Putin Asks: Won't You Please Get a Vaccination?

👲

     Apparently, few Russyans believe the former KGB lieutenant colonel, assistant mayor of St, Petersburg.   The new Corona virus, Delta variant is making inroads among the population in western Russya, or western steppes.   Hmmmmmm.  Predictable.  Well, they really have their doubts about the government, his government.  After declaring the oligarchy, why change?  Hmmmmm.  How many oligarchs does it take to stop a pandemic?   Who knows the answer?  Maybe the developers of the Sputnik vaccine have the answers.

     Meanwhile, the virus keeps popping up all over town.  Here, there , and everywhere Russyans gather.  Sporting events, ballet performances, football games, ice fishing derbies, hot air balloon flights,  Novichuk manufacturing plants, missile plants,  airports, etc.

      Maybe even in the Central African Republic where the Russyan army, aka "Little Green Men" traipse about, keeping an eye on things.  2500 troops on the ground there, somewhere.   Base here, base there.  I wonder if they get hazard pay, or any pay at all.  Hot, humid, snakes, black mambas all over.  And swamps like Louisiana/Mississippi.   Oh, well, better them than us.  But Covid?  Hasn't really arrived yet because nobody leaves there and nobody goes there, excepting Russyans.

Apple Daily: Gone, But Not Forgotten

      Beijing shut down the only remaining voice in Hing Kong for democracy: the APPLE DAILY newspaper, started by Jimmie Lai.  Now the paper stopped publishing after being raided by police and having reporters and staff arrested under the New National Security LAw for Hong Kong.  This is just one more step for Communist takeover of Hong Kong despite the contract agreement signed in 1987 with the UK to preserve Hong Kong as it is for 50 years.  Ha, ha, ha, ha.  It gives the lie to Chinese dictators, government(s), Communists, etc.  Why would anybody negotiate with Beijing if these dealings are meaningless?  Answer: don't waste your time and energy; Chinese look upon negotiators as weak people.

Better to lie.

Have a nice day.  And Jimmy Lai:  be patient.

The Night Watch by Rembrandt

    So, art and artists.  Rembrandt: Dutch Master of Masters.  His famous piece has hung in the Rijks Museum in the Netherlands for years as the center piece of its renowned collection.  At 15' X 13', it is a very large effort, filled with a number of figures who represent the locals, several of whom are representing those citizens who patrol the streets of the city after dark to protect people and property from nefarious brigands who might take liberties among the populace under cover of darkness.

       The guards, on patrol, carry arms, and are preparing their muskets for readiness in case needed.  One guard is seen sending a ramrod into the barrel of his musket, sending home the ball, patch, and cotton wad. The powder is applied at the shoulder piece along with the flint.  A slow practice, for sure, but necessary at the time for firing a single shot over a short distance.

      The museum's staff was aware that the original canvas had been trimmed: more than 2' had been cut off the left side, several inches off the top, and about 2 inches off the right side to make the whole fit a certain location.   With the help of artificial intelligence and computers, a program was developed to recreate the missing spaces.  Much help was made using a canvas created about 12 years after the original, using Rembrandt's techniques.  Although smaller in size over all,  the restoration team was able to 'teach' the computer to replicate those areas.  After printing the missing areas, they were attached to metal plates, varnished, and were ready to be hung with the original.   After 3 + years of work,  the project is now complete and will give the world a "new" restored piece for the ages.
 

Cornwall,UK: Sight of New Covid Surge

        Recently, the G-7 Conference was held outside of the City of London to avoid demonstrators who might disrupt the meeting.  The Cornwallians had little to say about this choice of their city as the locale of the international meeting to discuss global finance.   Hmmmm.  And now BoJo will take the flak.  The newly wed PM will be earnestly writing his response(s) to charges that the Delta variant which has been detected among the new cases identified in Cornwall.  His explanations will contain political expedient words to the effect that the current UK -wide lockdown justifies all the methods currently in use to prevent what just happened.  Even though it was predicted that allowing the meeting was in fact an invitation to the variant now the most likely to cause a surge of new cases.

