Friday, May 22, 2020

Scholar's rocks

Chinese literati have a long history of appreciating small ornamental rocks and collecting them as accoutrements, but these objects, which are known as "scholars' rocks".

Is Trump following a Haredi Doctor's Advice?

Dr Zev Zelenko's COVI-19 Treatment

This Haredi Doctor recommends using the malaria remedy for COVID-19 but in the very early stage of the infection. It makes sense to me. He is being interviewed from a moving car. 

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Hard Truths


Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Congress of the Communist Party of China

Big Congress in Beijing  Xi defends China's actions during the epidemic.  He seems to me worried in the official video clip. He is not enjoying Trump's campaign blaming Commuist China for America's suffering. 

I am re-reading Terry Pratchett's Interesting Times. Suddenly realized that it is a satire of China ("The Agatean Empire") as it meets the "Barbarian Heroes" led by Ghengis Cohen from  the city-state of Ankh-Morpork (London, of course).

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

America Breaking Conventions

The Afro-American lady pictured is the elected Major of the City of Chicago.

I am anti-diluvian. Decent people used to dress and cross their legs according the conventions of their gender and social status. Those who violated the conventions were not allowed to enter the school, the restaurant or the theater. I despised the hypocricy of conventions, yet feel uneasy with the butch African governing Chicago. 

Monday, May 18, 2020

Russians Watching Europe

Timofey V. Bordachev, a Russian economist, says that Russia will not respect the rights of weaker states:
Now we are taken aback as we observe the European countries close their borders even to each other, displaying examples of national egoism on a scale that previously could not be imagined. The question arises: is the coronavirus pandemic the very "last game" after which a blow will be dealt to European integration that it can no longer withstand?
The strong states, which now include China and Russia, address problems that are so great in scale that their solution does not leave many opportunities for attendance to the rights and feelings of the weak states. Europe ... is living out its last days, months, and even years
Pic: The Suzdal Kremlin. 

Sunday, May 17, 2020

New Faces in the Government

After three elections and a prolonged negotiation to form a governing coalition, we can meet the new faces of our rulers. The nucleus of the government is the old Likud gang, but there are surprising people that emerged through the Gantz list. There are two Ethiopian-born Ministers, one with a community-organizing background, the second an unknown journalist.



In 2015 Tamanu-Shata was one of the leaders of the Ethiopian Israelis’ protests against police violence, and her initiative led to a government decision on the establishment of a special committee in the Ministry of Justice, which published the Palmor Report on reducing racism and discrimination in Israel, particularly against Israelis of Ethiopian descent, and on policy change and measures to combat this phenomenon. . She also led a new policy for the optimal integration of members of her community into society.


There is large number of females, including the daughter of former Minister David Levy, and a horrible, agressive female TV personality. There are two or three young politicians who emerged as leaders of students unions - a traditional path to power.  There are relatively few lawyers and no Left wing activists. Netaniyahu has erased several Likud chieftains that tried to compete with him. Except for the central nucleus of seasoned Likudniks, we have a majority of unknown, inexperienced and apparently weak personalities. Now they will have the opportunity to show their capabilities.

Israel is putting the Corona epidemic behind it. The damage seems to be minimal. The TASE stock exchange is rapidly re-gaining lost ground. Yesterday we went to my daughter in Dalia, it was 45.5 C at 3 PM, at home we survive and work thanks to air conditioning. I am wondering if to complete my article on virus transmission through sewage vents, as the suject is no more topical in Israel, is it?