Book Review: "The Pine Barrens", James McPhee, 1967

        As a young journalist, Professor McPhee sought topics for his writing close to home.  The Professor grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, which is located a  bit north of the center of the state.   The journalist's art form-the essay, the column, the in-depth article, seeks to reveal to readers little known facts often overlooked.  The Pine Barrens offered just such a topic:  a place, nearby, that most locals knew a little about, but few knew well.  Mr. McPhee turned his sights on to the Pine Barrens.

     At one time, the area included about 1600 sq. miles of the landscape, but by the 1960's, it was reduced to about 1000 sq. miles, more or less.  This is not inconsiderable in a relatively small state as New Jersey. The Barrens occupy the southeast corner of the state, not including the Atlantic coast.  It's topography is characterized by low undulations without significant high points.   This speaks to the geology of the area formed by glaciation and the retreat of those glaciers over time.  Throughout the area, one can find the reason for the name-Pine Barrens.   The forested landscape is covered with trees: pines, firs, and cedars.  In some parts, the trees are so thick as to limit intrusion by anybody.

      McPhee, a New Jersey native, was raised on the northern edge of the Barrens, at Princeton, a place that would become his touchstone for life(he still resides there and works at the University).  In his early 30's, McPhee felt it was time to explore the region on his doorstep and give it and its inhabitants some scrutiny, and off he went(down the road a piece.)

    On one of his first forays into the Pines, McPhee met two men who would mentor him for years on all topics "Barrens":  Mr. Fred Brown, 79, and Mr. Bill Wasovwich, 26 years old.  They are neighbors, living in a place/town of Hog Wallow with about 23 other residents.  Fred is a widower, father of 7 children, all moved away years ago.  Bill was left behind when his parents decided to leave, one after the other when he was about 15 years old.  He was left to fend for himself; which he has done.   Fred provides advice and guidance based on his vast experience as a father.

        As per McPhee's diligence and skills as a writer/journalist,  he develops background, providing not just history, but depth and substance through connected dots that illuminate local character.  Fascinated by geology, McPhee includes the story of how iron rich minerals were leached from the earth by glaciation and found their way to the streams and bogs of the Barrens.  During the Revolutionary War(1776+++), these iron finds were sourced as material for cannon and shot used by Gen. George Washington, among others.  Smelters were scattered across the low hills and wood-fired kilns consolidated the metal into shot.

      Concurrently, agriculture was found to be wanting due to poor soil conditions: too sandy and lacking nutrients of any sort.  Looking at what grew there, locals fixed on blueberries and cranberries which thrived on cold, clean water that settled in bogs/swamps across the landscape.   Over time, locals figured out what works, and a thriving business of berry farming became the mainstay of the Barrens(today, we know this in the brand:Ocean Spray).

      Modernization of surroundings did occur: highways(two) passed through the area, east and west; and north and south.  Atlantic City was the resort town on the coast cited as the new Las Vegas.  Despite the efforts of former President Donald Trump,  it failed in that regard.   A supersonic jet port made it to the drawing boards complete with housing, adjacent businesses, and recreation facilities.  It went nowhere.  The New Jersey legislature continues to thwart all efforts to change anything, ever.

      With little remarkable features to draw visitors, the area at best, is a draw for deer hunters who visit annually to stock their freezers with venison for the winter.  Bill and Fred often provide guide services in the area around Hog Wallow.  Professor McPhee has done well to shed some light on the area.  Despite its location to the power centers of commerce and government, the Barrens remain foreign to most Americans, and most New Jersey folk as well.

5 stars- It's a good quick, read, in the McPhee genre of journalism.

 

Truckee Airport Closed by Record Snow Fall

      Well, it had to happen:  lots of snow, limited resources, no access roads available, and power outages.  The combination of events caused a closure that lasted days.   With only a small crew to clean both hangar access and runway clearance, the director of operations was forced to announce a suspension of operations.  Citing FAA rules, Tahoe/Truckee Airport suspended ops last Monday.  Many pilots whose planes were on the ground, some covered, some not, had to make other plans to travel.  Those who had to go went to Reno International Airport.   Operations in Reno continued throughout the snowstorm which had little effect on the ground there.

      At an elevation of about 5900', Tahoe Truckee is susceptible to all weather that sweeps the Sierra from west to east.  Given its vulnerable geographic location, a wide open bluff top, surrounded by 30' tall pine trees, it's not surprising that closures regularly occur, especially during winter snowstorms.

     Are you flying in and out of Tahoe/Truckee airport?  Keep up to the minute on conditions.

Snowfall: New Record Amount

      So, you think there's a lot of snow out there?  You are correct.   The monthly record for December has been shattered, not broken, but beat up badly.    How many 'feet' then and now?  Let's check:

Old record:

         179.0"

New record:

          193.7"

24 hour total:

 38.9"

     Bottom line lots of snow!  But I-80 is closed, so no skiers can arrive to enjoy the feast of powder.  Oh, well.

James Webb: Immortalized by a Telescope

 Well, folks, the deep space searching telescope is on its way.  Where is it going?  Nowhere place.   Unspecified except for some esoteric coordinates only astronomers can appreciate.   It will be out there a long ways, putting it simply.  The telescope, in development for decades, will advance knowledge of our "universe", and expand our understanding of the space/time conundrum.   The James Webb telescope has a very large mirror, the main source of information gathered by the instrument.  It will "see" things, objects or events, in the distant pass that only now are reaching us with help from the scope.

        This instrument will replace the Hubble telescope, the workhorse of the last 30 years or so, that took photos of formerly unseen events that occurred in outer space.  What's the difference between the two?  First, and foremost, the Hubble collected only visible light, that is, objects we could see.   The Webb scope will take images of space across a different light spectrum: ultra violet light.  This capability will enhance its light-gathering ability and allow us "to see" much more into deep space.  Astronomers fully expect to see back in time to the origins of the universe, out galaxy included.   Scientists also hope to gather data that will shed 'light' on our own universe: the Milky Way.  We will perhaps be able to discern with some accuracy, the  end of our existence-the death of our "star" that will mark the end of earth and its inhabitants(us).  

      Our investigative tool is not all about black holes, outer limits, red dwarfs, and such, but actually a chronicle of our own technological advances, from optics to computers.  Who could have envisioned the iphone 20 years ago or, more importantly, its impact on our lives?  Who could foresee the demise of the lowly telephone, a symbol of pedestrian communication for generations?   Disruptive forces have become commonplace, and little is known about the long term effects.

      For the next month, the James Webb Scope will be adjusted and placed in its "home".   Its sunshield will be unfolded(made by Northrup Grumman in Redondo Beach,CA).  This is the key to its longevity.  Without a sunshield, the scope would burn up.   The orientation of the scope will also be tested and directed according to plan.   In a month or so, new information will be transmitted back to earth: a revolution is upon us.  Get ready.

Traveling This Week?

      So, Joe Biden addressed the nation yesterday and listed steps to be taken to right away.  These steps are government actions that will deal with the variant of Covid-19 called Omicron that has emerged in the last 3 weeks, and has proven to be exceptionally contagious.  This variant now accounts for 75% of new cases in the US.   More work is being done in labs around the country to identify the variant's characteristics and how it affects the infections that result.  Of course, this new variant comes while the world is coping with the Delta variant that emerged mid year, 2021, and is still around causing more infections than the original Covid.

        Beijing is starting to get a little anxious with the Winter Olympic Games only 6 weeks away,  Should the Communists cancel the Games?  Why of course, if they are concerned about the health of the athletes, the officials, the locals.  But will they have the spine to postpone?  Hardly, they are Commies, they do what's good for the Party first, and foremost.  Xi JP, president, wants the Games to go on; he wants the publicity; he needs the publicity to further his hold on the Party.

We'll see.  Where is Ms. Peng?  The world waits.

Russyan Hacker Extradited to US

      So, the US wins one, finally, against another Russyan criminal.  This time the perp will answer for his alleged crimes to a court in the US, a long way from Babushka Land and its FSB, or Putin's Junk Yard Dogs.   This particular perp is a 41 year old professional hacker, having been implicated in many nefarious plots to cause cybersecurity problems for governments and corporations around the world.  He's now have to: 1) get some lawyers, 2) go to lockdown, 3) change his life style,4) forget about his girlfriend, 5)forget about his future, 6) forget about a normal life, 7) forget about new friends, 8) forget about family, 8) remember his former life, 9) remember what "normal" was like before this unfortunate turn of events, 10) remember the winters in Moskova, 11) remember to curse the man who gave him a laptop computer, 12) and finally, to curse the name Putin for his imprimator on his actions.  Oh, well, as I've said before, Russyans are not ready for prime time engagement with the real world.  They want Czarist Russya to return, so dissenters can be exiled to Siberia and the whole population can live in fear on a daily basis.

Nobel Prize in Economics To Erdogan?

