Is Winter Finished?

misty morning Meeks Bay

lake view

Early winter December

     Just when you thought it was OK to plant your favorites flowers, more snow.  Well, maybe it was supposed to be the "final" winter snow, but no, it won't be.  Another gasp of winter is forecast for a long weekend or about 5 days, starting Friday night.  Now this snow won't be disruptive excepting for the locals who switched out their winter, studded tires for summer tires.  It's a game we play in Tahoma:  we consult Poor Richards Almanac; then the Farmers Almanac, then some tea leaves, then a crystal ball seeking answers:  will this be the final snow fall of 2019-2020?  Alas, we have maybe a 50-50 chance of a good answer.
     So, since we are all on lockdown anyway, it doesn't really matter:  we aren't moving anywhere anytime soon.  Perhaps there will be some good news soon?  Perhaps not.  Some experts being consulted offer an opinion that the peak of the pandemic in California could be arriving in mid-April, or 2 weeks from now.  Meanwhile, we are staring at the 4 walls of our abodes.  Take a walk; use those snow shoes you got for Christmas; maybe the cross country skiis you got last Christmas?  It's not easy.  It's a new lifestyle we are adjusting to these days.  Our world, everybody's world has been upended like never before.  The economy is definitely in free fall; Congress has passed the largest relief package in history.  Will it work?  Who knows?  Did the bailouts of 2009 work out?  It took awhile.  This time?  Since it's not a banking failure; it's not a basic structural economic issue;  then the moves by Congress are breaking new, uncharted territory.  Where do we go from here?  When is the next tranche of federal funds going to follow?   What will the Federal reserve bank do next?
Mr. Jerome Powell:  what can you do, given the problem lurks among companies that are dependent upon consumers being able to spend when and where they want to spend.  Now, they can't leave home.   Sure, online shopping is in vogue, but many are not adept at the practice, especially those without a computer connection.
      So much for the weather report.  Keep your eye on the snow reports.

Indicted Venezuelan Turns His Rogue Ass in

     IN an unexpected move, a Venezuelan regime conspirator turned himself inyesterday to face the charges spelled out in a DOJ indictment revealed on Wednesday.  This particular piece of scum no doubt wanted prison time rather than anymore time under the thumb of the maniac Maduro, his former boss and de facto leader of the failed state we call Venezuela.  He will no doubt sing like the proverbial canary.  He'll say anything to reduce his long prison sentence and maybe even get a sentence that will be reduced for his cooperation.(doubt it).  Narco-terrorism, not a soft charge anywhere(excepting Mexico, the premier drug cartel-controlled country).

The Check is in the Mail

       Well, in record time, the US Congress passed a bill that was carried to HIS desk and signed into law,thereby,passing the largest single government spending passage in history.  How about 2 trillion dollars?  What does that even look like?  Look: $2, 000,000,000,000.  That's number two followed by 12(count 'em) zeroes.   Somebody said we're talkin' real money here.  THis money is earmarked for various and sundry parts of the economic landscape of the USA.
      Not surprisingly, much of that will go to businesses that many believe are not deserving-the airline industry for one.  The oligarchs of the air didn't hesitate to be first in line with crocodile tears, asking for the taxpayers-their customers- to bail them out.  You know, the same scum who have made traveling a miserable slog from start to finish.  Never mind the aircraft failures(Boeing)(FAA)(etc), folks like United's Oscar Munoz put profits ahead of comfort, safety, regulations, passengers, airports, states, and countries.  That miserable dirtbag should nor get $1 dollar of taxpayer funds.  He and his cohorts will receive billions of funds from Uncle Sam.  On the plus side, Steve Mnuchin says the gov'mint will take a percentage stake in each airline that receives $$$.  Oh, swell.  As though this is some consolation to the companies that have nickeled and dimes us to death for years.  Using every marketing trick known to man and some unknown to man to gouge us at every turn-extra bag, 2extra inches of seat space, change ticket, change flight, add a destination cancel flight, etc.  The list is endless.  Oh, toilets so small, one has to turn sideways to enter, sideways to sit, and sideways to exit.  Hell in the air.   Food I won't even mention.

Venezuela Past Leader Maduro Indicted by US

     So, you run a drug cartel.  You have connections with the government.  You are the government.  You want money.  Your friends want money. You know there's a big market up "Norte".  You can subvert this "Norte" by flooding the country with drugs of all kinds.  And make more money.  Seems like a plan.  Let's do it.  Says Nicolas Maduro, the one Venezuelan that it has been difficult to get rid of now.  His illegal re-election of 2019 has not been sanctioned by anybody, least of all his Latin American neighbors.  He has aligned himself and his "government" with the FARC rebels of Colombia who assist him with his Narcotics export business.  The country has collapsed economically, driving millions of refugees across borders into other Latin American nations, creating untold hardships for those people. 
      Now the US says he is, in fact, a criminal and has indicted him and several co-conspirators in his "government"..  What does this mean?  Well, it tells his neighbors who might be inclined to do business with this kleptomaniac that they better think twice or thrice before making any deals.  The Cuban Communists continue to support this illegal regime/kleptocracy, but they are Cubans, unable to get past their Castros.  How this plays out during a pandemic is anybody's guess; but the end is surely near.

