The Perlan Glider Soars to New Record

      Residents of Tahoma often find themselves in Truckee for a variety of reasons(work, play, shopping).  Often they cruise by the Truckee Airport with its new tower and administration building.  Nearby is the glider port that hums with activity every summer season as advocates of soaring descend on the airport to take advantage of the Sierra Wave, that local phenomenon that provides uplift for these soaring 'eagles'.
     Towed to a higher altitude, the aircraft are detached and they glide/soar for awhile until they descend back to the airport.  A quiet, thrilling method of flying, usually alone with your thoughts as your only companion.  Haven't tried it as a pilot, but as a passenger only here in California and once in Hawaii on the island of Oahu(north shore) much of the flight over the ocean.
     So now Airbus, the aircraft mega builder, has entered the glider field with the help of Steve Forbes, the wealthy aviation enthusiast who has established a few records with his balloon ascents.  Now he wants the glider altitude record, again.
     Airbus has developed a carbon fiber model that has achieved new status in the world of soaring.  The Perlan 2 has reached 52,172 feet.  The old record was 50,727feet set in 2006 by Fossett and project founder Einar Enevoldson.
     The record was set in El Calafate, Argentina where the glider was towed aloft from an elevation of 669 from Tola International airport.  El Calafate is one of only a few places on the globe where mountain waves combine with a high-altitude polar vortex- a phenomenon critical to providing enough lift to take a glider into the stratosphere. The nearby Andes Mountains provide the wall that is needed for uplifted winds.  Truckee, California is also one of the locations that one finds the right combinations.  Another limitation is the weather patterns. The required atmospheric conditions only exist a few days a year.  Weather scientists are required members of the team.   Next goal: a record climb to 90,000' altitude.  The project team is working toward that goal.

Buying Firewood: Again

   It's that time of the year again to remind would-be buyers of their stock of wood for the winter season.  We all know there will be power outages to contend with this year, as always.  Last winter my friend Johnnie and his wife lost power for 4 days!  They almost froze to death inside their home- a home that's completely insulated.  How they survived is a miracle.  They couldn't leave because of too much snow blocked all access.
     So, here we go.  A cord of wood is measured by these dimensions:
  4' X 4' X 8'.  Got it?  Four feet by four feet by 8 feet.  A long rectangular stack, with little space between pieces-"tightly packed" is the term.  Looking at a 'cord' reveals that in a 3-row stack, each piece should be 16" long(3 x16= 48=4 feet).  Now wholesalers down the valley use bucks to cut their splits.  The bucks are usually 16" wide, so there's no mistaking the measurement.  However, however, however, the results are less than perfect.  OK.  But when the majority of pieces are 14"-15", that adds up to a lot of wood missing from the 'cord'.
    Most local dealers often show up with a truck load, piked high randomly, then they dump it off into your driveway.  Yes, they will stack it for a fee, a fee that can add 20% to the price.  Not worth it, and they know this, too.  So you stack it.  It looks like a lot of wood.   But, does it equal a cord?  careful measurement is in order here: 4'x4'x8'.  It's not a nominal figure, like a 2"x4" piece of lumber.  It means 4'x4'x8', net. or 128 cubic feet by volume(not weight).
     If your supplier won't guarantee the amount, find another source.  Most retail suppliers are lazy, quick buck artists.  As a buyer,, you have the responsibility to check their work .  If you are paying for a 'cord', make sure they provide same.
Good luck.

The End of Fall: 2017

    The latest weather forecast call for : S-N-O-W.   Yes, the white stuff is predicted to fall next weekend, Sunday to be exact.   So, my friends, time for your checklist to be dusted off for the winter season.
List-2017
1. propane tank full to 80%
2. firewood laid up, covered, accessible (at least 2 cords)
3. portable lighting appliances w/ extra batteries
4. generator fuel as req'd(diesel, kerosene, gasoline)
5. portable radios(2)
6. first aid kit well stocked
7. cell phone in good shape w/ charger
8. vehicle(s) serviced: include proper winter tires
9. packaged food stuffs, dry goods type, frozen foods
10. extra warm clothes, blankets, sleeping bags
11. emergency phone list
12.  emergency services contact number
13. pet food for animal(s)
14. know your nearest permanent resident neighbor and contact info for same

