RUSSIAN PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin (Wikipedia/Kremlin.ru).

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s bold gamble to secure a “sphere of influence” into other European nations is getting much pushback.

Moscow had arrayed an estimated 100,000 troops on the border of neighboring Ukraine and is demanding that the U.S. and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) promise to never allow Ukraine, or other former pieces of the Soviet Union, to join NATO, which was created in 1949 to contain Soviet Russian expansion.

According The New York Times, the economic sanctions threatened by the  Biden Administration if Russia invades would impose “severe inflation, a stock market crash and other forms of financial panic” on the invaders.

Russia could retaliate by cutting off natural gas supplies to Europe, but the U.S. has announced it is already working on a plan to offset that.

In Great Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Saturday that his nation is considering “making a major NATO deployment” in response to the crisis in Ukraine. According to Reuters, Johnson’s plans would include doubling the number of British troops in Europe and sending defensive weapons to Estonia, another former part of the defunct Soviet Union.

Snowstorm smashes into Northeast

BLIZZARDS can make travel difficult, dangerous or even deadly. The Northeast is being hit by heavy snow and high winds (Wikipedia/NOAA).

New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut and Masschuusets are shivering under a massive snowstorm that’s knocking out power and cancelling airline flights.

According to United Press International, snow is falling at a rate of one to two inches an hour. The winter warning of more snow and winds – some up to 40 miles an hour – extends over an area from New York state to Maine.

Those frigid conditions are expected to abate by Sunday morning, after peaking Saturday night around 10 p.m.

Also in the news …

Joni Mitchell, a star singer-songwriter in the 70s and 80s, joined fellow musician Neil Young in her protest against the Spotify streaming service for airing a podcast by comedian Joe Rogan spreading information about the coronavirus that she and Young consider “irresponsible” and “costing people’s lives.” She’s demanding that her music be removed from its catalogue.

Sports: Is Tom Brady quitting, or not?

TOM BRADY (Wikipedia photo).

ESPN is reporting Saturday that Tom Brady, widely considered to be the greatest professional football quarterback of all time, will be retiring, ending a long and successful career with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers,

However, the Associated Press reports that Brady “hasn’t made up his mind” referring to off-the-record comments from AP’s sources. According to the AP, after ESPN made its report, Brady called Tampa Bay management to say he hadn’t make a decision yet.

Weather: We’re grateful to be here

While 100,000 or more people are without electrical power in the Northeast as Winter Storm Kenan lashes East Coast, West Orange County residents is basking in relatively toasty weather. Sunday’s daytime high is forecast to be 72 with an overnight low of 44.The skies should be sunny. Monday will be a bit cooler at 67(50) with mostly cloudy skies. Monday will be similar at 66(48) with a bit more sunshine.