Book Review: The Pastures of Heaven, John Steinbeck

       The short story is a genre not easily captured by any writer.  Each story must have a design that appeals to the readers' interests to keep the focus from  beginning to end.   Some writers have been successful once, and then, never able to repeat the process.   John Steinbeck, the Nobel Prize winner in Literature, published a story collection in 1932 that received only  modest attention and acclaim.  Critics and readers alike were somewhat confused: is this a novel in and of itself?  Is it a collection of stories that normally would stand alone?  Are the stories linked by anything more than the region and its geography?   For years, these questions lingered and would remain unanswered until Steinbeck achieved super star status after publication of  The Grapes of Wrath.   This novel and several following identified the author as one who deserved further review.  Thus informed, critics and academics went back and examined The Pastures of Heaven(Las Pasturas del Cielo).
       In a recent Penguin Classics edition, the prologue examines in detail the structure and elements of each story in the collection.   At their most basic level, the stories are related by locale- the small valley in coastal California, about 100 miles south of San Francisco.  The time frame is constant: the late 19th century  before the industrial revolution altered America and the world forever.  Agriculture reigned over the citizenry, and the land and its husbandry identified the makeup of a man and his family.   The author selects individuals among the inhabitants and tells their own stories, and, as can be found in a small, tight knit community, contact is inevitable. 
      Some of the characters are blood relatives; some are lone individuals who have landed in the Pastures by chance.   Several are farmers, working the fertile land for their survival.  One is a school teacher; one is a mentally-challenged individual whose association with a certain family leads to their heart break and decline.  Steinbeck links these folks with elements of the landscape- farm houses of run down condition; farm houses of prosperity and success.  All are tinged with decline and fall, usually by forces beyond their control.   The author's skill as a writer was coming into its own.
5 Stars *****
worth the effort

1300 Chinese Businesses Can't be Wrong

      It was reported in the national media yesterday that the FDA has cited a number of Chinese corporations for violating Federal rules for foreign medical device makers.  A Federal prosecutor
has filed a complaint in court.   What happened now?  Well, we've read about new American companies running afoul of various rules as states scramble to access PPE for medical workers and assorted others in the community in response to the pandemic of Covid-19.
     A certain Chinese operator signed up 1000+ companies @$700 ea. and told them they would be duly registered in the US as a certified medical device manufacturer with the FDA.  All were connected to an address in the state of Delaware at a private home, owned by the Zappa family and leased to another occupant.  Each company then must pay an annual registration fee of $7000.  But wait.   How can these foreign companies follow the rules that require, among other things, a physical presence during business hours 5 days a week?  Answer: they can't, and were not even told of that little detail.  
     Result, companies decertified; broker on hook.  Now moved his latest location from Delaware to Colorado.  We'll see how it all plays out as the PPE saga in the USA unfolds.

China resident: Chengdu

Bears, Bears, and More Bears

       Well, the summer solstice is days away.  Sunrise becomes a rather early event @ 39 degrees N, and the bruins wake up just before dawn to start their daily foraging.  They must have a check list, or a regular route, depending on the day of the week:  downtown Tahoma, Sugar Pine Pt camp grounds, Chambers Landing, Chambers housing neighborhood, then a stroll through Rubicon Bay 'hood.  Along the way, in addition to private homes, there are any number of dumpsters: some secure, some not so secure.   Off we go!

View from Eagle Rock over Tahoe

              Just this morning, a bruin showed up in downtown Tahoma, hungry.  First stop- the dumpster.   Locked tight.  Next stop-the Gelato shop.   Hmmmm.  Lights are on, maybe somebody is home.  First-remove plywood window covers.  Then, try door-whoops-electrified-BAD!  Move on.
       The Sheriff was called and responded w/i minutes, with his bean bag shooter.  No bear.  At around 8am, while the owner was in the middle of gelato making, the bear appeared and put his paw through the open window!   No doubt wanted some gelato.  Owner yelled, guard dog barked, bear ran down the street, but no before leaving a huge mound of bear poop-his calling card.
      Now it's 9:15am, bear reappears at dumpster-the Mayor is oblivious.   Owner with German shepherd give chase, bear flees scene.
      Another late Springtime day in downtown Tahoma.

