Gavin N. Escorts POTUS Around California

        POTUS Joe Biden, paid a visit to the Golden(somewhat muddy)State this week to observe storm damage in many locations. Gavin and Joe & Co. went to the Santa Cruz area to see up close what happens when a winter storm and monster surf meets the coastal areas where structures are built just behind the beaches. Hmmmmm. What could happen?

       So the media types get some photo ops of Gavin and Joe surveying damaged buildings, mud in the streets, piles of rubble, municipal workers clearing roads and making temporary repairs as local residents call their insurance agents to confirm that their policies don't cover any of the damages. What else is new?

      Joe and Gavin, Democrats both, get to look like caring executives. Joe with his aviator glasses and Gavin with his slicked-back'do, making nice for the cameras. Really, they're talking football. Or maybe the price of a gallon of gas. But mayors and city managers know that this visit will be followed up with declarations of financial support to help. Not exactly blank checks, but some meaningful loans with attractive rates. Ha.

       Happy New Year

Former US Ambassador to Russya Speaks Out

       Mike McFaul, former US ambassador to Russya, was interviewed today on the radio. Among the many questions to which he responded, was the question:"What more could the United States government do to raise the cost of war  in Ukraine for the Russyan government? He had quite a list. He obviously knows the territory of not only the Kremlin and its occupants, but also the role of international banking and finance.

       As the war in Ukraine continues, the anniversary of Russya's invasion is a month away. The US announced that Russya would invade weeks before it happened. The decision had been made and Mad Vlad would not retreat from his decision. It became obvious that the Russyan army was not so well prepared to wage modern warfare. As the invasion forces drove south hoping to seize the capitol, Kyiv, they were stopped cold by Ukrainian army defensive moves. They soon were in retreat from their positions, going back across the border into Belarus. In the south, the invaders rolled west, hoping to secure the southern coast along the Black Sea. After initial success, the Russyan army stopped: logistical support was choked off by the Ukrainians. The Red Army had to retreat; they had to give ground; and they focused on destroying infrastructure targets rather than military targets.

      Ambassador McFaul listed banking sanctions first. In his opinion, the US had more room to tighten the restrictions on banking, especially with the national bank. Despite restrictions using the bank of settlements, more options exist to make it much more difficult to pay for imports needed. Secondly, the price of oil can also be a tool to tighten cash flow into Russya. He suggested that the payment limit could be lowered to $30/barrel from $60/barrel today. A third sanction should include members of the military and their family members.  Their ability to move freely around the world needs to be restricted completely.

     Mr. McFaul has written about his time in Russya and how he was hounded by the Kremlin and never formally greeted by Putin. Perhaps he "knew" too much, and Putin didn't like the idea of dealing with someone who knew more than he did. Mr.McFaul also is fluent in Russyan language. While out of the country, Mr. McFaul was declared Persona non Grata and refused entry back to the embassy in Moskva. Hardly a smooth diplomatic gesture. Mr. Mcfaul  is in residence now  at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.

   The interview can be heard on NPR January 20, 2023.

CEQA Under Review

      Want to build in California? Anything? The CEQA, the California Environmental Quality Act, signed in 1970 by Gov. Ronald Reagan, has been the single most obstruction to home building in the state. Needless to say, it has been the sole source of thousands of lawsuits against building projects statewide ever since. In addition, the legislature in Sacramento, that corrupt body of Democrats, has been complicit in the promotion of a defense of sorts of the environment within the state boundaries. 

      Recently, the Governor of California, Mr. Gavin Newsom, a democrat recently reelected, has been chastizing cities and counties because of the lack of housing being built, claiming that the state needs to step into the fray to assign building permits at all levels. Now, Gavin, go look in the mirror and say, "It is not my fault; it is their fault we have no housing and tens of thousands of homeless people on our streets."

