Canada to Require Visas Again

      No, Johnny, not you; but Juan and Juanita from waaaaayyyyyy  down south, Mexico way. If traveling to Canada from a location in Mexico, Mexican nationals will be required to have a visa to legally enter our northern neighbor. It seems that those that can afford a ticket purchase figured that paying a 'coyote' to get across the Rio Grande is an expensive hassle; it's much better to fly into Ontario, Montreal, or Vancouver and take an Uber ride across the border to El Dorado where the streets are paved with gold.

     Under pressure from Washington, et.al., the Liberal Government of Justin Trudeau found it easy to make the call. Conservatives have been applying pressure against Mr..Trudeau and his government recently in an attempt to make changes. Immigration is just one area where they have had some success. Who wants to the country that leaks immigrants to America? Not a good look, no matter who's in charge in Ottawa.

And this is just one of many issues bubbling up across the the Canadian realm. What else? How about the national science laboratory of Canada, for starters.

Where is Do Kwon?

       You know: Do Kwon, the Stanford University student who founded TerraForm Labs, a cryptocoin company that collapsed along with Sam Bankman-Fried's little crypto currency project. Mr. Kwon is in jail in: Montenegro, that European country in southern Europe near Greece. He was arrested there as he tried to evade police who had a warrant outstanding for his immediate arrest. The US Securities office has filed charges against him and his operation charging fraud, among others.

     Mr. Kwon was holding 3 different passports, two were fakes. He was hoping to get away without going back to face the music in the US. Did Mr. Kwon take any ethics classes while down on the Farm? Did he hang out with other brilliant undergrads at Stanford? Did he dine with Sam Bankman-Fried? Did he he go to Peets coffee on University Ave. and hobnob with like-minded techies? We won't know until his trial, which is slated to begin soon. He may not attend initially as the extradition proceedings take a bit longer. His lawyer, Mr. Patton, says he will not delay the proceeding by asking for an extension.  Mr. Kwon claims he has nothing wrong. Hmmmmm. Can we feel his pain? No.

Have a nice day.

Pirates Continue to Hold Hostages

        Like Dumbo holding the magic feather that allows him to fly, HAMAS continues to hold the Israeli hostages in Gaza as the Israeli Defense Force prepares for the final battle in Gaza. It will not be pretty but let us not forget how Iran and HAMAS triggered the war by invading Israel and murdering 1200 innocent, defenseless civilian women and children. HAMAS is beneath contempt as are the supporters of Palestinians(useful idiots) in the USA. The terrorists hiding among the population are nothing but pirates and will be dealt with harshly. Execution will be their collective fate, and the world will be freed of their evil. Iran is next.

Guatemalans Riot in California

      My, my, Gov. Newsom, what is going on in your home county(Marin)? Marin County is one of the most expensive places to live in California and America. Buying a home there requires top dollar income levels. A basic starter home-old, 1-story, marginal area, fixer-upper home, will require 1 million + to get in. Oh, then there's the property taxes and fees, fees, fees, fees. Newsom's Folly= California. Oh, and the utility bills will choke a horse.

     Last week, the Guatemalan consular office scheduled a local effort to give passports to many of their citizens now living in Marin county. There are many, many, Guatemalans here without legal status. They are illegals who have entered the old fashioned way: strolling across the southern border with Mexico. Now these illegals are trapped by their decisions: they cannot return "home" and re-enter the USA because:they are illegal and would risk being caught by ICE and banned for 10 years. So, the consulate decided, as they have done several times in the past to hold passport clinics on site in central San Rafael, the Marin County seat. An appointment was necessary to enter the queue. Folks started lining up after midnight. By dawn, there was more than 500 folks milling about the community center. After the arrival of the consular officials and staff, fights broke out between Guatemalans with appointments and those without appointments- shocking! So, a wise person called the police.

       Then what happened? 6 uniformed officers arrived after traveling a mile from headquarters. They were confronted with an angry mob that was getting out of control. Clearly outmanned and in grave danger, the police officers retreated after telling the consular officials to leave the city and stop issuing passports. 

       Immigration continues to baffle politicians from top to bottom, San Rafael being the bottom. And Gov. Gavin is running for higher office, somewhere. Good luck but stop wasting your money: you've reached your highest level of incompetency already.

