Rebane's Ruminations
February 2017
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[The Oroville dam will be our biggest news for some days/weeks to come.  Will anyone take stock of the agencies that are supposed to be in charge of dam maintenance and reservoir management?  And how will the Left's resistance to the building of more reservoirs on the Sierra rivers to permit better management of water during dry years, and reduce stress on existing dams during wet years like the one we're having?  gjr]

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132 responses to “Sandbox – 12feb17”

  1. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    There will be months and years for everyone to exercise 20-20 hindsight, but there has been a lot of water flowing under the bridge since the last Democratic Party governor of the state who favored water development projects… Edmund G. Brown. Remember him?
    Dams like Oroville do triple duty (maybe more?)… flood prevention, water storage and power generation. Recreation, too. If anyone gets hurt or killed, if Oroville’s operators chose to err on the side of water storage for the permanent drought expected by many Warmistas, including the governor, there will be hell to pay, political and civil.

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  2. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    They opened 70 North out of Orville will both sides of the freeway opened to northbound only. Yea, driving on the wrong side of the freeway. How cool is that. If you are heading westbound down 20, I hope you don’t need to make a left. :).

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  3. Jack Cominsky Avatar
    Jack Cominsky

    The thing that I find most perplexing about the current situation at Lake Oroville is the fact that the so-called “emergency” spillway has never been tested since the dam was completed in the 1960’s. Also, it would appear that the hillside that serves to channel water from the “emergency” spillway has not been maintained in a manner that would ensure the effectiveness of what amounts to an overflow valve on the state’s second largest reservoir.
    As an engineer who was once responsible for a number of emergency backup systems in a high power RF transmission facility, I was trained to carefully maintain, and – whenever possible – test those backup systems to ensure that they would perform as intended in the event of an emergency. I learned that failure to do so would have made it impossible to rely on those systems to avert, or at the very least, mitigate, the consequences of a failure of the primary systems.
    Someone at the CA Department of Water Resources needs to explain whether routine inspection, maintenance, and periodic testing of the “emergency” systems at Lake Oroville took place, and if it did not, why not.

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  4. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Tear it down! Show the world how crazy Crazy Californians are. Free Willy, free Nemo! Save the bait fish. Strike, protest, and pick up a little pocket money. Tear it down!

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  5. Scott Obermuller Avatar

    Dumping water over the concrete lip onto an unprotected dirt fill? The water erodes the fill? I’d love to know the names of the geniuses that thought that would work. I learned that lesson at age 3 or 4 playing in a pile of dirt with a bucket of water.

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  6. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    jc 1111
    In this case, any test of the emergency spillway would be damaging, both requiring an intentional fill of the lake beyond the working limits and accepting lots of dirt, trees and rocks flowing into the river. Not good. This is not akin to a backup power source which does need to be tested and can be, easily.

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  7. Todd Juvinall Avatar
    Todd Juvinall

    My guess is the Governor will promote the idiots in charge and give them a trophy. He will then keep the drought restrictions on as a lot of the water has spilled into the bay. Then he will charge us all for the proviledge.

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  8. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    No Todd, this is not something that will be handled flippantly by Brown. It’s already a disaster for the folks (think voters) having to evacuate. Sacramento (assuming the damn dam doesn’t fail completely) will need to beg cash from the Feds, and that could be interesting… will Jerry find a MAGA hat for the photo op? Will CalExit hats be banned from the capital?
    Why wasn’t enough water released to accommodate the storm flow? A failure of the hydrological models of the current snowpack and tributaries, or of the meteorology? Will the next storm revisit the emergency spillway?
    Looks like another 5 inches is expected in Nirvana Silly in the next 9 days.

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  9. Todd Juvinall Avatar
    Todd Juvinall

    Just last year the brainiacs of government released all that water for the delta smelt will denying the farmers growing our food. These things should be a eye opener even for brain dead big government supporters.

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  10. Scott Obermuller Avatar

    Part of the problem was the unexpected damage to the main concrete spillway. If it hadn’t broken up and they allowed a full flow through there they may not have faced such a dire condition.
    At any rate, there’ll be a large repair bill no matter what happens now.
    The decision making process for water releases is fraught with uncertainty and is usually a no-win situation. Release too much and everyone complains you didn’t keep enough for the summer dry months. Release too little and – uh – oops. Anyone who wants to blame this on ‘climate uncertainty’ (the new, new, new revised version of ‘global warming’ should remember a time before there were SUVs.
    https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/atmospheric-rivers-california-megaflood-lessons-from-forgotten-catastrophe/

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  11. George Rebane Avatar

    re ScottO 916am – Does anyone notice that in the SA piece was described a 20 year drought that preceded CA’s 1861-62 flood? I wonder if the environmentalists of the time also concluded during the drought that it was brought about by man-made global warming. Don’t hold your breath that today’s global warmist brainiacs can connect any dots here.