    Now Gavin has his staff assign housing unit quotas for each city and county with a date to send Sacramento the locations and amounts of new units to be built by 2025. The hubris! CEQA. CEQA. CEQA! It is laughable, really; and pathetic, too. Go ahead: assign quotas. The fools. Have the legislators go look in the mirror. Repeat, statements as above. The poor homeless, left waiting for the eggheads in Sacramento to solve this little problem statewide. The statements put out by the media types employed are endless, and always the same: we have a solution in the works; see-we're are responsive and responsible. The results speak for themselves: nothing gets built, CEQA reigns supreme. Gavin says we in Sacramento will overcome CEQA, and all things CEQA. CEQA is dead to me. Long Live CEQA. 53 years of CEQA and counting. Maybe it's time to: START OVER. Yes, start over. A 1970 law no longer works. It works for lawyers and environmental activists, but not homeless street cowboys. It seems so obvious to casual observers.

Flow Chart of CEQA law review process

 

Alec Baldwin to Face the Music

        Well over 1 year ago, famed actor Alec Baldwin shot and K I L L E D a producer at the scene of a film in production in New Mexico. The handgun was a prop, albeit a genuine weapon, that an assistant charged with safety oversight, gave to him before filming was to begin. Involuntary manslaughter charges will be filed against him and another film producer involved in the fatal shooting of the young mother whose career was cut short by the tragic incident. A third person plead guilty and was given probation and supervised release.

      Mr. Baldwin's attorney stated that his client is not responsible for what happened as he did not know the gun held "real" live ammunition. Can one believe any legitimate legal counsel would make such a statement? That in itself warrants a conviction. How many deaths in the USA, annually, are the result of the firing of an "unloaded" weapon? Hmmmmmm. Does Hollywood and its denizens ever "get it"? It seems not so.

       As an American citizen, the Mayor grew up handling weapons of various types. Early on, it was hunting rifles. This was followed by a normal military arsenal with every individual weapon and then some as part of the experience. Training in this environment was based on the fact: weapons kill. First assumption: ALL weapons given are LOADED. ALL, Mr. Baldwin, ALL weapons are assumed to be loaded. This poor schlub seems to think a jury in New Mexico will agree with his defense that he's not responsible for killing an innocent victim of his hubris and position as successful actor with loads of money in his jeans.

      This is TYPICAL of the entertainment industry principals: TOO MUCH MONEY corrupts reason and serious thought and introspection. What a nut case! Hopefully, the jurors will be cognizant of basic rules of gun safety that have existed since Geronimo put an arrow to his bow. Very sad day for the survivors' family members. And his lawyers thought a cash payout and bringing the widower on set to observe renewed filming of the movie, "RUST" would be sufficient balm to satisfy accusers. More hubris, not less.

Money Laundering By Russyan Scum

     The US Dept. Of Justice announced the arrest in Florida of a Russyan national they have accused of money laundering(really?) really. 40-year old Anatoly Legkodymov was arrested on a warrant in Miami, Florida where he visiting some associated scum. His company, Bizlato, a rival of SBF's FTX, was shut down as a darknet player. His comany which had its headquarters in Hong Kong, exchanged more than $700 millions in cryptocurrency with Hydra Market marketplace. Concurrent with the DoJ's action, France shut down its operation in that country  taking all its cryptocurrency and digital infrastructure.

      Mr. Anatoly Legkodymov was not in league with Sam Bankman-Fried but mirrored the FTX founder as a purveyor of lies and schemes with which he enticed silly little criminals into believing he knew how to avoid laws and national banking rules and regulations. He'll be doing lots of time in federal prison, hoping the Mad Vlad will capture a unwary American citizen somewhere and get into the prisoner exchange program offered by Mad Vlad and Yevgeny Prighozin, Putin's chef.

    Ahhhh, Russya. One just sees no end to its chicanery.

San Francisco 49ers v. Dallas Cowboys: An Old Rivalry

         Sports fans will be treated to some excellent entertainment this weekend. Despite mid-winter weather around the country, California's weather on Sunday looks very good for football in Santa Clara, home of the '9ers' stadium. The stadium, which sits on the threshold of what was known as "Silicon Valley", will be the venue for the contest. Both teams are on a roll: The 'City' team has won 11 straight games, thanks in part to its new quarterback-Brock Purdy, the 22 year old wunderkind. He was drafted almost as an afterthought-the last man standing. How did the scouts miss this man?

