A tidal wave of news.

Julius Caesar was warned about the "Ides of March" and Austria and Hungary had revolutions in March. The currents of human affairs start to speed up in March. So, here is a report.

1. Vatican City.
We are waiting for the election of a new Pope. The previous Pope has resigned and is in seclusion. The College of Cardinals will begin its procedures on March 15, but a formal vote may not take place till later. Ireland's Cardinal is not in attendance, because he was caught in prohibited sexual contact with other men.

2. Rome, Italy.
Formation of a new government is proving difficult.
Pier Louigi Bersani of the Democratic Party is trying to form a coalition government. His platform is to "get out of the austerity cage" and grren industries. Typical Left wing politics in other words, not having learned from the example of Spain. So, whatsa problem? Well, Monti's Party IS committed to austerity, Grillo does not want an Italian government headed by a politician and that leaves the center right. Stalemate.

3. Caracas, Venezuela.
The expected death of Hugo Chavez puts Venezuela in the spotlight. Succession will not be easy and will be contested. Chavez built a communist state with 30 of the 33 Governors being former military officers like Chavez. There is also a militia of 125,000 Chavez loyalists, of whom 30,000 can be considered combat ready troops. Vipe President Maduro is the likely successor, basing his power structure on leftist officers and Venezuela's low information voters, the Indians. Maduro is accusing the opposition to have sabotaged the power grid. Though Venezuela is an oil exporting nation, it has the second highest inflation in the world. As you would expect in a Communist run country, milk, food and toilet paper are in short supply.

4. Back in the USA.
Obama has given orders to make the sequester as painful as possible. He, of course, pretends that it has nothing to do with him.