      Poor BOJO: can't win for losing.   Time to step aside, take care of your family, leave No. 10 Downing Street for the apartment living one is accustomed to.  How many finance ministers have contacted the variant?  How many news reporters are going to die?  How many Cornwallians will die?  How many doctors, nurses and medical staff will die?  The numbers don't lie; politicians lie.

Stay tuned.  More to follow.

Supremes Deal Blow To N.C.A.A. Grip on College Athletes

        Well, finally, a little sanity has been delivered by the Supreme Court regarding college athletes.  A decision was announced yesterday regarding a lawsuit that challenged the policy of restricting compensation(in many forms) to those students who are participants in a university's sport/entertainment programs.   For too many years, the N.C.A.A. has dictated the rules(by their governing elites and school program directors) that limit compensation, offering flimsy excuses such as "protecting" amateurism, offering scholarships to under privileged student athletes, or worse: saying compensation would only benefit wealthy schools, leaving underfunded programs to die on the vine.

         Many looked upon the ruling body as nothing more than institutionalized, systemic racism.  Here is a body of mostly white men at the helm of an institution that operates outside the boundaries of antitrust laws with the tacit approval of the U.S. Congress.  Ergo, it is time for a change.  The U.S. 9th Circuit Court acknowledged it in its ruling before the case arrived on the docket at the Supreme Court.   Monday should be the "new" Juneteenth celebratory day.   Given the high percentage of athletes of color involved in the highest profile sports of football and basketball, it follows directly that they will be most affected by the ruling.  And most pundits agree: this is just the beginning of righting a serious wrong long overlooked by universities and Congress to the detriment of athletes and their families, including most whose careers end after their eligibility expires after 4 years.   Perhaps we'll see some athletes playing at schools well into their 20's, perhaps not.  It remains to be seen how this open door will "play" out.

        Newly appointed Justice Brett Cavanaugh wrote an assent that spelled out in concise terms that the case obviously abridged anti-trust laws that forbid anti-labor anti-union acts meant to suppress workers and their rights to just compensation for services provided.

      Finally, the day of reckoning is upon us:  the fans in the stands will now be forced to witness a new era of college athletics where justice will prevail over the blinkered view of university provosts and the white masters of an elite body that approves million dollar compensation packages for coaches and A.D.'s while offering crumbs in the form of "scholarships" to a few top-ranked stars who are expected to reap their rewards in the professional ranks.  Much of this transformation came as the N.B.A.  drafted players from elite college programs as "1 and done" players jumped to the pros before finishing 4 years of college.  Good for them, but it profoundly altered the landscape of college basketball programs  (See Coach K @ Duke U.).   Recruiters will now have new tools in their quivers to parcel out to all athletes targeted for their programs.  Let the "Games" begin.

Stay tuned:  more to come.

Golf Games

    Well, sometimes the good guys get a break.  It happened yesterday, the 4th day at the US OPen tournament held at San Diego's Torrey Pines on the coast( a long ride from Kiawah Is.).  The winner,   Jon Rahm,  made a pair of putts on the 17th and 18th holes, winning the tournament by 1 stroke.   It was just a few weeks ago, when Mr. Rahm was leading in another tournament by 6 strokes after 3 days of play.  And then, he tested positive for Covid virus and was forced to abandon the game(per rules).   Bad luck, for sure.  But it did not break his spirits or his goal of playing the best golf he could in the future.

      So, off he flew to California to join a host of top players in the prestigious U.S. Open, considered one of the top 4 professional tournaments, with prize money north of 2 million dollars and a total purse of more than 12 million dollars.  He would be playing against the top-ranked pros from around the world, including Phil Mickelson, the ageless 51-year old who recently climbed the mountain to win at Kiawah Island, becoming the first of his age to win a major. (senior power).  Jon Rahm hails from Spain where many good golfers learn the basics.  He has been on tour for a few years but has never reached such heights as he did yesterday, his first Fathers Day.

Congrats to Jon Rahm from Tahoma.