        I thought a little black humor would be entertaining this first day of winter, 2021.  Yes, yesterday was the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere, or the top half of Mother Earth, or the half that counts, or the half that teeters because it is weighed down by too many humans.  So, Turkey, presided over the delusional President Erdogan, has recovered some of the value of its currency, the Turkish Lira.  The local Lira has been under some recent pressure-we call it in the West inflation.  It occurs when prices for goods increase rapidly, causing anxiety among the population.

       Mr. Erdogan has been a politician for many years, banking on the nation's acceptance of a secular government following in the footsteps of its predecessor government.  However, Mr. Erdogan has fallen under the influence of conservatives, often commenting on his own muslim faith, and his adherence to its precepts.  One of which prevents faithful muslims from charging interest on borrowed funds.  It's not a huge step from that position to the current government position of Turkey to lower interest rates, despite the obvious conflict with accepted economic theory which holds that government central banks should raise interest rates to curb inflation.  No, says Mr. E.  : lower them to boost the creation of jobs and the production of more goods and services.  Poor Ratrap Erdogan.  Perhaps he's smoking hashish, or drinking too much coffee, or staying up watching Late Night, or maybe too much soaking in the hot tub.  Whatever he's doing, his thinking is warped and it has hastened the country's sharp decline, and has permanently damaged his reputation and his ability to govern his country.  Now perhaps he has an unknown strategy that will reveal itself soon.  Perhaps he's thinking long term: look at the just announced plan for the citizens:

      One can deposit funds in any bank, choosing a term for locking in a guaranteed rate of interest: 3 mos., 6 mos., nine, or 12 months with a rate set by the central bank.  At the end of the term, if the Lira value falls, the government would make up the difference by depositing the amount in the account holders name. The government has not indicated where the funds would come from that would be paid out.   Ha ha, ha, ha: aren't governments and politicians wonderful?  They can say anything they want and have no accountability, unless booted out of office after the fact.

      Old Ratrap Erdogan fits right in with the rest of the world's liars and producers of lies and instability.  He fits right in with the Orange Baboon recently ejected from the White House.  Old Ratrap won't be around much longer as the citizens can only take so much B.S. from a sitting president.   Look at Chile: the people just elected a 35 year old former protester as president.  We love to see these upstarts have a chance to derail a government. Keep watching Turkey and Chile.  (No, it's not a recipe for Thanksgiving).

 

 

London Breed, Mayor of San Francisco, Declares State of Emergency in Tenderloin

 NO, she hasn't made steak off limits.  She's declaring the City's sorriest neighborhood a "state of emergency".  In other words, the Tenderloin will now get some policing, despite the Old Commie Chesa Boudin, the City's District Attorney .   Chesa is facing a recall in June '22.  After declaring that misdemeanors will not bring an arrest(<$950).   SEveral gangs of urban terrorists descended on several locations around Union Square and created havoc, sending a message to America that San Francisco is akin to the 3rd World: lawless, and lacking in the ability to police itself.  Not pretty, is it Mayor Breed.

     "Hello, is that you Willie Brown?  This is Mayor Breed.  Can you offer a little advice to me about my problems.  You've dealt with a few during your years in public service.   What can I do?

      Mayor Breed: start by supporting the police.

Where is Jimmie Lai?

     Why Jimmie is in China, of course.   Poor Jimmy: a man his age 66 should be enjoying retirement, spending time with family and friends.   Most folks that age are practicing some form of leisure activity.  But not poor Jimmy.  Poor Jimmy, founder of the APPLE DAILY in Hong Kong, made a decision a few years ago to support the Hong Kong democracy movement by supporting those locals who gathered to protest against Beijing dictates.  Alas, despite his money(billions), his numerous supporters and friends,  the Communist government felt he needed some direct action to squelch him and his followers.  So, the Commies arrest Poor Jimmy.   They lock him up, somewhere, nobody knows where and Beijing isn't talking.  Then, it is announced that his actions violated many laws.  He will be tried in court for his "crimes".  Hmmmmmm.  Sounds like a warm up to a Commie "Show Trial"- those circus-like events stage by Communist governments for the entertainment of the outside world and for the edification of the locals who might think twice about protestingn anything anywhere, anytime.

        So, the trial was held; we're waiting on a copy of the proceedings.  And, shockingly, Poor Jimmy was found guilty of his crimes.  And Poor Jimmy has been sentenced to 13 months in prison.  Oh, well.  Poor Jimmy may finally learn his lesson(s).   We'll see in 13 months.

     Happy Holidays Hong Kongers.  And that includes you,  Carrie Lam, the sitting Mayor of the place.  Oh, by the way, after yesterday's elections, the voter turnout was only 23%.  Lowest in 25 years.  I guess the hand-picked candidates, vetted by Beijing committee lacked appeal to the population.

Poor Jimmy.

CTS

 

Going to the Sun: Walking on the Sun

         Hmmmm.  So, let's go exploring.  Where to?  Always a little dicey.  Pick a point, discuss, then decide: why?  What will it cost?  Who will pay?  In days gone by, royals paid for the trip(see Spain, Portugal, France, England, Belgium, Germany, and others).   Today, there a few players, but the usual suspects: USA, China, Russya, and???   It costs quite a bit to launch some gravity -defying vehicle that must sustain itself during a long, cold voyage to the unexplored.

        So, in 1958, scientists decided that we humans needed more knowledge of our "Star", aka the sun.  As soon as technology arrives with the means, we'll go.   The time is nigh; the launch is in one week, from the French space port pad.  A multi-country vehicle will be put into orbit to look at the sun:  the James Webb telescope, designed to replace the Hubble scope, its predecessor.  The JW telescope will allow us to see things never seen, or even thought about.   This anticipated mission will supplement the Parker Solar satellite, now visiting our sun.

        N.A.S.A. launched the Parker probe recently.  Its mission: to touch the sun!  1,000,000 degrees F!  How is this done?  Very carefully.  After more than 10 years of planning, our scientists-astrophysicists, rocket engineers, etc., designed and built a probe that could "touch" the sun.  In some ways, it is designed to put its"toe in the water".  It will approach the sun's corona, gather information, then retreat to an external location beyond the heat that could destroy the vehicle.  Heat shields are necessary, and even the heat shields have limits.   But it has proven worthy to the task, and data is beaming back to earth.  Data?  What data?

         How does the sun work?   How is it similar to other "stars"?  What fuels this object?  And what are the characteristics of this particular object we are so dependent on for our lives?  All good questions.  Get ready for answers.

      Have a nice day.

Masks Required: Gov. Gruesom Issues Statewide Order

        Hello out there, citizens of the realm.  Masks must be worn in All Public Settings, beginning Dec, 15th(Wednesday this week).  The new order will last until January 15, 2022.   The CDPH issued guidelines and can be found on the department's web site.  Certain individuals are exempt, including children under 2 years of age.  The list also includes many other individuals who qualify for the mask exemption.

        The new Omicron variant, combined with the Delta variant has given pause to any return to normal conditions.  Remember normal?  Back in January 2020, things were normal.  That's a long time ago.  We are in a different universe these days, and this will continue.  Years from now, people, especially the young will reflect on the situation, with varying degrees of recollection and various memories of the experience.  Like those who lived through the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906.  And those who lived through the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918.  And those who lived through the 1989 Loma Prieta Quake(the World Series quake).   Many of life's milestones can be identified by an event: World War I, World War II, etc, etc.  These were game changers, as they say.  Life became a before-and-after period.  Life was different before, and would never return to that time again.  We changed. period.  By the experience.  Today, tornadoes tore through Arkansas, Kentucky, and Illinois, leaving behind death and destruction.  It will mark those with a before-and-after period.

      So, Gov. Newsom will evaluate the situation in 30 days, and make another decision to continue theuse of masks or not.  Time and Covid will tell.

Stay tuned.

Snow in the Forecast

     Well, folks, winter has arrived.  Finally.  Hear that noise?  That's your neighbor's snow blower, doing the driveway so he can get to work; and his partner will also have to navigate Highway 89 to get to Tahoe City and beyond.  And for you sad sacks who have to go South- you're screwed.  You'll have to take the L-O-N-G W-A-Y around.  The El Dorado County way around.  This ridiculous situation persists because of various reasons, primarily, property taxes.  Yes; this little slice of ElDo county produces a bounty for the county(and state) because of:location-location-location, the mantra of all real estate denizens.

      So, Highway 89 is closed now around Emerald Bay as it always is during and following a heavy snowfall.  Safety, for those idiots who don't care about the folks who rescue idiots for a living(CHP, Sheriffs, and fire/rescue types).   The amount of snow, of course, varies, but the results are the same: no through traffic until CalTrans reopens the highway.  Have some business in Placerville, the county seat?  Good luck.

     But, the current storm(s) will guarantee a season for resorts and all the dependent businesses that grab on to the tail of all recreational skiers on holiday.   It gives locals hope, however emphemeral.  How many feet of snow will fall? The locals play this game, endlessly.  Depends: where do you live and at what elevation.   Lake level: one figure; above 7000', another; above 7500', add some more.  Above 8000', go home.

