International crook Paul Manafort seems to think he'll beat the rap. Reorters observing the defendent at trial say the man appears overly confident in his defense. Prosecution witnesses(members of his staff), paint a picture of a man without a conscious, without a scrouple, without a memory, and maybe without a brain.
No doubt his idea of business does not reflect reality. He believes he's the smartest man in the room, any room. The jury will have fun with his verdict. The judge will have fun sentencing this dirt bag to a long prison term. Maybe he thinks he'll get pardoned by his high placed friends. But those friends usually disappear after the verdict is in.
Friday, August 10, 2018
Weekend Meteor Shower
It's that time of the year: Summer. And one of the signature events of summer in the northern hemisphere is the meteor shower. That event will occur this weekend: Aug. 10,11,12. The nightly show begins before sundown but is most visible after dark. Our relative lack of night light in the Tahoe Basin means that our views will be the best.
So, get outside tonight, stare heavenward, and look for those streaks of cosmic dust that penetrate a portion of our upper atmosphere. Enjoy
So, get outside tonight, stare heavenward, and look for those streaks of cosmic dust that penetrate a portion of our upper atmosphere. Enjoy
Monday, August 6, 2018
MInister Of East Asian Affairs Looks At AQI
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| Chengdu at Sunset through smog: Aug. 6th, 2018 |
Our Minister is traveling around the country and more reports will be forthcoming. Stay tuned.
Saturday, August 4, 2018
Russya Wants Laborers: Hello North Korea
So, Mr. Putin's oligarchs mention the high cost of labor toiling away in their various occupations serving up the needs of the elites. They mention also that locals are demanding-and getting- higher wages, cutting their profits. We need cheap labor they say. Now where can we find cheap labor? Chechnya? Belarus? Poland? Romania? USA? Germany? Ahhhh, maybe China. They want rubles, too. But, the Chinese oligarchs want fees, kick backs, bribes, and they don't follow rules like we Russyans do. And President Xi J.P. can't be trusted to provide the actual numbers promised.
Oh, what a world! How can we gain our rightful place in this world if we can't get cheap labor? Wait. Wait a minute. I read on the internet(not blocked today) that North Korea has workers for hire-cheap workers, that is. Let's call Pyongyang right now.
"Hello, Is this Mr. Kim? Yes, Kremlin calling. How are you today? Enjoying a nice summer? By the way, we need a few thousand workers, and we pay well, in cash. Can you help your Russyan friends? Don't forget-we supply plenty of crude oil to feed your needs despite those pesky UN sanctions. So, how many? What? That's it? But we need twice that number. Ok. We'll settle for that. And when will they arrive? Oh, they are en-route. Wonderful. You are the best. We here in Red Square knew we could count on our dear friends in North Korea. And we'll be sending to you directly the contract amount so as not to disrupt your salary schedules and pay scales. We wouldn't want to cause any inflationary events back home. Thanks again, Mr. Kim. Always a pleasure doing business with you. Let us know when you need some more weaponry. Our weapons are always available to those who oppose the Trumpster."
Oh, what a world! How can we gain our rightful place in this world if we can't get cheap labor? Wait. Wait a minute. I read on the internet(not blocked today) that North Korea has workers for hire-cheap workers, that is. Let's call Pyongyang right now.
"Hello, Is this Mr. Kim? Yes, Kremlin calling. How are you today? Enjoying a nice summer? By the way, we need a few thousand workers, and we pay well, in cash. Can you help your Russyan friends? Don't forget-we supply plenty of crude oil to feed your needs despite those pesky UN sanctions. So, how many? What? That's it? But we need twice that number. Ok. We'll settle for that. And when will they arrive? Oh, they are en-route. Wonderful. You are the best. We here in Red Square knew we could count on our dear friends in North Korea. And we'll be sending to you directly the contract amount so as not to disrupt your salary schedules and pay scales. We wouldn't want to cause any inflationary events back home. Thanks again, Mr. Kim. Always a pleasure doing business with you. Let us know when you need some more weaponry. Our weapons are always available to those who oppose the Trumpster."
Thursday, August 2, 2018
Local Hero Passes
Tahoma mourns the passing of one her stalwart citizens: Colman Foster. Colman and his wife have been regulars here for over 45 years. They first came in the 70's, bringing student athletes to train in the fresh mountain air of Lake Tahoe. As track coaches, they understood the benefits of fresh air as opposed to the smog and pollution of Southern California that had become a significant problem in the 60's and 70's.
Colman brought with him his abiding faith in his Lord, Jesus, and he identified as a man of the faith, preaching his philosophy of life on a regular basis. He was a generous man with his time and thoughts. He was caring and thoughtful to all.