Moscow: Sick City

       Well, folks, the pandemic is still around, especially in places where it's not supposed to be around, like the Russyan capitol city, Moscova, home to the Little Dictator: Vladimir Vladimirovich P.   Recent reports from the Dept. of Health in the city note that a 3rd surge of cases has rebounded among the local population.  Several factors are at play in this situation.  The Sputnik vaccine is widely available and has been given to a certain percentage of the country's citizenry, but not enough.  The Russyan citizen is a well known anti-vaxxer.  The citizens have doubts about all things government due to the long -held assertions that the government is responsible for more disasters than remedies.  (see Chernoble).

    Russya was one of the first to release a vaccine against the Covid-19 virus.   It was proven effective in over 50% of the cases, initially, and is safe.  However, getting the vaccine into the arms of people has been difficult.   Hence, another local out break, causing hospitals to fill up again and emergency rooms to be swamped.

Giants 13, Arizona Diamondbacks 7.

       Baseball during a pandemic.   Last season, 2020, was an anomaly:  cancelled contests, missing players, infected team members, and players who just opted out for the year.   This year is beginning to look like the old baseball we know and love.  So, the Mayor bought some tickets, managed to get some good seats in the lower club section behind the Giants dugout: close enough to read the lips of the players as they came and went to and from the diamond.

      Briefly, the top of the 1st inning did not look good for the homies: Dbacks, 2, Gigantes 0.  And then the locals came to bat.  4 runs later, the Giants took the lead.   This reminded folks of what happened the night before when the Giants were behind early, and didn't look like they would overcome large deficits; but they did by the 8th inning.  Anyway, the team found their own footing at the plate and began pounding the opposing pitchers whose record speaks for itself: they've lost the last 21 road games in a row.  The game then advanced as Giant after Giant swung for the fences: home runs, triples, interspersed with singles and walks.  At once it seemed like a merry-go-round: stolen bases, steals, rbi's at every turn.  Fans were getting their monies worth, all 11,001 of them.

      We had to provide evidence of vaccination to sit where we did: a shot card(CDC) or test results evidence.  This insured the comfort of all in the section who were without a mask, sitting right next to a stranger.  We sat among amiable folks, one of whom professed to be a Skyline college instructor/coach who attended with his lady friend, a former student!  The crowd buzz was subdued do to the paucity of numbers, the stadium being less than 25% capacity.  It seemed odd to view the wide array of empty seats that normally would be filled.  Want a hotdog?  No lines.  Need to use the bathroom?  No lines there either.   Reminds one of the old days when the Giants couldn't win a game and supportive fans were few and far between.   But those days are only a distant memory for life long Giant fans, those who were here in '57 and '58 who watched the game at the old Seals stadium at 16th & Bryant Sts.  But, I digress.

     After 7 innings, fans began the march to the exits, even after the Dbacks added 5 runs.  The score did not change, and the locals went home happy with a 13-7 outcome.

China Sends Astronauts to New Space Station

        Since Chinese military took over the space program from domestic companies, the programs for putting men into space accelerated rapidly.  The results of the effort were highlighted yesterday(June 16th,'21) with a successful docking of a manned rocket that carried 3 men to the new space station orbiting the earth.  "Look at us, World, look what China did: we achieved greatness".  And so, the 'space race' as it was once called, reached a new pace: China has rounded the bend and has proceeded to the long straight away.  They must now be recognized as a player in the long game of space exploration and development beyond the boundaries of Mother Earth.

        No problem here; the Communists have been funding missile research for decades in an attempt to catch up with the usual major powers(US, Russya, etc).  But the actual visible effort creates higher awareness that will feed the media's concern for international contest of the heavens.

Chinese Police Conduct Hong Kong Raid

       Xi J P, Chinese dictator and Ruler for Life, is putting his other "little" foot down against home-grown dissent(ters).   Hong Kong police conducted a raid yesterday that focused on the local media.  The raid was carried out at the offices of a newspaper that supported pro-democracy Chinese opinions and actions since the new laws suppressing dissent were enacted last year amidst the pandemic.   Most of the paper's editors were arrested and taken away(to jail?).   Where are they now?  Hmmm?  One never knows about those unfortunates who are arrested in Hong Kong.  They could have been whisked away to Beijing so as not to be available to legal advice and support.