21st Century Vietnam Inspection

       Well, now, it seems like only last year Vietnam was a backwater of business and culture. Not now: it's catching up- fast. Our Minister of East Asian Affairs has been on a fact-finding examination of all things Vietnamese. The reports have been fascinating as the facts expose the truths on the ground: good and bad. Of course, when dealing with Communists, there's always the good and a lot of the bad. Separating the two is easy in some cases, not so much in others.

      Natural beauty is one of the goods: SE Asia has a climate that can be overwhelming at times: two monsoon seasons slam the environment annually- the Northeast and the Southwest monsoons alternate in summer and winter. Both control many things locally: agriculture and transportation to name two. For many years , rice was a chief export commodity which stalled during the American War so named by government bureaus. The French War predates the one and blends the two at the end of the French colonial period(1800's to 1954). The French influence continues as the Catholic religion continues to be a strong influence. Architecture in Ha Noi exhibits much of the French influence in design and construction. Catholic churches and cathedrals dot the landscape, primarily in cities.

     For first time visitors, the modernization of the urban setting is clear: high rise buildings claim the city centers; electric vehicles challenge the streets and highways; bright lights glow after sundown, displaying neon signage as well as any Hong Kong neighborhood. Also evident is the rise in the middle class: coffee shops abound and young urbanites enjoy their espresso made with domestic arabica beans from the highlands. Ho Chi Minh city is a bustling delta/coastal enclave that offers a taste of world-class culture: iphones are abundant; electric bikes and scooters purr across the broad boulevards, and modern hotels offer comfortable rest.

     Not too many years ago, internet shops were prolific, now replaced with laptops, phones, and wifi. Youth will be served, as the pundits say. 

     In the background, the government, Communist, enjoys a stern grasp of the population. Ever vigilant for unrest and protest of policy, oversight is evident in the many cameras viewing activities among the residents. Internal passports aid in efforts to maintain control directly. If one wants to visit an indigenous village or cultural site, permission must be granted before that visit: identity, length of stay, and reason for the visit must be known ahead of approval. The local bureaucrats must be aware of all internal movement.

       The economy is growing and foreign investment is evident not just in retail stores, but in business, much of which is conducted via the internet. Things are changing in Vietnam, and changing fast. 

More later

A New Lunatic: Odysseus on the Moon

     The weather has cleared over California and the moon shone brightly last evening. Lake-side dwellers were treated to that fabled view from the shore of a Moonrise over the Nevada portion of the Sierra and the glistening stream of reflected light ripples into the landscape. It was announced that in the early afternoon on February 22, 2024, an unmanned lunar lander touched down on the moon's dusty surface successfully. It was a combined effort by NASA and a private contractor. The 6-legged vehicle touched down on a mission to gather data to be used in the near future when NASA will launch a vehicle that will land astronauts on the moon's surface again next year.

Book Review : A Hero for the Ages: Guardian of Guadalcanal, by Gary Williams. Lakota Press, 2014

       A local from Tahoma handed the Mayor a little book last weekend. He thought there was an interesting story in it. Well, there was an interesting story found there. It does not involve a modern day hero, but one from the last century-the 20th for those counting. WW II brought many many heroes to the world(along with countless scoundrels); not a few unrecognized and unrewarded. In this particular case, his actions at the cost of his young life and his bright future were recognized by  a group of leaders on the scene in the South Pacific island of Guadalcanal.

      For you youngsters-millenials,etc., WW II is ancient history, but it will be remembered as the last 'good' war- clearly defined antagonists, both good and bad.  The Solomon Islands, a group of tropical islands in the South Pacific was the scene of America's first effort against the Japanese army using ground forces; in this case the US Marines' 1st Infantry Division, assembled in haste to confront the Japanese who were on the march southward toward Australia. In August, 1942, after Pearl Harbor and after the Battle of Midway Is. in May of '42, Marines landed on the north shore of this jungle -covered swampy place where the Japanese were building an airstrip. 

       This was the first deployment of a Marine division anywhere. It was hastily assembled from units in Hawaii, California, and other locations. Few members had experience, but the leadership included many seasoned veterans. It was also the first use of combined forces: Navy, Army-air and ground, civilian transports, and Coast Guard sections. The Coast Guard units had been absorbed by the Navy; the civilian merchant seaman were under Army/Navy control. Command and control was made possible by on-the-job training. As the Marines began the operation(s), the Japanese recognized the threat and began its own reinforcement of the position with the landing of more troops and the deployment of key Japanese naval units to take on the US Navy, again. 

