sacramento River.  Chico is a college town, home of Chico State University.  The students are a presence on the local landscape.  But not many make it up the hill to Paradise.  Not muchthere for the under 25 crowd.  Paradise has a few chain restaurants, some shopping, and mostly those necessities for the retired life.
    The wildfire that has transformed this formerly vibrant community has destroyed the town, reducing almost 7,000 structures to smoking rubble.  More than 30 citizens have died in the inferno and many more are missing.  PG&E appears to again have been culpable as power lines are suspected to have been the source of the fire.  Evacuation orders came too late for the dead, and Cal Fire appears to have been late to the game.  Despite budget improvements, CalFire does not seem up to the job.  A new, national fire service is in order-now.
     The Grand Toady in the White House says    the California forests are mismanaged.  This could be an understatement.  As another fire in Southern california terrorizes the coastal city of Malibu,  the Governor -Elect Gavin Newsom  will soon have his spin doctors spewing verbal garbage to reassure the terrorized citizenry.  Poor Gavin, so much work to be done, too little skills in his possession.  Time will tell how Paradise will recover, but if the City of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County is any example, it will be a long, long time before any real recovery takes place near Chico.

California FIRE Season: NOT OVER

     The CAMP FIRE as it is called has notified all residents in the state that winter is not here yet.  The town of Paradise, in Butte county, has been mostly destroyed by wind-whipped flames that roared out of the hills to the east and rolled down the mountain with nothing to stop it.  Locals fled for their lives.  CalFIre has stated that no amount of effort has been able to contain the flames.  Thousands of structures, including homes, have been destroyed.  Many lives have been lost.  Reporting has been spotty, as few journalists have been able to approach the blaze.
More later

Former Treasury Official Calls Out China

      Henry Paulson, noted banker, economist, and political appointee, spoke out at an economic forum about China and today's global economy.  He noted that since the Chinese joined the WTO 17 years ago, the country has continued to violate many of the provisions agreed to upon their entry into the organization.  He stated unequivocally that this action(s) are unacceptable in today's global business world.  He highlighted China's efforts to disregard intellectual property rights, the continuation of theft of trade secrets, and the many obstacles placed in front of US companies wishing to do business in China.
     This comes on the heels of indictments against Chinese nationals in the US who have not registered as agents of foreign governments as required.   These are officers in the PLA-the Peoples Liberation Army, also known as the Chinese Army.  These individuals pursue scientific research under the guise od being researchers instead of the actual role as corporate spies working on behalf of the Communist Party whose leader5s have effectively ordered the theft of US intellectual property by any and every means possible without regard to treaty or stated government policy.  This action comes at a time of intense debate about China's role in the world economy, and her efforts to stretch her influence globally, especially in Africa and East Asia.  Her naval fleet continues to expand its influence in the South China Sea which could probably use a name change.  Perhaps the geographers of the world could come up with a new name, rather than have China wield authority over each rock and ripple in the neighborhood.
     See the insert in yesterday's NY Times- a propaganda piece intended to deflect criticisms of China's trade policies and her actions related to same.  No doubt, the effort is made to alter US perceptions of China, which we will not until this neighborhood bully starts to act like a responsible partner as opposed to someone like the PLO.

New York Times Addresses Yemen and the Saudi War

       While the world has been focused on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi at the saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey,  the war in Yemen continues apace.  The world watches as the prospect of mass starvation looms over the civilian population.  Rebels continue to offer resistance and the saudi led military forces bomb targets without concern for civilians or children or property of any value.  The saudis are locked in a regional conflict that has exposed them to international criticism.  On top of the murder of the journalist(a Saudi himself), the world wonders what is happening in Riyadh.  Has the Family of the House of Saud began its decline into chaos?  Has the heir apparent signaled his inept methods?  Have his advisors gone off the rails?  All of these possibilities have surfaced and created many new concerns by those countries that depend on oil for their economies.  Many have begun to look for alternatives and Iranian oil is not one of them as new sanctions on Iran has crippled that country's ability to market its oil.
     So, the world watches and waits.