Despite his health problems over the last few years, he maintained a positive outlook, and looked the future right in the eye. He leaves a daughter and son-in-law, and his beloved grand daughter, Liz.
A memorial service was held yesterday, August 1st, in Tahoma's local park. It was well attended and kind words were spoken by the many.
He will be missed and long remembered by family and friends. Donations to your favorite charity are appreciated.
Colman brought with him his abiding faith in his Lord, Jesus, and he identified as a man of the faith, preaching his philosophy of life on a regular basis. He was a generous man with his time and thoughts. He was caring and thoughtful to all.
Despite his health problems over the last few years, he maintained a positive outlook, and looked the future right in the eye. He leaves a daughter and son-in-law, and his beloved grand daughter, Liz.
A memorial service was held yesterday, August 1st, in Tahoma's local park. It was well attended and kind words were spoken by the many.
He will be missed and long remembered by family and friends. Donations to your favorite charity are appreciated.
Book Review: Churchill and Orwell by Thomas E. Ricks
This book covers the personal histories of two famous writers: George Orwell and Winston Churchill. The focus is on the critical years of their experience and their most renowned writing efforts. Churchill has long been known for his wartime leadership of Great Britain during the years of World War II when the British had their backs to the wall as the Nazis swept through western Europe and they appeared to be unstoppable. Had the British Isles not been 20 miles off the Brittany Coast, the Nazi Panzers would have come knocking on the door of 10 Downing St. and Buckingham Palace.
George Orwell was a young writer, not widely read or widely known. As a young man, he sought out his own experience and his own examination of conditions in Spain during the civil war being conducted by Franco's rebellious troops and the elected left wing government that had begun profound changes that had existed in Spain for hundreds of years.
Author Ricks delves into the parallel lives of these two men, both Brits(Churchill of course, half American). Both were well educated and both pursued writing as one of their goals. Journalism was the common link between the two. Churchill also loved politics and believed that his future was to be a player in the highest offices of Britain. Orwell sought to explain difficult political theories, many of which had only recently been born on a global scale: Marxism, Communism, Fascism, and Socialism were among the most prominent new forms of government that were ikely to be chosen to replace monarchies around the European landscape. MOdern communication enabled writers to expand their audience and promote their ideas like never before. Radio was among those new media that could change minds and opinions. Movies could also add a visual dimension to written facts to emphasize an argument.
As the 1930's progressed, war appeared to be the next great global threat. Japan had invaded China, and began a takeover of large sections of the country. Germany began to expand its territory by absorbing nearby land in other European countries. Spain was fighting against itself as the elected government tried to fend off forces supported by Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. The elected government was supported by volunteers battalions from all over, including America and Great Britain. These volunteers were in turn supported by the Soviet Union and other Soviet volunteers.
However, the Communists disagreed among themselves and could not put up a united front to oppose Franco's forces who eventually won a victory over the left wing government. Orwell's first major success came from his memoir of his service in Spain-Homage to Catalonia.
In this book, he analyzed the left wing forces of the Nationalist government: the Soviet backed leaders; the Trotskyites; the Marxists; the anti-fascists; and land reform proponents allied w/ whoever had control(certain members of the Catholic hierarchy). Franco's anti-government army had the support of Hitler's Nazis who had taken over in Germany at that time; and Mussolini's military Fascist army. His work identified for the world what was happening in Europe as the fascists came to power. His work resonates to this day as the reference source for the Spanish Civil War.
Churchill, on the other hand, gained invaluable experience as a writer and military analyst in South Africa during the Boer War of 1899-1902, when British troops confronted Boers(Dutch colonialists) who objected to the British acts that banished slavery in South Africa. While the Afrikaners had been in place for several hundred years, they did not appreciate the Brits who came in and disrupted the status quo, ie, slavery. Churchill became an overnight sensation when he was captured by the Boers, imprisoned, then made a daring escape to return to front. He then wrote extensively about the experience. He was heralded at home and was promptly elected to Parliament upon his return, launching his political career.
Author Ricks does not gloss over the weaknesses of both authors, nor does he leave out important details. Churchill is long remembered for his wartime service as Prime Minister, but his decline began near the end of the war, and he was turned out by the electorate before hostilities ended. Orwell contacted TB, and suffered for years until his death at age 46, just prior to his ascension as the world class writer he has become. Still quoted today, his books 1984 and Animal Farm are classics, and are still widely read. Churchill's 6 volume history of WW II placed him in the pantheon of historians, although his work has not had the staying power of Orwell's.
A great read, worth the time and effort.
5 ***** rating
George Orwell was a young writer, not widely read or widely known. As a young man, he sought out his own experience and his own examination of conditions in Spain during the civil war being conducted by Franco's rebellious troops and the elected left wing government that had begun profound changes that had existed in Spain for hundreds of years.
