But first, a few Trumpy matters: The  tariff wars  against Canada, Mexico and China have begun. The result was a  stock market fall .  Not crash yet, but is that coming? President Trump will address a joint session of Congress tonight.   Should be entertaining, with surprises and made-for-TV moments.  Many Democrats will boycott, and those females who show up will  wear pink and white .  Six years ago they wore white. Trump paused military aide to Ukraine after that Oval Office skirmish.  Would have been warranted if THIS happened. Now, on to the topic of the day.  I once lived in Louisiana.  Mardi Gras was the big event for the state.  Shrove Tuesday is the last day before Ash Wednesday beginning Lent, ( the Christian fasting season when certain foods are avoided ) and is the final day to feast on rich foods like red meat.  Thus, this is also called Fat Tuesday, the culmination of Mardi Gras.  I report on this...

  First some newsworthy items: New COVID-19 cases are shifting to the Orient.  Yesterday (new cases/million population): #1   South Korea  139,615 (2722) #2  Russia  106,920 (732) #3  Germany  95,396 (1136) #4  Vietnam  94,385  (955) #5  Turkey  64,275 (747) #6  Japan  63,703 (506) #7  USA  32,918 (99) California  5,231 (132) New York  1,999 (103) Idaho 2,526 (1403) Hawaii 142 (101) World  1,110,611 (141) Singapore  13,544 (2257) Bahrain  2577 (1431)...a small island country in the Persian Gulf Estonia  2278 (1752) Luxembourg  1274 (1990) French Polynesia (3986) Brunei  (9223)...a small country on Borneo in the South China Sea Gazing at those numbers, the USA has a new cases/million rate only 1% of Brunei.  Not only did we survive the pandemic, but if fully vaccinated and boosted, much safer than from the seasonal flu.  Further, this  Omicron s...