TRPA to Hold Virtual Public Forum

      The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, that agency akin to God, has announced a meeting on the future of our beloved Meeks Bay, an icon of the West Shore, and a historical relic from ages past.   Just a few year ago, the agency, with the help of various others, shut down the yacht harbor at the mouth of Meeks Creek between the Meeks Bay Resort and the State Park campground.   This well-used recreation center adjacent to the resort campground with its docks and launch ramp provided good access to the lake, of which there are precious few on the West Shore.
       Consequently,  these public meetings will provide information for all local residents to grasp the basic plans in development by the Feds.   With such limited numbers of concerned locals, the meetings could be nothing more than an exercise in bureaucratic methodology: schedule the meetings,  post information related to bullet points of the agenda, and move forward with the "plan" as put forward by the involved agency(s).   This could happen here in our own backyard.
     The Mayor's recommendation:  get involved by attending the "Zoom" meeting this Wednesday from 5:30 pm-7:30pm.   The announcement can be found on the TRPA website and an agenda is attached.  If you have a computer and WiFi, get on it.   It will be worth the effort to be informed as to the plan for the future of the West Shore.

Meeks Bay at Dawn

New Kids on the Block

      Well, Lake Tahoe is seeing something of a population boom.  This summer's boom or boomlet can be assigned to certain families and their collective anxiety about local schools in and around the Bay Area.   The Governor,  Mr. Newsom, has decreed that schools will not open(K-12) in the fall.  Classes will be online or "virtual" as they are called.   Needless to say, this decree has disrupted the 'normal'.   Since all school districts control themselves, the local school boards can only adapt as best they can.  This will exacerbate differences among them all.   Some will emerge as successful experiments in this new era of education.
       All of a sudden school districts around the basin have seen an unprecedented surge in student applications from residents.   These are, in most cases reported, from families who own 2nd homes at Lake Tahoe.  Rather than take their chances in the Bay Area, which promises more chaos than stability, these folks are betting that smaller is better.   Without the usual population problems found in San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland, the schools in the Basin remain islands of stability.  Who can afford to live inside the basin and raise a family?  Very few people actually.   Seems most folks are singles or couples without kids.   They participate in the local economy by working several seasonal jobs:  winter ski resorts, summer lake sports positions, restaurants as necessary.  Those with college degrees often find steady work in various professions and work in supporting roles among them.   However, when one adds children to the family, a whole new dimension occurs.  How will this play out?  Again, it's new territory: no one knows where we are going or where we will end up.  We do know a costly outcome is inevitable.
       Stay tuned for updates as the school year 2020-21 unfolds here and across the state.

Beirut: Anatomy of a Failed Government

Friend of Lebanon

       How bad is corruption in Lebanon?   Walk to the seaport of Beirut.   Take a good look around.  One will find the results of what happens when Hezbollah is the main influencer in local politics.  This terrorist organization has managed to lead this country into the abyss of sectarian control by corrupt individuals and corrupt organizations.   The visible results speak for themselves:  a disaster of incalculable proportions.  In addition to the 140 lives lost,  the loss of house and home to another 300,000 locals will be enough to bring the economy to its knees and has already resulted in the collapse of the government as the leader resigned as did the entire parliament.   So the scum or minders of the country are gone.   Who will manage the reconstruction of the port, the country, and the economy?
      Sadly, nobody knows who will handle the job.  If the Syrian civil war is any example, one can see that outsiders could easily fill the void.  Not only are the near neighbors willing to take over, but folks out on the periphery will be more than willing to jump in.  Look for non-state actors to attempt a takeover with promises of financial aid and material to assist in rebuilding homes and propping up the failed economy.  Estimates are that 50% of the population will slip into poverty with little ability to improve the situation on their own.   Businesses have not only failed, but their physical structures were completely destroyed in the blast.
        We know that ammonium nitrate is a fertilizer widely produced and utilized as an agricultural amendment.   The storage of 2500+ tons in a dockside warehouse for several years is a clear indication that all politicians had a hand in this disaster.   They knew, but did nothing.  They gambled and they lost.   They should all be imprisoned, but that won't happen.   Not in the Middle East, the Land That God Forgot.   The tribal sects are entrenched, and cannot agree on anything, anytime, or anywhere.   The countries involved, and we know them all, continue to leach any value from the population and the countries themselves.  For over a hundred years, since the end WW I, only turmoil and infighting has been the standard output of this region.  The prospects for change are slim(see Saudi Arabia).   Overlay the situation with the coronavirus and one can see the future of the region and its inhabitants is grim.
      Welcome to Lebanon. 