More later

New Victim in Russya

       It was announced in Russya by Russya state media that an American woman was arrested and brought before the Kangaroo Court of Injustice and charged with abusing the reputation of the army in Ukraine by making a $50 donation to a Ukrainian charity.

      The victim has an American passport and a Russyan passport. The American passport is not recognized as pre-eminent. She will be tried as a Russyan citizen, such as Alexei  Navalny, recently murdered in the Arctic prison where he was sent last year and died there. (His body has not been released).

    Dealing With Pirates

      This will now be the operative policy when dealing with Russya and Russyans. The international community can no longer recognize Russya as anything other than a state of Piracy. No truth will emerge from this country in the control of pirates. The world can no longer engage with it's leaders in any manner other than that which involves a plan of negotiating with pirates. Forewarned is forearmed.

     Photos of the victim have been distributed for propaganda purposes around the world. Read: this is how we treat dissenters no matter where we find them-at home or abroad. Her name: Ksenia Karelina, age 33. She calls Los Angeles, California home.

Welcome to not so modern Russya.

Have a nice day.

Traveler Alert: No Go Russya

      Well, finally,a word from our sponsor(s): If you are an American citizen :DO NOT TRAVEL TO Russya or any part of it. You will subject to arrest, imprisonment, harassment, and extreme isolation in Siberia.

     This warning comes from the United States Department of State as an urgent message to ALL Americans. The rogue state of Russya has now put into practice the illegal practice of arresting visitors to that state. As policy, the Kremlin now focuses on those Americans who foolishly think that they are safe from the Kremlin when traveling with an American passport. This is not true. The Kremlin no longer follows international law. Amnesty International has also advised against travel to anywhere within the borders of Russya. President for Life Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin has crossed into the dark world of oppressive governments that no longer wish to be members in good standing with international norms or laws.

Again: DO NOT TRAVEL TO RUSSYA or any part thereof.

Who's Next In the Gulag?

      That answer is easy in the West: Vladimir Kara-Murza. He's been imprisoned in the Russyan Governments Penal System, the system long used by Czars, Dictators, and descendants of dictators(presidents,etc). Mr. Kara-Murza is a Brit and he was arrested in Russya over a year ago; tried in the Kangaroo Court of Russya's version of a legal system(not legal, not a system). He was convicted and sentenced to 29 years of confinement. He's still alive. Imagine that.

    But we know after reading of Alexei Navalny's death in the Arctic near the White Sea that no one is secure, safe, or beyond the reach of the murderers of the Kremlin. Vladimir has a wife and 3 young children. Does Putin care? How about that stellar "Useful Idiot" Tucker Carlson, the personification of Fox News and the vile Murdochs.  Good luck, Vladimir. The world watches and waits; and not hoping for the best, but in a crude way, trying to make some opportunity to getyou out of the Russyan Rat Hole where you've been housed. As long as the Russyan army is crashing through Ukraine, chances of a break through with your case are slim. But you will not be forgotten, no matter what.

Yulia Navalnaya Will carry On

 Alexei Navalny's widow, Yulia, will continue the campaign against the dictator and his minions of thugs, thieves, murderers, and kleptomaniacs found in every corner of the Kremlin: the penitentiary without bars. Alexei's body has not been given to the family; one wonders how the leader of the Orthodox Church feels about this cultural slight. Could it be that he, too, has been silenced by the Kremlin? Where is the patriarch now? Cowering in St. Vladimir's cathedral? Hmmm.

      Putin's descent into madness is close to complete, and time will mark the end of his descent. All the signs of acute mental deterioration are evident with minimal observation: Tucker Carlson, the useful idiot from Fox News, was called out by the Little Dictator himself for avoiding any useful questions that would have allowed Putin to spout his prepped answers. Poor Tucker, so needy, even with his money and notoriety. A useful idiot personified.

   Yulia seems to have the integrity and the spine to carry on; she'll need both as she becomes the new target of sinister forces of the FSB/Kremlin operations. Now that Russyan army units are again on the march in Ukraine, caskets will begin arriving in large numbers throughout the country including the far reaches of the Steppe and Siberia, reaching Vladivostok for sure. No male is safe in Russya from the long reach of Moskva/VOVA.

Have a Nice Day

China Needs Babies

      Information has trickled into the media about Chinese birthrates. Yes, birthrates, of all topics. Pushed to the side are rumblings over Taiwan; postings about the harassment of Philippine fishing boats in the South China Sea(not a Chinese Sea); posts about Hong Kong and the disappearance of various opposition leaders.  So, why this new topic?

