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| Yangtze River at 3 Gorges Entrance Pass |
The cruise line operator has done a fine job making all passengers comfortable during the trip during April, 2019. As one can see, the weather was perfect.
Monday, May 27, 2019
3 Gorges
The cruise line operator has done a fine job making all passengers comfortable during the trip during April, 2019. As one can see, the weather was perfect.
Sunday, May 26, 2019
Toronto Raptors Move On
In a close contest in front of a home crowd, the NBA team from Canada advanced to the finals for the first time. They won 4 straight games over the Milwaukee Bucks. Not bad in today's style of play. The Bucks did not rollover. They were ahead on score several times and for awhile it appeared the match up would go to a seventh game. So, the Raptors will have the privilege of playing, you guessed it-the Golden State Warriors, a team of some repute. We'll be watching.
Which Way, Huawei?
Trouble. Big trouble for Chinese electronics firm, Huawei. Google Europe announced that they will not provide support nor sell Huawei products in Europe after the US notified companies of sanctions against the telecom/manufacturing Chinese giant. Welcome to the trade wars, 2019-style.
Don't Cry for me, Venezuela
Well, what is going on down south these days? Any signs of improvements? No. US Senator Lindsey Graham wrote a piece published last week that called for the US to do something about the situation in Venezuela. He suggested a strong military move that could render the Maduro government useless and force regime change. In so many words, the Old Coot called for armed intervention. Has this pathetic has-been ever fired a weapon in anger? Has he ever led troops in the field? Has he ever experienced the results of foreign policy gone awry? It's embarrassing enough to have a Draft Dodger in the Oval Office, but we don't need another fake politician in the Senate calling for military action. This is shameful, and the idiot from North Carolina should pack up and go home, back to the land of grits and tobacco, where Duke and NC play hoops for the locals, giving them the appearance of modernity in a tidewater state bound to the Old South.
But, I digress. The US. Dept of Justice is about ready to slam Venezuela with some charges relating to a financial conspiracy that involves stealing money from a food program designed to alleviate the starvation going on in the country caused by Maduro's policies. The case involves quite a few disparate players. One individual is a notorious Colombian businessman with ties to maduro's military supporters.
But, I digress. The US. Dept of Justice is about ready to slam Venezuela with some charges relating to a financial conspiracy that involves stealing money from a food program designed to alleviate the starvation going on in the country caused by Maduro's policies. The case involves quite a few disparate players. One individual is a notorious Colombian businessman with ties to maduro's military supporters.
Tahoe: The Memorial Day Weekend
Well, it's not supposed to be like this at the beginning of "OUR" summer. It's supposed to be warm, and sunny, with highs in the 70's. But, no, we have highs in the 40's with rain and snow. What a disappointment! Oh, well, we can talk about the weather, but can't change it. The entire week will have rain showers, low temps, thunder and lightning, and lots of other unpleasantness. But, it's the Sierra= normal.
Many visitors opted out and stayed home. Can't blame them really. Despite our high hopes, folks would rather stay at the backyard BBQ and relax, instead of dealing with chaos on Interstate 80, etc. But this will change soon enough, and all but forgotten as we lurch toward the 4th of July weekend- the "new" start of summer at The Lake.
By the way, the latest water clarity report on the Lake indicates that the disc was sighted at 70.3' when last observed. Good news all around. Something is working, but what? Some are of the opinion that there was less runoff last year, hence not much sediment clouding the depths. Hmmm. Have an opinion? Share, please.
See you on the beach.
Many visitors opted out and stayed home. Can't blame them really. Despite our high hopes, folks would rather stay at the backyard BBQ and relax, instead of dealing with chaos on Interstate 80, etc. But this will change soon enough, and all but forgotten as we lurch toward the 4th of July weekend- the "new" start of summer at The Lake.
By the way, the latest water clarity report on the Lake indicates that the disc was sighted at 70.3' when last observed. Good news all around. Something is working, but what? Some are of the opinion that there was less runoff last year, hence not much sediment clouding the depths. Hmmm. Have an opinion? Share, please.
See you on the beach.
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| real summer |
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| fake summer |
Ukraine and the United States: Something in Common
When America thinks of the White House occupant(s) today, what do they think? Calm, thoughtful deliberation? Temperate forethought? Round table discussions on every weighty problem? A steady stream of intellectual Nobel prize winners offering the opinions of genius? No, none of the above. They look, then turn away, promptly. It's too painful otherwise. And in Ukraine.
What up?
