At least I know I’m cranky. I made the mistake early this morning of trying to watch Biden’s press conference from the “summit,” or whatever it is, since no substantive action from the attendees is likely, especially absent clear leadership from the U.S. The most notable moment was the President insulting the ABC reporter who attempted to remind Biden that his too-late sanctions had not functioned as a deterrent to Putin, followed later by Fox News (but none of the other media sources) gleefully replaying video of Sec. Blinken, Jen Psaki, Kamala Harris and others stating directly that sanctions were intended as deterrents.

That wasn’t the most disturbing moment, though—those would be Biden’s stuttering, dead-eyed, confused, energyless, weak answers to all the other questions. How in the world did Donald Trump manage to blow the first debate against this zombie? How stupid was it that Trump boycotted what would have been a third debate, when it would have given more Americans a chance to actually watch who they might be electing? He has some nerve complaining about the election when he tossed away two opportunities for a head-to-head comparison, while letting Joe talk as much as possible.

And I again found myself musing, seeing Biden’s support in one poll inch up slightly from 37% to 39%: Who are these people? What is it they support? How can you watch a performance like Biden’s yesterday and think, “WOW! I sure feel proud and secure knowing that this whiz is in charge! Well, time to go out and buy some more 5 dollar a gallon gas!”? 20% I could understand; 20% of the American public needs Post-It notes to remind them to put on their shoes after the socks. But 39%?

But I digress. This is your column—I’ll shut up unless you make me come back here.

Since I am having trouble focusing because of the throbbing and radiating pain in my mouth, head, neck, throat and jaw (half of my face looks like Vito Corleone)—and because I am awash in guilt for getting so few posts up between the screaming—-I am even more grateful for the weekly free-for-all than usual.

Have at it!

I don’t care what the calendar says, it’s Spring in Alexandria , VA; this weekend we “spring forward,” baseball is starting Spring Training, and March is going out like a red panda, the cutest animal there is except for baby red pandas, which are so cute I can’t stand it.

I would think the Ethics Alarms Commentariat would have a lot to argue about after last week. Keep your contributions civil, relevant, and perspicacious, please.

You usually do.

Over to you, Beloved Commentariat!

It’s time.

Your topics, your takes. Me, I’ll be Zooming in New Jersey, with an all-Beatles legal ethics seminar featuring the great Mike Messer, until after noon.

Very wan week for comments for some reason; volume was way down, though the quality remained high as always, and several new commenters emerged.

Maybe you can make-up for the last six days with a rollicking Open Forum. There is an amazing amount of ethically troubling stuff going on out there.

Finally—back on schedule!

The past week was an unusually lively one, both ethics news-wise and in the comments amphitheater, though my own attentions were more divided than usual. And AS usual, when I believe Ethics Alarms has been particularly useful and interesting, it lost subscribers.

This trend has puzzled and annoyed me for years. Well, the runaways can bite me. Their loss.

If no one discusses here the “Let’s silence Joe Rogan!” story of last week, when two ex-hippy iconic artists decided to use their economic power to try to censor someone whom they disagreed with—that’s what being “progressive” means today, somehow.

Write about whatever you want, as long as it involves ethics, and I promise I won’t argue with you, thus bruising your delicate ego and sending you away in trauma.

But someone else might….

Good luck!

Ah, yes…once again we have the weekly feature where all of you slightly right-of-center, occasionally libertarian clones can agree with each other,

Do keep it civil: that’s an echo I particularly encourage.