Laughter Helps

An age test, and earworm. http://t.co/uRaxXDEIiI

—
George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) March 01, 2014

He's out of his Vulcan mind. http://t.co/0kzJJ8Cy4G

—
George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) March 01, 2014

****

Give a bank some bitcoins and...well... http://t.co/Sqn8zG6xQI

—
George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) March 01, 2014

Moms, you know the feeling. #HotOrTot http://t.co/WQhW3QE4W3

—
George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) March 01, 2014

****

The President Speaks

President Barack Obama talks on the phone in the Oval Office with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the situation in Ukraine, March 1, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

****

This line from WH stands out: Going forward, Russia’s continued violation of int'l law will lead to greater political & economic isolation.

—
Laura Rozen (@lrozen) March 01, 2014

90 min call. Long enough for Obama & Putin not to misunderstand each other on what consequences of this path will be.

—
Laura Rozen (@lrozen) March 01, 2014

****

Read: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's remarks after speaking with Russia's Putin alj.am/1d8aWDe http://t.co/lk178WLaSQ

—
AJAM Live (@ajamlive) March 01, 2014

Never would have guessed how many political pundits also happen to be experts on Crimea.

—
Nate Silver (@fivethirtyeight) March 01, 2014

****

The United States will suspend upcoming participation in preparatory meetings for the G-8.

—
@NSCPress (@NSCPress) March 01, 2014

Putin is his worse enemy This will destabilize Russian politics & in time he will regret it. May not be Afghanistan but resistance will come

—
Henri Barkey (@hbarkey) March 01, 2014

****

White House: Readout Of President Obama’s Call With President Putin

****

White House: Readout Of President Obama’s Calls With President Hollande And Prime Minister Harper

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

@AncientPics: Martin Luther King, Jr with his father and son

****

Chat away

Latest news on Ukraine/Russia

Things are moving at lightning speed. As these kinds of world fuckups normally do. A roundup of where we stand right now.

***

Business Week: Russia Approves Use of Military as Ukraine Slams Invasion

Russia’s parliament approved the use of its military in Ukraine after Russian troops seized facilities in that country’s Crimea region, prompting the government in Kiev to say it was being invaded.

Heeding a request by President Vladimir Putin to protect ethnic Russians, lawmakers in Moscow voted unanimously to send troops to its neighbor, according to a vote today broadcast by Rossiya 24. The upper chamber was also preparing a request for Putin to recall Russia’s ambassador to the U.S., Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said. In Kiev, governing politician Vitali Klitschko called for Ukraine to mobilize its army and consider ousting Russia’s Black Sea Fleet from its Crimean base.

***

Reuters: Britain says Russian moves ‘potentially grave threat’ to Ukraine

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Saturday that Russian action was a “potentially grave threat” to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Hague said he had spoken to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to urge steps to calm the situation, and had sent a summons to the Russian ambassador to register Britain’s concern.

“I am deeply concerned at the escalation of tensions in Ukraine, and the decision of the Russian parliament to authorize military action on Ukrainian soil against the wishes of the Ukrainian Government,” Hague said in a statement.

“We condemn any act of aggression against Ukraine.”

Storify – Will McAvoy on Ukraine/Russia

Things are getting hairy. Russia’s upper house has approved sending troops to Ukraine. There’s also a motion in the Duma to request that Vladimir Putin recall Russia’s ambassador to the US.

The times are even more perilous then they were when the US was poised to strike at Syria. Russia would have kvetched about Syria, but ultimately not have done much about it. Ukraine is an entirely different matter.

So, as we sit and wonder what will happen next, a recap of the master class @WillMcAvoyACN gave last night on Ukraine, and the difficulty of effecting any good solution to this crisis.

***

Rise and Shine: The Week in Photos, Videos & A Word Or Two

Photo of the Week? That face when the heckler started up – epic.

****

Monday:

Click!

NerdyWonka: John Dingell: Great American

****

****

First Lady Michelle Obama greets students from Orchard Gardens in Boston, Mass. after the students performed at a luncheon for National Governors Association spouses, in the Map Room of the White House, Feb. 24, 2014 (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

****

****

First Lady Michelle Obama reacts as she introduces the cast of “The Trip to Bountiful” after a screening of the movie in the South Court Auditorium on the White House complex

****

****

Tuesday:

Click!

****

****

Instagram from the White House colonnade pic.twitter.com/2L0HWgWkSM

— petesouza (@petesouza) February 25, 2014

****

****

Liberal Librarian: Of subhuman mongrels and keeping away the gay

****

****

Almost wore matching suits —> MT: @AGreatBigWorld: And THIS happened last night. #LNSM pic.twitter.com/yyn8CsIlRp

— Office of VP Biden (@VP) February 25, 2014

****

Great workout & interview with @FLOTUS ! Fun time bustin a move with the First Lady… #LetsMove pic.twitter.com/aOoYbE285b

— Mario Lopez (@MarioLopezExtra) February 25, 2014

****

Who’s got the best moves: The First Lady, @MarioLopezExtra, or Alonzo Mourning? http://t.co/6R4zznRjDu #LetsMove

— FLOTUS (@FLOTUS) February 25, 2014

****

First lady Michelle Obama gives a hug at a Miami parks and recreation center during a visit to promote her “Let’s Move” campaign

****

Early Bird Chat

On This Day: President Barack Obama passes staff from the White House Military Office as he jogs along the Colonnade of the White House following an event that ran late, March 1, 2011. The military personnel and their families were lined up to take departure pictures with the President in the Oval Office (Photo by Pete Souza)

****

MoooOOOooorning Early Birds – Happy Saturday!