       Then, we have the Cowboys. They just finished a wild game in the wild card weekend. They steamrolled the Buccaneers and Senior QB, Tom Brady. One turnover after another did the Bucs in. It was one after another that gave heartburn to Floridians.

       The rivalry between these two goes back decades to a time before the 'Montana Era' of the '80's and '90's. That time, that innocent sports time period, had the Cowboys, known as 'America's Team', roll over the local boys time and time again, creating a lingering animosity that boils the blood of the diehard '9er fan. They have long memories. This Sunday, few of those veteran fans will be in attendance. Most have gone on to the large stadium in the sky; their offspring now in their old seats(similarly situated). As children, they can recall Dad's emotional involvement with Kezar Stadium and the cold fog whipping the hoards of seagulls who descended on the seats late in the 4th quarter. Now, the seats are only for the well-heeled: $3500 for a pair, and up. If they win, prices will reach new heights. Such is the realm of modern professional sports(pick one!). 

      Watching Purdy perform in his rookie season is akin to watching Joe Montana when he opened the doors to a new era for San Francisco. The "Faithful" as season ticket holders were known, were finally rewarded for their faith. They were believers; acolytes, devotees, and of course, endlessly hopeful for victory. Here we go again. Jimmy G, almost ready to go again, will be ready to assume his former role should fate take Purdy out of the game. He is a known quantity; and allows the coach to have calm nerves during active play. After a week of intense film review, the vaunted '9er defense will be ready with a plan. So, too, the Purdy-led offense with Kittle and running back McCaffrey.

     Get ready, too, Believers! Watch it.

More Precipitation Tonight

      Thought it was over? Guess again. Another storm will come through tonight. Keep the snow blower handy, Bunky. It won't dump like it did earlier this month, but a dusting will make Highway 89 just as treacherous as last week. Keep your wits about you. Drive slowly.

Let's Define Crazy

      How to define crazy, today? Hmmmm. Russyan invades a sovereign country without provocation. Kevin McCarthy seeks and gains the House of Representatives Speakership. Gov. Gavin Newsom says electricity will save the world in addition to California. Actually, he's wrong on both. Going a little bit further, we find George Santos sitting in Congress and being appointed to not one, but two committee chairman positions. Now that's C R A Z Y!

        George Santos replaces Trumpy as the "new" face of the Republican Party.(Not really new). His costuming is magnificent: he looks like a Republican from stem to stern. Don't you just love the glasses? or the deck shoes? Or the sweaters? or the open collar? My. my. So Manhattan. So NYC. He seems to appear as an urbane symbol of success. But, as we've finally found out, he's nothing but another SBF/Elizabeth Holmes/ Bernie Madoff/Charles Ponzi. And where were the media moguls on this? Checking their twitter feeds? Checking Instagram accounts? Maybe a few older members looking at Facebook? Oh, well. Welcome to kevin McCArthy's world of power grabbing and corporate shill work. So American. So sad.

Happy New Year

Dnipro: Raining Russyan Missiles

     "Honey, what's that whistling sound outside?" This was a common question yesterday just before the Russyan missile impacted a large apartment complex in the eastern Ukraine city of Dnipro. In the ongoing war conducted by the Kremlin in Ukraine, the winter music most often heard by civilians in the country is the whistling of artillery before it impacts the target(target area). At this moment, the death toll among the residents of this large apartment building stands at 40; 40 CIVILIANS! Ah, Vladimir. What is it in your tiny brain that approves of murder? Is it because you are a short Russyan? Is it because you drink too much vodka? Or you used to drink too much vodka? Or are you mad at your parents who delivered you as a Russyan and not a Frenchman, not a German, not an Italian; not an American?

      Does your partner, the Mother of your twins, refuse to approve of your pathetic personality and only accepts you because of your money? Do you doubt her sincerity in all personal encounters? Are you worried about your pathetic legacy as less than(< Peter the great, Katherine the great, Rasputin,etc)? Now, now, Little Vova. Think, for once in your life. Ask your tiny self: does murdering civilians really add to my legacy? Will General Gerasimov pull a victory out of the winter offensive? So many questions; so few answers. Have a nice day.