         These tactics of the police are now becoming the new "normal":  you protest, you get arrested, tried and convicted.   Go public with dissent, get arrested.  Speak out on social media(what's left), get arrested.  The new normal.  It appears to even the casual observer that Beijing wants no dissenters who object to the whims and dreams of the Chinese Communist Regime run by a gaggle of old Reds who want nothing more but to perpetuate the role of Communism across the Asian landscape, east-to-west, north-to-south, and beyond the fringe into the South China Sea.  We now have various western navies sending aircraft carrier battle groups into those waters now under pressure from Beijing as it exerts more control over the waves extending to the Phillipine Islands, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Korea.  The U.S. is joining forces with these countries to counter Beijing's plan.

Aviation asset

Covid -19 In El Dorado County

        So: opening day across the state of California.  How are things in El Dorado county?   The Dept. of Public Health in  SAcramento released current figures:

cases per day:3.4

per 100K       : 1.8

trend;             down

     By comparison, in Placer county, our near neighbor to the north is as follows:

cases per day:   27

per 100K      : 6.7

trend             : flat

      So, things are working better in Homewood/Tahoma/Tahoe City.  Only Tahoma is located in El Dorado county, the other two in Placer county.  More work has to be done in Placer county, obviously.  As the state reopens most everything,  time will tell if it is justified.  The medical community and the business community will keep a sharp eye open for any change in case numbers, hospitalizations, and deaths.   Much progress has been made in the last 3 months, and it continues as vaccination rates creep up to 70% for the state's population.   Reluctant citizens have been slow to get their shots, and the pols have resorted to incentives such as a chance to win $1.5 millions or a paid vacation.  I'm sure cash payments are the next best option to encourage more folks to get a shot of the effective vaccines.

Mexico: More trouble in the Failed State

       The name Carlos Slim is well recognized not just in Mexico, but in the U.S. and the rest of Latin America.  Mr. Slim is one of the world's richest men, ranking up their with Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg.   His wealth was earned the old fashioned way:  he consorted with politicians and landed government contracts for public works projects he identified as begging for someone to manage and complete while tapping public funds for payment.  Just a few years ago, in the oughts, Mr. Slim felt it was time to expand his construction business into railroads and transit systems.  Mexico City was on the verge of expanding its subway system with a new line to handle the ever increasing population of workers in the capitol city, the largest city in Latin America.  His company, CARSO Infrastructure and Construction won the contract-its first rail contract.   The company built the section of the rail system that collapsed recently, killing 26 passengers and injuring many more.  The project was beset by problems from day one.

Double Murder In Homewood, CA

       Local law enforcement agencies have asked the public for assistance during their investigation of a household double murder from last week.   The married couple were found in their residence having been shot  at close range.   Neighbors did not report any disturbances nor observe any individuals in the vicinity during the day.   A video camera recorded the movements of a male figure entering the property sometime during daylight hours.   This person has been identified as a person of interest, not a suspect.   This incident is very unusual in the West Shore environment but also underscores the need for constant vigilance in a widespread, open society with porous borders.

      The deceased couple were in their 70's, which is even more unusual given statistics that provide age-related data for victims of homicide.   The Placer County sheriff says the investigation is in the early stages and detectives are hard at work in an attempt to solve this crime.

Texas to Build Its Own Border WALL

    Gov. Abbott of Texas announced that his state will continue the federal effort to build a wall along the Mexican border.  Much of the wall built to date was constructed during the Trump administration,which has since been halted by the Biden administration.   He called the effort a necessity in light of a massive influx of illegals.  The ACLU says that such an effort is itself illegal and will go to court to stop it.  In the meantime,  illegals are arriving daily seeking a goal of entry into the US, despite Vice-President Kamala Harris' efforts to stop people from coming.  her visit to Central America to deliver the message has not had much impact.

Central African Republic Cut Off From the Outside World

        It has been reported by our Minister of African Affairs that a structure fire in Bengui, C.A.R. has destroyed the internet hub for the entire country.  At this time, the extent of the damage involves the electrical components of the internet service provider for the country.   Repairs/replacement will take months.  In the meantime, citizens will be unable to access the world wide web.  Some satellite communication will still function, but on a limited basis.  Details of the fire and how it started are unknown.  Media reporters have not been able to file photos at this time, and little is coming from the government office that manages emergency operations.

