2/23/23

 Thursday, February 23, 2023

In bed around 10:30, awake at 5:20, up at 5:30, thinking of Jim Aquavia and life being hard past 80.  Winter Storm Watch still in effect?  There has been 10.05 inches of wintery mix in the last 24 hours, and another 1.05 inch is expected today.  30℉ outside, E wind blowing directly off the lake at 14 mph producing a wind chill of 19℉. Winds today will be up to 19 mph, gusts up to 30 mph, and wind chills between 7 and 27℉.  Sunrise at  6:37, sunset at 5:33,  10+55.

Storm aftermath.  57,000+ customers woke up without electric power this morning, 90,000 total.  MKE public schools and most other schools closed today along with many daycare centers.  We're under a "Winer Weather Advisory" with all roads, even freeways, in "poor" condition, but Ozaukee County, i.e., across the street is still under a "Winter Storm Warning."  Many trees are ice-covered with branches breaking off and impacting power lines in Racine and Kenosha counties. . . Parking garage collapse at Bayshore, next to Trader Joe's.

Chickens Coming Home to Roost.  The headline story in this morning's WaPo is "A global divide on the Ukraine war is deepening:  Russia capitalizes on disillusionment with the United States to win sympathy in the Global South."  The global "South" including India and African countries, notes American and European hypocrisy in condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine despite their own history of colonialism, selective concern over human rights violations, and the West’s failure to devote as many resources to solving conflicts and human rights abuses in other parts of the world, such as the Palestinian territories, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, .and notably invasions of other countries like Iraq and Libya.  I'm surprised the writer didn't include Vietnam and Afghanistan.  "This is not a battle between freedom and dictatorship, as Biden often suggests, said William Gumede, who founded and heads the Johannesburg-based Democracy Works Foundation, which promotes democracy in Africa. He pointed to the refusal of South Africa, India, and Brazil to join Biden’s global coalition. . . . “  Of course I support Putin,” [an Egyptian commentator] said in an interview in Cairo. “A long time ago, we lost faith in the West. All the Arabs on this side of the world support Putin, and we are happy to hear he is gaining lands in Ukraine.”  “There’s been a failure of the West in the past 15 years to see the anger building up around the world, and Russia has absolutely exploited this,” Gumede said. “Russia has been able to portray Ukraine as a war with NATO. It’s the West versus the rest.”

Much of Day Spent Watching Alex Murdaugh's Testimony  Not a likable witness.  The testimony seems scripted, not like a professional witness (cop, coroner, etc.), but like a PI lawyer who has prepped hundreds of witnesses on how to relate to jurors.  Drooling snot during emotional parts of his testimony.