Tanker Interventions in the Caribbean

    How's the intercepts going? Well, the US Navy has opted out. Let the USCG handle it: we're busy building ships.

Old Man Vlad Says Russya Will Prevail in Ukraine

     Old Blabber Putin held his annual marathon public conference on Friday. He gave the udience little to chew on. His goal: put out fake news to the masses as evidence mounts that support for "his" war down south is waning. The locals are not aceting his BS that the country should continue to support his fantasy goals in a foreign country on the border.

     His representative was in Florida over the weekend to confer on the "special operation" in Ukraine. He said that the talks were constructive. Another Rus rep said they were not constructive(Kirill Ushetov). Who do we believe? Neither. They are both pawns; willing to abandon integrity for money.

     Ukraine has already told the White House(Kushner and  Witkoff) that the Ukrainians will not cede land to the kremlin. Nyet. Niente. Nulla. No.

     Trumpie is dealing with Venezuela and offshore wind farms. He's forgotten about Ukraine and Putin. Maybe the Christmas holiday will make him think of Zelensky and the 4 years of combat he has endured. A real modern hero as opposed to the two goofballs running the largest country in the world and the largest economy in the world(see Nvidia).  

Old Man Winter Tries to Interrupt the Christmas Holiday

   Hmmm. remember winter? Usually shows up in California in NOvember. Well, it's back after holding off for more than 6 weeks. The storms hitting the West Coast have caused flooding in Washington State, parts of Oregon, and now it's California's turn. There's a flood watch in NorCAl.

   In San Francisco, a fire in a PG&E substation caused power outages in the western parts of the City and several parts of the South of Market area. About 130,000 households were affected.   Most parts have had power restored excepting the Richmond district.

     Rain is currently lashing MArin and Sonoma Counties, with more on the way. Stay alert, especially driving at night when it's difficult to see flooding on roads and highways. 

Tanker Alert

    The USCG boarded another oil tanker that came out of a Venezuelan harbor full of crude oil. This is a second taking of a ship loaded with Maduro's cash source. It also spells gloom for the Cuban government which is supported by cheap vVenezuelan crude oil products. 

   Cuba needs oil, Maduro needs cash. Both have been subject to sanctions for a variety of reasons. maduro has been called a drug dealer by POTUS. Cubans have been found guilty of human rights violations for decades and sanctioned ever since. The Castro Brothers have done their level best to keep the Communist regime going by keepoing the Cuban people on the brink of starvation and or prison.

    Maduro is no better keeping the Chavismo government by decree in place by fostering a government of cronyism and fear. Neither country can survive a cessation of the trade in oil. The USA is now on a path to stop the export of oil cold, forcing Maduro to leave the country.

Bears v. Packers: a Late Season Classic

    So, the 2025 NFL Season is almost done. Playoff slots are filling up or are already filled. A Saturday game, unusual, was to be played between two contenders: the Windy City Bears v. their arch rivals-the Green Bay Packers. This wasn't to be played in the frozen wastes of Green Bay, Wisconsin, it was played in the comfort of Chi -Town down the way. 

       Their respective records were almost identical: 10-4, and 9-3-1. Both teams felt they deserved the top slot in the playoff roulette. Cold weather, yes; but no snow to contend with. A night game under the lights; a packed house all bundled up to watch their guys smash into each other for hours, come-what-may. And so it was: a game to be talked about; groaned about; debated, lamented, cheered, and beloved by all who were there or watched from home.

      The dance started slowly, with the defensive units providing drama as quarterbacks were chased and harassed by plunging Goliaths on the pass rush. Scrambling running backs barely were able to advance the ball, and punters dug deep to span the 4th down gaps. A Green Bay field goal put the 'Pack' on the board-3-0.

     Coaches paced the sidelines, assistants gazed at their plans, and squads rotated in and out. Then another field goal by the Packers: 6-0.

     As time and play went on, it appeared no one would win this game, no one had enough to overcome the opponent' defensive efforts. The Bears were playing catch up, struggling to advance the ball; penalties stymied drives, players dropped well thrown passes. Quarterbacks were sacked again and again. Then, what all fans lament or praise, late game heroics emerged. A touchdown was scored by Chicago and the Bears had hope. Try an onside kickoff as it offered more chances to beat the odds of a come back. And it worked: the GB player juggled the catch and lost the ball to a Bear. Windy City fans went crazy as they knew that the Bears were the "Comeback Kings" of the NFL. Then, they scored and the game was tied.