Huawei: Target of More Scrutiny by DOJ

   Well, amidst a pandemic, the US Dept. of Justice can still find time to go after the large Chinese tech company Huawei.

Russyan Dictator Visits Hospitals

      Mr. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, leader of the Federation of Russya, decided it was time to publicly show his little face to the world as he donned a protective suit complete with face mask and head covering to appear at a local Moskova hospital.  Now Russya has not garnered the publicity that has been seen in South Korea, Italy, China, or the United States.  This has changed.  His visit acknowledges a new attitude about the coronavirus in Russya:  it's there, too.  No longer overlooked,  the virus has arrived.  It's arrival could spell increased difficulties for an economy already reeling from a drop in the price of oil and ongoing arguments with the Saudi Arabian government on domestic oil production limits.  If forced to shut down extraction means to any degree, the Russyan economy could end up in the throes of a deep, long lasting recession.  Given the continuation of international sanctions imposed by the West,  the economy will shrink even further under the weight of these sanctions.  Recall, they were imposed after the Russyans invaded Ukraine in 2015 and then annexed the province of Crimea, clearly in violation of all international laws.  Mr. Putin has come up with various fabrications to justify his international moves which boil down to an effort to bolster domestic identity and foster nationalism under his regime.  He is currently making the effort to alter the "constitution" to allow his term as president to extend to another 12 years(when he will be 80 years old and the longest serving president/czar ever.
        Combine all this with an anticipated decline in population of almost 33%, and one can speculate that the nation of Russya under Mr. Putin will continue to decline economically, putting stress onthe citizenry and causing regional upheaval that is difficult to predict with any accuracy.  Keep one's eyes on the price of oil over the next 12 months.  Low price= poor economic conditions across the federation.   Thank you, MBS.

Nice Kitty Kat

2020 Tokyo Olympics Postponed

    The International Olympic Committee announced yesterday that the Summer Olympics of 2020 in Tokyo will be conducted in 2021.  In response to the concerns of athletes the world over regarding local training restrictions, the IOC decided after much prodding to make this momentous decision.  This decision affects many participants: the city of Tokyo itself;  the Japanese government and the local economy; all countries prepared to send teams of every kind;  individual athletes who may never have another chance to participate in a career -defining event;  those avid fans who had planned to visit the Land of the Rising Sun for an Olympic moment.
     Will the Games actually happen in 2021?  Nobody is willing to speculate on the possibility of another delay.

Wuhan: MOre Pics of Local Environment

Electric scooter w/ passenger seat in Wuhan

Wuhan Airport Take out Duck

Hotel Dining Room with large Lazy Suzy

Main Hotel Building in Neo classic Design w/ Clock Tower

Wuhan Airport Main Entrance

These scenes were taken during a tour of Hubei province in China including the city of Wuhan, one of the largest in China, but smaller than its near neighbor Chongquing, the old WW II capitol city used by Chinese government when Japanese army units invaded and drove the Beijing government west.
     The hotel pictured here was used most often for Communist Party meetings to coordinate government policies at the provincial level.  As control has become more centralized under current leadership, these provincial locations have become less necessary, and operations have moved toward tourist-focused business models.
The airport, recently completed was built in anticipation of future needs requiring more international arrivals and departures from around the globe.  Certainly, as the Belt and Road Program advances, this airport will increase in importance.

Stock MArkets Have Big Day

      Well,  isn't that something: the stock market rose over 2000 points yesterday, the largest one -day advance in its history.  What is going on?  Why the bounce?  A new vaccine? No.  A new gold discovery?  No.  A new oil field found under the White House?  No.  But, almost.  Congress is ready to ink a new financial relief law that will inject 2 trillions into the economy in many different forms.  How much is 2 trillions?  Nobody can comprehend that amount.  It's next to impossible.  That's why so many economists believe it's a waste; it won't accomplish what it is intended to do, and it will only help a limited number of working and unemployed folks who need assistance.
     But investors(mostly institutional types) thought the move is wonderful, that it will save companies, even among those losers whose companies should fail no matter the pandemic.  Brokers and investors love the volatility, love the action, love the profits, buying and selling.  There are opportunities every minute of everyday.  Churning, churning, churning.  Those little percentages start adding up-1/2 of 1/2 of one per cent.  Pretty soon there's lots of dollars in the black column.
    So enjoy the ride: it's unique.

Mayor of Tahoma Does Wuhan

    Yes, it's true: the mayor of Tahoma visited Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.  It happened in 2019, before the large city of 12+ millions, became the notorious epicenter of the pandemic of 2020.  The Mayor and his entourage were just passing through the city, staying one night at a local hotel(pic) after an all day bus ride from Chongqing, also on the Yangzte River.  We had completed a cruise on the river through the 3 Gorges section to observe the spectacular landscapes for several days.  The weather was exceptional, the ship comfortable, and the passengers amiable.  The ship completed its voyage at the massive 3 Gorges Dam, the project of the century, the largest in the world, and the source of electricity for a large portion of China itself.
       After a brief stay in Chongquin, we boarded a highway bus for the trip to Wuhan to make use of its international airport, the only source of international flights, which is a must if flying to-----Hong Kong, our next and last stop on tour.  The airport at Wuhan is magnificent: very large in anticipation of many more passengers and flights.  We were flying the next day and would spend some time in Wuhan, on the fringe, before taking our connection on to HK.

