Peter Ward
@wardpeter.bsky.social
New Englander living in Rockville, Maryland, USA; promote international cooperation; abhor Russian invasion and occupation of Ukraine; Слава Україні! Жыве Беларусь!
Welcome to February! The image by Microsoft Bing Image Creator AI was created in February 2024. I requested an image of an astounded woman viewing an M.C. Escher painting, with a sign Welcome to February.
February 3, 2026 at 6:23 AM
Welcome to February! The image by Microsoft Bing Image Creator AI was created in February 2024. I requested an image of an astounded woman viewing an M.C. Escher painting, with a sign Welcome to February.
Rebellions are built on hope.
January 27, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Rebellions are built on hope.
Reposted by Peter Ward
🇺🇦 Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko told AFP on Tuesday that around 600,000 people have evacuated from Ukraine's capital since he urged residents to temporarily relocate after Russian strikes earlier this month on vital energy facilities ➡️ u.afp.com/SBck
January 20, 2026 at 4:59 PM
🇺🇦 Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko told AFP on Tuesday that around 600,000 people have evacuated from Ukraine's capital since he urged residents to temporarily relocate after Russian strikes earlier this month on vital energy facilities ➡️ u.afp.com/SBck
Trump Tariffs: study by Kiel Institute for the World Economy found that only about 4% of the tariff burden is shouldered by foreign firms, with a “near-complete” pass-through of 96% to U.S. buyers that pay the levies and then must either absorb them or raise selling prices. Source: Bloomberg 1/19/26
January 19, 2026 at 6:45 PM
Trump Tariffs: study by Kiel Institute for the World Economy found that only about 4% of the tariff burden is shouldered by foreign firms, with a “near-complete” pass-through of 96% to U.S. buyers that pay the levies and then must either absorb them or raise selling prices. Source: Bloomberg 1/19/26
A record number of restaurants in Washington D.C. shut down in 2025 according to the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. President Shawn Townsend said 92 restaurants closed in 2025, up from 73 in 2024, and almost double the number of closings in 2022. Source: WTOP, January 12, 2026
January 13, 2026 at 2:38 PM
A record number of restaurants in Washington D.C. shut down in 2025 according to the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. President Shawn Townsend said 92 restaurants closed in 2025, up from 73 in 2024, and almost double the number of closings in 2022. Source: WTOP, January 12, 2026
Canadians took 28% fewer trips to the United States in 2025. Source: Bloomberg News, January 12, 2026
January 12, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Canadians took 28% fewer trips to the United States in 2025. Source: Bloomberg News, January 12, 2026
Wall Street Journal: the killing in Minneapolis of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer is one of 13 times federal immigration officers have used deadly force against civilians in vehicles since July.
January 11, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Wall Street Journal: the killing in Minneapolis of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer is one of 13 times federal immigration officers have used deadly force against civilians in vehicles since July.
Wegmans in New York City has begun collecting biometric data from anyone who enters its supermarkets, according to new signage posted at the chain's Manhattan + Brooklyn locations this month. Anyone entering store could have data on face, eyes and voices collected & stored. Source: Gothamist, 1/3/26
January 8, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Wegmans in New York City has begun collecting biometric data from anyone who enters its supermarkets, according to new signage posted at the chain's Manhattan + Brooklyn locations this month. Anyone entering store could have data on face, eyes and voices collected & stored. Source: Gothamist, 1/3/26
DC region shed ~72,000 federal govt jobs in 2025 according to unemployment figures of Bureau of Labor Statistics. Fed govt employment in DC dropped by ~4,000 jobs since last January; Maryland and Virginia have seen losses of ~24,900 and 23,500 positions according to BLS data. Source: WashPost 1/8/26
January 8, 2026 at 2:04 PM
DC region shed ~72,000 federal govt jobs in 2025 according to unemployment figures of Bureau of Labor Statistics. Fed govt employment in DC dropped by ~4,000 jobs since last January; Maryland and Virginia have seen losses of ~24,900 and 23,500 positions according to BLS data. Source: WashPost 1/8/26
32% of Americans expect their finances to worsen in 2026 according to Bankrate. "Inflation fatigue is real" said Mark Hamrick, Bankrate senior economic analyst. "A declining sense of economic optimism comes as job market has cooled & inflation has remained persistent, prices broadly still elevated"
January 7, 2026 at 1:51 PM
32% of Americans expect their finances to worsen in 2026 according to Bankrate. "Inflation fatigue is real" said Mark Hamrick, Bankrate senior economic analyst. "A declining sense of economic optimism comes as job market has cooled & inflation has remained persistent, prices broadly still elevated"
Welcome to January! The image by Microsoft Bing Image Creator AI was created in February 2024.
January 1, 2026 at 11:50 AM
Welcome to January! The image by Microsoft Bing Image Creator AI was created in February 2024.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff was reduced by ~18% between April 2024 and May 2025, records obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity show. Driven by a combination of retirements, resignations & cuts, the agency's staffing level fell from 9,957 to 8,179 people.
December 28, 2025 at 3:16 PM
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff was reduced by ~18% between April 2024 and May 2025, records obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity show. Driven by a combination of retirements, resignations & cuts, the agency's staffing level fell from 9,957 to 8,179 people.
