As I get ready to travel for a few days out-of-state, this will be my first such trip in six years. California is essentially its own country with one of the world’s largest economies, a huge population, diverse geography, and a degree of physical isolation from the rest of the continent.
Venturing out of it feels like you should have a passport or at least a visa.
During Covid there has been lots of publicity about people supposedly abandoning the golden state because the cost of living here is so high and the quality of life a matter of diminishing returns.
Personally, I can’t say there is another place I would choose over California. I’ve lived in several other states and one other country, although that country was Afghanistan, which one of today’s headlines terms the unhappiest place on the planet.
The sociopolitical conditions for Afghans are almost a guarantee of unhappiness, yet as my friend explained a few days ago, even under the most trying conditions he has fallen in love. That is the thing about living — you never know what magic may await you around the next corner.
If you’re open to it, life remains an adventure. My objective is to remain open to it.
Today’s News (40):
Russia says it used hypersonic missiles as Zelenskyy calls for talks (NBC)
Biden Says Putin Has Chosen ‘Catastrophic’ War Over Diplomacy (NYT)
Zelenskiy urges Swiss to target Russian money 'helping to wage war' on Ukraine (Reuters)
Evacuees from besieged Mariupol describe horrors of Russian attacks (WP)
People in Mariupol risking lives each time they leave shelter, says Ukrainian army commander (CNN)
Street fighting blocks rescue at Mariupol theatre - mayor (BBC)
Russians push deeper into Mariupol as locals plead for help: 'Children, elderly people are dying' (AP)
Ukrainian Forces Try to Hold Mariupol as Combat Reaches City Streets (WSJ)
Russia regroups for assault on Kyiv as it tightens grip on Mariupol (Financial Times)
Reported Detention of Russian Spy Boss Shows Tension Over Stalled Invasion
The U.S. deems credible reports that the chief of the FSB intelligence agency’s Ukraine unit is under house arrest. Bickering has occurred between the FSB and Russa’s defense ministry. (WSJ)
Stuck at Mexico border, anti-war Russians sweat their futures as Ukrainians enter U.S. (Reuters)
With small, portable weapons, Ukraine's fighters keep Russia at bay (NPR)
Denied swift victory, Russian military maintains strong hand (AP)
Kyiv’s Suburbs Become Unlikely Front Line of Ukraine War (NYT)
Ukraine Has Evacuated 190,000 Civilians From Battle Zones, Says Deputy PM (USA Today)
Stalled Russian offensive increases pressure on Belarus to join invasion (Financial Times)
A legacy of ‘secrecy and deception’: Why Russia clings to an outlawed chemical arsenal (WP)
4 reasons why social media can give a skewed account of the war in Ukraine
Pressure mounts on Koch Industries to halt business in Russia (Guardian)
As diplomacy drags on, peace seems far off in Ukraine. (NYT)
Turkish official says Putin willing to meet Zelenskyy (NHK)
Defying China’s Censors to Urge Beijing to Denounce Russia’s War — A persistent minority of Chinese scholars, journalists and citizens is warning Beijing against the risks of supporting the invasion of Ukraine. (NYT)
Russia constructing earthen berms to protect military positions northwest of Kyiv, satellite images show (CNN)
Elon Musk’s Starlink is keeping Ukrainians online when traditional Internet fails (WP)
Russia intensifying attacks on civilian targets (NHK)
Ukraine’s Cause Is Righteous. That Shouldn’t Shape Policy. (NYT)
Afghanistan’s last finance minister, now a D.C. Uber driver, ponders what went wrong (WP)
Afghanistan world’s unhappiest country, even before Taliban (AP)
Informant: Whitmer kidnap suspect wanted to blow up COVID-19 vaccine plants, kill doctors (Detroit Free Press)
Researchers warn that Christian nationalists are becoming more radical and are targeting voting (WP)
Understaffing leaves after-school programs with unmet demand (AP)
The U.S. tried permanent daylight saving time in the 1970s — then quickly rejected it (NPR)
Senate plan for permanent daylight saving time faces a delay in the House (WP)
It’s 70 degrees warmer than normal in eastern Antarctica. Scientists are flabbergasted. (WP)
Mysterious Signal Coming From Our Galaxy Could Be One of The Rarest Known Objects (ScienceAlert)
Lawsuit against Google alleges systemic bias against Black employees (The Hill)
How Brian Kemp Resisted Trump’s Pressure to Overturn the Georgia Election Results (Politico)
Even without convictions, trials help hold police accountable, DAs and reform experts say — Though it resulted in an acquittal, the trial of a San Francisco police officer for excessive use of force represents an important step towards greater accountability (Mission Local)
Abandoned Balloon Adopted By Flock Of Migrating Geese (The Onion)
No comments:
Post a Comment