Wax the boards, dry out the boots,  put a battery in your avalanche signal alert sending unit, feed the dog.

Russya May Be Isolated

    Pres. Biden will not draw a red line in the sand.  That's soooooooooo yesterday.  He will simply express the hope that he doesn't have to invoke new financial burdens on the Rus peoples.  Maybe shutting down access to the shopping malls of London will stir some interest.   Maybe if flights to Paris/Amsterdam, Rome, Madrid, Lisbon, Zurich, Glasgow, Dublin, New York City are ended  will be sufficient to alter Putin's plunge into madness.  But his record after 25 years of leading the largest country in the world deeper into the rabbit hole does not offer hope.  His actions continue to validate the charge(s) that the Rus are unfit to enter the modern world.  They are stuck. Stuck in the politics of the Czars; the politics of oppression, the trap of dictatorship; the trap of the ruthless leader.   No benevolence here.  It's just more oppression against a people wanting to be free and accepted around the world.

     Not going to happen under the Little Ex-KGB colonel/deputy Mayor of Ft. Petersburg.

Ms. Peng: Where Are You? Please respond asap.

      Biden has told China that the USA will not send political representatives to the Winter Olympic games in February 2022 in that country.  Athletes will participate on their own.   This will decrease China's prestige in holding these games.  Xi JP will not hold his glistening head so high-he's been rebuked by the West.

       Poor Xi JP.  He has locked in his position for life this year; his status has been elevated by acclaim to that of Mao Zedong.   His every wish is a command to his followers at every level of government.  But now: economic problems.  Real estate bubble(s).  Evergrande, the Real Estate giant is on the financial rocks.  Debt payments will be missed this month, and the future of payments looks bleak.  Beijing will have to step in(already has) to see if the company can be salvaged.  Sister real estate companies are also tottering on the brink of collapse.  Should these companies be taken over by Beijing, the ripple effect will then open a flood of takeovers, signifying a turn to recession.

        Welcome to high finance.   Who will bail out Beijing?   India?  Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.  President Modi would rather slip bamboo slivers under Xi's finger nails.   Russya?  Ha, ha, ha.  Putin would rather give Xi a dose of the clap than bail any Chinese companies out.  Belarus?   Ha,ha, ha.  Lukashenko would rather send 10,000 Syria refugees to Beijing before he sends a Euro or two.   Hmmmmmm.  Maybe one of his friends from Africa?  No, they have Omicron problems.  So, China will have to deal with the mess they created in their own house.  Not pretty.

     Sure, we know: when Beijing sneezes, the world gets a cold.  Read what happens when all those shipping containers return to Shanghai empty.   One Way trade never works long term.  China is beginning to feel the pinch as fewer buyers are to be found among former customers for the cheap shit they make in the sweat shops in Hong Kong, etc.etc.

       Telling is the announcement that China wanted to build a seaport harbor on Africa's west coast: that coast that faces the western hemisphere.  Diplomats from the USA have arrived in Africa to dissuade countries from accepting any deals with the Chinese military.  The same issues have been ongoing on China's east coast as Beijing tries to commandeer the South China Sea as its own.   Building military air facilities on tidal exposed rocks is a fantasy game created in the hallways of the PLA.

      No doubt, the PLA will hack into today's zoom call between Putin and Biden.  They'll then parse the discussed topics and any decisions made for the benefit of Xi.

Where is Peng?  Please let her go. 

Biden/Putin Zoom Today

        So, here we have two world leaders meeting via video conferencing technology.  Will it work?  Will it satisfy necessary parameters(can they understand each other);  will they be in their bath robes?  So much preparation.  But, in light of the situation, this is a good thing: talking, explaining.

      The situation:  Rasputin's bastard child, Vladimir, is playing a chess game with the West over Ukraine.  The pathetic little ex-KGB drone has decided stirring the pot with aggressive moves on the Ukraine eastern border will catch the eye of Europe/American leaders.  Given that the little punk annexed Crimea and eastern Ukraine(Donbass) in 2014, it is likely he could make entry across the border with the troops he is currently amassing there.  Now Russya has an interesting hand to play.  His pipeline to Western Europe is going to be finished soon.  This will ease the area's energy needs.  This in turn, will help the economy in Russya.   Putin knows that the existing Western sanctions have hurt the economy significantly.  Trade with the West and China has been in the doldrums for several years, and COVID has not helped.   China, the dragon on Russya's southern perimeter, has an economy that has slowed down over the last two years, and is now on the brink of recession due to a bloated real estate market and massive debt that developers can not pay.   Look for news on the subject in the next weeks.

        Pres. Joe Biden put out the message to Mad Vlad that the situation could trigger a closure to the international settlements organization, the backbone of international finance.  Were this to happen, Russya would be cut off from Western financial markets and be considered an outlaw nation.  Putin knows that this would upend his country and even his oligarch lackys would scream and cry and threaten ad Vlad with a walkout.   

      So, this zoom call will have potential: it could mark an example of Pres. Biden's turn away from his domestic budget problem to the international  scene where he has had little impact during his first yeat in office.

Stay tuned.

No White Christmas in Tahoma

     Sadly, locals have begun to accept the weather forecast for December 2021: snow is unlikely to arrive anytime soon.  No White Christmas this year.  Resort operators are trying to make snow, but the public mind knows that unless a big storm arrives, skiing is really out of the question.

      Climate change?  Some would say so.  Others say its to big a subject to pinpoint a single cause.  While we humble residents look for the usual snow on the ground, we often overlook the fact that "average" does not mean customary and usual amounts of snow.  Year-over-year amounts vary considerably.  Pundits like to measure with "average" so as to compare with existing amounts.  This creates expectations that are rarely met.  Hence, gloom and doom.  Jobless workers careen around the shoreline, searching for employment opportunities that will tide them over.  It becomes a game of:"how much pain can you accept".

         We have experienced drought before; but now it seems that more often than not, we won't get what we need(average) very much.  

      So, buck up; have a backup plan; stay healthy; get vaccinated.  Go online and do a job search.  Get ready to move.

Hello Omicron: Welcome to San Francisco

    Well, it wasn't exactly a ticker tape parade party, but rge new Covis virus variant showed up in the USA with the first case identified in : San Francisco!  This is the city that welcomes every scum bag in the country.  The new Dept. of Homelessness will soon be the largest in City history.  Bigger than any other department(and there are lots of big one already.

       The head of the Health department announced the findings of the laboratory that took the sample from the infected patient a gentleman who arrived home in San Francisco on Nov. 22 from South Africa, the source of the new variant.  He had been fully vaccinated but did not have a booster shot.  His symptoms are mild and he has self quarantined.  Contact information has been done, and preliminary search results indicated he had not infected many if at all.

     Pres. Joe Biden announced flight restrictions on 6 African nations following the announcement from the Netherlands that a plane filled with passengers from South Africa carried at least 13 infected w/ the new variant and exposed over 300 others onboard.

       Dr. Anthony Fauci of the U.S. announced the information to the public and strongly advised all citizens to get vaccinated asap.  Those who are not vaccinated are at extremely high risk of infection.  It appears that the vaccination rate among adults has slowed dramatically, causing much concern among the medical community who must work with unvaccinated individuals who refuse to follow public health guidelines.

       Europe is already in the midst of another surge of infections, with those unvaccinated getting hit the hardest.  Reluctance among those in the former East Germany is the result of a lack of trust with government owing to the years under Communist rule during the Cold War.   Eastern European nations exhibit the same problems.

      International travel will again become perilous, especially among migrants seeking economic improvements in their lives.  Smugglers continue to offer avenues to Europe's prosperous landscape which many of those from Africa and the Middle East see as their salvation from years  of civil wars and murderous dictators in places like Syria, Iraq, Iran, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Chad, Libya, Mali, to name a few.

      So, San Francisco will have this new problem to face along with all the others.  Many states and countries would be delighted to have half of SF"s social problems, given that the City counts about 9,000 homeless street people.  Despite the hundreds of millions spent on the issue, it just keeps getting bigger.  And why hasn't the Federal Government taken responsibility for this ongoing problem?  Freedom of movement-such an old concept.  It no longer serves the nation.  Time for internal passports(see China and Russya).  

Book Review: Man's Hope, Andre' Malraux, a novel of the Spanish Civil War

      In 1937, the French government sent Andre' Malraux to Republican Spain to assist the elected government with aviation assets that were sent from the neutral French government.  He was not a pilot nor an aeronautical engineer; he was an agent acting as an adviser on use and disposition of said assets.  The Spanish Civil War lasted about 3 years; the effects are still felt throughout Spain.  World War II followed almost immediately, and that history shoved the Civil War into history's closet.  The country was run by the victor(s): Gen. Franco who ruled as the dictator for the next 34 years until 1974 when he died. His groomed successor immediately moved to a democratic government and shoved Franco's legacy into the garbage dump.

