a little red

Thank goodness! Meetings! Pandemonium! Hustle and bustle! It is a good thing we don't work in person or I would have hugged everyone for returning. 

We had a high of 65 degrees. It is the beginning of January. On the bright side, this limits Russia's ability to use winter as a weapon. Average temperatures are up to 20 degrees C warmer than normal!!! EU gas inventories are around 90% capacity in most member countries. Even if there is a cold snap, there should be enough gas in storage to handle it. Germany build a new LNG terminal which received its first full cargo from the US today. The facility was built at breakneck speed in less than a year. The gas supplier is rapidly expanding facilities to meet European needs. Bye Russia. 

After Ukraine's successful attacks on New Year's Eve military leaders are being accused, again, of incompetence. Russians continue to use their cellphones even within range of Ukrainian artillery.  

Since the 2022 invasion, Ukraine's oligarchs have lost billions. There is speculation that as they lose money and power, Ukraine's democracy gains. 

Ukraine is ever-improving its ability to intercept Iranian drones. Western-supplied air defense systems are making it possible. All 39 drones that Russia shot into Ukraine Sunday night and Monday were shot down and the grid had no additional damage.