On Road to Wuhan

Main Concourse Wuhan International Airport-Hubei Prov.

Welcome Signboard Airport Wuhan Inter.

Editors Address Chinese Expulsions

     In a full page ad in today's(3/24/20)  Wall Street Journal, the 3 publishers of the three national daily newspapers address the leader of the Chinese Communist government in Beijing.  They express disdain for the recent move by Pres. Xi to expel from China the reporting staff of their respective organizations that collectively brought the news of the Coronavirus to the world ahead of any announcements by the Beijing leadership.  Pres. Xi and his staff surpressed dissemination of the facts surrounding the virus as it spread in the mega-city of Wuhan, intentionally misleading various news organizations.  Chinese doctors were chastised for publicly making statements concerning the outbreak.

     The publishers explain, as they often have, that this policy of restricting the flow of information does considerable more harm than good not only to the Chinese people, but also the world population.  Foreign countries depend on accurate information, and continued obstacles put in place by Beijing does not help the experts get timely and factual data needed to address the pandemic that began on Chinese soil.  The publishers:  William Lewis of the WSJ; Fred Ryan of the Washington Post; and A.G. Sulzberger of the New York Times provided a public service by calling out this national policy that will only serve to continue the world's perception that the Chinese government is out of step with modern times and its adherence to the Communist Manifesto of rigid state control of information is detrimental to world health and world governance.

No Bueno

Governor Newsom Addresses California at News Conference

      In his second news conference this week, Gov. Gavin Newsom brought the media up to date on the State's actions to slow the spread across California.  He spoke for several minutes and identified a number of actions taken by the state agencies.  He mentioned Health Dept. activities including a testing of a number of asymptomatic citizens to assess the spread among those without evidence of infection.  He also told of receiving needed supplies that will help medical personnel deal on site with patients who present those  symptoms recognized as evidence of coronavirus infection:
a) dry cough
b) fever
c) difficulty breathing with pain across the chest
     He also mentioned being in contact with Federal HHS officials who are working around the clock to see that hard hit states like New York, California, and Washington are receiving all available equipment to address the outbreak.
     He spoke with the confidence of a man who can appreciate the state's position as one of the top five world economies, and what effect the virus will have here at home.  He enumerated the number of applications for unemployment insurance, reaching over 100K yesterday.  Today's figures were not available late this afternoon.  Apparently,  unemployment numbers could reach the numbers not seen since the 2008/9 recession.

China Sends Doctors to Italy

      In a publicity stunt for the world to absorb, the Chinese government sent 300 intensive care doctors to Italy to aid that nation as it struggles with the coronavirus and its effects on the population centers in the northern provinces around Milan.  What will they do once they've begun?  Will they intubate the victims with severe lung disease/pneumonia?  Will they examine and interpret symptoms of the afflicted residents?   Hmmm.  Just what is their mission on foreign soil in Western Europe?  The world waits for an answer.
      Meanwhile, back in China, there are folks who have a different kind of wonder.  They wonder what happened to the journalists who wrote about the coronavirus as it began its cascade through the region of 60 million citizens.   Other EU countries failed to respond to Italy's request for immediate aid in the form of masks and ventilators.  China responded, perhaps as an answer to Italy's shipping 2 tons of emergency supplies.  The Chinese Embassy tweeted that China remembers Italy's gesture months ago.  (have others forgotten that it was China that sat on the information related to the outbreak that spread over the world?).  Such help must be observed with a wary eye.  Now that it appears the spread of the virus has been restrained and no new cases have been reported in the last 2 days,   Chinese equipment manufacturers are trying to gain market share across Europe.   Recall that Chinese doctor Li Wenliang warned his colleagues that there was a possibles SARS -like virus in some Wuhan citizens.  He was reprimanded for spreading rumors.  The government has since rescinded the reprimand, but too late for Dr. Li who died of the virus in February.
      Recently, journalist Xu Zhiyong, a journalist, was jailed for "subversion" after criticizing the government's response to the outbreak.  Later, Li Xehua, a former journalist for TV network CCTV, has disappeared.  Not a good thing among Chinese people.  Two other journalists are also missing/disappeared:  Fang Bin and Chen Quishi.  Other western journalists who tried to bring attention to the outbreak have been expelled from the country.
     So, call it what you will, but the Chinese propaganda machine will attempt to sway public opinion in its favor as the world suffers the effects of the Communist regime's attempts to cover up yet another viral epidemic in its own country and now the world.

Yangzte River up stream from 3 Gorges/Wuhan

 

Crimea: Remember Crimea?