        Well, it must mean that a few wags have managed to get some data and more than enough info to shed light on a sensitive Chinese problem: fewer babies are being born, ergo, the future of the Chinese economy will have fewer workers to provide necessary workers to expand the economic future. Ok. We remember the '80's: the One Child Family law that would cure the future problem of too many mouths to feed. That law stopped the population "bomb" in its tracks. Result: nobody wants babies, especially Chinese women.

     Recently, the Communist Government leaders in Beijing decided to offer a cash incentive to families who have children. They've offered the equivalent of $1000. Ha, ha, ha,ha. This really underscores the sad truth that government leaders all the way up and down the ladder have no clue whatsoever about modern families. And the cost of raising said family. A whole generation has learned the sad truth about the housing programs and the cost of housing as a family expense. Oh, you bought a condo? Oh, now you wish to finish this "home"? Oh, it hasn't been built yet. Oh, the builder filed for bankruptcy. Oh, Beijing has taken over the development. Oh, you put all your savings into the purchase. Oh, you don't have the funds to provide: doors, windows, appliances, fixtures, lights, heat, AC, etc? Too bad, you. Oh, the Beijing solution: tear down those apartments already built to stabilize the market. Oh, Beijing will get back in the housing business because capitalism failed our Chinese leaders, again. Hmmm.

Happy New year: Year of the Dragon. Boom, boom, boom.

Japan Economy Slips to 4th

      Well, the numbers are in and Japan is experiencing a recession. The national economy lost ground in the last 2 quarters and is now by definition, in recession. Hmmmmm. What does this mean? Depends on who you ask. Japan has a myriad of elements to its national economic mix: technology for sure; heavy industry, automobile manufacturing, numerous connections in other parts of the world including China, India, and the USA.

      But at home, consumers have been reluctant to spend, again. Caught in a bind between interest rates, spending, and saving. While deflation has not been mentioned yet, Japan has been struggling for years to put some life into its consumer spending side. Famously frugal, the Japanese saver(s) are slow to respond to government expectations. Why spend? I might need more money tomorrow, or next week, or next month, or ............................

      So, the world watches as the USA soars to new economic heights. Oh, and don't forget to look west across the Sea of Japan. See the behemoth there? That's the 2nd largest economy in the world and they, too, are in recession. Hmmmmmmm. What now Xi?

Navalny is Dead: Kremlin

       Although the circumstances of his death have not been made known, it is now accepted as fact that Alexei Navalny id dead. He died under harsh conditions in the prison(gulag) facility located above(north) of the Arctic Circle in the middle of winter, a Siberian winter. A very sad death, indeed. President Joe Biden blames Putin outright. No surprises here. recall it was just a few months ago that Yevgeny Prighozin  and his Wagner Group leaders were assassinated by having their jet plane disabled while flying to St. Petersburg when a wing was blown off by a well-placed explosive device. Also the crew members were also among the dead. Collateral damge is the term to describe their unfortunate deaths. But, this is Russya, Home of The Rus, where anything can happen to  anybody, anytime.

                      A Very Nice looking Family: Father, Mother, daughter, and son.

                    Rest in Peace, Alexei. You are a martyr with a capital M. You will rank high in the pantheon of opponents of dictator Putin and his henchmen.

Putin Prefers Biden

      In a statement meant to create a moderate position from the Kremlin, home of murderous lackies of VOVA, Mr. Putin, who orders assassins around the world, decided that Mr. Biden, the sitting US President, would be preferred to former President Donald J. Trump. Hmmmmmm. And we all thought the two were love bros. Not so.

     VOVA is looking ahead, and he doesn't want to deal with a moron when it comes to international politics and international problems such as Ukraine, Gaza, Israel, China, Taiwan, North Korea, and Iran. VOVA already has a lot on his plate. Then he calls Siberia and the prison in the Arctic where Alexei Navalny has been housed for several months after being transferred. Thursday, Mr. Navalny was looking fine and talking about his conditions of living. Today, he is dead. Hmmmm. Yes, the Siberian winters are cold, but he was inside being protected from the harshest conditions there. His wife announced in Munich that her husband is dead. That is sufficient to accept the reality. And where will this former opposition leader be buried? Hopefully, his remains will be exiled to a comfortable cemetery out of Russya. He's too good, even dead, to be buried in that primitive country run by dictators and their henchmen.