Midterm Elections: California and El Dorado County

    Tomorrow we have elections across the country.  Involved are positions from governorships to Senate seats to House seats.  Pundits are making big of this election because it appears that the voter turnout could be a record for the midterm.  Pres. Thrump is on the stump, providing fodder for all the media.  Pollsters are lying low, not wishing to poison the well.  They usually have a bucket of predictions but in this toxic environment, they are keeping their information under wraps. 
     Whether one lives on either coast or in the heartland,  the election has the possibility of creating a new situation in Congress:  a split Congress with one or the other chamber yielding control to the other party(Dems), or both chambers giving up Republican control, or the Republicans maintaining control for another two years.  Many candidates are newcomers, many more are women, getting out of the role of mere voter to the role of candidate.  It could mark another resurgence of woomen in Congress.
    Many local issues are also being decided; many taxes will be added or subtracted, raised or lowered, seldom eliminated.  Many voters are weary of fake news, false positioning by various extremist groups, but, undaunted, they will vote their conscious.   Hopefully, a large turnout will provide a good result.  The more voters, the better the result. 
      Polls open locally at 7am for some, 8am for most.  Get your ballots in; a mail in ballot can be dropped off at your polling station.
     Please vote.   Think about how you want to live where you live.

Book Review: The Billion Dollar Spy

       The old conflict known as "The Cold War", an ideological struggle between the world's super powers, provided endless stories to fuel innumerable novels to feed insatiable demand.   The "Cold War" began shortly after WW II when Stalin's policies on Eastern Europe directly opposed those of the US and her allies, collectively found among the nations that formed NATO.  While the US and its intelligence gathering arm(s) began their efforts well after the Soviet Union,  they learned quickly once it was known what Stalin was up to around the world.
      While many of the novels had a basis in facts,  the more interesting writers incorporated first hand experience with lively imagination, both in plot and character.  It's widely considered  that "truth is stranger than fiction", and in the case of the "Billion Dollar Spy", it holds true.  In the decade before the collapse of the Soviet Union,  the Russyan secret service, aka the K.G.B.,  waged a relentless campaign against the West and NATO, and also against her own citizens.  While the C.I.A. performed intel gathering abroad, domestic affairs are handled by the FBI,  the KGB SPIES ON EVERYBODY.
     So, in the late 70's, an employee of the American Embassy in MOscova was contacted by a Russyan citizen, leaving a note saying he possessed information of a technical nature that would be of interest to the United States.  Thus began the story of spy craft in the late 20th century.  The Russyan, Mr. Kohlhachov, was an engineer working in the research area of airborne radar systems.  This area was of interest to all nations developing advanced systems and advanced defenses against the same systems.  The author made extensive use of interviews, archival research, recently declassified documents, and on the ground study of the environment.  The case went forward for several years despite a slow start.  As expected, the C.I.A. was very cautious, knowing the K.G.B. is adept at planting false stories and false informants.  After extensive vetting, an agreement was made with the engineer, and his information began to flow directly to the US technical systems developers.  He is called the 'Billion Dollar' spy because he alone saved the US billions of dollars in research and development costs at a time when budget constraints on the Pentagon were severe.  As the case progressed,  engineers were able to uncover the goals of Russyan airborne radar systems at the current state of conditions.   Thus, the US Dept of Defense was able to change direction of research and take advantage of this top secret material. 
       Operating in the Moscova environment means that all agents, on both sides play the game:  everybody is watched all the time, and rarely can one escape the constant observers.  However, over time, professionals learn the weaknesses of the other side, and take advantage of them.  They operate along the "seams", those areas least observed.  Thus, informants and their information gets passed to the other side.
       At the same time, a disgruntled new employee of the C.I.A. decided to turn against the US for revenge.  Having read some of the secret information from the Moscova Embassy,  he was able to provide enough information to the K.G.B. that compromised the leak.  Mr. Kohlkachov was caught and executed in Russya.  The ex-agent was spirited to Russya and died there years later.
      It's a gripping story, and the author keeps the narrative moving, describing dead drops, disguises, letters, phone calls, plans that go awry, and the cash payoffs.  He also shines some light on the methods of spy craft before the age of cell phones, cyber security, and hacking attacks that we are all aware of today.  It was a simpler time in the late 80's and 90's.  The technology has changed but the people involved are the same old players, excepting now the head of the KGB heads the largest country in the world.
     I highly recommend this story for all those interested in international relations, especially as Russya becomes more assertive in its attempt to shake its murderous past.
5 Stars *****

Master Spy and friend

avail. in paperback on Amazon

US Capitol Bldg

US Indicts Chinese Corporate Spies

      So, the PLA sends a scientist to a US university to study with US scientists who are engaged in new research areas that just happen to coincide with those under development in China.  However, the Chinese scientist does not reveal his connection to the PLA, aka the Peoples Liberation Army.  The PLA is in fact the organization charged with intelligence gathering worldwide.  The mission of the secretive arm of the PLA is to steal data related to those areas targeted by China in her quest to overcome the leadership role of the USA in technology.  In addition to the indictments, arrests were made.