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  12. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    The Native Americans from east of here named the Sacramento Valley the “Land of Lakes” when they were doing their mini Lewis and Clark scouting thing.

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  13. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Looks like Flynn maybe on his way our but he may drag Trump down with him,
    “If Donald Trump doesnโ€™t fire Michael Flynn, itโ€™ll be because heโ€™s concluded that Flynn would retaliate by revealing Trumpโ€™s own involvement in the Russia scandal. In such case, Trump will be choosing to keep an obviously guilty Flynn in the fold just to keep him quiet awhile longer. If Flynn is still employed by end of business on Monday, it means Trump is guilty. And at the rate the intel community is moving against Flynn, itโ€™ll be just a matter of time before theyโ€™re both taken down.”
    https://www.palmerreport.com/opinion/russia-gate-banned-michael-flynn-donald-trump/1513/

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  14. fish Avatar
    fish

    If Flynn is still employed by end of business on Monday, it means Trump is guilty.
    No it doesn’t……..
    Pretty sure that the last thing you will see before shucking off this mortal coil will be yet another poll showing that Trump is on his way out!

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  15. George Rebane Avatar

    Will somebody please start counting PaulE’s repeated predictions of Trump’s imminent downfall. As a sign of compassion, let’s forget about all the previous similar predictions and assign Numero Uno to this one. I am sure there will be many to follow in the coming months (years?).

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  16. fish Avatar
    fish

    Posted by: George Rebane | 13 February 2017 at 11:21 AM
    I can’t say that Paul won’t eventually be proved correct. You’d think he’d like to let things progress a bit before rushing in breathlessly with todays episode of “As the Trump Turns”.

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  17. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Glad you asked Fish. Trump is currently -15 in the Gallup poll which has been daily tracking since Truman. this astonishing lack of support for an incoming president is by far the lowest in the history of polling.
    George, I’m sure you’re familiar with the Logan Act.
    “enacted January 30, 1799) is a United States federal law that forbids unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments having a dispute with the United States. It was intended to prevent the undermining of the government’s position.”
    Since Obama was President at the time of Flynns conversation with the Russians and since there is no doubt he lied about the conversations they had and indeed told Pense they did not discuss sanctions why shouldn’t Flynn resign of be fired?

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  18. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Told you guys the Rooskies are back. Just scan Yahoo news, Goggle News, and the Huffington Post to see what Paul with bring to the table in a few hours. Or, save time by glancing at Salon and skim those types for their head stories and be a full day ahead of our town cryer. The Flying Flynn.
    Boy, they sure are salivating over taking Trump’s inner circle down. Can’t touch the Chess Player……never happen, darn. Kellyanne got her verbal warning. Hey, they have never done this before and all
    Breaking news! White House in disarray!!!! Links to Russia!!!!!!!!!
    Donald J Trump had nothing to do to get one Republican being elected just a few months ago. Wonder why they lost all those Senate seats and statehouses and Governorships from sea to shinny Alt-Left sea for the 6 years. Puzzling.
    Boy, they just won’t see 2018 coming with all this White House in chaos.

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  19. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    As one Politico commentator puts it โ€œSpread the butter: He is toast (Flynn) , Lying to Pence damaged Penceโ€™s credibility and the administrationโ€™s. That is an unpardonable sin.โ€

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  20. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Paul, already pulled the Logan Act off the table. You need to try to stay abreast.

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  21. Todd Juvinall Avatar
    Todd Juvinall

    Paul Emery, if Flynn lied to the bosses he will be booted. What is your point?
    Tom Suyllivan is excoriating Jerry Brown and his idiots in charge of the dams. Democrats are sooo stupid.

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  22. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Todd. I would not be surprised if half of the people around Trump are gone within a year or two. Figured that was baked in the cake judging by Trump cutting those who can’t cut the muster. Figure Priebus was just a bridge to the RNC boys until he gets settled. Kellyanne may just go back to what she does best after a year or two. I consider her part of the transition team. The new WH Press dude is still cutting his teeth and maybe not a good fit in that job. He ain’t no Tony Snow.
    On the trail, glad Trump fired Dole’s old campaign manager as an advisor. Cut Christie when the Jersey Boy was trying to pack the Administration with RINOs and insiders. Oh, the list goes on. Rudy, Newt not invited to the party. Neither did the Mitt boys find a home.
    The bottomline is I don’t care about the musical chairs and neither does Johan Q Public. Nor how much the Wall will cost. Just get ‘er done.
    Much hard work to get done and teeth to break. Much work to do. Let Paul follow the soap operas. Keeps him from being knowledgeable about the important stuff,and thus he refrains from commenting on complex issues and solutions. Always a silver lining.

