Russyan Foreign Minister Proclaims National Resilience

    Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, aka Serge Lapdog,  made a public statement aimed at the Russyan population that has become aware of some "internal strife" among military factions in the Russyan army. Given the performance record of the Russyan army since invading neighboring Ukraine in February, 2022, it's not surprising that there's strife among the ranks. Early on, the Kremlin realized it needed some help,, and the Wagner Group in the Central African Republic, where they were in the process of extracting mineral assets, were ordered to Ukraine to bolster the inexperienced Russyan army conscripts on the ground.

        The leader of Wagner Group, the notorious chef Yevgeny Prighozin, now had to prove his mettle against a real opponent-the Western trained troops of Ukraine. The results are not pretty. Soon, YP was back on his home turf of the largest country in the world, recruiting among the prisons that abound around Siberia. With promises of good pay and amnesty for their collective crimes that sent them to prison, YP enlisted considerable recruits. After giving them uniforms(sometimes), they were sent into combat in eastern Ukraine(the DonBass region), to face a determined, well armed adversary fighting a life or death struggle against a foreign invader. The results are still not pretty.

      So, the Kremlin Lap Dog spews insults and accusations against the West, accusing the West of using Ukraine to assault the Motherland of Russya, as a proxy. This tiresome accusation is a skeleton in the Kremlin's closet that is hauled out routinely when there's a speed bump on the Kremlin's road to the takeover of a sovereign nation next door. Now we also know that Alexsandar Yukashenko of Belarus is also grabbing some front page ink. He claims to have welcomed YP to his country and has brokered the agreement that has calmed the rough patch of the Wagner Groups 24 hour rebellion which allegedly was designed to wrest control of the Russyan army from the two leaders shuffling papers back at military headquarters near Red Square. The world can always count on Sergey Lavrov to make some interesting comments that reflect the takeover of administration of Russya by artificial intelligence.  Is it the Chatbot program running the Kremlin?

Have a nice day., 

Control Burn at South Lake Tahoe

       Lake Tahoe vacationers were treated to an interesting view yesterday as US Forest Service firefighters managed a "controlled burn" in the vicinity of Myers/South Lake . Columns of white smoke lifted from the burn into the blue skies overhead as the firefighters lit off an area designated as ready for burning. This effort is part of the ongoing government program to reduce fire fuels in the understory of the Tahoe Nat. Forest inside the Tahoe Basin. The recent Highway 50 fire caused evacuations and near panic as the wildland fire raced toward the California-Nevada border at South Lake Tahoe. Only a wind change of almost 180 degrees saved the casino city on the lake shore.

     This controlled burn will be just one of many.

Age Discrimination at its Best

        So, you're educated. So you've made plans about your future. So, you're thinking about life: job, marriage, home, family, and where this will happen. And then you wake up one morning and it's your 35th birthday. Hmmmmmm. What does this mean in-----CHINA? It means you are too OLD to get a government job.  Really? You must be joking. 

     Wrong-it's true. You've been aged out of the job market @ 35 years of age. The Communist government has decided that the future belongs to the young-that is, the VERY young. Not you or any of your ancient cohort of 35+ year old who are running around trying to find decent employment. So, you have to return to your grandparents village and take up the plow and become a farmer. You know: dawn -to -dusk hours, 7 days a week until you die. Sounds like China. Oh, it is China: modern, 21 Century China under a Communist government run by Xi Jin Ping and his party cronies. Those same cronies who find it necessary to work with Mad Vlad up north, and Kim Il back east.

Have a nice day.

Russyan Missiles Rain on Kramatorsk

        Diners in the Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk were enjoying a quiet meal out for a change, seeking social interaction despite the ongoing war after the Russyan army invaded in February, 2022. Suddenly, the sound of whistling missiles broke the quiet and within seconds, before they could seek shelter, ear-splitting explosions rent the air inside and out of the restaurant.