Author Ricks delves into the parallel lives of these two men, both Brits(Churchill of course, half American). Both were well educated and both pursued writing as one of their goals. Journalism was the common link between the two. Churchill also loved politics and believed that his future was to be a player in the highest offices of Britain. Orwell sought to explain difficult political theories, many of which had only recently been born on a global scale: Marxism, Communism, Fascism, and Socialism were among the most prominent new forms of government that were ikely to be chosen to replace monarchies around the European landscape. MOdern communication enabled writers to expand their audience and promote their ideas like never before. Radio was among those new media that could change minds and opinions. Movies could also add a visual dimension to written facts to emphasize an argument.
As the 1930's progressed, war appeared to be the next great global threat. Japan had invaded China, and began a takeover of large sections of the country. Germany began to expand its territory by absorbing nearby land in other European countries. Spain was fighting against itself as the elected government tried to fend off forces supported by Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. The elected government was supported by volunteers battalions from all over, including America and Great Britain. These volunteers were in turn supported by the Soviet Union and other Soviet volunteers.
However, the Communists disagreed among themselves and could not put up a united front to oppose Franco's forces who eventually won a victory over the left wing government. Orwell's first major success came from his memoir of his service in Spain-Homage to Catalonia.
In this book, he analyzed the left wing forces of the Nationalist government: the Soviet backed leaders; the Trotskyites; the Marxists; the anti-fascists; and land reform proponents allied w/ whoever had control(certain members of the Catholic hierarchy). Franco's anti-government army had the support of Hitler's Nazis who had taken over in Germany at that time; and Mussolini's military Fascist army. His work identified for the world what was happening in Europe as the fascists came to power. His work resonates to this day as the reference source for the Spanish Civil War.
Churchill, on the other hand, gained invaluable experience as a writer and military analyst in South Africa during the Boer War of 1899-1902, when British troops confronted Boers(Dutch colonialists) who objected to the British acts that banished slavery in South Africa. While the Afrikaners had been in place for several hundred years, they did not appreciate the Brits who came in and disrupted the status quo, ie, slavery. Churchill became an overnight sensation when he was captured by the Boers, imprisoned, then made a daring escape to return to front. He then wrote extensively about the experience. He was heralded at home and was promptly elected to Parliament upon his return, launching his political career.
Author Ricks does not gloss over the weaknesses of both authors, nor does he leave out important details. Churchill is long remembered for his wartime service as Prime Minister, but his decline began near the end of the war, and he was turned out by the electorate before hostilities ended. Orwell contacted TB, and suffered for years until his death at age 46, just prior to his ascension as the world class writer he has become. Still quoted today, his books 1984 and Animal Farm are classics, and are still widely read. Churchill's 6 volume history of WW II placed him in the pantheon of historians, although his work has not had the staying power of Orwell's.
A great read, worth the time and effort.
5 ***** rating
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Paul Manafort Goes to Trial
Today marks the second day of the jury trial for former campaign chairman Paul Manafort. The former White House insider is now being prosecuted for a variety of crimes related to some of his international consulting business, primarily that business related to Ukraine and the leaders there of.
The government states that Mr. Manafort attempted to evade income taxes on 10's of milions of fees he collected as part of his income. He did this by buying real estate in the US with loans secured by other properties that were appraised at inflated amounts.
The defense says that his accounting for these dollars is correct and that he paid the requisite taxes on his earned income. He has been in jail for some time prior to the trial as a flight risk. The trial will take another 3-4 weeks. This trial is only the first and no doubt he will have to answer for more perceived crimes related to his serving Donald Trump during his campaign for president in 2016. When in Ukraine, he served in a capacity as media consultant to the then president who was ousted soon after when citizens demanded that he resign.
Mr. Manafort is also a subject of investigation by Robert Mueller, the special investigator appointed by Asst. Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. This is not the first trial put forward by Justice Dept., nor will it be the last.
The government states that Mr. Manafort attempted to evade income taxes on 10's of milions of fees he collected as part of his income. He did this by buying real estate in the US with loans secured by other properties that were appraised at inflated amounts.
The defense says that his accounting for these dollars is correct and that he paid the requisite taxes on his earned income. He has been in jail for some time prior to the trial as a flight risk. The trial will take another 3-4 weeks. This trial is only the first and no doubt he will have to answer for more perceived crimes related to his serving Donald Trump during his campaign for president in 2016. When in Ukraine, he served in a capacity as media consultant to the then president who was ousted soon after when citizens demanded that he resign.
Mr. Manafort is also a subject of investigation by Robert Mueller, the special investigator appointed by Asst. Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. This is not the first trial put forward by Justice Dept., nor will it be the last.
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