Book Review: War on Peace: the End of Diplomacy and Decline of American Influence, (2018)

       Ronan Farrow, journalist, lawyer, diplomat, influencer.   And author of a timely account of international events seen through the eyes of an insider and a journalist with access.  Mr. Farrow has been a TV anchor, an author of significance in modern journalism, and a subject of criticism for his efforts in these areas.
     His book reflects his experiences as an individual who worked closely as a young diplomat with State Dept. executive and long time American operative Richard Holbrooke.  He recounts the later career moves of Mr. Holbrooke as he navigates the international moves of American military and diplomatic efforts to secure peace in the Middle East and in the Gulf Region during the early years of the 21st century until Mr. Holbrooke's sudden death in 2010.  He chronicles the moves of the State Dept. as presidents come and go, including George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump.   In addition, he points out the effects of new Secretaries of State, including Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Colin Powell, Madeline Albright, and most recently, Rex Tillerson.
      His insights provide a careful examination of how the military has assumed the role formerly assigned to the Dept. of State: that of the international negotiator when it comes to conflicts around the world.   He asserts that as the military has achieved supremacy in the role of international leader of policy, the State Dept. has slipped to a secondary role which in turn has allowed other countries(China, Russia, et all.) to fill the space of diplomatic efforts.   The consequences of this change has been a decline of influence across the world of America.  Since Trump has occupied the White House, the change has become more evident.   Mr. Farrow does not predict a return to the former position occupied by the State Dept. anytime soon.  The new Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, appears to fit in with the Trump administration quite well.   Most recently, Mr. Pompeo has come under scrutiny for possible use of government funds for personal use, and Mr. Trump has removed the State Dept. Inspector General.
        Mr. Farrow carries the reader around the globe, identifying known areas of conflict and what the State Dept. did or did not do at the time and the results.  The situation in Colombia, South America, clearly indicates the problems with dealing in the old manner of supporting supposed leaders who could be identified as supporters of democracy, for better, and usually worse.
      The quagmire that has become Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan is the poster child of American efforts using the military as the prime source of influence.  The multiple warlords who appear among the many provides ample evidence that not m uch can be expected from military efforts.  One in particular, called  Dostrom, obviously a murderous individual, is an easy target for the author.  He interviewed this individual and the information gathered is not much help in assessing his over all role in the region.
      I recommend this book for a timely look into the world of 21st century diplomacy.

Snow in June

      Yesterday was windy and rainy through most of the afternoon.  As evening arrived, the temperature started to plummet.  So, after dinner, we retired and hit the sheets.  This morning,  we viewed the landscape and found a layer of snow all over the basin:  from lake level to the highest peaks.  With a slight bit of high cirrus cloud cover, the evidence was clear:  it snowed last night.  The bed of my truck had a fair amount, and it was already starting to melt at 8am.
      While unexpected, snow in June is not rare, just a little unusual.  It serves to remind locals that springtime in the mountains bears watching. 
     Speaking of bears: downtown Tahoma was visited by a bear two nights ago and managed to scratch up the door to the espresso bar.  Local citizens have reported many bear sightings as the scent of garbage disperses through town.  Welcome to summer.
     Traffic has picked up on Highway 89 as more rules are relaxed relative to preventive measures related to the Covid-19 pandemic.   Health officials continue to be wary of relaxing of social interactions among the population as information comes available about an increase in cases of infection in different states: Arizona, Texas, and middle America seem to be the new hotspots.