     Mr. Putin goes to Crimea.  What?  Where?  Oh, down south in Ukraine.  The Old KGB has been went south, I guess to get his body temp above 30 degrees.  He wanted to show his southern regions that the Kremlin Cares.  Really?  Now, about those sanctions, Mr. Trump?  Let's make a deal.
      The price of WTI has hit a 20 year low.  Your shale drillers are on the ropes.  In a month, the bankers and Wall Street will want you to bail everybody out.  But it's an election year.  Your people are already nervous about the virus.  You want to throw money around to prove you van manage any crisis that comes your way, even the Chinese Virus I've heard about.  So,  ease up on the sanctions and I'll stop pumping oil and let the price float closer to $50/barrel.  Win/Win.  What do you say, Mr. Trump?  Do you hear me?  Stop the Tweeting: listen to me, Please.
     The the rupul is getting battered like an old shuttlecock-back and forth, up and down.  The Federation economy will soon be in a full blown recession, probably joining the EU bloc which has enormous problems in Italy, France, Spain, and Greece.  Many business enterprises will close, thousands will be out of work.. The UK will have to hold off on any special trade deals and just keep what it has for now.  No changes needed in the face of a health crisis followed by a economic crisis.  Dictator for Life Putin will pull all the strings he can to remainin power, but can he pull out of the coronavirus pandemic?  No, in a word.  The Russyan population is in for some really rough sailing the rest of 2020.

Putin's Economy Diving Deep

      Well, really.  The ruble has lost some air from its bubble-down about 30% this month alone against the dollar.  Most currencies are down against the dollar-take your pick: Euro, Brit pound, Swiss franc, Mexican/Argentine peso, Brazilian relais, etc.   Everybody is getting defensive in the fave of the pandemic.  Mr. Putin, not so much.  He is still squabbling with the Arabs over the price of oil.  Mr. P wants to sock it to the USA shale drillers who have single handily  obliterated OPEC pricing and Russyan influence in the international oil pricing fix he and the cartels have been managing for years.  This situation will not be relieved anytime soon.
      Back in Moskova,  the Russyan Supreme Court upheld Mr. Putin's changes to the Constitution allowing him to be "Dictator For Life".  He wants to turn the clock back to Soviet times, but also allowing him to gift industries to his oligarch cronies around St. Petersburg and Moscova.  Damn those US sanctions.  If only Trump would listen to my requests.  That Stupid Mike Pompeo.......
     How about the virus statistics from the Kremlin?  Can we believe them at all?  In a word: NO.
Russyans don't know what the TRUTH looks like.  Sad.  But it underscores the unwillingness of all Russyans to desire truth.  They prefer fiction; it sounds better against the COLD of the Russyan winter, which, technically, will end this week.
Carry on. 

UAL: Hmmmmm. Is There a Problem?

        Well, you had flight reservations on one of the "Big 4" domestic airlines.   You like to fly with a reputable company that has your safety and security as a top concern.  Not to mention your in-flight comfort and overall flying experience.  So you fly UNITED AIRLINES, of course.
       Oh, trouble in the Asian market.  Oh, United flies there regularly.  Oh, people don't want to fly to China anymore.  Oh, Italy has some issues also.   People don't want to fly to Italy(the VIRUS).  Reservations are cancelled, by the thousands.   Hmmmmm.  Oh, wait.  People aren't calling for "new" flight reservations.   How can this be?   We're UNITED AIRLINES- the Friendly Skies.  Really.  Well, no. Not actually friendly at all.  Actually, Unfriendly.  Oriented to the bottom line.  Oriented to profits, at any COST.  Want to change your ticket? $200.  Not happy with your seat.  Sorry, no more seats available on that flight.  2 extra pounds of luggage- $50.  Don't like the middle seat?  Too bad.  Don't like the emotional support animal next to you on this flight?  Leave the aircraft, PLease or we call the Gestapo.   Remember DR. Gao?  We dragged his fat butt right off the plane and you're next.
     Ahhh.  United.   Different today.  THe United stock price has tanked-again.  The company is now on borrowed time.  The stock has has gone down 75% this month alone.  Too bad, you say.  I say, "What goes around, comes around".
       Oscar Munoz, Chief Executive has some 'Splainin' to do.  He knew what was coming.  It didn't take a genius to figure it out.  A virus  exploded in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.  Infecting hundreds, killing dozens.   This is a fact known back in December.  What did Oscar do next?  Nothing.  Nothing, kept selling us tickets.  Hoping it would be a bad flu.  Bad flu?  ARe you kidding me?  What an idiot.  Time to go, Oscar, while there are still a few beats left in your cold, cold, heart(that used to beat in somebody else's chest).
     The A4A lobbying company has proposed a $50 billion taxpayer bailout while the company adjusts.  Adjusts?   What about us?  Who will bail us out while we're on ventilators in ICU?  Take UNITED out of the air.  We don't need these stinkin' losers that yell for help after they've been pinching our asses in their tight-ass seats for years; serving us food unfit for animals.  Service?  What service?  Pile us into the economy cabin like cattle and call it good.  It's disgusting.  Let them fail; Let it go.  Enough of the crybaby stuff.  Capitalism.  Or government regulation.  You pick, Oscar.