Happy New Year, Vlady.

Russyan Army: An Army of Art Lovers

          Many of us can recall the story of the "Monument Men" of WWII fame. They followed combat troops across Europe and on into Germany during the war. Their mission: find where the Nazis stashed the stolen art objects from museums, collectors, and private citizens. Word had gone out that Hitler was going to build a museum to house the country's best art at his chosen spot somewhere near Austria after the victory.We know how that happened. But the Monument Men did an amazing job of searching for and finding much of the looted masterpieces.

       We might have to call them out again, in Ukraine. Sadly, the invading Russyan army troops have among their ranks art experts, historians, and museum directors looking to fill their galleries. Cities that have fallen to the invaders such as Bahkmut, Kherson, and Mariopol, to name a few, have had their museums looted. In some cases every thing in the building, including things that were nailed down! Where did it go? Hmmmmm. Where does Yevgeny Prigozhin store his art? Where does gen. gerasimov collect his paintings? Where does Mad Vlad store his favorite statues? Answers to these questions are on the tips of many tongues. Ukrainian museum directors are writing down lists of all the looted pieces. Maybe they'll go to the Hermitage in Moskva and pollute its collection. Or to a dacha in the countryside out of sight. The new Monument men have their work cut out in 2023.

Wagner Group Claims Control of Ukrainian Salt Mine Town Soledar

         Head of the Kremlin militia, aka Wagner Group, Yevgeeny Prigozhin, proclaimed that his troops had seized control of this town after battling Ukrainian troops there. In this mid-winter assault, his private military force  used regular army munitions to supplement their own. However, the regular Russyan Army leaders, from generals on down, said that this was a gross exaggeration of reality. It seems that the Wagner Group's troops were recalled from other postings, especially in the Central African  REpublic where they assume the role of "palace guards" to protect the civil government in exchange from 50% of diamond profits around the country. Despite claims of superior tactical results in combat, nothing can be assumed when dealing with oligarchs, even Putin's chef, as Yevgeny P.

       So, the regular Russyan Army has poorly trained conscripts in the front lines, in mid-winter, and they are a long way from home. The Ukrainians, on the other hand, are fighting in their own backyards, protecting their families from a foreign invader, ie. the Rus from up north in Siberia. Few Russyan army conscripts know why they are in Ukraine. They are skeptical when told they are freeing locals from Nazis. Putin will long be remembered as the hapless leader who didn't know enough history to realize his own mistakes when making strategic decisions concerning his country's future in the wider world. And the Wagner Group will provide evidence that this militia is no better than a rogue group of murderers cut loose on the world.

Chinese Police Station in NYC?

       What do people do in this Chinese government building in NYC?

Natural Gas in California

       No, the Mayor is not talking of the clouds of methane coming from Sacramento's legislative body; the Mayor is talking about the gas used by California's utilities. Basically, the three companies who are the providers(resellers) of imported gas products from Texas and Canada. Yes, California no longer provides sufficient amounts from local sources. We are dependent on external sources. we are dependent on pricing mechanisms that are way beyond the control of customers. Hence, we are at the mercy of the PUC and and market speculators who determine what gas is going to cost to heat our homes and cook our food.

      Problem No. 1: the pipeline from Texas blew up last year in Arizona. Yes, did you forget? 2 people were killed by the blast in Arizona. Net result: a sharp decline in the delivery of product to Southern California(Sempra Corp.) San Diego customers have already been warned of major price increases coming. LA customers will also see significant price increases. Now for us Nor Cal residents, we face even more price increases from our dear friends/frenemies @PG&E. You know,, the infrastructure deniers. 

Still reeling from the past fires that destroyed whole towns, PG&E is back from bankruptcy and is attempting to improve its operations as NorCal's resident energy monopoly, duly sanctioned by Sacramento/Newsomville. About current prices. Have you paid a bill lately? Always surprising, isn't it? One would think opening a utility bill would be a boring effort. Now, it has become a modern day game of chance: how much this month/bi-month? Oh., my gosh: look at this triple digit amount, Sweetheart: we might have to sell Fido to pay this off. Shocking, yes, shocking amounts on the bottom line.  Hundreds of dollars have become routine. Who pays these amounts so often? CALIFORNIANS, that's who. And the worse is yet to come!