More later

Jared Huffman, US Congressman, Shouted Down by Anti-Vaxers

       A town hall meeting organized by aides for Jared Huffman, veteran congressman from the north coast of California, was shouted down during a public meeting held in Marin County.  The 100+ protesters were shouting about Covid-19 vaccination policies that they felt infringed their rights.  Hmmmm.   Here's a protest among the bluest of blue states and the bluest of blue counties.  It proves that social media can help to organize even the smallest group of anarchists, which they certainly are.  It's time, Gavin, to step up.  As you prepare to be recalled this summer, perhaps some definitive action to counter these social misfits and politically inept voters.   Whereas, they speak out against rules governing public health measures, it befits leaders to counter these moves with substantive information that justifies the administration of health directives based on--S-C-I-E-N-C-E!  These pathetic creatures haven't read a book of any type within the last 10 years(opinion mine).   They act on gut feelings like their Dear Leader @ Mar-A-Lago.

     Perhaps jared Huffman will make the proper response this weekend.

Ready, Set, OPEN: California is Poised to Break Out

        Well, Sports Fans, the time to reopen is neigh:  Tuesday, June 15th.  Are you ready?

Mike Schmidt: Progressive D.A. in Portland,OR: Not the Friend of Local Business

       A new district attorney waselected in Portland, OR last year in the midst of the pandemic and in the midst of urban insurrection fostered by self-proclaimed anarchists who had taken over the downtown core section of the city.   Mr. Schmidt decided not to prosecute those rioters arrested during the night time melees during which police were called to confront those committing destructive property acts.  Mr. Schmidt would then order their release, thereby, aiding and abetting those destructive acts.   What law school produces an idiot such as him?  What roots provided the sustainance for such an imbecile?  How could such a wacko make it as a candidate?  The answer:  simple: it's Portland.

       Look at the mayor: Ted Wheeler- another product of some far left position that lacked the leadership necessary to lead a scout troop.   This poor sap was in the streets a year ago rioting with the rioters.  He was not recalled; he was reelected, too.   Portland-it's the water.  I would suggest to all Tahomans to avoid Portland like the plague:  whatever it is they have, you don't want to catch it.

Tax Return Privacy Questions

        American media love to poke at the ultra rich.  The media we all know loves to chronicle the lives of the rich and famous: it's such a good way to stir the masses in many different directions.  So, yesterday, ProPublica released information it was given by an unnamed source that included data showing which 1 percenters paid income taxes, which paid none, and which paid a piddling amount.  So much for much-touted privacy of your income tax returns.

      The Mayor of Tahoma has not released his tax returns and has no plans to do so.  That is private information and will remain so.   Have no fear, a leaker is not looking into my taxes, paid or unpaid.  But Jeff Bezos, who recently announced that he will fly into space next month on one of his space missions from HIS company:  Blue.   Or Carl Icahn, paid nothing.  We already know about the Loser-in-Chief Donald: he paid a token amount.   What about the hundreds of thousands of other billionaires/millionaires?   Maybe the list will be published today.   If my name or your name is among those llisted, we'll know its "Fake News".

       Clearly, Pres. Joe Biden will be asking Congress to address this inequality.  Bring back something, anything that will restore confidence among workers who see almost 100% of their wage improvements go to pay their tax bills.

      It's not fair to any of us.

El Dorado v. Placer County: Which Has Largest Number of Vaccinated Residents?

