Au Cochonnet Marin

Alleluia, we now have a new president… a real president! After 4 long years of wandering in the desert, we just entered the Promised Land. Bells are ringing all around the world.

Yes, I watched the inauguration of Joseph Biden, and I am happy (and hopeful) with what I saw and what I heard. Our new commander-in-chief looks presidential, talks presidential and acts presidential. He conducts himself like a real president.

And for a man who once afflicted with a painful stutter, he gave a flawless, passionate, magnificent acceptance speech. A presidential speech calling for unity and hope, instead of empty grandiloquent promises.

“I pledge to be a President who seeks not to divide, but to unify.”

Joe Biden never pretended to be a “very stable genius”. As a matter of fact, according to Wikipedia, he was a poor student; but he managed to be “class president in his junior and senior years”. A poor student maybe, but a personable, trusted fellow.

Contrarily to our former “leader” he was not born into money. He was raised in a blue-collar environment and understands the plight of the common man.
Instead of surroundings himself with a bunch of fawning stooges, he has already put recognized professionals in key positions.  And one of his top priorities will be fighting the pandemic.

“On Monday, I will name a group of leading scientists and experts as Transition Advisors to help take the Biden-Harris COVID plan and convert it into an action blueprint that starts on January 20th, 2021.
That plan will be built on a bedrock of science.”

Joe Biden is an experienced politician who knows his way around Washington. A very useful consideration for somebody who plans to unite instead of disparage his opponents.
A real president is not afraid to praise and share the limelight with his wife and collaborators, and Joe has already proved it. Something extremely refreshing.

Without using a plethora of superlatives, he pledged to be a president for all Americans and restore the world’s respect for our once leading democracy.

I believe him and for our sakes, I wish him all success in all his future endeavors.

Alain

PS: Lady Gaga performed magnificently

Yesterday, as it is becoming the custom for our local players, I drove to Lamorinda, a 40-minute ride from Marin.

Lamorinda is the home of true-blue pétanque fans. They polish their boules at sunrise and start playing before lunch; they only stop at sundown. They also, I have been told, sometimes continue to play after sundown, illuminating the field by using cars’ headlights.

As a pétanque dilettante, I seldom go to such extremes. Three hours of physical exertion is plenty for me and my aging anatomy. But otherwise, the Lamorinda gang is friendly and welcoming. Show up with boules and you are in. They also have excellent players, and it is always a challenge playing there.

Yesterday was also a little unusual by the sheer fact that the temperature reached 75° Fahrenheit around 2:00 pm. Let’s not forget that we are in the middle of winter and that it is 45° in New York and 21° in St Petersburg, Russia.

The Lamorinda people also have the healthy practice of reshuffling the decks after a few games. After a short break, teams are reassembled in different formations. It means that you will get a chance to play with many different players throughout the day. One slight drawback to this policy is the fact that with everybody’s face covered with a mask, you often don’t know who you are playing with.

During short playing intervals, I managed to snap a few pictures. This is the advantage of owning a small, versatile camera. It can easily by carried in a pocket while playing and put to work when the occasion presents itself.

When it comes to action shots, some people are naturally more photogenic than some others.  This usually indicates that are naturally gifted athletes.
It does not mean though that if you don’t look as good as the golden boys (or girls) you are less proficient. It simply means that very few people have it all: natural grace and ability.

I hope that you like the few shots I managed to take.

Alain

Have you ever heard of St Helena? Maybe not, but it is somewhat famous.

This the place where in 1815 the British government sent Napoleon Bonaparte following his escape from Elba.

“Napoleon arrived in St Helena on 15th October 1815, after ten weeks at sea on board the HMS Northumberland.  He died there after six years in exile on the island.” 

It is a tiny island (10 by 5 miles) located in the South Atlantic 1,210 miles west of the coast of southwestern Africa, and 2,500 miles east of Rio de Janeiro. Saying that it is remote would be an understatement.

Why bringing up this forgotten episode now? The British didn’t know what to do with their inconvenient “ogre” after his downfall… Especially after his escape from Elba, and his subsequent march on Paris to reclaim his tarnished crown. They then shipped the troublemaker to St Helena, and it worked. Napoleon was unable to escape and was never heard of again until his death in 1821.

We are now in a similar situation. What should we do with a disgraced, unrepentant former president bent on revenge? The answer seems obvious to many people. A one-way ticket to St Helena.

Like Napoleon, he would be allowed to keep a small retinue of his followers… and his hairdresser. His wife (like Marie-Louise of Austria) would not have to share his fate and would probably become Queen of Slovenia at a latter date.

While in St Helena, the ex-president could indulge in his real estate passion. He could build have a few towers built, preeminently displaying his name, and a grand golf course. He would then have plenty of time to entertain his cronies, while forcefully reiterating his grievances about “the Radical Left” that stole the 2020 elections.

A small contingent of soldiers might also be garrisoned on the island to prevent a Mussolini-like escape from the Hotel Campo Imperatore in the Gran Sasso d’Italia massif.

A second option (less likely) might be the monastery. He and his progeny could relocate to a Trappist monastery to atone for their sins.

“The 48th chapter of the Rule of St. Benedict states “for then are they monks in truth, if they live by the work of their hands”. Following this rule, most Trappist monasteries produce goods that are sold to provide income for the monastery.”

The family led by his enterprising daughter could launch a fashionable brew called Trump Trapp or Trapp Trump. Whatever the name, it is bound to attract some followers and distract the ex-pres from attempting another storming of the Capitol.

See you at the Inauguration!

Alain