Thursday, September 3, 2026
Summer Down
My Givat Ada gas station was rejected - I misunderstood the instructions. Also, the Petach Tikva project was rejected due to an incorrect pipe slope. I almost had no income from work in August. Depressing. I am starting to make mistakes; at my age, it is only natural.
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
A mi! La Legion!
Spain Excited
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
The Lavi Fighter Jet did not die
It was never published that China bought the Lavi's designs to accelerate the development of a domestically produced fourth-generation fighter jet. The funds China paid covered the project's costs in Israel. Instead of the Lavi, Israel bought American fighters.
I read in Hebrew Moshe Ahrens's book Flags over the Warsaw Ghetto, on the neglected role of the right-wing (Jabotinsky-inspired) youth movements in the revolt. The Labor governments of Israel glorified Mordechai Anilevich and the role of the socialist movements while cancelling the heroism of their political rivals. Ahrens writes that it was impossible to start the revolt while people hoped to survive the war; only near the very end did they understand that the ghetto was to be liquidated and there was no more chance of survival.
Monday, August 31, 2026
Risky investment
I have been reflecting on investing in BAZAN for almost a year because it is the only large refinery in the Eastern Mediterranean, and its spread is growing with each missile in the Persian Gulf. Yet, it is a refiner sitting in a missile-exposed complex with its war policy nearly exhausted, so it is a very risky investment. Anyway, I am very old and have little to lose - my future is short. I am not afraid of taking risks; I bought 3.000 U$S BAZAN stock. Let's see what happens till December 2026. Pic: the Yaroslav (Russia) refinery after taking a drone attack.
Saturday, August 29, 2026
Shaman Durek, Prince of Norway
Durek is a good-looking Afro-American alternative psychic healer and the husband of King Harald V's daughter. He runs a website and calls himself a sixth-generation shaman. As a member of the Norwegian royal family, he has a chance of one day ruling Norway. White girls fall for large, well-hung black men.
Friday, August 28, 2026
Yokneam
My daughter lives in that town; they just bought a nice apartment. The Nvidia Lab can be seen from there.
US chip giant Nvidia once again beat all forecasts in its fourth quarter results published last night. Along with the impressive numbers, the main surprise was caused by its activity in Israel - Nvidia's networking division based on the acquisition of Israeli company Mellanox. The activity, which is largely managed by Israelis such as Michael Kagan and Amit Krig and is based in Yokneam, was once again the fastest-growing division at Nvidia with 263% growth compared with the corresponding quarter last year.
Thursday, August 27, 2026
Radnóti (in Hungarian)
A Bori környék (Szerbia) rézbányái stratégiai jelentőségűek voltak a német hadiipar számára. Magyarországról több ezer zsidó munkaszolgálatost vezényeltek ide, ahol a Todt-szervezet irányítása alatt dolgoztatták őket. Köztük volt Radnóti Miklós is.
(My father and two uncles went through the same Bor mines forced labour camp).
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Asians Never Go Crazy
The Chinese government has recognised the need for mental health support for teens. Those plans include counselling rooms in every school, psychiatric services in at least one hospital in every county and more mental health professionals. The aim is to build a nationwide system of psychological support and crisis intervention by 2030.
According to the State Council, 92% of primary schools and 95% of junior middle schools now have a counsellor. Many major cities, including Beijing, have started to incorporate mental health into the curriculum.
Pic. Exam somewhere in China. I learn something new every day.
Sunday, August 23, 2026
Why Yes to the Burka
Saturday, August 22, 2026
AI Woman
We are powerless against AI. In ten more years, it will be more intelligent than us, and we shall be unable to understand it. The perfect relationship will be with an automaton.
Severe High Temperature Warning
It is very hot in Kfar Saba, on Trailblazer Street 开路人. I cannot work. Wifey opposes air conditioning because her feet are cold. I feel tired. Pic. Sledding dogs in the Arctic.
Thursday, August 20, 2026
Hungarian Jews under Nazi Occupation
The Jewish Community of Budapest Social Committee: Jewish Brothers, in these serious times, Be Unseen and Unheard!
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Kaifeng Jews 25 years later
When I worked in Kaifeng, I toured the Jewish Street and also had dinner with a Jewish family in their modest restaurant. The woman told me that they gave gold to Jewish refugees, which I interpreted as she expected me to give her money. I had the impression - like others visiting the city - that there were no bona fide Jews but impostors trying to milk rich foreigners. When the factory tried to connect me with a "Jewish" employee, it soon became clear that she was a Hui, that is, a local Chinese Muslim. Wikipedia has a more complete history, and it mentions that the Kaifeng Jews did in fact give gold to Russian Jewish refugees. So my impression may have been totally wrong; sorry, but the past cannot be repaired. It may even be true that the factory woman was a Jewish descendant.
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Eichmann in Argentina
Monday, August 17, 2026
Dark Ages Ahead
I am following The Economist's weekly data table and wondering why GNP growth has stopped across the West. In the USA, the size of the workforce has fallen by over 1 million people in the past year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s now 169.1 million, compared with 170.4 million last July, according to agency data. The strongest factor is the ongoing retirement of baby boomers. The youngest boomers are now in their early 60s, and their continuing departure from the workforce is “the most steady thing pushing the rate lower. That’s the clear, sustained decline.
Europe is no different. But the most dramatic case is Japan, which was once the most dynamic economy of all. More than stagnating, it is contracting rapidly. If they start to sell their mountain of dollar savings, the dollar will lose its value even more.
Difficult times are a-coming. I have played my cards and shall sit on the side as a kibitzer.
Sunday, August 16, 2026
Obituary of a Scotsman
He was a direct descendant of Augusta FitzClarence, the illegitimate daughter of King William IV, who reigned for seven years until 1837. Second son of Michael Wemyss of that Ilk and chief of Wemyss, and a distant cousin of the 13th Earl of Wemyss (chief of Charteris), Andrew’s maternal grandfather was the 6th Duke of Portland, through his mother, Victoria Cavendish-Bentinck. Victoria, in turn, was the last surviving goddaughter of Queen Victoria, after whom she was named.
At the coronation of King George VI in 1937, Andrew served as a page to his ducal grandfather – whose duties that day centred on carrying the crown of the new queen. Coincidentally, Queen Elizabeth was Andrew’s kinswoman, since her mother was a Cavendish-Bentinck. Further queenly connection occurred through his mother-in-law, Alethea Abel-Smith, also kin.
Saturday, August 15, 2026
AI-products
Thursday, August 13, 2026
Don Inodoro
Mendieta the dog: What are you doing, Don Inodoro?
Don Inodoro, the gaucho: I am working to find dinosaur bones.
Mendieta: A long time they have not been seen in these parts.
Inodoro: A dinosaur?
Mendieta: No. Somebody working.