R.I.P. Alexei

Trump Out of New York Business

   DJT is out of business in New York State, and both of his sons. His corporation is no longer allowed to operate in the state for 2 years. Hmmmmm. Is this the beginning of the implosion we've all been waiting for? Seems like if his company must pay $350 millions, it might constrain everything related to the Donald. Of course, Ms. Baba, his attorney, says this is part of the "witch hunt" which is pursuing DJT. They will appeal. Oh, good, the court will decide in a few minutes. 

      Now the various courts can move on with the big issues: is DJT immune from prosecution? Did DJT  steal classified documents when he left office and conspire to retain those same documents to impress prospective clients?  Sad to say but yes, the courts will decide he he intended to steal those important papers as he exited the White House where he soiled the presidency for 4 years until he committed insurrection on January 6, 2021.

    Now, about the election tampering charges in the State of Georgia. The fog surrounding the attorney general, Ms. Willis will soon end and that case will move forward. The smoke screen put up by the RNC and trump's legal beagles will go away. Then we'll see how DJT does with the state's laws versus federal laws.

Keep watching; keep listening; more to come. 

ALexei Navalny: Report of Death in Arctic Prison

        No surprise here: dissident citizen of Russya sent to gulag prison, placed in isolation. News agencies reported today that Alexei Navalny has died. This could mean he's sick. On Thursday, he gave a recent update and seemed fairly healthy. And now, probably dead.

       His wife, Yulia, took the stage at the Munich International Conference and announced that the Kremlin, home to heaps of Russyan scum lords, Navalny has died. Yulia, standing with remarkable composure, made a statement to attendees that this information from prison authorities cannot be accepted without question, acknowledged that it is probably factual. She went on to say that the Little Dictator will pay for this outrage against the Russyan peoples and will be brought to justice soon. Vice president Kamala Harris was in attendance. 

     So, here we go: more evidence of the state of affairs at home among the government lackies of the Kremlin, the source of the grief in Ukrainian space. No doubt Putin(VOVA) decided he needed some ammo for the media that has been taken over by the IDF in Gaza, home of terrorists HAMAS, killers of women and children, hostage takers, oppressors of Palestinian natives.

     Happy Lunar New Year

Ex-Fox Broadcaster Interviews Putin

      Remember old What's His Name? You know, the talking head of Fox News "fake News" Department? Yes, that one, who was removed from his broadcasting role by Fox owners Lachlan and Rupert Murdoch. Yes, the father and son team from down under who came to the USA and bought up a bunch of media outlets and tapped into a media market loaded with disgruntled low class blockheads who wanted to hear some rubbish spew from some talking heads. Tucker Carlson, the San Francisco native who went to the dark side to satisfy an insatiable need for publicity. And do we need anymore of his ilk when we already are overloaded with the type?

      So, his people set up an interview with the Russyan dictator-for-life Vladimir (VOVA)Putin. He likes useful idiots and here comes another one who needs a little attention. Ok, I'll use him, too. What, Tucker? You are asking about the American journalist that was arrested 10 months ago? He has fallen afoul of federal laws against spying in our country. Oh, he works for the same family as you work for? Hmmm. Well, they shouldn't send spies to Russya; we have laws that are very strict about spying, or anything else I don't like. It's out of my hands, really. Evan Gershkovich should not have come to Russya and claimed to be a journalist when he had other objectives. Our courts will decide his fate, not me.

     So, the useful idiot Carlson babbles on about nothing, giving VOVA a platform in America with one of the most disgraceful talking heads to appear on national TV in awhile. But then, he appeared on Fox News, a noted purveyor of fake news and partisan political sympathies. These are strange times and we aren't sure where they will end up. Nor does VOVA know as he continues to have his military forces rain missiles on defenseless Ukrainian cities, most recently in the city of Kharkiv where a missile landed in a fuel tank farm that exploded and sent flaming fuel into a residential neighborhood killing many residents.

Happy New Year-The Year of the Dragon, and it starts off with a big bang,

49ers v. Chiefs: Tied at End of regulation in Las Vegas

      Well, here we go: Overtime in Vegas. 19-19 tie.

49ers elect to receive.

Late News;

Chiefs win, scoring a touchdown with seconds to go after almost 1 more full quarter of play. Chiefs 25-49ers 22.

Chiefs win two Super Bowls in a row.