Venezuelans Flock to U.S.

        Want a vacation in Los Angeles? Can you afford a flight to Mexico City from Caracas? Do you know how to travel light? These questions are asked of Venezuelans who have had enough of Nickolas Maduro's regime. So, the elites want out; they want a future and can pay for same. One then buys a ticket(s) for Mexico(various ports of entry). Then, transport is arranged by brokers who will get one to the Rio Grande River where a convenient crossing is arranged with minimal likelyhood of getting caught as you seek asylum in the "Promised Land". 

      Pres. Joe Biden, in his quest to convey concern for the unabated invasion from Mexico, made an appearance in El Paso over the weekend. Photo Op w/ Border Control officers. This is his first visit since being elected to the presidency.  Smugglers and human taffickers sneer at the half-hearted attempts made by the US. Asylum? No problem. Just say so, and now you have legal status. Pres. Biden says he'll limit arrivals to 30,000/month. Hmmmmm. 30K X 10=300000. 30K X 100= 3 miilion. Hmmm. He wants to add 3 million +++++++ to those waiting for housing around the country. Goofy RonDon wants to gain favor amongst MAGA troops by sending bus loads of refugees/asylum seekers/illegals to VP Kamala Harris' house. More problems for Joe.

      Meanwhile, the border crossings continue, unabated. than you, pres. N. Maduro of Venezuela.

Happy New Year

Italy Tallies High Covid Infections Among Airline Passengers from China

      Italy reported a 21% positivity rate among passengers on two aircraft flights that originated in China. Italian health authorities immediately imposed strict testing procedures on all incoming flights from China. Chinese officials announced that such measures were unacceptable and will be dealt with according to China's own policy requirements. This issue will not go away anytime soon. The entire country of China is seeing a massive infection of its population as isolation requirements were recently lifted after the economy continued to suffer setbacks over the last 3 year s because of Beijing's wrong headed political moves and a refusal to administer more effective vaccines used in the West.

     T

Passengers waiting to Board Aircraft for Foreign Travel

Typical Communist response to criticism. Will Beijing ever learn? No.

Happy New Year.

Milton Friedman on China: Telling

Chinese Medical examiners ready to work

Chinese Covid Enforcement Brigade

China Road to Covid testing Site

       "The whole idea of a free market economy under the rule of law living happily within the  control and jurisdiction of a communist totalitarian state was preposterous. It was an oxymoronic contradiction on stilts."

      This particular quote is from the book by former British Governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten. In fact, the last British Governor of Hong Kong. He quotes Mr. Milton Friedman here. Under party leader Xi Jin Ping, the treaty signed by China(extending the current system of British Law in HK for 50 years after the handing over in 1997) to recognize Hong Kong as part of one-country under two systems. China now regards the treaty as a "relic" of history. This is,  as Mr. Patten says, " an extraordinary way of talking about an international treaty." Beijing's brazen violation of its pledge to protect Hong Kong's way of life is a warning how far China will go wherever it can. Despite Mr. Patten's best efforts, Hong Kong became the canary in the mine shaft, showing what happens when the Chinese Communist Party is allowed  to get its way.

      Jimmy Lai: can you hear me? 

Happy New Year

Chinese Covid Numbers:Up? Down? All Around

        Your friendly Chinese government, home to the world's largest number of Communists, has decided(Mr. Xi decided) that too many of the prolateriot were unhappy with some of his lockdown measures, such as stay at home under guard for 2-3 weeks. So rules were relaxed; folks could go to work; folks could buy food; folks could visit family down the street. Folks could L-I-V-E(w/i limits, of course).

Result: Covid infection outbreak everywhere in the Middle Kingdom of Communism. And, how bad is the outbreak? How many infections are being counter and where are they? Well, how would the W.H.O. know? Why, the trusted numbers put out by the Beijing Communists, of course. These numbers come from "official" government sources, of course. Communist sources, approved by Xi, hisself. So they MUST be believed. But, these numbers have a ring of (pick one): falsity, incredibility, farcity, hilarity, fake news, and to be sure, weakness.

