White House: U.S. to Sanction Putin, Lavrov - WSJ

Ms. Psaki said the sanctions would include restrictions on Mr. Putin’s ability to travel to the U.S., and that the administration would release further details soon.

I guess Putin is going to have to cancel his Spring Break in Florida.

Has the Biden team considered sanctions that are relevant, or likely to have any kind of effect in the real world?

CDC Eases Mask Guidelines, Reflecting Covid-19’s Retreat - WSJ

The CDC said people who are symptomatic, test positive for Covid-19 or are exposed to infected people should still don face coverings no matter where they are.

Still unclear why this isn’t the only guidance at this point.

Instead, the CDC bizarrely prefers the current multi-factorial matrix for every one of the over 3,000 counties in the United States, cross-referenced with blocks of the population, updated multiple times per week.

John Kerry’s Ukraine Emissions - WSJ Opinion

Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned in an interview this week about “massive emissions consequences” from a Russian war against Ukraine, which he also said would be a distraction from work on climate change. Nevertheless, he added, “I hope President Putin will help us to stay on track with respect to what we need to do for the climate.”

This must be from The Onion.

How can a anti-war activist, former Senator, and Secretary of State could be so obtuse in a moment like this?

Ketanji Brown Jackson Announced as Biden’s Pick for Supreme Court Nominee - WSJ

President Biden on Friday selected Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court

That moment when your foreign policy is foundering, your economic policy is driving up pain for every single voter, and you desperately need to change the subject.

Russian Attack on Ukraine Roils Markets - WSJ

Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, topped $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014

Biden policies are the primary culprit, but blaming it on someone else is convenient and the preferred tactic of this Administration.

It’s 12:30pm on the East Coast, more than 13 hours since the unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Where is the President, why hasn’t he addressed the nation, and where are those withering sanctions his team has spent weeks crafting?

Putin’s New World Disorder - WSJ Opinion

The new sanctions should also target Mr. Putin and his Kremlin mafia personally. This means finally disclosing to the world—and to the Russian people—the wealth of Kremlin officials and oligarchs. The U.K. has a special obligation here given Russian assets in London. These assets can be showcased and seized.

Lift the veil and take their assets away before their very eyes.

The post-Cold War order has depended on U.S. economic and military power, not on the illusion that the “international community” can enforce world order. Could there be a better display of United Nations impotence than Russia presiding on Wednesday over a Security Council session on Russia’s invasion?

Wife Decides To Recognize The Independence Of Husband’s Fries - The Babylon Bee

She continued, “Let me emphasize once again that French Fries for me are not just a neighboring side dish. They are an integral part of my own history, culture, spiritual space. These crispy, curly, seasoned spuds are connected with me by great taste.”

I love when the Bee can perfectly capture reality within a bear hug of satire.

Bleary-Eyed Trump Stays Up All Night Deleting ‘TRUTH’ Posts Making Fun Of Him - The Babylon Bee

Trump then took a moment to fire the loser server engineers and replace them with true American server engineers who had what it took to Make America Great Again™. He promptly returned to the patriotic task of deleting TRUTH posts making fun of him.

I could see this happening.

National Guard, Law Enforcement Prepare for Possible Trucker Protests in D.C. Area - WSJ

In anticipation of potential protests, the Defense Department has approved the deployment of about 700 National Guard troops, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

They might drive real slow or park in the roadway. Oh the humanity!!!!!

The ’80s Got Their Foreign Policy Back - WSJ Opinion

In April 2012 Joe Biden used a similar attack line in a speech. “When we came to office, President Obama reset our relationship with Russia. . . . But just a month ago, Governor Romney called and here again I quote, ‘without question our number one geopolitical foe’ is Russia. As my brother would say, go figure,” the then Vice President said.

I remember that moment in the Presidental Debate and how much I agreed with Romney.

The threat has only loomed larger as all five presidential administrations have failed to even try to understand Putin and his motivations.

Why This Economic Boom Can’t Lift America’s Spirits - WSJ

“You listen to these Fed guys—Powell right now. ‘Oh, we think we’ll get inflation under control this year.’ Fine, but do you really think these food companies are going to lower prices once the supply chain gets settled?” Mr. Remick asked. “Do you think eggs are going to go down? These prices are here to stay.”

Remick gets it.

It’s Cold Brew o’clock, my favorite time of day!

Another vacation is in the books. After several summers of enjoying Lake Michigan, we decided to switch things up and enjoy Michigan in the winter. We drove up north for three days of skiing.

