Ride, Rain and Malfeasance

Today has been interesting.  First, Jim could not open Facebook, or see the content of any of his emails on Yahoo or Gmail.  Isn't that weird?  Other things were fine, but no mail could be seen.  As it turned out, the laptop had downloaded an upgrade, and wanted Jim to restart. Generally, a download does not break things.  Meanwhile, I placed an order with Walmart, then they cancelled it with no explanation.  I ordered it again, they cancelled it again.  Then I got an email, telling me to change my password.  What the heck?  I guess I'll try again tomorrow.  I hate going in Walmart, just hate it.  Bring stuff to my car!

 

This morning was dark and gloomy.  Then the sun came out, it was nice.  After a bowl of Cheerios we got on the bikes and did the hill route. On the way out we saw a box with three wreaths on it.  The lady that lives there was giving them away, she can no longer hang them.  Her name is Irna, she grew up in Germany and remembers the aftermath of Hitler.  She has a no-kings/resist sign in her front window.  We chatted briefly about the importance of not giving in to autocrats or following illegal orders.

 

Now we will have a Christmas decoration.

 Five minutes after we got home, it started raining.  We have had a series of squalls go through, we were very happy about the timing of the ride. Several hours later, it's very dark and still raining.  Earlier there were some sun breaks, but now we are socked in.

What am I outraged about today, you wonder.  Well, there is this.

Please note that these degrees are largely held by women.

What's left?  This is just stupid.  Audiologists are now required to have a Au.D.  Good luck financing that without loans.

Then there was this.

These are the people he wants to execute.  Their crime was in reminding the members of the military that they can and should refuse an illegal order as stated in the Uniform Code of Military Justice.  Perhaps an order like blowing up people in the Caribbean with no due process.
 

Other than this, I have nothing to add.

OK, I have one more thing.  This is reporting by Nick Schifrin of a press conference held today.  The short version is, the "peace plan" was a Russian wish list.  That's it, no US involvement in its writing.

After talking to Senator Rubio, Senator Rounds announced that the 28 point plan was a Russian document, not a US document.   
Rounds reported "Secretary Rubio did make a phone call to us this afternoon. I think he made it very clear to us that we are the recipients of a proposal that was delivered to one of our representatives. It is not our recommendation, it is not our peace plan. It is a proposal that was received. And as an intermediary, we have made arrangements to share it. And we did not release it. It was leaked. It was not released by our members or our representatives... This is an opportunity to receive it and that it has been utilized and delivered to the Ukrainians, and that they will have an opportunity to respond. And in doing so, you now have one side being presented and the opportunity for the other side to respond."  
Senator Angus King said "The leaked 28-point plan, which, according to Secretary Rubio,  is not of the administration's position--it is essentially the wish list of the Russians."

Senator Rounds confirms that the 28 point plan was delivered to Steve Witkoff.  Further,  "This was a proposal which was received by someone who has identified and they believed to be representing Russia in this proposal. It was given to Steve Witkoff."

And Senator Rounds says there are no threats to cut off American weapons or intelligence: "With regard to the discussion that there would be threats of items taken... information being withheld and so forth-- Secretary Rubio did say that he was not aware of any of that." 

 So what is this crap that 47 has been spewing about Ukraine has to roll over or the US abandons them?  And who told Secretary Driscoll to present this to the Ukrainians with a deadline?

Here is the presser if you want to watch.