       Within minutes, rescue teams arrived on the scene to assist the many victims. At least 11 dead bodies have been removed from the destruction caused by the Russyan missile, one of many fired in the vollty into the city.

       The world is reminded anew that Putin's invasion continues to murder innocent civilians, clear violations of any and all rules of war. This man and his Rus peoples must and will be held accountable forever. Not just after the end of hostilities, but the future time as the world processes the murderous decisions made by a madman in power in what was once a modern country, but now has reverted back to a medieval duchy with a leader whose only power comes from his mania over control, and his clear mental health deficiencies.

     Yes, the modern world has to be cautious stepping around madness that could deteriorate into self destruction via nuclear arms. And yes, his apparent allies must be watched with close scrutiny as they advance their own agendas at home and abroad.

     This attack on innocents will be recorded and remembered and recalled when the accounting begins.

Tahoe Campers Can Expect Guests

        The Mayor went hiking in Sugar Pine Pt. park the other day. It was quiet with few camp sites occupied. That will change today as the long weekend begin. Because the 4th falls on Tuesday, not every worker will have Monday and Tuesday off.

      The park and its camp sites often have wild life visitors; local bears who have learned that campers bring lots of food with them-easy pickins'. Each site has a steel locker to keep such edibles in securely closed to thwart the efforts of all bruins and their sensitive noses. Our neighbors around Tahoma are frequently visited by black bears-see foto

Big Momma and Cubby

     These bears are W I L D animals. Thus, are unpredictable; can be dangerous, can outrun humans; can't see very well, can smell a pack of gum in your car; are incredibly strong; roam around night and day; constantly forage for food, especially during the summer season; and are very, very protective of their offspring. The Momma bears can be very aggressive when a human approaches cubs. 

       Be careful when in bear country: Lake Tahoe is BEAR COUNTRY👀

China Sends Smokeless Gunpowder to Russya

       Hmmmm. Antony Blinken just returned from a meeting in China with top Chinese leader Xi JP. They discussed the need to talk.

      Then a revelation was made from various sources: a Chinese owned train crossed the border into central Russya, east of the Urals Mountains. The cargo: gunpowder. The destination a privately owned factory that produces small arms ammunirtion for the Russyan army. According to strategic researchers on Russya-Chinese relations, it appears that China is not following statements meant to indicate neutrality on the Russo/Ukrainian War.

     Secretary of the US Treasury said that if China is found to have supported Russya directly with arms and related supplies used in the war, consequences would be severe(her words).

     Now it is said that this facility produces ammunition for the AK-47 rifle, standard issue for Russyan soldiers. It also produces a round used in sniper rifles, usually bold action, long barrel rifles tricked out with telescopes, bipods, and match ammunition(consistent grains). We also know that supplies to front line troops in Ukraine have had logistic problems even though units are just across the border served by highways, railroads and helicopter support aircraft. Often in such arenas, the situation is fluid, and troops on the move can be hard to locate when resupply is requested. Despite GPS,etc, pinpointing the unit is not easy, especially when under fire(a hot LZ as we called it).

      Will China be called out for this obvious breech of protocol? We'll see.

Have a nice day.

Downtown Tahoma Re-Do

       The annual cleanup of downtown Tahoma is underway. The central plaza was tar-sealed yesterday and the main office building was restained. The access to the Post Office was open via the sidewalk under the eaves, as was the entrance to Dog & Bear Resto. The top seal crew will finish the other half probably today, and voila'-Tahoma transformed.

      Real summer weather seems to have arrived on the West Shore: temps will nip 70 degrees today, and swimmers, boaters, and fishermen will be out and about. Hilers will have to plan ahead as many local trails are still wet or snow bound. Also, bears are about, often with very young cubs in tow. Be wary of any bear accompanied by cubs: Mommas are overly protective the first year.

     The Tahoe balloon was up yesterday; apparently back to normal flights after the throw down on 6/21 that put the basket and passengers in the waters of Rubicon Bay(no casualties reported).