The weather was almost perfect. We spent the first morning on the practice slopes, getting used to our skis and the feel of the equipment. It was 90 minutes of new experiences and fleeting frustration. Heavy rains filled the afternoon hours, keeping us together in the cottage and giving our minds time to process the lessons of the morning.

Benedict had a ski lesson for 2.5 hours on the morning of Day 2. I did a YouTube ski lesson, courtesy of REI, and spent the same period of time practicing my skills. After a total of about two hours on the skis between the two days, I was ready to take the lift and give the beginner courses a go.

Throughout the day, bands of lake effect flurries moved through the mountain. They created the perfect atmosphere for the winter fun outside. It was bitterly cold, but the only parts that felt it were my fingers and exposed face. Not bad for mid-February up north.

Alison and I skied a few runs together, some more successful than others. Like learning to fly, each repetition offered a chance for more practice, and to reinforce good fundamentals. I fell many times, but the more I focused on maintaining speed and suppressing panic, the better I did.

Gliding through the open forest, on a wide path of snow, was fun. Although the course designers did a poor job of keeping beginners separate from experts, getting into the super wide avenues where multiple runs converged was beautiful. Each skier and snowboarder weaved in and out of each other, at different speeds, rhythmically and melodically. If it was possible to take the scene and set it to a musical score, it would win many Grammys.

After his morning lesson, Benedict was confident and ready to play. As we rode up the training magic carpet together, he told me that skiing was now, “All fun and games!” Time after time, he’d ride to the top, ski down the slope, cut a sharp u-turn to the magic carpet and repeat. He loved to do it with his family, but he was also content to go alone. Many times I’d look at the magic carpet and see a short little boy, standing alone, waiting patiently for his next run.

Felicity had a lesson in the afternoon, and Lucy even let herself have fun. It was hours in the training park. Although the adults were skilled enough to enjoy more challenging runs or ready for a change of scenery, it was lots of fun skiing with the kids.

After dark, with the kids in bed and in the care of their grandparents, Alison and I did some night skiing. The thrill seekers were all racing down the difficult trails, leaving Alison and I alone to enjoy the quiet beginner trails.

It was bitterly cold, so Alison and I enjoyed a few minutes warming up by an outdoor fire before heading back to the cottage.

The time went by fast, but we made good use of it. We spent most of Day 2 in our ski boots, practicing and playing in the snow.

I always aspire to spend more time outside, but it’s easier to reach that aspiration when there’s an activity to engage me. Although winter lends itself to spending days indoors enjoying the warmth of our homes, it’s good to get outside and play, too.

Putin Orders Deployment of Troops to Breakaway Regions in Ukraine - WSJ

The White House said President Biden will issue an executive order that “will prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons’’ in those areas.

Wow, such response! So amaze!

This will stem the trillions of dollars that US citizens are pouring into investments in these occupied territories. Putin invades and occupies a sovereign nation and it costs him nothing, again.

I hate Amazon.

The Super Bowl of Sin Taxes - WSJ Opinion

We are legalizing marijuana just as opioid addiction and overdoses from “recreational” fentanyl skyrocket. The phenomenon of gambling addiction is well established, and since sports betting is often a repetitive, screen-based activity, the dopamine hook surely will kick in for some percentage of sports bettors just as TikTok has pulled many adolescent girls into its can’t-stop video world, as described recently in this newspaper.

As Covid-19 Cases Wane, U.K. to Lift Remaining Curbs - WSJ

After that, it will no longer recommend that people infected with the virus stay home, telling them instead to “exercise personal responsibility” much as one would in the case of the flu

24 months to reach the conclusion that people are adults and can make their own decisions?

Russia Alleges Ukrainian Incursion; Kyiv Says Moscow Makes Up Fake Incidents - WSJ

Russia’s military said it destroyed two Ukrainian armored vehicles and killed five Ukrainian personnel inside Russian territory Monday, but offered no evidence of the alleged incursion

I just saw on RT that Ukraine killed Tupac and shot down JFK Jr.

Inside Facebook’s $10 Billion Breakup With Advertisers - WSJ

Facebook has built its empire on the ability to acquire intimate details about user behavior across the internet

Gross.

U.S. To Invade Canada To Establish A Democracy - The Babylon Bee

“We can’t let this evil, religious zealot Trudeau oppress his people any longer. It’s time to let freedom ring.”