    Green Bay received the kickoff and with less than 30 seconds to go in regulation time,and  let time run out. Game tied 16-16. Tensions were high; fans were nervous on both sides, players were anxious, but the Bears could smell a win on the wind. They did it before several times-it was destiny. The Bears won the toss and elected to ------kickoff! A shock went through the stadium-who does that? Odds favor the receiving team in overtime. The Pack had good field position and started moving up field-a run, a pass, another run. The Bears stiffened and a shocker-the Pack turned the ball over, and now the Bears began their fateful effort. With less than 5 minutes remaining of the 10 min. OT, Chicago started the march into history.

       Passes were dropped; disappointment followed. Then as it appeared the drive had petered out, a penalty was assessed against the Pack:illegal face mask grab(the QB had his head spun around by a pass rusher). Another 1st down, and hope against hope. As Caleb Williams danced out of the pocket, he saw his target streaking for the end zone and launched a high arching pass. The lone Bear receiver gave it his all as did the defender. At full speed, the receiver, looking over his shoulder, leaped ahead of the defender who had his hands in the receiver's face  to make one of the most memorable catches of the 2025 season. Touchdown.

     Game over. Bears win.     

The Saga of Jimmy Lai

    So, poor old Jimmy Lai: held in solitary confinement for almost 5 years; How has he managed? Well, no doubt his belief system has sustained his spirit if not his body. Diabetic, hypertensive, glaucoma, and various skin ailments as a result of darkness in his cell, Jimmy, the British citizen wants out. His children can no longer return to Hong Kong or face arrest on arrival.

     Poor jimmy: when will he be released? Nobody knows; but lots of people care. Xi JP isn't one of those who care; he be the one who put him in jail and the ONE who keeps him there,  for now. But he'sbeen convicted, and now the real effort begoins to release him to British authorities as a "humanitarian " gesture.

    Humanitarian and Beijing don't go together. 

Volodymir Z. Says "Nyet" to Rus Takeover

   It's a wonderful thing to watch and listen to V. Zelensky as he jousts with the Rus and Mad Vlad and his ballet with the Donald, aka Dozing Donald. Zelensky has made Europe his target for continued support as his aides identified the perception among European leaders that if Ukraine gives away real estate, Europe's boundaries will be next.

    Look out, Kier Starmer; look out Mr. Macron; beware Ms. Meloni; and you, too, King Charles. Putin knows what he wants and it's not Kazakstan. Or Mongolia, or the Amur River Basin. Oh, wait; he might eventually want that area as it used to be part of the largest country in the world. 

Red Commies Convict Britsh Citizen in China

    After 5 years in prison, Jimmy Lai was found guilty of violating the National Security Law while he liuved in Hong Kong and ran the Apple Daily newspaper. Surprise, surprise. The Court involved is nothing more than a rubber stamp of Beijing's policies regarding opposing views of any Chinese citizen no matter where they be found. Poor Old Jimmy Lai, 78 years old, and sick, he was a staunch opponent of the Commie Regime in Beijing where the Communist Party Elites gather regularly to feather their own nests.

     So, Xi JP, King of the Commies, riolls on with his withering strong-arming of the population, especially those who are not Party members. Read: not a Party member, get ready to be a second class citizen. Few possibilities for a good life, and fewer possibilities of changing your pathetic life. Since half the country's people are stuck on the land, the country has been stymied in its efforts to grow. The real estate collapse across the country has only made things worse as the blight of recession has touched many elites and educated individuals who followed the dictums of Beijing only to be financially ruined.

     Perhaps the martial tone of Beijing will help the country focus elsewhere as opposed to internal focus. Ha, good luck with that .  Taiwan: look out -here comes Xi JP, & Co. to take over the island. Ha, not going to happen. After all, the trade balance, now almost a trillion so far this years, will reverse overnight as trading partners recoil in horror as the PLA attacks the almost defenseless island. USA will close its doors, followed by everybody else. That's just the beginning. Then Xi JP will be deposed and sent to Russya or North Korea for re-education. The country will then founder on the economic shoals of world trade as it attempts to placate former partners who will have none of it. Enough with the CVhinese and their slave labor. Not to mention humanitarian insults.

