Xi Disguises China

   The Oval Chump is waltzing around Beijing as Xi tries to negotiate deals. The Art of the Deal author is content to talk about deals. Make deals? Who me?

     Xi hopes that the Chump doesn't ask too many questions, such as: Is China in recession? How many poor people are waiting to join the "new " China weaalth?

   Maybe the Chump mis really playing Xi for the chump he is.  Really, Xi has his back to the great Wall. No matter what happens, the aging diminishing population won't change in Xi' s lifetime. Result: a broken, weak country beset byb economic problems related to population characteristics, ie. an old, old population without a future.  Also, the country can't feed those they already have. They must import food and lots of it. Where to get the food? Why the USA which produces enormous surpluses every year. China doesn't have enough arable land(land that grows stuff). One solution that has made a difference: lease some land from the largest country in the world: next door friendly Russya where over 5 million Chinese liuve and work in the vicinity of the Amur River Basin.  

  What next? Technology is not edible. EV's aren't edible. Rice-edible; wheat-edible; corn-edible. Nuclear weapons-not edible.  So, Xi will have to talki with the Chump who wants to free Jimmy Lai, the prisoner billionaire.

Woe to China. 

NBA Tournament: Cavs Beat Pistons in OT

    It came down to OT. After tying at 123, both teams realized it was going to take extra effort to notch a W. James Harden would play a role. The veteran "beard" scored 30 points to help the team pull out a win. Initially, it seemed that Detroit would walk away with a win, running up a 16 point lead early on. The the Cavs weren't about to give up. Steady defense kept the Pistons frozen at times as the Cvas pressured the defense with aggressive inside moves and the occasional 3-pointer.

    At the end of regulation, the Cavs had the last shot but lost the ball and forced overtime.  In no time, the Cavs took the lead, and Detroit played catchup for the last few minutes, never able to overcome a tight defense. 

   The Cavs now have a 3-2 lead and need just one more victory to go on. 

Homewood Resort Activities

      Well, winter '25-'26 was a bust for the local resort. Too little snow, too late. Closed. But, activity is ongoing. Crews are working daily but it is hard to discern what is being done. Steel rebar cages are in evidence being assembled in the parking lot, but for what? Hmmm. They appear to be extra large foundation elements, perhaps more ski lift pylons. Perhaps owners are expanding downhill runs for snow boarders, etc. 

TBD. 

The Chump Meets the Xi

      So, the eyes of the world, that is all the eyes of all the world, are focused on Beijing where Pres. Chump of the US is meeting his counter part from China, Xi Jin Ping, for a face -to-face to discuss..........

•    Pundits are speculating that the two will talk about:
• tariffs
• AI
• Strait of Hormuz
• strategic metals
• electric vehicles
• trade balance
• Jimmy Lai(prisoner from Hoong Kong dying in terrible Chinese prison on fake conviction for speaking out against repression of Hong Kongers)
• South China Sea expansion on Mischief reef
• Harassment of Philippine Is. fishermen
• Chinese Coast Guard vessels in international waters
•  Spying on Americans in America
• Harassment of citizens in the US who speak out against Beijing's opponents
• Hacking operations in China
• Stealing technology from US Corporations
• Buying Russyan oil/energy products
• Support of Iran and Other Middle East trouble makers(Russya)
• Buying Russyan energy products
• Over fishing globally
• Harassment of students abroad
• Sending Chinese Women to America to Seduce Billionaires
• Establishing a fake police station/prison to harass Chinese dissidents in NYC .
• Copying products with copyrights
• Taiwan
• Taiwan Independence
• Taiwan Chinese
• Taiwan Technology
• Taiwan Tech Chips
• Taiwan Leadership
• Taiwan Military Capability
• Taiwan Defense
• Taiwan Shore Defenses
• Taiwan Tourism
• Taiwan Flag

Taiwan History

So, a full plate of material to chit/chat together. Oh, the head of Nvidia is among the guests, and Mr. Gad About, Elon the Mush Rat will also be hobnobbing around looking wealthy. 

Downtown Tahoma Perks UP

      So, Memorial Day is fast approaching; it's early this year: May 23. The space juggling among tenants has started. The Bagel Shop is gone now to be replaced by "The Cult Burger shop which hibernates during the winter months for obvious reasons: no demand. Liz' "Where We Met" Espresso bar will reopen later this week serving her various coffee drinks and gelato offerings. Her summer staff will soon arrive as soon as school lets out. They are all locals, too.  The Dog & Bear resto will offer longer hours and another day to their schedule to ensure pizzas are ready to fly out the door.

      The USPS office will continue its regular schedule. The realty office is uncertain as to its occupants. Mariani Co. is probably negotiating with a prospect right now.

    See you there for coffee.  Meanwhile, the Norfork Inn across Pine St. continues to stagnate, and the religious group owners have not announced any plans to open anything except maybe a prayer weekend. Oh, well. 

Mackinaw Trout Times Two

       The Mayor and his deputy went kayaking Tuesday morning, putting in at Meeks Bay resort beach. There were but two other parties on the beach at 10:00am.(and a few ducks-Mallards).  There was a slight breeze, onshore, but not too much velocity. We stroked out toward Rubicon and soon realized going any further would be a challenge  as white caps appeared beyond the point.

      We were content to reverse course, turn around and cruise past the few lake front homes on the south shore of the bay.  As we approached the beach, two kayakers came around from the Sugar Point side of the bay. Their fishing gear was in evidence and some chatter indicated success.

    All four boats hauled out together and the fishermen were happy about their success: 4 fish on, two landed. They opened the cooler and raised two Macks, about 2lbs each, very nice fish. They were taken offshore about 350 yards, at a depth between 60'-70'.  They used plunger lures that work well at these depths. Seems that this depth is not as deep as later in the summer when the fish descend to 120' plus. Probably cooler as the sun's rays reach deeper during the summer months.

     The winds on the lake were kicking up to 15-20mph , creating unfavorable conditions and no wwatercraft were observed on the lake. A nice quiet day at Meeks. 

Fanny Bridge Update

      So, West Shore folks, after a year of road closures at the dam, Highway 89 into and out of Tahoe City is now open. Yes, you can. Go directly into the super market across Tahoe Blvd, or to the bank, or to the hardwar store for tools & paint and roller brushes. Even a plastic owl or hawk figure to scare the woodpeckers away.

     The county of Placer and Tahoe City officials , good and bad, will officiate at a ceremony with ribbon cutting on MAy 17th, 2026. free fanny packs(how apropos ) will be given away to the first 500 arriving guests.  Oh, joy!

     The Mayor walked across the bridge and absorbed the feeling: it works, success. A finished civic project in record time.  Of course we know it's not a "golden Gate" bridge, but a well used addition to the Truckee River crossing at the famous dam: the Lake Tahoe outlet, where the Truckee r. begins its long journey to Nevada. Recently, a heat dome has settled over Reno and its environs and the locals are enjoying the cool clear waters of the river as it traverses the urban core of the biggest little city in ?????.

     5 gates of the dam are now open to relieve lake water levels as snow continues to quickly melt fromthe surrounding high peaks of the northern Sierra Nevada.  There's a bit left above 7000' , mostly on the north sides of the peaks. At Rubicon Peak on the West Shore, the last remnants of winter's poor snow is rapidly flowing downhill into the pristine waters.

     So, if one is available for some civic performance, visit Fanny Bridge on May 17.