       Historians have struggled with this topic: who won?; who lost?  who were the participants?  Answers are difficult to parse, and the subject matter was not made into a "hot topic".  While WW II did not officially affect neutrality of Spain, it was a pass through for more than a few Allied pilots who were shot down over European fields and assisted by Spanish civilians on their trip back to England.  A notable participant as a soldier was George Orwell, and he is the one writer most folks read to understand all the factions involved, including those future belligerents: Germany, Italy, and Russya(Stalin & Co.).

         To read Malraux is to involve oneself in details relevant to understanding much of the politics that eventually led to war.  Franco was abroad, in north Africa with his army.  He could not be effective at all unless he was on the mainland.  He had a logistics problem: no means of transport for his army and its needed munitions, rations, and heavy arms.  Then, here comes help in the form of troop carriers that could crossover the Strait of Gibralter to deposit a trained legion of well led soldiers.  The rest is history.

San Francisco Gets Roughed Up, Again.

        So, a court decision is rendered that has upset some Woke folks here and there.  This is the impetus for some woke folks to hit the streets, ala Portland.  Hey, let's go to Union Square, stage a demonstration.  Meet at Post and Powell, park in front of Louis Vuitton.  Make some noise.  Hmmmm.  Maybe, just maybe, the City's response may have been different than those responses of the past.  This time: the local police were waiting for the culprits/gangsters/mobsters/punks/thieves/crooks/thugs/ ghetto snipes, social media-theft ravers.  As they smashed the windows of the store, others shoved their way past them, and after clubbing a few employees, started loading up on posh merchandise(Christmas is coming).  Bags, wallets, purses, hats etc. were flying off the shelves.  Vehicles parked curbside were filling up fast.  And then, the men in blue arrived: guns drawn, game over.  The tourists(ha) dropped their guns, and put their hands together to get cuffed.  8 were taken away immediately as shoppers applauded the fast work.  The SF Chief of Police explained to the media that plans had been made to confront a mob if it appeared after the verdict in a trial somewhere back East.  The trial ended, which for some is the green light to begin their own brand of shopping.  Enjoy your holidays in the county jail.   Maybe you'll figure it out while "cooling off".  At taxpayer expense, of course.  Chesa Boudin.  Are you writing up the release orders?  Are you working on a press release?  Are you campaigning against your own recall?  Good luck.

     THE D.A., Boudin, the Left -of-Left attorney whose claim to fame is being the offspring of not one, but two radical left bombers/murderers.  Yes, San Francisco has turned into a liberal sinkhole, with even the rats leaving the ship for greener pastures(New York?).

Ukraine: Again

     Mad Vlad and company are on the march again, vic. eastern Ukraine, aka: The Donbass.  Oh, did you forget the term of the industrial region /coal producing, pipeline crossing area?  Well, it's been reported widely that little green men are massing near the old border(now slightly obscured by earlier arriving Little Green Men), along with some heavy weapons(tanks, rockets, condoms).  Mad Vlad, in the largest country in the world, is continuing to display his megalomania for all to see.  Scranton Joe sent a message:"We're watching you, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin".   This while he's pushing his two favorite policy projects through the Congress.  Just this past week, the second bill, "The Social Safety Net" bill was passed by Nancy (Don't Call Me Grandma") Pelosi.  Now the Senate will take it up.

       And Russya will brace for a typically cold Siberian winter.  Scenes from the border between Poland and Belarus demonstrated how cold affects those embraced by the drop in temperatures:  stalled migrants from Syria, etc., started numerous warming fires among their positions as they waited in vain for the governments on both sides to decide their fate.  Apparently, Belarus leader, Lukashenko, blinked, and withdrew his puppets to another position away from the Polish border so as to prevent the water cannons from showering the migrants with ice cold water.  Isn't he something?  This perverted block head, Kremlin lacky, has no heart and no brain.  A classic example of what happens when a puppet is placed on top of population that is helpless and hapless in the clutches of neighboring Russya and Mad Vlad.  Oh, well.  In a few more years,  Russya as we know it, will be gone, broken up and absorbed by their southern neighbor China.  

Wokeness: Let's Bring the Ghetto to the Front Page

        Maybe some of us remember Barack Obama, as president, using the term /word "woke" in a speech.  I recall the speech easily as the word rolled from his lips.  I thought: "Oh, no, he's reaching for connectivity; he's reaching for the "Party"; he's lowering himself into the pits of party politics when he should be an advocate of a presidency that stays above the fray.  But, no, he couldn't resist the urge to speak the word that has now become the tip of the republican spear that is being brandished in front of the electorate here, there, and everywhere across America.  Must the Dems remind us of 'their' higher goals, their higher efforts, their higher standing among voters?  

        The Dems seem to think this is the road to the hearts and minds.  But, if you lose control of the word, it becomes useful to the opposition.  Woke.  Woke.  Woke.  Who is and who isn't.  It's become the new parlor game(who has parlors anymore?).  Wokeness.  Pokeness.  It's hard to believe that this single word would upend a party, but it has.  The Dem strategists are scurrying for their holes, beleaguered by the liberal press which has turned against woke.  Now what?  Revitalize 'woke' for next November?  I don't think that's plan.  Completely abandon woke?   Hmmmmmmm.  We'll know soon enough as the country eases into winter, waiting for another surge among the un-vaccinated.  Are un-vaccinated folks woke?  Time will tell, but already new cases of covid are surging upward in states that earlier were trending downward.

       Tahoma looks forward to ski season, although now it appears this season's start will be postponed due to :"No Snow".

Be safe; change your tires, lay up more wood.

Covid Infection Status: El Dorado County v. Placer County

       El Dorado county has a long reach: east -to-west, stretching from the shores of Lake Tahoe to the edges of the Sacramento River.  Its near neighbor to the north is Placer County, which nudges up against El Do right down the middle of Tahoma.  (who drew that boundary and why?)  Most of the population of El Dorado county lives down the hill, past the county seat in Placerville down Highway 50.  When a traveler encounters the suburbs of Sacramento along highway 50, he is looking at the home of many residents who work around the state capitol.  They are not about to move east, up the hill, where it snows, a lot.  Whoa the poor Tahoma resident who must head to Placerville after December 1st!

      So, how do these two counties compare, currently, with the effects of Covid infections?  Let's look at the numbers:

Population:

El Dorado- 192,843; area: 1,786 mi./sq

Placer      - 380,077; area: 1,502 mi./sq

Cases

El Dorado - total 17,915   , last two weeks: 454.  deaths -159

Placer       - total 41,271     , last two weeks: 1,195.  deaths 445

Vaccinations

El Dorado   -63.36% 1 dose; 57.56% fully vaccinated

Placer         -68.18% 1 dose; 62.79 fully vaccinated

      So, Placer has about twice the population of El Do.  El Do county has about half as many infections, total.  Ok. seems to be somewhat equal on these parameters.  But, the two counties diverge on the rate of vaccinations:  El Do only has 63.36% with 1 dose, and Placer has 68.18% with 1 dose, or about a 5% difference.  Fully vaccinated: El Do has about 57.56% as opposed to Placer with 62.79% .  This is significant, especially taking into account the population differential between them.  Several factors could be in play:  the locations of towns; the medical facilities available, access highways/roads; and the administration of their respective public health departments.  These are not all the factors, but join others in marking the differences.  More investigation will be required.

     The mayor is on it and will report the information as it becomes available.  Get vaccinated; protect our townspeople and our many guests.  Winter is around the corner with all it means to Tahoma.

Belarus: Russyan Problem

        Belarus seems like its lost control of its border with Poland.  Oh, wait.  No-they control the border.  They brought migrants to the border with Poland to aggravate the situation, knowing that lots of publicity would fall on the EU.  Hmmmm.  Crazies here, too?

AstroWorld Concert Claims one more

       Another death brought the death toll to 9 among the victims of the concert in Houston.  The many lawsuits that will follow have begun in earnest against the organizers, the star, and the city.  Media outlets talked with security consultants who offered a multitude of excuses for the crowd's behavior.  Very sad that many of the victims were children or very young adults.  Remember: it's all about the benjamins/$$$.

What rational thinking person would enter such a venue?  Security?  Please.  What one sees at these concerts are rent-a-cops with little or no training.  What could be expected of any individual at such an event?  Nothing, really.  Live Nation must be held responsible for what happened.   Who thinks this is a good idea: to have thousands thrown together into a mob scene, smashed together, no exit, no chance.  The local police also have some responsibilty, and all the pols who signed of on this miserable excuse of a local "attraction.  Good for Houston?  Good for Texas?  Hmmmmmm.  Well, it is fitting that it is Texas, a state filled with crazies.