Golf: People Watching at Harding Park Course for 2020 PGA

      Well, Ok.  sports.  We like sports in Tahoma:  skiing, wake boarding, ice skating, hiking, fishing, mountain climbing, bear hunting(I'm kidding, really).  There are a few courses around the lake basin, one right in Tahoe City, owned by , yes, you, the water rate payers.  As the Tahoe Water and Sewer PUD explained, the purchase of the golf course was in the best interests of locals, that is, it would prevent a developer from coming in and building something like housing.  Who needs more housing anyway?
     Hmmmm.  Back on topic, sports.   A young lad barely 23 years of age, was the winner Sunday of the 2020 PGA Tournament in San Francisco.   Before a crowd of 2, the lad performed brilliantly, especially on the final round when the leader board became quite crowded, with many a hopeful focused on the prize($2 mill).   Collin Morikawa, did not bend under the pressure.  On the par 4 16th hole, he hit a tee shot that rolled within 7' of the pin.  He sunk the 2nd shot for an eagle 2.  It was his day and he extended his lead to 2 strokes going into 17.  He pared 17, and birdied 18 for a clean win over 2nd and 3rd place finishers.
      The day at the Lake merced course was typical mid-summer in San Francisco:  cool, foggy, with hardly any sunshine excepting in the Mission dist./ Hunters Point.  The UC Berkeley grad has been playing golf since he was 8 yrs. old.   When at Cal, he was an All-American for 4 years, in itself an amazing accomplishment.   He received his bachelor's degree in business from the famous Haas School of Business.   So, he might make some good investments, hopefully.   Maybe he owns Tesla stock which announced a 5 for 1 stock split today(keeping up with APPLE).
       Best wishes to a new star on the links.  Additionally, the match on Sunday had the largest audience for a PGA tournament in over 10 yrs.

Persona Non Grata: US DEPt. of State Employees

       So, the State Dept. is ordered to shutter the Consulate in Chengdu.   On short notice, all official business was ordered halted in mid-July.   The PLA guards were ordered to restrict all attempts at entry into the facility.  Those interested in a visa application or other business were directed to other locations.  The Consul General then began supervise the transfer out of all the American staff and all Chinese employees were discharged of their duties.  All American personnel resided off campus in the nearby neighborhood of Chengdu( near the handball court/stadium).
       Additionally, ALL American personnel assigned to the consulate were declared "PERSONA NON GRATA".   This is a special term that has international legal meaning.   Those so declared can no longer stay in the host country and must leave within a specified time period, usually 30 days.  So, these personnel, many of whom have families in China, and also may have studied the language for a year or more before posting, must leave for the US.   They cannot be shifted to other offices in the country but must leave the national boundaries of China.
      Needless to say , the US State Dept. will incur significant costs related to all the personnel moves.  The CG was slated to return to Washington for another position, but many others were in the middle of 2-3 year assignments and will now be forced to change all plans, with family and with the service.
      More fallout related to China's aggressive posture relative to international relations.

At the dam Chungqing

Wuhan Airport terminal

airport poster

Hong Kong: New Security Law

       Well, the news from Hong Kong continues to be grim.   Regarding those pro-democracy advocates, they received another shock yesterday:  one of their most famous supporters, and one of Hong Kong's most famous individuals was arrested by the government.  His office was raided by national police and he was led away in handcuffs.   Mr. Lai was the owner/editor of the Apple News paper which he operated as a voice of criticism of beijing and the Communist lackies who do the bidding of the ruler for life Xi JP.
       Mr. Lai was a well known successful businessman who parleyed his investments into a personal fortune which allowed him to start up a media empire that is the backbone of the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong that essentially aims to hold Beijing to the signed agreement with the British government before the turnover of Hong Kong to China in 1997.   The agreement was to keep Hong Kong as a separate autonomous region with special local political rules that would maintain some of the elements that were in place under the British colonial  government.  However, all that changed when Carrie Lam, the mayor of Hong Kong, decided that the extradition law put in place would require criminals from HK subject to extradition to the mainland for a trial at the whim of Beijing.   This caused a furor among young locals who realized that this would dramatically alter the status of HK and subject all residents of HK to Beijing's laws and dictates.  Since last summer, demonstrations against this rule pushed Beijing to enact a new National Security Law that would place new conditions on all citizens living in HK.   Riots and demonstrations have continued ever since.

HK architecture

HK Opera

MV Matthew Turner: Update

      Well, folks, after 5+ years under construction, almost 2 years of sea trials, crew training, technological additions, safety demonstrations and drills, the U.S. Coast Guard inspector(s) issued a Certificate of Inspection which indicates the vessel can now carry out her plan of carrying passengers around the San Francisco Bay as the Bay Area's own "Tall Ship".   The all wood ship was constructed in a yard in Sausalito, CA under a tent, a rather large tent, a temporary one at that which cost in excess of $75,000.   At 135' long and 175tons, this is a serious ship.
     The ship exists under the banner of the Educational Tall Ship Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to young students who will sail on board under the observation of instructors and crew members who will teach SF maritime history, oceanography, weather, sailing skills, teamwork, and maybe a little food prep in the galley.   Due to the COVID pandemic all classes and cruises have been put on hold as the organization grapples with the reality of social distancing, closed schools, reduced mass transit options, and unemployment figures that came upon the state suddenly in March of 2020.  All passenger vessels have come under increased scrutiny not only because of severe outbreaks on cruise ships around the world, but here in California, the deaths of a number of passengers in Southern California waters while on a dive boat cruise rocked the coastal community.  The investigation continues and a final report has not been issued.  Five crew members survived the tragedy, swimming to nearby anchored boats for assistance.
       The Tall Ship Foundation has its headquarters in Sausalito, and the ship is docked at teh Army Corps pier a quarter mile away.  The Mayor was a recent visitor and chatted with Alan Olson, founder of the organization that birthed the entire project, and supervised its construction.  I took a number of fotos to show her current appearance at the pier.

starboard name plate

Binnacle, motor controls, wheel well

Anchor @ cathead-starboard side

Main mast with radar and radio antenna

Foremast shrouds and halyards, navigation light