Sunday, February 27, 2022

And another day of aggression, high alerts, anti-war rallies, why the invasion should matter to Americans, in-person learning wasn’t a magic bullet, TX governor Abbott being an asshole to transgender kids and their families, revoking tenure in TX, and a CAT 4 atmospheric river comes to a close:

“When Americans support murderous foreign dictators, they'll gladly welcome murderous domestic ones.” — John Pavlovitz 

Deaths

US: 973,119

World: 5,968,022

Cases

US: 80,567,757

World: 435,985,617

Putin puts nuclear forces on high alert, escalating tensions. Citing “aggressive statements” by NATO and tough financial sanctions, Putin issued a directive to increase the readiness of Russia’s nuclear weapons, raising fears that the invasion of Ukraine could lead to nuclear war, whether by design or mistake.

Russians hold anti-war rallies amid ominous threats by Putin. Demonstrators held pickets and marched in city centers, chanting “No to war!” as President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian nuclear deterrent to be put on high alert, upping the ante in the Kremlin’s standoff with the West and stoking fears of a nuclear war.

Why Russia's Ukraine invasion should matter to Americans. Simply put, the Russian invasion will have a real impact on American national security. And Washington’s support for Ukrainian democracy is our best guarantee against war — and for the continuation of peace. This is an attack on democracy, the rule of law and the values the United States has stood for throughout its history...If the West accepts such Russian claims, it will not only undermine the sovereignty of all countries but also invite other nations to seek territory through military force.

Vaccine requirements are being lifted across America as Covid cases wane. But a public health expert says it is a "move to promote normalcy without there really being normalcy." "Vaccine mandates are safe and effective public health strategies, and backing down on this is likely to worsen spread."

In-person learning wasn’t the magic bullet many hoped for. Teens are still suffering. “Going back to school five days a week with everybody on campus all together, it just wasn’t the answer,” one parent said...While many government officials and parents had predicted that a return to in-person learning would improve young people’s mental health, Slater said it has not been the cure-all many hoped it would be.

Mothers of transgender children in Texas say the fallout has been swift from Gov. Greg Abbott's decision to direct the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate reports of gender-affirming care as child abuse.

Giving professors freedom, so long as they agree with politicians. TX Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants to revoke tenure for professors teaching lessons about race that he disagrees with. It’s a new chapter of an old fight between academics and populist politicians. Tenure is intended to protect academics’ ability to consider, investigate and debate ideas without tiptoeing around popular culture, dogma, ambitious politicians and prim defenders of the status quo.

Thousands of girls as young as 11 are hiding signs of “deep distress” from their parents and teachers, according to an “alarming” report that reveals a “growing gulf” between the mental health of girls and boys.

More than 600 geographic sites across the US will be renamed, replacing a derogatory term for Indigenous women used for decades. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland issued an order declaring "squaw" derogatory in November. The term has historically been used as an offensive ethnic, racial and sexist slur towards Indigenous women, the department said in a news release at the time.

A category 4 atmospheric river is forecast to drench the Pacific Northwest early this week. The heaviest rain is expected on Monday through Tuesday morning, with 24-hour rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches forecast along portions of the Washington and Oregon coasts. Isolated higher rainfall amounts are possible across portions of the Cascades during this same time span.

New map of the night sky reveals 4.4 million galaxies and other space objects. The vast majority of these objects are galaxies that harbor massive black holes or rapidly growing new stars. Other discoveries include colliding groups of distant galaxies and flaring stars, which vary in brightness, within the Milky Way, according to a news statement from Durham University in England.

Life’s short. Live, love, create, and help others.

Until next time, my friends. Stay safe and stay sane. Good night.