       ElDo County and Placer county are cheek-by-jowl along the West Shore(Tahoma, Homewood, Meeks Bay, Rubicon, Tahoe City).   Vaccination rates are slowly rising, approaching levels recommended by epidemiologists.   So,   ElDo county has these numbers:

All residents: 42%

12+ yrs old 48%

18+            51%

65+            69%

Placer County numbers

All residents: 45%

12+               52%

18+               56%

65+              77%     Clearly,  Placer County has the edge, or about a 10% improvement over its near neighbor to the south.   How is this explained?   Hmmm.   Location of population nodes?  Perhaps.   Where are the vaccinated living?  Most of the folks in both counties live "down the hill".   Those who live in the basin or along the Truckee R. or South fork of the Yuba represent a fraction of all residents.  On the one hand, large nodes of population should facilitate vaccination rates.  On the other, remotely located residents are harder to get to by definition.   Winter conditions restrict access definitely, but 2020/2021 was one of the most mild(less snow), ergo, no excuses there.   An opinion poll among those inside the Basin would help to explain the disparity; or, more to the point,  where have most of the doses been injected.   More to follow.

      By comparison:  let's have a look at Marvelous Marin County in the Bay Area:

All                67%

12+               76%

18+               79%

65+               84%

Group of 7 Oppose Tax Havens

        Finally.   After years of discussion; after years of avoiding the topic; after years of hands-off policies; after years of lobbying by international corporations; after years of watching potential revenue dissolve into the ozone of offshore havens, the 7 major world economies have decided: enough is enough.  It will now become their policy that a minimum corporate tax will be imposed world wide.   Somewhere around 15% of profits will go to the government of countries where the corporation does any business.  This policy must be approved by the wider world community where commerce lives day to day.   It could be a tough sell.   What about Ireland?  What about Bermuda?  What about Delaware?  Switzerland?  etc.   Taxpayers around the world have been getting screwed by these mega-corporations for over a century.  It will now stop, somewhat.

        Perhaps this opens a new chapter in globalization.   Perhaps it will shift the traditional role of corporations back where it belongs: providing tax revenue to those countries that offer the rule of law, the stable economy, the educational base for growth and innovation; the labor force; and the good government that oversees the financial regulation of business.  For far too long, the corporate world has managed to become a government to itself, separate and distinct from democratic governance.  It will now face a reckoning.  It's about time.

Arizona: Republicans Smear Themselves With Shame

      Another vote recount is underway in Phoenix.   The Republicans are counting ballots again with a Florida company without recount experience.  What is going on?  It's just a typical Donald-inspired publicity stunt that feeds the social media landscape that has been shut down to the Donald.  The Republican Party has lost its mind, has lost its direction, and has lost any hope of achieving respect and acceptance.  This is the 3rd attempt by Arizona to change the election results of 2020.   Why would a party spend millions in an attempt to resurrect the dead?  Blind faith does not believe facts; does not want to know the facts, only imagined wrongs and the pursuit of the exposure of those "imagined" wrongs.

   Good Luck, Arizona. 

Hong Kong: The Future

        Friday, June 4th, marks an anniversary of the massacre in Beijing's Tiananmen Square where members of the Peoples Liberation Army opened fire on unarmed Chinese protesters, mostly young students who came together to protest peacefully against government acts of suppression.  Hundreds, maybe  thousands were killed outright.  The true number is not known:  Communist officials and the PLA concealed the facts.

      Today, Beijing will not allow any memorial events that recall that day in 1989.   It MUST remain hidden; it must remain a non-event;  it must not become another blemish on the reputation of the Communist Party.  As a result, Tiananmen Square was largely empty on Friday, excepting the ever present military guards who monitor all visitors, even those curious enough to visit the mausoleum of Mao Zeo Dong who lies inside his final resting place in mummified repose, surrounded by yellow daffodils offered by the faithful.  In Hong Kong, a city undergoing a change from historical freedoms to a modern police state managed by Xi Jing Ping from Beijing.   No commemorative gatherings are allowed here, at all.   If you appear in certain urban settings dressed in all black clothes, you will be arrested.  If you carry a placard with written protest vocabulary, you will be arrested.  Such is the new Hong Kong.  Good Bye Old Hong Kong, Hello Communist Government.

        A traditional world finance center, H.K. will now become a financial backwater as business enterprise will depart in droves as Beijing tightens its grip on the local population.  Prisons in the area are filling up with dissidents.  No trials, no charges: just removal.  Ask Jimmie Lai: where is Jimmie Lai?   What happened that put this wealthy, outspoken, popular Chinese man into the crosshairs of the PLA?  Hmmm.  Too much popularity not acceptable to the PLA.   Pity poor Hong Kong.

