Columbus genotype

 

The bones of Cristobal Colon and his son were analyzed and it shows that the man, as well as his son, were 100% Sepharadi Jews. It has been long concluded that Colon had no knowledge of the Italian or Ligurian languages and used Catalan/Asturias expressions. His signature is bizarre and no one was able to discover its meaning. He ordered his descendants to use the same signature. Colon is a typical Jewish name in Catalunya and there are living Jews with the same name. My boss in Tahal was Nathan Columbus. a very closed fellow. 

 Another Jew and I am not surprised. 

Alarms and Encounters

Alarms were activated in Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak, Petah Tikva, Ramat Gan, Kfar Chabad, Hadera, Kfar Yona, and Netanya. The Home Front Command informed that alarms were activated in more than 180 localities.

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit stated "Sirens sounded in several areas in central Israel due to projectiles fired from Lebanon into Israeli territory. The details are under review."

About 15 minutes later, the IDF put out a further statement, saying, "Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in central Israel, several interception attempts were made toward several projectiles that crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory. Details to follow."

The IDF later confirmed that three rockets were fired from Lebanon at central Israel, all of which were intercepted. No injuries have been reported.

I took refuge in a grocery store and met an Argentine girl. We talked. She has an ugly elephant tattooed on her arm. Her brother, a truck driver, sent her a WhatsApp photo: "Don't worry about me; I'm protected. I'm wearing a hard hat." 

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

I learned about the Yankees from this book.

I traveled widely in New England but found no Yankees but many nice and polite people. Nothing special. 

I found more impressive people in Salt Lake City. 

Addio Dahiya

 

The Dahiya doctrine is an Israeli military strategy involving the large-scale destruction of civilian infrastructure to pressure hostile governments. The doctrine was outlined by former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of General Staff Gadi Eizenkot : Israel "should target economic interests and the centers of civilian power that support the organization". The logic is to harm the civilian population so much that they will then turn against the militants, forcing the enemy to sue for peace.

It doesn't work in Gaza but has been tried for only one year. 

Addendum: Reading ancient Greek war histories, like Xenophon's stories, it is evident that surrounded cities surrender only when people fall dead of hunger in the streets. If they have water and food, they never surrender. Gazans are being well-fed and supplied with water in abundance. I don't see them surrendering. 

Hundreds of MIssiles

 

I was taking my midday siesta when I heard planes passing over the house for a long time. It was quite frightening. Then I woke up and stopped the fan, and the noise was gone. Just now, I am hearing planes passing over the city again, but it may be just a heavy truck. But no, they are jets in the sky. Last evening we had to alarm calls, and we took refuge in the hardened room of the apartment. That's life here in these days of war. 

Need to Keep Working

 I have to finish the Bashari project in Shtulim ("Planted"). Two big farmhouses. Apparently, the existing farmhouse only needs "ishrur" (ratification).  These farmers are very subtle and may be trying to confuse the Vaadah Ezorit (the Regional Authority) to save taxes.

This moshav was founded in 1950 by Jewish refugees from Yemen, with the name taken from a passage in the Book of Psalms 92:13: "They are planted in the house of the Lord, they flourish in the courts of our God."  

 I was planning to continue working only 7 years after retirement age, but here I am still working on AutoCAD and sending new proposals. I have no alternative plan and no hobbies that could satisfy me. Earning money seems to be my sole fulfillment. I am going to buy a home for my daughter who is renting. The finance people in Israel foresee the coming end of the war and an immediate improvement of TASE, the local stock exchange. Moody's is strongly pessimist. 

Very quiet Shabbat in my place. 

Huey Tzompantli

The Aztec (Meshica) skull rack in the Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan aka Mexico City. Some 600 sacrificed people were ordered in rows and exposed to the public. When a professional European soldier appeared and was willing to fight the Aztecs, the terrorized peoples sided with Cortes and destroyed this death culture.