    Keep your eyes on the bottom line of the Chinese economy as it sinks in its own spit. 

Free Oil in Caribbean

       US military captured an oil tanker in the Gulf of Mexico yesterday that was full of Venezuelan oil and enroute to Iran. The DOJ issued a warrant for the take over because the oil was on a ship known as part of the "shadow fleet" used to evade US sanctions on certain nations, both coming anf going.

      So, Ol' Nic Maduro has something else to stare at on his dionner plate: a serious lack of income to use as bribes to his underlings, to buy their loyalties. This is probably not the last oil tanker that will be intercepted and captured by US forces. No oil, no money. No money , no Maduro. Win/Win .

   His main opposition leader, Ms. MAchado, received the Nobel Peace Prize today. She was late to the ceremony after fleeing Caracas where she had been in hiding for over a year. Her daughter received the prize in her stead,as her plane laded after the ceremony. Chances are, she will not be welcome back in her home country until MAd MAduro leaves for Cuba or Russya, or North Korea, or even Iran. 

Measles Outbreake in South Carolina

     How did this outbreak happen? well, now, it seems there are a number of anti-vaxers in the state. Recall who voted to confirm the head Anti-Vaxer, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Chief wacko-doodle of the brigade to deny science and promote-- what? The nut ~Job -in-`Chief of HHS Dept. was helped by the vote of 2 US Senators from-----Soouth CArolina: Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott. 

   NIce work, boys. The resurgence in measles outbreaks is caused by fewer folks getting vaccinated. Oh, me, oh my. How can this be in the 21st Century. Trumpism-pure and simple. He appoints RFK to the spot and he is confirmed by stupid Senators who drink their own both water .

Oh well, only 3 more years to go. 

India's Modi Meets with Steppe Mad Man in India

       The Mad Man of the Steppe, aka Vova, aka Mad Vladdy, had a meeting today that will discuss ongoing issues with the nrelationship between the largest country in the world and the world's most populous country. The issue trade and oil purchases, among others. Putin hasn't been here in over 4 years. A lot has happened in those 4 years as we all know.

      What's on the trade table besides oil? How about Indian tech workers moving to Moskva to help the Rus work on computers. How about the tariffs on India that Thrump imposed(but lowered a bit). Hmmm. And what if India declines to buy more oil from the Mad Little Pirate? Maybe Xi JP will jump in and save the day for the Steppe Pirate. maybe not. 

     Putie is not in the best position as he is trying to raid the Ukrainian country side for all he can get. But thus clearly indicates hias weak position. Killing all those civilians doesnt sit well with those leaders who have an ounce of moral consciousness. Terrorism is a useful tactic for some despots. Putie's invasion and continued assault on Ukrine's people indicate a total lack of moral or ethical emotion. He is a pirate, through and through. 

POTUS Sends in the B-Team

       So, sticking to his time -warn strategy of using B-Team players instead of the A-Team regulars, Dozy Donald sent two of his back up team members known to about a dozen citizens: Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and family fixer/Trump Company leader. No surprises here-Dozy Donny likes to know people he can control.

      Why would he want those two to deal with the Kremlin scum? Putin & Co. are known to use perverse Rus strategies to accomplish political goals. Since MAd Vlad took over the Steppes 24+ years ago, his routines are not unknown. The sad response of Europe and the USA to his invasion(s) only encourage more of the same. The 1 million+ casualties of the Rus Army hardly matter to Mad Vlad. His aims are known: he wants more territory despite already existing as the largest country in the world.

    So, Steve Wirkoff and Jared K. are going to negotiate to save Ukrainian lives: civilians and military. Asa bonus, some Rus lives will also be spared. As the two B-team members move around the chess board in Europe, the world awaits a cease fire and an end to the war. Ukrainian citizens alsoo would like to have the raining missiles of the Kremlin stop falling on them.

     Can two real estate salesmen accomplish this? Good luck. Get ready for an embarrassment. These 2 idiots will only serve 1 master: Dozy Donald. This means that there will only be one winner: Putin. Second will be the Trump Company.

   where is former ambassador Michael McFaul? Where is Bill Browder? Where is Anne Applebaum? where are the Carnegie International Center experts? Where is MArco Rubio, Secretary of State(noted anticommunist)?  Where are the national security council members? All asleep. Uncalled upon because they don't fit Dozy Donald's profile of "loyal" supporters.   

