PNUT GALLERY

Going away for a weekend/vacation/early retirement? Apparently the best time to book your tickets is exactly 53 days before you fly. You are trying to figure out how many days until your next trip now aren’t you?

IN A NUTSHELL: MUST READ

Day Two Of Syrian Ceasefire: Already Violent, Yet Somehow ‘Successful’ Syria has made it to its second day of the ceasefire with only nine breaches reported thus far. As grim as that may sound, US and Russian monitors of the ceasefire are labeling this “the most successful effort yet” at partially slowing the violence. But don’t pat yourselves on the back too hard, guys. As both sides accuse each other of breaches, there is a real risk that this delicate calm falls apart. 
What does this mean? Reports are confirming that at least six of the villages struck were bombed by Russian airplanes, making their ability to monitor a ceasefire highly suspect. Russia’s Defense Ministry has yet to comment on the strikes, but did issue a warning on Saturday that they reserved the right under the terms of the truce to continue hitting the Islamic State. While it is uncertain whether ISIS camps were targeted, the White Helmets civil defense group is reporting at least 12 people dead, including one pregnant woman, in a civilian area hit during the airstrike. 

GOOD READ: Vladimir Putin Finds Much To Celebrate About Russia’s Role In Syria Truce
#pnut4prez: Hillary Victory Makes CandidateHillary Clinton “walloped” (great word) Bernie Sanders in the Democratic South Carolina Primary on Saturday, beating him 74-26%. After months of trying, Bernie Sanders could only convince 14% of African American voters to #feelthebern, putting him in a weak spot going into Super Tuesday. Meanwhile, Bernie’s calls for a “political revolution” seem to be falling on deaf ears as turnout for Democrats remains low.

NUTS AND BOLTS: SHOULD READ

Some Election Results From Other Parts Of The World

• Iran: Reformists are in the lead in Iran’s parliamentary and the wise-but-ominous sounding “Assembly of Experts” elections. Polls indicate that reformists took all seats in the capital, Tehran, and that major conservative figures lost their seats in the Parliament and Assembly. Score one for Iran Deal?
• Ireland: The Celtic Nation joined a growing list of unstable European democracies as an election this weekend produced a hung parliament and shattered the country’s 2.5-party system. The two major parties will have to produce a “national coalition” or a minority government.   
• Switzerland: The Alpine State’s odd method of direct democracy allows citizens to weigh in on specific legislation via referendums. They’ve notoriously voted against more vacation days, higher wages and, this weekend, deporting foreigners for minor offenses. Gives you some faith in democracy.  

Academy Awards Kept It #OscarsSoWhite#OscarsSoWhite was on full display at the 88th Academy Awards last night. Comedian and host of the evening Chris Rock took every opportunity to highlight Hollywood’s diversity issue. Whether emphatically stating that Hollywood is “sorority racist” or noting that the “In Memoriam” package this year will likely be filled with “black people shot by cops on the way to the movies,” Rock didn’t miss a chance to hammer the point home. VP Biden also made a surprise appearance and received a standing ovation. The big winners of the night were: 

• “Spotlight” for Best Picture
• Brie Larson, “Room” for Best Actress
• Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Revenant” for Best Actor
• Alica Vikander, “The Danish Girl” for Best Supporting Actress 
• Mark Rylance, “Bridge of Spies” for Best Supporting Actor
• “Mad Max” for almost everything else

GOOD READ: Pnut’s Interview With Oscar-Nominated “Cartel Land” Director Matt Heineman

Keeping Our Eye On…

• Cultural Landmarks: The International Criminal Court held its first war crimes trial for the destruction of cultural landmarks. The case against Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi will be the first in the ICC’s new campaign to make “heritage a priority.” 
• Baghdad: A twin suicide bombing on Sunday killed 70 people in a Shi’ite district of Baghdad on Sunday. ISIS claims responsibility for the bombing, which was the city’s deadliest attack this year. 
• Dreams Coming True: Argentinian football legend Lionel Messi sent two autographed shirts and a soccer ball to Murtaza Ahmadi, the Afghani child whose homemade Argentina jersey (which his father fashioned from plastic bags) went viral. 

LOOSE NUTS: FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT

Poll: 38% Of Florida Voters Think Ted Cruz Could Be Zodiac Killer Ted Cruz is having some cosmic bad luck in Florida. Thanks to a speech he made in 2013 titled, “This is the Zodiac Speaking,” jokes circulated on social media that he was, in fact, the “Zodiac Killer” from the 1960s and ’70s. Somehow a conspiracy theory has emerged from those jokes, and a recent poll by Public Policy Polling found that 38% of Florida voters either believe that Ted is the Zodiac Killer, or they just aren’t sure. Not convinced yourself? Leave it to Twitter detectives to make a very compelling case.