Angora Lakes

     Well, the Mayor made his annual vist to ANgora the other day.  It was a grgeous day all over the Basin.  This time of year, one doesn't expect to see many visitors about, and the day was not an exception.

       We had the beach to ourselves(deputy Mayor).  A few chipmunks scurried about.  Another family of 6arrived and had their pick of water front spaces.  A young couple could be seen across the lake sittibg on one of the dive rocks(look closely to see them).  The water level is October low.  There is no visible snow anywhere, but that will change soon as night time temperatures dip into the low 20's.  It won't be too long before the whole area will wear a blanket of the white stuff.

      One of the cabins had some visitors; they appeared to be part of management as they put up an umbrella on the deck and made preparations for a stay.  They picked perfect weather.

view of Fallen Leaf Lake from Angora Lookout on ridge

    Passing along the road on exiting the lakes, the barren landscape adjacent reminds one of the destructive effects of the Angora Fire of 2008.  Many of the homes below that burned have now been rebuilt; but the trees have a long way to go before they resume the former landscape.

PG&E Wind Warning

     NorCal power monopoly company, Pacific Gas & Electric, cut power in some counties and certain areas within those counties yesterday and last night.  El Dorado was unaffected as Liberty Energy did not identify zones of high winds near LAke Tahoe.  No reports around the state of wind caused powerlines down.  But it's still early.

Marie Sluchak Park Info

Progress in Downtown Tahoma

       Workers continue to finish the install of the new park play structure.

Update: Tahoma MArket/PDQ

       I talked with a local resident and she told me that the owners of the market have ordered uniforms for the staff that are being hired as we speak.

       Great news for Tahoma.  No more unnecessary trips to TC or Homewood.  The building looks great with all the improvements(exterior) making quite the impression.  Opening just a week or two away.  I have not been asked yet for a ribbon -cutting ceremony. 

World Series Update

 Well, no miscues by the Dodgers last night as the favorite team closed Game 5 with a victory over Tampa Bay Rays.  The Rays had their chances, leaving a number of runners on base late in the game.  Dodgers' pitching looked very capable and Kershaw performed well during his time on the mound.  He got the win, and the game was closed out by relievers.

Series at 3 games for LA, 2 for Tampa Bay.  It's now do-or-die for Rays.  A travel day off today, Series resume tomorrow.

Friends of Tibet

     Was out shopping the other morning, and lo and behold I spotted a vehicle with a notable license plate.

Who knew that Tibet has a large population of emigres in Virginia.   Now you know.

I like the TI

World Series Update: End of Game 4

        Well, a little excitement is all we ask for in any Series.  This year, because of the pandemic and lack of fans in any venue, folks at home are trying to stay interested.  We have the LA Dodgers, a powerhouse if there ever was one; and the Tampa Bay Rays, the upstart with the payroll that looks like a 1099 Form from the gig economy.  Game 1 to the Dodgers, Game 2 to the Rays, Game 3 to the Dodgers; now Series have Dodgers up 2 games to 1.  Game 4 seesawed back and forth.   In the top of the 9th inning, the Dodgers are up by 1 run, and the Rays are struggling.   They get a man on first base, then another man to first, 2 men on; now two outs, Rays are down to their last strike as a pinch hitter steps up and works the count to 2-2.   And then the fun begins.

        The young man lashes a hard hit ball to shallow right centerfield, the runners are off at the crack of the bat:  the center fielder gets excited and mishandles the ball as the runner on first rounds 3rd base after the lead runner scores.  (Game tied).  The runner rounding 3rd base falls down halfway to the plate(Azorarena) as the throw comes in from the outfield.  Runner stands up, sees the ball coming and stops, the catcher looks for the runner who he believes is sliding home.  Catcher takes the eye off the ball, ball caroms off his outstretched glove hand as he sweeps the plate to tag the runner, who is not there.   The ball has been deflected to the right of home plate, the runner sees this,, jumps up and dives to homeplate  which he slaps with his hand, followed by a big smile.   Dodgers manager, Dave Roberts, tries to absorb what just happened and he cannot believe what he has witnessed: at least 3 errors which caused his team to lose the game.

Series tied: 2-2.   The action is now tied, momentum Rays.   Therapy needed for the Dodgers who might not recover from this sad loss.   But, that's baseball.

Watch it!

TRPA Postpones Virtual Town Hall Meeting.

       The TRPA's scheduled virtual Town Hall meeting has been postponed until November 12.   The board deemed the number of comments elicited from the first meeting warranted more examination by the staff assigned to the Meeks Bay transformation initiative.   The amount of comments indicates high interest among West Shore residents, as it should be.  The residents of Tahoma are very concerned about the future of Meeks Bay and its shoreline, the camp grounds, and the facilities that will accompany the location and transformation.   It appears, as so often happens, the TRPA, the USFS, and El Dorado county have a plan ready to go, but will make it appear that their attempt at public input is serious, and not an exercise in frustration for local residents.   