How About Those Russyans

    The Rus are being Russyans again. The peace plans are being kicked around Europe and Russya as Egg Head and Wannabe Stalin put their demands on the table. The Rus wannabe 's want real estate and weaker Ukrainians so they can finish the job sooner ratyher nthan later to take over completely.

     The farcical approach of the 5-year Old occupant of the White House is enough to make one sick: why would Ukraine give in to the demand that Ukraine turn over the eastern region of Donbass? The Little green Men of the Rus army are not even there, still fighting. Some how, Mad Vlad thinks that adding nthis region will make Russya Great Again. NO, not at all. It will only make Russya worse off and more of an international pariah, as they've been since 1917.

     Europeans don't like the way things are going during the "talks". Seems they feel left out of discussions, especially when it comes to the US position that the US should benefit from any peace agreement to halt the war. Steve Witkoff must know that most Americans don't trust Russya, don't trust Putin, and don't trust Trumpie at all.

     If Witkoff reaches a deal with the current Kremlin leader,m it will hardly benefit Ukraine and only set up more fighting in the near future as the Kremlin seeks central European real estate(Baltics, Scandinavia,  eastern Med. Then what? 

Pundits Pile on California

      Pundits often write about the same timely subject based on their own experience, biases, and the time. In northern California, the realm of the village of Tahoma, we here experience similarities to all of NorCal and somewhat of the rest of California.  We have similar weather(excepting winter), we pay the state taxes, we pay the same electric bills(higher in winter, drive on the CalTrans Highway network, and are familiar with Sacramento and its denizens.

      Columns in 3 newspapers pointed out that Californians are apt to  suffer the effects of one party rule-the Democratic Party: its governor Gavin Newsom, and the Democratic super majority in the legislature, and the 2 Democratic senators-Al Padilla and Adam Shiff. Dan Walters, the respected monitor of Sacramento politics published his take on having a governor bent on going to Washington in 2028. Meanwhile, here at home, the budget deficit looms larger than ever, $35 billions projected loss next year on top of $18 billions this year. The pols just can't seem to stop the leaks, stop the spending, and restrain programs that grow like springtime weeds. The non-partisan budgeteers point out continued problems among the attempts to balance spending and income. It seems that Sacramento and Newsom are unable and unwilling to cut back. Despite high income levels so far this fiscal year, income will not be enough. The state's workers are cutting back on spending; hiring is lagging, and job growth is slowing sharply.

      The Wall St. Journal editorialized that the deep budget deficit will  be very hard to fix since in the past few years the legislature has used tricks to appear to balance spending when in fact nothing could be further from the truth. The paper laughs that Newsom as candidate of Democratic Party hopefuls will be blasted mercilessly by the republican Party and rightfully so. Citizens are streaming out of the State seeking more affordable everything: housing, utilities, sales taxes, property insurance, healthcare, and education. All cheaper elsewhere excepting NYC.  For decades, the beauty of the state and its many assets lulled locals into accepting the high costs of living. Not anymore -those days are over.

      How about those water bills? Skyrocketing. How about groceries- inflated. Gasoline: don't go there. Oh, you'd like to build a house? How about the cost of a building permit: frightful , effectively pricing the middle class out of that possibility. Somefolks in Sacramento rest on the statement that California has the 4th largest economy in the world. So what if most of the citizens can no longer afford to stay when Texas beckons with sharply lower prices across the board.

    Even if the Dems retake one or both houses in Congress, they won't make a difference in time to save Newsom and his state.  In Newsom's native county of Marin, writer Dick Spotswood looks at problems with teacher housing plans which will try to address interim housing needs for local school teachers who can't afford to buy anything in a severely limited market. Various organization are attempting to cobble together development plans to provide a decent affordable place to live so these teachers don't have to commute hours everyday. he alsolinks the Marin County Energy utility that sells over priced power instead of lower priced PG&E. A scam, sure. Even with the support of the Marin  County Office of Education, the financing of this affordable housing will probably end being paid for by local taxpayers. Enough.