World Series Game 5

I'm speechless! And it's not over yet.  Astros 12, Dodgers 9, going into the 9th inning.  3 more outs for an Astros' victory.  (at 11:30pm).
We'll continue after the final out in Houston where it is now almost midnight.
  Update
     The wild game finally ended in the bottom of the 10th inning: the home team pulled it out, winning on a base hit that scored a runner from 2nd base.  After 5 +hours, the losers trickled into the dugout while the home team reveled with unrestrained euphoria.  They beat the vaunted Clayton Kershaw, who actually pitched well for awhile.  Then the parade of relief pitchers began, and it turned into a merry-go-round as both managers, Dave Roberts of the Dodgers and A.J. Hinch of Houston kept up pressure on opposing batters with new arms from the bullpen.  It became a contest of who would be the last man standing as both teams slugged it out, pumping homer after homer over the wall(s).  Outfielders began to look heavenward at the crack of the bat, jogging toward the fence, fully expecting the white sphere to clear the wall.
     Pundits speculate that there's something going on with the ball: flat stitching, more tightly wrapped leather; more or less center cushion, and other ideas.  Some write that the fact is more batters are swinging for the fences-everybody and anybody can hit a home run.   Strikeouts have risen as the number of homers has reached stellar levels.  The batting order is no more the accurate predictor of where a team's power punch is located.  The lead off man can do it, and so can the No. 9 hitter.   What's a pitcher to do: when can he relax as he rolls through the lineup?  That feeling of the "sure" out has evaporated, gone.  Every pitch must be thought about, discussed, and then thrown.  Late reliever Morrow, already tired after 4 previous efforts, came in and gave up 2 home runs and 2 more runs.  The Dodgers had nothing left to give, even after tying the game in the 9th with their own 3-run effort.
      Tonight, Game 6 in Los Angeles.  Watch it, Tahoma fans.

Robert Mueller to Provide Evidence for Charges/Indictments Monday.

     Special Investigator Robert Mueller has announced that he is ready for indictments related to the tampering with the US Presidential election of 2016.  His charge to investigate is finally bearing fruit after several months.  While not unexpected, it seems that many politicians felt that he would not return any indictments.  Surprise, here they come.
    This no doubt, will be just the beginning.  Can't wait.
     Indications are that former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort will be indicted.

World Series: Game 3

     Meanwhile, back in Houston, the Astros took on the Dodgers in game 3.  After a one day travel break, the 2 teams clashed on the Astros home field.  The teams were tied 1-1 after the Houston team prevailed in extra innings in Game 2 in LA.  That contest set a record for homeruns and drained the life out of both bullpens.  It also set the stage for Game 3. 
     The Astros started off with a quick 4 run lead.  Then the Dodgers started chipping away at the lead, getting the score to 4-3.  Then the 'Stros added a run, making it 5-3.  And after a few tense moments, the game ended 5-3.
    Today will a meaningful contest with the Dodgers hoping to even things up, and Houston hoping to add another win to give them of finishing the Series in Houston with out a return trip to California.
Watch it.

Catalonia: Madrid, We Have A Problem

      Mr. Rajoy of Spain has called aces on the regional government of Catalonia.  After the regional parliament declared for independence, Mr. Rajoy invoked Article 155 of the Constitution and dissolved the regional government, putting Madrid in charge of  the economy, legislation, and police.
Mr. Puigdemont has not been detained but his powers have been stripped.  He no longer represents any part of the regional government.  So, the separatists have their results: a confrontation with the federal government.  The long-simmering separatist movement will now deal with the new situation.  After holding an illegal referendum on separatism that passed according to the local counters, the parliament went along, at their peril.   What were they thinking in face of the fact that only 40% of voters turned out to vote in the referendum?  Did they think that would not matter?  Did they think that secession was on the table?  Did they think that the EU would support any secession?  Do those few Catalonians think that the federal taxes paid to Madrid don't come back in sufficient amounts?  This profound ignorance of a political system is not found in isolation.  Most taxpayers would like to pay less.  Most taxpayers know that there is waste in government, all governments everywhere, some more than others.  Unfortunately, in Catalonia, the various factions of sympathizers for independence, represent a minority of citizens in the province.  As had has in the past, a vocal minority causes immeasurable grief for the majority of citizens.  Hence, we have a centralized, constitutional government that speaks for all of Spain and all Spaniards.  Perhapsmore discussions will lead to pacification of the minority separatists, but that will happen if they give up their "tribal" instincts which serve the few and not the many.
      As the economy of Spain emerges from the recession of 2008-9,  prosperity can be coming just around the corner.  With unemployment still in double figures, the country is still laboring under difficult circumstances, with young workers still under employed.
Mr. Rajoy: good luck-you'll need it.