D-Day + 77 Years

         A few surviving veterans joined others in France on its western edge to commemorate the Allied invasion in 1944 that sounded the death knell of Hitler's Nazi nation.   It was the largest invasion in history, involving men from many nations, joined together to defeat Fascism and a lethal dictatorship headed by a group of misanthropes bent on dominating the world. In its early days, Fascism won a few advocates across the political spectrum.   A prelude to the coming international clash occurred in Spain during the Spanish Civil War in 1935-37.  Republican forces under Gen. Franco fought with the elected government that sought to repeal the historical ties between large landowners and the Catholic Church which had supported existing laws that suppressed the rights of citizens and essentially created a slave-like underclass of workers.

       When Hitler unleashed his mad-dog militarists against Western Europe in 1939, the world stood aghast as Nazi Storm troopers dashed across the landscape, defeating France, the Benelux, Denmark, and with the help of Stalin- Finland, Poland, and the Baltics.  It appeared that the Great Britain was next on the list.   Only Winston Churchill stood in his was, even as Hitler allowed the British Army to escape from the shores of Dunkirk.  The Blitz, as it became known, would soon follow, the idea being that the U.K. would sue for peace and give up its empire without a fight.  Despite crippling losses and an air campaign never witnessed in history, Mr. Churchill planted British feet and refused to negotiate with the German madman.

       He implored the President of the United States to offer aid in the form of military hardware.  F.D.R. had a difficult time convincing Congress to act, and it was only his political genius that eventually brought surplus Navy ships to England before U-Boats cut the supply lifeline across the North Atlantic.  And then: Pearl Harbor happened, and the rest is history.

       Yesterday,  events were attended by many grateful survivors and more than a few who remembered those who gave their young lives so that the world would avoid totalitarianism personified by Hitler and his corrupt henchmen.

Never Forget.

El Dorado County Starting to Reopen

       Records in El Dorado indicate that the spread of Covid countywide has decreased significantly. Tests indicate that less than 3% are returned positive.  While this is more than one wants, it's much better than a month ago.  Currently, 63% of adults over age 65 have been vaccinated.  This is good news.  More than 40% of other cohorts have had at least one shot, continuing a path to full immunization.

   Keep up the good work, fellow Tahomans.

Local note:

   Our favorite espresso/gelatoria: Where We Met has reopened.  Liz F.  is back!  Yea, making espresso by the cup(s).  Stop in and off a BIg Welcome Back.  Make mine a double.  

Have a Baby: Make Beijing Proud

       Well, it appears that central planning by a government  has more egg on its face.  Case in point:  the world's leading Communist champion: Beijing, rebounding from a 1-child per family policy, has just announced that families can have 3 children per household family.  How gracious of them!  Don't just sit there-start making babies and advance the Chinese nation.  Yea!  What could be more patriotic: sex for the masses, babies for the government.  Hmmmmm.  Modern Chinese families know a little more than they are given credit for:  children are expensive to raise, their futures are cloudy, subject to the whims of the central planners: those faceless, nameless bureaucrats who dance to the music of the Communist leaders(eg. Xi Jing Ping,dictator for life).  Who will follow the wishes of the 3-children doctrine?  Nobody knows,

but one can guarantee that couples will think long and hard about adding another mouth to feed, clothe, educate and prepare for life in a country run by party hacks in Beijing who never seem to explore the countryside.  Not to mention Covid-19 and all its shrouded origins in Wuhan.  President Biden has asked for more investigation at the Virology Institute that is known for researching coronaviruses at the lab where several workers were treated for virus symptoms in November 2019, just before the outbreak.  Hmmmm?   Will the U.S. State Dept. report of 2017 be more widely distributed?  Will Beijing come clean?  Will Beijing open the lab for a full inspection?  These questions and more deserve to be answered quickly if the W.H.O. has any chance of making good on its efforts to discover the true source of the pandemic that has devastated the 3rd world and a good portion of the rest of the globe.

Stay tuned.  Have a baby.  More to follow.