     Pres. Biden has signed on to a requirement that all visitors from China must have a negative Covid test before boarding a flight to the US. This will ensure the safety of all Americans. The people who will perform these tests are the passengers themselves or government testers. Those who certify the veracity of said results are:  Chinese!  We all know about Chinese: they are as loose with the truth as members of the republican Party in the U.S. (see George Santos and Kevin McCarthy). So this useless gesture will be seen for what it is: a useless gesture put out to demonstrate the active involvement of the White House in protecting the populace from anymore infections than we already experience here in CONUS.

House Vote Update: Finally, It's Over

      The California Sleaze King McCarthy sold enough of his already compromised integrity to placate enough of his peers who are without any integrity whatsoever to become Speaker of the House of representatives. On the 15th ballot. His reign/role will be precarious as his procedural rules agreed to will make him an hostage to the right wing-nuts of a fractured party adrift in a sea of sinking ideas about governing.

        Trumpy called a couple of these wing-nuts to admonish their recalcitrance and they rolled over on the last ballot. The Phantom of Mar-a -Lago then went back into his 'Bat Cave' to drink more blood and tinker with the Batmobile. Perhaps he's prepping the vehicle for a quick campaign tour of Cuba, or Venezuela, or El Salvador. Or maybe to St. Petersburg where he can whip his 'Bro' with some birch switches to send them both into ecstasy. 💘💋💏💪.

       McCarthy will sleep peacefully once or twice then he'll wonder silently: "Why did I do this? Why did I have to endure this personal defeat, this humbling, tortuous path to the crown? I't not right. I've always paid my taxes; I went to school on schedule, and I have not abused children or dogs. Time will prove my record. Just watch it!"

Happy New Year

Kevin McCarthy: Laughing Stock of Capitol Hill

     The Shill from California failed for the 11th time to get elected to the Speaker of the House position. He knew months ago this would happen and despite all his wrong-headed attempts to persuade the far right opponents to his election, he threw his hat in the ring. 

      Loser. Then. Loser now. Goodbye speakership; hello oblivion. Republican Party? What a farce!

Happy New Year

Sierra Snowfall Best in 40 Years

     See all the white stuff? It's what we call snow, and it's sticking around. Good news for all, excepting those house bound citizens who want to go shopping for some bread and cheese. Well, we must accept the bitter with the sweet today. All the accumulated snow pack will only help our parched environment long term. maybe Lake Oroville will get back to normal levels, and irrigation flows will resume. Long term forecasts indicate continued precipitation in the coming weeks.

Good. Carry chains. Stay home. Stream football and Netflix.

Putin Declares Ceasefire for Orthodox Christmas

        Ukraine President Zelensky calls it for what it is: HYPOCRISY. Nice call, Volodymyr. You nailed it. OLd Mad Vlad is reaching/grasping for relief for the incompetent generals he's sent down south for the Special Operation in Ukraine. Gen. Gerasimov, the old desk bound paper shuffler is proving once again, Russyan military is a "paper tiger".

Pentagon Announces New Weapons for Ukraine

       Bradley Fighting vehicle: look it up. Adds a little muscle to infantry troops who need a booster when in the field. The Bradley has been around and in use for almost 3 decades. It has been deployed by US forces in various locations,affording infantry units an offensive capability combined with speed to attack enemy positions while shielding troops from  direct and indirect fire.

      New variations are planned and will be developed and employed by 2027, and in full production by 2030. Apparently, there will be an unmanned variant that can be remotely controlled utilizing electronic communication via protected systems. This follows drone warfare that has proven itself as a necessity in the modern combat scenario. While the Bradley does not pack the punch of a medium armored tank, its maneuverability serves it well in a combat zone. Its high-powered rifle can fire at a high rate covering more ground with accurate, controlled fire.

     In Ukraine, with its wide open landscape, this vehicle will prove itself as soon as it's deployed against the Russyan invaders. They will turn and run like a bunch of children!