      It has been several years since the little harbor at the lakeshore at Meeks Bay has been shut down to all boating activities.   It was stated by TRPA that water pollution was evident in the creek basin and the Washoe Tribe, lease holders on the park grounds, did not take the bait and attempt an expensive study to identify the source(s) of the pollution.   Has this happened?  Does TRPA have the information?  Are they flying blind into the project without knowing the source of claimed pollution.  It seems prudent that this information is necessary before any improvements can be made; before any money is spent on changes to the environment;  and before a final plan is approved by TRPA/ElDo Cty, and the USFS.

View Above Meeks Bay

Consulate in Chengdu Now Unfit for Duty

Hong Kong at night

        Beijing gave the US 30 days to vacate the building that has housed the consular offices of the US State Dept. in Chengdu.  Personnel left shortly thereafter, but the heavy lifting was carried out by management members of the staff.   Local Chinese employees were let go within days of the official order.

Sadly, these individuals were blacklisted by the government in Beijing.  They cannot find other employment.  There is no possibility they will be hired by any business that wants to stay on the good side of the Party.  A few individuals who had worked on site for many years(25+) will be offered opportunities in the United States: to live and work with a path to citizenship for their dedication in the face of opposition from Beijing.

       Meanwhile, the consular staff set about the task of cleaning out the consulate.  Knowing that this building will never again be used by the US State Dept., it was imperative that no one else will ever use it.  Despite the 100 year lease in effect, it was a convenient way for Beijing to rid this section of Chengdu of the footprint of a US entity.   So, all the systems installed were rendered unusable: electrical, plumbing, kitchen, and all bathrooms. 

         The CG repaired to Foggy Bottom where he was given a desk and a stack of papers to shuffle.  Within a few weeks, he was promoted to a higher rank.  This promotion was obviously not the result of his leadership in Chengdu where he was held in low regard by all members of his staff as a bumbling, ineffectual leader who was in over his little head.   But in an organization run by a pompous bureaucrat who is oblivious to the operation of a 60,000 man juggernaut, such moves and their results are the norm.  Yes, the Department of State is too big to fail, no matter the budgeting put in place by Congress.

Goodbye Donald Trump

      Well, sports fans, it appears with more certainty than ever than the human detritus collected in the White House will be sent packing in less than 3 weeks.   Thank the stars and heavens, this "plague" on America will be departing soon.  Adding insult to injury, this incomparable buffoon, now touts herd immunity as the solution to the Coronavirus pandemic in the country.  Dr. Anthony Fauci calls this policy absurd, and for Trump to espouse this path is ridiculous.   And that is true.

Sunset on Trump's Administration

       A new national poll has candidate Joe Biden in the lead by more than 11 points ahead of Mr. Trump.  This is good news for all Americans, even those deplorables who have been fooled by his rhetoric and those pronouncements by the fools in the Republican Party.   Pathetic supporters in Congress such as Mitch McConnell, continue to shy away from criticism of POTUS.  Amidst the vagaries of the impending election(s) on November 3rd, Trump and the Republicans continue to rant against perceived demons; continue to fire broadsides at the mail-in balloting that is a help to those with concerns about the current surge in the spread of the coronavirus.  Health is their concern, but voting is a close second.   

      The Biden campaign is spending great amounts of dollars on ads in key states such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Arizona.   Congressional seats are also in the mix and are considered primed for a party switch that will alter the numbers in the Senate and give the Democrats a majority in both houses.  With Biden/Harris in the White House, big changes are coming, but it will take more than 4 years to change many of Trump's policies enacted over the past 3 + years.

Nokia Exalts as Merkel Prepares Restrictions on Huawei

        Nokia executives are dancing in the streets as they absorb the information that finally Germany will 

send Chinese electronics maker Huawei home instead of participating in the development of a 5G networks in the country.  After listening to the US on the security issues surrounding Chinese electronics companies,  Germany has finally agreed it is not worth the risks.   Given the Chinese government's financial support of the company,  it is clear that the Huawei products are unfairly propped up by Beijing.  Additionally, the PLA, or national army, maintains the ability to demand all data and compliance to all requests from all Chinese corporations, despite claims to the contrary.

         The implications are considerable.   Huawei has been under pressure for months and longer in some ways.   The US has identified flaws in Huawei's explanations as to their connections to Beijing and the PLA. Consequently,  world leaders must defer to the US and its concerns regarding any future relations with Huawei and its technology.

No Doubt About  Command Structure

Sugar Pine Park In the News: Fire Defense

       LOcals, especially those in Tahoma, have known about various efforts at Sugar Pine Pk,  to maintain the forests.   The forest environment at the park consists of the signature sugar pines, and also ponderosas, jeffries, and the ubiquitous fir tree.  Burning the under growth has been a local practice for over 30 years.  Visual evidence is obvious when one drives through or by the park grounds/campgrounds.  Burn piles, waiting for their moment,   are arranged sporadically on the landscape.  During the winter, after an appropriate snow fall, the fire department puts the piles to the torch.  They are carefully observed until the pile is reduced to ashes which are then smothered with water until extinguishment.

      An article in today's SFGate explains the history of the program in detail.  SFGate.com