MATTHEW TURNER Underway in Golden Gate Channel

    Matthew Turner underway

        Caught this image yesterday at Lands End in SF, looking north to Marin Headlands.  And lo, and behold- the MS Matthew Turner glides into view at Mile Rock light.  Under way probably using motors with about half her canvas, the ship was taking a distinguished passenger/guest for a magnificent cruise.  Famed oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle was on board for a memorable trip aboard San Francisco's own Tall Ship.   Destination was the ships channel used by commercial vessels upon entering the Bay.

      The ship reversed course an hour later and returned to the dock at the Army Corps pier in Sausalito.  It was a great day for November, with temperatures hovering about 65 degrees.

Marines Celebrate 246 Years of Service to the Country

       

  flyer 10/11/68

November 10th, a date that rides a shoulder of the Veterans Day holiday, tomorrow, the 11th.  But today, Marines around the world, wherever they are serving, celebrate, some lavishly, more simply, depending on local circumstances.  It's a tradition, whether in peacetime or war, Marines take note of their traditions and their founding in 1775.

      We've taken our collective lumps over the centuries, in many locations, big and small.  We have guarded installations, ships, embassies, consulates, air bases, fire bases, lookout posts, and more.  All with a sense of purpose and mission.  Trained to be aggressive and unforgiving when in the field, the reputation of the individuals remains intact.

Semper Fidelis.

NGO's Flee China

       Hmmmm.  Why are NGOs leaving China?  Bad weather?  No.  Bad food?  No.  Lack of good sushi? No.  Poor wine selection?  Maybe.  But chances are it's the political climate emanating from Beijing or Peking if you prefer.  I always liked Peking; it made me think of ducks, or something like a duck.  But we have here a situation without any remedy acceptable to these organizations that have been on the ground all over Asia for decades.  Their goals vary, but they attempt to observe the situation vis-a-vis the people and the government.  In the case of China, it's a Communist government or a centralized administration that controls from the center where power is concentrated in a few individuals(despite a collective of bureaucrats who depend on their positions on fealty to the master dictator Xi Jing Ping or Xi JP.

       With Beijing placing acute restrictions on the activities of all foreign entities, it was only a matter of time before Beijing would come down heavily on these institutions.  Over a few years, the intense scrutiny, the changing laws, the increased threats became too much.  Even Amnesty International has thrown in the proverbial towel.  How can they operate in this climate that requires a constant fear of another law that restricts their movement, their reportage of events, and their oversight of programs designed to help minorities and the poor.   These NGOs will have to repurpose their goals and try new approaches to the mission of supporting human rights, ethnic minorities under threats of violence and even genocide.  See Uyghur issue.

      At this time, the Chinese economy is slowing; real estate has been the big issue: too many units; too few buyers; too much credit; too much over building.  Couple this with a world economy that is recovering from an ongoing pandemic and one has a glimpse of the future of China: difficult times ahead. Joining the NGOs are some big tech companies, most recently, Yahoo has decided to pull out of China.  Too many restrictions; too many trade offs; too much Chinese military pressure.  The PLA appears to have strong influence over the Beijing government.  Very little escapes the grasp of the PLA in every area of the economy.  NGOs have been a special target for years.  And now, enough is enough. Bye, bye Beijing.

Aaron Rodgers: Positively Infected

        Too much money; too much publicity; too much football.  It's all too much for Mr. Rodgers, the NFL's current Most Valuable Player.  He tested positive for the pandemic virus, and now must sit, isolated, for 10 days.  Hmmmmmm.  And then the interview.

       Aaron has been with the Green Bay Packers for more than a few seasons, demonstrating significant skills in all categories associated with his position at quarterback, a.k.a. the most important position on every professional football team in America.  He can throw; he can run; he can find the weakness in any defensive formation.  He's a leader who inspires his teammates, and gives them the self confidence necessary to achieve victory, even when the odds favor the opposing squad.  He plays with an apparent focus: he's able to shut out distraction from the crowded venues; he can concentrate on the game plan and the oft-rehearsed plays that will carry his offense forward to the goal line.   That's everything a team needs and wants in their QB.

        And then:  the COVID virus arrives.  Rules follow; games cancelled.  Teammates become infected.  The Players Union agrees to certain rules of behavior to preserve the season's schedule(preserve the NFL owners' income stream).   Scientists denounce Mr. Rodgers for  multiple sins, to include outright lying to his teammates, team officials, media, and many more fans who have followed this impressive athlete during his career.  But now: it's different.  Will he enter the world of Colin Kaepernick- the former quarterback who took a knee during a game during the playing of the national anthem?  What became of Colin?  He became a poster boy for BLM movement.  Ha she played football any more?  No.  Too bad for him; but he lives with the results of his politics.  

       Aaron,too, will live with his decision-lying, cheating, gaming the system for his own benefit, with disregard for teammates, coaches, fans, etc.  Enjoy the moment, Aaron. It won't last long, but it will last longer than you know.

Houston Concert Debacle Leaves 8 Dead

       Live Nation strikes again, this time in Houston, Texas, home to many of our southern cousins, and home to a bizarre political environment.  Live Nation produced a concert at an open air venue that could accommodate 50,000 fans of a popular "rapper".  Folks buy tickets, folks arrive and take up positions to listen  to their chosen idol.  Sounds benign, sounds almost routine.  Happens all the time.  But, older, more worldly individuals know from experience and living right, that crowd control is elusive.  Things happen and the crowd becomes its own unit, under its own control.

      And so, we have tragic results: 8 concert goers died in the venue, many more injured.   Live Nation will have to pay, and the rapper will have his reputation stained forever.  Many videos will be watched; many viewers will learn a few things about crowds and how they react to emotional groups surrounded by those enthralled by the entire experience.  Should children be banned?  Seems as though this must be considered in light of the age of some victims.

     Who is carrying the insurance?  Will the city of Houston be held responsible given its permitting authority?  Of course, deep pockets there attract lawyers by the dozens.  How long before we have to wait for the next concert disaster? 

Alec Baldwin: Loser and Symbolic Figure

       The media has removed Alec Baldwin from the front pages/lead-in story as the mercurial infotainment industry gravitates to the next tragedy and its participants.  Mr. Baldwin is a producer on a film in production in the New Mexico desert called "RUST".  It is a western/horse opera/ cowboy story.  In a nutshell, during the filming, Mr. Baldwin was handed a prop gun to begin a scene.  He aimed at the camera, fired and hit two staff members- a cinematographer and a director, killing the woman behind the camera and wounding the director.   How does this happen in "modern times", with all  checks and balances available?

        The post mortem investigations began shortly after the two victims were taken to hospital.  Mr. Baldwin appeared stunned, or was he on drugs, or is he just as stupid as all the rest of the crew?  The truth of the matter may be an elusive goal.  Local police authorities responded, saying a "full" investigation is underway and that speculation on events by media outlets will not aid in these efforts.  Poor Mr. Baldwin, he broke the rules of rational thinking and thought contrition was a way out/way forward.  He should be held criminally responsible for his actions.   An Army Pfc. knows that if somebody hands you a weapon, be it a rifle, a pistol, or a machinegun, you become the responsible individual in control of the piece, and therefore, assume all responsibility for any untoward result of its firing.  Case closed.  Hollywood types don't know much about weaponry excepting what they witness on "the set".  In other words-NOTHING!

        Did he check the piece before firing?  Did he know how to unload the weapon he was handed?  Or even load it?  What does a live bullet look like?  Will he claim ignorance, the fallback position of so many actors/entertainers/clowns/magicians?  Will he be humbled by the experience?  Will he retire?  Will he grieve with the family of the victim?   Hmmmmmmm.  Lots of questions need to be answered.  The local sheriff has his work cutout for his office.   Pity all the bystanders who will add this tragedy to their resumes.

New Headache for Beijing

       Yango.  Sounds innocent.  Doesn't really offer a threatening picture to anyone.  But wait.  Something is wrong.  This is a real estate monster in China.  It is having problems.  China is having a real estate credit problem.  Some large firms aren't able to pay their bond obligations.  They lack liquidity($$$$).  Hmmm.  Sound familiar?  Let's see:  does Evergrande come to mind of late.  Or was your attention diverted by numerous flyovers in Taiwan by Chinese military aircraft?   The Chinese economy is under stress.  Beijing is trying to spin their way out of this.

     Add to this mess the new uptick in COVID-19 cases and the resulting lock downs. My, my.  How will dictator for Life Xi JP spin this problem?  He'll hold a meeting.  Put out some press releases.  Make a few arrests.   Incarcerate some more Uighurs.  Build some high speed rail lines.  Send some vaccines to Africa.  Proclaim a Belt and Road program in the Arctic.  Make an offer to Putin to buy Vladivostok and the Amur River basin.  Offer to buy Vladivostok and build a new gigantic container facility China needs to increase shipping of containers to the Western hemi.