The nation had an election earlier this month, and, it ended with a surprise: a new face emerged on the national scene: a man, no less. A man without any political experience(sound familiar). But unlike his Peer in the USA, he is not a former business man- he's a comedian. Yes, it's true, not "fake news". The citizens voted for change: they wanted somebody new, different, un-corrupted. They wanted somebody who could, by some method, bring the country out of its malaise. They want a future untainted by the Russyan oligarchs who seem to pop up after every springtime shower, especially in the Donbass region of the East part of the country, taken over by little Green Men who speak the dictator's Russyan. Some might call this an invasion-it is. The USA considered it such and imposed sanctions on Russyan and many individuals. This backward nation, Russya, run now for over 20 years by former KGB colonel VoVa Putin, seems to have squandered its opportunity to join the nations of the world in promoting peace and prosperity. No, the little colonel wants to turn back the clock and revive ancient history, the history of Stalin and his henchmen. But the future is here, and there's no going back. Russya has only to look south and see its Asian neighbor as it streaks ahead. As the population of Russya continues to shrink, and the citizens drown their sorrows in vodka provided by Moscova , it's only a matter of time before Moscova starts selling off part of their land to China, in hopes of reversing this decline. Won't happen.
What up?
The nation had an election earlier this month, and, it ended with a surprise: a new face emerged on the national scene: a man, no less. A man without any political experience(sound familiar). But unlike his Peer in the USA, he is not a former business man- he's a comedian. Yes, it's true, not "fake news". The citizens voted for change: they wanted somebody new, different, un-corrupted. They wanted somebody who could, by some method, bring the country out of its malaise. They want a future untainted by the Russyan oligarchs who seem to pop up after every springtime shower, especially in the Donbass region of the East part of the country, taken over by little Green Men who speak the dictator's Russyan. Some might call this an invasion-it is. The USA considered it such and imposed sanctions on Russyan and many individuals. This backward nation, Russya, run now for over 20 years by former KGB colonel VoVa Putin, seems to have squandered its opportunity to join the nations of the world in promoting peace and prosperity. No, the little colonel wants to turn back the clock and revive ancient history, the history of Stalin and his henchmen. But the future is here, and there's no going back. Russya has only to look south and see its Asian neighbor as it streaks ahead. As the population of Russya continues to shrink, and the citizens drown their sorrows in vodka provided by Moscova , it's only a matter of time before Moscova starts selling off part of their land to China, in hopes of reversing this decline. Won't happen.
Saturday, May 25, 2019
Pointe du Hoc: Today
It has been 75 years since the Allies landed on the beaches at Normandy in France. Thus began the long, deadly campaign to rid the Continent of the Nazi plague. It was the 6th of June, 1944: known as D-Day. Thousands of troops were put ashore with a mission: establish a beach head that could be exploited by those following. It would prove to be a most difficult mission. The weather was marginal, with strong winds whipping up the surf as landing craft approached the beaches and were met by murderous fire from scores of Nazi gun emplacements. One location in particular was especially well defended by concrete gun emplacements: Pointe Du Hoc.
This position on the coast jutted seaward into the English Channel. It was perched on top of a bluff on the Pointe du Hoc. It could cover with accurate fires the landing beaches north and south of its position. It had to be neutralized for any chance of making a successful landing. Two battalions of infantry were given the task of destroying the position and silencing the guns. They were Ranger battalions with special skills and special equipment. They used ladders and ropes to scale the steep cliffs protecting the position. Despite their numbers, only a few rangers could climb at anytime. They were not to be denied and they completed the mission, despite suffering heavy casualties.
The photo is a recent picture of the location: not much has changed.
In the center of the photo, one can see the concrete emplacement that overlooks the beaches. To the rear of the point is another emplacement that protects the other. The beaches were not so tranquil 75 years ago, on June 6, 1944: D-Day.
See the column today in the Wall St. Journal wsj.com by noted writer Peggy Noonan. She writes about Memorial Day, 2019, especially one when she joined Pres. Ronald Reagan at the site to commemorate the event.
This position on the coast jutted seaward into the English Channel. It was perched on top of a bluff on the Pointe du Hoc. It could cover with accurate fires the landing beaches north and south of its position. It had to be neutralized for any chance of making a successful landing. Two battalions of infantry were given the task of destroying the position and silencing the guns. They were Ranger battalions with special skills and special equipment. They used ladders and ropes to scale the steep cliffs protecting the position. Despite their numbers, only a few rangers could climb at anytime. They were not to be denied and they completed the mission, despite suffering heavy casualties.
The photo is a recent picture of the location: not much has changed.
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| The Coast of France Today |
See the column today in the Wall St. Journal wsj.com by noted writer Peggy Noonan. She writes about Memorial Day, 2019, especially one when she joined Pres. Ronald Reagan at the site to commemorate the event.
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