Mahomes is MVP again. Brock Purdy of the 49ers will have to wait until next year to try for a Super Bowl win. Even down 10 points, the Chiefs prove to be resilient and can never be counted out. Never with Mahomes at quarterback.

HAMAS Wants to Negotiate

       This offering is so insulting that Israel's Netanyahu scoffs and responds with an aggressive retort: : removal of HAMAS is our only goal since they massacred over 1200 innocent civilians and focused their attacks on defenseless women and children, especially using the cruelest methods most reprehensible known to mankind.  Do they really want an exchange of Palestinian prisoners, those jailed criminals locked up for criminal acts? What reasoning can they be using? 

      Do they really want 1000 criminals in exchange for the HOSTAGES they removed from their homes after murdering other family and friends? Where do they get these notions of argument? Oh, we know where: Iran, land of the Islam loving world peace keepers where the Palestinian assault troops were trained to execute masses of innocents. That question is easy to answer as we know HAMAS is an acolyte of all things Iranian.

     Israel must finish the job-eliminate HAMAS once and for all. Enough already-give no quarter to these pirates. They deserve no quarter-ever.

USA to China: Let's Talk

       So, Joe Biden and Company wants to reach out to Beijing, again. This time on economics and trade. Who will be the point person: our beloved Janet Yellen. She's an experienced negotiator and well versed on all things economic. Tariffs, trade, open markets, copyright infringement, corporate secret theft, cyberhacking(see earlier post of FBI  announcement), Chinese asylum seekers at the southern border; Jimmy Lai's prison sentence; Hong Kong's problems, etc. The list is fairly endless.

     But China cannot hide its economic downward slide. Too many foreign investors are fleeing the Communist business environment, heading: abroad, home, any where else. Chinese economy No. 10, G.I. No bueno. Carmakers are wondering how long before the EV industry can continue there if nobody is buying the product. battery metals are abundant and now the prices have slid into the TOTO toilet. The Americab public has awakened to a new mindset: EV's are not the current solution despite the government's push to stop the manufacturing of gas-powered cars and force Detroit to build EVs.

     So, Janet Y. will have lots to talk about with her Chinese peers-those in thrall to Xi Jen Ping & Co. in Beijing. What can she hope to accomplish: less aggression in the South China Sea? Less aggression toward Taiwan? Less restriction on the sale of computer chips China desperately needs for the economy? Well, that's a mouthful. Chips-so much to analyze. Japan is also in the mix because they set up multiple factories in China and now must regroup and rethink all those decisions. Can Japan be frozen out of the country under threat of embargoes? Can Janet leverage the sanctions against chip sales to Chinese companies? I think, as Mayor of Tahoma, that Janet has lots of leverage this time. The collapse of Evergrande, the 2nd largest real estate developer, is a signal that there are huge problems inherent in Beijing's control of the economy. Millions of real estate sales on homes to be built were never realized: the would-be owners were loaned money to buy and have nothing to show for their effort excepting worthless receipts. That's business; in China.

    Good Luck, Ms. Yellen. You'll have our support along the way to some policy changes in Beijing. Xi: are you listening? The clock is ticking.

It's Raining on the Houthis in Yemen

        Well, now, the rebellious terrorists on the Arabian peninsula are feeling the sting of reprisals. Reprisals are always a shock to instigators of rebellion. But in Yemen, the Houthis have held sway long enough that they are on everybody's radar these days, including Joe Biden's USA and MBS and his Saudis.

      So, it's raining various missiles onto Houthi concentrations, disabling lots of the arms so generously supplied by the Imams nearby; the Imams from Iran, source of so much discord brought about by their tunnel visions of a world to which they would like to return before they arrive in their heaven. You know: their heaven with its multitudes of young virgins waiting for the arrival of martyrs.

     So, the Houthis wanted a little publicity so they began targeting oil tankers traversing the narrow ocean channels on their way to markets in the Pacific Ocean(Japan and China to name a few). These tankers are defenseless leviathans built for bulk liquid cargoes. No antiaircraft weapons; no on board gun crews, not much more than navigation instruments and one or two lifeboats for the few crew members(cook, quartermaster, captain, navigator, chief engineer/systems monitor). In a nutshell: helpless.