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  23. George Rebane Avatar

    PaulE 1145am – Before we find Flynn guilty of “negotiating with the Russians”, should there be some evidence presented that he in fact did? Or is having a conversation with the Russians sufficient for you and yours to try, convict, and punish him?

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  24. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    PE your problem with invoking the Logan act and its ‘unauthorized’ aspect is that Trump was President elect and Flynn was the President elects national security advisor. They were in phase to be the government and reaching out to foreign governments has long been part of the transition. That dog don’t hunt, your other problem is team lefty is the minority party and can not do anything on their own. That means your pearl clutching de jour has no foundation or any chance of your wishes for an investigation. Poor ol’ PE, it may actually be a very slow 8 -12 years for you guys. ๐Ÿ˜‰

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  25. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    PE 1159- Politico! HA, that’s a laugh, they have been as consistently wrong as you over the last few years. ๐Ÿ˜‰

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  26. Todd Juvinall Avatar
    Todd Juvinall

    Don good point. Transition!

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  27. fish Avatar
    fish

    Posted by: Paul Emery | 13 February 2017 at 11:45 AM
    I didn’t ask. I had hoped to spare you further embarrassment.
    Guess not.

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  28. Todd Juvinall Avatar
    Todd Juvinall

    Pauil Emery please supply us the links to the conversations between Flynn and the rooskies. And as always, Thanks.

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  29. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    Todd @ 105- Don’t hold your breath since its all a whisper campaign based on so called ‘leaks’. ๐Ÿ˜‰

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  30. Russ Avatar
    Russ

    There is some urgency to get the dam strengthened. This from Meteorologist Paul Dorian, Vencore, Inc. vencoreweather.com
    California blitz to continue:
    After a lengthy drought, California has been battered by potentially record-setting rain, with the Northern California region getting 228 per cent more than its normal rainfall for this time of year. The average annual rainfall of about 50 inches had already been overtaken with 68 inches in 2017 alone and another 6+ inches is possible over the next week-to-ten days. The latest computer model forecast of upper-level winds for the next ten days (Monday, 2/13 to Thursday, 2/23) does not hold out much hope for any significant drying in California. Powerful winds in the upper atmosphere (at 250 mb) will continuously pound California and bring copious amounts of moisture from the Pacific Ocean into the state. The total precipitation forecast map by NOAA for the next 7 days indicates more significant rainfall (and snowfall) is likely throughout the state.
    In other words, the atmospheric river of moisture continues to drench California much like it did in 1862 resulting in a mega-flood. More megaflood details HERE: https://sierrafoothillcommentary.com/2017/02/09/california-may-be-long-overdue-for-a-mega-flood/

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  31. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    George
    There is a consensus that Flynn spoke to the Ruskies about sanctions. Here’s just a tip of the information backing that up
    โ€œAll [nine] officials said ยญFlynnโ€™s references to the election-related sanctions were explicit,โ€ the Postโ€™s Greg Miller, Adam Entous and Ellen Nakashima write. โ€œTwo of those officials went further, saying that Flynn urged Russia not to overreact to the penalties being imposed by President Barack Obama, making clear that the two sides would be in position to review the matter after Trump was sworn in as president.โ€
    The quality and quantity of the sourcing was so persuasive that even Flynn, who stuck to the old Trump line when the Post reporters first contacted him, eventually had to back down. Moreover, the Post reported, the FBI counterintelligence probe into Flynnโ€™s call is still active.”
    Meanwhile Flynn has apologized to Pense about misleading him (lying) which caused Pense to make public statements denying Flynn spoke about sanctions.
    This will dominate the news cycle for a few days. Bring in the butter, Flynn is toast.

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  32. George Rebane Avatar

    PaulE 135pm – Well then, if that’s all settled, can we assume that it was something like Obama whispering to Medvedev that, “I’ll have more flexibility after the election.”? That since apparently neither made specific promises nor were working on some established quid pro quo.

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  33. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    Consensus of whom PE? Quality and quantity of sources, those would be the unnamed sources, right PE? VOX?! That’s lame even for you PE, at this rate you will need to buy your pearls by the case because you are wearing them out so fast. I recall the FBI previously said there was no investigation. ๐Ÿ˜‰

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  34. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Sources are the Washington Post Don Nine of them. Also Flynn has apologized to Pense. What more do you need.
    George, the issue here is whether Flynn was undermining Obama because Obama was President at the time. Why did he lie about it repeatedly? Mo comparison to his murmur with Medvedev because Obama was President at the time.
    It appears that Flynn clearly violated the Logan Act