In the United States new car and truck prices have increased by 33% since 2020, and the average transaction price surpassed $50,000 in 2025. Longer term loans of 72 months or more are becoming common. Source: CBTNews dot com (Car Biz Today) December 23, 2025
December 23, 2025 at 7:12 PM
In the United States new car and truck prices have increased by 33% since 2020, and the average transaction price surpassed $50,000 in 2025. Longer term loans of 72 months or more are becoming common. Source: CBTNews dot com (Car Biz Today) December 23, 2025
1 in 500 Alaskans died from Covid-19 between March 2020 and May 2023. “74% of those who died and were eligible for COVID-19 vaccine had opted not to receive it”; Source: Alaska Department of Public Health, cited by Anchorage Daily News, December 19, 2025
December 22, 2025 at 2:32 PM
1 in 500 Alaskans died from Covid-19 between March 2020 and May 2023. “74% of those who died and were eligible for COVID-19 vaccine had opted not to receive it”; Source: Alaska Department of Public Health, cited by Anchorage Daily News, December 19, 2025
Poll taken in the United States: 27% said they have skipped a medical check-up because of costs within the last two years, and 23% said they have skipped a prescription dose for the same reason. 46% said they could not pay for a vacation that involves air travel. Source: Politico, December 10, 2025
December 10, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Poll taken in the United States: 27% said they have skipped a medical check-up because of costs within the last two years, and 23% said they have skipped a prescription dose for the same reason. 46% said they could not pay for a vacation that involves air travel. Source: Politico, December 10, 2025
"America’s professional diplomats feel demoralized and ignored, with fully 98 percent saying in a new survey that workplace morale has fallen since the Trump administration took over in January." Source: The New York Times, citing a report of the American Foreign Service Association. 2 December 2025
December 4, 2025 at 10:56 AM
"America’s professional diplomats feel demoralized and ignored, with fully 98 percent saying in a new survey that workplace morale has fallen since the Trump administration took over in January." Source: The New York Times, citing a report of the American Foreign Service Association. 2 December 2025
Welcome to December! Image by Microsoft Bing Image Creator AI.
December 4, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Welcome to December! Image by Microsoft Bing Image Creator AI.
AUTUMN ANALYSIS: BAD: Punkin’ chunkin’ did not feature prominently in the news this autumn; GOOD: I enjoyed eating the new Kit Kat Counts, shaped like the familiar Transylvanian count
November 15, 2025 at 4:52 AM
AUTUMN ANALYSIS: BAD: Punkin’ chunkin’ did not feature prominently in the news this autumn; GOOD: I enjoyed eating the new Kit Kat Counts, shaped like the familiar Transylvanian count
Welcome to November! Image by Microsoft Bing Image Creator AI.
November 1, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Welcome to November! Image by Microsoft Bing Image Creator AI.
Welcome to October! Image by Microsoft Bing Image Creator AI.
October 2, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Welcome to October! Image by Microsoft Bing Image Creator AI.
Bloomberg: "Russia remained the top supplier of nuclear reactor fuel to the U.S. last year, even after a ban on enriched uranium imports from the country became law in May, data from the U.S. Department of Energy shows."
October 1, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Bloomberg: "Russia remained the top supplier of nuclear reactor fuel to the U.S. last year, even after a ban on enriched uranium imports from the country became law in May, data from the U.S. Department of Energy shows."
Russian language term for spacecraft is “cosmic ship” космический корабль. Made me ponder English language use of “craft.” Used for aircraft, watercraft, & spacecraft, but no terrestrial equivalent. Closest is landing craft but that is referring to arriving from the water. Image by Google Gemini AI
September 22, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Russian language term for spacecraft is “cosmic ship” космический корабль. Made me ponder English language use of “craft.” Used for aircraft, watercraft, & spacecraft, but no terrestrial equivalent. Closest is landing craft but that is referring to arriving from the water. Image by Google Gemini AI
Welcome to September! My request to Microsoft Bing Image Creator AI was for "1970s Polaroid photo of people in rabbit costumes in a coastal New England town, with a sign Welcome to September." The image is from February 2024.
September 1, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Welcome to September! My request to Microsoft Bing Image Creator AI was for "1970s Polaroid photo of people in rabbit costumes in a coastal New England town, with a sign Welcome to September." The image is from February 2024.
Reuters: Exxon, the top US oil producer, has held numerous discussions w Russian state-controlled oil firm Rosneft about re-entering the Sakhalin project after receiving approval from US Office of Foreign Assets Control under the administrations of both former Pres. Joe Biden + Pres. Donald Trump.
August 27, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Reuters: Exxon, the top US oil producer, has held numerous discussions w Russian state-controlled oil firm Rosneft about re-entering the Sakhalin project after receiving approval from US Office of Foreign Assets Control under the administrations of both former Pres. Joe Biden + Pres. Donald Trump.
Home sales are falling through at the highest rate in years. More than 15% of home purchases fell through last month, the highest July rate in records dating back to 2017, according to new Redfin analysis. That’s up from 14.5% a year ago and 12% before the pandemic. Source: The Hill
August 24, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Home sales are falling through at the highest rate in years. More than 15% of home purchases fell through last month, the highest July rate in records dating back to 2017, according to new Redfin analysis. That’s up from 14.5% a year ago and 12% before the pandemic. Source: The Hill