Happy New Year, Gen. Gerasimov

Republicans: Bumbling Fools and Sycophants

       The pathetic array of elected representatives who hold the Republican brand are tripping over themselves to prove beyond the slightest doubt that they are the worst group of Americans whoever sat in the House of Representatives. Today they are sitting in their seats voting on the election of Speaker of the House, the ruler of the mob; the dictator of roles, the Grand Poobah of political power among the unruly individuals sent to Washington from the far flung reaches of the republic.

       Kevin McCarthy of California, the spineless equivocator who has pursued the role for years, cannot muster the votes necessary to be elected. The far right members of the party want him to agree to positions he disagrees with today(maybe different tomorrow). He is trying to assuage their concerns. They know him for what he is: a liar like George Santos, the new "King Liar" of the Republican party.

      Trumpy himself has tried to maneuver into the fray but has been told:"Butt out, you pathetic has been".  So, Kevin, is stewing, alone.

And now:

      The California Scumbag in Chief has been defeated for an 8th time(w/i the last 10 minutes!). The body of representatives will probably have to adjourn as the clock moves towards 4pm EST. The news media will have a field day, projecting the dismal record as yet another sign of gross incompetence by those in this supposedly "august group". Another symptom of a decline in civilization. The Trump era, as it will come to be called among political historians, has had a less than positive influence on representatives currently sitting in Washington. Most of those sitting Republicans still cling to the fiction that Trumpy won the election of 2020.(Remember 2020? Covid? Presidential election? Fauci? Chinese? Wuhan?). The sad drama unfolding in front of us will end soon, although the end is as yet, unknowable.

     Stay tuned.

Ukraine: And the War goes on

      The Ukrainian army reported good results from recent efforts against the invading Russyan army troops who are scurrying eastward to avoid accurate artillery fire by the locals. Reports have come out that directed artillery rockets have found concentrations of Russyan troops, killing dozens of these ill prepared conscripts who lack leaders of any decent quality. Old Mad Vlad is pacing the Kremlin floors, hoping for some good news to report, but that good news is not happening. New weapons arrive daily among the Ukrainian forces who oppose the Kremlin's poor soldiers along a broad front. The Dniper River continues as a boundary line between opposing forces but clearly, the Russyans are staying away from the river as Ukrainians become more adept at using it bot as a transportation route and a defensive barrier. The Russyans are developing in depth defensive positions in hopes of holding what they took last year in the early months of their invasion. Now the largest country in the world is following a strategy of hang on, hang out, and maybe we can get through the winter without giving up too much ground to these "nazified" infidels who want to be Russyan, deserve to be Russyan, and who will be made to be Russyan by the time we are through with them.

     Seems Russya can't shake its history.

California North: Wet and Getting Wetter

       The storms keep coming across the Pacific and crashing into Northern California. The result: some flooding, hardly a word we've been familiar with during the last couple of years of drought. With king tides marking high water marks along the Bay front, the heavy rains back up and cause flooding in low lying areas around the Bay shores. Even SF's Marina Blvd. saw the streets flooded up to the door handles of compact cars parked along the curbs. Warning were sent out to various agencies to advise on local situations that could affect residents during their travels.

     Up near Tahoma, our base area, snow was falling in large amounts over the weekend. Highway 89, our lifeline, was hazardous at least, and in need of constant plowing to allow through traffic if one was bold enough to venture out. Skiing is a bit dicey as strong winds have resirts shutting down lifts for safety sake.

      Tomorrow will bring more of the same which bodes well for water storage and less chance of fires in the warmer part of the year. Good news.

     Be safe, stay in if you can avoid travel now.

Warriors v. Hawks: Overtime-Twice

         The Atlanta Hawks came to San Francisco for a New Year's start at the Chase Center along San Francisco Bay. The Warriors have been struggling minus some starters, namely Steph Curry(shoulder) and Wiggins(ankle). The Hawks are a middlin' team this season, but can put up some numbers; so they arrived with some hope and some strengths among the team members.

     The Hawks started out rather slowly, allowing the home team to amass a good lead, setting a tempo that seemed to indicate the Dubs were on top of the night early rather than late. Then, in the second half, the Hawks started a run, or several runs and soon the scales tipped against the Dubs, now behind and playing catch up. It was a constant struggle all the way to the final buzzer of regulation play. Overtime.

