Hiatus

I have received several requests for price proposals, but I have not answered them. Two days I worked little or nothing. The quarantine is getting on my nerves. Coffee in the breakfast makes me sleepy and for the first time in my life, stood up and had a morning nap in the living room. Starting to work was always hard for me, once got started it pulls me through, but these days I cannot start. After a year of epidemics, the depression is getting me. We have the grandchildren here, they run around happily, that should rise my spirits. 

The Pfizer vaccine is effective

Today they are starting to give the second shot of the Pfizer anti-corona vaccine. Till now no one with the first shot got corona. There are side effects, like muscle pain, but it is better than dying suffocated. 

The mood is resignation

Going over English-speaking media, the  dominant tone is jubilation, as Trump is accused of a failed insurrection, trying to force the legal authorities to annul the results of the election. The Democrats are poised to impose a strict authoritarian regime. The tone of the right is shock and resignation to a long Democratic winter. 

One blogger observes that in Georgia the unconceivable happened: they elected a Black preacher and a Jewish liberal. This would have never happened if not for the demographic changes  of the last 50 years. Looking at the numbers, that is not true, foreign immigration to the State is less than 2% of the population.  The proportion of Blacks is lower than the historical 50%. 

Commodities Alert!

 I have noticed a strange revival of the shares of ICL the local phosphate fertilizer company. I discovered that the tremendous rise in the demand of agricultural (and oil) commodities is behind it. The speculators are already discounting the yearlong corona crisis. I know what to do tomorrow on TASE.  

Military Lockdown

 The Israeli Army has closed its camps and the soldiers will receive no passes for the next month. It appears that the countrywide quarantine starting this afternoon with no definite end-time will be harsh. 

And boring. 

The Taking of the Capitol

 

Washington is, in many ways, the world's capital. Therefore it would be stupid to underestimate the significance of the opposition to the Democratic (Black) victory. AngloSaxon societies are very stable, and I don't expect America's descent into Venezuela style chaos. I'd even say that for such a large protest, this was a very peaceful. They broke nothing, stole nothing, burnt nothing. Probably because there were relatively few young men.  

Why the Sheqel is so Strong

 

The Sheqel has appreciated vis-a-vis the US$ 10% in the last month and it buys third of a dollar. Why the currency of this mini-country in the Middle Shithole is so sought after? Maybe Israel's success in dealing with the corona-virus has impressed the world? Or is the start-up people, who sold 10 billion dollars worth of trash shares on the Nasdaq are bringing home the spoils? May be American Jews - pondering Biden's leanings - are moving capital to Israel? May be a Viking treasure hoard (pic) was discovered under my garden? I'd have fancied that but, no, it was not the case.