Spring in London – February 14 2022

*Stock data as of market close, cryptocurrency data as of 5:00 am ET. 

• Markets: Everything we were concerned about last week is still true this week: the Fed’s anemic response to inflation, big corporate earnings, and increasing tensions in Ukraine. Analysts predict that if Russia were to invade Ukraine, oil could top $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014, throwing a wrench in President Biden’s attempts to bring down gas prices.

The Lead: War Watch

credit: getty

Here is the current war watch revolving around Ukraine. 

World leaders are at the ready for a conflict between Russia and Western nations over Ukraine. The public story is that Russia is prepared for conflict if Ukraine joins NATO. Now Ukraine is indicating this may not be worth fighting for. A senior official told the BBC that NATO is not a do-or-die and that the country could be “flexible.” 

European leaders are saying that the next 48 hours will be crucial as both sides put troops in place. Of less importance but still notable: The White House is warning companies against using Russian chip makers in anticipation of a possible conflict. 

Conscious Co-Parenting

credit: getty

You know how you share a home with a roommate? That concept has been applied to parenting in a new thing called “conscious co-parenting.” 

It is when two people who are not romantic partners decide to have a baby together and share the parenting duties forever. CNN’s Van Jones did this and his daughter was born over the weekend. He is already a father of two with his ex-wife but after his divorce, he decided he wanted another baby so he and a friend made this life-long commitment. 

This sounds great in theory but it also sounds complicated. I can only imagine the legal matters that must be addressed. Also, most times, being in love with my husband saves me from wanting to kill him during parenting conflicts. Can friendship buffer those conflicts similarly? So many questions. 

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This Water Tastes Funny

credit: pexels

How about a little essence of corpse with your groundwater? That is what is happening due to overcrowded cemeteries. 

Surging Covid deaths have caused a crisis in funeral spaces. The problem with this is that decomposing bodies release a chemical called cemetery leachate and that substance contains heavy metallic companions that leak into groundwater. 

According to Popular Science, cemeteries are “the most neglected and insidious sources of metal contamination in the soil.” 

A new study shows that the pandemic has ramped up this soil pollution. Architects say that vertical cemeteries are one way to avoid this. Like tall buildings where bodies are stacked like filing cabinets and the leachate could be collected and prevented from running off into municipal water stores. Yuck! 

Spring Comes Early 

credit: guardian

Spring is hitting early in the U.K. and experts say this will happen every year now due to climate change. 

Research shows that plants have been blooming a full month earlier than they did prior to 1986 and this year, the mild and dry winter has blooms stirring in February. 

Wildlife experts concur and say that they are seeing wildlife in action sooner and sooner. Some say that an early spring could mean a harsher allergy season for humans. Gesundheit!

News By The Numbers

20 years. That is how long the U.S. Army’s video game was available to play. It was supposed to be used as a recruitment tool but it was not a big hit. Its servers will go down in May. 

79%. That is how many people do not support ending animal experimentation in Switzerland. Originally, voters did want this but…lobbyists. 

£1.4m. That is the value of three non-fungible tokens (NFT) that were seized by law enforcement in the UK. This story does not make it clear how one can seize an NFT. 

5. That is how many weeks the Encanto soundtrack has been at the top of the Billboard charts. 

What's Trending?

credit: giphy

Valentine’s Day is trending because, oh yeah, that Hallmark holiday is today. 

Eminem is trending because of his Super Bowl HalfTime Show. He took a knee during his performance, a sign of solidarity for those who stand for racial equality. 

Prince is trending because he is always remembered after the Super Bowl for having given one of the best HalfTime shows of all time. Fact. 

Wanda is trending because Marvel released a trailer for “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” and it features Wanda Maximoff from WandaVision. 

Puppy Bowl 2022 is trending because that also happened yesterday. Team Fluff was victorious against Team Ruff.

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