    I think it's time for Beijing to rethink real estate.  Build less, build better, build back---or something like that.  Will Jack Ma be on board?  HOw about Jimmie Lai?  Will he be on board?  Or the unfortunate movie queen who was disappeared for a year for speaking out?   Hmmmm. So Communist, so Chinese.

Where's Jimmy Lai?

    Hmmmm.  Has anybody seen or heard from Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong media tycoon and supporter of democracy?   He was arrested last year; he's the founder and owner of  The Apple Daily, a media outlet critical of Beijing & Co.(Xi & Co.)  He was being held somewhere undisclosed to the public or the world.  This is normal. (see Jack Ma).  The economy in China is slowing dramatically.  The real estate bubble is bursting with overbuilt structures nobody can afford or doesn't want.  As in all bubbles, nobody wants to be the last buyer in the queue.  So Beijing & Co. must divert attention from this debacle caused by government support of favored banks and builders.   The Mayor observed countless 40-story apartment buildings scattered around every large city visited in 2019, whether in north, the east or the west-same story: too many projects going up.  The formula: build it and they will come.  We talked with a family that had purchased a high-rise condominium in one building.  It came without doors, windows, fixtures, or any other basic requirements for occupancy.  It took them 5 long years of saving, purchasing necessities, and finally occupying the condo.  Doesn't seem like the road to success for the average family.

       But I digress.  Where's Jimmy Lai?  Keep looking.

Russya Implicated in Ukraine Conflict

      What?  Russya implicated in eastern Ukraine?  Hard to believe.  No, not really.  The Kremlin has been implicated since the beginning in 2014 when "little green men" showed up on the border of the Donbass region of Ukraine.  It's hard to hide from satellite info gathering anywhere on the globe.  So, the "little green men crossed the border to support "Russyan " friendly separatists in the region known for its industrial capacity and large deposits of coal .  The conflict has been ongoing since.  Despite evidence of Kremlin involvement, Vlad and Co. denied any responsibility, claiming it was a home-grown rebellion against Kyiv and its government.

      A new analysis by an EU-funded organization clearly shows that the arms used in the conflict originated in-----R U S S Y A.  To no one's surprise.  Hence, sanctions against Russya continue to paralyze the largest country in the world.  What baffles many observers across the European landscape is the fact that many countries are onboard with the Nordstream II gas pipeline construction project that will pump gas from Russya to Germany and other locations in the West.   Hmmmmm. Seems incongruous to quite a few politicians.   Germany wants to reduce dependency on nuclear power(done).  The alternatives at this moment are not many.  Solar?  Fine during the day when fair weather warms the country.  At night?  Not so much.

       The new report looked at weapons captured, left behind, or in current use by a few participants.  They examined sources of manufacturing, dates of manufacturing, and requisite needs of certain arms carried by the "little Green Men".  The results of this effort unmasks the lies put out by Mr. Peskov, the liar-in-chief for Mad Vlad, who claims no involvement by Moscova at all.  It's all so tiresome: a shell game of sorts we've had to live with for at least 100 years after the Bolsheviks took control of the Steppes people.  Now they have other problems, too.  Such as a COVID death rate that has hamstrung the workers across the largest country in the world.  Told to stay home until Sunday, workers are stewing about the situation, looking to the Kremlin for answers which do not seem to be forthcoming.  Only more blather, more lies, more Vlad the Dictator.  Oh, well.  It's Russya.  I think it's time to cut off their access to international finance.  Now.  Joe, are you up to it?

Atlanta Braves: World Champions

      A shutout victory over the Houston Astros clinched the World Series for Atlanta.  This is the Braves 1st title in 25 years.  Their last championship was in 1996, one of the longest droughts in professional sports.  Sometimes, it just happens.   Those of us who enjoys the years when the Braves had a pitching staff 2nd to none.   Tom Glavine, John Smoltz,  and Greg Maddox mesmerized hitters for years.  That rotation gave hitters and their coaches headaches, heartaches, and stomach aches.  Not only that, they came at you year after year in an unrelenting parade of fast balls, curve balls, change ups, and sliders.

        So, it came as no surprise that it was this year's pitching was responsible for the win in Game 6. Max Fried supplied the arm that baffled the Astros for the first 6 innings.  Then a collection of mid relievers did the necessary job of closing down the 'Stros for 3 more innings.  The victory was sweet as the braves performed in front of a hometown Houston crowd who hoped for a Game 7.  It was not to be for the team from texas and the coach, Dusty Baker, one of the senior coaches in the game.  Of course, the opposing coach for the Braves, Brian Snitker, age 66(Oct. 17, 1955).  Or 6 years younger than Dusty Baker!  And we thought Casey Stengel was old.  Casey Stengel took the helm of the Mets at age 74.  "Can't anybody play baseball around here?"

World Serious: Game 6 Tonight

      Dusty:  Can he do it?  Of course.  Anybody whose been attached to the game of baseball for almost 70 years has lots of internal fortitude to rely on.  He definitely can stomach the ebb and flow of the G A M E.

He'll take his Houston Astros to the stadium this afternoon to play the Atlanta Braves, who lead the series 3 games to 2,  to win or go home.  He has the talent, home field advantage, and experience.  It will be fun to watch as tso master strategists face off on another American Classic.

Watch it.

Workers to Putin: Why Can't I work? I'm Russyan

       Hi, world.  I'm a post-Soviet system laborer.  I work somewhere in the largest country in the world that you foreigners call Russya and we locals call Mad Vlad's Playpen.  Mad Vlad, our less than bright dictator/oligarch/Napolean-like former FSB-KGB colonel/deputy mayor of St. Petersburg, has listened to his science advisors who told the king that there are no more hospital beds, people are dying like flies, and the Chinese have their own space station.  

     So we have to stay home from work, drink our state-made vodka quota(all citizens must drink it to be Russyan), watch state-controlled TV news, and hope the Russyan Orthodox Church will not be put on the current list of subversive organizations and be banned.   Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.  Is this the way we want to live?  Maybe I should get a job in Belarus.  Maybe Bulgaria.  Maybe Romania. Maybe Syria.  Maybe Egypt.   ANYWHERE is better.

God help me.  God help us.  The Steppes.  The Don River.  The Chinese.  HELP.

Can he help?

Russyan Workers On Leave

       Working today?  Nyet, spasyba(thank you).  The Kremlin told me to stay home.  There are too many Russyans dying in Mother Russya of COvid-19.  How is this possible?  We in Russya have Mr. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin handling the reins of our government.  And he loves us.  Hmmmm.  Perhaps that love is only a wish, or maybe a dream.  What comes from the Kremlin is more manure than love.  So, the workers will sit in front of their allowed propaganda outlet(TV) and swallow more of the same as Mad Vlad pulls more levers to manipulate opinions and sell his dictatorship to the vodka-swilling Slavs, Tatars, Cossacks, etc., who are stuck on the Steppes for at least another winter.   Hope the permafrost doesb't melt under my hovel this year. 

Josh Hawley: Opinion Writer and Trump Acolyte

       How sad: the editors of the New York Times gave the Ok to a piece by Trump's yes-man, the Republican Senator from the State of Missouri, Joshua Hawley.   This elected coward is probably dancing in the streets around the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. for the information coup he succeeded in bringing his byline to the American public.  The RNC is probably holding his hand so he won't trip on a curb stone, fall, and damage his cowardly hide.  He could be/he is the new Party face.

      This disgusting human being wasted his education(degree in History from Stanford U.).  He seems to have been educated at Liberty U., or some other bastion of conservative thought.  Or maybe he should have enrolled at the University of Phoenix, the diploma mill that siphoned off billions in government loans to students who where conned into thinking they were being educated and told their diplomas would open doors to a career that would reward them handsomely.  That didn't happen.  But getting back to the NYT.

      On Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal published a "letter" signed by Donald Trump.  In this fabricated piece, he repeated allegations that the 2020 presidential election was a fraud, and in Pennsylvania, there existed the biggest fraud.  And why did the editors think this was a good thing: to print these patently false statements again?  What was the thinking?  Fairness? Certainly not.  Truth telling?  ditto.  Balance?  Please.  Trump is the ultimate coward, hiding behind a Constitution that he rebukes at every turn.   Rex Tillerson, Trump's appointed then fired Secretary of State, said it very succinctly:  "Trump is a moron".   All published letters are scrutinized, analyzed, fact checked, reviewed, and then reviewed by editorial page reviewers.  Then a decision is finally made.  Perhaps the editors have rolled over: we need more money from Big Corporations.  See the full page ads in the WSJ.   Hmmmm. Can we accept that the media thrives on dollars alone and content is an after thought?  It seems so.  As the internet has turned journalism into a blood sport, the results are easily grasped: instant communication without scrutiny or judgement results in chaos and mob mentality.  Congress is finally being forced to accept this new information landscape.   Facebook, too.  It has just changed its name from F-book to META.  Why?  Too much bad press; too much negative thinking around the old flag name.  Zuck has been told:  "Put up a screen"; the press will become confused.   As an example, Phillip Morris, the nicotine seller / lung cancer purveyor, changed its name awhile ago and the company still is in business despite its product(s) killing hundreds of thousands of innocent victims each year.  And now they are selling 'smokeless" nicotine products called vapors to vapers.

