40% of US marines offered Covid-19 vaccination have refused it.

This could be a symptom of dangerous right-wing extremism. It also means that an outbreak of Covid-19 in the marines could weaken the US military.

*Concerns mount that US withdrawal from Afghanistan could risk progress on women's rights.*

Sad to say, a probable increase in oppression of women is the worst aspect of making peace with the Taliban. The second-worst aspect is a probable increase in oppression of men.

But oppression of women in Afghanistan is pretty bad even now under the US-supported government. It's not as bad as the Taliban would be, but that's the best thing one can say about it.

I think that endless war is too high a price to pay to keep the oppression somewhat less.

Israel launched a cyberattack against Iran's uranium refining centrifuges and caused them physical damage.

With each attack, one way or the other, the danger of nuclear war some day increases.

The Houthis have captured journalists and imprisoned them for "spying".

The US is trying to do the same thing to Julian Assange. They should both stop.

Why I am not reading about the trial of Derek Chauvin.

When I read, then saw, what Derek Chauvin did to George Floyd, I concluded it was murder. I am glad Chauvin is being tried, and I hope he will be convicted.

I am not following the events of the trial for the same reason that I don't watch election returns on the evening after Election Day: it's too late for us to influence the outcome.

To focus on the details of the process would cause us anxiety, uselessly. It's more productive, and less stressful, to do activism instead.

We'll see the result at the same time either way.