They have been hysterical on the flat screen for the last couple days, predicting a wild variety of snow accumulation on the Eastern Seaboard. We had nothing last season, so this combines a potential novelty and systemic collapse as a news story. Of course, there is so much going on in the background it is hard to tell what I am supposed to be hysterical about. I am resolute in my determination to comport to expert recommendation, of course.

I took a few minutes yesterday morning to haul out the lap-top and re-title some old pictures with “President Elect Biden.” Otherwise had forgotten about the military stuff going on in the background. The recently sedate coverage of Russia was interrupted by the submarine launch of a new ballistic missile and an exercise of Mr. Putin’s nuclear infrastructure. The unsettled situation about Taiwan, and whether the Chinese will do something to reclaim their lost province is interesting. So is the vow of the Iranians to do something about the two senior officials killed by Mossad, the Israeli elite security service, with the support of the existing Administration. Our Navy ‘double-pumping’ two carrier strike groups into the Indo-Pacific. That means re-deployment for Ike and Roosevelt while they are still qualified for strike ops from their last COVID adjusted schedules.

Naturally, all this is at least loosely connected to politics and making an impact on a change of U.S. Administration, but there is much more. The Chinese espionage effort in the US has been partially unmasked for the first time. There have been active cyber operations against the Government by a variety of players. Yesterday came a report that the military SIPRNET- a network cleared for secret-level communications- had been breached for about seven hours. A friend with long experience in the environment sighed and said there was no government network that had not been compromised. There is plenty going on, and even taken individually the events are scary or hilarious or both.

So, the wait for the snow is sort of relaxing in a way, since it doesn’t come with inimical intent. It is just the globe hurtling through space, spinning and rearranging its clouds. I am watching the snow come down now. It is sort of cool, but I wonder if it will ever stop. Given the nature of this chaotic year, perhaps that would be a good thing.

Copyright 2020 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com