Oil Prices Dive

   Let's not overlook the drop in oil prices and visit those sad governments that depend on oil for their livelihood, eg. Russya, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE,  Libya, Venezuela, and a few others.  We know that Russya and the Saudis are fighting over production amounts: increase? decrease? stock up?  Oh, my.  It's so sad for these poor folks:  rich in oil, poor in EVERYTHING else.  Given that Russya and Iran are under sanctions for various breeches of the international order, not one of them can expect the least sympathy from abroad(US, EU, UK, etc).  Which brings us to the subject of Iran.  The coronavirus is slamming thaT COUNTRY AND ITS POPULATION hard.  With limited funds available, the health services sector is already reeling from the numbers of sick individuals.  Perhaps the Ayatollah will seek some assistance from the infidels.  Perhaps he'll soften his approach to international support of terrorist organizations.  Perhaps they will stop funding Palestinian terrorists; perhaps they stop funding Hezbollah in Lebanon.  Perhaps not.  They are hard headed, to say the least.
     But there's no hope for a bounce in oil prices: not when everybody is told to stay home.  Think of the cancellations:  billions of dollars in lost revenue for all forms of transportation.

Stock Market and Metals Take BIg Hit

        Well, it appears that institutional investors are scrambling to get some cash out of their equity positions.  Volumes of trades are huge, hitting highs across the board.  Needless to say, it will probably gets worse as the week goes on.   Airlines and transportation sector issues have been hit hard.  The chief lobbyist for the group of domestic airlines has published a letter sent to Congress asking for a billion dollars of financial assistance.  Some in Congress replied that money could be made available, but with  CONDITIONS-such as better treatment of customers, ie. you and me, the flying public who have been abused by the big boys for years, even after Dr. Gao was forcibly dragged off a United Airlines flight to make space for an employee.  Perhaps the airlines will have to increase the size of on board toilets.  Perhaps they will have to reduce "FEES" for everything, including overhead luggage space.  Maybe the airlines will have to be NICE for a change.  Maybe the Chief  Punk of the Airline Industry, Oscar Munoz, CEO of United will have to retire, bad replacement heart and all.  He is the supreme corporate dirtbag of all dirtbags.
But I digress.  The market is in turmoil and there's no end in sight until health officials can give us all a glimmer of hope before society in general grinds to a halt.  Nothing like this has happened since Pearl Harbor was attacked on Dec. 7, 1941.
      Perhaps individuals will hold on while Wall Streeters panic and sell, sell, sell.  They are a bunch of nervous types anyway, always leery of the next big debacle.  After the 11 years of momentum market, traders and Wall St. are getting the usual harsh lesson in economics and business.  All the textbook publishers are gearing up for the aftermath publications that will highlight all the gurus who "knew" it was coming and sold short and took cash out in early January after the events in Wuhan China went worldwide.  Can't wait.

Movie Review: The Two Popes

       So, what goes on behind the scenes in Vatican City, the Catholic enclave recognized as its own country, one of the last expressions of Mussolini's government when he made a deal with Pope Pius XII on the eve of WWII-the vatican was given independence at the price of SILENCE.
      In the past decade,   many changes have been made regarding the papacy.  For the first time in 700 years, a sitting Pope resigned.  His replacement was the first elected Pope from the Americas-a Jesuit from Argentina, Francis the First.  The film depicts the 2 priests initially negotiating their different philosophies: one traditional, conservative; and the other, more modern and realistic in today's world.
      Pope Benedict 16 is played by Anthony Hopkins, a classic actor with a respectable career already in the can.  His role is to play a Pope who will make an historic decision that will be felt worldwide among all Catholics in all countries.   His anguish is visible as he struggles in conveersation with the Argentine Jesuit,  played by Jonathan Pryce, who comes on his own to resign from the College of Cardinals where he holds rank as one of the senior members and a possible successor should Benedict die in office, as is expected of all popes.  Their conversations play a key role as they banter back and forth over the state of catholicism worldwide.  Cardinal Bergoglio speaks of his role as an advocate of the poor and the evidence of gross inequality that exists in modern countries all over the world.  How can conditions exist side-by-side that provide stark evidence of this?  This is not something made by a god but made by man, argues the Jesuit.  He confirms his beliefs that the Church must address this issue rather than focusing on "old" issues of divorce, homosexuality; pedophilia among clergy; abortion rights, and other topics most everybody is familiar with today.
       There are ample scenarios played out that display the landscape of Italy, some of Buenos Aries neighborhoods, and graphic depictions of historical events among the terror in Argentina during the military coup in 1976 end the subsequent "disappearing" of youthful protesters who were murdered by the military leaders.
     The 2 hour film is a good one and received more than a few Academy Award nominations.

Homewood Resort Suspends Operation

       Homewood Resort, our backyard ski area, announced Saturday that it would suspend operations from today, March 16th until March 22nd.  At that time, the situation will be evaluated and another decision will be made regarding the remainder of the 2020 season.  Employees will be paid while on this break.   The business is following recommendations from various health organizations regarding the coronavirus spread in California including the CDC, W.H.O., and the Governor's Office in Sacramento.
      With snow falling, Highway 89 closed at Emerald Bay, and partial closures of I-80, it is a wise move to close operation temporarily to afford employees and guests the option of staying home, off the roads.  Snow fall was forecast to reach 3'-4 feet at higher elevations.  The West Shore Cafe has closed and will evaluate conditions before March 22.
     So, stay tuned to your favorite information source( please, a reliable source!) and pay attention.
Follow the usual guidelines for staying at home to slow the spread of the virus as most health authorities believe that conditions will deteriorate further before any improvement occurs, here and in those hard hit countries in China, Korea, Iran, and Italy.
Things to do:
1) take a nice walk and listen to the silence
2) put on the cross country skis and hit the trails in Sugar Pine State Park, or in Tahoe City Ski Trail Park
3) Line up some books from your library that have been on your list to get to; maybe reread a grat classic such as  The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck's Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the depression among ag workers in California.
4) fix that annoying plumbing fixture
5) add some shelves in the garage
6) organize the garage/tools/work bench
7) my favorite: write a "real" letter to an old friend
Stay Well

snow among the pines

looking south to stateline

dawn's early light

 

