Putin's Mistake

Putin menaced Western Europe with nuclear weapons, and all the West fell in line.  Finland immediately asked for NATO protection and so many others. Commentary writes: 

Germany has abandoned pacifism. The German chancellor announced this weekend that his country would raise defense spending to two percent of GDP, scuttle the Nord Stream II pipeline, invest in liquid natural-gas terminals, and export lethal armaments to Ukraine. Sweden and Switzerland have abandoned neutrality. Bern will join the West’s sanctions regime, denying Russia a financial haven and an avenue to launder money, and Sweden is sending thousands of anti-tank weapons to the Ukrainian front. Passive actors like Denmark and Belgium are dispatching weapons and even irregular fighters to the frontlines. Putin-friendly figures like Hungary’s Viktor Orban and Turkey’s Recep Erdoğan have fallen in line with the West. The European Union is finally acting on its ambitions to serve as a defense force by shipping fighter aircraft across the Ukrainian border. And non-aligned states including Sweden, Finland, and Kosovo are making noises about seeking NATO membership.

History did not end, war-loving Nordics will not settle in their huts but keep looking for a fight. 

 

War Sentiment

 

Yesterday. the German Chancellor announced a large budget for weapons, and today he is making a surprise visit to Israel. Elbit, a weapons manufacturer, became suddenly 7.5% more expensive, yet - or because - I bought. Also, South Korea is equipping its new Red Back vehicle. It is a bad day in the bourse, yet I am 5000 shekels ahead. Wars are good: America will focus on what is important, and forget its sick fixation with felling horseback statues. Welcome, Olaf. 

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Feeling unsettled

 I accepted a project of a gym studio that became a full country club and then gradually expanded with a swimming pool, a technical building with pumps and heat exchangers, and then the drainage of a large park and so on. I had invested months of hard work for three months and they were harassing me every day for more and more urgent changes. I gave up, having lost my time and my expected remuneration. I feel unsettled, from now on I shall accept only small projects (but this was a small project!) and define strict payment schedules. I am an old man and these failures make my BP rise. 

Salt makes the body hold on to water, putting extra stress on the heart and blood vessels. Salt -- and worry, and anger -- aren't the only things that can raise blood pressure. Although temporary "spikes" aren't necessarily a problem, numbers that remain high over time can cause serious damage.

Xi Jinping gives a lecture on Inscrutability

 

The Renmin Ribao reports a recent conversation between Xi and Putin.   

　　Xi Jinping pointed out that recently, the situation in eastern Ukraine has undergone rapid changes, which has drawn great attention from the international community. China decides its position based on the merits of the Ukraine issue itself. We must abandon the Cold War mentality, attach importance to and respect the legitimate security concerns of all countries, and form a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism through negotiations. China supports Russia and Ukraine to resolve the issue through negotiation. China's basic position on respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries and abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter is consistent. China is willing to work with all parties in the international community to advocate a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept, and firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law.

Where stands China?  Who knows? They are inscrutable.  

P.D: A commenter says that Xi's message is crystal clear: "Abandon Cold War mentality", "Respect territorial integrity"... etc.  Xi is against the war in Ukraine. 

Commodities becoming more expensive

 

Apparently, I am still connected to reality, because all the stocks on TASE 35 are red except ICL and Delek. I had to pay 1.6% more for ICL but anyway, I bought and added them to my hoard. The Muscovite Rus  Великое княжество Московское  are back.

Sanctions on Russia

 I think Russia will have difficulties marketing its potash and possibly Bielo Russia too. Ukraine has mobilized its workforce, so its production may suffer. Ergo, ICL's stock will gain. First thing tomorrow: add ICL. Also, oil-related stocks will rise. The whole thing is senseless. It may give ideas to Xi regarding Taiwan. I hate this war. 

Peace and Prosperity Weakens

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the West has to work “very hard” to find alternative sources of energy beyond Russia

The Germans had worked themselves into a dangerous situation. They tried to develop "green" energy sources, phasing out "dirty" sources like nuclear and fossil. Now they depend on Russian gas and oil. Russian forces are poised to attack and they are paralyzed.