      The overtime(5 mins) began with a back and forth effort by both teams: up and down, turnovers, 3-pointers, and timely baskets. At the end, the score is tied once more. Overtime period #2- a first at the Chase Center. Who plays a double overtime? Not many teams to be sure, and certainly, not the Warriors. So, back and forth, back and forth. The Hawks are now relying on an old tactic: cause the opponent to foul on the way to the basket. One Hawk seemed to have the talent to cause the Warriors to foul just at the right time. With under a minute to go, Klay Thompson hits a 3-pointer that seems to be enough to win if the team can hold on. It can't, now down by 1 point. Thompson now has 54 points on the night. As the clock ticks away, the Warriors get the ball into their half and Thompson fires again from 3 point range: no luck. And a put back that rims the basket, but with another heroic effort, the put back falls in as time expires. Warriors win. Kevon Looney put this win into the books, a win that will be long remembered by fans and Hawks alike.

Kevin McCarthy Doesn't Deserve to be Speaker

       Representative Kevin McCarthy of California does not deserve to be Speaker of the House. This light weight scumbag is a wishy washy low life who should be sent home, let alone elected by colleagues to be Speaker, replacing Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco. His history speaks for itself: he listens/listened to Trumpy, the worst president in American history. He thought he could ride the tails of trumpy to the speakership; but, alas, his colleagues want changes in the House and Congress. McCarthy represents business as usual. His past statements clearly indicate he lacks the moral fiber to conduct politics in a way that reflects an unshakeable belief in democracy. His statements often contradict themselves. His positions are fluid and change with the weather. His belief system is rooted in the deep, dark recesses of California's agribusiness titans whose influence is self serving and hardly reflects the people's choice(s).

       McCarthy can barely be called a "representative. He is, in fact a low life shill who does the bidding of big business only. Time for this bum to be given the heave ho, as indicated by other Republican members of the House.

      No, Kevin, we the people deserve better than what you have to offer, now and in the future.

Brock Purdy Does it Again

       The San Francisco team went to Las Vegas for Week 17's Sunday game. They would play the former Oakland Raiders, and expected it to be an easy win. It wasn't.

       First, there were many turnovers: interceptions, fumbles, and 4th downs. Both teams had trouble converting. Amazing plays upended many scoring drives as the teams battled for scoring position. The quarterback for the Raiders, also a rookie like Brock Purdy did not give up at any time. he played like a veteran.

     In the 4th quarter, the fireworks begaan early and carried through until the final seconds,with the score tied, kicker Robby Gould of the 49ers, lined up for what would be the winning fieldgoal. As hard as it seems, he missed, wide right. Now, overtime.

     (ers kicked off to Vegas and they started their drive up the field. And then, Pickett threw an interception to a rookie who caught his first interception and ran it back over 30 yards to put San Francisco in excellent field position. After setting up the placement position on the field, Robby redeemed himself and split the uprights to win the contest. Game over: 37-34.

Drug Bust in Pennsylvania: Big One

       The DOJ filed a lawsuit against a large drug company headquartered in Conshohocken, PA. The company, AmerisourceBergen, is accused of illegally distributing opioid drugs against Federal law. It is already party to a settlement in many state courts amounting to $26 billions in state court settlements. If found guilty of violation of federal laws, the settlement amounts could be in the hundreds of billions of dollars. The company had revenue in 2021 in excess of $214 billions.

      The lawsuit claims that the company of at least hundreds of thousands of violations of the controlled substances act, according to Vanita Gupta, the associate attorney general overseeing the civil division. "For years the company put its profits from opioid sales over the safety of Americans," Phillip R. Sellinger, the U.S. attorney for the district of New Jersey, told reporters. Over 90,000 Americans died from over doses in 2020. In 75% of the deaths, opioids were a factor.

      The company failed to report suspicious sales of its drug to a number of pharmacies around the country and in Colorado, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,and New York. Will any corporate officers face criminal charges? After all a corporation is legally a "person"? (See Citizens United). Doubt it.

Happy New Year