Negotiating with Opus5

 I have a new boss: Opus 5. I wrote a technical report, and "he" rejected it. Then I modified it a little, and we reached an agreement:‎

Yes, this is a formulation that I can sign – it is factually correct, it presents the gap openly, and determines the solution. ‎

"He" can sign the paper!  Am I still the engineer, or is he the final authority signing the instruments? Opus 5 feels superior to me, corrects me, and gives me orders. Do I care, or does it hurt my self-respect? 

We are not poor anymore

The Economist ranked Israel as the second most expensive country (the first is Switzerland).  What does it mean? That we are flooded with dollars. As always, we Jews tend to float to the surface. Since I don't like its soft-and-sweet buns, and the family is prejudiced against meat and processed food, McDonald's prices are meaningless for me. 

August-time

 35 degrees Celsius and little energy to work. Pedro Sánchez announced that Spain needs immigrants and, from now on, it will not return them to North Africa. The Moroccans read this in the media, and 70,000 swam to Ceuta. The doors were open. One hundred died in transit. Spain developed an inferiority complex and compensates by forbidding the use of American bases in Spain, by sending its Navy to "protect" the terrorist flotilla, and by suspending trade with Israel. Reading Spanish reactions to the Ceuta "invasion", they unanimously blame the Jews and America. 

Surtaxing the Kulaks

New York Mayor explains that "the pied-à-terre tax is something that will be levied upon non-primary residences that are worth more than $5 million".  The surtax has certain similarities with the first steps after the Russian Revolution and the Mao takeover of China. The kulaks were "rich" agricultural property owners, who were declared "class enemies" and subject to expropriation and later, severe punishment. Property being theft, they were considered criminals. The surtax smells antisemitic, as very few Afro-Americans and recent Hispanic immigrants own much real estate. But New York Jews do.

Total Victory!

Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza agreed to disarm fully. 

Gaza is neutralized, and the terrorists will be re-educated following proven Chinese methods. 

Boy George

 

The British musician published a pro-Israel song. That is surprising and important in the current anti-Jewish environment. I am a long-time fan of him/her; I like the riverboat story.

Idol Factory

The archaeological excavations at the First Temple site in Jerusalem discovered a mold for mass production of female figurines. These 10-12 cm idols may have been Ashtaroth, a Canaanite goddess. These clay figurines were found in many homes in the Judean mountains. The Bible tells us of the Prophets' struggle to eliminate idolatry and to impose Moses's religion.