       So, the history professors down on the "Farm" in Palo Alto will hide their faces today, avoid the faculty lounge, and pray that Hawley doesn't remind his constituents, again, that he was a history major at Stanford University, which has a tree as its mascot instead of the former mascot, the the Indian.

China Telecom: Go Home

        The White House finally has begun to turn the screws on Beijing.  After several recent events-Hong Kong, Taiwan, Covid-19, Tibet, Uighurs, coal, climate, South China Sea rocks, Evergrande, Australia, submarines, aircraft carriers, flyovers, Apple, Facebook to name a few,   Joe Biden felt he must do something-now.

      China Telecom is a big company; it has been in the US for decades, operating alongside other American companies, albeit in the background.  It has been closely observed by various intelligence agencies as a focal point of Chinese government operations.  Now the company will be banned from all operations in the US.  The company has been given 60 days to discontinue operations here and to eventually shut down all US business.  The reasons given: the Chinese government has used the company as an information gathering point to collect data on all US customers and gather local information useful to the Chinese military.

       We have already seen what can happen when a company over steps normal business practices in the case of Huawei.  The company flagrantly ignored sanctions imposed on Iran by the international community; and the company refused to allow international clients access to technical data that would help clients identify data gathering systems attached to their products.   The US will now inform other international clients on the dangers of doing business with China Telecom, an identified arm of the Chinese military.

      Sell your stock.

Lake Tahoe: East v. West Vaccination Rates

        So, here we are- approaching the end of the year, or the 4th quarter.  How is the vaccination going around the Lake?  Let's look at current stats:  This will allow those who live inside the Basin to get a grip on those folks most likely to be encountered when out and about, whether working, playing or just hanging out somewhere(eg. skiing).

On the California side:

     per cents                             12+         18+         65+

Nevada County                       63           64           72

Placer                                      69           70           85

El Dorado                               64            65           80

On the Nevada side:

Carson City county                67           69            91

Douglas                                  52           54            70

Washoe                                   67           69            85

           How do these numbers compare?   Well, two counties in Nevada-Carson and Washoe have equal or better percentages with Douglas county is way behind all the others, including those in the California side.

In California, Placer county is the local leader with superior numbers across the board.  El Dorado county and Nevada county have decent numbers, but are less than the rest excepting Douglas County in NV.  We know there are a numbers of reasons for any difference among the counties which include population, density, health department organizational leadership, and education levels among the adult population.  All can do better; all will do better as vaccines become approved for children 5-12 years of age.  The FDA and the CDC say that approval of at least one vaccine will work to reduce the overall rate of infections.

Wear your mask; be respectful of others, especially senior citizens.

Russya Tells Workers :STAY HOME

       Well, our friends in the largest country in the world have decided that it's better to stay home than go to work, contract the Covid-19 virus, and die.   So, Kremlin being the Kremlin, ordered all workers to stay home.  The Goal: reduce the number of new infections and possibly slow the death toll, now in excess of 1000 dead Russyans EVERYDAY!

      Well, now :  will Mr. Peskov make a statement?  ANother statement, maybe like the one issued that informed the world that the Kremlin can't stand NATO anymore.  Oh, the winds of change.  WHat's is the Little Dictator thinking now?  Who cares?  Maybe he's focusing on Afghanistan and the Taliban.  The Kremlin hosted a confab where they invited some Taliban murderers to sit at a round table(not on a dirty old carpet in a tent in Tora Bora).  A dozen or so showed up, some may have showered in the month before.  Russya claims that it is interested in dialogue with these novice diplomats and administrators of their fledgling gang operations in the forlorn wasteland they call home.  This is a country that has no police force, only gand members who decide if the locals comply with Shariah Laws , despite none of them able to read or write.  Ah, modern life in the rat's nest of Central Asia.

Golden State Warriors Return

      So, sports fans, COVID-Weary citizens, Tahoma residents, Californians, Soon-to-be-Texans, and Homeless folks, the NBA has returned!  Get on it, get with it.  Last evenings opener in LA-Warriors v. LeBron and company gave us an indication of what's-to-Come:  great games.   The Warriors, as usual, started slowly as LeBron-led LA muscled their way to an early lead.  The Dubs, as they are called locally, passed the round ball with their efficient style but failed at closing the basket.  Long-range shots bounced off the rim, caromed off the backboard, or was picked off by a defender.  Hmmmm.  Where is this going to end?

      The Golden Staters kept it close and the score was almost even at the half.  As the second half opened, the Warriors surged, briefly, taking the lead with a combination of defense and aggressive moves in the paint.  LaBron was rested and the Dubs took advantage.  The lead was traded many times through the third and it appeared at this point, it was anybody's game.  And then, the 4th quarter opened.

      LA appeared stunned as SF started one run after the other.  Half way through, the Warriors took command.  LA stumbled, unable to reach the hoop; unable to control the offensive efforts of Steve Kerr's charges.  Time and again, the Golden Staters crashed the defense and made the locals pay.  With less than 5 minutes to play, the score was SF by 16!  The LA team was finished.  Nothing could erase the deficit and the Dubs would notch their first victory of the season against a touted club with impressive stars at every position.  Coach Kerr commended his "new" youthful members for their tenacity, their endurance, and their overall efforts against a rival team of veterans.

      It will be a good year for Warrior fans.

Russya: COVID-19 deaths Surge

        The poor vaccination rate in the largest country in the world has contributed greatly to a new record of deaths.  The published death rate has exceeded 1000 per day(1000/day), 1000/day above normal.  However, we also know this figure is false.   Evidence indicates there are far more daily deaths due to the COVID-19 virus than acknowledged by Mad Vlad's cronies.   Russya has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the world, somewhere around 22% of the population.   Most of those vaccinations are given in Russya's far west, vic.  MOskova and Saint Petersburg.   I would expect this as this is an area where the vaccines are available.  The rest of the citizenry has to travel to get a shot.

      Meanwhile, the Kremlin is basking in the glory of a surge in energy prices.   Oil and natural gas prices are rising daily, and nobody knows when it will stop.   The Climate Conf. in Glasgow, Scotland, will begin on October 31.   Hmmmmmm.  What will the talking heads say?

Snow on the Ground,Finally

      It sticks!  That is, the snow that fell last night.  10" in some areas around the lakeshore.  This comes as reporters write of the lake's diminishing size and its drop below the rim level that precludes any flow into the Truckee River from its headwater.

      So, we have the first efforts of winter.  Perhaps this is a harbinger of a winter season with average or better rates of precipitation that would bring joy to large sectors of the forest managers, water managers, firefighters, homeowners, and fire insurance folks(those incredibly hostile insurance folks who raise rates despite evidence of low payouts in most areas).

      Will skiers and boarders emerge from their long slumbers?  Will ski resorts start hiring and promoting their assets to the moneyed class?  The moneyed class is that which can afford to even think about going skiing.  The rest of us will have to be content to look at TikTok videos and imessages on our phones.  I was shocked when I heard that a "Day" pass at the Jackson Hole Resort is $180.  Who pays that?  Moneyed class members, to be sure.  And, as locals in Jackson and vicinity have found out, second home buyers there could care less about the effect on the local economy when they head back east to their established residences and leave the 2nd home vacant or at best, on AirB&B.   Much of the criticism heaped on the moneyed classes is well, deserved.

Snow tires mounted yet?  Now do it; save yourself and us.  Bye the way, vaccinated yet?  Save yourself and us here, too.  Thank you very much.  Don't become a permanent member of the stupid class.

The Pandora Papers

     Well, now, here we are: a paper trail throughout the modern world of the financial records of many of the world's most nefarious financial dealings involving political leaders who have cheated their citizens of trillions of dollars of moneys.  However, the key issue found in the documents is the role of establishment banking institutions that have facilitated the funds that are hidden from scrutiny; those funds made available to the families of these polical figures who loot the treasuries of their countries and hide the money offshore.

        Where are the moneys held?   See tax havens.   What banks are involved?  See the City of London list of banks, and the banks listed anywhere in Switzerland.  These holier-than -thou locations are mere facilitators for thievery on an unimaginable scale.   Hidden accounts?  No problem.  Moving money across the "Dark Web?"  Easy as pie.   Dictators looking for a financial hiding place: we have plenty-just ask.

      The Pandora Papers underscore the work of honest investigative reporters whose efforts are starting to bear fruit,  See the international agreement to have a minimum corporate tax(at 15%).  This is seen asa first step to identify and tax corporations that have used various means to shelter their profits from taxation by host countries, or, as it has been called: the race to the bottom for taxes due.  You and I have to pay; and why do corporations escape the long hand of government cost structure?  Lobbying; canny lawyers, paid accountancy firms with dubious methods for sheltering profits, etc.