     So, Houthis being terrorists, they decide to expand their reach with Iranian weapons put to their use. A missile here, a missile there, and we have tanker traffic diverted to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Now governments are being besieged by Big Oil: Hey, our taxes pay your bills; we expect our taxes to fund the Navy and provided protection around the world. When will that happen? Result: two carrier groups head east and deliver some Springtime warmth to the Houthis: long established targeting data is opened aboard the carriers; the target data is uploaded to the strike force aircraft, and they are armed and launched on a mission to destroy Houthi/Iranian supplied military assets. Several days of air attacks have left an impression in Sana and Baghdad. Anybody listening? NO, not really; the Imams are busy plotting against Israel, stoking fears in the region. Nothing new here; same old, same old, since 1948.

F.B.I. Testifies: The Chinese are Hacking Their Way to the USA

      The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the F.B.I., testified in from of a Congressional committee yesterday. He laid out a few facts regarding cybersecurity concerns that have occupied the Bureau's cybersecurity experts. These tech wizards are charged with securing domestic networks and the controls over the vast infrastructure(s) that keep the national utility system free from outside interference. Mr. Wray spelled out what has been going on as a result of the Chinese military's infiltration of computer networks in the USA.

      He specified in detail what the hacking attacks have attempted.  The Beijing hackers focused on such things as air traffic control, water systems in urban areas, pipeline operations, communications, and other transportation facilities. This past December, the Justice Department and the F.B.I. obtained court approval to dismantle a botnet, consisting of home computers and small office computer routers. Most of this equipment was so-called end-of-life gear, that material so old it no longer receives fixes and updates and remains vulnerable when still in service. These nodes were used to hide infiltrations from outside hackers who used them to conceal their malware tools designed to infect operational software.

      The statements concerning these Chinese hackers' activities were made in front of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. The Chinese Embassy in Washington didn't respond to a request for comment. The types of attacks and attempts were not spelled out but were known to be targeting "water treatment plants, the electrical grid, natural gas pipelines and train controls."

     Jen Easterly, director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said these attacks would add to the chaos during a Chinese attack half way around the world, and so deter any military response and cause fear and anxiety at home.

    Hmmmmm. And now we know that online postings of economic decline in China have been systematically removed by the PLA.   And why?  

Bazball in India

        Well, Mr. Modi has a sports problem with--------the UK/ Great Britain/Colonizer/ ex-Raj perp/ railroad builder,etc. India has many sports fans and many sports participants. In many sports to be true, but above all cricket. It's a version of what Americans call baseball. Throw ball; hit ball; run; score points; win. Simple. But, not so simple.

        Unless an American lives in a community with a number of locals with sub-continent roots, the national sport  of India gets little play and even less respect. It has not been able to "catch" on in the States as homegrown sportsmen and women prefer to whack the horsehide on the green grass-covered pitch or diamond as it is called(really square). The Mayor played many years in his youth, coached by Dad at one time, and by dedicated baseball Dads with some time to spare in the afternoon(night workers, produce workers,etc). While not sure if Lefty O'Doul ever made it to India, we do know he introduced Japan to the sport after WWII. It has been a thriving success there and has sent more than a few stars to the MLB in the US. And so, cricket remains big in India and in the UK and I presume in Pakistan. So, last week an earthshaking contest had an unexpected outcome: the team from the UK trounced the home team in India. Again: the team from the UK trounced the Indian team.

      No, that has to be a falsehood; fake news; lies; misprints; AI-generated fantasy. No, no, no. Truth. The facts are just that: facts. the UK team beat India in 4 days(cricket takes longer and goes on for days before a victor emerges). How did this happen?   Hmmmmmm. Here in the US, we call it "Billy Ball". The numbers crunchers have taken over. Stats. Stats.Stats. Data,data,data. Results, results,results. All equals victorious outcomes. It happened in India. Oh, yes, Mr. Modi, this will add to your political problems. The results will reverberate for years. A complete reevaluation of  strategy is in the offing. Analysis, analytics, AI, supercomputers, planning, heads rolling; funds pumped up and funds depleted. Who's to blame? Blame them all, blame nobody; fire the coaches and retire the old dependables. This cannot continue. The challenge must be confronted on every level. Our dignity is on the line. Repel the invader/colonizers. Can you imagine what would happen if a Japanese team won the World Series in NYC? The same will happen now in India. Batten down the hatches; prepare for stormy weather/typhoons/hurricanes/tornadoes,etc.

    Ollie Pope: the scourge of India. scored 196 runs, one of the greatest displays of batting in history. 196. Remember the number now and forever. It has changed the world of sport, forever. Michael Vaughn, former team captain, called it the greatest victory in his lifetime. Mine, too.