Today is not only a new day for me but an old one. At least it feels that way, reaching the odd milestone of three-quarters of a century.
If the past year has taught me anything the previous 74 did not, it is that time isn’t going to slow down at this point. So I better make of the most of it.
Time has its own purpose, which is to pass. And of course we all will too. But the good news is we haven’t yet.
I’m grateful for my family and the great many friends who have been in contact over the past year — old friends and new ones as well.
As for wisdom at this juncture, I’m not sure I have any beyond the cliche about living in the moment, even though I’ve never been completely sure what that means. Then again, it’s apparently better than any of the known alternatives.
TODAY’s NEWS (42):
VIDEO: The Taliban Promised Them Amnesty. Then They Were Executed. (NYT)
U.S. President Joe Biden has said for the first time that Russia's invasion of Ukraine amounts to genocide, a significant escalation of the president’s rhetoric. (Reuters)
U.S. to Provide Ukraine With More Intelligence, Heavier Weapons to Fight Russia (WSJ)
Russia has yet to slow a Western arms express into Ukraine (AP)
French forensic experts have arrived in Bucha near Kyiv to help investigate possible war crimes, and to establish what happened in the town where hundreds of bodies have been discovered since Russian forces withdrew. (Reuters)
Lengthening war creates major problems for global economy (WP)
Russia claims more than a thousand Ukrainian marines have surrendered in the besieged port of Mariupol, Moscow's main target in the eastern Donbas region. (Reuters)
Russian Forces Renew Focus on Southern and Eastern Ukraine (WSJ)
If Putin isn’t stopped in Ukraine, the Baltics are likely next (WP)
Putin Calls Talks a ‘Dead End’ but Limits War Aim to Eastern Ukraine (NYT)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mocked Moscow's insistence that the war against his nation was going well, asking how President Vladimir Putin could have approved a plan that involved so many Russians dying. (Reuters)
Putin defends war as possible use of chemical weapons is investigated (WP)
As Ukraine war intensifies, questions from first Trump impeachment linger (Politico)
And the presidents of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are on their way to Kyiv to meet Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, an adviser to the Polish leader said today. (Reuters)
Ukrainian fighter pilots in old jets take on better-equipped Russians (WP)
Images of Zelenskyy show the physical toll that trauma and stress can have on the body (NPR)
Heavy Floods and Mudslides Leave at Least 45 Dead in South Africa (NYT)
British consumer price inflation leapt to a 30-year high of 7.0% in March, its highest since March 1992 and up from 6.2% in February, official figures show. The leap reflects the intensifying cost-of-living squeeze faced by British households. (Reuters)
Why there are growing fears the U.S. is headed to a recession (NPR)
Amazon is adding a 5% fuel and inflation surcharge (CNN)
Human rights and democracy eroding globally, U.S. finds (WP)
China activists call for reboot of State Dept. annual human rights report (Politico)
In Conference Call Before Riot, a Plea to ‘Descend on the Capitol’ (NYT)
Jason Sullivan, a QAnon promoter and former aide to GOP political consultant Roger Stone, called on Trump supporters to "descend on the Capitol" to prevent the certification of Joe Biden's election win. “If we make the people inside that building sweat, and they understand that they may not be able to walk in the streets any longer if they do the wrong thing, then maybe they’ll do the right thing,” he said on conference call a week before the Jan. 6 insurrection. [HuffPost]
The Department of Justice rejected a request by the House Oversight Committee to disclose the contents of records that former President Donald Trump took to his Florida residence after leaving the White House, saying it needed to protect confidential information that may compromise an ongoing investigation. [AP]
China's overall trade with Russia rose by more than 12% in March from a year earlier in dollar terms, even as Beijing criticized Western sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Overall trade with Russia increased 12.76% in March to $11.67 billion. (Reuters)
Battle over carbon capture as tool to fight climate change (AP)
We’ve Never Seen a Carbon-Removal Plan Like This Before — Companies including Google and Facebook are pouring more than $900 million into a nascent technology that’s essential to zeroing out emissions. (Atlantic)
Gas Prices Force Biden Into an Unlikely Embrace of Fossil Fuels (NYT)
There’s still a way to reach global goal on climate change (AP)
Covid-19 Vaccine for Young Kids: What to Know (WSJ)
Red States Push L.G.B.T.Q. Restrictions as Education Battles Intensify (NYT)
As some states race to make abortion more restrictive, California legislation would make abortions easier and more affordable. (Cal Today)
Political brawl looms over nuclear cruise missile Biden plans to scrap (Politico)
The U.S. recorded its highest death total in history in 2021, attributed largely to COVID-19 and overdoses. While scientists expected the vaccine rollout would help reduce pandemic-related deaths compared to 2020, new variants coupled with vaccine hesitancy and resistance to public health guidance led to an increase. [AP]
US says it conducted subcritical nuclear tests twice in 2021 (NHK)
A recent study offers genomic evidence that the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe’s connection to the Bay Area goes back at least 2,000 years. (Cal Today)
Study Finds Fewer Americans Than Ever Trust News Bloopers (The Onion)
TODAY’s LYRICS (Thanks to my friend Mary):
“Forever Young”
By Bob Dylan
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
May you stay forever young
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the light surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
May you stay forever young
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
And may you stay forever young
May you stay forever young
No comments:
Post a Comment