     Perhaps Congress will act; perhaps not.  Keep your eyes open, Bunky.

Game 4: Dodgers Prevail 7-2 Over SF

    So, now back to San Francisco for the 5th and final game: win or go home.  Everything is on the line-careers will sour, some will end.  Stats will also end for the losers: post season play will be clipped at the division playoff series-best of 5.

      SF pitching was the obvious culprit in their loss.  For LA, the obvious strong point was just about everything: pitching, hitting and fielding-signs of a winner.  There's now a travel day, the end game tomorrow in Fog City.

    Tahoma fans will be watching, hoping for a good outcome that will send the Giants on to greater glories, ala 2010-12-14!😆

Giants v. Dodgers: game 3

       Well, sports fans, Game 3 of the Nat. League division series is in the books.  The game, held in LA at Dodger stadium, was played before a near sellout crowd of 50k.  It was a windy night in the southland, and the wind did not favor the long ball, or any flyball as the wind was blowing into the infield and essentially knocked down anything hit into the air.

      Pitcher Max Sherzer was on the mound for LA and delivered excellent results, holding the sluggers from San Francisco to only one run.  It was a long ball off Sherzer that Evan Longoria got under and into and it defied the winds as it sailed into the center field seats.   For the Giants, it gave them the lead.  For LA, it put them into a corner as they, too, had problems hitting.  Giants defense was again superb, especially late in the game when shortstop Brandon Crawford leaped into the ozone to steal a hit from Dodger Mookie Betts that could easily have tied the game.  Giants starter Wood went 5 2/3 innings and didn't allow a run.   Closer Duval followed the middle reliever with 2 innings of shutball.

Giants Win: 1-0.   Series at Giants 2 w 1 loss; Dodgers 1 win 1 loss.  Tomorrow night, the Giants could win the series with a victory.

Go Giants

Giants Sting Dodgers in Game 1 of Division Playoffs

        Behind the stellar pitching performance of Logan Webb, the long-ball hitting San Francisco Giants slapped the L.A. Dodgers with a shutout loss in front of a full house in Oracle Park.   Buster Posey, the All-Star catcher, started things off in the 1st inning with a 2-run blast to the opposite field.  Pitcher Webb then focused on the strike zone as he baffled his opponents with a mix of pitches they were want to hit.  Try as they might, they could not bring bat to ball.   Posey's homer was followed by two more: one by Brandon Crawford, and another by Chris Bryant.

       Tonight will see a rematch for Game 2 of this historic meeting of the two top teams in major league ball.   The teams amassed the best records during the regular season: Giants at 107 wins, and the Dodgers with 106 wins.   These two teams have never faced each other in post season play. 

      SF fans are off to a good start.

Go Giants, as we say in Tahoma💪😆😆

Global Tax Accord Reached

      Finally, after years of discussion, after much negotiation, global accord was achieved yesterday as the world's nations, large and small, rich and poor, agreed to a global tax on large multinational corporations. Most of the world's finance ministers have signed on to a 15% tax rate on earnings of companies making $750 millions or more and sell goods and services in the host country.  This 15% is less than what Pres. Biden wanted, but it was an acceptable compromise.  The EU must sign off collectively to have it in place. Hungary, Ireland, and Estonia needed some last minute adjustments to agree, given their low corporate rates in place to attract investments.

       Janet Yellen, U.S. Secretary of Treasury, called the agreement an effort to prevent a rush to the bottom on corporate tax rates as powerful giants searched locations to maximize profits at the expense of those countries where they may have started or had major headquarters.  A few countries decided not to sin on, namely, Pakistan.  Hmmmmm.  No surprises there.  Pakistan is not our friend.  Note their duplicity over the last 20 years as the U.S. became mired in neighboring Afghanistan.

      This agreement will spread the wealth that has flowed around the globe to countries that offered essentially "tax havens" for corporations to shield profits.  Facebook financial officials said this is a long sought goal of their company.

      Now, Joe Biden must get Congress to pass the agreement.  Republicans, those somewhat Americans, do not like the agreement.   But the Dems will have the votes at least for another year.  This agreement must be passed.

Stormy Weather Due

     In what will certainly be a huge relief to all folks on the West Shore and Tahoma;  a 'real' winter storm will dump snow on the higher elevations this weekend.  Many roads will close, but Highway 89 will get little if any white stuff.  Time to switch tires; time to ensure your wood supply will be good enough; remember a cord of wood = 128 CUBIC Feet!   So, 4' X 8' X 4'======128cu. ft.

       Most suppliers fudge to some degree on their version of the 'cord'.  Since most of the wood sold at Tahoe comes from the Valley, wholesalers cut out old almond orchards then cut the wood to dimensions, hoping to get close to 16".  3 X16= 48" or four feet.  Plug that into the above formula and you get the approved cord.   The reality: most cut their pieces to 15"-the size of the gap in their saw buck stand, or prepared cutting notch.  The results are logs 1" less than proper size.   Or  45" wide stack v. 48" stack, or about 5% less than one pays for.  This unacceptable, but has become routine in the business.  Be aware, especially when the truck rolls up and "dumps a load".  If it is not stacked in the truck, there's no measurement available.  A word to the wise!!!!

National League Wildcard Game: Dodgers Win, Cards Go Home

        It was a walkoff:  bottom of the 9th. Cody Bellinger draws a walk.  Next batter-a nobody named Taylor.  Ball, strike, ball, and then---------a crushing home run deep into the seats.  A bench clearing scene so popular with fans and players.  The exuberance and the displays of comraderie warm the hearst of all fans: in the stadium and at home in front of the flat screen with High Def.

       Next on the agenda:  San Francisco, winner of 1 more game than the Dodgers-107 v. 106 by L.A.  It's the first time these two arch rivals have met in the playoffs.  It could be one of the best series ever with the rivalry in front.   Long ball SF v.  small ball L.A.

Watch it.

An aside:  

         Recent research on the City of L.A. and the Dodger organization has revealed the "Dark Side" of the city and Walter O'Malley, the long time owner of the organization.   Seems O'Malley wanted a new stadium to be built in Brooklyn, NY.   However, Robert Moses, the influential city planner running all things NY in the '50's, had decided that the Yankees deserved a new stadium at Shea.   The Dodgers would have to wait.  O'Malley's plight became known to the LA mayor who had his own ideas.  The City of L.A. had been awarded a Federal grant of  $100 million to build low income public housing.  The mayor decided that this project would work in an area already housing low income mexican- Americans, many in their own homes.   The area encompassed what is today called Chavez Ravine.   Actually, 3 small communities existed in the area.   The City promised "new" apartments to all residents who gave up their land for the project.  Residents would have to get bye on their own for the 1 year time of construction; then all would return to the new projects.

      Didn't happen: the City of L.A. reneged on the deal agreed upon, and the Latino residents got no compensation whatsoever.   The Dodgers came west, and, as they say, the rest is history.   An cultural historian has done the research and now comes the reckoning.  Will L.A. bury its head in the historical sand, or make those families(and ) survivors whole?   Time will tell, but in progressive 'blue' California, the day of reckoning is at hand.

Provence: Land of History, Romance, and Wine, 2021

      The Mayor of Tahoma decided to get out of Dodge, get out of the Sierra, get out of California, get out of the US of A.   While I've been to France a few times, Paris, Champagne, Normandy, Bordeaux, Rhone Valley(north), and Strasbourg, I've never spent time in the south east province of Provence.  This is the fabled home of the red wine variety that competes with its Bordeaux cousin: Burgundy, aka Pinot Noir.  The press reported that there, too, were wildland fires in Provence.  Fortunately, they were not as massive in scope as those found in California and Oregon in August/September.  

        The Mayor shared this European experience with the Deputy Mayor and two travel advisors who know France very well.   Plans were made months before despite reports that the COVID virus was making a sharp impact across the Continent and in France in particular.  The U.S. Dept.of State issued a travel warning Cat. 4: do not visit unless absolutely necessary.  On advice of our government info source, we continued to pursue plans for a late August departure.   We flew through Chicago, then on to Paris.  From Paris to Nice on the south coast where we were picked up by our travel companions who arrived days before.  We then drove about 3 hours west to a B&B near the hilltown of Roussillon.   For those travelers who've been in the region, they might remember that Roussillon is the home of the Ochre Hills or the red earth cliffs that have been a source of awe for millenia.

        Provence was also the site(s) of numerous Roman military encampments and fortifications.  These grew to be entire cities and cultural buildings and constructions, including stadiums, theaters, temples, bridges, roads, and aqueducts.  Additionally, Romans brought along their various baths and physical comforts.   Many of these ancient structures have been preserved, and have survives two world wars, numerous revolutions, and political changes.  Even the Catholic Church has a history here of significance: Popes relocated here in Avignon for a long period, building a new cathedral and Papal headquarters for the Church.