Stock Market: Greatest Decline Since October 1987

      Well, lots of institutional traders are selling from their expansion-fatted portfolios.  The selling accelerated yesterday bring the Dow down over 10%.  Shocking.  Sobering.  Scary.  In addition, the prices of bonds and Gold also went down, a rare combination which has traders scratching their heads.  How can this be?   It's un-explainable, really. The market came back a bit today, adding about 5% of yesterday's losses.   Where to now?  Hmmm.

Professional Sports: SUSPENDED

      Well, what are you going to do the rest of winter?  The NBA announced that it has suspended games until sometime in April, unless things get worse.  The MLB commissioner announced a 2 week delay in opening and that might be just the beginning.   The NCAA has put March madness on hold as universities send students home ahead of the spring break.  The PGA has postponed tournaments due to begin later in the month, and maybe more.  So what's left of our sports programs?  Not much, General.  You might have to start talking to the wife again or:  maybe get back to the old hobby, abandoned long ago: make something in the home workshop; fix something broken; start oil painting or take up jogging.   Hmmmm.   Just stay home.   You can make it work.  By the way, you might have to do this all summer and fall into NEXT winter.   Yes, that's what some medical experts are saying: this PANDEMIC is just getting started.  Are you ready for this?
Check out the special section in the www.WSJ.com.  This section explains the latest reliable information.

Winter: Still Here

        Well, still have your studded tires on the old hoss?  You'll need 'em if you plan on driving around the West Shore this week end.  A large late winter cyclonic storm is expected to dump 30"-40" on powder above 7000' starting tomorrow.  That means there's a good chance I-80/Hwy 50 will have closures for awhile.  Don't get caught without your clod weather survival gear if you must go outside.
Hey, follow the recommendations of all health professionals:  stay home unless absolutely necessary.
You can pass the time washing your hands; cleansing surfaces throughout the house or apartment.
      The word is out: we now have a National State of Emergency to go along with a Statewide health Emergency, all related to the coronavirus which has grabbed ahold of the world in a pandemic.
Stay tuned

Putin to Stay on Top

        Mad Vlad is at it again.  He's going to change the"constitution" to allow him to be the ruler in charge for maybe another 12 years or so.  That would make him the longest serving leader of the "country" since Peter the Great's 43 years at the top.  Vladimir wants to be known as the great stabilizer-the individual who ushered Russya into the pantheon of great countries.   He wants to be right up there with France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and that other one.   His advisors wish to continue the ride on his flapping coattails.  Why not?  The country's elites are enjoying unprecedented wealth and happiness; not so much the rest of the population. 
       How are things in the eastern Ice Box, aka Siberia?   Cold.  Ok.  But what of economic success?  Not so much.   The isolation from Moskava continues to plague the eastern seaboard and everything in between.  Maybe the Chinese would have offered some relief by sending some workers there to help the local economy, but now with the coronavirus restricting all movement within its borders, the Chinese are forced to stay home, indefinitely.
       Vlad thinks now is the time to strike a deal with the parliament he controls.   Attention has been diverted by the virus and the Saudis are creating difficulties in the oil market.  MBS has stifled a coup by arresting some family members, at least temporarily, and continues his efforts to restrict Russya's oil output.  The price of oil has plummeted because of lack of demand.  Airlines have grounded flights due to lack of passenger demand.  The US market remains the bright spot around the world, but that will change sooner than later.  So Vlad wants not necessarily more power, he just wants to hold on to future power, until he's too senile to sign any documents or thwart a palace coup. 
      Pity the poor citizen, trying to survive another dictator in the Kremlin.