Space X Success: N.A.S.A. Revitalized

      Well, isn't that something.  A US launched rocket takes 2 astronauts to the I.S.S.  One of the two is a veteran of an earlier US flight-from 10 years ago.   The difference: today he is riding a privately funded rocket made by Elon Musk's company: SpaceX.  It was launched from the base in Florida that was the home of N.A.S.A.'s Apollo Program that sent the first men to the moon in 1969.  This was not the first attempt by SpaceX, but after fine tuning the systems required for the launch and several failures, this flight delighted the engineers and support staff that are necessary for the entire program.
       What's different?  How about the launch vehicle separating from the manned capsule and returning to the base?  Sounds amazing and it is.  In the old days, this section of the rocker would separate after the vehicle reached a certain altitude and the fuel was spent.  This empty canister was allowed to fall back to earth- in to the Atlantic Ocean.   Now that was a very expensive part of the operation and was entered into the accounting as an un-recovered cost.  Now, SpaceX reuses that section for a future launch.   Hence, the billions saved will help expand this new partnership between the public and private entities that have joined to make the program financially much more feasible.
This will please not only Congress, but also those nay -sayers who question the entire space exploration concept.
        The two astronauts will spend about 5 days at the station, testing systems operations and checking on the health of those current occupants who have been there for some months.  It is surely a psychological boost for them knowing that there is another player in the program, ensuring their own future return and or replacement.   Planners and thinkers of future efforts can now move forward and set their sights farther away.  Mars has again become a possible target; however, the moon is the most likely candidate for another station and port of entry for astronauts on the move.

Light House-California Coast-Beacon of Safety

California Governor Activates the National Guard

       A member of the Mayor's staff has been notified that the California National Guard has activated more units, including his.  These new activations will allow the Governor to help local police jurisdictions to quell rioting and looting going on as part of demonstrations related to the killing of an African American man in Minnesota last week.  This action will send a message to protesters that there are limits to all demonstrations and to the 1st Amendment Right of Free Speech.  While speech is protected in its many forms, violence and mayhem is not included.  The usual suspects are about taking advantage again of police departments in affected cities that don't have the resources necessary to quell the violence and looting that has accompanied many of the demonstrations.
      Tahoma has been spared the problem due to a low population and insignificant numbers of furloughed workers.  We will keep an eye on developments that could change the outlook for statewide recovery from the lock down orders of March 12th.

China Bars US Airlines from Country

      Beijing made an announcement yesterday that prohibits United Airlines and Delta Airlines from landing in China.  This was in response to the US airlines making 300+ flights a week to China.  Now, the White House announces that flights by Chinese carriers will be restricted until further notice.  This underscores the ongoing friction between the two nations.  Much of this friction began months ago and continues as both countries struggle to cope with the spread of coronavirus/COVID-19.   Deaths in the US have surpassed 107,000 and over 1.5 million cases of the virus.   Some flights have been permitted to land in China, but this was before the lockout of United and Delta.

Hong Kong : NIght Lights

Asian Affairs Minister in Quarantine in Beijing

       So, our indefatigable globetrotter is cooling off in East Asia courtesy of Chinese hotel operators.  He is required by current policy of government of China to relax in a hotel for 14 days, to ensure there is no virus that he is infected with.  He will practice his various skills at oil painting, reading, watching Chinese programs on TV, and eating meals provided by the hotel(room service only.)   Since the first couple of days of in house cuisine proved to be less than appetizing,  our Minister has decided with full approval of the Mayor, to order food from nearby restaurant(s).   This has been an improvement about half the time.  While some dishes are ok, another half is not ok.  Well, one could say that about food here in California.
     Just yesterday the Minister said he walked 3 miles-in his hotel room- to get a little exercise.  Hmmm.  That qualifies as boredom plus, plus.  We know he is used to physical fitness programs and that confinement due to quarantine strains everybody's fitness programs,  going to such lengths as he did is amazing.   Perhaps the in house fitness center is closed until further notice due to virus concerns.

Old Time Military Unit near Xi'An

     He has been catching up on local news, but, case in point, Hong Kong is not in the news.  Not in Chinese news programs.  Hong KOng?  We don't know anything about HOng Kong today.   The U.K. has taken a bold step by offering refugee status to 3.5 million residents of Hong Kong.  Now that will give the Beijing lever pullers something to think about tonight(and tomorrow night).  Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of the U.K., made the announcement yesterday to the media after conferring with his policy group to ensure that all are on the same page.  No doubt, he has informed Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, of his offer.  A rebuke of China's change in policy toward Hong Kong is a clear indication that President Xi Jing Ping is impatient and does not want any more anti-government activities in the province, even though the government signed a 50 year agreement with Great Britain before the turnover in 1997.

Hong Kong at Night