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  35. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Oh, I got my hands on it. The jest of the conversation between Flying Flynn and the Kremlin run KGB went like this. I cannot publish the exact transcript because of secret decoder thing stuff. You just got to trust me on this one.
    Flynn to Russian Ambassor: Hello from America.
    Russia: Hello Tom Flynn. I like what Trump did to Hillary.. What a loser.
    Flynn. Yep, she is a loser. See the way she stumbled on the curb and they had to toss her into the back of the van! It was like somebody slipped a Micki in her water.
    Russia: (Twenty seconds of loud laughter). Yes, we had fun pulling that one. My agents felt a little mischievous that day. (more laughter). Tell Trump we don’t like the sanctions.
    Flynn: What about Crimea and Ukrainian issue?
    Russia: What about NATO creeping up to my borders. No expansion.
    Flynn: OK, maybe we can go pound the hell out of ISIS. Kill the vermin in their beds.
    Russia: Oh, that would make Vladdy very happy. Very happy. Kill ISIS!
    Flynn: Talk more aftet the Inauguration. Goodbye.
    Russian voice: Have a good one.

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  36. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    Ohhh, WAPO, they have been such a fount of reliable information in this last election cycle. You are sooooo cute PE, even when you are all frothy at the mouth. You still have the authorized issue vis a v a president elects team as opposed to some john q. I am highly confident that AG Sessions does not share your world view and that’s what matters now. Elections have consequences I have heard. ๐Ÿ˜‰

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  37. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    So Don are you questioning whether Flynn spoke to the Russians about sanctions? Yes or no.

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  38. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Also Don what does Sessions nave to do with this conversation? You are very confused my friend. Been hanging out with the growers?

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  39. ScenesFromTheApocalypse Avatar
    ScenesFromTheApocalypse

    BillT @2:52PM “Flynn. Yep, she is a loser. See the way she stumbled on the curb and they had to toss her into the back of the van! ”
    The correct internet meme for that particular fiasco was “like a side of beef”. Gotta get yer terminology straight.
    I admit that it makes me laugh again and again.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thNjxRMYOII

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  40. Todd Juvinall Avatar
    Todd Juvinall

    I heard the Flynn issue was now OK as he was the NSA to be. So we will see.

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  41. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Where did you get that information Todd? Obama was President and he was only the proposed nominee and had not yet been confirmed by congress. He had no authority to speak with the Ruskies about sanctions.

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  42. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Geeze Paul, you got to let this play out for a few days. That is how it works. If Flynn did a bad thing, Trump will grab a replacement. If the hyperventilating high blood pressures types like you want a Congressional investigation, there will be one appointed in a time and they can carry on and bring out Lizzy and….hmmm….maybe Feinstein if she still has any strength left and have it. We already know that there will be dozens of committee hearing for the next four years anyway. Cool your jets.
    What I am trying to convey is that it is still a bit premature to give a thumbs up or thumbs down vote. Who can answer yes or no questions until the engine of justice’s magic dispenser kicks in, aka, cross examanination. The wheels of Justice turn slowly and like Watergate or a rose, Russiagate (and her future spinoffs) need more time to unfold.
    q
    Golly Paul, you don’t want the answers to “hands up don’t shoot” on the first or second day do ya? Patience. You must have ADD the way you are just dying to know. No, we are not there yet. We will all know soon enough. He is expendable. We got work to do on Making America Great Again.
    Oh yeah, you got OCD big time. Lots of folks have it, no biggie. Just say to yourself, “I am a rose and am beautiful in my unfolding.” Now say, “Flynngate is a Rose and it’s beautiful in her unfolding.”

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  43. Walt Avatar

    Hay Paul.. The LIBS were sure quick to investigate their own…. Right?
    How come you hold Trump LLC to a different standard?

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  44. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    Poor ol’ PE does not know that the Dept. of Justice has the jurisdiction on the Logan act. ๐Ÿ˜‰

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  45. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    So we have a leak of a national security recording of the President Elects National Security Advisors talk with an ambassador. The disclosures of sensitive intelligence activities is itself a high crime. Will the ‘leakers’, 9 said PE, be investigated for an obvious crime? ๐Ÿ˜‰

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  46. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    The indian tribe that is protesting the Dakota access pipeline (even though there are already a dozen under the lake) lost in court today. The federal judge found there was no imminent harm from finishing the last section of the pipeline connection. Will a bus be departing from Nevada city soon? OH wait, they still have to clear up the snowflake eco warriors mess that will pollute the very lake they were supposedly saving. You cant make this stuff up. ๐Ÿ˜‰

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  47. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    Steven Mnuchin confirmed by the senate for Treasury.
    The chairman of the house ways and means committee rejected the call to use the old teapot dome scandal (1924) remnant regarding a review of the Presidents taxes. The election decided that already is the sentiment.
    Now those should give good ol’ PE some more frothy moments. ๐Ÿ˜‰

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