Book Review: The City of Thieves, David Benioff

         Mr. Benioff is well known for his adaptation of George R.R. Martin's novels that became the basis of HBO's  Game of Thrones.  He has worked with director Spike lee on his adaptation of his book,  The 25th Hour.  He knows his way around a page of writing.
      This novel testifies to his skill as a writer.   It is a story loosely based on stories told to him by his grandfather who survived WW II in Russya.   This story is a quest-  2 young men(one a teenager) are given a task by a powerful local police official in Leningrad during the Nazi siege period of late 1941 to January, 1944 when it was broken.   The two unlikely companions met in jail one night after being caught in the streets after curfew.  The next day, the commander offered them a deal( no choice really):  in 1 week, return here with 1 dozen fresh chicken eggs and you will be set free.  No excuses: eggs or else.  And off they go in a very cold winter landscape that will eventually force them to infiltrate the German army lines to scrounge for eggs.
       Eventually,  they find a group of partisans who will help them for awhile.  One of that group is a young woman who is a noted sniper.   They are searching for a Nazi killer who operates in the area.  Against this picture, the Russyan soldier and the teenaged Jewish boy become friends as his more experienced partner explains the ways of the world.
      All of this exists in the environment of subzero cold, endless walking in the frozen forest, the constant threat of discovery by Nazi soldiers, and the slim chance of finding the elusive dozen eggs.  Benioff writes briskly- short declarations that explain mood. motives, and scenarios.  His descriptions of the western approaches to Leningrad expose the conditions faced by both antagonists: one trying to survive against all odds, the other trying to survive the winter atthe end of the army's supply lines.
The combat includes only short encounters between units that are not really on the front lines but in the rear areas where the role is to prevent partisans from causing havoc among the supply troops.
     The ending leaves one a bit short, but it is more than fitting.   Benioff comments that he relied heavily on a couple of books:  Harrison Salisbury's The 900 Days, and the Italian Curzio Malaparte's
Kaputt.
      The book is a quick read and hard to put down.  Well worth the effort and time.
5 Stars *****     

Cruise Ship Ready to Dock in Oakland,CA

       After ordered to cruise off the California coast for the last 3 days, a cruise ship with 3000 passengers and crew will dock inside San Francisco Bay at the port of Oakland, on the bay's east Shore.  This comes after Health officials from the state delivered coronavirus test kits by helicopter to be used to begin testing those same people on board the ship.  Controversy has surrounded all the decisions involved from the waiting time to the confusion related to the ship's itinerary that include stops in Hawaii and Mexico, and discharging passengers at every stop.
      California governor, Gavin Newsom, has authorized the docking location despite some verbal opposition from a low level politician who felt aggrieved by the dock site given that San Francisco is the ship's home port(although it sails under a foreign flag.
      While the focus in the US has been the State of Washington and the deaths of 14 residents in a nursing home there, California has the numbers to indicate this could be the location of another serious outbreak of infections.  The passengers will be removed from the ship and sent ot 2 military bases: one near Sacramento(Travis AFB), and one in SoCal(Miramar).  They will be quarantined for 14 days and monitored and observed for symptoms(fever, cough, headache).  Seniors and other sensitive individuals will be closely watched.
        The Chinese government announced that there appears to be a slowdown in new infections.  Health authorities are doubtful that China is being truthful given the government's unreliability on statistics.
        Italy has announced further restrictions on travel within its borders, especially in the northern provinces near Milan.  The entire country is taking a huge economic hit as tourists and travel agents change plans due to conditions related to the infections of coronavirus.  The City of Venice will be sharply restricted, given its seaport location and the frequency of cruise ships to stop for a few days.
In Greece, refugees seeking passage through the coountry have been forcibly turned back at the Turkish/Greece border.   The president of Turkey has told Syrians that they can enter the EU from his country, contrary to reality.  It will continue to be a difficult situation for all refugees in the area.  

Book Review: The Death of Santini: the Story of a Father and His Son", Pat Conroy

       Pat Conroy, the noted American novelist, published a memoir 7 years ago.  It was his last book before he passed away 2 years later.   Many readers loved his books, especially "The Great Santini", a thinly disguised story about growing up in

iconic flag of USMC

book cover

a family that was led by an outsized American hero: a Marine Corps fighter pilot who fought in WW II, the Korean conflict, and the war in Vietnam.  Pat Conroy wrote of the family life that was an adjunct to this one man's career as a military man during peacetime and during war.
       It's not a pretty picture.  Author Conroy was the oldest of 7 Conroy children: 5 boys and 2 girls.  His mother, lovely and vivacious, was hardly the ideal match for this wild Irishman from Chicago's Southside where the Conroy boys were well known along the turbulent streets of the City Of Big Shoulders.  The Dad, Don Conroy, dropped out of college to join the Marines after Pearl Harbor.  He was sent to flight school and earned his golden wings of a naval aviator.  He joined the fleet air wing and learned his trade among the best of the era.  But there was a dark side to this man:  he was an alcoholic and a wife beater and child abuser extraordinaire.  No matter where they moved, and the family moved 23 times during his 33 year career,  the shadow of his tempestuous personality followed along, creating anxiety and fear among the many offspring.   Conroy does not gloss over the actions of his Father: he underlines them in bold.  Today, this man would be arrested and imprisoned for a long time.  But the Marine Corps tolerated this behavior:  the organization needed its heroes and its leaders no matter the cost to the families involved.   Sadly, after Don's retirement, he changed somewhat.  As his story came out in the books and then the movie(Don played by Robert Duvall in 1979), Don began to create his own mythical life- a life without the abuse, the drunk behavior, the alcoholism; the sad outcomes for many of the children and his former wife who divorced him just before he retired.
       Pat Conroy wrote other books and tried to explain the effects on the family members raised by this madman.  In the end, when his father succumbed to cancer at 78, Pat Conroy accepted Don as a good man with many faults.  Most of the siblings did,too.

US Mandates removal of Chinese Journalists

     It has finally come about after China sent home 3  Wall Stree Journal reporters from its country.  The State Dept. announce yesterday that certain news agencies would have to send home a certain number of their reporters loose within the US.  This was reported to be in response to China's abusive treatment of USA media reporters in China.  This will get worse as time and the coronavirus keep gooing forward.

Super Tuesday Across the USA

       So, we've had a few dropouts this week: Amy, Pete, and Tom are gone.  Today's primary election could add to those names as Joe Biden, Bernie the Bern Man, Mike, and Elizabeth hope for good results.  It could be a long night for all.  Bernie seems to lead in California polls, but the rest of the states are a tossup.
      Keep your eyes on the early returns for the latest call.
      Meanwhile, many states have important local issues.  In California, it's another Proposition 13, a measure that has already caused anxiety among voters as they are fed misleading information and also missing information as to the likely results of passage.  The super majority legislators in Sacramento have concealed the "true" effects of passage by hinging passage of other related bills that would then go into effect.  Basically, what happens is that tax increases would be able to pass without a 2/3's majority required.  School districts could saddle home owners with significant property tax increases to pay for bonds to finance pensions, pay, and infrastructure improvements at the district level.  There would be little control of the spending after any passage.  This is what gave rise to 1978's original Prop. 13 that came to be as owners were taxed right out of their homes as assessments made gigantic increases inassessed valuations of homes.  It could come back and drive the DEms from their lofty seats that currently dominate state politics.

Greece and Its Border

       The Greek government announced that it has dispatched army troops to the Turkish border to aid in efforts to halt illegal immigrants to cross from Turkey into the country.  The President of Turkey announced that they can no longer control the millions of Syrian immigrants having absorbed over 5 million since the beginning of the war in that country.   The Turks began busing Syrians to the Greek border to pressure the EU to recognize the problem: again.
      The EU authorities recognize the Greek government's efforts to control the problem where it begins instead of waiting as the EU did before in 2014-15.  Now the Union realizes that the countries in the union have little recourse but to stem the flow across the continent.  Now that the UK is effectively out of the EU, that country's availability is off the table.  NATO will no doubt be forced to deal with the issue given Turkey's membership in the organization.
       Russya and its home grown dictator, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, are involved in supporting the Assad government in Syria as its troops descend on Idlip province to eliminate the last bastion of rebel forces concentrated there among the civilian population which is fleeing the combat for safety wherever they can find shelter(Turkey).
    It's not going to be solved anytime soon.

Lake Tahoe Makes the News, Again.

     Well, folks, in the mind of some water watchers, it's not to early to begin the chant: drought, drought, and more drought.  The State of California dispatches its measuring teams to the Sierra twice a year or more to measure snowpack on the ground.  The teams insert tubes to take samples of snow accumulation in specific zones to assess the amount of water held in these high altitude locations to aid in forecasting the amount of water that can be made available to the state's agricultural users and residential areas  in need of information relative to the spring melt.  This year's measurements were not surprising: it stands at about 20% of what is considered "normal" for February.  Thus the first warnings are sent out to districts around the state.  Now there is sufficient water in storage already that means normal amounts will be delivered for 2020.  However, it's next year that users look to when figuring needs ahead of the current year.
       Lake Tahoe makes the perfect picture:  a scan of the horizon indicates what little snow is on the ground.  The surrounding basin peaks are only lightly dusted with visible snow.  Such is the life of Tahoma residents: we see it everyday.  We live it everyday.  There isn't much snow this year.  Maybe we'll get lucky in March; maybe not.  keep your fingers crossed: forecasters see some precipitation for the coming weekend.

Look to Nevada

Look to Heavenly Valley

Recep Tayup ERdogan: Trouble in Syria-Again

         So, it was a bad day for members of the Turkish army who were on the border with Syria manuevering against Russyan-backed Syrian army forces in the vicinity of Idlip, the last stronghold of the rebel army that has fought with the loyalist troops of Bashar Assad's Syrian nationalist forces.  During the action, a Russyan fighter bomber dropped munitions on the Turkish troops, killing at least 33 soldiers and wounding many more.   President ERdogan, under pressure across the country, is meeting with Russyan Pres. Putin to discuss the problems as it appears that another million refugees are approaching the Turkish border seeking safety from the last days of the 6year conflict.  No doubt these are the final days of the struggle that has driven millions of Syrians from their homes to the uncertainties of foreign lands as refugees fleeing a war torn country.  
       As a ploy for an improved bargaining position, Mr. Erdogan has threatened Greece by implying that he will open the border between the two countries and release a flood of refugees into the country and Europe proper.   Greece has finally begun a real recovery from the depths of its recession of 2008/9.  The economy is expanding and any new influx of refugees could derail any progress.  In light of the spread of the coronavirus-Covid 19, all movement within Europe itself could come to an end soon.  Should EU states close all borders, the refugee problem could develop a host of new problems unseen in the recent past.
      The Turkish government is keeping an eye on Russya's moves across the border as Russyan military assets continue to build up  in the region as Mad Vlad continues to expand his influence even as he currently loses influence at home due to international sanctions imposed by the US government and EU States.  It's not a good time in Turkey and it will be awhile before stability returns to that troubled nation.
     Thank you, Mr. Erdogan-chief Turkish narcissist.